Dilbert broken?

Dilbert broken?  Some of you may be missing the Dilbert widget on the right side of the blog.  The problem is actually with the widget itself (which is supplied by the Dilbert site), and not with my blog.  On my Mac, the only way I can make it work is to use the Safari web browser.  I've filed a report of the problem, and I'm waiting for their response.  I'm sure Dilbert won't let us down :)

There are limits...

There are limits...  I actually like being in high places: dangling my legs over cliffs, leaning out of an open aircraft door (if I have a parachute on), and so on.  But this fellow (lots of photos) goes way beyond anything I'd consider fun... 

Droplets on the move...

Droplets on the move, and even navigating a maze – thanks to the Leidenfrost effect and some clever manipulation of it with machined surfaces. 

A dozen really cool moveable bridges...

A dozen really cool moveable bridges.  They're not all drawbridges, either, like you might be thinking.  Many of them are complete with videos of them working.  I've only seen pictures of a couple of these, and only the first one in person...

A language that's 6,000 years old and extinct...

A language that's 6,000 years old and extinct.  But you can still listen to it...

Extinct.  That word got me to thinking.  What if we could make entire bureaucracies extinct?  Wouldn't that be cool?

15 National Parks for fall color...

15 National Parks for fall color.  Beautiful.  Not that you can actually, like, get into them now, what with the government shutdown and all...

Recycle this, please!

Recycle this, please!  Click the image to embiggen it.  Sent along by friend, reader, former colleague, Idaho real estate and agribusiness mogul Doug S...

Government shutdown...

Government shutdown.  Have you noticed anything different?  I haven't.  I'm in favor of a nice, lengthy shutdown.  The power is still on.  The sun is still shining.  The chirds are birping.  The dogs still bark.  Ah, but the parks are closed – even the ones where it costs more money to keep them closed than to keep them open.  But some citizens aren't putting up with that crap...

Don't mess with a U.S. Marine...

Don't mess with a U.S. Marine.  For example, trying to mug one is a really bad idea.  Via reader Jim M.

Craig's List Ad

To: the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah night before last.
Date: 2010-09-27, 1:43 am. E.S.T.

I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.

First, I'd like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn't expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket.. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason.. my girlfriend was happy that I just returned safely from my 2nd tour as a Combat Marine in Afghanistan .. She had just bought me that Kimber Custom Model 1911 ..45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head ... isn't it?!

I know it probably wasn't fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with crap in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me.  That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again.

After I called your mother or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you'd done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 153 gallons and was extremely grateful!

I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all the cash in your wallet.  That made his day!  I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" that was parked at the curb, after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver's side of the car.

Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA's office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target.  The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.).

In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you ... but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you've chosen to pursue in life.. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky.. Have a good day!

Thoughtfully yours,
Semper Fi,
Alex

Now I'm pretty sure this is apocryphal.  But it's plausible, so I'm repeating it...

The hard-working ant...

The hard-working ant.  A parable in a few slides.  Via my mom, who adds:

And this is why we have added over 200,000 new government employees in the past two years, and no one can explain why we are still in a recession. It's not a good time to be an ant.  And...... That's why I am SOOO thankful to be RETIRED!

Fall...

Fall...  Sent by a friend...

Knights vs. Snails...

Knights vs. Snails.  Images like the one at right are found on many illustrated medieval manuscripts.  Nobody knows why...

Anagnorisis and Peripeteia...

Anagnorisis and Peripeteia: a fascinating TED talk about work.  Sheep testicles and storms at sea are involved.

Also interesting, the story behind this talk...

Hmmm...

Hmmm...  My lovely bride sent me this:

Thought for the Day

We are always hearing about how Social Security is going to run out of money.

How come we never hear about Welfare running out of money?

IPCC Fail...

IPCC Fail: Steve McIntyre catches the IPCC report in a little sleight-of-hand in the report's summary.  Early drafts of the report showed recent observed temperatures falling outside the “envelope” of all models' projections.  In the final version of the report, though, the observed temperatures are magically within the envelope.  These changes, while consistent with their narrative and (very) politically correct, are not consistent with the actual science date – even as presented elsewhere in their report.  The IPCC appears to be hoping that nobody will look beyond their summary...

Spam, the latest ObamaCare benefit...

Spam, the latest ObamaCare benefit.  Warren Meyer of CoyoteBlog is not happy.  He registered for ObamaCare and now he's being spammed by companies who want to help him.  Apparently somewhere in the ObamaCare chain of technology, one of the providers decided to sell his email address along with his specific interests in ObamaCare...