An artistic bent(o) More here and here, and a how-to here. more inside

How to Memorize Scripts . Ken Levine asks around.

Nuclear slide rules . Try the EZ calculator! Don't touch me there

Planet Harddrive.

Japanese Government Banning Used School Girl Pantie Vending Machines. No, Virginia, there is no way to snark on the original title. more inside

Hypothetically, what would happen if you combined ghost nurses, NSFW content (you have been warned), and, uh, inspired? dialogue. Behold.

Hypothetically, what would happen if you combined Doctor Who, Eminem and Benny Hill? OMG, only the best thing ever!

Hawkman of the Himalayas. British falconer Scott Mason and friends have combined paragliding and falconry into the art of parahawking. [Via]

MetaFilter's been hacked.

Time Magazine has a slideshow of a 1980 photoshoot, when the freshman Barack Obama was asked if he would mind posing for a classmate of his. via

Yes We Will!

Human Spaceflight Should Drive Evolution. [Via]

World's oldest sample of weapon's grade plutonium has been identified - retrieved from a rusty safe at the bottom of a waste pit during clean up excavations.

A new Grow! Latest in the series of charming wee Flash games.

Kindling: New Works on Paper and Canvas by James Jean. [Via]

Glass models of tiny aquatic creatures made in the late 19th century, discovered gathering dust in a drawer in a Wisconsin museum. More here and here.

Hail to the chief! Who's watching the inauguration right now? If you don't already know, CNN has live streaming video. Here is the transcript of Obama's inauguration speech. more inside

Two men were found alive, floating in an Esky in the Torres Strait. They had been there for about 25 days, after their boat sank a couple of days before Christmas. Eskies - don't leave home without them.

Objects of Desire. The art of Alex Sandwell Kliszynski. [Possibly NSFW, via grinding.be]

Today is Edgar Allan Poe's 200th birthday. The day has already been marked in traditional manner by the appearance of three red roses and half a bottle of cognac on the great man's grave, courtesy of the mysterious Poe Toaster. To celebrate, you could check out this excellent slideshow of his works and letters done by the New York Times; or check out his complete works on this site, complete with handy list of unusual words. more inside