Bambiliana's.

"Fireworks": Photo.net's Photo of the Day - November 16, 2009

2009-11-22T14:11:00.002+01:00

Photographer Paolo De Faveri
Caption Fireworks
Tags bergeggi bolt bolts cloud clouds coast island isle italy lightings lightning liguria ligurian ocean rain sea spotorno storm thunderstorm water
Views 22126 times
Ratings 77 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.75/7 Originality: 6.60/7
Exposure Date 2009-11-06
Uploaded Date 2009-11-08
Location City: Bergeggi, Liguria Country: Italy
Equipment Camera Canon EOS 50D
Lens Carl Zeiss Planar 1,4/50 T*
Technical Details Five images stacked. 15" f11 each.
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

"Autumn in Poland": Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - September 28, 2009

2009-10-03T17:01:00.002+02:00

Photographer Przemyslaw Kruk
Caption Autumn in Poland
Views 14515 times
Ratings 45 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.16/7 Originality: 6.20/7
Exposure Date 2008-11-11
Uploaded Date 2009-09-16
Location Country: Poland
Equipment Unknown
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

"Turrimetta 23-04": Photo.net's Photo of the Week - July 20, 2009

2009-07-27T01:31:00.004+02:00

Photographer Jeff Grant
Caption Turrimetta 23-04
Views 3719156 times
Ratings 113 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.64/7 Originality: 6.42/7
Exposure Date 2006-04-23
Uploaded Date 2006-04-24
Location City: Sydney Country: Australia
Equipment Camera Hasselblad 503 CW, Film / Media Fuji Astia 100F, Lens Hasselblad 120mm
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

ABRUZZO NEEDS US.

2009-04-08T15:44:00.002+02:00

ABRUZZO NEEDS US.

https://www.niaf.org/relief/Relief_info.asp

http://www.mediafriends.it/progetto/progetto_64.shtml

Photos: www.latimes.com

www.examiner.com

www.diariohoy.net

Hamster Jackets Harness Wheel-Running Power

2009-03-10T01:14:00.002+01:00

Photographer: Zhong Lin Wang

Wheel Power This image show an experimental test of piezoelectric nanowires that harness a hamster's wheel-turning energy into usable power. Fifty nanowires bundled together would be about the width of a single human hair. Discovery News Video

Source: www.discovery.com

by Eric Bland, Discovery News

March 9, 2009 -- Hamsters can seemingly run forever inside their little wheels, and scientists from Georgia Tech are finally helping them get somewhere.

To harness hamster power, the scientists sewed electricity-generating threads one-fiftieth the width of a human hair into a yellow jacket worn by the hamsters as they ran. A human-sized jacket, capable of powering an iPod, could be ready in as little as three years.

"This can totally be scaled up," said Zhong Lin 'ZL' Wang, who co-authored a paper describing the research in this month's issue of Nano Letters. "This is just the first step. The idea is that we would harvest energy from any body movement, from walking, breathing, from any kind of vibration."

The jacket's tiny threads are really nanowires made of zinc oxide, the same white stuff smeared on the noses of lifeguards. When the nanowires are flexed, a small amount of electricity is generated.

A zinc oxide wire is one micron wide and 50 microns long. One wire sewed into the hamster jacket generates about 0.1 volts of electricity. According to Wang, this is the world's first example of an animal producing power using nanopiezoelectrics -- a field of research that aims to capture tiny amounts of energy from movement and vibration, and transform it into usable power.

A bundle of 50 nanowires one human hair wide would be able to generate more than enough energy to power sensors that could monitor temperature and other conditions.

Powering an iPod would require hundreds of nanowires, covering an area equivalent to several human hairs. A thousand hamsters wearing the current jacket could charge a cell phone. Campbell's Dwarf, one of the hamster test runners, was able to generate one-twentieth the power of an AA battery.

But don't rush out to the pet store for your own personal rodent power plant yet. Wang estimates that it will be at least three years before his team can create enough nanowires to create a piece of fabric capable of powering a personal electric device.

"It's not something that you can immediately use for specific applications," said Min-Feng Yu, a scientist at the University of Illinois who creates piezoelectric nanowires but was not involved in the Georgia Tech study. "It's the combination of voltage and current."

Getting large voltages out of the piezoelectric nanowires is only half the battle. Scientists also have to generate large, continuous currents to directly power electrical devices. A battery could store any power generated from the tiny wires when they aren't moving but would complicate the current set up, adding weight and complexity.

Linking a shirt to an iPod is just one possible application for the new technology, said Wang. A whole range of tiny biological or environmental sensors could be created using the technology as a power source.

"Current power sources are large or antiquated to be implanted into biological systems and don't take advantage of the low power consumption," said Wang. "But if you can harvest that energy from the environment or body movement, you can have a self-powered nano system, providing not only energy for itself but for other devices as well."

"Water Dragon": Photo.net's Photo of the Week - March 9, 2009

2009-03-10T01:07:00.003+01:00

Photographer Christopher Schlaf
Caption Water Dragon
Tags "canon 40d" "canon ef 180 35l usm macro" dragon water
Views 4022 times
Ratings 65 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.78/7 Originality: 6.63/7
Uploaded Date 2009-01-28
Equipment Camera Canon 40d Lens Canon EF 180 3.5L USM Macro
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes
All Images Copyright © Christopher Schlaf

"Paper and Marbles": Photo.net's Photo of the Week - March 2, 2009

2009-03-03T20:06:00.002+01:00

Photographer Barry Walthall
Caption Paper and Marbles
Tags "canon eos digital rebel" dallas marbles "other 256 mb" paper
Views 2979 times
Ratings 35 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.54/7 Originality: 6.51/7
Exposure Date 2009-01-13
Uploaded Date 2009-01-27
Location City: Dallas State: Texas
Equipment Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Film / Media
Other 256 MB
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

"Saying Good-by": Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - February 16, 2009

2009-02-19T00:52:00.003+01:00

Photographer Juan De Santa Anna
Caption Saying good-by
Views 82631 times
Ratings 63 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.54/7 Originality: 6.59/7
Uploaded Date 2006-01-03
Equipment Unknown
Technical Details Mamiya, Acros film, window light
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

Heaven & Hell

2009-02-15T14:36:00.002+01:00

HEAVEN IS WHERE:

The Police are British,
The Chefs are Italian,
The Mechanics are German,
The Lovers are French
and
It's all organized by the Swiss.

HELL IS WHERE:

The Police are German,
The Chefs are British,
The Mechanics are French,
The Lovers are Swiss
and
It's all organized by the Italians.

Source: http://www.fortogden.com/foslog.html

Inside the House of the Future

2009-02-07T00:48:00.003+01:00

Green technology, wireless connectivity, and less ostentation

are just some of the newest home-building trends

By Christopher Palmeri

Source: www.businessweek.com

When the homebuilding industry descends on Las Vegas on Jan. 20 for its annual trade show, a highlight as always will be a project called the New American Home. This model house—a new one gets built each year—serves as a showcase for the industry's latest technology and trends. The massive four-bedroom, five-bath structure popping up in suburban Las Vegas this year may seem a little out of touch with the times as the nation suffers through the worst housing slump in decades. But out in the real world, architects and builders are busy trying to figure out how to put some of the same design features into new homes. Such trends are worth noting: Having amenities that appeal to buyers a decade or more after your house is built will help it hold its value. We list below some of the most important new design features you'll see in homes.

Indoor/Outdoor Living Just since 1992 the number of U.S. homes built with patios or porches has doubled. The New American Home in Las Vegas has a giant backyard that features a covered area with a flatscreen TV and pool table as well as a detached "rejuvenation room" for relaxing. New homes in warmer climates are being built with courtyards that provide a connection to the outdoors but also give shelter from wind and privacy from neighbors. This is critical as builders try to cram larger houses onto smaller lots to keep land costs down. And there's a history to them, notes Newport Beach (Calif.) architect David Kosco: "The courtyard goes back to Roman times."

The Return of the Basement With lot sizes limited, builders are looking for space underground. Once a typical feature of homes in the Northeast, basements are rising in popularity nationally as a way to create extra space. New technologies in insulation and waterproofing are allowing builders to add basements in any climate. They can serve as game rooms for kids, home theaters, or just the "man-cave" for Dad. Builders are even creating underground garages for homes and townhouses to free up space for living areas above, notes Irvine (Calif.) architect Rick Emsiek.

The Death of the Living Room The kitchen, living, and dining areas are continuing to merge into a great room or family room. In a 2007 study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, half of those surveyed said they would do without a formal living room if it meant a larger family gathering space. In some cases this is a refection of the connection to the outdoors as well, as home buyers want fewer walls and unobstructed views out into the backyard, says Craig Delahooke, director of custom development for John Laing Luxury Homes.

The Home Office No longer just a spare bedroom, the home office is evolving into an entirely separate structure such as a casita in the backyard or even a separate wing near the garage. Having a separate entrance for the home office allows today's increasingly mobile workforce to receive work-related visitors or hire an assistant at home without having these people traipse through the main house.

Wireless, but not Cordless With wireless laptops allowing people to carry their computer to any room, that little computer nook that was popping up at the top of the stairs in many new homes is starting to disappear. Instead you're likely to see a charging station or "Mom's Desk," a little space, typically in the kitchen, where cell phones, laptops, and other devices can be charged.

The Soft Loft The industrial look with concrete floors and exposed brick is over. Thousands of these pseudo SoHos popped up even in cities such as Dallas and Houston that lacked an industrial past. Downtown lofts have seen some of the steepest price declines in this bust. "Architects love to show these wide-open floor plans, but the reality is people want some privacy," says Los Angeles architect Jonathan Watts. He says new condos are returning to more traditional floor plans. Lofts are adding hardwood floors, sliding doors, even wall-to-wall carpeting to warm them up.

Say Bye to Bling As befits this economy, homes are getting less ostentatious. That means less ornate wood, stone, and iron work. No more grand entrances with curved-marbled staircases. The stairs are shifting to the side of the home and back to their utilitarian purpose. Even fireplaces are flickering. Only 46% of all new homes came with one in 2007, according to the U.S. Census. That's down from 59% in 1996.

The Green Badge of Honor It almost goes without saying, but green continues to be in, despite the latest slide in gas prices. Even the giant New American Home promises to use "net-zero energy" thanks to devices such as solar panels and designs that let in natural light. Home buyers used to love wowing their friends with the size of their McMansions. Now, says Sean Degen, vice-president for architectural services at home building giant Pulte Homes, "you're going to see more people having a green badge of an honor."

Aging in Place Builders say it's rarely something they overtly try to sell, but consumers are responding to features such as wider doors that can accommodate a wheelchair or walker, master bedrooms on the first floor, and tasteful looking handrails in the shower—amenities that will help baby boomers stay in their homes as they grow old.

Palmeri is a senior correspondent in BusinessWeek's Los Angeles bureau.

Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - February 2, 2009

2009-02-04T00:12:00.003+01:00

Photographer bohamdan bohamdan
Caption In My Eyes
Views 52899 times
Ratings 35 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.40/7 Originality: 6.46/7
Uploaded Date 2006-09-01
Location Country: Qatar
Equipment Lens Canon 100mm f2.8 macro USM
Technical Details with my old 20D & one of my best photographic work

(one picture no PS been used effects on the refelection)

natural reflection on eye with a macro lens.
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

Photo.net's Photo of the Week - January 26, 2009

2009-02-01T21:37:00.003+01:00

Photographer Amanda Radders
Caption The Kiss
Views 17652 times
Ratings 59 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.56/7 Originality: 6.46/7
Exposure Date 2008-12-20
Uploaded Date 2008-12-30
Location Country: Australia
Equipment Unknown
Technical Details available light, Nikon D700

Exposure Time = 1/400" F Number = F4 ISO

Speed Ratings = 640 Focal Length = 75mm
Manipulated? No

Photo.net's Photo of the Week - January 19, 2009

2009-01-24T21:32:00.003+01:00

Photographer Selina De Maeyer
Views 23392 times
Ratings 55 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.49/7 Originality: 6.47/7
Location Country: Belgium
Equipment Camera Nikon D200
Manipulated? No

Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - January 12, 2009

2009-01-16T18:29:00.002+01:00

Photographer David Orias
Caption Golden Wave
Views 11316 times
Ratings 45 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.51/7 Originality: 6.47/7
Exposure Date 2007-08-25
Location City: Santa Barbara State: California Country: United States
Equipment Camera Canon 1Ds MK2 Lens Canon EF 600 4.0L IS USM
Technical Details 1/8 second f/16
Manipulated? No

Games People Play (Field of Dreams)

2009-01-07T14:12:00.005+01:00

And everybody`s talking about the crisis. Yes.

Source: Time Magazine of June 30 - July 7, 2008 / Summer Journey Double Issue

Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - January 6, 2009

2009-01-07T00:24:00.002+01:00

Photographer Kenvin Pinardy
Caption dancing underwater
Views 10266 times
Ratings 20 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.20/7 Originality: 6.50/7
Exposure Date 2007-08-29
Location Street: jakarta City: jakarta Country: Indonesia
Equipment Camera Canon EOS 50D
Technical Details eos 5d + housing sea and sea + lens 16-35mm f2.8
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

The Office Gift Guide

2009-01-03T01:20:00.010+01:00

When it comes to giving and receiving, the workplace can be hazard-filled.

by Kate Bonamici Flaim, Beth Kowitt, and Chloe Lieske

Source: Fortune Magazine of December 8, 2008 / Europe edition

100 Days In Photographs

2008-12-30T13:40:00.003+01:00

Very happy to have it, thanks to my father.

Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - December 29, 2008

2008-12-30T10:07:00.004+01:00

Photographer Ceslovas Cesnakevicius
Caption Visiting winter
Views 30348 times
Ratings 34 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.29/7 Originality: 6.38/7
Equipment Unknown
Technical Details Olympus C730, PS
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

Apple: The Genius Behind Steve Jobs

2008-12-01T22:44:00.004+01:00

For Apple fans.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/09/technology/cook_apple.fortune/index.htm

Source: Fortune Magazine online (CNNMoney.com)

Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - December 1, 2008

2008-12-01T22:39:00.003+01:00

Photographer David Clapp
Caption We Have Been Waiting for You
Views 3964 times
Ratings 0 ratings, Aesthetics: None Originality: None
Equipment Unknown
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - October 13, 2008

2008-11-28T11:20:00.002+01:00

Photographer Giedrius Neturiauskas
Views 14507 times
Ratings 79 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.47/7 Originality: 6.58/7
Equipment Unknown
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

Photo.net`s Photo of the Week - August 18, 2008

2008-08-20T09:47:00.002+02:00

Photographer Tuan Trinh
Caption Being Protected.
Views 4769 times
Ratings 49 ratings, Aesthetics: 6.55/7 Originality: 6.59/7
Exposure Date 2006-05-20
Location Street: Vietnam City: Dalak State: Texas Zip code: 75081 Country: Vietnam
Equipment Camera Canon 20d Lens Canon 28-135 F3.5-5.6 IS USM
Manipulated? Unknown or Yes

Who Will Rule The New Internet?

2008-07-12T14:30:00.001+02:00

Apple, Google and Facebook all want to build the next great platform. Inside the struggle for Web supremacy

by Josh Quittner/San Francisco

Source: Time Magazine of June 16, 2008

WWF For A Living Planet

2008-07-12T14:14:00.001+02:00

Source: Newsweek Magazine