Author Archives: funklord

The Apple Empire

by funklord

I know that there are millions of Funk Freedom Press fans that love their Apple products.  Since recently becoming the most valuable company in the history, I think it is wise to keep an eye on them, before they become Google.

Nonetheless, you aren’t here to listen to me rant about corporations becoming way too powerful (“Too Big To Fail”), you came here to get the best news on the net.  Well Apple has denied an App that tracks US drone strikes.  Yes an App that tells you how many people the US has killed with their drone program.  This information is available all over the net, and this designer just created a program that searches all this out and reports.  Apple denied it, not one, not twice, but three times!  Why?  Qualifies as Objectionable Content”.  I think that citizens of the US have a right to that information.  Why do they care?  They aren’t a defense contractor.  What’s in it for them?  That is the question.

South-West Nile Outbreak: Dallas Edition Day 15

by funklord

I can’t believe this is still going on, but it appears that the West Nile virus is in full outbreak mode.  1,590 cases, 66 deaths, and half of all reported are in Texas.  According to the report, and this still baffles my mind, the hot, dry weather is causing the mosquito boom.  I always thought they bred in old, stagnant water.  This is why I got out of entomology.

In New York, and this is interesting, they are spraying the rich neighborhoods for the pathogen carrying insects.  The Upper West Side is being coated with pesticide that is in such a small dose “It does not pose a threat to humans”, however they are telling everyone to stay inside, and to remove toys and clothes that are outside.  That sounds completely safe to me!

Whale vomit is surprisingly valuable

by funklord

This story is incredible.  Apparently a British boy was walking along the beach and found *gag*, sorry about that.  He found and picked up…*gag*, found a chunk of whale vomit on the beach.  Why this kid decided to pick it up, I have no idea, but what a find.  Apparently this stuff, called Ambergris (yes it has a proper name), is used to prolong perfume scents and it ridiculously expensive and rare.

I know he is the luckiest kid ever, but why is he holding the blown chunk so close to his face?  It’s unnecessarily unsanitary.

Getting this stuff proves dangerous as well.  This woman almost gets eaten while looking that quick cash.

The Yosemite Files: Contagion in Curry Village: Day 13

by funklord

A third camper has died, and there are 2 more unconfirmed reports.  Yosemite still insists this is a “rare”occurrence.  Why now?  Are the rodents migrating?  Why are they deciding now to poop in the cabins?  Is this considered funny in the mouse kingdom?  Did they have cabin reservations?  Is this full-fledged war against humans?  If this is rare, they the park should answer questions  rather than shrugging their shoulders.

Triassic Park

by funklord

For anyone who is a fan of raptors and the T-Rex, we may be closer to ever (at least according to the book).  Move over Besse Cooper, there is a new oldest organism in town.  In Italy, scientists discovered the oldest creatures ever recorded, 230 MILLION years old.  The best part:  They are encased in amber!  If that doesn’t make the 4 year old in you stand up and scream at the top of your lungs, then you are dead inside.  Not only that, but these mites (I know, mosquitoes are so much sexier) are almost identical to their modern day descendants.  This may not seem like a big deal, but that means that evolutionarily speaking, these critters are at the top of their game, along side the shark and the cockroach.  Full story here.