July 25, 2008

LInkfest: New Zealand Judge Changes Girl's Name

A family court judge in Wellington, New Zealand, made Talula Does the Hula a ward of the court so that her name could be changed. "Violence" is still permissible as a first name.

It's the BPP's Most.

Why McCain and Obama are causing marital tension / An epic Bill Gates e-mail rant / Northern lights mystery exposed / A germ-zapper's guide to clean / Fan injured, 17 ejected in Ohio baseball brawl

 

Linkfest: Vultures Perch on Hospital Windowsills

Vultures at a Milwaukee hospital are peering into patients' rooms -- and preying on their peace of mind.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

The Top Ten Myths in FBI History / Scrabulous isn't playing fair, says Scrabble maker / Don't ask tourists age or wage, China warns

 
July 24, 2008

Linkfest: Your Memory May Be Too Good

Not being able to find your stuff may be a sign of having a extra-large memory, according to doctors Mike Roizen and Mehmet Oz.

It's the BPP's Most.

Police: Man stole Miami-Dade buses, drove them on routes / Army orders Lions draft pick Campbell to return to service / Dump your lover directly on voice mail / Who made the potato salad? on Google Trends

 

Linkfest: Pet Rabbit Saves Couple From Fire

In Melbourne, Australia, a pet rabbit named Rabbit saved his owners from a house fire that leveled their home.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

50 Cent sues Taco Bell over ad campaign / Slow food savors its big moment / 'Pantyhose Bandit' causes sheer annoyance in Mass. /

 
July 23, 2008

Linkfest: Glue Used to Protest Climate Change

A man tries to attach himself to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, using glue during a handshake. It didn't stick.

It's the BPP's Most.

Break-in suspects found asleep on stolen goods / South County men who lit friend's crotch on fire are sentenced / Exiling the Happy Meal / 'Allah meat' astounds Nigerians / WNBA fight leads to four ejections

 

Linkfest: Top Flatulist Rises to New Heights

Mr. Methane is the top performer in a highly specialized arena. Our editor Tricia McKinney has a soft spot for his rare art.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Hip-hop star Nas protests FOX News 'Obama smears' / Last-Ditch Resort: Move Polar Bears to Antarctica?

 
July 22, 2008

Linkfest: When Your Pedicurist Is A Fish

Customers at a Washington D.C.-area salon can have their feet pampered by tiny carp called doctor fish.

It's the BPP's Most.

Feds: Philly ex-anchor hacked colleague's e-mail / Hybrid cars pose risk to blind, visually impaired / Inside Track: A Monster dispute is licked / Google trends: 4chan

 

Linkfest: Woman Saves Thousands Of Nepalese Girls

Olga Murray of Sausalito, Calif., used her knowledge of Nepalese culture to help girls there avoid a life of indentured servitude. She convinced their families to earn money by raising piglets.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Man has been paying rent to false landlord / Swimming pools at foreclosed houses become mosquitoes' home / A product's place is on the set / Woman's idea saves thousands of Nepalese girls

 
July 21, 2008

Linkfest: Beijing Cuts Back on Car Traffic

Beijing has instituted alternate driving days based on even and odd license plate numbers. It's part of an effort to crack down on the city's oppressive pollution in advance of the Olympic Games.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Fallon Will Start 'Late Night' on the Web / Treasure in the trash: $20K earrings found in NYC / World Series? Buy now, pray later

 

Linkfest: Jobs That Rake In The Big Bucks

Surgeons, CEOs and air-traffic controllers top the income charts.

It's the BPP's Most.

More seniors finding love online, but skipping remarriage / Brenda back on 90210 / Dying art form is alive and well

 
July 18, 2008

Linkfest: Terrorism Funds May Let Brass Fly In Style

For three years, the Air Force's top leadership sought to spend counterterrorism funds on "comfort capsules" that are installed on military planes that ferry senior officers and civilian leaders around the world.

It's the BPP's Most.

San Francisco most walkable U.S. city, website says / W.Va. warns against 'clean hands' poster scam / North Korea's "Hotel of Doom" wakes from its coma / Starbucks names all 600 stores to be closed

 
July 17, 2008

Linkfest: Balloons Part of Suicide Evidence

Balloons carried a gun away at the scene where a Red Lobster executive killed himself.

It's the BPP's Most.

Submarine, homemade and cocaine-laden, is seized off Mexico / Oscar Diaz hospitalized after losing consciousness during Wednesday Night Fight on ESPN / Espresso, extra bitter: Man's tiff with barista spills onto internet / Real estate agents use food treats to lure home buyers


 

Linkfest: NASA Asks Workers to Donate Urine

Preparations for the new Orion space capsule include figuring out how to get rid of stored urine.
NASA is asking its workers to contribute a total of 8 gallons a day.

It's the BPP's Ramble.


Vikings deny tampering with Favre
/ ABBA star's devastating memory loss: Remembers little of his fame

 
July 16, 2008

Linkfest: Mister Softee Files Trademark Infringement Suit

The soft-serve ice cream operation is getting hard on competitors who use its jingle. The company that spawned the Conehead mascot is filing a federal suit against three ice-cream vendors.

It's the BPP's Most.

Bad dancing draws suspicion, pot charges / Denton pizza employee: Surprised to see dad when wig falls off robber / More farmers switching to sewage

 
July 15, 2008

Linkfest: Olive Garden Gals Grace Playboy.com

An Olive Garden hostess and five servers are featured in an online pictorial from Playboy.com. "The Girls of Olive Garden" is the brainchild of Hugh Hefner's girlfriend.

It's the BPP's Most.

Hamilton: Addict to cleanup man / Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman end 5-year romance / No trace of cougar, no evidence of attack / Dog or lion? Beast loose in El Paso County

 
July 11, 2008

Linkfest: Fleas Attack Philadelphia Police Officers

Two Philadelphia officers served a warrant in a flea-filled house and ended up in the hospital.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Lyle Lovett sells millions, earns nothing / The best toilet in America / Congress increasingly going through the motions / Congress Struggles To Come Up With Cool Name For Anti-Drug Initiative /

 

Linkfest: Two Found Feet Belong to Same Man

DNA shows that two of the five feet found on Vancouver Island belong to the same man. A spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police says it looks like the feet became disconnected as a result of decomposition.

It's the BPP's Most.

'Moose whisperer' earns biologist's scorn / An American life worth less today / Chile pole dancer arrested / The real names of the rich and famous


 
July 10, 2008

Theme Parks: 'Log Flume' Strategy and Much More

We talked theme parks with Theme Park Insider editor Robert Niles. Highlights include praise for Dollywood and a serious examination of "log flume" ride tactics.

My gf has never been to Disney World, so a trip there is in my future. Setting aside my mixed feelings about theme parks, I asked Robert for his top three tips. . .

Continue reading "Theme Parks: 'Log Flume' Strategy and Much More" »

 

Linkfest: Fish Fossils Fill Evolutionary Link

Fish fossils tucked away in European museums could solve a lingering question about evolutionary theory. Many of the 50-million-year-old fish fossils have only one fish eye.

It's the BPP's Most.

Great Scott! The 2015 McFly sneakers are now (somewhat) real / Has Vallejo gone to pot? / Bronx Zoo visitors safe after cable car breakdown / Perfection? Hint: It's warm and has a secret

 

Linkfest: Scientists Find Signs of Water on Moon

Researchers say pebbles retrieved by NASA's Apollo missions contain evidence of water molecules. The discovery could be a boon to future lunar colonies.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Elvis was the gipsy King, says traveller magazine / NC employee refuses to lower flags for late Helms / Eight new natural wonders named

 
July 9, 2008

Linkfest: Flint Cracks Down On Saggy Pants

My goodness, we've had a lot of fun talking about saggy pants. Now police in Flint, Mich., are cracking down on the low-riding style. We're talking a maximum of a year in jail and $500.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Flint cops crack down on sagging pants/ Pizza place hit by acid bomb/ Most sunscreens fail to protect/ Why "Google Lively" is big on Google Trends/ Cubs trade four players to A's for pitchers Harden, Gaudin

 

Linkfest: Man Accused Of Giving Cops LSD

An 18-year-old man in Texas has been arrested for allegedly delivering cookies spiked with LSD to the Lake Worth Police Department. Christian Phillips claimed the basket of sweets came from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

It's the BPP's Most.

Officers may have eaten LSD-laced goodies/ To drop pounds, write down everything you eat/ Builder discovers "priceless" Tolkien postcard/ Why "Google Lively" is big on Google Trends/ Being too fat can "damage sperm"

 
July 8, 2008

Linkfest: Forest Service Over The Rainbow Family

description

Repost: Click to watch.

For years, the U.S. Forest Service has documented problems with the Rainbow Family.
 

From the Casper, Wyo., Star Tribune: "U.S. Forest Service officers pointed weapons at children and fired rubber bullets and pepper spray balls at Rainbow Family members while making arrests Thursday evening, according to witnesses.

" 'They were so violent, like dogs,' Robert Parker told reporter Deborah Stevens of the libertarian-oriented, Round Rock, Texas-based We the People Radio Network after the incident."

The story got me thinking about our talk last week with a Forest Service person who wasn't exactly looking forward to another Rainbow Family confab.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Arrest leads to Rainbow riot/ It pays to go in a public toilet/ FBI files on sports stars/ Calif. group proposes George W. Bush Sewage Plant



 

Linkfest: The 'Zero' Chance Lottery Ticket

A business professor had his world view upended after he bought a scratch-off lottery ticket last summer. Scott Hoover went on to learn that the prize had been awarded before he ever plunked down his $5 -- moving his chances of winning from the "slim" column to the one labeled "none."

It's the BPP's Most.


City lake "like a commode"
/ Why "Heimlich" is big on Google Trends/ King of gold keeps special loo/ Study: Military gays don't undermine unit cohesion/ "Zero" chance lottery tickets stun some players/ Loan pains turned site into a hit

 
July 7, 2008

Linkfest: Woman Has Twins At 70

And you thought you had a lot to do: Word has is it that a woman in India just gave birth to twins -- at the age of 70.

It's the BPP's Ramble.


Florida Gov. Crist says he's getting married
/ Toyota to add solar panels to Prius hybrid: Nikkei/ Woman in India "has twins at 70"/ "Star Trek: The Experience" to end

 

Linkfest: The Flying Lawn Chair

You can file this under Dangerous, Expensive, Crazy and Ridiculous, but I'm going to log it as Another Thing I'm Itching to Do.

Kent Couch got up off his in Bend, Ore., flying more than 200 miles to Idaho in a lawn chair lofted by giant balloons. The technology for lawn chair flying has evolved since Larry Walters took to the skies in 1982, in a Sears patio chair towed by weather balloons. It's probably safe enough now that I could convince my family to let me go.

I'll tell them it's for the BPP's Most.


Report: Hockey on Jan. 1 at Wrigley Field
/ Oregon man completes lawn-chair flight/ A vast left-handed conspiracy/ Winner declared in International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship

 
July 4, 2008

Linkfest: Patriotic Song Manuscript Found at Flea Market

A rare manuscript of the song "America" (My Country 'Tis of Thee) was sold at a New York flea market for $10.

It's the BPP's Most.

Youngest "Brady" interview unflattering / Cardiac arrest: Man faked heart attack when dinner bill arrived / Dona Ana County kidnapping a hoax / Transgender "man" gives birth /

 
July 3, 2008

Linkfest: George Washington's Boyhood Home Found

Archaeologists find George Washington's boyhood home, but no sign of a cherry tree or a hatchet.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Courthouse with dead opossum almost free of fleas / Olympic nightmare: A red tide in the Yellow Sea / Sound of jelly wobbling recorded for architects' competition

 

Linkfest: Scientists: Watermelon Has Viagra Powers

Scientists say watermelon yields Viagra-like effects. The yellow variety is the most potent.

It's the BPP's Most.

Crocs cited in lawsuit over girl's injuries at airport / Three Cheers for July Second / Storms wash salad dressing into basements / Google Trends: esoteric / 'Kite Runner' star's family feels exploited by studio

 
July 2, 2008

Video: The Most



Nelson Mandela has finally been taken off the United States' terror watch list. Until now, the anti-apartheid leader and members of the African National Congress party needed special permission to visit American soil.

It's the BPP's Most.

Local and national outbreak of grave robbing / US contradicts itself over its own ID theft advice / Denmark 'happiest' country in the world / Could you pass the latest citizenship test?

 

Targeting Women: Sarah Haskins Joins The BPP

Current TV's Sarah Haskins joined the BPP today to talk about some of the ham-fisted ways that candidates and corporations market themselves to women. She's a writer and commentator on Current's show "Infomania," and contributes a regular segment called "Target: Women." Here's some of her best work...

Check out "Target: Women" gems on yogurt and the election.

 

Linkfest: Actor Says His Role May Have Helped Obama

Actor Dennis Haysbert says his role as an African-American president on the television drama 24 may have helped Barack Obama's campaign. Plus, people keep asking Haysbert if he's running for office.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

IRS wants you to chat about stimulus checks this July 4 / Nowthen, Minn., I think our city has a name / Why Stradivarius violins sound so good

 

Linkfest: Mandela Dropped From US Terror Watch List

Nelson Mandela has finally been taken off the United States' terror watch list. Up until now, the anti-apartheid leader and members of the African National Congress party needed special permission to visit American soil.

It's the BPP's Most.


Local and national outbreak of grave robbing / US contradicts itself over its own ID theft advice / Denmark 'happiest' country in the world / Could you pass the latest citizenship test?

 
July 1, 2008

Video: The Most



Roberto Velazquez, an archaeologist in Mexico, has spent a lifetime recreating the pre-Columbian sounds of so-called "Whistles of Death." The instruments have often been found in the hands of the dead, leading some to think they were played before human sacrifices. But healers may have used them to put people into trances in an effort to treat illness. Either way, the whistles make an amazing racket.

It's the Most.

Truck hauling 12 million bees overturns/ Recreating the sound of Aztec "Whistles of Death"/ Spectators see lion kill eagle at Greater Vancouver Zoo/ Hands-free cell phones no safer

 

Linkfest: A Rare Recording of Gandhi in English

The Washington Post has released a recording of Mahatma Gandhi giving a speech in English. It was made a few months before the Indian activist was assassinated, in April 1947, and kept safe in the home of a Washington journalist for 60 years.

It's the Ramble.

Rare recording of Gandhi speaking English/ Celebrity chimp missing in San Bernardino Mountains/ Drunken Swede tries to row home from Denmark/ Holland bans tobacco smoking in coffee shops, but allows pure cannabis spliffs

 

Linkfest: The Aztec 'Whistles Of Death'


Tricia McKinney and a Whistle of Death.

Roberto Velazquez, an archaeologist in Mexico, has spent a lifetime recreating the pre-Columbian sounds of so-called "Whistles of Death." The instruments have often been found in the hands of the dead, leading some to think they were played before human sacrifices. But healers may have used them to put people into trances in an effort to treat illness. Either way, the whistles make an amazing racket.

It's the Most.

Truck hauling 12 million bees overturns/ Recreating the sound of Aztec "Whistles of Death"/ Spectators see lion kill eagle at Greater Vancouver Zoo/ Hands-free cell phones no safer

 
June 30, 2008

Linkfest: Scientists Mark Anniversary of Asteroid Blast

The centennial anniversary of an asteroid blast that occurred near Lake Baikal over Siberia serves as a reminder that the earth is vulnerable to meteors and other rocks from space.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

'Into the Wild' pilgrimages increase in Alaska / New York City keeps the cannoli but drops the trans fats / Devo sues McDonald's over Happy Meal toy

 

Linkfest: Man Auctions Life, Ends Up Disappointed

An Australian man put his life up for auction on eBay, but his worldy possessions didn't bring in as much cash as he had hoped.

It's the BPP's Most.

Accidental fungus leads to promising cancer drug / Wal-Mart Plans New Logo to Update Image / Military joins Pride parade / Decoding body language

 
June 27, 2008

Linkfest: French Winemakers Uncork Rage

Vintners in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France are up in arms over the declining price of wine. Seven thousand of them took to the streets in protest.

It's the BPP's Most.


Hybrids great on gasoline savings but not expense, study finds/ N.Y. millionaire gets 11 years in prison for enslaving workers/ Goldy to Victoria's Secret: Take off/At the top of Google trends: Bleach portal/ French winemakers on rampage/ An art star creates a splash in New York


 

Linkfest: Beer Maker Pulls Alcoholic Energy Drinks

Following an investigation by attorneys general in 11 states, Anheuser-Bush will take the caffeine out of alcoholic energy drinks. The number one brewery in the United States says the drinks had less caffeine than a Starbucks coffee.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Japan wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo tests eye, touch controls for consumer electronics /
Crocodile welcomed into Australian pub by drinkers
/ Kudryavtseva Turns Sharapova Into Fashion Victim at Wimbledon

 
June 26, 2008

The Most, 06.26.08



 

Linkfest: NBC Settles 'Predator' Case

NBC Universal has reached a deal with a woman claimed Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator drove her brother to suicide. Patricia Conradt had sought $105 million, alleging the show "steamrolled" authorities to arrest her brother. Terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Settlement in N.Y. lawsuit over NBC's Predator/ Mayor fuming over Tariq Aziz cigar case probe/ Germany's late goal beats Turkey in Euro 2008/ Boy tackled by Colorado mayor gets restraining order

 

Linkfest: An 80-Story Spinning Skyscraper

Here in New York, we've got a revolving restaurant on top of a Midtown hotel. But in Dubai, they're planning a building whose levels will spin independently -- all 80 of them.

It's the BPP's Most.

Dubai plans "moving" skyscraper/ Does Maya calendar predict 2012 apocalypse?/ Some potters secede from annual festival in North Carolina/ Wolves seem torn between selecting Mayo or Love/ In energy-stingy Japan, an extravagant indulgence: posh privies/ Study: Teachers not being taught math properly

 
June 25, 2008

Linkfest: Bridesmaid Spot Up for Auction

A Virginia bride wants the wedding of her dreams, but doesn't have the funds... so she started an auction on eBay. The winner will get to be a bridesmaid at her wedding next April.


It's the BPP's Ramble.


World has at least 10 million millionaires
/ Kids protest gas prices after losing cable TV / How to manage an office of 20 somethings / How to Manage 20-Somethings, from Gawker


 

LInkfest: Earth May Have a Twin

Got doppleganger? Planet hunters predict that Earth has a twin planet somewhere in the Milky Way.

It's the BPP's Most.

Angry brides left without dresses / Mobile phone battery dead? Try dancing / Shaquille O'Neal is asked to return special deputy badges / Researchers hit a homer with 'The Odyssey'


 
June 24, 2008

The Most : 06.24.08



A former office manager and Oregon hotel night clerk penned a tale of redemption. Now, William P.Young's "The Shack" has topped best-seller lists.

It's the BPP's Most.

Pentagon nominates first woman four-star general
/ Stranded hiker uses sports bra to attract rescuers / Boy George denied visa for outstanding legal issues / Remembering George Carlin

 

Linkfest: Taiwan Relaxes Limits on Chinese Actors

Taiwan's official broadcasting regulations prevent actors from mainland China from performing in live theater on the self-ruled island. but those rules may be changing.

It's the BPP's Ramble.


Lego secret vault contains all sets in history
/ Irishman clinches world barista title / Naked Cowboy lawsuit vs M&Ms maker to go forward / No emphysema for Winehouse, spokeswoman says

 

Linkfest: Christian Novel Tops Bestseller Lists

A former office manager and Oregon hotel night clerk penned a tale of redemption. Now, William P.Young's "The Shack" has topped best-seller lists.

It's the BPP's Most.

Pentagon nominates first woman four-star general
/ Stranded hiker uses sports bra to attract rescuers / Boy George denied visa for outstanding legal issues / Remembering George Carlin

 
June 23, 2008

Video: The Most



Slave records, political posters and a lock of hair from 1801 were discovered in the attic of a Maryland plantation, where a family kept military documents alongside laundry bills.

It's the BPP's Most.

A life saver called "plumpynut" / Edith Macefield, 1921-2008: Ballard woman held her ground as change closed in around her / Male blackbirds intent on protecting turf / Tiny Shetland Island declares independence

--Video edited by Meena Ramamurthy

 

Linkfest: Amy Winehouse Has Emphysema

Doctors say the 24-year-old British pop star has 70-percent lung capacity. Her father says he hopes she'll make it to the Glastonbury Festival next week.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Candace Parker has second dunk in WNBA history / Ted Nugent sells game trophies as he plans another move / Berlusconi wants communion ban lifted / Amy Winehouse has emphysema

 

Linkfest: Maryland Pack Rats Find Slave Documents

Slave records, political posters and a lock of hair from 1801 were discovered in the attic of a Maryland plantation, where a family kept military documents alongside laundry bills.

It's the BPP's Most.

A life saver called "plumpynut" / Edith Macefield, 1921-2008: Ballard woman held her ground as change closed in around her / Male blackbirds intent on protecting turf / Tiny Shetland Island declares independence

 
June 20, 2008

Linkfest: Scientists See Signs of Ice on Mars

What happens when bright clumps go missing on Mars? NASA scientists say it's a sign of ice on the red planet.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Report: Science teacher mixed religion, class / The song they didn't write? Coldplay are accused of plagiarism by American band

 

Linkfest: Teens Made Pact to Get Pregnant

A group of teenage girls in Gloucester, Mass., made a pact to get pregnant and raise their children together, according to a Time magazine story that came out yesterday.

It's the BPP's Most.

Middle schools tone down graduation ceremonies / Jersey bees are back / Swearing chef prompts tighter #*@%& rules / Perfecting the Art of Frugal Living in NYC

 
June 19, 2008

Thursday's Most



 

Linkfest: China Retools Names of Traditional Dishes

China is revamping the names of traditional dishes in preparation for an influx of English-speaking visitors. Goodbye "husband-and-wife's lung slice," hello "beef and ox tripe in chili sauce."

It's the BPP's Ramble

How much do you make? It'd be no secret in Scandinavia / 50 office-speak phrases you love to hate / Seinfeld lawyers see humor, not defamation

 

Linkfest: Another Foot Found on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a hot bed for human feet. A sixth disembodied foot turned up on the east coast of the island yesterday.

It's the BPP's Most.

Swiss TV in German anthem blunder / Firefox 3 Vulnerability Found / Firefox 3 browser is nifty and packed with handy features / Pigs swam through floodwaters, shot on levee / 'Rembrandt Laughing' is self-portrait / E-Mail, the Workplace and the Electronic Paper Trail

 
June 18, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the BPP's Most.

Sign of road rage may be on bumper / See a huge moon illusion / Lack of vitamin D rampant in infants, teens / Airlines are charging for the wrong bags

 

Linkfest: Robot Girlfriend to Debut in Japan

A Japanese company plans to debut its 15-inch battery-operated she-robot in September. The "Eternal Maiden Actualization" will be marketed to a target audience of lonely men.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Joan Rivers kicked off live TV show / Man gets Air Force leave extended for White Castle / Police say snake eyed as weapon

 

Linkfest: Woman Sues Victoria's Secret Over Thong

A Los Angeles woman is suing underwear manufacturer Victoria's Secret because of an injury she incurred while putting on a "low-rise v-string." According to the complaint, a decorative metal piece on the thong became dislodged and hit her in the eye.

It's the BPP's Most.

Sign of road rage may be on bumper / See a huge moon illusion / Lack of vitamin D rampant in infants, teens / Airlines are charging for the wrong bags

 
June 17, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the BPP Most.

Scientists reverse vasectomy on endangered horse
/ Google trends: Javon Walker / Fifth foot found on B.C.'s south coast / Chimps use hugs and kisses to calm each other after fights / McCain's voting record: Bush comparison accurate?

 

Linkfest: Elian Gonzalez Joins Young Communist Union

Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy at the center of a international custody struggle in 2000, has reportedly joined the country's Young Communist Union. The Cuban Communist youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde quotes Elian Gonzalez as saying "Fidel and Raul can count on us. We won't let them down."

It's the BPP Most.

Scientists reverse vasectomy on endangered horse
/ Google trends: Javon Walker / Fifth foot found on B.C.'s south coast / Chimps use hugs and kisses to calm each other after fights / McCain's voting record: Bush comparison accurate?

 

Linkfest: Romanian Village Elects Dead Mayor

The residents of a Romanian village voted in a dead man as their mayor Sunday, choosing him over his living opponent. The candidate died of liver disease shortly after voting began -- but still won by a margin of 23 votes.

It's the BPP Ramble.


Copper wire theft causes power outages in Pico Rivera
/ Leona Helmsley's pup loses $10m of trust fund / Orphan chicks taught to sing with CD of the dawn chorus

 
June 16, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the BPP's Most.

Emergency alert is a false alarm ... / 100 Orlando cabbies plan protest over alleged mistreatment / Parking meter income takes hit / 'Knight Rider' Car On eBay / Help! Family Spam Is Crushing My Inbox!

 

Linkfest: Welcome to the Hotel Alcatraz?

Off the coast of San Francisco, the National Park Service may add overnight accommodations to Alcatraz Island, the site of one of the world's most notorious prisons.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Voter turnout for tiny North Dakota town: Zero / Anoka teen pulls off a stunner / Text messaging adds new wrinkle to license plate letter combinations / The Top 100 Rated Vanity License Plates

 

Linkfest: 'Prophylactic prophet' penalized

An Italian prankster could be put in prison for repeatedly popping up behind television reporters, while holding condoms. Italy's Supreme Court has upheld a three-month suspended sentence on Gabriele Paolini.

It's the BPP's Most.

Emergency alert is a false alarm ... / 100 Orlando cabbies plan protest over alleged mistreatment / Parking meter income takes hit / 'Knight Rider' Car On eBay / Help! Family Spam Is Crushing My Inbox!

 
June 13, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the BPP's Most.

You hear the latest rumor on Obama? / Perez Hilton: Turning a blog into an empire / Alex Kozinski suspends L.A. obscenity trial after conceding his website had sexual images / McCain's last standing rival drops White House bid

 

Linkfest: Silver Fillings May Lack Silver Lining

The Food and Drug Administration warns that silver dental fillings, which contain mercury, may pose a health risk for pregnant women and young children. But the findings are not yet conclusive. The agency is still conducting studies.

It's the BPP's Most.

You hear the latest rumor on Obama? / Perez Hilton: Turning a blog into an empire / Alex Kozinski suspends L.A. obscenity trial after conceding his website had sexual images / McCain's last standing rival drops White House bid

 

Linkfest: Lost Gnomes -- And Thief -- Found

French police announced the arrest of a 53-year-old man in connection with the theft of 170 garden gnomes. They were all displayed in his modest front yard.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

You're Too Hot for This Job / That 'new shower curtain smell' gives off toxic chemicals, study finds / Japanese gangster offered $1 million for visa that would allow liver transplant at UCLA, sources say

 
June 12, 2008

Video: The Most



 

Linkfest: 'Unicorn' Deer Rears Its Horn

Officials at a nature preserve in Italy say a deer with a single horn in the center of his head was born with a genetic flaw. Or maybe it's a modern-day clue into the myth of the unicorn.

It's the BPP's Most.


Food gardens a growing trend / Naked pilot, flight attendant face fines over Pa. woods romp / Loch Ness monster quest nears end / Marine expelled over YouTube puppy video

 

Linkfest: Beluga of a Baby

Vancouver is home to a newborn four-and-a-half-foot whale who's continuing a proud lineage. His mom, Qila, was the first beluga conceived and born in a Canadian aquarium.

It's the BPP's Ramble

Study: Marijuana potency increases in 2007 / World's 'oldest Christian church' discovered in Jordan / Google's Brin signs up to be space tourist /
.

 
June 11, 2008

Video: The Most



 

Linkfest: Strawberry Shortcake Ripens With Age

The pink-clad 1980s cartoon star is ditching her bloomers and lettering her hair grow long. American Greeting's Strawberry Shortcake isn't the only fictional character to get a facelift.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Coach lines install anti-hijacker tech / Sudoku-playing jurors make judge stop drug trial / Play nicely: safety for children and crabs / How much sleep do you really need?

 

Linkfest: Grand Old Party Pooper

There's another elephant in the room. Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is planning to stage a rally in Minneapolis on September 2, the same day the GOP convention will take place in nearby St. Paul.

It's the BPP's Most.

Who's getting the big speaker's fees? / Used-car dealer's luck runs out at church fest / Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution / Avoid these tomatoes / FDA update on salmonellosis outbreak in certain types of tomatoes

 
June 10, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the BPP's Most.

How airports profit from your wait / Pranksters ordered to apologize online / Retailers giving vinyl records another spin / Warren G. Harding on Google trends

 

Wacky Packs Are Back

description

Click to play.

Tricia McKinney, NPR
 


When I was a kid I used to spend my allowance money on Wacky Packages. I forget how much they cost, but for the money you got a piece of cardboardy gum plus a few stickers with parodies of common grocery store products. Like "Jail-O" instead of Jell-O and "Minute Lice" instead of...do I really need to spell it out? I thought they were hilarious.

Now, there's a book celebrating the 35th anniversary of Wacky Packages. I saw the book on a colleague's desk and immediately scooped it up and called the publicist. Today we talked to Jay Lynch, an artist from the underground comix scene of the 1960s, about a job he did strictly for the money--writing gags and mockups for Wacky Packages.

I interviewed Lynch, and found him slightly bemused by the interest in Wacky Packs (that's what we called them in upstate New York). He told me about how he and Art Spiegelman tried to make the stickers as subversive as possible. I honestly am not sure if that is the secret to their appeal. I think we might be more shallow than that--or maybe it's just me. I think we just really, really like package design, especially in a shiny sticker form. The ultimate expression of a Wacky Pack sticker was putting it in just the right spot on a lunch box.

Here are a few examples. Enjoy!

 

Linkfest: Antarctica Blanketed in Condoms

Nearly 16,500 condoms landed in Antarctica just in time for winter on the icy continent. The population of scientists and staff at McMurdo is whittled down to 125 people, all of whom will have access to free condoms.

It's the BPP's Most.

How airports profit from your wait / Pranksters ordered to apologize online / Retailers giving vinyl records another spin / Warren G. Harding on Google trends

 

Linkfest: Brooklyn Bar Fly Stuck in Bar

A guy walks into a bar. Right before closing time he walks into the bathroom. He tries to walk out of the bar in the wee hours and finds himself locked inside.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

"Brokeback Mountain" to be turned into an opera / Bumble-bee woman in shock birth / Onassis heir sells family jewels

 
June 9, 2008

Video: The Most




The Detroit Red Wings took the Stanley Cup. And they took it to a chili bar, where it suffered a slight dent, according to a National Hockey League spokeswoman. Defenseman Brett Lebda is rumored to have dropped the cup. He says it's just a rumor.

It's the BPP's Most.

Spain's lost treasure battle in U.S. court / Stranded divers chase off Komodo dragon on island / Earthquake swarm picks up again in northern Nevada

 

Linkfest: Monk Seal Gone

The last Caribbean monk seal was sighted 50 years ago near the Yucatan Peninsula. Last week the U.S. government declared the species extinct as a result of overhunting by another species: humans.

It's the BPP's Ramble.


Light fantastic: pedestrians to generate power
/ Alabama sues drummer, saying he was overpaid / Russian circus legend Yuri Kuklachev files suit for copy of show

.

 

Linkfest: Stanley Cup Gets a Dent

The Detroit Red Wings took the Stanley Cup. And they took it to a chili bar, where it suffered a slight dent, according to a National Hockey League spokeswoman. Defenseman Brett Lebda is rumored to have dropped the cup. He says it's just a rumor.

It's the BPP's Most.

Spain's lost treasure battle in U.S. court / Stranded divers chase off Komodo dragon on island / Earthquake swarm picks up again in northern Nevada

 
June 6, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the BPP's Most.

Egypt uncovers a 4,000-year-old "missing" pyramid / Sarkar Raj: Movie review / 'Daddy dolls' focus on military families

 

Linkfest: Novelty Egg Hatches into Emu

A British chicken breeder brought home a few emu eggs from a vacation on the Isle of Wight. Fifty-two days later one of them hatched into an emu named Osborne.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Guinness: Japanese TV host is world's busiest / Proposed olympic chant: Add oil! / Principal has new job after 'Islam 101' controversy

 

Linkfest: Study Shows Humans Don't Like to Roam

According to new study using cell-phone tracking data from Europe, people are creatures of habit. Even on vacation.

It's the BPP's Most.

Egypt uncovers a 4,000-year-old "missing" pyramid / Sarkar Raj: Movie review / 'Daddy dolls' focus on military families

 
June 5, 2008

Video: The Most



t's the BPP's Most.

Fisher space pen on Google Trends /Missing Cape Cod lighthouse located in Calif. / The ubiquitous fist bump /
Michigan meteorite worth thousands


 

Linkfest: The World's Largest Restaurant

A Syrian restaurant, Damascus Gate, has set a new record as the largest eatery on the planet. Diners at the 6,014-seat restaurant can choose from Chinese, Indian or Middle Eastern cuisine.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Venice bans water bottles / Woman wins funeral at baseball game / R. Kelly update: critic must testify



 

Linkfest: Man's Tumor Turns Out to Be a Towel

Surgeons at a Tokyo-area hospital were intent on removing a patient's abdominal tumor -- until they discovered it was a 25-year-old surgical towel.

It's the BPP's Most.


Fisher space pen on Google Trends /Missing Cape Cod lighthouse located in Calif. / The ubiquitous fist bump /
Michigan meteorite worth thousands



 
June 4, 2008

Video: The Most



 

Linkfest: An Investigation into Nude Photos at School

Forget about passing notes between classes. Officials at a central Ohio school are concerned about kids swapping cell-phone photos of themselves in the buff.

It's the BPP's Most.

Same sex parents found in albatross colony / Dangerous Web domains
/ Grandfather builds Web browser for autistic boy
/ Coroner: teen killed by tiger had pot in system

 

Linkfest: Ed McMahon Faces Foreclosure

Johnny Carson's sidekick could be in danger of losing his $4.8 million Beverly Hills home.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Milky Way loses two arms / Indian couple divorced without their knowledge / Brigitte Bardot convicted (again) in race case

 
June 3, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the Most.

The creature from Lake Pepin/ If your lawyer wants you executed/ Tatum O'Neal in coke arrest/ Paul Sills, father of Second City improv, dies at 80/ Fresno high school's valedictorian to be deported

 

Linkfest: A New Use for the Pringles Can

The person who designed the Pringles cannister has had his ashes buried in one.

It's the Ramble.

Designer of Pringles can is buried in his invention/ States make grab for unclaimed rebates/ Hitler waxwork sparks Tussauds tussle/ From bad to verse: Vandals get classroom penance

 

Linkfest: The Creature from Lake Pepin

The owner of a passenger paddle wheeler on Minnesota's Lake Pepin is offering $50,000 for evidence of a giant, serpentlike creature. The race to find Pepie is on.

It's the Most.

The creature from Lake Pepin/ If your lawyer wants you executed/ Tatum O'Neal in coke arrest/ Paul Sills, father of Second City improv, dies at 80/ Fresno high school's valedictorian to be deported

 
June 2, 2008

Linkfest: In London, Chaos over Subway Sobriety

Police in London had to close six subway stations Saturday after drunk people poured onto trains in protest of a new alcohol ban on public transit.

It's the Most.

London revelers mark drink ban with subway chaos/ Yachts encountering real pirates of the Caribbean/ UConn raises bees to supply dining halls' honey/ Plane missing since 1984 found in Texas lake/ Police hunt for robbers wearing thongs as masks

 

Linkfest: Bikini-clad Women Make Men Impatient

From Science Daily, we get news that looking at women not wearing much makes men want to consume more of everything, right away.

It's the Ramble.

Bikini-clad women make men impatient/ Indonesian drops cash from plane/ Schoolboy first to "name" iceberg/ Search to divine authorship leads "Footprints" to court

 
May 30, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the Most.

Comic powerhouse Harvey Korman dies at 81/ Japanese scientists create microscopic noodle bowl/ Japanese woman lived in man's closet/ "Uncontacted tribe" sighted in Amazon/ Eddie Murphy back in "Beverly Hills"

 

Linkfest: The 10 Worst Jobs in Science

English majors regretting it all, take heart: Maybe you didn't become a scientist like mama wanted, but at least you didn't end up as a whale-feces researcher. That's number 10 on a new list of worst jobs in science.

It's the Most.

The 10 worst jobs in science/ Stonehenge used as cemetery from the beginning/ Navy hopes to solve WWII plane mystery/ "Uncontacted tribe" sighted in Amazon/ Marine removed from duty over Bible coin reports

 

Linkfest: Farewell, Harvey Korman

One of America's funniest funny men has died at 81. Harvey Korman appeared on the Carol Burnett Show and on Blazing Saddles, as what the AP calls a "natural second banana."

It's the Most.

Comic powerhouse Harvey Korman dies at 81/ Japanese scientists create microscopic noodle bowl/ Japanese woman lived in man's closet/ "Uncontacted tribe" sighted in Amazon/ Eddie Murphy back in "Beverly Hills"

 
May 29, 2008

Linkfest: In Dire Indicator, Spam Sales Rise

The government says food prices are rising at just over 6 percent a year. And guess what else is up? Annual sales of Spam -- by nine percent in the last six months over last year's totals.

It's the Ramble.

Sales of Spam rise as consumers trim spending/ Sharon Stone "deeply sorry" for karma remarks regarding quake/ Pisa's leaning tower "stabilised"/ NASA puts rush order on space toilet fix/ National Spelling Bee favorites are friendly rivals

 
May 28, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the Most.

Dunkin' Donuts yanks Rachael Ray ad/ Energy drinks may be a red flag/ X-rated content infiltrates library's story line for kids/ Ex-Bush spokesman: President used "propaganda" to push war/ Teacher lets students vote on whether to let little boy stay in class

 

Linkfest: Space Station Needs a Plumber

The, um, facilities on the International Space Station have gone out of order. While astronauts attempt a repair, they're using the more limited loo in the Soyuz capsule that serves as a lifeboat for the station. Meanwhile, company's coming -- the space shuttle Discovery, with a crew of seven, is scheduled to launch on Saturday. At least the shuttle has its own W.C.

It's the Ramble.

New challenge for Space Station crew: a broken toilet/ Sharon Stone films banned in China after "karma" comment/ Pagan tomb under St. Peter's Basilica reopened/ "Andy Griffith" composer dies at 88

 

Linkfest: Dunkin' Donuts Pulls Rachael Ray Ad

A new Dunkin' Donuts ad shows Rachael Ray pitching summer coffee drinks in a scarf that looks like a keffiyeh, more traditionally seen as a headdress on Arab men. Or maybe we make that a former Dunkin' Donuts ad, now that the company has pulled it after threats of a boycott.

It's the Most.

Dunkin' Donuts yanks Rachael Ray ad/ Energy drinks may be a red flag/ X-rated content infiltrates library's story line for kids/ Ex-Bush spokesman: President used "propaganda" to push war/ Teacher lets students vote on whether to let little boy stay in class

 
May 27, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the Most.

Former Dallas council member chooses prison over apology/ Late rush nets Brat Fest record/ Canadian foreign minister resigns/ Japanese railway turns to feline "stationmaster" for help/ $100 laptop story, dated 2005, makes most e-mailed list at MSNBC

 

Linkfest: Apologize or Go to Jail

Former Dallas City Council member James Fantroy faced a choice -- admit he stole money from a Texas college or go to jail for 30 days. Fantroy is dying of kidney cancer. He insists he's innocent. He chose jail.

It's the Most.

Former Dallas council member chooses prison over apology/ Late rush nets Brat Fest record/ Canadian foreign minister resigns/ Japanese railway turns to feline "stationmaster" for help/ $100 laptop story, dated 2005, makes most e-mailed list at MSNBC

 

Linkfest: Zimbabwe's Mugabe Insults Diplomat

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is getting ready for a run-off election next month with rival Morgan Tsvangirai. Along the way, Mugabe said of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer, "You saw that little American girl trotting around the globe like a prostitute."

It's the Ramble.

Mugabe labels U.S. diplomat a 'prostitute'/ Israel has "150 or more" nuclear weapons: Carter/ Scientists announce top 10 new species in last year/ McCartney receives honorary degree for "musical genius"

 
May 26, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the Most.

Fourth disembodied foot washed up in British Columbia/ Odds of Cataclysmic Space-Rock Crash: 1 in 10/ Texting drivers: R U 4 real?/ Hops shortage hitting US craft-breweries/ Lost divers "should pay rescue"/ Boeing 747 splits in two on take off

 

Linkfest: It's Time to Jump Babies in Spain

In Spain this week, men playing the part of Colacho, a person bound to the Devil, have been leaping over rows of babies. That's a move you've got to get right.

It's the Ramble.

"Family Circus" mom dies at 82/ Cheez Whiz is overrated for cheesesteaks/ Indiana Jones and the wrath of the Communist Party/ Spanish village holds baby jump

 

Linkfest: Stop TXTNG and DRV, PLS

A new study shows more than a third of all drivers in several states admit to sending text messages while driving. People, people, just listen to the radio. Seriously.

It's the Most.

Fourth disembodied foot washed up in British Columbia/ Odds of Cataclysmic Space-Rock Crash: 1 in 10/ Texting drivers: R U 4 real?/ Hops shortage hitting US craft-breweries/ Lost divers "should pay rescue"/ Boeing 747 splits in two on take off

 
May 23, 2008

Video: The Most




It's the Most.

Fireworks mark Brooklyn Bridge's 125th birthday/ Dealer offers free gun with car purchase/ Lost parrot tells veterinarian his address/ Ten reasons Gen Xers are unhappy at work / Wing Music, at the top of Google Trends

 

Dumbest Generation: The Remix


Listen: Mike Pesca lets the music ask the questions.

The Dumbest Generation?

The Dumbest Generation?

iStockphoto.com

Having read Mark Bauerlein's The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes our Future, which is thorough, authoritative and provoking, I just kept thinking, "Haven't I heard this somewhere before?" One generation finding fault with the entire character of a later generation is an age old discussion. You hear strains of these bemoanments informing works like the Bowery Boy movies, through the Blackboard Jungle, on to the real life "damn hippies" of Max Yasgur's farm, up through the "Me generation," and crashing into those entitled "millennials." The specific complaints always sound something like this:

"These young people ARE JUST DIFFERENT. I don't get them. It's not just the slang or unfamiliar words, it's their near total lack of communication skills. Also they're rude and so damn lazy. I think back to my youth-- we knew something back then. But today ... ugh. And the worthless pop culture. I really worry about them."

That spiel, I realized, is nearly an exact paraphrase of the song Kids from the 1960 Broadway show, Bye Bye Birdie. So with this in mind I asked Professor Bauerlein a series of questions, first soliciting his thesis, then talking about communication, on through indolence, touching upon the greatness of prior generations and ending up in pop culture. Post interview I edited out my questions and just plopped in the song from Bye Bye Birdie. I hope you'll find it actually works pretty well.

--Mike Pesca

 

Linkfest: New York City Not as Big as It Thought

While New York City celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge opening yesterday, another story was making the rounds: that the city is 17 square miles smaller than long believed. Which won't make finding a place to live any easier.

It's the Ramble.

LA welcomes 18,000 new citizens, a city record/ High gas prices force cops to walk the beat more/ Wolf whistle works, woman strips/ New York's still a big city, just not quite so big

 

Linkfest: The Brooklyn Bridge Turns 125

The Brooklyn Bridge celebrated its 125th birthday last night. Producer Dan Pashman says the city had plenty of cake for everyone. He had two pieces. And he took some pictures. They're on the way.

It's the Most.

Fireworks mark Brooklyn Bridge's 125th birthday/ Dealer offers free gun with car purchase/ Lost parrot tells veterinarian his address/ Ten reasons Gen Xers are unhappy at work / Wing Music, at the top of Google Trends

 
May 22, 2008

Video: The Most



It's the Most.

A surprise as fans pick a 7th "Idol"/ ilots run out of fuel, pray, land safely near Jesus sign/ Tire danger: the cryptic code that could save your life/ Sleepy brain prone to sudden shutdowns/ Fleet Week 2008: Ships, helicopter raids & more/ Getting into college is easier with a gladiator at your side

 

Linkfest: Confidence Key to 'American Idol' Win

David Cook played his way to the top of American Idol yesterday. "As far as I'm concerned," he said, "the competition's over and we're just having fun." Sounds like a rock star to me. You?

It's the Most.

A surprise as fans pick a 7th "Idol"/ Pilots run out of fuel, pray, land safely near Jesus sign/ Tire danger: the cryptic code that could save your life/ Sleepy brain prone to sudden shutdowns/ Fleet Week 2008: Ships, helicopter raids & more/ Getting into college is easier with a gladiator at your side

 
May 21, 2008

The Most, 05.21.08



 

Linkfest: Giant Panda Comes Home After Quake

Bonus: Pre-earthquake video by David Gilkey, NPR, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Embed this on your blog via YouTube

An adult giant panda that went missing in China's May 12 earthquake turned up again at the Wolong National Nature Reserve. Two other pandas remain missing.

It's the Ramble.

Panda finds way home to reserve after China quake/ Man reprimanded for blasting Springsteen hit/ Google responds to Lieberman's call to censor/ Sleepy brain prone to sudden shutdowns/ Fleet Week 2008: Ships, helicopter raids & more/ Tin Thatcher sparks assembly row

 

Linkfest: Gun Owners Pinched as Ammo Prices Rise

For years now, comedian Chris Rock has been doing a bit about "bullet control" -- the idea is that ammunition should be expensive enough to make people think twice about firing it off. Now, thanks to China's demand for metals and the need to supply U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, the price bullets is on the rise. "If things get bad enough, we may all just get one bullet each," one enthusiast told Reuters.

It's the Most.

So much for restaurants' "diet" menus/ Group plans fifth annual prairie dog killing contest/ Mom forced to live in car with dogs/ Former Carter aide Hamilton Jordan dies/ Gun owners pinched as ammo costs shoot up/ Tin Thatcher sparks assembly row

 
May 20, 2008

The Most, 05.20.08



It's the Most.

Divers find combined gold toothpick, earwax spoon/ "Sound of Music" plan protested/ Carbonated fruit a hit in school/ White valedictorian: A first for historically black Morehouse/ For Hall and Oates, a new appreciation

 

Linkfest: 14 Tons of Oreos Close Highway in Illinois

In Morris, Ill., a tractor trailer carrying 14 tons of double-stuffed Oreos tipped over Monday on Insterstate 80. Officials closed both lanes while they removed the cookies.

It's the Ramble.

Hello Kitty appointed Japan's tourism ambassador to China, Hong Kong/ Extinct Tasmanian Tiger's DNA Revived in Mice/ "Disaster fatigue" blamed for drop in Americans' giving/ Carbonated fruit a hit in school/ White valedictorian: A first for historically black Morehouse/ 14 tons of spilled Oreo cookies snarl Illinois traffic

 

Linkfest: We All Heart Hall and Oates


My favorite Hall and Oates song, even if Rich Girl's better.

Rock critic goddess Ann Powers turns her considerable attention to Hall and Oates, the most successful duo in pop music history. In sum, her message is that it's OK to go ahead and love them. Hip-hop artists have been sampling their music for years, and now the emo crowd has piled on. Powers writes, "In particular, two qualities that characterize the hits of this long-lived band resonate with younger listeners: their truly equal footing in both rock and R&B and their belief that accessible and artistically adventurous music could be one and the same."

It's the Most.

Divers find combined gold toothpick, earwax spoon/ "Sound of Music" plan protested/ Carbonated fruit a hit in school/ White valedictorian: A first for historically black Morehouse/ For Hall and Oates, a new appreciation

 
May 19, 2008

The Most, 05.19.08



It's the Most.

Students' photos altered in McKinney yearbook/ Yearbook producer apologies, tries to make amends/ Researchers teach "Second Life" avatar to think/ A Push for Prince George's County to Impeach Pear Tree/ Kenny Chesney is right! ACMs ain't the Country Folks' Choice Awards!/ Royals sell wedding exclusive for $1 million

 

Linkfest: The Cub Scout Mom Who Wasn't

A Pennsylvania mom dressed her seven-year-old son up as a Cub Scout and had him collect money for a phony camping trip. Now she's up for a stint in county prison, with a sentence of six to 23 months.

It's the Ramble.

Mom sentenced in Cub Scout scam/ Dallas Morning News crowd-sources probe into lost JFK files/ As prices rise, crime tipsters work overtime/ Taser duel in parking lot

 

Linkfest: The Mix-and-Match Yearbook Photos

Students at a high school north of Dallas opened their yearbooks to find several of their heads superimposed on the wrong bodies -- and at least one person's head attached to a nude figure. At least 34 kids were mismatched.

It's the Most.

Students' photos altered in McKinney yearbook/ Yearbook producer apologies, tries to make amends/ Researchers teach "Second Life" avatar to think/ A Push for Prince George's County to Impeach Pear Tree/ Kenny Chesney is right! ACMs ain't the Country Folks' Choice Awards!/ Royals sell wedding exclusive for $1 million

 
May 16, 2008

Linkfest: Giant Beetles in the Mail

Postal workers in Mohnton, Pa., heard a curious scratching sound coming from packages labeled as toys and jellies. The noise was coming from 26 giant beetles inside. Customs officials say smugglers may have shipped the beetles in for breeding.

It's the Most.

Beetlemania: Giant bugs cause quite a stir/ Really lite beer making genuine impression on calorie counters/ New Hard Rock Park mixes rides with rock 'n' roll/ Macy's sells "peace baskets" from Rwanda/ Why Chris Matthews is big on Google Trends





 

Linkfest: Tonya Harding Tells Harrowing Tale

Olympic skater Tonya Harding is best known for her involvement in the 1994 kneecapping of rival skater Nancy Kerrigan. Now 37, Harding has spent the past eight years telling her story to Lynda D. Prouse for a new book called The Tonya Tapes. "So many people do not have a voice and they should be heard," Harding told the A.P.

It's the Ramble.

Nine-year-old girl's twin is found inside her stomach/ Former Olympian Harding tells harrowing story in new book/ DeGeneres, de Rossi plan to marry, AP is told/ Murdoch victory, jury rejects spying charges

 
May 15, 2008

The Most for 5.15.08



 

The Internet Is So Hot Right Now

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Somebody just got photobombed.

 

From time to time, Scott Lamb of Buzzfeed drops by to tell us how best to use our valuable Internet time. Today:

Hitler Subtitle Mashups: Crafty types taking a scene from the film Der Untergang about the downfall of Adolf Hitler, and resubtitling it. Imagine a raging Hitler screaming about Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, about his star getting stolen, about getting banned from Microsoft Live.

Photobombing: Sneaking into the background of other people's photographs. Sometimes this is done with NSFW intentions, so clickers beware.

Kittens on Treadmills: These are pretty much videos of kittens on treadmills.

 

Linkfest: Teen Gets 'Awesome' Job -- Mayor!

Muskogee, Okla., has a fresh face in charge -- a very fresh face. John Tyler Hammons captured 70 percent of the vote this week to become the town's new mayor. (Remember Benazir Bhutto's 19-year-old son, who inherited the reins of her political party?)

It's the Ramble.

Oklahoma freshman named town's mayor/ "Crazy ants" causing crazy damage in Houston/ Gold thieves hit 11 JCPenney stores/ Record opium crop for funding resurgent Taliban

 

Linkfest: Is Your Office Making You Fat?

"Culinary occasions of sin" -- that's how Boston Globe describes the offices of New England. Since I work in New York now, I'll go ahead and admit that a regular parade of snacks is by no means limited to that rocky region.

So is your office making you fat? Mine would, if I let it.

It's the Most.

Is your office making you fat?/ Ohio man finds someone already buried in his grave/ U.S. orchestra conducted by robot

Bonus: Why, why, why is "zxbfwwr" spiking on Google Trends?

 
May 14, 2008

The Most, 05.14.08



A man in Fort Worth reached for an itch on his back with a revolver. The good news is that he was treated and released.

It's the Most.

Rough transition to a new asthma inhaler/ Father jailed after daughter fails to get diploma/ Man uses gun for backscratcher, shoots himself/ Divers find Caesar bust that may date to 46 B.C./ Why Anika Sorenstam's big on Google Trends

 

Linkfest: Why President Bush Gave Up Golf

President George Bush tells Politico and Yahoo News that he gave up golf in 2003 after the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. The president said:

"I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf," he said. "I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

It's the Ramble.

Bush talks to Politico, Yahoo News/ Jesuit astronomer: Belief in aliens is not heresy/ Study: Over half of Americans on chronic medicines/ 'The Real World' brings apocalypse to unsuspecting Brooklyn

 
May 13, 2008

The Most, 05.13.08



 

Linkfest: Get Older, Get Happier

A new study shows that as we get older, we get happier. That's what the researchers say, and not being 22 anymore, I believe them.

It's the Most.

Who's happier -- older or younger?/ Passenger sues airline over flight spent on toilet/ Why Sue Simmons showed up on Google Trends/ Student is this year's sole graduate of North Dakota high school

 

Linkfest: LeBron James' Mama Takes His Side

LeBron James took a bear-hug foul from Paul Pierce in the Cavaliers-Celtics game Monday night, right under the basket and in full view of James' mama. Gloria James let Pierce know he should use his words instead, and then showed him how. LeBron James used his words, too, telling his mother to stay out of it.

It's the Ramble.

LeBron James scolds mom during Cavs-Celtics game/ Old gas pumps can't handle ever-rising prices/ Apple Says IPhone Is Sold Out at Its Internet Store/ Wrinkles could be key to buying cigarettes in Japan

 
May 12, 2008

The Most, 05.12.08



 

Linkfest: Introducing 'Buffalo Candy'

Makers of the Tanka Bar say its combination of bison meat and cranberries marks a return to the healthy diet of Native Americans before Europeans showed up with cane sugar and shortening. Native American Natural Foods tested the bar among kids on a reservation, who call it "buffalo candy."

It's the Ramble.

Native company returns to roots with energy bar made of buffalo meat and cranberry/ Teenagers to take embarrassing ailments to Second Life doctors/ Office romance gets contractual/ Girl wins track team title by herself

 

Linkfest: Nation Stuck on Emily and Jacob

Among the newborn set, it's all about Emily and Jacob. The names have topped the list of most popular monikers for the 12th and 9th time in a row, respectively.

It's the Most.

U.S. legal work booms in India / Emily heads top 10 baby names list/ Why Kim Kardashian's back on Google Trends/ Families will make case for vaccine link to autism/ Chicago students seek Obama's haircut, speedy spud, Weird Al

 
May 9, 2008

The Most, 05.09.08



 

Linkfest: Bedbugs in the Subway!

The great New York City bedbug epidemic has spread to the subway, says the New York Post. Me, I'm riding a bike.

It's the Ramble.

Subways' blood-bug invasion/ Man who lost homes in Katrina claims $97M Powerball prize/ Texas teens tell police they converted skull into bong/ Tempest over a Timbit: fired Tim Hortons cashier gets her job back

 

Linkfest: BBC Says Great Tits Cope Well with Warming

A British bird called the great tit seems to be doing fine in the changing climate. Great tits feed on caterpillars, which in warmer weather have been emerging sooner. Great tits in the Netherlands haven't adjusted as well, the BBC reports.

Science. Ahem.

It's the Most.

Rush for 23-cent pizzas closes Papa John's stores/ Great tits cope well with warming/ Acting Mexican police chief killed/ Omaha man uses steak knife to perform self-tracheotomy/ Can you become a creature of new habits?

 
May 8, 2008

Linkfest: A Peek Inside the Platypus

Aides to Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama say their candidate would have finished even closer to Hillary Clinton in Indiana if not for radio host Rush Limbaugh, reports the Washington Post. The talk show icon launched "Operation Chaos," urging Indianans to cast votes for Clinton "to bloody up Obama politically" and keep the nomination race going.

It's the Most.

Did Rush Limbaugh tilt result in Indiana/ Scientists find something good about a big bottom/ Some advice on winning West Virginia/ Platypus looks strange on the inside, too

 

Linkfest: Gravel Woos the Obama Girl

Mike Gravel, Libertarian for president, made his own YouTube video. It's supposed to woo away the Obama Girl. Wonder if it's working.

It's the Ramble.

The slump: It's a guy thing/ Mike Gravel, Libertarian for president, sings/ When men marry later, age gap is larger, researchers find/ Prince William off to fight cocaine war in the Caribbean

 
May 7, 2008

The Most, 05.07.08




Wal-Mart replaces Garland Hypermart with first "Hispanic community" store/ Irvine Robbins, 90; co-founder of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire/ Why Cynthia Rodriguez was #1 on Google Trends/ Facebook Page Sows Confusion About Conny The Whale/ 75 students arrested in San Diego State University drug bust/ Golfing Baghdad's Green Zone: a course with real bunkers

 

Linkfest: Farewell to an Ice Cream Mogul

As a kid, I equated birthdays with a great big Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake -- chocolate almond and plenty of icing. For this, I can thank Irvine Robbins, ice cream mogul. He died Monday at the age of 90 in California.

It's the Most.

Wal-Mart replaces Garland Hypermart with first "Hispanic community" store/ Irvine Robbins, 90; co-founder of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire/ Why Cynthia Rodriguez was #1 on Google Trends/ Facebook Page Sows Confusion About Conny The Whale/ 75 students arrested in San Diego State University drug bust/ Golfing Baghdad's Green Zone: a course with real bunkers

 

Linkfest: Colbert Named Webby 'Person of the Year'

Maybe, if he can't be president of the USA, he can at least be king of the Web. On Tuesday, the Webby Awards named Stephen Colbert the Person of the Year.

It's the Ramble.

Colbert wins "Webby Person of the Year"/ 18th century skull shows signs of scalping/ At 107, Livermore centennial lightbulb is still a real live wire/ California cracks down on "Legal Weed" beer

 
May 6, 2008

The Most, 05.06.08



The world's 10 most disgusting beers/ Famed actress investigates "Green Porno"/ Magic trick costs teacher job/ / Mildred Loving, matriarch of interracial marriage, dies/ Waltzing Matilda "not socialist"

 

Linkfest: The World's 10 Worst Beers

When good beers go bad, they really, really go bad. St. Petersburg Times critic Joey Redner lists his worst 10. Fair warning: He gives no quarter to sentimental favorites like Milwaukee's Best.

It's the Most.

The world's 10 most disgusting beers/ Famed actress investigates "Green Porno"/ Magic trick costs teacher job/ / Mildred Loving, matriarch of interracial marriage, dies/ Waltzing Matilda "not socialist"

 

Linkfest: Brazilian Tourists Paying for Slum Tours

Police in Rio de Janeiro are looking into claims that a company selling tours of the Brazilian city's slums offers travelers the chance to meet armed drug dealers.

It's quite a Ramble.

Brazil tourists "meet drug dealers"/ Chinese switch license-plate numbers to escape speeding violations/ France reveals British WWI cave camp/ Vog -- volcanic smog -- casts haze over Hawaii

 
May 5, 2008

The Most, 05.05.08




"Water Monster's" Ancient artifact or modern graffiti?/ Man asks court to change his name to "In God We Trust"/ Study: Anti-psychotic drug use soars among U.S. and U.K. kids/ Illinois man designs beer can coffin/ Man pushes creation of panel to prepare city for space aliens

 

Linkfest: The PBR Coffin. For Reals.

One man, in South Chicago Heights, designed himself a coffin that looks like a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, while another, in Denver, wants a city commission to prepare for an influx of space aliens.

Hard to say more when it's already the Most.

"Water Monster's" Ancient artifact or modern graffiti?/ Man asks court to change his name to "In God We Trust"/ Study: Anti-psychotic drug use soars among U.S. and U.K. kids/ Illinois man designs beer can coffin/ Man pushes creation of panel to prepare city for space aliens

 

Linkfest: One Boy, One Girl, One Happy Dorm Room

First colleges added co-ed dorms. Now they're opening co-ed dorm rooms, in which students of opposite sexes are allowed to share a single space. The schools discourage couples of what combination from living together, if only to avoid having to shuffle everyone around when love drops out.

It's the Ramble.

Indian baby dropping ritual/ Comedy uses satellites to play sketches set where you are/ One boy, one girl -- one dorm room/ New song from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

 
May 2, 2008

The Most, 05.02.08



 

Bissinger Responds to iKerfuffle*

Recently on Bob Costas's HBO show "Costas Now," Pulitzer Prize-winning sports journalist Buzz Bissinger and Deadspin editor Will Leitch had a heated debate about the merits of traditional vs. new forms of sports coverage. Actually, most of the heat came from Bissinger, who said blogs are "dedicated to cruelty, they're dedicated to journalistic dishonesty, they're dedicated to speed." (Watch the whole profanity-laced rant here.)

The iKerfuffle* even got covered by Richard Sandomir in The New York Times.

Well we had Bissinger on the show today, and he was quite contrite about his behavior, saying in part, "Will Leitch actually is a nice guy, he is, and I should never, ever have treated him that way, and I am embarrased for myself. And the emails that I got that hurt the most were from fans that said 'I'm gonna burn your books, I'm gonna turn my back on you,' and that did hurt me personally."

But while Bissinger acknowledged that he may have come on too strong, and his condemnation of blogs may have been too broad, he was sticking to his basic point. Here are some excerpts from his interview with NPR's Mike Pesca:


Click here to listen to Bissinger's entire interview with Pesca, in which they also discuss the Kentucky Derby.


*Yes, I did just invent a new Internet term, iKerfuffle. It's when something controversial or heated happens and it gets posted to YouTube and it creates a virtual kerfuffle. By which I mean a real kerfuffle. Here's how you use it in a sentence: "That video of Buzz Bissinger on HBO sure started an iKerfuffle. I'm glad I'm not in his shoes today."

 
May 1, 2008

Linkfest: Biofuels Are Good for You. Or Not.

The unsettling spike in global fuel prices prompted a U.N. official to speak out recently against biofuels like ethanol, which is made from corn. Jean Ziegler told the world, "Burning food today, so as to serve the mobility of the rich countries, is a crime against humanity."

Which remark much offended the leaders of Brazil, the world's largest producer of biofuels. "The real crime against humanity is discounting biofuels a priori," said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

It's the Most.

Iron Man vs. various nefarious ferrous adversaries/ Marathon runner takes down a thief/ Brazil's counterattack on biofuels/ People of Lesbos take gay group to court over term "Lesbian"/ Bush lauds Super Bowl champion New York Giants

 

Linkfest: Dino Dung Fetches Big Bucks at Auction

Seriously, you can see anything in New York City. And if you're stuck with an extra chunk of fossilized dung from the Jurassic era, you can sell it for nearly a cool grand.

It's the Ramble.

Dinosaur dung sells at NYC auction for nearly $1,000/ Fertile women 'have sexier voice'/ CDC: More than 3 out of 4 new moms breastfeed/ Italy posts salary details on Web

 
April 30, 2008

The Most, 04.30.08



 

Linkfest: Free Viagra in Chilean Town

A Chilean mayor plans to give Viagra away to men over the age of 60. Mayor Gonzalo Navarette Munoz, a physician, says he heard older patients complaining about their sex lives. "This is about giving our elderly population a better quality of life," he told reporters.

It's the Ramble.

Amy Winehouse working on 'Bond theme'/ Older Chileans given free Viagra/ Roger Waters' inflatable pig recovered in desert/ Albert Hoffman, LSD's 'dad' dies at a mind-blowing 102/ Absinthe's mind-altering mystery solved

 

Linkfest: Americans Selling Stuff to Make Ends Meet

When the economy heads for the basement, Americans follow -- so they can haul out stuff to sell on Craiglist and eBay. Folks at the online swap meets say they're seeing more ads with a plaintive tone. On poster sold her grandmother's tea kettle for $6.

It's the Most.

Americans unload prized belongings to make ends meet/ Red Sox player's wife gives anti-tanning message/ Memorial for beloved surfer killed in car accident/ Charles Nelson Reilly, zooms to the top again/ Absinthe's mind-altering mystery solved

 
April 28, 2008

Linkfest: Twitter Saves Berkeley Student

If you're U.C. Berkeley student on your way to jail in Egypt, it helps to have a Twitter account. Collared while covering an anti-government protest, James Karl Buck managed to bang out "arrested" on his cell phone. That word alerted his friends and the school, who got him a lawyer -- and his freedom.

It's the Ramble.

West Virginia governor's daughter didn't earn MBA/ Student Twitters his way out of Egyptian jail/ Revealing photo threatens a major Disney franchise/ James Bond production halted amid fears of a curse

 

Linkfest: The da Vinci Parachute

In a way, it makes sense that the person who first envisioned the helicopter would also dream up the parachute.

It's Leonardo da Vinci kind of Most.

Swiss jumps using Leonardo da Vinci-designed parachute/ Study suggests math teachers scrap balls and slices/ Man admits 24-year abuse of daughter in cellar/ Two men in New York to apply for marriage license

 
April 25, 2008

The Most, 04.25.08



It's the Most.

At expense of all others, Putin Picks a church/ After losing job over dog, ex-mayor loses dog/ Miley Cyrus bra photo may tarnish clean image/ Frito-Lay hikes prices, puts less food in packages/ Penguin's wetsuit puts him back in the swim of things/

 

Linkfest: Brazilian Balloon Priest Still Missing

In Brazil, rescue workers are scaling back their search for a Catholic priest who harnessed hundreds of helium balloons and went for a flight. The clergyman intended to raise money with the stunt. He blew off course and now missing.

It's the Ramble.

Hopes fade in search for balloon priest/ Grab your couch: Cruise is returning to 'Oprah'/ Reporter: Fallon to take over for Conan O'Brien/ Gay teens finally kiss again on 'As the World Turns'

 

Linkfest: Putin Picks a Church

In Russia, the government is cracking down on proselytizing by Protestants and harassing congregations that gather for worship. Meanwhile, the government has allied itself with the Russian Orthodox Church.

It's the Most.

At expense of all others, Putin Picks a church/ After losing job over dog, ex-mayor loses dog/ Miley Cyrus bra photo may tarnish clean image/ Frito-Lay hikes prices, puts less food in packages/ Penguin's wetsuit puts him back in the swim of things/

 
April 24, 2008

The Most, 04.24.08




Swim water OK'd after girls fainted in pool/ Ban on solo encores at the Met? Ban, what ban?/ Monkeys paddle to freedom in Florida/ 'Raven' star Orlando Brown re-emerges after going missing/ Sammy the seal leaves Long Island/ Throwback baseball leagues catch on

 

Linkfest: Wesley Snipes, 'Mighty Oak'

From today's Ramble:

In Israel, a soldier was sentenced to 19 days in jail for uploading a picture of himself on his military base.

In Florida, Denzel Washington turned out for Wesley Snipes' sentencing on three convictions for failing to file income taxes. Washington called Snipes "a mighty oak" and the judge noted the "basic soundness and goodness of his heart." Snipes faces up to three years in jail and a fines of $5 million or more.

In the aisles at Sam's Clubs, shoppers will face rations on Basmati, jasmine and long grain white rice. Wal-Mart, which owns the chain of warehouse stores, says it imposed the limit of four bags per customer because of recent "supply and demand trends."

 

Linkfest: Near-Drownings on Sync'd Swimming Team

Four members of a synchronized swimming team in Seattle nearly drowned Monday. Three of the girls passed out in the water, and so did a team mother who leaned over the edge. Was something wrong with the water itself? Or was the synchronized swimming itself to blame?

It's a mysterious Most.

Swim water OK'd after girls fainted in pool/ Ban on solo encores at the Met? Ban, what ban?/ Monkeys paddle to freedom in Florida/ 'Raven' star Orlando Brown re-emerges after going missing/ Sammy the seal leaves Long Island/ Throwback baseball leagues catch on

 
April 23, 2008

The Most, 04.23.08



It's the Most.

Massachusetts town tapped for nation's best water/ Skipping breakfast may mean your baby is a girl/ Olympic skater was slipped date-rape drug/ Lynchings in Congo as penis theft panic heats capital/ Some libraries shun Google in book battle

 

Linkfest: Penis-Theft Panic Hits Congo Capital

From Reuters: "Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft."

It's the Most.

Massachusetts town tapped for nation's best water/ Skipping breakfast may mean your baby is a girl/ Olympic skater was slipped date-rape drug/ Lynchings in Congo as penis theft panic heats capital/ Some libraries shun Google in book battle

 

Linkfest: Laura Bush Hosts the 'Today' Show

First Lady Laura Bush took a turn in the host's chair on the Today show Tuesday. Think Ms. Bush would consider delivering our Ramble?

First Lady co-hosts 'Today' show/ The most overrated careers/ Wisconsin leads nation in drunk driving/ Boston TV exec charged after alleged tirade

 
April 22, 2008

Linkfest: Hawking Says Primitive Life May Exist in Space

In a lecture at George Washington University on Monday, Stephen Hawking said the universe is so big that there like is life of some type somewhere.

It's the Most likely case.

Woman says Victoria's Secret stole her bra/ Hawking says primitive alien life may exist/ Laser pointers banned after attacks/ Magician David Blaine aims at record for holding his breath

 

Linkfest: Get Rich. Invent Test-Tube Meat

PETA's offering $1 million for the first viable scheme for producing meat in the lab. Call it the medium-rare Ramble.

Activists call for test-tube meat/ Blind patients get bionic eyes/ Candidates take turn on World Wrestling Entertainment

 

The Most, 04.22.08



It's the Most.

Woman says Victoria's Secret stole her bra/ Hawking says primitive alien life may exist/ Laser pointers banned after attacks/ Magician David Blaine aims at record for holding his breath

 
April 21, 2008

The Most, 04.21.08



Cop battles python to save pet store owner/ Popping the (prom) question/ Eli Manning marries college sweetheart/ Who in the world is Panfilo de Narvaez?/ James Bond's car lands in lake

 

Linkfest: Rescuing Snickers the Sea Dog

Have you heard about the saga of Snickers the Sea Dog? The plucky cocker spaniel has been rescued after his own (mariner's) Ramble.

Oldest known person turns 115/ Experts says crystal skulls are flake/ Space Station astronauts land off-target, but safely/ Snickers the dog is saved

 

Linkfest: Cop Foils Python Attack

In Eugene, Ore., a police sergeant saved a pet store owner and the python that was trying to make a meal of her. Instead of slicing the snake's head off, Ryan Nelson pried open its mouth. "He was the bravest guy ever," Teresa Rossiter told the Oregonian newspaper.

No wonder the story made today's Most.

Cop battles python to save pet store owner/ Popping the (prom) question/ Eli Manning marries college sweetheart/ Who in the world is Panfilo de Narvaez?/ James Bond's car lands in lake

 
April 18, 2008

The Most, 04.18.08



 
April 17, 2008

The Most, 04.17.08



Not just more, it's the Most.

The one true kilogram/France appalled by song in English/ Fancy loos for China's Shaolin Temple/ The one true kilogram/ Lake suddenly vanishes in Chile/ Elderly women convicted in murder case/ The book of crazy Alaska placenames

 

Linkfest: Mitt Romney, Funny Guy

Mitt Romney rolled out the one liners at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner last night. Romney joked, "I took a bad fall at a campaign rally and broke my hair." There's more where that came from.

It's the Ramble.

Mitt Romney, funny guy/ Hot jobs for night owls/
Tejano music star Emilio Navaira upgraded to fair condition
/ Most of use just one computer password

 

Linkfest: Gold Standard for the Metric System

Since I'm the one writing this post, I get to pick a favorite Most. Today, I vote for the story about the one true kilogram -- because really, how can they know?

France appalled by song in English/ Fancy loos for China's Shaolin Temple/ The one true kilogram/ Lake suddenly vanishes in Chile/ Elderly women convicted in murder case/ The book of crazy Alaska placenames

 
April 16, 2008

The Most, 04.16.08



It's the BPP's Most.

"Sex in the City" star talks about breast cancer / Motley Crue announces CrueFest / Latest Harry Potter drama / Bill Cosby to release rap album in May/ Chemical in plastic may stunt growth

 

Linkfest: Canadians Angry over Coffee Promotion

Unfurling the rim of a paper coffee cup in Canada can win caffeine-crazed Canadians a prize. But many say it's becoming harder to win in the "roll up the rim" contest sponsored by coffee chain Tim Horton's.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

A future bride, bejeweled / French bill takes chic out of being too thin / Car is towed with sleeping Dallas boy inside/ Canadians frustrated by Tim Horton's coffee cup contest

 

Linkfest: Study Says Chemical in Plastic Stunts Growth

A controversial chemical found in plastic may hinder child development, according to a report released yesterday by the National Institutes of Health.

It's the BPP's Most.

"Sex in the City" star talks about breast cancer / Motley Crue announces CrueFest / Latest Harry Potter drama / Bill Cosby to release rap album in May/ Chemical in plastic may stunt growth


 
April 15, 2008

The Most, 04.15.08



Los Angeles County supervisors are considering new regulations for taco trucks, those hallowed (or hated) purveyors of East L.A. street food. They "just make the community look like there's no order," said one aide.

It's the BPP's most.

The taco truck tussle/ Subway groper could get life in prison/ Testosterone may affect market crises/ Amnesty International says China may have world's most executions/ U.S. embassy ready to open in Baghdad

 
April 14, 2008

Finding a Feathered Friend in NYC

Daniel Kopulos is a lifelong naturalist who has gotten sick of the way pet shops do business. His new store, Uptown Birds in Manhattan sells exotic birds only to the people who can withstand his exhaustive review process. Because these birds can live for 60 and sometimes 80 years, they aren't the right fit for the casual hobbyist. Birds make for complex pets, and in the right situation can make for very rewarding companions -- but picking your breed and matching it to your lifestyle is crucial. He subjects potential buyers to weeks of interviews, which can get very personal -- and in some cases he will even make house calls to make sure the human is a suitable match. Although these birds can fetch him up to $10,000 a pop, Daniel rejects people all the time. He looks at bird/human relationships as a delicate and rare thing, and wishes more pet shops would take this kind of care in matching their animals to prospective owners.



 

The Most, 04.14.08



It's the BPP's Most.

For Scientists, a Beer Test Shows Results as a Litmus Test / Zoning Board Rules for Pearl Street Strippers / Russia Tests Monkeys for Mars Trip / Objects on Your Plate May Be Smaller Than They Appear

 

Linkfest: Surgery Through the Mouth

Want to avoid a scar? Consider natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery. The procedure, which involves removing organs through a patient's mouth, has been successfully performed in America, France and India.

Now, Professor Lord Darzi, chair of surgery at Imperial College in London, is experimenting with robotically controlled instruments that descend into the stomachs of patients.


It's the BPP's Ramble.


Lonely Planet made up?
/ Or not? / Fake Divorces in Spain / 101 Year Old marathoner a fraud? / LetsRun.com message board thread

 

Linkfest: Naked Lady in Cheney's Sunglasses?

Maybe that wasn't a nude woman reflected in Vice President Dick Cheney's shades, but bloggers thought otherwise...

It's the BPP's Most.

For Scientists, a Beer Test Shows Results as a Litmus Test / Zoning Board Rules for Pearl Street Strippers / Russia Tests Monkeys for Mars Trip / Objects on Your Plate May Be Smaller Than They Appear

 
April 11, 2008

The Most, 04.11.08



Names that match forge a bond on the Internet/ Michael Johns bounced off "Idol"

 

Linkfest: Widow Sues Petsmart Over Husband's Death

Nancy Magee's husband, Thomas, died in May 2005, just one month after he received a liver transplant. Doctors reviewing the case discovered he'd gotten a contaminated organ from the donor. Mr. Magee, as well as two other patients who received organs from the same donor, died from LCMV, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

After a detailed investigation, Mrs. Magee says she has traced the LCMV virus that killed her husband back to a hamster the donor purchased from Petsmart. She's now suing Petsmart Inc.

It's the BPP's Most.

Widow sues Petsmart over husband's death/ Names that match forge a bond on the Internet/ Michael Johns bounced off "Idol"

 

Linkfest: Man Finds Small Fortune in Cash

Eli Estrada, a 40-year-old from Highland Park, Calif, was walking to work when he noticed something suspicious in the street. Lying on the asphalt was a bag and inside that bag were stacks of $20 bills totaling $140,000. Estrada's first thought: "I'm rich."

It didn't take long before Estrada's feelings of luck and joy turned into guilt. "That's just your first reaction," Estrada said, "but it's not yours and you feel nervous and you feel like you did something wrong, even though you didn't."

Though Estrada had debt of his own, he decided to turn the money into authorities.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Man finds $140,000 in cash/ Crayola's 64-count box of crayons celebrates 50th birthday/ Postal officials charge $13,500 steak dinner on government credit cards/ Pinkberry settles yogurt suit

 
April 10, 2008

The Most, 04.10.08



It's the BPP's Most.

Gator blood could fight infections/ Two dead inside doomsday cult cave/ Randy Pausch's Alice Project/ Scientists take drugs to boost brain power

 

Linkfest: Bosnian Man Fears Alien Attack

Radivoje Lajic, a man from Bosnia has had five meteorites strike his home. For Lajic, this coincidence is too much to dismiss. He believes he is under attack.

"I am obviously being targeted by extraterrestrials. I don't know what I have done to annoy them but there is no other explanation that makes sense," Lajic said.

Experts at Belgrade University are currently investigating local magnetic fields to figure out why Lajic's property attracts extraterrestrial objects.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Bosnian man fears alien attack/ Gordon Brown appears on "American Idol"/ Candidates bumped from "American Idol"/ Berlusconi: Left has uglier women

 

Linkfest: Gator Blood Could Fight Infections

Researchers in Louisiana say they've found proteins in alligator blood that could lead to new drugs to fight infections in people.

It's the BPP's Most.

Gator blood could fight infections/ Two dead inside doomsday cult cave/ Randy Pausch's Alice Project/ Scientists take drugs to boost brain power

 
April 9, 2008

The Most, 04.09.08



 

Linkfest: Man Evicted from 'Amazing' Treehouse

Officers in Seattle gave David "Squirrelman" Csaky 10 days to abandon his elaborate treehouse. Squirrelman said he didn't have anywhere else to live. On Monday morning, the Seattle Department of Transportation posted a 48-hour eviction notice, but Squirrelman refused to come down.

"I'm tired," Csaky said. "I just want to be left alone. I'm not hurting anyone."

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Man evicted from "amazing" treehouse/ Storm Troopers in court! Nosy clerk looks at celebrities' medical files/ High School Musical 4 already in works

 

Linkfest: Germany's 'Robot' Restaurant

Germany is responsible for many of the inventions we use every day. They invented bottled aspirin, the airship, the printing press, the diesel engine and, now, the automated restaurant.
The dining area looks similar to a roller coaster, with metal tracks criss-crossing in and out of the tables. Customers use touch-screens to order food and wait for their meals to slide in on metal tracks.

To see a video of Germany's automated "robot" restaurant, check out the BPP's Most.

Germany's "robot" restaurant/ South Philadelphia steak shop threatens city lawsuit/ Italy makes it hard for jailbirds to stay in jail/ A Ukrainian pop star's would-be revolution/ U.S. water pipelines are breaking

 
April 8, 2008

The Most, 04.08.08



It's the BPP's Most.

Starbucks launching "everyday" coffee/ Scientists aim to stop ringing ears/ Were the Mets 'Rickrolled'?/ British grocery chain hits America

 

Linkfest: Potential Aftermath of Nuclear War

A new study shows that the aftermath of a regional nuclear war would affect not just the countries engaged in battle, but the entire world. Nuclear warfare would put a massive hole in the ozone layer, endangering all forms of life.

"It would have a big increase in human ailments such as cataracts and cancer," said study leader Michael Mills of the University of Colorado at Boulder.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Potential aftermath of nuclear war/ 'The Simpsons' yanked from Venezuelan TV / 'Project Runway' catwalks from Bravo to Lifetime Network/ Pavarotti's finale was lip-synched/ Obese kids banned from riding donkeys

 

Linkfest: Starbucks Launching "Everyday" Coffee

In hopes to reinvigorate their business, Starbucks will introduce a new, everyday brew called Pike Place Roast.

"It is the best coffee that we have created, maybe, in our history," CEO Howard Schultz said on a call with reporters on Monday.

Starbucks will be giving out free cups of the new coffee at stores nationwide, starting at noon Eastern.

It's the BPP's Most.

Starbucks launching "everyday" coffee/ Scientists aim to stop ringing ears/ Were the Mets 'Rickrolled'?/ British grocery chain hits America

 
April 7, 2008

The Most, 04.07.08



"Men Create More Housework for Women."

It's the Most.

Guys make chores/ Men duped more by Internet fraud/ Google Trends: Chiari malformation/ As Las Vegas housing slumps, immigrants are losing jobs and heading home/ Aztec math shows trouble with taxes

And straight from the Most E-mailed list at NPR, "Eric Cartman: America's Favorite Little $@#&*%."

 

Linkfest: Blame It on the Y Chromosome

From the Department of Painfully Obvious Headlines:

"Men Create More Housework for Women."

It's the Most.

Guys make chores/ Men duped more by Internet fraud/ Google Trends: Chiari malformation/ As Las Vegas housing slumps, immigrants are losing jobs and heading home/ Aztec math shows trouble with taxes

And straight from the Most E-mailed list at NPR, "Eric Cartman: America's Favorite Little $@#&*%."

 

Linkfest: A Solar System Kinda Like Ours

Those of you feeling lost and lonely on this Monday morning can take comfort in news that scientists have found us a twin solar system.

It's the Ramble.

Thandie Newton to play Condoleezza Rice/ Woman accused of stabbing husband over hot dogs/ Our twin solar system/ Suspect in robbery fills out job application before crime

 
April 4, 2008

Linkfest: Mojave Tortoises Moved for Army Training

In Fort Irwin, Calif., scientists started moving the desert tortoise, the Mojave Desert's flagship species. This effort to make room for tank training at the Army's Fort Irwin has left many conservationists up in arms.

Fort Irwin wnats to expand its 643,000-acre training site an extra 131,000 acres into tortoise territory to accommodate faster tanks and longer-range weapons used to train roughly 4,000 troops.

It's the BPP's Most.

Mojave tortoises moved for Army training/ Nazi orgy scandal rocks Formula One/ 81 percent of Americans think U.S. on wrong track/ Air America host suspended for Clinton remarks/ Internet busts car thief

 

Linkfest: Internet Addiction

Psychiatrist Jerald Block of Portland, Ore., argues that Internet addiction should be included in the next version of DSM, the U.S. handbook of recognized psychiatric conditions.

South Korea has conducted some compelling research on Internet addiction showing that the average high schooler spends over 20 hours a week gaming. In response, the government has trained 1,000 counselors to help the 200,000 children affected by this problem.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Internet addiction/ New Kids on the Block to reunite/ Pregnant transman defends his right to have baby on Oprah/ Ciao, Air Italia?

 
April 2, 2008

Linkfest: Sex! Murder! Tentacles! Octopi Have It All

I don't know whether you'd like to be under the sea in octopus' garden, but scientists report the eight-legged mollusks are having a whale of a time down there.

It's the BPP's Most.

Sex! Murder! Tentacles! Octopi have it all/ Sean Levert dead at 39/ Third graders plot to hurt teacher/ Leader types buy a lot of sneakers/ Oprah to dedicate show to her late dog

 

Linkfest: Parachute Not D.B. Cooper's

A couple of kids found a tattered old parachute in their Washington State backyard recently. The FBI thought it might be the one used by mystery hijacker D.B. Cooper, who bailed out of a plane with $200,000 in twenties back in 1971. But his parachute was nylon, and the one found by the kids is silk.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Parachute wasn't D.B. Cooper's/ Deformed beaks mean slow starvation for Pacific Northwest birds/ School deletes students' grades/ Marmosets in the slammer

 
April 1, 2008

Linkfest: Landline Hacking

Words to fear from CBS 13 in Sacramento:

"Hackers call your voicemail, and if you have an easy password like '1 2 3 4,' they access your phone system and change your voicemail to say something like 'operator, I will accept the charges.' "

It's the BPP's Ramble.

John Cusack stalker arrested/ Found: oldest gold object in the Americas/ Saudi prince dreams of a mile-high tower/ A new Stonehenge dig/ Landline hacking

 

Linkfest: Bring Your Baby to Work

Did you guys grow up in day care? Turns out some workplaces will now let you grow up in your mom or dad's office, at least until you can crawl to the water cooler yourself.

It's the BPP's Most.

Bataan memorial march draws record crowd/ Hope for the Tasmanian devil/ Silicon Valley meetings go "topless"/ Experts now recommend hands-only CPR/ Day care's new frontier: Your baby at your desk

 
March 31, 2008

Linkfest: The 16 Worst Places to Stash Your Stuff

Your stuff -- and where you keep it -- is a key to good health, according to Prevention magazine. For example, toothbrushes stored on the sink are prone to "aerosolized toilet funk," so you're better off stashing yours in a medicine cabinet.


The 16 worst places to stash your stuff
/ Cops bust high school root beer kegger / Fun With Videos: The New Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Commercial / Police arrest anti-war protestor, 80, at mall / Camels line up for Gulf beauty contest

 

Linkfest: Muslims Now More Populous Than Catholics

According to the Vatican, Islam has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion.

Monsignor Vittorio Formenti, who compiles the Vatican's yearbook, told the Vatican newspaper that Catholics account for 17.4 percent of the world population, with Muslims at 19.2 percent.

"For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us," he said.

South Korean president gives salary to poor / Upstate sock fight! / Anti-emo riots in Mexico

 
March 28, 2008

Thanks Arthur!

We cannot stop watching this.

 

Linkfest: Brain's 'Sixth Sense' for Calories

Scientist Ivan de Araujo and his colleagues recently published a study that shows the brain can sense the calories in food, independent of how things taste. This "sixth sense" machinery could ultimately help researchers understand what causes obesity.

Questions raised by the discovery of the brain's calorie-sensing system "are extremely important to understanding the pathogenesis and sociology of human obesity," wrote Zane Andrews and Tamas Horvath in a preview of the Araujo's study.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Brain's 'sixth sense' for calories/ Trump's $200,000 a month penthouse/ Pharmacy chain markets DNA paternity tests / Barista donates kidney to save customer's life

 

Linkfest: Man Scammed by Craigslist Ad

A pair of hoax ads on Craigslist cost Robert Salisbury much of what he owned. The ads appeared Saturday afternoon, saying that Salisbury, the owner of a Jacksonville home, had to leave the area suddenly and that his belongings, which included a horse, were free for the taking, said Jackson County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Colin Fagan.

Driving home, Salisbury stopped a truck that was packed with his work ladders, lawn mower and weed eater. "I informed them I was the owner, but they refused to give the stuff back," Salisbury said. "They showed me the Craigslist printout and told me they had the right to do what they did."

Detectives have contacted Craigslist's legal team in hopes to figure out who posted the ad.

It's the BPP's Most.

Man scammed by Craigslist ad/ A scientific look at the runner's high/ Legs manual wins odd title prize / High technology Speedo

 
March 27, 2008

Linkfest: Glasses Aren't Geeky

Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, have disproven the stereotype that people who wear glasses are more nerdy or geeky than those who do not.

In fact, the opposite was true, said Professor Paul Baird from the University of Melbourne's Center for Eye Research Australia.

"We have literally busted the myth that people who wear glasses are introverted or have particular personality characteristics," he says.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Glasses aren't geeky/ How to eat well with rising food prices/ Group starts unprecedented bid to recall New Jersey governor Corzine/ Scientists training fish to catch themselves

 

Linkfest: Tune Recorded Before Edison

For over a century, Thomas Edison has been considered the father of recorded sound. But in a new discovery, researchers say they have found a recording of the human voice, made by a little-known Frenchman named douard-Lon Scott de Martinville, that predates Edison's invention of the phonograph by almost twenty years.

"This is a historic find, the earliest known recording of sound," says Samuel Brylawski, the former head of the recorded-sound division of the Library of Congress.

It's the BPP's Most.

Tune recorded before Edison/ Egg McMuffin inventor dies at 89 / Lovesick swan to be reunited with her paddleboat/ U.S. Abusing Law to Get Species Off Protected List?/ Notorious bear ends up in museum

 
March 26, 2008

Linkfest: Obama, Clinton Kin to Pitt, Jolie

They'll be setting some more places at Brad Pitt's family table. Genealogists say the actor is distantly related to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Vice President Dick Cheney -- and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is distantly related to Angelina Jolie.

It's the BPP's Most.

Barack Obama's related to Brad Pitt, Hillary Clinton to Angelina Jolie/ Dick Cheney's related to Brad Pitt/ Wolverine thriving near Tahoe/ Finn held over Easter Island ear/ Honduran president defends melons by eating one/ Chris Cornell does "Billie Jean" on American Idol

 

Linkfest: Naked Pic of Carla Bruni Goes to Auction

Years before she married that Sarkozy guy, Carla Bruni was in great demand as a model in France. Sometimes she showed off clothes. And at least once she showed off without clothes. An image from an au naturale shoot is set for auction next month in New York City, for an estimated price of $3,000.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Paul Prudhomme grazed by bullet/ Miss Bimbo website for girls/ Cancer study funded by tobacco interests/ Auctioning a nude picture of France's first lady

 
March 25, 2008

Linkfest: Bamboo Engulfs Defenseless Yard

Randy Bothwell, a police detective in Chester, Pa., considered several ways to rid his yard of bamboo: salt, an exorcism, shooting it with his service revolver.

After one month and two broken shovels , Bothwell rented a Bobcat to excavate the small bamboo forest. He acquired 14 gallons of poison and bought 24 cubic yards of dirt to cover up the resulting hole. Total approximate cost: $1,500.

After all of Bothwell's hard work, bamboo shoots continued to appear. "It gave me ... the final salute." Mr. Bothwell says. "I was like, 'Mother of God.' "

For more on Mr. Bothwell's bamboo battle, check out the BPP's Most.

Bamboo engulfs defenseless yard/ McCartney fans hail 'Mills' song / Tiger's PGA Tour streak ends at Doral/ When the bully sits in the next cubicle

 

Linkfest: Re-Growing Organs

Three years ago, Lee Spievack sliced off the tip of his finger in the propeller of a hobby shop airplane.

What happened next, CBS correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports, launched him into the future of medicine. Spievack's brother, Alan, a medical research scientist, sent him a special powder and told him to sprinkle it on the wound.

"I powdered it on until it was covered," Spievack recalled. To his astonishment, his finger grew back.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Re-growing organs/ Two-way GPS/ World's tallest man gets bike

 
March 24, 2008

Linkfest: Guys Are Clueless

Guys are clueless. That's the news from Indiana University's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.

"Young men just find it difficult to tell the difference between women who are being friendly and women who are interested in something more," says one researcher.

Um, y'all? It's the BPP's Ramble.

Driver blames speeding on bad Oreo dunk/ Saturn moon may be hiding an ocean/ Man proposes over Twitter/ Men are emotionally clueless

 

Linkfest: A Message in a Bottle

A bear hunting guide in Alaska fished a bottle of the water and found inside it an old message sent by a fourth grader 1,700 miles away, back in the 1980s. "It was just kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing," Emily says.

It's the BPP's Most.

1986 message in bottle drifts 1,735 miles/ Sarkozy's ex-wife marries in N.Y. Instant replays for computer crashes/ Stressed Singapore hunts for its happiest person

 
March 21, 2008

Linkfest: College Student Fights His Own Cancer

Josh Sommer,a Duke University junior , was diagnosed in January 2006 with chordoma, a rare bone cancer with no cure and few possible treatments. Sommer recieved a fellowship grant and has taken the semester off to focus on research with the Chordoma Foundation, which he founded with his mom to help coordinate cancer research efforts.

"I guess the way I look at it is that there will be a time for every disease when one can in essence outrun their disease," Josh writes in a late-night e-mail to a reporter who had been spending time with him.

It's the BPP's Most.

College student fights his own cancer/ Apple succeeds by breaking the rules Israeli immigrant solves 38-year-old math riddle/ Duke almost bounced by ... Belmont?

 

Linkfest: Rodents Caused Nevada Flood

Back in January, a century-old irrigation canal failed and flooded the rural town of Fernley, Nevada. Yesterday, a team of scientific experts concluded burrowing rodents are to blame for the flood.

According to a report for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, muskrats, beavers, gophers and other rodents dug holes as deep as 25 feet into the canal embankment.

"Obviously, rodents are a problem here. That is what the evaluation team felt was the cause," said Jeffrey McCracken, public affairs director of the bureau's Mid-Pacific Region in Sacramento.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Rodents caused Nevada flood/ French court holds ban on gene-altered corn seed/ Shoplifter forgets son/ Tolkien's Hobbit fetches ??60,000 / Buddha statue sold for more than $14.3 million

 
March 20, 2008

Thinking of Going Vegetarian? Today's Your Day!

Since 1985, an animal rights group called FARM has declared the first day of spring the Great American Meatout. They want you to give up meat today...and they're hoping once you're off it, you'll stay off.

I'm one of those people who thinks, "Yeah, someday I should give up meat," but then I just stick with it out of inertia and, let's be real, laziness. So I reached out to someone who's currently giving up meat to find out how hard it is. Rod Dreher may only be giving up meat temporarily and for religious reasons (Lent), but he's still working through the practical aspects of a meat-free life. He's also blogging about it for the Dallas Morning News' religion blog.

His most helpful (to me) tip? Hot sauce.

I also found a great website called the Savvy Vegetarian. I'm thinking of maybe actually trying this for myself. One day. Sometime. Possibly? (We'll see).

 

Linkfest: Mafia Man Too Fat for Jail

A court in Sicily decided that an accused Mafioso can be put under house arrest because he is too fat for any Italian jail cell. Salvatore Ferranti, who weighs 462 pounds, was allowed to go home after spending six months in four different Italian prisons, his lawyer told Reuters.

Italian guards claimed that there were no prison beds big enough for him, that he couldn't fit through the bathroom door, and that they wouldn't be able to transport him to a hospital in an emergency.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Mafia man too fat for jail/ Seven people charged in global art scam/ Spring comes to early?/ Japan appoints cartoon ambassador

 

Linkfest: Police Sergeant Charged with Rape

David Rodriguez, a police sergeant from New Rochelle, N.Y., and husband of a WNBC-TV news anchor, was charged on Wednesday with the rape of a 17-year-old girl. Rodriguez, 36, is accused of entering the girl's home and raping her last month. The rape occured just a few hours after Rodriguez and three other officers arrested her 35-year-old live-in boyfriend for a domestic violence charge.

His lawyer, Stephen Worth, said the charge was false, and suggested that the girl had a "number of motives to make up a false allegation." He did not elaborate.

It's the BPP's Most.

Police sergeant charged with rape/ New "Anne of Green Gables" book stirs debate / "Virtual massage" for phantom limb pain/ The return of the Knights Templar/ Runaway bride's ex-fiance marries another / Did sausage sandwich fix prevent I-95 collapse?

 
March 19, 2008

Linkfest: Spitzer's Call Girl Loses $1 Million Offer

Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the call girl at the center of the Eliot Spitzer sex scandal, lost potential earnings from her new-found fame by $1 million on Tuesday when old nude videos of her emerged.

In the height of this political sex scandal, "Girls Gone Wild" offered to pay Dupre $1 million to pose nude in a magazine spread, but after discovering the old footage of a semi-nude Dupre in its video archives, the company took back its offer.

It's the BPP's Most.

Spitzer's call girl loses $1 million offer/ McCartney's divorce settlement has been published/ Starbucks CEO to announce major changes today/ Record-setting pilot dies at 26

 

Linkfest: Actor Quits Film on Rabbis' Orders

Abraham Karpen, 25, a Hasidic Jew from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was cast to play Natalie Portman's husband in a short film called New York I Love You. A few weeks after filming started, Karpen's rabbis discovered Karpen's plan to act and ordered him to withdraw from the film or face the possibility that his children would be kicked out of their religious school.

"We don't watch TV, use the Internet or see movies. It's against our religion and our traditions. There are strong guidelines about what you can and can't do," Abraham said.

For a full story, check out BPP's Ramble.

Actor quits film on rabbis' orders/ Student not expelled over facebook group/ Japanese train-seat etiquette/ Sugar-makers bitter about vandalism

 
March 17, 2008

The Irish Countdown

description

Ireland is part of Europe.

 

Two titans of Irish baking clashed this morning in the BPP St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread Bakeoff, as Caitlin defeated Tricia to extend her bake-off streak to two (certain posters of this post still contest her first victory). Above is an excerpt of the mashup we played as they entered the gladiator arena studio. Danny Boy vocals by John McDermott. If you don't know what the other song is, you're probably not awesome.

 
March 14, 2008

Linkfest: Bear Convicted for Honey Theft

The taste of honey was simply too luring for a bear in Macedonia, which repeatedly ransacked a beekeeper's hives. Now the bear has a criminal record after a court found it guilty of theft and criminal damage.

The case was started by the frustrated beekeeper after a year of struggling to protect his beehives. And because the animal had no owner and belonged to a protected species, the court ordered the state to pay for the damage to the beehives - a sum around $3,500.

It's the BPP's Most.

Bear convicted for honey theft/ President Bush sings an off-key spoof of "The Green Green Grass of Home"/ Snoop Dogg to remix ABC soap opera theme/ Pink poodle case goes to court Student suspended for buying Skittles in class

 

Linkfest: A Ballet with Pregnant Women

In London, Balletlorent is currently recruiting 12 pregnant women to star in a dance production called, "MaEternal." Artistic director Liv Lorent, who, coincidentally, is pregnant herself, says she has always been interested in combining trained dancers with normal people from all ages to make her ballet productions more authentic.

"I've done projects in the past where I have invited all sorts of people -- children, old people, builders, footballers doctors, all sorts -- to take part," she told Reuters.

The performance takes place in the northern English city of Newcastle this May.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Pregnant woman ballet/ Pluck of the Irish: Beer costume stolen/ France's sordid housing crisis/ Michael Jackson will keep Neverland Ranch

 

Honey, Someone's Girlfriend Baked a Pie

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A pie for Pi Day

 

Happy Pi Day, y'all.

Ian Chillag's girlfriend, Nora, celebrated by baking a pie. With pi on it. She said she would, in our pi-ku contest.

On the radio: All about Pi Day

 
March 13, 2008

A Tale of Two Trailers

Funny Games comes out tomorrow. It looks like a pretty disturbing film from director Michael Haneke, in which two young men take a vacationing family hostage. As you may know, Haneke has covered this subject matter before. In fact, he made this exact movie before, in 1997, in Austria. The trailers go nearly shot-for-shot. A comparison -- and be warned, they really are disturbing -- after the jump.

Continue reading "A Tale of Two Trailers" »

 

Linkfest: Airplane Stops Skeleton Luggage

In Munich, Germany, a woman was stopped at the airport after baggage control handlers found the skeleton of her brother sealed in a plastic bag in her luggage, police said Wednesday.

After authorities questioned the woman, they discovered that she trying to fulfill the last wish of her brother -- who died 11 years ago in Sao Paulo, Brazil -- to be buried in Italy.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Airplane stops skeleton luggage/ Copper theft stops Australian trains Asparagus mystic/ Lil Jon Winery

 

Linkfest: Feds Warn to Halt Salmon Fishing

On Tuesday, representatives from the Pacific Management Council said the number of salmon living in the ocean and rivers along the Pacific Coast is so sparse that salmon fishing will have to come to a halt unless an emergency exception is granted.

"This is unprecedented," said Dave Bitts, a commercial salmon and crab fisherman based in Eureka. "The Sacramento fish are our bread and butter, and there are not even any crumbs. It's horrible. It means half or more of my income is not going to be there at all this year."

Such a move would jeopardize the livelihoods of close to 1,000 commercial fishermen and put a stop to 2.4 million recreational fishermen.

It's the BPP's Most.

Feds warn to halt salmon fishing/ 'American Idol' cuts first finalist/ SPM Communications: A jerk-free work environment/ Why Jacobson won't be watching "Law & Order"/ Penguins who have never seen snow/ Last Harry Potter book becomes two films

 
March 12, 2008

Linkfest: Japanese Sisters Stash $56 Million

Two Japanese sisters, Hatsue Shimizu, 64, and Yoshiko Ishii, 55, were arrested on suspicion of hiding a large sum of yen they inherited from their father. The two sisters hid the cash in cardboard boxes in what may be Japan's biggest-ever tax dodge, media said.

Shimizu told prosecutors she had forgotten about the cash, most of which was hidden in her garage. Her sister Ishii admitted the allegations.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Japanese sisters stash $56 million/ Red-light camera could increase car crashes/ World's fastest clapper/ Book returned to Finland library after 100 years

 

Linkfest: Prisoner Forgotten in Cell for Four Days

Adriana Tores-Flores, 38, a forgotten prisoner, spent four days in an isolated holding cell at a court house. Tores-Flores was left with no food, water, or toilet, claim authorities.

Tores-Flores appeared in court last Thursday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of selling pirated CDs, but when the judge foudn out that she was an illegal immigrant, he ordered her to be kept in a holding cell.

"She was feeling like she was going to die. She had to use the bathroom on the floor," said her daughter Adriana.

It's the BPP's Most.

Prisoner forgotten in cell for four days/ Middleborough Town Hall is haunted/ Superfruits, super powers?/ Actress from 'Gilligan's Island' serving probation under plea/ A boy named Sue, and a theory of names

 
March 11, 2008

Linkfest: China's Luxury Train to Tibet

China will launch "the most luxurious train in the world," which will travel from Beijing to Tibet's capital Lhasa, state media reported Sunday.

"The interior of the train will be decorated according to the standards of a five-star hotel, making it the most luxurious train in the world," said Zhu Mingrui, general manager of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Corporation.

This luxurious train is expesnive. Tickets will cost 20 times more than the ordinary fare of about 2,000 yuan (roughly $280 dollars). If you do the math, that's a $5,600 dollar train ticket!

It's the BPP's Ramble.

China's luxury train to Tibet/ Idaho library pulls sex books/ Hotel offers reader-in-residence/ Firefighter saves dog by performing CPR

 

Linkfest: Woman Fined for Dying Poodle Pink

Joy Douglas, owner of Zing Hair Salon in Boulder, Colo., has received a $1,000 ticket from an animal-control officer for using coloring her white poodle pink with organic beet juice.

"We do it to promote awareness of breast cancer," said 30-year-old Douglas, who has owned the hair salon for three years. "Cici is a conversation piece. Customers come in and ask why the dog is pink. So we tell them about breast-cancer awareness, about the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and then we ask for a donation."

After several customers complained about the pink dog, the Humane Society of Boulder Valley investigated the situation. The Human Society's visit is what caused a formal citation.

It's the BPP's Most.

Woman fined for dying poodle pink/ A venti and a calico/ UK's National anthem lyric questioned/ Vatican lists new sinful behaviors

 
March 10, 2008

Linkfest: Bush's Mocking Goodbye Song

Saturday Night, live at the White House: President George W. Bush crooned his own version of the "Green Green Grass of Home", lampooning Vice President Dick Cheney and political journalists. Bush belted out his longing for his Crawford, Texas ranch and his dog Barney.

It's the BPP's Ramble.


Referee sent into hiding after lookalike attacked
/
Girl in Hillary ad supports Obama
/
What to do while watching March madness: recover from vasectomy
/
Town of Athol upset over Comcast ad

 

Linkfest: Forget Vitamin Water -- Your Tap Is Spiked!

Antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones -- they're all in the drinking water of 41 million Americans, according to an Associate Press investigation.

Utility companies insist that the trace amounts of drugs in the water supply are too minuscule to affect the health of the people who swallow them.

In a five-month study cited by USA Today, the Associated Press discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking water of 24 major metropolitan areas -- from Southern California to Northern New Jersey.

It's the BPP's Most.


When Mom or Dad Asks To Be a Facebook 'Friend'
/
Rare pygmy hippos caught on film / Some parents wait a year for their kids to start kindergarten / Melody Gardot's Road to Recovery

 
March 7, 2008

Child Victims of Colombian War Draw It Out

Colombia

A child's drawing as seen in Born Under Fire

 

Colombia hasn't known peace for more than 60 years. Violent clashes between guerrilla groups like FARC and paramilitary groups, combined with the brutalities of the drug trade, have left the country's people caught in the crossfire-- and the youngest victims are children. On Friday's show, Eduardo Carrillo, a Colombian filmmaker, talks about giving voice to the forgotten children in his new animated documentary, Born Under Fire.

Still from ???Born under Fire???

A Child's View of War

Eduardo Carrillo
 
 

Linkfest: 2,000-Mile Test Drive

Last Friday, a 30-year-old Australian convinced a car dealer to let him test drive a Honda Accord. When the test driver got in the new car, he took it out for six days on a 1,988-mile test drive.

"He seemed a legitimate gentleman. He stood at the desk right in front of a camera. He wasn't afraid of being photographed or videoed," said Ian McKenzie, the owner of the car yard.

The test driver was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of property. He will appear in court on Thursday.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

2,000 mile test drive/ Tippling ministers sometimes trip on budget day/ Curtains may fall on faux theater due to nonsmoking laws/ High-priced prostitutes

 

Linkfest: Pro Golfer Apologizes for Killing Hawk

While pro golfer Tripp Isenhour was filming the TV show "Shooting Like A Pro," a red-shouldered hawk was making noise off in the distance. Isenhour, annoyed by the bird, started hitting golf balls in its direction. According to witnesses, one of the golf balls hit the bird, which caused it to fall to the ground and bleed from both it's nostrils. After several minutes of squirming in pain, the bird died.

"As soon as this happened, I was mortified and extremely upset and continue to be upset," Isenhour said in a statement issued through his management company, SFX Golf. "I want to let everyone know there was neither any malice nor deliberate intent whatsoever to hit or harm the hawk. I was trying to simply scare it into flying away."

On Wednesday, Isenhour was charged with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird. These misdemeanors carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

It's the BPP's Most.

Pro golfer apologizes for killing hawk/ 'Magical Lizzy' accused of operating bordello out of Maryland apartment/ Tons of food aid rotting in Haiti ports/ NY Pub bans 'Danny Boy' on St. Patrick's day

 
March 6, 2008

Couple Donates Priceless Comics Collection

description

Click to watch.

Courtesy of Minnpost.com
 


John and Judy Borger are dealing with some separation issues. It's not just that they're officially empty nesters, since their youngest son graduated from college. And it's not just that they're moving from the home where they raised their children to an apartment in downtown Minneapolis. It's also that they've decided to donate John's collection of 40,000 comic books, valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the University of Minnesota. They talked on our show today about giving up what Judy calls "a piece of our family history."

Judy wrote a great piece about the donation for MinnPost.com. There's also a video that includes John, Judy and the comics. Check it out:



 

Linkfest: Army Unveils New Menu

The United States Army recently offered up samples of their newest innovation: special packets of easy-to-eat, high-nutrition, high-calorie foods designed for mobile forces. Items on the menu include blackened catfish, teriyaki chicken, French toast squares and pumpkin cake.

The chow, mostly bagged, finger-type foods that soldiers can tear open and eat on the run, will be available in the field next month.

Sink your teeth into the BPP's Most.

Army unveils new menu/ Blind Melon finds new lead singer/ Britain's first Bollywood acting school/ Cemetery full, mayor tells locals not to die

Also, you can check out NPR's Most listened to piece, "Into the Brain of a Liar," by Radio Lab's Robert Krulwich and Jad Abumrad from WNYC.

Check out Radio Lab's podcast here.

 

Linkfest: Oldster Hopes to Be a Speedster

Britain's 101-year-old Buster Martin plans to become the world's oldest marathon runner by completing the London Marathon and celebrating with a pint of beer and a cigarette.

"I've said I'll attempt it," he told Reuters by telephone from his workplace at Pimlico Plumbers. "I haven't said I'll complete it. If I do make it, all the better. I hadn't thought of doing it before but someone asked me and the money goes to charity so why not?"

It's the BPP's Ramble.

101-year-old marathon runner/ Wikipedia's creator is facing allegations/ Patrick Swayze diagnosed with cancer/ New theories on animal evolution

 
March 5, 2008

Open Thread: On the Puppy-toss Video

description

Not going to embed it.

On today's show, we wrestled with the latest viral video sensation, a clip depicting an American service member throwing a puppy off a cliff in Iraq.

Virginia Heffernan of the New York Times says there's no way to know if the clip is real. But she notes that clips of human suffering from the war haven't had nearly the kind of play given to this video.

"The one that seems to show footage of a dog is the one we're all talking about," she says.

Your turn's in the comments. Can't wait to see what the BPP crowd says about it.

 

Linkfest: Three Human Feet Float Ashore

A new mystery has developed on the islands along British Columbia. Over the past six months, three human feet have surfaced on the rocky coastlines of three separate islands in the Strait of Georgia.

"This is the first incident in recent memory where we've had three such similar sets of remains come to our attention in a certain time frame and a certain geographic area," said Jeff Dolan, assistant deputy chief coroner for the British Columbia Coroner's Office.

For more details, check out the BPP's Most.


Three human feet float ashore
/ Israeli researcher says Moses could have been high on drugs/ S. Florida mom and daughter convicted of slavery/ Google trends: http://www.Glit.com

 

Linkfest: Identical Triplets

Last Wednesday, Allison Penn gave birth to identical triplets at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. Penn was impregnated with just one embryo which split in half and then one of the split halves split in half again.

"This is the first one we're aware of in the literature in the country in which they only put back one embryo" and a woman gave birth to triplets, said Dr. Victor Klein. "Most people put back two or three embryos and you just never know."

An obstetrician estimated this rare birth might happen just once in 200 million births.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Identical triplets/ Six Flags in Bubai/ Amy Winehouse diagnosed with skin disease/ Magna Carta still legible

 
March 4, 2008

Linkfest: The New Look at Old Navy

With the launch of this year's spring product line, Old Navy will transition its store image from "quirky kitsch" to "trendy sophistication." The clothing company is trading its full name for the minimally chic initials "ON," with a brand new logo.

"We're launching more than just a new line," said Old Navy spokeswoman Rebecca Weill. "We're celebrating, really, a whole new Old Navy."

It's the BPP's Ramble.

The new look at Old Navy/ 10 barely-legal gadgets/ Wikileaks champions whistle blowing after US court triumph/ Iranian court orders man to give his wife 124,000 roses

 

Linkfest: False Resume Gets Chef Cut

Robert Irvine, the star of the Food Network series "Dinner: Impossible," has been cut from the network due to an over-embellished resume. Irvine falsely claimed to have cooked meals for Britain's Royal Family and Various U.S. presidents.

"I was wrong to exaggerate in statements related to my experiences in the White House and the Royal Family," Irvine said in a written statement. "I am truly sorry for misleading people and misstating the facts."

The Food Network said it might revisit its decision at the end of this season, but for now would begin searching for a new host for the series.

It's the BPP's Most.

False resume gets chef cut/ Moms brawl at Chuck E. Cheese/ Father misidentifies son as homicide victim/ Deadly jellyfish named in victim's honor/ Mothman sightings top Google trends

 

Taking Over the World, One Crow at a Time

Today on the show we're talking to Josh Klein, who figured out a way to train crows to bring him coins they find on the ground in exchange for peanuts. He hopes to get them to do other things too, like picking up trash instead of coins.

Follow this link for a video in which Josh explains how the device works. And here he is making a one-minute presentation at Gadgetoff 2007:

 
March 3, 2008

Linkfest: Pollution Makes Male Fish Female

Fish aren't the only species that switch gender because of pollutants, reports Wired's blog. Scientists from Cardiff University in the U.K. report that starlings are also prone to change their tune after exposure to toxins. Earthworms rich in endocrine disruptors give starlings higher-pitched voices, which, as it turns out, helps them get increased attention from the lady birds.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Crotch scratching banned in Italy/ Grunting girl banned from tennis / Baltimore's Chinatown disappears

 

Soanya Ahmad Returns Home After 305 Consecutive Days at Sea

description

Reid Stowe and Soanya Ahmad aboard the schooner Anne.

Reid Stowe, 2007.

 


Soanya Ahmad had spent just a few hours at a time on a boat before she set sail with her boyfriend Reid Stowe for 1000 days at sea. Her friends and family thought she was crazy, but Soanya says she was never nervous. After months of preparation, the two left New York Harbor on April 23, 2007. Soanya described their departure on her blog.

There were many stars in the sky touched with a crescent moon. Reid had the first watch from about 7pm to 11pm and I woke up and watched from about 11pm to 2 am after which Reid catnapped and I slept a little more soundly. When we woke up about 6:30am, we saw the sun rise on a glassy ocean and no land in sight. Right now, we are about forty miles offshore and the water is turning turquoise. I haven't gotten seasick yet and am enjoying the ethereal beauty around me.

Soanya and Reid had planned to spend 1000 consecutive days at sea without touching shore. But by December, debilitating seasickness began to overtake Soanya, leaving her unable to complete even the smallest tasks. After 305 days at sea, Soanya left the boat and Reid behind. A special transfer was arranged with the Royal Perth Yacht Club and Soanya set foot on land for the first time in nearly a year in Fremantle, Australia.

Today she is back home in New York and she stopped by our studios to tell us about her trip.

 

Linkfest: A Secular Sabbath

In this week's New York Times magazine, Gershom Gorenberg tells the story of an Israeli woman who had to prove she was Jewish to be married under the state's Orthodox rabbinate, the only body which grants marriage licenses in that country. The Israeli-born bride, the daughter of a Jewish-American mother and a non-Jewish British father, enlisted American relatives to search for her grandparents' marriage certificates and take photos of her ancestors' gravestones.

It's the BPP's Most.

How Do You Prove You're a Jew?/ U.S. Health Care Gets Boost From Charity/ Canadian Rocker Jeff Healy dies of cancer/ I Need a Virtual Break. No, Really/ A swig of live fish: A Flemish town's ritual draws condemnation/

 

Challenge: Make a Music Video for the BPP


Peacebone - Animal Collective - Fan Video for StG from Luke Wilhelmi on Vimeo.

Those puppets up there, in that video? They're award-winning puppets. And we need some.

Readers of the Canadian blog Said the Gramophone took the challenge to make their own music videos. A take on Animal Collective's "Peacebone" won.

We like it so much, we're asking you, dear listener, to make a music video for the Bryant Park Project's theme song. Upload it to YouTube, blip.tv or Vimeo. Tag it as bppmusicvideo so we can find it. We'll feature ones we love, like, or can't figure out on our blog.

Here's the music. Now get cracking, before we turn all official and set a deadline.

Press play and start dreaming.




An awful sample after the jump....

Continue reading "Challenge: Make a Music Video for the BPP" »

 
February 29, 2008

Linkfest: Google Gives Homeless Free Voice Mail

Yesterday, Google announced that the company will give every single homeless person in San Francisco a lifelong phone number and voice mail.

"It just seems exactly like any other voice mail," said Craig Walker, senior project manager of Google. "There's no stigma attached to it that 'hey this is a temporary thing' or 'this is an 800 number.' It's really just a local number owned by the user."

This would allow homeless people to fill out job applications that ask for a call back number. If homeless people can get jobs, they can ultimately find their way off the streets.

It's the BPP's Most.

Google gives homeless free voicemail/ Leap year explained/ Mnemonic to remember the 11 planets/ 'American Idol' cuts four more contestants/ Pregnant woman gives birth in train toilet/ Mine water poses danger of a toxic gusher

 

Linkfest: No Impact from Energy Saving Day

E-Day, the U.K.'s first "energy saving day," ended with no noticeable reduction in the country's electricity usage. Citizens were asked to turn off all electronic devices they did not need for a period of 24 hours. For those in support of E-Day, the results were disappointing.

"I am afraid that E-Day did not achieve the scale of public awareness or participation needed to have a measurable effect," said E-Day's organizer Dr Matt Prescott in a message on his website.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

No impact from energy saving day/ Redsox hammer Boston College 24-0/ Mike Smith, singer of Dave Clark Five, dies at 64/ CBS to air martial arts events on Saturday nights

 
February 28, 2008

Linkfest: Blind Irishman Sight Restored

Bob McNichol, an Irishman blinded by an explosion two years ago, has had his sight restored after doctors inserted his son's tooth in his eye, he said on Wednesday.

The miracle operation is called osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis and was pioneered in Italy in the 1960's.

For me details, check out the BPP's Most.

Blind Irishman sight restored / Starving exchange student blames stingy host family/ "Blossom" star Mayin Bialik gets PhD in neuroscience/ Deckhand's heroic swim/ Tensions roil Estee Lauder dynasty

 

Linkfest: 'Da Vinci Link' to Chess Drawings

A manuscript containing early illustrations of how to play the game of chess was discovered last year in a private library in Gorizzia, a town in northeast Italy.

Researchers believe these illustrations may have been drawn by the hand of Leonardo da Vinci. If researchers can conclude that the drawings are indeed authentic works of da Vinci, the manuscript will be priceless.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

'Da Vinci link' to chess drawings/ Marc Jacobs brings back the Hillary t-shirt/ Less teens are buying CDs/ Whiskers help rats "see" in the dark

 
February 27, 2008

Linkfest: Beer Drinker of the Year

Matt Venzke of Yorktown, New York, was named Beerdrinker of the Year by the Colorado-based Wynkoop Brewing Company.

Venzke's prizes include "free beer for life" at the brewery, a $250 beer tab at his favorite bar -- the Taphouse in Hampton -- and the opportunity to create a special beer with Wynkoop's head brewer for next year's event.

It's the BPP's Most.

Beer drinker of the year/ Study finds immigrants commit less California crime / Grand Canyon set for massive manmade flood/ Teens losing touch with historical references

 

Linkfest: Jackson Faces Neverland Auction

Pop icon Michael Jackson could lose his Neverland ranch if he fails to repay a nearly $25 million loan he used to secure the California estate.

According to court documents cited by Fox News, the auction would include the house and everything on the property down to "all ferris wheels, carousels, merry-go-round type devices... and all amusement ride equipment and facilities of every kind or nature."

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Jackson faces Neverland auction/ Bleeping Ben Affleck/ Sea monster fossil/ Only Italians can call it Parmesan cheese

 
February 26, 2008

Chef's Challenge: Ant Brood and Mealworm Recipes

bug marketplace

The main ingredients

From myninjaplease.com


Tired of the same ol' chicken? Sick of ordering Chinese? Why not try something different tonight?

Ant Brood Tacos

2 tbs. butter or peanut oil
1/2 pound ant larvae and pupae
3 Serrano chilies, raw, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely chopped
Pepper, to taste
Cumin, to taste
Oregano, to taste
1 handful cilantro, chopped
Taco shells, to serve

Heat the butter or oil in a frying pan and fry the larvae or pupae. Add the chopped onions, chilies, and tomato, and season with salt. Sprinkle with ground pepper, cumin, and oregano, to taste. Serve in tacos and garnish with cilantro.
(Courtesy of Eatbug.com)

Mealworm Fried Rice

1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. oil
3/4 c. water
1/4 c. chopped onions
4 tsp. soy sauce
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1 c. minute rice
1 c. cooked mealworms

Scramble egg in a saucepan, stirring to break egg into pieces. Add water, soy sauce, garlic and onions. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice. Cover; remove from heat and let stand five minutes, then add mealworms.
(Courtesy of Iowa State University Entomology Club)

Have your own bug recipe? Do share . . .

 

Linkfest: Americans in Religious Transition

A new study of the religious dominations in the United States finds that Protestants are becoming a minority, Catholicism is becoming heavily Hispanic, and more people are saying they're not affiliated with any religion.

"Americans are not only changing jobs, changing locations, changing spouses, but they're also changing religions on a regular basis," said Luis E. Lugo, the director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which conducted the study. "We have nearly half the American public telling us they're something different today than they were as a child, and that's a staggering number. It's such a dynamic religious marketplace, and very competitive."

It's the BPP's Most.

Americans in religious transition/ Anchorage's reindeer run/ Beet recipe to treat icy roads/ China and Tibet fake photo scandal

 

Linkfest: Least Watched Oscars

This year's 80th Academy Awards was the least watched Oscars in more than 20 years. The show plunged to a record-low average of 32 million viewers. That's a 21 percent drop from last year's awards show.

New York Time's columnist A.O. Scott, wrote " There is something of a consensus among critics -- a disagreeable bunch, it should be noted -- that 2007 was one of the best years for movies, American movies in particular, in recent memory."

I agree with Scott, who leads me to conclude: the better the films, the less viewers interested in watching the Oscars. I'm still unsure if this is a good or bad thing...

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Least watched Oscars/ German police dogs wear shoes/ Cholesterol drug Lipitor to end Jarvik ads

 
February 25, 2008

ABCs and LGBT: Teaching Tolerance to Kids

The same week a gay 8th grader was murdered, allegedly by a fellow student because of his sexual orientation, a landmark documentary on gay tolerance celebrated its 10th anniversary.

"It's Elementary: Talking about Gay Issues in School" focuses on 8th graders and the effort to prevent anti-gay bias from taking root in young minds. Here's a clip from the film, re-released last week on DVD.



When it came out in '98, there was a firestorm of controversy over talking homosexuality with K-8 graders. Opponents claimed the film was trying to indoctrinate school children in "the gay agenda," as they called it.

So is 6, 7 or 8 too early to talk LGBT? Or is it the right time to open minds and possibly help avoid more hate crimes like the California case? Let us know what you think.

 
February 20, 2008

Linkfest: Moscow Plagued by Wild Dogs

In major cities, crime is always the primary concern for the safety of citizens. Moscow is currently dealing with a slightly different problem, a canine problem. Packs of wild dogs run wild in its subways and streets.

These pups are dangerous. "According to official statistics, last year there were about 20,000 cases of humans attacked by stray dogs; 8,000 of them serious enough to involve the police or requiring hospitalization."

It's the BPP's Most.

Moscow plagued by wild dogs/ Lindsay Lohan poses nude as Marilyn Monroe/ AT&T and T-Mobile create flat-rate plans similar to Verizon/ Chantix: The dangers of a smoking-cessation drug

 

Linkfest: Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight

Sky Watchers Alert: Tonight, February 20, there will be a total lunar eclipse.

When: 10:01 - 10:51 pm Eastern Standard Time
Where: North America, South America, Western Europe and Northwest Africa

For more details, check out Total Lunar Eclipse.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Giant sea spiders in Antarctica/ 40-somethings tapping their 401(k)s for cash/ Mosqutio device used to disperse teen groups/ Firefighter's life saved by DVD about fire extinguishers

 

Slideshow: Legless Photographer Stares Back

kevin connolly

Legless photographer Kevin Connolly

Chris Toalson
 

Kevin Connolly has spent his life being stared at. He was born without legs and these days gets around mainly by skateboard. On a trip to Europe, he snapped a picture of someone looking at him. He liked what he saw and decided to stare back. The result is a collection of photographs he calls "The Rolling Exhibition."

 

Picturing the War in Afghanistan

description

U.S. soldier in Afghanistan, September 2007.

Copyright: Tim Hetherington for Vanity Fair
 
This photograph won the World Press Photo of the Year for 2007. On today's show, we spoke with the man who took it, Tim Hetherington. He said that for him the image evokes exhaustion--the soldier's, and his own when he took it after many days of fierce fighting in Afghanistan. What does it evoke for you?  
February 19, 2008

Linkfest: Journeys of a Cat from New Mexico

Miko, a black and white cat, fled from its Albuquerque home after a fire last December. On Sunday, the cat was found in Pueblo, Colorado, 240 miles north.

"I was like, 'Great I'll pick her up!'" said Shulte, Miko's owner. "I figured she was here at the shelter but they said, 'We're in Pueblo, Colorado,' and I said, 'How on earth did she get to Pueblo, Colorado?' and they said 'I don't know, where are you?' I said, 'We're in Albuquerque.'"

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Journeys of a cat from New Mexico/ Harry Martin, a.k.a. Captain Sacto, dies at 81/ No sweets for New York City jail inmates/ Church urges 30-day sex challenge/ Ben & Jerry's founders endorse Barack Obama

 

Linkfest: Sidewalks to Nowhere

Want to talk a walk to nowhere? Well, you can -- sort of. A law in Virginia requires all new developments, residential or commercial, to provide sidewalks out front. Hopefully, all of these sidewalks will eventually meet up, but for now, Virginia is just a rural state sprinkled with scabs of isolated sidewalks.

It's the BPP's Most.

Sidewalks to nowhere/ How to make Darth Vader's voice Ancient frog was as big as a bowling ball/ New Princess Diana conspiracy theory/ Colleges scramble to offer curriculum on Mormon religion

 

Online Dating: Liars with Their Pants on Fire

Whatever you do, don't lie to Jeff Hancock. The Cornell University professor makes a living out of separating truth from fabrication. On our show today, Hancock talks about a study his lab did into online dating profiles.

Forty men and 40 women submitted their profiles and then let the Cornell team assess, point by point, how closely they'd stuck to the truth. The results shouldn't surprise anyone who's shown up for a blind coffee date -- 80 percent of the online daters lied about something. But men and women lie differently, as you can see in the charts detailing truthfulness about weight, height and age below. Each respondent is a red dot, with truth-tellers on the diagonal line.

Truthfulness about weight, by gender:

Online lying

The straight arrows are on the diagonal line.

Courtesy of Cornell University
 

Continue reading "Online Dating: Liars with Their Pants on Fire" »

 
February 15, 2008

E-Mail Experiment Stalls in Second Place

NPR story

Click to watch.

 

Dan Pashman's great run at the top slot on NPR's list of Most E-mailed Stories reached the high heights of number two. There, it was stalled by a piece on the up parts of being down that got linked on Yahoo. I as write these words, The Greatest Story Ever E-mailed has begun a gentle fall to earth. It's now at number four.

In honor of Pashman's fearless endeavor, here's a slideshow version of the fabulous radio he made. If you've got any more clicks in you, remember, you can always go to the article and hit that "E-mail Page" button one more time. (That's how we're spending the weekend at my house.)

 

Monday's Rundown

Bake Off winner revealed!



 

Linkfest: World Cyclist Nears Finish Line

Mark Beaumont, a 25-year-old from Fife, Scotland, will be finishing one long bike ride this afternoon in Paris. How long? Well, after Beaumont's 195-day journey, he will have cycled 18,000 miles.

The BBC writes, "During his seven-month journey Mr. Beaumont has passed through 20 countries including Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the United States."

As of this afternoon, Beaumont will beat the current world record for biking around the world by 81 days.

It's the BPP's Ramble. /

World cyclist nears finish line/ Swedish preschool bans children from wearing striped and spotted clothing/ Taser used on Josh Booty after DUI arrest/ Obama and McCain win Essex Middle School mock primary

 

Linkfest: '24' Shelved Until Next Year

Though the screenwriters strike is over, the three-month halt production continues to take a toll on the network's programming. Fox's drama 24 won't air new episodes until January 2009.

According to CNN, "Even though eight episodes for this season had already been filmed before the beginning of the writers strike, producers would have had to ramp up production soon to complete the season."

Looks like fans will just have to wait until 2009 to see Jack Bauer again.

It's the BPP's Most .

24 Shelved until next year/ More details of possible JFK son revealed/ Japanese men shout "I love you"/ From the Las Vegas Sun: "We're not that fat"/ New virus from China is a "Trojan Horse"

 
February 14, 2008

The Most, 02.14.08



It turns out that there's a city in Japan that shares its name with a U.S. presidential candidate. Now, in what appears to be a serious sign of hometown pride, the people of Obama are supporting the senator from Illinois.

Links from today's Most:

I Love You, But You Love Meat/Twin Cities residents can now eat sushi off of naked people/Japanese city of Obama decides against supporting Hillary/Evangelist Billy Graham is in the hospital

 

Linkfest: Bacon Festival

On March 1, National Pig Day, Des Moines, Iowa will be holding its first Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. Brooks Reynolds, a Des Moines insurance salesman is running the festival. Reynolds and his buddies have been going on summer weekend pilgrimages they called "all things bacon," packing over 15 pounds for the fried feast.

"Why not bring it to the masses?" asked Reynolds.

Admission to the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival is $30. You get a T-shirt, bacon bracelet, bacon menu and samples, bacon lecture, one drink, $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon draw and bacon-eating contest.

See you there?

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Bacon festival/ South Korea to send 'kimchi' to space/ High school accidentally calls all 2,550 students to detention/ New movie shows Putin as loving husband, father

 
February 13, 2008

Video: The Most , 02.13.08



The keepers of the Great Seal of the United States, the familiar emblem on the back of the $1 bill, want you to know what it is not. It is not a sign that Freemasons run the country, it has nothing to do with the occult, and it does not contain clues to a fabulous hidden treasure.

Check out all The Most links right here:

Demystifying the Great Seal/Town's only business burns down/How do I get you alone?/Secretly Hitched: Gary Coleman!

 
February 12, 2008

The (Video) Most

Being the crazy experimental narcissists that we are here at the BPP, we thought it might be fun to show you what our trademark segment, "The Most" looks like. Turns out, it looks like us.

Enjoy!



 

Most Update: Philly High School Back Open after Chickengate

As you heard on this morning's Most, Northeast Philadelphia High School was overrun with more than eighty chickens yesterday. School was canceled as the chickens were escorted out and the mess they left was cleaned up.

Today, Northeast is back in session, though the origin of the chickens--all hens--remains a mystery. Somewhere in Pennsylvania, there's a very lonely rooster.

 

Linkfest: Chickens Close Philadelphia High School

Some 3,600 students from Northeast Philadelphia High School got the day off yesterday because of a literal fowl prank. As faculty arrived to school in the early morning they were greeted by 85 "full-blown live chickens," that were freely roaming the hallways.

"They've created quite a mess," said Fernando Gallard, spokesman for the school district. "It's going to take us at least a day to clean up."

It's the BPP's Most.

Chickens close Philadelphia high school/ New-born rhino named Kofi Annan in honor of former UN Secretary/ Super-adhesive tape made from geckos/ Town clarifies citations for pig roasting/ Illegitimate JFK son

 

Linkfest: Tic Tac Diet

Natalie Cooper, 17, is battling a mystery illness that restricts her diet to one type of food: Tic Tacs. These tiny two-calorie mints are the only food that her body doesn't reject.

You're probably wondering, how is Natalie Cooper alive? A medical report says, "The rest of her sustenance comes from a specially-formulated feed which she receives from a tube."

Asked if she ever gets sick of an all mint diet, Natalie responded, "They give me a bit of energy, but I eat them mostly to get rid of hunger. It's a psychological effect."

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Tic Tac diet/ Sam Harris' YouTube show/ Dolly Parton postpones tour, blames breasts Siegfried & Roy to make 1-night comeback/ Patty Hearst wins Westminster dog show with French bulldog

 
February 8, 2008

Video: Satellite Watchers Watch Back



Satellites watch our planet all the time, sometimes for top-secret military reasons, sometimes for reasons as quotidian as making a cellphone call possible.

Satellite watchers like Kevin Fetter and Ted Molczan watch back. Molczan told us about his extreme hobby today on the show.

Now Fetter shares the video above. The first images are of a satellite crossing the moon. The second image captures the incredibly bright reflection, or flare, from a particular type of satellite turned at an exact angle. The third set shows trios of Naval Ocean Surveillance System satellites moving across the night sky. If you like these, check out the rest on Fetter's personal site.

 

Linkfest: Yoga Classes 'Provoke' Prisoners

Many people consider yoga a spiritual excursive, a mix between meditating and working out. Some say yoga is the ultimate way to relax the mind. That wasn't the case for some prisoners.

The BBC reports, "A prison in Norway has stopped holding yoga classes after it found that instead of calming inmates, they were actually making some more aggressive."

Talk about unintended reverse psychology...

It's the BPP's Most.

Yoga classes provoke prisoners/ See-through fish to help cure cancer/ India police parade kidney-snatching 'mastermind'/ All blue-eyed people may be related/ "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" answers on Google Trends

 

Linkfest: 'Barackula' Lives

A political horror rock musical: The setting is the Harvard Law Review, 1990. The plot features a young Barack Obama, who struggles to convince a secret society of vampires that opposing political philosophies can exist. It's called Barackula, and yes, it's a real musical, and yes, there is dancing.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Barackula/ Turtle swims from Indonesia to Oregon/ Grammy nominated Amy Winehouse denied U.S. visa/ Steven Spielberg develops Nintendo Wii game

 
February 7, 2008

Linkfest: Free Pancakes at IHOP Pushed Back

IHOP's National Pancake Day was scheduled for Feb. 5, Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Tuesday in the U.K. Because of Super Tuesday, IHOP decided to push its celebration back a week.

If you're craving a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, be sure to drop in on your local IHOP next Tuesday, Feb. 12.

It's the BPP's Most.

Free pancakes at IHOP pushed back/ Woman buckles up beer video / Google trends #2, "blooter"/ Die-off bats could hurt area crops

 

Linkfest: Baby Found in Post-Tornado Rubble

In the last two days, over 60 tornados were reported in the Southern states, killing dozens, injuring hundreds and leaving miles of debris. While searching for survivors, a rescue team nearly mistook an 11-month-old boy for a baby doll.

"It's not a baby doll -- it's alive," called out David Harmon, 31, an emergency worker from nearby Wilson County.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Baby found in post-tornado rubble/ University of Wisconsin wants to build a rat and mouse house/ Dick Vitale returns/ Dallas hospital room where JFK died is now stored in Kansas

 
February 6, 2008

Linkfest: New Car Smell Could Cause Cancer

There's something very soothing in the way new cars smell. Whether or not you like the odor of a fresh interior, it indicates something specific: The car is brand new, and people like new things. They're reliable, they're clean, and it just feels good to be the first person behind the wheel.

But you might want to think twice before sniffing that new smell. A new study says that "new car smell" is caused by volatile organic compounds that can cause headaches, sore throat, nausea and even cancer.

Add another carcinogen to the list...

It's the BPP's Ramble.

New car smell could cause cancer/ Tearless onion created in lab/ The story behind the Conan, Stewart, and Colbert late night brawl/ Squirrels use snake smell as camouflage

 

Linkfest: Driver Straps in Beer, Not Toddler

After a deputy saw Tina Williams run a red light, he pulled her over. According to the arrest report, when the deputy approached her car and noticed something suspicious buckled in the front seat: a 24-pack of beer. In the back seat was a 16-month-old girl, unbuckled and without a proper child seat.

The deputy asked Tina for her driver's license to which she replied, "I never had one."

It's the BPP's Most.

Driver straps in beer, not toddler/ High heels "may improve sex life"/ United Airlines to charge for second checked bag/ Donate your video games to the troops in Iraq/ Google may outbid Microsoft for Yahoo

 
February 5, 2008

Linkfest: Costco's Newest Supplier? The Sun

Costco's wholesale stores are huge. How huge? The average store is 148,000 square-feet. That's big enough to sell 100 millions pounds of ground beef and 40 million rotisserie chickens each year.

As you'd probably imagine, these huge stores require a tremendous amount of energy. Chief executive Jim Sinegal recently announced Costco's plans to install skylights and solar panels in its massive storefronts. The company hopes these installations will make a significant cutback on the store's environmental footprint.

It's the BPP's Most.

Costco's newest supplier, the sun/ Britney saga creates its own economy/ Fat people are cheaper to treat, study says/ Actress Shell Kepler, from 'General Hospital,' dies at 49/ Holocaust float parades

 

Linkfest: Dead Body Art

Are you getting bored of that picture on the living room wall? Are you tired of it blending into the background? "Why not hang up a cross-section of your late husband's stomach?" asks German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, creator of the Body Worlds exhibition.

Hagens, also known as Dr. Death, plans to put some of his chemically treated body parts on sale. Who would have thought death could bring life to the living room wall?

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Dead body art/ Bridesmaids may have to sign weight contract/ Last marine in Iwo Jima dies at 82/ iShoes: The electronic shoe

 
February 1, 2008

Linkfest: Wine for Dogs

A company called Bark Vineyards has started making wine for dogs. Don't worry, there's no alcohol in it.

It's not about getting your dog drunk. It's about the experience. The sell from Bark Vineyards: "A gourmet treat experience awaits the canine or feline who receives a bottle of the Bark Vineyards' Varietals. Pour evenly over a meal, step back as your beloved furry friend savors the delicious bouquet and unique flavors ... Whine not!"

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Wine for dogs/ Beware: Super Bowl may be hazardous to your heart/ Exercise that makes you younger/ Sean "Diddy" Combs hoards Super Bowl Cristal

 

Linkfest: What All the Money in the World Can't Buy

Steve Smith is from Britain. He has a potentially fatal heart disease. With a stroke of luck, Smith won 19 million pounds, roughly $38 million dollars, in Britain's National Lottery.

When he picked up his check, reporters asked Smith how he wanted to spend his money. Smith thought of his wife first. "It's Ida I worry for," he said. "It's leaving her behind. I would give all that back if I am allowed to still be with her, because there are no shops in the cemetery, are there?"

Smith's wish is beautiful, sad and very true. It reminds me of a title from a short story by Tao Lin, "Love Is a Thing on Sale for More Money There Exists."

It's the BPP's Most.

What all the money in the world can't buy/ Ralph Nader '08?/ 19th century shipwreck turns up on New England shoreline/ Restaurateur Thomas Sieg passes away Hospital mistakenly sends woman in labor home

 
January 31, 2008

Yo, Peep, Yo! The Birth of a Gender Neutral Pronoun

On today's show, we did a story about a new use of the word yo. Apparently, it's not just a greeting anymore. Some students in Baltimore, Maryland, are using it as a way to refer to a third person, in a gender neutral kind of way.

Here's how a couple of students at The Baltimore Career Academy use the pronoun:



And there's a back story: The pronoun got attention when, a few years ago, a group of Baltimore teachers in a linguistics class at Johns Hopkins University shared with each other the spontaneous uses of yo they were hearing at their schools. Some examples:

"Yo handin' out papers (She is handing out papers)
"Peep, yo!" (Look at him!)
"You acting like I said what yo said" (You're acting like I said what he/she said)
"Yo been runnin' in the halls" (He/She has been running in the halls)

Elaine Stotko, professor of the linguistics class and Margaret Troyer, Stotko's student and Baltimore teacher, did a study on the use of the pronoun and published their findings in American Speech.

In one phase of the data collection, students were given a set of cartoon drawings with characters "made to look like the African American children at the school." The students were asked to fill in the conversation bubble using slang, which was defined as "informal language, the way you talk to your friends, not the way you talk in school." Below are the four drawings:

From the American Speech article:

"Of the 115 students who participated, 68 students did not use yo at all and 47 used,yo,as an attention-focusing device in one or more of their conversations. Eight out of those 47 students also used yo as a third person pronoun. There were 8 uses of yo in the subject position:

Yo look like a sack a** gump.
Yo is a clown.
Yo sucks at magic tricks.
Yo needs to pull his pants down.
Yo looks like a freak.
Yo is a straight clown.
Yo going to put that chicken in his mouth.
Yo, looka that dude pants. Yo is a clown.

What I want to know is, what the heck is a sack a** gump?

 

Linkfest: Chewing on the Perfect Ice

Most people associate ice with chilling beverages, keeping food cold, or as something to use in order to prevent swelling. Did you know that ice is also a popular snack? So popular, that some Sonic Drive-In franchises actually sell it to go.

But is ice a healthy snack? The American Dental Association says that ice-chewing can damage teeth. Obsessive ice-chewers have found ways to make ice a safer snack, swapping tips on preparing the perfect ice at IceChewing.com.

It's the BPP's Most.

Chewing on the perfect ice/ British judge gets cranky on American Idol/ Soldier suicides at record level/ Putting an end to fractions/ Los Angeles adopts marijuana vending machines

 

Linkfest: Swimmers' Sunscreen Killing Off Coral

Over a million Americans were diagnosed with skin cancer in 2007, making it one of the fastest growing types of cancer in the United States. UV exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer and to avoid overexposure many people protect their body with sunscreen.

Unfortunately, if people are protected the coral reefs suffer. A new study finds that chemicals in sunscreen wash off swimmers and awaken dormant viruses inside coral reefs.

Researchers from the online journal Environmental Health Perspectives estimate that "4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers annually in oceans worldwide, and that up to 10 percent of coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching."

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Swimmers' sunscreen killing off coral/ Cop's report that woman attends church with crowbar in her pants/ Space race anniversary / Playground for 60-year-olds

 

YouTube: Guerrilla Knitting

Purl one, knit two has gone political, as a new wave of knitters create everything from installation projects to sexy outfits to multimedia presentations. On today's BPP, we continue our series on extreme hobbies as we have an avante-knitter in studio. I'm nor sure this guy is the best knitter or drummer, but he apparently can multitask.

 
January 30, 2008

Linkfest: A Homemade Prison

In a small corner of southwestern Pennsylvania, police say an enraged grandmother created a homemade prison -- actually, it was more like a homemade torture chamber, for her 10-year-old grandson.

Rhonda Lehman, the 51-year-old grandmother, "locked her 10-year-old grandson in a feces-filled dog crate for about 90 minutes because he told his family he had been spiking their drinks with lamp oil and household cleaner," police said.

If a dog cage filled with poop sounds too harsh, consider this. Police say that when Lehman called the Mental Health/ Mental Retardation office, she threatened to bury the boy alive in the back yard if an official didn't come to handle the situation.

It's the BPP's Most.

The homemade prison/ 71-year-old climbs seven summits/ Eli Manning and his mom/ Air purifiers emit pollution

 

Linkfest: Busted for Breaking into Parking Meters

Some people rob banks, others rob storefronts and many pick pockets, but police in Charleston, W.Va., say William David Salisbury robs parking meters. The 44-year-old was recently arrested a fourth time for breaking into parking meters.

How much money can these things hold? I mean, it's a tall skinny pole with a football sized collection chamber that holds coins. It's like a piggy bank on a pole. According to police, Salisbury pocketed about $170 from breaking into seven double-headed meters -- but he had some misadventures along the way.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

An alleged parking meter thief/ Town fines out-of-town drivers for car accidents/ Nose means new Thai PM in sign language/ Middle age makes you miserable

 

Miss Utah Owns a Tiara and a Helmet

Jill Stevens is a nurse, a great cook...oh yeah, and the first Miss America to have served in a combat zone. Jill Stevens spent two years in Afghanistan as a medic. We will talk to her today on the BPP!

 
January 29, 2008

Linkfest: Deaf Boy's 'Q-tip Cure'

When he was two years old, Jerome Bartens was diagnosed as deaf in his right ear. Jerome struggled with his impaired hearing for nine years but the other day, he was suddenly cured.

After hearing a popping sound, Jerome found a tip of cotton wool bud in his ear and quickly pulled it out. "It was just incredible -- his hearing returned to normal in an instant," said Jerome's father Carsten.

It's the BPP's Most.
Deaf boy's 'Q-tip Cure'/ A camel named Princess picks Giants to beat Pats/ Brazilian woman has 42nd plastic surgery/ Lazy boy scouts achieve Eagle status/ Google trends

 

Linkfest: Getting Paid for a Broken Heart

In recent world news, a Japanese marketing company gives their staff paid time off after breaking up with a partner. CEO Miki Hiradate says, "Heartache leave allows staff to cry themselves out and return to work refreshed. Not everyone needs to take maternity leave but with heartbreak, everyone needs time off, just like when you get sick."

Heartbroken or not, paid time off is good time off.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Getting paid for a broken heart/ Black Death was picky/ NYC: Automotive Bermuda Triangle/ Worst thing to say at work

 
January 28, 2008

Tuesday's Rundown

Trish and Matt bring the skinny:



 
January 25, 2008

Help Wanted: The Gospel According to Yoda

description

Yoda your help needs.

MJ Kim/Getty Images
 


Two brothers across the pond have founded the UK Church of the Jedi, which has no deity but follows the teachings of Yoda. The Star Wars Yoda. Daniel Jones spoke with us today, saying:

"We don't have a deity. We have the Force. It's more like self-belief. If you believe in yourself, and you manipulate the Force, you can achieve great things."

As Yoda might say, "Your help we need. Yes, hmmm. For yoda help us write scripture. New gospel, anyone, hmm? Or new 10 commandments, hmm? Yeesssssss."

 

Rejected 'New Yorker' Cartoons

Rejected New Yorker Cartoon
 

Eric Lewis drew the cartoon above for the New Yorker. It didn't make the cut.

Continue reading "Rejected 'New Yorker' Cartoons" »

 

Linkfest: Olympic Training for Pollution

Olympic athletes are starting to get concerned about the excessive pollution in Beijing.

"Should I run behind a bus and breathe in the exhaust? Should I train on the highway during rush hour? Is there any way to acclimate myself to pollution?" asks Juliet Marcur.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Olympic training in pollution/ Text messages show Detroit mayor lied under oath Top Google trends/ Bedbugs attack New York City The $500 rule: How spending limits save relationships

 

Linkfest: Woman's Home Accidentally Demolished

"There was nothing left, not even a log," explains Lyudmila Martemyanova, a Russian woman who came home to a missing house. Her plot of land was empty . . . desolate. As it turns out, her home was mistakenly torn down by construction workers clearing a site.

In a way, it's probably a good thing Martemyanova wasn't there. Imagine waking up to a wrecking ball in your bedroom . . .

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Woman's home accidentally demolished/ Couple protest jet noise with obscene rooftop sign/ New bill would end Virginia's sangria ban/ Sharapova hopes for a better outcome in Australian Open Finals/ Obama on Letterman Top 10

 
January 24, 2008

Linkfest: Student Fakes Being Robbed to Skip Class

Yesterday morning, a 14-year-old boy in Bellingham, Washington, didn't show up to class to hand in a homework assignment. He was in the bathroom tied up, his pockets turned inside out. Police raced to the middle school restroom, where he told them a heavyset man wearing a mask and hoodie scoured the boys pockets in search of some cash.

Students throughout the school were immediately confined to their classrooms while police raided the school for evidence. After hours of no results, the boy admitted the robbery was a hoax. The young boy's motive: A legitimate reason to cut class.

It's the BPP's Most.

Student fakes being robbed to skip class/ NPR's Chris Arnold explains how to retire with money/ School administrator's wife screams at student for wanting a snow day/ Lil Wayne arrested for drug possession/ High mercury levels found in tuna sushi

 

Linkfest: Starbucks Testing $1 Coffee

The good news: With growing competition from fast food rivals such as McDonalds and Dunkin' Doughnuts, Starbucks has decided to test $1 cups of coffee with free refills.

The bad news: As of now, the $1 coffee test is only taking place in Starbucks hometown of Seattle.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Starbucks Testing $1 Coffee/ The Drunkest U.S. Cities/ Tennis player Michael Chang elected into Tennis Hall of Fame/ Blue Man Group shove force camera down audience members throat/ Real life Bonnie and Clyde

 
January 23, 2008

Linkfest: Whole Foods To Eliminate Plastic Bags

Paper, canvas, or recycled? Soon, this is what you'll hear when checking out of your local Whole Foods Market. On Earth Day, Whole Foods will be eliminating the use of plastic bags at the check out lines of their grocery store.

Why? Well, each year 380 billion plastic bags are consumed in U.S alone. Plastic bags don't biodegrade. Instead, they end up in the mouths of sea turtles, whales, and other marine animals. Whole Foods wants to put an end to this.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Whole Foods to eliminate plastic bags/ Texas candidate: Elect me and I won't serve/ Ringo Starr walks off 'Regis and Kelly'/ Couple trades salmon fillets for moose and venison steaks

 

Linkfest: Broken Body Finds Hope

Last September, after the sun went down, 18-year-old Jordan Burnham jumped out of his ninth floor window shortly after being nominated to his high school's homecoming court. Jordan smashed the ground 90 feet below at 50 m.p.h. and survived. Now, with his body badly broken, Jordan has had some time to reflect.

When tragedy meets miracle, it's the BPP's Most.

Broken body finds hope/ Piano composer finds harmony as rabbi/ Rich countries do $1.8 trillion damage to poor countries/ Man accidentally shoots co-worker during crocodile attack/ How to retire with money in the bank

 

Barry's Texts Are Deeper Than Yours

In the last 24 hours I have become a big Barry Yourgrau fan. If you didn't hear him on our show today, here's the deal: on a trip to Japan in 2002, the writer noticed tons of people walking around accessing the internet on mobile phones. Since he generally wrote pretty short pieces, he thought maybe he'd write some pieces to be read on cellys (cellies?). Barry didn't even really realize he was part of the burgeoning cell phone literature phenomenon: five of the 10 bestsellers in Japan last year started as cell phone novels, or keitai novels, as they're called.

Unlike many keitai novels, Barry wrote individual stories, and he didn't write them on cell phones, he wrote them for cell phones. His self-imposed constraints: 350 words or less, with no opening sentence longer than the 12 words that could be viewed without scrolling. Short as they are, we still only had time on the radio show to hear one of them. But Laura tells me there's plenty of room left on our internet, so Barry's letting us post one more here.

MEANT FOR EACH OTHER

You make a date through the Internet. You meet the girl for the first time at a sake bar. She gulps down a whole bottle of sake by herself. "Okay," you think. "I guess we know what sort of problem she has. But man, is she cute."

The rest after the jump...

Continue reading "Barry's Texts Are Deeper Than Yours" »

 
January 22, 2008

A Million Tiny Pieces of Campaign Stuff

description

Gold Water, from Barry Goldwater's campaign 1964

From Campaigning for President
 

Jordan Wright has been collecting political memorabilia since he was 10 years old. Now he has over a million pieces. Kind of amazing, really.

 

Linkfest: Text Message Divorce

In Egypt, getting a divorce is much more clear-cut than it is here in the States. According to Islamic law, a man just needs to tell his wife three times, "You are divorced." But what if a man proclaims his divorce through a text message? Does that count? Or is it too easy to end a marriage with your thumbs?

For more details, check out the BPP's Ramble.

Text message divorce/ Stranded Canadian survives on rotting meat/ Thieves grab bag of bread instead of money/ Texan woman has her power lines stolen

 

Linkfest: Girls Are Entering Puberty at Age Eight

If you thought adolescence started at 13, think again. Puberty is starting for American girls younger and younger every year. Female bodies are starting to blossom as early at eight years of age. Some parents suspect chemicals in the environment, but doctors who've taken a closer look say they simply don't know what's causing the change.

It's BPP's the Most.

Girls are becoming teens at 8/ Muslim women are behind the wall of silence in Germany/ Patriots quarterback Tom Brady seen wearing a cast/ Plain White T's singer lands a date with Delilah

 
January 21, 2008

Linkfest: Cellphone Novels

It started oratory, and then went to longhand, then to the typewriter, followed by the computer, and now -- well... the cellphone.

When I first heard that some of Japan's best-selling novels were written on cellphones, I wondered that could even be possible. I mean, I've gotten pretty quick on T9, but a novel? A plot with characters and arcs and emotions? Come on...

But hey, as culture progresses and people evolve, why shouldn't storytelling?

It's the BPP's Most.

Cellphone novel/ Soldiers warned not forward Obama propaganda on official computers/ "Cloverfield" rips apart the box office/ Texas congressional candidate photoshops some weight of his body/ Google trends

 

Linkfest: Chilean Man Wakes Up at His Wake

In recent world news: "SANTIAGO (AFP) -- An 81-year-old man in the small Chilean village of Angol shocked his grieving relatives by waking up in his coffin at his own wake, local media said on Sunday."

I'm not exactly sure how local doctors or the family could prepare a man for his wake without taking a pulse. Well, we all know what they say about assumptions...

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Chilean man wakes up at his wake/ Bode Miller wins 28th World Cup title/ Introducing females to the Smurf commune/ New computer translates dog barks

 
January 18, 2008

Linkfest: Boomerang Has 25-Year Toss

After 25 years, a boomerang from an Australian museum finally comes back. "I removed this back in 1983 when I was younger and dumber," said the guilt-ridden American who stole the boomerang from the small mining town of Mount Isa.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Boomerang has 25 year toss/ European-based clubs ask to have African football championship start earlier/ Green Bay TV pulls 'Seinfeld' to disrupt Giants quarterback/ Iranian female race car drivers/ Utah students ask gym to stop playing sexual content

 

Linkfest: Bin Laden's Son Is Aspiring Peace Activist

I always find it interesting when kids have directly opposite interests from their parents'. You know, the father's a cop but the son's a drug dealer, or the mother's a teacher but the daughter drops out of school.

Well, how about the father leads one of the world's largest terrorist organizations and the son wants to be a peace activist? This is the case with Osama bin Laden and his son Omar Osama bin Laden.

I've heard that kids seek to live out their parents' subconscious. I don't know if this is true, but in a strange way it makes a lot of sense. It's like humans have an innate impulse to balance out humanity. What do you think?

It's the BPP's the Most.

Bin Laden's son is aspiring peace activist/ Romney has heated exchange at press conference/ What is the only even prime number?/ Give me liberty of give me death/ Haggis a.k.a. sheep stomach lasagna/ 1971 time capsule found in Mexican bell tower

 
January 17, 2008

Jonah and the Whale-Chasers

A standoff between anti-whaling activists and a Japanese whaling fleet is heating up in the Antarctic, and now the Australian government is getting involved.

Australian officials say they will send a boat to retrieve two anti-whaling activists who boarded a Japanese whaler on Tuesday. The men are from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an aggressive environmental group, which has in the past rammed and attempted to sink boats they believed to be violating international law.

The men are still on the ship and Sea Shepherd says they have been mistreated. The Japanese deny those allegations; they say the men broke the law and are acting like pirates.

BBC reporter Jonah Fisher is reporting on the story from the Greenpeace ship Esperanza, which is also following the Japanese fleet. We spoke to him this morning.

Follow the story: Jonah and the Whale-Chasers

 

Linkfest: New Side of Mercury Exposed

On Jan. 14, 2008, NASA's Messenger flew past the other side of Mercury for the first time. (Bonus: Summer Ash explains it all.) During the flyby, the Messenger captured an image of a hemisphere that was never seen before.

So how does Mercury's mysterious side look? Um....exactly the same as the other side.

Check out where the grass is always greener, with the BPP's Ramble.

New side of Mercury exposed/ Just under a 12-year run, 'Rent' is to close/ Why men and women are more attracted to longer legs/ Father arrested after forcing a Packers jersey on his son/ Newly proposed lyrics for Spain's national anthem caused a stir amongst citizens

 

Linkfest: Sex Toy Triggers Bomb Scare

Breaking World News: "STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- A Swedish bomb squad called out to disarm a suspicious package on Wednesday did not find a ticking bomb. But they did find a vibrating sex toy."

What better place to get globally informed? It's BPP's the Most.

Sex toy triggers bomb scare/ Obsessive popcorn eater sues after developing lung disease/ Richard Knerr, inventor of the Hula Hoop and Frisbee. dies at 82/ Wealthy may be to suffer in U.S. home crisis/ Jenna Bush to be married in May

 
January 16, 2008

Linkfest: Oprah Gains Entire Cable Network

Hello Oprah! Discovery Communications announced yesterday that Oprah will launched The Oprah Winfrey Network in the second-half of 2009. This is Oprah's next step to fulfill her mission of creating "mindful -- not mindless -- television."

It's the BPP's Ramble.

Oprah gains entire cable network/ NYPD reminds cops to stay clean-shaven- unless you're sporting a mustache/ Virginia introduces a new bill that bans displaying human genitalia on motor vehicles/ Actor Matthew McConaughey to be a dad/ "High School Musical" star Zac Efron has appendix removed/ Actor Brad Renfro in top 5 of Yahoo's photo search/ Hillary Clinton talks to Tyra Banks about Bill's infidelity

 

Linkfest: Aqualung Still Missing

So who's Aqualung and why is he missing? Well, Aqualung, also known as Bill Dunn, was a homeless man who was given a house by the ever so generous Clay family in West Virginia. After Aqualung moved in, the Clays decided they wanted do some minor renovations -- fix the cabinets, repair the walls and replace the fridge. They wanted to clean up the place. This refurbishing did not go well with Aqualung. He packed his bag and left without a trace.

Curious about Aqualung? Check out the Most.

Cruise's Scientology rant/ American Idol is back on the air/ Homeless man abandons donated home because he doesn't like renovations/ Country singer Shelby Lynne releases new album

 
January 15, 2008

Letters From War

description

William Henry Bonser Lamin fought for England in World War I.

Courtesy of WW1.blogspot.com

When Harry Lamin was sent to the front lines of World War I in 1917, letters were the only way he could communciate with his family. Without phone calls or instant messages, his family back in London would eagerly await the day's mail, wondering if it would bring loving words from Harry or a telegram from the war office notifying them of his death.

Harry's grandson Bill knew of these letters as a child, but it wasn't until recently that he sat down to read them. When he did, he knew he had to publish them. He's been posting Harry's letters online in a blog ever since. Each letter is posted online 90 years to the day from when it was written.

We spoke with Harry's grandson, Bill Lamin, on the show today.

 

Linkfest: ESP -- to Be or Not to Be

A note to all psychics and those who listen to them: ESP is not real. Using high-tech brain scanners, two scientists from Harvard draw the bottom line on the legitimacy of extrasensory perception.

It's BPP's the Ramble.

ESP: To Be or Not to Be/ French president secretly marries supermodel/ Players on the Chicago Bulls bench rookie teammate/ Texans spot UFO

 

Linkfest: Pleasure Is in the Price Tag

Feel good about getting a good deal? Well, maybe you'd feel even better if you didn't. In a recent study, scientists have shown that the brain gets more pleasure from expensive products. So next time you can't decide between two products, the answer's simple: just pick the pricier of the two.

But how could you put a price tag on this news? It's the BPP's Most.

Pleasure is in the price tag/ Top 5 headache triggers/ German historians identify Mona Lisa/ Chicago senior citizens want free public transportation Naomi Campbell allegedly having an affair with president of Venezuela The Hindu young world quiz

 

Paying for Pleasure: We Like Expensive Wine More

Moments after I made my contribution to The Most today, I realized I might have taken the wrong approach to the story. Here's an excerpt from today's LA Times:

When it comes to wine tasting, pleasure is in the price.

Using brain scanners to monitor the minds of wine drinkers, scientists found that people given two identical red wines got more pleasure from tasting the one they were told cost more.

The study, reported Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrated for the first time how marketing tactics -- such as raising the price of a product -- can cause the brain to play tricks on itself.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this story is that more expensive wines don't just elicit better reviews on a conscious level. It's not simply that we assume something more expensive must be better. As the article states, "Brain scans showed that activity in the part of the brain that detects pleasure also moved in lock step with price."

When I did The Most today, I took the same approach as the writer of this piece, pointing to the study as evidence that we trick ourselves into liking higher-priced wine. But now I wonder, Are we really tricking ourselves? If our brains tell us we like something more, doesn't that mean we like it more? What is pleasure besides the experience of our brains telling us we're experiencing it? In other words, maybe this isn't a trick at all. Maybe spending more money for the same product is actually money well spent, as long as you don't know it's the same product.

Am I making any sense? Do you like this blog post? What if I charge you 50 bucks for it?

That's what I thought. Best. Blog post. Ever.

 
January 14, 2008

Linkfest: Diapers Go Green

No, not the green that smells and needs to cleaned up and thrown away. That green has been around for awhile... It's environmentally green diapers that are becoming more and more popular. Take a look on BPP's Ramble.

Diapers go green/NJ Governor signs a bill to eliminate Electoral College's power Adult Entertainment Expo: A sex shop on steroids/ Millions of teens try to get high on cold medicine/ Scientists grow a living, beating heart in a jar

 

You Don't Get These for Selling Girl Scout Cookies . . .

description

Trevor Paglen decodes the acronym in the audio above.

From this book.
 

If you're part of a super-secret, clandestine, covert military unit, seems like you wouldn't want to advertise it. Turns out, some "black ops" personnel do. They come up with cryptic designs -- things like dragons wrapped around the earth or naked women riding killer whales -- to put on patches that commemorate their missions. What they mean and the details of the missions are almost impossible to figure out.

We talked to Trevor Paglen on the show today about his quest to collect and decipher black ops patches, which he assembles in a new art/history book, I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by Me.

After the jump, more patches.

Continue reading "You Don't Get These for Selling Girl Scout Cookies . . ." »

 

Linkfest: Cat Feces in Gourmet Coffee

The average price for a pound of fresh coffee is around $10. Kopi Luwak's gourmet coffee sells for $200 a pound. So what makes Kopi Luwak's coffee taste so good? The answer is simple and, well, disgusting: Cat poop.

But not just any cat poop. Take a look at some sophisticated kitty litter on the Most.

Cat feces in gourmet coffee./ MacBook Air: Apple's rumored super-slim laptop./ Burried bombs hidden in Orlando, Fla./ Macaw! Macaw! A shouting bird scares off burglar at pet store./ Looking for good tunes? Check out the new NPRmusic.org

 
January 11, 2008

Alan Corey: Jack of All Trades

We talked with Alan Corey, author, improv actor, serial reality TV show guest, former restaurant/bar owner and, last but not least, millionaire. Sound hard to believe? Check out this montage of his appearances on a variety of reality TV shows.


 

Christ's Adventures

On today's show we interviewed Costas Christ, National Geographic Adventure editor and columnist, about adventure travel. He's been to more than 120 countries across six continents, including some of the world's most remote wilderness areas and archaeological sites. We had one more question for him to answer off the air, and that is:

Q: What can you tell us about the tiny pockets of the planet that are popping up because of global warming?

Here's what he told me off the air:

There are little pieces popping up because sea levels fall and land is exposed. For example, in Greenland, people have found what appears to be an island, something like a big sandbar. As ice melts, land is exposed. The tricky thing is that we don't know how quickly that ice will melt. The flip side of icebergs melting and exposing land is that we'll actually end up with fewer places, for example, the Maldive island could completely disappear due to global warming.

I'd like to return to something Alison asked me about on the air, and that's the idea of responsible travel. Tourism can be an opportunity or a threat and when we travel in responsible ways, for example, patronize companies that contribute to protecting nature and sustaining the well-being of local people in the places they are visiting, that's known as sustainable tourism. It's transforming the tourism industry, and I think it is one of the most revolutionary ideas in the history of modern travel.

A vacation is not just the experience of a lifetime. We should give back to the places we visit and not let them be loved to death. We've got to protect the final frontiers for future generations to explore.

 

Wine Sorbet: The Adult Dessert

description

Courtesy of Wine Cellar Sorbets


Take your taste buds for a whirl with Wine Cellar Sorbet, a tasty alcoholic dessert. We talked with the creators, Bret Birnbaum and David Zablocki, who made it clear that this is not wine-flavored sorbet. It's actually made from real wine -- cold, scoopable wine.

It currently comes in six flavors and is stocked in the tri-state area. For more information about this adult dessert, or to order a pint online, check out http://www.winecellarsorbets.com.

 

Linkfest: Aging Sucks

Are you getting older? It's OK. So is everyone else around you. We can't stop the seconds from ticking but we can read what Charla Krupp has to say in her new book How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better.

It's BPP's the Most.

Aging sucks, but author Charla Krupp has some helpful tips./ As if the writers strike isn't enough, Hollywood payroll firm implodes./ Couple finds $12L in their refrigerator./ Mt. Everest's first climber, Edmund Hillary, dies at age 88./ Iraqi women goes into labor during U.S. airstrike: Soldiers help with delivery.

 

Linkfest: Globophobia

Do you have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia? How about globophobia? We all know that we humans are fearful creatures, but let's take a look at what we're afraid of.

Don't worry, it's BPP's Ramble.

An A-Z of irrational fears./ Tennis star Serena Williams gets dumped and publishes her woes./ Russian thieves steal a 200 ton bridge: Police scurry for answers./ Skiing under the influence? Watch out, you could get 6 months in jail or $1000 fine. Can you draw? The New Yorker is looking for the next Eustace Tilley.

 
January 10, 2008

Linkfest: Katrina Victim Sues U.S. for $3 Quadrillion

Hurricane Katrina, body heat, NJ escapees, and Spider-Man: It's BPP's Ramble.

Katrina victim sues U.S. for $3 quadrillion./ Crematorium considers using body-burning furnaces to keep mourners warm./ Two New Jersey escaped inmates are back in custody./ Spider-Man divorces Mary Jane: Fans enraged.

 

Linkfest: Man Bumps into Wife at Brothel

Looking for outlandish surprise? Check BPP's the Most.

A Polish man is shocked to see wife when visiting a local brothel./ Two men wheel a corpse down NYC streets in hope to cash the deceased's $355 check./ Facebook photos get high school kids into trouble./ 'Meanest mom on planet' sells son's car after finding liquor under front the seat./ Parents seek to get 5-month-old daughter photographed with every presidential candidate.

 
January 9, 2008

Linkfest: 80-year-old Shoots Mountain Lion

Check out today's Ramble.

80-year-old woman shoots a mountain lion to protect her dog./ Indian call center employees suffer from heart attacks, ulcers, and insomnia./ Anti-obesity drug acts as inverse marijuana./ Madeleine McCann: The Movie

 

Linkfest: Mexican Boy Glues Himself to Bed

Glue your eyes to BPP's the Most.

Why play hooky when you can just glue yourself to the bed? This 10-year-old Mexican boy did./ North Vietnamese made hoax calls to get the US military to bomb its own units./ A conservative pastor fights gay righ