curiosity never killed no cat

LOVE IT. Old Mr. Fredricksen would be proud of this National Geographic adventure.

Inspired by the small yellow house in the Pixar film, UP, this lifesize version was connected to 300 colorful weather balloons, was 1o stories high altogether, reached an altitude of 10,000 ft, and flew for about an hour. The experiment, conducted by a team of scientists, engineers, and world-class balloon pilots, was conducted last March as part of a National Geographic Channel series called "How Hard Can it Be?"

Why's it so brilliant? It proves curiosity reigns. It demonstrates how you can look at something and merely think its cool OR you can look at something and actually think about it. You can wonder how it works or if it's possible or if the process can be made easier or if there's something more complex going on or if you could do it on your own.....Just keep on asking until you understand or until you're content. Curiosity is what keeps us dreaming and going places in life.

heads or tails

the view from next door

Well you're probably plum tired of me posting about how I love realizing the world is so much bigger than just me, buutttt I couldn't resist. It's the US-Mexican border separating San Diego from Tijuana. Heads up, I'm not posting this to turn it into a political discussion. I just had never even thought about what the border would look like, and I am amazed that it so incredibly separate and distinct. It's like two completely different pieces of land or even two different worlds - well, actually that's probably because it is two different worlds. And only a single wall divides it. I don't know why it fascinates me so much. I guess because it shows how two places, two peoples, two worlds can technically exist side by side and yet be so different and separate. It's just something that made me sit there and stare at it and think for a few good minutes.

broskis

This is the story of how my little (now 6ft tall) brother is simply awesome.











Background: Like true Americans, my family has a rich tradition of loving Star Wars. And we have also all read the Harry Potter books, with the exception of my dad who - last time I checked - thinks Harry Potter might very well be of the devil.

My younger brother especially loves the far, far away galaxy. One day, I was doing homework in my room, and I could hear strange noises coming from the intercom by my door (it connects throughout the house). I went over to it to listen more closely and I recognized my brother's voice making explosion noises - "Pyew pyew! BABOOM!" I also thought I heard him singing...

Amused, curious and unable to concentrate on homework, I walked to my brother's room and found him playing LEGOs with both his Star Wars and Harry Potter sets. The sounds I had heard were the result of an enormous LEGO battle strewn across his floor, of which my brother sat in the middle, holding a triumphant warrior in each hand.

He then explained to me he had discovered something ingenious - that Dobby the house elf and Yoda the jedi master were long lost brethren, and they even had a theme song (which he sang for me and the chorus went something like "Two Bros! Out to clear the danger...")

I thought he was just a typical brother at the time but looking back, he was a creative little sucker. I mean, look at 'em, they have very similar features. Ahhh....I laugh every time I remember this :) My brother makes me happy.

Even better is that he could probably still sing me the theme song if I asked him to.