Sunday, May 31, 2009

Up on the Roof


ok, not exactly daily reports, but finally, here's the New York vacation feature. In no particular order, let's start with this: The sculpture on the roof of the Met. More pictures on Picassa (so as not to clog the blog). Also, check out the web-sites for the sculptor: Roxy Paine.
up on the roof

Friday, May 29, 2009

Lando's Lesson

It's a new feature!! 
Lando Calrissian knows what's up, what's down, what's kickin' around! Ask Lando!

star-wars-han-lando-01.jpg



Lando's thoughts today: It's damn hot in Vancouver today so keep cool, keep hydrated with blue space milk, and remember to "just get goin' you pirate!!"

Official Business

SudmantFamily.blogspot.com is the 7,837 ranked blog on the internet!

http://izearanks.com/sites/sudmantfamily-blogspot-com

Currently we're averaging 10 page views a day.. but only one "unique" visitor.

Poetry Corner!!!

Lugubrious limp
By Adam Sudmant

Lugubrious limp, lopes down lane of loserdom.
Staining stigmas swallow sequacious cyborgs,
fighting trials of terra's trickery.
Blowing devilry demoralizes, 
whilst water washes away,
waning weak

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Image of the Day

If you don't find this amusing you're on the wrong blog. (Paul, as in Paul Krugman, won last years nobel in economics)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

What's the Mendealio? 26.05.09 - Mind Control

Mind control might seem like the realm of science fiction rather than science fact,  but as the above Planet Earth clip beautifully documents, parasitic manipulation of brain chemistry is very real.  This interactive Discover Magazine feature further exhibits some more examples of parasites hijacking host brains and manipulating behavior.  Surely this is limited to the realm of insects and mollusks though?  Perhaps not, consider Toxoplasma Gondii, a parasite found in as many as half of humans.  Research has linked Toxoplasma infection to increased schizophrenic risk and aggression.  

What's the Mendealio?

I've been planning on it for a while, but Andy's last post finally set the wheels in motion. I'm pleased to introduce a new feature to the Sudmant family blog, the "What's the Mendealio?" Science feature!

So, what is the Mendealio?  Stay tuned to find out.  Epigenetics is just the tip of the iceberg.  Future installments will include links to current scientific literature spanning topics from molecular psychiatry to nano scale self propelled  DNA bipedal machines.  

Epigenetics

very cool article, very short.

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2009/05/new-evolution-100-examples

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Operation Sudmant Family Goes to The Olympics

location: respective internet portholes
date: June the 6th 2009
time: 0001 hundred hours. (it looks like they go on sale at midnight, stay posted for changes)
special considerations: the olympics only accepts visa
equipment: walter/caroline's visa number (since mastercard is not allowed)
communications: landlines and cellphones avoid skype and email (tie up the internet porthole)
purpose: as per the round table (dinner table) discussion of the 21st.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Quote of the Day

From the Sunday NYTimes: Legalization? Now for the Hard Question

marijuana's political progression:

Stage 1. Bill Clinton: I smoked but I did not inhale.

Stage 2. Al Gore: I smoked, it was wrong, I regret it, shame on me.

Stage 3. Michael Bloomberg (asked if he’d tried pot): “You bet I did and I enjoyed it.”

Stage 4. Barack Obama: “I inhaled frequently — that was the point!”


Sugar Substitutes

Ever wonder about all those artificial sweeteners in our foods? Sweet 'n low, Aspartame, Sucralose, what's what, where did they come from and why is there controversy?

This article is from the fda, so there's no need to take it with any salt:

Sugar Substitutes: Americans Opt for Sweetness and Lite

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

New Feature: Caroline and Walter Abroad!

Curious to know what's happening at the Guggenheim? Wondering what's on Broadway?

In the place of "Foreign Food of the Day", "Foreign Modes of Transportation" and "Moroccan Minutes with Andrew" The SudmantFamily would like to introduce, "Caroline and Walter go to the Big Apple!" (and the east coast). Over the next week expect regular updates, new flashes and the occasional blackberry blerb along the lines of "Where in the World is Walter?" and "Caroline's Choice" (though Im sure they will think of some better alliteration).

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Obama Moves to Cut Corn Based Ethanol Subsidies

who says Obama's "roots" are in Illinios? From MotherJones:

Via the LA Times, this is the best news I've heard all day:

The Obama administration on Tuesday proposed renewable fuel standards that could reduce the $3 billion a year in federal tax breaks given to producers of corn-based ethanol. The move sets the stage for a major battle between Midwest grain producers and environmentalists who say the gasoline additive actually worsens global warming.

....While biofuels as a whole — including grasses and even algae — are considered promising alternatives to petroleum, some researchers have begun challenging the use of corn for this purpose.

In particular, they point to the "indirect land-use" effects of pulling corn out of the world food supply, which could force farmers in developing nations to clear rain forests — and release massive amounts of carbon dioxide in the process — in order to plant corn.

Please dump the corn ethanol subsidies. Please, please, please. Dollar for dollar, it might well be the stupidest use of taxpayer cash in the entire federal budget.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Upcoming Events


Sat. May 9th

1. UBC Perennial Plant Sale 10-4

2. CHEFS’ TABLE SOCIETY ANNOUNCES THE FIRST ANNUAL SPOT PRAWN FESTIVAL!!
Launch date: Saturday May 3rd, 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Duration: The Spot Prawn Festival will run for six to eight weeks.
Buying times: The estimated time of arrival of the boats is 4.30pm to 5.30pm every afternoon.
Location: False Creek Fishermen’ Wharf
(1505 West 1st Avenue, North-West of Granville Island, between the Burrard Street Bridge and the Granville Street Bridge



Theo Jansen's "Strandbeests"

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/theo_jansen_creates_new_creatures.html



wow.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

New Features

Hey SudmantFamily! What's up with all the new features????

As some of you have surely noticed SudmantFamily has been undergoing some long put off site maintenance. With help from our friends at Kontera, Amazon and (hopefully) Adsense, SudmantFamily is hoping to be revamped, remonetized and reininvented in the near future. Until then contributors, keep posting your stories, whether they be eagle photos, Steely Dan updates or fan favourites and traffic drawers like that video of the pepubescent boy singing opera, its all appreciated :)

all the best,

the SudmantFamily

Where's Jimi?


If you weren't able to be there in person, here's a little taste of last month's big sudmantfamily event. Play along at home: can you name the great man on the cake? This is a free ad for the clever folks down at the Dunbar Dairyqueen.