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
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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"
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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... >>

It's the end of the world as we know it!

Judgement Day is a' comin', Saturday 21st May. Wow that's like... this weekend!

I thought it was going to be just before Christmas 2012, according to the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar, but Christian preacher and radio broadcaster Harold Camping thinks otherwise. The long-awaited Rapture, when all good Christian souls will drift off up to Heaven, will be on Saturday and conveniently arranged for 6pm in all time zones around the world (not sure about Samoa). The rest of us folks will be 'left behind', milling about incoherently or something. But not me, I have a plan: if you think you will be Raptured simply post your address in the comments below and leave your front door open. I promise someone will visit your ex-home as soon as they can to feed the dog, cat, budgie, goldfish etc, water any plants and generally take care of things. Car keys, bank account details and passwords left in obvious places will all help provide this service.

On the night itself I have a gig at a local pub where, the last time we played there, the entire valley had a power cut plunging all into darkness. The band has always joked that it was all our fault for ramping up the volume but it could be an omen. If we have time to play 'knocking on heaven's door' I'll be happy. In fact, I feel fine...

It's the end of the world as we know it
Grow into these trousers... >>