Using the new Google Public Data Explorer, I created a graph comparing life expectancy, GDP and population. The concept was inspired by this TED Talk featuring Hans Rosling, which features his Gapminder software.
Click this link to view and adjust the graph within Google Public Data Explorer.
Filed by Eric at 2:45 pm under History,Technology
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There have been a few disappointing reports in the past few days about the disappearance of the Sea Lions from Pier 39 in San Francisco. Here is a report in the New Times, and another from Wired Magazine. LeAnn and I visited San Francisco last spring and we had a blast at Pier 39 listening to the bark of the Sea Lions, catching a great view of Alcatraz, and shopping for salt water taffy. Here are a few pictures from our afternoon at Pier 39.
Filed by Eric at 1:43 pm under Photography,Travelling
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In memory of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, here are some pictures LeAnn and I took while on our honeymoon last summer.
Filed by Eric at 7:36 pm under History,Photography,Travelling
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Last night, while trying to put away a jacket in the closet, I knocked a box of cards off a shelf, which landed squarely on the handle of a fire extinguisher. Evidently, the safety pin was missing and the fire extinguisher triggered, blasting a thick white cloud into the closet. Within just a few seconds, there was a half-inch of dust on the floor, and enough dust in the air to set off the fire alarm. Yadda, yadda, yadda, it took us several hours to clean up the mess.
The lesson learned is to inspect your fire extinguisher annually.
I have to admit however, that this is not the worse mess I’ve ever made with a fire extinguisher.
Filed by Eric at 12:17 pm under Life in General
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This Thanksgiving marks the 40th anniversary of the American Indian occupation of Alcatraz Island. Here is a great PBS web site about the event (via MetaFilter). Below is a photo I took last Spring of the “Indians Welcome” sign that is still visible.
Sign from the 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz Island
Here a picture of the penitentiary while approaching by boat.
Photo from our Spring trip to Alcatraz
Filed by Eric at 11:48 am under Around the Web,History
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I remembered this afternoon that I had some video from our visit to Washington D.C. in 2006 that I never published. Here is a short video of the fireworks as seen from the Capital Mall.
This was a very eventful night. We found a spot on the lawn with a great view of the Washington Monument early in the afternoon, equipped with supplies to survive a long wait for the show. After about an hour, we saw a police car driving down the middle of the lawn, blaring over its loudspeaker that everyone needed to evacuate the Mall because a lightening storm was on the way. We were able to take shelter in the The National Museum of the American Indian and had some great food while the worst of the storm passed by. After the storm, we decided to risk it and go back out to the lawn, which was already drying up. We managed to find an even better viewing spot and enjoyed the show.
Music source: Stars and Stripes Forever on Wikipedia.
Filed by Eric at 8:09 pm under Life in General,Travelling,Video
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Animated gif created by a student years ago.
Filed by Eric at 10:39 pm under Life in General
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