Random bits of this and that
Feb. 21st, 2010 11:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magidHow can it be snowing fast, with large clumps of flakes, and barely have any accumulation?
Why is it Tzom Gedaliah, yet Ta'anit Esther?
Sock peeves:
For those who like Guy Gavriel Kay's duology Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors, some related nonfiction: there's a movie being made about the tunnels under Hagia Sophia (and it looks like there aren't tunnels from the temple to the nearby palaces, alas), and a history of Justinian and the black death. I was surprised at how much solid history is in GGK's book, while some things I'd thought likely true weren't at all; he weaves a seamless cloth.
Which leads to the other links that have been hanging around:
Maps
- tactile maps, including maps of coastlines and touchable plans made for a blind architect
- a flood map of the world, ranging from 1 m to 14 m; looks like my house technically is ok to 10 m (though of course, given how blocky the flood overlay is, I suspect deep trouble at that depth anyway)
- a map of Europe in booze belts (the rest of the blog is interesting too)
- Tube maps: using food names or in Maori
Science
- carnivorous plants' sticky pitcher fluid may become useful as a natural fungicide
- the Jantar Mantar, Indian astronomical observatories that did not have telescopes, but amazing architecture (including a huge sundial accurate to 2 seconds)
Living/Art/Music
- living 33 feet in the air, on the outside of a wall
- audio files of cassettes from Africa
- a remake of the War of the Worlds, in 30 seconds, with bunnies
Why is it Tzom Gedaliah, yet Ta'anit Esther?
Sock peeves:
- ankle socks that slip past my heel
- knee socks that don't reach my knees
- knee or above-the-knee socks that slide down to my ankles
- knee socks that compress my calves uncomfortably
For those who like Guy Gavriel Kay's duology Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors, some related nonfiction: there's a movie being made about the tunnels under Hagia Sophia (and it looks like there aren't tunnels from the temple to the nearby palaces, alas), and a history of Justinian and the black death. I was surprised at how much solid history is in GGK's book, while some things I'd thought likely true weren't at all; he weaves a seamless cloth.
Which leads to the other links that have been hanging around:
Maps
- tactile maps, including maps of coastlines and touchable plans made for a blind architect
- a flood map of the world, ranging from 1 m to 14 m; looks like my house technically is ok to 10 m (though of course, given how blocky the flood overlay is, I suspect deep trouble at that depth anyway)
- a map of Europe in booze belts (the rest of the blog is interesting too)
- Tube maps: using food names or in Maori
Science
- carnivorous plants' sticky pitcher fluid may become useful as a natural fungicide
- the Jantar Mantar, Indian astronomical observatories that did not have telescopes, but amazing architecture (including a huge sundial accurate to 2 seconds)
Living/Art/Music
- living 33 feet in the air, on the outside of a wall
- audio files of cassettes from Africa
- a remake of the War of the Worlds, in 30 seconds, with bunnies