Children’s author Robert McCloskey died on Sunday. He was 88. Earlier this year students from Dean S. Luce Elementary School in Canton, MA succeeded in a four year quest to pass legislation naming McCloskey’s ”Make Way For Ducklings” the official state children’s book and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) the official children’s author and illustrator of the Commonwealth. Sally McCloskey, daughter of the author, thanked the children in a celebration at the State House on June 23rd. The addition of Geisel to the bill resulted from a compromise with the representative from Springfield, Geisel’s hometown.
David Bowie is embarking on a large-scale (17 countries, 7 months) tour this year with dates already announced for Europe. He is expected to perform in the U.S. before the end of the year and a new album is forthcoming as well.
A used bookstore owner found a signed Ralph Waldo Emerson book and a kitten at a yard sale. She purchased both. The Emerson signature has a doodle of a cat next to it. The kitten has been named Emerson.
I love the flavor of mint, and using it to enhance drinks like lemonade and cocoa is especially refreshing. So I am intrigued by the appearance of Sprite Ice, a new mint flavored (well, “flavoured” actually) soda that is available in Canada and Belgium. It’s the same lemon-lime Sprite but with a “hint of mint” that is supposed to make it extra refreshing. Hopefully it doesn’t give your tastebuds a reminiscence of mouthwash or toothpaste. (via Pop Culture Junkmail)
A new mobile phone from MyOrigo Ltd incorporates some interesting user interaction. The screen automatically adjusts its orientation depending on which way the user is holding the phone. Similarly, a user can tilt the phone to scroll to different areas of the content being displayed. There is haptic feedback; when virtual keys are pressed, the screen vibrates in response. The touchscreen also uses gestural input. You can turn a page by making a flicking motion. I’m curious to see how phone manufacturers balance use of virtual keys and physical keys in the next few years.
Before TechTV (which used to be ZDTV) there was a show on MSNBC called “The Site.” It was a refreshing look at the daily tech news, and it was hosted by Soledad O’Brien, who was not a geek. But she was as smart as a geek, and a solid contributer to the show, not just a pretty talking head. She rose up the NBC ranks to host Weekend Today, as close as she could get to her idol Katie Couric’s position without Katie leaving the show. Now she’s left NBC to take on CNN’s morning show. But I bet if Katie ever leaves, she’ll be thinking hard about going back.
Understanding the appeal of the sparkling rock, the Smithsonian is exhibiting seven of the world’s rarest diamonds at the Natural History Museum through September 15. On loan for exhibit are the DeBeers Millennium Star (by far the biggest of the bunch at 203.04 carats), the yellow Allnatt (101.29 carats), the Steinmetz Pink (59.60 carats), the Heart of Eternity (blue, 27.64 carats, pictured in the middle of this page), the Pumpkin Diamond (orange of course, 5.54 carats), the Ocean Dream (blue-green, 5.51 carats), and the Moussaieff Red (5.11 carats). The Smithsonian, of course, already has the infamous Hope Diamond on display. (Here’s a page of famous diamonds.)
UFOs galore can be sighted at the new Alien Museum in Portland, Oregon. Skeptics and serious ufologists will find something to entertain or educate. There’s even a sheaf of “authenticated wheat from the Forest Grove Crop Circle.”
Want to recreate the McDonald’s experience at home? Yeah, I figured you didn’t. Well, just in case you are craving a recreation of the Big Mac experience, the McBurgers website has all the details on the steps to making your very own version. (via larkfarm)
Featured in the suitably named Tacky Living site is a writeup on tacky television antennas. If the simple, classic rabbit ears aren’t fancy enough for you, there are directions for building your very own antennas to decorate the interior and exterior of your home. (via Yahoo Picks)