...more recent posts
Hey Alex, have you seen this: Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter?
One Last Pathetic Lie from a Dying, Former Free Internet Service Provider
"AltaVista's free Web-based e-mail is the last of the portal-like services that the site offered, and, as many of you became aware of AltaVista's pure search focus, usage of the service has waned. As stated in our e-mail, the company will no longer support free e-mail after March 31st, 2002."
Translation: "As more and more of you saw flies hovering over our company..."
No, wait! I see what they mean. "As more and more of you realized how incredibly good the AltaVista search engine was getting, you guessed that email couldn't possibly be a priority for the company, so you began seeking out services for which you would have to pay." Right?
Or, maybe it means, "As our pure search focus improved, you began spending more time surfing the web and less time sending email..."
Hard to know which half-truth actually applies here. But hats off to the copywriter for such well-crafted BS.
Welcome to the home of extreme ironing - the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt.
geek love
Valentine's Day Special
Through the magic of the internet, I've located my first crush, or at least a picture of her.
It's Sandy, from Butternut Square, a Canadian kiddie show I watched in the mornings when I was five years old. I was crazy about her, but then they packed me off to school and I never saw her again.
Sigh…
Country Outlaw Waylon Jennings is dead.
Century 21 to reopen.
Now I can go back to just buying new clothes and quit doing laundry.
deposed monarch
blast off
running numbers
Never Mind Bono at the World Economic Forum in New York, Here's the Edge
at "The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology" in Cambridge (Jan. 11)
Real Life Rock science correspondent Steve Weinstein: "The Edge was seen
chatting with astrophysicist Sir Martin Rees following Rees's talk at the
recent 60th birthday party for Stephen Hawking at Cambridge University.
Hawking is known as the Keith Richards of theoretical physicists, and indeed
remarked to one bystander that despite his recent brush with death while
speeding in his new wheelchair, he 'wasn't lookin too good but [he] was
feelin' real well.'
"The Edge has recently been collaborating with Hawking on a bold new idea
intended to make sense of the ill-defined Euclidean path integral that plays
a central role in Hawking's 'no-boundary' proposal for the initial state of
the universe. Later in the evening, the U2 guitarist was spotted with
cosmologist Neil Turok in the VIP 'behind Hawking' area, with a rare view of
the screen on which Hawking's communications appear. The Edge reportedly
needled Turok for stealing U2's 'Unforgettable Fire'' title for his recent
paper with Khoury, Ovurt and Steinhardt on what they call 'The Ekpyrotic
("out of fire") Universe.'
"The evening concluded with a song to Hawking written by general relativity
expert Bernard Carr, and performed by Hawking's students and The Edge
(vocals, not guitar). This was the high point of the evening to that moment,
but it was eclipsed by the appearance of a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and
then the Can-Can Dancers, six women in 'Moulin Rouge' costumes displaying
what some characterized as 'a lot of leg.'"
from guest Brian T
Folklore has it that Valentine's Day is when birds start pairing up, so I though I'd mention that I saw Kestrel Falcons mating on an aerial in LIC on my way to work today.
Beats porno.
any one familiar with this cargo cult science speach ?
and this ?
RIP dave van ronk
van ronk was not known as a songwriter but he could cover the hell out of some one elses material + always with great gusto. I was always amazed by his version of "teddy bears picnic" from his songs for ageing children album.
The Asian Long-horned Beetle has been found in Central Park. This is real bad news, and could lead to the cutting of many trees. The beetles have been on Long Island for a few years; McCarron Park in Greenpoint lost all it’s Maples about four years ago. Last year they finally made it to Manhattan, and now the Park. The Conservancy has been pretty vigilant, and one hopes the damage can be limited, but once the insect has dug in there’s nothing to do but cut and burn the tree, to keep it from spreading. This has the potential to be the worst thing to happen to the Park since they let cars in.
Fast 'N Bulbous: the CAPTAIN BEEFHEART PROJECT
I'm going crazy trying to remember who recorded, wrote etc. the psychedelic song "Time" You know, the one that slows down and speeds up, with the cow bell....I was unable to make a google search work. Alex? Bill? anyone?
The Towers of Light proposal is back. Apparently the new mayor likes it. It has some aesthetic appeal, but many people living nearby don't want it. Neither do birders, since the skyward lighting is apt to confuse night-migrants. According to Rebekah Creshkoff, the technology is the old ceilometer system, once used for measuring cloud ceilings around airports. There is evidence that such lights have affected flocks in the past, and placing them near a lot of tall buildings on a major flyway is a bad idea, at least during migration season, which will be underway (though not at peak) before this proposal runs its course.
mike was asking about photographic images of the pranksters. Gene Anthony was clicking away in sf in 67
alex you KNOW??
How to Explain Enronomics to Kids
Feudalism - You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
Fascism - You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.
Communism - You have two cows. Your neighbors help take care of them and you share the milk.
Totalitarianism - You have two cows. The government takes them both and denies they ever existed and drafts you into the army. Milk is banned.
Capitalism - You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.
Enron - You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to
a Cayman Island company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.
the follow book will become part of the LB (Lovevibe-Brown) Library some time next month....i have been searching for years for an old alchemy print w/o any luck, Linda bought Alex this great book a couple weeks ago (sorry good Doctor) and I have engrossed in it, it seems to get the prints you gotta get the books....as you can imagine its rare, the 3rd book to change hands in the last 25 years....
ABRAHAM ELEAZAR. URALTES CHYMISCHES WERCK, Welches Ehedessen von dem Autore Theils in Lateinischer und Arabischer, theils auch in Chalaeischer und Syrischer Sprache Geschrieben...
Erfurt: Augustinus Crusius, 1735. 2 parts in one vol, 8vo, frontis. & 15 full-page engravings by J.E. Boeck, full-page woodcut, and woodcut diagrams throughout. [Bound with:] Zoraster. Clavis Artis des Beruehmten Juden und Rabbi Zoroasters. Jen: Joh. Gebast. Rudolph, 1738. Full vellum, lightly rubbed. A fine copy.
¶ First Edition of one of the major 18th century works on alchemy, by an author who wrote under the name of Abraham Eleaszar, the supposed author of the ancient alchemical ms found by the famous 13th century alchemist Nicolas Flamel. The engravings are said to be after illustrations in the manuscript found by Flamel. Ferguson devotes much space in trying to determine if it is authentic or note.Duveen pp.1-2: “The curious engravings are interesting examples of symbolic illustration.” Ferguson I, pp.2-3 (the Young Collection had only the second edition of 1760 but states the plates are far better int he first). Caillet pp.31-32. Ritman Library, The Silent Language, 49. Verginelli 1. Ouvaroff had only the second edition. Not in Dorbon or Jouin & Descreux; not in de Guatita or Manly Hall collections.
TTake the famous "which beatle are you" test
"For Whom the Bells Toll is a national initiative to have religious organizations throughout the country toll their bells whenever there is an execution."