Good information to know when traveling to other countries.

Nearly everyone all over the globe know that flashing the middle finger is meant as a huge insult to the recipient. However, many common hand gestures which are perfectly innocent in the US are in fact quite dangerous in other parts of the world!

Interesting blog post on some art pieces remade using real people. Pieces are by various artists such as Frida Kahlo, Gustave Courbet, Annibale Carracci, Salvador Dali, and Botticelli.

In this week's BBC-aired episode titled "A Scandal in Belgravia," Holmes has a close encounter with a whip-smart dominatrix, Irene Adler (Lara Pulver), who gets under his skin by flashing much of hers. Some detractors said the scene was too racy to air early in the evening, when children are more likely to be watching TV.

I have seen the name Benedict Cumberbatch a lot lately, ever since Farrah and I started watching BBC’s Sherlock on Netflix streaming last weekend. Earlier this week he was cast as the possible villain in the next Star Trek film. And now there appears this story about nudity in one of the upcoming Sherlock series two episodes.

One distressing item to read in this article is that there may not be a third series. I guess Mr. Cumberbatch may be too famous for television alone.

Spotify made its big U.S. debut on July 14, 2011.

In one week, we’ll be marking the streaming music service’s six-month anniversary.

And in one week, all those users who signed up for the free all-you-can-eat desktop music that day will find out that they’re going to be limited to just 10 hours per month now. You’re also only allowed to play individual tracks more than five times per month.

I have the pay version, using it on my iPhone. I’ve used it more for music discovery than as my main listening library. I’m debating whether to cancel it or not.

The two-track line —a 30-foot-wide span, with 21 elevated stations — is designed to accommodate an increasing crush of commuters and tourists while encouraging new growth and development, particularly on this undeveloped part of the island. The Honolulu rail project, scheduled for completion in 2018, seems certain to change sharply the nature of much of the south side of the island, as well as downtown Honolulu.

It would certainly bring a different feel to Oahu. Even though it would help in moving people, I don’t know if it is - overall - a good thing.

It only took them a day for them to back down.

All cellular phone companies are evil, aren’t they? Convenience cost extra.

Check out the trailer for the new Ridley Scott film. There’s a question of how or if this movie fits in with the Alien movies. Nonetheless, the title in the trailer suggests some sort of link, harking back to the Alien trailer. I vividly remember my sister taking me to see Alien at the Old Mill Six Theater. I didn’t know it was going to be a scary movie until that thing popped out of John Hurt’s chest. From then on it was a tense two hours.

A link to a nice relevant infographic for the holiday season. Yup, I did a lot of online holiday shopping, most of it through Amazon.

I don’t think I’ll ever visit the Philippine rainforest.

Mostly, the Agta fend off the serpents with machetes or shotguns. Only six people have actually been killed in the span of 39 years, including a man who was found inside a snake, and two children who were eaten by the same python on one fateful night. Without their iron weapons, the Agta would surely have lost more individuals to python coils.

It should say no Droids as well: “The first victim complied, but the second only had a Droid, according to police. The thieves apparently didn’t want a Droid – so they took cash instead.” Man, thieves are getting picky.

NY Times article on the people who are not on Facebook or have quit Facebook. I am (again) considering decreasing or completely stopping direct Facebook interaction. This seems like a New Year’s Resolution type of thing if you are into that sort of thing.