There are two species of gorillas, mountain and lowland, and they seem to have diverged around 80,000 years ago. The lowlanders split into fairly well defined subspecies, eastern and western. However, these authors report there is a "zone of introgression between eastern gorillas and migrants from the west," meaning that they are hybridizing. The point, without getting too deep into taxonomic waters that I'm really not qualified to wade into, is that gene flow works in all sorts of directions, and gorillas turn out to be a very complex group. It's a good lesson when puzzling out relationships of any creatures.
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Saturday, April 2, 2011
How to build a space station
USA Today provides this excellent Flash timeline graphic, showing the addition of each module, truss, and solar panel as the greatest-ever construction project in space has grown over the years. The International Space Station may have been troubled by politics, cost overruns, and technical glitches, but it is vital that our species learn how to build off-planet, and the only way to learn the lessons needed for the future is to actually build a complex habitat like this.
THANKS TO Paul Kolodziejski for sending me this.
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THANKS TO Paul Kolodziejski for sending me this.
Recommended: A Seal's Life
I'd never watched this 2007 documentary before, but it was clearly a painstaking effort to document everything about a remarkable creature, the Northern elephant seal. Dr. Sylvia Earle, sounding like the science teacher you always wish you had, does the narration. The videography is simply beautiful, and there are facts of interest for everyone: I'd read about the species but never knew how it had survived almost certain extinction. A tour of a kelp forest is one of the interesting byways taken in following the seal's migration.
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Mr. Coleman's Museum
The Boston Globe article reprinted here, with some great photographs, features a sympathetic interview with cryptozoologist Loren Coleman and a tour of his Cryptozoology Museum. This is a place I absolutely will visit one day, although my current corporate life has sent me no closer than Virgina. It'll work out.
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Ballparks Upgrade to Keep Fans Happy & Entertained
As the 2011 baseball season gets underway, I've got a spring in my step. I flat out love baseball.
What has been a neat thing for me these past few years has been watching the influence of high tech on my beloved game. Baseball is a game of memories and statistics that you can compare over the ages. However, since about 2003 or so there has been a tremendous influx of high tech into that world and I find the way they go together fascinating. Not to mention that many of these upgrades are in the scoreboard world which brings the fans more info on the games.
My beloved Kansas City Royals debuted a new look to their stadium a couple of years back introducing some nice upgrades including wifi that you can access for free. This year continues the trend and CNN has a nice story about some of the advances. Click here to read the full story on CNN.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Meet the orcas - live
On Orca live, you can follow some of the Earth's most majestic mammals. It's part of the Nature Network, Dr. Paul Spong's brainchild of putting remote cameras and microphones/hydrophones in locations frequented by whales, bears, and other wildlife. Listen to the orcas live, watch them at Hanson's Island and the famous rubbing beach, and learn more about their world without intrusion. You'll love it.
THANKS TO Karen Copeland for steering me to this site.
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THANKS TO Karen Copeland for steering me to this site.
Gmail Motion: Google's April Fool's prank
New Delhi: Continuing its tradition of April Fool's hoaxes Google unveiled another 'new feature'. This time for its popular email service, Gmail. The new fabricated Gmail feature is called Gmail Motion.
According to Google, Gmail Motion is the company's "first attempts at next generation human computer interaction." Users will be able to control Gmail without the aid of a keyboard or mouse. Messages can be composed and replied to using only the human body.
Never the one to miss out on the little technical details, Google has put up detailed videos explaining how the thing works and have also posted a motion graph, to explain which body actions can perform what functions on Gmail as well as some safety precautions. That's not all, Google also announced that it was bringing Gmail Motion to Google Docs later in the year.
But unlike some of its previous All Fools Day hoxes, Google reveals the plot a bit too soon. The joke is revealed soon after a user clicks on the 'Try Gmail Motion' button.
Google's history of April 1 jokes can be traced back to 2000 when they announced the launch of MentalPlex, when Google asked its users to focus on a swirling spiral and project a mental image of what they wanted to search for and the results page displayed humourous error messages.
MentalPlex was followed by PigeonRank, where Google claimed that it used pigeons for its PageRank system. Other notable Google's April Fool pranks include Google Gulp, Gmail Paper and Google TiSP.
Google also had a number of non-hoaxes on April 1. The biggest was the Gmail launch in 2004, something that many had thought to be a hoax.
Free Propellerhead Laptop Sleeve with Reason Record DUO
Propellerhead Software and UK/ROI distributor Sound Technology Ltd are pleased to announce a new time limited Reason Record DUO promotion. Buy Propellerhead Reason Record Duo (Standard or Student/Teacher edition) between 1 April 2011 and 31 May 2011 and get a new Propellerhead Laptop Sleeve (15" or 13") absolutely free.
Reason Record Duo combines Reason 5 and Record 1.5 in a single integrated application. With Record added to Reason, the Duo is a powerful complete audio studio solution with Propellerhead's unique workflow and state-of-the-art software technology at its core. Includes the much-lauded Kong Drum Designer, Dr OctoRex, SSL® modelled mixer and Neptune Pitch Adjuster.
Coming in sizes for 13" and 15" laptops, the new Propellerhead Laptop Sleeve features a Reason, Record and Propellerhead screenprint on the front, neoprene back and padded inside. Perfect for keeping your music machine safe while carrying to the studio or travelling to a gig.
How does the promotion work? Keep a physical or electronic copy of your receipt, register your software with Propellerhead, then head over to UK distributor Sound Technology Ltd's website at www.soundtech.co.uk/propellerhead to claim your laptop sleeve.
This offer applies to UK and R.O.I. customers only purchasing a new copy of Propellerhead Reason Record DUO or Reason Record DUO Student/Teacher Edition between 1 April 2011 and 31 May 2011.
Record Reason DUO is available now from all good retailers priced at £300 RRP ex VAT, or £235 ex VAT for the Student / Teacher edition.
Find out more at www.soundtech.co.uk/propellerhead
The Dental Enforcer?
As an April Fool's joke, Dentrix created a website about the fictional character "The Dental Enforcer".
The idea is that by going to the website you can watch a video about the enforcers less than ethical tactics to get patients to keep their appointments.
Then when you click on some of the menu links, the website appears to be "hijacked" by Dentrix and they explain why their way of patient reminders is so much better than the Enforcer's.
Controversial, you bet. Most in the dental industry will find it funny. Patients? If I were a patient I don't think I'd find it humorous. However, I'll let you be the judge then make a comment here on the blog. I'd really like to hear what others think.
Nord Keyboards at Musikmesse Frankfurt
Nord Keyboards will be exhibiting at Frankfurt Musikmesse. Visit Stand B90 in Hall 5.1 to try out all the latest gear.
And we've also got a surprise for you ...
http://www.facebook.com/nordkeyboardsuk
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