We still don’t know, landings on the surface of the Red Planet notwithstanding.

“On June 19, 1976, after a 10-month trip from the Earth to Mars, the first Viking spacecraft, a combined orbiter and lander, fired its engines for thirty-eight minutes and entered orbit around Mars,” says Space.

But America’s interest began long before then.

“Here’s a 1924 telegram (right) from then Chief of U.S. Naval Operations, Edward W. Eberle, instructing all Naval stations to monitor the airwaves for any unusual transmissions due to anticipated contact from Martians,” says Letters of Note, going on,

“August 22nd of that year was witness to the closest Mars opposition since 1804 (a mere 55,777,566 km), and as such provided desirable conditions in which to receive radio signals from the Red Planet. The man tasked with clearing the airwaves — a Professor David Todd — somehow managed to persuade both the Army and Navy to report any findings for a three day period, but failed to silence the country’s private radio broadcasters for even two days. Needless to say, the three day exercise produced nothing but static.”

Here’s the text, as trabscribed by Letters of Note:

WASHINGTON-ALASKA MILITARY CABLE AND TELEGRAPH SYSTEM
TELEGRAM

RECEIVED AT 1308 1ST AVENUE, SEATTLE, WASH.

18RD B 78 GOVT DUPE

RD PUGETSOUND WN AUG 22 1924

GOVT COMDT 13 NAV DIST

SEATTLE WN

7021 ALNAVSTA EIGHT NAVY DESIRES COOPERATE ASTRONOMERS WHO BELIEVE POSSIBLE THAT MARS MAY ATTEMPT COMMUNICATION BY RADIO WAVES WITH THIS PLANET WHILE THEY ARE NEAR TOGETHER THIS END ALL SHORE RADIO STATIONS WILL ESPECIALLY NOTE AND REPORT ANY ELECTRICAL PHENOMENON UNUSUAL CHARACTER AND WILL COVER AS WIDE BAND FREQUENCIES AS POSSIBLE FROM 2400 AUGUST TWENTY FIRST TO 2400 AUGUST TWENTY FOURTH WITHOUT INTERFERRING WITH TRAFFIC 1800

SECNAV WASHN DC

257P

Now you know.

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Space – Viking: The First Landing, July 20, 2001
Letters of Note – Prepare for Contact, November 6, 2009

(Cheers, Megan ; ) )

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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi

October, 2009

So it it’s pure joy to be able to tell you about a family here in British Columbia who believe — truly believe — it’s better to give than receive.

They have a site called Guerrilla Giving which represents “one family’s adventure in philanthropy.”

“We are a family of four — my wife,  two boys and myself,” says Dad, going on »»»

We have a modest income that is sufficient for our needs (most months).  We live in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

What?

Guerrilla Giving is (r)evolutionary–at least it feels that way for us.

Revolutionary because in today’s world, freely giving of our own resources on a mostly daily basis subverts many of our silent agreements (e.g. capital equals security, give as a tax write off, save for a rainy day, etc.).  It calls into question our ego’s insatiable appetite for self-gratification.  It lifts our sights to a higher vision.

Evolutionary, because Guerrilla Giving emboldens us to step into a current of grace that draws us forward as a global community.  It opens our hearts and hands to each other, especially to the stranger.  It employs a model of trust in the benevolent spirit of life.

As such, Guerrilla Giving is, in truth, a kind of guerrilla marketing for a life of connection—between ourselves, our neighbours, and the transcendent (God, Universe, Spirit, whatever name you choose).  There are, of course, countless ways that people nurture their spirituality, whether it’s through yoga, meditation, prayer, or commitment to a spiritual community.  All of these are fantastic.  We have also found that giving on a (mostly) daily basis is one of the most exhilarating disciplines to teach non-attachment (for me–a daily struggle) and the interdependence of all of life.

When and How Much?

Just as we are blessed in innumerable ways each day, our plan is to give on a daily basis whenever possible.   For a year (a lifetime?), we’re committed to giving away 10% of our annual gross income in daily increments to mostly random recipients.  We have had experience with tithing in the past (10% traditionally)  but it was often done as an after-thought, at the end of the month or at the end of the year–written as a cheque or dropped in an offering bowl.  Giving like that was rarely joyful for us.  Guerrilla Giving, on the other hand, is fun, adventurous, and immediate.

Do we have any second thoughts, doubts, fears, anxiety about all of this?  Absolutely.  We’ll share some of these thoughts as we go along–but go along we will.

Where?

Wherever the Spirit leads.  The gifts will often be money–randomly planted in places throughout the city.  Other times, gifts will be things (food, clothes, flowers etc.) given usually to random people.  Finally, some monetary gifts will be given to underappreciated (usually out-of-pocket) organizations, groups, movements, individuals whose mission resonates with our own values and who could use a bit of help–not only financially but also with the raised profile this blog may provide them.

Why?

Good question.  I’ll write a post sometime soon about how this “calling” came upon us.  But that’s what it feels like–a call.  A call to trust.  A call to risk.  A call to adventure.   AND, it’s a ton of fun!

The truth is that few other things give us as much joy in life as giving does and we want to enter more fully and intentionally into that joy.  We don’t need to be rich to be philanthropists.  Giving is something to be enjoyed by everyone regardless of income, class, or status.  Just as we breathe in and  breathe out, we were made not only to receive but to give.  And here’s the thing–giving is always the more rewarding of the two.

Now you know how …

Cheers!
Jon

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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi

October, 2009

And now the Copyright Wars have entered interesting new dimentions.

“They said that Joseph Smith had a faulty revelation in 1830,” says the Mormon Times “They said the revelation proclaimed that the copyright to the Book of Mormon would be sold in Canada. They said the revelation was a failure and that Joseph was a fallen prophet. And, best of all, there was no copy of the revelation for anybody to check against their story.”

It goes on,  “This all changed on Sept. 22 with the publication of the latest volume of the Joseph Smith Papers: ‘Revelations and Translations: Manuscript Revelation Books.’ For more than 160 years, there was only one side of the story.”

But now  a, “Text of revelation about securing Book of Mormon copyright” has turned up, it says a second Mormon Times post,  giving chapter and verse on a “revelation given to Oliver Cowdery, Hiram Page, Josiah Stowell and Joseph Knight,” including »»»

And I have covenanted with my servant Joseph, that earth nor hell combined against him shall not take the blessing out of his hands; which I have prepared for him, if he walketh uprightly before me — neither the spiritual nor the temporal blessing;

And behold I also covenanted with those who have assisted him in my work that I will do unto them even the same, because they have done that which is pleasing in my sight (yea even all, save it be one* only).

Wherefore be diligent in securing the copyright of my work upon all the face of the earth of which is known by you, unto my servant Joseph, and unto him whom he willeth, according as I shall command him;

That the faithful and the righteous may retain the temporal blessing as well as the spiritual,

And also that my work be not destroyed by the workers of iniquity to their own destruction and damnation when they are fully ripe.

And now, behold I say unto you, that I have covenanted and it pleaseth me that Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Knight, Hiram Page, and Josiah Stowell shall do my work in this thing, yea, even in securing the copyright;

And they shall do it with an eye single to my glory, that it may be the means of bringing souls unto salvation through mine Only Begotten.

Behold I am God. I have spoken it.

Wherefore, I say unto you that ye shall go to Kingston,** seeking me continually through mine Only Begotten, and if ye do this ye shall have my spirit to go with you and ye shall have an addition of all things which is expedient in me. (Amen.)***

And I grant unto my servant a privilege that he may sell a copyright through you — speaking after the manner of men — for the four provinces if the people harden not their hearts against the enticings of my spirit and my word;

For behold, it lieth in themselves to their condemnation or to their salvation.
Behold my way is before you, and the means I will prepare, and the blessing I hold in mine own hand, and if ye are faithful, I will pour out upon you even as much as ye are able to bear, and thus it shall be.

Now you know.

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Mormon Times – Newly found revelation of Joseph Smith, October 16, 2009
Mormon Times – Text of revelation about securing Book of Mormon copyright, October 16, 2009

“Sweet Polly Purebred?!”

Eric’s question comes under the story about  Marge Simpson on the Playboy cover.

Yes. Well, Hugh is getting on in years …

Anyway,”It’s my understanding that some fellow cartoon characters are less than thrilled with Marge doing Playboy,” says Eric, including this link http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/ which takes us to J.D. Rourke’s blog where we find

Dear Hugh,

Why is Marge Simpson of The Simpsons on your November cover, sir?  You do understand Marge isn’t actually real, right?  True, neither is a fair amount of Heidi Montag or Chyna, but at least some of their “girl-parts” are authentic.  But honestly, Marge Simpson is a cartoon, plain and simple!  Like Scooby-Doo or Barney Frank, but without the jowls.

Maybe you’re light-headed, Hef, from all the peroxide fumes and Viagra, but choosing a female cartoon character for the cover of Playboy seems sacrilegious.  It makes less sense than Bill Maher or Kato Kaelin still being invited to the Mansion for parties!  Seriously, Hugh, who’s gonna be the next Playmate of the Month?  The Little Mermaid?  Stewie?!

And not to be too crude here, but what about the arousal factor, huh?  Do you have any idea how much trickier it is to masturbate to animation?  The odds of chafing go up by more than 60 percent!

Listen, the truth is, we look at Playboy to read the articles – and we get that you’ve personally been staring at hot chicks since FDR could actually walk – but we’d still like some good old fashioned skin to gaze lovingly at.  Is that really too much to ask for, Hef?

It’s signed, “Horny and irritated, Yosemite Sam, Buzz Lightyear, Shaggy, He-Man, and Doug the Dog”

Good one.

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Playboy cover – Marge Simpson: Playboy November cover girl, October 12, 2009

J.D. Rourke’s blog – Could Everyone Please Stop Pissing Me Off?, October 13, 2009

Wi-Fi X-Ray!

Researchers at the University of Utah says they’ve found  a way to image, localize, and track motion behind walls in real-time.

In other words, they say they can see through solid matter.

And they’re using WiFi to do it.

Say Joey Wilson and Neal Patwari in their abstract »»»

The method takes advantage of the motion-induced variance of received signal strength measurements made in a wireless peer-to-peer network.

Using a multipath channel model, we show that the signal strength on a wireless link is largely dependent on the power contained in multipath components that travel through space containing moving objects.

A statistical model relating variance to spatial locations of movement is presented and used as a framework for the estimation of a motion image.

From the motion image, the Kalman filter is applied to recursively track the coordinates of a moving target. Experimental results for a 34-node through-wall imaging and tracking system over a 780 square foot area are presented.

“In a mission-critical application, we envision a building imaging scenario similar to the following,” they say in Through-Wall Motion Tracking Using Variance-Based Radio Tomography Networks, going on »»»

Emergency responders, miltary forces, or police arrive at a scene where entry into a building is potentially dangerous. They deploy radio sensors around (and potentially on top of) the building area, either by throwing or launching them, or dropping them while moving around the building. The nodes immediately form a network and self-localize, perhaps using information about the size and shape of the building from a database (e.g., Google maps) and some known-location coordinates (e.g., using GPS).

Then, nodes begin to transmit, making signal strength measurements on links which cross the building or area of interest. The RSS measurements of each link are transmitted back to a base station and used to estimate the positions of moving people and objects within the building.

Now you know.

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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi

October, 2009

It’s faster than a speeding train, faster than a bullet —- a lot faster.

Scientists in Bell Labs, the research arm of France’s Alcatel-Lucent, have set a new optical transmission record of more than 100 Petabits per second.

That’s equal to 100 million gigs per second.kilometer.

Just think how many movies and music albums you’d be able to transfer.

“This transmission experiment involved sending the equivalent of 400 DVDs per second over 7,000 kilometers, roughly the distance between Paris and Chicago,” says the company, going on:

“The transmissions were accomplished over a network whose repeaters, devices used to sustain optical signal strength over long distances, were spaced 90 kilometers apart. This spacing distance is 20% greater than that commonly maintained in such networks. The challenge of maintaining transmission over these distances was significantly heightened in these experiments because of the noise -perturbation of signals- that is introduced as transmission speeds increase.”

The researchers also increased capacity, “by interfacing advanced digital signal processors with coherent detection, a new technology that makes it possible to acquire details for a greater number of properties of light than the direct detection method commonly applied in today’s systems,” says the story, adding:

“Using this technique the researchers were able to effectively increase capacity by increasing the number of light sources introduced into a single fiber yet still separate the light into its constituent colors when it reached its destination.”

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Alcatel-Lucent – Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs announces new optical transmission record and breaks 100 Petabit per second kilometer barrier, September 28, 2009

Which is why he can afford to pay the Russians $35 million for a journey into space.

Early this morning, he blasted of from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a rocket-powered trip to the international space station.

“I’m not a scientist,” Russia Today had him saying recently.

“I’m not a professional cosmonaut and astronaut. What I’m bringing up there is what I am. And what I am is an artist, I’m creative and I think I’m a person with a pretty high spirit.

“So I’m going to crack jokes on these guys while they’re sleeping, tickling them.”

A Russian Soyuz rocket is currently on its way en route to the station where Laliberté will live for nine days.

However, although he’s lucky enough, and rich enough, to be able to embark on this kind of adventure, there’s a more serious side to it.

Laliberté is also a philanthropist who in 2007  created the One Drop foundation to ensure everyone has access to water.

On the foundation web site, “When I founded ONE DROP, it was (or rather, it still is) desperately urgent to do something to protect water,” he blogged on Monday, going on »»»

Our objectives target action on the ground, educational projects (such as AQUA, which several cities have expressed an interest in) and raising awareness.

I could have done all that in traditional philanthropic ways or even step by step as we did with Cirque du Soleil, but we don’t have 25 years to save the cause of water! And besides, I wanted a different sort of foundation, something that sets us apart and incorporates art. ONE DROP is already acting in practical terms, but in the project of going into space, I saw an innovative opportunity, reflecting the image of Cirque du Soleil and my own image, too. Of course there is an element of risk, but that’s in my nature—and taking risks is an integral part of my company’s culture as well.

Right from the start, I knew that such a project wouldn’t get unanimous support, but I was willing to take the chance. And anyhow, I wanted to go into space! The stars seemed to be perfectly aligned so that I could take my gang at Cirque and ONE DROP along with me. What’s more, the international coverage we are getting at the moment seems to support the fact that it’s the right thing to do; I wouldn’t have been able to reach so many people so quickly by doing things the traditional way.

Beyond the audacity of the project, I know that this mission is upsetting some of you from an ecological point of view. I am already committed to respecting the environment in my everyday life, so of course I was worried about offsetting my carbon footprint for my flight into space.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil in the same year was just perfect timing! I make no bones about it: of course this project gives the company high visibility as an events organizer. This free, worldwide event is in step with the humanitarian journey already embarked on by Cirque du Soleil.

In fact, 1% of the company’s income goes towards helping young people: Cirque du Monde, our status as donor to La TOHU and our assistance in the St-Michel neighbourhood—not to mention our support for young artists. As far as I’m concerned, this $35 M is another investment, one that has led to interesting partnership requests for ONE DROP.

Will the end result be what we hoped for? In the short term, there are encouraging signs. In the medium and long term, we’ll have to wait and see! However, I believe that the spin-off effects will make things easier for other projects out there that support the cause of water.

Of course, it is thanks to my own financial situation that I have been able to experience such an adventure. And yes, I am also making a personal dream come true through this mission. I’m having an enriching experience with a fascinating community. And from your feedback, I am so happy to see that the drops are gathering together to create a magnificent wave!

“I don’t know how I’m going to be able to continue my blog up there,” he says, “but I’ll do my best.”

He’s planning a broadcast from the space station October 9 for the One Drop foundation.

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Russia Today – Canadian clown ready to invade space station, September 17, 2009

“Chinese artist Chen Wenling critiques the global financial crisis in What You See Might Not Be Real, on display at a Beijing gallery,” says the BBC caption to this Associated Press photo, adding:

“The bull is said to represent Wall Street, while the man pinned to the wall represents jailed financier Bernard Madoff.”

Or as the San Francisco Chronicle puts it:

“In Beijing, the sculpture ‘What You See Might Not Be Real’ by artist Chen Wenling portrays the golden bull of Wall Street goring a horned Bernie Madoff in the assets.”

The work is  part of the artist’s one-man exhibition called Emergency Exit at the JoyArt Laboratory in Beijing’s 798 Art District.

It’s on until October 11.

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September, 2009

p2pnet blogged about that in February in a post on the Emoti-Chair, a “cross-modal, audio-tactile” display chair that lets deaf or hard of hearing people to feel the vibrations of music and sound.

It was also featured in a Toronto performance in March.

Now Chris Lachine, research assistant at Ryerson University’s SMART Lab, tells us the Emoti-Chair is slated for event  in October starring it and the Array Music Ensemble.

How does it work?

It’s a, “sensory-substitution technology designed to provide greater access to music for all people,” says Ryerson’s Smart Lab, explaining  »»»

This is accomplished by converting sound into vibrotactile information that is displayed along the back. The basic design, referred to as the model human cochlea, presents discrete bands of frequency as independent points of vibration, allowing for spatiotemporal encoding of the incoming auditory signal.

The back is thus treated as a basilar membrane, complete with its own tonotopic map, oriented vertically so as to align with common conceptions of pitch height. When this dynamic vibrotactile information is accompanied by congruent visual information (from a performance or through music visualization), deaf listeners appear to experience structural and emotional aspects of music in a manner that resembles the experience of hearing listeners. The experience for hearing listeners is best described as immersive.

The performance, at the famous Music Gallery in Toronto on October 24, features six chairs and includes a world premiere of a work for solo percussion, composed and performed by Array Ensemble percussionist Rick Sacks, as well as three compositions closely associated with Array.

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music and sound - Good vibrations concert for deaf people,  February 6, 2009

Some  educational degrees are for the dogs

Just ask Chester Ludlow (right).

A pug from Vermont in the US, he was ‘awarded’ an online MBA “for life and career experience”  —- for a flat fee of $499.

His MBA came from Rochville University, an online college, says says GetEducated CEO Vicky Phillips.

GetEducated.com is a consumer advocacy group which says it reviews, rates and ranks online colleges to protect distance learners from online degree fraud.

And Chester is its mascot.

According to GetEducated, Rochville University isn’t accredited by a recognized accrediting agency and, “The ease with which the dog nabbed an MBA highlights the growing worldwide problem of online college diploma mills and degree mills, a billion dollar industry, says Phillips.

In May, Chester submitted his resume — along with $499 — to Rochville University online.

A week later, on June 5, 2009, an express packet arrived from a post office box in Dubai.

It contained Chester’s MBA diploma, two sets of college transcripts, a certificate of distinction in finance, and a certificate of membership in the student council.

The paperwork says the pug “earned” a GPA of 3.19 (for an additional $100, he could have graduated with honors).

All documents were issued in Chester’s AKC pedigree name: Chester Ludlow.

He also received a Rochville University window decal for his car although reportedly, he doesn’t drive, GetEducated adds.

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GetEducated – Dog Gets Online MBA For “Life and Career Experience”, September 23, 2009

Danes propose tunnel to Sweden – The Local, September 11, 2009

[On Saturday I usually try to do half-a-dozen or so posts, but today it’ll just be briefs. Normal service will be resumed on Monday . Cheers! Jon ]

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In the coming year they’ll install in people’s basements 100,000 gas-powered engines, similar to those in VW Golf cars, which will collectively produced some 2,000 megawatts of electricity, continues Agence France-Press.

Lichtblick and Volkswagen, “say the plants would produce not only heating and hot water but also electricity, with any excess power fed into the local grid,”" it says.

Called EcoBlue CHP, “The home power plants together form a huge, invisible power station that doesn’t make the countryside ugly or require additional infrastructure,” says a statement from the companies.

House owners would pay around $7,250 to have the generators set up, along with an appropriate heating system, says AFP, adding, “individuals would then pay a lower price for heating and receive a modest ‘rent’ for hosting the generator, as well as a bonus at the end of the year calculated on electricity revenues that resulted from Lichtblick’s sales.”

LichtBlick says the natural-gas-fired plants,. called ZuhauseKraftwerke (home power plants), reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 60 percent, “compared with conventional heat and power generation,” according to Green Car Congress.

“In the future, LichtBlick plans to operate the plants on biogas, a renewable energy source with no impact on the climate,” it says.

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Agence France-Press – Home power plants project unveiled in Germany, September 9, 2009
Green Car Congress – Volkswagen and LichtBlick Partner on Home Combined Heat and Power Systems, September 9, 2009

It’s a view of the top of a London, England, bus stop as seen from the top of a London, England, bus.

And IOHO, it’s exceeding cool.

It’s a, “city wide canvas for sharing the art of our streets, our communities, our London, our experience,” says Bus.Tops, going on »»»

Bus.Tops provides the canvas that allows London to tell its stories. These can be small, intimate stories of a neighbourhood or citywide adventures that draw us into a London we never imagined; or simply moments of beauty, wonder, questioning, critique, comment and exploration. These stories unfold on a canvas made up of networked panels of programmable LEDs situated on the roofs of bus stops across London.

As well as the canvas, Bus.Tops provides the tools and platform from which both publicly recognised artists and the public we recognise as artists are empowered to create a truly public art experience. Bus.Tops will work with established artists to create a “curated” collection of works distributed across the bus.tops canvas. These will be celebrated as being at the vanguard of artistic innovation and exploration. However these works will also be the foundation from which a new generation of authors and artists will be inspired create their first piece of public art.

The potential of Bus.Tops is only limited by the imagination of 8 million Londoners.

As a transplanted (to Canada) Londoner, I think it’s an amazing idea with huge potential.

Excellent!

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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi

September, 2009

But this time, it’s the headlines themselves

He says he’ll be producing FNWWW every Monday.

So now, without further ado »»»

• U.S. senator Legal case against God dismissed. May appeal BBC
• Website calculates odds of dying next year CBC
  
• Man leaps into river to escape wife’s nagging News AU
  
• Penis fire led to death, court told DailyTelegraph
  
• Aftershave: Smell like Captain James T Kirk DailyTelegraph
  
• Cops: man stole woman’s car on 1st date Canoe
  
• Mental patient given nails to eat Canoe
  
• Urine for humiliation, “Small Penis Alert” Canoe
  
• Model gets naked at NYC museum Canoe
  
• New Occupation, Prison consultant: Going to the big house? Let us plan your stay The Star
  
• Brazen thief robs home, returns for TV, leaves with TV while cops were there Canoe
  
• Glue: $6. Toilet paper: $8. Tape: $25. A wedding dress made from all of that: priceless Canoe
  
• Utahns can now practice DUI jail call to Mom Associoated Press
  
• Thong-Wearing Bicyclist, 55, Arrested AOL
  
• Oh, by the way, there’s a goat in my trunk MSNBC
  
• Did Mexico beat it? Fans go for ‘Thriller’ record Associoated Press
  
• Man misses dragonfly, shoots friends head. Where Was Cheney? Metro

Stay tuned.

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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi

August, 2009

We found it via a new Twitter follower, Blaze, who’s bio says, “A Place for Broke Ass Students …”

So we went for a look and found Hobostudent.com.

The current top post is from Cory and it’s slugged Cheap Easy Cola.

It says in part:

“The idea came from a TV show that Comedy Central ran for a few episodes called ‘Con’ where the host had several fast food cups in his trunk that he’d just walk in and get ‘refills’ of whatever he wanted completely free after he’d gotten the cup with a meal. The problem we both had with it is that the slightly waxed cardboard cups that you usually get with a meal fall apart relatively quickly.

“Our solution? We’d up-size our meal to get the huge plastic cups. Yeah, it cost a little more, but we’d never need another cup. The perk? No need to keep up with lids because they had those and straws readily available right by our new free cola. This was fine for a while, but …”

The solution? Find out on Hobostudent.

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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi

August, 2009

Thanks to Steve Tunbridge, we’d heard about his Project Calliope a little while back.

At the time, Sandy wasn’t ready to go public. But, “I’m going to launch a satellite!” – he posts on ScientificBlogging today.  “I’m a bit nervous, but I finally committed. ProjectCalliope.com.  Next week we officially announce!”

Now he’s looking for someone with $4,000 available.

Says the site »»»

‘Project Calliope’ is a satellite being launched by a group of space & music enthusiasts on the  “TubeSat” platform (http://tinyurl.com/skycall).

It’ll be an ionospheric detector transmitting sonifiable data back to Earth for web streaming and remixing.

Conceptually, it’s a musical instrument in space, played by space rather than just after-the-fact sonified.  We like the idea of flying something in space whose purpose is to make music until it dies — music from science.

We are in early development and have secured a media partner and (counting our personal contributions) two thirds of our funding.  We are looking for a music co-sponsor to cover half the launch costs ($4K).  Contact Alex at antunes @ nasw dot org for inquiries.

You can follow us on twitter @skyday and from our regular blog ‘Satellite Diaries’ on ScientificBlogging, which debuts Monday.  We’ll give you the inside look of how absolutely anyone can launch their own personal satellite (PS), step by step.

“Stay tuned to this channel!” Steve adds.

We will.

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ScientificBlogging – Music from space, August 29, 2009

They can’t go wrong with that claim.

In Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock, “documents this lifestyle’s drastic effects on Spurlock’s physical and psychological well-being and explores the fast food industry’s corporate influence, including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit,” says the Wikipedia.

Spurlock ate exclusively at McDonald’s restaurants three times aday, sampling every item on the chain’s menu at least once. And at the end of it all, he was in a bad, bad way, said p2pnet.

But last year Canadian scientists concluded a Big Mac was an, “apt symbol of globalization,” and The Economist recently said Burgernomics, based on the price of a Big Mac at various points around the world, points to, “uncompetitive currencies in continental Europe”.

The size of your pay packet may be important, “but so is its purchasing power,” says The Economist, going on:

“Helpfully, a UBS report published this week offers a handy guide to how long it takes a worker on the average net wage to earn the price of a Big Mac in 73 cities.

“Fast-food junkies are best off in Chicago, Toronto and Tokyo, where it takes a mere 12 minutes at work to afford a Big Mac.

“By contrast, employees must toil for over two hours to earn enough for a burger fix in Mexico City, Jakarta and Nairobi.”

Now you know.

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p2pnet – Big Mac: ’symbol of globalization’, February 5, 2008
The Economist – Cheesed off, July 16, 2009
The Economist – An alternative Big Mac index, August 20, 2009

It isn’t even fully automated.

But it IS Bum Bot, a hand-controlled police ossifer.

And No, that isn’t a gun sticking out its front. It’s a water cannon.

The pic, on Mindfully,  is from March last year, and it shows Atlanta, Georgia, bar owner Rufus Terrill with the unit, a “300-pound, waist-high robot marked ‘SECURITY’,” as USA Today described it when it first made its appearance.

In 2009, Bum Bot is still around, and so is Terrill, who’s now an Atlanta mayoral candidate, says Wired.

Said the USA Today story in 2008 »»»

Terrill bought the bar four years ago, plowing his profit from selling an apartment complex into the smoky dive. He named it O’Terrill’s, gave it an Irish theme and decorated it with knickknacks he and his wife, Linda, had lying around.

At first, he walked around, indoors and out, with an assault rifle on his shoulder to scare away vagrants, but police told him to put away the gun. Then he used a spotlight. But the bar was still being vandalized, and guns were stuck in his face several times.

His wife  suggested a robot might fit the bill.

Now, people living in Terrill’s neighbourhood will vote for him, or …

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USA Today – Homemade ‘Bum Bot’ plays the sheriff in Atlanta, April 22, 2008
Wired – ‘Bum Bot’ Robot Plays Sheriff on the Streets of Atlanta, August 17, 2009

And it’s easy!

Really easy!

Just pee in the shower!

And No. This isn’t a spoof.

According to the survey at the action website Xixi no Banho from fundação SOS Mata Atlântica, 75% of the visitors do, “And that’s good,” says the post.

“Because when you do you save a lot of water.”

Xixi no Banho is also the slogan for the event Viva a Mata which went off in São Paulo, Brazil, May 22-24m, it says, going on

“The campaign’s goal is to save up to 4.380 thousand litres of water per year by stimulating people make a pee under the shower.”

The campaign features twio videos, as well as print media, radio spots, outdoor media and a very funny website.

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Osociom – Do you pee under the shower? (II), August 3, 2009