WOW 
Monday, 30. April 2007
PhotoVoyage
Rice provides 25 to 85 percent of the calories in the daily diet of 2.7 billion Asians. 520 million metric tons of rice are harvested in 1 year. For human beings it is the number one food crop. Large portions of the world's wheat and corn crops go to feeding livestock whereas rice is mainly for human consumption.
There are as many as 120,000 varieties of cultivated rice. It's uses range from main ingredient in a beer like Budweiser to courtship ceremonies all over the world. Still, despite it's tenacity as a crop, rice will have to be redesigned by scientists in order to keep pace with the with the world's rising population.
Join photographer Robb Kendrick as he explores the significance and labor involved in harvesting and using this essential crop.
Between 250 AD and 900 AD, the Maya had one of the greatest civilizations in the Western Hemisphere. They constructed great stone temples, communicated with an elaborate form of hieroglyphics and lived in complex agrarian communities. At its peak, the Maya civilization consisted of more than 40 cities and had a population of over 2,000,000.
Join Aurora photographer David McLain and the MayaQuest team on their adventure through Mexico and Central America. Travel through Belize, Guatemala and the Yucatan Peninsula. Explore ancient ruins, attend a religious festival and meet many modern-day Maya.
The Chinese held on to the secrets of silk for more than 5000 years. Legend tells of two monks who smuggled silkworm eggs, hidden in their staffs, as they traveled west along the Silk Road in the 6th Century. Emperor Justinian received the eggs and established the first silk industry in the west. Today Asia still dominates in the production of silk. As always, the commodity finds its admirers everywhere.
In the heart of Mali, West Africa there lives a tribe called the Dogon. Famous for their art and cosmology, they live around a 200-kilometer cliff band known as the Bandiagara.
In this week's PhotoVoyage, Aurora photographer José Azel documents the Dogon people of the sub-Sahara. Join the Dogon as they climb the cliffs for pigeon guano and dance an ancient Dama that connects their dead to the next world.
Go on safari with Aurora photographer Adrian Bailey through the plains and grasslands, down the rivers, and around the watering holes of wild Africa.
As a wildlife photographer, Bailey must have a strong knowledge of the backcountry and great patience to get himself into position to capture nature's beasts - naturally - while capturing the action -- in mid-stride or at midnight -- when it happens.
Discipline, appreciation, and celebration are inherent to Japan's life and culture. From crafting the most ornate pagodas to creating colorful and proud festivals, the Japanese honor and appreciate their lives.
Take a visual journey through Japan, see exotic gardens with thousand year old pagodas, carp fish bred to imitate "living flowers", and be a spectator to a country full of festivals celebrating people, land and life. Join Aurora photographer Peter Essick, as he tours Japan photographing the essence of its culture and passion for life.
Explore, experience and enjoy all journeys at PhotoVoyage.
51 Things We Can Do to Save the Environment
 | Can one person slow global warming? Actually, yes! People often feel individually helpless to affect major world problems, but Time Magazine has some suggestions on how we can reduce our personal contributions to global warming. |
Sunday, 29. April 2007
2057 - Our Lives in 50 Years
What would you see and experience if the clocks rolled forward 50 years? In a unique blend of drama and science, this three-part series shows you the world of tomorrow. Will we have flying cars? Will advances in medicine help us stay young forever? What about "printing" custom-made vital organs? What will our cities look like? What will tomorrow's wars be about? Will we have robots helping around the house? Will solar power be the new oil?Supported by the world's leading scientists and research institutes, we embark on a quest to answer some of society's most fundamental questions and reveal the dramas of tomorrow's world along the way. State-of-the-art computer graphics in combination with a dynamic story line will create a world usually only seen in feature films, but with the accuracy and relevance of a documentary. This series is all about opening the window of our future based on science fact, not science fiction.
-- Discovery Channel
Cars without drivers?
Humanoid robots in every household?
Cyber-hacking?
Intelligent camera surveillance systems?
Runtime 43 minutes.
Saturday, 28. April 2007
Monocle
We believe it's time for a new, global, European-based media brand.| With a keen focus, strong reporting, sharp wit and a more classic approach to design, we've dubbed our venture Monocle. At the core there's a monthly magazine delivering the most original coverage in global affairs, business, culture and design. Alongside, there's a web-based broadcast component covering the same areas through a variety of bulletins, mini-documentaries and talk formats. Focused on informing and entertaining an international audience of disillusioned readers, listeners and viewers, it is our intention to create a community of the most interested and interesting people in the world. Keep an eye on Monocle magazine by Tyler Brûlé! |
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Time Lapse Painting
Cool time lapse paintings - multiple canvases that are constantly re-arranged. |
Makibishi
| You play the role of Asashin, who is searching for five ninjas hidden across five different environments. Each stage is a new and creative area with multiple puzzles and scenes to experience. Beautiful point and click game: Makibishi |
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Nora - The Sequel
I read this article by The Sydney Morning Herald:"Bach's much worse than her bite". Very Funny!
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Batavia
| In 1985 a start was made with the reconstruction of the Batavia on a shipyard in the Dutch city of Lelystad. Under the guidance of Master-shipbuilder Willem Vos a group of young people worked on this project. The keynote has been to achieve the most authentic reconstruction by using traditional materials and following the building methods of the day. Batavia Guide Thanks to QuickTime VR technology it is now possible to 'look around' on the Batavia. Start on the maindeck and then follow the arrows for a complete tour. Batavia Virtual tour |
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(via The Presurfer)
Friday, 27. April 2007
Kid's Cold Orchestra
It s a real viral!
Kid's Cold Orchestra aka Apoteket Orkestern.
I like "We are Musicians" & "The Elefant Song" ... *lol*
Hornets From Hell
A small but highly efficient killing machine! Pretty scaring these hornets, not only that they are big, they are as well the most toxic kind of wasp on earth ... an amazing excerpt from the National Geographic feature on the Japanese Giant Hornet! |
Feeding Birdy
| Eat smaller flying creatures than yourself. Don't eat green dragon flys. Dodge bigger birds. Simple funny game for in between: Feeding Birdy. |
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Onsight Photography
 | My name is Simon Carter. I'm a professional photographer specialising in creating unique images of climbing. I've photographed extensively at a wide range of climbing areas around Australia and the world. |
Paper Robot's Paper Robots
| This website has a good selection of humanoid robot plans you can print, cut out, fold, and assemble. And take a look at the associated Paper Robot Flickr galleries to get some idea of what can be done. Woo hoo! Paper Robot's Paper Robots |
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