30/7/06

Tzatziki - Greek yogurt dip.













Ingredients:

2 medium cucumbers
3 clove of garlic, minced
5 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon chopped dill
1 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Peel cucumbers. Cut in half lengthwise. Clean out seeds. Cut into small chunks.
2. Mix cucumber chunks, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and dill.
3. Fold in yogurt.
4. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
5. Serve with toasted pita bread, chips, celery or as a side to any meat.
















MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Mexican Quiche















Instructions:
Put cheese into shells.
Mix bacon with peppers and put intoshells.
Beat eggs, yogurt and salt.
Pour into shells.
Sprinkle cayenneover top.
Bake at 350F or 200 C degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.

To prepare pastry shells, cut with a round cutter (5 inch diameter) 5 pieces from the pastry sheets and put one over the other by adding in each layer a little melted butter.
Placed them over an aluminium form ( like those used for crème caramel) and baked them in the oven for 10 minutes. Leave them aside to cool.

Makes 4 -5 servings.

Ingredients
1. 2 cups chopped green red and yellow peppers
2. 2 cups greek yogurt
3. 6 slices cooked crumbled bacon
4. a pinch of sea salt
5. 1 cup Parmesan shredded cheese
6. Cayenne pepper to taste
7. 1 chilli peppercorn
8. 5 Eggs
9. 1 package of prepared very thin pastry sheets formatted into shells
10. 1 cup of melted butter





















MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

27/7/06

My Romania

mogosaia

mogosaia

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What is entropy? How is it related to the second law?






Entropy is simply a way to measure quantitatively what the second law of thermodynamics describes: the dispersal of energy in a process in our material world. Entropy is not a complicated concept qualitatively.

Most certainly, entropy is not disorder nor a measure of chaos — even though it is thus erroneously defined in dictionaries or pre-2006 sources.

Because entropy is an index of the second law's predictions about energy, the short word entropy is often used interchangeably for the cumbersome phrase, "the second law of thermodynamics". A concise summary of entropy's nature is: Entropy change measures the dispersal of energy: how much energy is spread out in a particular process, or how widely spread out it becomes (at a specific temperature).
You see now how hot pans cooling and chemical reactions belong to the ‘how much' catergory where energy is being transferred.
Coffee in cream and gas expansion and perfume in air are ‘how widely' processes where the initial energy of the molecules stay the same but the volume occupied by the molecules increases.
Energy's dispersal can be easily seen by anyone in thousands of common occurrences like the few we have talked about because the second law isn't some exotic or abstract mathematical theory.
The second law is really just a summary of ordinary human experience. The details of how energy disperses in such everyday practical events can be elegantly correlated with the probable behavior of atoms and molecules.



MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

26/7/06

Femme Fatale



Of the three types of noir women, the femme fatale represents the most direct attack on traditional womanhood and the nuclear family. She refuses to play the role of devoted wife and loving mother that mainstream society prescribes for women. She finds marriage to be confining, loveless, sexless, and dull, and she uses all of her cunning and sexual attractiveness to gain her independence. As Janey Place points out, "She is not often won over and pacified by love for the hero, as is the strong heroine of the forties who is significantly less sexual than the film noir woman."

example

She remains fiercely independent even when faced with her own destruction. And in spite of her inevitable death, she leaves behind the image of a strong, exciting, and unrepentant woman who defies the control of men and rejects the institution of the family.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:14:25 GMT
News


A U.N. observer post was hit by an Israeli airstrike in south Lebanon Tuesday, killing four peacekeepers, U.N. officials said

"http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14029827/



MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

25/7/06

the spiderwoman

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Spaghetti (no10), with Tomato-Cretan raki Sauce and Meatballs

For the sauce
3 fresh cloves garlic, minced (or one teaspoon dry powder garlic.)
1/4 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
½ coffee cup extra virgin olive oil
4 medium peeled chopped tomatoes
¼ cup Cretan raki or tsikoudia
½ cup heavy creamSalt and pepper to taste
A pinch of grounded nutmeg
12 cherry tomatoes
½ cup Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, grated
¼ cup fresh basil cut into strips

For the meatballs
500grms veal minced meat
500grms pork minced meat
3 tablespoons oat flakes
2 large eggs
½ cup skimmed milk
1 fine chopped shallot
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
¼ cup fresh spearmint cut finely
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pack of spaghetti no 10 put your pasta pot (large) on to boil.

Prepare the meatballs by adding and blend all the ingredients until homogenized. Form them into balls, and cooked them in the oven for 30 minutes. (300 F)While the water is coming to a boil, get out a large sauté pan. Add the olive oil, garlic and peppers. Heat this on Medium High until it starts to sizzle. Don't heat it too long. As soon as it's sizzling, add the tomatoes and Cretan raki.Bring to a simmer.

Add the meatballs, heat this mixture on Medium until the meatballs are thawed and everything is hot. Should be about 15 minutes. By then the spaghetti water should be boiling. Add your spaghetti. Follow the directions on the package, but most spaghetti need 10 minutes to cook. Go back to your sauce. Add the cream, the cherry tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Turn your heat to Low and add your Parmesan. Stir. Leave simmer until the spaghetti is completed. When you dish up the sauce, sprinkle on the basil. The aroma will be heavenly.
When finished, thoroughly drain your spaghetti.

Bon appetite…….


MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

ΚΟΜΜΑΤΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΡΟΥΜΑΝΙΑ

ΚΑΤΑΠΛΗΚΤΙΚΑ ΤΟΠΙΑ
ΑΠΕΙΡΕΣ ΚΑΣΤΡΟ-ΠΟΛΕΙΣ
ΦΑΝΤΑΣΤΙΚΑ ΜΟΝΑΣΤΗΡΙΑ
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WHAT IS GUARANA ?

The botanical name of Guaraná, Paullinia cupana H.B.K. variety sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke, is derived from C. F. Paullini, a German medical botanist who lived in the 18th century.
Guaraná plant is a woody vine that climb the trees, reaching 10 metres in height. Thus, when cultivated in the open, it adopts a shrubby habit, growing to a maximum 2 to 3 metres in height.
It's cultivation dates to pre-columbian times. The indians, the first inhabitants of the Amazon, domesticated the guaraná plant. Botanists actually believe that the current plants, even those found in dense forests, are the remains of indigenous cultivation in the past. Guaraná was, amongst others, grown by the Maués and Andira tribes from the 'lower Amazon'.
The guaraná plant has divided compound leaves and flowers yellow panicles during the driest months of the year, the fruit ripening about two to three months later. The fruit is pear shaped, three sided, has three-celled capsules with thin partitions and in each a seed like a small horse-chestnut half enclosed in an aril. The seeds form a bunch. When ripe, the fruit is red, with some orange and yellow tones. The fruit then partially opens, showing part of the seeds. The fruit now looks like an eye and this appearance lead to legends told by the indians. At this stage the seeds are harvested, to prevent them from falling on the ground.
Harvesting is done by hand, after that the seeds should be stored in a heap in a shelter for two or three days to allow a slight fermentation. Following this, the shells are removed either by hand or machine and then left to dry in open air or dried artificially. Commercial guaraná is produced only from the seeds: all other parts of the fruit are discarded.
Further processing consists of roasting, after the seeds are sieved to be able to roast the seeds more uniformly. Roasting is done preferably in clay ovens for about four to five hours, until the seed reaches about 9% humidity. We have now roasted guaraná grain, also known as guaraná em rama.
Available formsGuaraná is usually available in four forms:
Guaraná em rama, roasted guaranáSimply the roasted seed, as sold by the amazon farmers to cooperative unions, middlemen and industry.
Guaraná on a stickAfter roasting, the seed is ground into a powder, mixed with water into a dough, which is subsequently moulded onto a stick. These sticks are then dried over a moderate fire until they become hard.
Guaraná powderAfter grinding, the powder is sold. This is usually the form it is available in retail outlets, like health shops.
A fourth form, syrup, used for making soft drinks, is also gaining ground. This form is usually limited to larger industries.
Properties
Guaraná consists of a crystallizable principle, called guaranine, identical with caffeine, which exists in the seeds, united with tannic acid, catechutannic acid starch, and a greenish fixed oil.
From the tannin it contains it is useful for mild forms of leucorrhoea, diarrhoea, etc., but its chief use in Europe and America is for headache, especially if of a rheumatic nature. It is a gentle excitant and serviceable where the brain is irritated or depressed by mental exertion, or where there is fatigue or exhaustion from hot weather. It has the same chemical composition as caffeine, theine and cocaine, and the same physiological action. Its benefit is for nervous headache or the distress that accompanies menstruation, or exhaustion following dissipation. It is not recommended for chronic headache or in cases where it is not desirable to increase the temperature, or excite the heart or increase arterial tension. Dysuria often follows its administration. It is used by the Indians for bowel complaints, but is not indicated in cases of constipation or high blood pressure.
Uses
Sticks were initially used by Indians, who grated the stick using the sharp, rasp like, tongue of the Pirarucu fish. The grated powder was then mixed into a drink with water and sugar.
The sticks are also used by the Satarê-Mawé tribe and its descendants who use it to make moulded figures, which are a popular item with tourists.
The powder is widely available and can be mixed with water or fruit juice and some sugar in the same way.
In Europe, guaraná was first marketed as an alternative, medicinal plant from the Amazon, beneficial to the overall health and the powder for was (and still is) sold in health shops.
Some retailers promote it as an afrodisiac, however, there is not much evidence for this at the moment.
More recently, guaraná has been discovered as an alternative 'smart drug' in the house/rave scene and some (expensive) drinks have come on the market. These drinks bear, as far as I have experienced, no resemblance with the Brazilian style softdrink. Some see guaraná as 'mind expanding', but the only effect it has is similar to that of caffeine.
A strong cup of coffee would probably provide more caffeine at a lower price.
Guaraná chewing gum is available, sometimes referred to as "Buzz Gum", adverstised as giving you extra energy.
Even guaraná cigarettes were seen, with a logo that resembles a hemp plant on the packet.
This is a very strange use of guaraná and it is doubtful that it will have either the suggested 'mind altering' effect or be much beneficial to ones health. If someone does know more about this, please let me know.
The syrup is used for the manufacture of carbonated soft drinks, which are very popular in Brazil. It is usually one of the things Brazilians miss when they are abroad.This variety is what inspired these pages, so they might be slightly biased to the soft drinks.



MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Litoralul, sufocat de turisti


O suta de mii de turisti s-au inghesuit pe plaja.Sfarsitul de saptamana a adus pe litoral aproximativ 100.000 de turisti romani si straini. Pe Drumul National 39, care leaga Mangalia si restul statiunilor sudice de restul tarii, automobilele venite din toata tara au circulat bara la bara, situatia fiind aceeasi pe soselele litoralului.
Hotelierii au fost foarte multumiti de numarul de turisti sositi in aceasta perioada la mare, existand chiar posibilitatea ca sezonul sa se dovedeasca, la urma urmei, unul cu ceva profit, in ciuda criticilor aduse litoralului romanesc.
Cei aproximativ 100.000 de turisti, unii de week-end, altii veniti pe litoral in sejururi de minimum o saptamana, au impanzit si plajele. Inghesuiala nu prea a fost pe plajele neamenajate, cum sunt cele de la Olimp sau Cap Aurora, dar, cea mai mare concentrare de turisti pe metrul patrat se putea observa in Mangalia, Saturn, Neptun, Jupiter sau Costinesti.
Viermuiala pe plaja
Turistul venit la mare cu "cearsaful" si-a gasit un locsor pe nisip cu foarte mare greutate, inghesuindu-i pe cei deja sositi aici. Prosop langa prosop, pe langa care deseori nu poti calca, trupuri aproape lipite unul de celalalt, acesta a fost tabloul de ansamblu al celui mai aglomerat sfarsit de saptamana pe litoralul romanesc.
Nici sezlongul nu garanta mai multa intimitate. Asta pentru ca patronii plajelor concesionate au lipit sezlongurile stans unul de celalalt, fara a tine cont de cei cativa metri "regulamentari" ce ar fi trebuit sa revina fiecarui turist in parte.
Au venit la mare cu obiceiurile de-acasa
La Saturn si Mangalia sunt si cei mai multi turisti sositi in sudul litoralului. De aceea, plajele, tocmai pentru ca nu au prea multe dotari, se bucura de cei mai multi "clienti".
Turistii nu vin insa la mare fara propriile obiceiuri. Pe plaja acestia sparg seminte, iar cojile le arunca direct pe nisip, fumeaza continuu aruncand chistocurile tot pe nisip, iar cainii cu sau fara stapan se racoresc si ei in apa marii, desi teoretic este interzis acest lucru.
In plus, comerciantii de bratari din melci "Made in Thailand" si de "namol de Techirghiol", majoritatea minori tuciurii, te imbie sa le cumperi marfa, sub ochii mai mult decat ingaduitori ai politistilor de pe plaja.
Cum la finele saptamanii apele marii au fost destul de involburate, salvamarii au vaslit continuu pentru a preveni eventuale incidente, dar, de cele mai multe ori, insotiti de cate o "sirena" sau chiar mai multe.
Teribilistii i-au exasperat pe salvamari
Vremea pe litoral, la acest final de saptamana, a fost superba: peste 35 de grade Celsius in aer si o apa cu o temperatura de peste 24 de grade Celsius. Din pacate, marea a fost deosebit de agitata.
Pe toate foisoarele salvamarilor de pe litoral au fost arborate steagurile rosii sau albastre care semnifica "risc mare conditii improprii pentru inot". Din pacate, multi au ales sa isi riste viata in mod constient.
Salvamarii au intervenit pentru sute de turisti, pe care fie i-au resuscitat dupa ce fusesera luati de valurile de peste trei metri, fie i-au scos, chiar si cu sila, din apa involburata.
Marea nu are preferinte
"Chiar azi am scos cu forta, din valuri, pe unul dintre acestia, l-am luat la foisor si am incercat sa discutam cu el, ca nu are rost sa se inece in plin concediu.
Ne-a spus ca stie sa inoate foarte bine ca a venit la mare sa se distreze, nu sa stea pe mal, cu gura salvamarilor pe el. Noi nu putem, prin lege, sa ii obligam sa nu intre in mare pe turistii care vor cu tot dinadinsul sa faca acte de bravada, ii sfatuim prieteneste si cam atat", declara Marian, un salvamar in statiunea Jupiter.
Bilantul persoanelor decedate in acest week-end in apele marii a ajuns la cinci - un bucurestean de 39 de ani, inecat la Mamaia, un tulcean de 27 de ani, luat de valuri la Neptun, o persoana de 47 de ani, din satul Schitu, comuna Costinesti si un cuplu de tineri moldoveni, luati de ape la Eforie.


Sursa: Evenimentul Zilei


MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

"το καστρο του Δρακουλα"

Εδώ έζησε κάποια χρόνια ο Βλαντ Τέπες "ο παλουκωτής".
Στο κάστρο Μπράν στα Καρπάθια της Ρουμανίας.
Ο γνωστός εγγλέζος συγγραφέας Μπράμς Στόκερ αυτό το μεσαιωνικό κάστρο, περιγράφει σαν την κατοικία του "απέθαντου βρυκόλακα" Δρακουλα.

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24/7/06

ΟΙ ΔΥΟ ΟΨΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΝΟΜΙΣΜΑΤΟΣ

ΑΥΤΟΙ ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΟΝΤΑΙ ΙΣΩΣ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΤΟΥΣ ΣΥΧΩΡΕΘΟΥΝ ΟΙ ΑΜΑΡΤΙΕΣ ΤΟΥΣ
ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤΟΙ ΔΙΑΔΗΛΩΝΟΥΝ ΣΕ ΜΙΑ ΚΗΔΕΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΠΑΡΟΥΝ ΕΚΔΙΚΗΣΗ




ΘΑ ΜΠΟΡΟΥΣΕ ΝΑ ΗΤΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΟΔΑ........ΚΡΙΜΑ
Ο ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ ΔΕΝ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΛΥΣΗ!!!
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Spiderman's costumes 2



ok Konstantinos? Posted by Picasa

Spiderman's costumes page 1



to my son Konstantinos Posted by Picasa

Take a spacewalk for $ 15 million



Interested clients would first pay $20 million to travel to ISS

It may be the pinnacle of travel perks, but the only firm arranging private trips to the International Space Station (ISS) is now offering a bonus spacewalk for clients willing to pay for more than a standard $20 million trip.
The Vienna, Va.-based firm Space Adventures announced Friday that future paying visitors to the space station can take a 90-minute spacewalk, or extravehicular activity (EVA) and extend their orbital trip by up to eight days for an added cost of about $15 million.
“It’s a logical extension,” Eric Anderson, Space Adventures’ president and CEO, said of the spacewalk availability in a telephone interview. “It’s one of the perhaps premier experiences of spaceflight.”
Under the plan, paying spacewalkers would don a Russian-built
Orlan spacesuit, exit a Russian-built airlock and be accompanied by a Federal Space Agency cosmonaut during a spacewalk, Space Adventures spokesperson Stacey Tearne told SPACE.com. At all times the spacewalkers would be tethered to the ISS, she added.
Space Adventures has brokered deals with Russia’s space agency to launch three space tourists – or spaceflight participants – to the ISS since 2001, when U.S. entrepreneur
Dennis Tito rode a Soyuz spacecraft to the orbital laboratory. South African businessman Mark Shuttleworth followed in 2002, with American scientist-turned-entrepreneur Gregory Olsen reaching the ISS in 2005.
Japanese businessman
Daisuke Enomoto is now set to become the fourth paying visitor to the ISS no earlier than Sept. 14, when he launches toward the station with Expedition 14 astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Mikhail Tyurin.
Like his predecessors, Enomoto is set to spend 10 days in space, eight of them aboard the ISS, as part of his $20 million deal with Space Adventures and the Federal Space Agency. U.S. entrepreneur and renowned spaceflight supporter Anousheh Ansari, of Texas, is Enomoto’s backup.
But Enomoto will not walk in space during his flight because of the additional training needed, Tearne said. An extra month – or about 190 hours – on top of the typical six-month training would be required for spacewalking client, she added.
Meanwhile, NASA officials said they had yet to be notified about any plan by its international partners to sell spacewalk experiences. ”We have not yet been informed by any of our partners about an intention to sell spacewalks,” NASA spokesperson Melissa Mathews told SPACE.com, adding that the agency does have processes in place to review ISS crew assignments and spacewalk safety.
Anderson said
Space Adventures has spent between one and two years studying the feasibility of a spaceflight participant spacewalk.
“They would just go right out the airlock and they would stay pretty close,” Anderson said of prospective paying spacewalkers. “They would just look around and enjoy it; it’s not something that involves an incredible amount of risk. They’re going out and they’re coming back in after an hour an a half.”
Russian space officials said they have completed an in-depth study of the risks involved with a space tourist-staged spacewalk.
“At the conclusion of our internal feasibility assessments and after careful consideration, we have come to the conclusion that subject to the personal physical and psychological capabilities and with the completion of additional specific cosmonaut training, spaceflight participants could potentially perform an EVA,” Russia’s Alexei Krasnov, director of manned spaceflight for the Federal Space Agency, said in a statement.
Accomplished
professional spacewalkers said that at the basic level, there is no major obstacle between a space tourist and a 90-minute jaunt outside the ISS.
“There is risk involved in going outside, but if you’re going to sign up for that and accept the risk, that’s fine,” three-time spacewalker and former NASA astronaut Tom Jones told SPACE.com. “I think it is an incomparable personal experience.”
Jones, who authored the book Skywalking to document his spaceflight career and serves as an astronaut advisor for Space Adventures, added that as long as space tourists have the finances, training and physical fitness to stage a spacewalk, few hurdles remain to marvel at the Earth and space from inside a spacesuit.
During a 90-minute EVA, which is the time it takes the ISS to make one complete orbit around Earth, a spacewalker would experience orbital sunrise and sunset, Jones said.
“That 90 minutes is like gold to a real spacewalkers,” Jones said. “I got a total of five or 10 minutes of doing that in my 19 hours in terms of just unstructured time, so it’s literally that precious an experience.”
© 2006 Space.com


MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

άντε πάρτε σειρά.... who is next

Μόλις 150 άνθρωποι σε όλο τον κόσμο είχαν ποτέ την ευκαιρία να φορέσουν σκάφανδρο και να βγουν στο κενό του Διαστήματος. Μπορείτε να είστε ο επόμενος, αρκεί να διαθέτετε γερά νεύρα και 35 εκατομμύρια δολάρια για το εισιτήριο.
Η ιδιωτική εταιρεία που έχει ήδη στείλει τρεις τουρίστες στον Διεθνή Διαστημικό Σταθμό (ISS) για 20 εκατ. δολάρια ο καθένας ανακοίνωσε την Παρασκευή ότι θα προσφέρει μια ακόμα σπανιότερη περιπέτεια: Μια βόλτα στο εξωτερικό του τροχιακού συγκροτήματος για 15 εκατ. δολάρια επιπλέον.
«Είναι το Ιερό Δισκοπότηρο της διαστημικής πτήσης. Είναι κάτι που ελάχιστοι από τους [Αμερικανούς] αστροναύτες και τους [Ρώσους] κοσμοναύτες έχουν πραγματοποιήσει» δήλωσε ο Ερικ Αντερσον, διευθύνων σύμβουλος της Space Adventures Ltd., με έδρα τη Βιρτζίνια.
Με τις ευλογίες της ρωσικής υπηρεσίας Διαστήματος, η Space Adventures προγραμματίζει τον πρώτο περίπατο αναψυχής για το 2007. Το ταξίδι περιλαμβάνει εκτόξευση με ρωσικό σκάφος Soyuz, οκταήμερη παραμονή στον ISS και διαστημικό περίπατο μιάμισης ώρας. Η εκπαίδευση θα διαρκεί επτά μήνες, ένα μήνα περισσότερο από τη βασική εκπαίδευση των κοσμοναυτών.
Το σχέδιο απαιτεί την έγκριση των 15 διεθνών εταίρων του Διεθνούς Διαστημικού Σταθμού, ωστόσο οι Ρώσοι αξιωματούχοι είναι σχεδόν σίγουροι ότι θα λάβουν το πράσινο φως. Η NASA, που είχε δεχθεί απρόθυμα τους τρεις προηγούμενους τουρίστες, προς το παρόν αρνείται να σχολιάσει.
Όπως επισημαίνουν Αμερικανοί αστροναύτες με εμπειρία στο σπορ, οι διαστημικοί περίπατοι είναι λιγότερο ξένοιαστοι από ό,τι φαίνεται, δεδομένου ότι ένας άπειρος ταξιδιώτης θα μπορούσε να πάθει κρίση πανικού, να αποσυμπιέσει κατά λάθος το σκάφανδρο ή να λυθεί από το ειδικό σχοινί και να χαθεί στο Διάστημα.


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news.in.gr, με πληροφορίες από Associated Press

how true!!

Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism - how passionately I hate them!


Albert Einstein






MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

23/7/06

trap ready who is next?

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Birthplace.....

........of civilization
.....of philosophy
......of science
......of art
.....of the biggest religions

and
maybe.............. of a world war!!!

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
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Διαισθητική μεγαλοφυία

Οι χαοτικές δίνες που χαρακτηρίζουν τα αριστουργήματα του Βαν Γκογκ ακολουθούν με ακρίβεια τις μαθηματικές περιγραφές των αναταράξεων σε ρευστά υλικά, όπως οι στροβιλισμοί του νερού σε ένα ταραγμένο ρυάκι ή οι πραγματικοί ανεμοστρόβιλοι, διαπιστώνουν έκπληκτοι οι φυσικοί.
Το παράξενο μάλιστα είναι ότι η στατιστική υπογραφή της δυναμικής των ρευστών ανιχνεύεται μόνο στους πίνακες που ζωγράφισε η διαταραγμένη μεγαλοφυία όταν ήταν πνευματικά ασταθής, και όχι στην «ήρεμη» περίοδο της ζωής του, όταν ακολουθούσε φαρμακευτική αγωγή για τις κρίσεις του.
Πρόκειται για ένα ακόμα παράδειγμα καλλιτέχνη που εντελώς διαισθητικά είχε αντιληφθεί τη δυναμική των φυσικών φαινομένων, επισημαίνει άρθρο στο Nature.com. Μαθηματικά μοτίβα φράκταλ, για παράδειγμα, είχαν στο παρελθόν εντοπιστεί στα έργα του Αμερικανού ζωγράφου Τζάκσον Πόλοκ.
Ψυχωτική διαίσθηση«'Ταραγμένο' είναι το βασικό επίθετο που χρησιμοποιείται για να περιγράψει το έργο του Βαν Γκογκ» σχολιάζει ο φυσικός Χοσέ Λουί Αραγκόν, επικεφαλής των ερευνητών στο Εθνικό Αυτόνομο Πανεπιστήμιο του Μεξικού. «Προσπαθήσαμε αυτό να το ποσοτικοποιήσουμε» εξηγεί.
Η ανάλυση των πινάκων στον υπολογστή αποκάλυψε ένα μοτίβο φωτεινών και σκοτεινών περιοχών που ακολουθούν τις εξισώσεις του Αντρεϊ Κολμογκόροφ, του Σοβιετικού επιστήμονα που τη δεκαετία του 1940 κατάφερε να περιγράψει έστω και εν μέρει τη δυναμική του στροβιλισμού των ρευστών.Οι ταραγμένοι ουρανοί στην Έναστρη Νύχτα (1889) και στο Δρόμος με Κυπαρρίσι και Αστρο (1890), μεταξύ άλλων, παρουσιάζουν τη λεγόμενη «κλιμάκωση Κολμογκόροφ», εξισώσεις που δίνουν την πιθανότητα δύο οποιοδήποτε σημεία του ρευστου να έχουν μια δεδομένη διαφορά ταχύτητας.Οι πίνακες αυτοί ζωγραφίστηκαν λίγο πριν ο Βαν Γκογκ αυτοκτονήσει σε ηλικία 37 ετών.
Την περίοδο εκείνη, ο ζωγράφος υπέφερε από ψυχωτικά επεισόδια, παραισθήσεις και επεισόδια απώλειας της συνείδησης, πιθανώς συμπτώματα επιληψίας.Αντίθετα, μετά τον αυτοακρωτηριασμό του αφτιού του, ο Βαν Γκογκ φαίνεται ότι είχε χάσει τη μαθηματική του ακρίβεια, όπως δείχνουν για παράδειγμα τα αυτοπορτραίτα του 1888. Την περίοδο εκείνη ο καλλιτέχνης βρισκόταν σε κατάσταση «απόλυτης ηρεμίας» λόγω του βρωμιούχου καλίου που του χορηγήθηκε.
«Πιστεύουμε ότι ο Βαν Γκογκ είχε μια μοναδική ικανότητα να απεικονίζει αναταράξεις σε περιόδους παρατεταμένης ψυχωτικής αναστάτωσης» σχολιάζει ο Αραγκόν.Οι ερευνητές εξέτασαν έργα και άλλων ζωγράφων αναζητώντας τη στατιστική υπογραφή του Κολμογκόροφ, όμως η διαισθητική ικανότητα του Βαν Γκογκ φαίνεται ότι ήταν μοναδική. Η διάσημη Κραυγή του Έντβαντ Μουνχ, για παράδειγμα, είναι γεμάτη από παρόμοιες δίνες, οι οποίες δεν ακολουθούν όμως τις μαθηματικές εξισώσεις.
Η μελέτη δημοσιεύεται στο διαδικτυακό αρχείο arXiv.org.
Van Gogh painted perfect turbulence
The disturbed artist intuited the deep forms of fluid flow.


Vincent van Gogh is known for his chaotic paintings and similarly tumultuous state of mind. Now a mathematical analysis of his works reveals that the stormy patterns in many of his paintings are uncannily like real turbulence, as seen in swirling water or the air from a jet engine.
Physicist Jose Luis Aragon of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Queretaro and his co-workers have found that the Dutch artist's works have a pattern of light and dark that closely follows the deep mathematical structure of turbulent flow.
The swirling skies of The Starry Night, painted in 1889, Road with Cypress and Star (1890) and Wheat Field with Crows (1890) — one of the van Gogh's last pictures before he shot himself at the age of 37 — all contain the characteristic statistical imprint of turbulence, say the researchers.
These works were created when van Gogh was mentally unstable: the artist is known to have experienced psychotic episodes in which he had hallucinations, minor fits and lapses of consciousness, perhaps indicating epilepsy.
"We think that van Gogh had a unique ability to depict turbulence in periods of prolonged psychotic agitation," says Aragon.
In contrast, the Self-portrait with Pipe and Bandaged Ear (1888) shows no such signs of turbulence. Van Gogh said that he painted this image in a state of "absolute calm", having been prescribed the drug potassium bromide following his famous self-mutilation.
Measured chaos
Scientists have struggled for centuries to describe turbulent flow — some are said to have considered the problem harder than quantum mechanics. It is still unsolved, but one of the foundations of the modern theory of turbulence was laid by the Soviet scientist Andrei Kolmogorov in the 1940s.
He predicted a particular mathematical relationship between the fluctuations in a flow's speed and the rate at which it dissipates energy as friction. Kolmogorov's work led to equations describing the probability of finding a particular velocity difference between any two points in the fluid. These relationships are called Kolmogorov scaling.
Aragón and colleagues looked at van Gogh's paintings to see whether they bear the fingerprint of turbulence that Kolmogorov identified. "'Turbulent' is the main adjective used to describe van Gogh's work," says Aragn. "We tried to quantify this."
Darkness and light
The researchers took digital images of the paintings and calculated the probability that two pixels a certain distance apart would have the same brightness, or luminance. "The eye is more sensitive to luminance changes than to colour changes," they say, "and most of the information in a scene is contained in its luminance."
Several of van Gogh's works show Kolmogorov scaling in their luminance probability distributions. To the eye, this pattern can be seen as eddies of different sizes, including both large swirls and tiny eddies created by the brushwork.
Van Gogh seems to be the only painter able to render turbulence with such mathematical precision. "We have examined other apparently turbulent paintings of several artists and find no evidence of Kolmogorov scaling," says Aragon.
Edvard Munch's The Scream, for example, looks to be superficially full of van Gogh-like swirls, and was painted by a similarly tumultuous artist, but the luminance probability distribution doesn't fit Kolmogorov's theory.
The distinctive styles of other artists can be described by mathematical formulae. Jackson Pollock's drip paintings, for example, bear distinct fractal patterns.
Visit our newsblog to read and post comments about this story.

Aragón I., et al. Preprint http://www.arxiv.org/abs/physics/0606246 (2006).

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

22/7/06

sex - Vara, sexualitatea ia foc


22 iulie 2006
Evident, sunt si explicatii pentru inflorirea sexualitatii in lunile de vara. In primul rand, lumina si caldura solara au actiune benefica asupra activitatii cerebrale si hormonale raspunzatoare de sexualitatea noastra.

Sunt specialisti care recomanda persoanelor nemultumite sexual terapia solara.
Expunerea la razele soarelui, plimbarile pe malul marii, masajul cu pietre marine, inotul si briza marina sunt elemente cu efecte pozitive asupra sexualitatii.
Buna dispozitie joaca un rol esential in relatia de cuplu. Ea poate fi obtinuta prin melo si cromoterapie. Exista refrene estivale de azi si de ieri, concepute anume parca pentru a trezi simturile.
De la primele acorduri creeaza o stare de bine ambilor parteneri. Dupa cum stim foarte bine ca exista o cromatica specifica lunilor de vara. Culorile pastel: bleu, galben, verde deschis, roz, combinate cu culori vitale, dar calde, precum rosul, portacaliul, ultramarinul, induc dorinta, liniste, dar si nevoia de a trai la superlativ.
Culori greu de definit ofera vegetatia specifica verii. Dar florile daruiesc nu numai o cromatica deosebita, dar si arome excitante.
Din acest decor estival mai lipseste ceva. Alimentele si bauturile afrodiziace. Fructele de mare. Pestele. Cafeaua. Ciocolata. Sampania. Fructele exotice. Unele condimente, cum ar fi menta. Uleiul de masline. Dar in capul listei stau de mii de ani fructele de mare. Se pare ca secretul lor consta in cantitatea apreciabila de fosfor si iod, implicate in stimularea sexuala. Mit sau realitate, alimentele afrodiziace contin elemente nutritive valoroase, cu efecte stimulative, excitante, multe dintre ele amintite chiar in Kama Sutra.
OPINII
Medicul Vasile Benea ne avertizeaza ca tocmai acest "decor estival" poate reprezenta o capcana, in sensul diminuarii vigilentei in privinta pericolului infectiilor cu transmitere sexuala. Asa se explica "amintirile de vacanta" cu bataie lunga.
Aceste infectii sunt vindecabile cu conditia depistarii lor in faze incipiente si administrarii tratamentului ambilor parteneri.
Medicul Daniel Popescu spune ca o femeie din zece uita sa ia pilula sau a avut un episod neplacut de genul ruperii prezervativului, riscand astfel o sarcina nedorita. Potrivit unor studii, jumatate din femeile intervievate (47%) sustin ca sexual sunt mai active in perioada vacantelor de vara.


Sursa: Jurnalul National
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Κομαντατε Τσε Γκεβαρα

ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ ΤΙ ΘΑ ΕΛΕΓΕ Ο ΚΟΜΑΝΤΑNΤΕ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΤΗΝ ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΟΤΗΤΑ.......ΣΙΓΟΥΡΑ ΟΧΙ...HASTA LA VICTORIA SEMPRE
Σκεφτόμουν τις φωτογραφίες του με το τσιγάρο...
Σκεφτόμουν τη φωτογραφία του πατέρα μου με το τσιγάρο...
Αχ, αυτή η Ανοιξη με ματώνει...
Μια φωτογραφία σου ήρθε και σε μένα
Μια φωτογραφία σου απ' τα ξένα
Απ' αυτές που κρατάν οι φοιτητές
Απ' αυτές που ξεσκίζει ο χαφιές
Απ' αυτές που κρεμάν οι φοιτητές
Στην καρδία τους
Τσε Γκεβάρα
Τσε Γκεβάρα
Τσε-ε-ε-ε-ε-ε, ε-ε-ε-ε-ε
Τσε Γκεβάρα
Κλείσε το παράθυρο
Σφάλισε τις πόρτεςΤρέμω για τον άνθρωπο
Με τις μπότες
Τι ζητά και στους ίσκιους περπατά
Τι ζητά και για σένανε ρωτάΤι ζητά και το σπίτι μας κοιτά
Κάθε βράδυ
Τσε Γκεβάρα
Τσε Γκεβάρα
Τσε-ε-ε-ε-ε-ε, ε-ε-ε-ε-ε
Τσε Γκεβάρα
Τόσα τριαντάφυλλα
Τα 'καψε το χιόνι
Αχ αυτή η άνοιξη
Με ματώνει
Μάνος Λοϊζος

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

bodyguard!

Η προσωπική φρουρός της Κοντολάϊζας, λίγο πρίν την αναχώρηση τους, για την Μέση Ανατολή !
Ξέρει πολεμικές τέχνες, μαγειρεύει τέλεια "αμελέτητα γαϊδάρου, πίνει μόνο παγωμένη βότκα, είναι αμφισεξουαλική αν και προτιμάει τις 50αρες νέγρες, στις δύσκολες μέρες βάζει μόνο extra jumbo tambon και εχει τελειώσει το Χαρβαρντ μετ'επαίνων.
Οι κακές γλώσσες λένε οτι ήταν μαιτρέσσα του Πρύτανη και γνωρίστηκε με την Κοντολάϊζα σε ένα όργιο της Αδερφότητας γυναικών " Γ Γ Γ ". Οι Αμερικάνοι το διαβάζουν σαν "γκάμα, γκάμα, γκάμα"
Ο Μπίν-ες με τα μούσια την εχει επικυρήξει για να την εκτελέσει με το μαρτύριο της "συνουσίας με γάϊδαρο".
Το Φ Β Ι την έχει εκπαιδεύσει για να αντέχει τουλάχιστον 15 φορές.
Τα κουτσομπολιά του Ασπρου Οίκου, λένε οτι έκανε μεγάλη σκηνή στην Κοντολάϊζα όταν ο Γίωργος Θάμνος, σε μια απο τις άπειρες πατάτες του, αποκάλεσε την Κοντολάϊζα η "συζυγός" μου.
Άλλες φήμες την θέλουν να έχει σχέσεις παράλληλα και με τον Κυβερνήτη της Καλιφόρνια Αρνολντ Μαυροσφίχτη.

ελπίζω να μην πιστέψατε, τίποτα απο τα πιο πάνω, γιατι δηλώνω οτι είναι εικασίες και ασύστολα ψεύδη.
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Μόλις 7.500 τίγρεις απομένουν στον πλανήτη

Σε διάστημα μόλις μιας δεκαετίας, οι περιοχές όπου ζουν τίγρεις έχουν συρρικνωθεί κατά 40%, και πλέον μόλις 7.500 από τα αιλουροειδή απομένουν σε όλο τον κόσμο, δείχνει έρευνα της WWF.
Η τίγρη ζει σήμερα μόλις στο 7% των περιοχών όπου κυριαρχούσε μέχρι πριν από μερικούς αιώνες, επισημαίνει η περιβαλλοντική οργάνωση. Σημαντικότερες απειλές η καταστροφή των φυσικών της ενδιαιτημάτων αλλά και η λαθροθηρία, καθώς ορισμένα τμήματα των τίγρεων χρησιμοποιούνται σε παραδοσιακές θεραπείες στην Κίνα και τη Νοτιοανατολική Ασία.
Η έρευνα, στην οποία έλαβαν μέρος και άλλες περιβαλλοντικές οργανώσεις, για πρώτη φορά αναγνωρίζει 76 περιοχές, κυρίως στην Ασία, όπου είναι πιθανότερο να επιτύχουν οι προσπάθειες προστασίας. «Πολλές σημαντικές περιοχές έχουν αγνοηθεί όσον αφορά τη χρηματοδότηση, κυρίως επειδή δεν υπήρχε μέθοδος για τη συστηματική αναγνώριση των περιοχών με υψηλό δυναμικό προστασίας» αναφέρει το κείμενο.
Περόπου οι μισές από τις 76 υποσχόμενες περιοχές θα μπορούσαν να συντηρήσουν πάνω από 100 ζώα και «προσφέρουν εξαιρετικές ευκαιρίες για την ανάκαμψη των πληθυσμών της άγριας τίγρης».
Οι ερευνητές εστιάζονται τώρα σε συγκεκριμένες περιοχές-κλειδιά, στην Ινδία, τη ρωσική Απω Ανατολή και τη Νοτιοανατολική Ασία. Η προσπάθεια θα επικεντρωθεί στη διασύνδεση υφιστάμενων προστατευόμενων περιοχών.
«Πήραμε σημαντικά μαθήματα τα τελευταία δεκα χρόνια, και η μελέτη αυτή παρέχει ένα λεπτομερές σχέδιο για τους επιστήμονες και τις κυβερνήσεις που κρατούν το κλειδί για τη σωτηρία των τίγρεων» σχολιάζει ο Μαχέντρα Σρέστα, διευθυντής του Ταμείου για τη Σωτηρία της Τίγρης που ίδρυσε η WWF.
Όλες οι τίγρεις ανήκουν στο ίδιο είδος, Panthera tigris, χωρίζονται όμως σε αρκετά υποείδη. Ορισμένες ποικιλίες, όπως η τίγρη της Σιβηρίας, της Βεγγάλης και της Σουμάτρας, αντιμετωπίζουν κίνδυνο εξαφάνισης, ενώ άλλα υποείδη, όπως η τίγρη της Ιάβας, του Μπαλί και της Κασπίας, έχουν ήδη εξαφανιστεί.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Just A Joke!


A businessman meets a beautiful girl and agrees to spend the afternoon with her for $500.
They have an enjoyable time, but before he leaves, he tells her that he does not have any cash with him, but that he will have his secretary write a check and mail it to her, calling the payment "RENT FOR APARTMENT".
On the way to the office he regrets what he has done, realizing that the whole event was not worth the price.
So he has his secretary send a check for $250 and enclosed the following typed note: Dear Madam, Enclosed find check in the amount of $250 for rent of your apartment.
I am not sending the amount agreed upon, because when I rented the apartment, I was under the impression that: 1) it had never been occupied; 2) that there was plenty of heat; 3) that is was small enough to make me cozy and at home.
However, I found out that it had been previously occupied, that there wasn't any heat, and that it was entirely too large.
Upon receipt of the note, the girl immediately returned the check for $250 with the following note: Dear Sir: First of all, I cannot understand how you expect a beautiful apartment to remain unoccupied indefinitely.
As for the heat, there is plenty of it if you know how to turn it on. Regarding the space, the apartment is indeed of regular size, but if you don't have enough furniture to fill it, please do not blame the landlady.
Send the rent in full or we will be forced to contact your present landlady!
Have A Good Day !
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Few Mayo Ideas.

CRETAN “Vasiliki” MAYONNAISE

Top steak, chicken, or fish with this sauce, or toss it with baked potatoes. It's also great in a tomato or tuna sandwich.

Preparation time: 10 min. start to finish: 1 1/4 hr (includes chilling)

1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil1 garlic clove, smashed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon grounded white pepper
3/4 cup mayonnaise

Pulse basil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor until finely chopped. Add mayonnaise and blend until smooth. Chill, covered, 1 hour (for flavours to develop).



Kalamata olive MAYONNAISE

Serve on cold roast beef, sausages or with crudités.

Active time: 5 min. start to finish: 1 hr (includes chilling)

2/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Kalamata olive paste or tapenade
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Stir together all ingredients. Chill, covered, 1 hour (for flavours to develop).



ORANGE SHALLOT MAYONNAISE

Spread on a roast pork or turkey sandwich, or use as a dip for grilled shrimp or as a dressing for a fruit salad.

Active time: 15 min. start to finish: 1 1/4 hr (includes chilling)

1 to 2 navel oranges
3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Finely grate 1 teaspoon
zest from an orange, and then squeeze enough juice to measure 5 tablespoons.

Boil 4 tablespoons orange juice with shallot in a very small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until juice is almost evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer shallot to a bowl to cool, and then stir in zest, mayonnaise, lemon juice, pepper, and remaining tablespoon orange juice.
Chill, covered, 1 hour (for flavours to develop).


ROASTED-PEPPER AND ALMOND MAYONNAISE

This old fashion-style sauce is good on grilled fish or vegetables as well as burgers.
Active time: 10 min. start to finish: 1 1/4 hr (includes chilling)
1/2 cup mayonnaise1/4 cup drained bottled roasted red peppers, chopped1/4 cup salted roasted almonds1 garlic clove, smashed2 teaspoons Balsamic vinegar, or to taste1/8 teaspoon chilli
Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Chill, covered, 1 hour (for flavours to develop).
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

SUMMER LEMON-LIME PIE

INSTRUCTIONS:
PECAN CRUST:
Saute pecans in butter until lightly browned.
Place nuts and butter in food processor, and add the crumbs, lime peel, cinnamon, sugar, and mix till coarse.
Press into a 10" pie plate, reserving some for garnish if you like.
PIE FILLING:
Beat egg yolks at high speed 4-5 minutes.
Slowly add condensed milk with the mixer running at medium, then add lime juice the same way.
Add peel and mix slowly.
Pour mixture into the prepared crust.
Fill baking pan halfway with water, and place on lowest rack of the oven.
Place pie plate on rack above water, and bake at 300 degrees until firm, 20-25 minutes.
Do not allow pie to brown.
Remove pie, and cool to room temperature, then place in refrigerator to set and chill for about 4 hours.
To serve, you may garnish with whipped cream and crust crumbs if you like.

SECRET NOTE : Put half of teaspoon Grounded Ginger with the condensed milk. The taste will explode.

Ingredients

  1. Tablespoon butter
  2. 1 & a half of a cup Pecan nuts(chopped)
  3. 3/4 of a cup Graham or Digestive cracker crumbs
  4. 2 lemons and 2 limes grated
  5. 3/4 of a teaspoon cinnamon
  6. 1 & a half tabelspoon dark sugar
  7. 2 egg yolks
  8. 2 cups sweetened condensed milk
  9. 1/2 of a cup lime and lemon juice
  10. 1/2 of a teaspoon grounded ginger

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

A frase from "Art of war" by Sun Tzu

That photo reminds me the "Nazi Youths" during the WW II !
the comments are yours!
same, really same for the humanity!

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

21/7/06

μόνο 158.000€ για 2 και κάτι ώρες...τζάμπα πράμα


Τόσο θα σας κοστίσει ενα ταξιδάκι 2 ωρών στο εγγύς διάστημα!
Σε δύο χρόνια απο σήμερα θα έχετε την δυνατότητα να πεταξετε με τα φτερά της VIRGIN GALACTIC σε τροχια γύρω απο την Γή στα 140 χιλιόμετρα.

Το ταξίδι σας θα περιλαμβάνει:

  • απογείωση απο την έρημο Μοχάβε (ΗΠΑ)
  • πτήση με το αεροπλάνο φορέα μέχρι τα 15 χιλιόμετρα
  • εκτόξευση του πυραύλου
  • δέκα λεπτά σε κατάσταση έλειψης βαρύτητας

και φυσικά

διπλώματα, φωτογραφίες, βίντεο και αναμνηστικά

για περισσότερες πληροφορίες : http://www.virgingalactic.com/en/ η στο κινητό του Μπράνσον.....

He is right!!


"The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity."
Harlan Ellison