DailyBrisk: 01/28/11

Friday, January 28, 2011

Speaking of a Tequila Sunrise ...From Paris

A chilled Martini is truly a work of art. But the chemist/photographers behind the company BevShots have taken that idea to the microscopic level. Research scientist Michael Davis, of Florida State University, crystallizes cocktails on a lab slide, then photographs them using a camera attached to a light microscope. According to Davis, the light is polarized, resulting in these wild images of, say, a Tequila Sunrise or a Margarita.

Read more: http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/26/bevshots-alcohol-photos-quiz/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-w%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3%7C197984#ixzz1CCPrPkBj

Ps Photo on the left, courtesy of BEVSHOTS/WENN. Photo on the right, a 'Paris' comparison of photo on the left.

Tequila Sunrise ...From Paris

Tequila Sunrise. Great classic film.

Mel and Michelle, chocolate and peanut butter; beautiful together.

Some movies stand up to the test of time.

Tequila Sunrise stands up.

O’s style is to say or do nothing until the third day of any crises. So far the same course.

Obama Scrambles for Strategy, Still Hasn’t Spoken to Egypt’s President

Egypt: What’s Happening Now (Continuously Updated)

An important announcement is coming shortly, says Egyptian state-run TV. (Also read Michael Totten for more coverage of the situation.)

UPDATE (4:59p EST): There is a strong likelihood, being discussed right now, that President Hosni Mubarak may have already left the country. He was due to appear on TV, which had been announced hours ago, yet no word came of that. Instead, the parliament speaker, who is first in line to succeed the president, appeared on TV and said there will be an announcement shortly. Speculation is that if Mubarak were in the country, the speaker Ahmad Fathi Sorour wouldn’t have had to make the announcement and Mubarak would have appeared on TV himself. While the opposition claims the president’s wife, son, and a grandchild left the country for Europe two days ago, the government denies this.

So far, the Army, which was mobilized by the government a few hours ago, has not directly stepped in to stop the protests. This is good news for protesters who have beaten back the riot police and other security forces for the most part, and are in virtually uncontested control of major parts of Cairo and other cities. The Army is simply securing important government buildings and broadcasting facilities in Cairo and other cities. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/egypt-whats-happening-now/

Life in Nature: Brutal, savage and short

Leopard savaging a crocodile caught on camera

The astonishing spectacle of a leopard savaging a crocodile has been captured for the first time on camera.

The giant cat raced out of cover provided by scrub and bushes to surprise the crocodile, which was swimming nearby.

A terrible and bloody struggle ensued. Eventually, onlookers were amazed to see the leopard drag the crocodile from the water as the reptile fought back.

Leopard savaging a crocodile caught on camera

With the crocodile snapping its powerful jaws furiously, the two animals somersaulted and grappled. Despite the crocodile's huge weight and strength, the leopard had the upper hand catching its prey by the throat.

Eventually the big cat was able to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it.

Super Bowl Football Info. Stun your friends with insider’s knowledge.

Drew Brees

A Formula For Drafting QBs That Works: Rule of 26-27-60

Here is the gist of it: If an NFL prospect scores at least a 26 on the Wonderlic test, starts at least 27 games in his college career and completes at least 60 percent of his passes, there's a good chance he will succeed at the NFL level.

QBs that have passed this rule: Sam Bradford, Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Tony Romo, Matt Schaub, Kyle Orton, Kevin Kolb, Matt Ryan, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Matt Stafford.

QBs who did not pass this rule: Jamarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf, David Carr, Heath Shuler, Jimmy Clausen, Jay Cutler, Joey Harrington, Tim Couch, Brady Quinn, Tim Tebow, Alex Smith (1 game short), Jeff George, and Vince Young (horrible Wonderlic). Yes, these are all huge busts but were all VERY high (or projected) 1st rounders.

Jamarcus Russell in two action shots.

Exceptions: Brett Favre (22 Wonderlic), McNabb (14 Wonderlic), Matt Leinart - who at USC played over 30 games, 35 Wonderlic, and threw over 63% all three years. Aaron Rodgers averaged 63.8 completion percentage, 35 Wonderlic, and 26 games (1 game short). Ben Roethlisberger scored a 25 on the Wonderlic (1 point short) but easily had the number of games and high completion %. Josh Freeman met all the rules except completion % at KSU (59.1%) - so close.

Notice something? All men. A men only revolution?

Egypt’s Internet Shutdown Can’t Stop Mass Protests

Egyptian anti-government activists chant slogans and hold a poster of the Egyptian resident Mubarak, with Arabic reading: "mercy mercy, you traitor to your people" as they protest in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. The Egyptian capital Cairo was the scene of violent chaos Friday, when tens of thousands of anti-government protesters stoned and confronted police, who fired back with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons

'Superman' Slapped Down by Lefties at the Academy

AP File

The most widely seen Amer ican documentary of the year sparked a national dis cussion, received almost universal acclaim from critics and delved deeply into the details of what all agree is a subject of massive importance -- the increasingly alarming dysfunction of much of the US public-school system. Yet this vital and heartbreaking film, "Waiting for 'Superman,' " this week failed to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary. Why?

Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim has impeccable credentials with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He won an Oscar for his previous documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," which made him the toast of liberal LA. But "Waiting for 'Superman,' " which starts with Guggenheim explaining how terrible he feels driving his kids past a series of broken and diseased public schools to the posh private one his own cosseted lambs attend, backs an argument that conservatives have been making for more than 20 years.

Welcome to reverse McCarthyism. Not only are conservatives unwelcome (bordering on unemployable) in Hollywood, but even fully paid-up and lionized liberals like Guggenheim must be shunned for making a case that conservatives agree with.

Democrats Charged in 'Massive' Voter Fraud Case

Two Democratic politicians in an upstate New York city have been charged in a "massive" voter fraud case first reported a year ago on Fox News.

A 59-page, 116-count indictment charges Troy Democratic City Councilman Michael LoPorto and Edward McDonough, Democratic Commissioner of the Rensselaer County Board of Elections, with forgery and criminal possession of a forged instrument. The two men arrive in court in handcuffs on Friday and pleaded not guilty.

Seven other public officials and political operatives are said to be targets of the continuing investigation. The Fox News Voter Fraud unit first reported the brazen allegations just over a year ago, with reports that absentee ballots and applications were forged to try to stuff the ballot box and steal an election.

The case involves absentee ballots from the Working Families Party primary in September of 2009 for the Troy City Council and Rensselaer County legislature. It has been alleged the signatures and absentee excuses of unsuspecting voters were forged, all to ensure the Democratic candidates also won the Working Families Party line. Democratic candidates in New York State often run as Working Families Party hopefuls.

Into Hell

Volcanic lightning or a dirty thunderstorm is seen above Shinmoedake peak as it erupts, in Japan. It is not clear why bolts of lightning are sometimes seen within erupting volcanoes. One theory is that that the spewing magma bubbles or particles of volcanic ash are themselves electrically charged, and by their motion create separately charged areas...

Volcanic lightning is seen above Mount Shinmoedake in Japan as it erupts. It is not clear why bolts of lightning are sometimes seen within erupting volcanoes. One theory is that that the spewing magma bubbles or particles of volcanic ash are themselves electrically charged, and by their motion create separately charged areas...

Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday is February 6. The Examiner has a series of appreciations titled "Ronald Reagan at 100." Michael Barone's contribution reminds me how deep Reagan's roots went into our history. Here are a few excerpts:

The way to make a living, he decided, was in the new mass medium of radio. Dixon is 100 miles straight west of Chicago, and the signals of Chicago's clear channel radio stations come in loud and clear. And in the 1920s, stations in Chicago, not New York or Los Angeles, were the great innovators, presenting the first situation comedies, sportscasts and national convention coverage. Listening to the radio in his parents' homes in Dixon, Dutch Reagan was at the cutting edge of innovative mass media. ...

Only three presidents since 1900 have won popular vote majorities more than once: Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. On the surface, all three seemed men of great geniality, but in fact none of them had any really close friends or anyone in whom they fully confided, except for Reagan -- and his confidante was his wife, Nancy. Beneath the smiles there was a certain cold, inaccessible calculation. ...

"I think it would be hard to be president without having been an actor," he once said. His greatest performance may have been after he was shot. In the process of losing half his blood, he insisted on walking into the hospital and buttoning his jacket, before collapsing on the floor when he was out of camera range.

Paging Gore… Himalayan Glaciers Actually Growing

Himalayan glaciers are actually advancing rather than retreating, claims the first major study since a controversial UN report said they would be melted within quarter of a century.

Researchers have discovered that contrary to popular belief half of the ice flows in the Karakoram range of the mountains are actually growing rather than shrinking.

Ethiopian Muslims Warn Christians to Convert, Leave City or Face Death

Washington, D.C. (January 25, 2011)-International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Christians in the Ethiopian city of Besheno are being harassed and physically abused after Muslims posted notices on the doors of Christian homes warning them to convert, leave the city or face death.

Three Christian leaders were forced to flee the city and two Christians have been forced to convert to Islam. In the Muslim majority city, the entire evangelical Christian community consists of about 30 believers.

Corruption: Unions Make up 40 Percent of Employees Exempted from Obamacare

They do tend toward violence when their feeding trough is threatened.

New Tone? Top NH Dem Says We Will 'Hang' Republicans

Amidst a national dialogue about softening political rhetoric, members of an Obama-affiliated organization are threatening to hang Granite State Republicans in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, according to a news story in the Citizen of Laconia.

Three big changes. Go to the link for the other two.

How the Common Bike Is Poised for a High-Tech Reinvention

Three remarkable innovations are transforming the mechanics of the common bicycle. In fact, these new technologies may be the most significant developments in bike engineering since the original "safety" bicycle was invented at the end of the 19th century.

Belt Drives

The traditional chain is one of the biggest weak spots on any bike. Increased force on a link chain produces strain on the links themselves. Over time, these links break-and once they break, you're usualy hosed. Failure is accelerated by the dirt and grime that chains accumulate because of their much-needed lubrication. And constant wear and tear from grabbing and releasing gears doesn't help a chain's lifespan, either.

How the Common Bike Is Poised for a High-Tech Reinvention
Trek's drivetrain belt looks eerily similar to some we've seen in LEGO kits.

Enter the belt drive, which increases the efficiency of a bike's power train while greatly extending its life. At its core, this is a simple piece of technology not unlike a conveyer belt. A smooth, contiguous piece of rubber or plastic-based material moves around two rotating gears. In early prototypes of bicycle belt drives, nubs down the center of the belt grab onto gears, and an internal shifting hub changes the gears.

In addition to increased power efficiency, the belt drive doesn't need to be lubricated-there are no moving parts, and it's not likely to break for the same reason. How close are we to seeing belt drives? Close enough that Trek has already developed the prototype pictured on this page. The only real downside, aside from scarce availability, is that a purpose-built frame is required because you can't pop the belt drive off like you would on a normal bike.

Expect to see belt-driven bikes in mass production by the end of this year. It's an ideal fit for a low-gear city bike.

http://gizmodo.com/5745772/how-the-common-bike-is-poised-for-a-high+tech-reinvention

Palin Derangement Syndrome hits Space

SPUTNIK MOMENT: Soviet space expert James Oberg comments: “I’m seeing up close how ‘Palin Derangement Syndrome’ can compel otherwise intelligent people to foam at the mouth and babble nonsense to prove they’re right and she’s wrong. . . . It’s more complicated, but the essence is, Palin was right: the Soviets sowed the seed of their own collapse by setting off the Space Race.”

Interesting way of looking at it

THE AMERICAN NOMENKLATURA: “Increasingly our nation is divided, not between Rs and Ds, but between TIs and TBs: tribute imposers and tribute bearers. The imposers are gigantic banks, agri-businesses, higher education Colossae, government employees, NGO and QUANGO employees and the myriad others whose living is made chiefly by extracting wealth from other people. The bearers are the rest of us.”

Remember: OCare wanted to cut these out.

Yearly Mammograms from Age 40 Save 71 Percent More Lives, Study Shows

ScienceDaily (Jan. 27, 2011) — A new study questions the controversial U.S. Preventative Service Task Force recommendations for breast cancer screening, with data that shows starting at a younger age and screening more frequently will result in more lives saved.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110127131118.htm