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| Arcadia Creek, Kalamazoo, Michigan Paul |
A River Runs
Portrait of the Artist As a Street Child
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| Splitty #1 Merijn Kavelaars |
Merijn Kavelaars is a young Dutch painter ~ well, he actually makes short films, too. He is, according to his website, self-taught and recently had showings in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Shanghai. His work is very childlike, busy, and colorful, with more than a touch of the street to it ~ kind of Jackson Pollock and David Hockney meet John Lennon (artist's website): http://www.merijnkavelaars.nl/
Miracles in the Mud
A microorganism with a previously unseen chemical structure and potential to be made into a new antibiotic has been discovered on the ocean floor off the coast of California. First tests show it to be effective in combating anthrax and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263621.php
The Filming of Oflag 17a
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| the camera was hidden in a hollowed-out dictionary screen shot |
Vindication for Night Owls
Yes! We night owls knew it all along, didn't we? And a new study proves it: Night owls rule the roost: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1173028/How-night-owls-cleverer-richer-people-rise-early.html
City Surreal
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| screen shot |
All Beauty, No Beast
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| Wodaabe men show off for women at a Gerewol. Timothy Allen |
Waiting for the Flood
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| Kivalina has a total land area of 1.9 square miles. Bob Hallinen/AP |
'I Could'a Been Somebody'
The quote above comes from a famous scene in the movie On the Waterfront (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QsNXd57Ppw). Reviewing that scene, I see that it completely exemplifies that particularly American yearning described by the author of this excerpt. The following is from delanceyplace.com:
In today's selection -- most Americans resist the idea that they live in a class-based society. But, however fluid, these classes do exist, leaving Americans with a unique challenge in figuring out where they stand in society -- and a unique need to achieve in order to gain respect. And thus "How'm I doin'?" -- former New York Mayor Ed Koch's famous question -- can be viewed as the quintessential American question:
"[When sociologists interview Americans about the subject of class,] being told that there are no social classes in the place where the interviewee lives is an old experience for sociologists. ' "We don't have classes in our town" almost invariably is the first remark recorded by the investigator,' reports Leonard Reissman, author of Class in American Life (1959). 'Once that has been uttered and is out of the way, the class divisions in the town can be recorded with what seems to be an amazing degree of agreement among the good citizens of the community.' The novelist John O'Hara made a whole career out of probing into this touchy subject, to which he was astonishingly sensitive. While still a
In today's selection -- most Americans resist the idea that they live in a class-based society. But, however fluid, these classes do exist, leaving Americans with a unique challenge in figuring out where they stand in society -- and a unique need to achieve in order to gain respect. And thus "How'm I doin'?" -- former New York Mayor Ed Koch's famous question -- can be viewed as the quintessential American question:
"[When sociologists interview Americans about the subject of class,] being told that there are no social classes in the place where the interviewee lives is an old experience for sociologists. ' "We don't have classes in our town" almost invariably is the first remark recorded by the investigator,' reports Leonard Reissman, author of Class in American Life (1959). 'Once that has been uttered and is out of the way, the class divisions in the town can be recorded with what seems to be an amazing degree of agreement among the good citizens of the community.' The novelist John O'Hara made a whole career out of probing into this touchy subject, to which he was astonishingly sensitive. While still a
Lives of the Artists
A Ration of Hope and Hate
This beautiful story offers a firsthand, child's eye view—and, through it, an innocent, very human picture—of food rationing in Beijing in the 1970s: http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/places/anonymous/hope-thin-shell
For the Love of a Cat
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| three bland cats KW |
There is a reason cats have a reputation for standoffishness, and it's that they're standoffish. One of my favorite sayings about this species is "Dogs come when they're called; a cat takes a message and gets back to you later." But cats can be just as loving as dogs. Really! Here are 10 physical indications of feline love: http://www.care2.com/causes/10-signs-your-kitty-actually-loves-you.html
Tricky Dick
RESOLVED, That Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States, is
impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles
of impeachment to be exhibited to the Senate:
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT EXHIBITED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE NAME OF ITSELF AND OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AGAINST RICHARD M. NIXON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF ITS IMPEACHMENT AGAINST HIM FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS
On July 27, 1974, the House began its impeachment of President Richard Nixon, resulting in his eventual resignation from office: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/impeachments/nixon.htm
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT EXHIBITED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE NAME OF ITSELF AND OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AGAINST RICHARD M. NIXON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF ITS IMPEACHMENT AGAINST HIM FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS
On July 27, 1974, the House began its impeachment of President Richard Nixon, resulting in his eventual resignation from office: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/impeachments/nixon.htm
Just Because: 'Midnight's Children'
IMHO, Salman Rushdie is, quite simply, a magician and a genius. Completely beyond his storytelling skill, it's the way he puts words together, his erudition, his immense scholarship, the informed and perceptive way he has of looking at the world. Here's some good background, context, and a conversation with Deepa Mehta, who directed the film adaptation of the novel (print, audio versions): http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182334238/an-epic-of-india-gets-a-canvas-its-own-size
The Perforated Sheet
I was born in the city of Bombay ... once upon a time. No, that won't do, there's no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. And the time? The time matters, too. Well then: at night. No, it's important to be more ... On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact. Clock-hands joined palms in respectful greeting as I came. Oh, spell it out, spell it out: at the precise instant of India's arrival at independence, I tumbled forth into the world. There were gasps. And, outside the window, fireworks and crowds. A few seconds later, my father broke his big toe; but his accident was a mere trifle when set beside what had befallen me in that benighted moment, because thanks to the occult tyrannies of those blandly saluting clocks I had been mysteriously handcuffed to history, by destinies indissolubly chained
BOOK ONE
The Perforated Sheet
I was born in the city of Bombay ... once upon a time. No, that won't do, there's no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. And the time? The time matters, too. Well then: at night. No, it's important to be more ... On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact. Clock-hands joined palms in respectful greeting as I came. Oh, spell it out, spell it out: at the precise instant of India's arrival at independence, I tumbled forth into the world. There were gasps. And, outside the window, fireworks and crowds. A few seconds later, my father broke his big toe; but his accident was a mere trifle when set beside what had befallen me in that benighted moment, because thanks to the occult tyrannies of those blandly saluting clocks I had been mysteriously handcuffed to history, by destinies indissolubly chained
Sit Down and Watch the Stand-Ups
Vulture's list of the 10 comedy stand-up specials to watch includes Abbott and Costello's Colgate Comedy Hour, Kathleen Madigan's Gone Madigan, and Eddie Murphy's Raw. Needless to say, much of it is indeed raw, so check them out at your own risk (story, videos): http://www.vulture.com/2013/07/best-netflix-stand-up-comedy-specials.html
A Bug in Her Ear
Came across this in my online wanderings and, after many minutes of back-and-forthings, decided it should be shared (you can thank me later). I honestly did not know this could happen, though, really, when you think about it ... (story, video): http://www.vulture.com/2013/07/jayma-mays-ashton-kutcher-jay-leno.html
Surviving in Somalia
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| the room in which Judith Tebbutt spend most of her time in captivity |
How Does That Feel?
A new study shows that, contrary to our previous understanding, psychopaths can feel empathy. The difference between them and most people is that they can turn it on and off, and the default position, if you will, is off. This suggests that it might be possible to help people with this condition to switch it on and keep it on: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/2013/07/25/13/16/psychopaths-can-switch-on-empathy
Here, Kitty, Kitty
To all cat lovers who are allergic to cats ~ there is hope! Scientists have isolated the specific cause of your misery, which will lead to a cure: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23436589
Houseboats and Rail Cars and Caves, Oh, My!
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| Kokopelli Cave Bed and Breakfast, New Mexico steamboat323 |
Thank You, Ms. Thomas
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| in her usual front-row seat, 1986 Frank Johnston/the Washington Post |
Great opinion piece by Katrina vanden Heuvel about Thomas and the importance of an independent, gutsy press (column, link to slideshow): http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/katrina-vanden-heuvel-helen-thomass-legacy/2013/07/22/f630fb74-f2f0-11e2-8505-bf6f231e77b4_story.html
Camp Combat
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| screen shot/Luca Locatelli for the New York Times |
P.S., The Chinese won.
Les Américains Barbares
I have been trying to cull my "stuff," and in doing so, came upon an essay I wrote in college that surprised and shocked me. But for a few names, it could have been written today:
Somewhere in our storage room, in some big box, along with
all the family’s other reminders of hectic years, is a bundle of yellowed slips
of paper, each bearing an 11-year-old boy’s carefully handwritten message:
“Please vote for Mr. Kennedy.” He—my little brother—had made many, virtuously
laboring for long days in order to contribute his part to his hero’s campaign.
He had worked hard, but had only had time to distribute one-third of his
leaflets before he heard that not only were they no longer necessary but they
were quickly becoming superfluous to the fast-moving citizens of a fast-moving
country.
But that is his story, and he can relate it better than I
can. I, however, also have a story, one that is quite different, for I was not
in the United States when I learned of Robert Kennedy’s assassination.
Allegedly for the advancement of my fluency in the French language—but, I
suspect, so that I could catch up to my classmates in age before entering high
school—I was locked away (because that's how I saw it) in a school in Switzerland.
It was a difficult nine months, but I came away from them having learned much more than
just another language. For me, academic learning that year took second place to
social learning. My roommate was Iranian, and my classmates belonged to every
country imaginable. We were a miniature United Nations in every aspect except
American Beauty
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| Le Figaro |
Here is a recent interview with Motley: http://reinventingtherules.com/2013/06/20/interview-with-kimberley-motley-the-only-western-lawyer-practicing-in-afghanistan/
'I Just Hope People Won't Give Up'
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| Michael Neugebauer |
The Buddhist Years
from our friends at delanceyplace.com:
In today's selection -- the first great unifier of large parts of the Indian subcontinent was Ashoka the Great (304-232 BCE), who converted to Buddhism after witnessing the bloody horrors of his own wars, and used the moderating influence of Buddhism to help unify the widely different peoples in his realm. He sent missionaries throughout his empire and as far away as Greece and Egypt. This was the first great expansion of Buddhism, which until then had been found mainly in the northeast near where Siddhartha Gautama himself had lived and taught. The size of his empire was not matched within India for another 2,000 years, and he was ahead of his time in enjoining "respect for the dignity of all men and, above all, religious toleration and non-violence." Buddhism continued to figure prominently for centuries more, though it was never as deeply rooted as Hinduism, and was ultimately displaced by Islam, whose promise of
In today's selection -- the first great unifier of large parts of the Indian subcontinent was Ashoka the Great (304-232 BCE), who converted to Buddhism after witnessing the bloody horrors of his own wars, and used the moderating influence of Buddhism to help unify the widely different peoples in his realm. He sent missionaries throughout his empire and as far away as Greece and Egypt. This was the first great expansion of Buddhism, which until then had been found mainly in the northeast near where Siddhartha Gautama himself had lived and taught. The size of his empire was not matched within India for another 2,000 years, and he was ahead of his time in enjoining "respect for the dignity of all men and, above all, religious toleration and non-violence." Buddhism continued to figure prominently for centuries more, though it was never as deeply rooted as Hinduism, and was ultimately displaced by Islam, whose promise of
Family of Man
from wisegeek.com:
The common ancestors of all humans are thought to have lived 2,000-3,000 years ago. The term "common ancestor" is used in the study of human genetic heritage and refers to an individual from which a group is directly descended. It is thought that anyone who was alive about 3,000 years ago is either an ancestor of everyone now on Earth or not an ancestor of anyone now on Earth.
More about human ancestors:
The common ancestors of all humans are thought to have lived 2,000-3,000 years ago. The term "common ancestor" is used in the study of human genetic heritage and refers to an individual from which a group is directly descended. It is thought that anyone who was alive about 3,000 years ago is either an ancestor of everyone now on Earth or not an ancestor of anyone now on Earth.
More about human ancestors:
- All people of European descent are thought to have the first Holy Ruler of
Can't We Just Call it Brukland?
Apparently, we Americans are guilty of not knowing our England from our Britain from our United Kingdom, and the Brits are getting their knickers all in a twist about it. The sub-headline of this article sums up their case: "Some US television networks proclaimed the royal baby news by welcoming
the arrival of the 'future king of England', forgetting about the rest
of the UK." I immediately began to worry about the mistakes I have probably made. And then I turned on The Daily Show, which is temporarily being hosted by the fabulous and brilliant John Oliver, himself a Brit. And what did I hear him call the royal baby but "the future king of England": http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-23423784
Jump-Starting Detroit
It is possible that Detroit's recent bad news could be its best news and could, in fact, eventually make the city a leader in sustainability and efficiency. As the saying goes, sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you do what it takes to save yourself. In this case, the Detroit Future City (DFC) long-term plan may be the "what it takes": http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23918#.Ue79bFMtfgc
From the Archives: RoyalList
Most of my posts are not time-sensitive, and most of them link to
very wonderful things. Because I don't want anyone to miss out on them, I
will occasionally re-post some of my favorites, like this one (and, of course, this particular post is making its reappearance at this particular time because, as you may know, the recently arrived Royal Bébé has not yet been given a name):
Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three.
Edward One, Two, Three, Dick Two,
Henry Four, Five, Six, then who?
Edward Four, Five, Dick the Bad,
Harrys twain, and Ned, the lad.
Mary, Lizzie, James the Vain,
Charlie, Charlie, James again.
William and Mary, Anne o'Gloria,
Four Georges, William and Victoria,
Edward Seven, Georgie Five,
Edward, George and Liz (alive).
Apropos of not much (well, actually, there is a reason I was looking this up*), a little poem English schoolchildren learn to help them remember the names of all the English kings and queens, starting with William the Conqueror (who became king when he defeated Harold II Godwineson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066). A full list, including bios, is here: http://www.britroyals.com/rulers.htm
*OK, last night, I went to see one of my all-time favorite comedians, Eddie Izzard, who sometimes alludes to how we Americans are rather illiterate when it comes to history and the rest of the world. And, so as not to feel too much as if he was referring specifically to me, I decided to refresh my knowledge of English history, starting with the royals. ... Izzard, btw, was in typically fine fettle.
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| Kate & George Alexander Louis (or GAL) Scott Heavey/Getty |
Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three.
Edward One, Two, Three, Dick Two,
Henry Four, Five, Six, then who?
Edward Four, Five, Dick the Bad,
Harrys twain, and Ned, the lad.
Mary, Lizzie, James the Vain,
Charlie, Charlie, James again.
William and Mary, Anne o'Gloria,
Four Georges, William and Victoria,
Edward Seven, Georgie Five,
Edward, George and Liz (alive).
Apropos of not much (well, actually, there is a reason I was looking this up*), a little poem English schoolchildren learn to help them remember the names of all the English kings and queens, starting with William the Conqueror (who became king when he defeated Harold II Godwineson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066). A full list, including bios, is here: http://www.britroyals.com/rulers.htm
*OK, last night, I went to see one of my all-time favorite comedians, Eddie Izzard, who sometimes alludes to how we Americans are rather illiterate when it comes to history and the rest of the world. And, so as not to feel too much as if he was referring specifically to me, I decided to refresh my knowledge of English history, starting with the royals. ... Izzard, btw, was in typically fine fettle.
A Gibbon Named Goliath
A couple of years ago, I took a group of schoolchildren on a field trip to the Gibbon Conservation Center in Saugus (California). We got a personalized tour by the founder, Alan Mootnick, a wonderful man who had been fascinated by gibbons ever since he was a young child and who still and quite obviously felt a special kinship with them as a species ~ and, at the center, with them as individuals. Alan died a couple of weeks after our visit, but his staff continues his work. Today, I got a newsletter from them with a wonderful story about one of their charges:
If you've been following Goliath's story, this young male was born to Chloe (a Javan gibbon) about 15 months ago. Chloe was unable to provide nutritious milk, so Goliath was raised by the staff until he was strong enough to return to his family. Even when hand-fed, he was taken outside to bond with his mother on every sunny day, so they were very familiar with each other as Goliath was growing.
Chloe (Goliath’s mom) shares an enclosure with Ivan, our oldest gibbon (he's 40!). Ivan is Goliath's great-great grandfather! When Goliath visited, Ivan was fascinated … especially when Goliath was still an infant and wasn't very mobile. Once Goliath found his gibbon legs and began to move around, Ivan was pretty tolerant, but
If you've been following Goliath's story, this young male was born to Chloe (a Javan gibbon) about 15 months ago. Chloe was unable to provide nutritious milk, so Goliath was raised by the staff until he was strong enough to return to his family. Even when hand-fed, he was taken outside to bond with his mother on every sunny day, so they were very familiar with each other as Goliath was growing.
Chloe (Goliath’s mom) shares an enclosure with Ivan, our oldest gibbon (he's 40!). Ivan is Goliath's great-great grandfather! When Goliath visited, Ivan was fascinated … especially when Goliath was still an infant and wasn't very mobile. Once Goliath found his gibbon legs and began to move around, Ivan was pretty tolerant, but
Peace in the Valley
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| solar power comes to Spiti screen shot |
Whence War?
Two anthropologists in Finland argue that archaeological evidence from Europe, the Middle East, and western Asia shows that war originated only within the last 10,000 years, taking place more often as states grew and expanded, in the last 4,000 to 6,000 years. The theory has more than its share of critics, however: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/351706/description/War_arose_recently_anthropologists_contend
The Little Prince
So it's a boy for Kate and Wills. As he starts on his journey in this world, barring unforeseen circumstances, he can look forward to a life that not many of us can imagine ~ one of privilege and comfort but also of pressure and constraint, of ivory-tower seclusion but also of unrelenting scrutiny: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23318651
Here's a slideshow highlighting the royal family's many palaces and other residences, complete with interesting trivia: http://www.bbc.com/travel/slideshow/20130710-a-peek-inside-the-british-royal-residences
Here's a slideshow highlighting the royal family's many palaces and other residences, complete with interesting trivia: http://www.bbc.com/travel/slideshow/20130710-a-peek-inside-the-british-royal-residences
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| the State Room of the Royal Yacht Britannia Martin Moos/Getty |
You Are There, Somewhere
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| views of Earth from Cassini (left) and Messenger NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute and NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington |
Once in a Lifetime (and That Might Be Enough)
The giant corpse flower (aka Titan Arum) in Washington, D.C., is blooming! (story, live-stream video): http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/8288/20130722/giant-corpse-flower-blooms-u-s-botanic-garden-d-c.htm
Royal Labor Pains
As we await the birth of Princess Diana's first grandchild (see where my sympathies lie?), a little history about Britain's royal births and the not-always-healthy traditions and fads they started (chloroform, forceps ... ): http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/51781/4-historical-royal-birthing-traditions
Froome To Move
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| Tim Ireland/PA |
It should come as no surprise that, from the year of the first Tour de France to today, the average speed of the riders has risen dramatically. Perhaps less obvious is the fact that both the average number of entrants and the number of those who finished rose steadily over the years (story, chart): http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/07/daily-chart-16
Who Are You?
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| portrait mask from cigarette butt found on Flatbush Avenue screen shot |
Call of the Wild
Scientists have figured out how to identify a wolf by its howl and can now do so with 100 percent accuracy (story, audio, links to videos): http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/23263266
On the Money
from wisegeek.com:
The city with the most millionaires living in it is Tokyo, Japan, according to 2012 estimates by WealthInsight. Tokyo has more than 460,000 people with net assets of $1 million US Dollars (USD) or more, excluding their primary homes. One factor is thought to be that Japan has a higher population concentration in Tokyo, whereas other countries’ millionaire populations tend to be spread amongst more cities. New York is the US city with the most millionaires—more than 389,000, which ranks second in the
The city with the most millionaires living in it is Tokyo, Japan, according to 2012 estimates by WealthInsight. Tokyo has more than 460,000 people with net assets of $1 million US Dollars (USD) or more, excluding their primary homes. One factor is thought to be that Japan has a higher population concentration in Tokyo, whereas other countries’ millionaire populations tend to be spread amongst more cities. New York is the US city with the most millionaires—more than 389,000, which ranks second in the
Good Words
Not normally one for pithy sayings, angels, and belief-systems-of-the-moment, I was nonetheless impressed by the simple, honest truth of these five principles, gleaned from a couple's trip around the world: http://www.inspiremetoday.com/archiveDisp.php?type=0&ref=1908
Beautiful Mothstrocities
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| the Atlas Moth Sandesh Kadur/© Nature Picture Library |
We all talk about the beauty of butterflies, but the amazing variety of colors, sizes, and patterns in the moth family is just as spectacular (slideshow): http://www.care2.com/causes/10-really-really-magnificent-moths.html?page=1
Come Dive With Me
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| Online viewers have a choice of Camera 1, Camera 2, and Quad (above). screen shot |
Experiments in Patience
Called "the world's most durable battery," the Clarendon Dry Pile powers a bell that has been ringing nonstop since 1840. An atmospheric clock at the University of Otago in New Zealand has been going strong, without winding, since 1864. These are just two of seven of the world's longest-running experiments: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130719-tar-pitch-longest-running-experiments-science/#close-modal
'Addicted to Speed'
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| The only thing that counts is winning. © Tomasz Gudzowaty |
The photographs accompanying this article are stellar (slideshow): http://www.redbull.com/au/en/motorsports/stories/1331598081409/til-death-do-them-part
Defying the Odds
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| The team's prosthetic arm passed the test. UC Irvine |
Writing on the Wall
As the inside of the pyramids will attest, the Egyptians have always written on walls. The tradition continues now, with the people sharing their thoughts on the revolution and other social issues, but with paint this time. A journalist takes a tour of Cairo's graffiti (video): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23394472
Their Theremin Show
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| a theremin from analoguehaven.com |
Here's a video of the theremin's inventor, Leon Theremin, playing his instrument: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5qf9O6c20o
The Other Royals
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| King Albert II |
Across the Channel from England, the royal family of Belgium readies for the abdication of King Albert II after two decades on the throne. His oldest son, Philippe, will be enthroned July 21 (story, slideshow): http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/18/business-as-usual-for-belgium-royal-handover/
Wild Thing
The National Wildlife Federation is putting together Hike-and-Seek family events in lots of major cities around the country. While they're taking place this fall, now is the time to register: http://www.nwf.org/Hike-And-Seek/Sign-Up.aspx
Meet Your Mask Maker
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| A mask by Reynolds adorns the tombstone of Malcolm McLaren. screen shot |
Bee Weird
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| 2010 winner Tibor Szabo AP |
The Bigger Picture
Look up at Saturn (or in that general direction) and wave starting at 5:27 p.m. ET on July 19, because that's when NASA's Cassini spacecraft will be taking a picture of our home planet. If you miss that opportunity for your 15 seconds of fame, you can opt for a makeup photo, taken by the Messenger spacecraft orbiting Mercury, at 7:49 a.m., 8:38 a.m., or 9:41 a.m. ET on July 20 (story, video): http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/07/18/smile-youre-on-candid-cassini-camera/2563483/
Motown, Cadillac, and Joe Lewis
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| screen shot |
Dementia Dogs
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| Kaspa with his humans, Ken and Glenys Will from dementiadog.org |
Boarding Area
It sounds like something out of Twilight Zone, and it definitely belongs in the "life is stranger than fiction" department. For the last four months, a young Palestinian man has been living in Kazakhstan's Almaty International airport, closely guarded and unable to leave. A refugee, he was born in Iraq, but his parents died when he was 16 and he has no siblings. He has no visa, either, so he can't enter Kazakhstan, and Israel won't let him into the Palestinian territories. The U.N. has decided he wouldn't be safe in Iraq. So, there he is, subsisting on airplane food and Skyping with a cousin in Norway whenever the airport's sketchy Internet connection fires up: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23350294
You Can't Make a Basket If You Don't Shoot
Basketball players as philosophers? Who woulda thought, but then, here's the proof: http://www.creativitypost.com/psychology/16_things_we_can_learn_about_life_from_basketball
Hiding in Plain Sight
What's it like to be in the government's witness protection program? For a former Las Vegas mobster, one of the hardest parts is having to live with a strong, identifiable Chicago accent he can't seem to lose: http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamtanner/2013/07/17/infamous-mafia-hit-man-tells-how-he-rebuilt-identity-in-witness-protection-program/
Summer Sights
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| Brighton Beach, England, July 7 Reuters/Luke MacGregor |
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| Death Valley, California, July 15 David McNew/Getty Images |
Talk of Ages
Here's a fun quiz. Listen to a voice and guess how old the speaker is: http://www.newscientist.com/embedded/voice-age-quiz
Around the World in 196 Books
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| Ujwala Prabhu |
If you want to try it (or if you're just curious), here's the list: http://ayearofreadingtheworld.com/thelist/
Optimistic Progress on Depression
Four simple questions could be all that's needed to identify women suffering from depression: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/351489/description/Four-question_test_IDs_women_with_depression
The Cause of the Fever
With a new test that distinguishes between viral and bacterial infection by measuring gene activity, we may be one step closer to putting an end to our current damaging over-prescription and overuse of antibiotics: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/351638/description/Genetic_test_fingers_viral_bacterial_infections
Oil's Well If It Ends Wells
Given an Inch, They'll Take a Mile
You'd think that, all things being equal (and drugs being off the table), the Tour de France cyclists can't go any faster and that, in the end, it can only now come down to stamina and luck. But no. There are those who are still managing to find ways to make cyclists more aerodynamic. A millisecond here, a millisecond there, and pretty soon, you're talking real time (story, video): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23312810
In Your Face
The ingredients and history of pepper spray, including the arresting fact that the FBI agent who led the study that approved it as a method of crowd control had taken $57,000 from a pepper spray manufacturer: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/07/pepper-spray-science-and-history.html
After seeing the picture of that Brazilian woman being sprayed, you may be wondering what happened to her: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/i-was-brazil-woman-peppersprayed-in-face-says-protester-8667257.html
After seeing the picture of that Brazilian woman being sprayed, you may be wondering what happened to her: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/i-was-brazil-woman-peppersprayed-in-face-says-protester-8667257.html
Dead Law Standing
Many states have some form of the "Stand Your Ground" law that most of us learned about only on the night George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin. It wasn't invoked during Zimmerman's criminal trial, but it may be at the center of a civil proceeding, if Martin's family chooses to call for one: http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/07/15/202418599/stand-your-ground-laws-under-scrutiny-post-zimmerman-verdict
For a lighter take on the law, see http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/07/florida-considers-eliminating-laws-altogether.html
For a lighter take on the law, see http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/07/florida-considers-eliminating-laws-altogether.html
The Nose Knows
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| GETTY IMAGES |
And, in case you missed it the first time around, here's my post about one of the most compelling (in a beautifully repulsive kind of way) books I know: http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2013/04/just-because-perfume-story-of-murderer.html
For some ideas, see also http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-novel-scent.html
Just Because: 'Brave New World Revisited'
In 1931, Aldous Huxley wrote his famous novel Brave New World (published in 1932). In 1958, he wrote a kind of update to it, which he called Brave New World Revisited. As prescient as BNW was, other than a few technical details, Revisited could have been written today (by certain writers; there are some points I don't really agree with):
In 1931, when Brave New World was being written, I was convinced that there was still plenty of time. The completely organized society, the scientific caste system, the abolition of free will by methodical conditioning, the servitude made acceptable by regular doses of chemically induced happiness, the orthodoxies drummed in by nightly courses of sleep-teaching—these things were coming all right, but not in my time, not even in the time of my grandchildren. I forget the exact date of the events recorded in Brave New World; but it was somewhere in the sixth or seventh century A.F. (After Ford). We who were living in the second quarter of the twentieth century A.D. were the
I
Over-Population
In 1931, when Brave New World was being written, I was convinced that there was still plenty of time. The completely organized society, the scientific caste system, the abolition of free will by methodical conditioning, the servitude made acceptable by regular doses of chemically induced happiness, the orthodoxies drummed in by nightly courses of sleep-teaching—these things were coming all right, but not in my time, not even in the time of my grandchildren. I forget the exact date of the events recorded in Brave New World; but it was somewhere in the sixth or seventh century A.F. (After Ford). We who were living in the second quarter of the twentieth century A.D. were the
It's Beer for Your Ears
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| Do not open immediately after playing! screen shot |
Mysterious Author Unmasked
In case you haven't heard, JK Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series) wrote a mystery book under a pseudonym, it's pretty good, it's now soaring up the charts, and another mystery is in the works. Not surprisingly, she says she had hoped to remain anonymous for a little while longer. So who figured out that "Robert Galbraith" was really she ~ and how? It took a little high-tech detective work: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23313074
A People Apart
from delanceyplace.com:
In today's selection - the Dogon people of Mali. Isolated high in the cliffs of Mali near the city of Bandiagara, you will find the Dogon people, who have one of the most distinctive cultures in the world. Although their religious icons, masks, sculptures and architecture have in some respects become representative of Africa, their distinctiveness came from their intense, centuries-long desire to separate themselves from the dangers of their world:
"We had chosen Bandiagara because all of the tour books had described the little town as the gateway to the homeland of the Dogon, a people fabled throughout West Africa for their flinty independence and unusual lifestyle. Their lore had spread so deeply into
In today's selection - the Dogon people of Mali. Isolated high in the cliffs of Mali near the city of Bandiagara, you will find the Dogon people, who have one of the most distinctive cultures in the world. Although their religious icons, masks, sculptures and architecture have in some respects become representative of Africa, their distinctiveness came from their intense, centuries-long desire to separate themselves from the dangers of their world:
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"We had chosen Bandiagara because all of the tour books had described the little town as the gateway to the homeland of the Dogon, a people fabled throughout West Africa for their flinty independence and unusual lifestyle. Their lore had spread so deeply into
Survivor: Airplane
Not to be a fear-monger or anything, but apparently, there are some things you can do to ensure a better chance of surviving a plane crash (not, I rush to add, that there are many of those): http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-ways-to-increase-your-odds-of-surviving-a-plane-crash.html?page=1
Twelve Syllables With Caesuras ~ Alexandrine
And here's what I learned this morning: The alexandrine is a form of poetry with 12 syllables per line. Technically, it should have a pause (a caesura) after the sixth, with the stress being on the sixth and the twelfth. Alternatively, a line can be divided into three four-syllable sections (see title of post, in case you hadn't noticed!). The form was named after Alexander the Great, about whom a poem was written in this style. It was most popular in French and German and, apparently, not so easy to do in English. One contemporary poet, however, has written a book in alexandrine (and you'll note that the title has six syllables). While there are 12 syllables in each line, she didn't bother with the stressed ones. Can't blame her for that.
from In This World of 12 Months
by Marcella Durand
Your voice carries easily through liquid; bridge is
halved by fog, as your tongue is divided in mist.
The fog of machinery augmented by steam.
Baby, It's Coal Outside (and In)
Is it possible that coal could have a future as a building material?: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2013/07/14/coal-doesnt-have-to-die-we-can-make-furniture-out-of-it/
His Fathers' Name
from wisegeek.com:
"Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States, was given the name Leslie Lynch King Jr. when he was born. He was named after his father, Leslie Lynch King. His mother, Dorothy Gardner King, and his father got divorced within six months after the birth in 1913, and she got remarried in 1916 to Gerald Rudolff Ford. After the marriage, Leslie Lynch King Jr. began being referred to as Gerald R. Ford, but he did not legally change
"Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States, was given the name Leslie Lynch King Jr. when he was born. He was named after his father, Leslie Lynch King. His mother, Dorothy Gardner King, and his father got divorced within six months after the birth in 1913, and she got remarried in 1916 to Gerald Rudolff Ford. After the marriage, Leslie Lynch King Jr. began being referred to as Gerald R. Ford, but he did not legally change
Got Candy?
I see that I am not the only one obsessed with Candy Crush. I am at once gratified (yay! I can keep playing!) and dismayed (oh, s#*&! I can keep playing!!) to learn that I have 356 levels to go before I get to the end of the game ... : http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/candy-crush-saga-is-this-summers-sweet-treat/
Second Coming
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| from physicsworld.com |
Which Quatorze Juillet?
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| the fête on the Champ de Mars |
Opera on the Road
Private ~ Keep Out
Along with all the news coming out lately about our lack of privacy ~ whether that came as a surprise or not ~ comes news of a Swedish company that's working on an instant messaging system that will be completely secure. It will be free, but they could use help at this phase ~ or not: Apparently, they're totally funded now! (story, video): http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/11/heml-is-wants-your-help-in-creating-the-ultimate-minimal-yet-secure-instant-messaging-service/
For more details, check out their website: https://heml.is/
For more details, check out their website: https://heml.is/
The Mouse and He
On the shoulders of giants, indeed. Most of us may not be familiar with the name Douglas C. Engelbart, but we sure are with the invention of the man behind the moniker ~ in fact, we're all using it right now. The mouse. "Visionary" only begins to describe him, and "several light years behind" only begins to answer the question Where would we be without him?: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/technology/douglas-c-engelbart-inventor-of-the-computer-mouse-dies-at-88.html?pagewanted=all
Out of the Mouths of Babes
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| REUTERS/Brendan McDermid |
the
Paul Mathis has an idea, and that idea has a symbol: Ћ . It stands for "the," the most commonly used word in typing. So, Mathis suggests, why not add that symbol to the standard keyboard? Already, that would have saved me six keystrokes in this post alone (I'm counting the ~ oops! eight! ~ title)
(audio): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23270758
Storming the Mount
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| Matthieu Cabby et famille break out les couleurs. James Startt/Bicycling |
For the Tour de France cyclists, it's sure to be the best of times and the worst of times, as they will be climbing the torturous and extremely windy Mont Ventoux on Bastille Day ~ and remember, as this is the 100th Tour, a win this year is particularly meaningful: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/10178212/Tour-de-France-2013-Chris-Froome-ready-for-epic-Bastille-Day-climb-on-Mont-Ventoux.html
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