Don't even try to identify the car in the above photo because you'll lose. It's an Argentinian "Special" constructed of various parts and power sources. But you can, like me, fantasize over driving such a car in such a beautiful country. The shot was taken during the 2008 Argentinean Mil Milas, a South American variation on the classic Mille Miglia rally. This is an event that most of us would put on our "if I win the lottery" wish list, since the entrants must not only own a suitable classic but must be able to fly car and self to the start unless they're already living in Argentina. Not qualifying by any possible measurement, I offer this information courtesy of the ClassicDriver.com site's Simon Kidston with the following quotes:

"The Mil Millas is set in some of South America's most spectacular scenery, in the Patagonia region at the lower tip of Argentina…. Base camp for this upmarket adventure, and setting the tone as participants are billeted there for the four-day duration, is a rambling hilltop hotel, the Llao Llao Resort. Combining 'Leading Hotels of the World' luxury with a touch of The Shining isolation, it's a welcome change if you're used to the daily merry-go-round of school-style accommodation on most historic events." (I should be so lucky.) Kidston goes on to write, "On arrival, the first day is set aside for scrutineering and the distribution of rally essentials such as maps, road books, event passes, race numbers…. and enough sponsors' gifts to fill two large rucksacks (also included, of course)." I'd be spoiling your enjoyment of Simon's colorful reporting as well as trespassing on copyright laws if I quoted more, so I urge you to link here and get the full tale plus more spectacular photos.

[Mil Milas photos: Cris Bertschi / Simon Kidston

By:  Philip Powell                        Source

Jackie Chambers, UBC BG Horticulturist, shares a second entry and photograph with us this week:

In stark contrast to the bright showy blooms surrounding it, the dense spike of greenish-yellow and black flowers of Corycium orobanchoides, or monkshood orchid, demanded my attention.

In general, orchid flowers have three sepals and three petals (collectively referred to as tepals); the third petal is often a specialized structure called the lip, which is modified in various ways to attract pollinators. In the case of Corycium orobanchoides, the three upper tepals form a hood, the lateral tepals are almost joined, and the lip is transformed into shield-like appendage with long horizontal lobes pointed backward that spread over the anthers (see Aluka for a detailed diagram of Corycium orobanchoides flower structure). The flower lip has oil-secreting glands called elaiophores, which attract an oil-collecting bee (Rediviva peringueyi) to pollinate the flower. Research suggests that the bees use the oil to feed to larvae.

Corycium orobanchoides is a tuberous perennial, which can reach 45cm in height.
The species name orobanchoides literally means “like Orobanche”, and refers to the flower spike”s resemblance to some members of the genus Orobanche.

Monkshood orchid is native to flat, sandy areas of the southwestern cape. This plant was spotted at the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden.

By:  Daniel Mosquin                        Source

I must have driven past this tree a hundred times (just like that one I posted about a while back). I only noticed it this fall, perhaps because all of the leaves in the understory are gone (though how does that explain me missing it in all of the other autumns?). I can only speculate about what traumas turned the tree into the oddity it has become.

I consider this to be the season of deception. Nature is in apparent retreat right now (only part of me is fooled though), and when I look about the forest, I get the illusion that I can make changes and improvements that will be lasting. The road, which the trees seem eager to shut down in the growing season, looks open and looks as though it might be kept open. The tall grass, which hasn’t consumed the road only because of the repeated attentions of Good Neighbor Brian and his brush hog, doesn’t seem so formidable now.

I look through the trees now and identify those that are best for culling, yet in the summer they are lost in the welter of growth. Cut them now, I tell myself, but I don’t as often as a I do. The paths we carve through the forest seem permanent at this time of the year. I can think realistically about cutting a new, rough road down to the upper end of the lake, and maybe even do some work on it, but come spring and summer the whole idea will seem outlandish and unworkable.

In many ways, winter is the best time to be in the forest. No bugs. No sweat. Long lines of sight. Comfortable working conditions. Nature at bay. Winter makes lingering in the comfy chairs less appealing and swimming in the lake impossible, but it has its compensations.

Missouri calendar:

The Missouri Natural Events Calendar is blank for today.

Today in Missouri history:

Thomas Lilbourne Anderson, a man whose life and political career reflected the changing politics of Missouri from territory through statehood, was born on this date in 1808. In his career he was a Whig, a Know-Nothing, an independent Democrat, and finally a member of the Greenback Party.

By:  Roundrockjournal                        Source

Webicina.com is my service that aims to help medical professionals and patients enter the web 2.0 era by providing e-courses, consulting and personalized packages. Why did I launch Webicina?

I envisioned a bridge. On one side of the river, there are patients who don’t know how to use the web, how to find health information online. I think NextHealth will be their best tool to use.

On the other side of the bridge, there are physicians. Their best guide is Jay Parkinson and his Hello Health practice as he was the first really web-savvy doctor.

Who will connect the two sides?  Who can become an efficient and valuable bridge?

Yes, I hope Webicina will close this gap…

When I talked with Jen McCabe Gorman, a prominent blogger at Hello Health, she envisioned this:

Now I’m happy to announce Hello Health with more and more organizations and communities. Just three examples, Hello Health, CareFlash and Hello Health.

And it seems it’s getting Hello Health from the blogosphere as well.

Let’s start Hello Health about how to use the web efficiently, let’s Hello Health how to find information online. Let’s reform healthcare! What is your view on this?

By:  Bertalan                        Source

I know I ain”t the most grammatically correct lover and I sure as hell don”t spell everything right, but this made it past an editor and into print!

By:  Kevin                        Source

Looking for a perfect gift for the secret agent in your life? A cuppa Bolivian supremo 007! Intelligentsia promises to perk up the recipient of your choice. Another gift that keeps on giving.

I tried a quick sip at Dean and Deluca, a rare micro lot special reserve offering. I decided to do a little research into this line from my hoppity hopping sip of energy. It is a bit pricey, so perhaps you might rather request it as a gift from your elite agent and offer to share and hold a mini tasting!

Here is their catalog review: “Truly a coffee lover”s dream gift. We ship 3 coffees each month, hand selected by Geoff Watts - our Director of Coffee. These coffees are certain to be our most exemplary. The initial order comes with an Intelligentsia diner mug, a stainless steel scoop, a French Press, and a set of grind samples; all packaged in a large, charming logo box. Included is a binder of information that contains geographical and background info on the coffees, an Intelligentsia guide to cupping, tasting and grinding, and your own coffee evaluation form. With each forthcoming shipment of exciting coffees, new pages will be sent to add to your binder. This program provides an exclusive glimpse into the endlessly intriguing process of exploring and experiencing the world”s finest coffee.”

By:  wellfed                        Source

A number of news sources (paidContent.org, NY Times, WIRED News) are reporting that Founder and CEO Jerry Yang is stepping down as head of Yahoo - just as soon as the company can replace him.

Kara at All Things Digital has a copy of the memo from Jerry tendering his resignation.

We ran a piece earlier this month on the problems Yahoo has been facing. Jerry was on the spot at the Web 2.0 conference at the time. Deals to solve Yahoo's financial problems have fallen through with both Google and Microsoft in the recent past.

It will be interesting to see the direction Yahoo takes under new leadership….

© Nautical9

By:  Greg Cruey                        Source