8

You call that firewood? This is a firewood!

We own an old doer-upper bungalow that was built a century ago. There’s one word to describe old doer-upper bungalows that were built a century ago…

COLD

Fortunately for us… the previous owners installed a brand-new large-capacity fireplace just before they sold the house to us (funnily enough, there’s more documentation for the fireplace in the house’s LIM report than the house itself ;-) .

Fortunately for us… my awesome in-laws gifted us with a whole heap of firewood from their old property a couple of summers ago.

Fortunately for us… the same in-laws spent half a Saturday helping me cut up the firewood.

Fortunately for us… we have an old decrepid shed to store the wood.

Did I mention that there is also two big wool sacks full of kindling that couldn’t fit in the same pic? Now I must ask you…

is that an impressive stash of firewood for the winter or what?
3

Water water everywhere… not

I have always thought that our planet has a lot of water (understatement again). With over 70% of the Earth’s surface covered with water, in some parts over 10km deep, any educated person would naturally believe that there is more than enough H20 to go around.

Well, actually…

If every drop of water in the world (1.4087 billion cubic kilometres of it) including sea water, ice, lakes, rivers, ground water, clouds, etc. was collected in a single sphere, it would be just over 1400 kms across – barely big enough to cover Eastern Europe.

I still find it hard to believe, nevertheless, the math works out. Click here if you are skeptical.

Photo credit: Adam Nieman / Science Photo Library.
7

Hip Chess for retro kidults

Chess rocks. I was in the chess club at school. I once had a very expensive medieval chess set. I love chess. Alas, I can count the number of fellow chess-loving-enthusiasts in my current circle of friends on no hands… zilch. nada. zero.

Imagine my delight when my 7 year old son came home from school last week and said, “Dad… can you teach me how to play chess?”

Parental bliss.

And so, having a re-kindled desire to go out and buy a Chess set which oozes awesomeness, I’ve been doing some research… and it seems that Chess for retro kidults is now very, very cool indeed. The problem is, you need a lot of money to be that cool. Looks like I’m gonna have to start saving ;-)

Spider-Man Deluxe Pewter Chess Set: $499 (USD)

Aliens Deluxe Pewter Chess Set: $374.99 (USD)

Lord Of The Rings Collectors Chess Set: $649.99 (USD)

Lego Ultimate Castle Chess Set: $300 (USD)

Star Wars Collectors Chess Set: $599 (USD)

4

NGC 7293: The Eye Of God

This awesome image (click pic to enlarge) is an authentic photograph (actually, a composite of images) taken by NASA’s Hubble telescope. It featured as NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day in May 2003 and thereafter has been immortalised on various websites and blogs (heh) ever since. It has earned the nickname ‘Eye Of God’ (I never knew God’s eyes were blue).

To astronomers, NGC 7293 is a Helix Nebula. To us normal people, it is “a trillion-mile-long tunnel of glowing gases” caused by a dying star.

Pretty awe-inspiring if you ask me.

It will forever confound me as to how some of us will ponder this image, and see it as further evidence of a Creator, and how others will view the same image and harden their hearts to even considering the notion that such a Creator could exist.

Click here for immensely large image of the Eye Of God.
10

I’m okay with crochet

For those of you that follow the world’s most amazing wife’s blog, you will know that her new found love is (ahem) crochet.

At first I thought that my wife was having a crises of sorts. I mean crocheting? That’s what old-fashioned ladies carry in their 2-wheeled-shopping bags. Even the word ‘crochet’, if pronounced the way it looks is off-putting.

Nevertheless, for the last few weeks, my wife has been crocheting everywhere… in the car, in the bed, at the dog park, probably in the bathroom…

PaisleyJade’s womanly wiles have paid off and I have finally come around. I Burton, confess that I’m now okay with crochet. In fact, some (and I emphasise ‘some’) crochet is actually very cool. Still, most (and I emphasise ‘most’) crochet is atrocious.

The good…
The bad…

5

Where’s Wally Matt?

A friend at youthchurch last night told me about a guy called Matt. A little video clip that Matt has put together of himself and his unique dance in unique locations has made him world famous. 14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands, over 20 million views on YouTube… It really is quite legendary.

So, without any further ado… click the clip below.

3

How to avoid Swine-flu

Burton’s number 1 tip for avoiding the current swine-flu pandemic… Avoid doing this.