Volcano eruption in Indonesia
The worst volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi in Indonesia in a century has gotten worse.
Category: The Evening Pause
A nightly pause from the news to give the reader/viewer a bit of classic entertainment.
California Dreamin’
An evening pause: Since I am out in California, giving a lecture to the Orange County section of the AIAA, I figure this song might be appropriate.
We ain’t goin’ away
An evening pause: As election day is just about over, I think this song will help explain to our elected officials the kind of government the United States has, and how the results from today are merely a single moment in a long struggle.
Just Jesse
The Haunting
An evening pause: From the film, The Haunting (1963), based on the story by Shirley Jackson. Stay for the closing scene in this clip.
Spirited Away
An evening pause: As it is the Halloween weekend, how about an appropriate clip from Hayao Miyazaki’s surreal masterpiece, Spirited Away (2001).
Brother, can you spare a dime?
An evening pause: In honor of the anniversary of the 1929 stock market crash, Bing Crosby singing “Brother, can you spare a dime?”
New leaks discovered on Discovery, on launchpad
Engineers have discovered two new leaks on Discovery as it sits on the launchpad. It appears the Monday launch has been delayed at least one day.
Charlie the Unicorn
John Denver: Annie’s song
To fly
Nowhere Man
An evening pause: From Yellow Submarine (1968). Some trivia: the dialogue was spoken by actors, not the Beatles.
The calla lillies are in bloom again
An evening pause: This scene, from Stage Door (1937), is considered by many to be Katherine Hepburn’s greatest film moment: “The calla lillies are in bloom again.” Though powerful on its own, in the full context of the movie the scene is even more heart-breaking, and a true tour de force for Hepburn.
Bugs Bunny – Buccaneer Bunny (1948)
We’re a couple of swells…
Machu Picchu from above
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain 2007
Loch Lomond
Zenyatta
An evening pause: The commenter Lino already posted a link to this video, but I thought it deserved more prominence. It shows the final stretch of all 19 wins by the race horse Zenyatta. In every case, she hangs back and comes from behind, sometimes at the last second. I don’t really know much about horse racing, but anyone who watches this video will be as amazed as I am by this horse.
She runs her 20th and last race on November 6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. If she wins, Zenyatta will have had the most spectacular record of any race horse in history, 20 wins out of 20 races.
Eyjafjallajökull volcano, Iceland
The New York Mets 1969
An evening pause: Who says miracles cannot happen? In 1969, the New York Mets proved that they can. Even if you are not a sports fan, watch this short film (which only covers the World Series and not the entire astonishing season) and you’ll get a glimmer of how miraculous that victory was. Today, October 16, is the anniversary of that victory.
The Streets of New York
World record 3200 model rockets launched simultaneously
An evening pause: On October 9, 2010, the Boy Scouts set a world record by launching 3200 model rockets — simultaneously.
Most Incredible Volcano Footage Ever
Hayseed Dixie: she was skinny When I met her
Classic tribute to Genesis: Afterglow
Kitten massage therapy
An engineer’s guide to cats
A Night to Remember
An evening pause: With the death of film director Roy Ward Baker yesterday, I think it appropriate to watch a clip from one of his classics, A Night to Remember (1958). This understated but frighteningly powerful film captured the reality of the Titanic’s sinking in a style that is unfortunately rare today.
Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Heart like a wheel
An evening pause: A belated memorial to Kate McGarrigle, who passed away from cancer on January 18, 2010. Here she and her sister Anna sing their classic, “Heart like a Wheel”, Cafe Lena 1990.