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The Vintages Project is a recent initiative entirely dedicated to the preservation of Pipe and Tobacco history. Launched by Neill Archer Roan, the author of the prestigious website A Passion for Pipes, its first contribution comes from the honorable Jon Guss in the form of an astoundingly accurate dating guide for Sobranie of London tobacco tins. Albeit the specificity of this document, in itself a fragment of a wider research still being conducted, it does provide a unique insight regarding the legacy of that once great tobacco company founded in London, during the year of 1879.
I believe it would be no exaggeration to say that this project and its noble ambitions, alongside the very first fruit it gracefully yielded, represent the single greatest breakthrough witnessed in the field of pipe tobacco studies in a long time. In Mr. Guss’ excellent document I found a keenness for rigor and method that is not only rare, as it is laudable in itself. At this point in time, the history of pipe tobacco can no longer be written in broad and imprecise terms; rather, it demands an approach that contemplates its many intricacies to their slightest detail.
The way forth is always uncovered by those who are willing to go to the necessary lengths in order to retrieve information that has never before been examined or suitably treated. Such a display of passion and dedication gives me renewed hope, together with the assurance that this research is now entrusted the best possible hands. I therefore invite all my visitors to read this most valuable publication.
Visit the Vintages Project homepage.
Oy! This just sets off my CDO (oh, I mean, OCD)! Whew.
The new music video from OK Go, made in partnership with Chevrolet. OK Go set up over 1000 instruments over two miles of desert outside Los Angeles. A Chevy Sonic was outfitted with retractable pneumatic arms designed to play the instruments, and the band recorded this version of Needing/Getting, singing as they played the instrument array with the car. The video took 4 months of preparation and 4 days of shooting and recording. There are no ringers or stand-ins; Damian took stunt driving lessons. Each piano had the lowest octaves tuned to the same note so that they’d play the right note no matter where they were struck. For more information and behind-the-scenes footage, see http://www.LetsDoThis.com and http://www.okgo.net.
Director: Brian L. Perkins & Damian Kulash, Jr.
Director of Photography: Yon Thomas
Editor: Doug Walker
Producer: Luke Ricci
I’m in awe of this amazingly cool painting.
The first in a series of 12 paintings I hope to complete by February, in time for my solo art show at a local museum, AND to apply for graduate schools for the fall of 2012.
I went through an artistic depression a few weeks ago. Nothing I did worked. I painted myself into a rut. And then I started to break out everything in my arsenal: ink pen, watercolour, pastels, acrylics. And viola. Spell broken.
This is called The Dreaming Place. I think it’s a good start to what will hopefully become a trend of works.
15in x 22in at 140lb watercolour paper.
P.S
You may recognise the composition as similar to my Sketchbook Project 2012 composition. That was a study for this one.
On 23 January 2012, a magnitude M8.7 (M9-class) X-ray flare erupted in NOAA Active Sunspot Region (AR) 1402. The long-duration flare peaked at 0359 UTC. This flare triggered a proton event, resulting in an S3 (Strong) Radiation (Proton) Storm and a Polar Cap Absorption (PCA) event over the polar regions.
This PCA event caused a complete radio blackout over high-latitude and polar regions. This results in any trans-polar radio paths to become as dead as a rock.
This solar proton radiation storm is the strongest since September, 2005, which was during the last solar sunspot cycle, Solar Cycle 23. An S3-level radiation storm causes airlines to divert air traffic away from the polar regions. This level of a storm could also cause satellite issues, with GPS and communications being affected. Additionally, those living and working in polar regions must take precautions not to be exposed to this radiation.
At the end of the video, you will see the Coronal Mass Ejection that was released by this flare. This is a fast-moving CME and it is expected to arrive at Earth on January 24, 2012, triggering a G1 to G3 level geomagnetic storm.
X-ray flares are huge explosive releases of energy, including X-ray and light energy. This light and X-ray energy reaches Earth at the speed of light—eight minutes later. When it reaches Earth, it causes the ionosphere to become highly energized, so much so that the D-region (the lowest region) absorbs shortwave, and medium wave, frequencies, blocking them from going any further (and being refracted or propagated long distances around the world).
Credit: NASA SDO / AIA / LASCO / STEREO
(Source: youtube.com)
Big Dog to Little Dog:
“They say that SOPA will end our ability to watching Kitty Videos!”
(Source: thefluffingtonpost)
True Visionaries of the Future, in 1922
For what it is worth, there were moments of incredible vision and clarity in the magazine staff of “Radio News”. Here is an example. On the cover of the January 1922 edition, this picture predicts a time in the future when radio will become the “Street Organ of the Future.” Remember the Boom Box craze of the 1980s? And, now, as we have all our personal devices? This was truly visionary, back in 1922.
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