The ABC has created a Religion & Ethics site:

Original opinion and analysis by the most influential scholars, theologians, religious leaders and commentators from Australia and around the world. The goal is to inform and increase our shared capacity for public discussion and debate about matters that affect us all.

Encouragingly (and predictably), the comments on the introductory blog post devolved into trolling and atheist vs religious vs ethicist warfare almost immediately.

Something really interesting from Google - an Android developer tool for non programmers. Huge potential if it’s any good.

The unenviable life of the NFL field goal kicker:

Before the kick, according to Football Outsiders, the best Web site for football statistics, Vanderjagt made 12 of the 15 kicks that either tied or won a game in its last minute (or in overtime) - a success rate well above the N.F.L. average. Afterward, he is 12 for 16. And he doesn’t merely miss; he misses so badly that it is easy to assume total psychological collapse. “It wasn’t a Scott Norwood deal where you wondered if he might make it,” a member of the Colts' staff tells me. “You knew it was wrong.” Of course it was wrong. This is what kickers do to define themselves: choke under pressure.

Terrifying just reading about it:

The first thing you become acutely aware of in a big cave is the darkness. After a while it seems to have a palpable presence. Another thing is that these caves are wet and noisy. There is almost always water flowing alongside the routes, and the water courses can be immense. There are 150-foot waterfalls in Cheve. And Bill Stone has described the noise from one particular waterfall in Huautla as being like standing next to a jetliner, and not being able to get away from it. Finally, supercaves tend to be characterized by vast open spaces. There are chambers in Cheve that could hold fifty diesel locomotives. The immensity of the spaces is counterintuitive.

Cannes Grand Prix winner for best Ad of the Year. Correct. One shot apparently!

World Cup. European Cup. French Open. Wimbledon. Tour de France (though being hotly contested right now). Good year to be Spanish!

Great rejection letters

“The thief, Black Leaf, did not find the poison trap, and I declare her dead.”

Relive the horror.

I’ve often wondered if it would be possible to even return a tennis pro’s serve. Apparently this guy can, but winning a point is another matter:

It isn’t the speed of Tripp’s groundstrokes that impresses me; it isn’t his pace or serve. It’s his consistency. He places the ball where-even if I get to it-I’m so compromised that my legs are jelly and-if I do manage to return it-the ball just lilts over the net. He makes no errors. None.

David Harvey, famous Marxist geographer, with a brilliantly animated explanation of the economic crisis. Very clever way to keep lazy people like me watching/listening/thinking.