"Amazing photos of the sun"

Kodachrome's last photos captured by Steve McCurry

Kodak gave their last roll of kodachrome to Steve McCurry; here is a link to a few of the photos he took.
And a very Happy New Year! All the best to you and yours!

And a special heap of happy wishes to Gb, LB, JDH, Jess, Newbie and Lady (and of course, CR!)!

An interesting animated presentation about education!

Katie Shelly draws recipes!

Octopus camouflage and other cloaking devices!

I've seen this video before and still amazed how animals can camouflage themselves.

Ready to buy your own 3d colour printer?

This is going to be another game-changer for inventors, designers and artists.

Animation short explaining how to survive a bear attack.

A little while ago, our dog began to bark wildly towards the next door neighbour's property. I could not see what it was barking at and so I went up to the wire fence and peered into their yard. Soon I became aware of a black shape slowly advancing out of the bush, towards me. When the shape was about 15 feet away, I realized it was a black bear...I took our dog and slowly backed away and started walking up the driveway to our house. I looked back and the bear had come out of the bush into the clearing to the fence where I had been standing. Later in the day, my wife and I were working in the garden when we heard a loud crack, as if someone had broken a stick. It seemed very close and my wife walked down the driveway towards the sound (I know, she is brave! Meanwhile, I tried not to assume the fetal position knowing that this comforting act would show my wife that I was scared silly. Instead, I tried to remain upright.). She did not see anything but reported that there was an awful, foul smell around. I knew that I had recently showered so thought the odour must be coming from a deceased wild creature. I went and got my shovel prepared to bury a dead bunny or bird. Once in the bush, I could see that our anthills were gone; someone (the bear!) had removed a 3 foot by 3 foot anthill and 2 smaller ones! A few hours later, once again I heard our dog barking wildly. I went outside and there, 30 feet away, was the bear devouring another anthill. I yelled loudly, clapped my hands and the bear tore over the fence and out of view. The next day I was alone in the backyard gardening when I heard a loud crack!  Branches were breaking about 30 feet from where I was. I could not see a bear but went back into the house and phoned the animal conservation office to report a bear. They asked me what the bear was up to. I lied (!) and said it was eating my anthills, which was kind of true, I just never said "had", as in the past tense. As well, I told them that I had a 'Bear Banger'--a small penlike device that fires a projectile into the air and explodes, making a VERY loud bang (or so I have heard, well I have not heard it but I understand it is very loud.). I asked them if I could legally set this bear banger off. They told me that I could and asked me to keep them apprised to where the bear went. I quickly rummaged through my camping equipment trying to find my unused bear banger. When I found it I headed to the back of the property. I could hear more branches being broken so I assembled the bear banger and held it over my head ready to unleash a ferocious sound. Just as I was about to let it off, the crashing sound stopped and I began to hear what sounded like a growling sound, "eeeeerrrRRrrrr". Was the bear growling at me? Should I run? Just before I let the bear banger off the "eeerrrr" sound turned into a recognizable sound-- a chainsaw was being started up. I peered closer and there was our next door neighbour, up a tree and sawing branches off a tree. Luckily, I did not let the bear banger at him as he might have been startled hearing grenade-like sounds exploding towards him. I sheepishly realized that my imagination had the better of me and there was no bear. So I put the bear banger away unused....

Benoit Mandelbrot, RIP

It has been reported that Benoit Mandelbrot has passed away. I remember watching a documentary on this brilliant mathematician and they were describing how it is impossible to truly measure a coastline: the smaller the unit of measurement the longer the coastline. His discoveries of fractals allowed the world of animation to produce extreme realism.

Very impressive big machines.

Nature captured in a time-lapse sequence.

I have not posted lately but this time lapse on the BBC caught my eye...

Circus Posters pasted onto a house, remained hidden for over 108 years.

The Hippo Roller is making life easier for South African women.

I love this! A very cool company named Project H Design, is bringing innovation to overlooked problems. One of their projects is the Hippo Roller, a water transport device, that makes it easier for women--and their children, the traditional water fetchers-- to transport water giving them more time for education, family and themselves while reducing the physical toll on their bodies.

Our dear kitty and golden have passed away.

Cooper, our golden retriever lived a good 14 years and quickly passed away. Our little kitty's demise was sudden and unexpected. After 4 months of joy, Boboli stopped eating and became extremely lethargic. After numerous visits to the vet, we tried everything to help him get better. Last week we were told he had a terminal disease (F.I.P.) and would continue to get worse. So, we made the difficult decision of having him put down. R.I.P, Cooper and Boboli.

On a happier note, our other cat now accompanies myself and other dog on our morning walks!

Berlin street artist transforms city electrical boxes into miniature buildings.

Eagles, back online.

Lady, I checked out the site but it is dark so I can't see anything. I assume daylight will remedy this.