Meet Ununpentium
It's official. The newest addition to the Periodic Table of the Elements is Ununpentium, aka element number 115. It's one of the heaviest elements yet and has a half-life of 173 milliseconds: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/08/unumpentium-the-new-artificial-element.html
The Power of Thought
I don't think I can do any better to introduce this post than quote the first paragraph of this story, which goes like this: "Scientists achieved the first remote human-to-human brain
interface this week, when Rajesh Rao sent a brain signal over the
Internet that moved the hand of colleague Andrea Stocco—even though
Stocco was sitting all the way across the University of Washington's
campus." What follow are more examples of what the brain can do, with a little help from technology (or vice versa): http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130829-mind-brain-control-robot-brainwave-eeg-3d-printing-music/
Nuts to You
from wisegeek.com (and always good to know!):
A cashew apple is the fruit that grows on the cashew plant, which
tends to be more well known for the nuts that grow on it. The cashew nut
actually grows first inside of a kernel, which then develops a small
yellow or red fruit. It is originally native to Brazil but also grows
wild throughout warm climates, especially in South America, Central
America and East Africa. Cashew apples tend to spoil quickly, often in
less than a day at room temperature,
Avaaz Upon a Time
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| Avaaz's Ricken Patel Dan Callister/The Guardian |
From Adolf to Icon
 |
| Getty Images |
Going Home
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| David Good and his mom David Good |
The Crest of a Wave
 |
| The Pearl Orhan Cileli |
Trips for the Rest of Us
 |
| screen shot |
Picturing the Global Small-Arms Trade
This story actually presents two interesting and important phenomena at once: the small-arms trade and visualization technology. Putting together an interactive map of the former exposed some surprising truths about which countries are more active in the import and export of small arms. At the same time, it showed how using the latter makes subjects and information more accessible and easily digestible (for another example of this, see http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/we-all-want-to-change-world.html): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23822086
Home Alone
 |
| Herman's cell Herman Wallace |
It was an email from Amnesty International that got me to this link, a trailer for the documentary Herman's House. The film tells the story of Herman Wallace, who has been in solitary confinement in a prison in Louisiana for 41 years, and of the artist whose journey with him started when she wrote to him with one question. What kind of house, she asked, would a man who lives in a 6'x9' cell dream of? (video): http://hermanshousethefilm.com/
Stranger Than Fiction
 |
| Jason English and his Facts Machine screen shot |
E-I-E-I-O
Walls of Green
 |
| KW |
Not too long ago, I went on a home-garden tour in the nearby town of Venice, CA. One of the houses had a beautiful living wall lining one side of its courtyard ~ and a garden on the roof (see pic). It's not just homeowners who are greening their living spaces this way; commercial concerns are doing the same ~ for the benefit of us all: http://www.care2.com/causes/5-awesome-living-walls-from-around-the-world.html
We All Want To Change the World
 |
| April 1984 screen shot |
'On the Road' Again
 |
| Paul Rogers |
On Aug. 15, "the Mexican girl" who transfixed Jack Kerouac and whom he immortalized in On the Road, died. Her name was Beatrice Kozera (Bea Franco, then), and it was only three years ago that she learned that her fling with the writer in 1947 had become part of a book, or, indeed, that the writer had ended up writing at all: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2397641/Inspiration-Jack-Kerouacs-On-The-Road-Beatrice-Kozera-dies-aged-92.html
Artist Paul Rogers has created an "illustrated scroll" in which he drew a picture for every page of On the Road (he posted each part as he finished it, so if you want to begin at the beginning ~ which, you know, is what Alice's King suggests one do ~ scroll about four-fifths of the way down): http://www.paulrogersstudio.com/index.php?section=news&news_cat=832&d=true
Webs of Wisdom
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| Multnomah County Library, Portland |
Apparently, a fellow named Mike once wrote to author E.B. White (Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, The Elements of Style) asking for some tips on how to have a book published. This is what he got in response (all aspiring authors, take note!):
And here, since we're on the subject, is a wonderful interview with the man (E.B., not Mike) preceded by an equally wonderful essay about a visit to his farm: http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/4155/the-art-of-the-essay-no-1-e-b-white
Worth Rereading
Good things to know, from wisegeek.com:
Refried beans are actually fried only one time, although many people believe that their name implies that they have been fried more than once. Their name, however, is thought to come from the Spanish word refritos, which translates to “well-fried,” rather than meaning that they have been fried and then fried again, or "re-fried." The dish traditionally is prepared by cooking beans, often pinto beans, in two ways. They typically are boiled in water until the beans are softened, and then they are mashed before being fried in lard. Occasionally, the mashed beans might be served as they are
Refried beans are actually fried only one time, although many people believe that their name implies that they have been fried more than once. Their name, however, is thought to come from the Spanish word refritos, which translates to “well-fried,” rather than meaning that they have been fried and then fried again, or "re-fried." The dish traditionally is prepared by cooking beans, often pinto beans, in two ways. They typically are boiled in water until the beans are softened, and then they are mashed before being fried in lard. Occasionally, the mashed beans might be served as they are
Old New World
Here's an interesting poem I found in my inbox today, courtesy of Poem-A-Day. I almost didn't finish it, but then I got caught up in the whole dueling time-space-culture ambiance of it all and saw that it was really, in a straightforward and simple way, saying something very deeply true about the contradictions and similarities of the human condition.
Ode to Lil' Kim in Florence
by Barbara Hamby
We're in a taxi on the way to see Andrea del Sarto's last supper,
which was in the country when it was painted
but is now in the suburbs beyond the old city wall in an ex-convent,
and our driver turns the radio to an English station
playing an American song, yes, Lil' Kim's "How Many Licks,"
and Miss Kim, you are not singing about throwing punches,
but for a while I don't notice because my husband
is talking about where we will eat dinner, but like a bullet
the lyrics penetrate the armor of the city, the fresco, the tagliata
which was in the country when it was painted
but is now in the suburbs beyond the old city wall in an ex-convent,
and our driver turns the radio to an English station
playing an American song, yes, Lil' Kim's "How Many Licks,"
and Miss Kim, you are not singing about throwing punches,
but for a while I don't notice because my husband
is talking about where we will eat dinner, but like a bullet
the lyrics penetrate the armor of the city, the fresco, the tagliata
For the Win
 |
| from africasacountry.com |
Mise en Scène
An abandoned, decaying house in York, Alabama, is razed, and a 100-seat open-air theater is put up in its place. Not just any theater, though. When it's not being used as a free public space for concerts, plays, and the like, it all folds up into the shape and look of a little house again (video): http://vimeo.com/70386286#
Google Autocomplete Is ...
You know how, when you start to type something into the search window on Google, it starts to try to complete your thought for you? Sometimes it works and sometimes it totally doesn't. And sometimes the suggestions it comes up with are humorous or even poetic or both. We have one man on a bus to thank for all of that: http://allthingsd.com/20130823/nearly-a-decade-later-the-autocomplete-origin-story-kevin-gibbs-and-google-suggest/
Those Who Marched
 |
| Leonard Freed/Magnum |
The Sound of Flowers
 |
| Dan Corson |
The installation in action (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmEqESCmsA0
Nothin' But Blue Skies Do I See
A Little Bit of Nature
 |
| Albanese with his head in the (cotton ball) clouds Matthew Albanese |
Sierra Mountain Sigh
 |
| KW |
The lake is at the end of a long valley, surrounded on all but that side by high mountains. It got its current name in 1871. The story goes that, in September of that year, 29 men broke out of the state prison in Carson City, Nevada. Six of them made it to this area, followed by a posse looking to claim the reward for their capture. As you drive up toward the lake, you can imagine the convicts riding along there, looking for a place to hole up. What they found instead was a dead end ~ almost literally, for them, and literally, for three of the posse members, who were killed in a shoot-out. Two of the surrounding mountains, Mount Morrison and Mono Jim, were named after two of them. The convicts were later captured in nearby Round Valley.
Tweeter Tape
Using old clock parts, a UK man has modified the old ticker tape machine to print out tweets! (story, video, lots of pix): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2399953/Edisons-famous-ticker-tape-machine-gets-modern-makeover-Web-developer-invents-gadget-prints-TWEETS.html
Name and Identity
Convicted U.S. Army soldier Bradley Manning wants to change his name to Chelsea, which begs the question, How do adults who are changing their gender pick a new name?: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-23790148
I'll Be Watching You
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| Patty Hearst as SLA member Tania SLA |
Just about everyone of a certain age remembers Patty Hearst and her kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. It was the first time most of us had heard the term "Stockholm Syndrome," which is the name for the relationship that can develop between a hostage and captor. As we're learning through more recent events, it's a very common condition for those in that kind of situation. So the word "syndrome" makes sense, but why "Stockholm"?: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22447726
Ta2 U
Yes, I quickly went through the people I know in this age group, and it stands up to the statistic. From wisegeek.com:
About 40% of Americans age 18-29 have at least one tattoo, and 20% have two
or more tattoos.
It is estimated that 15% of all people in the United States, or more than
45 million people, have tattoos. Tattoos tend to be more common among
younger age groups, with an estimated 40% of Americans age 18-29 having at
least one tattoo and about 20% of them having more than one. In one study,
17% of tattooed people said they regretted getting a tattoo, with the most
common reason being that the tattoo included another person's name.
About 40% of Americans age 18-29 have at least one tattoo, and 20% have two
or more tattoos.
It is estimated that 15% of all people in the United States, or more than
45 million people, have tattoos. Tattoos tend to be more common among
younger age groups, with an estimated 40% of Americans age 18-29 having at
least one tattoo and about 20% of them having more than one. In one study,
17% of tattooed people said they regretted getting a tattoo, with the most
common reason being that the tattoo included another person's name.
Now THAT's a Tat!
How to keep a secret of the universe and all life with you always: http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/04/a-big-universe-deserves-a-big-equation-science-ink-sunday/
Dios Es Allah
"We are a minority within a minority," says Nahela Morales. Indeed. "I will be a Mexican for the rest of my life," she continues. "I'm just Muslim." Morales is one of an apparently growing number of U.S. Latinos brought up in the Catholic religion who are turning to Islam (video): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23774334
The Brain-Body Link
Many schools are cutting back on recess and P.E. classes and at the same time piling on the homework, which gives students even less opportunity to run and play outside. Perhaps now is the time to remember that exercise is crucial, not just to the one's physical well being, but to one's cognitive development as well. From wisegeek.com:
Exercise has been found to improve cognition, research has shown, although it is not known why. Aerobic exercise, such as walking or swimming, has been found to be particularly effective at making the brain think better. It is thought that exercise increases blood flow to the brain, making it easier to think more clearly, because of the additional oxygen the brain is receiving. Exercise also is thought to activate the hippocampus, an area of the brain that contributes to memory and learning. Some scientists believe that having exercise improve cognition might have developed in early humans to help them react more quickly while running for survival.
More about exercise and brain function:
Exercise has been found to improve cognition, research has shown, although it is not known why. Aerobic exercise, such as walking or swimming, has been found to be particularly effective at making the brain think better. It is thought that exercise increases blood flow to the brain, making it easier to think more clearly, because of the additional oxygen the brain is receiving. Exercise also is thought to activate the hippocampus, an area of the brain that contributes to memory and learning. Some scientists believe that having exercise improve cognition might have developed in early humans to help them react more quickly while running for survival.
More about exercise and brain function:
- Aerobic exercise is thought to increase creativity, and many well-known authors, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott and Henry Miller, were reported to have been avid exercisers for this purpose.
- Running has been found to create a feeling of euphoria, known as a runner’s high, but researchers do not know why this occurs.
- Albert Einstein is reputed to have claimed that he came up with his theory of relativity while riding a bicycle.
EcoEducation
 |
| No. 8: Georgia Institute of Technology Rob Felt/Georgia Institute of Technology |
The Sierra Club has released its seventh annual ranking of Cool Schools, which, in this case, means the greenest. Sadly, my alma mater is not among the top 10. Is yours? (slideshow): http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201309/coolschools/slideshow/top-ten-cool-schools-university-california-santa-barbara-10.aspx
The Next Chapter
 |
| Wendy Becktold |
Take That Back!
The other day, a friend told me that she had been witness to a spider in her yard eating its own web. She was sure/not sure that this is what it was doing, because the web disappeared. How else could that have happened ~ and is this possible?: http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/spiders-recycling/
Point and Shoot
Now that we've all gotten over the amazement and elation we've felt about taking camera-quality photos with our phones, it may be time to take the next step. Herewith, reviews of four apps that make the process even better and more creative: http://www.valetmag.com/living/gear/2013/ios-android-camera-apps-080813.php?index1_bottom_module
The Maleficent Cup
On a related topic of interest, the paper coffee-cup sleeve: It seems simple and obvious enough, and yet someone had to invent it: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/design/2013/08/how-the-coffee-cup-sleeve-was-invented/
Color in Black and White
 |
| Paris en Rose Fabienne Rivory |
Hobos and Vagrants and Tramps, Oh, My!
 |
| The attendees assemble. Sarah Feesemann/The Leader |
Contain Yourself
 |
| Keetwonen dormitory, University of Amsterdam ZUMA Press |
Plants and Predators
Amazingly, it seems that a plant can sense an herbivore approaching and will protect itself the best it can: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/14/plants-hear-herbivores-coming-and-prepare/
'The Last, Best Summer of His Life'
 |
| Hemingway, center, with other guests at bullfighter Antonio Ordóñez's ranch, Spain |
Manwich
It sounds like something out of Dune (which, btw, is a great book ~ and I'm not even a science fiction fan): a suit made of plastic tubes through which algae circulates, helping to make a human semi-photosynthetic (story, strange little video as only the Brits can make them!): http://www.ecouterre.com/algaculture-a-symbiosis-suit-that-uses-algae-to-grow-food-from-light/
Beating the Odds
Broken Trust
from wisegeek.com:
Older adults might be more likely to fall for scams because of changes that occur in the brain during the aging process. Research has found that people older than 55 had less activity in the anterior insula, the part of the brain that is responsible for evaluating truth and risk, and were less able to identify untrustworthy faces. Older adults with depression or low social fulfillment might be the most likely to fall for scams. One study
Older adults might be more likely to fall for scams because of changes that occur in the brain during the aging process. Research has found that people older than 55 had less activity in the anterior insula, the part of the brain that is responsible for evaluating truth and risk, and were less able to identify untrustworthy faces. Older adults with depression or low social fulfillment might be the most likely to fall for scams. One study
A Great Head Start
 |
| from clickforbabies.org |
Something To Chew On
Of course, we all have our opinions about genetically modified foods, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, organic food, and the like, and I don't know if this story proves anything one way or t'other. All I know is, it's interesting and that qualifies it to be here!: http://www.non-gmoreport.com/articles/june2013/farmer-experiment-squirrels-prefer-organic-corn.php
My Kingdom for a Morsi
I recently spoke with a lovely woman I know (who just celebrated her
90th!), the mother of a good friend, who, though European, grew up in Alexandria, Egypt. I asked her
about the current situation there, and her answer, not surprisingly, came down to one
thing: the unrelenting, chronic poverty of the people. She saw it then,
and not much has changed. There was sadness, and maybe even a kind of
resignation, in her voice as she told me of the Egyptians' kindness, generosity, humor, and dignity. It was evident that a large part of her heart is still there.
As that county's crisis drags on and seems to intensify and we've now started unofficially using the "c" word ("coup") to describe the latest chapter, do we understand it any better (see http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/egypt-explained.html and http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/whos-who-in-egypt-now.html)?
Here's another good explanation, which focuses on four main players: the old regime, the Muslim Brotherhood, the military, and young activists (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5suNtLwbBw#at=54
As that county's crisis drags on and seems to intensify and we've now started unofficially using the "c" word ("coup") to describe the latest chapter, do we understand it any better (see http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/egypt-explained.html and http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/whos-who-in-egypt-now.html)?
Here's another good explanation, which focuses on four main players: the old regime, the Muslim Brotherhood, the military, and young activists (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5suNtLwbBw#at=54
Waterworld, Texas
The Cartoon, Explained
Feeding the Creatures
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| Karen Paolillo and friends |
Here's a fascinating, more in-depth story about the couple and their life as conservationists in Africa: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/hippos.html
Cat in the Box
I almost called this "Ummm ... What? Redux," because it's an attempt to explain that old Schrödinger's Cat enigma. Does a pretty good job, but what I still don't understand is why it's a big deal. It seems to make perfect sense, but it's called a paradox, so all I think I understand now is that I must be misunderstanding something: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/08/130812-physics-schrodinger-erwin-google-doodle-cat-paradox-science/
Ummm ... What?
Don't you just love long, complicated sentences that don't mean anything? Like this one from a letter to shareholders in which L'Oreal claims it “has made the most of the diversity and complementarity of its presence
in all channels and in all regions to take advantage of the sectors
which are accelerating.” This is what Rittenhouse Rankings calls FOG, or “fact-deficient, obfuscating, generalities,” and the corporate communications consulting firm has ranked companies according to their degree of it (story, slideshow): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/10/secretive-companies_n_3737063.html?ir=Business
Hello. My Name Is ___________
"The word 'Messiah' is a title, and it's a title that has only been earned by one person, and that one person is Jesus Christ," said Tennessee Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew by way of explaining her order that a little boy's name be legally changed from Messiah to Martin. There are other names that have not made it past the courts, too, and not all in Tennessee. Oddly, Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 was OK. Here's the story, from mentalfloss.com:
This week, a Tennessee judge ruled that a mother couldn't name her son "Messiah." Name bans are uncommon in the U.S., but around the world, it's a different story.
In 2008, a New Zealand family was ordered to rename their 9-year-old
daughter from "Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii." Other names banned in
Kiwi Country include "4Real," "Mafia No Fear," and "V8." Strangely,
"Number 16 Bus Shelter" is perfectly okay.
Malaysia and Sweden have also dropped the hammer on bizarre names. In
2006, Malaysian authorities cracked down on a couple that named their
baby "Chow Tow" -- which translates to "Smelly Head" in Cantonese.
Meanwhile, Sweden enforces a strict naming law, which prompted a
protesting couple to name their child
"Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116." (If you're wondering,
it's pronounced, "Albin.")
The Good, the Bad, and the Ukulele
I dreamed I saw James Hill last night (Joan Baez fans will get that reference). Anyway, here are a couple of great ukulele videos, one is of James Hill's encore using comb and chopsticks (if you don't have time for the whole thing and want to cut to the chase, FF to 3:50), and the other, beneath it, is of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's rendition of the theme from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/11/hip-hop-ukulele_n_3733804.html?ir=Arts
A Mosquito Flies By
Can there be many worse sounds in the middle of the night than the high-pitched whine of a mosquito circling for a landing? I'll answer that: No. A new product, called the Kite Patch, is in the works. It will supposedly make one "invisible" to the little suckers by blocking their carbon dioxide detectors (story, video, slideshow): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/kite-patch_n_3714551.html
1520 Sedgwick Avenue
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| DJ Kool Herc is credited with being the father of hip-hop. |
Green Markers
Markers can be recycled! Who knew? Crayola is now working with a company that turns the waste plastic into diesel and other liquid fuels ~ and the idea came from a group of California schoolchildren!: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/viewart/20130806/BUSINESS/308060063/Recycling-Fuel-Crayola-JBI-Inc-
Bright Lights
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| above Tecate, Baja California Reuters |
Museum of the Absurd
In an elevator shaft in New York City, there sits a little (well, it would have to be, wouldn't it?) museum called Museum. On exhibit are intriguing detritus from modern life here on Earth, including part of a potato-chip bag collection, Mars rocks, and the very shoe (so they say) that was hurled at President George W. Bush: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/nyregion/museum-all-60-square-feet-of-it-celebrates-the-eccentric.html?hp&_r=0
The Things We Keep
 |
| Statue of Liberty souvenir, made in 1885 |
Poems for Sale
 |
| Katie Falkenberg |
Game On
 |
| Danny's in. from GosuGamers.net |
There's old-school sports, like, you know, baseball, football, basketball ~ and then there's eSports, like League of Legends. The latter just became officially recognized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Champion player Danny Le, a citizen of Canada but hoping to be part of a U.S. League team, was granted a P-1A visa, just like foreign-born, non-green-card-holding Dodgers team members: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-online-gamers-20130808,0,2878956.story
A Time and Place
 |
| screen shot |
 |
| screen shot |
Breaking the Fast
 |
| in Bangladesh screen shot |
It's No Joke
Talk about a tough crowd: A female North Korean comedian was just sentenced to hard labor for an undisclosed slip-up during a stand-up routine. She was hustled away mid-show, with no time to pack or notify family: http://www.ibtimes.com/north-korean-comedian-lee-choon-hong-sentenced-hard-labor-sensitive-comments-1374187
Those Persnickety Poisons
 |
| from visualphotos.com |
This should come as no surprise, but it is fascinating (in the car accident kind of way) nonetheless. As a result of a recent study, we can now determine rather accurately a person's socio-economic level from the types of toxins in that person's body ~ and vice versa: http://qz.com/111834/the-rich-are-different-from-you-and-me-their-bodies-contain-unique-chemical-pollutants/
Sunny Side Up
Approximately every 11 years, the sun's polar magnetic fields flip, and scientists say they're about to do so again in the next couple of months. The effects of this 180-degree switch ripple out to the far reaches of the heliosphere (video): http://www.space.com/22264-sun-s-magnetic-field-will-soon-flip-stormy-space-weather-ahead-video.html
Living Down Under
 |
| Dani Ridge House, Big Sur, California Studio Schicketanz |
Student Needs an Apple
 |
| Kieran Youngman screen shot |
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
 |
| That's Scott on the left. NASA TV |
The Other Magic Kingdom
The Exploratorium moved from its beautiful home in the Palace of Fine Arts to Pier 15 not too long ago (http://somanyinterestingthings.blogspot.com/2013/03/exploratorium-from-palace-to-pier.html), and I haven't seen it there, but by all accounts, it's just as special ~ maybe even more so, as it has more room in which to excite. Here is a great interview with its executive director, Dennis Bartels: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-morrison-bartels-20130807,0,41567.column?page=1
This is the Exploratorium's youtube site, which includes a delightful look at the Tinkerer's Clock and its inventor, British artist Tim Hunkin. Speaking of magic!: http://www.youtube.com/user/Exploratorium
Crawling to Tibet
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| screen shot |
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