If things are a bit slow around here today, it’s because I’m heading to Port St. Lucie on a bit of a whirlwind trip. I’m not sure exactly what my schedule or Internet situation will look like, so I may or may not be posting stuff (which is always true).
The good news is I’m definitely going to see grass, which hasn’t been visible in Westchester for weeks now.
For now, enjoy the best song I know of about Florida.
Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter took on Watson McIBM in a practice round today for their February showdown.
Watson won. I’m still betting on humans for the real contest.
Wow. Do NOT attempt to sell your stash of Four Loko in Mahwah, New Jersey.
Via James K.
A new long-range laser weapon takes a page from Greek antiquity to thwart marauding pirates at sea. It won’t set their ships on fire, but it can let pirates know they have been spotted and might make them wish for an eye patch, as New Scientist reports.
British defense giant BAE Systems is testing a new green-light laser, which can automatically modulate its intensity depending on the weather and distance to target. Piracy has been on the rise, according to the International Maritime Bureau — there were 430 pirate attacks last year, including an audacious attack on a U.S. warship in the Indian Ocean.
Pirates are no joke, it turns out. I guess the thing is, huge cargo ships really only need a very small crew. Since all the actual loading and unloading is done by people at the ports, a massive boat shipping consumer goods across the ocean will only have a few dudes on it. So a skiff full of guys with guns can pirate up a big ship without too much trouble.
My buddy was a Lieutenant on a Navy aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. Apparently one night pirates started approaching the boat, mistaking it in the dark for a cargo ship or something. Someone on board shined a massive searchlight on them and they got the hell out of there.
But man, if they actually got close enough to go through with it, that’s got to be one of the worst things that can happen if you’re a pirate. You think you’re in for an easy plunder, and then you get on the boat and there are like hundreds of trained and armed Navy guys on there. Classic pirate blunder.
Lastly, if this new device catches on, people will get to shoot lasers at pirates.
“An extinct bird from Jamaica used its wings as a powerful clublike weapon, according to a new study.”
But I will quibble with it. Whatever Martin Van Buren had has to count as more than just sideburns. Those were mutton chops at the very least. I have always considered him the pioneer among facial-haired presidents.
Clearly the Golden Era for presidential facial hair started with U.S. Grant’s inauguration in 1869 and ended when Grover Cleveland and his mustache left office for the second time in 1897.
Also, all of the presidents with mustaches had awesome mustaches. Lastly, Chester A. Arthur.
Clay Dillow at Popular Science provides a nice overview of the bird and fish deaths that captured the Internet’s imagination this week and investigates what may have caused them. Also of note: First time I’ve ever heard the term “avicide,” which is exactly what it sounds like. Does that make bear-killing ursicide? A) Yes.
This is absolutely awesome.
[poll id=”14″]
Tedquarters 