Heard the one about the dead banker?

Image by Toyota UK via Flickr

“What’s the difference between a dead cat on the motorway and a dead banker on the motorway? There are skidmarks around the cat.” In an ideal world, business secretary Vince Cable would have got in trouble for the many illogical aspects of this age-old joke (why would a banker be walking on the motorway? Why would the skidmarks be “around” the cat if it is dead? Just saying!) but instead he was vilified by various financial institutions for the propriety of the gag rather than its ropey quality. Let’s show some support for Cable, with an entire 90 seconds of weak stand-up devoted to bankers:

via Heard the one about the dead banker? | From the Guardian | The Guardian.

For example:

A young banker decided to get his first tailor-made suit. As he tried it on, he reached down to put his hands in the pockets and to his surprise he found none. He mentioned this to the tailor who asked him, “You’re a banker, right?” The young man answered, “Yes, I am.” “Well, whoever heard of a banker with his hands in his own pockets?”

Strange Random Bank Quote:

“Bank failures are caused by depositors who don’t deposit enough money to cover losses due to mismanagement” – Dan Quayle (American 44th US Vice President under George Bush (1989-93). b.1947)

Related articles

• Vince Cable hits out at bonus culture with bad taste bankers joke (dailymail.co.uk)
• Cable the comedian: Gaffe-prone minister takes a pot shot at the bankers (dailymail.co.uk)
• Vince Cable considers himself “pretty important” to the coalition Government (mirror.co.uk)
• CIBC says goodbye to long-time banker (theglobeandmail.com)
• NYT: Bankers’ era of contrition may be ending (dailykos.com)

Women do understand the offside rule

Image via Wikipedia

In the week when two veteran Sky Sports football commentators were sacked for linking a Premier League lineswoman’s knowledge of the offside  rule to her gender (as well as many other comments that came to light subsequently), a new advertising campaign has been launched to combat sexism in football. Its focus is said offisde rule, a complicated and always controversial part of the game (if awarded against your team) for all football fans, regardless of gender.

To give you an idea, this is part of the explanation from Wikipedia:

Offside is a law in football which law states that if a player is in an offside position when the ball is touched or played by a team mate, he may not become actively involved in the play. A player is in an offside position if he is closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender, but only if the player is on his opponent’s half of the pitch. Interpretation of the term “actively involved” is subject to debate.

 

Strange Random Football Quote:

In football everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team. – Jean Paul Sartre, French philosopher.

Related articles

• Andy Gray and Richard Keys have finally met their Waterloo. I’m glad | David Mitchell (guardian.co.uk)
• Can men understand the offside rule? (guardian.co.uk)
• Scoring points (bbc.co.uk)
• Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys say sorry after mocking lineswoman during Liverpool victory (telegraph.co.uk)
• Ex international hits out at sexism (thesun.co.uk)
• Crossing the sexism line (speedcommunications.com)

Sustainable fun – base jumping off wind turbines

If you’re looking for a fun, sustainable way to spend a day, you could try looking at what these guys have done; base jumping off wind turbines!

Strange Random Wind Quote:

“If a man does not know what port he is steering for, no wind is favourable to him” – Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)

Related articles

• Wind Turbine Base Jumping: The Latest In Extreme Sports! (inhabitat.com)
• This Is Insane: Base Jumping Off Wind Turbine Blades (theatlantic.com)
• France Launches 10-Billion Euro Tender for Wind Turbines (france24.com)
• Airport tries out plan for wind turbine (thisisbristol.co.uk)
• Vibro-Wind: Turbine-Free Wind Power (bigthink.com)

Video Talks, quality online video content

You know we’re fans of TED.com and of video sites in general. Now some kind person called Jim Melfi has published a website listing TED and 56 other resources, from San Francisco to Slovenia, covering topics such as Design, Sustainability, Economics (the Davos video group is interesting, not to mention topical) and Technology. There’s also a separate section for Universities and Colleges of Higher  Education that publish their content online.

You can visit Video Talks by clicking on the picture here or on the link in the Blogroll section on the right-hand side of this page!

About VideoTalks.org: The initial idea for this website was developed in 2009 after realizing that one had to search many sites to find the ones listed above. At the time, I had no idea that the Internet contained such a rich variety of viewpoints from men and women who are truly making a difference in our world community. This site is certainly dedicated to those of us who want quality substance beyond the fog of mindless chatter and short sound bites. I welcome your suggestions regarding other sites and speakers. Jim Melfi.

Strange Random Video Quote:

In seven to ten years video traffic on the Internet will exceed data and voice traffic combined – Bob Metcalfe

Related articles

• Say Hello to My Avatar: Bob Metcalfe Gives First UT Innovation Lecture Using Avaya Web Interface (xconomy.com)
• Davos: Explosion Of Video Is Next Technological Innovation (blogs.forbes.com)
• Video Encyclopedia Qwiki Wants To Make Information Into An Experience (reelseo.com)
• Where to Watch the Davos World Economic Forum Online (gigaom.com)
• TED’s Chris Anderson Talks Crowd-Accelerated Innovation (wired.com)

Bad times for frogs in Barcelona

Image by Istvan via Flickr

From yesterday’s La Vanguardia, an article about the problems facing the pond maintenance crew at the Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer Gardens.

El mantenimiento de los estanques de los jardines de Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer obliga a rescatar los anfibios antes de vaciarlos.

via Salvar las ranas de Montjuïc.

Literal translation: The maintenance of the ponds in Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer Gardens makes it necessary to rescue the amphibians before emptying them.

No comment. Bad times for frogs, indeed.

Strange Random Frog Quote:

“Never try to catch two frogs with one hand” – Chinese Proverb

Related articles

• The magic mountain (netnewmusic.net)
• Scientists give flying frog a bad name (theage.com.au)
• Why is it important that numbers of animals and plants in an ecosystem remain stable make up an example to show your point (wiki.answers.com)
• Vampire frog discovered in southern Vietnam (lookatvietnam.com)
• Do frogs need to be in water to survive? (greenanswers.com)
• Don’t Touch the Yellow Frogs (justgottasharethis.info)
• All About the African Clawed Frog: Facts and FAQ (brighthub.com)