Floatee

Gravity is no match for brilliance and skill.

Fine Line

The wait can be agonizing at the bottom unless one seizes the opportunity for a stretch!  Hot skiers do not always want to be alone and occasionally will wait for the slowpokes to queue-up with them at the lift.

Shience

Armed with a well-formed hypothesis, our hero embarks on a long, strange venture blending chemistry, physics, and a touch of magic.

Lumberduds

It takes considerable effort to stabilize the payload while traversing the incline offered by the proper azimuth.  Balance, strength, skill, all with a flair for fashionable style. 

Sanger

Due to their deeply rooted insecurities, many famous entertainers have their backup singers off to the side or subtly in the back during performances.  It takes a self-confident performer to highlight his supporting cast and share the stage with them (if not the microphone). 

Empathy

Spectators have no clue.  The defender may seem remote, disengaged from the play, but do not allow that to deceive.  If he applies just the right English to the ball from his Right Back position with enough force to tumble onto the pitch, well, the opponent's goalkeeper has no chance.

Entrapment

A triumph.  When engineers collaborate with experts in the fields of entertainment, art and design, child psychology, ...   or was it just one person's imagination?

Al A. Blaster

The Dean of the of the Geophysics and Earth Sciences Department leads his graduate students in a non-trivial exercise studying the fundamental properties of mother earth's finest. 

Blazing

"I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers and Methodists."

- Hedley Lamarr

Bunn. Gee!

Just another relaxing day in the mountains, passing the time.  It has been an odd autumn of cloudless skies, warm temperatures, infinitely dry.  But it's no use to complain.  If the weather is not going to cooperate, then ya might as well get outside and make the best of it. 

Who Screams?

At the parlor, the gang solves all the world's problems with the flick of a tongue.

Zippidee Doo Dah

During the war, the 10th Mountain Division was able to penetrate behind the lines from seemingly impossible high alpine launch points.  They used a variety of non-traditional transportation mechanisms.  Not limited to skis, one could find them in a kayak, a glider, any sort of stealthy mode.  Their commander demonstrates one here in footage that was recently declassified. 

Need for Speed

    Wind in my hair –
    Shifting and drifting –
    Mechanical music
    Adrenalin surge –
    Well-weathered leather
    Hot metal and oil
    The scented country air
    Sunlight on chrome
    The blur of the landscape
    Every nerve aware...

    Drive like the wind
    Straining the limits of machine and man
    Laughing out loud

(© Neil Peart)

Hat Trick

Every once in a while, persistence pays off in a big way.

Inflated

To prep for Special Forces operations, the instructors first have to know all of the course material cold.  But that's easy since they are the curriculum developers, authors, editors, et al.  To keep their skills sharp, they test themselves in every aspect of training, but they never look forward to the obstacle course. 

Running Wild

Olympic distance runners never get a vacation.  The competition comes by every four years, but that's the only break in the routine.  They train through nasty weather, cold and flu, mud and snow, bruises and blisters, cramps and stitches.  But it always pays off.

Magmanamous

As our civilization gains an understanding of the immense forces within planet earth, today's leading scientists use a combination of theoretical and empirical results in a repetitive cycle of measurements and restarts.

DoubleTime

Check your eyesight, your glasses.  Some have reported seeing two separate people in this photo, but no, there is just one and you are seeing a duplicate image of the same person.

State? Fair.

Just looking for something to do in your spare time while waiting for ski season.

 

Prying Mantis

Everything was perfect.  They secured the back seat of the jeep under stalwart rollbars.  Cool mountain air wafting through, soothing Santana band on the radio, and plenty of time to catch-up, solve the world's problems, and make big lifetime plans.  But wouldn't you know it -- the chaperone appears out of thin air, uninvited, flicks-on the lights, and parks himself on the seatback. 

Marks, Brother

After signing so many autographs, arthritis sets-in.  Easily remedied with a clever disguise, some therapy, and a splint.

Get the Mow Down

In getting the playing field ready for that first NFL home game, the starting QB does not want to take any chances.  Professionals attend to every detail in assuring victory.

I Scream

 

Suddenly, we all heard the familiar ring of that truck, the one with the frozen confections.

Reincarnation?

Left, circa 1935.                  Right, circa 2010.

Towering

Revealed today -- the USA Olympic swim team coach let it slip where they've been training.  They needed a pool of great length and little traffic, something near an airport.

Preflight Sight

Experienced pilots always like to take a lap around the exterior of the aircraft when they can.  Senior aviators always have a staff to take care of the checklist and the follow-up, but one develops a sense of confidence with a hands-on approach. 

Back Two's Cool

Hidden in a secluded section of campus, two of the University's prominent Deans assess the highlights of this semester's new enrollments. 

Pedal to the Meadow

After a week out East with thermometer and hygrometer both approaching triple digits, it feels just fine to be back in the saddle at home.  Fabulous hospitality and plenty of fun, but now back to the training regimen for the Leadville 100.

On Display

One of the newest memorials; worth a stop if you're in the DC area.  "True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice."

Eye Spy

It's no secret, but stumbling into the vortex catapults unlikely travelers into a fourth dimension from which there is no return.  That is, if you are merely mortal.  The mighty intrepid ones merely sprain a digit somewhere along the way.

Take the Cake

Know how the early bird gets the worm?  Well, the early fish gets the cake.  QED.

Hydravision

On the shore, the possibilities are endless.  It could be a major whaling expedition, a round-the-world cruise, an America's Cup race, diving among the coral, tapping that petroleum reservoir, busting through polar ice, hucking a massive swell.  But most people end-up on a cheap inflatable raft earning a sunburn.

Tic, Tac, Whoah!

When exploring the extent of artificial intelligence, one must extensively pursue the boundary conditions and a comprehensive parameter study. 

Brown Found

Our Chief Marine Biologist checking for stray golf balls occasionally meets a passerby.  He tends to befriend the young ones he meets.

Hour of Tower

Eschewing modern practices with virtual modeling, traditional architects rely on physical models.  They may be a little more expensive, but there is no room for mistakes when creating a flagship downtown landmark in the major metropolis.

Attention, Span.

Civil Engineers dream big, and they don't think the same as the rest of us.   The difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers is that the former build weapons, and the latter build targets.

Slumberjacks

They discovered a mystical wood of unknown origin, very clearly an exotic species from a distant land.  It appeared before them during their extended journey to Mordor as they traversed the Old Forest just beyond the eastern border of the Shire.  Pausing their hasty advance, at first it taunted them, puzzled them, and drew them closer.  But then its powerful influence overcame their fierce resistance, extracted all of their energy, and placed them into a century-long slumber.  Their only hope was for their missing straggler, Bilbo Baggins, to discover them after his delayed departure.

Stirred, not Shaken

No one on earth can just sit still when the congas mix with timbales, ciaxa, djembes, and the rest.

Fit to Print

He employed good security for the performance, and he wowed the crowd again.  Nevertheless, the Times snuck-in with a camera. 

Tip the Scale

The Department of Homeland Security has tasked their robotics programmers to capitalize on shrinking integrated circuitry in performing surveillance, infiltrating suspected terrorist cells, and delivering doughnuts to peace officers. 

Gymtastic

Just a quick demo, a teaser for what's coming this August in Rio.  Hold your hat on.

Shot Glass

Stephen Curry's shooting coach.

Hop, Skip, and Jump

Sometimes it is appropriate to just bolt.  You know when it's necessary, we've all been there.  When curiosity overcomes good sense and caution.  On the wrong side of the fence, having entered the coned-off danger zone, saw what we weren't supposed to see, caught the attention of the authorities, but right before they take action!

Bottoms Up

It's Charlie Brown's kite instructor.

Sporting

Come to think of it, it's a lot like watching baseball. 

Pencilmania

The publisher's deadline loomed large.  It was time to bear down.  Start pumping-out the pages like Hemingway.  He had the full narrative solidified in his head, the characters well defined, the plot twists, the story climax, the works.  So he chose to abandon safe orthopedic practices and conventions, drop the word processor, unplug the phone, and get back to basics. 

Flat Out

He was just thinking how convenient it is to be prone for these kinds of things.  Might not work so well standing-up.  Now it's time to figure out some sort of video game one can enjoy during the procedure. 

Alight

Sometimes one feels lighter than air.

Cheer for Sphere

It's a bit more difficult than golfing.  Pinpointing the shot must account for more than just the condition of the turf and the angle of impact -- one must consider the motion-based obstacles like people as well as gale forces from Mother Nature.

The Eyes Have It

Sometimes one obtains that creepy, disconcerting sensation when the optometrist takes a hard look.

Etiquette

It can be embarrassing in a restaurant when one misplaces a napkin.

Post-event Analysis

Safety Engineers descend upon the near-miss to study the preceding events, human factor decisions, physical properties of equipment, and environmental states that led to the near tragedy. 

April Wonderland

Those mid-springtime storms, sometimes they can get you into a Yuletide mood.  Enough to prop your feet up, stoke-up the fireplace, sip on a hot beverage, and listen to an old favorite. 

Sprang

It takes a special gift to visualize animation in the unseen world.  Without fast-forward on a stop-action camera, most human brains are unable to conceptualize motion within their perception of stationary objects such as these reproductive organs.   Fortunately, there are a few who understand thoroughly and translate the biophysics for the rest of us. 

Steamworks

Nothing beats a dip in the tub for a stretch and a tasty libation to dislodge that lactic acid, improve flexibility, mitigate pain, and simply increase overall well-being. 

In the Pink

The future turned rosy for the Thrilling Three.  Tax refunds are on the way, the annoying neighbor moved-out, the supposed flat tire was just a chunk of mud, the cop let 'em go with a warning, the cat came home, the road construction project wrapped-up, April has three paydays, there is moisture in the forecast and the ski area decided to open for one more weekend, the Governor's visit got cancelled, the tulips multiplied and the dandelions disappeared, Grandma's infarction turned-out to be heartburn, Donald Chump dropped-out of the race, the leaky roof was actually a forgotten water bottle in the attic, they snagged free smoothies for being the 1,000th customer, the home team won their game, the curfew ended, the lawn aerator dude mistakenly hit theirs, and not a single bill appeared in the mailbox. 

Die or AMA

The Dean of the Harvard School of Biology Exposes his grad students to a baseline set of information in order to accelerate their research and get a jump on the competition.  Publish or perish, it's not just a saying, it's a way of life. 

Fast Company

The sound barrier never had a chance.  Duct tape, bailing wire, gorilla glue, not even a welding torch could prevent it from breaking on this day. 

No Fooling

How SWEET to enjoy this wonderful planet Earth in all its splendor.  Before long, Jack Frost will be a distant memory.  But there is no need to fret, for he will fulfill his promise again in a matter of months.  Until then, we can grin and bear it.

Point Well Taken

Unless your name is John McEnroe, good sportsmanship is an essential element of sport.  It is important for mutual respect between the players, but also for its entertainment value.

Pachyderm Puzzle

The threshold varies from one house to the next.  Is it worth time investigating and mitigating, or is it time to find a good plumber? 

Heavy Metal

Mark Spitz could only wish to be so decorated.

On the Boards

When field testing new gear, it's important to put it through its paces to reveal anything that might be detrimental or flawed.   The industry relies on well informed inspectors to determine product viability and usefulness.  It's a thankless job, but there are a few who make the sacrifice.

The Con -- a Suer?

Eventually he will be coerced into accepting a thin mint.

Iceman Cometh

It's time to get the jump on training to beat that throw from the catcher.

Wood it Work?

For a Master Entertainer, it is important to draw the audience in and hold them in suspense for just the right amount of time.  On the edge of their seats, they build empathy and engage with heightened emotional investment.  They sense yearning and anticipation, and want nothing more than to participate.

Grateful Gravity

What fun to celebrate the Coefficient of Friction and the wonderful impact it has on our lives. 

Slumber Number

It never hurts to recruit outside forces to ensure success for your endeavors.

Trebuchet

Engineers develop prototype designs on a small scale in order to achieve perfection, reduce mistakes, cut costs, and develop efficient manufacturing processes.  Today we catch a glimpse of the master, the grand prize winner in the annual Snowball Chucking Championships.

Falconer

He parked his F-16 right in the corner, hopped-out, and bounded up to the wall to greet his admirers.

Breaker

There are certain times in a game when the dunk is not a best option.  Players can sense it.  A dunk can backfire into fierce motivation for the opponent.  Timing is crucial, and sometimes it is better to fire-up the crowd later in the game when the team needs a good boost. 

Iceman

Once or twice every season it's time to let Jack Frost know who is in charge.  Sometimes you just have to slip into your pajamas and hop on out there to take care of business.

Slugfest

Cricket players visiting the USA in the offseason must get creative to remain competitive.

Woodrun

In the distance a shadow moves.  The foxes, deer, rabbits -- all freeze and swivel their ears.  What could this strange apparition be?  It moves through the glade with grace and ease at surprising speed.  Is it a threat?  A predator or prey?  It does not exhibit the postures of caution and fear that they all subscribe to.  But in a moment, it has vanished, and the afternoon resumes.