David Schwartz linked video of baby red pandas on FB yesterday - I thought that it should be linked here too due to the lethal cuteness.

Slice of bread shuts down LHC. Seriously. Slice of bread.

The Large Hadron Collider, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, just cannot catch a break. First, a coolant leak destroyed some of the magnets that guide the energy beam. Then LHC officials postponed the restart of the machine to add additional safety features. Now, a bird dropping a piece of bread on a section of the accelerator has, according to the Register, shut down the whole operation.

The bird dropped some bread on a section of outdoor machinery, eventually leading to significant over heating in parts of the accelerator. The LHC was not operational at the time of the incident, but the spike produced so much heat that had the beam been on, automatic failsafes would have shut down the machine.

And in the comments thread FTW:

The bird's briefing:

The approach will not be easy. You are required to maneuver straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station.

Heh. A different blog also made the "maneuver down this trench" joke.

Also, shoes are apparently recession-proof.

So I think I'll open a shoe store.

Does the bird's briefing include anything about the force being strong?

I have officially dubbed today "Crank It Out Friday". That is in addition to the regular standing "Attitude Friday" that my boss is oh so fond of. The person I work with on about half my job will be out for a week starting next Thursday. Wednesday is a holiday (bless). And I think I have to be sick on Tuesday as mac has a halfday and none of his childcare options are covering it. So today, right after thispost, I will begin Cranking It Out. Please shoo me away if I show up too often.

ION - I am a little confused how so many news outlets were wrongfully reporting that the Ft. Hood shooter was dead. And it seems that news stories today have actually LESS info on the events than they did yesterday, everyuthing has shifted to info on the shooter, rather than the event.

Does the bird's briefing include anything about the force being strong?

I believe the bird was instructed to trust his feelings, yes.

Now I'm picturing the bird accompanied by a parrot saying, "Stay on target. Stay on target."

I believe the bird was instructed to trust his feelings, yes.

Was the bird being chased by another bird? And was the pursuing bird deflected by a falcon?

Watching last night's Daily Show. Jon Stewart is about to make me split something with his Glen Beck impersonation.