This confusing discussion of religion, love, lust and chocolate, comes from an online ghanaian newspaper. It is simply too good to hide away in my forum thread of news from Ghana.
(<- This picture does not show the lady in question, by the way.) picked by rambler 3 months ago

Update on this story posted earlier.

(Image not from this actual wreck.) picked by rambler 3 months ago

Carbonados, black carbon formations that resemble diamonds, have been shown to have a chemical spectrum that indicates they originated before the formation of the Earth; their high hydrogen content suggests they are from a star-like environment.
... a gift from the gods? picked by rambler 3 months ago

After being pretty impressed by Hans Rosling's lecture here , I've looked around gapminder.org to find this video (one year younger) with even more animated and fun graphics, and with even better presentation by Rosling. Keep looking until the end, when the seemingly impossible becomes possible.
There is hope for the world when there are passionate people like this around... picked by rambler 3 months ago

29 June 3123 BC starts with a bang for the inhabitants of Koefel, and ends badly for Sodom and Gomorrah's people too.
... or so says an Assyrian clay tablet, apparently.

<--- this picture is not of the actual event, btw. picked by rambler 3 months ago

Tax-filing assistance in a bar - what a great idea! And the drinks may even be tax-deductable!
(I can't believe that I couldn't find this on plime already, searched under "beer", "tax", etc., but no success.) picked by rambler 3 months ago

Are you a digital nomad? A techno-Bedouin? Astronaut or hermit crab? Check it out here with the aid of The Economist. picked by rambler 4 months ago

"Virtual palaeontology"..."fossil scientists at the cutting edge".
Good one from The Economist, yesterday. picked by rambler 4 months ago

Attempt to prohibit (from a court in Hawaii) attempts to make a mini black hole at CERN in Europe.
Interesting article in The Economist.
<-- This picture is NOT of a black hole, as you might have guessed, but I couldn't find a picture of strange guys in a courtroom in Hawaii... picked by rambler 4 months ago

One of Australia’s most outspoken critics of the global warming theorists – particularly scientists who jumped on the political bandwagon – told a conference in Australia that carbon dioxide has not influenced global climate change.
This guy really belongs in the plimespace - if not only for his readiness to be controversial and outspoken, then at least for his name! picked by rambler 4 months ago

Quarrelling Kenyan leaders reach an accord. Maybe the jury is still out, but it is nice to at least see a glimmer of hope from Kenya. picked by rambler 5 months ago

I'm by no means ignoring or diminishing the human cost of this war, but this article has brought home to me the incredible economic cost of the war. It was perhaps very difficult to estimate better beforehand, but it amazes me that the ongoing costs are so obfuscated (hidden?) today. A long article, but it reads quite well. picked by rambler 5 months ago

The Florida Board of Education officially upheld evolution yesterday.
Well, sort of... picked by rambler 5 months ago

[Thai] police plan to swoop on motels, malls and parks to ensure youths behave themselves on the "Day of Love". picked by rambler 5 months ago

Singapore's government is playing Cupid, using Valentine's Day to promote romance and marriage.

OK, maybe this doesn't belong ONLY in the "sex" category... picked by rambler 5 months ago

Hungry for oil and minerals, India and China have become Africa's new colonialists, exploiting the world's poorest continent in the same way as its old European masters, billionaire financier George Soros said on Tuesday. ... while the (old) colonial powers are recognising past mistakes and arguing for more accountability and democracy.There's even an argument here for more investment in African ... read full post picked by rambler 6 months ago

Many of you will no doubt see this CNN story elsewhere, but I just couldn't let it slip away without comment. I think their biggest asset, that ensured their survival, was the human spirit - to never give up! picked by rambler 6 months ago

It appears our easygoing days are numbered... picked by rambler 6 months ago

First reported here yesterday. It doesn't seem fair that even the earth is "punishing" this part of the continent that is already enduring so much human suffering. Let's hope this sort of thing will lead people to stop their self-induced, mutual suffering, by working together to alleviate earthquake damage. History, unfortunately, indicates that this is unlikely to happen... picked by rambler 6 months ago

Two actors were shot dead and another three wounded while filming a crime drama in the Angolan capital, Luanda, on Monday when police mistook them as armed robbers, their director said. It appears you don't have to be in Florida to see stupidity.
(BTW, the picture is very obviously not from Angola.) picked by rambler 7 months ago

A story from the SA press, commenting on the increasing number of children who migrate from various southen African countries to South Africa, in search for the dream of a better life.
(This picture is not from SA, by the way.) picked by rambler 7 months ago

This very recent article by McKinsey graphs who has profited most from the production of biofuels over the past couple of years. There was a post related to this topic recently, but I can't find it... picked by rambler 7 months ago

At least one of these animals was NOT made extinct by a meteorite impact. picked by rambler 8 months ago

I think keeping the peace anywhere is a laudable thing to do. But when I read stories like these, then I do despair a bit. Why do Europeans and others have to go through so many hoops to try and "keep the peace" (we need to make it first...) when Africans don't seem to care enough about it themselves? *sigh* picked by rambler 8 months ago

A fascinating summary of some recent research on human evolution, that appears to be speeding up. Look for the controversial stuff in the last two paragraphs, and consider the various possible implications... picked by rambler 8 months ago