If you ever flip through the cable TV channels, you've probably noticed how many reality series cluster around an existing idea. Yes, there's a lot of shows set in Louisiana. And quite a few set in Alaska, too. I once quipped that a network sees no use in wasting a field office on just one show, or two, or three. But what you see here is just a small portion of the Reality TV Venn Diagram by Margaret Lyons and Jen Cotton. See the full-size version of overlapping ideas at Vulture. And yes, I am aware that this is actually an Euler diagram, which shows existing sets and relationships, and not a true Venn diagram that would show all possible relationships. Link -via Metafilter
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If you ever flip through the cable TV channels, you've probably noticed how many reality series cluster around an existing idea. Yes, there's a lot of shows set in Louisiana. And quite a few set in Alaska, too. I once quipped that a network sees no use in wasting a field office on just one show, or two, or three. But what you see here is just a small portion of the Reality TV Venn Diagram by Margaret Lyons and Jen Cotton. See the full-size version of overlapping ideas at Vulture. And yes, I am aware that this is actually an Euler diagram, which shows existing sets and relationships, and not a true Venn diagram that would show all possible relationships. Link -via Metafilter
By Carl LaFong & the Spunk Holler Boys. From the YouTube page:
Warning: listening to this song may raise your cholesterol level. -Thanks, Steve Cloutier!
Not knowing the real lyrics to the song, Carl wrote his own and as a result debased a timeless traditional folk classic.
Warning: listening to this song may raise your cholesterol level. -Thanks, Steve Cloutier!
It's once again time for our collaboration with the always amusing What Is It? Blog. Can you guess what the pictured item is? Or can you make up something interesting?
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?
See all this week's mystery objects at the What Is It? Blog. Good luck!
Update: these strange-looking goggles are Masonic Hoodwink Goggles, they were used as a blindfold in rituals of initiation. Edward K knew that, and wins a t-shirt from the NeatoShop! Pismonque came up with a great funny answer: "These are Fear Goggles, the companion to Beer Goggles. When you wake up mostly sober at 5 AM and stumble to the loo, they act as blinders against the horror of discovering your newest intimate acquaintance. The flip-down lids protect against the increasing light of morning and prolong the denial." That wins a t-shirt! Find out the answers for all the mystery items at the What Is It? Blog.
This is just too downright cute not to share. All her life, actress Kristin Bell wanted to interact with a sloth. She got the opportunity on her birthday, and was overcome with emotion, as she tells Ellen DeGeneres. -via reddit
The important developments in flight are shown in just three minutes, courtesy of Utah Valley University Aviation Science Department. -via the Presurfer
Ricardo Montalbán on the set of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan meets an inflatable replica of his co-star in the series Fantasy Island. Pop culture occasionally gives us these strange juxtapositions. Link -via @JohnCFarrier
This Twaggie was illustrated from a Tweet by @DrTwittenheimer. Wouldn't it be nice if our lives were as simple as our house cat's lives are? Link
From the look of the fossilized skull, you'd think this was a Smilodon, a sabertooth tiger. But no, this is Thylacosmilus, not a cat at all, but an ancient form of today's marsupials. Note the strange lower jaw that runs the length of the saber teeth. Read more about Thylacosmilus at TYWKIWDBI. Link
U.S. TV networks take shows from other countries and rework them to show to American audiences. In the same way, other countries do their own versions of American TV shows -but they often end up being quite different. Check out this list of 10 Foreign Remakes of American TV Shows Very Different Than the Original, with clips showing what some of your favorite sitcoms, cartoons, and dramas look like in other parts of the world. Pictured here are the Russian versions of How I Met Your Mother, The Nanny, and Everybody Loves Raymond. Link -Thanks, Katina!
Maizey aims to please as she works in the front office of the veterinarian. That's a good dog! -via reddit
Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert is busy highlighting the absurdities of our political election system by participating in it. He is no longer a candidate for president, so he has retaken control of his legally-obtained Super PAC (political Action Committee). He filed a report just after midnight this morning with the Federal Election Commission on the Super PAC's fundraising, which has exceeded all expectations. The cover letter reads:
Read more details at the New York Times. Link
Dear Sirs and Sirettes,
Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow (ABTT) would like it entered into the record that as of January 30th, 2012, the sum total of our donations was $1,023,121.24.
Stephen Colbert, President of ABTT, has asked that I quote him as saying, ”Yeah! How you like me now, F.E.C? I’m rolling seven digits deep! I got 99 problems but a non-connected independent-expenditure only committee ain’t one!”
I would like it noted for the record that I advised Mr. Colbert against including that quote. Sincerely,
Shauna Polk Treasurer Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Inc.
Read more details at the New York Times. Link
When a five-year-old girl recognizes your brand logo, you've done it right. Of course, when your dad is in the logo design business, you might have a leg up. Adam Ladd's daughter knows her logos, but as far as big cats go. she just likes cheetahs. -via Laughing Squid
For the eighth consecutive year, Animal Planet will host The Puppy Bowl at 3PM (Eastern Time) on Super Bowl Sunday. The halftime show will star kittens from a shelter. See a series of adorable photographs taken during the taping of the halftime show at Buzzfeed. The kittens are all up for adoption. Link
(Image credit: Amy Sly)
Are you a die-hard football fan? Are you a real Super Bowl fanatic? Then you should be able to name all the quarterbacks who won the Super Bowl in its 45-year history. In eight minutes. I named four of them, although one was a gimme. Anyone can do better! Link
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