American Gladiators is coming back!

Just when I retired my blog, cool stuff like this happens! They're bringing back American Gladiators to network television. YES. Says TV Week:

The reinvention of “American Gladiators” is finally under way at NBC. The network is partnering with MGM Television and Reveille for a long-rumored modern update on the campy early-1990s classic.

“This memorable series was once a worldwide phenomenon, and given its built-in appeal, we feel it’s time to reintroduce it to a new generation and take it to a heightened level of excitement for fans of all ages,” said Craig Plestis, executive VP, alternative programming, development and specials, NBC Entertainment. “The ‘Gladiator’ brand is unlike anything on television today, and is event programming at its biggest and best.”

The new “Gladiators” will still have everyday weekend warriors competing against the show’s cast of athletes, but it will add “special effects, water skills and the latest technology,” according to the press release. Also, the show will chronicle the backstory of the competitors as they train for their match.

mahjong.

From the Economist's Hong Kong briefing:

Mahjong menace

Mahjong, a game of skill and chance popular with Hong Kongers, may have unintended side-effects. A report in the Hong Kong Medical Journal has linked the pastime to epileptic fits. The study of 23 patients who experienced seizures mid-game found their epilepsy to be associated exclusively with the playing of mahjong. The authors suggest that the game’s mental demands, coupled with stress of betting and the exhaustion of marathon gaming sessions, can combine to trigger seizures. The best prevention, they say, is to avoid playing or watching the game.

Gotta go tell my moms.

Real World: Earth edition

MTV's "The Real World" is going green.

Maybe Puck will come back and talk about how he's always ridden a bike and that makes him *not* an a-hole. Now that's TV.

Stingray sting

Vietnamese fishermen poaching stingrays off the coast of Malaysia tipped off fellow fishermen to their scheme when they mistakenly flew the Malaysian flag upside-down. nice one.

Read more on the Blue Egg blog today.

top referral.

It's just like Top Chef or something.

Our product development manager told me on Wednesday that he discovered my blog because it was the top referral to the Blue Egg site on Monday afternoon! I was so proud. Of you guys, that is.

Here's a post I did today on Blue Egg's blog about chicken poop saving the environment. Well, sorta.

Read more from me on Blue Egg's blog.

(Illustration by Maira Kalman for Blue Egg. yeah! Maira Kalman!)