One of the best commercials I've seen.(in a while, anyway)
February 22, 2013
February 21, 2013
Every Nuclear Explosion Since 1945
Japanese artist Isao Hashimoto has created a beautiful, undeniably scary time-lapse map of the 2053 nuclear explosions which have taken place between 1945 and 1998, beginning with the Manhattan Project's "Trinity" test near Los Alamos and concluding with Pakistan's nuclear tests in May of 1998. This leaves out North Korea's two alleged nuclear tests in this past decade (the legitimacy of both of which is not 100% clear).
Each nation gets a blip and a flashing dot on the map whenever they detonate a nuclear weapon, with a running tally kept on the top and bottom bars of the screen. Hashimoto, who began the project in 2003, says that he created it with the goal of showing"the fear and folly of nuclear weapons." It starts really slow — if you want to see real action, skip ahead to 1962 or so — but the buildup becomes overwhelming.
Each nation gets a blip and a flashing dot on the map whenever they detonate a nuclear weapon, with a running tally kept on the top and bottom bars of the screen. Hashimoto, who began the project in 2003, says that he created it with the goal of showing"the fear and folly of nuclear weapons." It starts really slow — if you want to see real action, skip ahead to 1962 or so — but the buildup becomes overwhelming.
Miramax Oscar Ballot Challenge
Take the Miramax Oscar Ballot Challenge for a chance to win prizes.
From the site:
Here’s your chance to win a massive prize pack of Miramax Oscar®-winning films. Are you ready to take the challenge? Complete your ballot now!
GRAND PRIZE: 20 of Miramax’s Academy Award®-winning films
2nd PLACE: Miramax’s Best Picture, Actor and Actress winning films
3rd PLACE: Miramax’s Best Picture winning films
All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm Pacific Time on Saturday, February 23, 2013.
Before you start, review the official rules.
I haven't seen any of these movies in their entirety (although I did embed "Paperman" earlier this month, but have now noticed the video has been made private), but I have seen some of the trailers and read "the buzz" on most. So, my entry into the contest is riddled with (mostly) educated guesses and a few favorites. Here are my picks:
Actor in a Supporting Role: Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Animated Feature: Frankenweenie
Original Song: 'Skyfall' - Skyfall
Original Screenplay: Zero Dark Thirty
Animated Short: Paperman
Documentary Short: Redemption
Live Action Short: Henry
Makeup: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Adapted Screenplay: Life of Pi
Supporting Actress: Sally Field, Lincoln
Production Design: Les Miserables
Costume Design: Lincoln
Sound Editing: Life of Pi
Sound Mixing: Life of Pi
Cinematography: Life of Pi
Original Score: Skyfall
Visual Effects: Life of Pi
Documentary Feature: How to Survive a Plague
Film Editing: Life of Pi
Foreign Film: Kon-Tiki
Actor in a Leading Role: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Actress in a Leading Role: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Director: Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Best Picture: Lincoln
After you fill out your choices, you'll get an email listing them. I hope I don't get more spam because of it, but if I do...oh well.
Miramax Oscar Ballot Challenge
February 20, 2013
Procession - The Moody Blues
A homemade video of one of the most interesting songs that's ever been written. With only three words for the lyrics, "Procession" basically describes the history of music from the beginning of time up to the present.
Read more about "Procession" at Wikipedia
Read more about "Procession" at Wikipedia
Fun Phone Fact
Did you know the first phone in the White House was installed in 1879 during the Rutherford B. Hayes administration? (even before electricity in 1891) Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, gave Hayes personal instructions on how to use it. The number was "1" because at first it was only connected to the Treasury Dept.
I wonder how long it was until the President was interrupted during dinner by a telemarketer?
I wonder how long it was until the President was interrupted during dinner by a telemarketer?
February 18, 2013
The Gourde
Did you know that the official currency of Haiti is known as gourde, named after the gourd? (botanically classified as a fruit) In the early 1800's the ruler of northern Haiti declared all gourds to be state property and had them rounded up and brought to the state treasury where they were then reissued as currency. Eventually banknotes and coins replaced the gourds, but gourde has remained the name of Haiti's official currency.
I first discovered this fact when I read The Black Sun as a young man. My folks were big fans of the Mandingo series of books, as well as others written by Kyle Onstott and his partners. The books were really too adult for my age but I guess my parents thought it better for me to find out about sex that way instead of them having to uncomfortably explain it to me.
There were gourds growing in the pastures surrounding the house where I grew up; not sure what specific type of gourd they were, but they usually didn't grow much larger than a baseball and, in fact, throwing them was the most fun I had with them. The vines and fruit smelled to high heaven when crushed, with an odor like day-old B.O. After working hard all day during a hot summer, I often heard my dad say "I smell just like an ol' gourd vine."
I first discovered this fact when I read The Black Sun as a young man. My folks were big fans of the Mandingo series of books, as well as others written by Kyle Onstott and his partners. The books were really too adult for my age but I guess my parents thought it better for me to find out about sex that way instead of them having to uncomfortably explain it to me.
There were gourds growing in the pastures surrounding the house where I grew up; not sure what specific type of gourd they were, but they usually didn't grow much larger than a baseball and, in fact, throwing them was the most fun I had with them. The vines and fruit smelled to high heaven when crushed, with an odor like day-old B.O. After working hard all day during a hot summer, I often heard my dad say "I smell just like an ol' gourd vine."
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