…to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. Funny, we were there just six weeks ago, and I don’t remember seeing a single newspaper story about it.
Using a synchrotron to read ancient inscriptions
Here’s a story that combines two things I’ve recently written about: synchrotrons and using new high-tech methods to read ancient incriptions (in this case, carved into stone).
You learn something new every day…
I remember being wildly impressed by Silent Running‘s special effects when I saw it–probably on a black-and-white TV, come to think of it–sometime in the ’70s. It was the coolest thing ever between 2001 and Star Wars, man. But only today did I discover that the soundtrack was by PDQ Bach–er, I mean, Peter Shickele. …
Disgusting isn’t a strong enough word
An English family that breeds guinea pigs for medical research has decided to close its farm in the hope that it will convince the sub-human “animal rights” slime who stole the body of a relative from its grave to return their loved one’s remains. I’m a big animal lover, but this almost makes me want …
A batty idea?
How often have you said to yourself, “You know, I sure wish someone would build a robotic bat head.” What? Never? In fact, you say, the whole idea sounds…well, batty? Not too surprising, I suppose. After all, bats have suffered a serious image problem throughout most of western history. (In the Orient, they are often …
The art of retouching
Have you ever looked at a beauty on a magazine cover and thought, “Nobody looks like that in real life!” Guess what? You’re right. Page through Glenn C. Feron’s portfolio. After each image loads, hold the cursor over it to see what it looked like before retouching. In particular, notice the amazing collapsing tummies and …
Worried about getting a house-sitter?
No more fear: Roborior is here.
Crazy president?
Saparmurat Niyazov, president of Turkmenistan, has banned lip-synching in his Central Asian country because of “a negative effect on the development of singing and musical art.” Niyazov banned opera and ballet in 2001 for “not corresponding with the national mentality.” Last year, he called for young people to not get gold tooth caps and urged …
Auroras on the way?
And now time for today’s space weather report: Big sunspot 798 exploded twice yesterday, August 22nd, and hurled a pair of coronal mass ejections apparently toward Earth. Geomagnetic storms are possible when the clouds arrive. Sky watchers should be alert for auroras during the nights of August 23rd and 24th. High latitudes are favored: e.g., …
Promoting demating
“Discovery is Demated,” says the headline to this story. Nothing too special about the story, except…is “demated” a word now? If so, it seems to me it would be a fine alternative to “divorced,” which, after all, sounds a bit harsh, and we all know how important it is not to offend anyone’s delicate sensibilities …
The bat-bot
How often have you said to yourself, “You know, I sure wish someone would build a robotic bat head.” What? Never? In fact, you say, the whole idea sounds…well, batty? Not too surprising, I suppose. After all, bats have suffered a serious image problem throughout most of western history. (In the Orient, they are often …
Animaris Percipiere
Technovelgy.com writes about a fascinating free-roaming clockwork mechanism by artist Theo Jansen that will walk the main square of Linz, Austria as part of the Ars Electronic Festival. Far out. And I mean that in a good way.
My latest live walk and vlog
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