The Toothpaste Sandwich: March 2012

Sunday, March 25, 2012

PERFECTION by CARTIER: L'ODYSSEE

VOYAGER GOLDEN RECORD

The Voyager Golden Records are phonograph records which were included aboard both Voyager spacecraft, which were launched in 1977. They contain sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth, and are intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form, or for future humans, who may find them. The Voyager spacecraft are not heading towards any particular star, but Voyager 1 will be within 1.6 light years of the star AC+79 3888 in the Ophiuchus constellation in about 40,000 years.

JANTAR MANTAR

Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories, or "Jantar Mantars" as they are commonly known, incorporate multiple buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. These structures with their striking combinations of geometric forms at large scale, have captivated the attention of architects, artists, and art historians world wide, yet remain largely unknown to the general public.

WES ANDERSON for SONY COMMERCIAL

Intro

Video

HIGH FIVE FOR A GREAT IDEA! THE STANDING WEELCHAIR

This is the TEK Robotic Mobilization Device (RMD), a transport vehicle for the paraplegic/disabled that allows them to move around in a standing position. The advantages over a traditional wheelchair are immense, including: better cardiovascular health from the standing position, the ability to make eye-to-eye contact instead of always being looked down upon, the independence to reach high and low (it can lower to a sitting position as well), get on and off the john/in and out of bed yourself, as well as a significantly smaller footprint for ease of navigating tight areas. The device comes in five sizes and started shipping in Turkey last week for around $15,000. Wow -- I'm impressed.