>> ^mxxcon:
as much as i love this program, these stupid sound effects ruin the realism.
also since these fishes live so deep and are so rare, how did they managed to film separate female, separate male, male trying to bite female multiple times and an attached male....
i feel it's a bit 'faked'. this world and even this "blue oceans" program have so much awesome footage that they can easily get by w/o faking shots or sound effects.


Actually there is quite a bit of CGI and editing going on in the deep-sea episodes (not to mention the silly sound effects). While the science/nature aspects of the show are great, they kinda went overboard with the stuff mentioned above.

Fixed. Thanks.

In reply to this comment by therealblankman:
*dead

I wonder if living in a collectivist society prevents them from knowing how to react unless they see others do so.>> ^NicoleBee:
I wish Japanese television wouldn't do that 'host/guest reaction' thing.

what about the microbes that live off hydrochloric acid in the deep sea around thermal vents. They live on extremes beyond 500 degrees. course i'm drunk and who knows

>> ^Psychologic:
Wouldn't it be more likely that high crime and poor living conditions would cause more religious faith rather than the faith causing the crime? Hardship is a very strong reason for seeking a blissful afterlife.
That would certainly fit the findings of the study. He never really suggested causation.



I quote from Quirkology by Richard Wiseman (an awesome read, by the way): Chapter 3 "Believing six impossible things before breakfast: Psychology enters the twilight zone.", pg 102-103

"By the middle 1920s, inflation in Germany was so high that paper money was carried in shopping bags, and people were eager to spend any money the moment that they had it, for fear that it would be severely devalued the following day. By 1932, almost half of the population were unemployed. In 1982, Vernon Padgett from Marshall Universty and Dale Jorgenson from the California State University published a paper comparing the number of articles on astrology, mysticism, and cults, appearing in the major German magazines and newspapers between the two world wars, and the degree of economic threat each year.* Articles on gardening and cooking were also counted as controls. An index of economic threat was calculated on the basis of wages, percentage of unemployed trade union members, and industrial production. When people were suffering an economic downturn, the number of articles on superstition increased. When things were going better, they decreased. The strong relationship between the two factors caused the authors to conclude that:

'... just as Trobriand islanders surrounded their more dangerous deep sea fishing with superstitions, Germans in the 1920s and 1930s became more superstitious during times of economic threat.'

The authors link their findings with much broader social issues, noting that in times of increased uncertainty, people look for a sense of certaintity and this need can cause them to support strong leadership regimes, and believe in various irrational determinants of their fate, such as superstition and mysticism."

*V.R. Padgett & D.O. Jorgenson - 'Superstition and economic threat: Germany, 1918-1940', Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin #8, pages 736-74. 1982.

I guess you could look at the above study, and then look at what may occur within areas of the United States during this coming time of harsh economic crisis as well. Will it create an increase in religious belief/ferver and a higher degree of trust into other areas of superstition, the supernatural, and mysticism?

When times are hard, which I'm sure they are in some of the countries used in the study conducted which is discussed in the video, more people will want some sort of "control" in their out-of-control lives. They find that sense of "comfort" in handing control over to forces they believe to be "more powerful" than just mortal men and women.

Well, in regards to global warming, yes they can. Especially since the global warming side has taken some serious blows recently. Being faced with evidence that contradicts warming trends, the retraction of the IPCC report that started the whole thing by some of its authors, record increases in Arctic sea ice, discovery of deep sea volcanic vents causing ice melting in the caps, and an increasing number of climatologists bailing on the idea, global warming has hit the back burner. It also no longer seems to be proper to call it global warming since we stopped warming about a decade ago. So, now it's proper to refer to it as climate change to cover all your bases. I sat on the fence reading up on global warming for a few years. I've come to the conclusion that it is false, although we should definitely still strive to clean up after ourselves since it is entirely possible to make your immediate area an absolute crap hole. I see the constant pushing of global warming and climate change in the face of contradictory evidence to be another excuse for extensions of government control and regulation. People can buy as many hybrids as they want for all I care, as long as we don't hit lows of government intereference like in England where people are being fined for having too much garbage. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1041098/Families-break-bin-rules-overfill-110-fine--drunken-yob-receive.html Although the forced change to the mercury filled bulbs are a start towards making an unnecessary shift just for the sake of feeling environmentally responsible.

Also, I agree it was a completely avoidable situation, but probably not for the same reasons as you. If we never started blocking domestic oil expansion in the first place we could already of had many of these areas up and producing already.

I think artsy CAN be good, but only when it means "original AND good music" rather than just "original music." Just because something's different doesn't mean it's good, which is a sad fact that seems to get overlooked in the pursuit of "art" and "originality." However, if you can get the art and originality and still sound fucking awesome, it's way better than just sounding good by itself, because it has way more impact.

For Japanese music, I'd STRONGLY recommend the pillows, as they're my favorite band ever in general. If you want something a little more indie, I know a lot of pretty sick bands, such as Ling Tosite Sigure/rin toshite shigure/凛として時雨 (lol just for searching convenience) that you could give a try (Ling has AWESOME guitar work, but reaaaaaaaally shrill vocals...it's kind of a tradeoff).

Japan is aight. I love the food, and I've gotten to see some great concerts (four of them, to be precise) while I've been here, but I'm headed back in one week, and am pretty much feeling it's time to do so. I need to get some work in before the semester starts so I have some money lol.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Wow you know what, I completely missed the fact you replied to my comment such fail. Hmm, listened to AKFG a while ago and wasn't really a big fan but I'll check out the rest. ... but, but artsy is good no but I agree, they need to bring some of the crazy riffage of old back, although I remember them saying in an interview somewhere around the time they released Vheissu that they felt they go too burnt on heavy music and were trying to stray away from that, or something along those lines.

Also, what's it like living in Japan?



In reply to this comment by JAPR:
the pillows, Asian Kung-fu Generation, Ellegarden, etc. I just saw Ellegarden at Kyouto Taisakusen, it was SO FUCKING GOOD. I'm not sure how to describe it other than I've never been to such an intense concert.

Yeah, I love the acoustic songs! Stare at the Sun acoustic is reallllly tight too. I wish they'd go back to their roots a bit though and stop trying to be artsy with the whole elements theme going on. Nothing good ever comes from being artsy. .____.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Which Japanese bands? I'm more or less slowly turning into a weaboo anyway

Yeah, I love Melting Point of Wax, So Strange I Remember You especially as well as virtually anything on Vheissu. I&II was fairly good, thought they captured water brilliantly, Night Diving especially with the way they conveyed dripping water, and the tranquility of deep sea diving. Fire, eh not so much. Could see they were going for a sense of chaos and distortion but just didn't feel like it came together melodically, Flame Deluge was excellent though. Agree Red Sky EP was excellent, especially their acoustic renditions, particularly Of Dust and Nations, really wish they'd do more of them.

In reply to this comment by JAPR:
Yeah, I've heard a few of the songs, but haven't really gotten around to checking it out fully, for some reason. Been too busy with new releases from my favorite Japanese bands, I guess. I thought Alchemy Index vols. I and II was pretty solid, with some tight songs, but definitely not quite up to par with the other stuff. Still, "not up to par with the other stuff" still translates to "pretty damn good," so I can't really complain too much in that department.

I wish they had a music video for T&C, A Torch to End All Torches, Melting Point of Wax, or So Strange I Remember you, because it's always hard to find truly good live videos of songs like that. I was very surprised to see them release Red Sky on that EP thing, but totally dug the coupling tracks.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Heh, yeah it was a bit of a giveaway before, now it's more subtle

Reminds me, I still gotta sift that song too Pity that they never released their better songs as singles though.

Sample the album on their myspace if you want, it's not anything groundbreaking by all means but still a solid album all around. Not nearly as good as Vheissu but still, have to give them props for branching out and experimenting with different styles.

Wow you know what, I completely missed the fact you replied to my comment such fail. Hmm, listened to AKFG a while ago and wasn't really a big fan but I'll check out the rest. ... but, but artsy is good no but I agree, they need to bring some of the crazy riffage of old back, although I remember them saying in an interview somewhere around the time they released Vheissu that they felt they go too burnt on heavy music and were trying to stray away from that, or something along those lines.

Also, what's it like living in Japan?



In reply to this comment by JAPR:
the pillows, Asian Kung-fu Generation, Ellegarden, etc. I just saw Ellegarden at Kyouto Taisakusen, it was SO FUCKING GOOD. I'm not sure how to describe it other than I've never been to such an intense concert.

Yeah, I love the acoustic songs! Stare at the Sun acoustic is reallllly tight too. I wish they'd go back to their roots a bit though and stop trying to be artsy with the whole elements theme going on. Nothing good ever comes from being artsy. .____.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Which Japanese bands? I'm more or less slowly turning into a weaboo anyway

Yeah, I love Melting Point of Wax, So Strange I Remember You especially as well as virtually anything on Vheissu. I&II was fairly good, thought they captured water brilliantly, Night Diving especially with the way they conveyed dripping water, and the tranquility of deep sea diving. Fire, eh not so much. Could see they were going for a sense of chaos and distortion but just didn't feel like it came together melodically, Flame Deluge was excellent though. Agree Red Sky EP was excellent, especially their acoustic renditions, particularly Of Dust and Nations, really wish they'd do more of them.

In reply to this comment by JAPR:
Yeah, I've heard a few of the songs, but haven't really gotten around to checking it out fully, for some reason. Been too busy with new releases from my favorite Japanese bands, I guess. I thought Alchemy Index vols. I and II was pretty solid, with some tight songs, but definitely not quite up to par with the other stuff. Still, "not up to par with the other stuff" still translates to "pretty damn good," so I can't really complain too much in that department.

I wish they had a music video for T&C, A Torch to End All Torches, Melting Point of Wax, or So Strange I Remember you, because it's always hard to find truly good live videos of songs like that. I was very surprised to see them release Red Sky on that EP thing, but totally dug the coupling tracks.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Heh, yeah it was a bit of a giveaway before, now it's more subtle

Reminds me, I still gotta sift that song too Pity that they never released their better songs as singles though.

Sample the album on their myspace if you want, it's not anything groundbreaking by all means but still a solid album all around. Not nearly as good as Vheissu but still, have to give them props for branching out and experimenting with different styles.

the pillows, Asian Kung-fu Generation, Ellegarden, etc. I just saw Ellegarden at Kyouto Taisakusen, it was SO FUCKING GOOD. I'm not sure how to describe it other than I've never been to such an intense concert.

Yeah, I love the acoustic songs! Stare at the Sun acoustic is reallllly tight too. I wish they'd go back to their roots a bit though and stop trying to be artsy with the whole elements theme going on. Nothing good ever comes from being artsy. .____.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Which Japanese bands? I'm more or less slowly turning into a weaboo anyway

Yeah, I love Melting Point of Wax, So Strange I Remember You especially as well as virtually anything on Vheissu. I&II was fairly good, thought they captured water brilliantly, Night Diving especially with the way they conveyed dripping water, and the tranquility of deep sea diving. Fire, eh not so much. Could see they were going for a sense of chaos and distortion but just didn't feel like it came together melodically, Flame Deluge was excellent though. Agree Red Sky EP was excellent, especially their acoustic renditions, particularly Of Dust and Nations, really wish they'd do more of them.

In reply to this comment by JAPR:
Yeah, I've heard a few of the songs, but haven't really gotten around to checking it out fully, for some reason. Been too busy with new releases from my favorite Japanese bands, I guess. I thought Alchemy Index vols. I and II was pretty solid, with some tight songs, but definitely not quite up to par with the other stuff. Still, "not up to par with the other stuff" still translates to "pretty damn good," so I can't really complain too much in that department.

I wish they had a music video for T&C, A Torch to End All Torches, Melting Point of Wax, or So Strange I Remember you, because it's always hard to find truly good live videos of songs like that. I was very surprised to see them release Red Sky on that EP thing, but totally dug the coupling tracks.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Heh, yeah it was a bit of a giveaway before, now it's more subtle

Reminds me, I still gotta sift that song too Pity that they never released their better songs as singles though.

Sample the album on their myspace if you want, it's not anything groundbreaking by all means but still a solid album all around. Not nearly as good as Vheissu but still, have to give them props for branching out and experimenting with different styles.

Which Japanese bands? I'm more or less slowly turning into a weaboo anyway

Yeah, I love Melting Point of Wax, So Strange I Remember You especially as well as virtually anything on Vheissu. I&II was fairly good, thought they captured water brilliantly, Night Diving especially with the way they conveyed dripping water, and the tranquility of deep sea diving. Fire, eh not so much. Could see they were going for a sense of chaos and distortion but just didn't feel like it came together melodically, Flame Deluge was excellent though. Agree Red Sky EP was excellent, especially their acoustic renditions, particularly Of Dust and Nations, really wish they'd do more of them.

In reply to this comment by JAPR:
Yeah, I've heard a few of the songs, but haven't really gotten around to checking it out fully, for some reason. Been too busy with new releases from my favorite Japanese bands, I guess. I thought Alchemy Index vols. I and II was pretty solid, with some tight songs, but definitely not quite up to par with the other stuff. Still, "not up to par with the other stuff" still translates to "pretty damn good," so I can't really complain too much in that department.

I wish they had a music video for T&C, A Torch to End All Torches, Melting Point of Wax, or So Strange I Remember you, because it's always hard to find truly good live videos of songs like that. I was very surprised to see them release Red Sky on that EP thing, but totally dug the coupling tracks.

In reply to this comment by RedSky:
Heh, yeah it was a bit of a giveaway before, now it's more subtle

Reminds me, I still gotta sift that song too Pity that they never released their better songs as singles though.

Sample the album on their myspace if you want, it's not anything groundbreaking by all means but still a solid album all around. Not nearly as good as Vheissu but still, have to give them props for branching out and experimenting with different styles.

This is bullshit.

#1 is a ridiculously low amount. The 50% he's suggesting is about 5 (five) days of world oil consumption. Dropping the price of oil by 50 dollars? This is a joke.

#2 Oil shale and deep-sea oil is very expensive to produce (EROEI), production would take significant capital investment and at least a decade to ramp up. ( (Enron for example is not drilling even in places where it does have a license to drill... It's too friggin expensive.)

#3 Alternatives are a _long_ term answer. They won't make a difference in the next 12 months.

Thanks for the clarification I have changed the description now...

In reply to this comment by Lumm:
Although the critters are real, the bit about them being found on the beach after the tsunami is a hoax. See http://www.snopes.com/photos/tsunami/creature.asp - Very cool deep sea animals though.

Although the critters are real, the bit about them being found on the beach after the tsunami is a hoax. See http://www.snopes.com/photos/tsunami/creature.asp - Very cool deep sea animals though.

I think the point is basically, when you imagine the size of the universe it would be foolish to assume that Earth is the only planet that contains life, or even very evolved life. The principle of life is evolution in that this is the way life changes and adapts and with that idea in our heads, we can easily imagine creatures being produced on planets even in our own solar system. Some of our deep-sea fish could easily live in the ice of Europa, for instance.

From the Gizmo Garden website:

"Carlos was a college kinetic sculpture project. I was interested in the concept of automating aspects of society that were considered not so "glamorous". Robotics are often used in environments which are considered dangerous to humans. Deep sea exploration, nuclear cleanup and volcanism are some of the "higher profile" adverse environments which robots are used. My question was, "What about other dangerous or hazardous areas?". For example, homeless people live in extremely dangerous environments. Shouldn't there be automated equipment used by this strata of society? So, for this project I chose to implement an automated walking, homeless shopping cart. I imagine now, to carry this project to completion I should have given the controls to someone who was actually living on the streets near the university. There was a large homeless population near the campus, and there would have been plenty of opportunity. Unfortunately, I had to disassemble the project for parts before this happened."