Fortoon Cookie (November 29, 2013)

"Take that chance you've been considering."

(All "Fortoon Cookie" cartoons are cross-posted at ALittleWhiteNoise.com.)

Study: Eating bacon may help you live longer

A recent study suggests that higher amounts of Vitamin B3, or niacin, in one's diet may prolong life. And bacon is chock-full of niacin. From geekosystem.com:

Energy Metabolism Prof. Michael Ristow and his team decided to feed roundworms a bunch of niacin, and discovered that the new element in the worms' diet saw them living one-tenth longer than their Vitamin B3-free peers. This evidence is surprising to the science community, because niacin promotes the formation of "free radicals," which have long been theorized to actually cause aging in organisms.

Ristow's findings go against the largely accepted theory that food rich in antioxidants can prevent aging by eliminating free radicals. "The claim that intake of antioxidants, especially in tablet form, promotes any aspect of human health lacks scientific support," said Ristow. Instead, the Zurich scientists posits that "[c]ells can cope well with oxidative stress and neutralise it."

Basically, Ristow is suggesting that niacin is perfect for every couch potato who hates fruit. "Niacin tricks the body into believing that it is exercising – even when this is not the case," said Ristow. Next up for Ristow's team is testing the theory on mice.

I have been trying for many years to trick my body into thinking it was exercising. Who knew the answer was to just eat more bacon?

Fortoon Cookie (November 22, 2013)

"Never judge a work of art by its defects."

(All "Fortoon Cookie" cartoons are cross-posted at ALittleWhiteNoise.com.)

Minneapolis home to best restroom in America

The 2013 winner of Cintas' America's Best Restroom Contest is Varsity Theater, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From Cintas:

The Varsity Theater, formerly The University Theater, was one of the last vaudeville houses in Minneapolis and hosted everything from minstrel shows, to comedians, to screenings of early silent films. In 2005, the current incarnation of The Varsity Theater opened its doors as a vaudeville house for the 21st Century. The restroom, decorated with ornate, gilded mirrors, sassy text plates, and bricks laid as if by a drunken mason on bender, invites guests into an Alice In Wonderland-like grotto – to relieve themselves and re-live childhood fairy tales. One part old-fashioned powder room one part lounge, this restroom allows concert-goers to take a break in an area from which one can still view and hear the stage. Bartenders even serve drinks over the back counter into the restroom area, offering a VIP experience to every guest. The sinks were designed with shower head-faucets with a foot pedal operation, a la grade school restrooms. The lounge and hand washing area is coed, creating quite a social atmosphere, particularly when concert-goers are trying to figure out how to activate the sinks and they need to ask one another for the tip – use your toes. And of course, the women's side of the restroom features four times as many stalls as the men's side. In addition to hosting both local and national music acts the Varsity is a popular location for wedding receptions, private galas, and dream dates, coupled with dinner at their associated restaurant, Loring Pasta Bar.

Yes, this is how you relieve yourself in style...

Hilarious 'IKEA' parody of 'Gravity'

Fortoon Cookie (November 15, 2013)

(All "Fortoon Cookie" cartoons are cross-posted at ALittleWhiteNoise.com.)

NYPD rounding up skateboarders, Benny Hill-style

The Broadway Bomb is an annual (and illegal) eight-mile skateboard race through the streets of Manhattan. Thankfully, the NYPD knows exactly how to handle these scofflaws...

Fortoon Cookie (November 8, 2013)

(All "Fortoon Cookie" cartoons are cross-posted at ALittleWhiteNoise.com.)

Satellite image of erupting Russian volcano

Click here for high-res image. (Photo: NASA / Earth Observatory / Robert Simmon)

Yes, there are active volcanoes in Russia. NASA's Landsat 8 satellite captures 16,000-ft. Klyuchevskaya Sopka in the act.

(via Yahoo, Slate)

The upside to air pollution? The government can't spy on you.

(Photo: China Foto Press)

Who knew smog had a silver lining? The South China Morning Post reports that the thick, blinding smog shrouding Beijing is rendering surveillance cameras virtually useless, and scientists are being called in to shed some light on the subject. One possible solution being tossed around is to use radar to help keep "sensitive areas" more secure.

Meanwhile, the Chinese people may enjoy a somewhat brief respite from Big Brother's prying eye.

A tribute to space helmets in cinema, set to an intriguing mash-up of The Beatles and David Bowie

Fortoon Cookie (November 1, 2013)

(All "Fortoon Cookie" cartoons are cross-posted at ALittleWhiteNoise.com.)