Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Hobbes' Internet Timeline v8.2

Starting with:
1957
USSR launches Sputnik, first artificial earth satellite. In response, US forms the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), the following year, within the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish US lead in science and technology applicable to the military (:amk:)

There are some funny bits along the way. Interesting none the less, at least to me.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Freezing rain crystals

Ah the prairie in winter! PU couldn't believe I was busy taking these images before sun up. The temperature was just below freezing and I knew the sun would toast these massive crystal formations the minute it was shining above the horizon and it did.

The freezing rain froze into the most dramatic crystals. I didn't manage to capture much of the drama in these shots, but in the head lamp images you can get a feel for what the larger ones looked like.

Big broad ice crystals from the freezing rain on the trunk of the car this morning before the sun came up.

freezing_rain_crystals_750

freezing_rain_crystals_750_0

freezing_rain_crystals_750_1

Ice crystals on the head lamp lens

freezing_rain_crystals_750_2

freezing_rain_crystals_750_3

Thursday, December 7, 2006

Winter black bird

This poor little one has lost it's way. I doubt it will survive. It's only the very beginning of the harsh winter here. It's not straying too far from the feeder today. The temperature is -27C and the wind chill takes it down to -38C.

These images are poor. I'll hope to get some decent ones later, but without a long lens I may not have had another chance, so just did what I could to identify this character.







It's always remarkable to me how easy it is to enjoy such brilliant mornings outside. Yesterday I had the pleasure of being accompanied on the drive home by a spectacularly animated sun dog. Large flowing dogs were rippling away from the sun on either side of it. The circle was complete above the dogs and the sun was tightly stared four ways from it's centre. Some of the gifts of winter. I was wishing I had taken the camera with me, but I'm always wishing that and there are, after all, more things to do than luxuriate in imagery.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Quiz fest / now weirded out

This makes me queezy. I almost never do these popular things. I'm not sure what's gotten into me this morning.




Your Seduction Style: Ideal Lover



You seduce people by tapping into their dreams and desires.

And because of this sensitivity, you can be the ideal lover for anyone you seek.

You are a shapeshifter - bringing romance, adventure, spirituality to relationships.

It all depends on who your with, and what their vision of a perfect relationship is.



Then this one makes me almost as uncomfortable.

You Are a Mermaid

You are a total daydreamer, and people tend to think you're flakier than you actually are.
While your head is often in the clouds, you'll always come back to earth to help someone in need.
Beyond being a caring person, you are also very intelligent and rational.
You understand the connections of the universe better than almost anyone else.


Finally, this comes as no surprise.

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.
An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.
You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view.
A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.


Spare us all...