Zombie Outbreak!!

Human-Robot marriages will be legal by 2050.
D.Levy. University of Maastricht 2007

Chickens prefer beautiful human beings.
Ghirlanda, Jansson & Enquist. Stockholm University 2002

Pressures involved when Penguins poo: Calculations on Avian Defecation
Meyer-Rochow, Gal & Eotvos. University of Hungary 2005


Some people like to grumble and moan about scientists doing random and pointless studies and researches. I personally find them hugely entertaining, particularly when related to completely useless areas of knowledge (such as the pressure rates of penguin faeces).

Scientists in Canada have recently completed a study called Infectious Disease Modelling Research Progress. On first glance that doesn't seem especially entertaining. However, the title of chapter 4 has promise. WHEN ZOMBIES ATTACK!: MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF AN OUTBREAK OF ZOMBIE INFECTION.

Apparently, the only way to successfully defeat a outbreak is to remove the heads of the zombies. Intriguingly, they could have watched Shaun of the Dead and got the same result without all that pesky mathematics. Their conclusions are wonderfully backed up by Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College, London. "My understanding of zombie biology is that if you manage to decapitate a zombie then it's dead forever." Read the story here.
Films
Old School ***
Matrix Reloaded ***
Matrix Revolutions **
Mesrine Pt 1 ****
Terminator Salvation ***
Angels & Demons ***
X Men Origins:Wolverine ***

Penguin abuse...

This is wrong, just wrong. Extreme penguin bashing. Click on the image or here to play.

But oh so funny....

My best score was 1002.4. Beat me if you can.

Movies
Green Mile ****
Die Hard 4 ***

Shock as Penguin learns to use Net

What is the greatest threat facing humankind? Is it global warming? George Bush sparking off World War 3? Global overpopulation? Meteors/aliens from outer space? Bird Flu?

I think I have seen a glimpse of the future. We are so focused on our own actions or interventions from the heavens that we have neglected a possible threat in our own back yard.

Penguins.......

Oh they may look cute and cuddly or humorous as they waddle about, but under the facade of the amusing bird, a cunning and evil mind lurks in every penguin. I was tipped off to the potential scale of the Penguin Threat(TM) when I saw this news story. Roxy the Rockhopper penguin has learnt how to use the internet.... This evil genius of a bird has overcome the lack of gripping appendages to set up her own Myspace page in order to find love. If they can learn to do that, what else can penguins learn to do?!

Hack the T'interweb?

Learn to operate firearms?

Sing in barbershop style singing groups? Noooooooooooo!

Just look at these two ill-favoured characters, what evil are they plotting, what cunning dreams lie within their diabolical brains?

The destruction of all that we hold dear in this world, thats what!

Don't say you haven't been warned. You heard about the Penguin Threat(TM) here first.

I have emailed my old mate George Bush about this, expect to see the War on Penguins springing into effect very soon

Movies & Other Stuff:
The Two Towers Extended Edition *****
Troy ***
Eddie Izzard - Glorious *****
Lots of Stargate SG1 ****
Gattaca ****

Good TV Shock Horror!

Just a couple of quick words about the BBC programme Planet Earth. What a magnificent achievement it is! Tonight's programme was about the Arctic & Antartctic and covered two of my favourite animals; Polar Bears and of course, Penguins. Oh, and I'm also loving Torchwood as well, tonight's BBC Three episode was a cracker.

Currently listening to:
Derek Webb - A New Law
Mute Math - Typical

Fluffyness AND Penguins

Here is a fluffy penguin picture that Nat sent to me. I did say my next post would have fluffyness and penguins.

Great, now I can rant on my next post. It would have been hard to do a nice fluffy one...

A terrifying freight train

I have just completed my first week as a trainee RE teacher. I'm not too sure how I feel about it just yet...

I think I would describe it as similar to being hit by a runaway freight train travelling at high speed and then being dragged along by said train screaming for it to slow down. I'm finding out early next week which school I will be doing my induction days in. I think I may blog more fully about my experiences then.

In the meantime, here is a marvellous penguin related thing:

OK - I've sorted my gifts for everyone I know this Christmas. Click on the picture for more crazy things. Just a little warning - there are some rude things, so if you are easily offended click this link instead

Due to aforementioned freight train-like experiences I haven't watched as many movies this week as I normally do, still here are a few:

Napoleon Dynamite ****
Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels ****
Hunt for Red October ****
Spellbound *****

The wilful misuse of penguins

Penguins are great. There is no doubt about it. Penguins are remarkable creatures able to survive and thrive in environments that would cause humans to lie down and die horribly without hugely expensive survival gear. I defy anyone to watch penguins hurling themselves up sheer cliffs and icebergs to get out of the sea and not be massively impressed. Or watch them 'flying' under water and not be warmed by their grace and speed.

However, penguins have a problem, they are not glamourous. Compared to say, a Golden Eagle, penguins get a raw deal. Who heard of a penguin being a symbol of freedom? The problem is penguins are funny. Very funny. As an example, look at this picture of penguins looking at a cuddly toy:



See, they aren't even trying to be funny. Jim Davidson would give his eye teeth to be half as funny as these penguins.

However, due to the natural humour of the penguin people feel they can use them to create humour where there is none. See below:



Now much as I approve of the sentiment of knocking George Bush, the wilful misuse of the noble penguin is not right. Penguins should only be used to support genuinely funny jokes or ideas. Like this.....


Take note penguin abusers....

Penguins are for life not just tenuous Christian allegory

hmmm






From http://www.faithmouse.com