A solution to voter apathy

Maria Elena Salinas writes in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer about her fears for the upcoming presidential election:

"[T]here is something going on out there that concerns me. I have heard too many people say that they are so confused or disenchanted with both candidates that they are thinking not of crossing party lines, but of not voting. Can you imagine?"

Attacking voter apathy is something all party officials seem to agree on, and yet no one seems to have a good answer on how to defeat it. Ironically, the answer has been readily available since at least the 1920's, and it is cheap, easy and reliable.

As Time reports, in its 1924 election, Italy managed to achieve the highest voter turnout rates in its history thanks to the use of a simple home remedy: castor oil.

Perhaps the targeted use of this tool would help Americans finally learn the value of their vote. That way, come November either Obama or McCain will truly be able to claim that they have the people's mandate.

Road trippin' with the Grammar Nazis

"They were Nazis, Dude?"
"Oh, come on Donny, they were threatening castration [over a split infinitive]! Are we gonna split hairs here? Am I wrong?"

Ok, so these guys aren't really Nazis, but they are taking a raod trip to fix grammatical, spelling and other sorts of English usage errors, which, in the grand scheme of things, is as good a reason as any to hit the road.

No doubt they're Hillsdale grads.

Via SWPL.

The Furby Gurdy

Via Neatorama: "Link four Furbys together to make a musical instrument! David Cranmer makes custom electronic musical instruments. He’s posted step-by-step process for making a Furby Gurdy, with videos, pictures, and audio commentary."

The best site ever

I think I just found the most awesome site in the history of the internet: http://www.westernwatercolors.com/.

Potassium independence

So far, the U.S. presidential candidates have blown a lot of hot air about energy independence, but have failed to address a much more difficult problem facing Americans: potassium independence. According to the National Academies, "The typical Western diet is high in salt and low in potassium -- the opposite of what evidence shows is optimal for good health and reducing the risks of chronic disease."

I see the major culprit here as Western reliance on foreign bananas. The U.S. accounts for roughly a third of world banana imports, sending untold millions overseas. As early as 1964, Harvard business professor James Houck was ringing the alarm bells about this issue, but his warnings went sadly unheeded. Now, instead of having invested in a substantial domestic banana market, Americans are at the mercy of largely unstable regions.

The only response that makes sense now is to begin a major overhaul of how we produce and consume potassium in this country. To put it bluntly, we are addicted to bananas.

The Linus Pauling Institute reports, however, that prunes and prune juice are a much better source of potassium than bananas. The federal government needs to foster alternative sources of potassium such as prunes by subsidizing their production and launching educational campaigns to help consumers make better choices. Obama and McCain need to support such a plan. Together, we can keep America free.

Jesus brokers dollar store deal for local woman

Via the Richmond Palladium-Item: "I'm so thankful to God that there is going to be a dollar store in Centerville. I have prayed for this for at least two years.

"A couple of times I asked the dollar store in Richmond if they could put one in Centerville.

"Yes! Thank you, Jesus."

Flamingo-Away

Via Neatorama: "Here’s a yard ornament I would proudly display to my neighbors and their ubiquitous flamingos! The Flamingo-Away kit includes two 'Gnome-Be-Gones' and one pink flamingo. Designed by artist Fred Conlon."

Chew your way to a new you

Via DoL: "If you must increase your bust, but gas prices have tapped your plastic surgery fund, there may still be hope. This time you don’t have to go under the knife. Just pop a few pieces of gum in your mouth everyday. Zoft Breast Enhancement Gum, which can be purchased without a prescription, contains Fenugreek Seed Extract, Fennel Seed, and 11 other herbs that the company says will deliver 'larger, fuller, firmer breasts.'"

Death Star Over San Francisco

Springfield punx

Via Newsarama: "Dean Fraser’s blog is devoted to turning beloved superheroes into Simpson characters."

Frass facts

Depending on who you're talking to, a big pile of frass can either lead to calling an exterminator or getting out a fork. Here's a nice recipe for frass with cabbage and bacon, for instance:

Ingredients
1 kg White cabbage (up to 1.5)
250 GM minced meat
2 French rolls (up to 3)
2 lg Onions (up to 3)
1/4 l Milk
Little amount of bacon

Instructions
Chop white cabbage coarsely, boil shortly in salt water and pour into a sieve. Cut the french rolls in small pieces and soak in milk. Mix thoroughly minced meat, cut bacon, finely minced onions, soaked rolls and cabbage. If necessary, add a bit of the water in which the cabbage was boiled. Put the mixture in a souffle form, sprinkle some flour and butter flakes over it. Bake for 1 - 1.5 hours in the oven.

What architecture students do in their spare time

It's the separated by birth game for architects, including Seann Scott v. Aaron Betsky among others:



Thanks for the link, Brandon.