TGIS

Worst. Cruise. Ever. Thank God for those Norwegians.

Captain Arnvind Hansen helped save about 150 people after an Arctic cruise ship struck ice, earning himself a Nordic-hero spot among the hallowed ranks of Henrik Ibsen, Edvard Munch, and the singer of Aqua.

The tour operator, by the way, is a Toronto-based company. Now taking bets on the direction of their earnings for fiscal year 2008.


Stem Wars: A New Hope. Dr. James Thomson, at the University of Wisconsin, was one of the original pioneers of extracting stem cells from human embryos.

Pro: Because of their unlimited abilities to grow and transform into specialized cells, embryonic stem cells could make a world of difference in regenerative medicine. Con: No more human embryo.

Now, Dr. Thomson goes harder better faster stronger with his new success in turning human skills cells into, effectively, embryonic stem cells. No embryos required.

Now with the new technique, which involves adding just four genes to ordinary adult skin cells, it will not be long, he says, before the stem cell wars are a distant memory. “A decade from now, this will be just a funny historical footnote,” Dr. Thomson said in the interview.

Absolutely phenomenal progress, but we'll have to see about the footnote thing.


BBC Poll reveals what we've all been thinking. I know you've been thinking it too.

U2 has made many contributions to music, African kids, and tinted sunglasses, but their lyrics (not unlike their first names) sound cool until you pay attention and realize they're lame.
But on the poll, Worst Pop Lyrics, U2 doesn't even make it past #5, eclipsed by gems such as

I'm as serious as cancer When I say rhythm is a dancer
and
I don't want to see a ghost
It's the sight that I fear most
I'd rather have a piece of toast


France has finally passed long-awaited new legislation banning public smoking.
Cafes, nightclubs and restaurants are to be given until January 2008 to adapt, said Dominique de Villepin.
If they adapt as well as nightclubs typically "adapt" to the banning of substances, they'll really be in great shape.

Kasparov got checked. Apparently, when you spend decades talking shit about the Kremlin, good things don't happen to you. It seems the Russian government is sensitive. Who knew!


Fun Fact

The Bible, the world's best-selling book, is also ironically the world's most shoplifted book.
Salvation comes with a five-finger discount.