Antares is the 15th brightest star in the sky and is more than 1000 light years away.
Thanks to B. Allen for the e-mail.
22 March 2007
A matter of scale
I got the following series of pics from a friend in an e-mail. I don't know what the accreditation is for these pics, but it certainly gives us an idea of our place in the universe!
Antares is the 15th brightest star in the sky and is more than 1000 light years away.
Thanks to B. Allen for the e-mail.
Antares is the 15th brightest star in the sky and is more than 1000 light years away.
Thanks to B. Allen for the e-mail.
17 March 2007
The Worst Company In America
The Consumerist has a poll on what is the Worst Company in America. This is the Last Round: RIAA vs. Haliburton. What's interesting is that the RIAA is edging out Haliburton as the worst. Other rounds included:
Round 14: RIAA vs Exxon
Advice to Young Men from an Old Man
A no nonsense list. Take it or leave it, but this Advice to Young Men from an Old Man isn't all off.
His energy bill is $0.00
An article from Yahoo about a man who has managed, through a combination of solar, hrdrogen fuel cell and other renewable resources, lowered his energy bill is $0.00. As with most of these stories, which are worthy pursuits, they tuck away the fact that it cost the guy $500,000 to do it.
As an example, for me (admittedly a low energy user) it would take me some 33 years to make the system pay for the $80,000 solar panels versus regular energy!! Naturally, that is a pure dollars calculation, without examining the whole cost of environmental impact, but that is also the way consumers still think.
As an example, for me (admittedly a low energy user) it would take me some 33 years to make the system pay for the $80,000 solar panels versus regular energy!! Naturally, that is a pure dollars calculation, without examining the whole cost of environmental impact, but that is also the way consumers still think.
Music, no headphones
From Ars Technica, comes an article about an iPod headband featuring bone conduction
which allows the wearer to hear the music without the annoyance of earphones.
which allows the wearer to hear the music without the annoyance of earphones.
One Ring to rule them all
An article by David Pogue from the March 15, 2007 edition of the New York Times describing a "new service called GrandCentral [that] can unify your cellphone with phones at work and home and perform many other tricks."
14 March 2007
20 Things You Didn't Know About... Skin
From Discover Magazine comes 20 Things You Didn't Know About... Skin.
30 Strange Deaths and 15 Strange Coincidences
From Neatorama.com comes a compendium of the 30 Strangest Deaths in History. From 2Spare.com comes a list of 15 Strange Coincidences.
The extreme end of stubbornness
A photo from China showing how stubborn people can get. Naturally this could not happen in the United States where the rule of law prevails and legislates against removing access to someone's property. Apparently, the owner does not live in the property, is politically connected, demanded an outrageous sum for the property. He also let it be known that there would be hell to pay if there was damage to his property. Interestingly, note the absence of any infrastructure below the building: no gas, sewer, electric...
The Ten Coolest Numbers
This one is definitely for the geeks. The Ten Coolest Numbers as described by a mathematician.
TB patient locked in isolation
The patient is not ill, just highly infectious and carrying a strain that is extremely drug resistant. But having broken his voluntary quarantine he has lost his freedom and has been locked in isolation.
Africa and Europe set for tunnel link
From BBC comes news that Africa and Europe set for tunnel link, which would mean that one could theoretically go, by car, from the UK to South Africa without going entirely around the Mediterranean Sea.
Jackalopes
In the slightly gross yet fascinating category, it seems that jackalopes are not entirely fictional things, but rather are just rabbits infected with a virus, the Shope papillomavirus, which seems to be spread by insect bites. Here are some pics of cute bunny rabbits made somewhat grotesque by this infection. The virus is limited to rabbits, however there is a human equivalent -- SideshowWorld.com has an article which tell more about the history of the jackalope as well as some pics of the human equivalent. This seems like it is not entirely implausible, as this recently Dugg story from the Yemen Observer about a 102 year old man who has had a horn that began to grow in his seventies, broke off, and kept growing back.
10 March 2007
The World’s Most Important 6-Sec Drum Loop
How important can it be? Well, chances are you have heard it a million times in numerous contexts such as ads and a variety of music. It also was the basis of drum-and-bass and jungle music, despite the fact that it comes from a 1969 B-side song called "Amen Brother" that never went anywhere. This 20 minute video from 2004 by Nate Harrison explains the origins, history and importance of the
world’s most important 6-Sec drum loop.
Even if you aren't particularly interested in that type of music, it is a truly amazing narration.
world’s most important 6-Sec drum loop.
Even if you aren't particularly interested in that type of music, it is a truly amazing narration.
770
The 770 site is an interesting collection of photographs about 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY the origin of the Lubavitch sect of Orthodox Jews and how the building has sprung up across the world.
Medieval Cookery
The Medieval Cookery site has recipes and menus from the dark ages, in the event you want to eat like King Arthur.
09 March 2007
Discount Airfare
FareCompare.com helps you find airline tickets, and discount airfares, but of more interest is that it tracks the historical prices of trips between destinations that you choose for the time in the year you choose so you can have a gauge as to whether you are overpaying.
25 Tips For Better Sleep
From Sleepybed.com comes this article on Tips For a Better Pre-Sleep Ritual.
Time Lapse Video of a Photo Shoot
From One Man’s Blog comes a time lapse video on why celebrity photos look so great. It gives an appreciation for how many people it takes and how much work is involved in getting that photo just right and remember that the next time you pick up a $4 magazine!
Some Hot Cars
The KTR Xbow:
The Tramontana:
The hand-built Zonda Roadster F (only 25 of these will be made so put your order in now!):
And some other nice pics from the Geneva auto show.
All that's nice you say, but do we really need to kill the environment for the sake of going fast in style? If that is you concern, enter Tesla Motors, who have created a 4 second 0 to 60 electric roadster:
Unfortunately, you DO need to kill the environment for at least another year, as the initial run of Teslas, despite their $100,000 price tag, has been completely sold out. Also available for those of you with children is the Tesla Whitestar, 4 door sedan.
The Tramontana:
The hand-built Zonda Roadster F (only 25 of these will be made so put your order in now!):
And some other nice pics from the Geneva auto show.
All that's nice you say, but do we really need to kill the environment for the sake of going fast in style? If that is you concern, enter Tesla Motors, who have created a 4 second 0 to 60 electric roadster:
Unfortunately, you DO need to kill the environment for at least another year, as the initial run of Teslas, despite their $100,000 price tag, has been completely sold out. Also available for those of you with children is the Tesla Whitestar, 4 door sedan.
Mr. DeMille... I'm Ready for my Close Up!
At least, you better be ready, considering the Super-Close Google Maps Zooms that are accessible through regular Google maps using a hidden code...
More alive now than history's dead...errrr wait...
The myth is that there are more people alive now on the planet than all the people who have ever died throughout history. As this Scientific American article, shows that is neither true, nor ever likely to be possible.
Graffiti
On Wallspankers.com, the self-proclaiming website of the "International Sticker Swap and Graffiti Community", comes the art of US graffiti artist REONE (which is better viewed on the site):
Off the street and into the galleries, is the art of Brazillian graffiti artists as featured in the Jonathan Levine Gallery's "Ruas de São Paulo: A Survey of Brazilian Street Art from São Paulo" show. An example is the art of Zezão:
According to the site, "Zezão, 34, is one of the leaders of Brazilian abstract graffiti. His trademark arabesques have roots in the Brazilian style of tagging letters called “pixação”. His most striking works are creations in the São Paulo sewer system and subterranean water ducts." His work reminds me of Aztec embellishments.
More famous is the work of UK artist Banksy, who has his own website and is recognized as a full blown artist with installations in museums, and works for sale, though his fame came from street works such as this small addition to a road sign:
Or this controversial work of Brighton coppers kissing. The work was later painted over by another vandal, and both Banksy and the vandal were fined (as per the article):
Off the street and into the galleries, is the art of Brazillian graffiti artists as featured in the Jonathan Levine Gallery's "Ruas de São Paulo: A Survey of Brazilian Street Art from São Paulo" show. An example is the art of Zezão:
According to the site, "Zezão, 34, is one of the leaders of Brazilian abstract graffiti. His trademark arabesques have roots in the Brazilian style of tagging letters called “pixação”. His most striking works are creations in the São Paulo sewer system and subterranean water ducts." His work reminds me of Aztec embellishments.
More famous is the work of UK artist Banksy, who has his own website and is recognized as a full blown artist with installations in museums, and works for sale, though his fame came from street works such as this small addition to a road sign:
Or this controversial work of Brighton coppers kissing. The work was later painted over by another vandal, and both Banksy and the vandal were fined (as per the article):
Organizing PDFs with iTunes and other means
An interesting article which shows you how to organize your PDF library with iTunes. Although iTunes is not purpose built for this, and there are some annoyances, its a nifty idea.
For those who are more serious about this venture, here is a blog page discussing some other systems for the virtual office.
For those who are more serious about this venture, here is a blog page discussing some other systems for the virtual office.
Whales
From LifeScience.com comes an article talking about the secret language of whales and how scientists have discovered that there are different dialects from different parts of the world (seems we aren't as unique as we like to think!).
And from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, comes an interesting online picture of a whale, at life size. Although the animation starts at the whale's eye, a neat thing to do is to move the navigator to start at the nose, and watch how long it takes for the whole whale to slowly drift by. Pretty awesome.
And from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, comes an interesting online picture of a whale, at life size. Although the animation starts at the whale's eye, a neat thing to do is to move the navigator to start at the nose, and watch how long it takes for the whole whale to slowly drift by. Pretty awesome.
For those who believe privacy exists
This article talks about how easy it is for people to intercept, although illegally, your cell phone texts and calls.
How do you intercept someone else's text message?
How do you intercept someone else's text message?
Google Earth Extreme Series
From the Google Earth Community: Extreme Series
come interesting pics and links to the world greatest extremes: the most vertical drop, the world shortest river(s), the world's smallest park, etc.
come interesting pics and links to the world greatest extremes: the most vertical drop, the world shortest river(s), the world's smallest park, etc.
08 March 2007
Airport Security and Mr Terrorist
Video of an Australian television show's prank, booking flights under the some interesting names...
"Paging Mr. Terry Wrist and Mr. Al Kyder". I wonder if anyone at airport security got fired...
"Paging Mr. Terry Wrist and Mr. Al Kyder". I wonder if anyone at airport security got fired...
06 March 2007
50 Amazing Ads You Haven't Seen
50 Amazing Ads You Haven't Seen from Moronland.net, such as this beauty for Tampax:
And some funny classified ads (scroll the What that f...! logo to move to the next page).
And some funny classified ads (scroll the What that f...! logo to move to the next page).
The Geek's Guide to Getting Free Stuff
The name says it all: The Geek's Guide to Getting Free Stuff.
Pictures of the Aurora Australis
From the website 75 Degrees South comes lovely pictures by Jeff Cohen of the Aurora Australis (or Southern Lights) taken from Halley. such as the one:
05 March 2007
The BluesFear Worm
An interesting piece of online art, where multiple artists keep appending to the artist before creating a long unbroken work of art that you scroll through horizontally. Despite the name, it is not a virus or otherwise dangerous to your computer.
Etching Altoid Tins
SteampunkWorkshop.com's tutorial on how to copperplate and then etch an image onto a Altoid tin.
Should you feel a bit more ambitious, here is Steampunk's article on the Electrolytic Etching of Brass.
Bar Code Art
The bar code art (self-described as art anyways) of Scott Blake, such as this portrait of Jesus. Also interesting are his flipbooks.
Convert Everything
OurPicks.com's article on free programs online that help you convert a file from virtually any format to another.
DaVinci's Manuscripts, ADD, and Car
A compendium of Leonardo DaVinci's extant manuscripts. And a blog entry that reports and discusses a TV show which examines DaVinci's life and concludes that Leonardo had Attention Deficit Disorder. All the more amazing then that he was able to conceive of the automobile. Here is a virtual and material reconstruction of his 1495 drawing (only 3 years after Columbus sailed for America):
Duct Tape is Great For Everything
Just not ducts, according to this California Energy Commission's Energy Myth post. The article also provides a little background history on duct tape.
Drill Teams
The US Navy drill team:
The US Marine Corps Silent Drill team. Unlike the Navy team, the entire program is executed without verbal cues. This men are the gold standard of Drill teams:
The Rifle Inspection up close:
A longer video of the drill from a different perspective. And a link to other videos of USMC Drills.
The US Marine Corps Silent Drill team. Unlike the Navy team, the entire program is executed without verbal cues. This men are the gold standard of Drill teams:
The Rifle Inspection up close:
A longer video of the drill from a different perspective. And a link to other videos of USMC Drills.
Linnaeus' Flower Clock
From the pages of the Kircher Society, comes an article about a clock made out of live flowers. To tell time, you see which flower has bloomed since the plant bloom at particular times of the day.
04 March 2007
A Fractal Cauliflower
The green Romanesco cauliflower, of the B. oleracea Botrytis group, has been commercially available in Europe since about 1990 and is a nice example of fractals in nature:
The Saab Suite
A "ballet" with Saab cars as dancers in an ad from 1988 similar to the Isuzu Gemini TV Ad "Dancing in Paris" that I had blogged earlier.
Durtneck's Let It Slide
Time for a shameless plug: The band that two of my cousins are in. This is their first video, which I thought was really very good for a garage band!
The Morning Glory Pool
The Morning Glory Pool in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The pool's runoff channel is in the upper right of the picture.
And another photo from The Yellowstone Ecology Institute:
This popular thermal pool about a mile away from Ol;d Faithful is a rather large pool, which used to be completely deep blue but is in its current state due to pollution of the pool in the early 1900s as people tossed money and charms into the pool. The yellow fringe has grown as the pool has cooled and yellow colored thermophiles (bacteria) have increased pushing out the blue thermophiles. The pollution causes pools like this to clog and thus cool.
And another photo from The Yellowstone Ecology Institute:
This popular thermal pool about a mile away from Ol;d Faithful is a rather large pool, which used to be completely deep blue but is in its current state due to pollution of the pool in the early 1900s as people tossed money and charms into the pool. The yellow fringe has grown as the pool has cooled and yellow colored thermophiles (bacteria) have increased pushing out the blue thermophiles. The pollution causes pools like this to clog and thus cool.
Black Tie Classics
Black Tie Classics in Stratford, NJ sells classic cars, and has some nice stock. I happened by there once, and made a quick pit stop to drool.
Ultimate Home Theater Rooms
From Tech E-blog comes an article about some The Ultimate Home Theater Rooms that people have built, such as a Batcave theater, a Death Star themed theater and this Opera House theater:
02 March 2007
Darwin’s God: Evolution and Religion
An excellent and fascinating article from the NY Times about the role of evolution in religion. "In the world of evolutionary biology, the question is not whether God exists but why we believe in him. Is belief a helpful adaptation or an evolutionary accident?"
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