Les Stroud in the Kalahari

Les Stroud was on the Daily Planet science news show today. Their sending him to northern Ontario for a week was the start of his successful “Survivorman” television show.

You can read his journal here.

"We don’t think you’re a thief, but…"

Martin Rundkvist at Aardvarchaeology is talking about something that bothers me, too: the new Microsoft “stand still while we frisk you” Genuine Advantage software upgrade. It’s like the old, “we don’t want to imply you’re a thief, but we’re photographing everyone who cashes a cheque” that some stores did. Microsoft keeps offering this update, which only checks your computer to see if you have any unauthorized software. It’s insulting. Some of the commenters are talking of their future (or accomplished!) migration to Unix or the Macintosh.

Silly religion day

An unemployed Brit has remade himself into a goddess in India.

Hat tip to Pharyngula

Friday cephalopod blogging: Chromatophores in juvenile squid

This picture of a newly hatched juvenile squid clearly shows its chromatophores, or colour cells. It has the cute, rounded look of so many young animals. This is a longfin inshore squid, or Loligo pealei.

The image is from Living Invertebrates by Ralph Bushchbaum, Vicki Pearce, et al.

An adult is shown below.

U.S. breaks world record in 4×200 m relay

The U.S. relay team of Michael Phelps & company has shattered Ian Thorpe & company’s world record in the 4 x 200 metre men’s relay.