Ambosia of the Gods...
Facts About Chocolate – Elixir of the Gods!
"Okay. You’ve only seen one picture and you’re already salivating. What is it about the power of chocolate that makes consumers worldwide spend more than $20 billion a year on it? The obvious answer is its rich, smooth, and creamy taste. But wait, there’s more !"
more drooling via steadyeddie.posterous.com
Visualising Neuronal Tracts
by Nuada Medical Specialist Imaging
"Diffusion tensor tractography image showing the neuronal tracts in the brain of an adult male, viewed from above. These tracts correspond to bundles of axons, which are elongated projections that extend from neurons. They form the critical connective 'wiring' that transmits chemical and electrical signals between other neurons for sensory and motor functions."
Elbaite
Elbaite - Araçuaí, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
"Beautiful pink double terminated gemmy glassy lustrous elbaite crystal measuring 6.4 x 1.9 x 1.7 cm in size. The bottom termination is natural but more crude than the top main termination. Complete all around and damage-free. Minor mica in association."
via danweinrich.com
Lake Atitlan at Night
"A starry night of Lake Atitlán, "Lago de Atitlán" located in the highlands of Guatemala. Stars of Orion and Taurus stand high above the sky with Sirius (the brightest star in the night sky) to their left besides the band of the Milky Way. Also note Canopus, the second brightest star in the night sky, below Sirius and near the southern horizon. Atitlan is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and with a depth of 340m it's the deepest lake in Central America. The lake is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed in an eruption 84,000 years ago and there are three volcanoes on its southern flank, all above 3000 meters high. Atitlán is further characterized by towns and villages of Maya civilization. The visible artificial lights in this image are coming from the villages at the lake shore."
via twanight.org
The Air Race : a 1933 Willie Whopper cartoon
a 1933 Willie Whopper cartoon from Ub Iwerks
Willie Whopper, the perennial prevaricator, spins a yarn about how he won the national air race and got the trophy (and a kiss!) from the then-alive Amelia Earhart.
via archive.org
God and Lawn Care
God said: "Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles."
St. FRANCIS:
It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD:
Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS:
Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD:
The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.
GOD:
They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD:
They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANCIS:
No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD:
Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS:
Yes, Sir.
GOD:
These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD:
What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD:
No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANCIS:
After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD:
And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS:
They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD:
Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us ton
ST. CATHERINE:
'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about....
GOD:
Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis...
Sent by John...Thanks !
