Tuesday, October 8, 2013

New $100 bill to debut Tuesday | WTKR.com

New $100 bill to debut Tuesday | WTKR.com

The $100 bill is actually the second most common bill in circulation, behind only the $1 bill. It’s actually slightly more common than the $20 bill. The most recent statistics from the Fed show that as of Dec. 31, there were 10.3 billion $1 bills, in circulation, 8.6 billion $100 bills and 7.4 billion $20 bills, followed by $5′s, $10′s, $50′s and $2′s. A little more than 75% of the more than $1 trillion of currency in circulation is in $100 bills. Much of it is held outside the United States.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Hikers climb fence into Zion National Park in protest of gov't shutdown | ksl.com

Hikers climb fence into Zion National Park in protest of gov't shutdown | ksl.com

Melissa Norris, a St. George resident, was one of the first over the fence Saturday. Like many in the group, she took a trash bag and gloves with her in order to clean up litter on the way out.
When she returned, she chatted briefly with Matthew Chuvarsky, a park ranger who was supposed to work his first season patrolling trails in Zion this year, but instead spent Saturday standing sentinel at the entrance. Together they discussed how a tour bus waiting in the parking lot wouldn't be able to come in before Chuvarsky politely offered to hold Norris' backpack while she climbed back over the gate.
Many park officials are working without pay. Saturday, however, the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. unanimously voted to guarantee that federal workers will receive back pay when the government shutdown ends. The Senate is expected to follow suit.
Norris called the empty park both eerie and beautiful, "like Zion used to be 20 years ago," and said her visit was worth any ticket she might face.
"I'm concerned, of course, but I knew there were consequences coming in," Norris said. "Shoot, if I have a record at 47 because I made a statement, then I have a record at 47."
Norris said she wasn't sure whether anyone took her picture while she was in the park, but quipped "I hope not, I didn't put on my makeup on this morning."
The park will remain closed until Congress funds the government and restarts federal operations. SR-9, which runs through Zion Park, remains open for travel, but motorists are asked not to stop and access trails.

The Great Chicago Ghost Train Mystery | Motherboard

The Great Chicago Ghost Train Mystery | Motherboard

My week on ‘smart drug’ Modafinil – Milo Yiannopoulos – The Kernel

My week on ‘smart drug’ Modafinil – Milo Yiannopoulos – The Kernel

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

This Tower Exists Solely for Dropping Things | Gizmodo India

This Tower Exists Solely for Dropping Things | Gizmodo India

Lessons in Manliness: The Hobbit

Lessons in Manliness: The Hobbit

Imagine yourself sitting down with your grandkids and telling them the story of you. “Well, I made some money, bought a few cars, sat around and watched TV for a few hours every night, and that’s about it.” Pretty boring, isn’t it? Now imagine that you can start hours worth of stories with, “I explored…I traveled…I fell in love…I fought and won…I overcame…I sweated…” Not only would the story be better, but you likely would be far more satisfied with the course of your life.

No War in Syria | Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam

No War in Syria | Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam

iGoogle shutting down :(

iGoogle


Australia had a government shutdown once. In the end, the queen fired everyone in Parliament.

Australia had a government shutdown once. In the end, the queen fired everyone in Parliament.

You might find yourself wishing that the United States could follow Australia's example: Fire everyone in Congress, hold snap elections next month and restart from scratch. But we can't, because we haven't recognized the British monarchy or had a London-appointed governor -general in more than two centuries. Maybe, if we ask nicely, Britain will take us back?

Health Exchange Sites Crushed By Demand; Shutdown Blanks Other Gov't Sites - Slashdot

Health Exchange Sites Crushed By Demand; Shutdown Blanks Other Gov't Sites - Slashdot

"The launch of a national health exchange site was marred by overloaded servers in several states around the country. In a White House press conference, President Obama said that by 7 a.m., there were over a million users, and he likened the capacity problems to the glitches that Apple experienced after discovering bugs in their rlease of iOS 7. 'I don't remember anybody suggesting Apple should stop selling iPhones or iPads, or threatening to shut down company if they didn't,' the president argued."Meanwhile, a number government websites went blank as a result of the shutdown, instead of simply lying dormant until personnel could return. The National Science FoundationNASA, the FCC, and the Library of Congress are a few examples.

Kimmel Asks Americans to Choose: Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act

Kimmel Asks Americans to Choose: Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act




Deadly lake turns animals into statues - environment - 01 October 2013 - New Scientist

Deadly lake turns animals into statues - environment - 01 October 2013 - New Scientist

Coffee vs. beer: Which drink makes you more creative? | ooomf blog

Coffee vs. beer: Which drink makes you more creative? | ooomf blog

Monday, June 3, 2013

My cousin wrote this on FB, it sounds like Israel

So I was watchin some Cops the other day, and let me tell you - late night TV at its finest. But that's besides the point. Fact of the matter is, why is every *alleged* (innocent until proven guilty, this is America goddammit) criminal arrested for assault charged with "aggravated assault". Like I feel like that's such an unfair adjective. Way too universal. Puts every knuckle-sandwichin' American at a disadvantage right off the bat. Because every assault is different, you know? Kinda like sandwiches. Every sandwich is a sandwich, but not every sandwich is a "delicious sandwich". See what I'm sayin? Assault and sandwiches, two peas in a pod. Everybody's not aggravated. Some people are "defensive", some are "menacing", and still others are "high on bath salts". It's just unfair, unjust, and unbelievable that such particular situations are objectified to a single, detrimental descriptive modifier. All I'm sayin is, if I'm ever arrested and charged for assault, I'm telling the po-po straight up: "Sir, with all due respect, I was not aggravated during the assault in question. I was happy as hell! Livin the dream! That was euphoric assault motherfucker!"

Revolutionizing the status quo here, all for the sake of justice.

Brian