Virtual New York City!

Here is a link to a site that provides you with maps, walking tours and videos of new york city. The walking tours are great - interactive photo tour. The videos are fun too - my favorite are of the subway rides, skating at Rockefeller place, and Jessica's bat mitzvah. Yes, Jessica filmed her mitzvah - it is so cute. There is so much on this site I only have seen a small portion. The picture shown is from the empire state building walking tour.

Afrobats - street performers in Central Park

Here is a link to the famous Afrobats, street performers in Central Park. amazing!

E = MC2 and WTC collapse

Why did the World Trade Towers seem to explode? Einstein's theory of energy and mass is above, e equals m csquared, or energy and mass can go either way. there is a finite amount of mass (and energy) in the universe. So when mass disintegrates it releases energy. How much mass does one tower of WTC contain? A scientist estimates that with a mass of about 500,000 tons (5 x 108 kilograms), a height of about 1,350 ft. (411 meters), and the acceleration of gravity at 9.8 meters per second 2, the potential energy is 1019 ergs (1012 Joules or 278 Megawatt-hours). "That's about 1 percent of the energy released by a small atomic bomb," the scientist noted.

The M.I.T. professor added that about 30 percent of the collapse energy was expended rupturing the materials of the building, while the rest was converted into the kinetic energy of the falling mass. The huge gray dust clouds that covered lower Manhattan after the collapse were probably formed when the concrete floors were pulverized in the fall and then jetted into the surrounding neighborhood. "Of the kinetic energy impacting the ground, only 0.1 percent was converted to seismic energy," he stated. "Each event created a (modest-sized) magnitude 2 earthquake, as monitored at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Observatory, which is located about 30 kilometers away from New York City." Kausel concluded that the "the largest share of the kinetic energy was converted to heat, material rupture and deformation of the ground below."

mass equals energy. the WTC became energy, and left over mass. That's why some believe in the conspiracy theories behind the WTC collapse: but its all about einsteins formula.

kinky friedman for Governor of Texas!

Here is a recent video of Kinky playing lead guitar, jamming with another group. Here is kinky's campaign web site. Kinky used to have a country - rock group, called Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jew Boys. Their songs were fiercely pro Texas, pro jewish culture, against prejudice and very satirical and very funny. Some of his song titles: Get Your Biscuits In The Oven and Your Buns In Bed; They Don't Make Jews like Jesus anymore; and "Asshole from El Paso" also known as "Lasso from El Paso." Here is Kinky with Dwight Yokum discussing smoking cigars on Yokum's bus if he becomes governor...

Lyrics: They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore by Kinky Friedman


Well, a redneck nerd in a bowling shirt was a-guzzlin' lone star beer
Talking religion and-uh politics for all the world to hear.
they oughta send you back to russia, boy, or new york city one
You just want to doodle a christian girl and you killed god's only son.

I said, has it occurred to you, you nerd, that that's not very nice,
We jews believe it was santa claus that killed jesus christ.
you know, you don't look jewish,¡± he said, ¡°near as I could figger
I had you lamped for a slightly anemic, well-dressed country nigger.

No, they ain't makin' jews like jesus anymore,
They don't turn the other cheek the way they done before.
He started in to shoutin' and a-spittin' on the floor,
lord, they ain't makin' jews like jesus anymore.

He says, i ain't a racist but aristitle onassis is one greek we don't need
And them niggers, jews and sigma nus, all they ever do is breed.
And wops n micks n slopes n spics n spooks are on my list
And there's one little hebe from the heart of texas is there anyone I missed ?

Well, I hits him with everything I had right square between the eyes.
I says, i'm gonna gitcha, you son of a bitch ya, for spoutin' that pack of lies.
If there's one thing I can't abide, it's an ethnocentric racist;
Now you take back that thing you said bout aristitle onassis.

No, they ain't makin' jews like jesus anymore,
We don't turn the other cheek the way we done before.
You could hear that honky holler as he hit that hardwood floor
lord, they sho' ain't makin' jews like jesus anymore!
All right!

Outkast's "Hey Ya" performed acoustic, live

Here is an amazing take on Hey Ya, performed live by front singer of Tempe AZ group, Obadiah Parker. Gives a whole new feel to the song: sad, tragic. Not upbeat. Wow.

Japanese TV practical joke: Lunatic taxi!!!

Some Japanese TV shows are wild! Here is one that puts an actor into a cab (emergency phone call sets it up) and the driver is actually a stunt performer. They have created a stunt area where the driver does a 180 degree emergency turn, drives on two wheels through a "work" zone, crashes through gates, flys over a ramp, drives through explosions, and finally flips over. The actor in the back seat is horrified, but the TV audience is laughing hysterically! Here is the link.
And here is a previous post of a TV show who puts a girl wearing a seal costume in front of a polar bear at the zoo!

Rep. Katherine Harris

Rep. Katherine Harris
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Yes, its Cruela de Harris, the former Sec of State during the 2000 florida presidiential election. Responsible for stopping the hand recount of the vote, along with the republican Sup Court, she is villified by Democrats, and now also by members of her own party. Turns out, she took an illegal campaign contribution from a defense contractor, who wanted her to lobby for a gov contract for his company - this guy also brided Randy Cunningham, the congressmen who is spending the rest of his life in a federal pennitentiary. Even Gov. Bush of florida (Jeb Bush) has asked her to step down, and the republicans would get another candidate. But no, she refused. She has lent her campaign $10 million of her own money. Now it turns out she has been subpoened by the fed gov, but kept the subpeona a secret from her staff - they found out, five of them resigned. She has no campaign staff, way behind in the polls, the republicans think she may take down the whole Florida election with her campaign. She is from very wealthy family, has a MPA from Harvard, successful in real estate, so she is no dummy. But she is a ruthless politician, and I think voters are sick of ruthless politicians who get caught up in campaign payoffs and bribes. (She looks kinda hot on that horse - notice its not a stallion!)

singing during rocket attack

here is a video of singing Israelis, in a bomb shelter, during a rocket attack. The song they are singing is "Od Yavoh Shalom Aleinu" which translates as "Until peace comes upon us and everyone. Peace (in Arabic), for us and all the world, peace."

Kekexilli: "Mountain Patrol"

kekexilli2
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Incredible movie about a group of armed volunteers in Tibet who chase down antelope poachers on the high plains, about 4 miles above sea level (20,000). They brave the weather, sandstorms, broke down vehicles, hunger, sandtraps, snow storms, the cold, altitude sickness and of course the poachers who are armed with automatic weapons. Within two years in the mid 1990's, poachers reduced the antelope herd from one million to 60,000. Their wool became valuable. Tibet is remote, so poaching was easy. Until Kekexilli came along! the cinematograhy is unbelievable. the story is unbelievable, that these men would risk their lives, for free, to save the antelope. the poachers are truly criminal, and very dangerous. There are executions in the movie. Men freezing to death. And more. A hard film to watch at times. Very intense. Here is the national geographic site. A must See!

Fireworks over Pittsburgh

ALL STAR GAME BASEBALL
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Here are fireworks celebrating the All Star Game in pittsburgh. Beautiful city! Picture says it all!

William Shatner's dramatic interpretation of Rocket Man

William Shatner's dramatic interpretation of Rocket Man
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

This is so bad its great. Captain Kirk reciting Elton John's "Rocket Man." Its way over the top. He is supposed to be an astronaut..but he is smoking a cigarette for "dramatic" effect. Really awful...funny!

Brokeback Mountain

brokebackmountain
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

So I finally saw it. Incredible film. the scenery was great. the camera action was great: sweeping panoramas, and then hand held cameras for close up really emotional scenes (the camera shaking while Jack and Ennis argue). Jack was extrovert, ennis an introvert. Jack active in his gay life, ennis's only partner was Jack. Jack lying to Ennis about his other boyfriends, Ennis has a hard time talking to anyone. Ennis afraid of his gayness, afraid to have others know, opts for a life of isolation, lonlieness. Jack ends up .... well no spoilers here. What got me was the sadness in the movie. Everyone seemed sad. Jack's wife was sad - mad at him for how it ended, embarrassed by him. Jack and ennis were sad, ennis's wife was sad. What everyone was trying for was happiness. In this sense, a film with a universal theme: how many people live sad lives, searching for love and happiness? Doesnt that sum up most of the human race? Ennis' toast to his daughter at the end was great: he understood. Love and happiness. he wished his daughter well. I guess I dont see why this film was controversial, unless viewers are so clueless about human existence that they cant see through the gay relationship to the real themes of the movie.
And if you want to see Brokeback Mountain performed by bunnies in 30 seconds, click here.

Bender applauds Al Gore's Video!

Bender applauds Al Gore's Video!
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

You have to watch the clip, Futurama advertises Al Gore's video, Bender and Al gore side by side. Great trailer for the video: "An Inconvenient Truth."

Locash Cowboys

locash cowboys
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

I finally found the locash cowboys web site. I sat next to BJ the lead guitarist on a plane ride from denver to chicago. more about them here.

Geoff's air conditioner

Geoff's air conditioner
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

this guy is a genius! Here is how to design your own air conditioner for less than $20.

who killed the electric car?

funeral
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

here is a trailer for the movie Who Killed the Electric Car? sounds like a good film. For more infor on the electric car, go here. and here is the trailer link.

fluorescent chain cat shark

fluorescent chain cat shark
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

there is no such thing as a jaguar shark, like the one in The Life Aquatic. However, here is a deep sea shark that glows, its very short, only a meter long. researchers were looking for giant squid deep in the ocean, and they photographed this shark - surprise!

awesome paint job

awesome paint job
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

here's a gunman posing in front of his commander's car in Somalia. But look at the paint job!!! Awesome! with the crescent! And that one star blue flag on the drivers door! Can't you just see getting a late model jeep and painting it like that! The guns are too scary though....

last picture show

last picture show
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Absolutely incredible film. Shown at Regent Square Theater in pittsburgh, Sunday night only. From 1971 - timeless classic. Timothy Bottoms was great, Cloris Leachman was great - the entire cast was great. the Director Peter Bogdonovich was incredible - 31 yrs old - made a perfect movie. I dont think he can ever make a movie this good again, not that he isnt good now, but this movie was so perfect, the script, the actors, the black and white film, the landscape, the music. Absolutley perfect. here are the actors. and some dialogue follows.

Timothy Bottoms
Jeff Bridges
Cybill Shepherd
Ben Johnson
Cloris Leachman
Ellen Burstyn
Eileen Brennan
Clu Gulager
Sam Bottoms
Sharon Taggart
Randy Quaid



Now you boys can get on outta here. I don't wanna have no more to do with ya. Scarin' an unfortunate creature like Billy, just so's you could have a few laughs. I've been around that trashy behavior all my life. I'm gettin' tired of puttin' up with it. And you can stay outta this poolhall, outta my cafe and my picture show too. I don't want no more of your business.

Sonny: Nothin's really been right since Sam the Lion died.
Lois: No, no it hasn't. (Her eyes well up with tears) Oh God, I get sad if I think of Sam for long. Did you know he had beautiful hands?
Sonny: I guess you liked him, didn't you? Aw, I guess everybody did.
Lois: Well, I tell you, it was different with me, Sonny. I loved him. He loved me, too.
Sonny: Are you - are you the one he used to take swimmin'? Out at the tank?
Lois: (She smiles and then muses) He told you about that, huh? Yeah, I was the one. I guess if it wasn't for Sam, I'd just about have missed it, whatever it is. I'd have been one of them Amity types that thinks that playin' bridge is about the best thing that life has to offer. Old Sam the Lion. (After holding back tears, she's crying visibly) Sam the Lion - you know, nobody knows where he got that name. I gave it to him. One night, well, it just came to me. He was so pleased. I was 22 years old then. Can you imagine? I'll tell you, Sonny, it's terrible to only meet one man in your whole life who knows what you're worth. Just terrible. I've looked, too. You wouldn't believe how I've looked.

George Harrison tribute

George Harrison tribute
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

This is the most beautiful George Harrison tribute video on the web. He meditated sometimes 4 hrs a day, read the Gnostic gospels too. I think Hinduism and gnosticism led him to find the answer to the human dilemma: love. It's that simple after all....