Donna's New Day

GIF made with the NYPL Labs Stereogranimator

Whirlwind Tourism Maps

2012-02-09T23:29:00.000-06:00

Oliver Jeffers draws whirlwind tourism maps for Hemispheres Inflight Magazine. I never fly United so if it wasn't for the link at Nag on the Lake I never would have seen these.

Based on our trip to Reno, this would take more than 5 hours.

The map of Minneapolis detours just blocks from where I work.

For more Whirlwind maps click here.

The Raven

2012-02-08T21:40:00.001-06:00

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
....
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

The Raven - Edgar Allan Poe

The raven that inspired Edgar Allan Poe to write the poem The Raven, is now on display at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Charles Dickens’ pet raven "Grip" which Dickens had a taxidermist stuff and preserve is one of the more unusual items in the Philadelphia library's Dickens collection.

Link via Neatorama

The Free Library of Philadelphia is celebrating Charles Dickens’ 200th birthday all year long. Link

So You Think You Can Be a Morning Person?

2012-02-07T22:31:00.001-06:00

Read the article to get tips on how to become more of a morning person or just scroll down to get to a version of a test commonly used by sleep experts to determine whether you are a lark, a night owl or somewhere in between.

I got a score of 18 "You have no particular sleeping tendency" which actually makes sense for someone who has chronic fatigue.

Take the quiz

via Lifehacker

What's Your Animal Name?

2012-02-06T09:39:00.001-06:00

We all have an inner animal. Find out what yours is. Mine is "Gomer The Hairy Rhino".

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis

Common Names:
Sumatran Rhino
Hairy Rhinoceros
Asian Two-Horned Rhinoceros

link via The Presurfer

Happy World Nutella Day!

2012-02-05T19:02:00.000-06:00

Photo of a woman in Antibes, France making me a Nutella Crepe.

World Nutella Day Celebrates 6th AnniversaryThousands of bloggers and fans worldwide celebrate Italy’s edible treasure with online and offline tributes for the 6th anniversary of World Nutella Day on February 5, 2012.

Milan, Italy January 23, 2012 – On February 5, 2012, thousands of fans around the world will once again celebrate their love for one of Italy’s national, edible treasures: Nutella. This year’s event will be the 6th annual World Nutella Day honoring the chocolate-hazelnut spread; American writers in Italy Sara Rosso and Michelle Fabio began the holiday in 2007 to encourage Nutella enthusiasts worldwide to enjoy and get creative with Nutella. World Nutella Day 2012 Press Release

Who Does Google Think You Are?

2012-02-04T21:31:00.002-06:00

According to Google I'm

Age: 45-54

Gender: Male

Ars Technica’s Casey Johnston has started a new game: find out what Google guesses is your age and gender. These “inferred demographics” are based on the websites you visit and are tracked by a Google cookie. They are used to help Google provide more relevant advertising.

Well, at least they got the age right.

via Neatorama

Leading Cases

2012-02-03T23:17:00.003-06:00

On the left are the names of 10 of the most important Supreme Court cases in U.S. history. Match the name of each landmark case with the important decision involved by keying in the corresponding numbers in the blanks in the column to the right. A score of 6 of 10 or better is a win. Good luck!

Take the Quiz: Leading Cases

I knew 7 of these and got 1 correct of the other 3 for a score of 8.

Stereogranimator: Make and Share Animated GIFs from Historic Stereographs

2012-02-01T20:03:00.000-06:00

NYPL Labs is an experimental unit at the New York Public Library that develops ideas and tools for digital research. Their newest project is the Stereogranimator, a tool for transforming historical stereographs from The New York Public Library's vast collections into shareable 3D web formats. You can search or browse the library's collection of over 40,000 stereographs and make your own (or search the gallery of animated GIFs that other people have made)

Living With A Lion

2012-01-31T22:51:00.002-06:00

For a while in the 1970's, Tippi Hedren, her husband Noel Marshall, and their children Melanie Griffith, John Marshall and Jerry Marshall opened their house to various lions while filming the move ROAR. No animals were harmed in the filming of this movie but lots of people were. Tippi Hedren is the founder of Shambala, an animal sanctuary for large cats. She currently lives on the premises.

more photos at Living with a Lion

via Nag On The Lake

Good Design Is Forever

2012-01-30T22:11:00.001-06:00

“Good Design Is Forever,” held on January 28, 2012 was the opening event in a year-long celebration
of Finnish design in Minnesota. (Helsinki, Finland has been designated as the World Design Capital for 2012.) “Good Design Is Forever” featured 1960s Finnish architecture, glass, textiles, music, and film.

It took place at Christ Church Lutheran in South Minneapolis. The church, designed by Finnish architects Eliel and Eero Saarinen, is a National Historic Landmark.

I took these pictures of the outside of the church. You can see more pictures of the architecture and Finnish glass at Good Design is Forever. (click on the arrow next to the photo on the glass and architecture pages to see more).

I couldn't find any information about upcoming local events. Free docent led tours of the church are held on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 11am (following the Sunday service that starts at 9:30).

2012-01-27T22:05:00.003-06:00

You’ve heard the songs thousands of times in movies and on the radio. But do you know who performed them? Some of the clips may give away the answer at the end, so unless you’re trying to cheat, don’t watch all the way through. When you’re done, let us know how you did, and tell us which song will be stuck in your head the rest of the day.

Take the Quiz: Name (the Artist Who Sang) That Tune!

I got 70% correct (7 out of 10). I might have done better if I would have watched the clips.

Lunch at Mystic Lake Buffet

2012-01-24T21:49:00.000-06:00

Jimmy and I went to Mystic Lake yesterday to take advantage of the January 1/2 price buffet special (for the 2nd time). Since I knew I'd get asked what I ate, I took pictures.

First Plate

Corn Relish
Black Eyed Peas with Tomato and Feta
Chickpeas with Yogurt and Indian Spices
Lentils with Sausage and Tomato
Cheddar Cheese

I was planning on getting fruit and a salad but since I'm supposed to eat more legumes thought I'd try these salads (which I hadn't seen at the buffet before). They were all very good and I cleared my plate.

Second Plate

Grouper with Black Bean Sauce.

Haddock

Blackened Salmon

Grouper with Black Bean Sauce

Cheese Wontons

Black Olives

I was about to make a salad since Mystic Lake's salad bar has all of my favorite ingrediants but then I spotted the grouper. I had this earlier in the month (It's 2 for one buffet this month - we don't usually head to the casino that often) and it was so good I decided to skip the salad.

Dessert

Fresh Fruit

Chocolate Brownie with Chocolate Frosting with Vanilla Sauce

Dark Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Frosting

Beautifully Inaccurate 19th Century Astronomy Illustrations

2012-01-22T21:59:00.002-06:00

Etienne Leopold Trouvelot is mostly know for introducing the Gypsy moth into North America. He also drew beautiful astronomy illustrations that have recently been put online by the New York Public Library. See the rest of the images at the NYPL Digital Image Gallery.

via Neatorama

Back To The Future

2012-01-21T21:35:00.000-06:00

Irina Werning, an Argentina artist, started the series by photographing friends and family. After the photos went viral she began asking people to submit photos. She's currently somewhere in the Middle East recreating those photos that spoke to her.
More photos at

Back To The Future (2010)
Back To The Future 2 (2011)

Behind the Scenes article and video interview at NPR.

via I Have Seen the Whole of the Internet

America's "Lost" National Parks

2012-01-20T21:44:00.000-06:00

26 U.S. National Parks are no more including a Trump pleasure palace and the second national park.

Mar-a-Lago National Historic Site was built in the 1920s by Marjorie Merriweather Post. Post donated the site to the government in 1972. Congress returned the site to the Post Foundation in 1980 citing the high cost of maintenance and development. It is now owned by Donald Trump.

Mackinac National Park was established in 1875 but was transferred to the state of Michigan after only 20 years.

See more at National Geographic

Make Your Own Tiny Planets From Google Street View

2012-01-19T22:17:00.000-06:00

The little red house I've lived in since 1999.

The apartment house in Portland, Oregon where I lived in the late 80's.

Stonehedge

Stereographic Street View! is an adapted version of Google’s Street View that turns any place on Earth into a fish-eyed globe. (Warning: The site can be very slow)

via Photojojo

Use Your Noodle

2012-01-16T12:48:00.001-06:00

Can you identify the eight types of pasta just by the picture?

Take the quiz: Use Your Noodle

My score was 50%. I knew 3 and guessed correctly for one. I almost never order pasta at restaurants so if you do you probably will beat me. The average score is 64%.

Eisriesenwelt

2012-01-15T22:55:00.002-06:00

Where you have lava tubes or limestone passage ways below the ground, occasionally a rare form of cave evolves – the ice cave. Strange, mysterious and often dangerous they are often difficult to get to and so not seen by huge amounts of people. See pictures from ice caves around the world at The Wonder of Ice Caves.

Eisriesenwelt is the largest system of ice caves on our planet. Located in Austria, detailed directions are provided from Salzburg. A bus service from Werfen is recommended for people unfamiliar with mountain driving.This may be the easiest ice cave to get to. First there is a 20 minute bus ride up the mountain, then a 20 minute walk from the parking lot to the beginning of this cable car.

The round trip cable car ride costs € 5.50 each way and takes about 3 minutes to travel the steepest part of the mountain. The estimated walking time is 90 minutes each way. Once you get to the top it's another 20 minute walk to the entrance to the caves.

The cave tour cost is € 9.00. Photographs are not allowed, the reasons why are explained here (and it's not to increase postcard sales). Dogs are allowed but not encouraged due to the number of steps

Lots more information and photos on the Eisriesenwelt website. The caves are only reachable May - October.

Where The Trees Are

2012-01-13T22:25:00.000-06:00

Information about how this map was developed is at NASA Earth Observatory.

via Neatorama

Frederick's Permanent Wave Machine

2012-01-11T23:13:00.003-06:00

I stopped by the Hennepin History Museum last weekend to check out the Curiosities and Remnants Exhibit. This was the strangest item I saw in the room. It's located in a dark corner with some other items that fit the theme "What Price Beauty?".

The only verifiable information I could find about it (with a quick google search) was this advertisement from the January 17, 1934 Gettysburg Times.

It's National Static Electricity Day

2012-01-09T20:04:00.001-06:00

I did not cut my hair, this is a picture from 2009 when I went to the Bakken Museum. It would be interesting to see what my hair would do now that it's long.

Happy Birthday Elvis.

2012-01-08T22:26:00.000-06:00

Elvis would have turned 77 today if he had not died on August 16, 1977 of a heart attack and rumored drug overdose.This is the song that Jimmy and I danced to for the first dance at our wedding reception back in 1998.

Happy National Old Rock Day!

2012-01-07T23:33:00.001-06:00

This video has amazing images but I recommend that you mute the sound...

via Grandma's Briefs

Exploding Christmas Ornaments

2012-01-04T21:57:00.004-06:00

Alan Sailer's series The War On Christmas features Christmas ornaments frozen in time as they explode in a million shiny little pieces.

Guess Who's Turning 50 in 2012?

2012-01-03T22:20:00.000-06:00

link

National Historic Landmark 2011 Photo Contest

2012-01-01T23:15:00.000-06:00

I think that this photo by Shayne E. Watson should have won. It did get an honorable mention. To see the winning photo and the other finalists, check out the National Park Services official flickr page. Along with seeing some great photos you might get an idea for a place to stop on your next vacation.

via Gadling

New Years Eve 2011

2011-12-31T19:06:00.002-06:00

Berlin, Germany

Beirut, Lebanon

Athens, Greece

Moscow, Russia

Hong Kong, China

Sydney, Australia

via The Huffington Post

Jimmy's playing with Cool Britannia in Woodville, Wisconsin. Angie and I plan to be asleep before midnight.

Your Inner Animal

2011-12-29T22:34:00.003-06:00

Find your inner animal at WWF.

Mathematical Sculptures Made Out Of Office Supplies

2011-12-27T21:58:00.001-06:00

Zachary Abel is a second year Ph.D student in the MIT Mathematics department, but he also creates sculptures out of everyday objects. With his intricate formations of otherwise mundane objects, Abel hopes to expose the "hidden geometric beauty" in our everyday lives.

link

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1948)

2011-12-24T22:04:00.001-06:00

In 1947, American animation pioneer Max Fleischer made a technicolor animated short based on the original 1939 book from Montgomery Ward, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

In 1948, the short was updated to include a new song by songwriter Johnny Marks. Yukon Cornelius, Hermey and Clarice, Bumble and the Misfit Toys weren't added to the story until the 1964 television special.

What People Wanted For Christmas in 1985

2011-12-23T20:40:00.002-06:00

Wishbook Web has posted a collection of scanned Holiday and Toy catalogs. It takes them about 8 hours to scan a 400 page catalog.46 catalogs have been scanned and are on Flickr. I decided to look back at 1985, the year I graduated from college.

link via Laughing Squid

You Forgot Already

2011-12-22T23:20:00.001-06:00

You may remember all the big news stories as they happen, but how much did you really retain at the end of the year? We’ve got 14 questions about the stories of 2011 that seemed so big (or ridiculous) at the time, but may have slipped your memory by now.

Take the quiz.

My score was 57% but I know I never knew the song lyrics or the football score so my memory isn't as bad as the score indicates.

The Best of The Worst Holiday Card Photos

2011-12-17T19:01:00.001-06:00

See more at Buzzfeed

Funny Fruit

2011-12-13T20:43:00.004-06:00

You can see more at kuriositas.

Kung fu Gecko

2011-12-11T19:52:00.002-06:00

Photographs by Shikhei Goh

Kooky but Practical

2011-12-10T20:27:00.003-06:00

via Mark's Scrapbook of Oddities

The Candy Calorie Quiz

2011-12-09T23:11:00.001-06:00

While it’s probably a stretch to say that any candy is “good for you,” do you know which ones are really packing the calories? We’ll give you pairs of candy, you tell us which one has more calories.

You should easily beat my score of 40% (4 out of 10)

Take the quiz

Panoramic View of the Sistine Chapel

2011-12-07T19:41:00.002-06:00

A panoramic view of the Sistine Chapel has been added to the official Vatican website. You now have a chance to study Michelangelo’s ceiling and the works of other Renaissance artists without the crowds or cramping your neck. Take your virtual tour with or without music.

Caribou Facebook Sweater Maker Page

The Museum of Obsolete Objects

2011-12-06T21:29:00.002-06:00

While our daily lives become more and more digital, some things just vanish. Let us not forget those fallen appliances, tools and gadgets and relive those bygone times by taking a visit to The Museum of Obsolete Objects, a YouTube channel created by German Digital Agency Jung von Matt.

I remember using one of these and it had to have been after 1967.

link via The Presurfer

Ugly Sweater

2011-12-05T08:17:00.004-06:00

Caribou Coffee will donate up to 10,000 sweaters to Salvation Army (one for each person who creates an avatar using their facebook app and posts it to facebook, twitter or their blog. I decided to post mine here. (Not just because I only had an old picture uploaded and the app cropped out most of my hair!)

Nature, as Created by an Artist in His Fish Tank

2011-12-04T23:30:00.003-06:00

Kim Keever's large-scale photographs are created by meticulously constructing miniature topographies in a 200-gallon tank, which is then filled with water. This is what his studio looks like

link via Mental Floss

Cool Photos of Disassembled Technology

2011-12-02T23:11:00.003-06:00

Photographer Todd McClellan has a fascinating photographic series called “Everyone Has A Piece of the Puzzle” where he dissects and lays out the parts of commonly used electronic items.

If you click on New Work at the upper left at the page at this link you can watch an object being disassembled. Other photos in the series are here.

via Neatorama

Artwork Created From Vintage Product Labels

2011-11-30T17:24:00.003-06:00

Troy Dugas purchases unused bundles of vintage product labels then deconstructs the materials and rearranges the pieces.

via Lost At E Minor

First Covers of Classic Novels

2011-11-29T21:25:00.008-06:00

This was the original cover for the book, some of the more recent covers are below.

While many classics, such as Catch-22, have retained their iconic, original covers over the years, others have changed with the times. Here are 20 beautiful, surprising, or otherwise notable first covers of classic novels.

Chocolate Biscuit Cake

2011-11-28T23:00:00.002-06:00

Stop-Motion Biscuit Cake from Alan Travers on Vimeo.

In an effort to win a cooking competition in Ireland, Alan Travers created this Stop-Motion video of the ingredients making his girlfriend Dee’s legendary chocolate biscuit cake all by themselves.

A Thanksgiving Feast

2011-11-27T23:04:00.002-06:00

The San Francisco Zoo provided a Thanksgiving feast for its 15 lemurs to give thanks for ongoing conservation efforts in the animals' native country of Madagascar.

Cinemascapes

2011-11-25T21:11:00.002-06:00

Inverallochy, Scotlan

S a i n t - N i c o l a s - d e - l a - G r a v e , F r a n c e

Posada de Valdeón, Spain

Aaron Hobson is an award winning photographer from Pittsburg. He found these photos while looking through Google street view.

link via The Presurfer

Presidential Baby Photos

2011-11-24T22:44:00.000-06:00

Are you able to look at baby photos of U.S. Presidents and tell exactly which future Commander in Chief is pictured? If you are, here’s the only chance you’ll ever have to show off that skill.

Take the Quiz: Presidential Baby Photos

You should easily beat my score of 1 out of 10 correct.

Rejected Tim Burton Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Float

2011-11-22T20:42:00.002-06:00

I haven't watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in years but I loved watching it on TV Thanksgiving mornings when I was a kid. This year is the first that Macy's has invited Tim Burton to contribute a piece to their Thanksgiving Day Parade. I am curious to see what he comes up with. It probably won't be any of these.

If Websites Were Magazines

2011-11-21T20:14:00.003-06:00

MHS Visual Resources Database

Random Photographs From 1962

2011-11-20T17:39:00.011-06:00

Midway

The Kitchenaires (instruments made from household items).

Photographer: St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press

Opening of first skyway (connecting the Northstar Center and Northwestern National Bank);

Leslie Park at left, Minneapolis.

Photographer: Norton & Peel

Girls dancing "The Twist" to the Four Cousins band, 8/10/1962.

Photographer: Lida

Women trying on wigs at Myndall Cain's shop in Donaldson's Golden Rule, St. Paul.

Aerial view, Metropolitan Stadium and vicinity, Bloomington, 8/14/1962

Photographer: St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press

Playing bingo on a picnic table.

Photographer: St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press

All photographs are from the Minnesota Historical Society's Photograph Collection 1962.

Illustrated Facts

2011-11-19T14:01:00.002-06:00

There are 47 more illustrated random facts at Facts in Photos.

via I Have Seen The Whole Of The Internet

New CD by The Chinch Bugs

2011-11-17T10:49:00.007-06:00

The Chinch Bugs recorded a new CD and Jimmy asked me to put together the package. I said I would as long as I could use photos I took in Bodie. (The title is Broke. Bodie is a gold mining ghost town. It fit.) It took a lot more work and time than either of us thought and because of my eye problems I got a late start working on it.

The last few weeks all my computer time has been devoted to such things as finding a western looking font that's clearly readable at the size needed for the spine of the CD case. Since I've neglected posting here, thought I should post copies of the proofs we got back from the manufacturer yesterday.

The outside of the front booklet

The inside of the front booklet

The tray (back and spine)

The disk

Rhino Airlift

2011-11-06T20:57:00.005-06:00

As strange as this looks, the most humane way to transport Rhinos out of a difficult area is to sedate them and suspend them from a helicopter.

link

Hamster Drag Racing

2011-11-05T22:59:00.002-05:00

I would have loved to have one of these back when I owned a hamster.

via Art Car Central

My Favorite Costumed Dog

2011-10-31T22:39:00.004-05:00

via Skull Swap

You can see many more costumed dogs here, here and here. Angie does not have a costume.

The Halloween Breakfast Cereals Quiz

2011-10-28T21:17:00.004-05:00

This quiz was put together by the people at The Cereal Project at MrBreakfast.com. Can you tell which of these Halloween-inspired cereals are legit?

You have got to do better than I did. Out of 10 questions I got only 1 correct. ( I don't eat cereal and I hardly ever watch TV.)

Take the Quiz: Halloween Cereals

Lyndale Park Peace Garden

2011-10-24T20:55:00.006-05:00

Since it was such a nice day today, I decided to take Angie to the Lyndale Park Peace Garden. I drive by there quite often but had never walked around. In the center of the garden is a large statue.

Spirit of Peace, Caprice K. Glaser 2006

The bronze plaques on the stones explain how to fold a paper origami bird.

Pathway to Peace is a series of seven stone sculptures connecting the East Harriet neighborhood with the Peace Garden. The base of each sculpture has words representing the community’s feelings about the meaning of peace.

Some of the sculptures are more attractive than others.

There are many other small sculptures throughout the park.

I was surprised to see so many flowers still in bloom.

Angie had a great time.

Bert & Ernie Pumpkins

2011-10-23T23:09:00.000-05:00

Swimming Cap Fashion

2011-10-21T21:52:00.002-05:00

via Miss C Recommends

Las Vegas 1962

2011-10-19T18:15:00.001-05:00

Las Vegas 1962 from Jeff Altman on Vimeo.

Emperor Penguins, Antarctica

2011-10-18T09:11:00.002-05:00

National Geographic Photo of the Month

by Claus Possberg

The 1968 Exhibit

2011-10-17T15:24:00.005-05:00

Jimmy and I went to The 1968 Exhibit at the Minnesota Historical Society yesterday. It was the most interesting exhibit I've seen there. I would really like to go back again before it closes in February.

I have vague memories of some of the events of that year but my most vivid recollection was when I saw the Mrs. Beasley Doll. (I turned 6 that summer.) Jimmy wasn't in existence in 1968 and had no idea who Mrs. Beasley was. A Family Affair didn't live on in syndication and become the theme for a slot machine the way less popular shows of that year did (such as Bewitched, The Beverly Hillbillies and I Dream of Jeanie). Jimmy beat me at 1968 music trivia and we both made digital album covers and voted for president.

I'm glad I grabbed a copy of the December 24, 1968 Minneapolis Tribune (free reprints provided by the Star Tribune) while walking out. The Minnesota School of Business was advertising classes in computer programming but only 2 computer operator jobs were posted. There was one Gal Friday needed, one Girl Friday and National Beauty Supply was looking to fill the position "Girl" for $85 per week.

Real 80's Sitcom

2011-10-15T19:57:00.002-05:00

Can you determine which of these are actual '80s sitcoms and which we made up?

Take the quiz.

I got 7 out of 11 correct and I didn't even own a TV for part of the '80s.

Exploded Flowers

2011-10-12T22:00:00.005-05:00

photographs by Fong Qi Wei

link via Lost at E Minor

Happy Columbus Day

2011-10-10T20:35:00.002-05:00

I figured this would be a good day to post some pictures of The Monument of Christopher Columbus in Barcelona. It's located at the point where Columbus returned to Spain after his journey to America. There are statues all around the base.

And an elevator inside so you can go up

to see the view.

Alternative Hair Show

2011-10-09T22:38:00.003-05:00

The 2011 Alternative Hair Show will be held on October 16 in London. The Alternative Hair Show is now in its 29th year raising money to support those suffering from Leukaemia and Lymphoma and other blood-related cancers. (These photos are from last years show held in Moscow.)

link via The Laughing Squid

International Dining Quiz

2011-10-07T21:46:00.004-05:00

Sure, you know not to eat with your feet on the table at a fancy restaurant. But what about eating at a fancy restaurant in Khartoum in Sudan? Should you bring your camel in with you, or leave him outside? Can you be arrested for making that weird straw-sucking noise when you get to the bottom of your soda? How about ants in your soup? Rescue them or let them drown? Okay, maybe the International Dining Etiquette Quiz questions aren't that weird... but they're close.

International Dining Etiquette Quiz

More Book Art

2011-10-05T20:34:00.004-05:00

Bookworms can ruffle their pages in celebration because librarian Heather Hajek Eddy has found a use for all those weeded library books! By manipulating the pages with careful repositioning, she is even able to spell out words. Let’s not be too loud though, because it just might say, “shush!”

via Lost At E Minor

I see quite a few weeded books but haven't the finger dexterity to do something like this. At Heather's Etsy shop, Rhymes With Magic, you can buy one of her creations or the instructions to make your own.

Time-Lapse Montage of the Northern Lights in Finland

2011-10-04T23:00:00.000-05:00

Aurora Borealis in Finnish Lapland 2011 from Flatlight Films on Vimeo.

Iridotomy

2011-10-02T22:20:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I went in for my annual eye exam and I have another thing wrong with me. (It's not related to MS or any of the various prescription drugs I've taken.) Tomorrow I'm having laser iridotomy done on my right eye and next Monday on my left. This video explains why I need to have it done. But unlike the patients described I have noticed some symptoms (red eyes, mild eye pain, problems with my contacts either staying in or coming out and hopefully some of the headaches I've been having.)

The first time I heard anything about this was when the technician doing the initial exam told me that he was supposed to dilate my eyes now but something about my eyes looked really strange and that he really wanted the doctor to look at them before they were dilated. I then got to see the opthamologist.

According to him, if on a scale of 1 to 10 and 10 is the worst that eyes could possible be my eyes were definitely a 10 and he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen anyone with eyes with such narrow angles and at any time I could have an attack of angle-closure glaucoma. It was essential that I have laser iridotomy done as soon as possible. I'm not sure why 2 & 3 weeks was as soon as possible... You can read about Dinesh K. Goyal, MD here.

The following video explains the procedure. Supposedly there is very little chance of complications and my eyes should be fine after a couple of hours. I'll be at The Phillips Eye Institute the next 2 Monday mornings.

A Slice of Life

2011-10-01T20:13:00.007-05:00

In the old days, doctors sliced you open to examine your body. But today, with the help of powerful body imaging technology, they can look at "slices" of your anatomy without a scalpel.

Many body imaging devices follow a principle called tomography (the 'T' in CT, PET and SPECT systems), which take images of body "slices" using everything from projection data to powerful magnets. But have you ever wondered how such routine procedures can help clinicians see things that used to require a sharp knife? Watch how GE's body imaging technology can paint a bigger picture of what's happening beneath our skin.

Uploaded by thegeshowchannel on Sep 2, 2011

Background for anyone who hasn't been reading this blog over the years. I had my first MRI (of my head and upper spine) in 1999 and based on the results I was diagnosed with MS. In 2001 I had that done again and once again in 2009 when I got to see pictures that showed no change in the damaged spots over 8 years.( Currently there is no chance for people with MS to get less damage, the fact there wasn't any additional damage remarkable). I also had MRI's done of both breasts before I had surgery.

The link to audio that I posted back in 2009 no longer exists so if you are wondering what it sounds like this is pretty accurate. The MRI of brain and upper spine takes about 40 minutes then dye is injected and it's another 40 minutes to repeat the process with contrast.

The Oldest Buildings In The World

2011-09-28T22:28:00.004-05:00

These free-standing structures were all used as religious temples, and are the oldest of their kind in the world, constructed between 3,500-2,500BC.

There's far too much to see in Malta for only a 6 hour stop so we weren't able to visit the Megalith Temples of Malta.

More information pictures of the Megalith Temples of Malta at the World Heritage website. If you are wondering what the other oldest buildings in the world are check out The 10 Oldest Buildings in the World. Only one of them is in Egypt.

The Official Site for Talk Like A Pirate Day

Surf Dogs

2011-09-27T20:38:00.003-05:00

Boxer Hanzo Felland rides a wave

Information and more photos at The Best of the 2011 Surf Dog Competition. Records were set and over $100,000 was raised for orphaned dogs.

Porter Sculpture Park

2011-09-25T17:32:00.003-05:00

I-90 in South Dakota has gotten much more interesting since I drove across the state (without air conditioning) during the Drought of 1988.

Whimsical, fun and thought provoking, Porter Sculpture Park is one man’s vision of the world around him. Created by welding and working from a great imagination, this park outside of Sioux Falls features over 50 giant metal creatures in the best folk art tradition. South Dakota Tourism

Photos of many more at Flickr

Review from Roadside America

I found this and many other strange places to see in Weird U.S. The ODDyssey Continues by Mark Norman, Mark Sceurman, and Matt Lake.

Scopitones: Music Videos From the 60's

2011-09-24T22:04:00.005-05:00

Before MTV, and long before we could stream music videos on our cell phones, mid-1960s American hepcats gathered around 500-pound, 7-foot-high contraptions to watch 16-millimeter Technicolor films of B-list pop stars gyrating to their latest hits. The contraption in question was usually a Scopitone, one of several audio-visual jukeboxes found primarily in bars. Their reign, if you can even call it that, was brief, and by the end of the decade, the novelty of these then-high-tech devices had faded entirely.

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - "Tijuana Taxi" (Scopitone S-1064)

More information at Collectors Weekly.

The Building of the Eiffel Tower

2011-09-22T22:48:00.003-05:00

image that appeared in Scientific America in 1888

link

History's Worst Predictions

2011-09-21T15:41:00.004-05:00

A random sampling of history’s most clueless predictions — from faulty scientific forecasts to sweeping political statements. Just click to get another one.

Bad Opinion Generator via Mental Floss

Talk Like a Pirate Day

2011-09-19T08:16:00.005-05:00

George Harrison portrays "Pirate Bob" and sin's his own version o' "T' Pirate Song," on Eric Idle's 1975 Rutland Weekend Television show.

T' see more cats speakin' like pirates, click here.

I'm not aye how old I be in this picture, but I must have wanted t' be a pirate that year.

If you can't speak like a pirate, here's a translator.

links via Miss Cellania

Oreo Cookie Art

2011-09-18T18:08:00.003-05:00

Oreo Cameo #3

by Judith G. Klausner

dimensions: 2"×2"×0.25"
materials: Oreo sandwich cookie
date: 2011; link via Lost at E Minor

Dog vs. Cat

2011-09-17T13:52:00.003-05:00

(click on image to make it bigger)

via Skull Swap

New World Record

2011-09-15T22:53:00.001-05:00

Uchida Geinousha's 'Super Wan Wan Circus' based in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, offers a unique act for its audience; the incredible sight of 13 dogs skipping on a rope.

Kaoru, who handles the dogs at the circus, explains: "It actually started by accident one day when Mayonnaise, an incredibly curious poodle, started to try and skip with us. She clearly really enjoyed it and we decided to get the other dogs involved. It's become part of their playtime!"

The dogs are named (left to right in the photo above) Leo, Doremi, Button, Koume, Aya, Kimchi, Nami, Mayonnaise, Ann, Sumire, Kurobe and Akebi.

Guiness World Records

Marie Antoinette's Automaton Dulcimer Player

2011-09-13T22:03:00.001-05:00

via Neatorama

Kaleidoscope

2011-09-12T20:27:00.003-05:00

A screen shot doesn't come close to seeing it in action.

Kaleidoscope (via Miss Cellania)

Remembering The Twin Towers

2011-09-11T20:46:00.002-05:00

From 1969 to 2001, the Twin Towers made countless cameos in Hollywood films. Sometimes featured prominently in the foreground, sometimes lurking in the distance. This montage celebrates the towers' all-too-short film career with songs that capture the passing decades.

Twin Tower Cameos from Dan Meth on Vimeo.

Donna Grunewald has compiled an extensive chronological list of movies that includes the time(s) in the film the towers are visible.

links via Neatorama

Norway In A Hurry

2011-09-09T18:03:00.002-05:00

This time-lapse video shows the 1616 mile (5 1/2 day) journey of the Norwegian "Hurtigruten" from Bergen to Kirkenes, by some described as the world's most beautiful sea voyage. Norwegian public broadcaster NRK aired the entire journey live from the 16th to the 22nd of June 2011. Shortly after, Guinness Book of Records approved it as the longest continuously aired documentary in the world.

Twaggies

2011-09-08T22:13:00.006-05:00

Illustration by: Matt Lassen

Illustration by: Jeff Naslund

Illustrated by: Cecile Dyer

From Twaggies, where you'll find the funniests Tweets, illustrated.

via Miss Cellania

Humorously Named Cities

2011-09-07T21:10:00.003-05:00

Here's a quiz for anyone who has ever traveled the country, seen a sign, and asked, "Is that really the town's name?" After you're done, head over to the mental_floss blog and let us know if there are any oddly named places in your part of the world.

Take the quiz and see if you can beat my score of 55% (6 out of 11 correct).

Is Your Blog Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

2011-09-06T22:21:00.003-05:00

Do you write like Shakespeare or Britney Spears? This site evaluates your blog's language and tells you what grade reading level it falls into using the Flesch-Kincaid test. I tried it on my most recent post (it only evaluates one post at a time). I'm sure that using a different post would give me a very different result.

Well done. You write better than most bloggers do. Your blog reads at the level of your local city newspaper. Your blog is well-liked for its easy-to-understand flow.

Created by GiftRocket gift cards

Is Your Blog Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

link via The Presurfer

Crazy Good

2011-09-03T21:45:00.001-05:00

I started reading Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America by Charles Leerhsen. I was reviewing books in that section of the library. The book looked interesting and I realized that I knew nothing about Dan Patch, only that he was a horse that had a road on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds named for him, so I decided to check the book out and find out more.

The most amazing thing is that Dan Patch had a deformed left leg. A special cart was built for him to pull (otherwise the hoof of his bad leg would hit both the cart and his front leg when he reached even slight speed) and he wore a severely modified horseshoe on that hoof. By all accounts, Dan Patch was the happiest horse anyone had ever seen and truly loved running.

Dan Patch makes history in 1906 at the Minnesota State Fair

Dan Patch Historical Society

Another Year, Another State Fair

2011-08-29T21:46:00.001-05:00

Corn dogs, crop art, ye old mill, tub of salt water taffy and air hockey are all yearly traditions. Ate lots of other things and heard some great music.

How Fast Do You React?

2011-08-16T10:21:00.003-05:00

5 sheep are going to try to escape the flock. Click the tranquilizer button when you see one start to move. There's a 3 second penalty if you click the tranquilizer before a sheep begins to move. I think my time was average since bobbing bobcat is the middle group.

Try it here