Clipmarks | Structures Clips

The World's Oldest Temple - 12,000 year-old Gobekli Tepe

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:51:24 GMT

clipped by: invictus
clipper's remarks: From Archaeology Magazine's November/December 2008 issue...

The press here is fond of calling the site "the Turkish Stonehenge," but the comparison hardly does justice to this 25-acre arrangement of at least seven stone circles. The first structures at Göbekli Tepe were built as early as 10,000 B.C., predating their famous British counterpart by about 7,000 years.

Clip Source: www.archaeology.org

The oldest man-made place of worship yet discovered, Göbekli Tepe is "one of the most important monuments in the world," says Hassan Karabulut, associate curator of the nearby Urfa Museum. He and archaeologist Zerrin Ekdogan of the Turkish Ministry of Culture guide me around the site. Their enthusiasm for the ancient temple is palpable.

Before the discovery of Göbekli Tepe, archaeologists believed that societies in the early Neolithic were organized into small bands of hunter-gatherers and that the first complex religious practices were developed by groups that had already mastered agriculture. Scholars thought that the earliest monumental architecture was possible only after agriculture provided Neolithic people with food surpluses, freeing them from a constant focus on day-to-day survival. A site of unbelievable artistry and intricate detail, Göbekli Tepe has turned this theory on its head.

Tags: gobekli tepe, turkey, prehistory, neolithic, archaeology, science

The Sun

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:29:17 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman
clipper's remarks: Go to the site for jaw-dropping hi-res, an animation that won't clip and detailed captions.

Clip Source: www.boston.com

The Sun is now in the quietest phase of its 11-year activity cycle, the solar minumum - in fact, it has been unusually quiet this year - with over 200 days so far with no observed sunspots. The solar wind has also dropped to its lowest levels in 50 years. Scientists are unsure of the significance of this unusual calm, but are continually monitoring our closest star with an array of telescopes and satellites. Seen below are some recent images of the Sun in more active times

Detailed closeup of magnetic structures on the Sun's surface, seen in the H-alpha wavelength

NASA's STEREO satellite captured the first images ever of a collision between a solar "hurricane", called a coronal mass ejection (CME), and a comet

Image of an active solar region

The total solar eclipse of February 16, 198

Venus is seen by NASA's TRACE satellite, at the start of its transit across the sun

a sunspot

Solar flares produce seismic waves

An animation of the sun

a massive solar flare

false-color, 3-layer composite

FINANCIAL WIZZARDS- MAGIC MONEY

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:37:20 GMT

clipped by: klippety
clipper's remarks: ....and poof.... money appeared....and disappeared

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

The Rise of the Machines

“BEWARE of geeks bearing formulas.” So saith Warren Buffett, the Wizard of Omaha. Words to bear in mind as we bail out banks and buy up mortgages and tweak interest rates and nothing, nothing seems to make any difference on Wall Street or Main Street. Years ago, Mr. Buffett called derivatives “weapons of financial mass destruction” — an apt metaphor considering that the Manhattan Project’s math and physics geeks bearing formulas brought us the original weapon of mass destruction, at Trinity in New Mexico on July 16, 1945.

The Wall Street geeks, the quantitative analysts (“quants”) and masters of “algo trading” probably felt the same irresistible lure of “illimitable power” when they discovered “evolutionary algorithms” that allowed them to create vast empires of wealth by deriving the dependence structures of portfolio credit derivatives.

— poof! — created $62 trillion in imaginary wealth.

silverback males of the financial world, Ben Bernanke and Henry Paulson

Gestalt Psychology

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:58:02 GMT

clipped by: horuseye
clipper's remarks: allied to function

Clip Source: larouchepac.com

Christian von Ehrenfels in Prague, a psychologist who is currently flourishing, has pointed out, on the basis of study of the psychological life of the individual, a lawful, spatial manifestation in this domain, of phenomena which have long stood outside of scientific work. He has shown the necessity of recognizing certain geometric gestalts, or structures for visual space, for tonal melody and other similar types of phenomena spatially and temporally connected with the structure of the identifiable cognitive apparatus. These notions of psychological gestalts were extended to phenomena of zoopsychology and physics by Berlin professor Wolfgang Köhler. They led to a new scientific expression of physical space and to an entirely new current in philosophy, studying the laws of cognition -- to "Gestalt Psychology."

city beneath the mounds

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:31:37 GMT

clipped by: doodleicious

Clip Source: www.archaeology.org

City Beneath the Mounds

The trio of massive earthen mounds rising from the banks of north Georgia's winding Etowah River are monuments of a great prehistoric North American culture. The tallest, which stands higher than a six-story building above the surrounding grassy plain, is one of the largest structures ever built by the Mississippian societies that dominated much of the land from eastern Oklahoma to northern Florida from about A.D. 1000 to 1500. At Etowah, as at other Mississippian sites, the mounds were used for a variety of purposes: platforms for buildings, stages for ceremonial events, and cemeteries for the communities' elite.

Recession? Depression? How Deep, How Far?

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:53:00 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: A survey of what some of the best thinkers believe we're facing in the coming months and years -- and the best ways to prevent complete disaster.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

Recession? Depression? How Deep, How Far and What Can Be Done?

The question on most people's minds is just how far and deep the fallout from the crisis will go. Are we looking at the kind of recessions we've seen -- and survived -- in the early 1980s, early 1990s and at the beginning of this century, or are we staring into an abyss that will be far more painful, one that will profoundly transform our lifestyles?

There's no definitive answer. We're in uncharted waters, and anyone who says they know what will transpire in the next few years is selling snake oil. But some deep thinkers who have a solid command of the structures of the global economy can help us understand the best- and worst-case scenarios

a number of leading experts

all highly respected in their field --

get their reads on the possible impacts of the financial sector's meltdown, the likelihood of the recent bailout having the desired effect and where we might go from here.

Gecko-grip material aims to be the end of glue

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:47:18 GMT

clipped by: A53GG4

Clip Source: technology.newscientist.com

Gecko-grip material aims to be the end of glue

19:00 09 October 2008
NewScientist.com news service
Jessica Griggs

A close of up the structures on a gecko's foot, compared with the nanotubes that make up a synthetic mimic that is even stickier than the real thing (Image: Science)

Geckos have long inspired scientists and super-hero fans alike with their ability to scamper up vertical walls and cling to ceilings with a single toe. In recent years, people have attempted to create materials that match those spectacular abilities, in the hope of creating new advanced adhesives, or even car braking systems.

Now US chemists claim to have made one based on nanotubes that it is 10 times stickier than some gecko feet. Even more impressively, like a real gecko foot, it can also be easily unstuck with a tug in the right direction.

The new material was tested for stickiness on surfaces ranging from Teflon to sandpaper.

Tags: science

Ancient Peru pyramid spotted by satellite

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:53 GMT

clipped by: A53GG4

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

Ancient Peru pyramid spotted by satellite

New remote-sensing technology reveals huge structure beneath surface

In this satellite image, the white arrows show the buried pyramid and the black arrows other structures which have yet to be investigated.

By Rossella Lorenzi

updated 1:33 a.m. ET, Mon., Oct. 6, 2008

A new remote sensing technology has peeled away layers of mud and rock near Peru's Cahuachi desert to reveal an ancient adobe pyramid, Italian researchers announced on Friday at a satellite imagery conference in Rome.

Nicola Masini and Rosa Lasaponara of Italy's National Research Council (CNR) discovered the pyramid by analyzing images from the satellite Quickbird, which they used to penetrate the Peruvian soil.

The researchers investigated a test area along the river Nazca. Covered by plants and grass, it was about a mile away from Cahuachi's archaeological site, which contains the remains of what is believed to be the world's biggest mud city.

Tags: archaeology

Secrets of the Human Body

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:07:05 GMT

clipped by: ninadalton
clipper's remarks: Part 2

Clip Source: greensboring.com

4. Feel no pain!

German researchers have discovered that coughing during an injection can lessen the pain of the needle stick. According to Taras Usichenko, author of a study on the phenomenon, the trick causes a sudden, temporary rise in pressure in the chest and spinal canal, inhibiting the pain-conducting structures of the spinal cord.

5. Clear your stuffed nose!

Forget Sudafed. An easier, quicker, and cheaper way to relieve sinus pressure is by alternately thrusting your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then pressing between your eyebrows with one finger. This causes the vomer bone, which runs through the nasal passages to the mouth, to rock back and forth, says Lisa DeStefano, D.O., an assistant professor at the Michigan State University college of osteopathic medicine. The motion loosens congestion; after 20 seconds, you'll feel your sinuses start to drain.

What Makes Your Blood Type Different?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:50:56 GMT

clipped by: joejoepmc
clipper's remarks: The presence or lack of additional monosaccharides in the oligosaccharide chain determines your blood type...

I would guess you could say this is rather important.

Make sure you are getting enough glyconutrients which are a combination of these plant saccharides or your health may suffer inexplicably.

Clip Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Figure 11.17.

Structures of A, B, and O Oligosaccharide Antigens.

Abbreviations: Fuc, fucose; Gal, galactose; GalNAc, N-acetylgalactosamine; GlcNAc, N-acetylglucosamine.

Tags: science, health, wellness

SA unions blast attempt to split ANC

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:48:15 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: "We believe that it would have been possible to resolve differences within the structures of the ANC if there was a genuine will to debate the issues in good faith," Sadtu said in a statement.

"We suspect, however, that the decision to exit the ANC was taken long ago, and that the recent pronouncements of Comrade Lekota amount to a publicity stunt to drum up interest in the splinter grouping.

"Sadtu leadership is confident that our 235 000 members will not be misled by the lies of the disgruntled elements represented by Lekota."

"These elements have cut themselves off from the democratic traditions of the ANC," the union said.

Clip Source: news.iafrica.com

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota' s announcement on Wednesday of a potential split in the party was a publicity stunt aimed at drumming up support for the launch of a new party.

"The ultimatum served on the ANC or what Terror Lekota calls 'serving the divorce papers' is not genuine... this is a publicity stunt," spokesperson Patrick Craven said.

He said Lekota and his followers had a "blind loyalty" to former president Thabo Mbeki and people should not be misled by the "misinformation and lies that people were being purged".

Clip Source: news.iafrica.com

Former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota is seen addressing the media during a news conference in Johannesburg, Wednesday, 8 October 2008 where he indicated that he would call for a public convention to discuss the ANC\'s current deviation from party principles. Sapa

The SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) is saddened by former defense minister Mosiuoa Lekota's stance "to lead a splinter grouping from the ANC",

Tags: south africa, lekota, anc, sa unions

Solo Practice - Lower Overhead, Higher Flexibility

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:54:58 GMT

clipped by: lilyhill

Clip Source: susancartierliebel.typepad.com

The only way to do this effectively (and I know the horse is already dead but I'll keep beating it anyway) is overhead. The more you can reduce your overhead while delivering services through effective use of technology, the more you have the flexibility to accommodate your clients while still turning a profit with creative pricing structures (as the law permits).

Obama says McCain erratic in financial crisis

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:25:13 GMT

clipped by: keeth

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Obama says McCain erratic in financial crisis

The Associated Press

Published: October 5, 2008

WASHINGTON: Democrat Barack Obama, fighting off new character attacks from his Republican opponent, said on Sunday that John McCain behaved erratically as American financial structures teetered under the mounting burden of bad debt.

Palin's comments dredged up Obama's association with a former 1960s radical, William Ayers, a founders of the Weather Underground. Its members took credit for bombings, including nonfatal explosions at the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol during the Vietnam War era. Obama was a child when the group was active and has denounced Ayers' radical views and activities.

Obama and Ayers live in the same Chicago neighborhood, served on a charity board together and had a fleeting political connection, but there is no evidence that they ever palled around. And it is not true they were associated while Ayers was committing terrorist acts.

Tags: obama, mccain, erratic, financial, crisis

Ancient Peru pyramid spotted by satellite

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:29:50 GMT

clipped by: infopunk

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

Infrared and multispectral images reveal 9,000-square-mile structure

In this satellite image, the white arrows show the buried pyramid and the black arrows other structures which have yet to be investigated.

"We know that many buildings are still buried under Cahuachi's sands, but until now, it was almost impossible to exactly locate them and detect their shape from an aerial view," Masini told Discovery News. "The biggest problem was the very low contrast between adobe, which is sun-dried earth, and the background subsoil."

Cahuachi is the best-known site of the Nazca civilization, which flourished in Peru between the first century B.C. and the fifth century A.D. and slid into oblivion by the time the Inca Empire rose to dominate the Andes.

Between 300 and 350 A.D., two natural disasters — a powerful flood and a devastating earthquake — hit Cahuachi. The site lost its sacred power to the Nazca, who then abandoned the area.

they sealed all monuments and buried them under the desert sand.

Tags: peru, archaeology

Genome@home

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:06:10 GMT

clipped by: milmufmas

Clip Source: www.stanford.edu

The Human Genome Project is nearing completion, and scientists are working hard to develop the understanding needed to use this wealth of genetic information in ways that will be significant to medicine and humankind

partner project, Folding@home, is striving to understand how existing proteins attain their specific, functional three-dimensional structures. The goal of Genome@home is to design new genes that can form working proteins in the cell. Genome@home uses a computer algorithm (SPA)

How you can help

running the Genome@home protein sequence design client, you can lend us your computer while you're not using it

A day or two's worth of running Genome@home is enough to design new protein sequences that the world has never seen before. All the sequences get added to the Genome@home database, so every little bit helps.