Walk Around The Lake

... in just a few million footsteps.

On April 29 2010, Kate Crowley & Mike Link, veteran naturalists, set off via foot & kayak to circumnavigate Lake Superior.

145 days later they'd gone full circle.
It was 1555 miles. (2503 km)
That's quite a walk.

They took video, and collected valuable data on water quality, invasive species, ecology, geography, and human impacts all along their hike. So it was a scientific venture as well as a personal adventure.

link to their interactive map

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Their trek struck a chord with me because my family traveled to see Split Rock lighthouse, one of their landmarks, when I was a child. The shore was rocky, the lake was clear, cold & endless.

And I was chilly after only a few minutes.
Can't imagine how bone-cold you'd be after 5 months.

They saw these moose tracks along the shore...

...and maybe it went in circles around them but
I bet it didn't go as far as they did. :)


For TT's 'Full Circle' day
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DriveBy Funnies

Stop, Look & Lol @ Funny Signs:







And because it can't be mentioned enough...



Finally, don't forget:

I just needed a few laughs today...

- Hope you did too :)

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btws, just found this - long but has good ones:



(A few more lol signs @ DailyMail )

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Frozen Waterfall

My 'Sleet Roof'

Unmodified photo taken through my bathroom window.

Reflected blue from inside added color to my b&w roof.

I like this unexpected effect.
And so its my final entry for
my 'Art Every Day'.* Done!


But I think I'll try it again when its real snow;
fluffy snow & blue-ish will = cotton candy-ish?
_{*see the other's art via twitter #aedm2010}

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Meanwhile... Need more ice?

add a chip of ice to chilled water, voila!
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X Marks The Water

Last weekend I was standing on a railroad bridge (I know, naughty, naughty!) looking down at the muddy water. And I loved the look of interlocking 'X's made by the shadow of the trestle. I had no idea that the underpinnings looked like that, since I was too chicken to hang over the edge.

But I couldn't resist taking this photo.

Now its today's daily dose of 'Art Every Day'.

*See other's art: Twitter hashtag #aedm2010, or Search

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Speaking of 'X's... here's how to
play the X-Files theme (rem that?) w/ 'Synthesia'
Like doing it with a 'Guitar Hero' keyboard :)
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*If you're new to Synthesia, here's a quick demo:
p.s. Its playing 'Dreamy Piano', if you like the tune.
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Frogs Back In Fashion

With frog fans putting on quite a show...



Or, for the less artistic... go to the Japanese Consulate in Miami and they'll show you how to make an origami frog... but only on the first Monday of each month.

Or you could just watch this:

Making an origami frog, one-handed.

Isn't summer fun?

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Great Falls

Want a big surprise on your vacation too?... Here's how:

Drive home thru NJ, via I-80, and stop for gas at exit 57.

You'll find a waterfall there that's 77 feet tall.

2nd only to Niagara in the east U.S.. Who knew?

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Way back, by Alexander Hamilton's statue:


Other side of the park, looking into the chasm:


link to more (not mine) Great Falls photos
(thanks to andy_szymczak, whoever/wherever he is)

wikipedia: Great Falls NJ

A few seconds of the falls in action:



Why doesn't NJ use *that* in their ads vs 'Garden State'?

I can see it now: 'Visit Noisy Joisey Falls'...

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*fixed post

Just Park It

Garage getting too full?...



Can't squeeze in your car?...



Or you just want more space?...

Well, you won't exactly find any help here, because those images above are actually giant photos that are pasted on closed garage doors. So who knows what's actually inside?... but if it is an elephant don't you need a permit? And a pachyderm-scooper?


Daily Mail link has more pics.

*Their creator, Thomas Sassenbach, (at www.styleyourgarage.com) will customise any image on request.

Here's A Toast?

Odd toasters I've run across recently
*click* images to go to original links.

I see it now; my toaster lacks ambition.

Paperopolis

An 8 foot city made entirely of glue & paper.

Wataru Ito has spent four years crafting an incredible model city from paper - but now plans to burn it down. "When the exhibition is over I will burn the castle. I thought I could see it rising up from the ashes if I took a video and played it backwards."

Then he can call it 'iPhoenix', or 'XineohP'?

I hope he posts the video.


link: 11 photo slideshow

Piscatory Props

This piece is called 'Sushi Bar'...

*click* for a larger image

And this one is 'Modern Times'

No idea what this one is called...


Yes, those are real fishy fishes.

artist quote:

“My brother and I played with them like dolls. I loved to have a sardine or a mackerel in my pocket.”

Then artist, Anne-Catherine Becker-Echivard, took a course of instruction in documentary photography in 1997, and she's been doing these ever since.

And her mother does the costumes.


via: Life in the Fast Lane

Kneed To Pay For Parking

_{original picture credit to albanpix.com}
Welcome to the really 'Short Stay Car Park'... Shrunken 3ft-tall parking machines were installed at a short-stay car park in Sheringham (UK) to make them accessible for the handicapped. Guess what? The wheelchair-bound drivers hate these midget meters too. The Daily Mail article.

The Royal Wee

Sun headline: 'Prince Charles admires pair of boobies'
Reason #1 why I read 'The Sun': the photos.
Reason #2, the articles - 'The Royal Wee':

A pub landlady is auctioning off a toilet seat from her bar — after the Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) popped in to use her loo.
Pint-puller Chris Azerkane is hoping the throne seat will raise a bog profit from Royal fanatics after placing it on eBay.

Chris, 52, said she was busy washing up in the kitchen of the 'Hare and Hounds' in Framfield, East Sussex, when her noble guest arrived to pay a visit... “The first I knew about it was when a load of posh cars started turning up in our car park...

Camilla: ''Hello, we’ve just come down from Gloucester do you think I could use your loo?''

And 'Yes' the link does include a pic of the toilet seat.
UPDATE: the eBay bids are up to 67 pounds.

Me & Top Chef, NYC

My New York Top Chef Tour photos!

Friday (3/27) we made a looong drive to NYC to pick up some bulky items near Madison Square Park. Not fun, until I spotted the TC Tour truck! Alas it was too late for any demos, so I just took a few pics.
*click to enlarge any individual pic.
The Truck
Today's Chefs
TC crew cleanup
Life-size cutouts!
wheel of TC prizes
Last TC store items
Set side of truck
thru left window
thru right window
Set, thru door
Bravo disclaimer

This (above) was on a 3 ft board by the door.

All the fans that got inside had to first agree to risk being photographed, or used in promo materials or possibly -dying- to be allowed in.

Makes you wonder just what Nikki was serving...

Tears of Flame picture links

Thanks for the links, TOF.

A set of epe 509 'elevator' pictures. (opens in new window)
Link: 509 pics #1 here, plus others...

Last 15 pictures of '509' also here:

Tears of Flame picture link #2 (opens in new window)
Link: TOF's 509 LWord pics #2