K D.

Stunning pictures by autistic artist. http://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/

At the age of 7, in 1981, Stephen Wiltshire hit the international news with his photographic memory drawings of detailed cityscapes. His first artistic commission was from British Prime Minister Ted Heath.

Diagnosed autistic at the age of 3, he learned to speak properly at the age of 9. His first words were 'paper' and 'pens'. Teachers realised that drawing was his key to communication. In 1987 Sir Hugh Casson, former president of London's Royal Academy called him 'possibly the best child artist in Britain'.

He is now in his 30s, and is still producing astonishingly detailed cityscapes from around the world, often after very short views of his subject. He draws purely from memory. London and New York are among his favourite subjects.

Since 'being discovered' by the art world and the press, Stephen Wiltshire has travelled the world and been made an MBE in recognition of his services to art.
A great example of what autistic people can achieve – very interesting.

Washington State Potato Commission website http://www.potatoes.com

More spud information, statistics, recipes, nutrition notes and news than you can dream what to do with. I feel a college project coming on…

According to the website, 'Washington potatoes are nutrient dense, have more potassium than a banana, the protein of half a glass of milk and provide almost half of your daily vitamin C needs. Dollar for dollar, Washington potatoes deliver more nutrition than any other produce item.' Impressive! (Do you HAVE to eat 20 a day?)

The Sherlock Holmes Society

Founded in 1951, the society, available online at http://www.sherlock-holmes.org.uk/ has over 1,000 current members, all fans of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle detective and his assistant, Dr. Watson.

They produce a journal every six months, meet a couple of times a year, and organise an annual cricket match.

There are occasional pilgrimages to the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland.
All good fun, and quite, quite mad.

For those strange people who hate marmite

(http://www.ihatemarmite.com)

That's quite enough about marmite, time for my medication...

For marmite lovers everywhere

(http://www.ilovemarmite.com/)

Shop for all things marmite - what else?

http://www.marmiteshop.co.uk/

Marmite (http://www.marmite.co.uk)

A peculiarly British obsession – do you love it or hate it?

It's a good test for foreign spies – if they don't know what you are talking about, they can't have been living in the UK….

What Every Man Thinks About Apart From Sex

This question has been tackled by years of research from author and entrepreneur Sheridan Simove. Answer to the question, not much.

http://www.shedsimove.com

Smash hit on the campuses. Read the details on
http://www.shedsimove.com/node/*******

Full Daily Telegraph review:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/*******/What-Every-Man-Thinks-About-Apart-From-Sex-book-of-blank-pages-become-surprise-bestseller.html

Also check out his other up to the minute products

http://www.shedsimove.com/node/924

http://www.shedsimove.com/node/874

Ho, Ho!

Meerkats have taken over the UK. It started as a wacky TV advertising series – cute little meerkats complaining that their dating site (http://www.comparethemeerkat.com/) was being inundated by stupid people looking for www.comparethemarket.com – an insurance comparison website.

The ad campaign was very successful (at least for the meerkats) and snippits from the meerkat dialogue have now become ubiquitous in schools, offices and general life.

Yesterday I was at a local garden centre and found thousands of 12 to 18 inch high meerkat garden gnome type models dressed as Edwardian explorers, Russian (?) Tzarist officers, and God knows what else, for sale.

It is definitely complete madness. I wonder what the Chinese factory workers think? Will the garden gnomes fight back? Anyway, the meerkat website has become a great hit in the UK and is mildly amusing.

Not sure how much car insurance it sells but who cares?

British Tea Advertisement

This site (http://www.pgtips.co.uk/) is for Chris O and any others exiled from the UK who need a bit of tannic support now and again.

Also:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/notes-on-a-small-island-the-things-that-really-make-britain-great-*******.html

For non-Brits - don't worry. It's not dangerous.

Make Internet Easy for Older Users

Trying to help a technophobic elderly relative or anyone else who finds computers a bit frightening get onto the internet can be a deeply frustrating process. They want to do it, but are scared of everything.

Internet Buttons (http://www.internetbuttons.org/) is a web tool that means you can set up a super simple home page for whatever the key tasks are – accessing email, Skype, Amazon shopping or whatever. Users will need very basic keyboard and mouse skills.

It's a neat idea, driven by a UK based organisation, but, as far as I can see, available for use anywhere. Simple to use, nice big, easy to see buttons and it's free. Can't be bad.

Crossroads Arabia - Saudi Arabia & Middle East News Blog

Intelligent blog and forum on Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, started and run by an ex US Foreign Service office who spent two tours in Saudi Arabia, and also served in Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Bahrain. He speaks and reads Arabic, so can comment directly on Arabic publications and statements.

The blog is openly written from the American perspective, but is open about discussing all the issues from every point of view. As the Middle East is especially interesting at the present time (Spring 2011), this is a good website to help keep abreast of some of the back stories to published news events.

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK

Cambridge, one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, hosts the Fitzwilliam Museum. Founded from a bequest in 1816, the museum is now of international importance and part of the national heritage of Britain.

The collection is huge and very varied. Antiquities, manuscripts and books, paintings drawings and prints, applied arts, coins and medals, weapons and armour – there is something to interest nearly everyone. The building is wonderful and just a short walk from the exquisite King's College Chapel.

The website (http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk) will help you plan your visit, or, if you can't make it in person, show you what you're missing. Special exhibitions change every few months – you can sign up for newsletters to keep you informed of coming events.

Cambridge University has just celebrated its 800th birthday. The city is less than an hour from London by train. Well worth a trip.

Murder, Forensics, Detection, Fine Cuisine

The Vidocq Society. I came across http://www.vidocq.org/ in a Guardian news article.

Once a month 82 of America's finest detectives, forensic specialists and 'interested parties' meet in Philadelphia to sample fine cuisine and then get down to the gory business of trying to solve or bring forward one of many 'cold case' crimes.

The society is named in honour of a brilliant 18th Century French detective who introduced forensic analysis to the Sûreté in France. He died when he was 82 – hence 82 life members.

"Vidocq Society Members (V. S. M.'s) evaluate, investigate, refocus, revivify and solve the unsolved deaths officially brought to them"

The Guardian article is interesting if you have time to read it:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/03/vidocq-society-cold-case-murders?CMP=EMCGT_*******&

International Water Charity - Providing Clean Water for the World's Poor

The statistics are grim. Around 4,000 children die EVERY DAY from drinking contaminated water. Water Aid (http://www.wateraid.org/) was set up 30 years ago to provide simple, practical solutions to help provide clean drinking water for the poorest people in the world.

They organise bore holes, pumps, effective sanitation and basic hygiene education in 26 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific regions. Wherever possible they use sustainable technology and local solutions at minimum costs. A very effective charity, which can show almost immediate results for its work.

Good, informative website. A charity well worth supporting.

Photography Journalism Art

The Alexia Foundation (http://www.alexiafoundation.org/) has the noble goal of helping professional and amateur photographers produce stories and portfolios that promote world peace and understanding. Grants of up to $15,000 per project are available to suitably qualified applicants.

The quality of their winners' pictures is usually stunning. Check out http://www.alexiafoundation.org/archives/

I am an especial fan of Jan Dago's work.

Discount business cards, letterhead, flyers, etc.

I've used Vistaprint.com (vistaprint.co.uk in the UK) several times – good website, fairly easy to set up your own design if you want something different from the templates, and their prices are excellent. Delivery took about a week. I was quite happy with the quality – especially at the price.

They have branched out into posters, gifts, bags, and now internet marketing. They claim 9 million customers worldwide.

The only downside is that once you are a customer you get an almost daily email with 'special offers'. Many 'free offers' but then you pay postage and they'll try to upsell you with other features, express delivery etc. Their prices must be killing local print shops.

Take standard delivery and you can get a very good deal on your printing requirements. Good.

Beyond boring mathematics. Living mathematics. Why is mathematics interesting? Why is mathematics relevant? http://plus.maths.org In their own words:

"Plus magazine opens a door to the world of maths, with all its beauty and applications, by providing articles from the top mathematicians and science writers on topics as diverse as art, medicine, cosmology and sport. "

Current articles include:

Dividing Walls: Topology and topography
Create your own mathematical mysteries
Searching for the missing truth
Picking holes in mathematics
What makes an object into a musical instrument?
The mathematics of diseases
Exotic spheres, or why 4-dimensional space is a crazy place

They always have an article that interests me, and I'm no mathematician. Very good.

Food India Cookery Yummy!

A brilliant food website / blog from Delhi, India. www.eatanddust is run by Pamela Timms, a British expat who has been credited with re-educating Indians about the delights of the own delicious food heritage – especially that of traditional street food.

She is a good writer – earns her living writing for a whole slew of major newspapers. Her real loves, however, are India and cooking.

I defy any foodie to read her stuff without wanting to try or taste her creations. Yummy!

War, News, Industry, Photographer, Afghanistan

Over the last 5 years Louie Palu, a very talented Canadian News and War Photographer has made six extended trips and spent over 18 months at the front line in Afghanistan. Many reporters can file their stories from protected bases. War photographers have to be out at the sharp end with the troops.

Much of his time he tried to blend in with the locals, wearing local clothing and cultivating a long beard. In civilian areas his camera was usually concealed.
His photographs and comments are thoughtful and insightful – into the conduct and attitude of both troops and civilians caught up in this war. In addition to his website (http://louiepalu.photoshelter.com/) he has a photoblog at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/photoblog/2011/03/five_years_in_afghanistan.html

His non-Afghan photos of North American industry are just as memorable.
Well worth a look.