views from the sea

Today's solstice marks the astronomical beginning of the northern hemisphere's summer.
Astronomer Anthony Ayiomamitis recorded this image of the solstice Full Moon rising above Cape Sounion, Greece. The twenty-four hundred year old Temple of Poseidon lies in the foreground. In this single exposure, a telescopic lens makes the Moon loom large, but even without optical aid casual skygazers often find the Full Moon looking astonishingly large when seen near the horizon; often referred to as a moon illusion.

the color of money

All wayfarers can benefit from a lesson in world currency.  Colourlovers.com has compiled a list of some of the most colorful and unique bank notes from around the world for your viewing pleasure.  I'm particularly fond of the Swiss Franc, seen above. 

antics

I couldn't help myself.

paper birds

Japanese surgeon Dr. Norihiko Ishikawa demonstrates the precision of the daVinci Surgical System by using its remote-control robotic arms to indulge in a spot of origami. The object he’s making – a crane – is about the size of a penny. While the video's intent is to serve as an example of both the daVinci's and Dr. Ishikawa's precision; though- to me the footage has ship fever written all over it.
I picture Dr. Ishi in a darkened room looming over a workspace clad with scattered PostIt's, most creased with the fold marks of failed attempts. Chopsticks in hand, I imagine him undertaking effort upon effort to form the wading bird's tiny neck. The corpses of discarded baby cranes lay to his left and right, necks broken.
Clearly, my mind tends to wander more than the average bear. Though, I surmise that the greatest aversion to ship fever is quite possibly the imagination. After all, I've spent twice as long dreaming up my ideas about Dr. Ishi as I have watching his video or writing this blurb.