June 5, 2017
Carrots, vision and World War II propaganda
It's a fact that Vitamin A promotes good vision, among other benefits, so carrots are good for the health of your eyes. But the idea that carrots help you see at night is purely propaganda, and not from Big Vegetable, but Britain's Ministry of Information, an offshoot of a subterfuge campaign to hide a technology critical to an Allied victory. Sorry Jerry, the UK's secret weapon wasn't orange roots, it was actually Airborne Interception radar (AI). You can find this and so many other facts at the (virtual) carrot museum. [more inside]
Just some animal stuff
24 Animals Sleeping And Cuddling With Stuffed Animals đ± 33 Animals With Stuffed Animals Of Themselves đ¶ Pets Who've Loved The Same Toy Since Forever
Queen of Early Italian Motor Racing
I'm a big fan of car racing and Italy and had never heard of this intrepid woman. She was most active in the 1920s, including in Australia, and even after retiring in her 50s, kept driving in Rome until her death. Brava!
âThe match should be a symbol of peace,â
India, Pakistan and Something Deeper Than Cricket [The New York Times] âThe Indian governmentâs stance illustrates how India-Pakistan cricket games have long been fraught with geopolitical tensions, stemming from the splitting of British India in 1947 into India and Pakistan and from ongoing conflict over disputed regions. The cricket rivalry is often regarded as the fiercest in any sport. When India and Pakistan have met on the cricket field, it has been fashionable to speak of âcricket diplomacy.â And on occasion â notably during Indiaâs trip to Pakistan in 2004, its first in 14 years â the sport has helped thaw relations.â [more inside]
50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love
1967 was 50 years ago, and San Francisco is remembering the Summer of Love. The year actually kicked off well before it was summer, with the 50th anniversary of the Human Be-In in January.
There are many exhibits and events in commemoration, including The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion, and Rock & Roll at the de Young museum, which includes works by under-recognized photographer Elaine Mayes. [more inside]
Over 1000 giant animals gather in one place
This past weekend's Reno-based Biggest Little Fur Con just wrapped up with record attendance (5138, up 40% from last year) and with a mammoth photo of over 1000 fursuiters. If you want to see more details, you can scroll around the 5K super-high resolution version.
If youâre hopinâ for a harbour, then youâll find an open door
On 9/11, a tiny Canadian town opened its runways and heart to 7,000 stranded travelers.
Love this touching story of Gander; revel in it. Because every year, as Sept. 11 reminds America of the unfiltered evil in our world, itâs also necessary to remind ourselves of the human capacity for kindness, selflessness and generosity.[more inside]
Consider if this is a man⊠who dies because of a yes and because of a no
If This Is A Man (American title: Survival In Auschwitz), Primo Levi's memoir of his internment in Auschwitz during World War II, turned 70 this year.
As part of the festivities, London's South Bank Centre produced a live performance of the entire book, read by a mix of humanitarians and actors and with interstitial music based on references in the text. You can hear the entire reading, split into five sections, in this playlist from SBC or this playlist of the episodes as re-upped by the The Times Literary Supplement [more inside]
As part of the festivities, London's South Bank Centre produced a live performance of the entire book, read by a mix of humanitarians and actors and with interstitial music based on references in the text. You can hear the entire reading, split into five sections, in this playlist from SBC or this playlist of the episodes as re-upped by the The Times Literary Supplement [more inside]
I guess Iâd have to start with Buddy Holly
Bob Dylan's Nobel Lecture is now online.
In a lot of ways, some of these same things have happened to you. You too have had drugs dropped into your wine. You too have shared a bed with the wrong woman. You too have been spellbound by magical voices, sweet voices with strange melodies. You too have come so far and have been so far blown back. And youâve had close calls as well. You have angered people you should not have. And you too have rambled this country all around. And youâve also felt that ill wind, the one that blows you no good. And thatâs still not all of it.
In a lot of ways, some of these same things have happened to you. You too have had drugs dropped into your wine. You too have shared a bed with the wrong woman. You too have been spellbound by magical voices, sweet voices with strange melodies. You too have come so far and have been so far blown back. And youâve had close calls as well. You have angered people you should not have. And you too have rambled this country all around. And youâve also felt that ill wind, the one that blows you no good. And thatâs still not all of it.
It's a plant, it's a building, it's Supertree!
Take a look at Singapore's forest of Supertrees in the Gardens by the Bay. Designed to mimic the functions of actual trees, these vertical gardens provide shade, collect rainwater, cool the surrounding area, generate energy and look amazing while doing it.
Everything is awesome
Participating in his own Irish wake, filled with love
Two days before he was scheduled to die, John Shields roused in his hospice bed with an unusual idea. He wanted to organize an Irish wake for himself. It would be old-fashioned with music and booze, except for one notable detail â he would be present...Mr. Shields believed that dying openly and without fear could be his most meaningful legacy â which was saying something. The man had packed five lifetimes of service into one: He had been a civil rights activist, a social worker for children, the head of British Columbiaâs biggest union and, most recently, the savior of a floundering land trust that included 7,191 acres of protected wilderness and historic properties.
At His Own Wake, Celebrating Life and the Gift of Death (Catherine Porter, NYT) [more inside]
What Really Happened with Vista
I think there is a different story to tellâââone that is better rooted in the actual facts of the projects and the real motivations of key parties. This is not an effort at alternative historyâââI have no idea what would have happened if these mistakes were not made but they certainly did not help Microsoft navigate this critical inflection point in the computing industry. -- How Microsoft Vista Failed
Look out for that bear!
It was announced that with the increasing ship traffic through the Arctic, the World Wildlife Fund is being proactive by creating a nautical chart that identifies wildlife hazards as well as traditional hunting grounds (with a caveat to âbe courteous of community boats and hunting partiesâ).
Meanwhile, the people of Adak Island, in the Aleutians, are also being proactive as they position to be an Arctic deepwater port. They certainly have the infrastructure. The former US Navy base still has âhouses for up to 6,000 people, a bowling alley, swimming pool, 400-seat theater, and even a disused McDonaldâs restaurant.â But, it wasn't always this way. [more inside]
The goal of the virus is to spread as fast as it can
As long as you keep your curve exponential, all your sins will be forgotten at the exit. "There is no higher God in Silicon Valley than growth. No sacrifice too big for its craving altar. As long as you keep your curve exponential, all your sins will be forgotten at the exit." [more inside]
Goodbye Wallace: Peter Sallis (1921-2017)
Peter Sallis, famous as the voice of eccentric inventor Wallace in Wallace and Gromit, has died aged 96. A veteran of many TV roles, Sallis was for years best known to British viewers as Norman 'Cleggy' Clegg, the longest-serving cast member of the eccentric sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. But it was as the voice of Wallace, cheese-loving gadgeteer and partner ('owner' is hardly the right word) of long-suffering and silent but equally smart dog Gromit, that Sallis achieved global fame in Nick Park's series of clay animations - a series that won three Academy Awards and, perhaps equally prestigiously, three 100% ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
Nina Katchadourian: Dust Gathering
If you go to MoMA in New York, you can always take an audio tour about the artworks; they are offered in several languages as well as for kids and for the visually impaired. But through this summer, artist Nina Katchadourian has prepared an audio tour about the unwanted element in the museum's collection: the dust. [more inside]
Tabletop Whale
At Tabletop Whale, graphic designer and molecular biologist Eleanor Lutz showcases her scientific infographics, illustrations and drawings. Examples include virus trading cards, colorful butterflies of North America, immunology pop art and a user's guide to muscles. Additional content can be found at the Tabletop Whale tumblr. [more inside]
Q: What's llama's favorite film? A: Llamadeus
By popular demand, here is the first in a series about disheveled animals. They're slimy when they first come out, but they lose their shevel pretty quickly and begin to display their sunny dispositions and other quirky behaviors. Humans notwithstanding, they seem to get along well with other animals (mostly goats, but a few dogs of course). [all videos are ambient noise punctuated by shrieks of laughter and/or disgust] (Llamas previously) [more inside]
There Once Was a Groundskeeper...
In 1998, an obscure Welsh football team was teetering on the edge of losing their professional status and sold to a windshield replacement company for £100. This year they will be playing their seventh straight year in the Premier League. This all has at least something to do with a hooligan in a nine-foot bird costume. How Cyril the Swan Became the UK's Most Notorious Mascot
How do flamingos balance on one foot?
Two biologists in Georgia have discovered that the skeletal structure in a flamingo naturally "snaps" into place when balancing on one leg, making it more energy-efficient for them to balance that way than standing on both feet. Bonus educational nugget: flamingos' knees don't bend backward. Those are their ankles.
Want More Home Runs? This One Simple Trick Will Knock You Out
The biggest change brought about by the Statcast data is illustrating the importance of an uppercut swing that results more often in fly balls and line drives rather than groundballs ... It appears that having a risk-free method of improvement available to all players has had an obvious effect: more players are hitting more home runs. The statistical revelation that has MLB hitters bombing more home runs than the steroid era [WaPo] [more inside]
Anyone who gets hold of the pen & writes history then becomes the winner
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