Thursday, October 20, 2005
- The fractalicious Romanesco Cabbage: this beautiful (and mathematically fascinating) brassica is my current desktop background. The author describes its taste as "slightly nutty," "crunchier than [and] less bland than cauliflower," and an especially good addition to an assiette de crudites. It's a Swiss-European variant, so I haven't had a chance to see or taste one myself - yet. It's also my favorite shade of green, #CCFF00. [via BoingBoing]
- Wikipedia has an extensive glossary of made-up words featured on The Simpsons
- Real, or Hoax? "Biopresence creates Human DNA trees by transcoding the essence of a human being within the DNA of a tree in order to create 'Living Memorials' or 'Transgenic Tombstones'." UPDATE: If it is real, then how would the survivor(s) feel if the tree dies? Or if someone defaces it, or cuts off a branch because it's hanging over their property line? If you create a transgenic fruit tree, would you commit cannibalism by eating the fruit?
- "Monkmobiles and Bulletproof Robes": Eyeteeth covers the invention of devices to protect traveling Buddhist monks in Thailand, who have become frequent targets of terrorist attacks
- Search Engine Watch covers the recent 'splog' (automated SPam blOG) attack on Blogger
- The US Air Force is testing a new type of transparent armor called ALON™; the glassy aluminum ceramic shielding
"...is virtually scratch resistant, offers substantial impact resistance, and provides better durability and protection against armor piercing threats, at roughly half the weight and half the thickness of traditional glass transparent armor, said the lieutenant.
In a June 2004 demonstration, an ALON™ test piece held up to both a .30 caliber Russian M-44 sniper rifle and a .50 caliber Browning Sniper Rifle with armor piercing bullets. While the bullets pierced the glass samples, the armor withstood the impact with no penetration.
In extensive testing, ALON™ has performed well against multiple hits of .30 caliber armor piercing rounds, typical of anti-aircraft fire..."
farkleberries Links du Jour 120
