Monday, July 28, 2008
Polka on
This was a really cool story about a young blind man's accordion abilities. Good news to know and share.
Friday, July 18, 2008
If you don't like the weather...
...stay inside?
NO way!
Not in China. You simply change it.
That's what has been prepared for the Olympics. If forecasts predict rain, a little Liquid nitrogen shot into the clouds can make rain droplets smaller and fewer. This is INSANE, folks.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
A 22x8x8 Solution?
I found a newspaper clipping from 2005 about an awesome design called FutureShack. It is still an awesome concept which uses solar power and shipping crates to create healthy housing. Architect Sean Godsell noted that it would be more useful if he received calls from humanitarian organizations rather than museums seeking to display his work, which also included a park bench house and a bus shelter house. After learning more about the 12 million displaced refugees at a World Relief night, I heartily agree with him. I wonder where and what impact his design is having in 2008?
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Cutting away the excess
Occam's razor is the word of the day.
It's a scientific and philosophic rule that entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily.
This rule is interpreted as requiring that the simplest of competing theories be preferred to the more complex.
What a novelty! This is especially true for Scientific literature! (Have you tried to read a journal article lately?) Clear, concise, understandable ideas replace jargon. How refreshing!
It's a scientific and philosophic rule that entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily.
This rule is interpreted as requiring that the simplest of competing theories be preferred to the more complex.
What a novelty! This is especially true for Scientific literature! (Have you tried to read a journal article lately?) Clear, concise, understandable ideas replace jargon. How refreshing!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Everything flows from this
HEAR.
Listen up, you people,
you people whom God has called;
Open up your ears, you chosen Nation!
The Lord our God,
Who called you, who is Ruler over you,
Who saves you and directs you: remember him?
This unique, powerful, creating Being, called the Lord,
He is YOUR GOD.
He is ONE.
He commands you this day, commandments for your good,
commandments to obey:
You shall LOVE the Lord Your God.
You shall LOVE your Creator. Your ruler. Your Savior.
You shall adore, worship, think of, idolize, enjoy, obey, listen to, consider, wait for, submit to, long for, praise, share---You shall LOVE.
(How is it difficult to love one who has done what He has done? Like a child loves their mother? The child does not need to be commanded to love their mother-- they just do. But we, the wayward children, need to be commanded to Love.)
This love calls for complete devotion.
To love with all your HEART
To love with all your SOUL
To love with all your MIGHT.
Every ounce. Every thought.
Called, commanded, ordered to LOVE.
Because God spoke. Because He desires our hearts, souls, and might. Because our circumstances and feelings change, but this foundation does not move. This is where I am today-- paraphrasing Deuteronomy 6:4-7, which Jesus quoted in Mark 12, when asked "what is the greatest commandment?" If it is the greatest, it is important. It seems to me that everything flows from this, the greatest commandment. Every dream and desire in our lives needs to be rooted in this. Because these plans-- they will fall away. But He who holds our hearts and souls and bodies never will.
Listen up, you people,
you people whom God has called;
Open up your ears, you chosen Nation!
The Lord our God,
Who called you, who is Ruler over you,
Who saves you and directs you: remember him?
This unique, powerful, creating Being, called the Lord,
He is YOUR GOD.
He is ONE.
He commands you this day, commandments for your good,
commandments to obey:
You shall LOVE the Lord Your God.
You shall LOVE your Creator. Your ruler. Your Savior.
You shall adore, worship, think of, idolize, enjoy, obey, listen to, consider, wait for, submit to, long for, praise, share---You shall LOVE.
(How is it difficult to love one who has done what He has done? Like a child loves their mother? The child does not need to be commanded to love their mother-- they just do. But we, the wayward children, need to be commanded to Love.)
This love calls for complete devotion.
To love with all your HEART
To love with all your SOUL
To love with all your MIGHT.
Every ounce. Every thought.
Called, commanded, ordered to LOVE.
Because God spoke. Because He desires our hearts, souls, and might. Because our circumstances and feelings change, but this foundation does not move. This is where I am today-- paraphrasing Deuteronomy 6:4-7, which Jesus quoted in Mark 12, when asked "what is the greatest commandment?" If it is the greatest, it is important. It seems to me that everything flows from this, the greatest commandment. Every dream and desire in our lives needs to be rooted in this. Because these plans-- they will fall away. But He who holds our hearts and souls and bodies never will.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Biosecrets
Here's some bad news for biofuels. Turns out they do affect world food prices more than we thought! Uhhh-ohhh.
It shows that what recieves media attention and scientific funding isn't necessarily the best route. Remember hydrogen energy? How's that going? It got lots of press, but lacking the infrastructure to make, store, and move hydrogen it hasn't really caught on. Biofuels are a step ahead-- existing infrastructure can be used and new facilities have been built-- but there are still opportunities to pull out if it IS going to affect food prices so much.
"Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% - far more than previously estimated - according to a confidential World Bank report obtained by the Guardian.
It shows that what recieves media attention and scientific funding isn't necessarily the best route. Remember hydrogen energy? How's that going? It got lots of press, but lacking the infrastructure to make, store, and move hydrogen it hasn't really caught on. Biofuels are a step ahead-- existing infrastructure can be used and new facilities have been built-- but there are still opportunities to pull out if it IS going to affect food prices so much.
"Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% - far more than previously estimated - according to a confidential World Bank report obtained by the Guardian.
The damning unpublished assessment is based on the most detailed analysis of the crisis so far, carried out by an internationally-respected economist at global financial body.
The figure emphatically contradicts the US government's claims that plant-derived fuels contribute less than 3% to food-price rises. It will add to pressure on governments in Washington and across Europe, which have turned to plant-derived fuels to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and reduce their dependence on imported oil." Aditya Chakrabortty inThe Guardian,Friday July 4, 2008
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