Inedible Ink

Let’s go to a museum today. I’ll buy.

Museumday Admission Card

Just when I thought we could expect no more from the humble bluegill…

Bluegill Fish Monitor Water Supplies for Terrorist Attacks, Contamination
The common bluegill fish is being used to protect public drinking water for millions in the United States from terrorists and accidental contamination.
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…there’s no humanmade sensor available that can measure toxicity harmful to humans in the same manner as bluegills.

“Lucy’s Baby” — World’s Oldest Child — Found by Fossil Hunters
“Fossil Find Is Missing Link in Human Evolution, Scientists Say” [April 2006].)Some experts have taken to calling the baby skeleton “Lucy’s baby” because of the proximity of the discoveries, despite the fact that the baby is tens of thousands of years older.

Desi is said to be furious. Fred and Ethel Mertz, neighbors and long-time friends of the couple’s, are glad that this long held secret can finally be discussed openly.

It is Talk Like A Pirate Day Today September 19.

But we’ll be havin’ none’o'that ‘ere I tell ye lubbers. For we’re privateers here on the blog, and we run her shipshape, we do. None of them on the accounts of Cap’n Flint will sail this vessel before I’ve died upon the cutlass. I’d sooner be keelhauled than fly the Jolly Roger’s colors.
Them’s that’d scupper their own mothers for a piece of eight and know no right price to a man in his image get no quarter here. Aye hearties, a pox on bucaneers and down to Davey Jones’ locker with the lot. Brought a bad reputation upon the name of rum itself, they have.
They fly the Jolly Roger to chill the hearts of good sailors like you lads, their weapon isn’t the cat, the cutlass or even the long nine, no, maties, it’s fear they wield best. Terror strikes at a lubber’s courage and makes him forget his resolve, his duty, and his love of God and country before any of the scurvy dogs has lifted a finger in battle.
Deadlights and spyglasses fore and aft mates for there’s trouble in these cold waters for us who sail for the crown. Anchors aweigh! Set course for Skeleton Island! For it’s good men tarrying in port that serves the cause of the pirates, and tarrying by the hearth today that profits them that would pillage it later.

This story from the Green Bay Gazette has it all: a narrow escape, a highway chase-scene, tasers, and a pig made safe from slaughter at least for the time being by police tranquilizer darts.

The best line goes to the pig’s owner, who said, “Pigs lack remorse.”

Thanks go to Port McClellan, where they like their bacon crispy.

I had an acquaintance in my college years use Black Sabbath, AC DC, and the Grateful Dead all in one breath in a conversation with me, as if they were of one style musically and uniformly distateful. This was a tragic misconception to my ears, but words could not resolve the problem.

A friend created a mix of the bluegrassiest, folkiest, jazziest, (and least psychedelic) Dead tracks he could lay hands on for her. We presented it as an unnamed band that her folky tastes should appreciate.

This folk music lover enjoyed the music so much she wanted more and demanded the name of the band.  Having put her prejudices aside, she had listened openly and heard something she liked.

I often hear people describe the Catholic Church like they somehow knew that it was all religion and no spirit, all works and no faith, all rules and no grace, all earthly and no heaven. These are people who have not studied the Church.

People of Australia,
The world shares your pain. Now, find another outlet for your frustration and leave the fish alone.

“Crocodile Hunter” Fans May Be Revenge-Killing Stingrays
In the wake of “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin’s death by stingray, some fans may be carrying out revenge attacks against the fish.

As many as ten stingrays have been found dead, with their tails cut off, along the southern coast of Australia’s Queensland state

Marines have to make life or death decisions in instants. Mojave Viper is a training program that aims to make those the right decisions.

From the Honolulu Advertiser ‘Mojave Viper’ sessions reflect situations in Iraq:

Every Marine battalion bound for Iraq goes through the Mojave Viper training, which ends with a 72-hour field exercise meant as a final exam to prepare Marines for the quick decisions that lie ahead.

Baczkowski said: “They have to be able to take in all considerations in that split second and be dead right — every time.”

“We’re taking 19-year-olds and teaching them to make split-second decisions about the use of force that are going to be analyzed on the 6 o’clock news.”

Marine Col. Ron Baczkowski, on training troops to react in urban combat situations in which civilians are present.

Marines train to act quickly, but ethically.

“In a counterinsurgency, it’s crucial that Marines have the tools to make ethical decisions on using force,” said Lt. Col. Andy Kennedy, one of the officers in charge of the training.

The scooter in the sidebar is an eGo vehicle. Sweet little ride.

Gizmodo likes it: (or is that Treehugger? I can’t tell.)

EcoModo - The Best of Treehugger - Gizmodo
This week, we hopped on board with the owner of an eGo Cycle, the “geek chic” electric scooter that has been garnering lots of attention ever since it appeared in Vanity Fair earlier this year (though we’ve known about it since 2004. We’re just saying…). With a range of about 25 miles and a top speed of 24 mph, it isn’t our first choice for a cross-country road trip, but it does the around-town jobs quite nicely. If you can get there on a bicycle, but don’t want to work up a sweat doing it, the eGo is for you. Our intrepid field tester has nothing but positive things to report about the eGo; unfortunately it doesn’t come with a stick or other blunt object to help keep the chicks off you when you ride it…oh well, you can’t always get what you want.