Wednesday Watercooler

 “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” 
Groucho Marx

We’re down to the tail end of yet another month in 2013 and it’s left me sitting here, shaking my head while staring at my computer screen while I wonder where the time effing went.  Sure, February’s the shortest month of the year but it was pretty stacked socially and, let’s be honest for a second, entirely exhausting!  I’m looking forward to a few weekends of good R&R with the kitties, catching up on a few good books and getting my life back together.  Well, until I’m threatened with a good time…and we all know how I react to fun 😉  There’s been so much exciting stuff going on in the past few weeks that I’m just going to get down to it; it’s the last Wednesday of the month – let’s go!

The Olympics Just Got A Whole Less Manly

The next Summer Olympics will be unlike any other – but primarily because one of the sports that can be traced back to the 18th Olympiad all the way back in 704 B.C. , has been eliminated: wresting; to put it in perspective, we’re now entering the 4th year of the 697th Olympiad.  It’s not that I’m a huge fan of the sport, but I’ll agree that it’s both a graceful and powerful endeavor, and to boot one I’m surely not equipped to take part in.  And the Olympics without Wrestling?  That’s like the Bulls without Jordan, the 49ers without Steve Young, McDonalds without hamburgers…you get the picture.  It’s just plain wrong – and upset fans, competitors and coaches agree; Japan’s Wresting Foundation has launched a petition to get it back into the Olympics, Las Vegas has already decided to bring the cash cow on home for some good old fashioned sports betting and some have even gone as far as returning their gold medals.  First it was Bulgarian medalist Valentin Yordanov who returned his ’96 Gold Medal from Atlanta and now it seems that Russia’s Sagid Murtazaliev has followed suit and returned his Gold from the Sydney Olympics in 2000.  Now,  in the wake of it’s untimely Olympic exile – there’s a new question on the table: what sport is set to replace it?  There are seven sports currently competing to take it’s place – baseball, karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, wakeboarding and wusho; if it’s not baseball or karate, I say nay.

We Want to See The Light

Even though I was just in that city of sin, I’m ready to head back – but there’s a whole new reason that I have that Las Vegas itch!  Mandalay Bay has paired up with Cirque du Soleil and host of A-List DJs.  Earlier we knew that Skrillex, that saucy minx, was in talks with the Cirque du Soleil crew but now we have confirmation that acts like Zedd, Alesso, Baauer and Sebastian Ingrosso will also be on the bill. Not that we needed it, but this elite pairing is further evidence of the staying power, and commercialization, of EDM – but knowing the caliber of the cast associated with LIGHT, there’s no doubt that this will be a top notch production.  Mark your calendars because LIGHT is scheduled to open April 26th – just in time for the pool parties!  For an all encompassing look at the talent LIGHT will boast  – check out out that stacked lineup below the video!

Pluto Gets a Friend

I don’t know about you guys, but when Pluto’s planet status was demoted I was a little sad – I grew up with the guy, he was part of my dioramas, part of my science fairs.  But then, in 2006, Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet.  Since then astronomers have discovered several new moons that rotate Pluto with a strange orbit in addition to Nix and Hydra, discovered in 2005, and Charon, discovered in ’78.  Until now, those moons have simply gone by P4 and P5.  Their names were put up to a vote the other week through the SETI Institute and the winning name is …drumroll, please…. Vulcan.  That’s right, Trekkies everywhere rejoice – William Shatner entered the name late in the game, but it somehow still ended up on top.  Live long and prosper!

In Russia, Moon Lands On You

To the complete shock of basically everyone, a meteorite broke through our atmosphere and decided to land itself on Mother Russia, the only country with dash cameras in every car. The meteorite broke apart over central Russia injuring approximately 1000 citizens, and the resulting shock waves rocked the infrastructure of the city and blew out windows like the big bad wolf on steroids.  Scientists have been working to trace this meteorite back in time – and it seems that the meteor (which is what you have before it enters our atmosphere), originated in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.  In turn, this has inspired NASA to team up with the Air Force to search for a way to prevent more detrimental asteroid attacks; anyone else picturing a real life Armageddon?

Welcome Back, Daft Punk!

I can’t tell you a time where there wasn’t a hot and heavy rumor about Daft Punk making a comeback – every other week we would hear something new but the sources were few and far between and we just couldn’t seem to catch a break.  Well, the other night while we were all sleeping sweetly and our computers were dreaming of electric sheep – something was a buzz over at Daft Punk HQ: the famous french DJ Duo has not only ditched Virgin Records to join Columbia, but among the rumors they’ll be releasing a new album in May it seems that they’ve updated their logo. Should we take this as a sign? I say HELL YES; it’s been too damn long!

The Wednesday Watercooler

You’ve been up since 6:30 am and it’s been a long, arduous day.

Maybe you went to the gym before work you little go-getter, you.

Maybe you’re attempting to be frugal and you’re spending your downtime doing daily meal prep so you can save some scrilla.

Maybe you’ve been hitting the snooze button on repeat and have no desire to open your black-out blinds and realize it’s a gorgeous day.

Regardless, the fact of the matter is the world did in fact decide to go on without you; and there’s been some ridiculous stuff going on.  Here are the stories, websites and blogs you should have wasted some time on today….

Education

Too Cool for School: DJ Afrika Bambaataa, one of the founding fathers of Hip Hop, has just accepted a position as a visiting scholar at Cornell.  Fun fact: Cornell has the largest living archives on Hip Hop Culture.  Now that’s something I’d go back to school for.

For-Profit Colleges:  In a recent statement, the Senate has released a dense and critical report on the state of ‘For Profit’ colleges in this country; with the final word being that For Profit Universities have an elevated drop out rate and are far more likely to place a student into debt than a State or Private college.

Entertainment

Checkbook DJs:  We’ve all heard of the “laptop” DJ; they’re great at button pushing and don’t know what beat matching is. Well now, there’s a new breed.  The TOP 100 DJ Poll, once considered the Holy Grail of DJ status, has proven itself to be faulty.  Now, anyone who saw Guetta at the top of the list last year probably has a head start on the sentiment; but consider this new information.  DJ’s are now cheating on their DJ mag poll; buying placement in the magazine and buying votes.

Science + Technology

MarsBeing a science geek growing up wasn’t exactly considered cool; but living in a time where we can go and explore another planet definitely is! Click any of the links below for pictures, articles, etc on the great discoveries happening on the Red Planet.

Obama tells NASA: If Curiosity finds Martians “please let me know.”

Curiosity produces a Panoramic View of Mars

Mars and the Search for Life

Sports

Summer Olympics Roundup: In case you’ve been hiding under a rock these last few weeks, you should be well aware of the Summer Olympics in London.  There was Mean Girl Makayla, and that really gorgeous idiot that can swim; but most of all there were some ridiculous moments during the opening and closing ceremonies for the games.  James Bond and the Queen; Mr. Bean; The Spice Girls; Horrible humor.  It was very, very  British of them. Below you’ll find some of my favorite Olympic inspired blog posts and memes…

The Best of: McKayla is Not Impressed

Peeing in Pools with Ryan Lochte

10 reasons that Ryan Lochte is America’s Sexiest Douchebag

Baseball: The Mariners have pitched a perfect game.  I’m still trying to care about it, but if you like baseball or the Mariners: good for you, Glen Coco.