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Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham		www.phdcomics.com
title: "A friendly reminder" - originally published 3/4/2015 For the latest news in PHD Comics, CLICK HERE!

For those looking to supplement the Brony Documentary, the extended scenes project Bronies 2 is now available on DVD.  The exact description as follows:

MANY STORIES REMAIN UNTOLD. Bronies are a vast, diverse subculture. Every day, more friendships are born, more struggles are overcome, and more unshakeable bonds are formed. For each brony, there’s another unique journey and another story to be told.

This episodic documentary anthology uncovers more of the compelling experiences undertaken by the men and women who have come together from across the globe to celebrate their shared love for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

If you want it, head on down below the break for all the relevant information on it, along with a letter from the producer!

Read more »

The next round of Build a Bear plushies now officially has a release date.  We've been hearing March 20th for about a month now via word of mouth, but today we got official confirmation straight from corporate.

As for specific accessories, Luna and Cadance both have dresses, with a guard captain suit for Shiny. Candybutt also has a cheer leader outfit.

On top of this, Australia should also see them some time around the same time according to an email.

Thanks to PeachyPie, Victor, Swift, and everyone else for sending it over the past few weeks!

White Chocolate & Candied Bacon Macaroons

Coconut macaroons (not to be confused with those snooty Frenchy macarons) are one of the easiest cookies to make. This favorite Easter dessert is often made when Spring is right around the corner. We decided to add some deliciously sweet candied bacon to the mix because bacon and coconut are a scrumptious compliment to each other. We sweetened the deal even further by dipping the macaroons in white chocolate and adding a drop of food color to give these cookies a pastel pink hue. Perfect for Easter!

Trust us when we tell you that these cookies are amazingly addictive. They didn’t last long among the Bacon Today office staff. You can easily omit the flour for a gluten-free version or omit the chocolate for a dairy-free version. This recipe was adapted from Dessertfortwo.com.

Ingredients:

3 strips of candied bacon, chopped
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon flour
pinch of salt
1 large egg white
¼ teaspoon almond extract
1 drop red food coloring
2 oz. white chocolate

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. In a medium bowl, mix together all ingredients except for the chocolate. Using a large spoon, loosely scoop 6 cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

3. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and turn it down to 325° F. Bake for 20-25 minutes and allow to cool completely.

4. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave in 15 second increments. Pour the melted chocolate into a small bowl and dip each cookie in the chocolate. Let chocolate dry before serving.

The post White Chocolate & Candied Bacon Macaroons appeared first on Bacon Today.

Officials in the Department of Environmental Protection in Florida, a state that’s especially affected by climate change, were told they could not use that phrase (or “global warming”) in their communications or reports.

This stunning bit of censorship was brought to light by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting:

“We were told not to use the terms ‘climate change,’ ‘global warming’ or ‘sustainability,’ ” said Christopher Byrd, an attorney with the DEP’s Office of General Counsel in Tallahassee from 2008 to 2013. “That message was communicated to me and my colleagues by our superiors in the Office of General Counsel.”

Kristina Trotta, another former DEP employee who worked in Miami, said her supervisor told her not to use the terms “climate change” and “global warming” in a 2014 staff meeting.

“We were told that we were not allowed to discuss anything that was not a true fact,” she said.

The policy was unofficial, but it went into effect a few years ago when Gov. Rick Scott — who doesn’t believe humans play a role in climate change — took office.

You can see his complete lack of interest in the issue (or his dismissal of it) in this video from August, in which he met with climate scientists over this matter:

So how did this unstated policy play out?

One example is the Florida Oceans and Coastal Council’s Annual Research Plan, put together by DEP and other state agencies. The 2009-2010 report, published the year before Scott was elected, contains 15 references to climate change, including a section titled “Research Priorities — Climate Change.”

In the 2014-15 edition of the report, climate change is only mentioned if it is in the title of a past report or conference. There is one standalone reference to the issue at the end of a sentence that sources say must have slipped by the censors. “It’s a distinct possibility,” said one former DEP employee.

You can’t even begin to solve a problem if the very mention of it gets you into trouble. Of course, no one close to Scott was willing to comment on the matter. The press secretary said the DEP didn’t “have a policy on this,” but the former DEP employees say the policy was well understood, even if it wasn’t officially in the books.

What’s appalling is that most GOP leaders will either claim this is either 1) a non-issue or 2) liberals making a big deal out of nothing. They won’t acknowledge how serious of an issue this is politically and environmentally. It’s a complete abdication of responsibility from some of the highest levels of government — and it’s not even surprising at this point.

(Image via Shutterstock. Thanks to Brian for the link)

Canada’s Yukon territory is well-known for its wide range of cultural and sporting events that attract tourists from all over the world. Perhaps the most bizarre of these events is the International Hair Freezing contest, held at Takhini Hot Springs every year, in February. As the name suggests, the contest has people enter the springs and just wait for the cold air to freeze their wet hair!

In order to win the $150 prize, all contestants need to do is sink their heads in the hot springs that are at 40 C, and then wait  for the freezing outside air to fix their crazy hairdos in place. At temperatures of under -30 C, hair can freeze in under 60 seconds, creating a stunning effect.

In 2016, Mark Twain will be featured on a U.S. commemorative coin.

That’s ironic, says Coin World senior editor Bill Gibbs, because Twain wasn’t a fan of the phrase “In God We Trust,” which will appear on his coin:

Twain said this about the motto’s use on coinage, in a speech he gave May 14, 1908:

“Some years ago on the gold coins we used to trust in God. It think it was in 1863 that some genius suggested that it be put on the gold and silver coins which circulated among the rich. They didn’t put it on the nickels and coppers because they didn’t think the poor folks had any trust in God. … If I remember rightly, the President required or ordered the removal of that sentence from the coins. Well, I didn’t see that the statement ought to remain there. It wasn’t true. But I think it would better read, ‘Within certain judicious limitations we trust in God,’ and if there isn’t enough room on the coin for this… enlarge the coin.”

(The New York Times says Twain made a slightly reworded version of that same statement.)

The point was as clear then as it is now: The phrase just doesn’t belong on our currency.

Maybe someone with a sense of humor will create a design with Twain’s profile laughing in the direction of where the phrase is located.

Now that would be funny.

(Image via Shutterstock. Thanks to Brian for the link)