I love the internet. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the ability to research and learn (and grow) is at our fingertips. As a kid, I’d go to the Dover Public Library (Dover, Ohio, population about 13,000) and sit all day digging through books looking for interesting stuff.
As a major technonerd as a kid, “the pickins were slim” in the technology book area of our little library. Finding a book about radio or TV was nearly impossible (actually, I knew every one of them the library had by heart). Now we can go on YouTube or “Google something” and be steered to hundreds or thousands of related items. Of course, with this comes the hundreds and thousands of items that are only partially accurate or even completely bogus. It seems like anyone with Photoshop who creates a real looking graphic instantly becomes a “credible source” for information (especially in this season of politics, parties, and presidents!).
Thank goodness there are a few web sites like “Snopes” to help try to figure out the fact from fiction.
Cool Car … Uncool Guy
I have no desire to bring any positive light to Hitler, but found this old car that supposedly was sanctioned by Hitler. It’s a cool car with a sleek design.
Greek Statues… in Living Color!
I thought this was fascinating. We see Greek and Roman statues shown in the raw material they were made and never really consider the fact that the statues (and even architecture) actually were painted. Using UV light, scientists are able to approximate the actual color of the statues as they were painted. Here you can read how they figured this out.
Cue Burned Records?
No more! If you STILL have a record collection, and an extra $15,000, you can listen to them without a needle ever recutting those precious grooves. Now a laser can read those “hills and valleys”
Earthquake Bed
No way! This is just freaky. Yes, I get the point of a safe enclosure for an earthquake, but there’s something a little too “coffin-like” about this thing. Can say it’s a creative idea and certainly could save a life. Then again, you could be buried alive in this thing. You decide.
HBO — Behind the Scenes
For years HBO has had some great lead-in videos and “show bumpers.” Ever wonder how they did it? Here’s a look into some of the early 1980s HBO interstitials and some great miniature modeling.
And finally …
If you’re a child of the ’60s or early ’70s, you probably spent a lot of time watching Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Here’s a look into the voice of Yogi Bear … or the great cartoon voice actor, Daws Butler.
If you stumble across a good or unusual web site that might be of interest, please don’t hesitate to send me the link and any info you might have about it. My email address is [email protected].
