Yankee 500 Z

When I first glanced at this bike, I thought it was a Yamaha. But no, it’s an obscure brand called Yankee. It came out of Schenectady, New York in the early 1970s, although this particular unrestored machine now lives at the Museu de la Moto in Spain — via Bike EXIF

Curry powder molecule ‘is cheap sensor for explosives’

The main chemical in the curry spice turmeric could be the basis for cheap explosives detectors, say researchers.

The curcumin molecule is already well-known in medicine for its anti-cancer and anti-oxidant properties.

Now, research presented at the American Physical Society meeting suggests it could replace more complex solutions to spot explosives like TNT — via redwolf.newsvine.com

The Mechanics of Knitting (And How to Graft Two Circular Pieces Together)

Not long ago, I was working on a cowl that required grafting two circular pieces together. Usually, when instructions tell you to graft stitches, they’re referring to the grafting most commonly used to graft the toes of socks. But the set-up of the stitches was completely different from that of sock toes, so why use the same grafting technique? — via Knitting Daily

A view inside the world’s largest train tunnel, now under construction

A miner climbs on excavated rocks after a giant drill machine broke through at the final section Sedrun-Faido, at the construction site of the NEAT Gotthard Base Tunnel March 23, 2011. Crossing the Alps, the world’s longest train tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016. The project consists of two parallel single track tunnels, each of a length of 57 km — via Boing Boing

State sanctioned violence on asylum seekers

The use of rubber bullets by security officers last week at the Christmas Island detention centre is a chilling reminder that our society allows state sanctioned violence against asylum seekers in a way that would be considered intolerable even in the most repressive parts of our prison system.

Furthermore, it says something very sad about Australia that there is not an outcry by the media, politicians and the community against the use of such instruments of violence on children and women. Would we sit on our hands and say nothing if the police threw tear gas into a group of demonstrators in Martin Place or Collins Street? — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Ella dies in distress locked in car

A three-year-old Labrador called Ella has died after being left in a Toyota Prius in Sydney’s inner west.

Police said they were called to Grove Street, Birchgrove, about 11.15am today after reports of a dog in distress in the hybrid car.

When they found Ella unconscious on the back seat, officers smashed the window and poured cold water on her to try to revive her.

But she was declared dead when they brought her to a local vet, police said — via redwolf.newsvine.com