Zombie

Monitoring over the last 50 years shows sea ice retreating at both poles. As more sea is exposed so it absorbs more solar energy [ice reflects it] and gets warmer. There are detailed records of sea levels going back more than 100 years. These show sea levels have risen about 8" since 1870, and at an increasing rate more recently. The main reason for sea level rise is thermal expansion due to increased sea temperature. There's nothing political here, it is fact. It's why Russia has been able to increase shipping along the Siberian coast this century and why there is serious planning by commercial shippers, like Nordic Bulk Carriers, to be able to use the fabled "North West Passage" every summer within 50 years as sea ice retreats further. Commercial businesses don't waste their money on fanciful schemes - they expect this to be reality soon. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/05/arctic-shipping-trade-routes

“Every man is a mystery to himself. And then we die, unsolved.”

Sounds much too sensible A guilty pleasure is where you know something is bad for you - like this ... or is shameful / embarrassing to enjoy - like this ... but you go ahead anyway

I hoped I'd made clear I was making a distinction between fictional and real life - by using the words "fictional" and "real" I was simply expressing puzzlement how watching extreme misery and pain of innocent people can be entertaining and enjoyable. And I made no "leap to extrapolate" - I merely posited the question where that line could be if you like watching stuff like this. Because, as you say yourself, you are "interested in frontiers".So wherever you happen to draw the line now, that means there will always be a "frontier" at / beyond wherever you might say your line is currently drawn that you will be "interested in" - and therefore presumably will wish to explore.

Sorry to be a party pooper but I find it difficult to understand wanting to watch the fictional horrific suffering of innocent people - for entertainment. And you want to see it in graphic detail? I'm puzzled what is it that gets people off on this kind of stuff. Just like I'm puzzled Roman citizens flocked to see slaves being hacked to death by gladiators for the fun of it - good family entertainment. And where do you draw the line? Presumably if you have an appetite for watching human misery and pain then there is no line. Nothing is too inhuman, too sickening, too horrific. Personally I get to see real horrific human suffering on our news every day. Like tonight's BBC news about Syria - where children are being forced to watch their Mum and Dad being murdered by government forces, - and other children are being forced to behead captured prisoners. And I only watch because I have to - because I need to be informed about real human suffering. That's more than enough for me. So why would I want to watch fictionalised human suffering for pleasure?

So you've read all the books and seen all the movies then

I'd rather be down the pub drinking a pint of Old Hooky with a bag of scratchings

The problem with new technologies is the knowledge always escapes, so you need the next big thing, then the next. It's a nice little earner

The Face On Mars

OK OK! I confess! *oh the shame ... * I was addicted to ... ... THE FAB FIVE! :D ... and the theme

There are gravity anomalies on Earth too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_anomaly Einstein's General Relativity explains gravity as the curvature of space-time by mass but it seems we don't fully understand it and it hasn't been reconciled with quantum theory. And measuring gravity seems to be a bit unclear too, for example the Pioneer spacecraft anomaly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_anomaly *reminder to self to retrieve anti-grav experiments from under the bed *

Comments in your blog prompted me to find another example of how other cultures regard gender variance positively Samoa Fa'afafine are "a recognized and integral part of traditional Samoan culture ... born biologically male [who] embody both male and female gender traits ... Fa'afafine are known for their hard work and dedication to the family, in the Samoan tradition of tautua. Ideas of the family in Samoa and Polynesia are markedly different from Western constructions of family, and include all the members of a sa, or a communal family within the fa'amatai family systems ... This third gender is so well accepted in Samoan culture that most Samoans state that they have friendship relationships with at least one Fa'afafine. Traditionally Fa'afafine follow the training of a women's daily work in an Aiga " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fa%27afafine]. A real life example is the Tuilagis, Samoan born England rugby players - the most masculine sport anywhere - whose brother Olotuli is fa'afafine and it's simply not an issue for the family or the Samoan community - "For centuries in the Pacific Islands, some of the men have been brought up to think of themselves as women and live a woman's life. In Samoa they are known as fa'afafine. "Olotuli is fa'afafine, he doesn't play rugby," Freddie Tuilagi explains. "He wears a dress and make-up and if he walks around Leicester every one looks at him, thinking, 'Is this a man or a woman?' In Samoa it's normal, there is no prejudice." [http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/meet-the-tuilagis--a-brotherhood-of-tigers-480031.html] Gives me an excuse to post a pic of Manu Tuilagi showing off his tats

Autonomous killing machines aren't here yet but when possibility becomes reality then it'll be inevitable

Could be a browser issue Mike - I find many images don't display for me too but it loaded OK and Sasha [above] could see it. Here's another source from CBS - same pic but uncropped widthwise http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57586653/gay-couple-says-oui-in-frances-first-same-sex-wedding/

Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau kissing after their wedding today, the first in France after the gay marriage and adoption law was passed 10 days ago. No-one on this site is going to object to two gay men being able to tie the knot and seal their love are they. I wish them every happiness in their lives together and for the many who will follow them.

I love making crisp roast potatoes just like these ... and I enjoy eating 'em even more *saliva glands switch into full spray mode *

Lucky she doesn't have any enemies

Guess we won't be getting a self-aware-gay-zombie-love movie anytime soon

Way to go hubby!

I think W_L meant American Football is derived from rugby football. Just as baseball is derived from rounders

Most of us instinctively know this to be true, but recent research has shown that owners of dolls don't realise the full extent of the risks they are taking. Just to be clear, not all dolls are evil. Not at all. But the problem is that some of them are. How so? Well dolls become evil when they are possessed. The fact is your much loved doll might be absolutely fine today, and completely safe, but it could become possessed next week. Or tonight. Here's an example of an evil doll. You can tell it's evil by the eyes. And by the way they open when it sits up ... this one too ... and this one I don't wish to be alarmist but if you have a doll it's probably best not to keep it in your bedroom. Certainly not while you're asleep. In fact, just in case it gets possessed during the night and decides to attack you while you're asleep, it would be sensible to keep it locked up in a metal box. And wear the key on a bracelet or necklace so it can't use poltergeist powers to retrieve the key and get out. And make quite sure the box hasn't got any gaps or eyeholes. Obviously you want to be able to get to sleep at night. Without worrying that it might be watching you. So that's it really. Dolls are quite safe - as long as they're not possessed and are always securely locked up at night. Sleep tight. Still not convinced? OK here's some independently-verified-guaranteed-gospel-truth third party testimonies you might like to read just before you curl up and go to sleep tonight http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/scary-stories/articles/110451/title/true-creepy-doll-story http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121223214929AAB6AUU ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Edit to add: thanks Sly for mentioning the Chucky series of documentary movies

"House of Cards is a really interesting show. the behind the scenes struggles and corruption haven't been this openly shown to the public, ever." Actually they have been - 23 years ago This is a remake of the BBC House of Cards trilogy shown in 1990-5, based on Michael Dobbs books. It's my favourite political show Don't know if the US version keeps the "feel", but in the original the hero / villain plays like Richard III and speaks directly to camera when he's plotting an especially dastardly act of malice or murder. Funny thing is the actor, Ian Richardson, was so good that although Francis Urquhart is an amoral sociopath and you are appalled watching his evil actions, the black humour makes you want him to succeed I guess the writers of Dexter picked up on this idea. Hope we get to see the US version in Britain, and if you get a chance to see the original BBC show you'll enjoy that too.

No need to be concened that you're worthless or that you'll never amount to anything. Adversity can break people or it can make them stronger and from what you've written it's clear that you have been made stronger, just by the way you've articulated so clearly the failings of your Dad and your resolve to live a very different life. And do not feel responsibility for your Mum and Dad. You can give support but they are adults and have made and will make their own decisions. At the moment you're in a bad place but as you get more control of your life - which you will - you will be able to look back on this as an important, though desperately sad, chapter in your life and be proud that you got through it and made your own life on your own terms. Never doubt this.

Hmm, interesting points. Maybe humans are hard wired to be prejudiced in all sorts of ways because we see it in the actions of others every day and, as you say Rob, in our own actions and responses too. I try to follow the adage "judge as you find", but even that isn't fool proof because until we know another person we can't begin to understand their story and why they behave, react and interact as they do. And getting to know them is made all the more difficult if we've already put up our judgmental barriers.

Politicians are held in pretty low regard on both sides of the pond. The only thing they deliver consistently is low standards of behaviour Yeah, I reckon a straight swap would be a bum deal for us - but it might give us some new targets to poke fun at