http://www.raysmith.com random thoughts from ray smith Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:49:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/07/rainbows-and-sperrys-suck/ a “cloaking device” that makes tanks invisible to infrared night vision sensors. The “Adaptiv” technology uses thermal cameras that pick up the ambient temperature around a tank, and a skin of hexagonal “pixels” that can quickly heat up or cool down to mimic their surroundings. The cloaking device can also imitate the heat signatures of a car, a cow, or a large rock. In field trials, …]]> http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/06/infrared-invisibility-cloak-of-the-day/ Today I found out clownfish are all born males and the dominant male of a group will turn female when the female of that group dies. Clownfish, also known as anenomefish, are sequential hermaphrodites and live in very regimented schools made up of all males and one female.  The group is made up of a hierarchy with the female fish being the dominant and generally the largest fish in a given group.  The second in command of the group is …]]> http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/05/clownfish-are-all-born-male/ Today I found out the origins of the Jolly Roger flags. Ships throughout history typically stocked a variety of different flags used for sending a message, signaling other ships, and for identifying themselves.  For instance, in the 17th and 18th centuries, English privateers were to fly a specific version of the Union Jack, distinguishing themselves from English naval vessels which flew a different version of the Union Jack.  Pirate ships were no different, excepting perhaps that they often carried flags …]]> http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/05/origins-of-the-jolly-roger/ http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/05/music-video-of-the-day/ Happy Now Sad Later of the Day: Denny’s outdoes its own fried death sandwich with the 1690-calorie Mac ‘n Cheese Big Daddy Patty Melt: A hamburger patty topped with creamy mac ‘n cheese and “zesty Frisco sauce” stuffed inside a grilled cheese sandwich on potato bread. An extra shot of “ooze” (whatever that is ) costs 69 cents. The arteriosclerosis, however, is free of charge. [eater.] ]]> http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/05/happy-now-sad-later-of-the-day/ urlesque.] ]]> http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/05/omg-adorbz-of-the-day/ snb.] ]]> http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/05/born-villian/ Jeb Corliss launches himself like a flying squirrel off a cliff in Switzerland into glory.   [dpaf.] ]]> http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/05/flying-squirrel/ http://www.raysmith.com/2011/09/04/more-penguins/