I saw this in Time a month ago - and decided to go straight to the source: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Engineering viruses: using biology to assemble materials, devices.
Ok - im not gonna copy and paste the article, but here a quick rundown:
Angela Belcher, a proffersor at MIT, has created a small, rechargeable battery - made from Viruses.
Basically, inspired by Abalone shells - which are strengthened by the shells surface proteins binding to materials in sea water, like iron and calcium - Belchers team created viruses that bind copper, and then line up into tiny little rows, and also grow cobalt oxide so that when they add lithium to the mix- you are basically getting a normal battery, working a hell of a lot more efficiently, and at the nano-level - and the resultant battery looks like a small, clear credit card.
Im no engineer, and I havent done any physics/chemistry (or even maths) for a good 7 years - so my understanding of the electronic part of this is probably way off... but the biology is way cool. With enough messing of their DNA, you could create viruses that can do pretty much anything chemically - such as use up all of our excess CO2, or create other materials that could be useful.
Anzac Day
Its getting close to 100 years, so youve gotta sit back and ask yourselves - what does this Day really mean to Australians?
Like a large portion of this country - I was not born here, and my parents do not fit into the "English, Scottish, Irish" mould that our sweet Banjo was referring to - but that doesnt make me any less Australian.
Whether you attend the Dawn Services, whether you have discussions with ANZAC Veterans, of whether you just respect and reflect during the minutes silence/horn-playing before the big footy game (GO THE PIES) - Im sure that everyone in this country has reflected on what the ANZACs actually mean to us as Australians.
To me, these are just a few of the things that they mean:
-The bond of mateship, sacrificing to help someone in need.
-The limitless effort, especially when you may not have the same skills/training as others around you.
-The larrikinism, not taking yourself too seriously, and knowing that sometimes the best thing you can do is keep the people around you happy and smiling.
-Determination and Courage
-Sacrifice (yeah, I think it needed to be said twice)
Whether its the Storming of the Bastille, or the Ride of Paul Revere, there are moments in a Nations history that define it. And the fact that these, or the ANZACs arriving at Gallipolli, are no longer as big a part of the national psyche as they once were is not really the issue - but that doesnt mean that we shouldnt stop reflecting on how important these events were in our History, and that we should be wary of moving too far away from the qualities that these individuals upheld.
Like a large portion of this country - I was not born here, and my parents do not fit into the "English, Scottish, Irish" mould that our sweet Banjo was referring to - but that doesnt make me any less Australian.
Whether you attend the Dawn Services, whether you have discussions with ANZAC Veterans, of whether you just respect and reflect during the minutes silence/horn-playing before the big footy game (GO THE PIES) - Im sure that everyone in this country has reflected on what the ANZACs actually mean to us as Australians.
To me, these are just a few of the things that they mean:
-The bond of mateship, sacrificing to help someone in need.
-The limitless effort, especially when you may not have the same skills/training as others around you.
-The larrikinism, not taking yourself too seriously, and knowing that sometimes the best thing you can do is keep the people around you happy and smiling.
-Determination and Courage
-Sacrifice (yeah, I think it needed to be said twice)
Whether its the Storming of the Bastille, or the Ride of Paul Revere, there are moments in a Nations history that define it. And the fact that these, or the ANZACs arriving at Gallipolli, are no longer as big a part of the national psyche as they once were is not really the issue - but that doesnt mean that we shouldnt stop reflecting on how important these events were in our History, and that we should be wary of moving too far away from the qualities that these individuals upheld.
Lest We Forget
The honoured graves beneath the crest
Of Gaba Tepe hill,
May hold our bravest and our best,
But we have brave men still.
With all our petty quarrels done,
Dissensions overthrown,
We have, through what you boys have done,
A history of our own.
Our old world diff'rences are dead,
Like weeds beneath the plough,
For English, Scotch, and Irish-bred,
They're all Australians now!
So now we'll toast the Third Brigade,
That led Australia's van,
For never shall their glory fade
In minds Australian.
-Banjo Patterson
Of Gaba Tepe hill,
May hold our bravest and our best,
But we have brave men still.
With all our petty quarrels done,
Dissensions overthrown,
We have, through what you boys have done,
A history of our own.
Our old world diff'rences are dead,
Like weeds beneath the plough,
For English, Scotch, and Irish-bred,
They're all Australians now!
So now we'll toast the Third Brigade,
That led Australia's van,
For never shall their glory fade
In minds Australian.
-Banjo Patterson
the return (-slash-Nickelback)
Ok, it has been a while since I blogged.
And its definately not for want of an occasion.
First & foremost its been the biggest event of the perth calender (ok, maybe not, but Kasra & Hodas was still pretty awesome) - it probably deserves a full post, but it would be worthless without Photos - and I dont have any digital ones right now.
Secondly - we were visited by two of my favourite people from accross the nullabour.
There was Bayan-slash-Edward who dropped by from Alice-slash-Hobart. Sweet boy - definately deserved a post of his own.
Oh, and we enjoyed the company of this one for a few days - complete with her new nose-ring.
But - being true to form, my post is about something completely trivial and unrelated to my life.
Now, when it comes to Music, I hope most people agree that Im pretty open. I enjoy listening to just about everything, whether its your REMs, Xavier Rudds, J5s or even the Sixpence None the Richers of the world - I enjoy it.
But theres been one band who I have never liked (well, not since there first hit) - and bayan-slash-edward would confirm my instant dismissal of any of their songs - I just cant stand Nickleback.
Now, I've always had an inkling that all their songs were exactly the same, but then some guy on the net went and did this: Nickleback songs - playing two of their songs simultaneously (Left & Right Speaker).
Have a listen - they are almost exactly the same.
Im sorry but music stops being ART once you are just playing to a formula - and even worse, a formula just based on your first big hit.
Seriously, it just really bugs me.
And its definately not for want of an occasion.
First & foremost its been the biggest event of the perth calender (ok, maybe not, but Kasra & Hodas was still pretty awesome) - it probably deserves a full post, but it would be worthless without Photos - and I dont have any digital ones right now.
Secondly - we were visited by two of my favourite people from accross the nullabour.
There was Bayan-slash-Edward who dropped by from Alice-slash-Hobart. Sweet boy - definately deserved a post of his own.
Oh, and we enjoyed the company of this one for a few days - complete with her new nose-ring.
But - being true to form, my post is about something completely trivial and unrelated to my life.
Now, when it comes to Music, I hope most people agree that Im pretty open. I enjoy listening to just about everything, whether its your REMs, Xavier Rudds, J5s or even the Sixpence None the Richers of the world - I enjoy it.
But theres been one band who I have never liked (well, not since there first hit) - and bayan-slash-edward would confirm my instant dismissal of any of their songs - I just cant stand Nickleback.
Now, I've always had an inkling that all their songs were exactly the same, but then some guy on the net went and did this: Nickleback songs - playing two of their songs simultaneously (Left & Right Speaker).
Have a listen - they are almost exactly the same.
Im sorry but music stops being ART once you are just playing to a formula - and even worse, a formula just based on your first big hit.
Seriously, it just really bugs me.
Happy Aus Day
Well another Australia day has come & gone.
Highlights
- Watching "The Castle" & "Kenny".
- Eating more lollies & chips than I could imagine.
- Finding that although the streets were packed, Utopia (home of dodgy chinese Karaoke & probably 1000 varieties of BubbleTea) was still pretty empty at 11pm.
- "Winter Love" tea (the name of the drink) with Sago AND Rockmelon Snow (=freezie) from said location.
- The Fireworks, which were pretty good. (though not quite the effect of the News Years ones from Gloucester Park - because then you could actually feel the buildings shake as the sound echoed.
- Oh - and what we could swear were attemps for the Fireworks to look like a map of Australia.
Lowlights
- The 41-degree heat. (and probably still around 38 at 9pm - I kid you not eastsiders).
- Drinking about 3 litres of liquid (Including a Bubble Tea, a Snow, a fair share of soft drinks, and plenty of water) - and not at one point in the night did I not feel dehydrated.
- Drinking a "Red Bean Snow". Seroiusly - never try it. Its like drinking pure bitter protien juice.
- Im not sure how to respond, but when I get home at 1am my little brother was entertaining guests, and an un-named 18/19 year old says "Hey guys, we woke up Koorush". Not sure if I should be saddened that she actually thought I was a grandpa, or happy that Im not.
-The midnight picnic at Kings Park to send off Lobna that didnt end up happening.
- And finally, after taking 100 photos on my phone of the sky works (I didnt expect many to turn out well, so for insurance i just kept snapping) and then realising what was wrong with the resolution, realising this morning that my phone (which for a 2.0megapixel camera is very dodgy already) was set to Photo-MMS - thus the resolution was even poorer than usual.
Anyway, here are a few of those snaps.
Highlights
- Watching "The Castle" & "Kenny".
- Eating more lollies & chips than I could imagine.
- Finding that although the streets were packed, Utopia (home of dodgy chinese Karaoke & probably 1000 varieties of BubbleTea) was still pretty empty at 11pm.
- "Winter Love" tea (the name of the drink) with Sago AND Rockmelon Snow (=freezie) from said location.
- The Fireworks, which were pretty good. (though not quite the effect of the News Years ones from Gloucester Park - because then you could actually feel the buildings shake as the sound echoed.
- Oh - and what we could swear were attemps for the Fireworks to look like a map of Australia.
Lowlights
- The 41-degree heat. (and probably still around 38 at 9pm - I kid you not eastsiders).
- Drinking about 3 litres of liquid (Including a Bubble Tea, a Snow, a fair share of soft drinks, and plenty of water) - and not at one point in the night did I not feel dehydrated.
- Drinking a "Red Bean Snow". Seroiusly - never try it. Its like drinking pure bitter protien juice.
- Im not sure how to respond, but when I get home at 1am my little brother was entertaining guests, and an un-named 18/19 year old says "Hey guys, we woke up Koorush". Not sure if I should be saddened that she actually thought I was a grandpa, or happy that Im not.
-The midnight picnic at Kings Park to send off Lobna that didnt end up happening.
- And finally, after taking 100 photos on my phone of the sky works (I didnt expect many to turn out well, so for insurance i just kept snapping) and then realising what was wrong with the resolution, realising this morning that my phone (which for a 2.0megapixel camera is very dodgy already) was set to Photo-MMS - thus the resolution was even poorer than usual.
Anyway, here are a few of those snaps.
Movies of Summer
Ok, seeing as I back to uni in a week (and will be going hard at it until mid-december) I thought it was time for a mammoth post.
I thought it would be worth discussing some of the movies Ive seen for the first time this summer - some new, some old, some awesome, some not so.
Ok, starting with brand new ones:
Happy Feet
Probably my favourite movie all summer. The heartwarming tale of a young penguin who can't sing (in a colony where that is worse than a crime) and this uncontrollable urge to tap his little feet away. I loved it so much, that i think everyone sitting near us may have got angry at me because of two things:
1. It has got a number of laugh-out-loud moments, that i might as well just taped myself and played a tape all movie.
2. The music.
This is one thing I loved about the movie - it was full of great music - and it was all such an integral part of the story. Like how the penguins serenade each other - that is so cool. And anyone who knows me well, knows that Im not one to shy away from singing along (even if it is under my breath).
Blood Diamond
I really enjoyed this movie and I think its definately worth watching if youre not too squeamish.
As pure entertainment it is great - great storyline, nice ending, good acting (notwithstanding Leo constantly dropping the South African accent - which didnt actually make entire sense because his character was from Zimbabwe - and I'm pretty sure they sound a bit different).
And as social commentary - it will make you think twice next time you want to buy a diamond. And I just think its great that movies are now starting to portray some of the problems of that great continent.
Pursuit of Happyness
An interesting "true" (though not entirely) story. There are so many ads about this movie, that I dont know if theres much left for me to say. And although it was a great movie, i did leave me feeling like it left a few bits out - like it glossed over what might have been his worst times
Rocky Balboa
Not 4th best, just up here because it is so new (not out in cinemas yet). Its worth watching if youre a fan, but in all honesty it is 45-minutes TV-movie, 30-minutes Nostalgia... but the nostalgia is definately worth it, even if you do have to try to ignore the fact that Stallone is about a hundred years old.
All in all - its a better finish to the Rocky series than Rocky V.
Blade Runner
This is supposed to be one of the best movies of all time - and I can understand why. For those who havent seen it, Harrison Ford plays a kind of detective (Blade Runner), whose role is to find and eliminate Replicants (advanced robots that look human, but are superhuman in most ways), only the story takes a slight turn when he meets a replicant who doesnt know that shes not human. Great thought-provoking story, technology that would have been state-of-the-art at the time, and an ending that leaves you with a number of big questions.
My problem was being able to look past the technology, and Dolph Lungdren. The combination just reminded too much of a multitude of B-grade sci-fi movies from the late 80's.
Still a good movie though.
Princess Bride
Another movie that is supposed to be up there with the best - and I loved it.
Basically its a movie that, on the surface, could be just any old fairy-tale about true love, an evil prince who wants to marry the girl, and the adventures that her true love has to go through, involving pirates, magicians, giant rats, a number of sword fights, a "giant", and a, um, Sicillian.
But on top of all this, the movie was full of some great (and usually) classy humour. It was no Robin Hood: Men In Tights (they both star Cary Elwes) in terms of just pure stupidity, but it was a very funny movie.
And if anyone every comes up to you and repeatedly says:Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die."- then trust me, they arent crazy (well, not entirely).
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
I have wierd relationship with Python. I loved Meaning of Life, and bits of the tv show - but when I saw Life of Brian, I completely hated it. I found none of it funny.
So getting this movie out was like a 2nd chance - but I really didnt have high hopes.
This movie has resurrected them in my eyes.
It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever watched - and yet I laughed all the way through it.
I loved how they completely ignored every single rule of movie-making: like inconcievable storylines and characters (like the Knight who keeps fighting, even though both arms and both legs have been chopped off... or the frenchmen who shoot Cows and chooks instead of cannons and arrows... or the killer bunny rabbit), stopping to talk to the audience... and even the ending that wasnt really an ending (which in most peoples eyes would have been a complete cop-out, but after 10 minutes thinking about it, I thought was a great way to finish the movie).
---
Well, that is 7 memorable movies I have seen this summer.
I might add more to this post later.
I thought it would be worth discussing some of the movies Ive seen for the first time this summer - some new, some old, some awesome, some not so.
Ok, starting with brand new ones:
Happy Feet
Probably my favourite movie all summer. The heartwarming tale of a young penguin who can't sing (in a colony where that is worse than a crime) and this uncontrollable urge to tap his little feet away. I loved it so much, that i think everyone sitting near us may have got angry at me because of two things:
1. It has got a number of laugh-out-loud moments, that i might as well just taped myself and played a tape all movie.
2. The music.
This is one thing I loved about the movie - it was full of great music - and it was all such an integral part of the story. Like how the penguins serenade each other - that is so cool. And anyone who knows me well, knows that Im not one to shy away from singing along (even if it is under my breath).
Blood Diamond
I really enjoyed this movie and I think its definately worth watching if youre not too squeamish.
As pure entertainment it is great - great storyline, nice ending, good acting (notwithstanding Leo constantly dropping the South African accent - which didnt actually make entire sense because his character was from Zimbabwe - and I'm pretty sure they sound a bit different).
And as social commentary - it will make you think twice next time you want to buy a diamond. And I just think its great that movies are now starting to portray some of the problems of that great continent.
Pursuit of Happyness
An interesting "true" (though not entirely) story. There are so many ads about this movie, that I dont know if theres much left for me to say. And although it was a great movie, i did leave me feeling like it left a few bits out - like it glossed over what might have been his worst times
Rocky Balboa
Not 4th best, just up here because it is so new (not out in cinemas yet). Its worth watching if youre a fan, but in all honesty it is 45-minutes TV-movie, 30-minutes Nostalgia... but the nostalgia is definately worth it, even if you do have to try to ignore the fact that Stallone is about a hundred years old.
All in all - its a better finish to the Rocky series than Rocky V.
Blade Runner
This is supposed to be one of the best movies of all time - and I can understand why. For those who havent seen it, Harrison Ford plays a kind of detective (Blade Runner), whose role is to find and eliminate Replicants (advanced robots that look human, but are superhuman in most ways), only the story takes a slight turn when he meets a replicant who doesnt know that shes not human. Great thought-provoking story, technology that would have been state-of-the-art at the time, and an ending that leaves you with a number of big questions.
My problem was being able to look past the technology, and Dolph Lungdren. The combination just reminded too much of a multitude of B-grade sci-fi movies from the late 80's.
Still a good movie though.
Princess Bride
Another movie that is supposed to be up there with the best - and I loved it.
Basically its a movie that, on the surface, could be just any old fairy-tale about true love, an evil prince who wants to marry the girl, and the adventures that her true love has to go through, involving pirates, magicians, giant rats, a number of sword fights, a "giant", and a, um, Sicillian.
But on top of all this, the movie was full of some great (and usually) classy humour. It was no Robin Hood: Men In Tights (they both star Cary Elwes) in terms of just pure stupidity, but it was a very funny movie.
And if anyone every comes up to you and repeatedly says:Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die."- then trust me, they arent crazy (well, not entirely).
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
I have wierd relationship with Python. I loved Meaning of Life, and bits of the tv show - but when I saw Life of Brian, I completely hated it. I found none of it funny.
So getting this movie out was like a 2nd chance - but I really didnt have high hopes.
This movie has resurrected them in my eyes.
It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever watched - and yet I laughed all the way through it.
I loved how they completely ignored every single rule of movie-making: like inconcievable storylines and characters (like the Knight who keeps fighting, even though both arms and both legs have been chopped off... or the frenchmen who shoot Cows and chooks instead of cannons and arrows... or the killer bunny rabbit), stopping to talk to the audience... and even the ending that wasnt really an ending (which in most peoples eyes would have been a complete cop-out, but after 10 minutes thinking about it, I thought was a great way to finish the movie).
---
Well, that is 7 memorable movies I have seen this summer.
I might add more to this post later.
What the bleep do we know
I just watched "What the Bleep do we know?" , a movie/documentary that tries to use quantum physics (although its mostly Neuroscience) to explain ourselves, the universe, and beyond.
I recommend that everybody watch it, but personally, I am not entirely sure what to think of it.
On the surface, it provides for a very deep, contemplative couple of hours, and just for that sole reason I think everyone should sit down and take it in.
And it definately breaks into new ways of 'scientific' thinking.
I wont try to explain it, but basically it comes down the point that your thoughts can change your reality on numerous levels.
But I guess where my dilemma lies is that it is somewhere in the junction of Science and Art (not that the two are by any means mutually exclusive).
As a piece of Art, I thought it was awesome.
As a piece of Science... well... I'd really have to find out more about quantum phsyics to comment on that.
Scrubs - Guy Love
I tried to post this video a couple of times before, but now Im gonna try a new way.
Girls - this is on behalf of guys everywhere:
Girls - this is on behalf of guys everywhere:
move over Enya
The cd cover on the right is one that i've seen hundreds of times. Im not sure who actually owns it, but its the kind of CD that pops up all the time when people are running things like group reflections/meditations and at devotional gatherings and what not.Well, while getting some other music off someone for a quiz - she kindly copied over a bunch of other stuff, that happened to include this album.
And so it sat on my iTunes playlist for about a week - where I subconsciously judged most of it (except "Dante's prayer") as "boring" worthy of an automatic next... but since then Ive been listening to all the songs a bit more.
And you know what - I dont care that she's almost 50 (I had to google that, I thought she was a lot younger) - but im loving this voice. (sorry - cant think of a better place to link than Amazon.com where all the "sample" are mostly instrumental - but Im sure half of you own the cd).
Seriously - it is just so relaxing, and promoting of reflection (??? cant think of what actual word to use)... me fail english - thats unpossible.
I think im gonna buy this next time I see it for sale.
more random photos
As I was posting that previous post, I was checking out some of the other random photos on my phone. (note: Phone - so thats why they are crappy quality, and also note that the people at O2 are complete jackasses, coz they chuck in a 2.0 megapixel camera, but dont give it the 'insulation'? required to cancel out the phones radiowaves (or something like that which a techno-buff told me recently... I have no desire to know these things)).
(I dont know whats so special about American Cheese, or why someone would advertise it on their remote control storage device, but I thought it was cool).
(I dont know whats so special about American Cheese, or why someone would advertise it on their remote control storage device, but I thought it was cool).
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