Interesting News Stories

QUOTE (PrincessCleo @ January 14, 2007 01:14 am)

Most expensive chocolate in world revealed to be total scam. I mean, the company's issued a statement that their $306/lb chocolate totally IS worth that much, but the article's claim that they basically buy Bonnat couverture, probably at $12/lb, melt it down into ridiculously simple squares, and resell it at a 1300% markup is pretty convincingly researched. The article also includes such foodie snark as

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How did the Bonnat stack up against the other Trinidads? Middle of the pack--ahead of Valrhona by a length, neck and neck with Pralus, with Amedei in the distance wearing flowers and having its picture taken with pretty girls.

Also, a PR sockpuppet shows up in the comments ("I was not employed by Noka when I posted those comments..."), just to top things off.

That was a really entertaining read. And now I want some chocolate.

Woman dies of water intoxication after partcipating in water con-*test*-('") for a Nintendo Wii.

On a lighter note: Parrot's Oratory Stuns Scientists.

That last link is interesting - African Grey parrots have astounding verbal capabilities. I've been following Irene Pepperberg's work with them for years. Her parrot, Alex, is learning phonics, after mastering colors, shapes, counting, and creating his own words ("cork nut" for almond, for instance):

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Thus we are trying to get him to sound out refrigerator letters, the same way one would train children on phonics. We were doing demos at the Media Lab for our corporate sponsors; we had a very small amount of time scheduled and the visitors wanted to see Alex work. So we put a number of differently colored letters on the tray that we use, put the tray in front of Alex, and asked, "Alex, what sound is blue?" He answers, "Ssss." It was an "s", so we say "Good birdie" and he replies, "Want a nut."

Well, I don't want him sitting there using our limited amount of time to eat a nut, so I tell him to wait, and I ask, "What sound is green?" Alex answers, "Ssshh." He's right, it's "sh," and we go through the routine again: "Good parrot." "Want a nut." "Alex, wait. What sound is orange?" "ch." "Good bird!" "Want a nut." We're going on and on and Alex is clearly getting more and more frustrated. He finally gets very slitty-eyed and he looks at me and states, "Want a nut. Nnn, uh, tuh."

It fascinates me. And I've seen videos of him doing it, in a clinical setting, so I don't doubt that it's real.

France asks to join Commonwealth. I know it was 50 years ago, but just Wow!

Are we sure we're not being punk'd because... really, how would that have worked?

It's really quite interesting. It was back when the French changed government every 6 months and their PM thought we'd back him against both Egypt and Algeria. His first thought was to make a United Kingdom of France and Britain. What's amazing is that the documents have been in the public domain for 20 year and nobody had noticed. And you'd think Eden (the British PM) would have rushed into the next Cabinet meeting yelling 'You won't believe what Mollet has just asked!' But fortunately for Mollet's reputation, such as it is, it seems to have been kept secret.

Mysterious Man with Katana Saves Officers

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However, they were outnumbered, and the criminals were armed with a hammer, knives and a metal chain.

One of them lunged at a policeman with his knife - but just as he did so, a mysterious do-gooder appeared from nowhere and attacked him with a samurai sword.

One of the burglars ran off, but was stopped by the stranger, who hit him on the arm with the sword.

HIRO! Is that you?

Embryo saved from Katrina is born (I'm not sure if that's how to phrase it, but the way Yahoo has it worded seems strange too. I guess there's not really a non-weird way to phrase it).

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Noah Benton Markham — 8 pounds, 6 1/2 ounces — was born to 32-year-old Rebekah Markham by Caesarean section after growing from an embryo that nearly defrosted in a sweltering hospital during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

I love that they named him Noah.

The last two posts are 100% awesome.

Skin-peel man sees record dream dashed

Ew. Also, EEEEEWWWWW.

You don't think it's touchingly poignant?

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Barry Kwok will be left with little to hold onto - other than memories, and an 8½ inch piece of skin in the shape of China

I don't understand why he can't just get the DNA -*test*-('")ed.
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First person convicted under CAN-SPAM act

One down, one million to go. Really, nothing proves how awful and counterproductive this law has been than that it's just now getting its first conviction. The law essentially legitimized most spam.