Category: Of Random Interest

John Stossel did a report on 20/20 that makes for fascinating reading, Lies, Myths, and Downright Stupidity, in which he explodes the most common media-fed rumors that mess up our lives and our society.

Some of the myths he hits: that there’s a relationship between being cold and catching a cold, that we have less free time than we used to (we have a lot more free time than our parents did or than we did growing up), and the idea that money can buy happiness.

It’s good read and will give you fodder for late-night dorm conversations.

From the realm of just plain gross: the BBC reports that scientists have found a way to make mice produce monkey sperm.

Yes, you read that correctly.

*shudder*

That’s just creepy on so many levels I don’t know where to begin.

I just stumbled across a Chi Alpha blogring on Xanga. It’s pretty small now and everyone seems to be from one campus (the one I ministered at previously), but it’s still cool.

If you’re on Xanga sign up!

On a more frivolous note, there’s a new Strongbad email with four video games at the end!

Photos from the crab boil are now in the photo gallery.

We’ve got some pretty good shots this time, if I do say so myself.

By the way, you can call Nathaniel “Freddy” from now on.

Tolkien fans might be interested in this news story about the complex simulation program that created the climactic battle scene in the Return of the King.

“For the first two years, the biggest problem we had was soldiers fleeing the field of battle,” Taylor said.

“We could not make their computers stupid enough to not run away.”

Now that’s artificial intelligence!

There are some new photos in the Chi Alpha photo gallery.

Also, the software has been recently updated so there are a few new features in the gallery. 

Feel free to play around!

The Boston Globe has a neat article that references the Boston area Chi Alphas:

“When I came to MIT, I was expecting it to be full of nerds — people who don’t really put together science and religion,” says Benjamin Brooks, a senior from Paterson, New Jersey, who belongs to the MIT chapter of the evangelical group Chi Alpha. “I was really surprised — and still am — by the volume of Christian fellowship here.”

and later The Boston University chapter of Chi Alpha holds regular “The Gospel According to The Simpsons” gatherings.

The article is called God on the Quad and talks about the evangelical presence on the Boston campuses.

FYI: I just tried to upgrade our photo gallery software, and something went horribly awry. All the photos are still there, but something weird is happening with them.

UPDATE: I fixed it. Check out the new photos.

Halloween is upon us once again.

Three random links for your viewing pleasure: 

* Extreme Pumpkins shows us the pumpkins that deep-down inside we’ve always wanted to carve…

* In a true story, a tough sailor saves his crew by killing a 600 pound shark in 1–1 combat.

* The Home Star Runner Halloween series:
   2000: The HomeStarLoween Party
   2001: The House That Gave Sucky Treats
   2002: A Pumpakin Carve-nival
   2003: 3 Times Halloween Fun-job!