Non-Newtonian fluids are substances that can act like both liquids and solids, depending on the pressure exerted upon them. Here are some video clips showing experiments people have undertaken to show the various properties of Non-Newtonian fluids. A pool filled with non-newtonian fluid: This clip from a Spanish TV show features very excited people walking […]

With the win of Happy Feet for Best Animated Feature Film at Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony, that makes two consecutive years in which a movie featuring penguins has won an Oscar (last year March of the Penguins won Best Feature Documentary). It may seem like the success of March of the Penguins has spawned the […]

On a vacation in Hong Kong in January, I kept noticing terrific signs that you’d never see in the U.S. I took pictures of a bunch of them, and here are some of my favorites. I’ve seen “Caution: Wet Floor” signs, but never one warning me about a garden hose. Speaking of watering… I thought […]

Tomorrow, February 24, is the 18th anniversary of the death of Laura Palmer. (And to think that she was only 17 at the time…gosh, it makes me feel old.) Laura Palmer was, of course, the fictional character around whom the plot of the TV series Twin Peaks revolved. A few minutes into the pilot, her […]

“Hello, I’m a Mac…and I’m a PC too.” Yes, you really can have the best of both worlds. Now that Macs run on Intel processors, it’s easier than ever for Windows and Mac OS X to coexist on the same computer. So whatever your biases against the “other” system, just get over it and run […]

Entomophagy (literally, “insect-eating”) has been practiced throughout human history and continues to this day. Modern enthusiasts cite the economic and environmental benefits of using insects as a major source of protein in their diet; some even admit to liking the taste. Although I can’t personally vouch for the tastiness of any of the following items, […]

In Western Christian traditions, the period of Lent begins 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday. The day before Ash Wednesday is known by a variety of names, and is frequently marked by celebrations, such as the famous Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, and the Carnevale of Venice. […]

In honor of Presidents’ Day, here is the current list of Democratic, Green, Libertarian, and Republican candidates for the 2008 US presidential election. For the list of Independent candidates, consult Wikipedia. Note: This list includes only the official candidates, and not potential candidates who may join the race at a later date. Democrats: Joe Biden […]

When I first saw the ads for Norbit, Eddie Murphy’s new movie in which he portrays three different characters, I had a strong case of déjà vu. I thought, hasn’t he just been in a movie where he has more than one role? When I looked into it, I realized that he hasn’t done so […]

I’ve bought all kinds of stuff from Amazon.com: books, DVDs, electronics, kitchen gadgets, and so on. It’s great for those quick, easy purchases, but what if you’ve got money to burn? You’ll be delighted to know that you can put your American Express Centurion Card to good use with any number of extravagant purchases from […]

If you’re looking for movies to watch with that special someone this Valentine’s Day, I suggest one of these gems as an alternative to the usual “date movie” suspects. These films highlight the sorrows and comedic travails of their quirky heroes and heroines in their search for true love. A Fish Called Wanda: John Cleese […]

I’m not much of a sports fan, but I am intrigued by the nicknames colleges give to their sports teams. Although many are uninspired (e.g., Bears, Beavers, and Bobcats), others provide great fodder for creative visualization, like this list of team match-ups I’d like to see. Meredith College Angels vs. University of the Sciences in […]

I followed The Apprentice avidly during its first couple of seasons, but the show has gotten progressively more annoying. Among the things that irritate me most is the fact that the contestants all speak some weird dialect of Business English that seems to consist mainly of clichéd baseball metaphors. Some of the phrases I hear […]

Morgen and I recently returned from a month-long trip to Indonesia and Hong Kong. It’ll take us a while to sort through all our photos and write about our experiences. But we’ll say this much: we’re alive and well. This despite the fact that before, during, and after our trip, Indonesia has made international headlines […]