Sunday, May 23, 2010

Gaia The Earth Mother by Peggy Kane
Gaia The Earth Mother by Peggy Kane
F6 takes pride in the fact that they do not discriminate against artists or their art. F6 does not charge commission. F6 is unique because it supports it's artists, not vice versa.

F6 Gallery's Vision & Mission


F6 Gallery's purpose is to create an environment for the artist to show their art.

...to educate the community by promoting a healthier more tolerant attitude toward artist's and their art.

...to introduce new artist's to the community and create an environment for the benefit of the community as well.

F6 Gallery

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Owl by Emily Dewbre-Young
Owl by Emily Dewbre-Young - Click Image To See Options For Purchasing Prints of this Artwork


Across the country and around the world, artists move into troubled or blighted neighborhoods and revitalize them with their artistry. Property values increase, new businesses move in, and the overall quality of life improves immeasurably. Sooner or later, the public discovers what wonderful places these neighborhoods have become. In some cases, people travel thousands of miles to visit them, vacation there, and buy art. - Alan Bamberger
Thorrn by Emily Dewbre-Young
Thorrn by Emily Dewbre-Young - Click Image To See Options For Purchasing Prints of this Artwork

Monday, May 17, 2010

Gulf Coast Oil Spill – Sioux Prayer Request – A letter from Chief Arvol Looking Horse (Present Chief and Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota Nation of the Sioux)



Gulf Coast Oil Spill - Sioux Prayer Request

****** A Great Urgency ****** To All World Religious and Spiritual Leaders ******

My Relatives,
Time has come to speak to the hearts of our Nations and their Leaders. I ask you this from the bottom of my heart, to come together from the Spirit of your Nations in prayer.

We, from the heart of Turtle Island, have a great message for the World; we are guided to speak from all the White Animals showing their sacred color, which have been signs for us to pray for the sacred life of all things. As I am sending this message to you, many Animal Nations are being threatened, those that swim, those that crawl, those that fly, and the plant Nations, eventually all will be affect from the oil disaster in the Gulf.

The dangers we are faced with at this time are not of spirit. The catastrophe that has happened with the oil spill which looks like the bleeding of Grandmother Earth, is made by human mistakes, mistakes that we cannot afford to continue to make.

I asked, as Spiritual Leaders, that we join together, united in prayer with the whole of our Global Communities. My concern is these serious issues will continue to worsen, as a domino effect that our Ancestors have warned us of in their Prophecies.

I know in my heart there are millions of people that feel our united prayers for the sake of our Grandmother Earth are long overdue. I believe we as Spiritual people must gather ourselves and focus our thoughts and prayers to allow the healing of the many wounds that have been inflicted on the Earth. As we honor the Cycle of Life, let us call for Prayer circles globally to assist in healing Grandmother Earth (our Unc’I Maka).

We ask for prayers that the oil spill, this bleeding, will stop. That the winds stay calm to assist in the work. Pray for the people to be guided in repairing this mistake, and that we may also seek to live in harmony, as we make the choice to change the destructive path we are on.

As we pray, we will fully understand that we are all connected. And that what we create can have lasting effects on all life.

So let us unite spiritually, All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer. Along with this immediate effort, I also ask to please remember June 21st, World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites day. Whether it is a natural site, a temple, a church, a synagogue or just your own sacred space, let us make a prayer for all life, for good decision making by our Nations, for our children’s future and well-being, and the generations to come.

Onipikte (that we shall live),
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
Jaguar Eyes by Emily Dewbre-Young
Jaguar Eyes by Emily Dewbre-Young - Click Image To See Options For Purchasing Prints of this Artwork

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Solid Ground

http://www.last.fm/music/Dolores%20Keane/_/Solid%20Ground

- Fulfill your primal desires at Primal Aspects: http://www.primalaspects.com

Deep Woods Apothecary

Deep Woods Apothecary is an Herb and Metaphysical Shoppe that carries a vast assortment of over 200 bulk herbs, oils, handmade items...

http://www.deepwoodsapothecary.com/index.html

- Fulfill your primal desires at Primal Aspects: http://www.primalaspects.com

Friday, May 07, 2010

Facebook Developers Home › Documentation › Social plugins › Like Button

Facebook Like Button

Thursday, April 29, 2010

President Obama backs bills to limit corporate political spending - USATODAY.com

President Obama backs bills to limit corporate political spending http://usat.me?90338

Troy's Very Long and Ever Growing List of Things To Do:

I have a lot of things to do before I die and at the rate things are going I may never get there. But that fits well with my plan to live to be at least 150 years old so I can get even with my employer.

Troy's Very Long List

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A friend of ours is looking for girls (ages 7-14) interested in belly dance classes. If she gets enough, she can rent a studio accordingly. If you're interested, contact her through her website (lamisdancer.com).

Retailers, restaurants offer deals as more of us pinch pennies - USATODAY.com

Retailers, restaurants offer deals as more of us pinch pennies http://usat.me?38273434

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Monday, March 08, 2010

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Subject: Help Mother test this new squash bug control technique
 
 
 

Greetings, Troy.

I'm writing today to invite you to try out a technique this summer for squash bug control. If this bug causes problems in your garden, read on.

Some years ago, I wrote a report about research done at Texas A&M that found trap crops of early plantings of squash could attract "up to 90 percent of squash bugs in the area." The key is to plant a few pots of squash indoors, earlier than your usual timing (the bugs are reportedly most attracted to winter squash varieties), then move the plants into the garden as soon as you can. Overwintering squash bugs will make a beeline for them (who knows how they find these plants—bugs are so amazing). The researchers suggested laying a few boards on the ground around the trap crop, and then turning the boards over and squishing the bugs, which like to hide on the undersides. Delay sowing your main squash crops as long as you can, continuing to squish any bugs that show up at the trap crop.

Now, we've come up with what we think might be an improvement on that technique: a "Squash-Bug Squisher"! Instead of just using whatever is handy to squish the bugs on each board, we expect it would be quicker and more effective if you connected two boards together with hinges, so you could pick up the Squisher, flip it over and slam the two boards against each other. The boards will have to be very flat—we're thinking that fiber cement siding, which is highly resistant to warping and heavier than wood, might work well.

So, what do you say—if squash bugs are a challenge in your garden, why not pop a few squash seeds into some pots this week, and give this technique a try this season? We've posted a Squash-Bug Squisher page, http://www.motherearthnews.com/Squash-Bug-Control-Squisher-Trap-Crop.aspx, where you can post your ideas and questions, and eventually, report your results.

Happy Gardening,

Cheryl Long
Editor in Chief

P.S. The Texas researchers also mention that the squash trap crop will attract cucumber beetles, and that you can drown many of your spring cuke beetles by placing pans painted yellow and filled with soapy water beside the squash trap crop. (The beetles are attracted to the yellow color.)

P.P.S. We're hoping to announce more "citizen science" projects like this, so if you have any suggestions, let us know. And if you are a long-time gardener, we would love to have you sign up for our Garden Advisory Group, at www.surveymonkey.com/s/N3QBZKD.


MOTHER EARTH NEWS, Ogden Publications,1503 SW 42nd Street, Topeka, KS, 66609

Spring Garden Planner

Average last frost for our area is 4/8.

http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2010/03/free-spring-planner.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LittleHouseInTheSuburbs+%28Little+House+in+the+Suburbs%29

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Okay folks, Friday night is the big night for Winter Solstice Celebration 2009 and for those who may not be familiar with my character "The Boogeyman" and what he's all about I thought I might provide some background. The Boogeyman is a "scapegoat" like character or rather the cloak of rags he wears is the actual scapegoat and he's just a cranky old man who is annoyed by all the people pestering him wanting to touch his cloak and unload all of their negativity, bad deeds or sins of the year. Sometimes he might even chase you a little bit. Touch the cloak if you dare but not The Boogeyman himself lest some of that negativity might bounce back on you.

History is full of scapegoat characters which absolved people of their misdoings be it the Pharmakos of ancient Greek religion, the original "scapegoat" of the Old Testament ritual of Yom Kippur which was symbolically burdened with the sins of the Jewish people then cast out to rid the nation of its iniquities or the Roman Lupercalia in which priests (Luperci) cut thongs from the sacrificial animals (goats and a dog), then raced around the walls of the old Palatine city, striking women (especially) as they passed with the thongs. A blow from the hide of the scapegoat was said to cure sterility. In early Roman law an innocent person was allowed to take upon himself the penalty of another who had confessed his own guilt. (Source Britannica Online)

There's even a wildly popular story of a dude that was made into a scapegoat to absolve a whole lot of people of their sins. They nailed him to a cross or something I hear. NONE OF THAT FOR ME THANKS! Who knows, maybe that's why The Boogeyman is so cranky. Maybe he's afraid somebody is going to do that to him. In any event, like I said, just transfer your negativity to the cloak, but watch out for The Boogeyman, he might get ya!

Boogey Boogey Boogey!


See you at Winter Solstice Celebration at Cathedral Of Hope!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009


I did this by accident tonight and had to restore and reconfigure a bunch of stuff. DOH!

Hard Reset HTC Hero Android : HTC Hero Reset Procedure | DIGITAL BITS: "Hard Reset HTC Hero Android Phone – Procedure Trick


1) Turn off your HTC Hero completely.

2) Keep pressing the HOME key and Back key together for some while.

3) While pressing the Home and Back button, once press the power button.

4) Wait for a few seconds and you get a message on the screen asking for a confirm reset.

5) Now release the Home and back buttons press Menu.

6) Your HTC phone is now reset to its original state.

During this process, if your phone hangs, just remove the battery and try this procedure again. It definitely works."

Monday, October 12, 2009

Improve Battery Life for the Android Based HTC Hero Smart Phone | Gamaze.com

I just got my HTC Hero this past Saturday evening and am amazed at all of the features and apps this phone has compared to my old Samsung Rant. Still getting used to the touchscreen keyboard thing but I think with a little more practice it won't be so bad. Probably because I have been tweaking, installing apps and just generally playing with it so much I have of course been running the battery down quite a bit so I decided to find some battery saving tips and stumbled upon Mattias Hansson's blog:


Improve Battery Life for the Android Based HTC Hero Smart Phone | Gamaze.com: "It is easy to say that I’m a very satisfied owner of the HTC Hero since a couple of weeks. Overall, the smart phone is great and having the ability to run apps and processes in background gives it a clear edge over the iPhone. On the other hand, there are several areas where the Apple experience is just so much smoother. Without going into details I hope the rumoured couple of Android updates still this year will help ease these early misses."MORE...

Friday, October 09, 2009

Stone soup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stone soup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "A kindly, old stranger was walking through the land when he came upon a village. As he entered, the villagers moved towards their homes locking doors and windows. The stranger smiled and asked, why are you all so frightened. I am a simple traveler, looking for a soft place to stay for the night and a warm place for a meal. 'There's not a bite to eat in the whole province,' he was told. 'We are weak and our children are starving. Better keep moving on.' 'Oh, I have everything I need,' he said. 'In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you.' He pulled an iron cauldron from his cloak, filled it with water, and began to build a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a silken bag and dropped it into the water. By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come out of their homes or watched from their windows. As the stranger sniffed the 'broth' and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their fear. 'Ahh,' the stranger said to himself rather loudly, 'I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat.' Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a small cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. 'Wonderful!!' cried the stranger. 'You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king.' The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for everyone in the village to share. The villager elder offered the stranger a great deal of money for the stone, but he refused to sell it and traveled on the next day. As he left, the stranger came upon a group of village children standing near the road. He gave the silken bag containing the stone to the youngest child, whispering to a group, that it was not the stone, but the villagers that had performed the magic.'"

Rotary screw compressor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rotary screw compressor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "A rotary screw compressor is a type of gas compressor which uses a rotary type positive displacement mechanism. The mechanism for gas compression utilises either a single screw element or two counter rotating intermeshed helical screw elements housed within a specially shaped chamber. As the mechanism rotates, the meshing and rotation of the two helical rotors produces a series of volume-reducing cavities. Gas is drawn in through an inlet port in the casing, captured in a cavity, compressed as the cavity reduces in volume, and then discharged through another port in the casing. [1][1]

The effectiveness of this mechanism is dependent on close fitting clearances between the helical rotors and the chamber for sealing of the compression cavities.

Rotary screw compressors are used in a diverse range of applications. Typically, they are used to supply compressed air for general industrial applications. Trailer mounted diesel powered units are often seen at construction sites, and are used to power air operated construction machinery."
Ultimate Puller - Sensible Products We have one of these in the shop at work and it's been a big help sometimes getting stubborn squirrel cage fans off of motor shafts.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Always a good read, I have been a fan of Marshall Brain's How Stuff Works for years but only recently visited his official home page and learned of many of his other works. Surf on over and check it out for yourself. His page opens thusly:

MarshallBrain.com - The Official Home Page for Marshall Brain

Hello, and welcome to MarshallBrain.com. I am glad you have found your way to this site and appreciate your taking the time to visit.

I am best known as the founder of How Stuff Works. I started HowStuffWorks as a hobby in 1998 and it has grown to be one of the top Web sites in the country.

I am known for the Robotic Nation essays and the book Manna. The article How to make a million dollars is also very popular. I am known for my book for teenagers entitled The Teenager's Guide to the Real World, now in its tenth printing and selected for the New York Public Library's prestigious Books for the Teen Age list (review). I am also known as a member of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers at North Carolina State University, where I taught in the computer science department for 6 years.

MORE...

Friday, September 18, 2009

Friday, September 04, 2009

On this truly sad day, we welcome you to join us as we memorialize the passing of ‘Rama’ Christopher Wyatt. Rama was known to many as the generous, kind, massage therapist always willing to offer his healing hands to those in need. Many may know him by his laughter and song.

And boy how our Rama could wail out a tune. Born the son of Rock –A- Billy Legend and Hall of Famer Gene Wyatt, Rama had some big musical shoes to fill. In the recent months Rama has shared many stories and songs of his father’s music and life with us, Singing his heart out. We know in our hearts that Rama is across the veils now playing alongside his father.

He was a trickster, a romancer, a magician, a drummer, a father, a husband, a brother, and a dear dear friend to many of us who will miss him terribly for all our days.

You are welcome to join us as remember the life of our dear friend as we commemorate his life and his passing.

Maeven Eller Five

‘Rama’ Christopher Wyatt

9/7/63 – 9/4/09

Services begin at 7 p.m.

Cover dishes for feasting afterwards welcome

Sacred Journey Fellowship

(Formally known as Pleasant Valley Unitarian Universalist Church)

1215 Main Street

Garland, TX 75040

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Miami banker gives $60 million of his own to employees - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com

"Lots of bosses say they value their employees. Some even mean it.

And then there's Leonard Abess Jr.

After selling a majority stake in Miami-based City National Bancshares last November, all he did was take $60 million of the proceeds -- $60 million out of his own pocket -- and hand it to his tellers, bookkeepers, clerks, everyone on the payroll. All 399 workers on the staff received bonuses, and he even tracked down 72 former employees so they could share in the windfall."

READ MORE At - MiamiHerald.com

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Too much thinking 'can make you fat' - Telegraph

Ahhh, so that's my problem. I think too much! :-)


"Researchers found the stress of thinking caused overeating with heavy thinkers seeking out more calories.

The research team, supervised by Dr Angelo Tremblay, measured the spontaneous food intake of 14 students after each of three tasks.

The first was relaxing in a sitting position, the second reading and summarizing a text, and finally completing a series of memory, attention, and vigilance tests on the computer."


READ MORE At The Telegraph

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

@ugusta: The Augusta Chronicle Online: Celebrate 2000New Year's song remains ingrained in public mind 12/31/99

"New Year's song remains ingrained in public mind

Depending on where you celebrate New Year's Eve tonight, the turntables will spin Prince's 1999, Barry Manilow's It's Just Another New Year's Eve, or even, heaven forbid, Will Smith's Will 2K.

But at midnight, in almost every nightclub and home, on every television and radio, the song will be the same: Auld Lang Syne.

``It just fits the moment,'' says Tyrone Traher, who has studied the origins of the song. ``It's traditional. Kind of like how Amazing Grace is always played at a funeral.''

Except that most people can make it past the first line of Amazing Grace.

``Yes,'' Mr. Traher agrees with a chuckle. ``No one seems to know all the words.''

He pauses for a moment.

``Come to think of it, I've honestly never read all the words to the song,'' he concedes.

So there you have it: a Gaelic-riddled song with an old-fashioned melody that many Americans sing as ``should auld acquaintance be forgot ...'' and then trail off into a hum."

READ MORE At The Augusta Chronicle Online

Monday, December 29, 2008

As they say, hindsight is 20/20 and if I had known then what I know now I would have definitely done things differently. I went to work for the company I am employed at which I currently refer to as my "day job" over 19 years ago. I was fairly fresh out of school having graduated High School then taking courses in Electronic Engineering at I.T.T. and working for Dominoes Pizza while putting in applications and doing interviews in the hopes of landing a "real job". I finally did get a job with a company that offered a great benefits package and a future of better pay although the starting pay was actually a step down from what I was making delivering pizzas if you include the tips. I literally began at the bottom sweeping floors and later upgraded into a higher position in the same department operating powered equipment.

I actually had a chance to take several other positions along the way but I chose the "safe" route of staying where I was at because I had built up some seniority which gave me a buffer in case of layoffs and it was guaranteed 40 hours per week whereas one of the other jobs, fleet service, starts off part time until you can build up enough time to bid for a full time position. Then in 1996 a new contract started that had been voted in during the 1995 negotiations. The department I was working in was to be contracted out but all of the people in the department would be transferred to a new position of cabin cleaning. The trouble was, they were also telling everyone that all future pay raises were to be frozen. Well, obviously that wasn't going to work so I started looking for a new place to go. A lot of my friends took positions as fleet service clerks, stock clerks, overhaul support mechanics and other assorted positions throughout the company. I, again going the safe route, decided on a Plant Maintenance Man position and passed the test initially for the Automotive Department where I remained for another 5 1/2 years until September 11th, 2001 put the industry into a tailspin and caused massive layoffs which sent me to a different work location and into the Facilities Maintenance department. After coming to Facilities I became interested in the equipment we worked on and started learning more about it, especially the electrical end of things and eventually got a Maintenance Electrician's License from the state.

The trouble is, after making all these "safe" moves over the years I find myself in a position that hasn't panned out for me. I make an average of $2 less per hour than all of my former co-workers who went on to other positions within the company, I have fewer options for working extra shifts (called CSing in company lingo) and very rarely see opportunities for overtime (which is often more plentiful for other positions. I made the "safe" move to the Plant Maintenance Man (PMM for short) thinking it would be a temporary position for a few years maybe and I would later be able to upgrade into a full Mechanic position (a position that pays $9 per hour more than I make now). But due primarily to politics (under a shoddy facade of policy and experience credit review procedures) I have been shut out time and again from getting such an upgrade but at the same time I have seen others with less experience (in one particular case an 18 year old kid fresh out of High School) who were deemed to be "qualified" which usually boils down to knowing the right people, being related to the right people or filling the agenda of "diversification of the work force". The PMM position requires three years previous maintenance experience to get into in the first place. The fleet service clerk position requires only a High School diploma or equivalent and a driver's license to start then training is provided. PMM is classified in the union contract as a semi-skilled position. Fleet Service Clerk is classified as non-skilled. So, 18 years ago if I had gone into the so called "non-skilled" Fleet Service Clerk position I would be making $2 more per hour now than I do by going into the "semi-skilled" position. But it goes beyond that because with 18 years I could easily have pulled a Crew Chief position by now giving me another $1.70 per hour on top of that. Plus more opportunities for CSing and overtime due to it being a MUCH larger department.

So, long story short, I messed up doing what I thought was the "safe" thing and I'm paying for it now every hour that I work. I can still transfer to one of these other positions and likely will as soon as the economy improves and there is more hiring taking place because I see now that the "few years" that I thought it might take to upgrade has become 12 1/2 years and counting. Transferring will mean throwing away all of my seniority and starting at the bottom of the list for bidding jobs and being among the first to be impacted by layoffs. But my pay will increase at least. It's just ironic that I find myself in the predicament that I have to transfer to a position which has lower initial qualification requirements in order to make more money. It all boils down to politics though. There are more of them than there are of us and our union doesn't care because A.) We don't represent enough votes to do them any good and B.) some of us have more seniority than the very union representatives who are supposed to represent us therefore they have a vested interest in keeping me and others like me right where we are at. The company has no interest in helping us upgrade because, hey, it's cheap labor, we have guys doing essentially the same work for $9 per hour less. What's not to love about that right?

I'm not getting any younger though and if I am going to start over in another department now is the time to do it because later it will be too late. But on the other hand, there is that nagging doubt of what if I transfer out and they finally do the right thing and implement a program to allow those of us trapped in this dead end to finally get an upgrade through training and testing? The current contract is in negotiations and there is talk of just such a program being a part of it but there has been talk before. There is talk at every contract negotiation. Talk is cheap. Talk won't pay my bills or support my family. I need more than talk.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Pete the purple squirrel leaves animal lovers baffled | Mail Online

Here's something you don't see every day... -Troy

"We've all seen lots of grey squirrels and maybe the occasional red, but this chap is definitely going through a purple patch.

He was spotted at Meoncross School in Stubbington, Hampshire, where pupils, staff and parents have all tried to solve the mystery of his unusual hue.

One clue is that he frequently pops into a building where old printers are stored. TV wildlife expert Chris Packham said: 'It is possible he has been chewing on a purple ink cartridge and then groomed that colouring into his fur."


MORE with PICS At Mail Online

Thursday, December 25, 2008

"DALLAS, TX.- DFW International Airport welcomed the ancient Egyptian jackal-headed god Anubis, guide and protector of the dead, to the Airport's popular Founders' Plaza today, celebrating the successful conclusion of the 'Year of the International Traveler.' The 10-ton, 26-foot-tall statue, which will 'deck the skyways' with a giant candy cane staff, will be on display to celebrate the 'Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs' exhibit showing at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) through May of 2009. Santa and his helpful elves joined a crowd of well-wishers to greet Anubis at Founders' Plaza today, and air passengers will get a unique view of the statue from the north end of the Airport on thousands of upcoming holiday flights."

READ MORE At Artdaily.org

Sunday, December 21, 2008

LEDs And Smart Lighting Could Save Trillions Of Dollars, Spark Global Innovation

"ScienceDaily (Dec. 20, 2008) — A 'revolution' in the way we illuminate our world is imminent, according to a paper published this week by two professors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Innovations in photonics and solid state lighting will lead to trillions of dollars in cost savings, along with a massive reduction in the amount of energy required to light homes and businesses around the globe, the researchers forecast.

A new generation of lighting devices based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will supplant the common light bulb in coming years, the paper suggests. In addition to the environmental and cost benefits of LEDs, the technology is expected to enable a wide range of advances in areas as diverse as healthcare, transportation systems, digital displays, and computer networking."

MORE AT Science Daily

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Friday, December 19, 2008

Head to http://store.sncmusic.com to get Straight No Chaser's album 'Holiday Spirits'! The original members of Straight No Chaser perform their comedic version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

What are you looking at? Japan scientists find out | Science | Reuters

"TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese researchers have reproduced images of things people were looking at by analyzing brain scans, opening the way for people to communicate directly from their mind.

They hope their study, published in the U.S. journal Neuron, will lead to helping people with speech problems or doctors studying mental disorders, although there are privacy issues if it gets to the stage where someone can read a sleeping person's dreams.

'When we want to convey a message, we need to move our body, for example by speaking or by tapping a keyboard,' said Yukiyasu Kamitani, the project's head researcher from the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, a private institute based in Kyoto, Japan."

READ MORE At Reuters
This guy went out with a BANG! - Troy

"The body of Wang Diange, from the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia, was found in the wreckage of a house where he had been overseeing the wake of a previous family funeral, after mourners felt a loud explosion which took off half the roof.

As it was raining and thundery, they decided that the house, and Mr Wang in particular, had been struck by lightning. The police came to the same conclusion.

Further inquiries were made a few days later after Mr Wang's own funeral. As his body was being put into the cremation chamber, it blew up spectacularly, bursting the doors off the oven."

READ MORE At The Telegraph:

Monday, December 15, 2008

A Newsletter for Arlingtonites

"At 6000 Bacara Lane, the Artisan at Rush Creek is more than an apartment home community for affordable living. It's a facility offering recreational programs for youth, after-school tutoring, and continuing education classes for adults. In a partnership with the YMCA and the City of Arlington, there's a strategic focus on youth in this south Arlington community of low to moderate income families and people are seeing the difference."

READ MORE At A Newsletter for Arlingtonites:

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Harvesting Electricity From Moving Vehicles - HotHardware

'Parasitic energy harvesting' might sound like it is part of a Sci-Fi plot where alien beings feed off of the energy emanating from human bodies, but it is actually a means of reclaiming wasted energy. An Israeli company, Innowattech, says that it holds the patents to technologies that can harvest the mechanical energy from vehicles traveling on surfaces such as roadways, railways, and airport runways, and convert that energy to electricity. Not only does Innowattech have the technology, but it wants to implement it into our highway, rail, and airport infrastructures.

The technology 'is based on piezoelectric generators; the piezoelectric effect converts mechanical strain into electrical current or voltage.' In other words, when a piezoelectric material is deformed, the energy from the deformation of the material gets converted into electricity. Innowattech has created three different versions of what it calls the Innowattech Piezo Electric Generator (IPEG): a Roadway Generator, a Railroad Generator, and a Runway Generator. Innowattech claims that its IPEGs can 'harvest energy from weight, motion, vibration and temperature changes.

MORE At HotHardware: "

A Perfect Female Companion: Project Aiko

(PhysOrg.com) -- Aiko is a humanoid robot with a built in Biometric Artificial Intelligence Neural System (Brain) designed by Le Trung in Canada. Aiko is slightly less than 5-feet high with 32.24-inch bust, 22.44-inch waist and 33.07-inch waist. Aiko which means 'love child' is the perfect companion. In fact, lovely Aiko speaks Japanese and English and can respond to annoyances and questions.

She has the ability to identify objects placed before her. She is equipped with a sensor which allows her to signal pain or annoyance. If you squeeze her cheeks or other parts of her anatomy she will tell you, 'That hurts or stop touching me.

MORE At PhysOrg Project Aiko: "

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Have you been dreaming of a white Christmas? Scientists could soon watch it on a screen | Mail Online

Have you been dreaming of a white Christmas? Scientists may soon be able to show your winter scene on a computer screen once you've drifted into a peaceful slumber.

A Japanese research team has successfully processed and displayed images directly from the human brain, they said in a study to be published in the US magazine Neuron.

While the researchers at the ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories have only reproduced simple images from the brain, they said the technology could eventually be used to display dreams."

MORE at Daily Mail

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Green tomato pie, green tomato soup, green tomato bread and fried green tomatoes!

We ate them all around here this week. Our tomato plants which languished in the backyard for most of the season and didn't produce much exploded into a tomato frenzy in November and just wouldn't stop. We even tried to give some away but unfortunately no one came to get them but ever resourceful, my wife Eme went online and found tons of recipes for things you can make with green tomatoes. I wonder how a green tomato salsa would be? Maybe next year, but anyway, all of these creations were just awesome and not the usual fare you'll get at the store or from a restaurant for that matter. That's the beauty of growing your own stuff. Not only is the flavor better but you can create all kinds of great dishes that you wouldn't otherwise get to try. Next year we're planning to try out the plan used by some folks up in Chicago who used old, discarded kid's wading pools to make huge planters and grew vegetables on the roof of a building.

No! We're not going grow our garden on the roof of the house, we'll plant them in the back yard but we figure the pools will help us separate the plants somewhat from weeds that might invade and make them easier to maintain. Also, we shouldn't have to dig too deep to get to our potatoes, carrots, radishes and such. I also recently read up on growing spinach in pots indoors. Plus did you know about this neat planter that lets you grow small tomatoes indoors as a hanging basket?


Monday, December 08, 2008

Pre-Columbian Tribes Had BBQs, Parties on Grave Sites

Alexis Okeowo
for National Geographic News
December 05, 2008

Some pre-Hispanic cultures in South America had elaborate celebrations at their cemeteries, complete with feasting and drinking grounds much like modern barbecue pits, according to a new archaeological study.

Excavations of 12th- and-13th-century burial mounds in the highlands of Brazil and Argentina revealed numerous earthen ovens. The finds suggest that the graves were also sites of regular festivals held to commemorate the death of the community's chief."

MORE at National Geographic
Can you believe this @#&*!?

8-year old Tallan 'T-Man' Latz is unable to play his guitar in clubs that serve liquor because of Wisconsin laws.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT

I used to own both of these books until an ex-wife took off with them several years ago. I bought them both when I was about 20 years old and living in an apartment in Grapevine, Texas. Among other things, these books inspired me to start at that early age to begin putting money into my company 401k account and to buy, not rent, a house as soon as possible. Both decisions I have never regretted. Even though the books are fairly old now the advice in them is timeless and I plan to re-quire copies of them soon so I can re-read them and refresh my memory. I can highly recommend them both to anyone who wants to get a handle on their personal finances and to be in control of their money not let it control you...


'Sylvia Porter's Money Book:'



Andrew Tobias' 'The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need'

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Sci Fi Channel orders 'Battlestar' prequel 'Caprica' --The Live Feed

"Sci Fi Channel has given the long-gestating 'Battlestar Galactica' prequel 'Caprica' a series order.

The network has made a significant commitment to the project, ordering 20 hours, including a two-hour pilot. Cast members include Eric Stoltz ('Milk,' 'Chicago Hope'), Esai Morales ('Jericho,' 'NYPD Blue'), Paula Malcomson ('Deadwood,' 'ER') and Polly Walker ('Cane,' 'Rome').

' 'Caprica' will build on 'Battlestar Galactica's' acclaimed legacy of gripping drama and extraordinary characters,' said Sci Fi president Dave Howe. 'It's the beginning of a brand new epic saga that will appeal to both new viewers, totally unfamiliar with the 'Battlestar' franchise, as well as existing loyal and passionate 'Battlestar' fans.'"

MORE on The Live Feed by James Hibberd:
I just got this email from the Obama-Biden Transition Project

Transparency and engagement are priorities for the Obama-Biden Transition Project. Our success depends on not only opening up a process that has historically been inaccessible to most Americans, but also encouraging citizen participation.

Last week, we took an important step towards these goals by asking the public to participate in a discussion about health care on our website.

The result was fantastic. Started by a question from our Health Policy Team, thousands of comments poured in over a few days. Some people answered the initial question, but others engaged with one another debating and developing new ideas and approaches to health care reform.

Members of our Health Policy Team, including former Senator Tom Daschle, read through these comments over Thanksgiving weekend.

Yesterday, they sat down to record a special video response. Watch it and join the discussion:



This is just the beginning. These discussions are a valuable resource for Transition staff and an important way to ensure that everyone has a voice in the process.

Thank you,

John

John D. Podesta

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Arlington Parade and Tree Lighting on December 6th

"Arrive early for the Holiday Lights Parade. More than 75 lighted floats, marching bands, vintage cars and Elvis clones on tiny motorcycles. New this year: Entertainment at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. Beginning at 4 p.m., enjoy holiday performances by the First Baptist Church Choir and the Arlington Community Band. The Star-Telegram-sponsored parade starts at 6 p.m. followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree in front of City Hall."


More at the Newsletter for Arlingtonites
Rip, Mix, and Govern: "Barack Obama's transition site, Change.gov, is now under a Creative Commons license—specifically, the highly permissive Attribution 3.0 Unported license, which allows unfettered copying and remixing of content, subject only to an attribution requirement. Lest anyone worry that they're wild-eyed radicals, though, the copyright policy makes sure to assert the site's conformity with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act."

MORE