Flame-retardant Fish

I guess they don't have to worry about catching fire, anyway, right? Oh, right. They live in...water.

"Farmed salmon, already found to carry higher levels than wild salmon of chemicals such as PCBs, may also contain higher levels of flame-retardants, environmental researchers said on Wednesday."

Flame-retardant, eh? This could have potential. Maybe it's time we all started eating more salmon--farmed salmon, that is.

On the other hand, there's argument about whether these same chemicals--called PBDEs--cause cancer.

"If you're a chemist and you draw the structure, they look a lot like PCBs."

Well, thanks a lot, mister! Get my hopes up, why don't you?

Retired Villains and their Gardens

I don't have anything intelligent to say except wow (if that counts as intelligent). I guess all my life I've seen movies or read books with the bad guys and villains and so forth (it may sound cliche but that's what they are), but to see a glimpse of their downfall in real life and how...humble it is--it's amazing.

Archaic Offices and Bad Puns

"I am a national fool now. It is the best thing a man can be." I think I like that.

England has reinstated the office of court jester after a 355-year break--er, gap. Hmm. If you ask me, it's all just an excuse for people to crank out a load of bad puns. "Has head for the job" indeed.

Also, if you want to know how the whole jester thing got started in the first place, you might be interested to know that, according to Chambers' Book of Days, "the female official fool had precedence of the male court and household jester." (Scroll down to "A Supplementary Chapter to the 'History of Court Fools.'") Hmm. I'm not sure whether to be insulted or pleased.

Note: I should have mentioned that The Book of Days, according to the people who undertook to put it online, is a "must-read for anyone aspiring to understand history as our forefathers saw it." In other words, without having delved into it much, I don't personally know how accurate any given part of it is. Probably the people who run the site could tell you that.

Princess Bride Quotes Are Universal...

...as Tahi has said before me.

Just more proof that The Princess Bride is the best movie ever.