Researchers taught African grey parrots to buy food using tokens. They were then paired up, one parrot given ten tokens and the other none. Without any incentive for sharing, parrots with tokens started to give some to their broke partners so that everyone could eat.

Birds, Hobbies & Leisure /

Parrots Will Share Currency to Help Their Pals Purchase Food Parrots go bonkers for walnuts. After snatching the seeds, these brightly plumed birds crack into them with glee. When offered the nuts as a prize, parrots will do tricks, solve puzzles and learn complex tasks. They’ll even trade currency for them in the form of […]

Researchers taught African grey parrots to buy food using tokens. They were then paired up, one parrot given ten tokens and the other none. Without any incentive for sharing, parrots with tokens started to give some to their broke partners so that everyone could eat. Read More »

A US law firm set up honeypots on torrent-sharing site The Pirate Bay and then sued people who downloaded their torrents. The matter reached the FBI and the pirate site accepted to collaborate with the feds resulting in the crooked lawyers getting jail time.

Computer Security /

Cooperative ‘Copyright Troll’ Lawyer Sentenced to Five Years in Prison John Steele, one of the attorneys behind the ‘copyright troll’ law firm Prenda, has been sentenced to five years in prison. The attorney was one of the masterminds behind the fraudulent scheme that extracted settlements from alleged pirates. Because of Steele’s cooperative stance, his sentence

A US law firm set up honeypots on torrent-sharing site The Pirate Bay and then sued people who downloaded their torrents. The matter reached the FBI and the pirate site accepted to collaborate with the feds resulting in the crooked lawyers getting jail time. Read More »

The old man who died in the Mt St Helens eruption was once sunk by a U-boat, smuggled booze, threw his ex-wife into a lake during arguments, got park rangers drunk, impersonated game wardens, assaulted taxmen, hated hippies, chased off a Supreme Court Justice and died with his cats on a volcano

History /

Harry R. Truman Harry R. Truman (October 1896 – May 18, 1980) was an American businessman, bootlegger, and prospector. He lived near Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in Washington state, and was the owner and caretaker of Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake near the foot of the mountain. Truman came to fame

The old man who died in the Mt St Helens eruption was once sunk by a U-boat, smuggled booze, threw his ex-wife into a lake during arguments, got park rangers drunk, impersonated game wardens, assaulted taxmen, hated hippies, chased off a Supreme Court Justice and died with his cats on a volcano Read More »

Comic Andy Kaufman’s 4-F deferment for the draft concluded that Kaufman lived in a fantasy world, disconnected from reality, and if put in the military would “lose his mind”. He loved the letter and proudly displayed it as he had purposely treated his psych eval as a high-stakes joke.

Humor, Performing Arts /

The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Andy Kaufman While Andy Kaufman was one of the most venerated comedians of the 20th century, it should be noted that he certainly never would have seen himself that way. As far as Kaufman was concerned, actually, he wasn’t a comedian at all. Comedians told jokes, which Kaufman argued he

Comic Andy Kaufman’s 4-F deferment for the draft concluded that Kaufman lived in a fantasy world, disconnected from reality, and if put in the military would “lose his mind”. He loved the letter and proudly displayed it as he had purposely treated his psych eval as a high-stakes joke. Read More »

When Cambridge-trained Dr. Wu correctly diagnosed the 1910 Manchuria pandemic as pneumonic (airborne) plague, french doctor Mesny admonished Dr. Wu using a racial slur and asserting it was bubonic plague. To prove his point, Dr. Mesny toured a plague ward without a mask. He died six days later.

Public Health /

The Plague Fighter: Dr Wu Lien-Teh and His Work The Penang-born doctor helped eradicate the deadly Manchurian pneumonic plague of 1910 and pushed for the use of face masks to prevent its spread. Kevin Y.L. Tan documents his life and work. Wu Lien-Teh Collection, PictureSG, National Library, Singapore. The year 2020 will be remembered as

When Cambridge-trained Dr. Wu correctly diagnosed the 1910 Manchuria pandemic as pneumonic (airborne) plague, french doctor Mesny admonished Dr. Wu using a racial slur and asserting it was bubonic plague. To prove his point, Dr. Mesny toured a plague ward without a mask. He died six days later. Read More »

Tim Curry, a lifelong Scooby-Doo fan, was offered the villain role in the 2002 Scooby-Doo movie, but turned it down after learning the film would include Scrappy-Doo, a character he disliked.

Movies /

Scooby-Doo (film) Actors Prinze Jr. and Gellar, who both previously worked in I Know What You Did Last Summer and portray Fred and Daphne, are romantically involved in both the film and reality. This film marks the first time in the franchise’s history where the characters are portrayed as a couple. The pair married shortly

Tim Curry, a lifelong Scooby-Doo fan, was offered the villain role in the 2002 Scooby-Doo movie, but turned it down after learning the film would include Scrappy-Doo, a character he disliked. Read More »

Mike Judge, the co-creator of “King of the Hill”, once got a fan letter from a girl who survived Columbine. After watching the “Wings of the Dope” episode, she credited Mike on helping her finally grieve over the loss of her high school crush – which happened to be one of the shooters.

Crime & Justice, Sensitive Subjects /

Columbine High School massacre in popular culture Part of a series of articles on the Columbine massacre Related articles Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold Rachel Scott Cassie Bernall Austin Eubanks A Mother’s Reckoning Columbine Legacy In popular culture v t e The following is a list of cultural references to the 1999 Columbine High School

Mike Judge, the co-creator of “King of the Hill”, once got a fan letter from a girl who survived Columbine. After watching the “Wings of the Dope” episode, she credited Mike on helping her finally grieve over the loss of her high school crush – which happened to be one of the shooters. Read More »

Bill Wilson at desk

Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill Wilson’s grandfather quit drinking “immediately after having a ‘religious experience’ when he was under the influence of [magic mushrooms].”

Drug & Alcohol Treatment, Sensitive Subjects /

Bill W. For the 2012 film, see Bill W. (film). William Griffith Wilson (November 26, 1895 – January 24, 1971), also known as Bill Wilson or Bill W., was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA is an international mutual aid fellowship with about 2 million members worldwide belonging to approximately 10,000 groups, associations, organizations,

Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill Wilson’s grandfather quit drinking “immediately after having a ‘religious experience’ when he was under the influence of [magic mushrooms].” Read More »

Alexander Fleming’s mold could not produce penicillin fast enough for mass production; it wasn’t until 15 years later that lab worker ‘Mouldy’ Mary Hunt tested a moldy cantaloupe in a grocery store and discovered the strain that is used to produce all penicillin today

Biological Sciences /

Mouldy Mary and the Cantaloupe It’s a well known story and example of medical serendipity. Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) a Scottish microbiologist who returned to his laboratory following his summer holiday and found his growth plates of Staphylococcal bacteria had been contaminated with mould. Wherever the mould was growing the bacterial cells had been killed. Antibiotics

Alexander Fleming’s mold could not produce penicillin fast enough for mass production; it wasn’t until 15 years later that lab worker ‘Mouldy’ Mary Hunt tested a moldy cantaloupe in a grocery store and discovered the strain that is used to produce all penicillin today Read More »

With 5 million vending machines nationwide (that’s 1 vending machine for every 23 people) and natural disasters commonplace, Japan has specialized vending machines that have a backup battery and dispense free drinks and food in the event of a major emergency.

Food & Drink, Retail Equipment & Technology /

Vending Machines in Japan Offer Free Drinks in Case of Emergency Free drinks from a beverage vending machine? It’s more likely than you think – in Japan, that is. Specially labeled vending machines equipped with battery backup are programmed to offer victims of natural disasters life-giving water and soft drinks at no charge. Major earthquake,

With 5 million vending machines nationwide (that’s 1 vending machine for every 23 people) and natural disasters commonplace, Japan has specialized vending machines that have a backup battery and dispense free drinks and food in the event of a major emergency. Read More »

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