from TORn
This is one attack ad I think we can all get behind. If only we could figure out this woman’s impenetrable accent, that is.
Frodo for King!!!
Category Archives: Fans
elf/human missing link found
No, it’s totally, totally true and on scientific websites and everything, so suck it unbelievers! I bet you didn’t even clap for Tink!
Alert TORn!!!
It appears that elves may be descended from humans, which kinda throws a wrench into all my Tengmar-speaking friends’ philosophies (yes, I have friends who email only in the Elvish languages of Middle Earth, and further, will not email those who only email in the Elvish languages of the Undying Lands, and no, I am not kidding; where do you think I got this strong an opinion about fandom?). Still, I have candid shots of me frightening Viggo Mortensen, so they’ll cut me a fair bit of slack.
Dr. Charles’ science blog, which I am devastated to learn does not belong to a certain Dr. Charles Dexter Ward who, after all, graduated from his course of study prior to the founding of Yale, reports that preliminary findings indicate that the missing genetic link between elves and humans has been isolated.
It’s not as straightforward as some evidence would lead us to conclude.
Remember pixies, elves, and the wee folk of legend? They were generally small, musical characters with playful natures, given to singing and dancing. In the Scandinavian folklore, elves were so musically inspired that they could dance a man to death. Were these diminutive characters originally inspired by real humans who carried a genetic variation, namely a deletion of the elastin gene that produces humans of short stature, elfin features, and intense emotional responses to music?
NPR recently ran a story on Williams Syndrome. They profiled a young man who became an excellent drummer, but who struggled in many other developmental areas such as measured IQ, fine and gross motor skills, and attention. His mother noticed that he was unusually sensitive to music as an infant. For example, the child was moved to tears by a Brahms lullaby. He possessed many of the characteristic physical features of Williams Syndrome (WS) which usually include a small upturned nose, long philtrum (upper lip length), wide mouth, full lips, small chin, puffiness around the eyes, and a prominent “starburst” or white lacy pattern on the iris of the eyes.
*runs to mirror*
halloween costume of the year
There was a lot of competition for this year’s top spot. The Malcolm Gladwell, being Canadian, enjoyed home team advantage, as did the Alex P. Keaton. The Tara Reid, we imagine, was popular with a certain set (an unmatched, lopsided set), and looking around the Downtown Eastside it seemed clear to me that the most popular costumes by far were the Novelty Whore and the Hipster. Unfortunately, as this is the Downtown EastSide, nobody looked as if they were in costume; everyone here dresses like an extra from Hedwig and the Angry Inch anyway. Boys, if you’re dressed like Bing Crosby, you’re not in costume. Girls, if you’re dressed like the girl in a Benny Hill sketch and you’re on East Hastings, you’re not in costume, you’re in mufti (muff-ti?). But it certainly was amusing to watch the confused looks on all those women’s faces when the guys in the cars would try to strike a deal. That’ll teach you to wait for the light at Cordova and Columbia, missy!
But finally, we have a winner. Here, via BoingBoing, is the bestest little Halloween costume ever.
calling all bigots: new reality show casting call
It’s great to see reality shows getting away from covering bumbling, nanocephalic heiresses, curdled, past-their-sell-by-date rock stars, or gospel-trained yet soulless MOR singers and covering…well…you know…
reality.
Do you get nervous when you see a Muslim on an airplane? Have your opinions about Muslims changed since September 11? Do you have family or friends that get nervous around Muslims?
A NEW CBS SHOW SEEKS New York families who have traditional family values but are uneasy around Muslims.
Got to love the postscript: This is not a home makeover show. What would people have expected? “Watch as Cletus and Jolene slowly realize that the price of their new indoor pool is a mosque in the carport!”
Now that I would watch.
Elvira at 80
Stole this from the Stripper Blog, which I recommend for casual browsing, and yes, it’s SFW, regardless of what WordPress currently says about it.
raincoaster 