Jon's LiveJournal

New web site!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:01:04 GMT

I know I haven't been posting in LiveJournal lately. Its because a few friends and I have been collaborating on our new blog, Awesome By Default. I'll still try and post random stories here that don't quite fit on our site, but I'm having a blast doing this. I encourage everyone to check it out.

Obama Signs Order Lifting Restrictions on Stem Cell Research Funding

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:53:03 GMT

President Obama on Monday signed an order to lift restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, a move he said rejects the "false choice" between science and morality.

The order would not fund the creation of new stem cell lines, but would allow federally funded scientists to conduct research on existing embryonic stem cells that under the Bush administration were off limits.

Obama said the full promise of such research "remains unknown" but that it should be explored because of the potential for scientists to find better treatments for ailments ranging from diabetes to Parkinson's disease to cancer.

"That potential will not reveal itself on its own. Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research," Obama said. (more...)

Top 13 Old School Board Games

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:32:09 GMT

Wedged tightly into dark corners in dusty attics are piles of old, worn out board games from years ago.

The corners of these old boxes are cracked and split open, the flashy prints on top long worn away, leaving only the dusty, corrugated bones behind. Pencils with broken leads, yellowed instructions, faded homemade scorecards, and assorted sub-ins for lost game pieces litter the box and make it look like that clattery kitchen drawer of assorted knick-knacks. Take a deep breath and you may sniff up a familiar musty scent that takes you way, way back.

13. Hungry Hungry Hippos
12. Mouse Trap
11. Connect 4
10. Battleship
9. Uno
8. Mastermind
7. Risk
6. Candyland
5. Trivial Pursuit
4. The Game of Life
3. Scrabble
2. Clue
1. Monopoly

Click here for the full list at 1000awesomethings.com!

Disabling enzyme allows mice to gorge without becoming obese

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:39:33 GMT

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have identified a new enzyme that plays a far more important role than expected in controlling the breakdown of fat. In a new study to be published Jan. 11 in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers report that mice that have had this enzyme disabled remained lean despite eating a high-fat diet and losing a hormone that suppresses appetite.

"We have discovered a new enzyme within fat cells that is a key regulator of fat metabolism and body weight, making it a promising target in the search for a treatment for human obesity," said Hei Sook Sul, UC Berkeley professor of nutritional sciences and toxicology and principal investigator of the research.

Sul's research team includes the three co-lead authors of the paper, all from UC Berkeley's Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology: Kathy Jaworski, former post-doctoral researcher; Maryam Ahmadian, graduate student; and Robin Duncan, post-doctoral fellow.

The enzyme in the spotlight, adipose-specific phospholipase A2 (AdPLA), is found in abundance only in fat tissue. AdPLA sets off a chain of events that increases levels of a signaling molecule called prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which suppresses the breakdown of fat. Mice that have no AdPLA have lower PGE2 levels and a higher rate of fat metabolism. (Read more...)

Ten extinct beasts that could walk the Earth again

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:14:51 GMT

The Dodo, Raphus cucullatus, is one of the most well-known extinct animals (Image: Photo Researchers / SPL)

The recipe for making any creature is written in its DNA. So last November, when geneticists published the near-complete DNA sequence of the long-extinct woolly mammoth, there was much speculation about whether we could bring this behemoth back to life.

Creating a living, breathing creature from a genome sequence that exists only in a computer's memory is not possible right now. But someone someday is sure to try it, predicts Stephan Schuster, a molecular biologist at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and a driving force behind the mammoth genome project.

So besides the mammoth, what other extinct beasts might we coax back to life? Well, it is only going to be possible with creatures for which we can retrieve a complete genome sequence. Without one, there is no chance. And usually when a creature dies, the DNA in any flesh left untouched is soon destroyed as it is attacked by sunshine and bacteria. (Read more...)

Wal-Mart Plans Supercenter on Civil War Battlefield

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:18:51 GMT

Wal-Mart wants to build a Supercenter within a cannonshot of where Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant first fought, a proposal that has preservationists rallying to protect the key Civil War site.

A who's who of historians including filmmaker Ken Burns and Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough sent a letter last month to H. Lee Scott, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., urging the company to build somewhere farther from the Wilderness Battlefield.

"The Wilderness is an indelible part of our history, its very ground hallowed by the American blood spilled there, and it cannot be moved," said the letter from 253 scholars and others.

Wal-Mart and its supporters point out that the 138,000-square-foot store would be right behind a bank and a small strip mall, a full mile from entrance to the site of the 1864 clash that left thousands dead and hastened the war's end.

Local leaders also want the $500,000 in tax revenue they estimate the big box store will generate for rural Orange County, a gradually growing area about 60 miles southwest of Washington. (Read more...)

Support preservation: http://ping.fm/rKjfW

Merry Christmas from Batman

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:28:04 GMT

Some things are better left unsaid.

What happened before the Big Bang? Here's an idea...

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:33:20 GMT

When researchers ran a computer simulation of the universe rewinding towards the big bang, they made an unexpected discovery. At first, the universe started becoming smaller and denser as the galaxies converged, but then instead of becoming infinitely dense at the big bang, the universe bounced and started expanding again. So is our universe recycled from an older cosmos? (Read more...)

Jailbirds

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:03:43 GMT

Good Magazine has a great series titled Transparency that looks into big social issues. Check out this great video about the U.S. justice system.

"There are currently more than 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States. What does that look like, exactly? That's equivalent to putting the combined populations of Miami, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis behind bars. Why is our penal system broken? How do we stack up against other countries? We take a closer look at prisons in our latest Transparency."

2 Shot Dead at Toys 'R' Us During Black Friday Sale

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:14:14 GMT

The shooting occurred in a crowded toy store on the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, but authorities say it wasn't related to the bargain-hunting frenzy. Instead, two men pulled guns and killed each other after the women with them erupted into a bloody brawl, witnesses said.
Authorities released few details about the mayhem that broke out at the Toys "R'' Us store around 11:30 a.m. Friday, sending scared shoppers fleeing. Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez said the fight was not over a toy and that handguns were found by the men's bodies. He refused to say whether the shooting was gang-related.

The victims were identified as Alejandro Moreno, 39, of Desert Hot Springs, and Juan Meza, 28, of Cathedral City. No one else was hurt.
Witnesses Scott and Joan Barrick said they were checking out of the store when the brawl began between two women, each with a man. The women were near the checkout area, but the Barricks did not think the women had purchases.
One woman suddenly started punching the other woman, who fought back as blood flowed from her nose, said Scott Barrick, 41. The man who was with the woman being punched pulled a gun halfway out of his pocket, then shoved it back in, he said. (Read more...)

The 5 Most Insane Versions of Thanksgiving Around the World

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:26:27 GMT

We all know and love Thanksgiving, our happy way to celebrate the subjugation and destruction of a race of indigenous peoples via eating turkey and mashed potatoes. But underneath all the stories, Thanksgiving is just America's own brand of weird brand of harvest holiday. (Read more...)

Remember Life magazine? You will thanks to Google.

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:54:52 GMT

Life was a publication created by Henry Luce in 1936, with a strong emphasis on photojournalism. Life appeared as a weekly until 1972, as an intermittent "special" until 1978; and as a monthly from 1978 to 2000. It became a weekly newspaper supplement from 2004 to 2007 was put out by Time and included in some newspapers in the U.S..

Google has digitized the Life photo archive for the world to see. Check it out at
Google's Life photo archive.

Macy's 2008 Parade Line-up

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:00:41 GMT

Want to know what's coming in the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving parade? I have a few tips:

- Oceanspray Cranberry float
- Disney's "Bolt" float staring Miley Cyrus (she's a voice in the movie)
- Princess castle float from MyPrincessAcademy.com (surprisingly not owned by Disney)
- Harajuku Girls float (those Asian back-up dancers in Gwen Stefani's videos. I guess they're big in Japan as a dance troupe.)
- Jimmy Dean's "Shine On" float featuring a giant sun

New balloons include:
- Smurfs
- Buzz Lightyear
- Horton from Horton Hears a Who

Thanks to DigitalCity.com for the info.

Pepsi drastically re-brands EVERYTHING.

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:59:52 GMT

Found this via TheDieLine.com:

Pepsi has announced that they are undergoing a drastic relaunching of their branding and packaging to bring "new life" to their flagship brands. The most dramatic element is a redesign of the Pepsi Globe logo, which for some reason is now supposed to represent a smile. (Read more...)

NASA Says Phoenix Mars Mission Is Over

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:27:45 GMT

From AOL News:
NASA on Monday declared an end to the Phoenix mission, some five months after the spacecraft became the first to land in Mars' arctic plains and taste water on another planet.

Mission engineers have not heard from the Phoenix lander in over a week. It fell silent shortly after a raging dust storm blocked sunlight from reaching its solar panels. Although ground controllers will direct two satellites orbiting Mars to listen for Phoenix for several more weeks, the chances that it will respond are slim. (Read more...)

Get Your Volunteer On

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:47:33 GMT

Good magazine's quick history of volunteering. Can't see it? Check it out here.

Why do so many evangelical teen-agers become pregnant?

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:55:32 GMT

From the New Yorker:

In early September, when Sarah Palin, the Republican candidate for Vice-President, announced that her unwed seventeen-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant, many liberals were shocked, not by the revelation but by the reaction to it. They expected the news to dismay the evangelical voters that John McCain was courting with his choice of Palin. Yet reports from the floor of the Republican Convention, in St. Paul, quoted dozens of delegates who seemed unfazed, or even buoyed, by the news...(Read more)

Obama, McCain, Biden & Palin Cabbage Patch Dolls

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:09:59 GMT

From the telegraph.co.uk:

Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, John McCain, and Joe Biden have been made into cabbage patch dolls for a charity sale on eBay.

"These four folks in particular seemed like the perfect candidates, if you will, to become one-of-a-kind Cabbage Patch Kids," said a spokeswoman for Jakks Pacific, which manufactures the dolls. "We've had a great history with making celebrity look-alikes with these kids. We've done everyone from Elvis to Donald Trump to Ellen (DeGeneres) and Oprah (Winfrey)."

All proceeds from the auction, which takes place on November 4th, will go to the US Marine Corps' Toys for Tots foundation, which provides Christmas presents for needy children. The auction will also include 6 limited edition 25th anniversary dolls identical to those Cabbage Patch Kids first created in 1983.

Nebraska judge tosses out lawsuit against God

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:52:02 GMT

A judge has thrown out a Nebraska legislator's lawsuit against God, saying the Almighty wasn't properly served due to his unlisted home address.

State Sen. Ernie Chambers filed the lawsuit last year seeking a permanent injunction against God. He said God has made terroristic threats against the senator and his constituents in Omaha, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."

Chambers has said he filed the lawsuit to make the point that everyone should have access to the courts regardless of whether they are rich or poor.

On Tuesday, however, Douglas County District Court Judge Marlon Polk ruled that under state law a plaintiff must have access to the defendant for a lawsuit to move forward. (Read more...)

The world’s strangest restaurants

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:55:10 GMT

Elevating foodies to new heights over cities like Paris, Brussels and Dubai, Dinner in the Sky offers 22 seat-belted guests a chance to dine at a seven-ton table attached to a crane, hovering 165 feet in the air. (Read more...)

Creative Japanese Barcodes

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:32:15 GMT

UPC symbols are ubiquitous and constant reminders that we are a civilization of consumers. Up until now, there was no distinguishing one from the other.

That’s all changed since a Japanese company named D-Barcode came up with some very creative and innovative ideas on how to make these uninteresting lines actually enjoyable to look upon.

Look at more examples at the source.

Coke testing fountain that dispenses 100 beverages

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:27:27 GMT

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co., the world’s largest beverage firm, is working on a proprietary fountain system that can dispense more than 100 beverages from a single unit.

First-generation prototype dispensers were tested earlier this summer, the company said Thursday. Second-generation dispensers will begin testing in the first half of 2009. A decision on whether to roll out the system in the market will be made after the second round of testing. (Read more...)

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:49:10 GMT

I'm working at work. Novel idea.

Aquarium Puts Dolphins on Diet

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:50:54 GMT

Dolphins at a Japanese marine park are going on a low fat diet after developing pot bellies and failing to look sharp in their aquatic performances.

Kinosaki Marine World in western Japan said Tuesday that all its 19 dolphins have been on a low fat diet since late August, when they started failing to hit jumping targets and keep upright while treading water. (Read More...)

Robots Exhibit Stress

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:00:45 GMT

From Make Magazine:

These two videos of robotic projects by artist Michael Kontopoulos show examples of his work that feature machines with obvious flaws. "Machine that Tries to Draw Circles" is a machine that exhibits a chaotic attempt at drawing a circle by failing miserably. The other video of "Machines that Almost Fall Over" shows hammers programmed to pound on the object supporting them in order to tip it over. Interesting take on a-life in kinetic objects with low self-esteem.