Archive for December 1st, 2005
“Big Island, Hawaii - A 44-acre chunk of the Big Island’s Puna coast collapsed into the sea with high-energy pyrotechnics this week, exposing a 60-foot cliff face with a spurting, 6-foot-thick red geyser of molten rock… It was the largest such collapse in the 22-year history of the volcano’s current eruption… registered on seismographs on the Big Island, but did not cause a tsunami.” - Honolulu Advertiser CNN Article
I hiked out to see the lava a year or two back, I wonder if we trekked over this part!
December 1st, 2005
Continuing the research on perception, I found this article from creativepro.com about the Farnsworth-Munsell color discrimination test. This test is to determine someone’s ability to discern between colors (not really for specific color-blindness, but for more subtle variations in perception between people). The testee (Not those testees!) has to arrange a 100 color in order - much like an obsessive compulsive might arrange their wardrobe. Then the results are plotted onto a cool graph and you’ll find out where you lack a fine-turned eye. The interesting twist to this article comes when one person who took the test asked if having blue contacts would mess up the test. No real conclusive answer, but basically didn’t alter the result much… Where’s my old Pantone swatch books - time to make my own Hubert-Farnsworth test (or whatever it’s called). Check out Farnsworth-Munsell results for subjects with anomalous color vision.
December 1st, 2005
The New York Times had an article about a device some guy in the UK came up called the Mosquito which a noise-based theft deterent device. Apparently, the noise this gadget emits cannot be heard by most people over 30, but manifests as a really annoying pulsing buzz at 75 db for us young-uns. Now why would someone want to target the youth of today? To stop them from shoplifting, loitering, or generally having any fun or freedom away from home. I find this a fascinating application of the subjectively of everyone’s perceptions. We are always told, the human ear can’t hear below 20hz or above 20k give or take a bit. Now I suppose this must be based on youthful, perceptive brain-microphones - since the older we get, the more we need hearing augmentation of some kind. Same applies for eye-sight. Usually in the form of sharpness, or focus. But does eyesight degrade throughout life in terms of color vibrancy, or range of color perception? Obviously, all forms of colorblindness are the most obvious types of sight limitation, but can/does this happen to us all to a more limited extent?
December 1st, 2005
ThinkGeek’s Fundue - desktop USB Fondue Set: “Tired of the lunchtime greasy McBurger with pickle routine? Looking to expand your culinary sophistication without leaving your cube? Look no further than the Fundue™ - the World’s first desktop USB fondue set. With features like an LCD display, blue LED glowing heater element and fireglow USB cables you’ll be the MacDaddiest, most svelte lemming in the office come lunchtime.”
Props go out to Thinkgeek for pranking the world/gang at Gizmodo. Though honestly, if I had a Fundue, I’d keep a pot of melted chocolate by my desk at all times. I hope there’s enough USB juice to power both this and the BuzzTrainer at the same time.
December 1st, 2005
New Wendy’s commercial with some girl singing “Ooh baby I love your way” and a bunch of the now-standard testimonials in widesreen format. Testimonials push the idea of getting a Wendy’s burger made to order. Now this is really slick because without blatantly ripping off McDonalds and Burger King, they are pushing the same messages as their competitors. Let’s see:
“Have it your way” - Burger King
“I’m Lovin’ it” - McDs
Now tell me this isn’t a coincidence!
December 1st, 2005
“Big Island, Hawaii - A 44-acre chunk of the Big Island’s Puna coast collapsed into the sea with high-energy pyrotechnics this week, exposing a 60-foot cliff face with a spurting, 6-foot-thick red geyser of molten rock… It was the largest such collapse in the 22-year history of the volcano’s current eruption… registered on seismographs on the Big Island, but did not cause a tsunami.” - Honolulu Advertiser CNN Article
