STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

OOHO EDIBLE WATER BOTTLE

Edible water. It isn’t quite an oxymoron but it sure doesn’t sound right. Despite that fact, a small group by the name of Skipping Rocks Lab has embarked on a mission to make such a thing reality with their weird but intriguing Ooho Edible Water.

The thinking behind this project was to try and find a way to easily transport water without using plastic. First, the team kicked around the idea of biodegradable water bottles, but that seemed too boring. So instead, they’re trying their hand at edible water. The way this works is by dropping a piece of ice in a mix of brown algea extract and calcium chloride. The result is that when the ice melts, the seaweed based membrane stays in-tact. Don’t quite feel that hungry? You can just bite, suck, and toss the shell. It’ll biodegrade in under 6 weeks. Whether you pack these along with you for a long bike ride or before heading out for a festival weekend – they’re sure to draw some attention while also keeping you hydrated.

 

 

 

[MIKA27]

‘Detroit’ Official Trailer

If you’ve seen The Hurt Locker or Zero Dark Thirty, you know that director Kathryn Bigelow can build suspense and develop tension with the best of them. The next time you will see those skills put on display is August 4, when her film Detroit hits theaters. The film stars John Boyega, John Krasinski, and Kaitlyn Dever and centers on the civil unrest in Detroit in the summer of 1967, after a police raid of an unlicensed bar. The anger erupted into one of our country’s deadliest riots, which lasted for the better part of a week. Based on this trailer and Bigelow’s track record, we can tell you this is a can’t miss.

[MIKA27]

HOTEL AWA

Set on the shores of southern Chile's Llanquihue Lake, Hotel AWA completely immerses guests in the surrounding landscape. Each of their rooms features floor to ceiling glazing for morning views of the waterfront, as well as the neighboring Osorno Volcano. Outside, the black-sand beach leads to a private dock for kayaking and fishing, while those opting to stay dry can explore the 50-acre property. If simply relaxing is on the agenda, a sull-service spa inspired by the local elements — water, heat, wood, metal, and earth — is equipped with a semi-Olympic heated pool, sauna, hammam, and whirlpool.

[MIKA27]

FUNKY BUDDHA MEXICAN COFFEE STOUT

The taste experts at Funky Buddha are at it again with their latest release. Funky Buddha Mexican Coffee Imperial Stout starts out as a bold imperial stout brewed with oats, lactose, and roasted malts. It's then blended with coffee, cinnamon, and then aged in Jose Cuervo Tradicional 100% Agave Reposado Tequila barrels. The inspiration for this beer was to be as close to a classic Cafe Mexicano as possible, with the time spent in the Cuervo barrels providing the extra touch to achieve what promises to be another gem for the Florida brewery. It's bottled at 11.3% and will be available later this month in limited quantities.

[MIKA27]

Coachella Bandit Nabbed By 'Find My Phone' Feature After Allegedly Stealing 100 Smartphones

Coachella is always full of surprises (like when Radiohead quit earlier this week after audio problems), but this year's biggest surprise seems to have happened far away from the main stage. On Friday, a New York man was arrested after allegedly stealing more than 100 mobile phones from concert attendees in one of the more bizarre crimes ever committed at the music festival.

Reinaldo De Jesus Henao, 36, was busted after several concert-goers activated the "Find My Phone" feature on their lost smartphones and noticed that the signals led them directly to him. The ordeal was several days in the making and, according to the Indio Police Department, it took an equal effort by authorities and music fans to catch the prolific smartphone bandit.

"I noticed some chatter on social media about phones disappearing on Reddit," said Indio Police Sergeant Dan Marshall in an interview with Gizmodo. "One of the common threads [among Reddit posters] was that they were all losing their phones at the Sahara tent."

The police then dedicated more resources to keeping a watch over the tent, but ultimately the extra sets of eyes didn't help. "In this case, the fans came through," Sergeant Marshall told Gizmodo. "People started using the 'Find My Phone' feature on their phones and sure enough — people spotted a dot going through the tent, and they alerted authorities. [The police] took over from there after security had him detained."

As you can probably imagine, it's fairly common for people to lose their phones during a party-filled weekend at Coachella. "Mobile phones are lost by the hundreds at Coachella, and that has been the case for many years," said Sergeant Marshall.

Now, most of the people who lost their phones can breathe more easily. According to Sergeant Marshall, more than 130 phones were collected from Henao's backpack and most of them have been returned to their rightful owners.

In the end, it actually brought a little solidarity between festival-goers and authorities. "The kids at Coachella are not here to do bad things," said Sergeant Marshall. "They turn in phones they find, wallets with cash in them. People hand you all kinds of stuff... The kids are just here to have a good time."

[MIKA27]

James Gunn Will Return To Write And Direct Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

James Gunn, the man behind the movie iteration of Guardians of the Galaxy — and who may one day win an award for being the man most in love with his job, social media and talking about his job on social media — has announced that he'll be back for a third Guardians movie.

Gunn made the announcement on his Facebook page, where he goes into detail about the decision and what the press leading up to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has been like. But in it he says, "So, yes, I'm returning to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."

Obviously, there aren't many details, but Gunn did give some time frame information, saying:

Quote

Much of what's happened in the MCU for the past ten or so years has been leading, in a big way, to the Avengers' Infinity War. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will happen after all that. It will conclude the story of this iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and help catapult both old and new Marvel characters into the next ten years and beyond.

There isn't a ton of information here, despite the volume of words, but it seems like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be coming right on the heels of Infinity War. Now, while Gunn says "Infinity War" in his post, I think he means the second movie (previously known as Infinity War Part 2). Captain Marvel and Ant-Man and the Wasp are already slated to go between those, and there isn't a ton of room for another movie. Plus, he says it will "catapult" things, which sounds like Guardians 3 will launch Phase 4 after that movie comes out in 2019.

This is a good news, but we still have a while to wait before the next movie. And it also sounds like we should be prepping for a whole new team to emerge after that third movie — which seems about right for most of these contracts, with everyone slated to appear in the Guardians movies and Infinity War.

 

 

[MIKA27]

Something Very Weird Is Happening In This New Glimpse Of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

For a while, we've been hearing that not all of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 takes place in space. New details courtesy of an extended skit on Jimmy Kimmel over the weekend, however, have given us a few more details that might explain a few things as to why we'll be heading to Earth in the new movie.

In last night's show, Kimmel sent his right-hand-man Guillermo to the set of the movie for a potential cameo role. The clip is mostly behind-the-scenes interactions with the cast of the show, but near the end — at around 6:06 in the video below — we do get to see a tiny little snippet of the movie. And it's super weird.

The brief clip shows a crowd of onlookers using their mobile phones (so it's pretty clearly set on modern day Earth) to photograph a giant, blue blob of alien goop covering a busy town street. The goop suddenly glows bright, and starts engorging everything in its path, flipping cars and causing wanton, blob-based destruction.

We've known for a while that the movie had at least a few Earth-set scenes: mainly because we'd seen set pictures of Nathan Fillion's sneaky cameo as Simon Williams, a.k.a. comic superhero Wonder Man, on various movie posters at a theatre. That, combined with the recent news that Ford would be getting one of its new cars into a scene for the movie as the "official vehicle" of the film, seemed to indicate a trip to Earth.

But still, what the hell is going on here? The blob of goop seems like nothing we've seen from Guardians 2 so far. Is it part of the wider villainous plot, or is it potentially a piece of cosmic tomfoolery that could end up bringing the Guardians to Earth, just in time for Avengers: Infinity War? Whatever it is, it seems pretty far removed from everything else we know about the movie.

Won't be long until we find out what it really is, though — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 hits theatres May 5.

[MIKA27]

The Glorious First Trailer For Star Wars: The Last Jedi Is Here

It's here. After months and months of waiting, the next chapter in the Star Wars saga is upon us, and we finally have our very first look at Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And it's just as amazing as you were hoping it would be.

First revealed at today's Last Jedi panel at Celebration Orlando, the new trailer marks our first look at the continuation of Rey, Finn and Poe's journey, set immediately after the events of 2015's The Force Awakens.

There's a lot going on here, even in the short snippets of footage we get to glimpse. We see the continuation of Rey's training with Luke, glimpses of strange new worlds (and even stranger speeders glimpsing along them), some major trouble for the Resistance — oh no, Poe's black X-Wing! — and what appears to be a huge space battle between the Resistance and The First Order.

Oh, and then there are those ominous words from a tired, haggard Master Skywalker... "It's time for the Jedi to end." So now we know exactly what the title is about.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will hit theatres 15 December 2017.

 

[MIKA27]

The Last Jedi Will Be Carrie Fisher's Final Star Wars Film After All

Even after the trailer drop, we still don't know much about The Last Jedi. We know even less about Episode IX. But one rumour about that yet-to-be-titled film has been shot down: the late Carrie Fisher will not appear in it.

This news comes straight from Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, and contradicts recent comments made by Fisher's brother, Todd Fisher, that the actress would appear in Episode IX using previously-shot footage. (She had already completed her scenes in The Last Jedi before her death.) Here's the clip from Good Morning America where Kennedy sets it straight:

Though to some, that's disappointing to hear, it makes total sense to end Leia's story with a film in which Fisher was still able to fully embody the character. Kennedy told Yahoo News today that the script for director and co-writer Colin Trevorrow's Episode IX — revised to take into account that General Organa would not appear in it — is "very close" to completion. And there's no doubt Fisher's presence will still be felt in the next film, even if she doesn't physically appear in it — she's just too important to the Star Wars galaxy.

[MIKA27]

Star Wars Battlefront II Will Tell A Canon Story Of Imperial Revenge

Star Wars Battlefront II will give players a totally new Star Wars experience. And, this time, it's going to count.

In Battlefront II, out November 17, there will be a single player campaign. It will give you the ability to play as Iden Versio, played by Janina Gavankar, a special forces Imperial soldier who vows revenge on the Rebel Alliance after seeing Death Star II get blown up from the surface of Endor. The character wholly believes in the Empire and, for players, it will be a focus they are not used to: the eradication of the Rebellion.

In addition to a hugely expanded multiplayer experience, the highlight of Battlefront II is this brand new, canon Star Wars story that puts players on the opposite side of the conflict. As the leader of the brand new, elite, Inferno Squad (who will get their own book later this year, out July 25), Iden was raised on Vardos, a brand new planet created for the game that's kind of an Imperial utopia. There she was raised to totally and fully understand Imperial beliefs. Her team is the best at everything in the Empire: ground battle, flying, sabotage, spying, everything. So when the second Death Star blows up, Iden and her droid sidekick go off on a journey that will take her on a story spanning the time period between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. (It also involves Operation Cinder, which fans will recognise from some of the new canon content) However, in the game, you won't only play as Iden. She's the primary "hero" but the campaign will also allow you to play as Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren and other stars of the series.

The addition of the multilayered, canon single player campaign is certainly the crown jewel in Battlefront II. But multiplayer has expanded too, now spanning all eras: Prequels, Clone Wars, Original Trilogy and Sequel Trilogy. (No word on Rebels characters. Fingers crossed for playable Thrawn). Among the confirmed names: Darth Maul, Yoda, Kylo Ren, Rey, Luke Skywalker, and, certainly, many more as we get closer to release. Also, players will be able to upgrade and customise the heroes much like the traditional troopers, giving them new abilities. The same will go for vehicles, which will be more numerous, varied (you can ride a freaking tauntaun!), and easier to fly thanks to the team at Criterion, who was brought in to help with a frequent criticism of the first game.

Players will start most multiplayer rounds as a traditional trooper (more on those in a sec) but acquiring vehicles and heroes won't be the same as the first game. Instead of grabbing some kind of power up, they will be earned through various gameplay goals. Plus, even your traditional troopers will be able to earn heroic abilities that will allow them to stand toe to toe with the heroes. Also, there will be classes.

As for those traditional troopers, the variety will be much greater than the original game. We saw resistance fighters, Imperial officers, First Order stormtroopers, and even, yes battle droids. They will all be playable along with many more to be revealed.

But really, Battlefront II is all about Iden, a very different character who the team behind the game will eventually stand beside Leia, Rey, Ahsoka, and the other powerful women of Star Wars.

Star Wars Battlefront II is out November 17. Here's the trailer:

 

 

[MIKA27]

IS CLEAR COFFEE THE NEXT BIG TREND IN BREAKFAST BEVERAGES?

Not long ago, we were introduced to Black Insomnia, the world’s strongest coffee. Before that, we met one of the world’s most colourfully named coffees. Now we’re meeting something even more unusual: the world’s first clear coffee.

CLR CFF packs all the qualities you love in your ultra-dark roast, minus any of the teeth-staining trouble. Though it looks like water, the taste is strong – reportedly like a ‘potent cold brew’ – and a single bottle should last all day. It can be sipped on its own or mixed into cocktails, and your pearly whites will still be pearly.

Two brothers came up with the idea for transparent coffee when their chompers started showing the signs of caffeine addiction.

“We are heavy coffee drinkers. Like many other people we struggled with the teeth stains caused by it. There was nothing on the market that would suit our needs so we decided to create our own recipe,” David Nagy told the The Evening Standard. “Because of the hectic lifestyle we lead we wanted to make a refreshing ready-to-drink coffee which provides the boost but is low in calories.”

The production process is a closely guarded secret. David and his brother Adam admit they use freshly roasted Arabica beans and a chemical-free physical process, and say it took three months of experimentation to nail the formula (which has no preservatives, stabilisers, or sweeteners).

At £5.99 for two 200-ml bottles, CLR CFF won’t be your cheapest habit, but at least it’ll save you the cost of a teeth whitening treatment at the dentist.

 

[MIKA27]

BOSE SoundLink Revolve

Bose have introduced their first Bluetooth speakers with true 360-degree sound. Available in two sizes, the SoundLink Revolve and the larger, more robust SoundLink Revolve+, the sleek speaker features dual-opposing passive radiators with a powerful, ultra-efficient transducer and a new patented acoustic deflector. Its rechargeable battery lasts for 12 hours per charge (16 on the larger model), and the IPX4-rating can withstand spills, rain, and pool splashes. The Revolve ($199) and Revolve+ ($299) are available now in black or white.

[MIKA27]

ONE DROP DIABETES TOOLS

For many, keeping track of blood glucose, medication, food, and activity is essential. One Drop Diabetes Tools are an elegant way to do so. The monitor links to a mobile app via Bluetooth and shares its sleek chrome and black design with the test strip canister and lancing device, all of which pack away in a black case. Instead of forcing you to make monthly trips to the pharmacy, they offer an ongoing subscription plan that gives you unlimited strips, plus around the clock access to diabetes support from certified diabetes educators via the app.

[MIKA27]

MOSS HOTEL

Situated on Iceland's famous geothermal spa, the Moss Hotel is the best way to experience the Blue Lagoon. This upscale accommodation offers a total of five rooms and suites, built atop a lava flow that dates back to the 1200s. The rooms themselves are contemporary and comfortable, offering floor-to-ceiling windows, terraces, and, in the most premium suite, a private lagoon. The Moss Hotel opens this autumn.

[MIKA27]

ELEKTRA MICRO CASA LEVA S1 ESPRESSO MACHINE

Newer isn't always better. The Elektra Micro Casa Leva S1 Espresso Machine has been on the market for decades, yet remains desirable thanks to its traditional lever operation and unique industrial design. While it's not exactly "micro," it's certainly not imposing, sitting on a pedestal roughly 10 inches in diameter and standing less than 20 inches tall. It comes in copper brass, chrome and brass, and chrome finishes, and is best complemented by the matching MS Grinder.

[MIKA27]

THE HANGOVER DRINK

We're always skeptical when we see a new hangover cure hit the market. After all, there are many methods for lessening hangovers, but not many that actually knock one out cold. The Hangover Drink though, sounds incredibly promising. All you need to do is drink it during or after a night of drinking, and you'll wake up hangover-free. It all centers around Dihydromyricetin (DHM) which helps detoxify your body after a ton of booze. It comes in 100ml glass bottles, is made using all natural ingredients, and has a shelf life of up to two years.

[MIKA27]

THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD

Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson meet up outside the Marvel Universe, and it looks like there's going to be plenty of action, comedy, and Motherf*ckers. The former is sent as a bodyguard for the latter in a strange world where Samuel L. Jackson needs protection. Yeah, he doesn't think so either, and that's why Reynolds ends up chasing Jackson through a series of gunfire, car chases, and explosions, all set to Whitney Houston's "'I Will Always Love You." Also starring Gary Oldman and Salma Hayek, the modern-day Bodyguard is slated for release August 18, 2017.

[MIKA27]

Secret Medieval Tomb Reveals Resting Site Of Five Lost Archbishops

During renovations at the former site of a medieval church in London, England, construction workers uncovered the entranceway to a hidden crypt. Inside lay 30 lead coffins, including the remains of five former Archbishops of Canterbury. It's a completely unexpected archaeological finding — showing that even London's most famous historical sites still have secrets to tell.  

The discovery was made at Lambeth Palace's Garden Museum, the prior home of the Church of St Mary's-at-Lambeth. This medieval church was built in the 11th century, and for years was located next to the Archbishop of Canterbury residence (the Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, and the symbolic head of the Anglican Church). Over the centuries, many archbishops worshipped at the church, and as this latest archaeological discovery shows, many of them also chose to be buried there.

The historic church, which was converted into a museum in the 1960s, is currently undergoing an extensive 18-month-long renovation. Given the building's history and its proximity to the river Thames, the work crews had no reason to believe that anything existed below the structure. It was assumed that the lower levels had been filled with dirt as a precaution against flooding.

This hidden entranceway was found beneath large slabs weighing as much as 1,497kg.

As part of the renovations, workers had to lift large, heavy flagstones to expose the ground underneath. These stones — some of which weighed as much as 1500kg — were laid down in 1851. The removal of one of these stones revealed a hidden entrance to unknown space directly below. The workers hastily attached a flashlight and a camera to a stick and stuck it in. To their utter astonishment, the footage showed a secret tomb with numerous coffins stacked upon one another. Incredibly, one of these coffins had a gold crown on top of it — a Mitre signifying the buried remains of an archbishop.

Numerous coffins were discovered in the crypt, some stacked on top of each other. 

Several coffins had nameplates on them — including five coffins that hold the remains of prior Archbishops of Canterbury. Of note is Richard Bancroft, the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1604 to 1610. He chaired the committee that wrote the King James Bible, which is considered the most notable and "majestic" English translation of the Bible. The crypt also contains the remains of John Moore, Archbishop from 1783 to 1805 (and his wife Catherine Moore), Frederick Cornwallis (in office 1768-1783), Matthew Hutton (1757-1758) and Thomas Tenison (1695-1715).

The 30 lead coffins have been left undisturbed, so we may never know the identity of the dozens who remain unidentified. Still, the discovery of five "lost" archbishops — including the person who commissioned the King James Bible — at such a highly celebrated and well studied site is nothing short of remarkable; unearthing a secret tomb isn't something that happens every day.

The builders have constructed a glass panel in the floor above the crypt so visitors can take a look below. The Garden Museum is scheduled to reopen in May.

 

[MIKA27]

The Crew Sends Their Last Messages To Earth In These Eerie New Alien: Covenant Promos

We're just over a month away from Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant, a film that's built its marketing strategy not just on teasers and trailers, but viral clips (like "Meet Walter", an intro to the movie's android). The latest are a pair of transmissions to Earth from two Covenant crew members.

Daniels (Katherine Waterston), speaking to her father (you're forgiven if you immediately picture the actress' real-life dad, Sam Waterston, even though he isn't actually in the movie), is optimistic but apprehensive. The video message is intercut with horrifying glimpses of what lurks in her near future, presented in the style of found-footage horror.

In a much shorter video, Oram (Billy Crudup) reads a prepared speech about "the majesty of creation", with some very similar found-footage shocks sprinkled throughout.

Alien: Covenant, which is thankfully not actually a found-footage film, is out May 11.

[MIKA27]

Two New “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2” Trailers Arrive, Yes There Is Dancing

Yesterday, press across the world were treated to a screening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.  Early reports are ASTOUNDINGLY positive, certainly proving the early rumors of test audiences giving the Marvel sequel an unheard of perfect score.  Marvel, knowing their audiences as they do, immediately released two new trailers.

The first appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, as the majority of the cast were guests on last night’s episode.  Chris Pratt (Starlord) and Zoe Saldana (Gamora) also talked about what their kids think about GoTG:

The second clip/trailer was released by Marvel UK, and features more of Starlord’s sweeeeeeet dance moves:

We also learned after the press screenings yesterday that director James Gunn has delivered not one, not two, but FIVE FREAKING POST CREDIT SCENES.  Originally outlets were reporting four, but Gunn corrected them via twitter.

You may recall that James Gunn announced via his facebook that he WILL indeed be writing and directing a third GoTG film for Marvel.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2 hits theaters May 5th, 2017 in the US and 24th April 2017 Australia (For once we get it early!)

[MIKA27]

Jules Verne Time Capsule Discovered

Journey to the Center of the Earth. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Around the World in Eighty Days. While some may quibble whether these are three of the greatest science fiction novels ever or just great stories that have entertained readers and movie-goers for over a century, it’s agreed that author Jules Verne had a major influence on the genre. And now, to the delight of old and new fans, Jules may be making a comeback. A metal box unearthed this month near the French Pyrenees in the Occitanie region of southern France is believed to have been buried at the end of the 19th century by Jules Verne and contains papers and possibly unpublished works by the author.

Using materials collected and analyzed from Verne’s tomb in Amiens in northern France, archaeologists and historians from the Paris Descartes University and The Explorers Club NYC found clues suggesting objects pertaining to him might be located in the Occitanie region. Beginning in September 2016, they used geolocation algorithms to narrow down the possible sites and searched with drones and ground-penetrating radar until finally finding the metal box which experts believe belonged to Jules Verne or someone very close to him. The “time capsule” was removed and taken to a laboratory with a controlled environment for study.

Jules Verne’s tomb

So far, the box has only been examined with X-rays and, unfortunately, it and the materials inside show deterioration from being buried since the late 1800s – Verne died on March 24, 1905. According to Paris Descartes University Field Archaeologist Elouan Beauséjour, the papers appear damp and crumbling and the engravings on the inside of the box are nearly illegible. Other things that can be identified include books and metal objects. Beauséjour says the examination has moved to a more detailed phase that may involve opening the box in a sterile and preservative environment. He plans to issue a statement as this progresses.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)

The books are obviously of great interest to fans of Verne. Are they finished or unfinished novels? The author’s massive body of work includes the sequence of 54 books known as the Voyages Extraordinaires (Extraordinary Voyages or Extraordinary Journeys) which were published between 1863 and 1905 and surprisingly includes works of non-fiction covering geology, biology, astronomy, paleontology, oceanography, geography and other sciences. His three most famous novels have been adapted to film, TV and stage in various forms that have both stayed close to the author’s words and strayed far away into areas such as comedy.

Whatever is in the time capsule, Jules Verne would have had no trouble turning its discovery into an exciting adventure tale.

[MIKA27]

Stunning Aerials From NASA’s Surveys of the Arctic

WHEN MARIO TAMA gazed through the window of a Lockheed P-3 flying 1,500 feet over the Arctic, he found himself awed by the scenery. He saw majestic mountains ribboned with snow, enormous glaciers meandering across the land, and undulating ice fields glimmering in the twilight. The colors, the textures, and the stillness of it all left him speechless. “It’s such an unexpected landscape,” he says. “It felt like we were flying over a different planet.”

And yet no one else aboard the plane could be bothered. Many of them didn’t even look up from their computer screens. They didn’t have time for sightseeing, they had work to do.

Tama, a Getty photographer, spent a week last month with a NASA crew during Operation IceBridge, the agency’s campaign to measure changes in the planet’s ice sheets and glaciers. NASA spends 10 weeks each spring in the Arctic and six weeks each fall in the Antarctic when ice levels are the highest. The Arctic crew used a pair of laser altimeters to measure the elevation of the ice, and three radars to measure the snow (one of them can reach 300 feet down to bedrock). The gadgetry fascinated Tama. “It’s basically a flying physics lab,” he says.

The crew flew whenever the weather allowed it, spending as long as 12 hours aloft as surveyed large swaths of coastline along Greenland and Ellesmere Island in Canada. Tama never missed a flight, even though it meant dining on Powerbars and Cup Noodles. As the researchers stared intently at computer screens for hours on end, Tama busied himself making pictures. The vastness of the rugged, remote terrain floored him. Aside from spotting a few stray seals, Tama found it impossible to get a sense of scale. “I was looking at shapes and features that I had never seen in my life,” Tama says. “We’d drop through the clouds or take a turn into a valley, and I’d be sitting there trying to process, what am I looking at?”

Operation IceBridge is crucial to understanding climate change. Last month, the NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center announced Arctic and Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest point ever in 38 years. “Changes in Arctic sea ice is seen as one of the primary indicators of climate change,” says Nathan Kurtz, project scientist for Operation IceBridge. “It’s been changing so rapidly—the Arctic has been changing and warming. What we’re trying to do is get a sense of what’s driving some of the bigger changes that we’re seeing.”

Tama’s stunning images are a reminder of the beauty of the distant north and south, and what will be lost if they melt away.

 

[MIKA27]

Here's Your Chance to Own Winston Churchill's Watch

A Lemania chronograph worn by the legendary prime minister is going up for auction.

For anyone whos looking to own a watch with a bit of history, it's a vintage Swiss Lemania is a pretty solid choice. Of course, for anyone looking to own a watch that has history screaming from his wrist, a Lemania once owned by Winston Churchill would do the trick.

Next week, as part of its annual watch sale, Sotheby's will auction off a yellow gold Lemania chronograph wristwatch given to the legendary British prime minister as a gift by the Canton of Vaud in 1946. Engraved onto the back of the 36mm chronograph—which features a CH27-C12 calibre movement—is "Le canton de Vaud A son hote illustre Mr. Winston Churchill aout-september 1946," which translates to "From the Canton of Vaud to its famous guest Mr. Winston Churchill August-September 1946."

The watch was presented to Churchill during a three-week stay in Switzerland, a trip best known for his famous "Let Europe Arise" speech, which he gave at the University of Zurich on September 19. It was a week earlier, on September 11, when the then-former prime minister (he'd lost the election in 1945, but would be re-elected in 1951) received the Lemania during an official visit to Lausanne, which was organized for him and his family. Churchill kept the watch for the rest of his life, and it was then passed down by descent through his family to its present owner.

Considering that the Lemania brand was retired after being sold to Swatch in 1999, it's already a pretty cool watch to have on your wrist. But to have a Lemania once owned by a titan of the 20th Century—that's what we call a conversation starter. Although that conversation won't come cheap. The Churchill Lemania is expected to bring in between $18,000 and $31,000 at auction.

But if you have the cash, kicking back with a tumbler full of whisky, a good cigar, and that thing strapped to your wrist would be an epic way to relive a fascinating slice of history.

 

[MIKA27]

THE FLY FISHER

For fly fishing aficionados like @Ken Gargett, there's nothing more peaceful and fulfilling than a day out in nature casting their line into a beautiful river. For a closer look at this type of experience, for lifelong fishermen or just those who appreciate the art, The Fly Fisher: The Essence and Essentials of Flyfishing is key material. The book covers just about everything you need to know about fly fishing, from the necessary gear to gorgeous photographs of fishermen in their element. An activity for anyone and everyone, The Fly Fisher will make you want to find a river and wade out into your next hobby without having to hear about Bruce Springstein.

[Ken Gargett]

4 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

THE FLY FISHER

For fly fishing aficionados like @Ken Gargett, there's nothing more peaceful and fulfilling than a day out in nature casting their line into a beautiful river. For a closer look at this type of experience, for lifelong fishermen or just those who appreciate the art, The Fly Fisher: The Essence and Essentials of Flyfishing is key material. The book covers just about everything you need to know about fly fishing, from the necessary gear to gorgeous photographs of fishermen in their element. An activity for anyone and everyone, The Fly Fisher will make you want to find a river and wade out into your next hobby without having to hear about Bruce Springstein.

thanks. will look for it.

and there is always room for bruce!