joshmadison.com

• Large Purse

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:00:04 EDT

Scientists develop guide to perfect handshake

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:14 EDT

Researchers at the University of Manchester have published a guide to the perfect handshake.

Beattie’s steps to the perfect handshake, for both men and women, are: use the right hand; a complete grip and a firm squeeze (but not too strong); a cool and dry palm; approximately three shakes, with a medium level of vigor, held for no longer than two to three seconds.

What exactly is “a medium level of vigor”?

Last roll of Kodachrome produced has been shot

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:00:33 EDT

Steve McCurry, who’s best known for shooting the Afghan Girl photograph, requested that he be allowed to shoot the last roll of Kodachrome Kodak ever produced. National Geographic documented his journey shooting the final roll.

Russo said they documented McCurry shooting the final roll of film in New York, then traveling to Bombay and Rajasthan, India, then back to New York, shooting along the way several personalities of the world of filmmaking.

McCurry said he spent about two months shooting the images, which also included scenic photos, as well as serendipitous moments on the streets of New York.

Hopefully, National Geographic will print a few of the photographs. It truly is the passing of an era.

Scientists answer age-old question

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:00:13 EDT

Scientists have discovered that a protein is needed to make a shell, and this protein is only found within a chicken, thereby answering which came first.

Professor John Harding, who also took part in the research, told Metro the discovery could have other applications.

“Understanding how chickens make shells is fascinating in itself, but can also give clues towards designing new materials.” he said.

Which is good, because in spite of HECToR’s hard work and the “scientific proof” it yielded, the study offered no explanation as to how the chicken got there in the first place.

• Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:00:57 EDT

Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.

Dan Gilbert’s open letter in response to LeBron James’ decision to go to Miami

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:00:38 EDT

Dan Gilbert, the Cleveland Cavaliers owner, wrote an open letter in response to LeBron James’ decision to sign with the Miami Heat:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Wow, sounds like a real joy to play for.

Predictions: The Cavaliers don’t win 50 games next year; LeBron wins 3 championships before the Cavaliers win a playoff series.

(and what the heck is up with the Comic Sans?)

UPDATE: Check out the Cleveland Plain Dealer front page. He might be more hated in Cleveland than Art Modell.

• True friends stab you in the front.

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:00:44 EDT

A comedian wins in Iceland election

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:00:41 EDT

A comedian created the ‘Best Party’ and won 34.7% of the vote. Now he’s the mayor of a city with 1/3 of Iceland’s population.

In his acceptance speech he tried to calm the fears of the other 65.3 percent. “No one has to be afraid of the Best Party,” he said, “because it is the best party. If it wasn’t, it would be called the Worst Party or the Bad Party. We would never work with a party like that.”

With his party having won 6 of the City Council’s 15 seats, Mr. Gnarr needed a coalition partner, but ruled out any party whose members had not seen all five seasons of “The Wire.”

Well, “The Wire” is the best TV show I’ve ever seen.

Edith Shain dies at 91

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:21 EDT

Edith Shain, who claimed to be the nurse in Eisenstaedt’s iconic Times Square V-J Day photograph, has died. She was 91.

“You can imagine how people felt. They were just elated,” Shain said in a 2005 interview with The Times. “Someone grabbed me and kissed me, and I let him because he fought for his country. I closed my eyes when I kissed him. I never saw him.”

Coincidentally, that photograph was on a very short list of posters I’d selected to possibly decorate a wall in my apartment.

ThinkGeek gets a ceist and desist letter for a mythical product

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:00:54 EDT

For April Fool’s ThinkGeek advertised “Canned Unicorn Meat” and proclaimed it “the new white meat”. A law firm representing the National Pork Board, who own the trademark “The Other White Meat”, sent ThinkGeek a cease and desist letter.

In their defense, the lawyers were doing their due diligence just in case Unicorn meat is real.

Vuvuzelas to be quieted during World Cup broadcasts

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:00:49 EDT

The constant and annoying buzzing sound of the vuvuzelas in the background of every World Cup match has prompted the company that provides the feed to broadcasters around the world to adjust it’s audio filters to try and bring down the sound.

The South African horns have become the talk of the World Cup, with some commentators admitting the swarming bees sound is driving them crazy.

The BBC is even thinking about having a second audio broadcast available that would be vuvuzela free:

The BBC has received 220 complaints and, while it is committed to reflecting the atmosphere in the stadiums on its main coverage, it is believed to be looking into providing a so-called “clean” feed that would strip out the majority of crowd noise, via the red button.

When I first turned on the USA vs. England match, I thought there was something wrong with the audio because of all the buzzing.

UPDATE: Now you can view any website as if you were at the 2010 World Cup.

NYC finally getting rid of two ‘sell by’ dates on milk cartons

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:00:28 EDT

Containers of milk sold in NYC have two “sell by” dates: the dairy industry standard date, and the NYC Board of Health mandated date:

The city’s milk-dating system, said Dr. Pascal James Imperato, a former city health commissioner, is a relic of the days when the chain of refrigeration from the point of pasteurization to consumption was often broken. Delivery trucks had inadequate refrigeration. They were delayed. And many times their drivers had no choice but to leave milk on door steps. For hours.

The Board of Health has finally voted to get rid of the special NYC date.

I always knew the reason behind the special NYC date, but I always wanted to see the preeminent defense attorney, Vincent LaGuardia Gambini, cross examine an NYC Board of Health member about the need for the extra date:

Vinny Gambini: Are we to believe that milk goes bad faster in New York City than anywhere else on the face of the earth? I guess the laws of physics cease to exist on the island of Manhattan. Is this magic milk? Did it come from the cow that Jack traded for his magic beanstalk beans?

It’s a small world

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 07:00:33 EDT

A photo taken at Disney World captures a couple together 15 years before they met:

Thirty years ago, when they lived in separate countries long before they met and married, a family shot of little Donna at Walt Disney World captured Alex in a stroller in the background.

What’re the chances?

Most expensive hotel room

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:00:47 EDT

The most expensive hotel room in the U.S.A., outside of Las Vegas, is the $35,000 per night penthouse at the Four Seasons in Manhattan.

The suite has sweeping views of Manhattan in every direction, bathroom sinks made of solid blocks of rock crystal and a personal butler on-call 24 hours a day. Guests have the use of a Maybach or Rolls-Royce—with driver, of course. Room service from the hotel’s restaurants, including one run by celebrity chef Joël Robuchon, is included in the price and nearly unlimited (though one guest was charged for a $1,000 order of caviar).

One day your pants may power up your iPod

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:00:45 EDT

Researchers at UC Berkeley are working on clothing that can generate electricity from simple body movements.

Researchers are envisioning hikers powering up their digital cameras while trekking up a mountain or a jogger charging up her cellphone in mid-run.

Perhaps they should check up on this guy, and this girl.

Tickets for perfect game still available

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:00:28 EDT

On Saturday, Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay pitched the 20th perfect game in MLB history. Today, the Florida Marlins will sell all unsold tickets from that game.

The announced attendance for the game was 25,086, but something tell us in the future many more people will claim to have been there.

• Juggling Instead of Unpacking

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:00:06 EDT

‘Amityville Horror’ house up for sale

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:00:51 EDT

The house that inspired ‘The Amityville Horror’ is up for sale. 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, finished basement, and “interesting history”. $1.15 million.

Scientists find oldest sex toy

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Thu, 20 May 2010 22:00:24 EDT

Scientists believe they’ve found the world’s oldest sex toy. It’s 28,000 years old and may have also been used to start fires.

‘Field of Dreams’ farmhouse for sale

josh@joshmadison.com (Josh) — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:48 EDT

Speaking of awesome baseball movies, the farmhouse where ‘Field of Dreams’ was filmed is for sale. It has 193 acres, 7 buildings, and the home is 2 bedroom/1.5 bath/2400 sq. ft. It comes complete with the baseball field, corn field, and approximately 65,000 visitors per year. It’s a steal at only $5.4 million.

The intangible assets of the property are simply not measurable. The Field of Dreams owners have been honored to be a part of sports history these past 20 years and have played host to a variety of sports celebrities along the way. Moments of peace and quiet, family togetherness and most of all, magic and wonder have been among their greatest and most cherished memories. It has been a destination for millions of visitors and may continue to be the place many find peace and quiet in our modern day existence.