CNN says that KFC has a new comercial aimed at viewers with VCRs and PVRs. You have to watch it in slow motion to find out how to get a special deal.

Recommended Reading

Locus magazine lists its recommended science fiction and fantasy for 2005.

A picture of the spacestation Mir taken from above with New Zealand below.

The space elevator gets taller

A New Scientist article on experiment with a cable for the space elevator that got to mile in height. There is a picture of the cable hanging beneath a balloon.

Followup: Here's a press release about the test. via slashdot

High tech ski suits at the Olympics

According to this article in the New Scientist, the suits worn by this year's Canadian and American downhill ski teams are reinforced with fibres that harden on impact to protect the skier in a fall.

Better think again

A list of some unfortunate domain name choices.

via reddit

Robot mule

This blog entry describes, and has pictures of, a small robotic truck that it designed to carry extra gear for soldiers.

The power-law vs the Normal distribution

This article is a bit longer than the ones I usually post but it interesting nonetheless. The article is about how focusing on specific individuals can sometimes be more effective than trying to solve a problem in general. The examples used are homelessness and police brutality.

via rebecca's pocket

GPS Gumballs

Spiderman had his spidertracers and now, according to this article, Los Angelos police will soon be able to track fleeing vehicles by shooting a sticky ball at them.

Followup: Here's another article and a related slashdot article.

via rebecca's pocket

Coke consumption

This article is really about why coca-cola is made with corn syrop, and is interesting enough on its own, but I was struck by this fact:

• Annual US Per capita consumption of Coke in servings: 411

vi reddit

Fun with pictures

A website full of tools for playing with your photos. You can make calendars, movie posters or just add thought balloons to your pictures. The site is designed to work with Flickr but you can upload your own pictures or just use one from the web.

A better mess kit

An article by a scout master detailing what you should take camping instead of that old fashioned aluminium mess kit that you've had since you were seven. The frisbee plate idea is brilliant.

Early retirement

Philip Greenspun, of ArsDigita fame, has an article about early retirement. Since I'm in a similar situation (though I don't own my own helicopter) I found it of great interest.

A hippo at the beach

A cool picture, though I'm not quite sure what I like about it.