Surprising Things That Affect Memory: Sharpen Your Min

While many know the basics when it comes to keeping their minds sharp (stick with those crosswords), a crop of new research is showing that lifestyle choices may play an even bigger role than people realize, particularly in terms of memory.Factors--some positive, some negative--range from diet to unlikely medications and hormonal changes.

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Japan's 10 Most Popular Tourist Attractions

Most of Japan's top attractions are in Tokyo, but interesting sights and experiences abound there and elsewhere throughout the country. I can't wait to visit next year for our honeymoon.

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Best Japanese Foods You Can't Get at Home - Pictures

Even everyday Japanese dishes are exciting--and worth seeking out during a visit to the country. Please check the slide-show, everything looks sooo good! Pay close attention to slide #9 (http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/03/japan-food-delicacies-summit08-forbeslife-cx_cs_0703food_slide_9.html?thisSpeed=20000) it deals with umami and the taste in Japanese cooking.

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In Depth: 10 Surprising Things That Affect Memory-Forbes.com

Crosswords aren't the only thing you can do to preserve your memory as you get older. Carbohydrates, Tofu, Statins and hot flashes ... all these can effect you mental health. Read more and find out.

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Scientific American: The Orgasmic Mind

But when a woman reached orgasm, something unexpected happened: much of her brain went silent. Some of the most muted neurons sat in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex, which may govern self-control over basic desires such as sex. Decreased activity there, the researchers suggest, might correspond to a release of tension and inhibition. The scientists also saw a dip in excitation in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex [...]

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Artistic Inspiration

Or as I like to call it: Artspiration.

Here is an artist/graphic designer that I came first across in one of those beautiful editions of DigitalArts and recently StumbledUpon in a lazy internet meandering. He is self-taught and strives for his artistic vision to be fully realized once he has mastered the tools he uses (Illustrator, 3D Studio max, Cinema 4D, Bryce, Poser and Xara 3D). (I wish I had half, nay, a small portion of his skills.)

Nik Ainley is a UK based designer and here are some of my faves from his site:






I suppose this should inspire me to do some work. I do have ideas, but I'm a procrastinator and excuse-maker Extraordinaire. I due solemnly swear to myself and to you, gentle reader, and the cyber-munity at large, that I (ScarletCleopatra) will start work and/or preparation for work on a new piece this week.

Magnetic Fields made visibally cool

Check this video out. Who knew someone would make a video about magnetic fields that was visually stunning and informative at the same time.

Magnetic Movie from Semiconductor on Vimeo.

Photoshop Shortcut tips

If you ever want to learn a butt-ton of Photoshop shortcuts. Check this music video-esque clip:

A golden feline ball of kitty-ness

Here are pics of our new furry fuzzball. her name is Eris because she reminds me of a little golden apple of Discordianism. She a kitten of a local stray cat. (Need I mention that Santa Clara county has a very bad feral cat problem. Behold the cuteness:
































I got kitten food today and some shampoo.(as a note the new 'Pet Food Express' is a rip off, they only 'higher' quality and 'natural' which only means they can charge higher prices. Rip off artist [quote Bloo from Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends]) She's been washed and debugged. She had a ton of nasty bugs on her. She complained loudly while being bathed and deloused. But soon came to love and trust us. We're thinking about making her a part of her family (and if she does you'll be seeing many more).

Oh wait she's being really cute now ...

Kung Fu Cat Kicks Cobras Ass!

A drunk Jackie Chan is enthralled with a cat fighting a cobra.


This reminds me of the Presidents of the United States song "Kitty":


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Veil Shopping

I found the best veil yesterday. It's silk tulle with tiny crystals affixed to it.



(Close-up of veil)

Addictive Web Game

My current addiction: Adult Swim's Amateur Surgeon.

Making surgery fun again.
Now anyone, even your friendly neighborhood pizza boy can be a surgeon.


Have Fun!!!

NRRRD GRRRL

I know I've had a fair amount of videos recently, but my Google-liscious sent me this video (I felt a certain connection with it):

Transformer ... Flashlight to ...

This is one freakin' sweet transformer. It changes from a flashlight to ... (you'll have to watch the video to find out)

Quantum dot memory may be 'Holy Grail' of computing

Filling the gap from solid state to DRAM, little islands of semiconductors (aka quantum dots) are set to have write times possibly 100 times faster than today's access speeds and possibly eliminating the need for 'conventional memory'.

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Glass Stairs

Stairs floating in the air and so am I ... well that is if I were walking on them.Are these the stairways to heaven?

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Freaking sweet modular snake

Check this video out:



Watch the whole thing it's all great.

Entering Contest: Dream Trip '08

I know I won't win Condé Nest Traveler's Big Trip Contest '08, but it got me to thinking. What would an awesome vacation be for W and me.

My dream trip (with my fiancé) would be a whirl-wind tech-sploration of the most modern and advanced cities of the world. This journey would highlight modern architecture (i.e. new skyscrapers); art museums (featuring modern artists possibly using technology and innovative modern techniques); visiting & touring various computer and technology companies; seeking out leaders and contributers in the Linux community; sampling food from the most innovative chefs and fusion cuisine in each local (i.e. molecular gastronomy); seeking out the newest and most modern beauty and spa treatments; and last but not finding the newest and most interesting stores that sell innovative products.

Cities highlighted in the tech-sploration would include Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Dubai, Singapore, Berlin, London, Moscow, Paris and Buenos Aires.

A 404 error for lonely geeks everywhere

Follow the following link for an advisory and possible help for you, you geeky guy you. link

We all live in spherical mini worlds.

I came across these pics. They're beautiful and each one begs for closer inspection. Here a a few. The remainder can be found at ArtJob.ru.






































I love these because they are atmospheric and probably the most artsy/artistic of the bunch. The entire set does deserve a perusal. The credit for these photographs, I believe, goes to Alexandre Duret-Lutz.

I am going to research how there pictures were taken and see if I can replicate the technique. I'll post my revelations and experimentation.

We all live in spherical mini worlds.

I came across these pics. They're beautiful and each one begs for closer inspection. Here a a few. The remainder can be found at ArtJob.ru.





































I love these because they are atmospheric and probably the most artsy/artistic of the bunch. The entire set does deserve a perusal. The credit for these photographs, I believe,, goes to Alexandre Duret-Lutz.

I am going to research how there pictures were taken and see if I can replicate the technique. I'll post my revelations and experimentation.

Microsoft: Office 2003 SP3 advisory was a mistake

The software maker has acknowledged it was wrong when it told users certain file formats were insecure subsequently rendering some users computers' inoperable. At first Microsoft provided a workaround which led users to modify registry entries; something no novice should do. Later Microsoft issued downloadable files for each office suite program: Office, Access, Excel, & PowerPoint.Yet another indication that Microsoft sucks.

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The Top 25 Men Who Look Like Old Lesbians

Is that a dignified gentleman or a bitter and angry lesbian? You decide!My opinion: so do, some definitely do, some ... I'm not so sure they'd qualify.

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Flunked: 14 Signs of a Deficient Intellect

God help us. LOL. Funny, check it out.BTW. I'm not lixdexic or stewpid. ;-)

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Pong and its many incarnations

We have mechanical Pong that (I'll go ahead and spoil it) that is powered by a motor, 2 joysticks and telephone relays among some other interesting, intriguing stuff.

Yes the video is in German, but it's subtitles in English.

Here is LED Pong. Lighty-flashy fun. It's powered by 4 button on an old-school plug-in circuit board (I actually used one of these in a middle school science fair project. I don't quite remember it though. Hummmm.)

For those of you on the go, there's wearable Pong and it's plushy.













The entire project with specs can be found on the LushProjects.com. A summery can be found on Engadget.com.

Pong on the fleshy variety - human Pong. This performance was done by a Swiss Guillaume Reymond in stop-motion fashion. Sit and be amused.


Multi-multiplayer Pong: 4-D Pong. Pong for up to 4 people all played on the same keyboard. (Don't cramp my style.)
Click the pic and try it out for yourself or 3 of your closest friends and be prepared for the close calls.










Like playing Pong. Try this one on for size: microPong. This is the smallest Pong ever, only 18x18 pixels. Play here.

Finally and firstly the original Pong.
Pong was the first popular video game. You may ask: not the first video game. My answer: nope. Wondering what is was? .... OK .... I'll tell you. It was Computer Space. Pong is of course based on table tennis. Wanna know more? WikiPong.







Here ends your overview of the many incarnations of Pong.
Have any more of different incarnations? Please share :-)

Third Reich Fortune 500: 5 Popular Brands the Nazis Gave Us

You know who else liked popular brands?Plus Kittens to lighten the mood.

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Wii Hacked

Here is the presentation of the Wii being hacked at a German conference dealing the the X-box 306: