12:00am December 31


Simple Pendulum wave animation. You can see the wave go from travelling waves, to standing waves, to a (briefly) beating pulse, and then chaotic motion, and back to travelling. Perhaps its just me, but this is clearer on the real thing.
“This animation may be subject to floating-point errors.”
But it’s beautiful. | credit to Jeff Irwin
[Found here.]

“Located in Borgloon, Belgium, ‘Reading Between The Lines’ is a nearly transparent steel church designed by Belgian architect studio Gijs Van Vaerenbergh. The 10-meter high structure consists of 100 evenly spaced steel layers stacked in the form of a steeple and seems to dissolve into the landscape when viewed at certain angles.”
[Image found here.]
Great animation followed by “the making of” [via].
Paul Whiteman was known as the King of Jazz, and no one as yet has come near carrying that title with more certainty and dignity. – Duke Ellington
Remastered footage from the 1930 movie King of Jazz (filmed entirely in two-color Technicolor) featured the Paul Whiteman Orchestra performing Happy Feet. Some amazing dance moves in that clip.
The Jubalaires – Orville Brooks, Ted Brooks, J.C. Ginyard & George McFadden – were a gospel group who recorded in the 40’s & 50’s. This version of Noah has a unnecessary modification towards the end, but it sorta works.
Singin’ in the Rain is one of the better ads I’ve seen, and I’m still not sure what they’re selling. [via].
I guess that’s eclectic enough for this edition. Have a great holiday weekend, see you tomorrow for the the post-Christmas sales.



“It usually took us (Electricians Mates with assistance from the ICmen, Gunners Mates, Bos’n Mates, Quartermasters) three days to rig & test this light display… 10,856 light bulbs total.
This is the award winning display that won us the “Best Large Surface Combatant” award for four out of our six year commissioning during the eighties. (MED Cruise in 87, lost to USS America in 84)
I served aboard from Dec.1983 to June 1989, was involved with each and every one of those displays.”
Martin A. (Marty) Palmiere EMC(SW) USN(ret.)
USS Iowa BB-61 ’83-’89
[Image and comment found here.]

The Smithsonian’s Natioal Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute has some great information:
[Image found here.]