James Tyrwhitt-Drake runs the mind-blowing blog Infinity Imagined, where you'll find visualizations of things great and small, patterns in nature and math, and the beauty of discovery. Tyrwhitt-Drake created a gif image with a scanning electron microscope of a zoom into a tiny crustacean that had a diatom on it. More zoom reveals a single bacterium on the diatom. Cosmic. Link -via Smithsonian/the Presurfer
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What a pampered parrot! His owner built a vehicle he can control with a joystick, and motor around by himself. If you're impressed with that, wait until you see the computerized autonomous docking ability. See, parrots have a tendency to leave their Birdbuggies just anywhere, so this contraption takes itself home! -via Viral Viral Videos
Fins out all about the Birdbuggy at the project page. Link -Thanks, Andrew!
The boll weevil (anthonomus grandis) is an insect. During the 1910s and 20s, it devastated cotton production in the American South. Nonetheless, in 1919, the town of Enterprise, Alabama built a monument to honor the boll weevil and what it did to benefit the South.
Why? Because the boll weevil forced people to change, adapt and grow:
In Coffee County, almost 60 percent of the cotton production was destroyed. Farmers faced bankruptcy and the area economy was at stake. Farmers turned to peanuts and other crops to overcome the damage brought by the boll weevil.
By 1917, Coffee County produced and harvested more peanuts than any other county in the nation. (In 1993, Coffee County ranked 4th in the state of Alabama with 128,000 acres planted in peanuts.) In gratitude for the lessons taught, residents erected the world's only monument to an agricultural pest, the boll Weevil Monument. The monument, dedicated on December 11, 1919, stands in the center of the downtown district at the intersection of Main Street and College Street. The Boll Weevil Monument is a symbol of man's willingness and ability to adjust to adversity. Citizens continue to remind visitors and newcomers to the city the lesson of the boll weevil.
The base of the monument is inscribed: "in profound appreciation of the boll weevil and what it has done as the herald of prosperity this monument was erected by the citizens of Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama."
What a marvelous attitude! No wonder the town is called "Enterprise."
Link | Photo: Carol M. Highsmith
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. One more human joins the legion of fans assembled by Tard, the Internet's own Grumpy Cat.
-via Fashionably Geek | Photo: unknown
John D. Boswell (also known as melody sheep, who gave us the Symphony of Science videos) autotuned and remixed Levar Burton in Reading Rainbow for PBS Digital Studios. I never saw the show, but I hear it gets younger folks all nostalgic. And how do you think that makes me feel, that I'm too old to be nostalgic about something? -via Flavorwire
Put a little Bob Marley on the turntable, and pretty soon all the cool cats are coming around. -via Daily of the Day
Movember is officially at an end, so now it's time for you to make a tough decision- should you shave your mouthbrow or let it ride into the new year?
Rhett and Link have considered it from every angle, and they have some valuable advice to offer about this difficult lifestyle choice. Watch and discuss with your loved ones.
--via Laughing Squid
In this trailer, Captain Cuddles stars as a cat who is moonlighting as a club DJ, which causes problems in the home. Presented by Fresh Step with performances by Heather McDonald and Warlock The Cat. -via Laughing Squid
It's cold in New York City--no time to be without shoes. But one homeless man lacked them...until a cop came by. A visitor from Arizona, also in law enforcement, spotted their encounter:
Right when I was about to approach, one of your officers came up behind him. The officer said, ‘I have these size 12 boots for you, they are all-weather. Let’s put them on and take care of you.’ The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching*. I have been in law enforcement for 17 years. I was never so impressed in my life. I did not get the officer’s name. It is important, I think, for all of us to remember the real reason we are in this line of work. The reminder this officer gave to our profession in his presentation of human kindness has not been lost on myself or any of the Arizona law enforcement officials with whom this story has been shared.
The unknown cop has since been identified as NYPD Officer Lawrence DePrimo.
Original Facebook Post and News Article -via Daily of the Day
Guys, remind me to never-ever-ever trust anyone who interviews me claiming to work for Jimmy Kimmel Live. I have seen far too many people fall for his pranks, sure you would think it would be easy to tell the truth but there is the added pressure of being on television that people forget about. I know it seems far-fetched that I would ever be actually interviewed by someone working for Jimmy Kimmel Live, but I happen to live a block away from the studio and I see them doing these interviews all the time.
With that out of the way - I should probably mention that I am very conflicted about Starbucks as a brand. On one hand, I hate the idea of paying $4.00 (much less $7.00) for a cup of coffee. Coffee is coffee, right? On the other hand, I really really like the Pumpkin Spice Latte - the only redeemable quality about Starbucks in my opinion. Argh, I don't know what to believe anymore!
What are your opinions of the mega-brand coffee company?
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