Nikola Tesla!
As you may know, I have been preaching The Awesomeness of Tesla and The Terribleness of Edison for years.
Here is a comic that details the whole story. I love Tesla (and Newton) so much.
(click here or on the image to see the whole comic)
Six Months in the Merchant Marine
This is very interesting to me. Need a job and/or adventure? Why not try it?
Maurice Sendak on death. (I love this.)
Here are parts I transcribed:
The person who thinks I’m worth the trouble of caring for
How do you explain that you love somebody or something?
Books is an isolationist form of life
It’s the only true happiness I have ever, ever enjoyed in my life.
It’s magic time. All your weaknesses of character, all the blemishes of personality, whatever torments you fades away. You’re doing the one thing you want to do, and you do it well, and you know you do it well. And you’re happy.
The whole promise is to do the work. Sitting down, turning on the radio.
In that moment I feel like I’m a lucky man.
I’m trying very hard to concentrate on what’s here.
So what am I saying? I’m clearing the decks… for a simple death. You’re done with your work. You’re done with your life. And your life is your work.
I think what I’ve offered was different. Not because I drew better than anybody, or wrote better than anybody, because I was more honest than anybody. I don’t believe in childhood, I don’t believe in the demarcation. Tell what is true.
Why is my needle stuck in childhood? I don’t know why. I guess that’s where my heart is.
Is “Chronicle” the best film of 2012?
As Chris Moore pointed out in his review of “Looper” (in The Promethean newpaper), 2012 is shaping up to be one of the greatest years for movies. Ever.
I don’t know if “Chronicle” will be the best film of the year. But it is in the running. It is astounding.
“Sometimes a movie arrives out of the blue that announces the arrival of considerable new talents.” – Roger Ebert, reviewing “Chronicle”
In honor of Adam Yauch
Adam Yauch, a founding member of The Beastie Boys died today at 47 after a long bout with cancer.
As my students know, I am a big fan of the Boys. He also made videos under the pseudonym Nathaniel Hornblower, and his production company, Oscilloscope Laboratories, made many significant films (look it up). Let us remember him.
Teens who talk back may have bright future.
Well, things are looking good for my daughters, then.
Joking aside, this is a useful article: Why A Teen Who Talks Back May Have A Bright Future
I like yachts.
I like yachts.
40′-74′ is the sweet spot for me. At that size, a family can comfortably live aboard (as long as they want), you can captain them yourself, and they are fully sea-worthy. Take them, literally, all around this water planet.
Here’s what matters to me in a yacht:
- First, the layout. It must have space and make good use of the space. The layout must be intelligently thought-out and be beautiful.
- Second, the range and fuel consumption. This makes me look twice at sailboats. You may not know this, but motor boats get poor gas mileage. And by poor I mean 0.20 mpg. You read that correctly. Sporty yachts get 1/5 mile per gallon. There are several motor yachts that have the range to take you from California to Hawaii… but it will cost you around $5,000 for fuel. One way. (It is 2,200 nautical miles from LA to Hawaii.)
- The quality of the materials, components, and construction. Nordhavn yachts are not the sexiest (as you will see), but Nordhavn yachts are, well, the best.
- How many people can sleep on it. This is kind of number 1, repeated.
- Is not a traditional sailboat. Sailboats are so elegant and natural, their power is free, and they have essentially unlimited range. But the keeling (leaning over under wind) is the deal-breaker. And working the sails is hard work—you don’t arrive refreshed. And you are going to get wet. I do like sail catamarans, though.
Here are my favorite yacht makers, in order (side point: why are there so many boat makers?! There are literally hundreds! It must be easier/cheaper to make boats than autos?):
- Wally (so beautiful it hurts. Remember the Wally 118 from the movie, “The Island”?)
- Nordhavn
- Horizon (some catamarans)
- Ferretti
- Sunreef (catamarans, some sailing)
- Fairline
- Lazzara
- Azimut
- Sunseeker
- Outer Reef
- Marquis
- Princess
- Prout International (some multi-hulls, some sailing)
- Gunboat (sailing catamarans)
- Fountaine Pajot (catamarans, some sailing)
- Almost made the list: Cantieri di Pisa (too long, but too legendary and too well-made to not mention.) Riva (beautiful, overpriced, no flybridge?), Pershing (breathtaking, I don’t value speed that much), Leopard, Mangusta (both beautiful, both too large), Hatteras, San Lorenzo, Inrizzardi, Rodman, Hargrave, and Uniesse (all lovely, but don’t move me)
- Didn’t make the list: all the mega yachts (there are dozens!), which are as impressive as they are trying to be. And which are out of reach, even to dream about. And which require full crews.
Here are some of my favorite yachts:
Wally 73
Length: 73′
Range: 345mi
Fuel consumption: 0.33 mpg @ 30 mph
Sleeps: 8
Nordhavn 62
Length: 62′
Range: 4,000 mi
Fuel consumption: +/- 2mpg @ 6.5 mph
Sleeps: 9
Azimut 70
Length: 70′
Range: 300 nm
Fuel consumption: 0.3 mpg @ 30 mph
Sleeps: 11
Horizon PC58
Length: 58′
Range: 1,000mi ??
Fuel consumption: +/- 6mpg @ 20 mph
Sleeps: 6
