Skiing Conditions On Mars, Not So Hot…

Sharp views of Martian ground iceThis throws a wrench into my summer vacation plans…

Using observations by NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter, scientists have discovered that water ice lies at variable depths over small-scale patches on Mars.
The findings draw a much more detailed picture of underground ice on Mars than was previously available. They suggest that when NASA’s next Mars mission, the Phoenix Mars Lander, starts digging to icy soil on an arctic plain in 2008, it might find the depth to the ice differs in trenches just a few feet apart. The new results appear in the May 3, 2007, issue of the journal Nature.
"We find the top layer of soil has a huge effect on the water ice in the ground," said Joshua Bandfield, a research specialist at Arizona State University, Tempe, and author of the paper. His findings come from data sent back to Earth by the Thermal Emission Imaging System camera on Mars Odyssey. The instrument takes images in five visual bands and 10 heat-sensing (infrared) ones.

NASA – Sharp Views Show Ground Ice on Mars Is Patchy and Variable

PET Creatures Made From Recycled Plastic Water Bottles

PET creaturesBy working plastic water bottles made of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) with heat guns, soldering irons, and knives artist Miwa Kozumi transforms trash into beautiful works of art. I expect that any day now there will be new forms of these creatures popping up from other creators. Maybe someone will post a tutorial on how to build them. It’s not like there is any shortage of working material, I mean from my desk I can see at least six empties waiting to be disposed of. Humm… I could do with a nice jellyfish PET pet next to my PC.

PET project – plastic water bottles

Japanese Manga Onomatopoeias

Image from http://www.imageandnarrative.be/narratology/cegliavaleri.htmThe Japanese comic style known as ‘Manga‘(wiki) uses all sorts of sound effects that go far beyond the old ‘POW’, ‘BANG’, and ‘BAM’ that most westerners grew up with . They have a rich textual symbology of onomatopoeias that when translated can cause some confusion. I can see how ‘fwahaha’ would mean an evil laugh but I’m at a loss as how ‘zuzu’ is the sound that drinking through a straw makes.
If you are a reader of manga than you should find this list helpful.

Japanese Sound effects and what they mean

TalkiPhone Forum

Talk iPhone
Not that there can be much to talk about yet, but there you go. When ever the mythical iPhone erupts from the head of Steve and lands with a wet ‘plop’ on the shelves of Cingular stores (in a limited area only I bet) all the fawning Apple minions will have a place to sing the praise and squelch the gripes of the latest technological panacea. Continue reading “TalkiPhone Forum”

Metallon from PhuEk

PhuEks MetallonAh, the vinyl figure. I have been a fan of these for years now. I wish I could say that my collection was up to par with my interest but it sadly isn’t. I just can’t find them locally. Anyway, this is a superb custom job that captures the spirit of the urban vinyl designer toy meme.

The Metallon… is a single-seated, lightly armed
and armoured scout. And is part of the Rebel Squadron 77.
With a mounted blaster cannon, it’s deadly to
any infantry units that crossed its path. Its main objective
is to reconnoitre the battlefield and provide vital tactical
information as well as mobile anti-infantry support.

[via Urban Retro Lifestyle]
PhuEk