Author: Nathan Campbell

Trolley car

A US student rigged up a shopping trolley with golf buggy parts and produced this…

It works. I don’t recommend watching the whole eight minutes of this video. But you can read about the stuff he used here…

Bacon and beer. Two food groups. Two concepts. Two things that go together. Together, traditionally, in the same way that milk goes with cereal. But together, in this post, in the same way that cocoa goes with rice bubbles…

I thought bacon jam was the pinnacle of culinary innovation, and then Brooklyn Brewery is putting together a special brew…

“It’s a special malt that was smoked in the same room with some of the bacon made by the legendary Allan Benton. “It’s almost terrifying how much the malt smells like bacon,” Mr. Oliver said.

He plans to brew about 15 gallons of barleywine with that malt. In the meantime, he’s been infusing a brown ale with the flavor of Benton’s bacon fat through a technique known as “fat washing.” Oh, and the bacon-fat-infused ale was also aged in bourbon barrels, because bourbon and bacon go together like, um, beer and bacon.

Eventually, the barleywine with the bacon-smoked malt and the bourbon-aged, bacon-fat-infused ale would be blended to create one monstrously bizarre beer.

Sounds delicious. Unfortunately it probably won’t ever be made available for purchase…

“Unfortunately, the answer is nyet. Brooklyn Brewery made 21 cases of Reinschweinsgebot for special events, which isn’t enough for even limited commercial distribution. And don’t expect it to go wide anytime soon. Oliver tells us that “the technique we used — which comes originally out of the perfume industry — involves transferring an aroma from a fat to a liquid without actually transferring the fat itself. Then to completely remove the fat and have none left in the liquid, it was very tricky.” However, he says he’s open to finding a way to simplify the process so that plebeians can one day enjoy bacon beer, too. Fingers crossed.”

Siege mentality

It’s funny that all theists immediately assume atheists have it in for their brand of belief in particular.

It’s like commenters who assume that every slur or use of the word “you” is directed at them personally…

There’s a pretty funny opinion piece in the Age from a Catholic who thinks that their rock solid beliefs make them a target for the new atheists. It’s worth a read. I like this quote.

“For some reason, contemporary Australian atheism seems to consider itself terribly funny. Its proponents only have to wheel out one of the age-old religious libels to lose control of their bladders. To outsiders, of course, it is a bit like watching a giggling incontinent drunk at a party. This is not to say that believers – and perhaps especially Catholics – do not get seriously irritated by atheists. They do, but not because atheists are fearfully clever or Wildely funny.”

Jeff posted this this morning, so I’ll give him the kudos – but my dad also emailed it to me to read. Keep the tips coming people…

Stuff “Christ Followers” like…

On the one hand these videos are really funny and poke legitimate fun at “bumper sticker” Christian sub-culture.

On the other hand, they’re pretty dumb and based on the pursuit of the Holy Grail of Christian authenticity. The “Christ Follower” totally listens to U2… he even says so… in the third video.

Both extremes are dumb… just as they are when it comes to the Mac v PC ads being spoofed – as this SMH article so humourously points out…

I hope the video is actually mocking both ideas – but I get the impression it’s pushing people to define themselves as “Christ followers” rather than Christians, as though the label is so loaded with negative ideas that it needs replacing. I end up feeling just as frustrated by both of them.

When you boil it down, both Macs and PCs are computers, and both the characters in these videos are sinners forgiven through the work of Jesus.

Besides there’s nothing more fake than the relentless pursuit of authenticity.

Design brief

I’m thinking of changing my blog design again to add a little colour and kill some clutter.

Anything you want to see scrapped?

Anything you think I should keep?

Speak now or hold your peace until I get bored again.

Sad irony

Stories about Muslim fathers killing, wounding, or hurting their children because they are straying from Islamic teaching are sad.

Here’s another one.

It’s particularly sad because the father punishes his daughter for becoming too westernised by running her over with a Jeep.

I don’t think there’s a car that is more American than a jeep. I don’t know what possesses a father to act this way towards an unbelieving child.

This is why people think religion is dangerous.

Dawkins in Brisbane

I’m going to this (in March next year. You should come too. Tickets are $15-$18. I’m sitting in the balcony.

Here’s the blurb…

“Britain’s greatest science writer, Richard Dawkins, comprehensively rebuts the creationists by pulling together the incontrovertible evidence for evolution.”

One can only wonder what all the other science writers in the United Kingdom think of such a bold claim. It doesn’t even say “arguably” the greatest science writer.

YouTube Tuesday: Music to my ears

It’s Tuesday. Which means it’s time for another round of YouTube Tuesday. And another chance for you to share your favourite videos in the comments.

Here’s my contribution.

If you read this and you don’t post your own video in the comments (using the little youtube link on the top right of the comment box (you just have to post the URL to the video not the embed code)) it’s like I’ve put my hand up for a high five and you’ve left me hanging. Not cool.

An ode to an un-fan

Just look, I’ve got one less Facebook fan today;
Oh, I closed my eyes, and they slipped away.
Except I know not where they’ve gone, or what I’ve done,

Why, at this rate in a month there’ll be none.
Every time I check the stats it fills my heart with grief,
Entering the first step denial and disbelief.

In Kübler-Ross the next phase is anger.
Such rage I feel, I’d swap it for a sanger.

Gads, sir, there. I’m onto bargaining. Why bother then with all these blues.
At the end of the day, I still have youse.
Yet still, somehow, you’d make my happy by clicking here, go on. Just add me.

Map with character

If you thought yesterday’s movie map was confusing here’s a breath of fresh air from XKCD.

It tracks character arcs and interactions in a bunch of popular movies. And two I’ve never watched or heard of.

Sinnercism

I thought of a new word at lunch time.

Sinnercism: n

An attitude assuming that another is behaving sinfully.

Sinnercal: adj.

Believing that another is intending to, or about to, act sinfully.

Hedgehogging your bets

I received a response today for my letter to the Prime Minister regarding Pygmy Hedgehogs.

It seems that in order to get the silly legislation that bans their import overturned I must present a compelling scientific case.

Hankinson, Kerrie

Dear Nathan

Thank you for your email to the Prime Minister regarding importation of the Pygmy Hedgehog as a pet into Australia. The species is currently prohibited for import as it is not on the list of specimens taken as suitable for import into Australia, or the live import list, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Following are links to relevant information about the live import list:

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/lists/index.html

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/lists/import/index.html

Anyone may apply to amend the live import list. Please refer to the following pages for information:

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/lists/import/amend/index.html

However it should be noted that this is a very rigorous process, and requires a full environmental assessment of a species, based on specific Terms of Reference at a minimum. The report is to be written in a scientific style. An environmental consultant may be employed to do this, though the applicant must pay for this, and the Department cannot recommend consultants. Furthermore, lodging an application does not guarantee that a species will be added to the live import list.

Please read the information on the above web pages, particularly the guidelines to what is required in the report. If you have any further questions relating to this matter please contact me.

Kind Regards

Kerrie

Now. I know at least one reader who is probably qualified to write such a missive. Yes, I’m looking at you Miss Ecologist/zoologist turned editor… and Ben could put together some compelling pictures…

In the meantime I sent this response to Peter Garrett.

Dear Peter,

Hi. You don’t know me, but I am one of the legions of fans who think you make a better politician than rock star.

While Midnight Oil are a national icon, they were just not my cup of tea (white with no sugar, my mum always said if you need to add sugar to your tea you’re not mature enough to drink it – do you take sugar in your tea? Do you even drink tea? You look more like an energy drink drinker)…

I write to you to commend to you a member of staff in your department. I have attached an email I received from Kerrie Hankinson below.

I wrote a letter (it was an email actually) a week ago commending the notion of importing pygmy hedgehogs to Australia. My wife wants one for a pet.

Kerrie has provided very helpful information and advice and I look forward to submitting my submission to your office for consideration.

My family has a long and successful track record of importing animals into Australia. Animals that have metaphorically changed the landscape of Australian farming. My great-great-grandfather, or possibly great-great-great-grandfather, was one of the men who brought Brahman cows into the country. This is my family’s legacy, our claim to fame, perhaps one day people will look back at your bold and courageous decision to allow the importation of pygmy hedgehogs as a similar moment.

I have a dream that one day the Pygmy Hedgehog will replace the domestic cat in households around Australia. I hate cats. Cats kill birds and other native Australian animals. The replacement of cats with hedgehogs can only be a good thing for the environment.

I took a survey of cat owners in my office, and amongst my friends (sample size 16), and most said they would destroy their cats in order to own a hedgehog.

Hedgehogs are a suitable replacement because they have a smaller environmental footprint than cats. They have a smaller physical footprint too, and are much less likely to hunt our animals as prey. They also eat cat food so there will only be a minimal economic impact on cat food manufacturers.

I wonder if, on the basis of this research and my family’s history as animal importers, you might wave the need for my application to be “scientific” in nature. I am pursuing this avenue as a private citizen who wants to give his wife a present rather than as someone with commercial imperatives. I don’t like the idea of paying a scientist to do this research.

My wife likes pets. We have two pet turtles. There names are Franklin and Roosevelt. We have properly issued EPA permits for these pets, and I think a similarly seamless permit process would easily allow the keeping of these hedgehogs as pets without any negative implications for the environment.

I think there’s also an imperative from your “Arts” portfolio to allow these hedgehogs to be imported. Every artist needs a muse, and these hedgehogs would be perfect. I’ve read that Spike Jonze takes his inspiration from a hedgehog, but that was on a blog so it’s probably not true. At the very least, Sonic the Hedgehog is a hedgehog, though he’s blue and not a pygmy…

It’s worth thinking about.

To conclude I write you this verse… I hope it’s not a breach of your copyright…

The time has come
a fact’s a fact
Echidnas are cool,
hedgehogs the new black

How can we dance when our birds keep squirming
how do we sleep while our cats keep murd’ring

Cats keep killing the cockatoos
from Kintore East to Yuendemu
While pygmy hedgehogs live and breathes
they’re cute and don’t have fleas

I’m clearly not a songwriter, and the metre of this is out a beat or two – but you get my point. I think music can be a powerful tool to change people’s minds and the policy of governments. Wouldn’t you agree?

Best Regards

Nathan Campbell