* Oppenheimer’s secret city explained. Click here.
* How the investor of the first chatbot turned against AI. Click here.
* Why fraud thrives on Wall St. Click here.
* Amazing rules for teaching Air Force Academy recruits how to speak inclusively. Click here.
* Biden announces he’s cured cancer. Click here.
* Alaska mayor proposes flying the state’s homeless population south for the winter. Click here.
* The eight habits that could add up to 24 years of your life. Click here.
* Rep. Chip Roy asks FBI Director Wray why the FBI arrested a pro-abortion man at gunpoint. Click here.
* Earth now has 8 billion people – and counting. Click here.
* Lawmaker questions DOD over the military’s high spending on Viagra. Click here.
How much do you know about famous facial hair?
Take the quiz here. (I got 15 out of 20.)
This can’t be true!
King John (1166-1216) [italics]
In 2009, a young girl did a school research project and “discovered” that all US presidents except Martin Van Buren are descended from one British king. I’m 99.9% confident this “fact” is woven from whole cloth. But wouldn’t it be great if it turned out to be true!
Check it out here.
Check this link, too. It answers the question, but it does much more than that. It provides a fascinating explanation of how ancestry works.
And here’s one more.
Have you ever driven an 18-wheeler?
Neither have I.
I’ve driven largish trucks and found them difficult to manage in small spaces, particularly when backing up is required. And I’m in awe of drivers that can handle really big rigs… like this guy here.
In case you’re wondering, the reason the big rigs have so many wheels is to spread the weight of their cargo over the largest possible area. We’re talking as much as 80,000 pounds!
This takes trompe-l’oeil to an entirely different level!
Click here.
The Most and Least Expensive Big Macs in the US
You won’t learn anything especially useful from this map, but you may find it interesting. I was surprised by some of the red dots.
Click here.
Astronomy Photographer of the Year
The short list for the 2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year has just been published. And, not surprisingly, this year’s selection is just as amazing as last year’s. Looking over the entries, I tried to figure out if I had an affinity for the images that included images of the Earth, or those that were abstract splatter shots of stars in the sky.
The winners will be announced on September 14.
Click here.
Have You Ever Seen…?
Have you ever seen a Belgian Malinois? A friend of mine brought his to the Swamp House at Paradise Palms. He threw a ball into the lake. The dog sprinted toward it like he was shot out of a cannon, and then leaped at least ten yards into the lake to fetch it.
Belgian Malinois are astonishingly athletic. They are also hardworking, highly energetic, intelligent, loyal, easy to train, and, when needed, ferocious. That is why they are the only service dogs used by the Navy Seals.
Click here to see one in action. (Clip courtesy of the Joe Rogan podcast.)
Test Your Knowledge of Famous Artists
The topic was promising. The first question was easy. I thought for sure I was going to get a perfect score. I was wrong.
Click here to try your hand at it.
What Would You Like to Do That You Haven’t Yet Done?
G sent this in. It’s a short interview with Bill Murray. I hadn’t seen it before, and when I watched it, I was surprised. It’s thought-provoking, but also touching. This is Bill Murray speaking without his characteristic sarcasm or irony. Click here.
History Quiz: Important Inventions
The first question was so easy, I thought I might ace the others. No. I barely got half of them right! Try your hand at it here.