Showing posts with label amazing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amazing. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2011
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Cows with Names Produce More Milk
A new study by the Newcastle University School of Agriculture shows that cows whose farmers name them and call them by their names regularly produce 500 more pints of milk a year than cows without names.
Farmers in the study found the results unsurprising; one said that treating cows as individuals was "vitally important."
Farmers emphasized that the cows are part of their families and each one has her own personality.
It now appears that, like us, cows want to be recognized not as cogs in a machine, but as individual beings. It makes them happy and more productive.
Somehow, this story awakens my sense of wonder at the world more than almost any other I have posted.
Farmers in the study found the results unsurprising; one said that treating cows as individuals was "vitally important."
Farmers emphasized that the cows are part of their families and each one has her own personality.
It now appears that, like us, cows want to be recognized not as cogs in a machine, but as individual beings. It makes them happy and more productive.
Somehow, this story awakens my sense of wonder at the world more than almost any other I have posted.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tamerlane's Revenge
Here is a timeline of events after his death.
February 19, 1405: Tamerlane dies. His body is returned to Samarkand and buried.
Timur's lavish tomb, the Gur-e Amir, still stands. 1895 photo.1405, after entombment: A sign is carved into his tomb which warns that whoever disturbed the tomb of Timur bring "demons of war onto his land."
June 19, 1941: Mikhail Gerasimov exhumes Timur's remains for study.
June 22, 1941: Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union.
[N.B. Timur was given an elaborate Islamic funeral and reburied in November 1942; the battle of Stalingrad ended in Russian victory not too long thereafter]
June 19, 1941: Mikhail Gerasimov exhumes Timur's remains for study.
June 22, 1941: Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union.
[N.B. Timur was given an elaborate Islamic funeral and reburied in November 1942; the battle of Stalingrad ended in Russian victory not too long thereafter]
Friday, January 16, 2009
Pittsburgh Mayor Changes Name to Support Team
Lest he curse the Steelers with bad luck in their upcoming game against the Ravens, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is temporarily changing his name. This prevents their opponents from having an unfair advantage.
It is unclear what he is temporarily changing his name to; Stephen J. Dubner of Freakonomics suggests Steelerstahl, which is even better because of its redundancy--'stahl' is German for steel.
Never say that names lack power.
It is unclear what he is temporarily changing his name to; Stephen J. Dubner of Freakonomics suggests Steelerstahl, which is even better because of its redundancy--'stahl' is German for steel.
Never say that names lack power.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Mythologizing JFK
This classic Internet film perfectly showcases and parodies what I was discussing below.
The following line sums up the mythologization of any president, and captures the spirit of what Obama has been doing:
Presidents must simultaneously deify and humanify themselves. JFK and Obama have succeeded on both counts, and this film takes that to its logical extreme.
I don't need to say anything else, except that if you haven't seen this video before, shame on you, and go watch the one about George Washington.
The following line sums up the mythologization of any president, and captures the spirit of what Obama has been doing:
"Even though I'm better than you, I am not."
Presidents must simultaneously deify and humanify themselves. JFK and Obama have succeeded on both counts, and this film takes that to its logical extreme.
I don't need to say anything else, except that if you haven't seen this video before, shame on you, and go watch the one about George Washington.
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