The Small Wave 2

The Small Wave 2

Tom Reestman  //  Hello and welcome to my twin blogs:

         The Small Wave. -- Computer and mobile technology writing
           The Small Wave 2 -- Random thoughts on any other topic
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        Nov 21 / 12:44am

        Four Years, Eighty People, And Over One Million Spiders...

        via amnh.org

        "The silk fiber was gathered from the female golden orb spider (Nephila madagascariensis) ... These spiders are found throughout the tropics and are known as golden orb weavers for their big, gold-colored webs."

        An amazing textile woven exclusively from spider silk. I'm not sure what compelled people to resurrect an imperfect art (spider silking) from a century ago, but it's beautiful. It's important to note the spiders were not harmed, always being released back into the wild.

        More pictures and a video at the above link.

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        Filed under  //  animals   art   nature   people  

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        Nov 4 / 1:43pm

        Can We Tell What Will Stand The Test Of Time?

        By the way, no one back then voted for Agatha Christie, who is now probably the most frequently read of the British writers from that era.
        via marginalrevolution.com

        Interesting results of a poll 80 years ago regarding what authors people thought would still be read in 2029. With 20 years to go, it appears our powers of prognostication are as accurate (i.e., not very) as ever.

        Truth is, one never knows what will survive, and it's usually not anything recognized as such in its time. Kind of makes you leery of those alleged "classic rock" stations, doesn't it?

        The only thing I know for sure about a work becoming a "classic" is that it must first survive the generation that spawned it. If younger people don't pick it up, it's not going anywhere no matter how many old farts continue to proclaim its greatness.

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        Filed under  //  art   people   social  

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        Oct 30 / 11:14pm

        3D Paint Jobs - Anamorphic Art

        via uphaa.com

        I love this kind of stuff. Making use of the viewer's intended point of view and perspective to create an illusion.

        When viewed from the targeted point, it appears as a specific object represented in space (in the example above, a line seeming to bounce up and down). But when viewed from other angles, you see how it was actually painted to give the intended effect.

        10 more great examples at the above link.

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        Filed under  //  art   photo   science   social  

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        Oct 17 / 2:43pm

        Outrageous Car Graffiti

        via uphaa.com

        To be honest, though I appreciate the considerable talent and effort that went into each of these, most of them don't do much for me. A little too gaudy of a rolling canvas for my taste, I guess.

        Still, the one above really caught my eye. At first glance I wondered why they showed two cars at once, then I realized what it really was. Pretty cool. See other pictures at the above link.

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        Sep 18 / 10:59pm

        Why Miles Davis' Kind of Blue is so great.

        ["All Blues"] has the same feel as the other blues tunes,­­ but listen closely: The horns, blowing harmony in the background, are playing the same notes in each bar; they're not shifting them to follow the chord changes; there are no chord changes. It sounds (hence the album's title) kind of blue.
        via slate.com

        This year is the 50th anniversary of Kind of Blue. The album transcends its genre, as all classic works do. It's one of my favorites. The linked article is a great read describing why it was such a change for the time.

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        Filed under  //  art   music   social  

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        Sep 1 / 10:33pm

        This Guy Can Color! A Crayola Crayon Artist.
        via nowthatsnifty.blogspot.com

        "Isn't that crazy that these are all done in crayon? ... I can't imagine how he is able to create such a consistent, strong color."

        This is fine artwork anyway, but that it's done in crayon is remarkable. Heck, I'm just happy when I can color inside the lines. More pictures at the above link.

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        Filed under  //  art   people  

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        Aug 31 / 12:31am

        Buildings Made of Ice (Yes, Ice!)

        via environmentalgraffiti.com

        Beautiful stuff. It's impossible not to appreciate the craftsmanship.

        Even though stunning, I must confess to having no desire to actually stay overnight at an ice hotel. It's one of those "It's a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to sleep there" kind of things. More pictures at the link.

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        Aug 31 / 12:21am

        Some of the coolest stair designs you'll ever see.

        via nowthatsnifty.blogspot.com

        The best ones are original and still get the job done. There's a few here that look great but I think would be a little too hard for some people to actually use.

        In any case, they're great looking, and the bookshelf case even utilizes space for storage. See them all -- including another view of the one above -- at the link.

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        Aug 27 / 12:41am

        Sand Sculptures

        via uphaa.com

        I don't know how long it takes to create them, and I don't know how long they last, but their temporary nature is part of the appeal. More at the above link.

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        Aug 12 / 12:14am

        HDR Photography: Not Your Average Sunset Photos
        via webecoist.com

        The use of HDR photography enhances what were already beautiful sunsets. A couple dozen more pictures at the above link.

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