In a thought-provoking animation by Lazy Chief for FOST (Future of Storytelling), neuroscientist Anil Seth explains how the brain engages with the constantly input of external stimulation. He specifically focuses on how the brain predictively perceives an object or situation, but is dependent upon sensory experience and expectation to give context to the situation. Seth…
How the Distinctly Syncopated Clave Rhythm Pattern of Afro-Cuban Music Took Hold in Modern Music
The fast talking doodling music theorist and musician 12tone visually and verbally explains the syncopation, the theory behind numerous variations of clave rhythmic patterns. These distinct rhythms are believed to have originated in Africa and have strong ties to Afro-Cuban music. These clave patterns eventually took real hold in modern music, most famously with the…
How Iceland’s Copious Supply of Geothermal Energy Fuels the Perfect Conditions for Greenhouse Produce
In a sulphurous episode of BBC Earth Lab, presenter Greg Foot happily treats himself to the hot tub-like waters of Iceland’s unique geology that makes water warm while the air is cold. This is due to the constantly shifting tectonic plates and continental divides, which release heat from the Earth’s core into the groundwater. The…
Two Vastly Different Chefs Share a Common Love of Combining Flour, Eggs and Water to Make Fresh Pasta
In an doughy episode of the BuzzFeed culinary series Tasty, host Vaughn Vreeland visited two vastly different restaurants, Borgatti’s Ravioli and Chef Michael White of the Altamarea Group, both with a common love of homemade pasta. Two artisan pasta makers perform their craft, exploring a beautiful marriage between eggs and flour. Vreeland first stopped at…
Pastry Chef Claire Saffitz Tries to Replicate the Ropy Chewiness in a Healthier Gourmet Version of Twizzlers
In her noble mission to convert commercial sweets into healthier versions, Senior Food Editor and pastry chef Claire Saffitz of the Bon Apétit series Gourmet Makes tried her hand at making an organic version of Twizzlers, her mother’s favorite candy. After four days, many false starts and a “MacGyvered” candy extruder made with a hot…
Managed WordPress at Laughing Squid Hosting
Some readers may realize this, but Laughing Squid is also a web hosting company that focuses on Managed WordPress hosting. The revenue from our hosting services helps support this blog. We’ve been in the hosting business a very long time and know it well. We launched our hosting company way back in 1998 and evolved…
Homeowner Gets Locked Out When the Nest Doorbell Mistakenly Identifies Him as the Batman on His T-Shirt
When homeowner B.J. May stepped out of his Georgia home wearing a blue Batman shirt, he was surprised when his Nest doorbell wouldn’t let him back in. When he went to check on the app as to what was going on, he saw that the camera mistakenly identified the face of the Batman on his…
1977 Footage of the Sex Pistols Performing on the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ Riverboat During Her Silver Jubilee
In 1977 The Sex Pistols boarded the Queen Elizabeth Riverboat on the River Thames and performed the songs “Pretty Vacant”, “Anarchy In The UK” and “Problems” as well as “God Save the Queen” as they went down the river. This concert took place during and in sight of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebration. Needless to…