A very cool video form the VolksWagen "Fun Theory" initiative.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Everything you do becomes a statistic
WORLDMETERS.INFO is a cool website that keeps track of world statistics updated in real time. Sort of, at least.
The site works with a complex algorithm that processes the latest statistics available from reliable data sources (which include several UN agencies, the World Bank and more) and creates an estimated progression which is displayed on swhirling counters.
As of this writing then, 120,080 babies were born today. 120,165 now. No... 120,241...
Ahh! Where are all these babies coming from?!?!?
On the other hand, 52, 611 people have died.
The "SOCIETY & MEDIA" section includes several interesting numbers like new books published this year (823,930), Email messages sent today (A number that my secular education doesn't permit me to identify) and several others.
Other interesting stats comes under the "ENVIRONMENT"heading which picks upthe tons of CO2 emissions this year, species that have gone extinct this year (number is fortunately still at 113,789) and forestable land lost.
Check it out. I guess it's a simple reminder that anything you do (or don't do) has some indirect implications on this Earth, which will eventually impact some statistic or another.
Seeing these numbers makes me happy I chose a PRIUS and that my next CD will be published on Ecological Recycled paper. Register on my site to find out when it'll be out!
Ciao!
CC
P.S. Sounds like a joke but as I finish this blog, the world just flushed the toilet more than 7 billion times this month. And yes numbers are accuratly based on... (it's NOT a joke!!!) the WTO - the World Toilet Organization! :)
The site works with a complex algorithm that processes the latest statistics available from reliable data sources (which include several UN agencies, the World Bank and more) and creates an estimated progression which is displayed on swhirling counters.
As of this writing then, 120,080 babies were born today. 120,165 now. No... 120,241...
Ahh! Where are all these babies coming from?!?!?
On the other hand, 52, 611 people have died.
The "SOCIETY & MEDIA" section includes several interesting numbers like new books published this year (823,930), Email messages sent today (A number that my secular education doesn't permit me to identify) and several others.
Other interesting stats comes under the "ENVIRONMENT"heading which picks upthe tons of CO2 emissions this year, species that have gone extinct this year (number is fortunately still at 113,789) and forestable land lost.
Check it out. I guess it's a simple reminder that anything you do (or don't do) has some indirect implications on this Earth, which will eventually impact some statistic or another.
Seeing these numbers makes me happy I chose a PRIUS and that my next CD will be published on Ecological Recycled paper. Register on my site to find out when it'll be out!
Ciao!
CC
P.S. Sounds like a joke but as I finish this blog, the world just flushed the toilet more than 7 billion times this month. And yes numbers are accuratly based on... (it's NOT a joke!!!) the WTO - the World Toilet Organization! :)
Monday, September 28, 2009
avantGRAND - A new piano by YAMAHA
Right when you thought that "everything-under-the-sun" status was reached by the glorious pianoforte, you discover that genious engineers of YAMAHA invented a hybrid piano with a very cool name: AvantGrand.
As you may already know from previous blog posts, I'm a huge YAMAHA piano fan. So I thought this news was really cool. Many people I've recently spoken to look down on Japanese grands, hailing German brands at a much higher level.
From the piano's official site comes this great statement: "Rather than designing from a standpoint of what a piano must be, we gave priority to looking at what it could be, searching for the kind of instrument that would suggest a new direction for the piano".
Japan demonstrates once again that it's way ahead in the game of re-thinking of innovation. Look at the TOYOTA PRIUS
There's sound samples on the site, but I think it would be great fun to test it out to its limits.
Hmmm.... Japan - here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I'm told that one of the two models costs a whopping $19,000 (less than a CFIII Concert grand, though)
As you may already know from previous blog posts, I'm a huge YAMAHA piano fan. So I thought this news was really cool. Many people I've recently spoken to look down on Japanese grands, hailing German brands at a much higher level.
From the piano's official site comes this great statement: "Rather than designing from a standpoint of what a piano must be, we gave priority to looking at what it could be, searching for the kind of instrument that would suggest a new direction for the piano".
Japan demonstrates once again that it's way ahead in the game of re-thinking of innovation. Look at the TOYOTA PRIUS
There's sound samples on the site, but I think it would be great fun to test it out to its limits.
Hmmm.... Japan - here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I'm told that one of the two models costs a whopping $19,000 (less than a CFIII Concert grand, though)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
HOLIDAYS - ITALY, SWITZERLAND & FRANCE
And just as they started, they ended...
Our holidays have come & gone.
But boy were they memorable.
Our road trip of 4296 Kilometres (i.e. 2700 miles) took us from Italy to France via Switzerland, passing through all sorts of unforgettable sceneries: from sea-level all the way to 3883 meters in altitude; from snowy mountain peaks to hidden crypts deep below the ground; from tranquil, garden-like paradises to the sounds & noises of century-old metropolitan carriages...
We walked over majestic glaciers and in mysterious forests; strolled across beautifully chaotic cities and through eerie empty villages; relaxed at sunsets over river bends and dreamed with sunrises over ancient fortresses; climbed ancient rocks and stared at age-old horizons.
We gazed at the genius of mankind through strokes of paint and carvings in stone; marvelled at the creativity of a single ink line that turns into a breathing image; and we remembered where it all comes from.
We crossed bridges (paying high toll fees...) and flat roads (with even higher toll fees...) and drove across white roads through corn fields (free - no fee!).
We sped through the night chasing lightning; glided during the day trying to capture the light; gazed at the clouds when blindingly white and threateningly black; dangled at the mercy of the winds over the emptiness below us and jumped high in the air before getting our tired feet back on the ground.
We laughed. We talked. We thought. We dared. We created. We loved. - We lived.
****
Not bad in two weeks time, right?
LOL
CC
Our holidays have come & gone.
But boy were they memorable.
Our road trip of 4296 Kilometres (i.e. 2700 miles) took us from Italy to France via Switzerland, passing through all sorts of unforgettable sceneries: from sea-level all the way to 3883 meters in altitude; from snowy mountain peaks to hidden crypts deep below the ground; from tranquil, garden-like paradises to the sounds & noises of century-old metropolitan carriages...
We walked over majestic glaciers and in mysterious forests; strolled across beautifully chaotic cities and through eerie empty villages; relaxed at sunsets over river bends and dreamed with sunrises over ancient fortresses; climbed ancient rocks and stared at age-old horizons.
We gazed at the genius of mankind through strokes of paint and carvings in stone; marvelled at the creativity of a single ink line that turns into a breathing image; and we remembered where it all comes from.
We crossed bridges (paying high toll fees...) and flat roads (with even higher toll fees...) and drove across white roads through corn fields (free - no fee!).
We sped through the night chasing lightning; glided during the day trying to capture the light; gazed at the clouds when blindingly white and threateningly black; dangled at the mercy of the winds over the emptiness below us and jumped high in the air before getting our tired feet back on the ground.
We laughed. We talked. We thought. We dared. We created. We loved. - We lived.
****
Not bad in two weeks time, right?
LOL
CC
The coast at Etretat, in Normandy (France)
Bend of the Seine - Les Andelys, France
Nympheas at Monet's Garden - Giverny, France
Menacing cloud - Somewhere in France
Majestic MatterHorn - Zermatt, Switerland
Friday, April 10, 2009
IS GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS GOING TO SUE ME?
Hopefully not!!!
A few days ago I was "kindly" notified by the Guinness World Records (GWR) Legal Office that I'm infringing the official GWR trademark logo by posting it on my official music site.
Fair enough I guess.
At least they were kind enough to notify me without suing me first (which is exactly what would have happened had it been an Italian company! LOL)
What is weird is that I can't even post a personal scan of MY official certificate which reads:
"The longest solo music internet broadcast was performed by Christian Calcatelli who played piano for 60 hrs 1 min in aid of the Calx Project, at the Galleria Alberto Sordi, Rome Italy, on September 15-17, 2004"
Oh, after a few back and forth emails I discovered that:
1) I can post a picture of myself holding the certificate (duuh)
2) I can pay 1.500 GBPs (=$2.200) to license the logo. For three months. Hmm.... Kind of expensive!
So, as I promised the legal office, the logos are coming off today.
If you're reading this post on April 10, you may have a chance of seeing them for one last time.
LOL...
Don't forget to listen to some of the music improvised during this 60 hour event. It's amazing that time has since passed so quickly. But as time passes, music remains. Go now - listen up!
I'll tell you what: Sign up to my newsletter within the next 3 days only and I"ll give you "A Broken Record 1 & 2 for free"
3 days only.
Ciao!
CC
A few days ago I was "kindly" notified by the Guinness World Records (GWR) Legal Office that I'm infringing the official GWR trademark logo by posting it on my official music site.
Fair enough I guess.
At least they were kind enough to notify me without suing me first (which is exactly what would have happened had it been an Italian company! LOL)
What is weird is that I can't even post a personal scan of MY official certificate which reads:
"The longest solo music internet broadcast was performed by Christian Calcatelli who played piano for 60 hrs 1 min in aid of the Calx Project, at the Galleria Alberto Sordi, Rome Italy, on September 15-17, 2004"
Oh, after a few back and forth emails I discovered that:
1) I can post a picture of myself holding the certificate (duuh)
2) I can pay 1.500 GBPs (=$2.200) to license the logo. For three months. Hmm.... Kind of expensive!
So, as I promised the legal office, the logos are coming off today.
If you're reading this post on April 10, you may have a chance of seeing them for one last time.
LOL...
Don't forget to listen to some of the music improvised during this 60 hour event. It's amazing that time has since passed so quickly. But as time passes, music remains. Go now - listen up!
I'll tell you what: Sign up to my newsletter within the next 3 days only and I"ll give you "A Broken Record 1 & 2 for free"
3 days only.
Ciao!
CC
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
WHAT DO DO IN CASE OF AN EARTHQUAKE
Earthquakes in Abruzzo. Villages wiped out. Aftershocks in Rome. I evacuated from a building today...
I can't but help at this point to extend my research into finding out what the best action plan is when there are earthquakes in the air... (or should I say... in the ground?).
I found this interesting article, which you may want to read - no matter where you are in the world. It's from the Southern California Earthquake Center, so I'm pretty sure they know what they're talking about. They talk about the international "Drop, Cover and Hold On" method for making it through an earthquake.
In essence, this is what you need to remember:
FEMA, America's Federal Emergency Management Agency has some useful guidelines as well:
On this link, you have good insight into what you should do if you're indoors, outdoors, in a car or under debris. One general golden rule? Don't light that candle: gas may be in the air!
Additionally, FEMA offers an unusual list of things you can do "before" an earthquake strikes.
Remember that 99% of the times you don't know it's coming, but there are simple things you can do to minimize damage and - most important - increase chances of survival.
It boils down to simple, practical things like not hanging a painting over your bed (may look nice but has been proven to cause migraine headcaches when it drops on your head!); keep delicate and breakable items in low cabinets (why would you put your china where you can't even reach for it anyways, right?); keep dangerous chemicals in closed, separated places (it helps to prevent ka-ta-boum boums!)
Read the complete list here and, other than doing some damage-prevention, you'll probably clean up your house and go for a clutter-free minimalistic look.
I say this of course with a touch of humour, but don't forget how serious the situation can be when disaster strikes.
And if you can't help with money or time, download the free music track (top right) "Whispering Thoughts"and send your positive thoguhts out there!
Ciao
CC
I can't but help at this point to extend my research into finding out what the best action plan is when there are earthquakes in the air... (or should I say... in the ground?).
I found this interesting article, which you may want to read - no matter where you are in the world. It's from the Southern California Earthquake Center, so I'm pretty sure they know what they're talking about. They talk about the international "Drop, Cover and Hold On" method for making it through an earthquake.
In essence, this is what you need to remember:
- DROP to the ground
- take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture;
- and HOLD ON on until the shaking stops
FEMA, America's Federal Emergency Management Agency has some useful guidelines as well:
On this link, you have good insight into what you should do if you're indoors, outdoors, in a car or under debris. One general golden rule? Don't light that candle: gas may be in the air!
Additionally, FEMA offers an unusual list of things you can do "before" an earthquake strikes.
Remember that 99% of the times you don't know it's coming, but there are simple things you can do to minimize damage and - most important - increase chances of survival.
It boils down to simple, practical things like not hanging a painting over your bed (may look nice but has been proven to cause migraine headcaches when it drops on your head!); keep delicate and breakable items in low cabinets (why would you put your china where you can't even reach for it anyways, right?); keep dangerous chemicals in closed, separated places (it helps to prevent ka-ta-boum boums!)
Read the complete list here and, other than doing some damage-prevention, you'll probably clean up your house and go for a clutter-free minimalistic look.
I say this of course with a touch of humour, but don't forget how serious the situation can be when disaster strikes.
And if you can't help with money or time, download the free music track (top right) "Whispering Thoughts"and send your positive thoguhts out there!
Ciao
CC
More Earthquakes? What's Happening? New shock in Rome
Just had to evacuate the building at 11:43 after a 3 second jolt, which followed a new shock in Abruzzo.
It's a weird feeling, and kind of leaves you empty inside and a little light headed.
It was the same feeling I had when I experienced an erathquake here in Rome a few years ago. That time, though, the walls were actually shaking. Not nice...
Poor people in Abruzzo!
It's a weird feeling, and kind of leaves you empty inside and a little light headed.
It was the same feeling I had when I experienced an erathquake here in Rome a few years ago. That time, though, the walls were actually shaking. Not nice...
Poor people in Abruzzo!
HOW MANY EARTHQUAKES HAPPEN EVERY DAY?
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) there have been (as of this writing) 21 earthquakes above magnitudo 5 on the Richter scale SINCE THE 1st of APRIL!
The latest of these was actually a 6.9 (it hit harder than the Central Italy earthquake) on the Kuril Islands. If you have no clue where these islands are, join the club - that's probably why we haven't even heard about it. (In any case they're off the coast of Japan).
The truth that I gather from this report is that the majority of these strikes happen in remote areas and often don't cause any damage or harm.
It reminds me that the Earth is indeed alive & throbbing - just in the wrong places, at times...
The latest of these was actually a 6.9 (it hit harder than the Central Italy earthquake) on the Kuril Islands. If you have no clue where these islands are, join the club - that's probably why we haven't even heard about it. (In any case they're off the coast of Japan).
The truth that I gather from this report is that the majority of these strikes happen in remote areas and often don't cause any damage or harm.
It reminds me that the Earth is indeed alive & throbbing - just in the wrong places, at times...
ITALY EARTHQUAKE: AQUILA AND ROME
According to an article by Rome Today, a mild earthquake hit the northern part of Rome this morning (local time) at 1:15 am.
I didn't feel anything, because I live at the outskirts of Rome, down South.
The registered magnitude was 4.8 on the Richter scale. No damages, but lots of fear.
As far as the Abruzzo quake is concerned, local news reports have criculated these recent stats:
I didn't feel anything, because I live at the outskirts of Rome, down South.
The registered magnitude was 4.8 on the Richter scale. No damages, but lots of fear.
As far as the Abruzzo quake is concerned, local news reports have criculated these recent stats:
- the death toll to have risen to 179;
- 100 people have been pulled out alive from the rubble;
- 1500 are wounded;
- more than 1 billion euros worth of damages
Monday, April 6, 2009
ABRUZZO EARTHQUAKE - "NORMAL FAULTING"
According to USGS (US Geological Survey) technical data, the Abruzzo earthquake"occurred as a result of normal faulting ... in the central Apennines, a mountain belt that runs from the Gulf of Taranto in the south to the southern edge of the Po basin in northern Italy. Geologically, the Apennines are largely an accretionary wedge formed as a consequence of subduction. This region is tectonically and geologically complex"
Hmm... "normal" faulting seems to have disastrous consequences.
According to a newsflash report from ANSA, Italy's prime news agency, certain areas have been completely destroyed, case in point being the villages of Onna and Paganica. This is where the majority of victims seem to have been identified. These cities are described as having been scratched away.
In Aquila, Abruzzo's capital city, there is massive damage in the historical center, where Churches and buildings having suffered at high levels.
The problem, I guess, is that these places have buildings so old that it was like a staged accident waiting to happen. In a way, buildings like these give Italy their charming looks that all tourists love to see. But it's this very "Italian" feel that is probably the country's greatest liability.
Not that that matters at this point in time, as the official death toll rises at 92 (but will surely increase I'm afraid) and more than 45/50.000 people are expected to remain homeless.
Click here for some chilling images from one of Italy's news reports.
Hmm... "normal" faulting seems to have disastrous consequences.
According to a newsflash report from ANSA, Italy's prime news agency, certain areas have been completely destroyed, case in point being the villages of Onna and Paganica. This is where the majority of victims seem to have been identified. These cities are described as having been scratched away.
In Aquila, Abruzzo's capital city, there is massive damage in the historical center, where Churches and buildings having suffered at high levels.
The problem, I guess, is that these places have buildings so old that it was like a staged accident waiting to happen. In a way, buildings like these give Italy their charming looks that all tourists love to see. But it's this very "Italian" feel that is probably the country's greatest liability.
Not that that matters at this point in time, as the official death toll rises at 92 (but will surely increase I'm afraid) and more than 45/50.000 people are expected to remain homeless.
Click here for some chilling images from one of Italy's news reports.
Italy Earthquake News: They knew it was going to happen...
According to an article on one of Italy's most reliable news agencies, an expertpredicted this earthquake - precise down to the location - about a week ago.
As always happens in these cases - nobody listens!
This poor professor - who by the way took two years to develop equipment that he used to study the local geological area - was charged by the Mayor of the city and by Social Protection Officers for procuring panic in the local population.
Go figure...
As always happens in these cases - nobody listens!
This poor professor - who by the way took two years to develop equipment that he used to study the local geological area - was charged by the Mayor of the city and by Social Protection Officers for procuring panic in the local population.
Go figure...
EARTHQUAKE IN AQUILA ITALY (some 60 miles from Rome)
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Aquila, the capital of the Abruzzo region this morning at 3:32 am, in the depth of the night. Earlier in the night, a minor earthquake hit Northern Italy.
Although I didn't feel the shake as I was sleeping, I woke up because my alarm system set offas a reaction to the jolt. A number of buildings seem to have minor damage also in Rome.
As of now (8:13 am) there are 20 deaths (of which 5 are kids) and a number of missing people.
According to USGS, a 7.2-magnitude quake and tsunami that hit Messina, Italy, in 1908 killed some 72,000 people, while more recently, a 6.5-magnitude temblor in southern Italy in 1980 claimed the lives of 3,000 people.
The region of Abruzzo is known for its "shaky" territory.
Although I didn't feel the shake as I was sleeping, I woke up because my alarm system set offas a reaction to the jolt. A number of buildings seem to have minor damage also in Rome.
As of now (8:13 am) there are 20 deaths (of which 5 are kids) and a number of missing people.
According to USGS, a 7.2-magnitude quake and tsunami that hit Messina, Italy, in 1908 killed some 72,000 people, while more recently, a 6.5-magnitude temblor in southern Italy in 1980 claimed the lives of 3,000 people.
The region of Abruzzo is known for its "shaky" territory.
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