David Pescovitz: Researchers are beginning to understand why some plants have beautiful repeating spiral patterns to their structures that incorporate the so-called golden angle (approx 137.5 degrees). Math buffs, artists, and mystics will appreciate that the golden angle is related to the golden ratio, also known as the "divine proportion," that frequently appears in aesthetically-pleasing forms. From Science News (photo by Scott Hotton): Plants with spiral patterns related to the golden angle also display another curious mathematical property. The seeds of a flower head form interlocking spirals in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The number of clockwise spirals differs from the number of counterclockwise spirals, and these two numbers are called the plant's parastichy numbers (pronounced pi-RAS-tik-ee or PEHR-us-tik-ee).

These numbers have a remarkable consistency. They are almost always two consecutive Fibonacci numbers, which are another one of nature's mathematical favorites. The Fibonacci numbers form the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 . . . , in which each number is the sum of the previous two...

Initially, researchers thought these patterns might provide an evolutionary advantage by somehow promoting plants' survival. But more recently, they have come to believe that the answer lies in the biochemistry of plants as they develop new leaves, flowers, or other structures.
Link

Kurt Vonnegut, the satirical novelist who captured the absurdity of war and questioned the advances of science in darkly humorous works such as "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Cat's Cradle," died Wednesday, April 11th. He was 84.  Kurt also wrote the lyrics for the Ambrosia song called Nice, Nice, Very Nice on their first album.  

On Thursday, April 19th, 2007- my dad will be turning 44!

On Sunday, April 8th, 2007- my sister will be turning 12!

 

Cameron

A huge congratulations goes out to the 2006- 2007 SC Sabres for completing a successful year of hockey

Our own Meaghan Curran finished with the 2nd Most goals in the regular season,

 

From Cameron

Ant Movie Catalog is a free (really free, i.e. the source code is available) program made to manage your collection of movies DVD, CD (VideoCD, DivX, ...) and tapes.

I just switched over to this software because my old MovieDB software hasn't been supported for some time now.

This one gets 9 stars out of ten.

Just discovered! I wanted an upgrade for my DLink Media server software and I found this incedible software called TVersity. It also led me to the Ant movie catalog software.     This free software absolutley rocks.  The TVersity Media Server lets you manage your Internet and home media and create your personalized lineup of channels, or as they call it "your Personal Entertainment Guide (PEG)". It then serves this media to a multitude of networked devices in the home or on the go (like a slingbox), overcoming their inherent limitations by doing all the necessary conversions on the fly, and thus making your media available anywhere, anytime and from any device.

TVersity is the most versatile media server and the only one that is truly universal in the range of devices it supports. TVersity can serve media to:

• Devices supporting the UPnP AV / DLNA standard (which is the de-facto standard for connecitivity between devices in the digital home). This includes devices like networked TVs, DVDs, Stereo Receivers, Digital Media Adapaters/Receivers (including the Xbox 360), Mobile Phones, Satellite and Cable set-top-boxes and more.
• Devices with a web browser (XHTML-MP or WAP 2.0) and media streaming or downloading capabilities like Mobile Phones, PDAs, the Sony PSP, and more.
• Devices with an RSS reader and media streaming or downloading capabilities like the Sony PSP, iTunes/iPod and more.

   Big News from George R.R. Martin by way of Variety : HBO is going to do the series - a book per season on TV starting with "A Game of Thrones".   

Robert Anton Wilson (RIP)

Robert Anton Wilson--philosopher, author, visionary, Discordian, Fortean, and bOING bOING patron saint--died early this morning. From his final blog post on January 6:

Various medical authorities swarm in and out of here predicting I have between two days and two months to live. I think they are guessing. I remain cheerful and unimpressed. I look forward without dogmatic optimism but without dread. I love you all and I deeply implore you to keep the lasagna flying.

Please pardon my levity, I don't see how to take death seriously. It seems absurd.

 

Please click the "read more" link for the original story.

MOORE, Michael Christopher - It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Chris (aka Mickey, Skippy, Seymor), age 54, peacefully at home on December 19, 2006. He will be forever missed by his wife, Jane, and his children Matt and Kate. Chris was proud to be the son of Verna and the late Stewart Moore and the brother of Nancy and Robert Meehan and Lorne and Allana Moore. He was the beloved brother-in-law of Daniel and Deborah Peace, Michael Peace and his fiancee Judy Nigro, and Maggie and Ed Williams. Chris leaves behind many, much loved nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. He drew great strength and support from special friends, neighbours and co-workers. The internet will be a little quieter. A special thanks to Wendy, Cathy and Dr. T. McCarty and to Wendy and Cathy, our VON's for their outstanding care and warmth. We would also like to thank Dr. S. Muhkerjee and the staff of the Juravinski Centre for their endless compassion. Friends will be received by the family on Thursday from 7-9 p.m. and on Friday afternoon and evening from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Cattel, Eaton and Chambers Funeral Home, 53 Main Street, Dundas. A Celebration of Chris' Life will take place on Saturday at ST. PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH, 29 Park Street, Dundas, at 1 p.m. A private family interment will take place Saturday morning. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chris' memory to the VON or the Community Care Access Centre who facilitated his journey of choice. Condolences can be made online at www.obituariestoday.com Cremation has taken place. www.catteleatonandchambers.ca

"Always look on the bright side of life... (whistle)"

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