You Learn Something New Every Day

The world is changing faster than you can read this

Michaell — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:09:59 +0000

I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore…

High-speed stuff captured with slow-motion “high FPS” cameras

Michaell — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:24:24 +0000

“FPS” stands for Frames per Second. This stuff is pretty cool.

A sensible answer to the primary elections mess

Michaell — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:07:23 +0000

The early states—Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, for example—disproportionately influence the primaries. Win in these states and you look more “winnable” in the November election, so you are more likely in other states to get votes. But this is causing a problem: politicians only campaign in these states, ignoring the others. If the primary race is decided early, most of the country is totally left out. So South Carolina moved its Republican primary up to January 19th, Florida is probably going to go even further back, and before you know it, we will have election campaigns lasting two to three years. Already, many candidates appear to be in perpetual campaign mode; everything is a glory train of publicity for the next run for office, no matter what year it is.

There is a simple, easy solution to this (more…)

An anti-slavery law with teeth—I hope

Michaell — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:00:49 +0000

Mauritania yesterday announced a new law against slavery—the third time such a law has been passed. However, this time (unlike the other times) you can go to jail for keeping slaves—and you can also be charged with a crime for knowing about a situation of enslavement and not reporting it. (more…)

Really cool and rare solar optical illusions

Michaell — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:49:16 +0000

Recently I stumbled upon a Wikipedia article on sundogs, which are solar phenomena that make it look like there are two or three suns in the sky rather than just one. This combined with the fact that I had just written a post about the Perseid meteor shower sparked my desire to do a post on really cool stuff in the sky. So here goes. (more…)

The mighty Perseid meteor shower is coming!

Michaell — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:07:56 +0000

Set your calendars…Sunday, August 12th is going to be a beautiful night for shooting stars. (more…)

A review of The Tides Restaurant, just north of Boston in Nahant

Michaell — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:49:55 +0000

Yesterday my wife an I decided we had had enough of the heat and wanted to go to the beach. So we went swimming in Nahant beach—a lovely place where the waves are small and the increase in depth is very slow as you go farther out. A good place to take the kids, you know.

We were quite hungry after that. A local young fellow named Brian, who had seen us at the beach a week or two ago, recommended that we eat at The Tides Restaurant and Pub. Not poor advice at all. The menu is packed with different options, the seafood dishes are scrumptious, and the prices are very reasonable, as I will show you. (more…)

India’s own country music - from Mizoram in the far East

Michaell — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:18:08 +0000

In the United States, especially in the South and the Midwest, country music is popular. Granted, not everybody likes country music, but I have to say, it is quite a unique style. Aside from Canada, I have heard nothing like it anywhere—until now. (more…)

Would you live in a house powered by tornadoes?

Michaell — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:11:52 +0000

If you want good sustainable energy for your home, forget solar or wind energy—that is, plain old blowing wind energy. Instead, beat those utility bills into oblivion with your very own environmentally friendly twister!

You’re probably saying, “ok, how does this work exactly?” Here’s how: (more…)

A List of some nice free Web 2.0 stuff

Michaell — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:07:58 +0000

Whoever knew you could do so much on the Web for free? (more…)