Remote Camera

These photographs were taken by Anup Shah using a remote camera.  They are gorgeous!

See more here!  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2252061/Anup-Shah-Close-photographs-African-wildlife-stunning-light.html

Ooooh.

Christmas Eve Eve is like this guy staring at a ladybug.

The Bounty Sinks!

I'm way behind on this story, but I figured most people hadn't heard about this, either.  Or maybe I was too drawn into the disasters of Northern NJ and NYC to really notice Sandy problems further south.  Regardless, let's take a moment to look back again on a beautiful replica ship.

The story of Mutiny on the Bounty is one of my favorites.  I've read many testimonies about William Bligh and Fletcher Christian and continue to get really excited when I see research (and more research!) coming out of the populations from Pitcairn and Norfolk Islands.  If you aren't familiar with the story, read the trilogy (which is a fictional account, but will hook your interest to read so much more!)

Unsurprisingly, the Bounty itself did not survive the mutiny.  The mutineers, lead by Fletcher Christian, ran the ship ashore at Pitcairn Island and then burned it so no trace of their crime would be left behind.  For the 1962 film starring Marlon Brando, a replica of the Bounty was built for filming.  Since then, this beautiful ship (see below) was used in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, for rentals and tours.  Unfortunately, the Bounty ran into trouble during Hurricane Sandy and sunk off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on October 29th, 2012.  All but two crew members were saved by the Coast Guard.

CNN.com news story: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/29/us/sandy-bounty-ship/index.html

Here are a few pictures of the Bounty!

A reason for exercise

Last week's Nature magazine had a series of articles on aging.  One article (LINK!) says that with all the research, most scientists agree on two things:

1. Just about everyone will experience mental decline, typically in memory, by age 60.
2. Aerobic exercise delays/slows mental decline.

Go outside and run!

Meth.

I've debated putting a post up about this new anti-drug campaign, but in the end I decided to do it.  I warn you, the links that I attached to this post show some rather striking images of people's faces before and after taking methamphetamine.  If this doesn't turn kids off of taking meth, then I'm not sure what in the world would.  The poster also explains the tell-tale signs of meth-abusers, including "meth mouth," sunken cheeks, scabs on their faces and premature aging.

In full disclosure, one of the early comparison pictures shows a young woman who clearly has scars from facial burns.  This woman was involved in a meth lab explosion leading to a debate whether this could be classified as "due to taking meth."  I argue that it does.

Yes, the campaign takes the more horrifying pictures to make a point.  No, not every person who takes meth will end up with such terrible changes to their appearance, but it certainly makes a dramatic point.  If it scares even one kid away from taking this highly addictive drug, then it has served its purpose.

LINK to Meth poster: http://i46.tinypic.com/2ef3hiv.jpg

LINK to article discussing the poster: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244031/The-horror-Meth-Before-pictures-reveal-shocking-transformation-faces-users-hooked-deadly-drug.html#comments

LINK to the MethProject for more information on its dangers: http://www.methproject.org/

I think we need to bring out the classic Anti-Drugs commercial for this post's picture:

116 Years Old!

Here are some highlights from the year 1896:

- Utah becomes the 45th U.S. state (January 4th)
- Opening Ceremonies for first modern Olympics are held in Athens (April 6th)
- Queen Victoria becomes the longest reigning monarch in Britian (September 22nd)
- William McKinley is elected president of the United States by defeating William Jennings Bryan (November 3rd)

You know what else happened?  Besse Cooper was born.  She joined the women's suffrage movement at age 24.  She married in 1924, had four children and was widowed in 1963.  She became a school teacher during World War I.  She also claims eleven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and amazingly two great-great granchildren!

In January 2011, Guinness World Records gave her the distinction of the oldest living human.  She died peacefully on Tuesday, December 4th, 2012, aged 116.

What an amazing life!!

LINK to her story on CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/04/us/georgia-oldest-person-dies/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

LINK to her story on ABCNews: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/05/15690486-worlds-oldest-woman-besse-cooper-dies-at-116-in-georgia-nursing-home?lite

Not quite Old Tom Parr, but her story is one for the record books!

Serengeti Story

I have a thing for books.  It's tragic, really - I'll spend $50 in Barnes and Noble without batting an eye.  This is why Viggle and their B&N gift cards are excellent.  Look into it.

Anyway, I caught this synopsis for "Serengeti Story: A Scientist in Paradise" in last week's Nature magazine.  Now, I want it.  The book is written by Anthony Sinclair who has spent 50 years studying this area of East Africa.  The book covers its ecological, social, political and economic history.

One day, I'm going to the Serengeti.  Absolutely.

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Serengeti-Story-scientist-paradise-ebook/dp/B009SNGLDK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354635237&sr=8-1&keywords=serengeti+story

Serengeti's Official Website: http://www.serengeti.org/