The history of apocalyptic novels since 1900 suggests we're all going to die in more and more creative ways.

A Tumblr account called ToastyStats performs "fandom statistical analyses," and they've created a bar chart representing the history of what every apocalyptic novel from 1900 focused on as humanity's annihilation.

And what does the chart show? Tastes have changed drastically, and in more unique ways.

In 1900, people were paranoid by supernatural beings and the sun just gobbling us up. Disease reached its dominant peak in the 1910s.

War, on the other hand--what is it good for? Apparently not apocalyptic fiction, which has seen the topic steadily decline since its peak in the pre-World War II 1930s.

But what's gaining traction today? Zombies are on the rise (((rim-shot)))!

But not if Rick Grimes has anything to say about it.



Chart: ToastyStats Tumblr

Pi Day. Not as good as Pie Day.

Today is National Pi Day, celebrating everything wonderful about the mathematical constant of 3.14.

It originated in 1988 when a gentleman named Larry Shaw from San Francisco's Exploratorium used March 14th as a day to create homages to pi. Because chatting about 3.14 gets dry pretty quickly, even the Wikipedia page regarding Pi Day mentions celebrations including pie eating, with a photo of Shaw standing beside an array of baked goods.

The idea gained steam (the holiday, not the tasty deliciousness), as scientists and mathematicians--professional, aspiring, and amateur alike--held celebrations around the country. This culminated in 2009 with the U.S. House of Representatives passing a non-binding resolution (H.RES 224) recognizing March 14th as National Pi Day.

The bill's actual language states at one point:

[...] Whereas, according to the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) survey done by the National Center for Education Statistics, American children in the 4th and 8th grade were outperformed by students in other countries including Taiwan, Singapore, Russia, England, South Korea, Latvia, and Japan;[...]

Japan is acceptable. But Latvia? That's when Congress takes note.

Foxnews: "Exclusive: Wikipedia ignores solution to rampant porn problem."

Wikipedia is sexier than anyone imagined.

The brouhaha conjured up by FoxNews is that Wikipedia has entries on everything--and everything means everything, even the hubba-hubba variety--which FoxNews wants censored. They claim it's to protect children and "unsuspecting web surfers."

Hopefully this same technology can protect me from unsuspectingly watching Bill O'Reilly.

Head fissure #11

The longest name of a place in America is Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, or Lake Chaubunagungamaug for short, in Webster, MA, on the border with Connecticut.

Its name comes from the Nipmuc, an Algonquin language. It means "Fishing Place at the Boundaries-- Neutral Meeting Place."

The name is apparently misspelled on a sign bordering Connecticut.

This is because folks from Connecticut hate literacy. We all know this.

Head fissure #8

Euouae is the longest word in the English language which is made up entirely of vowels. And, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it also holds the record for most consecutive vowels anywhere in a word.

Of course, euouae is actually just a mnemonic device from medieval times. Don't be picky though.

Head fissure #7

The longest word with no repeated letters is dermatoglyphics. (Get that prefix crap out of her, fool! We ain't counting that!) Dermatoglyphics is better known as the study of fingerprints.

I just fingerprinted your mind with knowledge.

Well, okay then, if you say so...

The word honorificabilitudinitatibus--which, defined, means the state of being able to achieve honors--is the longest word in the English language where the letters alternate between consonants and vowels.

That sound you hear inside your head is your mind being blown.

Britannica now the Betamax of encyclopedias.

Sad news today for you old souls out there: Encyclopedia Britannica is going off to the Great Big Book Repository in the Sky.

The publishers of the 200 year old stalwart announced they're ceasing all future print editions of their encyclopedia, focusing instead on their internet-based brand. Que sera, sera.

In other news, I edit Wikipedia pages for poor grammar. Lay off the semicolon, people. It's not the binky of punctuation.

Your effort on that Wikipedia page for REO Speedwagon has been a little lackluster these days.

So says Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales*, who claims his darling child is not replenishing its editor ranks nearly as much as it should.

Is Wikipedia dying? Is there disinterest? Why do I look so good in a tuxedo? Can my baby blue eyes look deep inside your soul? These are questions for other people to answer. Possibly in the form of a Wikipedia page.




* "Jimmy Wales" sounds like the name of some Scottish mobster with a penchant for Siamese cats and trafficking heroin. Or maybe a 1970's rock guitarist. Sadly, the man in the above photo can't be either of those because neither would be seen in a white-dotted olive green sweater with bacon neck.

Wikipedia = The Great Pyramids.

At least that's what Wikipedia's founder, Jimmy Wales, is trying to have the Unesco World Heritage List recognize. According to The New York Times, Mr. Wales thinks Wikipedia is on par with the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Wall of China, and anything else from ancient history that starts with Great. The World Heritage List is limited to things--historical sites, really--that "represent a masterpiece of human creative genius." That rather open-to-interpretation definition is what Jimmy boy is using to get Wikipedia included.

And no one could blame him if they've seen the Lord of the Rings film entry on Wikipedia. Not only is it alarmingly complete, it's like a cyberspace chastity belt for its contributors.