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I don’t usually post youtube videos, since that could be an entire blog on it’s own. For that reason I don’t spend much time on youtube in general–I have enough time-sinks as it is. Still, sometimes I come across a video that completely blows my mind. This is one of those videos:
Coolest dog EVER.
All humans have a unique genotype. Your genotype is your genetic makeup, combined from your mother’s and father’s alleles (genes). Your genotype determines what traits you have, called phenotypes. You probably know that things like attached earlobes, freckles, and a widows peak are due to our genotype, but you may have other observable traits you aren’t even aware of.
My favorite trait, and the one I’m quite thankful to have, is what’s know as the photic sneeze reflex. Sometimes called the Peroutka Sneeze Gene or even ACHOO syndrome (how droll), this reflex causes one to sneeze when exposed to bright light. I had always assumed everyone had this ability, but scientists estimate it affects 18 to 35 percent of the population. Try it out: the next time you need to sneeze but are not quite there, look out the window at the sun or at a light-bulb and if it pushes you over the edge then you have the phenotype! The photic sneeze reflex has intrigued great thinkers as far back as Aristotle. We still don’t know which gene is responsible for it, but we do know only one copy is needed, and it isn’t on either the X nor Y chromosome. How it works is still unexplained by science, but many experts now agree that crossed wires in the brain are the cause.
Here’s one you may have tested back in high school biology: The gene that detects the odor of cyanide. Do you remember your teacher passing around a vial and asking if you could detect a sweet almond smell? That’s what cyanide smells like to around 20 to 40 percent of the population. Studies have also found that men are less likely to smell cyanide than woman. About 18%-20% of men are not able to smell cyanide at all, whereas only 5%-10% of woman cannot. The rest of the population is able to detect the smell in significant quantities, but only 40% can smell it in trace amounts.
Quick, clasp your hands together! Now look down at your thumbs. Most people place their left thumb on top of their right one. Try clasping your hands so that the opposite thumb is on top and you’ll notice it doesn’t feel quite right. As random as it may seem, hand clasping with the left thumb on top is a dominant phenotype.
Do you have caveman fingers? Some people have hair on the second (middle) joint of one or more of their fingers. If you have hair on any of these middle joints then you posses the dominant phenotype. I was just kidding about the caveman thing–it doesn’t mean you’re less evolved, the absence of this hair is just based on a recessive allele.
Speaking of digits, next time you’re barefoot or in sandals, look at your second toe. If it’s longer than your big toe you have what is called morton’s toe (or sometimes “Greek foot”). Although this is a dominant genetic trait, it’s part of the genotype of only 10% of the world’s population (and can be a real hassle when sizing Five Fingers)!
There are many other common and observable phenotypes, but these are some of my favorites. To learn more about genetics check out Wikipedia’s series on the subject (be sure to scroll down to Related information at the very bottom).
Sources:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-does-bright-light-cau
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze_reflex
http://www.helium.com/items/1532959-human-genetic-traits-with-complete-dominance?page=2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton%27s_toe
“Sneeze” by wise.adam
“Green Poison” by ohsoabnormal
“sparkle Toes” by Robert S. Donovan
“Gravestone Sculpture 2″ by fallingribbons
“tiiiiiiiiiny camera, maaaassif lens” by Abulic Monkey
Today USA had a match with Algeria that would determine whether they stayed in the FIFA World Cup or not. I’m not usually a big sports person, but I played soccer for a good part of my childhood and it’s probably my favorite team sport, shortly followed by curling (don’t judge… either know curling is awesome, or else you’ve never watched a full match). The reason I’m blogging about this match is that it was one of the most immensely frustrating yet ultimately rewarding matches I’ve seen in a long time. I’ll spare you the play by play, and cut to the meat of it.
Twenty minutes into the first half, USA player Clint Dempsey scored a goal that was nullified because the refs called him for being offside, however instant replay shows it was valid. Over the next 70 minutes, neither side scored a goal, although there were some close calls and the tension was incredible. After the 90 minutes of the match were up, play was extended for stoppage time (time lost during substitutions, injuries, etc). One minute into stoppage time, Landon Donovan took a shot, was blocked, and on the rebound slammed it into the net. The stadium went apeshit, and the game was over. After being robbed a goal, and for the rest of the match feeling like all hope was lost, that one point felt like breathing for the first time.
Go Team USA.
Next USA match is against Ghana tomorrow (25th). If my math is right, it’s at 2:30pm EDT (8:30pm South Africa Time).
Okay, I can’t get this out of my head. According to WNYC Radiolab (the best podcast in the universe–Listen to Lucy and tell me I’m wrong), the thing to do is make you suffer too:
This is old, but it is just too adorable for words…
One might think strips from the comic Garfield, with said title character removed, would be a fleeting piece of humor that would quickly get old. Then again, one might find one’s self to be incredibly wrong.
Thanks for the thumbs up Thomas!
Keep an eye put for an interesting G-G development soon… ;-)
Dan
I know, when you first introduced me to it I thought it was more sad than funny really. I actually found myself to be more depressed after reading several than I did happy. A few still make me LI and LOL sometimes though.
I’ve watched and listened to many funny tech support videos and saved phone calls over the years, but even though this one is staged, its one of the funniest I’ve seen in a long long time. I love his Halo/linux/XP multitasking skills. This one is a little long, but every minute of it is golden.
If you’re like me… then you really need some help, dude. But kidding and warped sense of humor aside, if you’re like me then you a) love internet memes, and b) cannot make it to ROFLCON 2008 *ARRGGG*!
Fear not, dear friends, for you needn’t An Hero nor sit at home alone in the dark all weekend. Instead, you can sit at home alone on the internet, watching live footage and updates and picture from ROFLCON all weekend!!!1SHIFT How fun?
Sauces include live video from ustream, a flickr pool, twitters, and bright kite. So as not to whore out other’s hard work, go to roflcon.org for the links to these delicious little media morsels.
I’ll be on most of these services as euicho, on and off over the weekend. If you see me on there, say hi!
there were some great panels, go to the roflcon website for recaps!
This email was forwarded to my department (Network Operations) by a concerned user. Best spam ever? Or best viral horror movie marketing technique ever? You be the judge:
Subject: she has already gone to hospital…
Hello, [name deleted].
Listen to me carefully, i don’t know what your name is, but i’ll find you
and i’ll cripple you, because this is you who tempted her!!!
She has already gone to hospital, you’re next, this is evidence:
[URL deleted as it is some dangerous russian site]
I think its the best of all things. Awesome freaking email.
Then I tried to bone her but her legs were broken and she said there was no way.
On April 4, 2008 many web communities, originating with Fark.com, urged their readers to vote “Never Gonna Give You Up” for the 8th inning sing-along at Shea Stadium for the New York Mets season. The Mets posted a web poll to select a song, and left a blank field for write ins.
On April 7, 2008 the Mets organization announced “Never Gonna Give You Up” as the winner with more than 5 million votes. A run off between six songs will be played at Shea Stadium for the next six games starting with “Never Gonna Give You Up” on April 8, 2008.
On April 8, 2008 Mets and their fans were sucessfully Rick Roll’d during the Middle of the 8th inning. Though there were varying emotions about the song at Shea Stadium, the web communities behind Rick Rolling were shocked that it actually worked if one for that one time and coining this Rick Roll Epic even if it was for only one day.
Oh man I heard about this, that is truly a thing of beauty. Need moar infulence though. This has to spread wider.
With the rick-roll sweeping the interwobbles, inciting shenanigans and leaving lulz in its wake, I thought I’d school you on its interesting origin!
The rick-roll, like a good 80% of all other hilarious memes on the internet, cometh from teh 4chan.
If you don’t know what 4chan is, you’re lucky. It is the asshole of the internet. Seriously, don’t google it. Don’t… I mean it. Okay, if you MUST, read this [NSFW]:.
The rules, you’ve broken them. Two options here, an hero, or redeem yourself with particularly epic sauce. Your choice.
This is an old picture but I just saw it today and HAD to image macro it. Plz imagine it in the standard “Bush” voice for full effect.
I just had to share these crash-test compilation videos by jospi69 with you all. My favorite is the dumptruck vs. barrier in the first video. I like to shout “DENIED!” at the POI.
(More …)
To summurize do not get involved in a crash with anything that flies especially space shuttles. Tanks and trains are the way to go.
Doody took some videos with his new mini dv camcorder this past weekend that you should check out, especially the windmill project in Mars Hill, ME.
You can see all his videos on his user page.
Johnny AKA John Nells also has some great videos on youtube, including a bunch of amazing covers. One of the best Pumpkins covers on youtube is his one of Today, but all of them are really great. Go check them out on his user page. He also has a project called The Blue Field Entoptic Phenomenon. Check it out on myspace!
I hope I’m not too old for you all to remember Oregon Trail, because this shirt is awesome. Its sad to think that the game was about 14 years old when I started playing it in middle school computer class.
I’ve put this off until we got the show rolling again, and I think since this week marked the 3rd consecutive show since its resurrection, I’ve decided now is the perfect time to post.
If you’ll humor me, I’d like to give you a little glimps into the hectic and wild childhood I had. Back when Jalbey, Doody, Matty B. and I spent a ton of time hanging out at Jalb’s house, I believe circa 1998-99, Jalbey and Doody brought up the idea of doing a weekly internet radio show to us. As Doody says, “It started when Jalb and I actually got the idea from a bored night when we just spoke into a mic on his old stereo and played music and recorded it onto a tape, and we loved doing it.”
Just a quick note to add a minor edit and stuff:
The Maniacs name was actually first chosen because we were all from the true heart of Maine (by heart I mean not just the coast which is what everyone thinks Maine is). In other words Maniacs is sometimes what Maine people are called.
Also, part of the reason it is released primarily as a podcast is we have not figured out a way to do it live just yet, but even if we ever are able to we would still release it as a podcast as well anyway because as Euicho said, it’s just cool that way.
We do enjoy doing it, and we really miss doing it together because being able to interact that way produces better chit-chat, but we really do enjoy doing it any way we can. And we are always happy to have new listeners.
Edit to my comment above, I did actually read the article Euicho just added the Maine thing afterwards hehehe…
Isn’t it odd what you find when you type your name into Google? Glad to hear that you enjoyed the years of VANF Weekly Show broadcasts that George and I did together. We both greatly enjoyed our time on the air.
Now, I find myself working as a manager with a large Real Estate Investment Trust over in DC. How times change…
Best wishes with your new show in the future!
-Gary Kulash
Wow, thanks for stopping by Gary. We enjoyed you and George’s show. Its really good to hear you’re doing well!
Yeah thanks again Gary. We definitely liked your show and it made us want to do our own, its great to hear that you are doing well!
I promise this isn’t turning into a video filter site, I’ve just seen some fun things to share with you all! Heres the last one for a few posts i swear!
Its a Bike Messenger race in NYC, and there are some insane squeezes and close calls. Notice the “skitching” (grabbing onto a moving car so they can pull you along) at about 3:10. And here I used to think motorcyclists had a death wish!
wow
crazy
I usually don’t post about celebrities, but I have to get something off my chest.
Have you ever had something trigger a memory or connection in your hind-brain, but it wouldn’t come to the surface? Tonight Amme was watching VH1 and that insufferable show “I Love New York” came on. If you’re fortunate enough to have never seen this show, its about this mentally unstable girl (nicknamed ‘New York’) and her quest for a “man”, with different men fighting over her. Think “Jerry Springer” meets “The Bachelorette” and you pretty much have the idea. Anyway, whenever I saw ‘New York’ on television, something would start nagging me. What was it? I couldn’t figure it out. I vaguely thought it was something to do with her resemblance to someone, possibly about her massive, titanic, eyebrows and eyelashes. Yet unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, it would pass as soon as I changed the channel.
Then tonight, out of the clear blue, it hit me. My high school teacher Mr. Willey would call it a “Wow Moment”. That instant when something finally clicks into place, like the key piece in a huge puzzle that lets you step back and comprehend the whole picture. Tonight I had my wow moment, and finally realized who “New York looked like: (More …)
rofl
amazing! :)
aaaaaaaahhahaahahhaha
Wow, thats all I can say, but you are so right. And I live in New York so…
That’s hysterical, but you are bang on. They look just alike.
OK, I showed everyone at work tonight, and we’re still laughing! Brilliant, my son!
all i’m saying is i glad that someone else thinks this too. i’ve thought that about her ever since the first time that i saw her.
wow, i thought the same thing but i didn’t know the muppets characters name but i thought i saw it somewhere and lol wow somebody thinks the same thing :)
I thought that from the very first time I saw her on Flavor of Love….
i always thought that but i couldnt remember janice’s name. Thank you for solving that mystery for me lol
She must be trying to look like Janice, cause they look too similar for it to be a coincidence. Super funny.
I have always thought that! Thanks.
When i saw here i just saw the resemblance with a muppet but i didnt knew her name, searching for her in google images i found the link to this page, what can i say? lol
I was actually searching the web for a picture of this Muppet to show to my boyfriend because from the FIRST time I saw New York I was instantly reminded of this muppet but he doesn’t remember her. It’s so funny that I came upon your post.
thats funny when i was watching this show with my brother and his girlfriend i saw the resemblance and i went and printed of a picture of janice, new york, and donatella versace so i could compare them next to each other and they were all dead on!
The internet is truly amazing. Check this out:
I was on twitter and read the following on the public timeline (a list of all public updates):
“the song ‘so much’ by spill canvas is amazing”
I thought to myself, “I wonder what that song sounds like.”
(More …)
SF author Jerry Pournelle sort of predicted that in the future we would be connected to the equivalent of the Library of Congress.
He ruefully admits he did NOT predict that people would bitch and moan if Google didn’t cough up the data they wanted in under five seconds.
The up and coming Hackszine, by the people that brought us Makezine, and Craftzine, has a cool (old-ish) post about embedding image data into a URI, using the “data:” URI. This actually works for any data (image, text, xml, etc) but the most fun thing to me is using it for images.
The URI string could get very large very fast, however, so the converter limits you to 51200 bytes. It also takes a little finagling once the converter spits it out, as you have to take out the single-quotes, tabs, plus signs, and carriage returns. This is done pretty easily with a RegExp search-and-replace for: ‘*’ (replacing it with nothing). once you do that, you have to strip off some bits from the beginning and end, so it looks like this: Me.
Fun stuff!
Quite cool. Not sure I’ll make use of it, but quite cool :-)
Jesse, and 
JB is discussing. 
Gary Kulash are discussing. 
B is discussing. 
chr00fus, 
Nabil and 12 others are discussing. 
Doody 12:42 am on 10/25/2010 Permalink
Okay, so is it bad that throughout this movie I thought two things:
1. I still really really dig communist era eastern European architecture.
2. I am really jamming out to this song.
Oh yeah, the do is also made of win.
euicho 1:21 am on 10/31/2010 Permalink
Naw I love the architecture too. The song is rad too.