Posts filed under 'Cool Stuff'
Hebrew-speaking bomb dog finds a friend in Montana
Here’s a seasonal story.
Miky, a German Shepherd, was born in Holland. He was rescued from a shelter and moved to Israel to be trained as a bomb dog. When the Montana police force was looking for a bomb-sniffing hound, they needed ways to find a dog that didn’t cost $20,000. So the searched around, and found that Mikey was not being used in Israel. For the price of the plane ticket, Mikey moved to Montana.
The only problem was that Mikey only speaks Hebrew, and his partner does not. Enter the rabbi from Bozeman, who was at the State Capitol for last year’s Hanukkah festivities. Mikey, his partner, and the rabbi are now working as a team.
How’s that for peace, love and understanding?
Add comment December 7, 2009
Did you know America already has an amazing train system?
One of the hardest things about living in the age of information is that there’s way too much of it. It’s nearly impossible to sift out what is interesting, relevant and trustworthy.
So I hadn’t even heard about the new Rail Runner passenger line between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. They called it the Rail Runner to play on Road Runner, which is the New Mexico state bird. Evidently the 90 minute ride is faster than driving on New Mexico’s most congested stretch of highway. It’s said to be affordable, and so far it’s a hit with the riders.
But what struck me in the BBC article covering the new train were some really intriguing factoids about trains in America.
For example, I had absolutely no idea that the United States moves almost 10 times as much freight by rail as Europe does. Given the size of Europe and the fact that they’ve always moved people with trains, I would have guessed the exact opposite.
Besides, the only time we talk or think about trains in America is when we are arguing about building passenger trains that rarely every come to fruition. I should correct that – people who live between Boston and DC deal with trains. And now the folks from Albuquerque and Santa Fe do too. But the rest of us? Fuggedaboudit.
But what’s really amazing is how GREEN the trains in America are.
Would you believe me if I told you that an American diesel train can move a ton of freight 436 miles on one gallon of fuel?
Unbelievable!
Of course, we’re still looking forward to the day when we get our MagLev superfast train from Vegas to LA. But in the meantime, it’s great to know how efficiently we are moving freight. And kudos to New Mexico for getting the job done.
Add comment November 18, 2009
How cool is this? Sidewalks that generate electricity
Think about this: every time you take a step, you generate kinetic energy. What if the kinetic energy from thousands of pedestrians could be harnessed, stored and redirected for other uses?
A new product designed by Laurence Kemball-Cook, the director of Pavegen Systems Ltd., flexes beneath each step, absorbs the kinetic energy produced by every footstep, and creates 2.1 watts of electricity per hour. The energy is either stored within lithium polymer batteries or distributed to nearby lights, information displays, and much more.
Constructed from marine grade stainless steel and recycled materials, the surface of each slab features the rubber from old tires, and the internal components are made from recycled aluminum.
It is estimated that busy sidewalks receive up to 50,000 steps a day, so the potential energy is enormous.
The first prototypes have rolled out in East London. If all goes well, Pavegen has plans to go worldwide, to some of the busiest spots on earth. Fantastic idea!
Add comment October 29, 2009
We did not know that all bears hum (except pandas)
Here’s a great story about the Bearwalker of the Northwoods.
For 43 years, Professor Lynn Rogers has studied wild bears, walking and playing with them, gaining amazing insights into their behavior.
Professor Rogers has made a special study of the American Black Bear.
His studies reveal the bears as peaceful, playful creatures, which even hum when they are content.
Interestingly, in all of his years working, walking and living with bears, Professor Rogers has never been attacked. According to the article, there have been only 3 recorded black bear attacks on humans in the past 100 years.
Add comment October 27, 2009
Massive pod of killer whales sighted off Scotland
Finally, some GOOD news about the environment.
The BBC reports that, for the first time, a massive pod of up to 50 killer whales has been filmed off the coast of Scotland.
Evidently, the beautiful creatures dropped by to feed off of mackerel escaping fishing nets. They also eat scraps thrown back into the water by the fishing crews.
Killer whales are actually members of the dolphin family, and are known for their intelligence.
Scientists first documented this behavior in the 1980s and fishermen in Scotland have seen the behavior develop since.
“They are pretty quick to cotton on, and it’s something they are doing all around the world where there is a big fishery,” says Mr Andy Foote of the University of Aberdeen, a marine scientist advising the BBC Autumnwatch team.
“But what’s great about this one, is they aren’t viewed as a pest, they are just going after mackerel that are stuck in the nets or escaping and they don’t take any of the fishermen’s catch,” he says.
“They don’t damage the nets or get stuck in the nets, there is a benefit for both parties and the fishermen are really fond of the killer whales.”
So maybe, just maybe, the orcas and the fishermen can work as a team? And some human behavior can actually work out for the benefit of the creatures of the sea?
Add comment October 16, 2009
The healing power of animals
We’ve all heard that scientific studies prove that animals are good for our health. Everything from unconditional love through reducing blood pressure.
This is a cool story about a woman who got sick and the role animals played in her healing.
But what’s even better is all of the comments from the readers.
I suppose most animal lovers have stories of hard times we’ve gotten with the help of our pets. I sure do. And I know that when friends and loved ones are going through hard times alone, I often recommend that they consider bringing a pet into their lives.
Check out the comments – they’re very cool.
Add comment October 3, 2009
BFF – the orangutan and the hound
This is a must see.
How AWESOME are animals?
And of course when you see bonding like this between species, you always wonder why humans can’t all just get along, like the man said.
Add comment September 26, 2009
Russia has its first high-speed train. Where’s ours?
Russia has arrived in the high-speed club that includes Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Spain, Taiwan, Korea and China, which joined in 2007.
Siemens, the German conglomerate, has designed the high-speed trains and adapted them for Russian winters. This December, high-speed service will start between St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Siemens is one of four companies, none of them American, with capacity to build high-speed rail. All four companies have an eye on America, with hopes that they will benefit from the $13 billion high-speed rail program included in the economic stimulus passed by Congress in April.
I live in Las Vegas now, but I lived in California for 16 years. I always thought that there should be a high-speed circle line, running from LA to San Francisco, over to Sacramento, across the Sierra to Reno, down to Vegas and back to LA. They could add a spur to San Diego later, and add spokes to the circle at some time in the future.
Part of the problem with high-speed rail has always been the distances. In a country as large as ours, it’s always been hard to see how high-speed rail could ever compete with flight. High-speed trains travel at about half the speed of jets.
But here’s something to ponder: The new high-speed 401-mile trip from downtown Moscow to downtown St. Petersburg will be 3 hours and 45 minutes. The average flying travel time is five hours, including the trips to and from the airport, check-in and security clearance. So travel by train is actually faster.
In other countries, high-speed trains have roundly beaten planes on price, overall travel time and convenience at ranges up to 600 miles between major cities. After high-speed trains between Paris and Lyons became well established, for example, commercial flights all but disappeared. And in the first year of operation, a Madrid-to-Barcelona high-speed link cut the air travel market about 50 percent.
I’d love to be able to hop a train for a ski trip to Reno/Tahoe or a visit to friends in LA or San Diego. Especially if it was faster and cheaper than flying or driving.
Add comment September 25, 2009
Happy Birthday to “The Wizard of Oz”
Today, the most beloved movie of all time is turning 70.
New York City is extending big birthday wishes: the Empire State Building will glow green tonight to honor the classic.
Interestingly, Iranian President Ahmadenijad is in New York for the UN General Assembly. Green is the color chosen by the Iranian protest movement.
While the Empire State Building planned to glow green in honor of the Wizard of Oz, Iranian activists view the lighting as more than mere coincidence, but fate.
“The universe is smiling and the stars are aligned!” wrote a blogger named Anonymous Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal. “I’m so happy I could cry!”
Call it coincidence or call it fate, it just underscores for us that the Wizard of Oz is much, much more than a movie.
Happy, Happy Birthday, thanks for the memories, and you sure are one whiz of a wiz!
Add comment September 24, 2009
Amateur archaeologist strikes pay dirt in England
We know this doesn’t have much to do with dogs (except that ours sometimes dig up the oddest things and bring them inside to show off).
But who doesn’t love a story about discovering a trove of hidden gold and silver?
Terry Herbert, 55, from the Staffordshire region of the United Kingdom, has always dreamed of unearthing something big. And his dreams came true when he took his metal detector to fields near his home that belong to a friend.
Mr. Herbert’s efforts led him to the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. More than 1,500 items include helmets, sword pommels and sword hilt ornaments.
Professional archaeologists believe the booty was possibly looted on the field of battle 1,400 years ago by a victorious warlord.
Dr. Michael Lewis, of the British Museum’s Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure, said that some of the items in the Staffordshire Hoard were unique and could not be compared to any earlier find in order to ascribe a value.
Leslie Webster, former keeper at the British Museum’s Department of Prehistory and Europe, added that the importance of the find couldn’t be overstated. “[It is] absolutely the equivalent of finding a new Lindisfarne Gospels or Book of Kells,” he said.
But for Mr. Herbert, the experience has been priceless.
“I have this phrase that I say sometimes: ’Spirits of yesteryear take me where the coins appear’, but on that day I changed coins to gold,” he said.
“I don’t know why I said it that day, but I think somebody was listening and directed me to it. Maybe it was meant to be, maybe the gold had my name on it all along, I don’t know.”
Follow up, August 25, 2009:
Crowds of people are lining up to check out selected treasure on display at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in the UK. See what they have to say.
Add comment September 24, 2009
