I read stuff

Wherein I read things, laugh, and pass them on to you…

It’s been a few days since I did one of these, so mucho apologies for the lack of giggles

and now, some giggles!

Man starts fire trying to scare squirrels:

RICHTON PARK, Ill., March 17 (UPI) — An Illinois man says he accidentally set his home on fire when he tried using a smoke bomb to get rid of squirrels inside a wall.

Robert Hughes of Richton Park said he lit a smoke bomb in the gutter near the hole the squirrels were using to enter the home and a blaze quickly broke out, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday.

Richton Park Deputy Fire Chief Rodney Wilson said firefighters who arrived at the home about 10 a.m. had to damage the roof and drywall of the town home and an adjacent residence to extinguish the flames.

Hughes said his home sustained fire damage and has been boarded up. The neighbor’s town home, which was damaged by firefighters, has also been boarded up.

No one was injured in the blaze. Hughes said he believes the squirrels have vacated the residence. [upi]

12 Coolest Practical Tattoos:

Stargate Universe – MGM Video: “Twin Destinies” Promo “It Wont Work”

According to the new Conan the Barbarian trailer, smoke is what’s best in life:

Here’s the new teaser trailer for Conan the Barbarian — it’s low on Hyborean hijinks but high on the haze of war.

By Crom, we hope that the next trailer will have antics on par with James Earl Jones turning into a snake, Arnold Schwarzenegger pushing a wheel for a decade, reptile-worshipping hippies, or that crazy witch who exploded after Conan had sex with her. Conan the Barbarian hits theaters August 19.[io9]

Maple Leaf Tartan made official symbol of Canada:

The Canadian government has pre-empted a Liberal senator’s crusade to have Maple Leaf Tartan declared the country’s official Scottish cloth, announcing Wednesday that the distinctive green-and-red pattern — inspired by the shifting hues of autumn leaves — has not only been made the national tartan but also an “official symbol” of the nation itself.

The designation means the tartan — designed in 1964 by Toronto garment maker David Weiser ahead of Canada’s centennial celebrations — will join the flag, the coat of arms, the beaver and a handful of other objects as state-sanctioned emblems of Canada, according to a statement issued by Heritage Minister James Moore.

“The Maple Leaf Tartan has been worn proudly and enjoyed by Canadians for decades, but has never been elevated to the level of an official symbol — until now,” said Moore. “Our national symbols express our identity and define our history. The Maple Leaf Tartan represents the contributions that the more than four million Canadians of Scottish heritage continue to make to our country.” [vancouversun]

Mind Map of the History of Science Fiction: I spent a good chunk of my morning with this![futurismic and Laura]