Top: an iconic sculpture, co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, which has come to define Penn campus.

Bottom: an advertisement for MasterCard at DC’s Union Station.

(Button photo credit: Marc Smith.)

OK, Metro, I know it ticks you off when I drunk-dial at all hours of the night, expecting you to just give me a ride. But really, am I this bad?

I recently rewatched this 2004 film in preparation for the sequel, which is my current Netflix DVD. Not that you need to watch one to get the other, as these are simple action films where the plot is secondary to the balletic violence.

But damn, this is the best balletic violence I’ve ever seen. Stars David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli are experts in parkour—for those of you unfamiliar, it’s what you saw during the opening chase scene in Quantum of Solace—and they do things in this film which makes you wonder what low-gravity planet they filmed it on.

Beyond that, this is an over-the-top, ridiculous film and it is completely self-aware of this fact. A very enjoyable watch after a long day, no brainpower necessary.

Confessions of a Tea Party Casualty

Interesting interview in Mother Jones with a rock-ribbed conservative House member who got completely blown out of his primary by a Tea Partier.

Double-decker buses, without the lower deck

A very cool idea which, I’m willing to bet, will never happen here.

Julia Sweeney on sex ed

Absolutely hysterical.

Looney Tunes returns in CGI

This makes me happy.

Margaret Cho: I’m Sorry

Apparently, my mood today is “somewhat twisted.”

Brainwave computer interface, for cheap

Live demo of a brainwave computer interface, end user cost of a few hundred dollars. Trainable in eight seconds.

Infographic: Mega Shark

A large number of my friends have waxed rhapsodic over that fine piece of filmic literature, Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus. I have not yet seen it, but on the theory that everyone needs to know what the launch speed of an ocean-going shark needs to be in order to take down a commercial plane, I hereby link to this explanatory graphic.

Addendum: The movie stars Debbie Gibson, and apparently is being followed up by Mega Python vs. Gatoroid.

Addendum, part the second: This really needs to reach a wider audience.

Ecology: A world without mosquitoes

Surprisingly, there’s a scientific debate going on as to whether we should commit genocide against mosquitos—or at least, against the several hundred species (out of 3,500) which bite humans.

Amazing dance session at TED

I watched maybe 10 seconds of this via streaming video before I stopped it and grabbed the HD download from iTunes, which you can grab here.

Actress Jodie Fisher at center of HP harassment claim

Thirty years later, and “I did it to impress Jodie Fisher” remain the seven most dangerous words in the English language.

Secrets of the New Media Douchebags

Yes, you too can be a success on the web, if only you drop out of high school in the middle of 10th grade.

1966 La Choy Muppets Ad

Jim Henson as a Mad Man. Kermit in his initial role as Beaker (apparently before his promotion). Muppets with live flamethrowers. An adult woman reacting the way a normal human being would to an eight-foot Muppet (fear for her life). This is pure genius.

Also, the concept of 1,200 cub scouts is terrifying.

Better.

Interesting thoughts from Merlin Mann on the quality of web content, and the culture it creates.

Daniel Kahneman: The riddle of experience vs. memory

A fascinating ontological rabbit hole concerning happiness and memory.

Hope to never meet the guy who clicked it.

I’ve received a lot of spam in my lifetime, but still, this one was just jaw-dropping.