Charcoal drawings in Chauvet Cave, over 30,000 years old
Credit: Bradshaw Foundation
Look at the image above – many animals – horses, bison, rhinoceros, but typical of so much art, over thousands of years, in many ancient cultures – no plants.
Also largely missing from the art of ancient cultures is the colour blue. While paintings from Ancient Egypt are a famous exception, blue appears rarely in ancient art. Art, here, includes the written. E.g., “blue” is not mentioned once in the writings of Homer. No blue skies, nor seas. Seas, apparently are “wine-dark”!
Different aspects of these phenomena at the links below:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2016/03/02/vanished-the-surprising-things-missing-from-ancient-art/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2976405/Could-ancestors-blue-Ancient-civilisations-didn-t-perceive-colour-didn-t-word-say-scientists.html
https://www.dunnedwards.com/colors/specs/posts/the-history-and-science-behind-the-color-blue / look back across the history of art things go missing interesting things ancient people word describe color of the sky blue argument colleagues podcast broadcast essay William Gladstone British prime minister 1860s 1880s 1890s Gladstone Homer-philiac loved Homer Homer’s tales read obscure poet’s use of color words Iliad Odyssey Gladstone every instance Homer using color describe blacks whites reds, yellows greens blue it was nowhere to be found Homer skies aren’t blue seas aren’t blue wine-dark blue eyes immortals Tim Howard reporter Gladstone’s essay linguist scholar ancient texts Guy Deutscher Gladstone’s right there is just no word that describes the color blue in Homer’s poems no blue philologist Lazarus Geiger ancient Chinese texts South Asia’s Vedic poems old Icelandic sagas Western Bible ancient classics no or barely any use of blue why no blue explored different theories most plausible sky ancient people didn’t pay it much attention no need distinguish it own descriptive color colour and place ubiquity invisible blue paints invented Egypt blue descriptor buy sell newest missing thing ancients even more basic plants cave paintings Palaeolithic artists drew draw drawing 40,000 years ago hundreds of them Spain France plants galloping horses rippling reindeer cattle rhino animals eat animals chase worship animals lived on plains in forests ate plants no convincing image of grass landscape imagery deer leafy leaf bush leafy things Palaeolithic art bushes trees biologist painter Tony Hopkins sketching rock art no truly ancient representation of plants cave art stays plant free 5,000 years after the end of the Palaeolithic era beginnings of agriculture in the Middle East commerce pops into view explanation animals more vivid more alive animals birth coupling reproduction plants more mysterious narrative fetish nobody drew a plant on a cave wall single image possible plant carved on a bone found cave Gironde region of France dates back 15,000 B.C. convincing picture specific potentially identifiable flower four possible blossoms passable impression sprig bilberry crowberry four blossoms flowers sleepy birds mouths open convincing picture plant birds heads necks ancient ancestors ate berries fruits gathered grass bedding animals foraging forests meadows mountains gathered hunted hunter gatherer hunters hunted sacred walls gatherers gathered very curious omission /
Ray Tomlinson
Credit: channel24.pk
Ray Tomlinson, the inventor of email has died aged 74. The first email was sent between two networked computers, which were physically side-by-side in 1971.
He also chose the “@” symbol as a separator in an email address, after it had fallen into disuse.
Famously, after demonstrating his new creation, Ray Tomlinson told a colleague, "Don't tell anyone! This isn't what we're supposed to be working on."
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/07/ray-tomlinson-email-inventor-and-selector-of-symbol-dies-aged-74
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-07/email-inventor-ray-tomlinson-dies-aged-74/7225748
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Tomlinson / Ray Tomlinson dead dies inventor of email dies aged 74 Ray Tomlinson father godfather email employer Raytheon Company 74 true technology pioneer email early days of networked computers Ray Tomlinson Cambridge Massachusetts office suspected heart attack tech world cult hero 1971 invention program ARPANET Internet's predecessor allowed people to send person-to-person messages other computer users on other servers inventing email putting the @ sign on the map Ray Tomlinson inducted Internet Hall of Fame 2012 his work changed the way the world communicates accomplishments he remained humble kind generous originally from Amsterdam New York school Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute MIT working research and development company Bolt Beranek and Newman Raytheon BBN Technologies email breakthrough program changed the way people communicate business personal life biography Internet Hall of Fame website Tomlinson email started household word receiving worldwide recognition for his achievement 2000 received George R. Stibitz Computer Pioneer Award American Computer Museum honors Webby Award International Academy of Digital Arts and Science Innovation award Discover magazine Eduard-Rhein Cultural Award /
Tesla isn’t the only electric vehicle company getting into building its own LiIon cells.
Daimler subsidiary Deutsche Accumotive, has purchased 50 acres of land adjacent to its existing factory in Kamenz, Germany, & will spend €500 million on a factory.
http://fortune.com/2016/03/01/daimler-new-battery-factory/
https://cleantechnica.com/2016/03/06/daimler-investing-e500-million-into-new-lithium-ion-battery-factory-in-germany/
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/daimler-to-follow-tesla-with-new-e500m-lithium-ion-battery-factory-83557 / gigfactory Daimler investing expand battery production German automaker energy storage business Daimler building factory produce lithium-ion batteries Mercedes-Benz Smart Car brands German automaker expand lineup electric plug-in hybrid vehicles Daimler DAI $543 million build new battery factory Kamenz Germany Daimler subsidiary Deutsche Accumotive produce batteries purchased 50 acres land adjacent existing factory fully electric driving investing emission-free emission free vehicles powerful batteries Dr. Dieter Zetsche Daimler chairman head Mercedes-Benz cars Daimler invest expand existing battery factory new factory triple company’s production area new production plant expected start operations summer 2017 new factory Daimler’s producing stationary battery storage units residential industrial customers new factory additional growth opportunity batteries factories utilities store energy rapid growth recently battery makers Tesla Motors all-electric automaker stationary energy storage industrial-sized batteries Daimler established Deutsche Accumotive develop produce batteries hybrid electric vehicles Mercedes-Benz smart brands stationary energy storage Mercedes-Benz branded energy storage units private households scaled serve larger demands of industrial customers /
Credit: Hayley Eichenbaum/Wired
Check the image above. Many more, in the same startling style at https://www.instagram.com/inter_disciplinary/
Would it surprise you hear that the photographer has, “Quit pretty much every photography class I’ve ever taken,” & uses her cameras (Nikon D7100 & iPhone) in automatic mode?
You won't be surprised to learn that she has 15,400 followers on Instagram.
http://www.wired.com/2016/03/sun-drenched-photos-will-make-long-great-american-west/?mbid=nl_3416 goes here
http://trends.archiexpo.com/project-29495.html
https://professional.photogrist.com/hayley-eichenbaum/ / Hayley Eichenbaum Instagram sun-drenched photos will make you long for the great American West sun drenched examination colorful architecture American West she captures scenes epic trips snapping thousands of photos sharing the 15,400 followers Instagram Hayley Eichenbaum no formal training photography automatic setting Nikon D7100 iPhone I quit every photography class I’ve ever taken amazing eye for form and color background installation performance art Hayley Eichenbaum experimenting Instagram 2013 encouragement of a friend spent a month exploring Route 66 West fascinating snapped 15,000 photos Los Angeles Hayley Eichenbaum shoots almost daily Jeep she looks for anything colorful and geometric kind of wilting and romantic Americana retro signs distinctive architecture desolate buildings she captures grand landscapes bright scenes photos flat illustrative quality like saturated postcards postcard from a bygone age self-proclaimed snap-happy photographer taken 40,000 photos last two years I’ve got years of material claims fun post-production relies on cropping color make images look so clean graphic Hayley Eichenbaum colorist at heart pumps up colors removes distractions like power lines pursuit of her vision walk that line between authentic and surreal my experience seeing these locations in person lack of training Hayley Eichenbaum role photographer Instagram featured her account gigs doing commercial work album covers product photography preparing her first group show Superchief Gallery March 6 in New York exploring LA. challenging for me understanding sprawling city /
Corephotonics dual-camera module
Credit: Corephotonics/Digital Photography Review
You may recall the Light L16 camera which combines 16 cameras, each with phone size sensors, to emulate the performance of a full-frame SLR with a 40+ megapixel sensor & 35-150 mm zoom.
Using similar principles, a company in Israel called Corephotonics is developing a phone camera which combines images from 2 x 13 megapixel cameras to emulate a standard phone camera with a 5x optical zoom. One camera has a standard phone-camera focal length, & the other uses a longer, folded-optic lens.
Also under development is a phone-camera which combines a colour camera & a monochrome camera to produce low-noise, 21 megapixel images even in low light.
Availability of the low light camera & a 3x version of the zoom camera is expected later this year. 2017 for the 5x zoom phone-camera.
http://connect.dpreview.com/post/1931232471/corephotonics-launches-5x-zoom-and-low-noise-camera-modules / Corephotonics 5x zoom low noise smartphone camera modules Corephotonics computational camera solutions based Israel launched new dual-camera module smartphones called Hawkeye Hawkeye combines combination standard 13MP camera module second 13MP module proprietary folded optics shutter button pressed Corephotonics image fusion algorithm merges two still images both camera modules single image zoom performance equivalent 5x optical zoom Hawkeye dual-camera zoom exceeds digital zooming capabilities 130MP sensor all existing dual-camera modules folded optics height reduction 5.4mm design very thin devices optical image stabilization stills video mode Hawkeye Corephotonics Slim Dual Camera improving low light image quality color image sensor in combination monochromatic sensor dual-13MP module 21MP images slimmer designs conventional setups Corephotonics better resolution lower noise levels current 21MP smartphone cameras previously announced 3x zoom module Slim Dual Camera Hawkeye many industry players computational imaging solution zoom low light limitations current smartphone cameras /
Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, Airbnb, Ebay & Reddit, amongst others have come out in support of Apple in its case against the FBI.
http://www.wired.com/2016/03/apple-fbi-tech-industry-support-amicus-brief/?mbid=nl_3316 / reserved signs Apple FBI hang House Judiciary Committee hearing room Washington show solidarity Apple’s tech industry competitors contemporaries filed amicus briefs stand against FBI heavyweights including Google Microsoft Facebook corporate rivalries file jointly Twitter Airbnb Ebay Reddit Internet luminaries file brief briefs argue Apple should not be compelled create software help FBI break into iPhone San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook Cupertino company’s legal case Intel AT&T had a secret spying pact NSA filed briefs ACLU Access Now Wickr Foundation security experts support experts institutions join Thursday deadline case judge Sheri Pym natural cause technology industry tech leaders express support Apple companies support Apple publicly public perception concerns filed briefs Apple Twitter Ebay Reddit Apple’s Internet government’s interpretation All Writs Act of 1789 justify order compel Apple hack iPhone All Writs Act authorize government important public debate legislative processes compel private company government’s investigative arm no legal basis All Writs Act law core principles of privacy security transparency Internet AWA law enforcement boundless authority government’s demand legal limits dangerous precedent government force companies create design redesign systems allow law enforcement access data requiring government measures meet requirements legislatively enacted statutory schemes limitless repercussions government seeks unbounded authority compel Apple design software currently exist circumvent undermine security measures protect users data principle require companies turn over one user’s information weaken security measures created to protect all users government extraordinary authority set rules legal protections erode user privacy security defeat users interest in transparency undermine existing legislative framework balancing competing interests policy considerations Google Microsoft Facebook Amazon Yahoo brief Google Microsoft Facebook Yahoo Amazon prominent technology companies outdated All Writs Act 1789 open-ended source of new powers FBI cited precedent government compel companies technical assistance dangerous extend limited endorsement judicial power third parties US v. NY Telephone Supreme Court Court diverse contexts third party duties court exercise caution decision cell phones Internet precedent law should evolve with technology Riley v California Supreme Court cell phones full search incident to arrest Court cell phones technology search incident to arrest precedents decided cell phone FBI store emails conversations appointments photos medical information device carry in their pockets cell phones organize remember important extension of our memories Congress courts last few decades laws Wiretap Act FISA CALEA regulates technological surveillance rapidly evolving technology social benefits Congress confront the issues Congress issues comprehensive legislative scheme regulating investigative methods perspective companies employees government power conscript technology companies’ engineers develop products create absent government compulsion nonburdensome technical assistance All Writs Act authorizes time and resources engineers new versions companies’ products circumvent undermine pre-existing data-security features new versions product court code legally considered speech writing computer code creative complex expressive task form of protected speech under the First Amendment Apple FBI return to court Judge Pym /
Credit: lapatilla.com
As of June 2015, the Google self-driving fleet had driven over 1,000,000 miles (1,600,000 km) & had been involved in 12 accidents (including 8 rear-enders at stop lights & traffic signs, one of which resulted in minor injuries to three Google employees). None of the accidents could be attributed to a mistake on the part of a Google autonomous car.1
On 14th February, a Google self-driving 2012 Lexus RX450h was involved in a low-speed accident with a bus. The Google car was moving at 2 mph. Google has accepted that the accident is at least partly its fault.
Google has updated its software to take account of the fact that big vehicles don’t give way.
In the United States, there are over 6 million car accidents each year, with over 3 million injuries, more than 2 million leading to permanent impairment & 40,000 deaths.2
In the face of such carnage, a single mistake by a self-driving car, resulting in no injury, makes headlines.
This is one of the reasons why it is taking so long to develop self-driving cars – the need to get it beyond good enough, beyond the capability of a human driver – because a single fatal accident which is the fault of a self-driving car would produce a completely irrational response.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-selfdrivingcar-idUSKCN0W22DG
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/223844-oh-the-humanity-google-car-self-drives-into-a-bus-at-2-mph
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/03/google-self-driving-car-crash/471678/
http://www.wired.com/2016/02/googles-self-driving-car-may-caused-first-crash/
__________
1 “Google self-driving car”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_self-driving_car
2 “Car Accident Statistics”, http://www.lawcore.com/car-accident/statistics.html / Google’s self-driving car first crash February 14 changed lanes put itself path oncoming bus accident report filed California DMV February 23 Google autonomous car Lexus SUV driving itself down El Camino Real Mountain View moved to the far right lane make a right turn onto Castro Street stopped detected sand bags sandbags storm drain blocking its path move to get around sand bags caused trouble report cars had passed Google AV autonomous vehicle proceed back into the center of the lane pass sand bags sandbags public transit bus approaching from behind Google AV test driver bus approaching left side mirror believed the bus would stop or slow Google AV continue Google AV reentering the center of the lane made contact Google’s car in autonomous mode driving at 2 mph crash bus driving 15 mph report no injuries reported front left wheel fender Google’s car damaged monthly report In this case we clearly bear some responsibility our car moved collision Google request for comment report question of fault California DMV responsible determining fault last minute lane changes may cause collisions drivers room vehicle next lane moving over minor crash serious implications Google’s autonomous vehicles accidents tech giant technology at fault cars rear-ended red lights Google’s cars recognize hand signals traffic officers think human 17 crashes human error Google road-ready by 2020 Google’s goal car drives much better than humans program director Chris Urmson perfect /
