weird science

material with negative index of refraction: http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/18/207253

(To be honest, I don't remember what the implications of this would be, and the article is unhelpful in this regard--informed geeks, feel free to refresh my memory. :) But it's clear that it's weird.)

universe may be small, finite, and shaped like a soccer ball?: http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/17/0150223

deconstructing the physics of Buckaroo Banzai (and it's more complimentary than you might expect): http://www.geekazon.com/banzai/index.html

(historical) dangerous toys

http://www.radarmagazine.com/features/2006/12/toys.php

Some of these you have to work to hurt yourself with, but some of them...damn. ("I know, we'll distribute U-238 to kids! Great idea!")

Gingerbread Carcassonne

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/12/15/gingerbread_version_.html

:)

"torn" mime revised

the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glzkWmJgCgY

the new version, with a twist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dxf6keoYV0

Each is brilliant. The second one lacks some of the elegant simplicity of the first, but it's worth it (and is clearly intended to be a follow-on of sorts anyway), and I give the artist full marks for having a sense of humor about it.