Weeeiird. In my AP Biology textbook from high school, I remember learning and reading about this fungus that attacked ants.  The ants would unwittingly ingest the fungal spores, and the spores would grow, bursting out of the ant, and using the corpse as nourishment.  There was even this picture of the fungus stalk breaking through the dead ant. Thanks to the Internet, I found the same photo online.

Scientists have discovered a fungus in Thailand that takes over ant brains, and forces them to stay low to the ground, find locations suitable for the fungus, and wait to die there. It literally takes control of their brains. That. Is. Crazy.

This was an interesting article. The Chicago Tribune wrote a lengthy article about how Netflix works.  As a self-avowed geek, I love finding out how this stuff really works.  Come on, it’s cool.  Don’t you ever wonder?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0804-netflixaug04,0,6424990.story

Show of hands –> Who has a webcam?

We received our webcam as a gift way back in August 2005 from my sister-in-law.  Unfortunately, we’ve never had much use for it.  Why? Not that many people have one.  You would think in this day and age of widespread availability of hi-speed broadband internet coming into the house, more people would be using video chat applications, and frequently too.  Instead, we know maybe three other people besides us. Furthermore, your options to connect with someone is limited to using an IM client, such as MSN Messenger, AOL Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger.  Even then, AOL and Yahoo display only choppy video, and while MSN is lesser of the three evils, no one uses it.

Logitech released a new (and free to download) video chatting application called Vid.  I think it’s less altruism, and more “we can sell more webcams.”  I tried it out with my Dad this evening, but the quality is….. well, piss poor.  Choppy video and audio that cut in and out.  Sigh. I’ve already uninstalled it. Better luck next time.