Contemplations – 1
I'm incurably curious about many aspects of this journey of ours. Here are a few noteworthy items I've stumbled across that I'm making a note of so I can revisit them from time to time.
Quick links to this page's content ∨
2012
NASA: 2012 Venus transit of the Sun
Taking the sting out of shots
The smiling Buzzy vibrator. Brilliant!
Plastic bulb development promises better quality light
Invented by Dr David Carroll, professor of physics at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.
Article: https://www.bbc.co.uk⩘
Isaac Newton vs. Rube Goldberg
Isaac Newton vs. Rube Goldberg by 2D House.
Article: https://www.thisiscolossal.com⩘
Linotype: The film
In search of the eighth wonder of the world. I love this story.
Website: http://www.linotypefilm.com⩘
A very cool hat
This is what I wear when hiking in warmer weather.
Website: https://www.headnhome.com⩘
Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds
Fascinating talk.
Website: https://www.ted.com⩘
What the octopus can teach us about national security
From the BBC: Military tactics from the octopus⩘ .
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Always look ahead and above yourself.
Always try to improve on yourself.
Always strive to elevate your craft.
That's what he taught me.
– Yoshikazu Ono, Jiro's son
Video: https://www.youtube.com⩘
The myth of the 8-hour sleep
Article: http://www.bbc.com⩘
NASA: Blue Marble - Eastern Hemisphere
Website: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov⩘
NASA: Blue Marble - Western Hemisphere
Website: https://www.nasa.gov⩘
The Hobbit House
A gorgeous home designed and built by Simon Dale.
Realistic paintings of fruit by Dennis Wojtkiewicz
Website: https://www.wojtkiewiczart.com⩘
2011
NASA: A lunar eclipse
An incredible composite image of a lunar eclipse.
Website: https://apod.nasa.gov⩘
The Tree Mother of Africa
The Tree Mother of Africa, Wangari Maathai, was laid to rest in Kenya. I was deeply moved by her memoir, Unbowed⩘ . A courageous champion of human rights and peace, she also inspired the planting of tens of millions of trees in her country, Kenya, and around the world. I will miss her voice, but will continue to be inspired by her compassion and courage.
"To me, a general orientation toward trusting people and a positive attitude toward life and fellow human beings is healthy—not only for one's peace of mind but also to bring about change. This belief came from a combination of my education and my Kikuyu heritage, which taught me a deep sense of justice."
More info: The Green Belt Movement⩘
A real person, a lot like you
Video: A short video by Derek Sivers⩘ .
Say something nice
Picture this: A podium on a busy street inviting people to say something nice⩘ . From Improv Everywhere.
Incredible shade illusion
It's really fascinating the way our brains make sense of visual information. MIT Professor Edward H. Adelson published this optical illusion in 1995 that shows two squares that look to be very different shades of gray but are in fact identical.
- Illusion explained: http://web.mit.edu⩘
- Adelson's bio: http://persci.mit.edu⩘
- This nicely done video by brussups really brings it to life:
https://www.youtube.com⩘
Unintended consequences
From one of my favorite thinkers, danah boyd, "The Unintended Consequences of Obsessing Over Consequences (or why to support youth risk-taking)."
Article: The Unintended Consequences of Obsessing Over Consequences⩘
The most awkward 404 Not Found page on the internet
By conceptual artist Steve Lambert. I still chuckle every time I revisit this.
Steve Lambert has worked alongside artists and activists in 16 countries on 4 continents helping them to effect power. Trained in the arts, he is known for large scale, public projects that engage new audiences on difficult topics through the social science of comedy, games, theater, and democratic participation.
Jul 2021 update: Steve has a new book coming out with co-author Steve Duncombe, The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible.⩘ The Steves are co-founders of The Center for Artistic Activism⩘ .
URL: https://visitsteve.com/404.html
Hubble Ultra-Deep Field
Hubble's deepest view ever of the universe unveils earliest galaxies.
I love looking into the depths of the universe!
The observable universe is estimated to contain as many as two trillion galaxies. To get more perspective on this eXtreme Deep Field (XDF) Hubble image, see the short video: Hubble Legacy Field Zoom-Out⩘ . Make sure to read the notes, too.
Article: https://en.wikipedia.org⩘
