Clipmarks | Mohir's Pops

Some great camouflage pics

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:45:55 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: These are beautiful images, what is so catching for me is how it touches a wish to blend in, to go sometimes unnoticed...
a clipmarksless...

Clip Source: www.wonderfulworldofanimals.net

Some creatures have their own way to hide

Tags: animals, camouflage

Jerusalem's ancient walls unveiled

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:13:45 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Archaeologists in Jerusalem have given a first glimpse of what they say is a newly-exposed section of the city walls built 2,100 years ago.

Enlarge Image

Clip Source: www.antiquities.org.il

built by the Hasmonean kings and

destroyed during the Great Revolt

also the remains of a city wall from the Byzantine period (324-640 CE) which was built on top of it

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The walls were first located through tunnels by 19th Century researchers, whose beer bottles were also found.

"The fact that after 2,100 years the remains of the wall were preserved to a height of three meters is amazing," he said.

The researchers believe the walls show the ancient city's boundaries when it was at its largest, with a circumference of 6km, compared to the 4km of walling surrounding what is now the Old City.

The researchers also found a range of artefacts from before and after the Second Temple period, including female fertility figures from the early Israelites who, according to the Bible, were prohibited from worshipping idols.

Futurese- English in 3000 AD

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:13:57 GMT

clipped by: wildcat
clipper's remarks: So how far will another thousand years take it?

Clip Source: www.xibalba.demon.co.uk

Predicting the future of the English language is rather easy, in the short term. The odds are, over the next few decades its New World dialects are going to gain increasing global dominance, accelerating the demise of thousands of less fortunate languages but at long last allowing a single advertisement to reach everybody in the world. Then after a century or two of US dominance some other geopolitical grouping will gain the ascendancy, everyone will learn Chechen or Patagonian or whatever it is, and history will continue as usual. Ho hum. But apart from that... what might the language actually look like in a thousand years time? For comparison, the English spoken at the turn of the last millennium looked like this:

Wé cildra biddaþ þé, éalá láréow, þæt þú taéce ús sprecan rihte, forþám ungelaérede wé sindon, and gewæmmodlíce we sprecaþ...

We children beg you, teacher, that you should teach us to speak correctly, because we are ignorant and we speak corruptly...

Tags: language, future

Say wow! the flying jellyfish

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:49:00 GMT

clipped by: wildcat

Clip Source: airshipworld.blogspot.com

Last year Festo surprised everyone with their amazing prototype of the Air_ray a manta ray that swims through the air and the b-IONIC Airfish. We reported on it in a great post which was titled "Airships are just like fish in the sky" Festo is currently at the Hannover Messe 2008 and they brought an just as stunning new project with them. We present the Air Jelly, a jellyfish that swims through the air. Currently the information about the AirJelly is only available in German at the Festo Website but the pictures speak for them self, of course we also provide you with a direct link to the autotranslated Page in English about the AirJelly
The Video on the Website of Festo did not work for me so I uploaded it to YouTube just in case you can not see the "Flim" on the Festo website:

Tags: robotics, jellyfish

16 Websites to Super Charge Your English Vocabulary

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:35:15 GMT

clipped by: wildcat

Clip Source: www.dumblittleman.com

It won't be an exaggeration if I say that English is the language of this world. Although Mandarin (Chinese) tops the list of most widely spoken languages in the world, we know that it's English which connects people around the world. Hence it won't harm to get a deeper understanding of this ubiquitous language and work towards improving your grammar and vocabulary.

Visuwords
Visuwords is an awesome visual tool to find new words and improve your vocabulary. When you look up a word in this tool, it shows a neat graph which connects that word to various other words based on different relationships between them. You can hover over each word to get its definition and also zoom-in and zoom-out using your mouse wheel. It's certainly an excellent dictionary plus thesaurus.

Dictionary.com

Thesaurus.com

Definr

Merriam-Webstar Online

MetaGlossary

Thsrs

Wordsmith

BBC Learning English

ESL Quizzes

Ninjawords

About.com's Quizzes

Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus

AskOxford

Urban Dictionary

Alpha Dictionary

Tags: language, english, vocabulary

Bacteria-human communication

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:25:48 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: I think this double face of the pim gene, points to cellular levels where bacteria and human cell communicate and regulate co- benefitial existence.
some say that the importance of this connection goes even beyond mere protection and peaceful co existence. interesting...

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

How Friendly Bacteria Avoids Immune Attack To Live Happily In The Gut

Multicellular animals live peacefully in close contact with a multitude of microorganisms that inhabit their bodies. Humans, for example, have more microorganisms within the body than cells

with just the intestine containing up to 100 trillion microbes, a number about 10 times greater that all our cells.

Still, although we remain fully immune competent - so capable of responding to infection by pathogenic microorganisms - we do not react against these “friendly” bacteria.

But how do these two opposite immune responses against bacteria so similar exist simultaneously?

The activation of this immune pathway is triggered by peptidoglycans – sugars found on the bacterial wall – and results in the activation of a molecule called Relish

“Friendly” bacteria, on the other hand, despite containing peptidoglycans in their wall exist peacefully

The new found gene– pims

a negative regulator of the immune response

granting tolerance

Tags: biology, bacteria

Multitasking has its timings

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:12:59 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: The question, though is when will we be able to influence it?

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Multitasking Can Be Efficient At Certain Optimal Times

"We typically sacrifice efficiency when we multitask. However, there are times when we're quite good at it. Unfortunately, not much has been known about how to predict when these periods of time will occur," Leber said.

using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The research confirmed that multitasking is, on average, inefficient. However, the brain scans allowed the researchers to predict when people would be poor multitaskers and optimal multitaskers

"What is so striking about this result is that brain activity predicted multitasking performance before participants even knew whether they would be asked to switch or repeat tasks," Leber said.

"It may take more time before our research translates to real-world benefits for each of us."

according to Leber. Ideally, we should reserve task juggling for known periods of optimal multitasking

Tags: neuroscience, multitasking

No link between autism and vaccination - yet more evidence.

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:28:16 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: blogs.discovermagazine.com

a new study shows that the measles virus RNA found in the children with autism

has nothing to do with the onset of autism spectrum disorder:

The temporal order of onset of GI episodes and autism relative to timing of MMR [Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccine] administration was examined. We found no differences between case and control groups in the presence of MV [measles virus] RNA in ileum and cecum. Results were consistent across the three laboratory sites. GI symptom and autism onset were unrelated to MMR timing.

In other words, the vaccines had nothing to do with the autism. As the researchers say themselves, "This study provides strong evidence against association of autism with persistent MV RNA in the GI tract or MMR exposure."

This, of course, won’t stop the antivaxxers in their campaign to bring back measles, pertussis, and other horrors that have been kept under control by vaccines for decades

Their antiscientific views are having a real effect, as we’ve already seen,

Top 10s (inc the top ten Mysteries of the Mind)

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:38:25 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee
clipper's remarks: Top 10 Reasons for interesting happenings and things...

Clip Source: www.livescience.com

Much of what we don't understand about being human is simply in our heads. The brain is a befuddling organ, as are the very questions of life and death, consciousness, sleep, and much more. Here's a heads-up on what's known and what's not understood about your noggin. -Jeanna Bryner

Clip Source: www.livescience.com

More in Top Ten

Top 10 Battles for the Control of Iraq

Top 10 Reasons Alexander the Great Was,Well ... Great!

The Top 10 Intelligent Designs (or Creation Myths)

Mars Rovers Top Science List

Top 10 Useless Limbs (and Other Vestigial Organs)

Top 10 Beasts and Dragons: How Reality Made Myth

Top 10 Ways to Destroy Earth

Top 10 Killer Tornadoes

The bigges World Body painting Festival - Beautiful!

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:11:31 GMT

clipped by: einbar

Clip Source: freshpics.blogspot.com

World Body Painting Festival 2008 in South Korea

Daegu in South Korea is playing host to the World Bodypainting Festival, it's the largest bodypainting event on the planet.

The main festival is held every year in Seeboden, Austria, but expanded into Asia for the first time this year with a bonus exhibition. It lasts until 31 August.

The World Bodypainting Festival is the biggest annual event of the body painting culture and community. The festival is the first of its kind in the world and has become the “Mecca of Bodypainting”. It draws over a hundred artists and models, and thousands of visitors, from all over the world every year.

[Video]

7 Writing Habits of Amazing Writers

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:48:57 GMT

clipped by: Aribeth
clipper's remarks: This extremely prolific writer has won numerous awards, including the National Book Award. She writes in longhand, and while she doesn’t have a formal schedule, she says she prefers to write in the morning, before breakfast . She’s a creative writing professor, and on the days she teaches, she says she writes for an hour or 45 minutes before leaving for her first class. On other days, when the writing is going well, she can work for hours without a break — and has breakfast at 2 or 3 in the afternoon!

Clip Source: writetodone.com

1. Stephen King. In his book On Writing, King says that he writes 10 pages a day without fail, even on holidays.

2. Ernest Hemingway. By contrast with King, “Papa” Hemingway wrote 500 words a day.

3. Vladimir Nabokov. The author of such great novels as Lolita, Pale Fire and Ada did his writing standing up, and all on index cards.

4. Truman Capote. The author of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “In Cold Blood” claimed to be a “completely horizontal author.” He said he had to write lying down, in bed or on a couch, with a cigarette and coffee.

5. Philip Roth. One of the greatest living American writers, Roth works standing up, pacing around as he thinks. He claimed to walk half a mile for every page he writes.

6. James Joyce

Joyce prided himself in taking his time with each sentence. A famous story has a friend asking Joyce in the street if he’d had a good day writing. Yes, Joyce replied happily. How much had he written? Three sentences, Joyce told him.

7. Joyce Carol Oates

13 of the Coolest Art Installations in the History of Burning Man

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:17:21 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: From spiritual enlightenment to experimental collaboration to sheer mind-tripping revelry, numerous motivations drive Burners to make the yearly pilgrimage to Black Rock City, NV. But one core principle unites them all: radical self-expression.

Read more details on site.

Clip Source: matadornights.com

Tags: art, burning man

12 Weirdest Things Ever Insured

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:09:53 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: Whiskey company Cutty Sark was offering a $1.5 million prize for capturing the mythical Scottish lake inhabitant, the Loch Ness Monster, alive. They then took out home insurance against paying this prize, just in case someone actually did capture it alive.

During the 1930s, then 13 year old Harvey Lowe insured his hands for $150,000, which was a large sum of money at the time. Harvey was the Yo-Yo World Champion of that era, having been playing since he was 12. He is still yo-yoing and filling up his current account to this day.

Clip Source: blog.knowyourmoney.co.uk

Hollywood actress Betty Grable had her legs insured by 20^th Century Fox for $1 million per leg

TV game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” is insured – again by Lloyds of London – against having to pay major cash prizes.

It’s even possible to take out insurance against being abducted by aliens.

Insurance companies are apparently willing to pay out somewhere in the region of $10-$20 millio

Employers in the UK can be insured against two or more staff leaving work permanently due to winning the national lottery.

Lloyds have also insured a cigar which is twelve and a half feet long, and is the world’s largest.

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has had the middle finger of his left hand insured for $1.6 million.

Australian cricketer Merv Hughes had his trademark walrus moustache insured for £200,000 (around $400,000).

Singer Bruce Springsteen insured his own voice for the tune of $6 million.

Tags: absurd

10 Most Expensive Paintings in the World

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:55:51 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver

Clip Source: blog.knowyourmoney.co.uk

10. $78,100,000. Pierre-August Renoir – Le Moulin de la Galette.

9. $80,000,000. Jasper Johns – False Start.

8. $82,500,000. Vincent van Gogh – Portrait of Dr. Gachet.

7. $86,300,000. Francis Bacon – Triptych, 1976.

6. $87,900,000. Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II.

5. $95,200,000. Pablo Picasso – Dora Maar au Chat.

4. $104,200,000. Pablo Picasso – Garçon à la pipe.

3. $135,000,000. Gustav Klimt – Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.

2. $137,500,000. Willem de Kooning – Woman III

1. $140,000,000. Jackson Pollock – No.5, 1948. It is claimed by the New York Times that this painting was sold by David Geffen (of Geffen Records), to David Martinez (managing partner of Fintech Advisory). However, a press release issued on behalf of Martinez states that he didn’t actually purchase the painting. So the truth is shrouded in mystery, and it can only be rumored to have sold for a record-breaking $140 million.

Tags: art

Energy Ball brings a quiet wind turbine to your roof

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:51:49 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver

Clip Source: dvice.com

Looking for a small, quiet wind turbine to stick on your roof and generate free energy for you whenever there's a breeze? Take a look at the Energy Ball. A small, beautifully designed turbine, it'll generate more energy than any other personal turbine while remaining whisper quiet.

The spherical Energy Ball takes advantage of the Venturi Effect, something that measures the pressure created when water moves through a contained space. By taking that principle into effect, the Energy Ball is able to bring extra efficiency to the table that allows it to generate energy even with very slow wind speeds. What are you waiting for? We're talking free energy here!

Tags: environment, clean energy