I’m a big fan of the crew at Misfit Pictures and the last movie they made – Manufacturing Stoke. It opened my eyes to the DIY community in surfing and inspired me to get out in the ocean, and I bet it will do the same for you. There next project is just getting started …
Monthly Archives: September 2012
Moving towards 100% thermal insulation for homes
A home profiled in Wired has six very interesting zero-carbon elements, but it’s the last two that fascinate me – thick walls and ultra-efficient windows. Thick walls mean “two 8-inch-thick concrete layers that protect the interior from outside temperature fluctuations. On hot days, the concrete absorbs and retains heat, keeping rooms cool; at night it slowly …
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Pocket microscope – turn a cellphone into a microscope for $10
The #1 innovation of 2011 – the pocket microscope – is a marvel of the cellphone age. For $10 a phone can be turned into a laboratory and offer poor areas – with no hospital – access to sophisticated medical tests. From The Scientist: Diagnosing malaria or other blood-borne illnesses used to require analyzing cell slides under …
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Times are changing – women afraid to get married, men more open to it
Times have changed and women are changing them. From Jezebel: A new study has found a possible reason for the much-vaunted decline in marriage: people are afraid of having to go through a divorce. And women are more likely than men to fear getting “trapped” in a relationship they can’t easily exit. And exiting is …
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CNN profile of a couple moving from a 1,500 to 168-square foot home
There are many who dream of owning the smallest home they can find; a strong reaction to those who dream of owning a two-story mini-mansion. Here is a CNN profile of a young couple who did just that – moving their two kids, cat and dog into a 168 square foot home (on 3 acres …
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Scientists discover the motion of sperm cells using 3-D technology
If nature finds the best way, then move in a spiral pattern to get there the quickest, from the UCLA Newsroom: The team developed a lensless computational imaging platform that accurately tracked more than 24,000 individual sperm cells in a large volume. This involved observing the individual rotations of each sperm cell, including helical movement …
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Stunning photos of vertical wall gardens
To learn more about the best plants for wall gardens – and their history – visit Low-Impact Living.
R.I.P. Tom Sims – a short video about his life
Tom Sims is a legend in all board sports. He had the largest skateboard company in the world – in the early 80s. Built the first snowboard when he was 12, and created half-pipe and freestyle snowboarding, and the first professional snowboard. A 25-minute short video covers his early years, from Vice’s Powder & Rails: …
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Aristotle’s 12 Virtues and The Path to Happiness
Every now and then, I like to consult the wisdom of the great philosophers, as a matter of existential hygiene. Or, as John Mayer puts it, to contemplate: Am I living it right? As far as philosophers go, Aristotle ranks amongst the best of the best, considered one of the most influential founding figures in Western philosophy. A …
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The Periodic Table as Illustrated Cartoons
In Bunpei Yorifuji’s new book, Wonderful Life with the Elements, each element in the periodic table has personality. From the scary poison of Beryllium to the battery power of Lithium. And not to forget Carbon: It’s wonderful book and worth buying for only $10. More images from the book are available at Brain Pickings. I …
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