Dolphins Play with Bubble Rings

There is a real level of sophistication in the way these dolphins interact with these bubble rings.

Probably it’s a matter of primate bigotry, but I’ve never really subscribed to the notion of dolphins being one of the more intelligent beings on this planet (aren’t they supposed to be 2nd or 3rd in line after Homo Sapiens?). But watching them at play can be pretty compelling…


Dolphin Play Bubble Rings The most popular videos are here

Polar Express

It’s December 24 here in sunny Marietta, Georgia. I was contemplating mowing my lawn today just to underscore the amazing contrast between this day-before-christmas and many others of my youth (it’s 50 degrees outside right now).

But, perusing “collegehumor.com” I saw this and HAD to include it on my blog.

Even watching locomotives pull 100 plus cars doesn’t drive home to me exactly how powerful they really are. But for some reason this clip demonstrates that strength in spades.

Christmas Canon (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)

Without question, one of my favorite musical pieces (I know, I know, I’m not very original liking Pachelbel’s Canon, so sue me), these “Trans-Siberian Orchestra” versions are two of my staple Christmas musical pieces. Both are based on the same piece yet both bring unique beauty to a genre that is brimming with magnificence.

And the Rock version

Here is another pleasant Rock version (a bit higher quality) but it has a short interview before the song begins.

And, if you’re wondering, that lady with the wonderfully potent voice is Jennifer Cella. She maintains a MySpace page here. Be careful, it launches a song right away when you enter it…

Big Wave Surfing

When I first saw this I thought it was some kind of CGI. The relative proportions are beyond absurd. But I did some checking and, not only is this real, but this is actually a fairly “normal” (!) example of the waves that these folks take on.

The human animal does not evolve very quickly. Evolution in the normal sense simply doesn’t work that way, generations are required to effect change. Also, we’ve arrested our development in many arenas due to our social and moral interventions. Yet, mentally, we seem to keep moving forward at a staggering pace that draws us physically along with it.

Some of the extreme sports, however, put the lie to the term “physical limits”. When I was younger and saw some of the more spectacular skateboarders I figured that we’d pretty much already pushed the envelope to the very edge of human physical capability. But every year I see that we are accomplishing feats of skill and stamina that, were they not being done right now, right in front of me, I would have said were not possible.

You cannot overestimate what human drive and ingenuity can accomplish. Try to set a limit on what can be done and you will be shown to be a short-sighted nay sayer. Our species simply will not be constrained.

Yippee Ki Yay! Did I mention that I’m a sucker for the “Die Hard” Movies?

Man, do I ever enjoy Bruce Willis’ John McClane character in the Die Hard movies.

This song, which I first heard probably a year or so ago, has been buzzing around in my head for a few days now. I just rented the “Live Free or Die Hard” video from Blockbuster and really expect (hope?) it will be satisfying.

Anyway, for your listening and viewing pleasure. I may have to go rent the other movies now!

Hollow Point Through Gelatin

Again with the slow motion. As I’ve mentioned before I’m a sucker for time lapse and accelerated photography.

The world is such a product of our perception and, as amazing and full as the world as we know it is, step yourself down or up in time rate and it becomes a completely new realm.

There is so much that we don’t understand until we can look at it from a different time perspective. The growth of plants, the movement of animals, the explosion of a balloon. All of these are revealed to us as exciting dynamics so completely different from our initial conception when explored in an alternate time sense…

Fluid Robot Movement

Regardless of your opinion of wrestling (and it can’t be any lower than mine), the fluidity of motion of that little orange robot is incredible!

I don’t know what materials were used to create it, but this is definitely another step forward to achieving mechanical biomimicry of motion.

Man, where were these cool toys when I was a kid? 🙂