Cosmos Magazine
Using a robot to explore the inside of the reactor at Chernobyl, scientist came across a black fungus that was able to live inside the abandoned facility where the radiation level is 500 times the background level. Many fungi are pretty resistant to radiation, so that's not the extraordinary part. Scientist think that the fungus is actually converting radioactive energy into biological energy it can use to grow. The reason the fungus is black is due to a large amount of melanin which scientists believe is being used in a similar way as chlorophyll is used in plants to convert solar energy into biological energy.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Terrible Terrible Ideas
BBC
With the 2010 World Cup coming to South Africa, politicians are trying to come up with ways to encourage soccer fans to come and enjoy themselves. Most of the issues are pretty evident, reduce the horrendous crime rate, clean up the cities, improve the infrastructure, etc. However, this idea seems a bit out there. After seeing the "success" of the German sex industry during the 2006 World Cup, some politicians think it's a good idea to legalize prostitution during the 2010 World Cup.
Some people might balk at this idea because actually the German brothels did relatively poorly during the 2006 World Cup. Most articles I can find on the subject from during and after the 2006 World Cup, show only lukewarm business. Most people going to World Cup games aren't going for the prostitutes or come in a group and can't just go to a brothel when they please.
Of course, what I hope most people think about is HIV. It is believed that nearly 11% of South Africans have HIV. I imagine that for people looking to engage in sexual activities, Sub-Saharan Africa is pretty low on their places to go. Assuming that South Africa puts in safeguards to make sure that the prostitutes don't have HIV, where are they going to find them? I'm guessing prostitutes could be brought down from other countries, but hopefully not from the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. This then begs the question, which prostitutes, assuming they have choice, are willing to risk working in a country with such a high prevalence of HIV?
It really just seems like a bad deal all around. Soccer fans are not going to flood brothels. Most potential customers will likely be scared off by the high HIV prevalence. Most potential prostitutes would also be scared off for the same reason. So in the end no one would win with legalized prostitution in South Africa.
With the 2010 World Cup coming to South Africa, politicians are trying to come up with ways to encourage soccer fans to come and enjoy themselves. Most of the issues are pretty evident, reduce the horrendous crime rate, clean up the cities, improve the infrastructure, etc. However, this idea seems a bit out there. After seeing the "success" of the German sex industry during the 2006 World Cup, some politicians think it's a good idea to legalize prostitution during the 2010 World Cup.
Some people might balk at this idea because actually the German brothels did relatively poorly during the 2006 World Cup. Most articles I can find on the subject from during and after the 2006 World Cup, show only lukewarm business. Most people going to World Cup games aren't going for the prostitutes or come in a group and can't just go to a brothel when they please.
Of course, what I hope most people think about is HIV. It is believed that nearly 11% of South Africans have HIV. I imagine that for people looking to engage in sexual activities, Sub-Saharan Africa is pretty low on their places to go. Assuming that South Africa puts in safeguards to make sure that the prostitutes don't have HIV, where are they going to find them? I'm guessing prostitutes could be brought down from other countries, but hopefully not from the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. This then begs the question, which prostitutes, assuming they have choice, are willing to risk working in a country with such a high prevalence of HIV?
It really just seems like a bad deal all around. Soccer fans are not going to flood brothels. Most potential customers will likely be scared off by the high HIV prevalence. Most potential prostitutes would also be scared off for the same reason. So in the end no one would win with legalized prostitution in South Africa.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Metropolis Extended
The Local
Several years ago, I was back home from NCSSM. Flipping through the channels I found out that the film "Metropolis" would be showing on TCM late at night. I had heard much about film and it was something I really wanted to see, so here was my chance. I was completely enthralled by the movie. One of the most memorable things about the movie was the blank spots. Much of the film had been lost and all that was left was a description of what had taken place in the lost scenes. This air of mystery has kept me interested in the film ever since.
Recently a museum in Argentina has discovered that the copy of "Metropolis" in its archives was longer than the current version available. It's highly likely that this is an original copy, maintaining all the unedited scenes. I can't wait for it to be fully restored.
Several years ago, I was back home from NCSSM. Flipping through the channels I found out that the film "Metropolis" would be showing on TCM late at night. I had heard much about film and it was something I really wanted to see, so here was my chance. I was completely enthralled by the movie. One of the most memorable things about the movie was the blank spots. Much of the film had been lost and all that was left was a description of what had taken place in the lost scenes. This air of mystery has kept me interested in the film ever since.
Recently a museum in Argentina has discovered that the copy of "Metropolis" in its archives was longer than the current version available. It's highly likely that this is an original copy, maintaining all the unedited scenes. I can't wait for it to be fully restored.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Spore: Creature Creator
Spore
Spore is an upcoming game from the creator of SimCity and the Sims. It's basically an evolution game where you take some little creature and "evolve" it until it controls a galactic empire. This is a terrible way of describing the game, but I don't feel like writing a lot.
The thing I want to talk about is the Creature Creator which they've released a demo of. Although the parts are limited, people can make an absurd number of different creatures quite easily and they are well animated. I wanted to share some of my favorite creations.
This is my first creature, Fibber. He once caught a fish that was THIS BIG!
This is Lightfoot dancing with one of its offspring. The creator automatically generates baby versions of the creatures.
Slouchy, the laziest creature I created.
Sneaky, the most devious animal ever. I bet you thought it was just a harmless little bird.
Spindly has some issues with his legs.
This is what happened when I told Spindly to sit.
I have no idea what happened here.
Spore is an upcoming game from the creator of SimCity and the Sims. It's basically an evolution game where you take some little creature and "evolve" it until it controls a galactic empire. This is a terrible way of describing the game, but I don't feel like writing a lot.
The thing I want to talk about is the Creature Creator which they've released a demo of. Although the parts are limited, people can make an absurd number of different creatures quite easily and they are well animated. I wanted to share some of my favorite creations.
This is my first creature, Fibber. He once caught a fish that was THIS BIG!
This is Lightfoot dancing with one of its offspring. The creator automatically generates baby versions of the creatures.
Slouchy, the laziest creature I created.
Sneaky, the most devious animal ever. I bet you thought it was just a harmless little bird.
Spindly has some issues with his legs.
This is what happened when I told Spindly to sit.
I have no idea what happened here.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
First PetaFLOPS
Top 500
The first PetaFLOPS computer has made it onto the Top 500 list, ending the 3 year reign of BlueGene as the fasting computer. In fact, the average speed of the top 10 increased by 116%, the second fastest increase since the list started in 1993. What's even more impressive is that the total FLOPS computed by the top 500 increased by nearly 68%, the highest increase ever. Three hundred of the computers that were on the list last November are no longer on the list, unless they were upgraded.
The new top computer, Roadrunner, can compute more FLOPS (floating-point integers per second) than the the entire Top 500 list from June 2004.
The first PetaFLOPS computer has made it onto the Top 500 list, ending the 3 year reign of BlueGene as the fasting computer. In fact, the average speed of the top 10 increased by 116%, the second fastest increase since the list started in 1993. What's even more impressive is that the total FLOPS computed by the top 500 increased by nearly 68%, the highest increase ever. Three hundred of the computers that were on the list last November are no longer on the list, unless they were upgraded.
The new top computer, Roadrunner, can compute more FLOPS (floating-point integers per second) than the the entire Top 500 list from June 2004.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Who Cares?
Barack Obama
I was reading the SA forums today, and some guy posted pictures of Obama helping out with flood relief. This immediately reminded me of the recent South Korean presidential election. About a week before the vote, there was an oil spill off the coast of Korea. The candidates were falling over each other to be the first to help the clean-up. So I decided to see was McCain was doing in response to the recent floods.
John McCain
Apparently McCain felt the flood was only worth a two-sentence statement. I'm starting to think Republicans hate flood victims.
Sure, Obama could just be doing this as a publicity stunt, but there still a big difference between helping out with dubious motives and doing, literally, the least you could do.
I was reading the SA forums today, and some guy posted pictures of Obama helping out with flood relief. This immediately reminded me of the recent South Korean presidential election. About a week before the vote, there was an oil spill off the coast of Korea. The candidates were falling over each other to be the first to help the clean-up. So I decided to see was McCain was doing in response to the recent floods.
John McCain
Apparently McCain felt the flood was only worth a two-sentence statement. I'm starting to think Republicans hate flood victims.
Sure, Obama could just be doing this as a publicity stunt, but there still a big difference between helping out with dubious motives and doing, literally, the least you could do.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Great things are happening in Sweden
I think I obsess about Sweden a bit too much, but I've noticed something recently, all the musicians I've become interested in the past month are all Swedish. There's just something about the kind of music coming out of Sweden right now to be fantastic.
Firefox AK vs. LAID
I actually saw Firefox AK perform when I was in Uppsala. It was great concert and I wanted to buy her CD then, but no one could tell me where or if they were selling it there. On a different note, I don't understand the whole "vs." thing when electronica groups collaborate.
I ARE DROID
These guys kind of remind me of Muse.
Maia Hirasawa
This singer's voice is just like Regina Spektor, but the music is a bit different. The video is kind of cute too. Also, her last name isn't Swedish, in case anyone was confused.
Koop
A bit old-fashioned, but very enjoyable music. The singer in the video I linked isn't a member of Koop, in fact it's just two guys using sound samples to make the instrumental parts.
Oh hey, what's this?
Firefox AK vs. LAID
I actually saw Firefox AK perform when I was in Uppsala. It was great concert and I wanted to buy her CD then, but no one could tell me where or if they were selling it there. On a different note, I don't understand the whole "vs." thing when electronica groups collaborate.
I ARE DROID
These guys kind of remind me of Muse.
Maia Hirasawa
This singer's voice is just like Regina Spektor, but the music is a bit different. The video is kind of cute too. Also, her last name isn't Swedish, in case anyone was confused.
Koop
A bit old-fashioned, but very enjoyable music. The singer in the video I linked isn't a member of Koop, in fact it's just two guys using sound samples to make the instrumental parts.
Oh hey, what's this?
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