Mysterious alignment detected in large scale cosmos

Artist's impression showing schematically the mysterious alignments between the spin axes of quasars (white) and the large-scale structures (blue) that they inhabit. The rotation axes of the quasars’ black holes are indicated with a line / ESO/M. Kornmess

Artist’s impression showing schematically the mysterious alignments between the spin axes of quasars (white) and the large-scale structures (blue) that they inhabit. The rotation axes of the quasars’ black holes are indicated with a line / ESO/M. Kornmess

As we prepare to collectively absorb our Thanksgiving Day feasts and enjoy leftovers, astronomers working with the VLA in Chile have found a massive feature of the large scale cosmos for the mind to try and digest: [Read more…]

The spice must flow

It seemed to come from nowhere, and then suddenly, it was everywhere. It appeared unexpected and unwelcome, like a deadly plague winding through uncharacteristically happy medieval communities, or ravenous alien pods consuming the bodies of good hard working farm folk and snatching their very identity in the otherwise peaceful country night. I’m talking of course, about pumpkin spice. [Read more…]

Religious maniac or maniacs kill dozens of schoolchildren in Nigeria

I now have the fastest Internet in Austin, a sizzling 300 megs/sec download speed. That’s assuming the routers and hubs and Sony Walkmans in between me and the source can hande that, which is debatable. And what does this technological wonder deliver to my virtual front door every, damn day? Very little glad news, no end of bad news, lots of sad news, and news which is beyond sad, as it speaks to our very fitness and worthiness to survive as a species.

To wit, the world needs more religious fundamentalism like a pack of starving grizzly bears need rabies. The problem being, grizzly bears with rabies are, mostly, just a funny thought, whereas this shit where kids get killed for daring to be in school, especially women, really happened and keeps happening: [Read more…]