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What does English sound like to foreign ears?
by Robert Lamb | June 14, 2011
We’ve all heard examples of fake Chinese or German from speakers who lack familiarity with either language. While typically cringe-worthy, these examples do raise interesting questions regarding our own language. What does English sound like to non-English speakers? After more than 40 years, Adriano Celentano’s “Prisencolinensinainciusol” remains one of the most illuminating examples. Prepare to rock out and sorta kinda rap with an Italian comedian:
A New York Times article that’s been getting wide circulation asks one obvious question in light Rep. Anthony Weiner’s sexting scandal: why aren’t female politicians getting caught in sex scandals as well? Press conferences featuring male politicians apologizing to country and family for infidelities (the remorse only comes after the embarrassing reveal, of course) have become nearly routine events, which indicates that women are either way savvier at conducting illicit sexual activity, they aren’t interested in taking the risk, or they just don’t have the time.
One of my favorite aspects of the AMC runaway hit “The Walking Dead” is the way it lovingly showcases its Atlanta setting. I got a serious kick out of seeing the city — street signs and all — so prominently displayed throughout the show’s first season and I just about fell off my couch when I learned that one of last season’s climactic moments was filmed mere minutes from my apartment. So you know I was giddy when I read an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution highlighting the return of “The Walking Dead” to my neighborhood.
That’s right, the age of the biological laser is upon us. But before you let your mind run wild with visions of crazy-awesome bioweapon arms and Cyclops laser blasts, we should probably break down exactly what all this is about. And if that prospect turns you off, just bear in mind that this involves a fusion of human and jellyfish bio material. It’s a good day to be a mad science fan. As reported over at Nature News, a Harvard Medical School team pulled this off through the use of enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) from bioluminescent jellyfish. See, a laser requires what’s called a gain medium (or lensing medium) to amplify light from an external source, in addition to an optical cavity of mirrors.
Prior to my recent visit to the World Science Festival, I had only heard whispers of the mysterious Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant in New York’s East Village. Now I have experienced it for myself and must dedicate my remaining years to deciphering what I witnessed. The rumors told of twin Indian restaurants, their doors opposed atop a flight of stairs. Word also had it that highly aggressive barkers from each restaurant worked the sidewalk, fighting like hyenas over each passing potential customer. Let’s go inside and solve the cosmic mystery.
If you’re short on cash but want to go on a dinner date with someone, here’s a money-saving tip: Don’t ask out any stone cold foxes. Instead stick with someone who’s attractive enough, that way he or she won’t be evolutionarily inclined to expect a free meal. This (admittedly questionable) advice is based on Science & Data, too, so don’t hate the blogger — i.e. me — hate the evolutionary biology.
Will the bounty from the Bradley Manning WikiLeaks cables ever end? The New York Times has a pretty awesome article from Sunday about shadow pathways to the Internet that the U.S. government is funding and supporting. The concept is pretty sweet, though I don’t feel remotely that I understand it on any technical level.
Young adult fiction is really popular these days, with teens and adults alike. I’ve seen so many grown-ups reading the “Twilight” series that it’s easy to forget that the saga was written for high schoolers. The same goes for the “Hunger Games” trilogy and the “Harry Potter” series. However, a recent Wall Street Journal article reminded me of something else these three wildly popular book series share — something that some would prefer stay hidden.
Yesterday, I was watching this pretty little video of the Georgia Aquarium when the weedy sea dragon drifted into cute-view. It’s in the seahorse family (Sygnathidae), only it looks weedier, and more dragonlike than horselike. Look at it’s snout.
Also, sea dragon males are super supportive and “give birth” to the sea dragon babies.
The fact that I even labeled this a “female” profession is a major indicator of how pigeonholed and stereotyped it has been, arguably for the duration of its existence. What, pray tell, is this most-stereotyped lady job? The secretary, or administrative assistant in today’s office parlance.
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