Archive for September, 2009

Orangutan action.

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This might be one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.

We are in DC went to the National Zoo.

They have a sort of skyway for the orangutans from one enclosure to another that goes over the sidewalk and in the open, except about 40 feet up in the air.

The ropes are called the O-Line, and the Smithsonian site has an interesting article about it.

Apparently only one of the apes swings from branch to branch (or along the line) one hand at a time: his name is Kiko.

This type of movement is called brachiation.

I hate to bring up the monkey-diet again, that didn’t go over too well, but watch the following video.

The way the orangutan moves is incredible. It pours itself onto the rope like mercury, and then swings so casually 45 feet above the ground.   You can put the bumper-stickers on your pickup truck, but that is really “No Fear”.

Orangutan on O-Line Movie

Also, check out his terrific coat.  Orangutan in Bahasa Malaysia (probably Bahasa Indonesia, as well) is translated to:  ”Man of the Forest” you can see why they are named this in the video.

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Crack Nem Pensar

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Here in Brazil there is a new anti-drug campaign, “Crack Nem Pensar” which means, Crack Don’t Even Think About It.

You find stickers that say this all over the place.  Like in a nutritionist’s office.  Or one of my favorites, on a cuia at the gym.  Just in case you popped over for some quick communal chimarrão and were thinking that you would rather have crack.

The irony, which hasn’t really occurred to the campaigners is this: I wasn’t thinking about crack until I saw the stickers.  There is nothing sensible about a movement that only says, don’t think about what I am talking to you about.

The campaign is exactly the same as this:

Elephants.  Whatever you do, don’t even think about elephants.

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Across then up

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

A friend of mine from jiu-jitsu in London has been writing about his travels on his website.

http://www.across-then-up.com/

Harry was a hedge fund manager in London until the Great Financial Crisis ™.   (But we are pulling out of it, really, we are, just keep shopping as fast as you can…)  In direct opposition to jumping out of  a lofty Canary Wharf window onto a Landcruiser, he chose to drive across North Africa and Asia on his way around the world.

I don’t usually recommend blogs, I find that most of them have terrible writing.  Everyone is just so cheeky and … bloggy.  The bloggers (terrible word) think they are clever.  Some are clever, but even these are boring.  I could give examples, but that would be rude.

Harry’s blog however, is really good.  I recommend it.  It makes you want to travel, and I’m incredibly jealous of his trip.  Well, parts of it, Algeria sounds great, Libya, not so fun.    Now he is on his way to Pakistan, which I might fly over and meet him on the other side.

When Harry’ entries show up on my RSS reader, I actually read them, instead of skimming.  I don’t know if you get higher prasie than that.  Sorry Paul Krugmann.

(And yes, I realize I’m writing about boring blogs — on a blog, tah-dah.  The irony doesn’t escape me.  At least I  challenge people to cage matches.)

Posted in writing | 4 Comments »

Ira Glass, put up your dukes.

Friday, September 18th, 2009

I’m not going to make it a monthly tradition, but I thought I would revisit this:

I hereby challenge Ira Glass to a cage fight.

You pick the rules, the place, etc.  Upon acceptance of the fight, which would make an interesting radio show —  I will win.

This might be better than your latest radio shows: “Frenemies” or the one about the “Rest Stop”.  Riveting.

That’s right, anytime, anywhere, in three acts, I will slap all of the smug right off you.

You could have hipsters in the audience prattle on about the barbarity of the event.

I’m sure that you won’t accept, just like Bernard Madof didn’t accept, nor did Sarah Palin, nor did Hank Paulson.  But it is out there, forever, on the Internet.

Oh, and by the way, I bet you all the tea in India that Torey Malatia thinks your joke at the end of the show is stupid, and that you should move on…

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SA pigeon ‘faster than broadband’

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

South African pigeon ‘faster than broadband’

Very clever.

Posted in bidness, nerdery | No Comments »

Xixi No Banho

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

I was watching television tonight and saw this advertisment.
I dig the message.  This is also about the weirdest/funniest/coolest thing I’ve ever seen on TV.

Faz xixi no banho / Pee in the shower (english subtitles)

They also have a really great site xixi no banho.  It is done using Flash but it works.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Top Chef Poetry.

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

This is almost a haiku, and I think it is a beautiful poem.

I think I’ve really learned
a little bit about what
really matters to me.

~ Preeti Mistry, eliminated from Top Chef Season 6, Episode 3

Posted in Randomocity, food, poopculture | No Comments »

Training in Summer.

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

It is not summer in Porto Alegre, far from it. But two days ago there was a mysterious heat-wave. It took everyone by surprise. During the warmup I started feeling dizzy, but kept on going, thinking, I can’t stop and say “I feel dizzy”. I would prefer to faint. Most people have some amount of practice helping someone who has lost consciousness at BJJ class.

Turns out I wasn’t the only one, though. A few people had to stop training because of “low blood pressure”. Which I think is a tougher way of putting it than, “I’m going to swoon.”

Holy crap, did I just write a blog post about the weather.
I gotta go play with the baby.

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