Category Archives: General

Books/Literature, Computers/Electronics, General

This and that…

A couple of fascinating articles I ran across, one from Slate.com (not to be confused with Salon.com) and the other from Salon.com (not to be confused with Slate.com).

The first article is by Andrew Leonard and can be found on Salon.com.  It concerns the new 3D printing technology and the fact that it might render any gun control legislation moot:

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/25/will_computers_kill_gun_control/

Absolutely loved the article and, moving past the implications of 3D printing regarding gun control, one begins to wonder about what other things the future of 3D printing might impact as well.  Will there come a time, for example, when 3D printing technology will become so advanced (ie able to make items made of metal) that one might be able, for example, to create a new sink for one’s house?  A hose?  A TV set?  If all we need are the raw materials and a program/schematic to print what we want, what effect will this have on industry?  Like MP3s, will there be websites containing downloadable schematics for just about everything we need?  And, returning to the weapon debate, will we be able to “make” our own rocket launcher?

Or perhaps there will come a time when there will be 3D printer “stores” with really big 3D printers within and one could show up with a schematic for your favorite car and, within the day, they might be able to “print” you all the parts to assemble the car on your own at home.

Again, where does this technology leave industry?  And employment?

The second article can be found on Slate.com and is by Mark O’Connell.  It concerns the writing of one Amanda McKittrick Ros, whom many peers (and, apparently, modern readers as well) consider one of the worst writers ever.  A very amusing article:

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/01/was_amanda_mckittrick_ros_the_worst_novelist_in_history.html

Reading about Ms. Ros made me think of what is possibly her counterpart in the movie business, the notorious Ed Wood.  I loved this line by Mr. O’Connell which describes the level of “badness” of Ms. Ros’ work:

Ros’ writing is not just bad, in other words; its badness is so potent that it seems to undermine the very idea of literature, to expose the whole endeavor of making art out of language as essentially and irredeemably fraudulent—and, even worse, silly.

Oh my…

General

Who will save the Roman ruins?

Fascinating article from Time magazine regarding the effects of austerity on the preservation of ancient Roman ruins:

http://world.time.com/2013/01/23/entombing-the-tomb-of-the-gladiator-who-will-save-the-roman-ruins/

While it seems obvious that one would want to preserve ancient historical ruins to the best of one’s (or one’s nation’s) ability, the fact of the matter is that preserving ancient historical items requires money and, in these times of austerity and economic slow down, using government funds to preserve ancient ruins becomes a tricky issue.  Particularly if your country, Italy, happens to be filled with ancient -and who knows how many yet to be discovered!- ancient ruins.

Here in South Florida, the closest we have to “ancient” material worth preserving are homes and buildings from the early 20th Century.  Hardly “old” considering the material discussed in Italy.  However, what little we have here does have its charm and specific architectural characteristics.  But most of the buildings deemed “historic” are still in use and most often taken care of by the buildings’ owners.  Over time, many others have been bulldozed away and exist only in old photographs and memories.

So I feel for Italy.  This is a country that is rich in history and marvelous ancient structures. It’s a pity that the reality of modern economic times forces tough decisions regarding the proper care of said items.

General

Even OLDER dashcam footage!

Just the other day I posted a link and embedded video of “dashcam” footage of New York circa 1926 (you can read about it here).  I noted that while the website claimed the video from 1926 might be the oldest dashcam footage ever, I found that doubtful.  I recalled silent films from that era and before that also featured dashcam footage, so while old and unquestionably fascinating, I was reasonably certain the 1926 footage was not the “first” of its kind.

Well, to the website’s credit they have found and posted an even older dashcam footage.  Considerably older.

The footage below is from 1907 Vancouver!  Given the year, the footage presented isn’t from an automobile, rather was made via streetcar.  Still, incredibly fascinating to watch:

For more information on the footage, plus equally fascinating information on the man who filmed it (and died a mere five years later in one of the most famous maritime disasters of all time), click on the following link:

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/even-older-dashcam-footage-from-1907/

 

General

World’s Oldest Dashcam Footage?!

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Follow this fascinating link to find footage from the archives of the Fire Department of New York which show a car transporting Fire Chief John Kenlon from the Brooklyn Fire Department to a storage warehouse fire on East 123rd Street.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/05/watch-what-might-be-the-worlds-oldest-dashcam-footage-from-1926/

If you’re not interested in reading the entire article, you can see the actual dashcam footage here:

Now, I suspect this is not the earliest “dashcam” type footage out there.  I seem to recall seeing plenty of silent films that featured vehicular adventures and footage from the front seat.  Further, there is an interesting bit of…I wouldn’t quite call it controversy but rather “questions” regarding the exact date this footage was filmed.  The date of the video is listed as April 24, 1926.  But, according to Ian, one clever poster for the article, records indicated that day in NY was actually quite warm.  Perhaps the footage was filmed at an earlier (snowier) date rather than the late spring date given?

Regardless, fascinating stuff and an extended look at what the streets of New York looked like nearly one hundred years ago.  My only wish is that they could slow down and correct the rate the footage is presented.  Things are a little too “sped up”.

General

10 Well Known Brands That Will Disappear in 2013

When I first stumbled upon the “Brands that Will Disappear” kind of lists, I was genuinely shocked to find the giant bookseller Borders on the list.  That list, which appeared a couple of years ago, proved accurate as in 2011 the chain of stores officially ended their run.

What brands are in danger today?  Follow the link to the Daily Finance page and you shall find your answers!

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/12/28/10-well-known-brands-that-will-disappear-in-2013/

General

Canadian Historian Cracks WWII Carrier Pigeon Code…

A little while back came the interesting news that a Brit cleaning out his chimney discovered the remains of a pigeon within.  The pigeon carcass proved extraordinary because on the remains of the pigeon’s leg was found a message holder and, within, a coded message.

The code and pigeon, it was established, were from WWII.  Experts analyzed the code but found it too difficult to crack.  They opined that without the proper code books, many of which changed daily during the war and were subsequently lost to time, there would be no way at all to decode the message.  Ever.

That is, until Gord Young, a Canadian historian, saw the code and in a whopping 17 minutes (according to the article!) cracked it.  What did he find?  Well, the article below tell you it “details the position of German troops based in Normandy”, but does not offer the actual deciphered message.  I suspect the message itself is a little too technical, but still, the article and the story are incredibly fascinating.  The full article can be found here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/gord-young_n_2316069.html

General

5 Most Horrifying Post Divorce Dates…

…at least those experienced by author and therapist Christine Gallagher:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-gallagher/top-5-most-horrifying-pos_b_2214078.html

Humorous and horrifying stuff.  I think #4 is perhaps the most bizarre…though not so much for what happened afterwards but rather related to the conversation the man on the date related regarding his mother.

Very, very strange.

General

What Would Happen if the NFL Eliminated Kickoffs?

As a big fan of Football, I’m sober enough to realize in these past few years this sport has reached something of a threshold moment.  Football, in its current incarnation, is actually relatively new, with the first SuperBowl held in 1967.  Back then, the players were often “part time” professionals and it was not uncommon to find them doing things like selling cars in the off-season to earn some extra cash.

But the sport grew and grew and grew, and as it did the money involved grew as well.  Player salaries skyrocketed and, suddenly, your average Football player no longer had to find alternative off-season work.  Instead, they had the freedom to devote their off season time to condition themselves even more.  Diets were improved and training exercises were perfected.  The money rewards meant more and more young people tried out for Football in High School and College, and thus the pool of talent was deeper, meaning there was more talent at the top.  In the end, the athletes on the field today are superior specimens of strength and speed versus the previous decades’ worth.  Jim Mandich, part of the legendary undefeated 1972 Dolphin team, himself said before his untimely passing that just about any modern Football team would not only defeat but smoke his beloved undefeated team of the past.  No question about it.

Unfortunately, with these stronger, faster, and more skilled athletes arises a big problem which the NFL is currently dealing with:  Injuries.  Specifically, head injuries.  For you see, when you have athletes conditioned to be their strongest and fastest running full speed into other athletes also conditioned to be their strongest and fastest, the one part of their body that one cannot condition to take physical punishment is the brain.  It seems silly to say, but let’s be clear:  There is no exercise out there that can make your brain somehow “stronger” or better capable of taking hits.  Almost any hits.  Sure, the helmets used in the NFL today are very high tech, but the reality is that the brain essentially “floats” on liquid within a person’s skull.  Running as fast as you can and abruptly being stopped by slamming into another player may send the brain against the skull wall.  Do so many, many times over a few years as a professional player and there is a likelihood your brain will sustain some kind of damage.

Because the league is relatively young, it is only now, with the passing of time, that an awareness of the types of injuries sustained over the long term to NFL players is being realized and is becoming an issue.  The league is being sued by former players who note that in the past they were ordered to play on despite concussions and other potentially -as well as actually- serious injuries sustained on the field.  I suspect the biggest worry about the NFL is that if these players of the past that are exhibiting signs of mental and physical problems related to injuries is just the tip of the iceberg.  What happens a little down the road when the current crops of much stronger and faster players drift into their old age?  Will we begin to see even more evidence of head and other trauma symptoms?

In recent years, the NFL has become more proactive and is trying to limit head on head hits as well as a host of penalties for hitting players that are particularly vulnerable to injury.  Some worry that the NFL will eventually become something akin to flag football.

The latest idea floated by the NFL is to do away with Kickoffs entirely.  What effect will doing so have on the game?  Brian Burke of Slate Magazine offers some fascinating analysis of just that:

http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2012/12/roger_goodell_kickoff_ban_more_scoring_more_fumbles_and_other_potential.html

There is little more to add.  I still enjoy watching Football.  However, a small part of me realizes that this is a sport caught in transition.  What we may see of it in the next decade may be very different from what we’re witnessing today.

General

Dreams and reality…

Had a dream -more like a nightmare- this morning, couldn’t really tell you all the details as they’re rapidly evaporating, but it involved some kind of hostage situation and, of course (!), some kind of road race I was involved in.

The bad guy of the dream piece, like bad guys in all major fiction tend to be, was one step ahead of everyone involved in the situation, and when the good guys thought they had him cornered, not only did it prove not to be the case, but the bad guy set up a new, very stringent demand.

To prove he wasn’t playing around, the bad guy told us we had to comply with his new order(s) in “5…4…3…2…1…”

And just as the bad guy was about to say “zero” -and I swear I’m not making this up- the alarm clock goes off!

Just goes to show how incredible the human mind is, to calibrate a countdown in a dream  to the literal second that my alarm clock is about to go off!