OK, this one takes a little explanation. This isn’t technically a photograph. It’s actually the first landscape I rendered with Terragen, a free-for-personal-use landscape generator. I guess it’s been around for years, but I didn’t hear of it until today. I can see I’m going to waste way too much time playing with it, too! …
Category: Blog
Long Pen’s journey into nought
I’m an agnostic when it comes to the virtues of Margaret Atwood’s new invention, the Long Pen, designed to allow long-distance signing of books by harried authors who just can’t make it somewhere in person. (I should have such troubles.) I do, however, confess to a frisson of schadenfreude (to mix languages) upon hearing that, …
More evidence of plant communication
Tobacco plants have been shown to “eavesdrop” on chemical signals released by sage plants under attack from herbivores, and prepare their own defenses, in this latest study of plant-to-plant communication. I wrote a science column on the topic a few years ago that seems to be one of most-frequently referenced columns on my main website; …
Belated Photo of the Weekend: Dancing Princess
More photos here.
Memories hijacked by Hollywood
J. G. Ballard reflects on the movie version of his semi-autobiographical novel Empire of the Sun on the eve of its release on DVD. I loved the movie when it first came out. Ballard liked it too…but can’t help feeling his memories were somewhat hijacked by Hollywood.
Gasoline from cowpies
This is going to make Alberta even richer, isn’t it?
Photo of the Day: Tunnel of Light
More photos here.
Roll-up solar power
Here’s a great idea for people who are away from electrical outlets for long periods of time: roll-up solar panels you can use to charge small electronic devices (or, if you get the bigger roll, even laptops and camcorders). It’d be perfect for, say, a robotic pack mule and prospector. (See previous post.)
What would the ’49ers think?
A company called Boston Dynamics is developing a robotic pack mule called BigDog for the U.S. Military. They’re calling it the most advanced quadruped robot on Earth. Check out the video here. (28MB Windows video.) Next up: a dusty robotic gold prospector able to chew ‘baccy, sing all the verses to “My Darlin’ Clementine,” and …
The most happening spot in the solar system…
…is the new red spot growing on Jupiter. This new companion to the famous Great Red Spot (both are actually giant storms) is officially called Oval BA but unofficially dubbed “Red Jr.” or “The Not-So-Great Red Spot.” It formed a few years ago when three smaller storms collided, but only now has it begun to …
"A Broadway opera"
Paul Sorvino is starring in Frank Loesser’s “Broadway opera” The Most Happy Fella. I played the same role (Tony Esposito–no, not the hockey player) in Regina Lyric Light Opera‘s production of the show in 1997, and it remains one of my favorites.
Photo of the Day: On the Fence
(More photos here.)
My latest live walk and vlog
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