Overnight open thread, which is suddenly binary-curious NTTAWWT (genghis)

Update on the tipline: For now just keep using the old gmail tipline at the bottom of the post. Something went screwy when I tried to get the new earthlink tipline up and running, so I deleted that account and will try to set it up again when I get some spare time. Thanks.

Some news niblets:

Item #1: A chemistry lesson is to be had over at Phil the News Junkie’s pad. After watching the vid he has posted there, if you don’t come away with a thourough understanding of how oxygen interacts with other elements then you’re just the kind of moron we’re looking for here. It’s sort of like the old Schoolhouse Rock animated shorts but updated with CGI and funnier.

Item #2: Gabe and others have already posted reviews of “Star Trek,” but Matt sends along one from last Wednesday by Dana Stevens at Slate. Stevens, who apparently has a day job at the NSA, subtly weaves current events into the review:

”Star Trek's vision of the future, as guided by creator Gene Roddenberry, was also a relic of its time, the age of NASA and the Cold War and Kruschev pounding his shoe on a podium at the United States. The show's faith in diplomacy and technology as tools for not just global but universal peace might seem touchingly dated in our post-9/11 age of stateless jihad, loose nukes, and omnipresent danger. Yet in a weird way, Star Trek's cheerfully square naiveté makes it the perfect film for our first summer of (slimly) renewed hope. It's a blockbuster for the Obama age, when smarts and idealism are cool again. In fact, can't you picture our president—levelheaded, biracial, implacably smart—on the bridge in a blue shirt and pointy ears?”

Item #3: From ABC News (Australian one) comes a story about Sikh cops who want bulletproof turbans.

”Sikh police officers in Britain reportedly want the Government to develop bullet-proof turbans to allow them to serve as firearms officers without having to remove their headwear.”

“Sikh officers are exempt from a legal obligation to wear crash helmets because of their religion's requirement to wear a turban, but this means they cannot wear the protective headgear of firearms officers.”

Tonight’s critter and a notice about the tipline below the fold.

Tonight’s overnight thread is sponsored by the Cow Nose Ray. I don’t think that the person who named this thing has ever actually seen a cow or a cow’s nose. On the other hand, it’s “face” seems eerily human. Almost like it has a personality…this one looks like it’d be great to invite to your next party as it might have a vast repository of witty jokes. Also, it reminds me of someone, but I can’t quite pin down who. Leonard Nimoy? I dunno,’ maybe one of you can figure it out. Thanks to “Iskandar” for the critter.

Update on the tipline:Gmail is starting to really piss me off so I’m trying to move the tipline to a new account: overnight-tips@earthlink.net. It’s up and running, but has a couple of bugs that need worked out regarding outgoing mail. (Please don’t waste your time sending well-intentioned tips on how to fix it…I know what the problem is but just need to spend a few minutes doing so) Meanwhile the old gmail tipline is still up so it’s your choice where to send things. Thanks.

Notice: Posted by permission of AceCorp LLC. Please e-mail overnight open thread tips to xgenghisx@gmail.com. Otherwise send tips to Ace or a co-blogger.

posted by xgenghisx at 09:55 PM

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