tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83871043130881649362024-02-22T06:17:10.155-08:00MentorpenastrocismA mix of humor, philosophy and commentary on current events, politics and whatever else seems appropriate.Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-84021009815048162202011-03-09T13:54:00.000-08:002011-03-09T13:55:38.525-08:00A heads-up for Facebook users: be careful out there<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6ruTnCeN3TamqgTC99fpGnRk0EsGiVA94gyEWPz0KXUZQASBbY-poJm8gKr2PrEz6MlQ771DYNV8oi8HixARJ6gSLYzLj-KuFwdonAfm4c-lTDFm3IGCc3kZoPp6p4KqCxr_Khp7sLdQ/s1600/imagesCANLMF28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6ruTnCeN3TamqgTC99fpGnRk0EsGiVA94gyEWPz0KXUZQASBbY-poJm8gKr2PrEz6MlQ771DYNV8oi8HixARJ6gSLYzLj-KuFwdonAfm4c-lTDFm3IGCc3kZoPp6p4KqCxr_Khp7sLdQ/s1600/imagesCANLMF28.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">For me, the first flag was raised, when, looking for information on a product, I was asked to "Like" the manufacturer on Facebook <i>before</i> I could see any information about the product.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6ruTnCeN3TamqgTC99fpGnRk0EsGiVA94gyEWPz0KXUZQASBbY-poJm8gKr2PrEz6MlQ771DYNV8oi8HixARJ6gSLYzLj-KuFwdonAfm4c-lTDFm3IGCc3kZoPp6p4KqCxr_Khp7sLdQ/s1600/imagesCANLMF28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6ruTnCeN3TamqgTC99fpGnRk0EsGiVA94gyEWPz0KXUZQASBbY-poJm8gKr2PrEz6MlQ771DYNV8oi8HixARJ6gSLYzLj-KuFwdonAfm4c-lTDFm3IGCc3kZoPp6p4KqCxr_Khp7sLdQ/s1600/imagesCANLMF28.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Then, not too long ago a friend emailed me that the "Like" button would now also operate as a "Share" button.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6ruTnCeN3TamqgTC99fpGnRk0EsGiVA94gyEWPz0KXUZQASBbY-poJm8gKr2PrEz6MlQ771DYNV8oi8HixARJ6gSLYzLj-KuFwdonAfm4c-lTDFm3IGCc3kZoPp6p4KqCxr_Khp7sLdQ/s1600/imagesCANLMF28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6ruTnCeN3TamqgTC99fpGnRk0EsGiVA94gyEWPz0KXUZQASBbY-poJm8gKr2PrEz6MlQ771DYNV8oi8HixARJ6gSLYzLj-KuFwdonAfm4c-lTDFm3IGCc3kZoPp6p4KqCxr_Khp7sLdQ/s1600/imagesCANLMF28.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Now, Facebook is moving to allow third party developers and external websites the ability to access users' home addresses and cellphone numbers.<br />
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Apparently, Zuckerberg/Facebook thinks it’s a splendid idea to disseminate users’ info to anyone who wants it. <br />
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Think of it this way:<br />
Suppose a billboard company offers you free space on any billboard they own. Your billboard is located on a major interstate highway in any of a dozen metropolitan areas. You can put anything you’d like on the billboard as long as you include your address, phone number, age and other vital statistics. Would you do it? After all it’s free, as long as your personal information is displayed for the public to see. Think of the exposure ... the possibilities! <br />
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Your reaction should be “Are you out of your f---ing mind!!!” Yet, incredibly, people will allow themselves to be a part of this sort of thing on Facebook because somehow, they don’t think it’s a significant development. <br />
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Folks, “Demographic Mining” is the same thing as intrusive phone calls at dinnertime or the Church-of-We-Have-All-The-Answers knocking on your door before the sun comes up on Sunday mornings. <br />
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If you choose to “share” your information with the world, that’s your business, but don’t complain to me when suddenly your quiet little hide-away becomes a giant fishbowl surrounded by thousands, if not millions, of prying eyes.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">UPDATE: Facebook has contacted The Huffington Post with the following statement:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Despite some rumors, there's no way for other websites to access a user's address or phone number from Facebook. For people that may find this option useful in the future, we're considering ways to let them share this information (for example to use an online shopping site without always having to re-type their address). People will always be in control of what Facebook information they share with apps and websites.”</span><br />
</span></span>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-19291300110432982082011-02-10T08:24:00.000-08:002011-02-10T08:32:22.272-08:00Armani to Ara Jo 'Fashion'<span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">From the "Are You Kiddin’ Me?" Department:</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Armani creations</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1pa8wqLhKXdigsczgB4aMckwAWiJLhSZhl3lQ1C0WY1eOD4XyLzEZpoovaesfIHN7he-SA6x8nis7n_33a-NcWEFNqBpb3VB0pf1Hlkeh3v0OpAZaVfxbNXetxzcSRG2_QzIap1m8tY2/s1600/armani1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1pa8wqLhKXdigsczgB4aMckwAWiJLhSZhl3lQ1C0WY1eOD4XyLzEZpoovaesfIHN7he-SA6x8nis7n_33a-NcWEFNqBpb3VB0pf1Hlkeh3v0OpAZaVfxbNXetxzcSRG2_QzIap1m8tY2/s200/armani1.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>Oh yeah, I always wanted a zombie/woman ... and why the obsession with those baby-moon hubcap hats?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And now ... something ... from the mind of Ara Jo</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtElHWJwVc5NCGI_4-6w4umrSa2ois5hV5FU3oLz65khTbamf8tszMePgB8ccXobWqwzRaGSf2mdeYYDD6XXr29uvs2YvAs3fOO7o5LMoVddD-VuCTsJX4HRZTCgQo9OsqpENodXIGYAVb/s1600/ara-jo-futuristic-fashion-design-3-600x305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtElHWJwVc5NCGI_4-6w4umrSa2ois5hV5FU3oLz65khTbamf8tszMePgB8ccXobWqwzRaGSf2mdeYYDD6XXr29uvs2YvAs3fOO7o5LMoVddD-VuCTsJX4HRZTCgQo9OsqpENodXIGYAVb/s320/ara-jo-futuristic-fashion-design-3-600x305.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>If this turns you on ... get away from me!Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-26613296675312121442010-12-05T03:27:00.000-08:002010-12-05T03:38:15.829-08:00What Bill Maher really thinks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLb_9O0JHS5gFQ9bsmEyot-7_9GETzIGgn4Om_kx4zf8kszY4QnwTujWepcQ7L8L1MHwuV_wD4NJFhQTax2KlZVwC8kmAnWLbuZDF9w3YrPIr3m6mftb4tpa3oI49QozzrDBAm8R7nPRw/s1600/few+words-alt.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLb_9O0JHS5gFQ9bsmEyot-7_9GETzIGgn4Om_kx4zf8kszY4QnwTujWepcQ7L8L1MHwuV_wD4NJFhQTax2KlZVwC8kmAnWLbuZDF9w3YrPIr3m6mftb4tpa3oI49QozzrDBAm8R7nPRw/s1600/few+words-alt.GIF" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-39344425697293212532010-10-29T20:07:00.000-07:002010-10-30T10:52:00.957-07:00Karl Rove suggests that Sarah Palin lacks “gravitas”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">From The Daily Telegraph:</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb0yJpuKBT3rzZEQRUT__OpMM01IZkXm1srTmwqQxgis9dLuciPrXvBaBEWf3JnjA41uybCmQxlnsUM8mefZZ6-XRFYTMkC9cNzhhTMdp4g0MFhNCr-Krcf7epwa7x7V1ZDSdEhk6rnnM/s1600/karlrove_8d80e.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb0yJpuKBT3rzZEQRUT__OpMM01IZkXm1srTmwqQxgis9dLuciPrXvBaBEWf3JnjA41uybCmQxlnsUM8mefZZ6-XRFYTMkC9cNzhhTMdp4g0MFhNCr-Krcf7epwa7x7V1ZDSdEhk6rnnM/s200/karlrove_8d80e.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl Rove displaying his "gravitas"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“There are high standards that the American people have for it [the presidency] and they require a certain level of gravitas, and they want to look at the candidate and say 'that candidate is doing things that gives me confidence that they are up to the most demanding job in the world’.” - <em>Karl Rove referring to Sarah Palin</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ah, Karl, have you not noticed that we now live in an internet/facebook/twitter world? Gravitas is a word that had meaning in the telephone/radio/television world of last century. Gravitas conjures up images of the stuffed shirts and empty suits of yesteryear. It has the smell of “Good ol’ Boys” all over it. You can almost hear it whispering “She’s not one of us… don’t let her in!” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You Republican Sweathogs were happy to have Sara Palin as a sidekick for John McCain, as long as she kept her mouth shut, and played the game. But when you realized that Sara Palin appealed to a lot of people because she had (gasp!) her own thoughts and opinions, you turned on her like spoilt milk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sara Palin has the cojones (figuratively speaking, of course) to whip your gravitas. She proved it as a mayor and as a governor. Have any of you reprobates run a town, or a state? I’m not talking about buying off anyone who is loose enough to be bought; I’m talking about actual management - solving problems, dealing with issues, and using the law to protect the public.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCZ7pVxwco8zJCR15qKR3MtCEY0wwThiaDvqFde15yHRm8FR_DyDQzBx3cXJ0RlC148KD_l1QB22tpE4l0UvE3rBLsxOamIX-BnUuRq477klSbwbSfk2GkdjDt7ItKIHJEHWGTzzHbaTR/s1600/mug_spalin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCZ7pVxwco8zJCR15qKR3MtCEY0wwThiaDvqFde15yHRm8FR_DyDQzBx3cXJ0RlC148KD_l1QB22tpE4l0UvE3rBLsxOamIX-BnUuRq477klSbwbSfk2GkdjDt7ItKIHJEHWGTzzHbaTR/s200/mug_spalin.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, Karl and Company, if Sara Palin does decide to run in 2012, she’s got my vote. If she wins, you may have to wipe the gravitas off your </span>face.Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-47870726123783421252010-10-17T04:59:00.000-07:002010-10-17T15:53:29.738-07:00The Dukes of Hazurdistan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3zBQ8dz8XtBdxSBExLLoPHUa3RcUZYnKZJWY2iTqZkDCvdl2m4bVW3g7VbQd9oG2u_GWx9a9V84m9OKkH2B62AYTmzR7AJX9O1QyeS0r609714L7UpjiXiearL_2mx6PeYLyAu9wf7fj/s1600/Jeee-Haahd+final-no+title.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3zBQ8dz8XtBdxSBExLLoPHUa3RcUZYnKZJWY2iTqZkDCvdl2m4bVW3g7VbQd9oG2u_GWx9a9V84m9OKkH2B62AYTmzR7AJX9O1QyeS0r609714L7UpjiXiearL_2mx6PeYLyAu9wf7fj/s400/Jeee-Haahd+final-no+title.GIF" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taliban Rednecks</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-6341885551939077612010-10-07T14:14:00.000-07:002010-10-17T05:12:12.349-07:00A Very Large Boatload<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT9_2TQZ0saeRgb5Szb8RgkTwkbltOjNhOBJ5M9-5-Ag_PB8SjOakGcmpSffhyphenhyphenM3FNaRWhe3NKx_rWuNINxnlk2Bhq1wgZhyphenhyphenVkVOqbXuEu7Spgy23pgnh5o3Lcne7foQLBD2j4cs5E3HM/s1600/maersk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT9_2TQZ0saeRgb5Szb8RgkTwkbltOjNhOBJ5M9-5-Ag_PB8SjOakGcmpSffhyphenhyphenM3FNaRWhe3NKx_rWuNINxnlk2Bhq1wgZhyphenhyphenVkVOqbXuEu7Spgy23pgnh5o3Lcne7foQLBD2j4cs5E3HM/s400/maersk1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The Emma Maersk is one of three ships presently in service, with another two ships of this size to be completed in 2012. Commissioned by Wal-Mart, each ship can transport goods across the Pacific in just five days.<br />
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These ships can carry 15,000 tractor-trailer-sized containers. Each is longer than an aircraft carrier, and with its 207-foot beam (width), it won’t fit through either the Panama or Suez Canals. It needs only 13 people as its crew.<br />
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The Command Bridge is higher than a 10-story building. The ship has 11 cargo cranes that can operate simultaneously, unloading the entire ship in less than two hours.<br />
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A recent documentary on the History Channel noted that all of these containers are shipped back to China, empty. Yes, that's right … we send nothing back on these ships. So much for the trade balance.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-80056514090671988002010-09-04T14:26:00.000-07:002010-09-04T14:42:05.716-07:00Look out CFLs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNL6ZDpP3bKlHBFbwZ5XQWK-BD5ihWqC99GAuq6wlKRv7iOzoUkaGxfRApZU-4oH15y5lF8PEgtm1IDnGvVW8JtIoljrfd11NRmPb19I1Q_zsHm9wabjELhpJPNfjbzfHrNAVCYuFWwgD/s1600/lightbulbcover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNL6ZDpP3bKlHBFbwZ5XQWK-BD5ihWqC99GAuq6wlKRv7iOzoUkaGxfRApZU-4oH15y5lF8PEgtm1IDnGvVW8JtIoljrfd11NRmPb19I1Q_zsHm9wabjELhpJPNfjbzfHrNAVCYuFWwgD/s400/lightbulbcover.jpeg" width="325" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">By Dan Saelinger (popsci.com)<br />
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Never mind that twisty compact fluorescent. The new energy-efficient way to light your home is with LEDs. An upcoming crop of bulbs draw 12 watts or less, edging out a typical fluorescent, and they have a more conventional shape, contain no mercury, and last at least 25,000 hours, three times as long.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Read more here:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-07/updating-edison"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-07/updating-edison</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">___________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dan, you had me at “no mercury.” But don’t expect to get them on-the-cheap … at $60 each, I think I’ll wait a while (remember when hand-held calculators were a hundred bucks?) If the demand is there, they will become less expensive.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-92181483010207189852010-08-14T12:08:00.000-07:002010-09-04T05:48:29.787-07:00From Toys to Technology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8CRiogJ_7WFVtrsc5I1ZU1tLSxBaAhU13bgcKSPNqKk7LeQJUuGwNsNQbtXroHPGUUt_lCeyZwi175BicKZSSO3WTAH_guDkURtFlxF_1yFlerW7QTyoDp0KkEicVMd9iUXmTMTQnemD/s1600/etch_a_sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8CRiogJ_7WFVtrsc5I1ZU1tLSxBaAhU13bgcKSPNqKk7LeQJUuGwNsNQbtXroHPGUUt_lCeyZwi175BicKZSSO3WTAH_guDkURtFlxF_1yFlerW7QTyoDp0KkEicVMd9iUXmTMTQnemD/s320/etch_a_sketch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What do Etch-a-Sketch, Shrinky Dinks, Legos, and balloons have in common? Other than being popular toys, they have also inspired some significant technological advances. Find out here:</span><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=toy-box-tech" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=toy-box-tech</a></span>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-46560473343677292802010-05-31T12:08:00.000-07:002010-12-12T20:04:41.375-08:00German fishing boat flies giant kite to save fuel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfTkUWvJKSgwXa4dwmdwhWM4-HiLRA1Y30wOjto9ZXEYzGj_OfXbLvFnaxsTjPxS73C_2UhZF0uaPKw0ej2kp2cRVL_LHDV3mJA5cgaQXwLrywj0aGY9o0fVS41PRaTXV-ltg2lQIMbCe/s1600/sail+close+to+deck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfTkUWvJKSgwXa4dwmdwhWM4-HiLRA1Y30wOjto9ZXEYzGj_OfXbLvFnaxsTjPxS73C_2UhZF0uaPKw0ej2kp2cRVL_LHDV3mJA5cgaQXwLrywj0aGY9o0fVS41PRaTXV-ltg2lQIMbCe/s200/sail+close+to+deck.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIZwcR-0jhNBZR0Y7OzJFKswWQcHWuHyPaITTsq2nWBwn2QyulrvlL4v4tUI6mlXfZnYBudNIxW_TTp0RauA4NwD1Hi0Y_XbyIdSypDf7LQQ-3LHXp3sR-VQiOEDJZr2oEAVQsjyA5Z_v/s1600/sail+extended.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIZwcR-0jhNBZR0Y7OzJFKswWQcHWuHyPaITTsq2nWBwn2QyulrvlL4v4tUI6mlXfZnYBudNIxW_TTp0RauA4NwD1Hi0Y_XbyIdSypDf7LQQ-3LHXp3sR-VQiOEDJZr2oEAVQsjyA5Z_v/s200/sail+extended.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Germany's largest fishing vessel is towed by a giant kite harnessing trade winds that will help cut its fuel consumption by up to a third.<br />
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The 15,000 ton 'Maartje Theadora' is the first fishing vessel to use the system, in which a 160 square metre blue and white kite similar to a paraglider pulls the ship on a 300 metre rope, assisting its main engine." <br />
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The SkySails system is expected to cut Maartje Theadora's fuel consumption by about 10 per cent in the first phase of the pilot project, supported by about 780,000 euros ($1.16 million) of funding from the European Union and Germany. <br />
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The kite, which can be used at wind speeds 18 knots and above, can add 1,000 kilowatts (kW) of power to the ship's 8,000 kW engine. SkySails hopes to eventually double the system's power. <br />
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Over the next two years Diederik Parlevliet, head of fishing firm Parlevliet & Van der Plas, operator of the ship, expects fuel savings will increase up to 30 per cent, and greenhouse gas emissions will be significantly reduced.Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-83170826915319579342010-04-04T08:14:00.000-07:002010-04-04T08:14:32.463-07:00A NEW DIRECTION<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are those who have objected to some of my recent posts, indicating a preference for more uplifting and informative fare. I have vowed that I will attempt to move in that direction, so that no offense is taken and no disparagement is inferred.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnH-Y3lMKrmm7thXJjOEZ4coT4TPq3ERncXfAeVLdk1r3JUCNp_ujPeXvbcwMydYtzboJxuaBAF3RD3usO3d6QLQOWo8DljtC6u8iYQQFsoK-NTSm6G27nGdkg4wzr0wt6LMAh7hRXNesR/s1600/JBtoon.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnH-Y3lMKrmm7thXJjOEZ4coT4TPq3ERncXfAeVLdk1r3JUCNp_ujPeXvbcwMydYtzboJxuaBAF3RD3usO3d6QLQOWo8DljtC6u8iYQQFsoK-NTSm6G27nGdkg4wzr0wt6LMAh7hRXNesR/s320/JBtoon.bmp" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My thanks to all of you who read these posts. Please continue to send your questions, comments and suggestions.</span>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-11426678384794262752010-02-16T05:29:00.000-08:002010-02-16T05:39:52.684-08:00Robert Pattinson is allergic to ... what?It's either a very bizarre PR stunt, or Robert Pattinson is trying to kill his publicist. In an age when young, hot movie guys are supposed to be super studs, he may have just handed his movie career a death sentence ...<br />
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Huh? What? ... Oh, I get it, now ... Ha! It's a joke, an English joke! Ha ... you see, when you're allergic to something you tend to ... swell up ... Ha, ha ... ahem. (I am so embarrassed!)<br />
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Just ignore that first paragraph. I didn't mean to mislead.<br />
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Bye now.Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-63547331355500848722010-02-13T15:42:00.000-08:002010-02-13T15:44:09.926-08:00Politicians<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNAXbS6g1DhEmkEkuFgIwCwxRRNXWDuhPnmA-4wobRtAG0BeBfp4UXgt6wskrxvIPzpbSkKkakPmsqDPhPW46ap91_zefbKO9-cn_knv3LZj5NmnZT6xnm6pg5dWM0kBfpyWkDtBYDCiv/s1600-h/Politicians.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNAXbS6g1DhEmkEkuFgIwCwxRRNXWDuhPnmA-4wobRtAG0BeBfp4UXgt6wskrxvIPzpbSkKkakPmsqDPhPW46ap91_zefbKO9-cn_knv3LZj5NmnZT6xnm6pg5dWM0kBfpyWkDtBYDCiv/s400/Politicians.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-53642794440580810272010-02-12T02:47:00.001-08:002010-02-12T02:52:29.814-08:00What America wants from Obama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFaCSmm7vhPKzF6wOMd4yQMQUjxUemCqUbgtm0c6CdLsXrj3TXl_GkOq8jHyk-P5hpHaZlQ6nNz66omDusdx-bn5mHUB4dN_CG_2I5yV75e_4OoGLrqdSqJci4BAs7opRp-8_BlpR7fgw/s1600-h/no+BS-bw-1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFaCSmm7vhPKzF6wOMd4yQMQUjxUemCqUbgtm0c6CdLsXrj3TXl_GkOq8jHyk-P5hpHaZlQ6nNz66omDusdx-bn5mHUB4dN_CG_2I5yV75e_4OoGLrqdSqJci4BAs7opRp-8_BlpR7fgw/s400/no+BS-bw-1.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-13727370649694732010-02-04T04:30:00.000-08:002010-02-04T07:36:18.926-08:00How much is a trillion dollars?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Here's an eye-opening graphic I found at </b></span><a href="http://www.yoursuccessclub.com/blog/2009/03/18/million-billion-trillion-how-much-is-a-trillion-dollars/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My Success Club.Com</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>:</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKZs11yrsWIJRgkcPpm3WYO6_yKDVwaAZYTuiHBKzRW2il3rKC0SFtuhAh5MHot3xykPNYO9EoDxjf8Xa-HB-OX1N0tI_W8U4hsEqvdsKNViCyjJhObR7t3_h5QMfY86eExUaILku44Fm/s1600-h/top.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKZs11yrsWIJRgkcPpm3WYO6_yKDVwaAZYTuiHBKzRW2il3rKC0SFtuhAh5MHot3xykPNYO9EoDxjf8Xa-HB-OX1N0tI_W8U4hsEqvdsKNViCyjJhObR7t3_h5QMfY86eExUaILku44Fm/s640/top.bmp" width="376" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HM6Wcyw2Jdnih1p5yXk_TIBzpUzpwC2_IyWXVFT-PgMgDfc4DCBTp242klBzqRYScZnVJDiInJ1GG-HMe76718QD72Q9vpKbFFZXmAfc6nEKth7vt6rlUKTwjAJIw2KoLMJjCMFsxvxk/s1600-h/bottom-alt.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HM6Wcyw2Jdnih1p5yXk_TIBzpUzpwC2_IyWXVFT-PgMgDfc4DCBTp242klBzqRYScZnVJDiInJ1GG-HMe76718QD72Q9vpKbFFZXmAfc6nEKth7vt6rlUKTwjAJIw2KoLMJjCMFsxvxk/s400/bottom-alt.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Saticasmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02036312264177670586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387104313088164936.post-65551695974586911902010-01-26T06:50:00.000-08:002010-01-26T06:50:15.367-08:00Things that make you say "huh?"<div style="text-align: center;">You'll have to supply your own caption for this one...I got nothing.<br />
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