Monthly Archives: July 2011

Saturday picture show

Posted on 30 July 2011 by

Yes, it’s real.

Posted in tech, video | 13 Comments

National Geographic on the veranda

Posted on 29 July 2011 by

A few days ago a new spider appeared on my veranda, with a web strung across my succulent pot. I’d never seen anything quite like it. She had vertical stripes of silk woven above and below the center section of … Continue reading →

Posted in life | 11 Comments

It’s enough to make a photographer cry

Posted on 28 July 2011 by

On 8 June I posted the fabulous NASA photo of Endeavor docked to the International Space Station — the last such image that would ever be taken. Today I learned the dark side of that photo: the Nikon that took … Continue reading →

Posted in science, tech | 3 Comments

That figures

Posted on 27 July 2011 by

Wired.com recently interviewed Carolyn Porco, director of NASA’s Cassini project, which has returned such fascinating results from Saturn’s rings and moons. The interview got interesting when Wired.com asked Dr. Porco which moon she would bet on for extraterrestrial life. Wired.com: … Continue reading →

Posted in science | 11 Comments

Geekiest anniversary gift ever

Posted on 26 July 2011 by

Geeks around the world, watch and learn: After one commenter asked, “What did your wife think of it?” the original poster replied, “She liked it. Wasn’t too happy about me clearing all her icons off her desktop but she liked … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, humor, tech | 1 Comment

Wallpaper Monday

Posted on 25 July 2011 by

In solidarity and sympathy for the people of Norway, who surely live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. If only beauty could overcome the ugliness in the hearts of evil men — what a world we would … Continue reading →

Posted in wallpaper | 4 Comments

Saturday picture show: The Shuttles

Posted on 23 July 2011 by

In celebration of the final flight of both Atlantis and the US Space Shuttle program, here are some of the best photos from the last two missions, courtesy of Astronomy Photo of the Day. (Click on each photo for more … Continue reading →

Posted in science, tech | 1 Comment

Not a tall tale

Posted on 22 July 2011 by

The story usually goes something like this: “You people in (location X) have never even seen a real storm. Why, where I come from, we get hailstones the size of tennis balls.” Residents of Vivian, South Dakota can make this … Continue reading →

Posted in event | 1 Comment

Grade inflation

Posted on 21 July 2011 by

Having been a nearly straight-A student in both high school and university (math was always my downfall), I had quite a shock when I took my first Portuguese language class at the University of Algarve and came away with a … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Portugal, USA | 11 Comments

Liking and loving

Posted on 20 July 2011 by

An email from my Swedish friend got me to thinking about the words for liking and loving. It sounds as if Swedish is quite similar to Portuguese (and probably many other European languages) in having a very strong distinction between … Continue reading →

Posted in language | 12 Comments