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Quartz: "An ice shelf in Antartica is making eerie noises"
What started as a quest to watch the activity of the largest ice shelf in Antarctica turned into one to hear it instead.
On Tuesday (Oct. 16), researchers led by a team at Colorado State University published a letter describing an accidental discovery (paywall) on the Ross Ice Shelf: while using sensitive seismometers to study the ground below the huge ice shelf (about the size of Spain), they found they could also pick up a sound frequency emitted by the snow as it vibrated due to wind and melting activity.
“We discovered that the shelf nearly continuously sings at frequencies of five or more cycles per second,” the researchers write (emphasis theirs). Although these frequencies are too low for humans to hear naturally, when the sounds are sped up, they sound like the warbly, ominous introduction of a monster in a horror movie.
American Geophysical Union (AGU): "This is what an Antarctic Ice Shelf sounds like" (Youtube)
I'll remember these sounds the next time I watch John Carpenter's The Thing.
+100
Boundary Islet, historically known as North East Islet, part of the Hogan Island Group, is a two-hectare (4.9-acre) islet that straddles the border of the Australian states of Victoria and Tasmania.
The islet is Tasmania's only land boundary, and at 85 metres (279 ft) long, it is the shortest land border between any Australian states or territory.
It is located at latitude 39°12′ S, about 56 kilometres (35 mi) east of the southernmost point of mainland Victoria. The boundary between Victoria and Tasmania is a parallel similarly at latitude 39°12′. The position of the island was surveyed in 1801 by Captain John Black, who erred in placing the islet further north than it actually is. It was later found that the state border at 39°12′ S passed through the islet.
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And now for something completely different: A praying mantis wearing 3-D glasses. For the good of science.
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Zanamivir is a medication used to treat and prevent influenza caused by influenza A and B viruses. It is a neuraminidase inhibitor and was developed by the Australian biotech firm Biota Holdings. It was licensed to Glaxo in 1990 and approved in the US in 1999, only for use as a treatment for influenza. In 2006, it was approved for prevention of influenza A and B. Zanamivir was the first neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. It is currently marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name Relenza as a powder for oral inhalation.
The abandoned Tennessee prison that was used to film The Green Mile was the same place used to film Ernest Goes To Jail.
On a similar tack, the abandoned Ideal Cement Co. factory in Wilmington, NC, closed in 1982, was used to film scenes for both Super Mario Bros. (1993) and The Crow (1994).
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Buc-ee's is a chain of convenience stores located in the Central, North, South, and Southeast regions of Texas. The company is owned by Arch "Beaver" Aplin III and Don Wasek and has its headquarters in Lake Jackson, Texas. The chain is known for its very large-format stores (relative to other convenience stores) and a logo depicting a beaver.
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In issue 26 (June 1997) of the comic series Preacher (written by Garth Ennis), the vampire Cassidy recounts a story of his early years in Ireland and New York, in which he gives the names of his old circle of drinking buddies. Each of Cassidy's friends is named after one of the ship's crew from the 19th century Irish folk song The Irish Rover, which was first recorded and transcribed in 1941, and first released as a single in 1959 by singer Burl Ives. The version of the song that provided the names of Cassidy's friends was the 1987 single recorded by British Celtic rock band The Pogues, and featured Irish singer Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners.
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Buc-ee's is a chain of convenience stores located in the Central, North, South, and Southeast regions of Texas. The company is owned by Arch "Beaver" Aplin III and Don Wasek and has its headquarters in Lake Jackson, Texas. The chain is known for its very large-format stores (relative to other convenience stores) and a logo depicting a beaver.
They're also noted for vast, meticulously clean restrooms and high base pay for employees.
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Batman: Digital Justice is a graphic novel published by DC Comics in 1990 in both hardback and paperback forms. It was written and illustrated by Pepe Moreno entirely using computer hardware, software and techniques. The story takes place outside regular DC continuity, but is not an Elseworlds title.
The book is set in a future Gotham City "at the end of the next century," (the 21st) dominated by high technology, particularly computer networks and their human controllers, long after the original Batman has died. The story revolves around James Gordon, Gotham City Police Department detective and grandson of Commissioner James Gordon, who takes on the identity of the Batman to free the city from a sentient computer virus crafted by the Joker, also now long dead, and to avenge the death of his partner Lena Schwartz. He is aided by a self-aware computer called the Batcomp, programmed by the late Bruce Wayne, and a robot called Alfred (after Wayne's also deceased butler Alfred Pennyworth), both residing in the Batcave under a now long-abandoned Wayne Manor. Joining Gordon in his new crusade against crime and the city's corrupt government are a teenage street-punk informant, who becomes the new Robin; and a female pop music superstar named Sheila Romero (stage name Gata), who becomes the new Catwoman and, while being his adversary at first, eventually becomes Gordon's lover and ally.
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Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott proposed the name "Deaf Leopard" for the band, which was originally thought up while writing reviews for imaginary rock bands in his high school English class. At the suggestion of Tony Kenning, the band's original drummer, the spelling was slightly modified in order to make the name seem less like that of a punk band.
With their albums Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987) both certified Diamond by the RIAA, Def Leppard are one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling over 10 million copies each in the US, alongside the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Van Halen.
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I can still remember buying the "Pyromania" LP the week it came out in 1983. I didn't like the title track much but the rest of it just blew me away. I remember half of the wing of my dorm came to my room to check it out after I blasted it through my stereo system.
I can still remember buying the "Pyromania" LP the week it came out in 1983. I didn't like the title track much but the rest of it just blew me away. I remember half of the wing of my dorm came to my room to check it out after I blasted it through my stereo system.
Though I can definitively state that this album was "before my time," and that neighbors playing music at high volume is one of the things I dislike the most in this world... I f$@!ing love that album. Let it not be said that I am 100% square.
In the movie The Sword and the Sorcerer... the sword is really three swordsMuch like how the Glaive in Krull is really a novelty catalog knife.
In other "Not Actually A Glaive" news, I present you with Glaive of the Guildpact.
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Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones (2002) is the longest Star Wars film to date, clocking in at 142 minutes. The shortest film in the series is Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), with a running time of 127 minutes.Oh...
I thought Attack of the Clones just seemed like the longest film. Ever.
The title of "longest film ever made" belongs to the 2012 Swedish experimental art film Logistics, directed by Erika Magnusson and Daniel Andersson, which follows the production cycle of a digital pedometer in reverse chronological order from sale to original manufacture in real time. The film itself runs for 51,420 minutes (857 hours, or 35 days and 17 hours).
The longest film ever to receive a theatrical screening is the 1987 documentary film Resan, directed by Peter Watkins, which is structured around the themes of nuclear weapons, poverty, and the military-industrial complex. The film runs for 873 minutes (14 hours and 33 minutes).
The longest film conceived as an artistic unity and produced simultaneously, or consecutively with no significant interruption or change of production team is the silent Chinese film serial The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple, adapted from the classic Chinese novel The Tale of the Extraordinary Swordsman. The film was directed by Zhang Shichuan and released in 16 parts between the years 1928 and 1931, with a runtime of 1620 min (27 hours, or 1 day, 3 hours).
The longest film conceived as an artistic unity and produced simultaneously with a wide theatrical release was the Lord of the Rings trilogy, adapted from the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, and directed by Peter Jackson. Released between 2001 and 2003, the three segments (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King) have a combined runtime of 681 min (11 hours, 21 minutes). An extended cut of all three films was later released on home video, clocking in at 726 minutes (12 hours, 6 minutes).
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During the later months of the Kosovo War...
Speaking of Kosovo:
In June of 1999, NATO forces were ordered by United States general Wesley Clark to "overpower and destroy" Russian forces occupying the critical Pristina airfield in Kosovo. However, the ranking officer on the scene, British Army captain James H. Blount, questioned the order, instead passing it on to his own commanding officer, British general Sir Mike D. Jackson, who challenged and countermanded the order. NATO forces ultimately encircled the airfield, forcing the Russians to agree to a compromise.
In other words, we have this guy to thank for averting World War III twenty years ago.
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin turbofan engine, straight wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). Commonly referred to by the nicknames "Warthog" or "Hog", its official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II fighter that was effective at attacking ground targets.
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Let it not be said that I am 100% square.
"Well for a long time now I've been aware
That I'm so hip the rest of the world is square."-- Shel Silverstein, "It does not pay to be hip".
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Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott proposed the name "Deaf Leopard" for the band, which was originally thought up while writing reviews for imaginary rock bands in his high school English class. At the suggestion of Tony Kenning, the band's original drummer, the spelling was slightly modified in order to make the name seem less like that of a punk band.
With their albums Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987) both certified Diamond by the RIAA, Def Leppard are one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling over 10 million copies each in the US, alongside the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Van Halen.
Didn't like Def Leppard then, still don't like Def Leppard.
The Alan Parsons Project, Johnny Cash, Jethro Tull, Traffic, the Dead Kennedys, Mozart, Enya, Amy Winehouse, System of a Down, Blondie, etc., yes. Nineteen-eighties "hair bands", no.
The last time Def Leppard played here in Arkansas (in Little Rock) they were asked to come to visit the Arkansas School for the Deaf. I kid you not, the School for the Deaf's mascot is the leopard. DL went out and did some photo ops with some of the kids.
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The last time Def Leppard played here in Arkansas (in Little Rock) they were asked to come to visit the Arkansas School for the Deaf. I kid you not, the School for the Deaf's mascot is the leopard. DL went out and did some photo ops with some of the kids.
Cool. I like them better now.
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The last time Def Leppard played here in Arkansas (in Little Rock) they were asked to come to visit the Arkansas School for the Deaf. I kid you not, the School for the Deaf's mascot is the leopard. DL went out and did some photo ops with some of the kids.Cool. I like them better now.
I'm really gonna miss them.
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"Burtonesque" is a word.
That is so 1990s. If I were to use Burtonesque in a conversation now, I'd be referring to Amos Burton of The Expanse. {proudly displays WWABD engraved on assault rifle}
Another MTG fact: for the first set of magic the gathering (Limited Edition Alpha, Limited Edition Beta, and Unlimited Edition) land cards were used as filler on the uncut sheets, including the rare sheet (which had only islands).
As a result, the number of land cards in a starter or booster pack was not standard, and there was a chance that a land card was placed in a pack instead of a card of a given rarity. There was even a 3 percent chance or so that one got an island instead of a rare.
To be fair, as of 2018, while not as valuable as the ~$20,000 Alpha Black Lotus, an Alpha Island is still worth about $50.00, significantly more than the price of a booster pack in 1993 ($2.00 and change). Alpha booster packs currently go for around 5-6 grand a pop.