Sharing this because I can’t hit the “like” button over at YouTube more than once. This is parody at its very best, combined with some real social relevance, all wrapped up in a delightful execution.
Author Archives: The Old Wolf
Ia! Ia!
No, this is not dead Cthulhu rising from R’lyeh, although that’s what it looks like. It’s merely Mercury Thiocyanate being heated.
Chemistry can be H.P. Lovecraft.
Two Huge Lies
There is so much truth in this. It requires no further comment.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Bananas Foster Cheesecake
Found this recipe over on Reddit. *drool*
Cake
24 oz cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
3/4 c sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 c mashed banana
Blend sugar and cream cheese. Add eggs one at a time, blending well in between. Add sour cream and banana. Blend well. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 for about an hour.
Crust
1 1/2 cup crushed cookies
6 T melted butter
1/4 c white sugar
Crush cookies in food processor, add sugar and butter, press into 9” springform pan. Bake 10 minutes, let cool.
Topping
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c butter
1-2 T water or dark rum
3 sliced bananas
Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan. Add water to thin to desired consistency. Add bananas, let cook for 1 minute. Cool slightly. Pour over chilled cheesecake.
Must… try… soon…
The Old Wolf has spoken
Students: Beware of the FAFSA scam.
Saw this over at Reddit and thought it was worth sharing, especially with so many students filing applications.
FAFSA (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) is a legitimate government program providing student aid. It is FREE to apply for.’
There is another scummy outfit (http://fafsa.com) which charges students a FEE to file an application, which could be done for FREE at the legitimate government website.
If you are a student, or know one who is applying for federal student aid, direct everyone you know AWAY from fafsa.com.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Habemus Papam
I’m not a Catholic, but I share in the joy and excitement of my many friends and associates who are, for this is a historic day.
Had Cardinal Ouillet been elected, I had this great Cheezburger picture of him ready to go, with the caption “Eh-men!”. The universe, however, perversely robbed me of an opportunity to shine for 15 seconds or so. It would have been worth a few upvotes over at Reddit, certainly.
In the lead-up to the conclave, I have taken the opportunity to re-watch Saving Grace[1] more than once, and today as I watched the new pontiff[2] stand before his assembled faithful, pronounce blessings upon them, bow humbly to receive their prayers, and pray with them in a way that the youngest and poorest Catholic child could understand and follow, I was moved by his simplicity and humility; I could only imagine the terror and weight of responsibility and feelings of unworthiness that filled the new leader’s soul as he confronted this moment.
This is certainly a seminal moment; the first Pope from the new world, and definitely not an aristocrat. Cardinal Bergoglio appears to be doctrinally conservative, which doesn’t bode well for those hoping for reforms in Vatican policies towards the gay community or towards women – but time will tell.
Whatever the case, this man will now have an impact upon the lives of over 1 billion Catholics, and by the ripple effect, indirectly on much of the rest of the world. I offer him my prayers for strength, for health, for good humor and the ability to endure the rigorous life that awaits him, and above all for divine inspiration to lead his flock towards greater equality, greater tolerance, greater understanding, greater peace, and greater prosperity.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
[1] It’s a lovely film, and “it’s a good story.” Watch it if you can – it’s unfortunately not available on DVD, but deserves wider exposure.
[2] I haven’t had a TV in my home for over 15 years, but thanks to the miracle of the Internet, live feeds were available.
The universe may be watching, but we are listening.
A friend of mine posted this picture of the Glowing Eye nebula (gacked from APOD) in the constellation of Aquila, taken by the Hubble telescope. It’s clear that the universe is watching.
However, we are peering just as deeply into the void, and now moreso than ever.
According to the Miami Herald, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, better known as ALMA, is by far the largest radio telescope on earth. Interestingly, despite their size, the dishes are portable. Engineers transported them around the plateau on two giant flat-bed trucks. What the telescope picks up depends on where the antenna are positioned. Click to the Herald article for more details.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
You do what you have to
Whatever works, right?
Abandoned building, Berlin
A former beauty. The exterior architecture is wonderful – sad to see buildings like this fade into history.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
Seeing the Universe in Perspective
This image is a lovely digital representation of our solar system, with planets and orbits to scale. We look rather insignificant on that third rock from the left.
However.
Have a look at this image, comparing our sun to other stars in the galaxy: (click the image for full resolution)
Notice that in order to get VY Canis Majoris in the picture, our sun shows up as a single pixel. They’re not just whistling dixie when they say “supergiant”.
Thanks to blogger inhadowz, I can also point you to the following video, which animates the scale very nicely:
The scale of things in our universe is awe-inspiring.
The Old Wolf has spoken.
