tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110427342024-03-06T20:44:18.809-08:00Painted OceanUsing the strange power of speech ...Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.comBlogger1091125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-77463419201373462102013-09-15T20:41:00.003-07:002013-09-15T20:41:57.486-07:00Mixing nature with space explorationSometimes the results are hilarious.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEC6zTWT3nuIclam4xzPMLglxAosFRj_Oiiq2T_rYGzxgmVM-qSIXi4IvhmRpFW5z4jmaz5zlvqvh_GZFzr-4YR02NEJQAYkdEMA-UZKxuysC-imZgl3Y-nd99Myto9r36pk5w/s1600/091513+frog+and+LADEE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEC6zTWT3nuIclam4xzPMLglxAosFRj_Oiiq2T_rYGzxgmVM-qSIXi4IvhmRpFW5z4jmaz5zlvqvh_GZFzr-4YR02NEJQAYkdEMA-UZKxuysC-imZgl3Y-nd99Myto9r36pk5w/s320/091513+frog+and+LADEE.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>NASA/Wallops/Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport</i></td></tr>
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Go, frog! Go!<br />
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(<a href="http://www.universetoday.com/104679/absolutely-incredible-photo-frog-launches-with-ladee/" target="_blank">More on this at Universe Today</a>.)Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-62623938789608787522013-08-14T20:15:00.000-07:002013-08-14T20:15:49.173-07:00Pronouncing SandovalWhile <a href="http://paintedocean.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-i-just-bought-for-500.html" target="_blank">reacquainting myself with the classic <i>At Folsom Prison</i> album</a>
by Johnny Cash, something grabbed my interest. I doubt that I noticed
this particularly interesting item way back when I was a kid listening
to my father's copy of this album, but, if I did, I probably didn't
think about it too much.<br /><br />What I find interesting is in the bit just after the song "The Long Black Veil". If you are not familiar with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_Folsom_Prison" target="_blank"><i>At Folsom Prison</i></a>, it was recorded live during a concert in a prison, the actual <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folsom_State_Prison" target="_blank">Folsom State Prison</a>
in California. And Folsom did not shut down for Johnny Cash's concert.
It kept on operating. In the background during some of the songs you can
hear bells ringing (as secure doors are opened, I presume), and in
between songs prison officials make any necessary announcements for the
prisoners. In the recording I have isolated below, one official calls
for a prisoner to go to another section.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyWj41adPNVQlKcIGM2BN4p5En7W4niKHXXH7TwfjGrV-C2Q7DCcxHli0VwLRfBFOpY8uBEj9e5Pok' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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He says the name twice, pronouncing it with a Spanish emphasis and an English "a". Then he spells out the name. And then he pronounces it once again, this time with an Anglicized emphasis.<br /><br />That's curious. Why did he feel the need to call out the name with two different pronunciations and emphasis? It's obvious that the announcement was intended for the ears of the prisoner named Sandoval, but was it a widespread practice in California back in the 1960s (when the album was recorded) to pronounce Spanish names with an English phonology, as the prison official did the last time? Would a Hispanic person back then expect to hear <b>san-DO-vul</b> rather than <b>SAN-do-val</b>, and the official was just making sure the announcement wasn't missed? Or was the official simply unsure if he was pronouncing it correctly in the first place, so he covered his bases?<br /><br />In places that are heavily Hispanic, like San Antonio, Spanish surnames are all over the place, and even white guys like me know how to pronounce them. Some people have problems with <i>ényes</i> and double-r trills (one girl I knew pronounced her name "Aguirre" as uh-Gary because she couldn't trill for the life of her), but the generally accepted practice is to use Spanish phonology with Spanish names, even if you are speaking English. Is it different in California, or was it merely different back then and that's not the case today? I don't know, because I'm not from California, and I haven't been in prison. But I am genuinely curious.Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-83200892901732376072013-08-11T20:48:00.003-07:002013-08-11T20:49:12.571-07:00What I just bought for $5.00This:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtHlvxnm7buFQdbopG-AWsECk-0HTsUEQSzrJ_rubC651Nz8WjxZXcGmIuEcKEbhXQ3eFGL2rAnvvwsNpW_Ve8-qOgahb6l_Anb2VGZ8PCbl8WN7JOL3QUiNi38wTI-TPLeVk/s1600/cover+cash+at+folsom+prison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtHlvxnm7buFQdbopG-AWsECk-0HTsUEQSzrJ_rubC651Nz8WjxZXcGmIuEcKEbhXQ3eFGL2rAnvvwsNpW_Ve8-qOgahb6l_Anb2VGZ8PCbl8WN7JOL3QUiNi38wTI-TPLeVk/s320/cover+cash+at+folsom+prison.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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That's Johnny Cash's <i>At Folsom Prison</i>, one of the most influential albums of my young, tender formative years. It was one of my father's albums, and it was also one of the albums my mother hated for us boys to listen to. So, of course we listened to it on the sly whenever we could.<br />
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And, believe it or not, I never had this complete album in my collection. Until today, when Amazon chose to run it as a special -- just five dollars. For the whole album.<br />
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Childhood memories relived are worth a few bucks, dontcha think?<br />
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Now, excuse me while I go listen to it again. On the sly, for old time's sake.Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-33157289649026223532013-08-07T20:18:00.001-07:002013-08-07T20:18:02.416-07:00On my way backI've been gone too long, and I think I'm on my way back. Hope to see you soon, in the next few days or so.Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-29609867826781114272013-05-02T15:54:00.000-07:002013-05-02T15:54:55.730-07:00Best headline of the day<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Why Is Our Solar System Such a Cosmic Weirdo?"</b></span><br />
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(<a href="http://www.space.com/20942-solar-system-weird-alien-planets.html" target="_blank">from Space.com</a>)Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-79591594460388472552013-03-18T21:35:00.000-07:002013-03-18T21:35:10.099-07:00Hiatus, againI'm going on another, short blogging hiatus. February was crazy busy, and I thought I would have a reprieve in March but it's actually shaping up to be even busier, what with my own kids' stuff and my own family members to keep track of and even some friends who need a helping hand from time to time. In short, it's a very busy time in the household.<br />
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I fully intend to be back, hopefully with a quieter April. In the meantime, here is a photograph of a repurposed tractor seat for you to enjoy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbqYG5zU6mefFl9ieXrcVTgHeq3i3W2yVzncWifWL_3A8QfZ2ESRV20s8QpkGBT3EC0Pt1H5KCTM139yhH99mm_KVFSIj8gWf7t2egdCfsHzWa_UsUGms7FvOeFBsEwsp-RED/s1600/031813+tractor+seat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbqYG5zU6mefFl9ieXrcVTgHeq3i3W2yVzncWifWL_3A8QfZ2ESRV20s8QpkGBT3EC0Pt1H5KCTM139yhH99mm_KVFSIj8gWf7t2egdCfsHzWa_UsUGms7FvOeFBsEwsp-RED/s320/031813+tractor+seat.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-6985819892147175352013-03-04T20:53:00.001-08:002013-03-04T20:53:40.073-08:00What I just finished reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3T2ClvwVYZOg6p3_cc4NbgigQXJmsRoVxDo8OC-6a_HMci-g3X4Zci-S_sGXnwe3W_NF0HQnRchrs_nBfUXxA6NAEdbE6_AEBsIyM0uawLzQbjrmXDsevZ4nxU_3eKIi5kY7/s1600/cover,+forward,+dragons+egg+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3T2ClvwVYZOg6p3_cc4NbgigQXJmsRoVxDo8OC-6a_HMci-g3X4Zci-S_sGXnwe3W_NF0HQnRchrs_nBfUXxA6NAEdbE6_AEBsIyM0uawLzQbjrmXDsevZ4nxU_3eKIi5kY7/s320/cover,+forward,+dragons+egg+2.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dragon's Egg<br />Robert L. Forward<br />1980</span></i><br /><br />I read this book on a recommendation from Alan at <a href="http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blogonomicon</a>. It's a work of <b>hard </b>science fiction, which means it portrays situations based on real scientific principles and theories rather than "soft", magic-like science that gives you convenient plot devices such as transporters, warp drives, and midichlorians. Hard science books don't always make for the best of stories, but they are usually very interesting anyway. As long as they are well written and don't read like textbooks.<br /><br /><i>Dragon's Egg</i> certainly doesn't read like a text book, but it is also not the most exciting of tales. It tells the story of a neutron star upon which life has formed. The dominant animal species on Dragon's Egg (the name of the star) is the cheela, and they live at a highly accelerated rate compared to humans.<br /><br />As the neutron star approaches our solar system in 2050, a human science expedition is launched to study it. As the humans map the the star they make the startling discovery that there is a civilization on the surface, one that is capable of building large structures. The cheela take notice of the human space craft in the sky, and eventually they work out a system of messaging that allows them to communicate in a clunky way. (The human messages appear very slow and drawn out to the cheela, and the cheela messages have to be slowed down by a computer for the humans to understand them.)<br /><br />The humans transmit as much information as they can to the cheela, including the entire contents of an encyclopedia. Even though it takes the humans dozens of hours to transmit all this data, to the cheela it is several lifetimes. In the course of one day, the humans observe the cheela as they absorb human knowledge, grow from a clan society to one of empire, and fianlly take to the stars, surpassing even the humans in their knowledge of the universe. The cheela even give back some of what they have learned, which proves to be beyond the comprehension of their human friends.<br /><br />Very heady stuff. But it's easy to read, too. You don't need a degree in astrophysics to appreciate the theories explored in this book (though it might help), and many of the cheela characters are interesting in their own right, despite being little blobs with twelve eyes. But, in all, the story is not compelling, and the human characters are virtually faceless despite the author's attempt to flesh them out. We see many generations of development in the cheela, but nothing really happens on board the science ship except the gathering of data and the transmission of information. There's a bit of drama involving some equipment work outside the ship, but it doesn't last long, and there's no real sense of urgency in the episode. In short, this is a story of the cheela, and the humans are there just as a framework.<br /><br />If you are interested in how the universe works (as I am), you will probably enjoy reading this book (as I did). But if your sci-fi fare tends to run toward Star Wars or Battle Star Galactica (either incarnation will do), you might want to steer clear of <i>Dragon's Egg</i>.Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-19290827260272584632013-03-01T20:29:00.002-08:002013-03-01T20:29:48.302-08:00Slinging space junkSpace just above earth is crowded with junk. How cool would it be to have a spacecraft that could fling that junk back down to Earth <b>and </b>do it in a cost-effective and fuel efficient manner?<br />
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It would be way cool, that's what. And the Aggies are proposing just that as a way to declutter Earth's orbits. And they are calling it TAMU Sweeper with Sling-Sat.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Aoow-t7qu7k" width="560"></iframe>
(<a href="http://www.space.com/20024-space-junk-removal-sling-sat.html" target="_blank">from Space.com</a>)<br />
Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-63221141706303149022013-02-18T20:48:00.001-08:002013-02-18T20:48:39.596-08:00Saturn viewI watched all those videos of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Russian_meteor_event" target="_blank">that meteor exploding over the Russian landscape</a>, and I was suitably giddy, awed, and a bit frightened, all at the same time. I didn't do a blog post about the event right away, and when I finally got a chance to sit down here and think about it, I thought that everything that could have been said about the event had already been said, and in a better way than I could phrase it. And those images and videos have already made all the rounds and stirred up excitement across the globe.<br />
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But I have seen something that is just as spectacular as a meteor mushroom cloud, and it hasn't received nearly as much media attention. It's this incredible image returned to us by the Cassini spacecraft.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE2UWKr9Q1xretwwz9KpHy0DiG8g5LKkxFrLReaX3AFDQ3rBEKLiOk6fwixXqd2W5HjKzMo1w68i6_oYGc2qXt8QkTxn6oRgNgUS10OjO8Fnb4HtQ4EGpOnVw6pAqdDjSd5h7/s1600/Saturn+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE2UWKr9Q1xretwwz9KpHy0DiG8g5LKkxFrLReaX3AFDQ3rBEKLiOk6fwixXqd2W5HjKzMo1w68i6_oYGc2qXt8QkTxn6oRgNgUS10OjO8Fnb4HtQ4EGpOnVw6pAqdDjSd5h7/s400/Saturn+06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14934" target="_blank">Image</a> courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute.</span></td></tr>
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That deserves at least as much attention as a meteor over Russia. Dontcha think?Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-27620567320632784472013-02-07T19:15:00.000-08:002013-02-07T19:15:12.897-08:00The Mouse's ConquestYes, you've heard about the takeover. Now it's complete, and official. I have gathered the proof today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSi9r4x8GOdJk21K8OTa4iY36vvUZmJw_sHCfD4H6oXqu5dRNEoLQJ8BxYOsmY_6RqW4o2CzZFYWk2npV7fAQTxKqXYTpxBOp8vlNuKGajR-dOq4eLO_pASRPAC8eeFwA1wdW/s1600/020713+disney+screen+cap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSi9r4x8GOdJk21K8OTa4iY36vvUZmJw_sHCfD4H6oXqu5dRNEoLQJ8BxYOsmY_6RqW4o2CzZFYWk2npV7fAQTxKqXYTpxBOp8vlNuKGajR-dOq4eLO_pASRPAC8eeFwA1wdW/s320/020713+disney+screen+cap.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Empire has fallen. To the ---- uh, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_The_Walt_Disney_Company" target="_blank">Evil Empire</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r8lgc4h82e_aWEYUFZHFhyphenhyphenxPVm59ghzdOVnotKEVjcwLu2km45yTOeM-YFE7lxgo5A75kUh1ntIVrcEMP-_XbmIzV7BPdyoD37ChOrA7dSfAvoZyA5gMINuymM_-5WpMSS3E/s1600/020713+disney+screen+cap+02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r8lgc4h82e_aWEYUFZHFhyphenhyphenxPVm59ghzdOVnotKEVjcwLu2km45yTOeM-YFE7lxgo5A75kUh1ntIVrcEMP-_XbmIzV7BPdyoD37ChOrA7dSfAvoZyA5gMINuymM_-5WpMSS3E/s320/020713+disney+screen+cap+02.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Soooo, ---- maybe it won't be so bad?<br />
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<br />Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-59755746635817841722013-02-01T21:17:00.000-08:002013-02-01T21:17:23.493-08:00Thinking alikeWell, hush my mouth and call me corn pone.<br />
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Remember back in December when I argued that <a href="http://paintedocean.blogspot.com/2012/12/poor-peter-parker.html" target="_blank">Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, was needlessly living the life of a poor man</a> because he should be using his genius for the greater good? And getting rich while doing it, thereby supporting his poor aunt and his wife?<br />
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Back then, I said this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Those are web shooters, and Parker invented them when he was just a
teenager. This is a remarkable invention, combining a completely
engineered synthetic substance with precise mechanical operations to
allow the user to SHOOT WEBS!!! Strong, sticky webs that can be
dissolved at a precisely determined time.<br /><br />
WHAT!?!</i>
<i><br /><br />
Why is this invention not being used for all kinds of practical
applications right now? The executives at 3M would have a field day with
this! Or, they would spend all kinds of resources trying to woo
the person who created these astounding gadgets to come work for them.
Why doesn't Peter Parker go to work for such a company -- or even try to
take it over -- and become wealthy so that he doesn't have to worry
about where he will get the basic necessities of life? Why doesn't he
invent other things and sell the patents so that he and his loved ones
can live a comfortable life while he fights crime in his spare time?</i>
</blockquote>
I still stand by that sentiment. But, as the ol' Good Book says, there is nothing new under the sun. Those comic wizards at <a href="http://www.cracked.com/" target="_blank">Cracked</a> just came to the same conclusion, except they did it in a much cooler and funnier way. And I'm sure they got paid for it, too.<br />
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(Jump to 3:27)<br />
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<div>
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<a href="http://www.cracked.com/video_18505_4-reasons-spider-man-secretly-bad-at-his-job.html">4 Reasons Spider-Man is Secretly Bad at His Job</a> -- powered by Cracked.com</div>
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You're an astute man, Michael Swaim. Astute.Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-6101189984051435782013-01-27T12:40:00.001-08:002013-01-27T12:40:44.255-08:00Martian springIt happens, and it does some weird stuff that can only be seen on the Red Planet.<br />
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(<a href="http://www.space.com/19452-mars-sand-dunes-dry-ice.html" target="_blank">from Space.com</a>)Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-25993038603987520402013-01-23T17:55:00.000-08:002013-01-23T17:55:28.781-08:00Accept: Stalingrad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwtZkRjm9bh-qXelWalo93NnXP1CULv2xHRaMg1Rl64lMig46n5zo3xtGxo6fyOnF9Twi3RzvtFA6QYA1BiRel7Gu-4-FJ9dU6HbXX38laCSN2KUy2igflxMVXXEE92qfXS3i/s1600/cover+accept+stalingrad+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwtZkRjm9bh-qXelWalo93NnXP1CULv2xHRaMg1Rl64lMig46n5zo3xtGxo6fyOnF9Twi3RzvtFA6QYA1BiRel7Gu-4-FJ9dU6HbXX38laCSN2KUy2igflxMVXXEE92qfXS3i/s320/cover+accept+stalingrad+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well, here are my initial thoughts on Accept's <i>Stalingrad</i>: Very, very good. My thanks to <a href="http://thesouthtexaspistolero.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">the South Texas Pistolero</a> for convincing me to give it a whirl.<br />
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This is timeless metal/hard rock at its finest. Accept has been around since the mid-1970s, and it's really kind of amazing that they are still around. <i>And</i> that they are still cranking out the heavy music like they do. But, they are, and they're doing a good job of it.<br />
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I haven't listened to Accept much lately, but part of my rock and metal education came from the band's earlier albums, like <i>Breaker</i>, <i>Restless and Wild</i>, their self-titled debut album, and <i>Balls to the Wall</i>. So it's gratifying to see that they can still get together and produce quality material, and that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Hoffmann" target="_blank">Wolf Hoffman </a>still shreds like he used to.<br />
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The current singer, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Tornillo" target="_blank">Mark Tornillo</a>, is a worthy successor for the original screamer, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udo_Dirkschneider" target="_blank">Udo Dirkschneider</a>. Udo was unique, and his contribution to the world of metal is undeniable, but Tornillo works well. At times he kind of sounds kinda like Udo, but at others he sounds a lot like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Johnson" target="_blank">Brian Johnson</a>, and that makes for a fine metal wailer.<br />
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The songs that have struck my fancy so far are "Twist of Fate", "Hellfire", and the title track, though all of them are fun to listen to. This was a good buy to make (especially since I got a cool download deal at Amazon for $3.99!), and I thank the Pistolero for his recommendation. By all means, keep making suggestions!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyWqreA-KnYLBN9xmHx-h_sDfJ14xG0-m62QCLmMlp5KuL79n8ccet8jz0f-23h9JPE3VcNhRIbJ-Y' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-17573736980114929892013-01-21T19:19:00.000-08:002013-01-21T19:19:29.245-08:00Preparing to readI finally received that book that I ordered on recommendation from Alan at <a href="http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blogonomicon</a>. I've just started on it, so I don't have any opinion to share, yet. But here's what the book looks like: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LkZNLOKw7eLxZezMvASGVd5hIXy8yHUZdqiu3zVJ_tPb-Ax9g9EJq70Yipz903Wl4TUVzJMKN1tUnjrXIaEV2nFTbNcIm1nDZ_yszind5X1bze7nvC05oiN5oF-yXlQGSFe3/s1600/012113+dragons+egg+01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LkZNLOKw7eLxZezMvASGVd5hIXy8yHUZdqiu3zVJ_tPb-Ax9g9EJq70Yipz903Wl4TUVzJMKN1tUnjrXIaEV2nFTbNcIm1nDZ_yszind5X1bze7nvC05oiN5oF-yXlQGSFe3/s320/012113+dragons+egg+01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Dragon's Egg</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Robert Forward</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1980 </span><br />
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This book must be out of print, because I could not find any copies on
Amazon labeled "new" that were less than $19.00, and all of the other
copies available were from third-party sources (with new paperbacks
starting at $10.49). So I found a hardcover from some obscure book
seller that came out to only $5.09, including shipping, and I ordered
it.<br />
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Here's what I got in the mail:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUqH6ql_7BETy31AycXsPojBR6cqn97qp_QxsfsnoFS7VbhVUMDWWTrLJeYxkQwqJUd-PV8HqjtzutV9GzycRFaJZfG8uXDVcHd173uhkwAZFMrUVwphWqTWyYBjiZK__Dydk/s1600/012113+dragons+egg+02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUqH6ql_7BETy31AycXsPojBR6cqn97qp_QxsfsnoFS7VbhVUMDWWTrLJeYxkQwqJUd-PV8HqjtzutV9GzycRFaJZfG8uXDVcHd173uhkwAZFMrUVwphWqTWyYBjiZK__Dydk/s320/012113+dragons+egg+02.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look like any particular kind of book to you? Like, maybe a library
book? Awesome, because that's what it is! An old library book!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA34tscIbHagVbPgcXIerwZ0RAEkj-n4yCwv6RpI75PkXbnA4ZrnkvW1LfqC2BkPN0tT417GCXIWq0RwFp6sjOtlsz_u2jdg1nEBugRmkzZEB5Rqs0p2GK43Ex-p0qd3VtN4x/s1600/012113+dragons+egg+03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA34tscIbHagVbPgcXIerwZ0RAEkj-n4yCwv6RpI75PkXbnA4ZrnkvW1LfqC2BkPN0tT417GCXIWq0RwFp6sjOtlsz_u2jdg1nEBugRmkzZEB5Rqs0p2GK43Ex-p0qd3VtN4x/s320/012113+dragons+egg+03.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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My copy of <i>Dragon's Egg</i> by Robert Forward is a discard from <a href="http://library.townofmanchester.org/" target="_blank">the public library in Manchester, Connecticut</a>.
That's kind of cool, I guess. I've never gotten such a deal on a
hardcover book that didn't come from a yard sale or from Half Price
Books, and I'm glad I got this one. But I wasn't expecting to see a
library book show up on my front porch.<br />
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And, bonus surprise? The branch library's name:<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXkcAS-kKs4G17nJwzYU-8P-tnomRbEFo5t3iCDsRh7dV1Q8hzlo3I3gKkTVxH4-49fOAIjNpAUVs2NZN-Ja8R7-35qflaFtsw5idLkx8eaSR3sBUyfBl-GqtamSCetGwwaiC/s1600/012113+dragons+egg+04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXkcAS-kKs4G17nJwzYU-8P-tnomRbEFo5t3iCDsRh7dV1Q8hzlo3I3gKkTVxH4-49fOAIjNpAUVs2NZN-Ja8R7-35qflaFtsw5idLkx8eaSR3sBUyfBl-GqtamSCetGwwaiC/s320/012113+dragons+egg+04.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yep, the colonial city of Manchester apparently has <a href="http://library.townofmanchester.org/intro.html" target="_blank">all of two branches in its library system</a>, and one of them happens to be named after Dick Cheney's daughter, Mary.<br /><br />No real connection to anything the book is about, but something quite interesting to notice, anyway.<br />
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Now, on to the reading ......Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-77922341446834312362013-01-11T18:45:00.001-08:002013-01-11T18:46:11.328-08:00Best Motorhead cover I've heard all day<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3RBSkq-_St8" width="560"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Thanks to Alan at <a href="http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blogonomicon</a> for sharing this.)</span>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-33707116253728152802013-01-10T21:02:00.001-08:002013-01-10T21:02:27.233-08:00Two things I ordered todayBoth came from recommendations from blog buddies.<br />
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This:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXOczOBRdYqDjV5gQnkWz6EJOUXnpv8f382fooIOEUb6vZkIFIGF7VevyVtmohaUJ_Tbp5jHi_h_g8ByUSgNyWi_sveqzxubd27o72gj8OPBaGrPpqcBQXqaaVCZSx1JWaaM4/s1600/cover+accept+stalingrad+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXOczOBRdYqDjV5gQnkWz6EJOUXnpv8f382fooIOEUb6vZkIFIGF7VevyVtmohaUJ_Tbp5jHi_h_g8ByUSgNyWi_sveqzxubd27o72gj8OPBaGrPpqcBQXqaaVCZSx1JWaaM4/s320/cover+accept+stalingrad+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On a recommendation from the South Texas Pistolero at <a href="http://thesouthtexaspistolero.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Live from the Alamo City</a>. (Downloaded and ready to listen to tomorrow on my way to work.)<br />
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And this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S40_qqG8FJCkkYLzBw2fDa3w4s_qnTqmTvVGOzeE65CqtoIaJjrKc-yNe8p47Q-69r6W8jeV1PdfDhICtYRHZ-dpMBasuTmSCQdfGmZ1epjeuHOaWqTwPVA10UJzgXI6zVYz/s1600/cover%252C+forward%252C+dragons+egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S40_qqG8FJCkkYLzBw2fDa3w4s_qnTqmTvVGOzeE65CqtoIaJjrKc-yNe8p47Q-69r6W8jeV1PdfDhICtYRHZ-dpMBasuTmSCQdfGmZ1epjeuHOaWqTwPVA10UJzgXI6zVYz/s1600/cover%252C+forward%252C+dragons+egg.jpg" /></a></div>
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On a recommendation from AlanDP at <a href="http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blogonomicon</a>. (Ordered, awaiting delivery.)<br />
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I've got some listening to do and some reading to do. Check back with you later when I have something to report.Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-62338769219356656862012-12-16T13:24:00.001-08:002013-02-01T21:10:09.955-08:00Poor Peter ParkerWhen it comes to comic book super heros, I was always in the Spider-Man camp, and probably for many of the same reasons everyone else was: Peter Parker is ultimately more relatable to as a person than most other comic book characters. He is a human, not an alien; he is a working man trying to make a living and support his aunt; and he has to deal with the pressures of daily life without the help of hired workers, influential connections, or even a sympathetic public, at times. (I'm talking specifically about the Spider-Man of the comic books before any of the reboots.)<br />
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But, from time to time, I find myself asking this question: Why does he have to put up with his lot in life?<br />
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Why isn't Peter Parker rich?<br />
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He is a genius with incredible engineering acumen, in both the mechanical and chemical fields, and he has proven himself to be a problem solver with critical thinking skills. Why, then, is he working as a freelance newspaper photographer who worries about paying his rent instead of as the head of a major development firm? Or as a well-respected scientist who commands the respect of all in his field while getting tasty grants from the government and tempting offers from all kinds of corporations?<br />
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For the record, Peter Parker invented these:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHOoP7OhnkwRhmyD3l4nAYDZMQHjbmRlm9-XiONCN29fEVaQbU8FjCK0MqGTAd7KK6nuWJXCld9Qz_GScA_d0tATjq11OrpEzzGAyM1ktGEgE5D0eTa0tcz1y3KVdUajGZaE0/s1600/121612a+web+shooters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHOoP7OhnkwRhmyD3l4nAYDZMQHjbmRlm9-XiONCN29fEVaQbU8FjCK0MqGTAd7KK6nuWJXCld9Qz_GScA_d0tATjq11OrpEzzGAyM1ktGEgE5D0eTa0tcz1y3KVdUajGZaE0/s320/121612a+web+shooters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Those are web shooters, and Parker invented them when he was just a teenager. This is a remarkable invention, combining a completely engineered synthetic substance with precise mechanical operations to allow the user to SHOOT WEBS!!! Strong, sticky webs that can be dissolved at a precisely determined time.<br />
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WHAT!?!<br />
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Why is this invention not being used for all kinds of practical applications right now? The executives at 3M would have a field day with this! Or, they would spend all kinds of resources trying to woo the person who created these astounding gadgets to come work for them. Why doesn't Peter Parker go to work for such a company -- or even try to take it over -- and become wealthy so that he doesn't have to worry about where he will get the basic necessities of life? Why doesn't he invent other things and sell the patents so that he and his loved ones can live a comfortable life while he fights crime in his spare time?<br />
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Why is he consciously making the decision live a struggling existence?<br />
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Perhaps he doesn't like big corporations. Fine. He can be that way. But he could still use his genius mind to invent other things with more humanitarian applications. And if he feels guilty about profiting from these enterprises, he can always donate his money to another philanthropic organization to help with another problem. Why does he eschew such success and damn his elderly aunt to life in a crappy apartment?<br />
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Come on, Parker. I expected more from you. And I bet Mary Jane does, too.<br />
<br />Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-68803968322073062532012-12-16T09:49:00.001-08:002012-12-16T09:49:31.874-08:00Coming back around to itWell, this holiday season has been a doozie. I haven't had time to do much of anything, much less keep track of my blogs. But some things are wrapping up, and I'm hoping to have some more free time on my hands. So I'll be popping back in to put some posts down from time to time.<br />
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My next one has something to do with Spider-Man, or Peter Parker, in particular. I'm thinking about it, and I'll share my thoughts soon.Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-10310986703093266102012-10-24T14:34:00.001-07:002012-10-24T14:34:53.820-07:00What I just finished reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dune</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Frank Herbert</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1965</span><br />
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Well, I finally finished Dune. It took me a while, not because it was a long book (though it is) but rather because I've just been so durned busy I've found it hard to find any time at all for recreational reading. But when I could carve out a little time here and there I read it with gusto because it is such a great book.<br /><br />But you know what? I didn't quite remember how it had ended, and when I finally got to the end I was a little disappointed. For all of the superb writing that Frank Herbert puts into this masterpiece the last couple of pages seem rather anti-climactic. There's no real denouement to the story. It just builds to the final duel with Feyd-Rautha, and then it just kinda ends. That's it. Just, the story's over. This epic space drama has been unfolding for 794 pages, and then the final confrontation takes place and ---- roll credits. No real resolution for the grand tale, no tidying up of loose ends, no release of pent up tension. Just a quick "The End", and that's it.<br />
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But I can forgive this abruptness. This is a wonderful tale, and definitely the best of Herbert's works. If you are any fan of science fiction and you haven't yet read <i>Dune</i>, well, get busy! You won't be sorry.<br /><br /><br />
Next up: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_Egg" target="_blank">Dragon's Egg</a>. When I can get to the book store. <a href="http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alan</a> assures me it's a good read.Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-13782408253957835042012-10-02T21:42:00.000-07:002012-10-02T21:42:07.535-07:00Pondering an unusual absence on DuneWell, I'm in the midst of re-reading <i>Dune</i>, one of my favorite books of all time. It has been a while since I last read it, so I'm finding I didn't remember it as well as I thought I did. Some of the scenes I don't remember, and some of them are playing out differently than I recall. Which makes for a very good read. I'm having a ball.<br />
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Frank Herbert was at the height of his talents while producing this work, and I appreciate the intricacies of the plot and the focus in his style. I also love the richness of the universe he has created, and the hard purpose of the characters as they struggle for existence on a barely habitable planet.<br /><br />But for all of Herbert's grand concepts that he sets forth in <i>Dune</i> (terraforming, galactic politics, the metaphorical and literal power of language, etc.), as well as the barely workable ideas he explores (ornithopters, glow globes, still tents, and the like), I find that he left out one very important detail, one that seems as obvious as it is absent.<br /><br />I'm talking about sunglasses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW167IRUPO4334EIjU2KqHJ-9pUydGotDv52p-Ap1X8WA95v4a1ZIU6jxXBsTNiOMFFD8SJeE35KPtciKUuQVhYSkBTdKXdkPO2XgHGOmUM666yFCGSj1lXeaH1bxtdSmlgip/s1600/desert+sunglasses+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW167IRUPO4334EIjU2KqHJ-9pUydGotDv52p-Ap1X8WA95v4a1ZIU6jxXBsTNiOMFFD8SJeE35KPtciKUuQVhYSkBTdKXdkPO2XgHGOmUM666yFCGSj1lXeaH1bxtdSmlgip/s320/desert+sunglasses+01.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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They are not to be found anywhere in <i>Dune</i>. It seems almost a given that people on Arrakis would protect their eyes from the ruthless sun, but instead Herbert goes to great pains to show how exposed everyone's eyes are. The eyes -- and their colorations -- even become a dominant theme in the story. A prolonged existence on the planet and the resultant exposure to the all-present and all-important spice causes a physical change that results in a blue color throughout the scleras and irises of the eyes. The native Fremen have deep blue-on-blue eyes, and newcomers to the planet have traditional eye colorings that eventually become bluer with the passage of time on the planet.<br />
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Herbert exposes the characters' eyes to show how the amount of blue can be seen as an indication of status. In fact, that's often the only body part showing on the Fremen, who are covered in stillsuits, masks, and robes. The deep blue of the Fremen eyes shows that this is a people who have
consumed spice in their diet for all of their lives. In contrast, the lightly tinged
blue eyes of the smugglers show these people are supplementing their
food with off-world fare. And the stark white scleras of Stilgar's
prisoners alert him to the possibility that they may be dangerous, that they might be spies or assassins from off world.<br /><br />And I would think it would be newly arrived spies and assassins that would want to cover their eyes most of all, to not stand out in a crowd. And what's the easiest way to do that? Sunglasses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESwgzzTdFjVrBVC-VMwyRdfQuypjrTLhXp7xr1X899dlzR1aaSuk7go6qHbsz2xwjpAEPxG61cOiRD8ddFnnzcNGlStPFA_izCIzguMZ5ynZ0Trjl6m6ZUPKevN4hSC32OoeS/s1600/desert+sunglasses+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESwgzzTdFjVrBVC-VMwyRdfQuypjrTLhXp7xr1X899dlzR1aaSuk7go6qHbsz2xwjpAEPxG61cOiRD8ddFnnzcNGlStPFA_izCIzguMZ5ynZ0Trjl6m6ZUPKevN4hSC32OoeS/s320/desert+sunglasses+04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And I can't see how anyone on Arrakis would begrudge anyone else the habit of wearing shades on such a bright planet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisENEF-wrCr3cs_PBs7cO6YgiIfbm4Sa84P52TqXKDlw_6MvdoUn6yjNT2iAE0LQm2rr7vsQwIBecW7MGDK4lULIGdTMI0ihRwXoHxllZnxO-NVFlemvHDsxsb3ZM908bMcdLh/s1600/desert+sunglasses+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisENEF-wrCr3cs_PBs7cO6YgiIfbm4Sa84P52TqXKDlw_6MvdoUn6yjNT2iAE0LQm2rr7vsQwIBecW7MGDK4lULIGdTMI0ihRwXoHxllZnxO-NVFlemvHDsxsb3ZM908bMcdLh/s320/desert+sunglasses+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But Herbert didn't see it that way, apparently. He relishes his descriptions of the eyes, and he treasures the way characters respond to each others gazes. Perhaps he did think about including eye coverings but then thought better of it to show how important it was to see the variations in colorings. Perhaps he thought true desert people don't need shades. Or perhaps the thought never even occurred to him. I'm not sure what it is, but I found it a bit jarring when I suddenly realized that all these people on this desert planet were squinting for no good reason. All they needed was a pair of shades.<br />
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Later, when I finish the book, I might give a little review. But, for now, sunglasses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qwbYThApJUs9nAQGewn4NnTv6tVP1QoJUmAt1scbUBqRNM4yBpqBa4w1jPS2ePAKB7AuuL41otrDxtXic22uYtUupivAC0SDLC5R8nrqbJRGDhF5JsEScdmRI7nk0bGgTwBv/s1600/desert+sunglasses+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qwbYThApJUs9nAQGewn4NnTv6tVP1QoJUmAt1scbUBqRNM4yBpqBa4w1jPS2ePAKB7AuuL41otrDxtXic22uYtUupivAC0SDLC5R8nrqbJRGDhF5JsEScdmRI7nk0bGgTwBv/s320/desert+sunglasses+03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-48570510853902703652012-09-26T19:20:00.004-07:002012-09-26T19:20:50.227-07:00Possibly the best headline writtenAt least in a very long time, by an outfit that's <b>not </b>known for publications in supermarket check-out lines.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Nazi-Acquired Buddha Statue Came From Space"</b></span><br />
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<i>It sounds like a mash-up of Indiana Jones' plots, but German researchers say a heavy Buddha statue brought to Europe by the Nazis was carved from a meteorite that likely fell 10,000 years ago along the Siberia-Mongolia border.<br /><br />This space Buddha, also known as "iron man" to the researchers, is of unknown age, though the best estimates date the statue to sometime between the eighth and 10th centuries. The carving depicts a man, probably a Buddhist god, perched with his legs tucked in, holding something in his left hand. On his chest is a Buddhist swastika, a symbol of luck that was later co-opted by the Nazi party of Germany.<br /><br />...<br /><br />The iron man first came to Germany after a 1938-1939 Tibet expedition by zoologist and ethnology [sic] Ernst Schäfer, who was sent to the region by the Nazi party to find the roots of Aryan origin. The statue then passed into the hands of a private owner. </i></blockquote>
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<i>Stuttgart University researcher Elmar Bucher and his colleagues first analyzed the statue in 2007, when the owner allowed them to take five miniscule samples of it. In 2009, the team had the opportunity to take larger samples from the inside of the statue, which is less prone to contamination by weathering or human handling than the outside where the initial samples were taken.<br /><br />They found that the statue is carved from a rare class of space rocks known as ataxite meteorites.</i></blockquote>
(<a href="http://www.space.com/17779-nazi-buddha-carved-meteorite.html" target="_blank">from Space.com</a>)<br />
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Very strange and cool. And I like how the headline sounds overblown but isn't at all. This is meteorite material we're talking about, after all. Who wouldn't want a chunk of it?Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-13922180325834424202012-09-12T17:28:00.001-07:002012-09-12T17:31:03.380-07:00The diversity of AmericaAs observed by <a href="http://xkcd.com/" target="_blank">xkcd</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/sports_cheat_sheet.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Sports Cheat Sheet" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/sports_cheat_sheet.png" title="I would subscribe to a Twitter feed that supplied you with one reasonable sports opinion per day, like 'The Red Sox can't make the playoffs (championship games), but in last night's game their win seriously damaged the chances of the Yankees (longstanding rival team).'" /></a> <br />
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<br />Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-58415222300802635212012-09-08T20:47:00.000-07:002012-09-08T20:47:37.447-07:00Self-portrait morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fuGbWBPKiPqt2azd0uIADUqedmF-bFNZSFT6PLp6XYqmJLefIzQ9UFP5FrBdA6jty-PHDpV_evsjm4mGytK-DD6bU0URFBhGms-ZANW1eE-MQE7JWSGhBjZf0HjE1xxnmWE6/s1600/090812+astronaut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fuGbWBPKiPqt2azd0uIADUqedmF-bFNZSFT6PLp6XYqmJLefIzQ9UFP5FrBdA6jty-PHDpV_evsjm4mGytK-DD6bU0URFBhGms-ZANW1eE-MQE7JWSGhBjZf0HjE1xxnmWE6/s400/090812+astronaut.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_with_Reflecting_Sphere" target="_blank">Escher</a> has nothing on a Japanese astronaut.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(NASA/JAXA image. Hat tip: <a href="http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/07/13736090-the-sun-in-a-spacewalkers-hand?lite" target="_blank">NBC News Photoblog</a>. Original caption: "Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide's self-portrait, taken during a Sept. 5 spacewalk, shows the International Space Station and Earth mirrored in his helmet visor.")</span></i>Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-79830224253034844812012-08-25T13:34:00.000-07:002012-08-25T13:34:16.953-07:00R.I.P. Neil ArmstrongOne of the bravest men ever to walk this planet <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/08/25/astronaut-neil-armstrong-dies-at-82/" target="_blank">has died</a>.<br />
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<i>Neil Armstrong was a quiet self-described nerdy engineer who became a
global hero when as a steely-nerved pilot he made "one giant leap for
mankind" with a small step on to the moon. The modest man who had people
on Earth entranced and awed from almost a quarter million miles away
has died. He was 82.</i></blockquote>
Now, go take on the universe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0BtUIVEfo0nWVyyXdQInPQGnThCLYIxQ6JwV6IEpd6Gwr3JMBczK_PVe_b0GF9HVnLwLeX592CGyqEVJwtTn6DJq8YZvh2bA-pPj14o0zpbZvJ3xgVWt6BWj5HmTba8t1yr9/s1600/Neil_Armstrong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0BtUIVEfo0nWVyyXdQInPQGnThCLYIxQ6JwV6IEpd6Gwr3JMBczK_PVe_b0GF9HVnLwLeX592CGyqEVJwtTn6DJq8YZvh2bA-pPj14o0zpbZvJ3xgVWt6BWj5HmTba8t1yr9/s400/Neil_Armstrong.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
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<br />Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11042734.post-50392331628245353652012-08-22T15:45:00.001-07:002012-08-22T15:46:11.172-07:00Screwing up artThink you've got what it takes to be an artist? Perhaps you should practice your craft for a while, first.<br />
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At least before you start trying to restore old works of art. On your own.<br />
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Without permission.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkx0LYAmQw9EbCJAwuwxGmU4e7Nsn3bn697JoO_2JWV3c06LRB89bO9mbFZyDnC51AWMgq224LqpeX03L8o7NwYE32JtZqbMk6ug-GyKwPZEk2KRYmYQ9dgR9ohnc359iLxeYV/s1600/082212+ent+today,+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkx0LYAmQw9EbCJAwuwxGmU4e7Nsn3bn697JoO_2JWV3c06LRB89bO9mbFZyDnC51AWMgq224LqpeX03L8o7NwYE32JtZqbMk6ug-GyKwPZEk2KRYmYQ9dgR9ohnc359iLxeYV/s400/082212+ent+today,+painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The three photos above tell the tale. The image on the left is the original work, a century-old oil painting of Christ called "Ecce Homo (Behold the Man)" that was painted on a column inside a church near Zaragoza, Spain, by artist Elias Garcia Martinez.<br /><br />Over the years, the work began to deteriorate, as shown in the second image. According to the Centre de Estudios Borjanos, the unnamed amateur artist (without permission from the church, needless to say) thought she could improve the work and set to work with paints and brushes. The third picture is the result.<br /><br />The BBC reports that the woman realized her mistake and contacted Juan Maria Ojeda, a city council member in charge of cultural affairs for the area. "I think she had good intentions," Ojeda told the BBC.</i></blockquote>
(<a href="http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2012/08/22/13417610-i-can-paint-that-wait-no-i-cant-amateur-artist-messes-up-century-old-artwork?lite" target="_blank">from Entertainment on Today</a>)<br />
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E. Gad.<br />
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Good intentions. Pavement. And all of that.<br />
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(Keep your paintbrushes at home.)Albatrosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02156254141379602471noreply@blogger.com0