Oktapodi! (YT) Cute animation about an octopus' fight to save his beloved from deep frying. Lots more info here. Made by Frenchy students from GOBELINS, l'école de l'image.

She's not real. The uncanny valley just got scarier. Compare her with this (YT) from just a couple of years ago. more inside

BASEL GANGLIONS? What's under doc?

An archive of gay paperback artwork from the 50's and 60's

A Swiss gourmet - who was on a world tour of Michelin three-starred restaurants when he mysteriously disappeared before paying the bill at El Bulli - has just been spotted in Geneva.

La vie des animaux selon les hommes. [Via]

Map of Olympic Medals shows a geographic representation of medals won for every Olympic Games since 1896.

Mild air pollution may be worse than smoking! New research presented today at the American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia, implicates free radicals that attach to particles from smokestacks, car exhaust pipes and household chimneys for the rise in lung cancer. Apologists rush to claim more proof is needed, but the new findings could open the door for massive litigation. more inside

The Empire grants some shore leave. Star Wars invades San Francisco in this fan film. More about this on the Official Star Wars blog.

Outback mayor seeks "ugly duckling" women. With a ratio of men to women at five to one, the mayor of Mount Isa makes a plea for "beauty-disadvantaged women" to move to his fair town.

The Stupidest Fucking Spacecraft Landing Idea Yet: the "Pit Stop". This article proposes an unusual way to land objects from orbit and probes returning from deep space. In this concept, the landing capsule, carefully steered by GPS in its plunge to earth, would aim for the opening of a deep vertical shaft set into the ground. The capsule would dive into this hole while still falling at terminal velocity. Yeah. That'll work. more inside

Researchers Discover New States Of Electrons That Behave Like Light

Banana Derby is fun for all the kids. The Banana Derby has always been a popular feature within the Fair Industry. You can't go wrong spicing up your Fair or Festival with the Banana Derby. America's Favorite Monkey Jockeys are always Media and Sponsor Friendly, and the Unique nature of the Banana Derby always provides Publicity! There is not a more cost effective way to give your Patrons a little extra for their paid admission to the grounds.

Animal portraits by Andrew Zuckerman

The Batman trailer, starring children

Putin's Blog: "Whoops! I accidentally started a war." See also Christopher Walken: "I warned you, Bigfoot"; John McCain: "Oh yeah, well I've met with important leaders too"; and Bill O'Reilly: "Look, I'm only going to play the Jesse Jackson clip five more times and that's it". All part of the fun at NewsGroper.

Texas School District to Allow Teachers to Carry Guns "When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that's when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can't defend themselves? That's like saying 'sic 'em' to a dog."

Curious George and his Ethnic Porn Collection. Today's announcement that Canada's new porn channel will feature 50% Canadian content, as American porn is 'tiring', leads to the inevitable question -- what makes 'Canadian porn'? What are the hallmarks of your country's porn? What are the traits of some other country's porn? more inside

Name That Disease! What do you win? A queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach! more inside

Friday Fun: BIGFOOT! Press conference at 12:00 noon PDT today, where "evidence" and "DNA details" of Bigfoot's existence will supposedly be "revealed".