Here's a cool site that will help you in your search for a digital camera. There are links to camera reviews, there's plain-English unpacking of all the technical jargon, and there are sample pictures taken from the various models and makes.
Go to Reviews for Digital Cameras Blogspot
02 December, 2007
16 April, 2007
The Age Science and Health
Scientists believe they have found a key gene that helped the human brain evolve from our chimpanzee-like ancestors. See The Age article for more information.
In just a few million years, one area of the human genome seems to have evolved about 70 times faster than the rest of our genetic code. It appears to have a role in a rapid tripling of the size of the brain's crucial cerebral cortex, according to an article published on Thursday in the journal, Nature.
Study co-author David Haussler, director of the Centre for Biomolecular Science and Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said his team found strong but still circumstantial evidence that a gene, called TUYKE, may provide an important answer to the question of what makes humans more intelligent than other primates."
Human brains are triple the size of chimpanzee brains.
Looking at 49 areas that have changed the most between the human and chimpanzee genomes, Haussler zeroed in on an area with "a very dramatic change in a relatively short period of time."
Haussler said the gene didn't exist until 300 million years ago and is present only in mammals and birds, not fish or animals without backbones. But the gene didn't change much during that time, Haussler said.
He said there were only two differences in the gene between a chimpanzee and a chicken. But there were 18 differences in the gene between human and chimpanzee and they all seemed to occur in the development of man.
Andrew Clark, a professor of molecular biology who was not part of Haussler's team, said that if true, the change in genes would be fastest and most dramatic in humans and would be "terrifically exciting."
However, the gene changed so fast that Clark said that he has a hard time believing it unless something unusual happened in a mutation. It's not part of normal evolution, he said. Haussler attributed the dramatic change to the stress of man getting out of trees and walking on two feet.
And it's not just that this gene changed a lot. There is also its involvement with the brain's cortex, which is responsible for some of the more complex brain functions, including language and information processing.
"It looks like in fact it is important in the development of (the) brain," said co-author Sofie Salama, a research biologist at Santa Cruz, who led the efforts to identify where the gene is active in the body.
The scientists still don't know specifically what the gene does. But they know that it is switched on in human fetuses at seven weeks after conception and then shuts down at 19 weeks, Haussler said.
See http://www.theage.com.au/news/science/gene-clue-in-monkey-brain-evolution/2006/08/17/1155407916074.html for full article.
In just a few million years, one area of the human genome seems to have evolved about 70 times faster than the rest of our genetic code. It appears to have a role in a rapid tripling of the size of the brain's crucial cerebral cortex, according to an article published on Thursday in the journal, Nature.
Study co-author David Haussler, director of the Centre for Biomolecular Science and Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said his team found strong but still circumstantial evidence that a gene, called TUYKE, may provide an important answer to the question of what makes humans more intelligent than other primates."
Human brains are triple the size of chimpanzee brains.
Looking at 49 areas that have changed the most between the human and chimpanzee genomes, Haussler zeroed in on an area with "a very dramatic change in a relatively short period of time."
Haussler said the gene didn't exist until 300 million years ago and is present only in mammals and birds, not fish or animals without backbones. But the gene didn't change much during that time, Haussler said.
He said there were only two differences in the gene between a chimpanzee and a chicken. But there were 18 differences in the gene between human and chimpanzee and they all seemed to occur in the development of man.
Andrew Clark, a professor of molecular biology who was not part of Haussler's team, said that if true, the change in genes would be fastest and most dramatic in humans and would be "terrifically exciting."
However, the gene changed so fast that Clark said that he has a hard time believing it unless something unusual happened in a mutation. It's not part of normal evolution, he said. Haussler attributed the dramatic change to the stress of man getting out of trees and walking on two feet.
And it's not just that this gene changed a lot. There is also its involvement with the brain's cortex, which is responsible for some of the more complex brain functions, including language and information processing.
"It looks like in fact it is important in the development of (the) brain," said co-author Sofie Salama, a research biologist at Santa Cruz, who led the efforts to identify where the gene is active in the body.
The scientists still don't know specifically what the gene does. But they know that it is switched on in human fetuses at seven weeks after conception and then shuts down at 19 weeks, Haussler said.
See http://www.theage.com.au/news/science/gene-clue-in-monkey-brain-evolution/2006/08/17/1155407916074.html for full article.
10 March, 2007
What's on in March
Here's what's on in March...
The start of the Castlemaine State Festival!
The Castlemaine State Festival, after thirty years of existence, is the pre-eminent multi-arts cultural event in regional Victoria. Today, the Festival continues to provide community engagement and arts excellence in a captivating heritage and environmentally unique setting.
Responding to our last festival Chris Boyd from The Age was so impressed he wrote, "pound for pound Castlemaine State Festival is the equal of any in the country."
The start of the Castlemaine State Festival!
The Castlemaine State Festival, after thirty years of existence, is the pre-eminent multi-arts cultural event in regional Victoria. Today, the Festival continues to provide community engagement and arts excellence in a captivating heritage and environmentally unique setting.
Responding to our last festival Chris Boyd from The Age was so impressed he wrote, "pound for pound Castlemaine State Festival is the equal of any in the country."
links
The Castlemaine Theatre Royal
Mt Alexander Shire Council
Mt Alexander Accommodation Guide
In Trouble Arts Guide
What's On in Maldon & Castlemaine
Serge Liberman Author Writer
Central Victoria Solar Cities
Fine Lit Australia - purveyors of fine literature
Here are some cool sites I've visited lately:
Guff and Stuff on Blogr
Victoria in the Country - writings about life in central Victoria, from the big smoke of Sydney.
Golly Gully - conveyers of fine confectionery, lollies etc from Castlemaine.
Mt Alexander Shire Council
Mt Alexander Accommodation Guide
In Trouble Arts Guide
What's On in Maldon & Castlemaine
Serge Liberman Author Writer
Central Victoria Solar Cities
Fine Lit Australia - purveyors of fine literature
Here are some cool sites I've visited lately:
Guff and Stuff on Blogr
Victoria in the Country - writings about life in central Victoria, from the big smoke of Sydney.
Golly Gully - conveyers of fine confectionery, lollies etc from Castlemaine.
09 March, 2007
Welcome to the Castlemaine Calendar
The Castlemaine Calendar
> Health & Fitness
> The Community Gig Guide
> Arts Stuff
> Health & Fitness
> The Community Gig Guide
> Arts Stuff
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