I watched this documentary last night about Biomimetics. What the heck?! Yeah, you heard me say it: biomimetics. it's the study of nature to help deal with our problems and current design issues.
For example, how does a wolf stay warm in the winter? He has the human equivalent of a ushanka. Wait. Hold up. Scrap that. It's the other way around. We've developed something similar to what animals have and in this particular case--when we wear the animal equivalent of a fox fur hat, then quite frankly, we stay warm.
That's the general idea. But these weren't the topics of the documentary last night. The film-maker focused on other things like how sharks manage to keep swimming but use up very little energy. And Caribou also. How do they walk in the ice and snow and not sink? And another thing--tree frogs. How do they suction themselves to glass and yet, have the ability to ply their feet free. And since nature doesn't have wheels--no creature has wheels that is, how do bugs navigate difficult terrain? And how do we employ nature's smarts? These were the topics examined.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Just When I'm Getting Used to the Cold
I love the cold crisp get-out-your fox fur hat kind of weather that we've been having lately.
Admittedly though, I also like the fact that we seem to have a very late, very unexpected Indian summer. I know, I know! It's November for heaven's sake. But when I ventured outside today, I actually had to shed some of my winter wear. I had to toss the polar fleece vest and the half-mittens. I had to turn off my heat and crack the windows ever so slightly.
Because I find that here in the South West desert, when it's slightly warm out and that sun is shining it'll melt you all the way down to nothing if you don't peel off the layers. It's a funny climate and the elevation accentuates everything. This is prime melanoma country. You've got to take precautions. You're gonna need that sunblock. It's great in the winter because it makes everything warmer. And there's nothing more wonderful than snow capped peaks and a nice temperate day.
Admittedly though, I also like the fact that we seem to have a very late, very unexpected Indian summer. I know, I know! It's November for heaven's sake. But when I ventured outside today, I actually had to shed some of my winter wear. I had to toss the polar fleece vest and the half-mittens. I had to turn off my heat and crack the windows ever so slightly.
Because I find that here in the South West desert, when it's slightly warm out and that sun is shining it'll melt you all the way down to nothing if you don't peel off the layers. It's a funny climate and the elevation accentuates everything. This is prime melanoma country. You've got to take precautions. You're gonna need that sunblock. It's great in the winter because it makes everything warmer. And there's nothing more wonderful than snow capped peaks and a nice temperate day.
The Races and Hot Dogs -- a Memoir
I've been to the races before. I went to the 1975 Queen's Plate in Woodbine Ontario. And I still remember the jockey who won. Sandy Holly. And crazily enough I still even remember the horse who was showered with champagne for beating all the other horses. His name was Longileure. A Or something phonetically akin to that. And he was retired shortly after this event probably because he pulled a tendon or had something else happen to a leg. Those thoroughbreds typically have very short-lived careers.
I was just a kid--maybe twelve or less, and yet that day at the track had a huge impact on me. I don't know what was more impressive--- seeing my dad place bets and get all excited when his horse got in on the game and hearing him curse when his horse didn't make it, or maybe just watching the crowd go ape wild. It was something to behold.
See, In Canada, racing was as big as any soccer betting. I just stood there eating my hot dog and popcorn, watching all the pretty horses fly by and picking which one I wanted to win based on the color of the numbers and jockey uniforms. That's the kind of thing that mattered to me back then. The riding and the aesthetics. I was crazy about horse-back riding then and a pre-adolescent so for me, it was more of an equestrian event than it was a money maker/time waster.
But I crack up thinking back to my dad taking me to the track. That's his kind of thing. He's an interesting man. Horse races, and billiards. The stuff he exposed me to--when I was a mere child--well, needless to say, my mother didn't approve and she would show her disapproval. Not surprisingly, the two of them were divorced when I was only twelve and my mom had little control over where we went or what we did when my dad had us during the weekends.
It wasn't usually Christian-centered activity. But he was a good father in that he always tried to expose us to new places (i.e. Mexico, California, Europe) and he always wanted us to appreciate good food and the things that make life interesting. He took us to African Lion Safari, Niagara Falls on the lake, the North Atlantic coast and many other spots that I never would've been exposed to had he not been all that interested in life. He's just the sort of man who takes a genuine interest in exploration of ideas and places.
And for that reason alone, I will appreciate his energy and curiosity forever.
I was just a kid--maybe twelve or less, and yet that day at the track had a huge impact on me. I don't know what was more impressive--- seeing my dad place bets and get all excited when his horse got in on the game and hearing him curse when his horse didn't make it, or maybe just watching the crowd go ape wild. It was something to behold.
See, In Canada, racing was as big as any soccer betting. I just stood there eating my hot dog and popcorn, watching all the pretty horses fly by and picking which one I wanted to win based on the color of the numbers and jockey uniforms. That's the kind of thing that mattered to me back then. The riding and the aesthetics. I was crazy about horse-back riding then and a pre-adolescent so for me, it was more of an equestrian event than it was a money maker/time waster.
But I crack up thinking back to my dad taking me to the track. That's his kind of thing. He's an interesting man. Horse races, and billiards. The stuff he exposed me to--when I was a mere child--well, needless to say, my mother didn't approve and she would show her disapproval. Not surprisingly, the two of them were divorced when I was only twelve and my mom had little control over where we went or what we did when my dad had us during the weekends.
It wasn't usually Christian-centered activity. But he was a good father in that he always tried to expose us to new places (i.e. Mexico, California, Europe) and he always wanted us to appreciate good food and the things that make life interesting. He took us to African Lion Safari, Niagara Falls on the lake, the North Atlantic coast and many other spots that I never would've been exposed to had he not been all that interested in life. He's just the sort of man who takes a genuine interest in exploration of ideas and places.
And for that reason alone, I will appreciate his energy and curiosity forever.
Free Theatre - is Anything Better?
I don't watch organized sports much. There's no fantasy league I subscribe to. Quite simply I've got no baseball predictions, no football forecast, no soccer tips.
What I can predict quite aptly is how great "The Drowsy Chaperone" will be when I see it next week at the Hale Theater West in Salt Lake City. Because I'm going. Yeah, my brother-in-law's mom called me a few days back and invited me because she has no-one else to go with. There's no one in her family who can be bothered to go to the theater-which is something that astounds me. She has a big family after-all.
And I don't even mind being a last minute choice. I don't care that she calls me when nobody else is in the mood to attend. It's a free ticket for me to see a live show and because I'm a very nice person, I always offer to buy her a bite to eat beforehand. It works for both of us. It's a win, win.
And the last one we went to, "Pirates of Penzance" was absolutely awesome and every seat in the place is great because the venue is so small.
What I can predict quite aptly is how great "The Drowsy Chaperone" will be when I see it next week at the Hale Theater West in Salt Lake City. Because I'm going. Yeah, my brother-in-law's mom called me a few days back and invited me because she has no-one else to go with. There's no one in her family who can be bothered to go to the theater-which is something that astounds me. She has a big family after-all.
And I don't even mind being a last minute choice. I don't care that she calls me when nobody else is in the mood to attend. It's a free ticket for me to see a live show and because I'm a very nice person, I always offer to buy her a bite to eat beforehand. It works for both of us. It's a win, win.
And the last one we went to, "Pirates of Penzance" was absolutely awesome and every seat in the place is great because the venue is so small.
Soccer Not so Much
I have zero soccer picks. I mean I guess it's the biggest sport in Africa as well as in the U.K. and elsewhere throughout Europe. And it's getting a lot of attention in America now.
Truthfully speaking, I find it a bit boring. Like hockey and unlike basketball, it's a really low scoring game. But unlike hockey, it's really dull to watch, mainly because the field is so huge and there aren't any good fights--normally anyway. So it's sort of like hockey but without any head banging or body checking or jersey pulling and for a spectator well that's just no fun at all.
I grew up with hockey on in the background of everywhere I went. And it's honestly the only real organized sport that I like. Baseball is slow moving and loses my interest. With hockey if all else fails you can watch the guys skate. And that's always a lot of fun. And when they bang into the boards--well that's pretty dang cool. Especially if you're sitting up close.
Truthfully speaking, I find it a bit boring. Like hockey and unlike basketball, it's a really low scoring game. But unlike hockey, it's really dull to watch, mainly because the field is so huge and there aren't any good fights--normally anyway. So it's sort of like hockey but without any head banging or body checking or jersey pulling and for a spectator well that's just no fun at all.
I grew up with hockey on in the background of everywhere I went. And it's honestly the only real organized sport that I like. Baseball is slow moving and loses my interest. With hockey if all else fails you can watch the guys skate. And that's always a lot of fun. And when they bang into the boards--well that's pretty dang cool. Especially if you're sitting up close.
Experimental Soccer
When my daughter was about six years old, I decided that I was going to do what parents should do for their children and that is this: enroll them in as many events and sports as we could possibly cram into her little life--because she may latch onto something great and be a complete natural. You never know. And I felt that as a parent it is my responsibility to not leave one stone unturned, so I busied her in various things. Gymnastics and soccer were first on the list of things to do/see about.
You're right if you bet soccer was my biggest dream as a parent. I'd love to have a little Mia Hamm. How many times I've driven past a field and noticed girls convening against each other in uniform, with those shin pads and cleats and hair all ponytailed and cute. I've always thought that if one of my three daughters became an athlete, that's the sport I'd want her to excel in.
But it wasn't meant to be. She didn't take to soccer. In fact, she kept looking for cool insects and weeds in the grass out in the field. And I had to keep yelling to help her stay focused. All three of my daughters have turned out to be much more artsy than athletic.Experimental
When my daughter was about six years old, I decided that I was going to do what parents should do for their children and that is this: enroll them in as many events and sports as we could possibly cram into her little life--because she may latch onto something great and be a complete natural. You never know. And I felt that as a parent it is my responsibility to not leave one stone unturned, so I busied her in various things. Gymnastics and soccer were first on the list of things to do/see about.
You're right if you bet soccer was my biggest dream as a parent. I'd love to have a little Mia Hamm. How many times I've driven past a field and noticed girls convening against each other in uniform, with those shin pads and cleats and hair all ponytailed and cute. I've always thought that if one of my three daughters became an athlete, that's the sport I'd want her to excel in.
But it wasn't meant to be. She didn't take to soccer. In fact, she kept looking for cool insects and weeds in the grass out in the field. And I had to keep yelling to help her stay focused. All three of my daughters have turned out to be much more artsy than athletic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)