A thought for a Sunday

"People get the wrong idea. If you're a scientist the two most exciting things you can be are wrong or confused, because that means there's a lot left to learn, and we are living in very exciting times. We're just like the early map makers in a sense. Just a lifetime ago we knew of one galaxy in the entire universe, now we know there are 400 billion galaxies. In a single human lifetime our picture of the universe has changed so much it's not surprising that we are continually surprised".


Lawrence M. Krauss (b. 1954)
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 - Material World - 13/10/2011 Grow into these trousers... >>

Bad Astronomy at TED

The highly entertaining Phil Plait gives a talk to TED^x about asteroid impacts on the Earth, and how we may be able to avoid them.

From the 6 mile wide rock which may have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago to the smaller, more recent, Meteor Crater and Tunguska impacts the Earth has been under continuous bombardment from space.

How can we escape the next big one? Phil Plait explains...

TEDxBOULDER - Phil Plait - An Asteroid Impact Can Ruin Your Whole Day. And Your Species


Visit Phil's award winning blog at Bad Astronomy. Grow into these trousers... >>

Brian Cox take a new view of the universe

I have no comment ;)

Wonders of the Stoner System
Grow into these trousers... >>

Need something interesting to pass an hour ot two, or more?

Go visit openculture.com

The site is a vast repository of links to free audio and video in lots of categories.

So far I've watched a video about black holes, downloaded two audio books (Isaac Asimov's Nightfall and Rudyard Kipling's Rikki-Tikki-Tavi - there are many, many more I will get) and lined up a series of lectures called 'Science, Magic, and Religion' from UCLA. I'm off to dig through the philosophy section next. Then there's the movie list which is described as '420 Free Movies Online: Great Classics, Indies, Noir, Westerns, etc.'

Great stuff! Grow into these trousers... >>

John Martyn, One World.

The remarkable song writing of the late John Martyn joins with a very subdued Dave Gilmour.

Perfectly...

John Martyn.and David Gilmour- - "One World"
Grow into these trousers... >>

A thought for a Sunday

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth."


Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121-180 CE) Grow into these trousers... >>

The 1st BBC Comedy Prom

For those in the UK only (sorry) the full concert is on the BBC iPlayer for a few more days, though clips are sprouting on YouTube. It is a magical divergence for the often dry and dusty annual Promenade Concerts from the Royal Albert Hall in London. Tim Minchin hosts a gala of music and fun which is a must see. Yes, this Tim Minchin!

I can't yet find the clip I want to play so bugger the Proms, this will have to do.
From earlier in the year, Tim's Lullaby:



Grow into these trousers... >>

Glastonbury 2011

I wasn't there but thanks to the wonderful BBC iPlayer I've probably seen more than if I had been. What I did miss was the micro-atmosphere though: the sights, sounds and smells as you walk around, the endless stalls where you can spend an afternoon just shopping, and an entire world of food.

The Beeb recorded many hours of video and it's all on their website, from short clips to full performances. It's well worth a dig round.

The highlight for me was the remarkable Bellowhead. Watch the clip then go here for more of their set. Much foot-tapping is guaranteed.



Note: I've never embedded BBC stuff before so I don't know if this will work outside the UK. Hope it does, if not I'm sure YouTube will provide. Grow into these trousers... >>

Caption this...

It's not often I do a 'caption this' but I saw this on the news today and it was too much to resist.



I'll try:
"now wash your hands"

"Spain introduces new EU standards in condom testing"

The guy at the left says "so that's what they are for!"

Give me your worst. Grow into these trousers... >>

Warning - Do NOT listen to this song

The Badger Song


I told you not to listen! Grow into these trousers... >>