Saturday, September 18, 2004

Hill-sitting this noon with Sally and Apple: I spotted them soaring, first one, and then two more came into focus, and then two more, sharing a circle over a far-distant declivity. I watched for a while, pondering their number, their species ("I thought I saw an eagle / but it might have been a vulture / I never could decide..."), and gradually I wandered into my interior, musing about the lyrics to Leonard Cohen songs. In moments they were right where I was, circling over my head, drawing nearer and nearer down. Surely vultures I thought, surprised, and they circled nearer still, as if to be seen more clearly (I project), as if to insist I look into their eyes. One kept coming very close, so close I heard the air through its feathers, and I thanked it. And then they all came very close, and I heard the music of their wings all at once, like gales through flattened taffeta, a feather-generated chord, as they wheeled. Then having removed themselves finally some distance, they parted, one pair wheeling gradually southeast, another pair wheeling northeast, and one alone gliding in a line, northwest, until it disappeared from view. Golden eagles. 3:05:28 PM    comment []

http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2004-09-16-3 Immune Therapy Stops Alzheimer's Antibodies against brain-damaging substance appear to halt disease progression in small human study http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/09/17/light.antenna.reut/index.html Researchers invent antenna for light Antenna captures light in much the same way that radio antennas capture radio waves. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/09/040917091220.htm Traveling-wave Engine To Power Space Travel Novel method for generating electrical power uses sound waves. "The traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator has the potential to power space probes to the furthest reaches of the Universe." 10:46:29 AM    comment []