Researchers at the University of Manchester have published a guide to the perfect handshake.
Beattie’s steps to the perfect handshake, for both men and women, are: use the right hand; a complete grip and a firm squeeze (but not too strong); a cool and dry palm; approximately three shakes, with a medium level of vigor, held for no longer than two to three seconds.
What exactly is “a medium level of vigor”?
Steve McCurry, who’s best known for shooting the Afghan Girl photograph, requested that he be allowed to shoot the last roll of Kodachrome Kodak ever produced. National Geographic documented his journey shooting the final roll.
Russo said they documented McCurry shooting the final roll of film in New York, then traveling to Bombay and Rajasthan, India, then back to New York, shooting along the way several personalities of the world of filmmaking.
McCurry said he spent about two months shooting the images, which also included scenic photos, as well as serendipitous moments on the streets of New York.
Hopefully, National Geographic will print a few of the photographs. It truly is the passing of an era.
Scientists have discovered that a protein is needed to make a shell, and this protein is only found within a chicken, thereby answering which came first.
Professor John Harding, who also took part in the research, told Metro the discovery could have other applications.
“Understanding how chickens make shells is fascinating in itself, but can also give clues towards designing new materials.” he said.
Which is good, because in spite of HECToR’s hard work and the “scientific proof” it yielded, the study offered no explanation as to how the chicken got there in the first place.
Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.
Dan Gilbert, the Cleveland Cavaliers owner, wrote an open letter in response to LeBron James’ decision to sign with the Miami Heat:
“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”
You can take it to the bank.
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
Wow, sounds like a real joy to play for.
Predictions: The Cavaliers don’t win 50 games next year; LeBron wins 3 championships before the Cavaliers win a playoff series.
(and what the heck is up with the Comic Sans?)
UPDATE: Check out the Cleveland Plain Dealer front page. He might be more hated in Cleveland than Art Modell.
True friends stab you in the front.
A comedian created the ‘Best Party’ and won 34.7% of the vote. Now he’s the mayor of a city with 1/3 of Iceland’s population.
In his acceptance speech he tried to calm the fears of the other 65.3 percent. “No one has to be afraid of the Best Party,” he said, “because it is the best party. If it wasn’t, it would be called the Worst Party or the Bad Party. We would never work with a party like that.”
With his party having won 6 of the City Council’s 15 seats, Mr. Gnarr needed a coalition partner, but ruled out any party whose members had not seen all five seasons of “The Wire.”
Well, “The Wire” is the best TV show I’ve ever seen.
Edith Shain, who claimed to be the nurse in Eisenstaedt’s iconic Times Square V-J Day photograph, has died. She was 91.
“You can imagine how people felt. They were just elated,” Shain said in a 2005 interview with The Times. “Someone grabbed me and kissed me, and I let him because he fought for his country. I closed my eyes when I kissed him. I never saw him.”
Coincidentally, that photograph was on a very short list of posters I’d selected to possibly decorate a wall in my apartment.
For April Fool’s ThinkGeek advertised “Canned Unicorn Meat” and proclaimed it “the new white meat”. A law firm representing the National Pork Board, who own the trademark “The Other White Meat”, sent ThinkGeek a cease and desist letter.
In their defense, the lawyers were doing their due diligence just in case Unicorn meat is real.
The constant and annoying buzzing sound of the vuvuzelas in the background of every World Cup match has prompted the company that provides the feed to broadcasters around the world to adjust it’s audio filters to try and bring down the sound.
The South African horns have become the talk of the World Cup, with some commentators admitting the swarming bees sound is driving them crazy.
The BBC is even thinking about having a second audio broadcast available that would be vuvuzela free:
The BBC has received 220 complaints and, while it is committed to reflecting the atmosphere in the stadiums on its main coverage, it is believed to be looking into providing a so-called “clean” feed that would strip out the majority of crowd noise, via the red button.
When I first turned on the USA vs. England match, I thought there was something wrong with the audio because of all the buzzing.
UPDATE: Now you can view any website as if you were at the 2010 World Cup.
Containers of milk sold in NYC have two “sell by” dates: the dairy industry standard date, and the NYC Board of Health mandated date:
The city’s milk-dating system, said Dr. Pascal James Imperato, a former city health commissioner, is a relic of the days when the chain of refrigeration from the point of pasteurization to consumption was often broken. Delivery trucks had inadequate refrigeration. They were delayed. And many times their drivers had no choice but to leave milk on door steps. For hours.
The Board of Health has finally voted to get rid of the special NYC date.
I always knew the reason behind the special NYC date, but I always wanted to see the preeminent defense attorney, Vincent LaGuardia Gambini, cross examine an NYC Board of Health member about the need for the extra date:
Vinny Gambini: Are we to believe that milk goes bad faster in New York City than anywhere else on the face of the earth? I guess the laws of physics cease to exist on the island of Manhattan. Is this magic milk? Did it come from the cow that Jack traded for his magic beanstalk beans?
A photo taken at Disney World captures a couple together 15 years before they met:
Thirty years ago, when they lived in separate countries long before they met and married, a family shot of little Donna at Walt Disney World captured Alex in a stroller in the background.
What’re the chances?
The most expensive hotel room in the U.S.A., outside of Las Vegas, is the $35,000 per night penthouse at the Four Seasons in Manhattan.
The suite has sweeping views of Manhattan in every direction, bathroom sinks made of solid blocks of rock crystal and a personal butler on-call 24 hours a day. Guests have the use of a Maybach or Rolls-Royce—with driver, of course. Room service from the hotel’s restaurants, including one run by celebrity chef Joël Robuchon, is included in the price and nearly unlimited (though one guest was charged for a $1,000 order of caviar).
Researchers at UC Berkeley are working on clothing that can generate electricity from simple body movements.
Researchers are envisioning hikers powering up their digital cameras while trekking up a mountain or a jogger charging up her cellphone in mid-run.
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