I just bought a new camera, too! My (early) birthday present to me. A Canon something. It's heavier than I expected, but it takes movies and has a 20x optical zoom and a wide-angle-to-telephoto lens and... yeah, that's not likely to be light. Silly me. Not one I can carry around in my purse.

I think that's the camera my FiL just bought. He really likes it. Even though it's now five years old, I'm still loving my EOS Digital Rebel.

I some lens lust though for this versatile lens. But spending money is not on the plate for awhile.

[link]

Huh. I did not know that the Beats had their own gum....

A Real Cool Chew

It's a real cool chew... and that flavor lasts and lasts through a stack of swinging pops! So get with Beatmint - eight great pieces for only 3d.

Oh, and Happy Tesla's Birthday! Check out google's home page today.... [link]

Happy Birthday Sox!

Birthday Happies Sox! You should play with a Tesla coil!

Hello Kitty taser

Not a real product....

I would definitely recommend going with an advisor who'd give more guidance.

Worst. Cufflinks. Evah! [link]

Yes, those are taxidermied rodent heads - a mouse and a small rat. [link]

I think the Guinea Pig Hair comb/Head piece is my fave....

Friday Cephalopod: The Great and Serene Floating Brain

From PZ, a horrible example of bad science reporting:

In case you're wondering why so many scientists are distrustful of science journalists, you should take a look at this account from Ben Goldacre. A masters student in psychology gave a talk at a science conference to present her preliminary findings, which, sad to say, were picked up by the Telegraph.

Here's the title of the Telegraph story.

Women who dress provocatively more likely to be raped, claim scientists

Women who drink alcohol, wear short skirts and are outgoing are more likely to be raped, claim scientists at the University of Leicester

Here's the actual title of the press release from the University of Leicester describing the work.

Promiscuous men more likely to rape

There seems to be a significant discrepancy in emphasis, yes?

Goldacre called up the student researcher, and got the straight story: the Telegraph title is factually wrong, they found no statistically significant result corresponding to that claim. And here's the reaction of the investigator:

When I saw the article my heart completely sank, and it made me really angry, given how sensitive this subject is. To be making claims like the Telegraph did, in my name, places all the blame on women, which is not what we were doing at all. I just felt really angry about how wrong they'd got this study.

[link]