Intriguing

Things that have piqued my interest this past week:

1. Ants – the caste system: are they really genetically born as workers / army / queen and know from day one their roles in the community and where they stand in the hierarchy? And absolutely no ant can change those pre-determined roles? [Update: Just checked it up - if the egg is fertilized, the ant will be female; if not, it will be male, and the difference between queens and workers (which are both female), and between different castes of workers when they exist, is determined by the feeding in the larval stage.]
2. The Amish – who are they, what are their beliefs, where are they from?
3. Skinless liquid pea ravioli – food-chemistry? alchemy? molecular gastromy! Ferran Adria’s amazing… and I thought Heston Blumenthal's nitro-mousse was cool …(pun intended… ;p, but it was nonetheless yummy).. I can’t believe S scored a reservation at El Bulli for this April!!! *envious*
4. Thaipusam – how does one pierce oneself and not bleed or scar? Is it scientifically / medically possible?