Sandra Coast decided to join the U.S. Army, despite the fact that she had to lose 30 pounds for the chance, despite the fact that her son is in the Marine Corps, and despite the fact that she is 51 years old. And she passed the test: she has graduated from boot camp with the rank of Sergeant.

"I was impressed, because she can do everything the younger soldiers do," Army 1st Sgt. John Byars said of Coast, according to the Armed Forced Press Service (AFPS). "She never expected us to feel sorry for her. She even got one of the highest Army physical fitness test scores in the company. She is a prime example that age is just a number. She ran faster than soldiers young enough to be her kids."

Coast served in the Navy from 1982 to 1993, so she was allowed to enter military service at her age, whereas most civilians would not be eligible. "Everybody in the world thinks I am a total nutcase," she told AFPS. "I just want to support our troops. I love all of them."

Coast will not be sent overseas, but serve with a virtual unit that works by internet. Link -via Fark

(Image credit: U.S. Army)

Today's Google Doodle is a wave form. This is to commemorate German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, born 155 years ago today. Hertz proved by experiment the existence of electromagnetic waves. His research led to the development of radio, TV, and radar, although he dismissed its importance at the time. Hertz' name even became a unit of frequency, abbreviated at Hz.

Despite this global fame, the Nazis tried to expunge Hertz's name from history. While Hertz identified as a Lutheran, his father grew up as a Jew.

"Hertz’s reputation was actively denigrated by the Nazis, who forced his wife and daughters to flee Germany because, despite strong Lutheran roots, they were considered Jews," writes the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in its profile of Hertz. "One Nazi functionary attempted to overturn the use of the term 'Hertz,'... He suggested to the Physical Society of Berlin that instead they use the term 'Helmholtz,' [after Hertz's teacher Hermann von Helmholtz] which would cleverly maintain the abbreviation 'Hz' for the benefit of foreign colleagues. Despite the climate of anti-Semitism, German scientists refused to go along with this plan. 'Hertz' remained and remains in use both in Germany and around the world."

Link

Also: the logo is confusing some people.

You've seen how abandoned buildings are taken over by vines and spiderwebs and can look really creepy? Daniele Del Nero recreates that feeling in miniature with his buildings covered in natural mold.

Grown over several days, the mould used to create these stunning models then dies after two weeks leaving a layer of dust akin to a spider’s web which gives the miniature houses their creepy and mesmerising look. “I’ve always been fascinated by old ruined buildings,” says Del Nero, in an interview. “We are used to imagining our cities as permanent and definitive, but it’s amazing how little time it takes for nature to reclaim its spaces.”

See more of Del Nero's creations at Urban Ghosts. Link

(Image credit: Daniel Del Nero)

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Instructables member abetusk designed a set of cat ears that move under your control, making you both cute and geeky! Several pre-programmed movements are controlled by one button in your pocket. The directions are all there if you want to make your own. Link -Thanks, Karen Howard!

Want to look at a bunch of pictures of Navy SEALS in training?

In a world where enemies who agree to wear black hats are hard to come by, the military and President Obama have begun to lean on the highly trained, whip-smart services of elite Special Forces units. While other budgets are shrinking, funding for special ops has doubled since 2001; in the same time, the numbers of deployments has quadrupled.

The photographs are sure to impress you of the rigors they endure to become part of the elite squad. And they're, you know, kind of attractive, too. Link -via Buzzfeed

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The divine Ms. Butt Meddler is back with a new video! The singer is the alter ago of gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond, who is gearing up for Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March by looking out for your health. The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that African-Americans get their first screening colonoscopy at age 45 instead of 50 as has been the benchmark for decades. Why?

We’ve known since before 2005 that studies showed that our African American patients and friends had a higher incidence of colon cancer, a later stage if diagnosed on their first (index) screening colonoscopy, and a lower survival.

Early screening can be the key to saving lives. Read more about colon cancer and colonoscopy at Dr. Raymond's site. Link

Previously: (Lookin’ Up My) Back Door

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It's just a flesh wound! Kids recreate the Black Knight scene from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. They're cute, funny, and awesome! -via The Daily What Geek

It's time for our collaboration with the always amusing What Is It? Blog. Put on your thinking cap and figure out what the pictured items are -or just make up something ridiculous!

Place your guess in the comment section below. One guess per comment, please, though you can enter as many guesses as you'd like in separate comments. Post no URLs or weblinks, as doing so will forfeit your entry. Two winners: the first correct guess and the funniest (albeit ultimately wrong) guess will win T-shirt from the NeatoShop.

Please write your T-shirt selection alongside your guess. If you don't include a selection, you forfeit the prize, okay? May we suggest the Science T-Shirt, Funny T-Shirt and Artist-Designed T-Shirts?

For more clues, check out the What Is It? Blog. Good luck!

Update: the objects are long-knives for use in cockfights; they were attached to the legs of battle cocks. Craig Clayton was the first with the correct answer, and wins a t-shirt from the NeatoShop! The prize for the funniest answer goes to Steve Pauk, who declared they are Edward Scissorhands' nail clippings!Find out what all this week's mystery items are at the What Is It? blog. And thanks for playing along!

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A lot of the people who work as extras on the HBO series Game of Thrones are fans, so it's a labor of love for them. Still, the show's dedication to realism makes for long work hours. Just getting dressed and ready takes half a day! -via The Daily What Geek

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Even a 7-week-old Pomeranian puppy can tell that dropped piece of broccoli is up to no good! -via Bits and Pieces

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The filmmaker who just goes by the name Mark wandered into an interesting storefront in Manhattan thinking it was an antique shop. It was not. It was this guy's home. It was so interesting that he filmed the man and his fascinating home. -via reddit

The Oscars will be presented this coming Sunday evening. The Academy Awards presentation show has been losing viewers steadily for many years, mainly because it's long and boring. It’s harder every year to get viewers to sit through four hours of Hollywood patting itself on the back. The Daily Beast presents 21 suggestions for making it more exciting. Of course, making the show shorter is on there -that's a given. But the number one suggestion is:

1.     ONE WORD: LIQUOR

I am NOT saying that you have to drink to have a good time—do you hear that, kids? BUT, the Golden Globes and the Spirit Awards do seem to move faster and offer a bit more joie de vivre. Certainly many of us at home are imbibing, so perhaps in-seat service for those in the theater is worth trying. They do it at Rock of Ages, plus, no one is driving home—that’s what all those limos are for.  Drink Responsibly.

I want to thank the Academy for reading the entire list. Link

(Image credit: Flickr user mobo85)

Fanfare is a simple but cute online toy in which you can turn each instrument on and off with just a click. Drums and Sousaphone only will give you a sort-of polka sound. Add just a trumpet for Dixieland, or just the tuba for a marching band sound. Or listen to the whole band! Link -via the Presurfer

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Worf, the Chief of Security on the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation, always had an opinion, but no one ever agreed with him. Why? On the surface, it appeared to be because of his warlike Klingon temper. However, I believe his frustration was a simple way to introduce explanations of other character's motivations. In other words, when someone disagreed with Worf, they usually explained why. Poor Worf! -via mental_floss

Consider this list of movies as those you will want to avoid before your planned vacation. Nothing puts a damper on your enjoyment of an expensive holiday trip more than that nagging feeling that some stranger will want to cut you into little pieces like that film you saw just before leaving home. Link