Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:18:30 GMT

Eugene F. Lally

In a post from Februari 2009 about "8 Pioneering Moments In Digital Photography" I mentioned Eugene F. Lally, who, in 1961, produced a paper entitled "Mosaic Guidance for Interplanetary Travel," which became the blueprint for the very first digital camera.

Eugene F. Lally was involved with the US space program from the beginning, starting in 1955, before Sputnik. He is considered a driving technical force and helped promote spaceflight through many papers delivered at American Rocket Society conventions.

Yesterday I got an email from Eugene in which he wanted to bring me up to date from 1961. One of the most interesting programs he"s into at the moment is the Kepler Mission.

It has the most advanced digital camera to this date. It will discover Earth-size planets orbiting distant stars and uses a camera/photometer looking at stars to find planets that is based on his original on board digital camera from the 1961 paper he gave while at JPL for a manned Mars Mission concept. Posted by: Gerard      Read more     Source

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:44:25 GMT

Must Know Digital Photography Tips

Here"s another short series of diverse tips that really are different from the many generic tips out there.

Most of these tips will help make you a better "action" photographer. This will be helpful when photographing upcoming holiday events as well as sports and other activities involving movement.

Be sure to scroll down past today"s tips where you"ll find links related to other digital photography topics.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you"ll find a picture somewhere.

Photo Source:www.thundafunda.com Posted by: Karen      Read more     Source

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:35:32 GMT

The Slammin Salmon

Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske together form Broken Lizard, the irreverent comedy troupe behind such films as Super Troopers, Club Dread and Beerfest. In their new film and Heffernan"s directorial debut, The Slammin" Salmon, the Lizards are teamed with Oscar nominee Michael Clarke Duncan:

"Slammin" Cleon Salmon (Duncan) is a former Heavyweight Champion of the World turned celebrity owner of a high end Miami seafood restaurant, The Slammin" Salmon. A terrifying bull of a man, Salmon uses fear to rule over his misfit wait staff and on this particular night, he takes his bullying skills to a new level. In an effort to pay off a gambling debt to the Japanese Yakuza, Salmon sets up a contest to "inspire" his wait staff to sell more food than they ever have before. The top selling server wins $10,000 while the waiter in last place gets served with a broken rib sandwich-courtesy of the Champ himself. Spurred on by greed and panic, the staff resorts to backstabbing, bribery and indecent proposals in an attempt to up sell their patrons while simultaneously sabotaging their co-workers. As the hours pass, the dining room action becomes more frenzied as the contest escalates into a brawl for first place in order to win the money.

Sitting down with all five Lizards at City Crab, a Manhattan seafood restaurant where Steve Lemme once worked, the boys rowdily discussed with me their illicit experiences in food service (did I really want to know that someone had sex in the very dining room I was sitting in?), what always makes for sure-fire comic material, their favorite films of 2009, and the worst part about working with Michael Clarke Duncan-who then turns up in a cameo appearance to keep the boys in check.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (20:47)

Podcast Music
INTRO: "Weird Al" Yankovic, "Eat It"
OUTRO: The Chemical Brothers, "The Salmon Dance"

[The Slammin" Salmon opens today in select theaters. For more info, please visit the official website.] Posted by: ahillis      Read more     Source

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:46:48 GMT

Online Canadian Pharmacy: Creating A Revolution

Online Canadian pharmacies have revolutionized the consumer medications market especially, in the US. Many Americans even go to the extent of crossing the border to buy their prescriptions from Canada. The attractive prices offered by online Canadian pharmacies enable consumers to actually save more than 50% of the total medication cost.

Whether you want generic drugs or from brand names such as Cipla, Teva, RatioPharm or branded drugs from Novartis, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis and others, you can have them delivered to your home. The ordering process requires consumers to fill up an online form on the selected Canadian pharmacy website.

Online Canadian Pharmacy: Why Do People Use them?
Apart from an extensive range of available medication, online Canadian pharmacies also provide superior customer service and convenient payment methods. One can pay through credit card or check usually..

Competitive prices are not the only reason why so many US consumers turn to online Canadian pharmacies. These pharmacies also ensure optimum privacy of the customers' personal information. Many people favor obtaining drugs online, irrespective of higher costs, than to visit a physical pharmacy for problems, such as erectile dysfunction, depression and hair loss. Drugs like Propecia, Viagra and diet drugs are also widely imported from Canada to many other countries.

Canadian Generic Drugs Fostered the Online Pharmacy Revolution
As per Canadian pharmacy laws, manufacturing facilities whether of brand name drugs or generic drugs must be at par with high industry standards. Canadian generic drugs have the same chemical composition as their brand name counterparts in terms of quality, strength and safety. Generic drugs in Canada look slightly different from their brand name counterparts as often required by the Canadian trademark laws.

Canadian generic drugs are available at very cheap prices. This is because these are the 'bio-equivalent' versions of their brand name counterparts. Whenever a drug manufacturer introduces a new drug, the company patents it to become its sole producer till the patent is inactive. The company charges a high price to recover costs involved in the development, research and marketing of that drug. After the patent expires, other manufacturers can start producing the generic version of the drugs and sell it at lower price. Unfortunately, generic versions are not available for all the drugs.

NorthWestPharmacy.com offers only authentic medications to its customers at up to 80% off. Being a member of CIPA and IPABC NorthWestPharmacy.com is recognized among the leading online pharmacies of Canada. It also ensures complete patient privacy and adheres to delivery schedules.

Posted by: Heather      Read more     Source

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:32:51 GMT

Invacare Scooter

Enabling the differently abled and the elderly to move around easily requires determination and the passion to understand their needs. Invacare scooters have ushered in a new level of serving those who need help when it comes to easy mobility. With a wide range of mobility scooters, right from three wheels to four wheels, Invacare scooters are at the forefront of the mobility revolution. Their extensive range of products has helped people with arthritis, cerebral palsy, heart conditions as well as chronic lungs problems.

Types of Invacare Scooters
Designed with different needs and terrain in mind, Invacare scooters offer a wide range of mobility scooters to pick from. Adding more flexibility to the range is the edge of distinct high end customizability that is easily available with these models. One can increase the height, change the tiller angle and adjust the seat and the handle bars to steer the scooter easily. The top models are listed below:

• Comet
• Orion
• Leo
• Lynx
• Auriga
• Meteor
• Solar
• Taurus

Of all aforementioned models, ‘Comet’ is the most popular and an all-terrain mobility scooter. It features bigger wheel diameter and an impressive top speed of 8 miles per hour. Like its name suggest, the Comet can go for 34 miles when fully charged. It bagged the ‘Rehacare Design Award: Good Design’ in 2008. One of its main highlights is its innovative adjustable suspension system at the front and rear wheels. The scooter also features a precautionary two step disengaging lever that can stop freewheeling if, at all, it happens.
Invacare scooters also come in ultra light formats and offer easy portability.

Ultra-light Lynx: Invacare Scooter
Lynx is an ultra light Invacare scooter that is easily portable and is ideal for excursions, shopping trips and holidays. Weighing just 49 kilograms and a carrying capacity of 21.3 stones (weight), this Invacare scooter is perfect for short distances and busy places. This scooter features reliable puncture proof tires, making it a fine choice in case you want to opt for park rides as well. Other features include an adjustable tiller, swivel seat and arm rests.

People looking for discounts on these mobility scooters can log on to EasyMedOnline for checking an exhaustive range of Invacare scooters. This website boasts of an exceptional delivery system and can be the best resource for people with an urgent need for mobility scooters.


Posted by: Heather      Read more     Source

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:14:23 GMT

An impatient age

I am compelled to begin with a disclaimer on this one.

In full respect to the efforts of the family, friends and educators of my youth, I was a bright enough child; even if the story that follows might lead you to believe otherwise.

When I was less than a teen but over the age of 10, I came upon a curious round object in the storage room of my parents" house. It was about the size of a side plate, with an inscription on its face that was impressive and important in a bold, Old English-style script.

"This is a Round Tuit. Guard it with your life as tuits are hard to come by, especially the round ones. It will help you become a more efficient worker. For years you"ve heard people say "I"ll get that done, as soon as I get a Round Tuit.""

Ha, ha. Funny stuff, we all get the joke. Except that I didn"t.

Lost in the fanciful curls and swirls of the decorative font, I skimmed over the word "tuit" as "trivet". (This was also an impatient age for me, and I was often scolded for reading quickly rather than attentively.) From then on, I believed from that trivets must be Highly Useful Things. I was puzzled when the precious treasures were tossed carelessly onto counters and shoved into drawers with abandon, or squashed beneath hot pots at the dinner table.

Surely the adults knew that round trivets were a rarity.

Of course at some point I realized my mistake and I continued on with growing up. But what I didn"t forget, was the importance of getting a round to it, every once in a while.

This is one of those times.

I adore condensed milk. I love it in baking, or spooned into dark, rich coffee or heavily-spiced tea. I have an unhealthy attachment to the little row of cans that are stashed in my pantry - and oh, don"t forget, it can be used to make Dulce de Leche.

And, I must confess, I have been churning Condensed Milk Ice Cream for months, but have kept curiously quiet on the subject. That ends now.

This is shout-it-from-the-rooftops-worthy stuff. It is a churned adaptation of kulfi, the Indian frozen dessert made with condensed milks. Kulfi is densely textured and has a substantial weight on the spoon, but this my friends, this is unimaginably supple, with a deep, rounded creaminess. I imagine that if velvet could be made into ice cream, this is what it would be.

We had this ice cream alongside berries through the summer, and ate it sandwiched between these cookies in immoderate scoops. It"s the one I"m keeping on hand to top pies and crisps and crumbles through fall and, in winter I"ll skip the cardamom and there will be a shot of espresso involved. Maybe two. In spring rhubarb compote will be just the thing.

Without question, it"s worth its weight in tuits. Or trivets.

Condensed Milk Ice Cream
Since condensed milk brands will differ in terms of thickness and sweetness, there is a range for the whipping cream. If yours is on the thinner side, you will want the lower quantity of cream, if thicker, the greater. Without a custard base, the method is blessedly fret-free. In fact, if one was careful, I think you could prepare the base of milks and cream in (gasp!) a microwave.

Ingredients
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 14-ounce can evaporated milk
1 fresh vanilla bean
3 green cardamom cloves, bruised but not broken (optional)
A generous pinch of kosher salt
1 to 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

In a medium saucepan, combine the condensed milk and evaporated milk. Spilt the vanilla bean down its length, scraping out the seeds. Add both the seeds and the bean to the saucepan, along with the cardamom pods and salt. Heat over medium-low heat until just under a simmer, stirring often.

Pour the mixture, along with the vanilla and cardamom, into a clean bowl or pitcher. Stir in 1 cup of the heavy cream and taste. It should be very sweet, but not tooth aching. If needed, add up to 1/2 cup more cream. Chill the mixture well, then strain and freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer"s direction.

Makes about 1 quart. Posted by: TARA      Read more     Source

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:08:58 GMT

The Best Pet Grooming and Daycare in Toronto

The best pet grooming and daycare services in Toronto are more about people than they are pets. This requires some further explanation, but it isn"t a far jump to get to where I am. First off, the services we"re discussing here are exclusively for dogs. Let"s face it, dogs are a popular pet who require a lot of professional servicing for things like walking, grooming, daycare and obedience training. Posted by: Lauren      Read more     Source

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:59:58 GMT

Supplanting the old media?

This week"s issue of Nature has an interesting article on scientific blogging. Geoff Brumfiel asks whether science blogging will replace a declining scientific journalism.
In part because of a generalized downturn, especially in newspaper revenues, the traditional media are shedding full-time science journalists along with various other specialist and indeed generalist reporters. A Nature survey of 493 science journalists shows that jobs are being lost and the workloads of those who remain are on the rise (for full results see http://tinyurl.com/c38kp6). At the same time, researcher-run blogs and websites are growing apace in both number and readership. Some are labours of love; others are subsidized philanthropically, or trying to run as businesses.I think diversity in media is a great thing. Throughout the 80s and 90s, it was apparent that the media was coming under the control of a few large corporations e.g. the News Corp, Time Warner etc. Controlling the media means controlling the message. The rise of the internet makes monopolizing the means of communication more difficult.

However, the article cites the example of Robert Lee Hotz, a science journalist for The Wall Street Journal, who doubts that blogs can fulfill the additional roles of watchdog and critic that the traditional media at their best aim to fulfill.

I seriously doubt this. In my opinion, investigative journalism is best a bottom-up enterprise. With the advent of venues such as wikileaks and reddit, anyone can be an investigative journalist.

Others say that science reporting will fail to reach a broad audience.
Press releases and blogs will not find the same broad audience once served by the mass media, says Peter Dykstra, who was executive producer of CNN"s science, technology, environment and weather unit until it was closed down last year. Now at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, an independent think tank in Washington DC, he says that science and environment news will be "ghettoized and available only to those who choose to seek it out".So citizens will have to be active consumers of media rather than spoon fed "the news" during a 6:30 PM nightly broadcast? Oh catastrophe!

The idea that science journalism will suffer because major newspapers and tv stations are dropping coverage is ridiculous. What was that coverage anyway?
"You get a press release that is slightly rehashed by somebody in the newsroom and it goes in the paper! It"s wrong, its sensationalist, it erodes the public trust in scientific endeavour," says Bora Zivkovic, author of reddit on ScienceBlogs and an online community manager for the Public Library of Science journals. Myers takes a similar view. "Newspapers realize that they can get their audience by peddling crap instead of real science," he says. Not surprisingly, those who came to blogging from journalism — such as Carl Zimmer, who writes for a range of publications, including The New York Times, and blogs at Discover — tend to disagree. But Larry Moran, a biochemistry professor at the University of Toronto, Ontario, who blogs at reddit, seemed to speak for many bloggers when he recently wrote "Most of what passes for science journalism is so bad we will be better of [sic] without it".If anything blogging has enhanced scientific coverage. PZ Meyer"s redditis getting 500k hits per week. The best thing is that scientists are generating news, reporting it, commenting on it and interacting with the general public in a manner that was impossible pre-web. Talk about tearing down the Ivory Tower! Readers can ask questions of actual scientists in the comment box, receive expert answers and opinions, and the end result will likely be a more science literate, engaged society. Posted by: Dennehy      Read more     Source

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:46:52 GMT

Old Saint Nicked?

With Christmas days away, The Smoking Gun has a roundup of mug shots of a dozen arrestees bearing a passing resemblance to Santa Claus himself. Posted by: Gerard      Read more     Source

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:30:48 GMT

Settle Credit Card Debt In Three Steps

The best way to settle credit card debt is to negotiate with the creditors for a reduction of the amount due. But why should the creditors agree to take a lower amount? This is because they know that partial settlement is better than getting nothing back, which will be the case if a borrower becomes bankrupt.

Step 1: Settle credit card debt and boost your Savings
Settle credit card debt and you will save loads of money spent on interests and penalties related to your overdue payments. Debt settlement negotiations can result in a reduction in the interest amount as well as the overall amount, thus sparing the debtor any further grief. However, settlement of credit card debt by oneself is not easy and in many cases the creditors might not entertain such requests. In such situations, expert debt relief negotiators can play an important role.

Step 2: Engage third party debt negotiators to settle credit card debt
Expert third party debt negotiators can help one to settle debts better and more efficiently. These firms would have successfully negotiated bank settlement programs for their clientele and have well-established relationships with creditor banks and other organizations.

Step 3: Settle credit card debt through a debt settlement program
Debt settlement calls for developing a personalized savings plan to deal with the situation, besides negotiating with the creditors. The savings plan calls for the client to save a specific amount every month which will be used to repay the creditors besides the fees for the negotiator. The settlement amount is paid by the negotiator once the final settlements documents are received. Look for a firm which will only charge on the basis of the reduction in debt it can deliver.

With the help of an expert you can get several financial and emotional benefits. Debt relief solutions have emerged as a popular option in this era of economic uncertainty and the growing number of defaults.

• Debt Settlement can result in savings of up to 50%
• Reduces the interest burden
• Restricts unhealthy spending habits
• Improved cash flow with renegotiated debt repayment schedules
• Peace of mind

Achievesecurity.com enables an individual to settle credit card debt in an efficient manner and in a period that could range from 12 to 36 months depending on the quantum of the debt and the financial position of the client.


Posted by: Heather      Read more     Source