Take one heaping of Django Reinhardt, mix in a good amount of Stéphane Grappelli, sauté over a low but steady Parisian heat et voila, you have a nicely baked Quintette du Hot Club de France!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Epic 1930s Jazz is Epic
It's one of my favorite recipes for sweet, swinging success.
Take one heaping of Django Reinhardt, mix in a good amount of Stéphane Grappelli, sauté over a low but steady Parisian heat et voila, you have a nicely baked Quintette du Hot Club de France!
Take one heaping of Django Reinhardt, mix in a good amount of Stéphane Grappelli, sauté over a low but steady Parisian heat et voila, you have a nicely baked Quintette du Hot Club de France!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Neil deGrasse Tyson - We Stopped Dreaming
Neil deGrasse Tyson argues passionately for the pittance it would take to revive the agency that inspires the dreams, hopes and economy of tomorrow.
Tungsten Trick Hits Market for 1kg Gold Bars
There has been a raft of reports about 400oz gold bars in Hong Kong discovered to have been tainted with tungsten. Now, however, the scam seems to have migrated to the bigger 1kg gold bars.
Not only is tungsten extremely dense it is also not ferro-magnetic, making it an ideal ingredient for fraudsters looking to cook up a batch of modern fool's gold, as it won't be discovered with a simple magnet test. That leaves the use of XRF scanners as the only secure, straightforward method for ensuring you're actually buying pure gold.
Except that this scientific security seems now to have been erased from the success formula. Judging by the latest reports, XRF (x-ray fluoresence) scanners may not offer an adequate defense against this particular form of hoodwinkery.
This modern alchemists' stew seems to be based on a fairly simple recipe: take one bar of certified provenance, drill out some gold plugs, feed in tungsten rods and - unless a buyer is exceedingly careful - you've got yourself a gold sale at 'market value' PLUS a handy pile of surplus gold.
Leftovers have never tasted so raw for dealers in precious metals.
Anybody buying gold has for several years had to worry about the risks of a bubble in the AU market Given that the use of expensive high-tech scanners to determine the gold content of the material in question won't necessarily protect buyers from this form of criminal enterprise, does the gold market face a loss of confidence similar to that seen recently in global interbank lending?
ABC Bullion in Australia has the details of these shenanigans. Story via the SilverDoctors blog.
Not only is tungsten extremely dense it is also not ferro-magnetic, making it an ideal ingredient for fraudsters looking to cook up a batch of modern fool's gold, as it won't be discovered with a simple magnet test. That leaves the use of XRF scanners as the only secure, straightforward method for ensuring you're actually buying pure gold.
Except that this scientific security seems now to have been erased from the success formula. Judging by the latest reports, XRF (x-ray fluoresence) scanners may not offer an adequate defense against this particular form of hoodwinkery.
This modern alchemists' stew seems to be based on a fairly simple recipe: take one bar of certified provenance, drill out some gold plugs, feed in tungsten rods and - unless a buyer is exceedingly careful - you've got yourself a gold sale at 'market value' PLUS a handy pile of surplus gold.
Leftovers have never tasted so raw for dealers in precious metals.
Anybody buying gold has for several years had to worry about the risks of a bubble in the AU market Given that the use of expensive high-tech scanners to determine the gold content of the material in question won't necessarily protect buyers from this form of criminal enterprise, does the gold market face a loss of confidence similar to that seen recently in global interbank lending?
ABC Bullion in Australia has the details of these shenanigans. Story via the SilverDoctors blog.
Image licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
Life=Love=Dream Talk by Terence McKenna
A fine talk by thinker Terrance McKenna is now available on YouTube.
'Kemp' discusses reality, what it might mean to be 'awake', and other aspects of the human voyage. The talk includes a Jungian take on history as "the collective dream of humanity".
'Kemp' discusses reality, what it might mean to be 'awake', and other aspects of the human voyage. The talk includes a Jungian take on history as "the collective dream of humanity".
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The X21 Flashlight. Ideal UFO Beacon?
Okay, so it's likely to take millions of years for your Morse code to reach the gang at Alpha Centauri but if there's an alien mothership lurking behind its invisibility shields, visitors from another planet/galaxy/plane/time should be able to read you loud and clear, as long as you're deploying the 1100 lumens of LED candlepower in your fist.
Produced by LED Lenser, this bad-boy isn't cheap but if you're looking for a seriously powerful electric torch that you can still slip inside a jacket, you may want to save up 500 bucks and get this one.
Produced by LED Lenser, this bad-boy isn't cheap but if you're looking for a seriously powerful electric torch that you can still slip inside a jacket, you may want to save up 500 bucks and get this one.
via Wired
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Prometheus - Official Full HD Trailer
It's been awhile in the making but Ridley Scott has just let loose the HD trailer for his latest sci-fi epic and it looks like a real whopper.
Not only that but it sounds like Prometheus is likely to have at least one follow-up release.
The film, which should be awesome in 3D, brings some well-known stars, including Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce, plus the rapidly-rising Michael Fassbender to the surround-screen fun of an interstellar horror mystery show that tells us yet again, to beware the unknown.
This looks to be no mere alien terror - our brazen heroes are faced with the horrifying truth of how mankind faces a tragic destiny... unless they can slay their truly gigantic foe..
So, sounds like terrific fun, then!
Our sister blog, gearheads, has some videos of Michael Fassbinder on the BBC's Top Gear program.
More info on Prometheus at imdb.com, wikipedia, and the movie's website (which was down when we wrote this).
Update: those incredible visual effects? That's MPC. Check out their site for more of this company's superb VFX.
Not only that but it sounds like Prometheus is likely to have at least one follow-up release.
The film, which should be awesome in 3D, brings some well-known stars, including Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce, plus the rapidly-rising Michael Fassbender to the surround-screen fun of an interstellar horror mystery show that tells us yet again, to beware the unknown.
This looks to be no mere alien terror - our brazen heroes are faced with the horrifying truth of how mankind faces a tragic destiny... unless they can slay their truly gigantic foe..
So, sounds like terrific fun, then!
Our sister blog, gearheads, has some videos of Michael Fassbinder on the BBC's Top Gear program.
More info on Prometheus at imdb.com, wikipedia, and the movie's website (which was down when we wrote this).
Update: those incredible visual effects? That's MPC. Check out their site for more of this company's superb VFX.
Rob Reid: The $8 billion iPod
TED offers an excellent and entertaining talk about the numbers spewed by the entertainment industry that appears highly-relevant in this era of SOPA, ACTA and the TPP.
In keeping with the theme of this excellent TED Talk, I'm simply going to copy and paste the relevant information in here:
Comic author Rob Reid unveils Copyright Math (TM), a remarkable new field of study based on actual numbers from entertainment industry lawyers and lobbyists.My favorite quote from this witty, entertaining and informative talk is,
"[The first MP3 player] was a big Christmas hit, because what little hoodlum wouldn't want a million and a half bucks-worth of stolen goods in his pocket?"
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Best Beer Run, Ever
Luckily for all other Americans, this extremely dangerous criminal has been taken off the street by a hard-working member of the law-enforcement community.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Nitrate Contamination of Water Spreads in California
A new study shows that the problem of nitrate contamination of California's groundwater is expanded and set to continue doing so for many years.
The problem is most concentrated, apparently, in the Salinas Valley and Central Valley, which sit at the center of the state's farming industry.
According to Thomas Harter, of UC Davis, "Even if we were to eliminate all the sources of nitrate that we have today, we would still be dealing with this issue."
Though nitrates are naturally-occurring in some foods, at issue seems to be the heavy concentrations of these chemical compounds, which are linked to 'blue-baby syndrome' and can reportedly kill young children.
Read the abc news story for more of this horror story.
XiangSheng H-03A Hybrid Integrated/Headphone Amplifier
Aw yeah, baby!
Just look at this hot little number, the 'Little singer' Hybrid Integrated/Headphone Amplifier from China's Hefei XiangSheng Electronic Co. Ltd, looks like plenty of fun and your friends will drool over that vacuum tube goodness.
No friends old enough to appreciate the warm audio finesse and dusty odor that mark true hi-fidelity, grand-dad? No call for a Dolby? Fear not! The H-03A comes with more inputs and outputs than most of today's slick gadgets. Feast your eyes on those RCA inputs, the "MP3" mini-jack input and the AUX input.
And that's not even the best news! This awesome mix of classic tube and modern transistor technology is blessed with the most modern of media inputs, offering both a Flash-reading USB port and a Secure Digital Card reader. The only thing we can see left off the want-list is Bluetooth.
The amp's available in several different finishes, including black or silver, with a black or orange cover for the main power circuitry and a natty see-through plastic cover tube 'gubbins' that give this little beastie its 'hybrid' moniker. There's even a credit-card sized remote so you don't need to rise painfully from your barcalounger.
Specifications:
Can't make it over to China to order up your very own Little Singer? Then hit up K&D Industrial in Hong Kong to see if they can help.
Just look at this hot little number, the 'Little singer' Hybrid Integrated/Headphone Amplifier from China's Hefei XiangSheng Electronic Co. Ltd, looks like plenty of fun and your friends will drool over that vacuum tube goodness.
No friends old enough to appreciate the warm audio finesse and dusty odor that mark true hi-fidelity, grand-dad? No call for a Dolby? Fear not! The H-03A comes with more inputs and outputs than most of today's slick gadgets. Feast your eyes on those RCA inputs, the "MP3" mini-jack input and the AUX input.
And that's not even the best news! This awesome mix of classic tube and modern transistor technology is blessed with the most modern of media inputs, offering both a Flash-reading USB port and a Secure Digital Card reader. The only thing we can see left off the want-list is Bluetooth.
The amp's available in several different finishes, including black or silver, with a black or orange cover for the main power circuitry and a natty see-through plastic cover tube 'gubbins' that give this little beastie its 'hybrid' moniker. There's even a credit-card sized remote so you don't need to rise painfully from your barcalounger.
Maximum output:15W per channel
Input Impedance: 100Kohm
Input Impedance: 100Kohm
Output Impedance:4ohm to 16ohm
Signal to Noise Ratio: 90dB
Input Sensitivity: 500 to 2000mV
Total Hamonic Distortion: less than 1%(1KHz)
Frequency response: 20Hz to 25KHz
Tubes: comes with 2 x 6F1 / but compatible with the more popular 6BL8, 6C16, ECF82 *6Φ1ПSignal to Noise Ratio: 90dB
Input Sensitivity: 500 to 2000mV
Total Hamonic Distortion: less than 1%(1KHz)
Frequency response: 20Hz to 25KHz
Supply Votage: all voltages are available 60Hz/50Hz
Size: (WHD) 240mm x 185m x 145mm
Net Weight: 3kg
Size: (WHD) 240mm x 185m x 145mm
Net Weight: 3kg
Can't make it over to China to order up your very own Little Singer? Then hit up K&D Industrial in Hong Kong to see if they can help.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
The Art of FLIGHT will blow your mind.
Whether you like to live life to the fullest or, like the n-sphere crew, you simply appreciate others living their lives to the fullest, you will probably want to see this incredible documentary ASAP. If a title sequence so lush and creative it verges on arrogant and some of the most intense snowboarding humanly possible, all captured with mind-blowing cinematography, are the kinds of things that pump your nads, you best fire this 1080p goodness up on the biggest HD screen you can get your hands on, WITHOUT DELAY.
In the meantime, here's a little taster:
If that's not intense enough, there's even a metal trailer:
In the meantime, here's a little taster:
If that's not intense enough, there's even a metal trailer:
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Dangerous Time To Be Based at Minot, Apparently
Well.... things sure are gettin' innerestin!
We're still on that (runaway) train of thought about the nuclear "accident" involving one B-52 bomber, two USAF bases and six armed cruise missiles. You must remember the one (scroll down, if you don't). A B-52 bomber carrying six cruise missiles took a rather uneventful flight from Minot AFB in North Dakota to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana.
Apparently, somebody - oops! - slipped up and those missiles were carrying live nuclear warheads (five or six of them, depending on what you read and who you believe). The official explanation is that it was a screw up and people are being punished, as well as investigations being carried out.
I'll bet. Even in the military, where SNAFU is an old acronym and where huge, deadly bungles are written off as almost routine, someone would have to try very hard to screw this up.
Most of the existing stock of these weapons is kept in storage in Nevada and New Mexico. Barksdale AFB is the step-off point for operations in the Middle East. There are some very basic questions that need to be asked.
I know, I know. I have no idea how these things operate and there are perfectly reasonable explanations for all of this.
What about this stuff?
Minot Air Force Base Airman Died While on Leave briefly discusses the death of Airman 1st Class Todd Blue. According to the Minot Air Force Base website, "Airman 1st Class Todd Blue, 20, was a response force member assigned to the 5th Security Forces Squadron." Reports indicate he was assigned to the unit providing security for the bomber wing.
Minot Airman dies in motorcycle accident is the offical news report about the death July 17th of B-52 pilot, First Lt. Weston Kissel.
Authorities identify Minot airman killed in crash provides details about the accident that resulted in the death of Adam Barrs. In a spooky example of something I like to call "ghosts of the internet", his MySpace profile plays the song Beautiful Girls in which Sean Kingston sings, "...You'll have me suicidal, suicidal...."
Now, I wouldn't ordinarily be interested in something as mundane or dare I say it, "normal" (which, let's face it, in the USA, it rather unfortunately is), as "Langley airman charged in hotel balcony toss" except for the fact that 21 year-old Airman 1st Class William Donahue is assigned to the 1st Communications Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, where, it just so happens, another William Donahue, Lt. Gen. USAF (retired), was based while he was one of the heads and architects of USAF communications and information management.He now sites on the boards of companies like Robbins-Goia
Now I wouldn't normally even be so interesting in THAT were it not for the fact that while Googling Lt. Gen. William J. Donahue, USAF (retired) and 1st Class William Donahue of the 1st Communications Squadron, Langley AFB, I kept coming across stories about cyberattacks on US military systems.
So my furry little ears definitely pricked up when I tripped over this piece at RumorMillNews that attempts to link together the whole Barksdale nukes fiasco and cyberwar.
Where it REALLY gets interesting is this theory about how the reported disappearance of Steve Fossett is connected.
Now where was I? Oh yeah, that flurry of deaths involving US military personnel based at Minot.
Another to fall prey to the "Minot jinx", John Frueh died in July. Was he a B-52 pilot? Was he a Captain? Was he a "combat weatherman"? Officialy, he was a Major-Select and was assigned to Special Operations Command. Some are writing that he was part of the security detail for nuclear bombers. He was apparently, "...last seen April 29th (28 hours before his last phone call) heading out for a walk with a GPS, camera and camcorder." He apparently shot himself dead near his rental car.
So let me get this right. He flew all the way across the USA to attend the wedding of a friend. He went out for a walk with a GPS, camera and camcorder. He then decided to kill himself?
People better at this game than I have their own takes.
Looks like Chuck Simpson of The Geronimo Manifesto is paying close attention, too.
What worries me is that I have long understood that were a nuclear device to detonate in the USA, technology would allow other nations and NGOs to determine whose device it actually was, making it nearly impossible for the kind of false-flag operation being bandied about by conspiracy theorists to be a reality. Apparently, I was wrong and it would not necessarily be possible to know whose nuke went off.
There's one thing that's still bugging me, though. Would somebody PLEASE tell me how the death of Congressman Paul Gillmor fits into all of this?
We're still on that (runaway) train of thought about the nuclear "accident" involving one B-52 bomber, two USAF bases and six armed cruise missiles. You must remember the one (scroll down, if you don't). A B-52 bomber carrying six cruise missiles took a rather uneventful flight from Minot AFB in North Dakota to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana.
Apparently, somebody - oops! - slipped up and those missiles were carrying live nuclear warheads (five or six of them, depending on what you read and who you believe). The official explanation is that it was a screw up and people are being punished, as well as investigations being carried out.
I'll bet. Even in the military, where SNAFU is an old acronym and where huge, deadly bungles are written off as almost routine, someone would have to try very hard to screw this up.
Most of the existing stock of these weapons is kept in storage in Nevada and New Mexico. Barksdale AFB is the step-off point for operations in the Middle East. There are some very basic questions that need to be asked.
- If you wanted to decommission some of them, wouldn't you decommission units you already have in storage, not those stockpiled on a base?
Why would you mount missiles with dummy warheads on a B-52 for transport? Why not instead use, um, a transport?
Why fly them from North Dakota to Lousiana, AWAY from Nevada and New Mexico?
I know, I know. I have no idea how these things operate and there are perfectly reasonable explanations for all of this.
What about this stuff?
Minot Air Force Base Airman Died While on Leave briefly discusses the death of Airman 1st Class Todd Blue. According to the Minot Air Force Base website, "Airman 1st Class Todd Blue, 20, was a response force member assigned to the 5th Security Forces Squadron." Reports indicate he was assigned to the unit providing security for the bomber wing.
Minot Airman dies in motorcycle accident is the offical news report about the death July 17th of B-52 pilot, First Lt. Weston Kissel.
Authorities identify Minot airman killed in crash provides details about the accident that resulted in the death of Adam Barrs. In a spooky example of something I like to call "ghosts of the internet", his MySpace profile plays the song Beautiful Girls in which Sean Kingston sings, "...You'll have me suicidal, suicidal...."
Now, I wouldn't ordinarily be interested in something as mundane or dare I say it, "normal" (which, let's face it, in the USA, it rather unfortunately is), as "Langley airman charged in hotel balcony toss" except for the fact that 21 year-old Airman 1st Class William Donahue is assigned to the 1st Communications Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, where, it just so happens, another William Donahue, Lt. Gen. USAF (retired), was based while he was one of the heads and architects of USAF communications and information management.He now sites on the boards of companies like Robbins-Goia
Now I wouldn't normally even be so interesting in THAT were it not for the fact that while Googling Lt. Gen. William J. Donahue, USAF (retired) and 1st Class William Donahue of the 1st Communications Squadron, Langley AFB, I kept coming across stories about cyberattacks on US military systems.
So my furry little ears definitely pricked up when I tripped over this piece at RumorMillNews that attempts to link together the whole Barksdale nukes fiasco and cyberwar.
Where it REALLY gets interesting is this theory about how the reported disappearance of Steve Fossett is connected.
Now where was I? Oh yeah, that flurry of deaths involving US military personnel based at Minot.
Another to fall prey to the "Minot jinx", John Frueh died in July. Was he a B-52 pilot? Was he a Captain? Was he a "combat weatherman"? Officialy, he was a Major-Select and was assigned to Special Operations Command. Some are writing that he was part of the security detail for nuclear bombers. He was apparently, "...last seen April 29th (28 hours before his last phone call) heading out for a walk with a GPS, camera and camcorder." He apparently shot himself dead near his rental car.
So let me get this right. He flew all the way across the USA to attend the wedding of a friend. He went out for a walk with a GPS, camera and camcorder. He then decided to kill himself?
People better at this game than I have their own takes.
Looks like Chuck Simpson of The Geronimo Manifesto is paying close attention, too.
What worries me is that I have long understood that were a nuclear device to detonate in the USA, technology would allow other nations and NGOs to determine whose device it actually was, making it nearly impossible for the kind of false-flag operation being bandied about by conspiracy theorists to be a reality. Apparently, I was wrong and it would not necessarily be possible to know whose nuke went off.
There's one thing that's still bugging me, though. Would somebody PLEASE tell me how the death of Congressman Paul Gillmor fits into all of this?
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