Science confirms: Don’t go to sleep angry

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January 20, 2012

“Don’t let the sun set on your anger”

The old anecdotal saying that you should never go to sleep angry just got backed up by science, thanks to UMass Amherst neuroscientists. Their study concludes that if you have a negative emotional response—their examples were for viewing an unsettling picture or experiencing a traumatic event—the response is reduced if you stay awake afterwards. If you go to sleep immediately, the response is “protected,” meaning that when you are exposed to the effect again, your negative response will be just as negative as the first time.

Vangelis – La Petite Fille de la Mer

By

Alan

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January 17, 2012

Vangelis developed an interest in music at age four, composing on the family piano and experimenting with sounds by placing nails and kitchen pans inside it and with radio interference.

At six his parents enrolled him for music lessons, but Vangelis later said that his attempts to study “failed” as he preferred to develop technique on his own.

Vangelis – Ευάγγελος Οδυσσέας Παπαθανασίου

He considers himself fortunate to have not attended music school, as it impedes creativity. He learned to play from memory. “When the teachers asked me to play something, I would pretend that I was reading it and play from memory. I didn’t fool them, but I didn’t care”, said Vangelis.

He studied painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts.

He also found traditional Greek music as particularly important in his childhood, but at twelve developed an interest in jazz and rock.

At fifteen, he started to form school bands, not to cover other musicians but to have fun. He acquired his first Hammond organ at eighteen. In 1963, both he and three school friends started a five-piece rock band The Forminx (or The Formynx), playing cover songs and original material largely written by Vangelis with English lyrics by radio DJ and record producer Nico Mastorakis. After nine singles and one Christmas EP, which found success across Europe, the group disbanded in 1966.

In 1980, he agreed to record the score for Chariots of Fire (1981); he accepted because “I liked the people I was working with. It was a very humble, low-budget film.”

The choice of music was unorthodox as most period films featured orchestral scores, whereas Vangelis’s music was modern and synthesiser-oriented. It gained mainstream commercial success which increased Vangelis’s profile as a result. The opening instrumental title piece, “Titles”, later named “Chariots of Fire – Titles”, was released as a single which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week after a five-month climb.

The world’s largest Adserver

By

Alan

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January 16, 2012

The writing was on the wall for Google, when in April, 2007, it bought DoubleClick for $3.1 Billion.

Google, as a Search Engine, has been on the decline every since that time. The mantra, “Do No Evil” .. no longer applied as Google integrated DoubleClick into it’s core ads function.

DoubleClick: A history

“DoubleClick is often linked with the controversy over spyware because browser HTTP cookies are set to track users as they travel from website to website and record which commercial advertisements they view and select while browsing. DoubleClick is considered to be malware by several commercial organizations (Adaware, Symantec, Spybot) which detect it and provide the tools to block/remove it.

DoubleClick has also been criticized for misleading users by offering an opt-out option that is insufficiently effective. According to a San Francisco IT consulting group, although the opt-out option affects cookies, DoubleClick does not allow users to opt out of IP address-based tracking.

DoubleClick with MSN were shown serving malware via drive-by download exploits by a group of attackers for some time in December 2010.”

Google, in it’s early years, stood out to most, as a shining city on the hill when it came to search. Over the years however, Google has wandered away from it’s core as a search engine. It began the shift upon after the purchase of DoubleClick.

I used to block out the DoubleClick. I’d remove DoubleClick’s influences from my local machine at every opportunity .. I’ve since even refused to use Google’s toolbar (or any toolbar) and Google’s Web Browser Chrome.

Adservers are just that … Adservers. And over the years it’s become quite evident to me that this is what Google has become .. The Largest Adserver in the world.

“In other words, the search results that we supposedly value so highly are themselves paid placements, just like Google’s keyword ads. It’s just that in the case of search results, link owners have paid for SEO (search-engine optimization) to get Google’s attention instead of paying for SEM (search engine marketing) to make Google give their links prominence. Either way, though, searches are mostly just producing ads by any other name.” This, according to Peter Yared of CNET

The article above makes references to the Google+ and of how it’s felt that Google is Ditching Search ..

Google has been trying to ditch search for years.

There’s no money in search.

All of the greats, HotBot, Alta Vista, Excite .. All of them failed as a result of not being able to make search pay for itself. As soon as the venture capital left, so did they … No one has ever quite figured out how to monetize search .. This is why Google bought the technology of DoubleClick .. it needed an out, even as early as 2007.

Just Fix It

By

Alan

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January 14, 2012

Here are a few simple fix-it’s in list form to help you to get through your day:

1. If you’re choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat.
Presto — The blockage will instantly remove itself.

2. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop.

3. Avoid arguments about the toilet seat — Use the sink

4. For high blood pressure sufferers — Simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you will be afraid to cough.

7. You only need two tools in life — WD40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn’t move and should, use the WD40. If it shouldn’t move and does, use the Duct Tape.

8. Remember — Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

9. If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.

10. Crayons are just like M&Ms — They taste the same no matter what color they are.

… and finally

Daily Thought:

Some people are like slinkies — Not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

Be sure to stay tuned in for more fix-it tips and tricks.

Thanks for the read.

Happy Trails

Canadian Forces Snowbirds — 2011 Abbotsford Airshow

By

Alan

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January 12, 2012

Canadian Forces Snowbirds, officially known as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, are the military aerobatics flight demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Taking advantage of a beautiful sunny day, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform their fantastic high routine during the first day of the 2011 Abbotsford airshow.

Friday, August 12, 2011.

Air show video:

Although less imposing than a Blue Angels F-18 or a Thunderbirds F-16, these magnificent Canadair Tutor jets are elegant and beautiful to watch. And the fact that there are nine of them instead of six adds to the variety and beauty of the patterns and maneuvers they fly.

For more info about the Snowbirds please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/services/showcasing/snowbirds.html

Note:

The Snowbirds were formed in 1971, taking over from previous teams like the Golden Centennaires, and have since become a symbol of national pride, showcasing the skill, professionalism, and teamwork of Canadian Forces personnel. Their history is deeply rooted in Canadian military aviation, with the squadron’s numerical designation (431) harking back to a World War II bomber squadron.

They fly the Canadair CT-114 Tutor, which, despite its age, has been part of their formation for decades. There’s been discussion and planning for replacing these aircraft due to obsolescence, with a project aimed at procuring new aircraft between 2026 and 2035.

The Snowbirds perform across Canada and sometimes internationally, showcasing at air shows and special events. Their schedule for 2024 included performances from May through October, covering various cities in Canada and a few in the U.S., like Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Reno, Nevada.

They were the first aerobatic team to use music in their air shows, adding a unique element to their performances. In 1990, they introduced red smoke to mark significant anniversaries. Their performances often include live commentary from pilots, enhancing the audience’s experience.

The Snowbirds often generate positive media coverage due to their spectacular displays and their role in community engagement and morale boosting, especially highlighted during times of national or global significance.