Anonymous web searches

Arguably, search engines comprise the backbone for harnessing the wealth of information on the Internet. On the flip side, the companies that own these search engines have access to invaluable data about online users and their surf habits. Some of the compromised information may include your IP address, user ID, session data, and search query text. You can only imagine the alarm bells ringing among privacy advocates.

In a move that begins to address such privacy concerns, Ask.com has just added a new feature to its search engine: AskEraser. The feature is available on the main search site, and continually deletes records of search activity when activated. Screenshots and simplified walk-through instructions are now available.

Human hairball

This week's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine includes a short clinical case of "trichobezoar"--roughly translated as a hairball in the stomach. The patient was an 18 year-old woman who had the habit of eating her own hair. After seeking medical advice for 5 months of abdominal pain, doctors found a 4.5 kg hairball in her stomach! Surgery was required to remove the hair.

Seeing is believing: Click to view images. Figure A is a CT image of the hairball in the stomach. Figure B is a view from the inside via a scope. Figure C is the extracted hairball.

Video game marching band

At the recent half-time show between California and Washington State, the UC Berkeley Marching Band teleported us back to the nostalgic days of 16-bit video games. The band performed several skits to the tune of Pong, Tetris, Mortal Kombat, Pokemon, Zelda, and Super Mario Bros.



The concept is not unique. The UC Davis Aggies and other marching bands have featured similar themes at their half-time shows. Although, it seems the Cal version was much more elaborate and challenging to execute. Both performances are still laudable for their creativity, humor, and choreography.

The true origin of hip hop

Just like noodles, gunpowder, and paper, the Far East continues to demonstrate its cultural and technological ingenuity. Little known to the general public, the true origin of hip hop extends to a rural village tucked away in the northeastern recesses between China and Mongolia. A group of National Geographic turned Nokia reporters document their findings in the following video.



For the skeptics out there, I invite you to spend some time reading America's Finest News Source. The truth may be out there.

Welcome to Randomicus!

The world is filled with unique, strange, and interesting tidbits. Through this blog, I hope to catalog an infinitesimal fraction of the traits--and oddities--that make us humans. In simple-speak, these posts will include random bits and pieces that I find while randomly surfing the Internet. Welcome and enjoy!