June 2005

On Average

06.30.2005

A hedgehog’s heart beats 190 times a minute on average and drops to only 20 beats per minute during hibernation. An average beaver can cut down two hundred trees a year. An average pig squeals at a range from 100 to 115 decibels.

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The Enigma

06.29.2005

Stare at the centre of the figure for a while. Some scintillating activity will build up in the violet and blue annuli. Some observers also report a circular rotation within these regions; things will begin to â€œrun around in circlesâ€. This image â€œThe Enigmaâ€ is by Isia Leviant (1984). Mechanism currently unknown. Sources: Zeki S, [...]

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“Breakfast”

06.28.2005

“Breakfast” 24″ x 36″ Oil on canvas Gift 2004

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Baseball and Football, by George Carlin

06.27.2005

Baseball is different from any other sport. Very different. For instance, in most sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed [...]

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Banana Facts

06.27.2005

3 medium size bananas weigh approximately 1 pound. A cluster of bananas is called a hand and consists of 10 to 20 bananas, which are known as fingers. As bananas ripen, the starch in the fruit turns to sugar. Therefore, the riper the banana the sweeter it will taste.

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Steel Drum Tuning & Layout

06.27.2005

Met a steel drum player at a party this weekend and had an enlightening shop conversation involving the tuning and layout of notes on the instrument. Found some great information from A Handbook For Steel Pan Making And Tuning: The layout of the notes in the pan is, of course, important for the ergonomy of [...]

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Simon Commercial

06.26.2005

Played this for hours. I can’t remember what my record was. To see this classic commercial, download the following .wmv file (1mb) to your computer and open it: >> Really Cheesy ’80s Simon Commercial

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Only Things

06.26.2005

Abraham Lincoln, who invented a hydraulic device for lifting ships over shoals, was the only US president ever granted a patent. According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until the 1730′s, India was the only source for diamonds in the world. Antarctica is the only continent without reptiles or snakes.

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A.1. Steak Sauce Commercial

06.25.2005

“Don’t cover it. Discover it.” To see this classic commercial, download the following .wmv file (1mb) to your computer and open it: A.1. Steak Sauce Commercial

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Approximates and Estimations

06.25.2005

A penguin swims at a speed of approximately 15 miles per hour. A person uses approximately fifty-seven sheets of toilet paper each day. An adult porcupine has approximately 30,000 quills on its body, which are replaced every year.

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Pitfall Commercial

06.24.2005

An 8-bit color video game for the Atari 2600 which tapped into a role-playing vibe. The first of its kind in a time of shoot ‘em up staples like Asteroids and Missile Command, paving the way for countless others. Hop over the cobra. Cross the swamp via alligator heads. Get the chalice! To see this [...]

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Me & Grampa, November 1970

06.24.2005

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Changing A Bongo Or Conga Head

06.24.2005

Picking up a couple vintage BDP Slingerland bongos this year gave me the opportunity to mount a flat skin to a drum for the first time. What an experience; it’s a task man has been doing for thousands of years.

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The History Of 7UP

06.23.2005

The Seven-Up Company’s roots go back to 1920, when C. L. Grigg banked on his 30 years of experience in advertising and merchandising to form The Howdy Corporation in St. Louis, Mo. Although he named the company after the Howdy Orange drink he pioneered, his goal was to create a wholesome and distinctive soft drink [...]

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