atcathletes.com

Local gym that specializes in preparing athletes for the big leagues by utilizing state of the art equipment and training principles. People must be ramping up for the new year and its resolutions because this place has been packed since x-mas. [link]

Increased Asthma Found Among Iowa Children Living On Hog Farms

New research has just been published concerning the increased rate of asthma with those who are raised on a swine farms and use anti-biotics within the feed. What interests me is that they have also found that those who live in industrialized nations also have an increased risk of Asthma and Allergies. For all we might try in avoiding the alignments of today, nature is much more inventive in altering our plans. Antibiotics and Antibacterial soaps and detergents will spring new life in those things we cannot see.

New research conducted by investigators in the University of Iowa College of Public Health has found that the prevalence of asthma is elevated among children living on farms where swine are raised. Children living on swine farms where antibiotics are added to feed have a significantly higher prevalence of the respiratory disease, according to the UI study.

[linky]

The Genetics Of The Oyster Mushroom

"The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is an edible fungus which is grown on an industrial scale and the consumption of which would appear to reduce cholesterol levels and has been attributed anticancer properties. Nevertheless, it has yet to be discovered which genes in the mushroom are responsible for such beneficial properties for human health. In order to make a breakthrough in this research, Sang-Kyu Park centred his PhD thesis, defended at the Public University of Navarre, concentrating on the study of the genetic map of this type of fungus." [link]:

Burning Man

Yesterday I spent some time digging through some old photos and came across several from Burning Man, '95 [flickr set]. Reminiscing on the event and imagining how far the festival has come I am looking forward to this years event.


Here's the article that inspired me to post this.
Boing Boing: NYE drug of choice for Burners

Boing Boing: Scientific data on Earthquake and Tsunami

Xeni Jardin at BoingBoing.net points us to a website which contains every ounce of tsunmai quake information.[Link]

Boing Boing: Home made tank tears through old shed

[linky]

Tsunami Video

[link]

An awesome video of the tsunami in Koh Lanta Thailand. [thanks Rishi]

Directional headlights

Last night driving the squirly road from my neighborhood I thought it would be great if my headlights had a directional element when taking turns. I noticed during a turn execution that my eyes would look beyond the headlights. If only the lights would pivot slightly to give illumination on the corner. BLASTED too late again. Also, another advantage to smart lighting would be to determine the need for highbeams or not. If oncoming traffic is recognized, switch to low beams automatically and back again when the vehicle passes.

Parisiens will be the first to see Citroen's new C5, equipped with a number of distinctive new features. Among these are a new lane-departure warning system, which vibrates the driver's seat if the vehicle strays out of its lane, Xenon directional headlights, which turn as the car corners, and laminated side glass. The glass reduces noise levels inside the car and raises security due to it being more resistant to breakage.

[link]

Fur/Hair

After Combing The Scientific Literature, Researchers Conclude Head Hair And Fur Aren't The Same.

"Have you ever seen a chimpanzee getting a haircut?"

Hair continues to grow regardless of length while fur stops a some point.

[Link]

NCBuy Weird News: Tsunami Stirring Up Waves Of Sea Serpents - 2004-12-30

Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman worries that rapid relief efforts could jepordize the study of unidentified seamonsters.

[link]

Faiths Ask of Quake: 'Why Did You Do This, God?'

Science News Article | Reuters.com

With the tsunami being the largest natural disaster in recent history, the religious many feel this is a sign of the end of the world. Having two very LDS parents they echo this response. I believe that the world cycles through many events and evolves much like anything else on the planet. Trust science, evolve!

"I personally don't attach any theological significance to this -- I listen to what the scientists say," he said. "God is always the fall guy. We incriminate Him completely unjustly."

Space Invader Shoe

Boing Boing: Space Invader shoe

Oh how I want this added to my Wish list. This gives me more ideas for future concrete work.

U.S. Stingy?

Top News Article | Reuters.com | Bush Vows More U.S. Aid for Tsunami Victims

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush said on Wednesday that a $35 million U.S. pledge for victims of the Asian tsunami was only the beginning and any suggestions America was stingy were "misguided and ill-informed."

Top News Article | Reuters.com | Washington Mayor Signs $1 Billion Baseball Bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams on Wednesday signed a nearly $1 billion stadium funding package, clearing the way for the city to begin work on a ballpark for a Major League Baseball team

Top News Article | Reuters.com | Pentagon Plans Deep Cuts in Costly F/A-22 Fighter

About $40 billion has been spent on the F/A-22 program to date. The Air Force put the current cost per plane at $256.8 million with developmental expenses factored in, and $133.3 million with those expenses excluded

With the total count of the dead expected to reach 100,000 and even more homeless/missing a mere donation to $35M seems completely insignificant considering what we feel is important and directing OUR money towards.

Astronauts on Candy Diet After Pantry Raided

Science News Article | Reuters.com

MIAMI (Reuters) - The two U.S. and Russian astronauts on the International Space Station had to rely on a candy-laden diet for five weeks because their predecessors raided the pantry

Argh Mate, Dar be Soyuz Pirates!

Where Are All the Dead Animals?

Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com

"No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit," he added. "I think animals can sense disaster. They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening.

I would be very interested to know if any low frequency sounds were recorded from when the quake happened up to the point of wave hitting land. Since Elephants use low freqequncies to communicate, did they produce anything to warn others or did they respond to the stimuli produced by the event. Any response by the zoo's in those areas of impact?

Firm Organics

I've nearly completed the test samples for this creation. The concept is simple, 16"x16" x 1" square of concrete with inlayed cross-section of Maple. Beautiful and very contemporary.

For the test castings I played around with several wood sealants (Spray Lacquer, 100% Silicon), all of which failed due to how the sealant was applied.

The failure resulted in rapid expansion of the wood which caused the concrete to split laterally and horizontally based on the 3x3 configuration of the cross-sections.

Another attempt will be made with a product called Jasco Wet Look Cure Seal. I plan on using a a dip and cure process on the cross-sections before they are inserted into the mold. I feel if I can get the cross-sections water tight prior to insertion, they should not absorb any of the water from the 'crete will its curing.

Quake May Have Made Earth Wobble

Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The deadly Asian earthquake may have permanently accelerated the Earth's rotation -- shortening days by a fraction of a second -- and caused the planet to wobble on its axis, U.S. scientists said on Tuesday.

Was this not recorded by geosynchronous sattelights? I would think that if there was any shift concerning rotation or angle of rotation would alter the tracking paths of satellites and other communication based sattelites.

Dwarf Mistletoe Reveals Its Sexual Secrets

Dwarf Mistletoe Reveals Its Sexual Secrets: "'The dwarf species I studied in Manitoba has a gestation period of one-and-a-half years, after which the seed blasts out of the fruit. This extreme buildup of water pressure as a seed dispersal system is rare in the plant world,' says Dr. Cynthia Ross, an assistant professor at the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops, British Columbia."

"The dwarf species I studied in Manitoba has a gestation period of one-and-a-half years, after which the seed blasts out of the fruit. This extreme buildup of water pressure as a seed dispersal system is rare in the plant world," says Dr. Cynthia Ross, an assistant professor at the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops, British Columbia.

What would a forest of sexual ready mistletoe sound like?

Few Americans Are Aware They Have Chronic Kidney Disease

Few Americans Are Aware They Have Chronic Kidney Disease

About 7.4 million people have less than half the kidney function of a healthy young adult. Another 11.3 million have at least half of what's considered normal function, but they also have persistent protein in their urine, a sign of kidney disease. The researchers can't explain the paradox between stable prevalence of kidney disease and rising incidence of kidney failure, but they suggest that fewer patients may be dying and more may be progressing faster to dialysis.

I am suspecting that the most recent diet craves of Atkins and South Beach, focusing on high protien/low carbohydrate meals will increase the dialysis risk for many in the years to come.

Holidays Heighten Need For Better Measurement, Treatment Of Depression

Holidays Heighten Need For Better Measurement, Treatment Of Depression

DALLAS - Dec. 16, 2004 - Images of Christmas trees, Hanukkah lights and families sharing holiday meals may bring cheer to many, but for the 19 million Americans suffering from depressive disorders, the season often accentuates feelings of loneliness and despair.

As the Holiday season starts earlier and earlier each year more and more people will be forced to depended on medication for depression. Save Halloween! Ask for seperate shelf space!

New Study Shows Early Ritalin May Cause Long-term Effects On The Brain

New Study Shows Early Ritalin May Cause Long-term Effects On The Brain

Ritalin is a generic medication prescribed for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition that consists of a persistent pattern of abnormally high level of activity, impulsivity, and/or inattention.

I strongly believe in the cause/effect element of the human body. If a chemical is over or under produced it has a primary cause for this behavior. Medicating only helps relieve symptoms but does little in curing the original problem, the cause. So much of the medication avialbale today have little in term of long life studies. Due to pharmisutical fast-tracking, I'm sure the drug industry is going to swell with new issues due to the drugs they create produce in this manner.

Reality Show Bug

Finding myself bit by the reality show bug, I've a great idea as well as a great location to highlight the new creation and still very experimental "planned community", Hidden Springs. Working on the concept now... future blogg to come...

Surpised

After enduring several episodes of "love is in the Heir", with the wife we both surprisingly realized that we knew one of the lead actors. Michael (the assistant) (Michael Sheinberg AKA DJ Tracer) was one of the first of many people to introduce me to turntablism. Back in '96 my sister and I flew down to SF with some friends from Boise to attend an event hosted by a party crew (called Friends & Family). We all stayed at Todd and Teresa's two story flat, out in Alameda for several days getting to know all. Later that year we all reconvened in the Black Rock desert for the Burning Man Festival (digging up photos). While attending school (97-98), a classmate of mine was in the SF area and ran into Michael. He and this classmate exchanged words and some how I was brought into the conversation. Michael knew my fondness towards music and sent records back to me. Long story short we've lost touch and seeing him on the show makes me realize how far he has come. His personality was always big and fun! Best of luck to him and his acting endeavors.

Wake the World

With the most recent quake (magnitude 9.0) hitting the the island of Sumatra and pairing that with the re-awakening of Mount St. Helens after 25 years one would think that something is building.

Living on the Wasatch fault for most of my rearing quakes were rather the norm, sleeping through some of the night tremors were ever so common. Still, having front row seats here in Boise, Idaho I feel something is about to go ... look for tickets on EBay.