Toast and 2 Pints of Lager

Harvard Battles the RIAA

Law students at Harvard have the oppotunity to assist in defense cases against the RIAA according to Ars Technica. Professor Charles Nesson has never agreed with the position of RIAA, that schools are responsible for passing on litigation notices to students behind their IP addresses. His opinion is that it is not up to universities to take responsibilty for propping up the RIAAs outdated business model. Joel Tanenbaum who is up against the RIAA is currently being defended by a student team led by Nesson. The group also want to make the public aware of what´s going on, so that the issue becomes broader than just one man´s defense. If successful it may even force the RIAA into using more reasonable methods rather than the witch hunt and excessive damages they are currently pursuing.

Selfish Parents

Our modern society means both parents have to get up at the crack of dawn to get to work on time, are late home and all this just to cover the mortgage payments on over-priced houses. That I can understand. However having children is a responsibility and a choice. I always wondered how many couples have children just to keep up with the Jones´s, dumping the kids at the creche at the first available opportunity and whether such a lifestyle really is good for the child.
Seems like this really is a cause for concern according to the BBC. As if that wasn´t bad enough, school league tables, advertising and other effects that promote individualism in children rather than benefiting social behaviour are damaging childhoods. Too many broken families and single parents are leading to more behavioural problems. The next generation is a product if the current one and it doesn´t bode well for the future if all we end up with are a bunch of selfish, anti-social brats.

Emperor Penguins Face Extinction

Declining Antarctic sea ice poses a threat to the breeding and feeding habits of the Emperor penguins. According to the BBC the penguins are slow learners are less able to adapt to such fast changes in their environment. Joel Cohen from Rockefeller University compares their situation to that of the Polar bears in the Arctic

Evil Kebabs

An article from the BBC describes how the number of calories in a kebab can greatly exceed the recommended daily intake, let alone the dubious content of some of the meat. The article states "The worst doners inspectors came across contained 1,990 calories before salad and sauces - over 95% of a woman's recommended daily calories, 346% of a woman's saturated fat intake and 277% of an adult's daily salt intake." There´s a more detailed article on the content and origin of doner kebabs here.

One heck of job though, doner inspector! But isn't that the whole point that it has that many calories... ;)

Chello Scrotum Hoax and Gaming

The condition known as Chello Scrotum which causes discomfort in the genital area after sitting playing the instrument for some time is a hoax. Baroness Murphy who originally submitted the condition the BMJ in the 70´s admitted it was made up, and furthermore observing the stance of someone playing the chello would make it clear that it would not be physically possible.

I have to admit however that sitting forward in a chair, playing games in front of the computer for a few hours leads to a similar condition, in which the seam of the jeans cuts into the scrotum and causes pain. The cure is to stand up temporarily which causes more pain for a short term before allowing you to re-adjust your clothing accordingly and further pursuing your pastime.

Sculpture Honours Bush´s Shoe Incident

A sculpture erected in Tikrit to commemorate journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi throwing his shoes at President Bush has been taken down after just one day. According to the BBC The sculpture was erected in an ophanage and it was considered innapropriate that young children be exposed to such political statements at such a young age.