ME AND OPHELIA
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Photographer
My heart jumped when I saw two stunning photographs by Claus Goedicke posted in Ed Cone's blog on September 19 and 26, 2003.
Instantly I became a Goedicke fan and looked into the possibility of getting the two pictures for my walls.
Goedicke, a student of Bernd Becher, takes colour photographs that recall the tradition of still-life painting, with subjects featuring everyday objects like plastic containers and fruit. These pictures, with their extreme colour, perfect lighting, and flawless appearance, also recall the aesthetics of modern advertising.
In 1995, I first became interested in modern studio pottery and the influence of Japanese, Chinese and Korean master potters on European potters such as Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, Bernard Leach and pupils at St Ives, England. The beauty of the photos, and vibrant colours, by Goedicke would provide a wonderful backdrop to my pottery collection (consisting not, I hasten to add, of pieces by the artists I have mentioned!).
Just been advised that Gallerie Thaddaeus Ropac in Paris represents him and one picture cost thousands of dollars.
Had a feeling they would be an extraordinary price. I shall put Goedicke's book on my wishlist for Christmas and find out if it's possible to purchase a digital image of the two pictures.
Monday, September 29, 2003
By Susan Clark, The Sunday Times, Style Magazine, September 28, 2003
Question:
I have been following the Atkins diet for several months, but am now concerned by publicity about its potentially damaging side effects. I do not want to stop it, because I am losing weight, but is there anything I can take to protect me from the risks? Name and address withheld
Answer:
The high-protein, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet is designed to induce a state of ketosis, whereby the body has to burn fat instead of carbohydrates to release energy. Ketosis gives rise to the production of ketones, by-products of fat metabolism that can cause nausea, fatigue and tissue damage.
In addition, a high-fat diet, especially one high in saturated fats from red meats, can increase the risk of heart disease.
So, if you plan to stay on this diet, you need a supplement that can confer cardiovascular protection. I recommend taking a tissue-protecting American supplement called All Natural Perfectly Balanced, made by Natural Nutrition Center, which is available in the UK exclusively from Victoria Health (£23.95 for 100 tablets; take one tablet three times a day).
As well as providing all the vitamins and minerals you would expect to get in a normal balanced diet, it includes the chlorophyll-rich "superfoods" spirulina and wheatgrass, to boost energy levels, and heart-protecting fatty acids, garlic and ginseng. It also contains liver-protecting milk-thistle and probiotic acidophilus, which aids digestion and prevents bloating, making it a useful adjunct to any weight-management programme.
For more information on natural health, visit Susan Clark's website, What Really Works.
Before following any medical or dietary advice in this column, please consult your GP if you suffer from any health problems or special conditions, or are in doubt as to its suitability.
_ _ _
After reading part of US FDA/CFSAN Dietary Supplements, I prefer this alternative, outlined in my post on September 24: "Eat ten fruit and veggies a day, if you are looking for an alternative to the Atkins diet".
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TIP FROM THE TOP
Refresh green vegetables in ice-cold water after cooking to keep the chlorophyll. which is packed with nutrients. Also, store vegetable trimmings in a bag in the freezer until you have enough to prepare vegetable stock. This is a good base for noodle dishes when soy sauce is added to it.
Christian Delteil, managing director of Bank Restaurant Group.
Sunday, September 28, 2003
Free trial of audioBLOGGER powered by audblog
audioBLOGGER is offering a free trial, in the US, to experience the ease of audio posting, ie Audio blogging.
AudioBLOGGER is a service that provides bloggers with the ability to post audio to their blogs from any phone. At the end of the trial sign up and BLOGGER will provide you with the telephone number than connects directly to your blog. All you have to do is call the number and the world hears you. Use it to make a difference. Use it to make your voice be heard.
The trial allows you to create on FREE post, up to 4 minutes in duration.
Then for a full audioBLOGGER subscription of 3 dollars per month, payable via PayPal, you can create 12, four minute audio posts. If you want additional time, you are given the option at the end of each post to record another post. Additional posts may be purchased at any time in blocks of 12 for 3 dollars.
The number that you call is located in the US. BLOGGER have plans to put this service everywhere in the world where there is a blogger blogging. Send them an email at info@audblog if you would like to see the service in your area.
You don't need to be at your computer to audio post, you can audio post from anywhere, to any blog, if you have a phone.
BLOGGER are very excited about speech to text and are currently developing solutions to enable this capability. Also in the works are indexing, categories, and meta-search.
The audblog service is wholly owned and operated by LISTENLAB, LLC.
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THE WORLD TIME SERVER - A FREE RESOURCE
Any time, anywhere
The World Time Server provides the most accurate current local times of any world clock on the Internet. It makes real time adjustments for Daylight Saving Time. No matter what time zone a country or city is located in, this site provides your best resource for determining any time, anywhere.
DST stands for Daylight Saving Time, also referred to as Summer time. Daylight Saving Time is used in many locations around the world as a time adjustment to local clocks, hoping to take greater advantage of available light during the summer months. World Time Server shows each time as either DST or Standard to show whether the time provided has been adjusted from the Standard time zone rules for this location.
UTC is the Universal Time Coordinate that all locations base their time on. This is also sometimes referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Zulu Time.
You can also keep your pc time accurate with their free atomic clock sync.
Saturday, September 27, 2003
Announce the 25 who are changing the world of Internet and politics
Issy-les-Moulineaux, France - On Friday, September 26, 2003, PoliticsOnline and the 4th World Forum on Electronic Democracy announced the results of its second world wide survey recognizing the top 25 individuals, organizations and companies that are having the greatest impact on the way the Internet is changing politics.
Berkman Senior Fellow Jim Moore was one of the 25 recognised as the best of the best innovators and pioneers who blaze the e-political trails.
"From the beginning, politics has been about two things - ideas and the people that make these ideas realities," said PoliticsOnline President Phil Noble, a guest speaker at the annual forum. "With this announcement, we honor the most innovative ideas and the most influential individuals."
Here is the alphabetical listing of honorees.
Courtesy of Wendy Koslow at The Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Friday, September 26, 2003
The world's first planetarium-based group meditation experience
This is the world's first planetarium-based group meditation experience.
Meditainment UK use the latest in full surround sound technology and choreographed digital projection to create a totally new form of entertainment.
Sit back, relax, close your eyes and be taken on a journey of Imagination Reality (IR).
'Earthrise' is the first journey Meditainment have developed specifically for planetarium performances.
It combines deep relaxation techniques with entertainment in the form of a guided audio journey that will take you on an interstellar voyage, before you arrive on the Moon as the Earth rises over the lunar horizon.
Upcoming Dates: Monday 20 October 2003, 2.00 pm at Scottish Power Space Theatre in The Science Mall of Glasgow Science Centre, UK.
The Scottish Power Space Theatre is a stunning facility displaying astronomy films and light shows, housed within The Science Mall.
The Science Mall features 10,500 square metres of dynamic interactive exhibits. Visitors can follow their own paths of exploration and discovery through the exhibition landscape full of entertaining experiences.
Sounds like a super place to visit for the day. It also houses the Science Show Theatre, Multi-media Theatre, Virtual Science Theatre, The Showcase, Computer Lab and Electronic Library, as well as cafe, gift shop and temporary exhibitions.
Tickets are available from Glasgow Science Centre.
Free Meditainment experience download
Here is a free 15 minute Meditainment journey (not included on the Summer 2003 Audio CD) that can be downloaded now as a single MP3 file. Save it in a folder so you can relax and meditate any time you wish.
Further reading - see archive file - posts dated August 17, 2003, and September 6, 2003.
Thursday, September 25, 2003
New Yorkers are getting a reputation for being unfriendly
Wonder why.
My friend is the sort of person anyone would enjoy talking to. She is generous, warm-hearted, interested in everything and anyone and very observant. Although good looking and casually well dressed she is very approachable with her cheery sunny disposition and great sense of humour. She has perfect manners, is kind, considerate and so open and friendly that if she were a dog she would be a cuddly golden Labrador, or a playful Retriever, that you just cannot resist patting on the head and giving a hug.
Yesterday, I received an email from her following her "trip of a lifetime" to New York, via Concorde, which I blogged about earlier.
She thought New York was super but was not impressed by the New Yorkers - "they are so rude", and says she did not realise they were renown for it. Me neither. It is not the impression I got on many visits to New York during 1973-93.
Has something changed? Do New Yorkers realise that this is the impression they give?
Or maybe they just do not care. It is hard to believe that, especially after seeing the aftermath of 9/11 on TV and all the outpouring of emotion and love and care.
Maybe they just do not care about visitors or what a 'foreign' tourist's first impression of America is. If that is the case, and they simply do not want tourists to visit (or return again) and spend all their money in New York, and rave about it to the folks back home, excuse me for bothering to mention it here.
For sure she did not meet any bloggers. All bloggers are friendly. They need to get more New Yorkers blogging.
Here is the email. Daisy is my friend's adorable and super bright dog. Wish I could post pictures here. The beach picture attached to the email shows a stretch of golden sand and inviting sea, on a bright and sunny day, with only two people in sight .....
Dear Ingrid,
Well how are you.....I hope this computer of yours will not stop the odd phone call.
I do appreciate however that you can control your levels of energy this way...not quite the same as hearing your voice though!
Well the trip to NY was super. We had rain for a couple of days and then hot! I was 5' 7 when I arrived but after walking the 22 square miles am now only 5' 5!!!!
We saw all the main attractions, had a helicopter trip which was fantastic. To see Manhattan from the sky with the sun shining on some of the newer buildings, particularly the mirrored ones, just gave so much definition to the older buildings.
We ate in diners, drank champ cocktails at the top of the Rockefeller Centre.....wow what a view particularly as the sun was setting. We shopped and I bought Daisy a Tiffany dog tag!!!!!!! How sad is that.......she'll get stolen just for the tag!
Times Square at night, even in the rain, was awesome. I have to say however I'm not impressed with the New Yorkers - they are so rude. I hadn't realised they were renown for it.
The best was of course coming home (on Concorde).
We have been to Pembrokeshire last week and had the most fantastic weather. Again lots of walking and surprisingly got sun burnt! Tenby is so pretty. There were 11 of us and so, as tastes differed, we did split up. Several of us went over to the island off Tenby to visit the monks.......again very peaceful and pretty. We also went over to Marloes and saw the baby seals on the beach. They are so clever....Mummy puts them on a beach that isn't accessible to humans (well almost) and so we saw them from the top of the cliff.
Busy with work too...so, with a new kitchen going in (13th Oct) ...both dining room and kitchen have to be emptied, plus the dining room wall coming down to accommodate a bigger kitchen, I'm sort of tired!
Attached is just one of the beaches......swell!!
Do write when you can.....
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
If you are looking for an alternative to the Atkins diet
On September 21, 2003, Joi Ito blogged about a recent Guardian newspaper report on the British government's warning that the Atkins diet is a bad thing.
Several bloggers, including Chris Yu, responded with interesting comments. Chris wrote:
"Personally, I tried it, lost some weight but gained it all back plus a couple more soon after quitting. My favourite weight loss plan: eat 10 servings of fresh fruit and veggies a day. You'll be full enough so whatever you manage to stuff yourself with the rest of the day won't add up to that many calories."
Adding to the comments, I contributed the following:
Saw your stealth disco video (managed to get QuickTime installed) and it is not easy to see why you are gambling your precious health on such an extreme and controversial diet.
The late Dr Atkins' philosophy of loading up on meat and cheese instead of breads, pasta, and even fruits and vegetables goes against the nutritional grain among mainstream dieticians. The British government is interested in public health because it is responsible for managing the escalating costs of our National Health Service which is funded by this years taxpayers.
I have read quite a lot about health and nutrition and wonder what the Atkins diet is storing up for people, who live on the diet, in their later years. If you feel you are over indulging (anything is OK in moderation) and not getting enough exercise, here's something, a lot less risky and possibly more refreshing and enjoyable, that you may like to try for six weeks and see how you get on. Each day:
- eat every few hours including one main meal (before 5 pm if possible) of fish or meat (or vegetarian protein equivalent) served with at least rice or potatoes or pasta, ideally with fresh herbs, garlic and onion;
- by the end of the day ensure that you have eaten the main meal plus five pieces of fruit (one medium apple is counted as one piece of fruit) and four vegetables (half a green bell pepper is counted as one vegetable), a handful of mixed nuts (including one brazil nut), slice of wholemeal bread with butter and drink 2 litres of water. Any recipes, olive oil, mayonnaise, yoghurt, cheese, milk, eggs etc., are fine. Sugar, fizzy drinks, coffee, tea (ideally organic green tea) and alcohol (red wine is best) OK in moderation.
- after consuming that daily intake, you may eat whatever you like - if you are still hungry and thirsty and can manage it!
Like Chris Yu says here, it works! Best of luck.
This has taken me ages to do (Quick Time alone took 45 mins to install) so please excuse if some of it ends up as my blog for tomorrow :-)
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
With up to half a million people still waiting to be connected - there are not that many telephones and emails to bug
Alistair Lawson, BBC Dhaka correspondent reports:
Plans to allow the authorities in Bangladesh to monitor emails and telephone conversations have provoked outrage among human rights experts and telecoms analysts.
The Bangladeshi government says the suggested proposals, which are expected to come shortly before parliament, are crucial in the battle against terrorism and lawlessness.
Telecoms analyst Abu Sayed Khan told BBC News Online, "Bangladesh already has some of the most restrictive laws in relation to internet and telephone access in the whole of Asia".
Mr Khan said that the situation has deteriorated in recent days, and that Bangladesh is one of the few countries in Asia where the right to communicate is being so systematically violated.
"The worrying thing for businessmen in particular is that these regulations make them far more vulnerable to industrial espionage and blackmail," he said.
The campaigning group, Reporters Without Borders, has also criticised the plans, arguing they would legalise invasion of privacy and undermine free expression.
"Respect for confidentiality of personal information obtained from internet service providers or through email messages, must be an unshakeable principal of any democratic society," it said in a statement.
The proposals are the latest in a long line of state supported restrictions on personal communication over the last two decades.
In the 1980's, the government tried to curtail the sale of fax machines and photocopiers, arguing that they were being used by criminal syndicates.
Members of the public complained at the time it was easier to get a gun license than a fax.
Likewise when the first mobile telephones were introduced in the late 1980's, it was necessary for subscribers to obtain "security clearance" from the authorities before they could be used.
Bangladesh has one of the lowest ratios of landline telephones per head of population in the world. It is estimated to be around seven phones for every 1000 people.
It is not uncommon for landline customers of the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telecommunications Board to wait years before they get a connection.
Earlier this year Dhaka resident Mohammed Ismail hit the headlines when he received a phone after waiting 27 years.
With up to half a million people still waiting to be connected, there are not that many telephones and emails to bug.
"The right of people to be free from the fear of crime and terrorism is more important than this small infringement of individual liberties," said a Bangladeshi Home Ministry spokesman.
THE NATIONAL VIRTUAL MUSEUM
Gateway to over 2,500 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
No website ever provides a true alternative to visiting a museum for oneself, but if any site can genuinely be said to encourage and enhance such a visit, this www.24hourmuseum.org is it.
Navigating its database of 2,500 museums and galleries is now simplicity itself.
Type in "Edinburgh" and the site throws up the 12 most relevant museums or galleries, a host of related locations and articles, and eight "trails".
Culture vultures can pick over news stories, updated daily, detailing delights as varied as 17th-century fire-fighting techniques, and a Roman earring discovered in Leicestershire.
Parents with children to entertain can draw inspiration from the latest events around the country, such as a Viking festival in Chester, re-creating the hardships of life in Britain 1,100 years ago.
Dozens of "Exhibitions Online" provide a desktop alternative for those unable to visit in person.
Run as an independent charity funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, this gateway to the nation's heritage is taxpayers' money well spent.
[Courtesy of The Sunday Times]
Monday, September 22, 2003
Donate unwanted computer equipment for recycling
Visited Cerf's Up yesterday and looked into the National Cristina Foundation (NCF) where people can donate unwanted computer equipment for refurbishment and redistribution to people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons. NCF excerpts:
NCF Special Friend - Vint Cerf, Co-Founder of the Internet
"NCF's programs bring connection and self-expression to people too long isolated from the world. I regularly receive messages from people whose various disabilities immobilize them in the real world, but who overcome these problems in cyberspace with the liberating click of a mouse on the Internet. Here's to NCF's own long life!" - Vint Cerf, Internet Pioneer.
"Every day, across America and around the world, National Cristina Foundation is working to ensure that used computer technology resources that no longer meet an enterprise's or an individual's needs are given a second productive life as a tool for developing human potential."
Vinton G. Cerf is partially deaf and does a lot of work for disabled people. As co-founder of the Internet and promoter of recycled computer equipment for the disabled and disadvantaged, he regularly receives messages of appreciation. It is easy for me to understand why.
Bloggers too bring so much interest, education, social interaction and fun. Many probably do not even realise the difference they make to the lives of countless people who are housebound.
Here, in my little world by the seaside, the hours whiz by as I get engrossed visiting blogs in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, India, China and Korea.
Most days I pop over to America and look in on Harvard Law School to see what's new at Dave Winer's and BloggerCon.
In Dave's World, I find great blogs like Jim Moore's, laden with food for thought on web activism, meditation and the immune system, and news of the class of law students he has organised into 'posses' of three with assignments to start a blog for exploring specific issues over the next twelve weeks.
Then onto Japan to visit Joi Ito's Web to read fascinating stuff about blogging, mobile blogging, video and communications technology and thoughts concerning less fortunate 'global citizens'.
Here, where I live, it may take years before British Telecom activates broadband for this small coastal town. There are alternatives to broadband but at greater expense.
Maintaining my laptop, printer and telephone already costs around £50 per month, including Internet access, landline calls and value added tax.
Every so often my mobile phone needs topping up at £50 a time. If I started mobile blogging to send pictures to my weblog, I would incur further expenses.
This makes me wonder how it could be that the millions of 'global citizens', living on or under $1 a day, will ever get to enjoy the same privileges.
Fortunately, things have progressed and most 'global citizens' today, living in remote areas, can find ways to access television and radio sets, citizen band radios, audio and video cassette players.
But it is sad to think about how many more years or decades will pass before such poverty stricken 'global citizens' will be able to add their voice to the blogosphere and enjoy 24/7 access.
Recently Joi Ito blogged about Geekcorps and WITNESS - Human Rights Advocacy with Video and IT, and some thoughts about video communications technology, another of his fascinating topics to look forward to and follow.
Here is an e-prayer that I found at Cerf's Up, via PatchWorx and Connecting To You.
The authorship is lost in cyberspace, but they wanted to share it with their readers.
Hope they do not mind me sharing it here.
E-PRAYER
Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed,
This tiny little prayer
Keeps running through my head.
God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm and safe from harm
For they're so close to me.
And God, there is one more thing
I wish that You could do.
(Hope you don't mind me asking)
Bless my computer too.
--Now I know that it's not normal
To bless a mother board,
But listen just a second
While I explain to you, my Lord.
You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends.
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my Friends.
I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me to where they live.
By faith is how I know them
Much the same as You
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendship grew.
Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love!
Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
bless each e-mail Inbox
And the person who hits Send
When you update your heavenly list
On your own CD-Rom
Remember each who've said this prayer, Sent up to God.com.
Amen.
Sunday, September 21, 2003
Saturday, September 20, 2003
Nasa retires its probe in a blaze of glory
For some amazing pictures see Galileo Project and here for the BBC news picture story entitled "The last journey". [Note: this post was updated on Sunday Sep 20, 2003]
In "The last journey" you will see great images, an interesting diagram of Galileo on page 5, and these neat snippets:
Introduction
Galileo is ending its mission by making a plunge into Jupiter's atmosphere, where it will burn up and disintegrate.
The craft is running low on fuel and could collide with one of Jupiter's moons, Europa.
Europa has saltwater lakes under its surface that could harbour life. Nasa wants to ensure they are not contaminated.
Galileo Galilei
The space probe is named after Galileo Galilei, the Italian astronomer, mathematician and physicist.
Galileo perfected the reflecting telescope and discovered Jupiter's major moons in 1610.
The planet's four largest (Galilean) moons - Io, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto - are big enough to be seen from Earth with a telescope.
Pioneer 10
The first space craft to visit Jupiter was Nasa's Pioneer 10, launched in 1972.
It flew past the planet in December 1973, becoming the first probe to travel through the asteroid belt to encounter an outer planet.
Pioneer 11
Pioneer 10 and its successor, Pioneer 11, captured close-up images of the largest planet in the Solar System.
This picture shows Jupiter's Great Red Spot, which appears to be a huge anti-cyclone made up of swirling clouds of red gases.
Other space craft have flown past Jupiter since - Voyager 1 and 2, in 1979, and Ulysses in 1992.
The launch (see diagram of probe on page 5)
The idea behind Galileo was to get an even closer look at Jupiter by sending a probe to orbit the planet.
Galileo was launched from the space shuttle Atlantis in 1989.
It encountered several asteroids on the long voyage to Jupiter, arriving at the planet in 1995.
First Jupiter orbit
Galileo became the first space craft to enter orbit around Jupiter and to release a probe into its stormy atmosphere.
Its tour of Jupiter included close encounters with the Galilean moons.
It has flown around Jupiter 35 times and made 34 passes of its moons.
14 years of exploration
Galileo has returned hundreds of images and masses of scientific data in the past 14 years of exploration.
It has discovered the largest volcanoes in the Solar System, on Io, and evidence of oceans under the ice of the moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
There is a possibility that life could exist in the depths of these oceans.
Preserving Europa
Galileo will bow out with a fiery plunge into the Jovian atmosphere.
It will send back some final data about Jupiter's atmosphere before it is torn apart.
The death dive will mark the end of one of Nasa's most successful unmanned space missions.
[With thanks to the author of above extracts, courtesy of BBC NEWS online, UK Edition].
BBC NEWS online, UK Edition is my opening screen home page. You can easily tailor BBC News Home Page to suit your country of interest and wherever you are situated in the world. BBC NEWS can also provide BBC Headlines for your site.
Further reading - see post below dated Sunday, September 14, 2003:
"WHAT GALILEO SAW, Nasa's troubled mission to Jupiter, and its triumph".
Friday, September 19, 2003
GLAMOROUS ERA OF SUPERSONIC TRAVEL
35 Days until Concorde's final flight
On my mantelpiece, awaiting a frame, is a beautiful postcard of Concorde soaring in the bluest sky imaginable.
It was sent to me by a very dear friend, who has lived near London and beneath the flight path of Concorde ever since its maiden flight.
For almost thirty years she has yearned to be a passenger.
Last week her wish came true on a five day visit to New York, round trip by Concorde.
The message on the back of the postcard, beautifully scrawled in mauve ink, simply says: "The most wonderful experience ever!" (she has a very understanding husband).
Concorde is being retired in five weeks time. What a shame.
How sad. It is still so stunningly beautiful and elegant, and looks as if it was designed yesterday.
British Airways says of Concorde "the last word in British and European jet technology for almost thirty years is finally leaving the skies (even though her specs still exceed modern fighter planes)".
It is difficult to understand why a way cannot be found to build a future replacement and keep the legend flying. They say it is not cost effective. Not even to maintain it in its retirement to enable it to fly for special events.
British Airways explains the reasons why, after October 24, 2003, Concorde will never fly again.
Last Wednesday BBC1 TV aired "50 Things To Do Before You Die". Sunday Times TV guide explained "about 20,000 viewers suggested places to visit, or things they would like to do before the grim reaper hands them the big travel voucher".
Travelling on Concorde was voted into the top three (swimming with dolphins was number one).
I may order some of these commemorative aircraft models, exclusive to British Airways, for my nephew's birthday and as stocking fillers at Christmas time.
Description on the back of the postcard:
"Flying The Flag" CONCORDE.
Introduced in 1976. The world's only supersonic passenger aircraft. Holder of the fastest Atlantic crossing 2 hrs 54 mins and 45 seconds. Powered by four Rolls-Royce/SNECMA Olympus 593 engines. Cruising speed 1,336 mph (2,150 kph/Mach2). Range 3,740 miles (5,943 kms).
Photographer: John E Foster
www.pageantry-postcards.co.uk
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Howard Dean Campaign needs IT support
If you know of anyone qualified, or anyone who might find them, go to Joi Ito's Web and see today's urgent appeal, posted from Dean campaign headquarters in Burlington, VT, USA, for a system administrator and a database administrator.
Job descriptions and contact details from Harish Rao, IT Director are posted there.
ANNOTATIONS FOR YOUR BLOGGER WEBLOG
Commenting made simple
Blogger James K Lee in the USA very kindly suggested I provide a comment box facility in this weblog and emailed me a link to HaloScan. I checked it out but unfortunately HaloScan, and a few others, have stopped taking new sign ups.
Yesterday I installed Enetation and it worked fine, except for problems with editing 'comments' title. Tried three times before deleting the whole thing. Decided it did not fit well on my page, or in my life right now. I can be contacted anytime via email link at the bottom of my sidebar.
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DO YOU SLEEP LIKE A LOG OR A STARFISH?
Sleep position gives personality clue
If you want an insight into somebody's true personality, then try to catch a glimpse of the way they sleep. Re duvet position, Professor Idzikowski found that one arm or leg sticking out of the duvet is Britain's most common position, followed by both feet poking out the end.
Sounds to me like they're skimping on bed covers and bedmaking. Mine's all smartly tucked in. Cosy warm feet rule OK here.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
BlogSpot new features for free users
Blogger has several new features for free users.
Blogger+Google FAQ includes a photo and links to some of those still working on Blogger, that were there during the acquisition: Evan Williams, Jason Shellen, Steve Jenson, Rudy Winnacker, Jason Sutter and Jason Goldman.
Free features are now for everyone, including Blogger Pro users who are receiving a refund or hooded sweatshirt from Blogger as a way of saying thanks. Here are some quotes from Blogger users.
You too can start your own weblog, right now at Blogger for free!
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Son Sean was the first to get on stage
The unique and thought provoking Yoko Ono still continues, at the age of 70, to be brave and courageous.
Here are the defining moments of of Yoko Ono, Bob Woodward, Arnold Wesker, Chris Patten, Sheikh Yamani and Desmond Tutu.
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OPTICILLUSIONARY
Akiyoshi Kitaoka "Trick Eyes" Tokyo
Thanks to Something: Reality is frequently inaccurate [Gordon McLean, owner of Scottish Blogs webring] for posting these 'moving' images entitled The latest works. Clever stuff.
Monday, September 15, 2003
Unreal model pictures
Swiss blogger Andres Bobak posted a neat recipe for milkshake and - next day Aug 15 - featured a picture of a blonde model with a link to Greg's Digital Retouching Portfolio.
Enter Greg's image gallery that showcases his work done for design studios, and "wave" your cursor back and forth over the picture and frame on your screen, to see how unreal model pictures can be.
Sunday, September 14, 2003
NASA's troubled mission to Jupiter, and its triumph
by Michael Benson, The New Yorker, September 8, 2003
Found this at one of my favourite sites in Japan, Gen Kanai Weblog. Here's what Gen posted:
GOODBYE GALILEO
Fascinating and touching profile of NASA's Galileo project, the people who persevered and the challenges that were overcome. The parts about the redesigned flight path, the broken high-gain antenna, the tape backup, and the complete software replacement via radio is just awe-inspiring. Goes to show you how simplicity and ingenuity are very valuable traits.
I like what Gen has written. Hope he does not mind me lifting it out of his blog. His last sentence reminds me of the brilliant bunch of people I enthused about in my post yesterday.
Yesterday's post re The Tomorrow Project was intended as my post to mark 9/11 but I was unable to complete it in time. Went to post it on 9/12, had a blip in my net connection, and lost the whole thing, without a copy, just as I pressed 'post and publish' (or the wrong button). Had to reconstruct it from memory and find all the links again.
I know, this is a long excuse. Bottom line is, I plagiarised Gen's blog because I have not yet read WHAT GALILEO SAW. I just know it will be an interesting read and what Gen says, is true!
Saturday, September 13, 2003
New dating experience
Dinner in the Dark event by Yahoo! Personals is billed as the new dating experience.
The organisers say people do not have to worry about what they look like or are wearing. They can relax over a five-course meal and concentrate on showing off their personality.
It is so dark that you cannot see your hand in front of your face. Everyone speaks loudly as they are not sure who is listening. Diners dissect the food with their fingers. Candles are brought in after the fourth course.
Could be a bit messy.
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2020 VISION OF COMPUTER LOVE
The Britons of 20 years' time will no longer use "chat-up" techniques as they find love via their computers, a report has predicted.
There will be more arranged marriages, with matches made over the internet and through computer dating agencies, says the Tomorrow Project, an independent study from publishing consultants The Lexicon Group.
Computer dating is the future says the study.
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THE TOMORROW PROJECT
The Tomorrow Network and Sense Worldwide Pollen Network
The Tomorrow Project is an independent, registered charity undertaking a programme of research, consultation and communication about people's lives in the next twenty years.
Established in 1996 by Michael Moynagh and Richard Worsley, the Project's work currently addresses ten topics:
People and ....social exclusion, work, consumers, government, learning, well-being & health, places, the physical environment, families, faith & values, crime.
Its aims are to help individuals and organisations to think and learn about the future of people's lives, in order to gain a better understanding of the present and, to learn about the choices which will influence the future.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is one of the Patrons and our Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote the foreward.
The Tomorrow Project is collaborating with Sense Worldwide (who provide market knowledge, forecasting and corporate intelligence) to produce Précis - a bite-sized account of factors affecting Britain's present and future - every other month, in addition to the thrice-yearly Tomorrow Bulletin for the members of both Networks.
The Tomorrow Network is a group of 1,650 individuals with an interest in futures thinking and the work of the Tomorrow Project. There is no subscription. Each edition can be downloaded by Network members free of charge.
There is also a Scottish section of the Tomorrow Network for whom events are arranged in Scotland.
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MOBILE INTERNET CAFE
Surfing in the scorching heat and dust of the desert in Nevada, USA
A brilliant bunch of people designed and built their own mobile "Roam-Net Cabinets", put them on their ingenious "Roam-Net Technomadic Trailer" and roamed the Burning Man gathering of 30,500 people camped out for a week in the Nevada desert earlier this month.
Their internet access was great and they had no computer failures. They had a great time helping people check their email and access the PlayInfo Digital Directory. The $15 sealed keyboards worked wonderfully and they only had one mouse failure.
I wonder if theTomorrow Project people and others concerned over poverty and social exclusion, in the UK and abroad, ever get to see such amazing things and talented people.
Friday, September 12, 2003
Something new to play every day
Thanks to popular British blogger Garry Knipe for finding Scrabblog.
Thursday, September 11, 2003
BloggerPro features transfer to free Blogspots
Mark Trammell, a Web Administrator at the University of Florida and husband of Kaye Trammell, has started his first blog.
Yesterday, Mark posted a CNET News report re Google's resources enabling BLOGGER to get rid of BloggerPro and transfer Pro features to the free Blogspots.
Great news for me and ophelia, and it answers the question why it has not been possible recently to upgrade to BloggerPro.
Now I can really make a start on trying to understand why I need RSS and XML buttons in my sidebar and bone up on Using .RSS in Blogger Pro.
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TRAVIS STALNAKER'S PAINT BLOG AND SHOWCASE
A creative outlet for artists
Check out Kaye Trammell's blog about blogs and her Sept 9 posting entitled 'Drawing on Blogs' featuring Travis Stalnaker's paint blog and showcase where users can draw and paint and showcase their work. I spent a fun 45 minutes there making a right mess.
Kaye is a doctoral student whose dissertation deals with celebrity blogs. She is also a Presenter at The BloggerCon 2003. You can visit her personal Web page Welcome to Kayeland or her academically focused page to find out more about her.
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Ophelia
Here, right now, is so beautiful.
As I look straight ahead, over the lid of my laptop, all I see is a blue sea and sky stretching out to the horizon, and a few small boats.
Window's wide open and the curtains are fluttering. Seagulls are circling, swooping and gliding by.
Sinking back into four big fluffy feather pillows, after my morning bathe, to eat hot buttered toast with tomato and kiwi, the sea air blows into my face and I appreciate what I am sensing.....
Perfect god given scenery and weather.
Fresh sea breeze and the clean soapy scent of Estee Lauder White Linen.
Warm comforting aroma of freshly baked bread wafting in from my Panasonic SD251 Automatic Bread Maker.
Hot crunchy multigrain wholemeal toast with lashings of butter.
Cool tangy scent of freshly sliced organic tomato and kiwi.
Happy cheerful colour of freshly made orange juice from my juicer.
.....there are moments when life can be so sweet.
Ophelia has been out on patrol, making the most of the good weather.
She is now so beautifully curled up and fast asleep, it makes me want to give her a hug.
Today, we have been together for two years, so.....
Happy Anniversary my dear little fee-fee. Best friend and most clever pussy cat in the whole wide world.
I love you, my darling little bat ears and real live teddy bear.
Thanks for all the fun and games, conversation and laughs.
And for the thousands of warm cuddles and kisses.
I could squeeze you out of your fur, you're so gorgeous.
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA - October 4 and 5, 2003
On October 4 and 5 weblog enthusiasts from every discipline imaginable will descend on Harvard Law School campus for BloggerCon 2003, a conference celebrating the art and science of weblogs.
David Winer, along with a crack team of fellow bloggers, continues to fill the schedule with thinkers, writers, technologists, and others who will explore and ask questions about the future of the blogosphere.
For regular updates and an invitation, register here.
Cambridge, Massachusetts is in the Northeast Region of the USA.
Among the most popular destinations and attractions in the region are:
New York City - Broadway and Times Square
Philadelphia - The history of America's founding fathers
Washington DC - The head of Democracy
Boston - Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, and
Maine - Bar Harbor and the beauty of Maine.
David Winer has started a list of presidential candidate weblogs. If you know of others please let him know.
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THE SECOND SUPERPOWER REARS ITS BEAUTIFUL HEAD
Translated into Spanish
Berkman Fellow James Moore's paper 'The Second Superpower Rears Its Beautiful Head' has been translated into Spanish.
The translation is available here under a Creative Commons license.
Courtesy of Wendy Koslow at The Berkman Center for Internet & Society, and James Moore's Weblog.
Monday, September 08, 2003
New York City - 2pm Saturday September 13, 2003
Six Log is the weblog of Six Apart, the company behind TypePad and Movable Type.
As part of their first trip to New York City, Ben and Mena Trott, company founders and power (fully cute) couple, are inviting everyone to join them in Madison Square Park, NYC on Saturday 13th from 2pm to 4pm.
They'll be giving out TypePad discounts and other treats.
You can get the chance to meet other bloggers, including Anil Dash.
Joi Ito from Tokyo, Japan will be there.
Dave Winer may be flying in for the day.
Lucky you if you can get there. You don't even have to have a weblog, just show up at the southern fountain 2-4pm. Spread the word.
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THE KOREAN BLOG LIST
Korean related weblogs written in English
Thanks to Don Park for The Korean Blog List and Blogcount.
And, for pointing out amusing "software works" cartoon at leekangkoog.
Sunday, September 07, 2003
Yoko Ono will recreate "Cut Piece" in Paris on 15 September 2003 in an effort to promote world peace. John would be proud.
I still miss those two together. Of all modern artists, they are in my favourites.
My love of pop music died the day John Lennon was murdered.
Saturday, September 06, 2003
The world's first cinematic group meditation
Last Thursday I received a note from Scott King of Meditainment to let me know that my case study is now on the Meditainment website.
In the bottom right hand corner of the site there is another case study from a British policeman called Mike Talbot.
Wendy Brown's case study will be posted there soon. Wendy is Manager of the Dialysis Unit at St Mary’s Paddington & Watford Hospital, England, and while using the CD herself for relaxation and as a sleep aide, she also promotes the use of CDs by patients on the wards and, more importantly in her view, as a ‘take-away’ treatment that they can use at home.
Recently I came across the site of a blogger based in Brighton, England, and emailed him about the Meditainment's special interactive cinematic event being held at the Odeon Cinema in Brighton 7pm on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - hoping he would let me know if he, or anyone he knew, had any news or feedback.
By the way, I am not in any way connected with Meditainment and - except for their kind offer of a link to me and ophelia - am not getting anything out of this, not even a free CD!
I'd read of Meditainment at BBC NEWS | Health | Meditating on a cinema first. Blogged about it here on August 17. Emailed them to let them know. Said it's a great idea by a British company with huge potential. They offered to produce a case study from the information in my blog. So, after a handful of emails, here we are, aged 49 in cyberspace forever :-)
Meditainment could be set to become one of the next big things in the future.
Best of British luck chaps. The world is your oyster.
Friday, September 05, 2003
Blogging about their thoughts and experiences of the Microsoft PDF Conference 2003
On visiting Microsoft Bloggers (see posting yesterday) I found a site called PDC Bloggers.
Drew Robbins and Kevin Schuler have created PDC Bloggers to connect bloggers interested in the Microsoft Professional Developers (PDF) Conference 2003 in Los Angeles, CA, October 26-30: whether or not they are attending the event.
Drew Robbins, a Software Architect from central Ohio, USA shares his site drewby.net with Aya Robbins and Tokyo Tidbits in Japan.
Drew is a volunteer for INETA and one of the leaders of the .NET Developers Group in central Ohio which is sponsored by InDepth Technology, EraServer.NET and International .NET Association (INETA).
Kevin Schuler is InDepth Technology's President and a Microsoft Regional Director.
Thursday, September 04, 2003
Thanks to Gen Kanai in Japan for this.
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AWARD WINNING BRITISH BLOGGER
Blogs about the BBC and Pot Noodles
Scaryduck, an award winning British blogger, posted a brilliant piece on 2 September 2003.
"Oh Lordy - Not Another Over-Simplified Political Post!" is about the BBC where he works.
You may need to be British to find it as entertaining and thought provoking as I did.
Go read it anyway and see Pot Noodles. It's amazing.
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
Money is the reason most people marry and divorce
Seven-year itch is only half right – The Sunday Times 31.08.03
Researchers have found that 14 years is the barrier couples must get through if they are to stay together, with a divorce most likely to occur at that point.
The research, based on 4,000 married couples tracked over almost 20 years, is one of the largest-ever studies into what keeps couples together or drives them apart.
The findings of the study, by Pennsylvania State University in America, are at odds with the widely held belief that factors such as children and shared financial interests promote marital stability.
Divorce figures released last week by the Office for National Statistics show that four in 10 marriages end in divorce in England and Wales. Last year, 147,735 divorce decrees were granted, the highest level for seven years.
The average length of the marriages dissolved was 11.1 years, not far off the figure in the American research. If the time couples spend courting is taken into account, it would be closer still.
“We found happily married people tended to view their marriages mainly in terms of rewards (love, friendship, communication, mutual respect and sex) whereas unhappily married people tended to view their marriages mainly in terms of barriers (children, religion, financial need and commitment to the institution of marriage),” say the authors.
Vanessa Lloyd Platt, a divorce lawyer with 26 years experience and the author of Secrets of Relationship Success, said: “We have a crisis in relationships and expectations at present. In my experience money is the reason most people marry and the number one reason people list when they divorce, particularly men.”
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
97,500 Americans registered to attend tomorrow's meetup
I know nothing about American politics but I know a good weblog when I see one.
If you are American, take a look at Jim Moore's Weblog.
You may be grateful for an opportunity to get your voice heard and learn about the Meetup Wednesday, September 3rd at 7pm.
Tomorrow's Meetup is about putting politics back in the hands of the people.
More than 97,500 Americans are already registered to attend, and you can join them tomorrow night.
If you are not American, take a look anyway and you will see an example of how people now have the power - anywhere in the world - to change the way politics is done.
IMAGINE ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST-LOVED SONGS
Was co-written by Yoko Ono
John Lennon admitted, in an interview two days before this death, that he had been ‘too macho’ to give his wife the credit she deserved for writing the lyrics to one of the world’s best-loved songs.
He said: “Imagine should be credited as a Lennon/Yoko Ono song. A lot of it, the lyrics and the concept, came from her. Straight out of her book, Grapefruit. Imagine this or imagine that.”
The simple lyrics of Imagine – voted the UK’s favourite song of all time - has been adopted as an anthem of the secular generation and is one of the most influential lyrics ever produced.
The new disclosures are revealed in a BBC2 Arena documentary, Imagine IMAGINE, to be broadcast on September 20, 2003.
YOKO ONO
At the age of 70, Ono has emerged as a chart-topping artist in her own right. Her 1981 single Walking on Thin Ice topped the American Billboard’s Dance Music Club play chart two months ago.
Her artwork is enjoying success as well and this summer she has attended exhibitions of her work in Venice, Berlin, Paris and Seoul.
Yes Yoko Ono is travelling throughout United States and Canada through 2003.
She has organised a series of exhibitions of Lennon’s sketches, too.
Monday, September 01, 2003
University of Cambridge, England, UK
'Science gets serious about elixir of life'
A Cambridge University conference will next month announce an international scientific competition to solve the secrets of ageing.
Researchers from across the world will gather in Cambridge to discuss research that many believe will see average human lifespans increased to 130 years or more within a few decades.
Other research expected to emerge at the conference will describe new work that links Alzheimer’s disease with a virus, raising the possibility of a vaccine to protect against dementia, and new drugs that can reverse the way bones “decalcify”.
However, such successes also bring new challenges – especially over how the world will meet the needs of a population that is growing much older and larger.
Francis Fernandes, head of research at actuaries Lane Clark & Peacock, said that with a quarter of 60-year-olds expected to survive to their nineties, pensions were becoming ever-more costly.
He warned that eventually society would have to impose limits. “Society might dictate that life has to finish at a certain age regardless of health – or that fertility must be strictly regulated,” he said.
ME AND OPHELIA
This is the personal blog of Ingrid Jones.
I live by the sea in Dorset, England, United Kingdom.
Here on my PowerBook G4 I communicate to my friends.
About things in general and my life with M.E. and cat Ophelia.
Home user technology and business services.
Food and household management.
How it all impacts on my *lifestyle management programme*.
And my battle for more energy.
See Blogger Profile
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