Tuesday, February 27, 2007

 

Year 10,000 problem


The year 10,000 problem or Y10K is the collective name for all potential software bugs that may emerge as the need to express years with five digits arises. References to any year 10,000 or Y10K problem cannot at face value be taken to be serious or in jest as there are both legitimate reasons to plan for far in the future dates as well as a number of humorous references.

Practical relevance: This may not be a problem in the year 10,000, as it is highly unlikely that any of the technology or software in use today will still be active at that time. However, it is already a problem today for long term analysis programs, such as software that examines proposals for the long term handling of nuclear waste. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Year 10,000 problem". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.


Sunday, February 25, 2007

 

List of films featuring independent body parts


This is a list of films featuring independent body parts.

Arms: Body Parts (1991); Dr. Strangelove (1964) - While not physically independent, Dr. Strangelove's right arm has a mind of its own, and actually attempts to strangle him;

Brains: Brain Damage (1988) ; The Brain from Planet Arous (1957) ; Donovan's Brain (1953) ; Hubert's Brain (2001) ; The Man with Two Brains (1983) ; They Saved Hitler's Brain (1968) ;

Breasts: Attack of the Hungry Hungry Nipples (1997) ; Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) (1972)

Eyes: The Killer Eye (1999); The Trollenberg Terror (1958) a.k.a. "The Crawling Eye";

Hands: The Addams Family (1991) "Thing", family pet hand; The Beast with Five Fingers (1947) ; The Crawling Hand (1963) ; Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965) ; Demonoid (1981) ; Evil Dead 2 (1987) ; Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965) ; The Hand (1981) directed by Oliver Stone; Idle Hands (1999) ; The Hands of Orlac (1961) ; Mad Love (1935) a.k.a. The Hands of Orlac ; La Main du diable (The Devil's Hand) (1942) ; Quicksilver Highway(The Body politic) (1997) ; Thumb Wars (1999) ; Waxwork (1988) ; Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992) ; Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) a.k.a. A Nightmare on Elm Street 7

Heads: The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) ; The Doom Generation (1995); 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997) ; The Evil Dead (1981) ; Evil Dead 2 (1987); How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) ; Mars Attacks! (1996) ; Re-Animator (1985) ; The Thing That Couldn't Die (1958)

Teeth: Quicksilver Highway (1997)-Chattery Teeth

Tongues: La Lengua asesina (The Killer Tongue) (1996). This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of films featuring independent body parts". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

 

Youtube Atheists


YouTube atheism is a social movement within the YouTube community, made famous by users uploading videos of themselves denying the Holy Spirit. See main article, Rational Response Squad for information on the Blasphemy Challenge.

YouTube atheists became extremely popular in early 2007. YouTube is well established for providing the medium for internet-based social groups to interact. In December of 2006, one such atheist group, the Rational Response Squad, with director and filmmaker Brian Flemming, started the Blasphemy Challenge. This event dramatically increased the number of vocal and visible atheists. Acting as a catalyst for atheists so start talking about atheism and whom became aware of each other on YouTube which allowed the sub-community to grow substantially.

Atheist and personality Nick Gisburne had his accounts deleted on February 8, 2007 for inappropriate content. The inappropriate content in question was critical of Islam. The video was a slideshow of explicit quotations from the Qur'an, which some may see as offensive. This led users to question the motivation behind YouTube's decision. This lead to increased visibility and numerous people re-posting his original video in the form of replies and others have sent letters to Youtube. YouTube retroactively changed the reason for the banning to copyright infringement on the grounds that he posted a video with copyrighted music. Claiming to be required to do so under the DMCA.

References: ^ Two Ways Not To Handle Free Speech on slashdot.org accessed at February 22, 2007; ^ The YouTube user xild reading her letter to YouTube; ^ Click on more in the sidebar to the right to see the full text of one such letter; ^ Nick Gisburne's personal homepage showing screen shots of correspondence with YouTube; ^ A Note on Terminated Accounts on YouTube official blog accessed at February 22, 2007; ^ Nick Gisburne's personal homepage accessed at February 22, 2007; ^ YouTube Search on "gisburne" accessed at February 22, 2007; ^ Interview with the Creator of the YouTube Atheist Video on Secular Student Alliance accessed at February 22, 2007; 'YouTube Atheists' group on YouTube. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Youtube atheists". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.


Monday, February 19, 2007

 

Cathy O'Brien


Cathy O'Brien (1957-) is the co-author, with Mark Phillips, of the self-published books "TranceFormation of America and Access Denied: For Reasons of National Security." In her books and lectures, O'Brien relates allegations that, as a child, she was abducted into an alleged CIA mind control project called Project Monarch (supposedly a subsection of MKULTRA and Project Artichoke). She claims to have remained in Monarch as an adult, while she served as "a top-level intelligence agent and White House sex slave"[1] until rescued by Phillips.

O'Brien claims to have been abused since she was a toddler. Forced to partake in satanic sadomasochistic child pornography movies produced for Gerald Ford, she was eventually sold to the CIA, which was looking for traumatized children for their mind-control program

References: "Trance Formation of America". Trance-Formation.com - Cathy O'Brien's website; portland indymedia - Excerpts from TranceFormation; Mark Phillips / Cathy O'Brien speech (video) (transcript);
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1493414 ; TranceFormation of America: The True Life Story of a CIA Mind Control Slave. (September 1995) ISBN 0-9660165-4-8 ; Access Denied: For Reasons of National Security (August 2004) ISBN 0-9660165-3-X. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cathy O'Brien". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.


Saturday, February 17, 2007

 

List of literary characters with nine fingers


This is a list of literary characters with nine fingers, assuming for the sake of argument and simplicity that a thumb is a finger.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. Alphabetically by title.

- Assassin's Creed: Altaïr the main protagonist had his finger removed as a part of a dramatic initiation ceremony to install a concealed mechanical dagger attached to his left arm, in place of one of his fingers.
- The Big Sky (film): Jim Deakins, frontiersman hero of has a finger amputated. - Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (novel series): Peter Pettigrew, friend of James Potter (Harry Potter's father), cut off a finger to fake his death and frame Sirius Black for murder. - The Lord of the Rings (novel series), by J.R.R. Tolkien: Frodo Baggins had one finger bitten off by Gollum and was known thereafter as "Frodo of the Nine Fingers." Sauron, from The Lord of the Rings, had his ring finger cut off by Isildur. - The Legend of the Condor Heroes (novel) by Jinyong: Hong Qigong(洪七公), the legendary leader of the Beggars' Sect (丐帮). Though a hero by nature and deed, Hong once let his love of food get the better of him and delay him from saving the life of a righteous man. As per the Chinese lore that the index finger is connected to the appetite, Hong cut off his right index finger as a reminder to himself to never again let food take precedence over doing good. - Mars Trilogy (novel series), by Kim Stanley Robinson: Nadia Cherneschevsky, the constructions engineer of loses her finger in a construction accident. Later in the trilogy, medicine has advanced to the point where she grows it back. - "Me, Myself and Irene" (film): Charley Baileygates (played by Jim Carrey) gets his finger shot off with a handgun.
- A Prayer for Owen Meany (novel) by John Irving: The narrator had his right index finger cut off by his best friend in an effort to prevent the narrator from being drafted during the Vietnam War. - Remnants (novel): Violet Blake had a Worm eat through her right index finger. - Rosie and the Dance of the Dinosaurs: the main character Rosie. This is a children's book about a child with nine fingers. - The Royal Tenenbaums (film): Margot Tenenbaum (played by Gwyneth Paltrow), the brilliant playwright of ran away from home for two weeks and came back with half of one of her fingers missing.
- South by Southeast (novel): Charon, the assassin and antagonist, has only nine fingers. - SubUrbia(play and film) by Eric Bogosian: Tim cut off one finger in order to be discharged from the US Air Force. - The Wayward Bus (novel) by John Steinbeck: Juan Chicoy, the main character and driver of the bus is missing the first knuckle of one finger. - Winter Kills (film): In the deeply complicated plot of this 1987 film a woman named Evelyn is murdered by a hit man. To prove she is dead, he cuts off one of her fingers.- Xanth (novel series) by Piers Anthony: Bink, the main character, accidentally cut off his middle finger as a child, while playing with a cleaver. - Phoenix and Ashes (novel) by Mercedes Lackey: The main character, Eleanor Robinson, has her left pinky finger cut off. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of literary characters with nine fingers". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.


Thursday, February 15, 2007

 

Andromeda-Milky Way collision


The Andromeda-Milky Way collision is a galaxy collision theory proposed by astronomers at the University of Toronto and Harvard University. In an article in the New Scientist, astronomers with the joint project have predicted that the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy will merge in what is called a "collision" in approximately three billion years. It is however unlikely that objects from each galaxy will actually collide, as galaxies are in fact somewhat diffuse. If the theory is correct, Andromeda bands and stars will be visible to a naked-eye viewer (if one exists on Earth at the time) in approximately three billion years.[1] Other scientists have however estimated that the collision may not occur for ten billion years.
The two galaxies have a similar history of origin, although they have evolved differently [2]. Andromeda is believed to have collided with at least one other galaxy in the past.[3].

Notes: ^ Young, Kelly. "Galactic collision — a taste of things to come?", New Scientist, 2006-08-26. ^ "Milky Way, Andromeda had similar origins" MSNBC 8:11 p.m. PT Feb 28, 2006; ^ "Andromeda involved in galactic collision" MSNBC 10:38 a.m. PT Jan 29, 2007

Bibliography: The Merger of the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies University of Toronto (website), John Dubinski, January 2001 (includes simulation); "Milky Way–Andromeda Galaxy Collision", Haydenplanetarium.org, John Dubinski (University of Toronto); "Milky Way, Andromeda had similar origins" MSNBC 8:11 p.m. PT Feb 28, 2006
"Andromeda involved in galactic collision" MSNBC 10:38 a.m. PT Jan 29, 2007; "Astrophysicist maps out our own galaxy's end"University of Toronto (website), by Janet Wong, April 14, 2000; "Crash Course: Simulating the Fate of Our Milky Way" By Tariq Malik, SPACE.com Staff Writer, posted: 07:00 am ET 07 May 2002; "Milky Way vs. Andromeda" NASA (website)
"Busted! Astronomers Nab Culprit in Galactic Hit-and-Run" Harvard University (website) Press Release No.: 06-28, October 18, 2006; This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Andromeda-Milky Way collision". Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

 

Chlorophilia


Chlorophilia (Greek: chloros pale green + philia love) is a physical or sexual attraction to plants, particularly trees. The term was coined by journalist Bill Hoss in 2004 to describe scientists who take on an attraction towards Bonsai trees.

Overview: Although Chlorophilia is practiced little in the world, Chlorophilia is sometimes attributed to activities like tree-hugging, or an over-the-top interest in Gardening. There are no laws that ban Chlorophilia in any country in the world.

Chlorophilia in fiction: In the final episode of Blackadder the Third, King George arrives and arranges a marriage to a Rose bush. DC Comics have implied Chlorophilia through their characters Poison Ivy and Floronic Man, both of whom have an absolute passion for flowers and plants.

External links: Bill Hoss - The origin of the term Chlorophilia; Exploratorium - Article about attractions to Bonsai trees. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Chlorophilia". Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

 

Dead Playboy Playmates


This is an alphabetical list of women who have appeared in the centerfold of Playboy magazine and are now deceased. [For brevity, list is truncated.]

Lannie Balcom - drug overdose; Elisa Bridges - drug overdose; Cheryl Kubert - possible suicide; Willy Rey - drug overdose; Dorothy Stratten - homicide; Star Stowe - homicide; Sue Williams - suicide; Paige Young - drug overdose.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Dead Playboy Playmates". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

 

List of Homer Simpson's lifelong dreams


The following is a list of lifelong dreams by Homer Simpson as reported in The Simpsons TV series. Homer is a man of many lifelong dreams which he frequently quotes during the series. Each dream is different from his previous dream, and his wife, Marge, points out every time he makes up a new one that his actual life long dream, which also varies from episode to episode, was already accomplished by him.

His lifelong dreams include (partial list):
- Managing a beautiful country-western singer ("Colonel Homer")
- Eating the world's biggest hoagie ("Colonel Homer")
- Living in the wilderness, while keeping a journal of his thoughts ("Marge Gets a Job")
- Becoming a monorail conductor ("Marge vs. the Monorail")
- Being allowed to do his job from home ("King-Size Homer")
- Being the next Thomas Edison ("The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace"; ironically fulfilled when his electric hammer is credited to Edison)
- Becoming a hippie ("D'oh-in in the Wind")
- Bowling a perfect game ("Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder")
- Seeing Stevie Nicks naked ("Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder"; his list of life goals has three check marks next to this one)

A magnet licensed by Fox and produced in 2003 by U.S. novelty company Ata-Boy features Homer saying, "It's been my life long dream to appear on a refrigerator."

Bibliography: The Simpsons Library of Wisdom: The Homer Book, Harper Collin; The Simpsons Archive; This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Homer Simpson's lifelong dreams". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.

Monday, February 05, 2007

 

Use Of Thumbtacks In Professional Wrestling


Thumbtacks are a popular weapon in hardcore professional wrestling promotions, mainly due to the fact that they get a good crowd reaction and do not inflict excessive pain. A common misconception is that the thumbtacks and other weapons such as barbed wire are fake when used in professional wrestling. While this may be the case in some promotions, in others it is usually false especially when discussing the use of the thumbtacks. Although a large amount of them will probably cause a fair amount of physical pain, especially when being slammed onto them, it does not pose any serious threat to the performers and therefore it is safe to say that real thumbtacks are always used.

In TNA, Abyss uses thumbtacks as his signature weapon, and accidentally swallowed one at Bound for Glory 2006 during his Monster's Ball match with Raven, Samoa Joe, and Brother Runt.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Use Of Thumbtacks In Professional Wrestling". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

 

Rabbi Emmanuel Rabinovich


Rabbi Emmanuel Rabinovich is a non-existent figure commonly cited in antisemitic propaganda. One such fake is a supposed speech by "Rabbi Rabinovich" entitled Our Race Will Rule Undisputed Over The World to the "Emergency Council of European Rabbis" in Budapest, Hungary on January 12, 1952. This forgery is taken as a "proof" of a Jewish plot against the whites in much the same way as another hoax, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, invoked in the Rabinovich speech, is used as "proof" of Jewish global conspiracy. The speech appeared in the early 1950s right-wing newsletter, Common Sense, (A Newspaper Upholding Christianity and Patriotism) published by Conde McGinley. The paper ran an alleged quote by Nikita Khrushchev that could be spurious: when questioned, the editor could not produce a source.

References: They never said it by P.F. Boller and J. George, Oxford University Press, 1989. See also: List of hoaxes, A Racial Program for the Twentieth Century, Shiliver Rebbe. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rabbi Emmanuel Rabinovich". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.


Thursday, February 01, 2007

 

Meatspace


Meatspace is synonymous with real life or the physical world, and conceived as the opposite of cyberspace or virtual reality. The term originated in science fiction, especially cyberpunk, but it has become increasingly common in general usage, as a reference to transactions or interactions which physically occur, rather than online or electronically. The term may be used in a derogatory manner as a conscious rejection of the connotations of the term "real life" and the implication that interactions in cyberspace are less real or important than physical interactions.

See also: meatspace in Wiktionary, the free dictionary; Face time,
Face to Face, Off-line, Reality, Brick and mortar. External links:
Meatspace from the Jargon File.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Meatspace". This entry is a fragment of a larger work. Link may die if entry is finally removed or merged.

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