Ten trivial (i.e non-work-related) items

via Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Can dogs talk? Kind of, says the latest scientific research. But they tend to have very poor pronunciation... more

Photos of food and their sugar-cube equivalent via Boing Boing by Mark Frauenfelder
SugarStacks.com has photos of different kinds of food (both processed and natural) showing how much sugar is in the the food by displaying a stack of 4 gram sugar cubes next to the item.
(Via Presurfer)

India moves to patent yoga poses via In through the Outfield by Neil Infield

via Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
The cognitive capacities that have made us so successful as a species also work together to create a human tendency for religious thinking... more

Friday Fun: Relieve Workweek Frustration Playing Mad Monday via the How-To Geek by Mysticgeek
Friday is here again and you’re frustrated at the pointy-haired bosses and the entire workweek in general. Let out that frustration with Mad Monday, a quick paced online flash game that lets you shoot vehicles and run them off the road. It starts out with a soothing image of a crazy maniac ready to do damage and hard rock playing the background. Mad Monday is a lot of fun with some over the top scenarios and loud music and sound effects that you cannot turn down in game options. You might want to make sure volume is very low or muted when the boss strolls around.

3 Funny Flash Games That Make Fun Of The Gaming Industry via MakeUseOf.com by Simon Slangen
The gaming industry constantly changes. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse.
Until now, we’ve mostly read about these things on gaming blogs and in magazines, but a new medium is rising. Over the past year, a number of satirical Flash games have travelled around the world, from browser to browser. These games ridicule and take on some of the critiques on the current-day gaming industry. We’ve listed the three best and most famous of these games for you, and the messages they are trying to tell.
You Have To Burn The Rope (YHTBTR)
This game has made its parade around the internet, and was instantly loved by nearly anyone who played it. The concept isn’t too complicated – you have to burn the rope.
If you can’t figure it out, there’s a walk-through on YouTube here.
The Message
You get told everything from the start of the game. In fact, the game is even titled to spoil the solution. Why? It’s a pretty obvious satire – games are getting too damn easy.
Achievement Unlocked
Try to unlock all achievements in Achievement Unlocked. Have you used the arrow keys yet? Try jumping up and down. Woah, you’re the best! Unlock all 100 achievements and show the world who’s the (wo)man!
The game’s concept? Story? Why, you’re earning achievements, aren’t you? Have fun!
The Message
This game, released a few months after YHTBTR, continued the satirical approach of the gaming industry. By pushing it into excess, Achievement Unlocked ridicules the increasing focus on Achievements and Trophies in games these days.
UPGRADE COMPLETE!
Nephew of Achievement Unlocked, UPGRADE COMPLETE carries on the flag of cynicism attacks. The only problem – the game’s such enormous fun that you’d almost start doubting the point it tries to make.
The Message
If this game weren’t so darn fun, it would make its point perfectly. All this upgrading is simply ridiculous. Like Achievement Unlocked, it wags its finger at a peripheral system that’s playing an increasingly bigger role in games.
Alright, maybe after you’re done with making fun of present-day gaming, you’d like to play some “real” games:
The Best Online Flash Games
Top 5: Addictive and Challenging Web Games
MUO Games – The Best Websites to Play Flash Games
The Casual Collective – Fun Online Multiplayer Flash Games

via Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
It was a great moment in evolution and it changed our bodies and our minds forever: Drop food in fire, then eat it... more

via Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
For Simon Schama, the American story is a compelling one. New plot lines may now emerge, but we’ve known the central character for a very long time... more

Ink Calendar: paper that uses capillary action to fill in one day’s number at a time via Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow
Oscar Diaz’s Ink Calendar uses capillary action to suck ink across the numbers embossed on the page, one day at a time, gradually coloring itself in over the month. So cool.
(via Cribcandy)

via Arts & Letters Daily – ideas, criticism, debate
Stalin would kill not just you for the wrong thoughts: he would kill your family, down to the last child. Not even the Czar at his worst did that... more

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