WILT: Montauk Monster

Recently, following a string of procrastination-borne 'related video' clicking (for I have no other reason to explain this discovery) I learned about the "Montauk Monster"

 

I admit, my interest was instantly piqued, and I decided to do a little more research.



The Montauk Monster is an aptly named beast that washed ashore in Montauk two and a half years ago.  The controversy and therefrom followup of this beast story emerged after the body "mysteriously" disappeared, and is now rumored to be peacefully resting in someone's freezer.

Since the original Montauk Monster was discovered, a slew of other reports have flooded in to amateur journalist with super cool name, Nicky Papers.  He has since created a thorough (albeit obsessive) blog dedicated to the beast.



A surprising amount of people have tried to (dis)prove this phenomenon, with relatively logical explanations.  Apparently the "beast" can easily be attributed to a host of medical anomalies-like mange or bloating after death.

Regardless, the Montauk Monster has become an undeniable meme, complete with plenty of youtube opining and photoshopping:



(If you're as intreagued as a one Nicky Papers on this subject, check out his site, Montauk-Monster.com

mini-WILT: David Bowie Only Gets More Awesome

Apparently David Bowie was asked to perform at some awards show in 2005 called "Fashion Rocks."

Today I learned that he refused to perform unless he could bring indie-supergroup The Arcade Fire, to which the producers replied "Ok...but you have to sing with them," to which David Bowie replied "Sure."

Resulting in this:

WILT: The Pledge of Allegiance

"I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

This was the original phrasing of the Pledge of Allegiance, as written in 1892 by christian socialist, Francis Bellamy. 

Another little known fact, "The Pledge" was firstly created as a marketing technique.

It was written for a popular children's magazine called The Youth's Companion for the special 400th anniversary of Columbus Day, in an attempt to sell flags and magazines complete with a subtle indoctrination of nationalism, free of charge.

"The Pledge" has undergone some serious alterations throughout history.  Prior to 1924, children would recite this oath to "my flag," and "the republic for which it stands" could have applied to any republic, Banana, for example.  And god had nothing to do with the matter until 1954 when the elite Catholic group Knights of Columbus refused to pledge without him.

Another interesting tidbit:  Before FDR made the good judgment call of implementing the "hand over your heart" technique for pledging allegiance in 1942 (the date is relevant here), the original "Bellamy Salute" looked a little something like this:

WILT: シェフの農園

Directly translated by a gaijin who's severely fallen behind on her Japanese studies (me) as: chef's farm garden, this product proves once again that the Japanese have got it right.



The Japanese innovative advertising company, Dentsu, calls this little number "Chef's Garden."

Intended specifically for restaurants, this machine can grow up to 60 heads of lettuce at a time...without any sunlight.

 

How do they do it?  It's actually pretty simple.  A dozen 40 watt light-bulbs incubate 5 levels of trays (this means that 5 different types of vegetation can grow at once) containing "nutri-culture" sponges that the plants grow from.



Costing about $90,000, Chef's kitchen can produce 20,000 heads of lettuce per year and Dentsu touts that the indoor farm will pay for itself (including energy and equipment costs) within 5 years of purchase.

I had hoped to end this post with a photo from my own trip to Tokyo, but it appears that I did not find it necessary to eternally capture the image of a vending machine in a foreign land.  Thankfully, my friends living there right now don't have the same discretion.



This is from a random gas station in the countryside, which gives you a pretty good idea of the prevalence of vending machines in Japan.  From my observation, I'd say that about every 20 feet, a typical Tokyoite could purchase cans of pretty much any beverage, from hot cappuccino (or the Japanese interpretation, at least) to cold beer.

(and, no.  I didn't see any vending machines with panties for sale)

WILT: Nociception

Today I learned about Nociception.  Never heard of it?  That's ok, neither had I...obviously.  However, before I go on, I have to say that this newfound knowledge led to one of the more romantic "things" I've recently learned.

Let's break it down.

Noci- comes from the Latin "Nocere," meaning: to injure (ever heard someone call an odor "noxious?")

-ception comes from the Latin "Capere," meaning: to receive (capisce?)


Therefore...Nociception refers to the function of the brain that receives pain.

This function occurs in "higher" species-those with complex nervous systems.  Science can pinpoint this in non-human animals by certain signifiers of pain: dilated pupils, increased pulse rate (raised blood pressure), perspiration, etc.

Some people can't feel pain, this is called CIPA (congenital insensitivity to pain and anhydrosis), they seldom live past age 25, for obvious reasons.



Now what on earth is romantic about this topic?

Nociception confirms the adage that says "it's all in your head."

The brain does not differentiate between physical and emotional distress.  This means that a broken arm triggers the same cognitive reaction as a broken heart.

WILT: Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome

Today I learned about Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome (Warning: not for the weak of stomach)


Lesche-Nyhan Syndrome, also called called Kelley Seegmiller Syndrome is a genetic disorder that results in the buildup of a specific kind of protein which leads to some very unique symptoms.

Aside from neural impariment, Lesche-Nhhan Syndrome can symptomatically sublimate in humans in the form of self mutilation starting at age 3.

This self mutilation usually begins with excessive biting of the lip.  (here's where it gets nasty)  There have been cases of Lesche-Hyhan Syndrome in which patients have literally chewed off their own lips.

 

In other news, I really hate image searching for medical disorders.

WILT: When Lightning Strikes

Today I learned what to do and how to predict when you're about to be struck by lightning.

(That is, if you happen to be at high altitude)

The first indicator of a lightning strike is sharp static shock, probably felt within your clothing because of, you guessed it, static electricity.

Next, you'll be able to smell the ozone building up in the atmosphere around you. When I asked my friend Peter (who was struck while climbing Mt. Adams) what ozone smells like, he responded, succinctly: "piss."

Finally (and this is the coolest part), you'll see "Napoleon's Glow," which is when anything metal nearby glows a shade of blue and sparks and jumps a little. When you see this, you've run out of time and hopefully have taken the following precautions:

1. Get rid of all metal things! Quick!
2. Spread out (if you're with other people) to avoid a splash charge (when the electromagnetic charge prefers to ground through you instead of a more resistant nearby object)
3. Get into "lightning position," which, at high altitude means lying on your stomach and bracing your neck. Don't lay down if you're at ground level, instead do this:

and may the (non-electromagnetic) force be with you.

WILT: Patriarch

Today I learned the etymology of the word Patriarch!

Turns out it's Greco-roman (appropriately, I might add) and comes from two words:

"Pater": Father

(think "paternity test," as in the audience's favorite segment of the Maury Povich show)

and

"Archi/Archon/Archein": To Rule 

(think "hierarchy" or "archdiocese," as in the old Catholic guys that tell people not to use condoms or hire sassy Vegas showgirls as nuns)

October the 4th, in the tenth year of the third millenium

This blog is firstly a semester-long assignment for my "Writing for the World Wide Web" class, and secondly a tribute to the end of my amazing ability to procrastinate on a project that I've meant to create for literally years.

Each post will be comprised of...you guessed it: what I learned that day.

We live in a global time, with the obscure knowledge of the world, once lost to locality, at our very fingertips.

The topics will be limitless-one day I might share what I learned in my academic endeavors as a Cultural Studies student. Another day it might be about some astrological phenomenon, and another day it could be about some long-forgotten bluegrass singer I discovered.

You get the idea, hope to see you again soon.