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Stuntman89 had a wonderful idea for a homemade slide. He should have beta-tested it before getting the camera out. -via b3ta

Bdelloid rotifers are tiny transparent animals that live in damp places. They reproduce asexually by laying eggs that don’t need to be fertilized. They are not the only animal that needs no males to reproduce, but they are more successful than others, having evolved into 450 species, which perplexed scientists.

It now looks as though the bdelloids do acquire new genes from time to time — that mutation isn’t their only source of genetic novelty. Yet their means of getting new genes is unlike anything previously known for an animal. Namely: they seem to pick up genes from the environment, and add them into their genomes.

The latest analysis of bdelloid genomes shows that the animals don’t just have rotifer genes. They also have dozens of genes from bacteria, fungi, and plants.

Now that's weird. This puts the microscopic creatures in a league with human scientists who are just now learning to genetically modify animals! Link -via Digg

(image credit: William Dembowski)

Hats made from hair? It’s an art project by designer Nagi Noda (featured previously at Neatorama here, here, and here). I can’t think of an event to which you’d want to wear one of these! http://www.uchu-country.com/works/hairhats.html -via the Presurfer

Vanity Fair has an in-depth look at how a Cold War defense project somehow led to MySpace and YouTube. The 50-year history of the internet, told by the people who made it happen.

Bob Taylor: There were individual instances of interactive computing through time-sharing, sponsored by arpa, scattered around the country. In my office in the Pentagon I had one terminal that connected to a time-sharing system at M.I.T. I had another one that connected to a time-sharing system at U.C. Berkeley. I had one that connected to a time-sharing system at the System Development Corporation, in Santa Monica. There was another terminal that connected to the Rand Corporation.

And for me to use any of these systems, I would have to move from one terminal to the other. So the obvious idea came to me: Wait a minute. Why not just have one terminal, and it connects to anything you want it to be connected to? And, hence, the Arpanet was born.

When I had this idea about building a network—this was in 1966—it was kind of an “Aha” idea, a “Eureka!” idea. I went over to Charlie Herzfeld’s office and told him about it. And he pretty much instantly made a budget change within his agency and took a million dollars away from one of his other offices and gave it to me to get started. It took about 20 minutes.

It took a bit longer (and a lot of people) to design what we have now, but the stories are fascinating. Link -via Boing Boing

(image credit: Christian Witkin)

Take a look at 15 Of The Most Luxurious Swimming Pools On Earth. You may actually see one of these some day, since they are all at hotels. At least you can dream! Pictured is the pool at the Four Seasons Resort in Jimbaran Bay, Bali. Link

Doctors performing surgery on an unnamed man in Japan found out that what they thought was a tumor was a surgical towel that had been left inside him 25 years ago!

The patient had been carrying the cloth since 1983, when surgeons at the Asahi General Hospital in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo left it in him after an operation to treat an ulcer, a spokesman for the hospital said.

The man, now 49, went in to another hospital in late May after suffering abdominal pain.

When examinations found what was believed to be an eight-centimetre (3.2-inch) tumour, he underwent the operation to remove it. It was only then that surgeons realised it was a towel.

Representatives from the first hospital have apologized and are working on a compensation agreement. Link -via Arbroath

Today’s Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss is about musical cherries. It could be an artist or a song title or something else, but there are more of them than I could come up! I scored 80%. http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/15447

Dan Walsh publishes Garfield comic strip at his site Garfield Minus Garfield with one difference -he takes out all the characters except Jon (featured previously at Neatorama). Garfield creator Jim Davis calls the creations “fascinating”.

Mr. Davis, who has been drawing Garfield for 30 years, said that “Garfield Minus Garfield” has actually prompted him to take a different look at his own work. He compared Mr. Walsh’s efforts to the cerebral approach of Pogo, the comic strip by Walt Kelly.

“I think it’s the body of work that makes me laugh — the more you read of these strips, the funnier it gets,” Mr. Davis said. As for Garfield himself, “this makes a compelling argument that maybe he doesn’t need to be there. Less is more.”

Link -via Geek Like Me

Dr. Wei Sheng has Olympic fever, and he’s displaying his support by sticking 2008 needles into his head!

In a bizarre publicity stunt, Dr Wei Sheng pierced the decorative needles in his head, face, hands and chest in the five colours of the Olympic rings.

The picture of Dr Sheng’s was taken in Nanning, Southern China, and demonstrates the patriotic fervour among the Chinese people in the build up to September’s Games.

He seems to have substituted white for blue in the Olympics colors. Any speculation that Dr. Wei might be an acupuncturist? Link -via Arbroath

(image credit: Maxppp/Barcroft Media)

Internet dating: The entire story is told in one cartoon. It warmed my heart, then brought a tear to my eye (sorta), because it’s so true. I would like to know who the artist is. Link

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A clear case of cubicle rage, although there’s no information on what caused it. Security cameras catch the whole thing on video, but no audio. -via Metafilter

After disappearing from the internet for a few months, deputydog has decided to become a full-time blogger. His first act is to solicit designs for a new logo for his site through a contest at Worth1000. The winning logo will earn $400! He wants green for a predominant color, and if you use any capitals, you’ll probably be eliminated. http://deputy-dog.com/2008/06/02/deputydogs-back-anyone-still-here/

Greathouse Labs makes vehicles and fire machines. And vehicles that produce fire. The latest is a wheelchair outfitted with a flame thrower!

According to Lance Greathouse, "It was made for the disabled person looking for something a little different, why drive something that looks like a medical device when you can drive something lethal?"

Link to story. Link to website. -via Unique Daily

Ever thought about taking up a new hobby? 10 Completely Insane Activities Probably Not Covered By Insurance has videos of each, from shark diving to extreme bungee jumping. My life insurance specifically states that any skydiving and bungee jumping activity will void my policy. Link -Thanks, Andy!

We love to read about the people we want to be, like superheroes or wealthy people. Or both! The AV Club looks at 18 obscenely wealthy comic-book and cartoon characters. http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/where_do_they_get_those -via Digg