Just for Fun

Navigating NPR’s Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books
NPR solicited the input of its listeners to rank the top science fiction and fantasy books of all time. Over 60,000 people voted for the top picks which were then compiled into a list by their panel of experts.

The result? A list of 100 books with a wide range of styles, little context, and not much help for you to actually choose something to read from it.

The folks at SF Signal have, once again, come to the rescue. This flowchart is designed to help you follow your tastes, provide context, and guide you to the right book for you.
Related articles
- Revealed: The 100 Greatest Science Fiction & Fantasy Books (io9.com)
- The Best and Worst of the Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books (westernthm)
October 1, 2011
If a Wild Parrot Can Learn to Talk in the Wild, Imagine What Humans Pick Up From Each Other
Imagine being lost deep in the woods, only to hear "Hello" or "What's Happening" come at you from afar. Hikers in Australia have increasingly been surprised to find no one there. Rather than hallucination, the calls have been coming from birds.

"Some chatty pet parrots that have escaped back into the wild have taught wild parrots to talk.

The learned behaviors could be integrated into the flock through generations. 'The evolution of language could well be passed on through the generations, says Ken. "If the parents are talkers and they produce chicks, their chicks are likely to pick up some of that," he says.

This phenomenon is not unique; some lyrebirds in southern Australia still reproduce the sounds of axes and old shutter-box cameras their ancestors once learnt.'"

The story of the 100th Monkey is similar, where island monkeys learned to wash sweet potatoes and supposedly began passing on the skill.

These phenomena remind me of how human Culture becomes codified and spreads. If a wild parrot can learn to talk in the wild, imagine what humans pick up from each other.

The point: maybe it's time to notice what your organization (or team) is learning in the wild and passing-on to each other?
Related articles
- How can birds learn to talk? (bbc.co.uk)
- Wild Parrots Get Names From Parents (wired.com)
September 18, 2011
A Humorous Look at Infographics on the Web
Companies are spending more time, money, and resources analyzing data and creating meaningful visualizations.

With so many more examples, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that there are a lot more crappy infographics on display.

Here is a chart showing the most popular infographics you can find around the web.

Of course, there is also the 'just for fun' infographic. For example, here is one showing what helicopters do in action movies.
Related articles
- Find & Make Your Own Infographics With Visual.ly (mashable.com)
- How to create a great infographic (thecontentlab.icrossing.com)
September 18, 2011
A Humorous Look at Infographics on the Web
Companies are spending more time, money, and resources analyzing data and creating meaningful visualizations.

With so many more examples, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that there are a lot more crappy infographics on display.

Here is a chart showing the most popular infographics you can find around the web.

Of course, there is also the 'just for fun' infographic. For example, here is one showing what helicopters do in action movies.
Related articles
- Find & Make Your Own Infographics With Visual.ly (mashable.com)
- How to create a great infographic (thecontentlab.icrossing.com)
September 18, 2011
Anderson Cooper’s Favorite New News Anchor: Snooki
In case you missed it, Snooki Polizzi launched her own news show this week, and she already has at least one high-profile fan.

CNN host, Anderson Cooper, explains why watching the 'Jersey Shore' star's new newscast is good for you. Don't worry, be happy.

Here is the CNN video.

If you're up for it, you can watch Snookie's entire three-minute newscast here.
Related articles
- Anderson Cooper Declares His Love For Snooki (huffingtonpost.com)
- Anderson Cooper Thinks Snooki Is a Great News Anchor [Video] (gawker.com)
September 4, 2011
Anderson Cooper’s Favorite New News Anchor: Snooki
In case you missed it, Snooki Polizzi launched her own news show this week, and she already has at least one high-profile fan.

CNN host, Anderson Cooper, explains why watching the 'Jersey Shore' star's new newscast is good for you. Don't worry, be happy.

Here is the CNN video.

If you're up for it, you can watch Snookie's entire three-minute newscast here.
Related articles
- Anderson Cooper Declares His Love For Snooki (huffingtonpost.com)
- Anderson Cooper Thinks Snooki Is a Great News Anchor [Video] (gawker.com)
September 4, 2011
Great Cartoon Explaining What’s Happening In the Market

It was a week where Steve Jobs stepped down and Warren Buffett stepped-in.

It was a also a week where the Markets broke to the upside for the first time in a month.

Here is a cartoon that explains what pundits know when they tell you what it means.

via Abstruse Goose.

August 28, 2011
Do You Want to See What Fourteen Trillion Dollars Looks Like?
Let's start with One Hundred Dollars. A stack of them makes Ten Thousand Dollars.

So far, so good.

Next, let's put One Hundred Million in perspective.

I don't know about you, but that still seems like a lot of money to me. Nonetheless, it fits nicely on a military-standard pallet.

The U.S. Deficit is approaching Fifteen Trillion Dollars. The image below will help you visualize that. The scope and scale of that amount of cash is a surprising.

To see more, click here to go to a site called WTFNOWAY.

And, if you want to see an updated, interactive version of the U.S. Debt Clock, just click the image below. It is worth spending a little time to watch the pace the numbers turn.

Surprised?
Related articles
- How to Spend One Trillion Dollars (creditloan.com)
- Trillions and Trillions (davidscommonplacebook.wordpress.com)
- 41 Stats About The National Debt (economicnoise.com)
July 25, 2011
Do You Want to See What Fourteen Trillion Dollars Looks Like?
Let's start with One Hundred Dollars. A stack of them makes Ten Thousand Dollars.

So far, so good.

Next, let's put One Hundred Million in perspective.

I don't know about you, but that still seems like a lot of money to me. Nonetheless, it fits nicely on a military-standard pallet.

The U.S. Deficit is approaching Fifteen Trillion Dollars. The image below will help you visualize that. The scope and scale of that amount of cash is a surprising.

To see more, click here to go to a site called WTFNOWAY.

And, if you want to see an updated, interactive version of the U.S. Debt Clock, just click the image below. It is worth spending a little time to watch the pace the numbers turn.

Surprised?
Related articles
- How to Spend One Trillion Dollars (creditloan.com)
- Trillions and Trillions (davidscommonplacebook.wordpress.com)
- 41 Stats About The National Debt (economicnoise.com)
July 25, 2011
Video Mashup of Presidents ‘Singing’ the Star Spangled Banner

This was fun.

Presidents from Truman to Obama come together for a rousing rendition of our national anthem.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Hope you had a great Fourth of July weekend.

July 4, 2011