The Quarantine Islands

For hundreds of years before we learned to treat communicable diseases with antibiotics, the most effective treatment was quarantine. Oh, it wasn’t a great treatment for a sick patient, but it helped protect a community from contagion. And you didn’t have to be sick to be quarantined. Travelers often had to sit out some time on an island before their ship was admitted to the mainland in order to catch disease entering a country.

Hakai magazine tell us the stories of five quarantine islands in Italy, Canada, Uruguay, American Samoa, and South Korea; why they came about and what happened to them.  -via Digg

The Quarantine Islands

Using a Helicopter to Dry a Wet Ballfield

(Photo: DBU Baseball)

Much of Texas has been drenched with rain for the past few weeks. That poses a problem at the Horner Ballpark of Dallas Baptist University. The field is too wet to be useful for regular play. So on Friday, the university hired a helicopter and pilot to dry the field by blowing on it with its wings. You can see a video of the helicopter at work here.

The efforts were successful. The park was dry enough for a game on Sunday.

-via Marginal Revolution

Using a Helicopter to Dry a Wet Ballfield

9 Ways Japanese Schools Are Different From American Schools

Japan is known for having extreme work schedules, an extremely strange sense of humor that's  a bit out of sync with their (seemingly) reserved personalities, and they're known for going to extremes to blow off steam. Behind closed doors, of course.

Training to become a "Salaryman" begins at an early age, so as you can imagine going to school in Japan is quite different than it is in America.

If you feel the American educational system is sorely lacking then you won’t be surprised to discover that the Japanese have us beat in many ways, but that intense schooling comes at a price.

(YouTube Link)

Japanese students don't have substitute teachers to harass, they don't have janitors to clean up their messes, and they don't get Saturdays off to play with their pals. Where's the fun in that?

See 9 Ways Japanese Schools Are Different Than American Schools at mental_floss

9 Ways Japanese Schools Are Different From American Schools

Fictional TV Towns Where the Most Crime Occurs

Sometimes it’s the small towns that end up having the most crime, all out of proportion to the population. Where does this happen? TV, of course! If you live in a small community but happen to be a superhero, detective, vampire, or a criminal, you can bet that your local, police blotter does not resemble any real small town. And that applies even if your world is a largish town or a small city. Case in point: Charming, California, a contemporary dystopia if there ever was one.

Has there ever been a more violent town on TV than Sons of Anarchy‘s Charming? If there has been, I don’t think I’ve seen it. Drug smuggling, gun deals, and lots and lots of killing were seen on a consistent basis throughout Sons‘ seven-season run on FX, and a good bit of it all was perpetuated by members of SAMCRO themselves. Thankfully, even though it had been his hometown for all his life, Jax understood that Charming was too dangerous of a place for his kids to grow up and finally sent them off to live a better, safer life in the show’s series finale.

But is this the most disproportionately crime-ridden fictional town? Maybe not. There are quite a few other fictional towns listed at Housely that might give them run for the money. Try to guess which towns are on the list before you check it out.   

Fictional TV Towns Where the Most Crime Occurs

Better Call Gandalf - He's One Awe Inspiring Attorney

Better Call Gandalf by Mr.Jungle

When you're in way over your little halfling head and need someone wise and powerful to represent you in court you'd better call Gandalf. He's the lord of the attorneys with a magical ace up his sleeve, and he specializes in getting robbery charges dropped while yelling "you shall not pass!" at the prosecution. Those who have been there and back again know how important it is to have proper representation in court, lest you find yourself doing time for being a part of the biggest crime ring in Middle Earth. So if you're tired of being burned by Smaug, and you're looking for a way to stay hairy footloose and fancy free, you'd better call Gandalf!

Bring some legally binding humor to your geeky wardrobe with this Better Call Gandalf t-shirt by Mr.Jungle, it's one wise cracking t-shirt with lots of character!

Visit Mr.Jungle's NeatoShop for more geek-tastic designs:

Sound Of Turtles	Better Call Vader	Sound Of Z Warriors	Better Call Batman

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Better Call Gandalf - He's One Awe Inspiring Attorney

The Doodle Diary Of A New Mom

Being a new parent is a bit like surviving a major catastrophy- you’re always dirty, disheveled and tired, you live in fear of sickness and know that things can get downright nasty in the blink of an eye.

New moms (typically) have a lot more to deal with than daddy, and she must learn to adapt to her new, less fashionable life. But at least she has a tiny alarm clock that will wake her up at all hours of the day and night!

These adorable, yet very (and a bit NSFW) realistic comics by Lucy Scott are part of her book Diary Of A New Mom, which is full of graphic depictions of how having a baby changes a mother's life. At least they'll appreciate all your hard work when they're teenagers!

-Via Awkward Family Photos

The Doodle Diary Of A New Mom

Man and His Dog Do a Handstand Together

(Video Link)

Dai Aoki, a dog trainer in Waterloo, New South Wales, Australia, does a pretty good handstand. And to improve the act, so does his dog! His Border Collie neatly lifts his body up, resting on only his front paws and nose. Now try this wherever you are and see if you can do the same.

-via Tastefully Offensive

Man and His Dog Do a Handstand Together