Itty Bitty

Last week scientists at IBM Zurich took the highest-resolution image ever of an individual molecule using an atomic-force microscope, the hydrocarbon known as pentacene. This is part of an ongoing effort to someday build computing elements at an atomic scale, which would greatly reduce power consumption and fabrication costs. This is the first time they've been able to see through the electron cloud surrounding the molecule to look at its individual atoms.

Pentacene is made up of 22 carbon atoms and 14 hydrogen atoms. The image below is of five of its carbon atoms. They say the position of the hydrogen atoms can be discerned from this image...I'll take their word for it. It measures 1.4 nanometers in length. Teeny.

Kind of pretty, isn't it?

IBM Research-Zurich

Apple, goat cheese and honey tartlets

Ingredients

2 17.3 ounce packages frozen puff pastry (4 sheets), thawed

1 egg, beaten to blend

6 ounces soft fresh goat cheese (about 3/4 cup packed)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

3 medium Gala aples, peeled, quartered, cored, cut into 1/8" slices

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup honey (preferably dark such as forest honey), divided

1/2 teaspoon (scant) ground allspice

Preparation

Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out each puff pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 11-inch square. Using 5" diameter cookie cutter or bowl, cut out 4 rounds from each pastry sheet, forming 16 rounds total. Divide 8 pastry rounds between prepared baking sheets; pierce rounds all over with fork. Using 3.5" diameter cookie cutter or bowl, cut out smaller rounds from center of remaining 8 rounds (reserve 3.5" rounds for another use), forming eight 5" diameter rings. Brush outer 1" edges of 5" rounds on baking sheets with beaten egg; top each with 1 pastry ring. Freeze at least 30 minutes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep frozen. Do not thaw before continuing.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix cheese, lemon juice, and salt in bowl; spread mixture inside rings on frozen pastry rounds. Overlap apple slices atop cheese. Mix butter and 1/4 cup honey in small bowl; brush over apples. Sprinkle with allspice. Bake until apples are tender and pastry is golden, about 35 minutes. Place tartlets on plates. Drizzle 1 tablespoon honey over each and serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe from Bon Appetit, October 2007, Jill Silverman Hough

Absolute funniest thing I've seen. EVER.

Seriously. Funniest thing ever. Until I watch the NEXT advertisement for fall season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. My husband is officially tired of hearing me cackling and snorting like a loon.

I love this show.

A nice evening in

Emma, Gracie, and Matt

Sweet Kent

Here's my new nephew, Michael Kent Thompson. Isn't he sweet?

Sweet, yes, but he is my brother's son...couldn't help but notice the resemblance to Dr. Evil* here. Perhaps he has plans for world domination? Such an ambitious child:

*August 24 2009 update: In case you're not familiar with the Dr. Evil reference, go here.

Photographic Dictionary

Sometimes I see something and think, "Wow. Wish I'd have thought of that first." Check out a very clever project entitled The Photographic Dictionary created by Lindley Warren. It is dedicated to defining words through the literal, figurative, and personal meanings found in each photograph on the site.

Below you will find tentative and kiss.


Jon Feinstein

tentative ten.ta.tive [ten-tuv-tiv]

- adjective

1. of the nature of or made or done as a trial, experiment, or attempt; experimental: a tentative report on her findings.

2. unsure; uncertain; not definite or positive; hesitant: a tentative smile on his face.

Angus R. Shamal

kiss [kis]

- verb (used with object)

1. to touch or press with the lips slightly pursed, and then often to part them and to emit a smacking sound, in an expression of affection, love, greeting, reverence, etc.: He kissed his son on the cheek.

2. to join lips with in this way: She kissed him and left.

3. to touch gently and lightly: the breeze kissed her face.

4. to put, bring, take, etc., by, or as if by, kissing: She kissed the baby's tears away.

- noun

5. an act or instance of kissing.

6. a slight touch or contact.

Women Striving Forward, 1910s-1940s

Here's a neat set of images that the Library of Congress published on Flickr to commemorate International Women's Day.

If a tree falls in the woods...

I took an independent study photography class this summer, and it was a really great experience. My project's theme deals with the various roles women play, particularly domestic roles. I present a series of images as a visual narrative, and play two "stories" off of each other. There are 20 of them in total, but I'm only showing 4 here. Each image is the size of a 35mm image on a contact sheet (1"x1.5"). All together, each piece is 24"x36".

Obviously, it is hard to get a feel for them on screen. But, you know that age-old question, "If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Well, if I spend two months working on a project and I don't post it on my blog, did it really happen?

Want to know what a housewife does all day?

This is a spoof on a day in the life of a 1950s housewife. Absolutely hilarious.

Supermodels without makeup

This is not something I dwell upon often, but I realize now that I've always assumed that the photographs of models posing on the cover of Vogue, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, etc. are heavily touched up. "Oh, they don't really look like that, someone Photoshopped the dark circles under the eyes away and...poof! Supermodel." Perhaps this made me feel better. I mean, can Cindy Crawford really look like Cindy Crawford all of the time?

Well, according to Harper's Bazaar, she can. And does. In a recent article they photographed some well-known supermodels with no makeup. They look absolutely fantastic. Admittedly, I can tell that the photographer worked him or herself to death to shoot them in killer lighting. But still. Wow.

It is a slow Sunday morning as I write this. I am on my couch in an old IP t-shirt and green boxers, my coke-bottle glasses are dirty, and there is no makeup covering the gargantuan zit on my chin. See photo booth image below. I don't have the heart to showcase the aforementioned blemish (it is not nearly as charming as Cindy's mole). I can say with confidence that I am still entertained by my purple and green Ann et Valentin glasses. Other than that? Bleh. Sunday morning.

My point? At this moment in time, I am finding it difficult to say that Harper's counter argument to what can now be called the "supermodel Photoshop myth" is welcome news.

The Man

I am entirely within my rights to post pictures of my cats whenever I want. So there.

This is my eighteen pounder, Gus.

Hunter

Alright, I'm on a roll tonight. Here's one of my favorites Dido songs.

Plus a quick little Dido story: It's June 11, 2004. I'm in Philly on a work trip with a night on my own to kill. I plan on grabbing a quick bite to eat and settling into the hotel room for a movie. It is 7ish and I am on the way to the hotel restaurant when I grab whatever Philly's answer is to the Memphis Flyer (can't recall its name) and what do I spy when I start flipping through?

One night only. June 11.

Dido. Tower Theatre. 7:30 PM.

%#$#%^##@!%!!!!!!

With no ticket in sight, I hurl myself in a cab and head to wherever the heck Tower Theatre is. I land a sixth row center ticket and proceed to watch the best concert of my life. An older couple sitting next to me feel bad that I'm by myself (although I don't but that's still nice of them to worry) and chat me up a bit during breaks.

It was grand! (PS - I have the attention span of a flea and usually despise concerts, so this story represents a huge break in my normal behavior). And Tower Theatre is quite charming - very much like the Orpheum in Memphis with a little less gold leaf.

Dido - Hunter
Uploaded by Hakunamatata67. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

White Flag

I've learned two interesting facts involving two celebrities I didn't realize were connected in any way until a few minutes ago:

1. David Boreanaz - best known as Angel of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Seeley Booth of Bones - featured in Dido's video, White Flag. White Flag, incidentally, makes the top five on my list of fave Dido songs. Maybe top ten. There are so many.

2. According to Wikipedia, Dido's full name is Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong. Phew!

In case you didn't know, I am a huge fan of both David and Dido. I am absolutely delighted that two of my favorite celebs OF ALL TIME worked on a project together. Here's the video:

White Flag - Dido

Colored chalkboard paint

Isn't this a fun idea? Hudson Paint came up with colored chalkboard paint. The possibilities are endless.

Make a fun bulletin board in sweet tangerine.

Decorate glass jars for the kitchen in bakery green. Use chalk to label the ingredients inside.

What do I personally want to do? Paint a small table in army boy for my kitchen so I can doodle over my morning coffee!

Here are some ideas they show on their web site.