Inauguration Day Crowds in Washington, D.C.

A friend sent this link to me several weeks ago and I am just now getting around to posting here. I've seen this image on various websites but the Earth Observatory site has the full resolution image.

"Despite the blustery weather, more than a million people gathered in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009, to witness and celebrate the inauguration of the forty-fourth president of the United States. The commercial satellite GeoEye-1 captured this high-resolution view of the crowds that morning."

Click here for a link to the NASA Earth Observatory site with the full resolution image. Humans as ants... even with millions gathered... how small we really are.

Powers of Ten

My Netflix account is filled with stuff. So much so, that often when movies/documentaries show up, I usually don't remember putting them on my list. It's nice this way because I never really know what to expect when I put the DVD in the player.

Such is the case with a recent DVD arrival: "The Films of Charles & Ray Eames #1". When did I choose this, I thought... and what is it. So, I put in the DVD and began watching the first chapter, "Powers of Ten". I then realized (remembered) why I put this on my Netflix list. It's only 9 minutes long but really is interesting and makes one think about the relative size of space (not outer space but simply *space*) and the human existence in this space, both at the macro and micro level that we tend to take for granted. I vaguely remember watching it in a science class in high school.

I burned a copy of it, of course, but was able to find an original on YouTube to post here. Oddly, there are some parodies and other versions with new soundtracks and narrators, but the 1977 original is just perfect. More so, during my YouTube search, I realized the the outgoing part to "Men in Black" (where the alien are playing a game of marbles with our galaxy) is based on "Powers of Ten" where our galaxy is but one galaxy in a realm of an endless cosmos filled with matter and gas.

So simple in delivery but deeply provoking in metaphysical reflection. Pretty cool, I thought (no pun intended, although it works).

Enjoy.

Sightseeing with Google Maps

OK, now this is pretty cool.

Clicking around looking for some satellite images for my thesis, I happened across this website that has tons and tons of links to interesting Google Earth satellite images from around the world. They advertise having over 12,000 "destinations" and one can easily waste an hour or two (or more) clicking around and seeing the world from above.


Enjoy!
Sightseeing with Google Satellite Maps

He already has his own Web site.

It is fairly apparent that technology (the Internet) is changing western views about communication. More so, the rapid increase in digital "life" is challenging questions on privacy, plagiarism and moral conduct. The amazing thing is that much of these debates have only started to come to light in the last few years as tools (blogs, wiki and other forms of digital self expression) become more available and adopted by more people. Some people do not want to have an Internet presence while others have a digital “life” that is full of expression and reflection... for all to see. It could be assumed that others not partaking in this digital “revolution” (Childe, where are you?) could be concerned with privacy. Economics and access to technology surely plays a part in some instances of non-participation – especially when viewed globally. Or maybe people just don’t care. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how adoption to having a digital “life” develops and becomes more a part of western culture. The digital adoption is in motion and it is moving fast. It seems like once a week, someone who swore of creating a profile on Facebook or Myspace has created a profile (given in?) and become a new member of the online communication realm. Is a sudden participation in online communities analogous to the Nancy Reagan definition of a gateway drug? This article on parents choosing their children’s names on the availability of their kids to get a domain is but one salient example of a switch toward a rapid adoption of digital “life” and changes in family values. Are they addicted? I was named after my great grandfather and traditionally most children are named after a family relative to carry on the memories of a particular individual. However, these kids in the article are named because their parents felt it more important to provide them an avenue for a personal digital presence. Not a bad thing, just a change in ideology and it will only compound as these children move into adulthood and have their children with domain names and so on.. and so on.. and so on...