Misery, email comprehension, year 2000, einstein

Hi there! Here's a random variety of things:

• 7 Reasons the 21st Century is Making You Miserable - an article from Cracked.com that has some nice insights and food for thought (and some not suitable for work/rated R language).
• From that article, I also linked over to this one about why emails are so easily misunderstood. Another interesting one that puts a pretty low rate of actually comprehending emails correctly.
• Paleo-Future has another good find with these 1910 French postcards that depicted what life in the year 2000 would be like.
• Check out this amazing speedpainting of Albert Einstein (4 hours condensed to 3.5 minutes).
  

Burgers, ads, time, teens, tech

Hello,
Here are some quick links for you today:

• McDonald's tests bigger burger, the Angus Third Pounder. I sure hope they make a Double Third Pounder.
• Subliminal Ads shown to work, or "wasn't this known years ago?". Liminal ads however are more effective - READ BRIAN'S BLOG DAILY.
• Scientists say you can't travel back in time. What a buzzkill! I'll show them! I'll go back and beat them up in high school.
• 73 percent of today's youth ineligible for the Army because they are “are morally, intellectually or physically” unfit for service. Ah, that's reassuring.
• Top 5 future technologies. What? Time travel isn't on the list? I particularly liked the sketch understanding system and touch hardware. Now only if they'd invent robot replacements for today's unfit youth.
  

Anna Nicole! Britney! Idiots! Copernicus!

Hello,
A little warmer here, but with some more snow now. This weekend is giving a little warmth that is starting to hint at spring. (Maybe that groundhog was right after all!)

Anna Nicole, Anna Nicole, Anna Nicole. Argh! I ran across this article about how television is failing the public because of the obsession on non-news disguised as important news. I could not agree with this more. It is unbelievable how her death has taken more air time than President Ford's death, or even the North Korean six party talks, the "Scooter" Lewis Libby trial, Iranian nuclear news, bombs in Thailand, or anything else that is, well, news.

I just saw the movie Idiocracy this weekend. It deals with a man frozen until the year 2505 where he wakes to find society is so dumbed down due to celebrity worship, commercialization, mass media/entertainment, and larger number of children from lower intelligence families. While it was mainly a dumb comedy (and a pretty funny one at that), there was a hint of horror there because you can really see things moving that way. I recommend the movie, but be aware there is a high amount of very bad language and sexual and bathroom humor. But it fits in with the analysis of...

...oh wait! There's new Britney news! Hooray! Let's see what top celebrity psychiatrists say about her bald headed, rehabbin', tattooin', partying like she's crazy lifestyle! We need a replacement when this Anna Nicole stuff dies down anyway!

Other bits:

• A different kind of crazy: Texas Republican Chairman Warren Chisum believes the earth stands still and the sun rotates around it. And he's distributing memos to legislators pitching this knowledge.
• A bit of fun: the Line Rider is a fun little online diversion. Give it a try and check out some of the saved movies.