The Bus Stops Here

Christopher Herwig

Photographs of bus stops all over the former Soviet Union depict the diversity of that empire: http://www.laboiteverte.fr/arrets-de-bus-sovietiques/

Better Beans

In which Uncle Samuel (of no less than the Smithsonian Institution, circa late 1800s) lays down the law for obtaining the perfect cup o' joe: http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2011/10/25/secretary-langley-on-a-really-good-cup-of-coffee/

Awesome by Degrees

A couple of former Apple execs started a new company, Nest, last year: http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCATRE79P4SW20111026 . Now, they're ready to unveil their first creation, a thermostat, and it's hot (video): http://www.nest.com/living-with-nest/index.html#videotour

It's the Teenage Mutant Brain!

A new study suggests there is more plasticity in the human brain ~ and for longer in life ~ than previously thought. IQ can go up (or down) by as many as 20 points: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature10514.html

Things To Do ~ Oct. 28 & Beyond

Oct. 28-Dec. 4 ~ Moonlight and Magnolias, Theatre Palisades, Pacific Palisades: http://www.theatrepalisades.org/

Oct. 29 ~ Halloween Haunt, Rustic Canyon Recreation Center, Santa Monica: www.laparks.com/dos/reccenter/pdf/rustic/brochure.pdf

Oct. 29 ~ 6th Annual Dusk-to-Dawn Horrorthon at Aero Theatre, Santa Monica: http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/6th-annual-dusk-to-dawn-horrorthon

California's No. 2!

Right behind Massachusetts and ahead of New York, Oregon, and Washington State ~ in energy efficiency, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: http://aceee.org/sector/state-policy/scorecard

But Is it Art?

Does a good back story turn an interesting creation into "art"? What IS art? The British founder and curator of the Museum of Everything has staged a retrospective of the works of an American who died in 2005 at the age of 61. While her story may not turn her creations into art (and maybe they already are), it certainly makes a difference in how we view them: http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/10/outsider-art

About Face

Scientists have found distinct facial characteristics among autistic children that could help them pinpoint the cause(s) of the syndrome: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020105914.htm

Stone Mountain King

The Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial in Washington, D.C., is the only one on the Mall dedicated to a non-president, the only one to an African American. It was carved by Chinese artist Lei Yixin and inspired by a line from King's 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech: “With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.”

Background info (video): http://www.news-press.com/videonetwork/1129195271001?odyssey=mod|tvideo|article

A Very Cool Concert

Norwegian Terje Isungset plays instruments he carved from ice (audio slideshow): http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/03/05/norway.ice.music.isungset/index.html
(video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al5jRHjYgrY&feature=player_embedded

FWIW: Escargots à la Face

Watch as young Tom Vincent of the U.K. sets a world's record for the most snails on a human face (bet you can't look away!) (video): http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/

Note the Quote

“Why can we remember the tiniest detail that has happened to us and not remember how many times we have told it to the same person?”                               ~ François de la Rochefoucauld

The Fine Print

Steve Jobs obit as only The New York Times can write it: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/business/steve-jobs-of-apple-dies-at-56.html?pagewanted=all

The Webs They Weave

Malaysian Orange Huntsman; photo by Rebecca Jackrel

Just in time for Halloween, a slide show of Awesome Arachnids: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/slideshows/travel-outdoors/awesome-arachnids.html

Sky's the Limit

An interview with the CEO of Datawind, maker of the Aakash ("sky" in Hindi), the world's least-expensive tablet computer: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-10-06/news/30250549_1_cheapest-tablet-ipad-gprs-module

Living in Trees

Andrea Noti

Superb, outrageously inspired and inspirational tree houses (some with plans and instructions!):
http://dornob.com/design/architecture/tree-houses/



This treehouse, at Beach Rock Village in Okinawa, Japan, is inspired by UFOs and has a transparent floor.

Art & the Brain

Some brain damage can have unexpected effects, like revealing ~ or perhaps creating ~ hidden artistic talent: http://weburbanist.com/2009/07/12/stroke-of-genius-abilities-borne-of-brain-damage/

It's a Gas

 There's photosynthesis, and there's the methane-based food chain, which may extend farther up than previously thought: http://www.economist.com/node/21531418

CRAZY GOOD

Steve Jobs (may he rest in peace) narrates the best commercial not aired: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8rwsuXHA7RA