Rubbernecking

Today's post is dedicated to rubbernecking, both fun (my co-worker Dennis sent out this cute shot of 2 panda cubs frolicking somewhere in the snow... dunno if it's in China or a US zoo), fascinating (genomes!), and frustrating (ah, the stupidity of [hu]mankind).

This guy SO deserved it, since he had to climb over a 5 FOOT TALL fence to "accidentally" wind up in Gu Gu's enclosure: Giant panda in China bites third victim (the hospital photo is particularly fitting) -- I mean, HELLO! You are entering a bear's home habitat. DUH.

I guess with 1.3 billion people (and counting) sometimes the DNA gets a little thinned out...

Hmmm.. pandas have SIX fingers per paw?? Who knew...?Chinese unlock panda's genome The shrewd reasoning of the Beijing Genomic Institute is hilarious, and the ranking of China's greatest scientific achivements in 2008 is bemusing/ amusing.

And oh yeah, baby pandas are ridiculously cute, especially with / despite goofy tags around their necks. They look like waaaay fun, animated, stuffed Gunds.

Man is stupid; don't mess with nature: Removing cats to protect birds backfires on island

FINALLY, someone who has a more balanced view of the current mess (yes, I am tired of being bashed): Unfairly Rewarding Greedy Bankers, and Why It Works Thank you, Washington Post. As he says, it ain't great, but consider the alternative (or, a I sometimes think: Joe Sixpack is a moron).

And I know I should stay away from possible carcinogens, cholesterol (SO not WW points friendly), and fast food in general, but sometimes, I just CRAVE a burger: 5 worst fast food value items. (My personal favorite on the list: Wendy's jr bacon cheeseburger has everything possible -- magical animal AND cheese!) I advise you NOT to get between me & my monthly salt craving if you know what's good for you.

(Sidenote: called up my friend Sam this week, and we checked out BRGR in Chelsea, whose turkey value burger was spectacularly unhealthy looking: gruyere + herb mayo... but I got it anyway, since I wasn't into beef that evening. At least it's free of steriods & hormones... my diagnosis has me evaluating organic food in a different light, but then, this burger just goes to prove organic does not necessarily mean HEALTHY.)

I guess basically today's post was (mostly) dedicated to how pandas are great and people are dumb. ;-D