Stunning Images

BoingBoing recently ran a story about Roger Waters' soon to be released opera called “Ça Ira.”

This was the first I had hear about the former Pink Floyd member writing an opera, which was fascinating in it own right. However, the pictures that are played along with the opera (a slide show with a chorus singing, as opposed to the traditional opera) in the link provided were absolutely stunning.

The opera is set in the days leading up to the French Revolution, and images from all three acts are on the site (it will take some time to view them all).

It is a large Flash presentation, so if you have dial-up, be forewarned. I still think this is one of those things you should look at, though (I would if I were on dial-up).

Here is the link to the slideshow. The photographer is Mark Holthusen.

Nikon Drops Film

E-Commerce News is reporting that Nikon will be discontinuing all film models except the F6 and FM10 bodies.
This is no surprise to market analysts, according to the article.

I just wonder how long it is until film cameras become like the all-tube stereos of yore.

Interesting News Stories:

Here are a couple of interesting news tidbits I have run across this morning:

First, from the Telegraph:

All streams of Islam believe in a divine saviour, known as the Mahdi, who will appear at the End of Days.[...]

He is said to have gone into “occlusion” in the ninth century, at the age of five. His return will be preceded by cosmic chaos, war and bloodshed. After a cataclysmic confrontation with evil and darkness, the Mahdi will lead the world to an era of universal peace.

This is similar to the Christian vision of the Apocalypse. Indeed, the Hidden Imam is expected to return in the company of Jesus.

Personally, I experienced an erie sense of foreshadow as I read that.

Next, we have a follow-up on the Pat Robertson case; from the Time Magazine Online Edition:

Scour the Bible all you like for an apologetic prophet—one who publicly regrets having been “insensitive” to his audience—but you'll come up empty. Not so in today's world. Take Pat Robertson, Christian Right pioneer and host of the 700 Club. Last week, within a day of Sharon's massive stroke, the televangelist asserted that it had been God's punishment for leader's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip[...]

I am not sure that Mr. Robertson ever claimed the mantle of prophethood. But I am sure he meant what he said, and pulled it back because of the threat to his pet project in Israel (see article). There is also the possibility that he re-examined the Bible, and found reason to misinterpret reinterpret it.

Call me cynical, but this guy is making a mockery of Christianity, the Bible, and all they hold true.

Diesel Racing

And not just any racing, either. Le Mans racing.

Audi has a V-12 diesel that is 5.5 liters, and exceeds 650 hp with 812 lb.-ft of torque. All this with regulation twin turbos at 43 psi, and regulated intake diameter. (In other words, this thing could rock a few more steeds with larger, higher-pressure turbos.)

This redlines around 5,000 rpm, which is just slightly lower than gasoline powered hp equivalents which redline in the 8,000 to 12,000 rpm range (I don't remember for this class of cars, the more exact numbers).

I wonder what it sounds like. I also wonder what kind of transmission configuration they had to do to to get it to speed.

Well, one may never know. Here is the link to the original article that I found on Jalopalink.