The Sunday Funnies

The first video is an Onion video that has a slightly unnerving twist near the end, and the twist is also the punchline.

The second is a clip from the BBC series The Trip, which I really liked. It is available as a movie as well, which I take it is just a edited and shortened version of the episodes.

Next is Eric Clapton showing off his guitar skills. Turns out, he plays like he only picked up a guitar for the first time last week.

Then a comic strip with the most hardcore game of tic-tac-toe ever.

Lastly is Ze Frank telling us some true facts about the angler fish; including the doomed male angler fish.

Shoeprint: the place to get your shoes printed

I have heard scraps and passing remarks about 3D printing, but I never took it very seriously. I assumed the technology was impractical and probably not as impressive as it sounded. What I didn't realize was that people have been working on 3D printers for two decades now and there are even consumer models available:

Books

Another list; this time a list of books I like. In no particular order, and certainly not all-inclusive:

The Republic

I came across this video where professor Larry Lessig of Harvard speaks about what he thinks is the core problem with the US republic; basically, money. It is an interesting talk if this sort of thing floats your boat. If you don't have the hour to spare, here is an article that discusses the same ideas:

Free Will

This is another head-scratcher, and one that can get some backs up. Because there are few things we want more than to believe that we have volition and act of our own free-will. But not everyone takes this for granted - there are some who believe that everything is determined, and we are at the mercy of untold causes. It's enough to make you think.

Rome Sweet Rome

It all started with a question on reddit:

"Could I destroy the entire Roman Empire during the reign of Augustus if I traveled back in time with a modern U.S. Marine infantry battalion or MEU?"

This started a discussion and attracted many readers, including Warner Bros who are now in the process of developing a movie based on this premise.

Reddit:
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/k067x/could_i_destroy_the_entire_roman_empire_during/
http://www.reddit.com/r/RomeSweetRome/

Variety's article:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118064641/

The Gambler's Fallacy

You're at a Roulette table, and no matter what you do you can't seem to catch a break; Lady Luck has left the building. But there is something you've noticed: for the last 8 turns in a row the ball has come to rest on black. Now you have an edge on luck, you think, feeling an almost scientific certainty that the chances of the next throw landing on red are very high. I mean, what are the chances of landing on black 9 times in a row? You put all your money on red....