Where all of my placeholder images come from

Years back, I happened upon fractalsponge.net, a one-man effort in creating extremely high resolution Star Wars renders of the various spacecraft in that fictional universe.

Moon approved

On 1st March 1965, OMEGA’s Speedmaster chronograph was “flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions“. Aside from this bit of starry eyed trivia, I’ve always thought that the Speedmaster neatly straddled the line between minimalism and showiness. It’s a watch that doesn’t knock anyone’s socks off for being huge or flashy, but is appreciated for those who know of its historical significance and pedigree.

Back in 2009 I acquired a Speedmaster Reduced (3539.50) which, on account of being extremely comfortable to wear, has become something I wear daily. It’s also nice to own an automatic variant of the watch so I don’t have to wind it quite so often.

We are not now that strength which in old days; Moved earth and heaven

Despite being originally taken in 1962, the above remains a well-recognized photograph: That’s James Meredith, the first black student admitted to the University of Mississippi, walking to class accompanied by U.S. Marshal James McShane on his left and John Doar of the Justice Department to his right.

John Doar was bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom yesterday. Sometimes it seems like the world is running out of men like Mr. Doar; men and women willing to put their lives on the line to take an unpopular stand and do what they think is right.

The Hindenburg over Manhattan

20120513-094009.jpg

The Hindenburg floats past the Empire State Building over Manhattan on August 8, 1936, en route to Lakehurst, New Jersey, from Germany. (AP Photo)

In Focus – 75 Years Since The Hindenburg Disaster

Street style (rebel edition)

A Libyan rebel fighter smokes a cigarette next to an improvised multiple rocket launcher in the back of a pickup truck, as the rebels prepare to make an advance, in the desert on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, Libya, on Thursday, April 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

In Focus – 2011: The Year in Photos, Part 1 of 3

Street style (August 1944)

In France, an American officer and a French Resistance fighter are seen engaged in a street battle with German occupation forces during the days of liberation, August 1944, in an unknown city. (AP Photo)

In Focus – World War II: The Allied Invasion of Europe

USS Enterprise, May 1942

Aircraft carrier USS Enterprise at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in late May 1942, being readied for the Battle of Midway. (U.S. Navy)

In Focus – World War II: Battle of Midway and the Aleutian Campaign

The periodic table of SEO Ranking Factors

And you thought Ronnie was a big guy

This is Jersey Shore’s Ronnie standing beside the Washington Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin. Sure puts the size of an NHL player into perspective!buy used commercial inflatable water slides

Daft Punk vs. formal attire

In an obvious case of attitude trumping style, Daft Punk resolved the aged sartorial conundrum, “What goes well with chrome helmets at a red carpet function?”, with certain ease. And apparently the answer to that question is not an LED-prepped, solar-powered space suit, but gorgeous, black Balenciaga suits and a lot of flair and attitude.

Fresh Celeb: Daft Punk – Balenciaga Suits, Dec 14, 2010