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Random bits of this and that
How 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