Monday, May 17, 2010

I'm on a solar sail boat.....


Last year I made a post about Michio Kaku's book Physics of the Impossible. In the chapter concerning inter-stellar travel, he delves into one possibility that involves using solar sails to propel a spacecraft. The benefit of this being the ship would not require a source of power that would expire. Conceptually, a a solar sail would fit on the front of a spacecraft and absorb photons that would propel it forward. Theoretically over time it would build momentum and ensure a long flight for the spacecraft to help it reach the farthest reaches of our universe and boldly go where no man has gone before. Yes, it does sound like science fiction, but tomorrow it will be making strides to becoming science fact. Tomorrow the Japanese will be launching two satellites powered by solar sails, name Daedalus and Icarus. You can read the full article here, but let us hope that results of these two satellites yield the necessary information to improve space travel. It is not long before we can begin to enjoy happy hour at Mos Eisly.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Canned Unicorn Meat....that is all.


Tired of the same old tuna, spam, and other canned meats of the non-fantastical variety? Well, you should consider trying some Unicorn Meat. These little guys, according to their description are treated much like Kobe cows, promptly being messaged and given Guinness to fatten them up. These majestic creatures are pampered right up to the point of candy-ization, when their now fatty bodies are blended with their candied horn and bones. They are then canned and sold straight from Ireland. You can buy some here.


original link found at the Presurfer.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Stylish skinny jeans may land you in a Parisian paddy wagon....


No matter where you live, I am sure that your city probably has some outdated and overlooked law that is comical by our standards today. For instance, in Mobile, Alabama a woman must have a permit to wear high heels. Also, in Las Cruces, New Mexico it is illegal to carry a lunch box down Main Street. Granted there are hilarious stories that probably explain the need for these additions to the law books, but it is a little frightening to know you could be punished since the law is still on the books.

I was completely unaware until today that it is still illegal for women to wear pants in Paris. It sounds bizarre considering the city's fashion forward persona. The law seems to have no real reason to exist. According to this article from the Telegraph, it was enacted by the city's Police chief in 1799. Now, the French could not just ban women from wearing pants at all, so women could apparently get written permission form the police if they could explain there motives for "dressing like a man." In 1892 the law was amended to allow women to wear trousers as long as they were riding a horse and holding the reigns. As the times changed and horses were used less for city travel, the law was modified again in 1902 to allow women to wear pants if they were riding bike. Since no one is getting locked up it is obvious that this law is not taken seriously, but it is ridiculous to keep such and archaic law on the books. President Nicolas Sarkozy is planning on urging parliament on reconsidering this outdated law.