Jul

31

The Phoenix lander has discovered real ice and water on Mars

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Mars, the red planetScientists excitedly declared back in May 2008 that we discovered honest-to-goodness H2O ice on the red planet, Mars. Apparently, the Phoenix lander’s exhaust jets, visible at the top of the image, blew the Martian dust away to reveal what appears to be ice. Now, 31 July 2008, NASA reports that the Phoenix lander has discovered real water on Mars. The Phoenix mission has been extended because of this seminal discovery. Scientists reported back in mid-July 2008 that ancient Mars had water everywhere and the potential to support life.

Mars has methane ice in its polar regions, but this is the first time we have discovered water and water ice. Scientists are also reporting that Martian water’s high salinity appears to be a thick brine, incompatible with biological life known to our scientists. Given that life exists in so many forms and in such diversity on earth, it is probable there are forms of biological life presently unknown to human science.

Mars lander discovers real ice

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Jul

31

Brain Fitness Resources for Every Age

Filed Under health and wellness, men's health | Leave a Comment

Alvaro Fernandez’s awesome blog and newsletter, SharpBrains, periodically publishes a list of resources for brain health and fitness, called Encephalon, which is the technical term for “brain”.

Brain or encephalon image

The 50th issue is out and ready to sharpen our brains.

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Jul

30

Simple Instructions for Life and Living

Filed Under gratitude, health and wellness, men's health, spirituality | Leave a Comment

I’m a strong proponent of positive psychology, an emergent field that has the potential to actually transform personal lives, relationships, and collective living. Below is a graphic from a recent article by Bridget Grenville-Cleave about how to live that well sums up my life philosophy.

Life Instructions

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Jul

30

Highlights for Children the Evil Version

Filed Under art, comedy and humor, literature | Leave a Comment

Like many of you, I’ve enjoyed the Highlights magazines in countless waiting rooms pretty much all of my life. This creative person has created a parody that does a good job of using the graphical art style along with witty rewrites of the texts. Some of it is cynical and some of it gave me a chuckle; a great parody, all in all!

Highlights for Children parody

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Jul

26

The Austrian Hills are Alive Once Again

Filed Under art, music | Leave a Comment

Check this out: the von Trapp villa has been renovated and will reopen as a high-end hotel in Salzburg, Austria. They even have a website here.

This is the legendary family story told by Rodgers and Hammerstein in the classic film, The Sound of Music, starring a young Julie Andrews. Apparently, Austrians have for decades resented tourists coming to see - and hear - the sounds of music. Now, it seems some Austrians have decided to capitalize on the film’s time-honored success and cash in on its near-mythical reputation.

Maria von Trapp's The Story of the Trapp Family Singers

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Jul

25

Critical Mass San Francisco in the Castro

Filed Under activism, green culture, health and wellness | Leave a Comment


On the last Friday of every month, hundreds of bicyclists roam the City to highlight the need for non-polluting transport. This is done all over the USA and started in SF. The cyclists are always a fun crowd and this time came through the Castro.

Posted by ShoZu

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Jul

25

The Best Practical Money Management Advice

Filed Under activism, gratitude | Leave a Comment

In this article from Yahoo! Finance, people succinctly share the smartest advice or tip they received from another person on money lessons, which include:

  • Don’t save too much
  • Swear off debt
  • Sell for the right reason
  • Don’t follow the herd
  • Always get it in writing
  • Be frugal but not stingy
  • Know where your money goes
  • Create your own opportunities
  • Don’t get too good at the wrong stuff
  • Money doesn’t make you happy

The article is actually a series of numerous, short lessons from people who have done amazingly well following the advice they now share with us. Check it out, learn something, and have a chuckle or two.

Much of the advice comes out of a prosperity (versus a scarcity worldview) philosophy and does require personal assertiveness in the consumerist culture in which most Westerners live. I especially like the sensibility that comes through the article, that money is a tool to be appreciated, but that it should not be the primary driver in one’s life and living.

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