A fore-edge painting is a scene painted on the edges of the pages of a book such that the painting is not visible when the book is closed.  Since 1970, Martin Frost has produced well over 3000 fore-edge and miniature paintings for the book trade, and we're able to see one here.  You'll find additional examples and videos on his website.

- Fore-edge Frost / UK

I wonder if my answer qualifies?  -  The first place I go online is actually nowhere.  I have about:blank set as my homepage.  The result is that my browser loads lightening-fast.

Of course, I do like to dress it up a bit.   For that I use Stylish and this plug-in.    Both of them install in an instant, and almost anyone can do it.   As for the matching browser skin, this is one of several that I downloaded from deviantART.   It was created by ArchangelX2 and you'll find the relevant link down below, but there are many other cool ones on the deviantART website. 

- Stylish - plug-in  /  Vistafox

A new study in the November issue of Psychological Science makes the unexpected observation that when people are asked to consider the occasion of their own demise, they actually become happier.  The researchers say it’s a kind of psychological immune response — that when faced with thoughts of our own death, our brains automatically cope with the conscious feelings of distress by unconsciously seeking out and triggering happy feelings.

As I read about the study I couldn’t help thinking about my own experience.   Five years ago I reported to the emergency room feeling badly but believing that I had nothing more than the flu. You might imagine my surprise and shock when the doctors told me they suspected I had less than three hours to live — that my liver was shutting down rapidly, but in imagining the shock you would be incorrect.  There was no jolt, no bargaining, no fear.  I honestly don't think I even took a deep breath.  I just sat there, thought about my idea of consciousness, which was pretty undeveloped at the time, considered the non-physicalness of it all — that it was something you couldn’t actually touch, and found a calm but lucid peace.

Fortunately, I proved the doctors wrong by recovering completely, but I’ll never forget the timelessness that came in the moment I really received the news.

-   Time Magazine

Look familar?  I think this is one one of the first Photoshop images I posted after joining Zaadz.  I was reminded of it this past weekend when I dediced to finally make use of my Flickr account.   The current upload contains most of the Photoshops I've posted here plus a few personal pics.   Feel free to browse if you like.  A few of them still make me laugh. :P

- J.K. @ Flickr

I recently had some fun incorporating the name of the Who's Your Daddy energy drink I'm drinking into my status messages here on  Zaadz.  Yep, I really have been drinking the stuff, and with that on my mind this seemed like a good time to revisit a question that I understand is pretty hip with the geek crowd.  Namely, what do they put in Red Bull that gives it such a kick?  - As you might expect, Wired Magazine already has the answer.    

-    Wired:  What's in it?

"The euro, worth 83 cents in the early George W. Bush years, is at $1.45.

The British pound is back up over $2, the highest level since the Carter era. The Canadian dollar, which used to be worth 65 cents, is worth more than the U.S. dollar for the first time in half a century.

Oil is over $90 a barrel. Gold, down to $260 an ounce not so long ago, has hit $800."

I'm quoting from an unlikely source, but I don't think the numbers are in question.  Since they're relevant to some of the conversations we've had around here I thought I'd add them to the mix.   Please feel free to add comments if you like.

-   Yahoo News  /  Digg It    

Sixty-four percent of Americans disapprove of the job President Bush is doing, and for “the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they ’strongly disapprove’ of the president.  Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.”

-  Think Progress  /  Digg It

Awesome...  

"If the Bush administration succeeds in its latest request for funding for the war in Iraq, the total cost would rise to $611.5 billion, according to the National Priorities Project, a nonprofit research group.  The amount got us wondering: What would $611 billion buy?"

-  Boston Globe (Slide Show)

On Monday Beliefnet announced the launch of a beta service for social networking that hopes to bring together religious devotees, spiritual leaders, and faith-based groups. Representatives of the the community say it will offer resources for study, inspiration, entertainment, and interaction.

Signing up was fast, and the website is very slick (my page). I was quickly impressed by the numerous tools, electable skins, and customization options.  I think I'd recommend it to anyone for checking out and possibly making a few new friends.  However, as a nondualist it seemed like an odd place to hang my hat.   At first glance, things seem a lot more theistic there and although they offerec about a million options to describe your faith "nondualist" was not among any of them.

I hard-wrote that in and was able to find one other contact who had done the same so if you sign up and enter a similar description please feel free to touch base.  It would be nice to connect, but if you're looking for me make sure you continue to check at Zaadz.

-  Read Story   /   Digg It

 

Simply beautiful... The song "Hilli" will be released on December 10, 2007  Hazelwood's vocal parts were recorded at his home a few weeks before his death.

I've already submitted to Digg.

Watch as FCC Chairman Kevin Martin gets “chewed out” by American citizens for trying to push through a measure that would lift the ban on local media market consolidation.

As usual, the report by Bill Moyers is excellent, but I was most impressed by the inspiring comments from the floor. -  Check it out.

(kindaintoit)  -  "The vast majority of migrants are good people but we never hear about them in the media, just the small number of criminals that come through. The guy probably used up all his life savings to pay for the coyote to bring him across just so he could feed his family back in Mexico. Just when he got to the promised land he gave it all up to save the boy. This doesn't surprise me. Anyone who would risk their life crossing that desert to clean the toilets of people who vilify him for their family's sake has to have a big heart."  . The migrant's name.... Jesus. Not kidding.

-  There's More  /   Digg It

http://www.ronisright.com/

Better go quick.   And BTW, I like Ron Paul.  I just can't help thinking this is funny.. ;-) 

This is great..