We are awash in chemicals and have only the faintest idea how they’re affecting us.
(h/t Huffington Post)
Check It Out
Links to cool places or things.
There are 1,530 posts filed in Check It Out (this is page 148 of 153).
Toy Blimp Attracts Chicks!
I’ve been looking into aerial photography platforms lately as part of a special project. Google served up this page on an RC blimp which I found thoroughly entertaining. Under the uses for this stuff, you’ve got this list:
IDEAS WITH THIS TOY!!! GRADUATION CEREMONY, SPY ON STUFFS, INDOOR FUN, ADVERTISEMENT, ATTRACT CHICKS, TRADE SHOWS, MARKETING, JUST ABOUT ANYTHING!!!
I don’t see anyone “attracting chicks” whilst playing with a toy blimp. On the other hand, there might be some “chicks” out there who are, for some reason, attracted to toy blimps.
Me, I just want to be able to take cool aerial photos, preferably without having to get a pilot’s license. Attracting chicks is only secondary, I swear.
The Other Potter: Beatrix
Every now and then you run into a movie that just seems perfect. Friday night, Kelly and I watched just such a movie. So good that I’m actually dreading the next NetFlix delivery – whatever it is it couldn’t possibly measure up. Our movie was Miss Potter, a biographic film starring Renee Zegweller and Ewan McGregor about Beatrix Potter, the extraordinarily talented author and illustrator of the most popular children’s books of all time, including the famous Tale of Peter Rabbit.
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Most Dangerous Jobs
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report of the country’s most dangerous jobs, this one covering 2005. Number two on the list of dangerous occupations is – get this – blogging! Yes, it seems bloggers had another tough year, where carelessness caused many preventable deaths. Tragic, really, when you think
… huh? Whazzat? It’s logging?
Ahem.
See the report for yourself straight from the horse’s mouth: the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries [PDF, or HTML], or take CNN Money’s word for it. And stay safe out there!
Virgin America Arrives
…but not here. Yet.
You’ve probably heard the news of Wednesday’s inaugural flight of Virgin America, the geek-friendliest airline to date. With an in-flight entertainment system built around Linux, onboard wireless Internet, and power plugs at every seat, Virgin America appeals to geek customers like me.
Right now they fly between San Francisco and New York’s JFK airport, but will soon be adding more cities to their schedule. Wouldn’t be great if Virgin America came to Raleigh and offered our first Raleigh-San Francisco nonstop flight?
I signed up for Virgin America’s frequent flier program, eleVAte, with the hopes that if Virgin America sees many members in North Carolina, they might be willing to consider serving us. You can help, too! Go to the sign-up page and get yourself an eleVAte membership. Let’s bring the “Geek Airline” to the Triangle!
Track The Space Shuttle With Google Earth
I am constantly amazed at the uses people dream up for Google Earth, like using it to track the space shuttle and the ISS. I’m not getting any altitude information in mine, but cool nontheless.
NASA makes the shuttle’s orbital elements available on their website, too, which is what this script uses. Pretty cool stuff.
Bonus: Here’s a page which tracks it with Google Maps and AJAX.
W4OTN/blog On The Air
Glad to find out today by way of Planet Trilug that my friend and fellow ham Eric Christensen is on the air with his own blog.
I’ve worked a few Tour De Cure volunteer events with Eric and have great respect for him. It takes a lot of concentration and professionalism to keep an event like the TDC on track and Eric has lots of both.
His blog should be interesting. Welcome to the blogosphere, Eric!
(73, Mark N4JMT)
Fake Steve Jobs Revealed
Fake Steve Jobs, the hilarious anonymous blogger poking fun at Steve Jobs’s persona, has revealed himself to be Dan Lyons, senior editor of Forbes.
“I was hoping to stay anonymous for a while longer but on the other hand I knew I couldn’t stay anonymous forever. It had to happen at some point,” Lyons said.
“I hope that it doesn’t ruin the fun of the blog that people know who’s behind it.”
I bet the blog stays just as popular. Dan Lyons is a genius!
(h/t Mike B.)
San Juan Island Community Radio
Looks like the locals are working together to get their own low-power radio station on San Juan Island. The San Juan Island Community Radio project has recently been approved for non-profit status and will soon be applying to the FCC for its transmitter.
I think the islands are perfect for a community radio station, as the geography (among other things) naturally creates issues of interest only to its residents. I hope they get what they need and get their station on the air. Hopefully I’ll be tuning them in the next time we visit.
If you’ve got some experience with community radio, why not send them a line and offer some help?
5Min – Video How-tos for Just About Anything!
I’ve always thought that the video craze that Youtube and others started would be great for teaching people things. You know, stuff that might not be flashy enough for regular TV. Looks like I found just such a resource this morning in 5min.
5min bills itself as a “life videopedia,” offering Flash videos showing you how to do almost anything. From guitar lessons to skiing to fixing your computer, you can find it on 5min.
I wish I’d thought of it done it myself!