Weekend Links: The 2,000-Year-Old Computer

That eternal elevator conversation fodder, weather talk: Is there a way to make it interesting? The BBC says yes (and I concur!)
*
Check out the interactive map "the Connected States of America," which shows which counties across the country have the highest rates of cell phone and text message usage. Not surprisingly, it's mostly (though not totally) tied to population. Did your county's placement surprise you?
*
There's an extraordinary 2,000-year-old computer that you've probably never heard of. "The Antikythera mechanism was designed to predict movements of the sun, moon and planets. Why isn't it better known?"
*
"High in the Himalayan foothills, fearless Gurung men risk their lives to harvest massive nests of the world's largest honeybee." Haunting and amazing.
*
Simple question with a complex answer: did humans make tools, or did tools make humans? (But not in a Cylon way.)
*
Another question: how does Vatican City deal with criminals?
*
For my fellow soccer fans who find the summer months slow (though not this year - the Euros and the Olympics, huzzah!), here's how Britons deal with the dearth of footie with shin kicking competitions. In fact, the 2012 World Shin Kicking Champion has just been crowned.
*
Haven't you always wondered how to anodize aluminum? No? Well! This video makes it pretty darn interesting.
*
Lovely rainbow origami street art. Far preferable to the lame graffiti I see around here. Inspired now to try some of your own? Here's a great animated tutorial on how to make a paper crane.
***
Stay tuned - more links on the way tomorrow! In the meantime, send you submissions to FlossyLinks@gmail.com.