Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update

	September 30th, 2012 7 Politicians Who Appeared on Game Shows Posted about 22 hours ago by mental_floss to Holy Kaw! As we’ve been seeing lately, everything politicians have done since birth ends up being in the news—especially during election time. Game show appearances are no exception, so check out these seven politico contestants. Some did surprisingly well; others should definitely stick to their day jobs. 1. Ronald Reagan on I’ve Got a Secret, 1961 Embedded media -- click here to see it. A pre-politics Reagan gives Henry Morgan and Steve Allen a radio announcer’s test to see if he can make them laugh in the middle of the “audition.” If you’ve ever wanted to see the 40th President of the United States blow up a balloon using a trumpet, here’s your chance. The whole thing is quite charming. 2. Senator John McCain on Jeopardy!, 1965 If you think John McCain has gotten over his loss in Final Jeopardy almost 50 years ago, you’d be wrong. He still remembers the exact question: “Cathy loved him, but married Edgar Linton instead.” Brontë buffs, of course, know that the answer is Heathcliff. But McCain could only recall the name of the book and answered as such: “What is Wuthering Heights?” 3. Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm on The Dating Game, 1978 Embedded media -- click here to see it. When Jennifer Granholm was 19, she probably had no idea that she would someday have a career in politics, which is too bad—she might have asked the host to refer to her as something other than “cute and curvaceous.” Granholm is semi-apologetic about the wall o’ hair, though. “This is what being a teenager in the ’70s gets you,” she said. “I was having a bad hair decade.” Spoiler alert: it didn’t work out with the bachelor she picked. Just for reference, here’s Jennifer at the Democratic National Convention this year. See the rest at mental_floss. All the top stories from mental_floss. 縁 Posted 1 day ago by Koichi Mitsui to s a s u r a u 1 丘と街。 Matrix by Marcin Nawrocki Posted 1 day ago by Amazing Pics to Amazing Pics 3 via 500px.com Sent by Posterous. Change your email settings or unfollow. Other questions? We'd love to help.

Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update

	September 29th, 2012 Extreme carp fishing…wait, what?! [video] Posted 1 day ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! For most, fishing is a relaxing experience, but not when Eric Young and company take to the lake. Apparently, catching Asian carp requires a combination of grace and aggression not normally seen on America’s tranquil waters. Desperate times call for desperate measures, though. Embedded media -- click here to see it. Full story at YouTube. This ain’t your grandpa’s fishing. 渋谷 Posted 1 day ago by Koichi Mitsui to s a s u r a u 2 ブラブラ。 Socks go hi-tech with BLACKSOCKS [video] Posted 1 day ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! Who doesn’t have a problem matching black socks, much less finding a match in a pinch? Do you only buy new black socks when the office receptionist reminds you that dark gray and black are not the same color? While many an iPhone app goes unused, once you drop $189 on ten pairs of black socks and the accompanying app, you’ll be sure to be boring colleagues senseless in no time recounting the exciting life and times of your footwear as well as annoying them by checking to see how black their socks are. Intrigued? Then check out the video below and let your black sock adventure begin! Embedded media -- click here to see it. Full story at BLACKSOCKS via Technabob. Smart clothes. The grand piano gets a modern makeover [video] Posted about 15 hours ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! It isn’t often one sees something as iconic as a grand piano get a makeover, but Peugeot Design Lab decided to buck tradition and bring this essential instrument into the modern age. Though traditionalists may scoff at the sleek exterior, don’t jump to the conclusion that this startling instrument wasn’t lovingly and painstakingly crafted, as can be seen in the video below. It might not be your grandfather’s grand, but at least it’s not a synthesizer. Embedded media -- click here to see it. Full story at Peugeot Design Lab via Tuvie. A new look for an old instrument. Sent by Posterous. Change your email settings or unfollow. Other questions? We'd love to help.

Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update

	September 28th, 2012 10 Words for Things You Didn't Know Had Names Posted 1 day ago by mental_floss to Holy Kaw! You know aglet and grawlix and tittle and punt, but did you know any of these ten words? 1. You know how it smells after it rains? That clean, greenish smell when rain lands on dry ground? That’s petrichor, from the Greek petra (stone) and ichor (the blood of Greek gods and goddesses). The term was coined by two Australian researchers in 1964. 2. Originally, a zarf was a metal chalice keep the heat from your coffee from burning your fingers. The name for the fancy cupholder has morphed into the modern-day cardboard sleeve that comes wrapped around your hot coffee. 3. Chanking: Chewed-up food that’s been spit out. (Try to avoid giving us reason to use this one, OK?) 4. Scroop is the rustling, swooshy sound ballgowns make. More specifically, it’s the sound produced by the movement of silk. See the rest at mental_floss. All the top stories from mental_floss. 12 Cat-Related Patents That Are Really Quite Bizarre Posted 1 day ago by mental_floss to Holy Kaw! To visit Google’s patent website is to lose yourself in a black hole of totally weird wannabe inventions—a surprising number of which are for your feline friends. From toys meant to encourage exercise to systems that deliver live birds for food, here are 12 really weird cat patents. 1. “Method of Exercising a Cat” If you watch My Cat From Hell (and you obviously do), you know that host Jackson Galaxy’s first step in kitty exorcism is almost always increasing exercise—and America’s inventors are on it. Patents for all kinds of strange, exercise-inspired toy patents exist, including number 5443036, “Method of Exercising a Cat.” Kevin T. Amiss and Martin H. Abbott propose a ray or glue gun-looking device that beams a laser onto an opaque surface. Give it to the human, who must move the light “in an irregular way fascinating to cats, and to any other animal with a chase instinct.” (Nothing you can’t do with a flashlight.) 2. “Cat Exercise Wheel” Elmer Paul Venson and Leona June Wilson, on the other hand, take the hamster wheel one step further with patent number D484284, “Cat Exercise Wheel.” Sure, it will get out your cat’s excess energy, but expect her to be insulted that you’re asking her to act like a rodent she wants to eat. 3. “Bird Predation Deterrent Shield” Many cat-related patents aim to keep the creatures from eating birds—and no wonder, since felines take out an estimated 500 million songbirds every year. In patent number 5755186, “Bird predation deterrent shield for a cat,” Susan B. Mandeville suggests a flexible bib that hangs from the cat’s neck nearly down to its feet. According to the patent, “Use of a shield according to the present invention has been shown to drastically reduce the number of birds killed by a cat when worn by the cat while outdoors.” (We can only assume Susan tested this on her own very disgruntled kitty.) 4. “Collar for a Cat for Warning a Bird of the Presence of the Cat” Similarly, in patent number 5952925, “Collar for a cat for warning a bird of the presence of the cat,” Gordon P. Secker suggests popping a collar equipped with speakers on felines to ruin their stalking skills and warn birds off. See the rest at mental_floss. All the top stories from mental_floss. 徘徊 Posted 1 day ago by Koichi Mitsui to s a s u r a u 4 ヨコハマ。 The social media missing link in MBA programs [infographic] Posted 1 day ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! 1 Seeing how much businesses have been using social media, it shouldn’t be surprising that MBA programs are also using a variety of platforms for tasks like recruiting, community building and alumni relations. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth took a closer look at the numbers to identify the why, what and how, which can be seen in this infographic from TheBestColleges.org. Via TheBestColleges.org. Getting down to business with infographics. A visual guide to introverts [comic] Posted 1 day ago by Kate Rinsema to Holy Kaw! 2 A comic about introverts? What could be more natural? If you’ve been having trouble identifying the introverts in your life, check out this short field guide from Grant Snider of Incidental Comics. Via Incidental Comics. Quiet little comics. Take your plan beyond numbers and into action Posted 1 day ago by SmartBrief to Holy Kaw! 1 Most people think of planning as an annual exercise, and many see planning as developing financial plans and budgets. But planning isn’t just about numbers; the real test is the ability of the organization to actually execute it and drive measurable results. Done well, a plan aligns, unites and mobilizes. A successful plan is a living document that allows you to outline clear milestones and goals so you and your organization know what success looks like. It becomes that living document by asking and answering three fundamental questions. Full story at SmartBrief Social Media. More SmartBrief stories. Photo credit: Fotolia Sent by Posterous. Change your email settings or unfollow. Other questions? We'd love to help.

Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update

	September 27th, 2012 船は Posted 1 day ago by Koichi Mitsui to s a s u r a u 2 往く。 Collagen, the protein that holds us together Posted 1 day ago by Futurity to Holy Kaw! Scientists have made a major step toward synthesizing collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body. “[Collagen] basically is the connective fiber that holds cells together; without it you’d turn into a big puddle,” says Jeffrey Hartgerink, an associate professor of chemistry and of bioengineering at Rice University. Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Photo credit: Hartgerink Lab/Rice University New robot control feels like 1st person gaming [video] Posted 1 day ago by Futurity to Holy Kaw! With a new visual control system, guiding a robot remotely—and precisely—could feel a lot like playing a first-person 3D video game. Embedded media -- click here to see it. "This capability could have numerous applications—especially in situations where directly observing the robot's operation is hazardous or not possible—including bomb disposal, handling of hazardous materials, and search-and-rescue missions," says Georgia Tech senior research engineer Ai-Ping Hu. Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Photo credit: Gary Meek/Georgia Tech African Nightfall by Hougaard Malan Posted about 19 hours ago by Amazing Pics to Amazing Pics via 500px.com Embark (YC S11) transit apps double in reach after iOS 6 update Posted about 19 hours ago by Garry Tan to Y Combinator Posterous 1 Apple’s changes in iOS 6 are already proving plenty beneficial for some of its developers, including mass transit app-maker Embark. The San Francisco-based startup has seen 1.3 million trips routed through its app since Apple decided to ditch Google Maps in favor of its own solution, which lacks integrated transit mapping options. Embarks’ suite of apps, which serve customers across 12 U.S. and international transit systems, have also been downloaded over 100,000 times since iOS 6 arrived, representing a huge upwards spike in traction. Compare that to the startups previous rate of growth: it’s planned over 40 million trips total, but was doing just 2 million trips a month in January of this year. Now, it’s on pace to do around 4 million a month, achieving well over 1 million in the single week since iOS 6 was released to the public. Embark founder David Hodge tells me that the upwards curve of growth has been tremendous since the launch, with clear inflection point at the time of the iOS 6 release. Read the full article on Techcrunch Sent by Posterous. Change your email settings or unfollow. Other questions? We'd love to help.