See three more videos by Kirsten Lepore
here.
In 2006 scientists grew barley on the International Space Station as part of an experiment to determine whether crops can survive in space (and one day feed astronauts living up there).
They found that "the barley showed almost no ill effects from growing in microgravity or radiation. The scientists found only one enzyme increased from slight oxygen deprivation, but the plants did well." Back on Earth Sapporo recently brewed 100 bottles of "Space Beer" from the barley.
An increase of only one enzyme? This must be disappointing news to the Chinese, who for decades have been blasting seeds and sperm into space, in the theory that the combination of cosmic radiation and microgravity will produce mutations that will yield larger, stronger varieties. They even have a Center for Space Breeding. I think they've been watching too many 1950's science-fiction movies.
Back in 2007 a purple
"space potato" grown from seeds taken onboard the Shenzhou IV space mission were all the rage in Shanghai restaurants. (Reportedly they tasted more "glutinous" than normal potatoes.)
And in 2005, as I've noted before, there were reports the Chinese had carried
pig sperm into space, in the hope of breeding larger, tastier pigs.
As we all prepare for our imminent minimum-wage jobs during the economic meltdown, let us study how to perform them to the best of our abilities, with a cheerful smile. Consider the job of "supermarket checker," circa 1965.
Who needs Iron Man or The Dark Knight, when you can watch Snap, Crackle and Pop battle their evil counterparts?
[From
Life magazine for September 30 1940.]
You know what your problem is? Not enough yeast. I suggest increasing your beer intake.
[From
Life magazine for March 5 1956.]
"Dig this crazy mixed-up ice cream!" "Man, it's real cool!"
Yeah, because beatniks like
Maynard G. Krebs eat a lot of ice cream!
[From
Life magazine for September 30 1940.]
What kind of kids would a shellfish and a bottle have, and how would they go about reproducing?
Cascadian Farm sells frozen organic broccoli florets. That's not particularly unusual.
But
look closer. Can you see the tiny disembodied heads floating amidst the broccoli bits?
When
contacted about it, Cascadian Farms offered this reply:
The tradition of hiding names or faces on Cascadian Farm packaging began over a dozen years ago. It was unspoken tribute by the package design department to the friends & family of Cascadian Farm. The faces won’t be included on our redesigned packaging.
Continuing the "overpriced stuff" theme that I began in a
previous post, how much would you be willing to pay for this meal?
What you get -- Dinner at
Masa, a sushi restaurant in NY City. From
Wikipedia:
Reservations for the 26 available seats are taken three weeks in advance. Chef Masa prepares the menu himself, often including seasonal ingredients. He uses many exotic ingredients, such as truffles and Kobe beef; Most of the fish are flown in from Japan. Chef Masa can be seen working behind the bar and will sometimes serve the food as well.
There's no menu to order from. You get whatever you're served.
The cost: It's a fixed price of $400 per person, to which a 20% tip is automatically added. Then there's tax. So you're looking at a minimum of $513 per person. If you want anything to drink, be prepared to pay extra.
Via J-Walk, the receipt of a recent Masa diner, posted on
Flickr. Seriously, if you're going to splurge by going there, why ruin the meal by getting a Diet Coke? Just ask for water.