Elephants etcetera...

The ability to recognize oneself (in a mirror for instance) is a rare phenomenon in the animal kingdom.  Many researchers believe self-recognition to be the first stepping stone in establishing a sense of identity, a trait that only humans possess (as far as we know).  Self-recognition has been found in only a few species, with great apes, dolphins, orcas, and elephants being the only known species to possess this faculty.  This acknowledgment of the self is one thing, being able to bust out a decent self-portrait is another.  Check out this recent video of an elephant painting a self-portrait, using artistic skills such as depth perception (notice how he/she illustrates the hind legs) and contrast of color.  It's no surprise that these elephant paintings are making big money in the art world. 

As a fan of Mad magazine in my youth, I was usually ignorant of the political undertones within each issue.  Most of my peers had bought these magazines for film parodies and Spy vs. Spy cartoons.  In light of Mad T.V. (a horrible show in my opinion), there are many efforts to preserve the artistic and intellectual endeavors of past contributors, Al Jaffee and Sergio Aragones in particular.  Here is a collection of the "fold-ins" that used to grace the back page of every issue, graciously provided by the New York Times.  

For those of you who are looking for some spiritual outlet but don't know where to look, here is an alternative religion for avid science-fiction geeks like me.  I am sure that if there are people willing to translate the entire Klingon language, then there are people willing to worship the brainchildren of George Lucas.

Can anyone direct me to the nearest W.C.?  If you've ever done any amount of traveling overseas, you are probably familiar with a plethora of different bathroom signs.  The following link is a photojournal of international bathroom signs, each making serious effort to help travelers discern men and women facilities.  Some of them are OVERLY obvious!

Finally, I want to relay some musical resources that I've had recent access to.  If you're anything like me, you love to hear the occasional video game song.  For many of us, it's not only good listening, but it's also a form of nostalgia.  I feel the same way about television programs too.  A good theme song ("Charles in Charge" for example) can go a long way.  Here are websites that contain midi files of video game music (categorized by console) and television theme songs.  The midi cheesiness adds to the nostalgia.