So, there’s this physics experiment happening in November that has some people worried about the end of the world. Literally. The physicist in me says there are so many things wrong with this worry, it’s silly. But it’s a group of physicists (quoting Stephen Hawking, no less) that has begun pushing this doomsday thing. I guess we’ll know in November, won’t we?

From memepool:

In the insane world where venture-cash-rich internet firms are knocking over each other to give away free stuff in order to build market share, the only competitive advantage a startup has is its ability to give away the house faster than its rivals.uReach.com could very well be the winner of this bizzare race, offering webmail, a personal 800-number voicemail box and inbound fax capacities for anyone who logs in. Since its ability to financially sustain itself on pure advertising revenue is laughable, I suspect they’re trolling to get acquired.

My toll-free number is 1-877-353-3869.

A gem from Rebecca’s Pocket:

Many European churches and cathedrals are set up as giant pinhole cameras. There is a tiny hole in the dome and a line inscribed on the floor inside. When the image of the sun crosses the line, it is noon local time.

This page contains photographs taken of these solar images taken during last month’s solar eclipse.

My mother has a webpage. Hi mom!

Hurricane Floyd’s causing all sorts of fuss around here. By the end of today, the Georgia coast will be deserted. In one of the more interesting articles I’ve read, the possibility of NASA losing the entire shuttle fleet at once is raised.

Hurricane Floyd’s causing all sorts of fuss around here. By the end of today, the Georgia coast will be deserted. In one of the more interesting articles I’ve read, the possibility of NASA losing the entire shuttle fleet at once is raised.

From Bifurcated Rivets:

The Year 2000 Problem: The Year the Earth Implodes

Before I continue, I wish to tell you my credentials. Now, at this point I could go on for some length about the fact that I have a Ph.D. and am a world-acknowledged expert on Y2K and computers. However, I don’t wish to appear that I’m bragging by belaboring my expertise. Therefore I’ll just mention the point briefly. I have a Ph.D. and am a world-acknowledged expert on Y2K and computers.

“I don’t see why the laws of physics should be violated to sell orange juice.”

Thanks to Bifurcated Rivets, I read through the site for the Institute of Metahistory.

_The Institute of Metahistory unites people who believe that the existing ideas of the past of the human civilization can be wrong in many respects, since they were evolved on the basis of data which can hardly be considered exhaustive, and bear the imprint of a vast number of stereotypes.

We think that as a result of closer cooperation between different sciences, the renunciation of biased opinions and the arrogant confidence that modern science, at least basically, knows everything about everything, a fuller and more reliable picture of the past of the human civilization could be reconstructed.

We are aware that all the suggestions must be substantiated and verified, and all the assertions - proved. And this we will do.

_ I especially enjoyed reading their theory of Atlantis: that it was an ice-age civilization located where the North Sea is today. Go see!

I’ve seen quite a few mentions of Hormel’s nice letter to spamcop.com clearly accepting the slang use of “spam” as junk e-mail. Yes, it’s great that Hormel’s being so nice to spamcop by not threatening to sue like most companies do. But let’s not forget why they’re being so nice.

They sued Jim Henson Productions for naming a big pig muppet Spa’am. The district court ruled in favor of the muppets. Hormel appealed to the New York Federal Court of Appeals, who again ruled against Hormel. So now, after having everyone short of the US Supreme Court tell them to lighten up, all I can say is it’s about time. Good for Hormel