Links!
This is one of the most versatile links posts ever, so kick back, ignore that deadline (and that guy pounding on door), and enjoy yourself.First off, I mentioned Dan Hsu and EGM yesterday, and Game Daily has a lengthy interview with him, so the story is getting at least some attention.
Most of you have probably read about the window washer who survived a 500-foot fall last month. Newsweek has an article about the physics of surviving that kind of fall, and it's excellent reading. Oh, and highest fall ever survived? Incredibly, over 33,000 feet.
From Skip Key, an update on the story of D.B. Cooper, which has been mentioned in this space on more than one occasion. The F.B.I. has reopened the case.
From Michael Martin, a link to a story in the New York Times about the creation of a self-righting object. Here's an excerpt:
The Gomboc is the physical realization of a mathematical theorem: that a "mono-monostatic" object -- one that has a single stable point of equilibrium, or balance -- must exist. And so it does. No matter how you orient it, the Gomboc always rights itself.
Here's a gaming link that will thrill some of you: blueprints of the fighters from Wing Commander I.
Remember 3D printers? Well, now there's one that outputs in granulated sugar (thanks Sirius). I'm just waiting for the one that outputs in Pop Tarts.
A second link from Sirius, this one to a chemical reaction that, thirty-five years after its discovery, remains unexplained. The article is titled Beautiful and Mysterious Chemical Reactions Create Undulating Brew, and the video will blow your mind.
From Nate Carpenter, a link to an article about a theory of how dreams function.
Here's a cautionary tale about living the life and the need to stay grounded. Clayton Holmes, who you may remember as a sensationally fast cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990's, won three Super Bowl rings. Now he's living in South Carolina, in a shack, and uses red bicycle for transportation.
Edwin sent in a link to an e-book titled 200 Documentaries You Must See Before You Die. This is a very well-written, well-illustrated work, and the choices were excellent.
Also from Edwin, a link to a BBC article titled 100 Things We Didn't Know Last Year. This is an annual feature, and what I always like about this article is that there is a supporting link for each listing. So actually, it's 100 links, not one.
I think that means Edwin sent in 300 links in two articles. That must be some kind of record.
And Edwin has a third link, so he gets the hat trick this week. This is an amazing link, too--the "blog" of a WWI soldier, published by his grandson:
Each day's log is published in sync with the date Private William Henry Bonser Lamin wrote it, 90 years ago, from the front line in France and Italy.
That's a totally brilliant idea.
From Brian Minsker, a link to photographs taken by a "home astronomer," for lack of a better description. They're amazing, and there's a link at the bottom of the article to his website, where you can find additional pictures.
From Jesse Leimkuehler, a link to a stunning, high-resolution image of Mars, taken by the Mars Rover. It takes a while to load (and you need QuickTime), but it's absolutely incredible.
Also from Jesse, a link to an article titled Untold Apollo:
How tennis shoes and tug-of-war toppled the mighty Saturn V. Yes, it's just as interesting as the title.
From John D'Angelo, links to two remarkable NASA photographs. The first, to a massive dust storm in China. The second is to another picture, this one taken by the Mars Rover, that makes Mars look like Arizona. Conspiracy theorists, hands off keyboards, please.
Finally, a link from Vahur Teller about an ages-old legend: people who can touch the top of a basketball backboard. Earl "The Goat" Manigault is traditionally the person who gets mentioned in conjunction with this, and author Todd Gallagher went on a search to find out of if anyone actually could jump to the top of the backboard. I won't tell you the answer, but here's the story.
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