PBS | I, Cringely . May 12, 2005 - Inflection Point

PBS | I, Cringely . May 12, 2005 - Inflection Point: "Google just bought land in the Columbia Gorge east of Portland, Oregon -- 30-plus acres with options on additional parcels. What the heck is that for? This is beautiful land outside any major city. Not enough land for a corporate campus, but that's okay, because there isn't much in the way of local housing, anyway. So what's it for?

It is probably for a data center -- a one million-plus square foot data center that could easily be inhabited by a million or more CPUs. The attraction for Google is reliable electrical power since their new property is not far from one of the many dams and powerhouses that make up the Bonneville Power System.

Now drop back to the Google Web Accelerator. Yes, it is just one of many Google initiatives. Yes, it can be circumvented in a number of ways. But Google is planning something big, so how could the Web Accelerator be a part of that?"

Weather Underground: Wunder Blog

Weather Underground: Wunder Blog: "the sun has shown an unusual amount of activity the past 2 years, and last night both hemispheres were again treated to spectacular aurora displays (see the great aurora borealis and aurora australialis photos below!)

In a recent discovery published in March 2005 in Geophysical Research Letters, scientists reported that the high-energy particles that trigger auroras can also cause significant destruction of our protective ozone layer. Normally, ozone destruction is associated with human-emitted Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the lower stratosphere. However, the new discovery shows that natural processes can cause significant ozone destruction in the upper stratosphere."

Artemesia :: TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hmm. I have Artemesia Absinthium growing in my front yard

The Scientist :: Taking a New Look at an Ancient Tradition, May.9, 2005:

"One successful example of drug discovery from Chinese herbs is the antimalarial drug, artemisinin. It is extracted from the herb Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) and has been known in China for more than 2,000 years as a remedy for fever, including malaria-induced fever. In the 1970s the Chinese government researched artemisinin as an antimalarial drug. In the 1990s Novartis established a partnership with Cititec, a Beijing-based pharmaceutical company, to codevelop its artemisinin-based combination therapy. In 1994, Novartis was granted worldwide licensing for the marketing of Coartem (a combination of artemether and lumefantrine) outside China, and it garnered regulatory approval for the drug in 1998.

Novartis sources artemether, an artemisinin derivative, from its Chinese partner Kunming Pharmaceuticals, and artemisinin from several Chinese suppliers, notably Chongqing Holley Holding. The drug is provided at cost to developing nations and is sold under the name Riamet elsewhere. The market size for Riamet is 'minimal,' according to Novartis."

Gerbera

Gerbera: "Name: Named after Traugott Gerber, a German doctor. Usually pronounced JUR-bra. Infrequently called Transvaal Daisy or Barberton Daisy. Zodiac: Associated with the star sign Leo

History: Little-known 20 years ago, but now extremely popular and fashionable. Gerbera were first imported to Europe in the 19th century. "

: "Mythology: It is said that the goddess Flora was jealous of her husband's attentions towards the nymph Anemone and so transformed her into the wind flower and left her at the mercy of the North Wind.
Medicinal: Used for cramping pains, menstrual problems and emotional distress."

Flower Facts - Trachelium

Flower Facts - Trachelium
Interesting. This Summer Pandora/Trachelium is a nice border plant so far. Seems to be little affected by pests, including the earwigs and snails. It is starting to flower. The crown is like dill or milkweed, in that it is an umbrel type. None of the images i have found show the foliage in my striking deep purple.