Cosmic Variance looks deeply at the reality of dark matter

Dataisnature picks a few Flickr Fruits

El Machete 2006 points us to an interview with Lopez Obrador in Le Monde

Use Babelfish for translation from Spanish to the language of your choice (results may be intriguingly quizzical)

Engadget looks to a very near future filled with ads…on clothes…electronically

Future Feeder tags interactive graffiti

And also from the ageless, timeless Future Feeder…will your home be beachfront property in a century? Find out at Flood Maps

Giornale Nuovo finds Faust in Prague

Improv Everywhere goes real slow at Home Depot

Jean Snow takes us by the hand to Yuki’s photos of Tokyo

K-Punk stares intently at the rotting corpse of stardom

You really just need to go to Ring My Bell…now

Ron Sims enjoys his continuing illification of China

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/8WpEPfkxsQU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"/]

Scott McLemee uncovers the truth of the Archies’ nihilistic anarchism

From Nasa’s Earth Observatory:

In the summer of 2006, the conflict between Israel and Lebanon caused an oil spill along the coast of Lebanon. Damage to the Jiyeh Power Station in mid-July 2006 spilled thousands of tons of oil into the nearby Mediterranean Sea. Continuing hostilities delayed cleanup efforts along the Lebanese coast, and evidence of the oil slick was still apparent in early August.

GeoEye’s IKONOS sensor collected these images of Beirut on August 5, 2006 (top), and December 24, 2001 (bottom). The top image shows the aftermath of the spill, where oil coats the shoreline in an opaque layer of black. Although the oil is apparent along the beach, the black-looking surface of the water should not necessarily be interpreted as an oil slick. A satellite sensor may not be directly over an area when it makes an observation; often, it views the area at an angle. IKONOS not only acquired these images at different times of year, but also from completely different angles. Notice that the buildings in the top image seem to lean strongly to the left while, in the bottom image, they appear to lean slightly upward. They also cast different shadows. Such changes in angle and lighting can make the water surface look very different.

[...]

full

Farewell My Strawberries

Mrs. Wigginfield Smythe, or, as the society page called her, The Widow W.S., was the kind of wealthy old woman who’d always been rich but never young.

She sat in an immense leather chair, stern and unforgiving, staring at me from behind a cup of tea . I knew when I was being sized up for weaknesses – this was one of those times.

She wasn’t happy and no doubt there was a good reason for it. Then again, even if there wasn’t I had the feeling she was just the right woman to find one.

“Undoubtedly Mr. Forge” she began, precisely, not a breath wasted “you’re wondering why I summoned you here.”

“Well, I’m a detective so I figured you needed someone – or something – found.”

“Quite. Your sterling reputation fashioned within my mind an image of the sort of man you’d be which is why I had my assistant phone you. I must say however that after being in your presence, I can see my preconceptions were somewhat wide of the mark.”

Nice.  The Widow wanted me to know that while I might be a clever monkey, I was still just a tool – a means to an end, no better than the pool boy or the guy who changes the light bulbs every so often. Best to keep the rabble in line.  Insults – especially of the genteel variety – make me impatient. I was ready for her to get to the point.

“Sure, sure, I get that a lot. And listen, since you haven’t told me anything I can just pick up my toys and go play elsewhere.”

“How droll you are” she said.

“No, there’s no need for you to go. I’m certain you’re the man for the job. And so, let’s get down to it, shall we?”

“Mr. Forge, years ago, my father, Abercrombie Wigginfield, made an astounding discovery while on safari in Africa: a diamond mine that contained an extraordinary type of the precious stone. When held up to light, these diamonds, or strawberries as they’re known, sparkle with a hint of the deepest red. Because my family has held exclusive rights to the only mine in the world producing these jewels and also, because we’ve maintained the strictest controls over distribution, we’ve always had, at our fingertips, a record of the location of each strawberry in circulation around the globe.”

“Impressive.  I’m guessing one of these rocks has gone missing then?”

“Yes.  But not just any ‘rock‘ as you so commonly put it but one of my own – a ring crafted for me on the direction of my late husband and presented as a gift only a few days prior to his unfortunate motor car accident.  It’s priceless Mr. Forge.  I cannot adequately express to you my eagerness to see it safely returned.”

“Have you looked everywhere?”

“What an absurd question!  Of course I’ve looked everywhere as have my most trusted servants.”

“Have you looked under your chair?”

“What the devil are you…”

“The chair you’re sitting in now…there’s a diamond ring big as the LA Times building right behind your left foot.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. That’ll be a thousand dollars.”

The End

Recently, a disturbing memo was placed on my desk by Dr. Hilarity, my orangutan assistant.

The memo’s title was as follows: Your Readers, (all 15.2 of them) Know Nothing About Science.

Sadly, I was forced to agree. Not because it’s true necessarily but because orangutans are very strong and quick to anger.

Fortunately, Momus has identified a series of educational strips that might help.

Module 8: The Brain

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/mdI_MmN-Lp4"" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"/]

I urge you to view the UK films linked below, each dealing with important scientific matters.

Later, there’ll be a quiz.

Look Around You

Module 1: Maths
Module 2: Water
Module 3: Germs
Module 4: Ghosts
Module 5: Sulphur
Module 6: Music
Module 7: Iron
Module 8: Brain

Momus points his readers towards Japanese musician Cornelius and also, towards this video. Which, as it happens, puts me in precisely (yes, precisely) the correct mood.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/AyLSazONLhE"" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"/]

“The image below is an up to date map of the solar system displaying the orbits of the terrestrial planets and the estimated position of thousands of known asteroids. This diagram is missing comets, space probes and, of course, the undiscovered asteroids. Even conservative estimates would suggest that for every asteroid on a dangerous Earth-Approaching orbit there are hundreds more which have yet to be discovered.”

“There are over 300 known objects on Earth-crossing orbits, the majority of which are potentially capable of causing death and destruction on a scale unheard of in human history.”

[...]

full at the Armagh Observatory site

Lebanon.

Death, destruction, chaos, shadowy geopolitics – the usual blood splattered muddle. Have we learned anything of lasting value? Morally, probably not. We’re stubborn creatures, we learn our lessons hard and eagerly repeat. But tactically, quite a bit has already been learned and quickly absorbed.

Armour penetration behind ERA, mm 800

Warhead types tandem hollow-charge, HE

Firing range (day/night), m: maximum 1500, min 80

Missile calibre, mm 130

Average missile speed, m/s 180

Weight, kg: missile 13.8 launcher 10.0

IR system weight (with power supply cells and bottles), kg 6.0

Operating temperature range, °C -30 … +50

Warhead tandem HEAT, thermobaric

Armor penetration, mm 850 – 900

Firing range, m:

maximum 1,500

minimum 80

Guidance semiautomatic with commands transmitted

over wire link

ERA penetration ensured

Time into and out of action, s 10 – 20

Rate of fire, rds/min 3

Weight, kg:

launcher 10.5

container with missile 13.8

Overall dimensions, mm:

missile caliber 130

container length 980

Weight of packs, kg:

№ 1 (launcher and missile/thermal sight) 25.1/18.5

№ 2 (two missiles) 28.6

The METIS-M ATGM system is designed to defeat modern armoured targets with improved protection, including those equipped with explosive reactive armour, as well as fortifications and weapon emplacements, and other pinpoint targets.

[...]

WARFARE.RU

In 1917, Franz Kafka, after breaking off his engagement with Felice Bauer for the second and final time, sat down at his writing desk and penned the following:

As usual, I doubt myself.

Perhaps there is something I could have done differently, some change in my morbid behaviors which might have averted this catastrophe. No, that’s not possible; my course is fixed, the destination certain.

Oh my Felice! How I tortured you! How patient you were with my perverse love of indecision. For years I told you I didn’t deserve your affections, your kindness. You (gently) argued with me but now, I’m sure, you’ve come around to my way of thinking; on this matter at least.

I must change. Writing brings no solace.

I see no other way out of my current state of despair – an indulgence made possible by the Olympian patience of family and friends.

My plan is simple: I will construct a time traveling robot shaped like a mountain cat found in the wilds of Pennsylvania, one of the largest American states. Using this robot cat, I will take over the world.

Why a robot? Why Pennsylvania? Why a cat?

These are mysteries – even to me.

I can tell from the shape, color and, shall I say, glow of your eyes that you are witty, intelligent and exceptionally kind.

So I’m confident you won’t laugh when I tell you that only now, after many days of thought, has it hit me that the secret to time travel isn’t to be found by staring at a coffee cup.