It's a Gene

Just learned this today -
Sonic hedgehog, is actually a gene essential for limb development.

"In all limbed vertebrates, Sonic hedgehog is required for normal limbs to develop beyond the knee and elbow joints."

And all along I thought it was just some fancy name that someone dreamt up one night, for some fancy speed demon of a cartoon character that goes by the same name. This is gonna seriously freak out those kids that grew up thinking Sonic hedgehog is Sonic the Hedgehog.

But then again I guess the use of the name for the cartoon character is not without basis, it does afterall revolved around the use of limbs and mobility, as well as a trigger (some gene called Hand2, I think) that gets Sonic hedgehog turned on for limb development. Then there's Sonic the Hedgehog (the cartoon) which follows pretty much the same principle, Sonic collects some jewel or coin thingy to triggers his hi-speed running powers. Betcha didn't know that.

From University of Florida & Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Wall Safe

The walls are having it all, inculding cash. Literally, the only sure way to keep your hard earned money safe and sound.

It's not crazy, not when your money is all still crisp and fresh, not even after having gone thru what Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans. That's when, college student finds US$15,000, in a wall, while helping to rebuild someone's home.

All this sounds so right out of Hollywood, I guess Hollywood movies do help to make fiction come true, people now have an alternative to keeping their hard earn money safe - in the walls!

Gossip creates friendships

Haven't read the actual article yet, but that's what I read.

I guess its all good as long as I'm part of the circle sharing the gossip and not the target of the gossip. This is beginning so sound so much like Desperate Housewives yar?

Lizards and such

GROSS...
LMD's Entry ~ may offend

My dogs used to hunt baby lizzys and drop then at my feet, after I come home from a long day. Sometimes, they can't bring me their prize catch, cause the saliva's all dried up and have somehow gotten the lizzy stuck to the floor, then I'll have to hold my breath while I try to scrap 'em off with tissue and pray the tissue dun tear. Really gross, but definitly not as gross as having to step on one yourself and see it twitching and spilling guts... phEEewwWw

So these days their mouth and their innate tendency to lick my nose, ain't getting anywhere near my face.

These days, I still see them staring intently at lizards on the walls and ceilings willing 'em to fall off so that they can have a game of catch, there are times when I seriously believe that this special willing power of theirs do work.

How not to get licked in the face, with dogs looking like these two??

Mountain of Fire

Mount Merapi is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, part of the "Ring of Fire" - a series of fault lines and volcanoes encircling the Pacific Ocean.

"Small eruptions may be a sign of worse to come. Mount Merapi has been rumbling for about a month, but an increase in lava flow in the past day has triggered concerns that a nasty eruption could be imminent."

All this is beginning to sounds like a definite major eruption, I hope those people living in the densely populated area at the base of the volcano evacuate soon.

Movie Review

Wolfgang Petersen's Poseidon

With a ship the size of the Poseidon, there's a bit of something for everyone. To start off, its a huge ocean liner, then there's Fergie of Black Eyed Peas appearing as herself, in a sizzling red number. A huge arse colossal-tidal-tsunami-wave that reached-up-to-the-moon for surf lovers. Lots of ladies that almost looked alike and only one kid.

Small crawl spaces that will tense up the claustrophobic. Over at special effects, there are the impressive vast visuals of fiery hot flames, shattering explosions, rushing of lotsa lotsa icy cold water, floating dead bodies, and lotsa lotsa splashing around (so much so that I was getting a little dizzy from it)

All said, this remake of the 1972 classic 'The Poseidon Adventure' is thrills, spills and eye-popping visuals.

Good thing I din have much to drink before the movie, but still had to make a dash for it after the credits started rolling.

Quote of the day - "Intense prolonged sequences of disaster and peril." Not for the weak bladder.

Cute Overload

This is what is said about itself - "At Cute Overload™, we scour the Web for only the finest in Cute Imagery. Imagery that is Worth Your Internet Browsing Time. We offer an overwhelming amount of cuteness to fill your daily visual allowance."

I like this puppy here ^_^

Movie update on Poseidon, tomorrow, cause it's Monday night tonight - Grey's anatomy and Fraiser

Sunday

Five entires ago, I learned about the secrets of weather forecasting and started to keep note of the nite sky for any colour indication, and last nite's sky was a crimson red glow. (That's polling nite and just awhile after all that flashing of lightning in the clouds, maybe there was rain somewhere on the island.)

This morning, I went down to the East Coast and almost got over-toasted, the weather got blazing hot in the afternoon but was great for lounging in the shade with food and drinks, people watching. The tide was good and the strong breeze was great, esp. for all those people sailing and windsurfing, it was quite a sight - both sails and peeps.

Note to self:
Swimming against the current in the open sea, while frantically trying to get away from the breakwater and towing a surfboard is serious excercise and can be very tiring, good thing for that life vest.

Poseidon

Moody Greek God of the Sea

Come Monday, I'll be one of the lucky ones and I will be saved, from having to actually pay for tickets to watch the movie. Movies involving lots of water or extreme cold climates tend to affect me in strange rushing-to-the-toilet urges, whenever the movie nears the climatic end, gotta remember to watch my water intake.

Everyone else can be saved here.