2008 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge Winners

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Gandalfe

Making science fascinating to an audience beyond the lab is not always easy.

But the winners of the 2008 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge pull it off in impressive style. Breathtaking photographs and graphics reveal intricate details of our world – from the 3D path made by a rapidly-spinning string, to the tiny, barbed suckers of a half-metre-long squid. The awards are sponsored jointly by the journal Science and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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Visualizing the Bible, awarded an Honorable Mention in Illustration, depicts all 1189 chapters of the Bible as a bar graph with the length of each bar proportional to the number of verses in the chapter. Above this, arcs represent 63,779 cross references between chapters; different colours denote varying distances between connected chapters. Created by Chris Harrison of Carnegie Mellon University and Christoph Römhild of North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Posted in Everyday Science, Photograph, Religon | 3 Comments

I’m a PC Campaign – I found me. :o)

Posted on September 25, 2008 by Gandalfe

IMaPCsax

Posted in Music | 2 Comments

Post Bush-era Dollar

Posted on September 24, 2008 by Gandalfe
Posted in News and politics | 4 Comments

I’m a PC – I Play Sax.

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Gandalfe

ImAPCphoto

Can you find the picture I posted here? I luv this campaign.  :o)

Posted in In the news..., Microsoft, My World | 13 Comments

Old, Grizzled Third-Party Candidate Threatens McCain’s Base

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Gandalfe

Truer than life?

Posted in Humor | 3 Comments

Motorcycle Safety Course

Posted on September 22, 2008 by Gandalfe

Or how I spent my weekend…

MotorcycleSF I had never ridden a motorcycle or scooter. But wanting to take advantage of a lousy new commute situation and save about $40 a month on gas I finally got one. I waited a long time to get into a class of the Motorcycle Safety Course sponsored by the MSF. There were about 24 of us in the course the first day and I was surprised that about 3/4th of the class were new riders with about 50% of them waiting to purchase a bike until after they passed the motorcycle licensing test.

MotorcycleSFcourse The first day was very rainy and I was glad I had my own helmet with a full-face shield. With a combination of that helmet, my motorcycle coat, and some waterproof pants, I didn’t get wet or cold. The worst part of the whole experience was both the highways to the course and the classrooms sessions were closed to two lanes for repairs. That meant a 10 minute trip became and 45 minute trip.

The hardest event was doing a figure eight inside of a 20 X 40 foot square box painted on the asphalt. I got to try it a number of times but only successfully completed it during the actual test. Wahoo! I’d say a third of the class failed to pass the first time. Apparently they have the opportunity to retake for free within the next 90 days. I’m not sure what they failed for, the written or the driver skills test.

So I am the proud graduate of the MSF motorcycle safety course and test and wear the MSF sticker with pride on my ride. I immediately called my grandson Nicky to let him know I passed. Then we talked about his new Jr. High Jazz Band.  :o)

MotorcycleSafetyCourse

See ya on the roads.

Posted in Cars, Economics, Education, Entertainment, Everyday Science, Lifestyle, Man stuff, Playtime, Scooter | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Only in France…

Posted on September 20, 2008 by Gandalfe

could they get away with this ad.  :o)

more_pixels_more_volume

A tip of the hat to Eolake (in England, I think).

Posted in Too Spicy for some | 2 Comments

“I’m a PC” Advertisements Strike a Chord

Posted on September 19, 2008 by Gandalfe

Well, they strike a chord with me that is. Quirky, poignant, and fast, the new set of Microsoft ads make me happier to be a part of this company yet again. I thrive as we play with new and interesting technologies. But I live to hear the stories of how we help bring education and passion to third-world countries, computers to the blind, and participate in various other charitable activities.

It was painful to watch the Apple ads. Although very well done, the ads seem to characterize people who don’t use Apple computers as stodgy, error prone, and problematic. In the eyes of those who created the ads, couldn’t the world see how clunky, old-school, and unpopular the PCs are? Why did Apple feel it necessary to attack me, a PC user? I think Apple computers are cool too, I just happen to choose the best machine for the job that I do.

Oh by the way, it is important to me that PCs are much cheaper too. At one time in the recent past I could buy 2.2 computers for the price of one Apple computer. If I buy cheaper but affective computers,  I can buy more saxophones don’t cha know.  ;o)

Have you seen the new "I’m a PC" videos?

ImAPC

"I’m a PC and I sell fish."  :o)

Posted in Computers and Internet | 5 Comments

BBb Contrabass Clarinet Voicings

Posted on September 18, 2008 by Gandalfe

Or the lack of the need for special voicing work!

DSCF0932 Steve Nelson just finished my Leblanc Paris BBb contrabass clarinet and I eagerly sped home in the JaAGmobile. I have a Walter Grabner hand-crafted CX-BBCN made from a Zinner blank. I’m also using a Legere 2.5 reed. I can play this instrument in the first sitting from a whisper quiet low Eb, to high notes that actually sound beautiful!

DSCF0938 There is an evenness and security I never thought possible, with a rich mellow tone – even when "letting it rip" and rattling the walls. Articulation is also a breeze, crisp, clean and consistent. I can’t wait to hear my friend Gerg play it; he’s the real clarinet player.

How Steve was able to fix this instrument I’ll never know. It came from a school and probably wasn’t played very much. But there were pad problems, leaks, and bent key works galore. Now it is a joy to hold and play. Maybe we’ll find a way to feature it in the Winterfest concert.

As I have said before, I can’t imagine ever getting a lower clarinet, yes they exist or for that matter saxophone than the ones I have now. They are a royal pain to transport and take care of during a gig. No one realizes how fragile they are because their behemoth size belies the ease in which one can get out of sync or damaged. But I’ve said that before and have been wrong.  :o)

There are a number of video recordings on YouTube.com if you search using the string "contrabass clarinet".

Posted in Clarinet | 7 Comments

Jazz Jam at the Proff Place

Posted on September 16, 2008 by Gandalfe

Yes, that just us playing around the changes trying to find redemption…

Nice party Neil and Allie. You know some nice people.  :o)

Posted in Jazz | 2 Comments