Laibach covering Sympathy for the Devil (mp3, about 11Mb, about eight minutes long)

I giggled all the way to the subway listening to this one, and then happily filed it next to Ozzy murdering Stayin’ Alive, Willie Nelson’s charming version of Rainbow Connection and Jerry Garcia’s rather dark cover of Teddy Bears Picnic in a playlist of covers that cause me disproportional amusement.

Now if only someone would unearth for me a digital copy of Coil (I thought it was Laibach again, but Rena sent me a link that corrected this mistake) covering Tainted Love, I shall call my iPod complete.

And another QOTD:

The real world is a complicated place. In order to provide illustrations in a physics lesson that emphasize only a single concept, such as Newton’s Second Law of Motion or the principle of Conservation of Energy, over the decades physics teachers have developed an arsenal of overly stylized scenarios involving projectile motion, weights on pulleys, or oscillating masses on springs. These situations seem so artificial that students inevitably lament, “When am I ever going to use this stuff in my real life?”

One trick I’ve hit upon in teaching physics involves using examples culled from superhero comic books that correctly illustrate various application of physics principles. Interestingly enough, whenever I cite examples from superhero comic books in a lecture, my student never wonder when they will use this information in “real life.” Apparently they all have plans, post-graduation, that involve Spandex and protecting the City from all threats. As a law-abiding citizen, it fills me
with a great sense of security because I also know how many of my scientist colleagues could charitably be termed “mad.”

– James Kakalios, from”The Physics of Superheroes”. Kakalios is
a professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the
University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

“I would also like to understand women.”

– Stephen Hawking, astrophysicist, from a list of his ambitions, as told to the moderator at a recent lecture at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

QOTD

Extroverts adapt faster to cold, researcher says

Rintamaki, a researcher at the University of Oulu in Finland who studies the effects of cold on human performance, says personality has an impact.

“The extrovert type of people do react more quickly and correctly to environment,” Rintamaki told this week’s International Congress on Circumpolar Health in Novosibirsk, Russia.

“They increase heat production quickly, and response by heart rate quickly. But also they have higher level of stress.”

…whereas the more sensible introverts go inside where it’s warm, and stay there. Less stress, more hot chocolate.

Now you really can give someone a Common Cold, should the urge strike. Giant microbes:

Via BikeToronto — Olivia Chow wants to introduce a private members’ bill to require sideguards on trucks. About time.

Still Life with Teddy

Originally uploaded by morecoffeeplease.

I just like this one for some random reason.

Columbine

Originally uploaded by morecoffeeplease.

I love this plant — so pretty.