When Sophia Stewart (aka Zenia Kavala) went to see the movie, "The Matrix", in 1999, she discovered what she considered plagiarism.
In subsequent legal action, Stewart alleged that the movies "The Matrix" (I, II, and III) and "The Terminator" borrowed from her own life and work, particularly her 1981 work, "The Third Eye".
Those movies were produced by Warner Brothers, part of the mega-media conglomerate AOL-Time Warner.
Apparently Stewart is a gifted visionary, adept at mathematics and possessing a knowledge of history derived from spiritual revelation. She claims to be a practitioner of astral projection. You can read some of her own remarks here.
Looks like Stewart may be starting to get some justice. Reports are just out that she won a legal case. You can read details here. Similar reporting, but with link to interview with Stewart, is here.
We might need to reserve judgment on the truthfulness of these reports, however, as there is already a history of similar reports in the category of "urban legend".
Indeed, an article on Wikipedia claims that her lawsuit was dismissed in June 2005. Was another claim introduced since then, with positive results only now? As always, we must get independent verification. I'm sure this will all become clear in the days ahead!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail, a 2178.3-mile footpath extending from Maine to Georgia, is a popular destination for lovers of nature. It is also a destination for people wanting to test their outdoor skills, including hiking, camping, and wilderness navigation.
Those hiking the entire trail will move about 5 million steps! It's estimated that about 400 to 500 hike the entire length each year.
Here is an interesting short account of a hiker who went the distance recently.
The National Geographic cable channel just aired a program earlier tonight (Nov 10) called America's Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail. The program is set to air again at 4 pm (EST) on Tuesday, November 17.
It seems you can see a bit of video from this program here.
For anyone serious about doing the full hike, there is a nice 4-part series at Trailspace.com on planning for such an endeavor. See it here.
While the above article series lists many good resources, a key site is www.appalachiantrail.org, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. There you can find official trail guides and maps, the Appalachian Trail Data Book, and the AT Thru-Hikers’ Companion, both updated annually. Check out the additional member benefits.
News: a federal grant to help preserve 1,000 acres of land along a stretch of the trail in Vermont was recently awarded. See the report here. It's good to know the trail is being conserved. I'm sure more work is needed, especially in remote areas.
If you hike the trail, be prepared to meet hikers along the way, and make some friends. Also be prepared to navigate the trail through many climates and ecosystems. In some areas there are large predators, such as bears!
Have fun in the great outdoors. Maybe the Appalachian Trail is in your plans for future fun!
Those hiking the entire trail will move about 5 million steps! It's estimated that about 400 to 500 hike the entire length each year.
Here is an interesting short account of a hiker who went the distance recently.
The National Geographic cable channel just aired a program earlier tonight (Nov 10) called America's Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail. The program is set to air again at 4 pm (EST) on Tuesday, November 17.
It seems you can see a bit of video from this program here.
For anyone serious about doing the full hike, there is a nice 4-part series at Trailspace.com on planning for such an endeavor. See it here.
While the above article series lists many good resources, a key site is www.appalachiantrail.org, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. There you can find official trail guides and maps, the Appalachian Trail Data Book, and the AT Thru-Hikers’ Companion, both updated annually. Check out the additional member benefits.
News: a federal grant to help preserve 1,000 acres of land along a stretch of the trail in Vermont was recently awarded. See the report here. It's good to know the trail is being conserved. I'm sure more work is needed, especially in remote areas.
If you hike the trail, be prepared to meet hikers along the way, and make some friends. Also be prepared to navigate the trail through many climates and ecosystems. In some areas there are large predators, such as bears!
Have fun in the great outdoors. Maybe the Appalachian Trail is in your plans for future fun!
Monday, November 9, 2009
descendants of Pocahontas
Edith Bolling Galt was a descendant of Pocahontas. She became Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, marrying US President Woodrow Wilson who suffered a stroke during his presidency. His wife Edith apparently conspired with doctors to keep the President's true condition hidden. She controlled access to the President and through her actions became known as the first woman president.
Pocahontas and President George W. Bush Are Related, as revealed through a study by Ancestry.com. Although the Bush family counts relatedness to Pocahontas, it is not through direct descent but through marrage. You can find a report here, and the Bush-Pocahontas family tree can be found at www.ancestry.com/jamestown.
Isn't genetics wonderful?
Pocahontas and President George W. Bush Are Related, as revealed through a study by Ancestry.com. Although the Bush family counts relatedness to Pocahontas, it is not through direct descent but through marrage. You can find a report here, and the Bush-Pocahontas family tree can be found at www.ancestry.com/jamestown.
Isn't genetics wonderful?
AdMob acquired by Google
Google taking over the world?
Well, the world of online eyeballs, maybe!
Earlier today Google announced it was buying AdMob for about $750 million. AdMob specializes in delivering ads to mobile platforms, like the iPhone.
Also, Google has acquired Gizmo5 for $30 million. This will allow Google to add more robust functionality to a number of Google products, including Google Talk.
If it seems like Google is taking over the world, there are good reasons!
Well, the world of online eyeballs, maybe!
Earlier today Google announced it was buying AdMob for about $750 million. AdMob specializes in delivering ads to mobile platforms, like the iPhone.
Also, Google has acquired Gizmo5 for $30 million. This will allow Google to add more robust functionality to a number of Google products, including Google Talk.
If it seems like Google is taking over the world, there are good reasons!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
philippians 4 6 7
I'm always interested in the searches being done on the Internet, and one of the ways I monitor this is with Google Hot Trends.
Today, in between all the Halloween stuff, I found a high-ranked search term for "philippians 4 6 7".
Presumably this is for Philippians 4:6-7, which states:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
This is a great promise from God. It assures us that, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we will receive the peace that can only come from Him if we are seeking Him in prayer.
It's a great promise because we can have that peace even in the face of turmoil, even in the midst of strife!
Our God will truly supply our needs from the storehouse of His riches. He is the provider of all good things.
His love provides the forgiveness that allows us to be confident in our right standing before His throne. We don't have to fear the just wrath of God. We don't have to fear any penalty for our sins. Praise God He has provided the Way for us to be seen as beloved children of the Most High.
If you've not yet trusted Christ with your life, your sins, your accomplishments, and your soul, I invite you to do so now. He warns that there is yet another day, for TODAY is the day of redemption, as long as there are days, but we don't know when the Judgement Day will start. So get right with Him through what His Son has done for you, not what you have done, for all our works are as sinking sand!
By the way, here is a great site where you can search the Bible by verse, chapter, book, or topic:
http://www.biblegateway.com/
Today, in between all the Halloween stuff, I found a high-ranked search term for "philippians 4 6 7".
Presumably this is for Philippians 4:6-7, which states:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
This is a great promise from God. It assures us that, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we will receive the peace that can only come from Him if we are seeking Him in prayer.
It's a great promise because we can have that peace even in the face of turmoil, even in the midst of strife!
Our God will truly supply our needs from the storehouse of His riches. He is the provider of all good things.
His love provides the forgiveness that allows us to be confident in our right standing before His throne. We don't have to fear the just wrath of God. We don't have to fear any penalty for our sins. Praise God He has provided the Way for us to be seen as beloved children of the Most High.
If you've not yet trusted Christ with your life, your sins, your accomplishments, and your soul, I invite you to do so now. He warns that there is yet another day, for TODAY is the day of redemption, as long as there are days, but we don't know when the Judgement Day will start. So get right with Him through what His Son has done for you, not what you have done, for all our works are as sinking sand!
By the way, here is a great site where you can search the Bible by verse, chapter, book, or topic:
http://www.biblegateway.com/
Friday, October 30, 2009
gunbroker
I was wondering why the search term gunbroker was pushing so high on the rankings, then I found that gunbroker.com is the world's largest online auction site for firearms and hunting/shooting accessories.
GunBroker.com frequently hosts charity auctions that benefit the firearms industry and other causes.
Launched in 1999, the site hit $1 billion in cumulative merchandise sales on September.
Right now there is a charity auction to benefit breast cancer, featuring a pink rifle.
I think the rifle may be the cause of the huge search engine hits.
I can't bring up gunbroker.com as of this writing, but I can see the related site ammoland.com.
Not sure what's up with gunbroker.com website availability. Perhaps the site went down when it couldn't handle the high traffic from the recent big surge of search engine hits?
GunBroker.com frequently hosts charity auctions that benefit the firearms industry and other causes.
Launched in 1999, the site hit $1 billion in cumulative merchandise sales on September.
Right now there is a charity auction to benefit breast cancer, featuring a pink rifle.
I think the rifle may be the cause of the huge search engine hits.
I can't bring up gunbroker.com as of this writing, but I can see the related site ammoland.com.
Not sure what's up with gunbroker.com website availability. Perhaps the site went down when it couldn't handle the high traffic from the recent big surge of search engine hits?
Friday, October 23, 2009
Daylight Savings Time Schedule 2009
Stop wondering "When is Daylight Savings Time?"
Your Daylight Savings Time Schedule for 2009 is about to end.
Here is the information you need to adjust your clocks!
Daylight Savings Time will end November 1, 2009! So remember to set your clocks backwards, before you go to bed the night before.
That means you should set your clocks back an hour, on All Saints Day (or as the heathen call it, Halloween), October 31 before bedtime.
You will get an extra hour of sleep. Yeah!
Next year Daylight Savings Time will start the second Sunday in March (2010).
There has often been controversy around the use of Daylight Savings Time. Some think it helps people be more efficient with their use of time through the days as the seasons change. Others think it is an unnecessary imposition on what should be unchangeable calendar.
The modern idea of Daylight Savings Time originated with George Vernon Hudson in 1895. But there have been other manipulations of the calendar in the past, to adjust for seasonal fluctuations. For example, ancient Romans used different clock scales in different seasons.
Your Daylight Savings Time Schedule for 2009 is about to end.
Here is the information you need to adjust your clocks!
Daylight Savings Time will end November 1, 2009! So remember to set your clocks backwards, before you go to bed the night before.
That means you should set your clocks back an hour, on All Saints Day (or as the heathen call it, Halloween), October 31 before bedtime.
You will get an extra hour of sleep. Yeah!
Next year Daylight Savings Time will start the second Sunday in March (2010).
There has often been controversy around the use of Daylight Savings Time. Some think it helps people be more efficient with their use of time through the days as the seasons change. Others think it is an unnecessary imposition on what should be unchangeable calendar.
The modern idea of Daylight Savings Time originated with George Vernon Hudson in 1895. But there have been other manipulations of the calendar in the past, to adjust for seasonal fluctuations. For example, ancient Romans used different clock scales in different seasons.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Teacup Pigs
The other popular animal-related search term today (besides Wonderpus Octopus) is Teacup Pigs.
At first I thought this might be a rock band, but then I remembered there are tiny horses, so maybe I'd better check.
Indeed, there are super-nano pigs, and they are being snapped up as the latest rage in designer pets!
Actual size? These little piggies are just over a half pound at birth, but grow to 12 to 16 inches high. Adults reach about 65 pounds, rather lightweight in the pig world.
These targets of the newest pet craze are being bred in Britain, although some may be available from Florida.
Why the buzz? NBC's "Today" show interviewed teacup pig breeder Jane Croft.
People are now searching for "pig breeds" and "miniature pet pigs".
They are reportedly clean, quiet, intelligent, expensive, and require lots of attention.
Who owns these things? For one, Rupert Grint, of Harry Potter fame.
You can see vids of these creatures here.
A picture of very young ones is here, and here. If you ask me, they are ugly. Then again, I hate dogs. Hey, go hog wild! Whatever floats your boat.
More about teacup pigs here. And here is video!
At first I thought this might be a rock band, but then I remembered there are tiny horses, so maybe I'd better check.
Indeed, there are super-nano pigs, and they are being snapped up as the latest rage in designer pets!
Actual size? These little piggies are just over a half pound at birth, but grow to 12 to 16 inches high. Adults reach about 65 pounds, rather lightweight in the pig world.
These targets of the newest pet craze are being bred in Britain, although some may be available from Florida.
Why the buzz? NBC's "Today" show interviewed teacup pig breeder Jane Croft.
People are now searching for "pig breeds" and "miniature pet pigs".
They are reportedly clean, quiet, intelligent, expensive, and require lots of attention.
Who owns these things? For one, Rupert Grint, of Harry Potter fame.
You can see vids of these creatures here.
A picture of very young ones is here, and here. If you ask me, they are ugly. Then again, I hate dogs. Hey, go hog wild! Whatever floats your boat.
More about teacup pigs here. And here is video!
Wonderpus Octopus
Well I was just noticing that there is a hot search term "Wonderpus Octopus".
That got me digging, since I am a PhD biologist, and I like the way Octopi are intelligent sea creatures.
I found that there are 289 different known octopus species.
Of course, octopi are cephalopods of the order Octopoda.
The Wonderpus Octopus is a small species of octopus that has long arms and rather spectacular coloration. The arms have stripes of white, thought by some to be "warning coloration", a mimicry of predators that could provide protection. This species is found in the area of Indonesia.
Here are some more links that have pictures or information about the Wonderpus Octopus:
Unique and Colorful Octopus and Cuttlefish (pictures)
Wonderpus (description)
Wonderpus Octopus (picture)
Wonderpus Octopus (picture)
That got me digging, since I am a PhD biologist, and I like the way Octopi are intelligent sea creatures.
I found that there are 289 different known octopus species.
Of course, octopi are cephalopods of the order Octopoda.
The Wonderpus Octopus is a small species of octopus that has long arms and rather spectacular coloration. The arms have stripes of white, thought by some to be "warning coloration", a mimicry of predators that could provide protection. This species is found in the area of Indonesia.
Here are some more links that have pictures or information about the Wonderpus Octopus:
Unique and Colorful Octopus and Cuttlefish (pictures)
Wonderpus (description)
Wonderpus Octopus (picture)
Wonderpus Octopus (picture)
My Word Is My Bond
An autobiography by Sir Roger Moore is catching attention. And why not? His daring character in the James Bond 007 movies, the Saint and the Persuaders, and his philanthropy, are detailed in the new book entitled "My Word Is My Bond".
It's packed full of behind-the-scenes stories, including movie out-takes. Moore has interacted with such greats as Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Seymour, Cary Grant, Milton Berle, Richard Burton, Richard Kiel, Christopher Lee, Michael Caine, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, and Audrey Hepburn. We learn about many of these people in the book.
Moore is quite proud of his work raising money for UNICEF, to aid impoverished and disadvantaged children around the world.
There is a great deal of focus on Moore's early life, from childhood illnesses, to working in the Publicity Picture Productions, enrolling in the Association of Cinema Technicians, and wartime relocations. He describes the birth of his acting career as an extra at Denham Studios.
Some may be dismayed at the relatively little coverage of the Bond movies. However, the inclusion of in-jokes in each chapter keeps the reader interested in solving the little riddles.
The book is available as a Kindle document, and as a hardcover and softcover book.
It's packed full of behind-the-scenes stories, including movie out-takes. Moore has interacted with such greats as Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Seymour, Cary Grant, Milton Berle, Richard Burton, Richard Kiel, Christopher Lee, Michael Caine, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, and Audrey Hepburn. We learn about many of these people in the book.
Moore is quite proud of his work raising money for UNICEF, to aid impoverished and disadvantaged children around the world.
There is a great deal of focus on Moore's early life, from childhood illnesses, to working in the Publicity Picture Productions, enrolling in the Association of Cinema Technicians, and wartime relocations. He describes the birth of his acting career as an extra at Denham Studios.
Some may be dismayed at the relatively little coverage of the Bond movies. However, the inclusion of in-jokes in each chapter keeps the reader interested in solving the little riddles.
The book is available as a Kindle document, and as a hardcover and softcover book.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
nys unemployment
New York State unemployment has hit a 25-year high, and the news has been crating a buzz. However, other states are similarly afflicted.
Searches on the Google search engine are up for unemployment benefits, nys dept of labor, nys unemployment benefits online, nys unemployment, nyc unemployment, new york state unemployment, new york department of labor, ny state department of labor, and similar search terms.
The state of New York will receive approximately $4.5 million in federal grant funds for 2009 under the national Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) initiative of the US Department of Labor, Governor Paterson announced today.
The REA program seeks to help people receiving unemployment insurance get back to work faster by providing them with individualized job search and training services.
State officials said on Thursday that New York City’s unemployment rate jumped to 10.3 percent in August. The number of city residents unable to find work has risen to a record high of 415,800.
Some economic indicators show an economic recovery is starting. However, there may be a lag in job creation as companies see uncertainty in the future. Instead of hiring more workers, companies may attempt to squeeze higher efficiencies out of existing employees.
Searches on the Google search engine are up for unemployment benefits, nys dept of labor, nys unemployment benefits online, nys unemployment, nyc unemployment, new york state unemployment, new york department of labor, ny state department of labor, and similar search terms.
The state of New York will receive approximately $4.5 million in federal grant funds for 2009 under the national Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) initiative of the US Department of Labor, Governor Paterson announced today.
The REA program seeks to help people receiving unemployment insurance get back to work faster by providing them with individualized job search and training services.
State officials said on Thursday that New York City’s unemployment rate jumped to 10.3 percent in August. The number of city residents unable to find work has risen to a record high of 415,800.
Some economic indicators show an economic recovery is starting. However, there may be a lag in job creation as companies see uncertainty in the future. Instead of hiring more workers, companies may attempt to squeeze higher efficiencies out of existing employees.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
gwen araujo
The story of Gwen Araujo is one of the saddest tales ever told.
Born as a boy, Eddie decided to live according to the inner voice, and was murdered when thugs found that the genitalia did not match their expectations!
What a sad tale, what a sad testimony to the power of sin to corrupt lives. Why should people be so focused on genitalia, rather than the true person within?
Gwen was a beautiful person, loved by God. The thugs are loved by God also! But sin corrupts, and violence against anyone is wrong. Some argued that the sentencing should be mitigated by the deception that was used by Gwen. That is not a valid argument. The thugs took advantage of Gwen as an object, then want to argue that they are less culpable due to deception. That is a shirking of responsibility for their own actions.
No matter how you look at it, the story is one of failure of humans to be compassionate.
Come, Lord Jesus, and teach your children.
It's now the 7th anniversary of Gwen's death. Let us remember so that we will increase our compassion. Let us always love one another, no matter what others do to us.
Born as a boy, Eddie decided to live according to the inner voice, and was murdered when thugs found that the genitalia did not match their expectations!
What a sad tale, what a sad testimony to the power of sin to corrupt lives. Why should people be so focused on genitalia, rather than the true person within?
Gwen was a beautiful person, loved by God. The thugs are loved by God also! But sin corrupts, and violence against anyone is wrong. Some argued that the sentencing should be mitigated by the deception that was used by Gwen. That is not a valid argument. The thugs took advantage of Gwen as an object, then want to argue that they are less culpable due to deception. That is a shirking of responsibility for their own actions.
No matter how you look at it, the story is one of failure of humans to be compassionate.
Come, Lord Jesus, and teach your children.
It's now the 7th anniversary of Gwen's death. Let us remember so that we will increase our compassion. Let us always love one another, no matter what others do to us.
lovefest 2009
Today is the last day of a week-long festival in - where else? - San Francisco, as revelers pay homage to electronic music, display and flaunting of bodies, and debauchery of various sorts.
This "Love Fest" includes people vying for attention to themselves, of course.
Our nation is so focused on self that we murder millions of children in the womb in the name of convenience, and proclaim that all sin is up to individual decision. Well at least we have the last part right.
I just watched a Fox News report on "The Naked Cowboy" and he was displaying the same vanity and grasping for fame that we see all over the land.
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
We are truly in the "last days". God help us!
This "Love Fest" includes people vying for attention to themselves, of course.
Our nation is so focused on self that we murder millions of children in the womb in the name of convenience, and proclaim that all sin is up to individual decision. Well at least we have the last part right.
I just watched a Fox News report on "The Naked Cowboy" and he was displaying the same vanity and grasping for fame that we see all over the land.
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
We are truly in the "last days". God help us!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
National Coffee Day - Sep 29, 2009
The history of coffee goes back to the 9th century AD.
Over 4 billion cups of coffee are now consumed each year, making coffee second only to oil as top commodity!
Coffee is now prepared many ways, and you can find coffee-flavored ice cream and yogurt.
Today is National Coffee Day, so please enjoy a cup of coffee, or use the beans in a recipe while preparing a meal.
Over 4 billion cups of coffee are now consumed each year, making coffee second only to oil as top commodity!
Coffee is now prepared many ways, and you can find coffee-flavored ice cream and yogurt.
Today is National Coffee Day, so please enjoy a cup of coffee, or use the beans in a recipe while preparing a meal.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Occam’s Razor
This is a brief inquiry into why the term Occam's Razor is achieving a meteoric rise in searches on Google now.
The term has been around for hundreds of years, being especially well-known in the fields of philosophy and the sciences.
One of my favorite sources for learning about Occam's Razor is here. There is also the Wikipedia article.
In short, occam's razor is a principle first promoted by a 14th-century monk that the simplest explanation or theory is better than a more complex one.
So why is the term getting so many searches now?
Looks like there is a band called Porcupine Tree that recently released a recording (The Incident) that includes a brief song with the title "Occam's Razor".
Perhaps a bigger contributor to the search volume is the repeated use of the term in news reports about recent political wrangling, especially in the health care debates. Here is just one example.
A very interesting usage is in the efforts to explain away the conspiracy theorists, whether it be the 9/11 conspiracy advocates, or the "Death Star Truthers".
No matter what the cause of the peak in interest in the term, everyone should be acquianted with Occam's Razor because it really works! In the majority of cases when one is driven to choose between competing possible explanations or theories, the application of Occam's Razor will most often lead you closer to the truth.
The term has been around for hundreds of years, being especially well-known in the fields of philosophy and the sciences.
One of my favorite sources for learning about Occam's Razor is here. There is also the Wikipedia article.
In short, occam's razor is a principle first promoted by a 14th-century monk that the simplest explanation or theory is better than a more complex one.
So why is the term getting so many searches now?
Looks like there is a band called Porcupine Tree that recently released a recording (The Incident) that includes a brief song with the title "Occam's Razor".
Perhaps a bigger contributor to the search volume is the repeated use of the term in news reports about recent political wrangling, especially in the health care debates. Here is just one example.
A very interesting usage is in the efforts to explain away the conspiracy theorists, whether it be the 9/11 conspiracy advocates, or the "Death Star Truthers".
No matter what the cause of the peak in interest in the term, everyone should be acquianted with Occam's Razor because it really works! In the majority of cases when one is driven to choose between competing possible explanations or theories, the application of Occam's Razor will most often lead you closer to the truth.
Six Flags Under Water in Deadly Georgia Floods
Torrential rains across the Southeast have caused widespread flooding. The storms have claimed 15 lives.
In Georgia, Governor Sonny Purdue declared a state of emergency in 17 counties!
The amusement park, "Six Flags Over Georgia" is flooded, see a picture here.
Other pictures are here.
The park, in the Atlanta area, is closed, and much cleanup will have to be completed before it reopens fully. More rains are expected in the area, with perhaps 3 to 5 more inches to come down in the next few days. If you are planning to visit Six Flags soon, you'd better check first with them to see if they are open.
I visited their website but I don't see any announcement of the closing!
People in Atlanta, Georgia are being told to stay home. Emergency workers were busy Monday night rescuing stranded motorists.
In Georgia, Governor Sonny Purdue declared a state of emergency in 17 counties!
The amusement park, "Six Flags Over Georgia" is flooded, see a picture here.
Other pictures are here.
The park, in the Atlanta area, is closed, and much cleanup will have to be completed before it reopens fully. More rains are expected in the area, with perhaps 3 to 5 more inches to come down in the next few days. If you are planning to visit Six Flags soon, you'd better check first with them to see if they are open.
I visited their website but I don't see any announcement of the closing!
People in Atlanta, Georgia are being told to stay home. Emergency workers were busy Monday night rescuing stranded motorists.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sea Serpent - the Monster of Monterey - and the sudden disappearance of Sharon Novak
A very compelling tale is told about the mysterious disappearance of a professional sailor during a solo trip around the world.
The story raises the question of the existence of Plesiosaurs, a type of dinasaur that most scientists say are extinct.
Trouble is, this tale is from a TV show, "Animal Planet" and their series "Lost Tapes", and the episode that tells the story of Sharon Novak does not claim it is totally true. In fact, the show does include the disclaimer that is was "inspired by the possibility that hidden creatures exist".
A big segment from this show is on YouTube.
Also, various aspects of the video are debunked by those with much more experience in video editing than I possess.
Nonetheless, the show is entertaining, and makes us think about the possibilities of "unknown creatures".
If there are still millions of species to be discovered (as most biologists agree), surely there are some that will be surprising. And some of those will likely be "living fossils", species largely unchanged from fossil samples originating long ago.
Interestingly, there is a branch of science called cryptobiology (some would label pseudoscience) that endeavors to search for organisms thought not to exist by mainstream biologists. Since the majority of these studies focus on animals rather than plants, we have the field of cryptozoology.
The story raises the question of the existence of Plesiosaurs, a type of dinasaur that most scientists say are extinct.
Trouble is, this tale is from a TV show, "Animal Planet" and their series "Lost Tapes", and the episode that tells the story of Sharon Novak does not claim it is totally true. In fact, the show does include the disclaimer that is was "inspired by the possibility that hidden creatures exist".
A big segment from this show is on YouTube.
Also, various aspects of the video are debunked by those with much more experience in video editing than I possess.
Nonetheless, the show is entertaining, and makes us think about the possibilities of "unknown creatures".
If there are still millions of species to be discovered (as most biologists agree), surely there are some that will be surprising. And some of those will likely be "living fossils", species largely unchanged from fossil samples originating long ago.
Interestingly, there is a branch of science called cryptobiology (some would label pseudoscience) that endeavors to search for organisms thought not to exist by mainstream biologists. Since the majority of these studies focus on animals rather than plants, we have the field of cryptozoology.
Film U-571 to be shown on TV ONE Sept 28
U-571 is a film released in year 2000, directed by Jonathan Mostow, and starring Jon Bon Jovi, Will Estes, Tom Guiry, Harvey Keitel, Thomas Kretschmann, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Noseworthy, and Bill Paxton.
In the film, disguised United States Navy submariners board a World War II German submarine (u 571, uboat 571) in 1942, seeking to capture her Enigma cipher machine.
Although the plot is fictional and implausible, the film won an Academy Award.
The cinematography is exceptional, and the suspense level is great. The sound and visual effects are extraordinary. The battle scenes, especially those involving depth charges and torpedoes, are incredible!
The film has received criticism for historical inaccuracies. For example, the first Enigma machine to be captured by the allies was obtained by the British from U-110 in the North Atlantic May 1941, before the United Stated entered the war. Also, the film portrays German u-boat sailors in a falsely negative manner.
The film U-571 will be shown on the channel TV ONE on Monday 28 September, at 8:30pm.
More recently, Jonathan Mostow directed the movie Surrogates starring Bruce Willis.
In the film, disguised United States Navy submariners board a World War II German submarine (u 571, uboat 571) in 1942, seeking to capture her Enigma cipher machine.
Although the plot is fictional and implausible, the film won an Academy Award.
The cinematography is exceptional, and the suspense level is great. The sound and visual effects are extraordinary. The battle scenes, especially those involving depth charges and torpedoes, are incredible!
The film has received criticism for historical inaccuracies. For example, the first Enigma machine to be captured by the allies was obtained by the British from U-110 in the North Atlantic May 1941, before the United Stated entered the war. Also, the film portrays German u-boat sailors in a falsely negative manner.
The film U-571 will be shown on the channel TV ONE on Monday 28 September, at 8:30pm.
More recently, Jonathan Mostow directed the movie Surrogates starring Bruce Willis.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Brother Speed Motorcycle Club Pileup in Oregon
Oregon State Police reported yesterday that two dozen motorcycles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 5 in Oregon, south of Portland. Two motorcyclists with critical injuries were flown to Portland hospitals by helicopter. Seven others were driven to area hospitals by ambulance, and treated for shoulder and hip injuries and broken bones.
Most of the bikers belonged to the Brother Speed Motorcycle Club. Seems the bikers were not able to stop when a car they were following slowed for traffic.
Reports did not mention bad weather. Apparently the mayhem was caused by operator error. Can anyone say "too fast, too close"?
The Brother Speed Motorcycle Club was founded in 1969. It is one of six in Oregon identified by the state Department of Justice as an "outlaw biker gang".
Most of the bikers belonged to the Brother Speed Motorcycle Club. Seems the bikers were not able to stop when a car they were following slowed for traffic.
Reports did not mention bad weather. Apparently the mayhem was caused by operator error. Can anyone say "too fast, too close"?
The Brother Speed Motorcycle Club was founded in 1969. It is one of six in Oregon identified by the state Department of Justice as an "outlaw biker gang".
Friday, September 18, 2009
Mystery Creature Found Dead in Panama
At first the mystery creature seems very bizarre. Kids in Panama reported they encountered a strange creature last Saturday, killed it, and tossed it into a creek. Later they went back and now we have photos!
I must admit to being startled at first. News of a "mystery creature found dead" got me clicking, but if not a hoax, the "Panama creature" is most certainly a tree sloth. In Panama there are two-toed and three-toed sloths, and their bodies are really bizarre-looking, very close to the "creature" in the photos. The Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth is quite rare, with a range limited to one small island off Panama.
Previously, a weird-looking corpse allegedly washed ashore near Montauk, New York, and was called the Montauk Monster, although it was likely a dog or raccoon.
I must admit to being startled at first. News of a "mystery creature found dead" got me clicking, but if not a hoax, the "Panama creature" is most certainly a tree sloth. In Panama there are two-toed and three-toed sloths, and their bodies are really bizarre-looking, very close to the "creature" in the photos. The Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth is quite rare, with a range limited to one small island off Panama.
Previously, a weird-looking corpse allegedly washed ashore near Montauk, New York, and was called the Montauk Monster, although it was likely a dog or raccoon.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Crop circle pictures on Google logo cause quite a stir
Huge weird and intricate patterns in grain fields have long been a mystery. Google caused a stir today with their logo showing a UFO hovering over a crop circle pattern.
Some say crop circles are the work of alien craft. Some are obvious hoaxes. For example, some are known to have been produced by self-avowed "circle-makers":
Circle Makers
It's the second time this month that a UFO has appeared on the Google logo. The first time, this appeared to be a tribute to the Japanese video game Zero Wing.
Crop circles are really fascinating phenomena. The apparent frequency of their appearance, and the huge size of many of the designs, seems to indicate something more is going on than a trendy teenage prank.
If you want to look into this topic, there are a few good online resources that will put you in touch with actual research being done on crop circles. Here are some links to get you started:
Crop Circle Research
Crop Circle on Wikipedia
Crop Circle Connector
Crop Circle Secrets
Crop Circles
Crop Circles Go Worldwide Overnight
Weird stuff is reported to happen at crop circles, like cameras malfunctioning and GPS batteries dying.
Crop Circle Tours
I'm not paranoid and I don't usually get fired up by conspiracy theories. But crop circles are some pretty interesting examples of "unexplained phenomena". Here is a site with some amazing pictures:
Web Urbanist
Enjoy pondering the physics, the mystery, and the weirdness!
Some say crop circles are the work of alien craft. Some are obvious hoaxes. For example, some are known to have been produced by self-avowed "circle-makers":
Circle Makers
It's the second time this month that a UFO has appeared on the Google logo. The first time, this appeared to be a tribute to the Japanese video game Zero Wing.
Crop circles are really fascinating phenomena. The apparent frequency of their appearance, and the huge size of many of the designs, seems to indicate something more is going on than a trendy teenage prank.
If you want to look into this topic, there are a few good online resources that will put you in touch with actual research being done on crop circles. Here are some links to get you started:
Crop Circle Research
Crop Circle on Wikipedia
Crop Circle Connector
Crop Circle Secrets
Crop Circles
Crop Circles Go Worldwide Overnight
Weird stuff is reported to happen at crop circles, like cameras malfunctioning and GPS batteries dying.
Crop Circle Tours
I'm not paranoid and I don't usually get fired up by conspiracy theories. But crop circles are some pretty interesting examples of "unexplained phenomena". Here is a site with some amazing pictures:
Web Urbanist
Enjoy pondering the physics, the mystery, and the weirdness!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
National Granparents Day 2009
It almost got by me. Yes, today is National Grandparents Day here in the USA. Not that I've noticed in any years past. Seems there are so many holidays and designated days and weeks, that keeping up requires more time than I'm able. In fact, if I was cynical, I may be tempted to think that the proliferation if special days and holidays is a conspiracy by the greeting card companies, or maybe a coalition of marketing gurus. Surely National Grandparents Day is not marked by crass commercialism, right?
Well, not so fast. This day was used to launch a new "affordable" service, Grandchild Connection. It's an "interactive online resource for educational and social play between grandparents and their grandchildren". Basically, it's an online video conferencing platform. Their website is:
http://www.grandchildconnection.com
More information on National Grandparents Day 2009 and Grandchild Connection is here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS135646+08-Sep-2009+BW20090908
And just in case you are putting together your own calendar of holidays and special days, National Grandparents Day is celebrated in the USA on the third Sunday of September. For about 30 years, it's been touted as a time for honoring grandparents, and a chance for grandparents to show their love to their grandchildren. Now aren't you glad you know?
Well, not so fast. This day was used to launch a new "affordable" service, Grandchild Connection. It's an "interactive online resource for educational and social play between grandparents and their grandchildren". Basically, it's an online video conferencing platform. Their website is:
http://www.grandchildconnection.com
More information on National Grandparents Day 2009 and Grandchild Connection is here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS135646+08-Sep-2009+BW20090908
And just in case you are putting together your own calendar of holidays and special days, National Grandparents Day is celebrated in the USA on the third Sunday of September. For about 30 years, it's been touted as a time for honoring grandparents, and a chance for grandparents to show their love to their grandchildren. Now aren't you glad you know?
Friday, September 11, 2009
Reborn Dolls
Everyone knows about dolls. Little girls love playing with dolls that are toys. Even boys started playing with them when "GI Joe" started being marketed as an "action figure".
Nowadays there is a new kind of doll, so life-like that even policemen mistake them for real babies!
Craftsmanship in producing realistic dolls has improved so much that now there is a new flourishing art-form. It's called reborn dolls. These dolls look extremely life-like, often including veins and skin spots.
The life-like dolls are starting to find a new niche - helping to comfort victims of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, through "reborn doll therapy":
http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/How-Making-Reborn-Dolls-Help-The-Elderly/503186
Collectors are also snapping up the reborn dolls, with people seeking not only their life-like qualities, but their uniqueness.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/reborn-dolls-the-unique-and-interesting-world-of-reborn-dolls.html
Indeed, the production of reborn dolls is mainly done by individual entrepreneurs, each doll skillfully created as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/news/Living-dolls-proving-popular/article-1266092-detail/article.html
http://www.epworthbells.co.uk/news/Making-babies-comes-natural-for.5585643.jp
Of course, once a trend is started, there are inevitable sellers of information on how to jump into the game. Same for these dolls - you can now order course materials for building your own reborn doll business!
http://www.reborndollsforfunandprofit.com/
Owners often display a high degree of emotional attachment to these dolls. In fact, there is some controversy over the dependence on these dolls, or their use, as some counselors warn against investing emotionally into a doll as a substitute for developing fulfilling human relationships. Nonetheless, the popularity of these dolls seems to be growing fast!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reborn_doll
Nowadays there is a new kind of doll, so life-like that even policemen mistake them for real babies!
Craftsmanship in producing realistic dolls has improved so much that now there is a new flourishing art-form. It's called reborn dolls. These dolls look extremely life-like, often including veins and skin spots.
The life-like dolls are starting to find a new niche - helping to comfort victims of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, through "reborn doll therapy":
http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/How-Making-Reborn-Dolls-Help-The-Elderly/503186
Collectors are also snapping up the reborn dolls, with people seeking not only their life-like qualities, but their uniqueness.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/reborn-dolls-the-unique-and-interesting-world-of-reborn-dolls.html
Indeed, the production of reborn dolls is mainly done by individual entrepreneurs, each doll skillfully created as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/news/Living-dolls-proving-popular/article-1266092-detail/article.html
http://www.epworthbells.co.uk/news/Making-babies-comes-natural-for.5585643.jp
Of course, once a trend is started, there are inevitable sellers of information on how to jump into the game. Same for these dolls - you can now order course materials for building your own reborn doll business!
http://www.reborndollsforfunandprofit.com/
Owners often display a high degree of emotional attachment to these dolls. In fact, there is some controversy over the dependence on these dolls, or their use, as some counselors warn against investing emotionally into a doll as a substitute for developing fulfilling human relationships. Nonetheless, the popularity of these dolls seems to be growing fast!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reborn_doll
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Motorola Cliq looks like a hot new phone!
Motorola Cliq is a great phone made by Motorola but made available through T-Mobile.
It uses a slick-looking MOTOBLUR skin for Google's Android OS. The MOTOBLUR Android overlay (A.K.A. a customized user interface) is a full-featured interface to the phone's capabilities. MOTOBLUR lets you stream your emails and social networks into one feed. There is a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard. A directional pad (mouse) is completely covered while the keyboard is stowed. The front-face features a large, wide-format screen and three control buttons.
This phone lets you do email, GPS, and video. It allows you to send rich text e-mails with colors, fonts and emoticons. You can also attach photos to your e-mails. The MOTOBLUR skin aggregates all of your contacts and their information from various sources and displays them in one seamless client. You can also view your contacts by individual network, if you prefer.
Wow, you can track your Motorola Cliq via assisted GPS if it gets lost. You can wipe it remotely and then all of your information is saved on the MOTOBLUR's servers. Way cool.
The Motorola Cliq has Wi-Fi support, turn-by-turn GPS, a 5-megapixel camera, and a standard 3.5-mm headphone jack. It streams video in 24 fps (frames per second). This phone is available in both Winter White and Midnight Titanium (titanium white).
Here are some other informative links to learn about this nice new phone:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/motorola-cliq-first-hands-on-impressions/
http://phandroid.com/2009/09/10/motorola-cliq-specs-details-galore/
http://gizmodo.com/5356696/motorola-cliq-quick-hands-on-impressions
http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090910/moto-cliq/
http://www.quickpwn.com/2009/09/motorola-cliq-android-smartphone-first-android-phone-moto-blur.html
It uses a slick-looking MOTOBLUR skin for Google's Android OS. The MOTOBLUR Android overlay (A.K.A. a customized user interface) is a full-featured interface to the phone's capabilities. MOTOBLUR lets you stream your emails and social networks into one feed. There is a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard. A directional pad (mouse) is completely covered while the keyboard is stowed. The front-face features a large, wide-format screen and three control buttons.
This phone lets you do email, GPS, and video. It allows you to send rich text e-mails with colors, fonts and emoticons. You can also attach photos to your e-mails. The MOTOBLUR skin aggregates all of your contacts and their information from various sources and displays them in one seamless client. You can also view your contacts by individual network, if you prefer.
Wow, you can track your Motorola Cliq via assisted GPS if it gets lost. You can wipe it remotely and then all of your information is saved on the MOTOBLUR's servers. Way cool.
The Motorola Cliq has Wi-Fi support, turn-by-turn GPS, a 5-megapixel camera, and a standard 3.5-mm headphone jack. It streams video in 24 fps (frames per second). This phone is available in both Winter White and Midnight Titanium (titanium white).
Here are some other informative links to learn about this nice new phone:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/motorola-cliq-first-hands-on-impressions/
http://phandroid.com/2009/09/10/motorola-cliq-specs-details-galore/
http://gizmodo.com/5356696/motorola-cliq-quick-hands-on-impressions
http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090910/moto-cliq/
http://www.quickpwn.com/2009/09/motorola-cliq-android-smartphone-first-android-phone-moto-blur.html
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Obama's school speech video
President Obama's speech to students across the country today has stirred a lot of interest.
Earlier, the administration had released a plan to ask students to write an essay on how they could help Obama. This was understandably seen as a partisan action. Why not ask the students to think about how they can help America, or their families?
The administration quickly back-pedalled and revised the proposed lesson plan, but many people were still upset that the President's actions with pushing an entire lesson plan seemed to involve the federal government in determining curriculum in the public schools, something that's reserved for the states.
To view the video of Obama's speech, click here:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1146-Seattle-Eastside-Family-Examiners~y2009m9d8-Obamas-school-speech-video-Watch-it-here
Earlier, the administration had released a plan to ask students to write an essay on how they could help Obama. This was understandably seen as a partisan action. Why not ask the students to think about how they can help America, or their families?
The administration quickly back-pedalled and revised the proposed lesson plan, but many people were still upset that the President's actions with pushing an entire lesson plan seemed to involve the federal government in determining curriculum in the public schools, something that's reserved for the states.
To view the video of Obama's speech, click here:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1146-Seattle-Eastside-Family-Examiners~y2009m9d8-Obamas-school-speech-video-Watch-it-here
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