I once read that a blog was a place for one to share interesting and timely links with others, perhaps within a comment or two on the topics covered. Considering that almost zero of the blogs I read actually fit that description, I laughed and ignored this.
But here I am fitting in the mold cast by that particular columnist (*cough* *cough* PC Magazine’s John C. Dvorak *cough*). And, because it’s timely, I made a rare lunchtime post (which needed to be short for obvious reasons).
Mainly, I wanted to be the first one (as far as I know) to make this joke. I just found a new meaning for the song, “When Irish Eyes are Smiling.” On a more serious note, you’ll be amazed by such a medical breakthrough. My title suggestion for the movie based on this man’s story? My Left Tooth
Another eye-catcher (oh, sorry), is the new mnemonic phrase created by a 10-year-old. She won a National Geographic contest to help people remember the names of the 11 planets of our solar system, in order of distance from the sun. Gee, when I went to school there were only nine. Her winning phrase?
My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants.
My only problem with it is the word “very,” because it is forgettable, but I can’t come up with anything better. It makes sense and should serve well, especially after Lisa Loeb releases her song based on it. That last part is no joke, apparently.
If you don’t believe me, or you just want to know the names of those two extra planets, and see a cool artist’s rendering of all 11, then read it yourself.
UPDATE: Link in last paragraph changed to different site, same story.
I went straight to a advertisement for Quantis… Are they going to be flying us to the moon next???
That is a very cool and wholly unexpected way to have sight returned! Somewhere, somehow, there’s a bluetooth joke waiting to be told; I’m just not sure what it is.
And now I’m all confused about the solar system. First there were 9 planets (for the first 32 years of my life!), then down to 8, and here we are bumped up to 11?! I’m going to start seeing elephants and magic carpets soon.
So now they’re counting the dwarf planets as worthy of being included in the mnemonic device? Cool. I’m glad to see poor Pluto didn’t get totally kicked out. (and Amy’s right..it’s just a Quantis ad)
I saw a program on PBS a few weeks ago about a blind man who taught himself to “see” by using this vibating plate in the roof of his mouth that was hooked to a black and white camera. He could throw a ball into a distant bucket. Just amazing. Not exactly the same as the story you posted…but it made me think of it.
Amy and Moksha - I guess the site is zeroing in on your IP address to place a targeted ad, or maybe you’re the lucky random few who get that ad? I don’t know, because even before I changed the link, I was still getting the right article. Hmm…
Simon and Moksha - Weird about 11 planets, huh? I was upset when Pluto got the boot. Now it’s back. Weird thing about Ceres is, how the heck do we suddenly have another planet between the ones we’ve known about for years?
I don’t think “dwarf” plant is very PC… so we should say “Mass Challenged”… *ROTFL*
I had never heard of Ceres before today. Weird.