(photo by Maitri Venkat-Ramani) Against seemingly impossible odds, the ravaged city of New Orleans will rally together today to celebrate Mardi Gras, as it has for over 150 years. Traditional krewes will throw trinkets, beads, and doubloons from parade floats as they roll down St. Charles Avenue. Kids and adults alike will eagerly cut into a tasty king cake to see who ends up with the plastic baby (thus determining who will host the next king cake party). Revelers strolling through the French Quarter will be wrapped in the sounds of jazz wafting through open windows, and some of the best restaurants on the planet will open their doors once again. Although the crowds are thinner and there will be fewer parades, residents and visitors will take time out to celebrate before continuing the work of rebuilding homes and lives. New Orleans, at least for today, will be "The City That Care Forgot." Laissez les bons temps rouler! Suggested Sites... Mardi Gras.com - Mardi Gras FAQ, blogs, pictures, and videos. King Cake History - from Bean King to Queen of the Ball to office pastry -- it's all here. Renew New Orleans Foundation - Hurricane Katrina wristbands to help rebuild New Orleans. New Orleans Mardi Gras Traditions - click through this gallery to learn about Mardi Gras traditions.

Directory categories: Mardi Gras, New Orleans Krewes, King Cakes, Hurricane Katrina Relief

Archived under: Festivals, Holidays, Mardi Gras, New Orleans

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The new $10 bill We're easily excited here, so we're champing at the bit to trade in our old sawbucks for the new and improved $10 bill. When the new note enters circulation on March 2, it'll be a good day for collectors of paper money and a lousy day for counterfeiters. New security measures like color-shifting ink, watermarks, security thread, and microprinting will make copying a lot more difficult. And the cash won't be all green. Images of the Constitution and the Statue of Liberty torch will add a splash of lovely color. Despite an attempt to replace the portrait of the first Secretary of the Treasury with former President Ronald Reagan, Hamilton's mug will still grace the $10 bill. As excited as we are about the new 10 spot, we think the next time they want to redesign some money, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing should pay attention to younger designers. Suggested Sites... U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing - they print the money. Find information on buying money and touring the printing facilities. Secrets of Making Money - so how do they manufacture money? This NOVA Online special lets you in on some trade secrets. Collect Paper Money - information for beginning currency collectors. Randy R. Johnson's Beautiful Paper Money Page - even with the added color of the new $10 bill, the U.S. has a way to go to catch up with countries like Tanzania and Singapore. Ron Wise's Geographical Directory of World Paper Money - a country-by-country guide to currency design.

Directory categories: U.S. Currency, History of Currency, Alexander Hamilton

Archived under: Business, Finance, History, Money

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Taj Mahal (photo by Mark Blacknell) Who's to say that all the earth's splendor is centered around the Mediterranean? Philon of Byzantium, that's who. Over 2,200 years ago, the Greek philosopher picked seven lofty monuments to feature in a travel guide for his fellow Athenians. Of the seven ancient wonders of the world, only the Great Pyramid of Giza withstood the test of time. The rest are now nothing but dust! Maybe that's why Swiss filmmaker and explorer Bernard Weber decided that the world needs a new set of marvels. He's compiled a list of 21 landmarks from around the globe. Only this time around, it's not just up to one guy to choose the champs. The pressure's on us to cast our ballots for the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Machu Picchu, Kremlin, or the Sydney Opera House, among others. Let's hope these new wonders stand for ages to come! Suggested Sites... New 7 Wonders: Vote - choose your picks by telephone. Weber's foundation will use 50 percent of all revenues generated by the project to restore the world's cultural treasures. Wikipedia: Alternative List - shortlist of the 21 noble candidates from around the globe, including Jordan, Mali, and Cambodia. Treasures of the Sunken City: Seven Wonders - interactive educational feature about the original seven wonders of the world. From PBS.

Directory categories: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Architectural History, Ancient Art

Archived under: Archaeology, Architecture, Arts, History, Recreation and Travel

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(image by Yuriy Svidinenko) Civilization taken over by self-replicating machines is a classic science fiction plot line, but it's also a growing fear for those against the development of nanobots. These hypothetical, submicroscopic robots would be designed to potentially manufacture anything atom by atom. The theory of these tiny devices was popularized by American engineer Eric Drexler in the 1980s. Since then, several governments and businesses have shown interest in nanoscience because of its potential benefits, including eliminating cancer cells, eradicating famine, cleaning the environment, and even producing diamonds. Yet in 2001, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Richard Smalley debated that the process is impossible. Though the molecular manufacturing required to make full-blown nanobots is not available yet, researchers around the globe are creating breakthrough nanobot prototypes, and companies have started to release nanotech products. If real nanobots are ever produced, let's hope they stick to making diamonds and stay away from the grey goo. Suggested Sites... Eric Drexler's Nanotechnology FAQ - a famous nanotechnologist answers common questions about nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing. CRN: Timeline for Molecular Manufacturing - summarizes the futuristic manufacturing process that can revolutionize commercial and military projects. Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity - ensuring the safe adoption of technologies to avoid the destruction of our civilization.

Directory categories: Nanotechnology Organizations, Nanotechnology Research, Nanotechnology

Archived under: Nanotechnology, Robotics, Science, Science Fiction, Technology

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The 2004 movie, Miracle "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Sports announcer Al Michaels' call on February 22, 1980, put the capper on the U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey team's upset of the Soviet team. But hardly a season goes by when some underdog doesn't defy the odds, stunning fans with an unexpected victory. Don't think that Hollywood doesn't notice, either. Such David-and-Goliath sagas are tailor-made for the movies, where heartwarming stories can turn into cold, hard cash. The American hockey victory alone was turned into two films. Such unlikely human and animal champions as James J. Braddock and Seabiscuit gave hope to Americans beaten down by the Great Depression -- to the delight of studio heads. And audiences cheered Milan High School's small-town championship in "Hoosiers." Whose story will be next? Joe Namath's? Kirk Gibson's? Or is the next Rulon Gardner still in hiding, just waiting for a chance? Suggested Sites... ESPN Page 2: The Biggest Upsets - fans and sportswriters vote on the greatest upendings of all time. Broadway Joe - you'll look at Joe Namath's site -- we guarantee it. Miracle on Ice - all about the team that went for the gold.

Directory categories: Sports Movies, 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team, Miracle Movie

Archived under: Entertainment, Movies, Sports

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