Zola Budd (b. 1966) is a field an track runner from South Africa, intermediately competing for Great Britain, as South Africa was excluded from international athletics competition because of its apartheid policy. During the 3000m-final at the Olympics 1984 in Los Angeles, CA, USA, Budd's rival Mary Decker stumbled and fell after collinding with Budd. A jury of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) found that Budd was not responsible for the collision.
Fermat's Last Theorem states that no three positive integers a, b, and c can satisfy the equation an + bn = cn for any integer value of n greater than two. The equation is an expansion of the Pythagorean theorem where n = 2 and certain solutions can be found (e.g. a = 3, b = 4, c = 5). In 1637, Pierre de Fermat conjectured that this equation was not true for any positive integer greater than two. In 1995, British mathematician Andrew Wiles presented a final proof for the theorem. His story has been described by the BBC (video below) and is also discussed among experts in BBC radio show In Our Time.
"[...] learning and inventing are kin; both are processes of seeking out the surprise of something new. Certainty is learning's enemy, for it already knows and it cannot be surprised." Look at water as a metaphor: "If we want water, we head for the valley, not the high ground. Water flows to the humblest point, so that's where we'll find it. Once we really identify our ignorance, knowledge will flow in to make it go away." (Engines of Our Ingenuity No. 2011).
Focus stacking is a technique for processing digital images with small depth of field, as obtained e.g. in microscopy or macro photography. Multiple images with different focus points are combined into one image. Instructions at Fotofacts.
"[...] around the world, the t-shirt has become the body’s billboard". Richard Armstrong, Engines of our Ingenuity No. 2836: Bumping into Signs.
Educational animated short clips by Jeremiah Warren, Dallas, TX, on Youtube: Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, History of the Calendar, Naming of Hurricanes, and Steve Jobs. Creative and informative.
DVD: Moonrise Kingdom (2012). w/ Bruce Willis (Captain Sharp), Edward Norton (Scout Master Ward), Bill Murray (Walt Bishop), Frances McDormand (Laura Bishop), Tilda Swinton (Social Services), Jared Gilman (Sam), Kara Hayward (Suzy). Directed by Wes Anderson. Writers: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola. Teenage boy and girl on a New England island fall in love and run away, stirring up the towns as they conduct a major search. Ensemble cast movie (i.e. no main actors). Odd style. Nerdy. Funny moments, but lacks real highlights. Overall rating 5 out of 10.
Movie (YT): Mission to Mars (2000). Directed by Brian De Palma (Mission: Impossible, The Untouchables); w/ Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, Don Cheadle, Connie Nielsen, Jerry O'Connell. When a first manned mission to Mars fails, a rescue team is sent to find out what happened. Does not deliver. Some good special effects for its time (e.g. solar system animation scene; descent to the Marsian surface), but story simple and too sappy. Lacks humor. Plenty of factual errors. Overall rating 6 out of 10.
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| Ulam spiral. Image source: Wikipedia. |
Fun physics lecture given by Walter Lewin, MIT, on May 16, 2011. Watch the dashed lines extending on chalkboard. For more of Lewin's lines, check out the Best Lines video.
Summarized from Patentlens.com:
At this point, the United States identifies granted (issued) patents with a seven-digit number followed by a B1 (patent not previously published) or a B2 (patent previously published), e.g., US 6,174,724 B1, The 'B1' and 'B2' are referred to as 'kind codes'.
Published U.S. Patent Applications are indicated with the year as a four-digit number and a publication number followed by an A1 (for the first publication), A2 (for republication) or A9 (corrected publication), e.g. US 2001/0002490 A1. This number is also referred to as the publication number on the USPTO PAIR (Patent Application Information Retrieval) web site.
In addition, there is also an application number In the U.S. that is different than the publication number. This number is used to identify the case while it is pending with the USPTO. Application numbers consist of a two-digit 'series' number (usually 09, 10, or 11) that is separated from a six-digit number by a slash, e.g. 10/676,431.
Issued Patents in Europe are indicated with a seven-digit number followed by a B1, e.g. EP 0 458 846 B1. A 'B2' number indicates that the claims have been modified after grant.
Published European Patent Applications use the same numbering system but the number is followed by A1, A2, etc., e.g. EP 0 955 371 A1.
"Stacking" image sequences provided by NASA from the crew at International Space Station (ISS) yields startrails that Christoph Malin compiled and posted on Vimeo. A copy can be found on YouTube.
Comet 96P/Machholz has a highly eccentric 5.2-year orbit and the smallest perihelion distance (closer than the orbit of Mercury) known among numbered/regular short-period comets. Heat resistant. Depleted of carbon and cyanogen, therefore assumed to be of extrasolar origin. Report in Sternzeit.
It appears that musical preference shifts with location. Germany -- less Jazz. Wyoming -- more Country. May also depend on other factors, e.g. fraction of listening in the car.
Katie Costello, female singer, originally from Los Angeles area, now works in NYC. Song 'Cassette Tape' somewhat reminds of Feist. Found on TuneCore.
Movie: Sonnenallee (Sun Alley, 1999) w/ Alexander Scheer (Michael 'Micha' Ehrenreich), Alexander Beyer (Mario), Katharina Thalbach (Mutter Ehrenreich), Teresa Weißbach (Miriam Sommer). Comedy on the life of adolescents on the Eastern side of the Wall in Berlin. Amusing. Overall rating 7 out of 10
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Web: Heidelberger historische Bestände – digital. Includes old manuscripts. Allows downloads in PDF format
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Science: More than 500 years ago, Leonardo da Vinci observed a particular relationship between the size of a tree's trunk and the size of its branches. Specifically, the combined cross-sectional areas of a tree's daughter branches are equal to the cross-sectional area of the mother branch. This tree structure may be optimal for enabling trees to resist wind-induced stresses. NPR report. Article.
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Astronomy: Aristarchos of Samos (310 BCE – ca. 230 BCE): Greek astronomer and mathematician. Presented first known heliocentric world model. Later restated by Copernicus (1543) and manifested by Kepler (1617-1621). Finally proven by James Bradley (1725) through discovery of the aberration of light.
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Travel: Roadside America: Travel tips for road trips across the USA. Searchable, e.g. by state. Provides map with location of sights.
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Science: Wilson Bentley (1865-1931): Photographed and research the variety of snowflakes.
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Books: Münchener Digitalisierungszentrum (MDZ, in German): Digitized books, including old manuscripts, e.g. of Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach.
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Maps: Waldseemüller Map of the World from 1507, first naming America, at the Library of Congress is available in high resolution for download.
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Life: Prices for new cars at TrueCar. Very informative.
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Travel: GPS Visualizer: Creates maps and profiles from GPS data (tracks and waypoints, including GPX files), driving routes, street addresses, or simple coordinates. Displays in Google Earth.
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Computer: Apple Apps Store: to find free apps, search for 'free app <search term>'.
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Movie (YouTube): The Light at the Edge of the World (1971). w/ Kirk Douglas, Yul Brynner and Samantha Eggar. Directed by Kevin Billington. After the novel 'The Lighthouse at the End of the World (1905)' by Jules Verne. A remote rocky island is taken over by michievous pirates and their leader (Brynner). Living in a cave and haunted by his past, the escaped assistant lighthouse keeper (Douglas) is trying to survive. Story slow. Some gruesome scenes. Poor visual effects. Overall rating: 5 out of 10.
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Movie (YouTube): The Trip (1967). w/ Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern, Susan Strasberg (wife, dark hair), Salli Sachse (blonde). Directed by Roger Corman. Pre-'Easy Rider' cult movie that describes the first LSD trip of a young man in a personal crisis (Fonda). Story simple. Visual firework trying to imitate the LSD experience. Music could be more catchy. Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
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Web: Lord of the Rings: Gary Appenzeller has compiled three web pages with the differences between books and movies for 'The Fellowship of the Ring' , ‘The Two Towers' and 'The Return of the King'
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Medicine: Patient.co.uk: Good information on a variety of diseases. Also more in dept information at PatientPlus. Also has an informative video directory
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Photography: Fotolia: Stock photos for little money
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Maps: Gmap Pedometer: Measures distances of self-chosen routes on a Google map
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Video: You Only Live Twice (1967). w/ Sean Connery (James Bond). Directed by Lewis Gilbert. Bond needs to find out who is behind the hijacking of American and Russian space crafts.The trail leads to Japan, SPECTRE its leader Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Overall rating 4 out of 10.
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Movie: GoldenEye (1995): w/ Pierce Brosnan (James Bond), Sean Bean (Alec Trevelyan),Izabella Scorupco (Natalya Simonova), Famke Janssen (Xenia Onatopp). Directed by Martin Campbell. Bond fights a former colleague (006) who stole a satellite weapon. Overall rating 5 out of 10.
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History: Historypin. Provides map with current and historical photos. Can study how streets have changed over the years.
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Movie: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011). w/ James Franco (Will Rodman), Freida Pinto (Caroline Aranha), Andy Serkis (Cesar). How it all began: Delopmental Alzheimer's drug is tested on monkeys and makes them intelligent. Researcher takes one of them (Cesar) home and raises him there, but eventually has to give him up to a shelter. Cesar escapes and organizes an uprising. Good special effects. Story okay. Andy Serkis also played Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Overall rating: 6 out of 10.
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Computer: Virus online scanners for single files: VirusTotal. Checks a file against 30+ virus scanners. Useful, when you want to counter check the alert received by your local virus scanner. Alternatively, it is possible to check with individual scanners online: Avast Online (max. size 16MB) or Kaspersky (max. size 1MB)
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Medicine: Drugs.com:. Info on drugs and drug companies, including sales figures
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Music: Rapid Library: Search engine for downloadable MP3s
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Music: Spectrasonics: Virtual musiclal instruments. Synthesized sounds out of a computer. Cool. Has interview with and music by Lyle Mays
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Life: Wetterkontor.de: Weather in Germany, including historical data
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Music: Wolfgang's Vault: Concert recordings to stream.
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Patents: Patent Retriever: Full text PDF versions of patents
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Physics: The name electron for the negatively charged subatomic particle originates from the greek word 'electron', which means amber. Amber attracts small objects by electrostatic forces after being rubbed with fur
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Movies: La Vallee (1972). Written and directed by Barbet Schroeder (b. 1941) who also directed the movie 'More' (1969). With Bulle Ogier (Viviane). Four hippies on a journey in search of paradise in the Papua New Guinea bush. Sountrack by Pink Floyd, released as the album 'Obscured by Clouds'. Rating 7 out of 10
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Movies: Mal de Mer (2005). Short film with Bulle Ogier, Michel Piccoli. Retired couple meets two guys by the sea. Rating 7 out of 10
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Computers: FileDropper: Simple way to share/distribute files up to 5GB. No sign-up required. If the files are not downloaded even once within 30 days post upload they are removed
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Movies: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). w/ Kevin McCarthy (Dr. Miles J. Bennell), Dana Wynter (Becky Driscoll). Directed by Don Siegel (Dirty Harry). Doctor in a fight to prevent an alien race's attempt to secretly replace people by identical copies that lack emotions. Good pace. Seems somewhat dated today, but keeps the suspense up. Overall rating 7 out of 10.
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Aphorsims: Collection of quotes in the Liss-Kompendium (in German)
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Life: Depleted Uranium (DU) ammunition is used by various different countries because of its high penetrating power that can destroy even tanks. Uranium has a very high density (19.1 g/cm3). The use of DU could be a factor in the development of Gulf War syndrome (fatigue, loss of muscle control, headaches, dizziness and loss of balance, memory problems, muscle and joint pain, indigestion, skin problems, immune system problems, and birth defects). Also, children in Iraq have contracted leukemia and cancer, possibly after radioactive contamination from playing in destroyed tanks. Interesting video 'Der Arzt und die verstrahlten Kinder von Basra-Irak.flv' on Youtube.
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TV Series: UFO: British television science fiction series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson (who also produced the series Space: 1999 in 1975, with Martin Landau). First aired in 1970. Main cast: Ed Bishop (Commander Edward Straker), Michael Billington (Colonel Paul Foster), who work for the secret organization SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation) to study and protect the world from aliens. Episode 'A Question Of Priorities' on YouTube.
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Nutrition: SelfNutritionData: Contains searchable database of U.S. food labels on the basis of USDA's National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Informative.
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Business: Top-line data from the pharmaceutical industry at IMS
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Computer: List of Windows Vista Services with explanations and tweaks. Also covers other OS's
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Food: Foodwatch: Debunks promises by the food industry (in German)
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Life: Bike tours in Bavaria: Map at Bayerninfo.de, tab 'Bayernnetz für Radler'
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Site-specific searches on Google: In the Google search window, add your search term followed by the word 'site:' and the URL of the site you would like to search, i.e. <search term> site:dynamicplanet.blogspot.com. Other tips on Google searches here
Snippets:
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Science: Journal Ranking at SCImago. Impact factors given
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Philosophy: Tommaso Campanella (1568-1639), Italian Dominican philosopher. Spent a good part of his adult life in prison due to heresy. Most famous work is 'The City of the Sun' (1602/1623, Italian: La città del Sole; Latin: Civitas Solis; German: Sonnenstaat), in which he develops a theocratic society of communism of goods, women and children. In this society, the individual counts little and the structure of the family is abolished. Main goal is the preservation of the species. Also wrote 'The Defense of Galileo' (1616/1622), although Galileo himself may not have appreciated the help of a heretic
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Mathematics: Sierpinski triangle. Fractal. Discussed in NPR's Engines of Our Ingenuity No. 2599 (Strange attractors and imagery)
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Law: Buzer: Full text of select German laws and regulations (in German)
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Music: Websites that can generate tones and music: 1.) Isle of Tune 2.) Seaquence 3.) Balldroppings, use Javascript.
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Psychology: Dan Gilbert, Professor of Psychology at Harvard, on happiness: Lecture 2004 and Lecture 2005. Notes: 1.) Daniel Bernoulli (1700-1782): Expected value = Odds of Gain x Value of Gain 2.) Mistake humans make: Comparing with the past, not with the possible 3.) Comparisons change the value of things 4.) Problem of shifting comparisons (30,000 --> 100 saving sounds much less than 200 --> 100 saving) 5.) Plato: What space is to size, time is to value (source not given, quote not verified)
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