May 20, 2013 • 5,280 notes • mjlogue

Every language has its own version of um. French has euh, Korean eum, Finnish öö, Russian eh; even sign languages have signs for um. The fact that most languages have some kind of um suggests that it serves a natural and important language function.

So what is this important language function? Why do people say um? Not because they are nervous. Scholarly studies of the word reveal that the use of um does not correlate with anxiousness or any particular personality traits. Rather, um is used to signal an upcoming pause—usually uh for a short pause and um for a longer pause. The pause may be needed in order to find the right word, remember something temporarily forgotten, or repair a mistake. Um holds the floor for us while we do our mental work. It buys some time for thinking.

Read the full text here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/50173/when-and-why-did-people-start-saying-um-when-they-talk#ixzz2R13HfDuP
—brought to you by mental_floss! (via mjlogue)

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May 20, 2013 • 54 notes • prokastination

prokastination:

Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

May 20, 2013 • 1,566 notes • diannagrons

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May 20, 2013 • 63,376 notes • icanalwaysseeyou

llamallamanewt:

canyousonicme:

melodyoswinpond:

She will be amazing.

River Song’s timeline (so far), in pictures.

I’m really glad someone figured this out and put it in order. =)

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May 20, 2013 • 28,782 notes • hydrogeneportfolio

ikenbot:

hydrogeneportfolio:

Minimal Posters - Six Women Who Changed Science. And The Word.

Sally Motherfucking Ride, y’all.

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May 19, 2013 • 2,413 notes • wildandwild

wildandwild:

Do I understand that you were getting your outfit very dirty, spilling stuff on it all the time? (x)

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May 19, 2013 • 165 notes • mittennetwork

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May 19, 2013 • 5,696 notes • kilikilipowers

jtotheizzoe:

The chemical formulas of various substances used to mimic plant-based aromas and flavors. 

Tastes like science.

May 13, 2013 • 1,205 notes • howdoiputthisgently

WHEN ANOTHER SEMESTER OF SCHOOL PASSES AND I DONT FAIL OUT

howdoiputthisgently:

image

May 13, 2013 • 64,780 notes • jdawnb85

fuckyeahsexyatheists:

Sassy Daniel is sassy.

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May 13, 2013 • 33,283 notes • cupcakereaper

cupcakereaper:

My favorite part about seeing Marvel movies in the theater is when the credits come on and the majority of people just get up and leave and it’s like YES THE WEAK ONES HAVE BEEN WEEDED OUT NOW BRING ON THE EXTRA SCENE

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May 13, 2013 • 650 notes • cassjaytuck

you know what

cassjaytuck:

Read More

May 13, 2013 • 712 notes • thebrainscoop

thebrainscoop:

2013 World Taxidermy Championships

If you are in Springfield, Illinois right now, count me incredibly jealous: the 2013 World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships started yesterday and run through the weekend. The WTC is the olympic equivalent of competitive animal preparation, and the event offers the sculptors and artists the opportunity to showcase their work, view advancements in taxidermy technology, and appreciate one another’s efforts over the last year.  There are competitions for every division from Youth and Novice, to achievements in Freeze-Drying, and - of course - the Master Division, where the winner is awarded a $4,000 prize, some amazing live-mount eyes by Karl Lange and Tohickon (like the Rolls-Royce of glass-blown, hand-crafted eyes), and the honor of knowing you created the most beautiful taxidermy mount in the world. 

There’s also the honorable Carl Akeley award granted to the sculptor who can best exhibit that, indeed, wildlife taxidermy is a valid form of art, and the practice is still alive and well today. 

About the images:

Lowell Shapley keel-billed toucan won the Carl E. Akeley Award in 2011.

Ken Walker’s panda was awarded Best in Show in the Recreations category - the ‘panda’ is actually comprised of the dyed skins of multiple American black bear specimens, seeing as how giant pandas are protected. 

Dennis Harris - “Air Zebra” Lion and zebra won Best in World at the 2009 WTC.  The lioness is only supported in one area, where her tail touches the arm of the zebra.  If that isn’t an incredible feat in animal engineering, I don’t know what is. 

Karl Lange glass eyes

May 13, 2013 • 259 notes • thehpalliance
prepstergrunge: thehpalliance: Minnesota passed marriage equality today! Gov. Dayton will sign it into law this week. Equality FTW! Heck yeah.

prepstergrunge:

thehpalliance:

Minnesota passed marriage equality today! Gov. Dayton will sign it into law this week. Equality FTW!

Heck yeah.

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