Asides http://joshmadison.com/blog/index/ en josh@joshmadison.com Copyright 2008 2008-07-23T12:35:00-05:00 The jellyfish are here early http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/nyregion/22jellyfish.html http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/the-jellyfish-are-here-early/#When:12:35:00Z Apparently jellyfish have arrived in the NYC area earlier than expected.  I had no idea we get jellyfish.

On Monday, a steady stream of jellyfish undulated in the olive-colored water of the Hudson River between 79th and 98th Streets, where the swimmers had encountered them the day before. Their centers shifting up and down with the light tide, they were about six inches in diameter and looked like large floating paper cupcake wrappers stained in the center with red icing.

I love how the description of the water is “olive-colored” and the jellyfish are compared to cupcakes wrappers with icing.  Comparing bad things to food make them seem less menacing, especially good food like olive oil and cupcakes.  Mmmm...cupcakes.

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]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:35:00 EDT Burger King to market “Apple Fries” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20740405/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/burger-king-to-market-apple-fries/#When:01:49:00Z

The fast-food chain is also developing what it calls BK Fresh Apple Fries. The red apples are cut to resemble french fries and are served in the same containers as fries, but they are not fried and are served skinless and cold.

How sad is it that we have to make healthy foods look like unhealthy foods to appeal to kids?

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]]> Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:49:00 EDT Did the Mets just win their 10th straight game? http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280717117 http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/did-the-mets-just-win-their-10th-straight-game/#When:02:59:00Z Why yes.  Yes they did.

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]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:59:00 EDT Woman finds baby bat in bra…thought it was her cell phone http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2266900/Teenager-finds-baby-bat-in-her-bra.html http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/woman-finds-baby-bat-in-bra-thought-it-was-her-cell-phone/#When:15:47:00Z

“I keep thinking how could I have not known it was there?” Miss Hawkins said. “I will certainly be checking my bras every morning from now on.”

Nominee for Facepalm Moment of the Year.

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]]> Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:47:00 EDT Where the Hell is Matt? http://www.vimeo.com/1211060?pg=embed&sec=1211060 http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/where-the-hell-is-matt/#When:16:50:00Z A viral video that’s actually worth it.  Great idea, excellent execution, beautiful music.

You can see the maker’s website, and Jim Walsh has an article about the people behind it.

Favorite moment...in Paris when one of the participants slips and falls on the run in.

Note: I linked to the Vimeo HD version (because YouTube quality sucks); turn it off if it’s too jerky on your computer.

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]]> Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:50:00 EDT Kevin Connolly, who was born without legs, takes photographs of people as they look at him http://www.therollingexhibition.com/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/kevin-connolly-who-was-born-without-legs-takes-photographs-of-people-as-the/#When:17:01:00Z He rolls around on a skateboard and captures the moment when people look and say to themselves, “whoa”.

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]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:01:00 EDT When a movie review is better and funnier than the movie it reviews http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/movies/20guru.html http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/when-a-movie-review-is-better-and-funnier-than-the-movie-it-reviews/#When:15:52:01Z A. O. Scott on “The Love Guru”:

No, “The Love Guru” is downright antifunny, an experience that makes you wonder if you will ever laugh again.

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]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:52:01 EDT Harnessing the untapped power of breast motion http://www.slate.com/id/2193827/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/harnessing-the-untapped-power-of-breast-motion/#When:01:38:00Z Adrienne So at Slate wonders if a bra could use breast motion to power an iPod.

LaJean Lawson, a former professor of exercise science at Oregon State University:

“It’s just a matter of finding the sweet spot, between reducing motion to the point where it’s comfortable but still allowing enough motion to power your iPod.”

Lawson further explains:

“Let’s face it—if you’re a double-A marathoner, you’re probably not going to get that iPod up and running.”

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]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:38:00 EDT HBO to air all of Carlin’s specials over two nights http://www.hbo.com/events/george-carlin/tribute.html http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/hbo-to-air-all-of-carlins-specials-over-two-nights/#When:17:28:00Z Wednesday, June 25th and Thursday, June 26th, from 8pm to 2am each night, HBO2 will air all 11 of George Carlin’s HBO comedy specials. My DVR is already programmed.

I really hope PBS replays all his “Thomas the Tank Engine” episodes.

Update: NBC will be showing the first episode of Saturday Night Live, which Carlin hosted.

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]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:28:00 EDT George Carlin dies at 71 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/arts/24carlin.html http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/george-carlin-dies-at-71/#When:10:06:00Z He had way too many brilliant routines, but he was really great at pointing out the obvious, like this one about religion.

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]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:06:00 EDT Priceless coin collection moved in lower Manhattan http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/nyregion/16coins.html http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/priceless-coin-collection-moved-in-lower-manhattan/#When:16:42:00Z The American Numismatic Society moved their collection of coins from one building to the other this past weekend. Glenn Collins writes:

“The idea was to make this as inconspicuous as possible,” said Ute Wartenberg Kagan, executive director of the American Numismatic Society. “It had to resemble a totally ordinary office move.”

Uh huh.  Ordinary office moves usually have a police escort.  Sure.

The Times also has a slideshow of the move.

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]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:42:00 EDT Mars Phoenix lander finds ice http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/06_19_pr.php http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/mars-phoenix-lander-finds-ice/#When:02:49:01Z First public news was a Twitter tweet:

Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!

After digging in a spot, several crumbs of material disappeared, melted, indicating water based ice.  Precisely what Phoenix was looking for.

P. S. Yes, the lander said, “w00t”.

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]]> Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:49:01 EDT Mets fire Willie Randolph http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3447973 http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/mets-fire-willie-randolph/#When:10:14:00Z I liked him, but they need some sort of shake-up to get things going.  It happened in Anaheim after a win.  They just played at home for a week, and flew to California on Sunday night/Monday morning.  Why didn’t they fire him before the trip?  I don’t know how this works, but I assume they pay for his flight back?

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]]> Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:14:00 EDT A Remarkable Photo From Tornado Country http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/a-remarkable-photo-from-tornado-country/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/a-remarkable-photo-from-tornado-country/#When:03:04:00Z Patrick J. Lyons from the NY Times writes:

Lori Mehmen [...] looked out her front door and saw a funnel cloud bearing down — and evidently had the presence of mind to grab her digital camera and capture this shot before taking cover.

If I looked out my front door and saw that, the only presence of mind I would have would be to grab a new pair of underwear and run.  Great photo.

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]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:04:00 EDT Special edition of ‘Meet the Press’ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3898804/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/special-edition-of-meet-the-press/#When:06:23:00Z NBC will have a special edition of ‘Meet the Press’ to remember Tim Russert (who passed away this past Friday).

Although I hate politics, ‘Meet the Press’ is the one political show I watch (on occasion), and I watch because of Tim.  He had such enthusiasm, he seemed fair, and he seemed like someone you could be friends with (even though he’s a Bills fan).  He’ll be missed.

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]]> Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:23:00 EDT How rich are you? http://globalrichlist.com/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/how-rich-are-you/#When:11:16:00Z I’m the 40,000,000 richest person in the world.  Woohoo!  That and a token will get me on the subway.*

* That cliche is a little outdated, but “that and a MetroCard will get me on the subway” doesn’t have the same ring.

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]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:16:00 EDT You can now customize M&M’s with photos http://www.mymms.com/customprint_faces/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/you-can-now-customize-mms-with-photos/#When:02:30:01Z I would love to see the photo requests that are rejected.

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]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:30:01 EDT McDonald’s pulls tomatoes http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/06/10/tomatoes.salmonella.ap/index.html http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/mcdonalds-pulls-tomatoes/#When:14:37:00Z Ironic that one of only a few non-processed ingredients is the one that makes you sick.

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]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:37:00 EDT Apple announces new iPhone http://www.apple.com/iphone/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/apple-announces-new-iphone/#When:21:27:01Z Twice as fast at half the price.  I predict that there will be a NY Times crossword clue for an eight letter word meaning “BlackBerry killer”.

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]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:27:01 EDT A letter to the Canadian passport office http://www.millionface.com/l/an-actual-letter-to-the-canadian-passport-office/ http://joshmadison.com/blog/entry/a-letter-to-the-canadian-passport-office/#When:04:00:00Z Claims to be true.  Whether it’s true or not, lines like this are priceless:

How is it that Radio Shack has my address and telephone number and knows that I bought a t.v. cable from them back in 1997, and yet, the Federal Government is still asking me where I was born and on what date.

Good laugh.

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