Mount Everest from a Mile Above  …linky

This awe-inspiring photograph captures the majesty of Mount Everest as you've never seen it before - from more than a mile above.

The spectacular panorama shows the breathtaking landscape of the Himalayas from six miles above sea level. It was shot by an intrepid British photographer wearing breathing apparatus in -56C temperatures 36,000 feet up.

It is believed to be the highest panoramic picture taken by hand from a balloon, and was described by mountaineer Reinhold Messner as the 'best snap on earth'.

'Best snap on Earth': Everest dominates the picture, shot from 36,000ft and in -56C temperatures by Leo Dickinson on the world's first-ever balloon flight over the highest mountain. The curvature of the planet is exaggerated by the wide-angle lens.

The summit of Everest, the world's highest peak at 29,035ft, takes centre stage above the 11,000ft vertical drop of the Kangshung Face, on the eastern side of the mountain.

British filmmaker and adventure cameraman Leo Dickinson took the photo from the stratosphere during his record-breaking balloon flight over Everest.

With Nepal on the left of the frame and Tibet on the right, the stunning skyline westward shows nine of the planet's highest summits.

These include Lhotse (27,940ft), Cho Oyu (26,906ft), Gyachung Kang (26,089 feet), Nuptse (25,850ft), Peak 38 (24, 904ft), Changtse (24,770ft), Shartse (24,471ft) and Ama Dablam (22,349ft).

Up, up and away: Adventure filmmaker Leo Dickinson in his hot air balloon over the Himalayas shortly before he took the photo

Mr Dickinson, 62 & married, soared to 36,000ft - where temperatures dropped to minus 56 degrees Celsius - to become the first person to fly over Everest in a balloon.

He took this picture using a hand-held 35mm camera with a wide-angle lens while standing in the balloon's wicker cabin. The original photograph was shot in 1991 on the classic Kodachrome film - axed last month due to the rise of digital cameras. It was digitally remastered for the first time this week.

Dickinson of Budleigh Salterton, Devon , said: 'This photograph is one of the finest I've taken, and I'm immensely proud of it'.

'It took several minutes to set up - I was in the stratosphere and carrying bulky breathing apparatus - and I wasn't sure it would even come out'.

'So when it was developed, and it came out like this, you can imagine my delight. It's a scene that I'll remember for the rest of my life.' 

Dickinson's Everest expedition took 10 years to plan, involved 150 porters and 50 yaks, and almost cost him his life. His epic journey from the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu to Tibet was chronicled in an award-winning documentary Ballooning Over Everest.

*Thanks for this post goes to Lazy MO

This is one of the most stunning videos I’ve seen ALL year.  The fact that we are just a few days in has nothing to do with it, I predict it will still be one of the coolest ones by the end.

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Unbelievable.

A new creation by Microsoft is posed to revolutionize the gaming experience.  Project NATAL will work with any XBOX360 and is a HUGE step in the race to rule the living room.  Check out this live demo that was on Jimmy Fallon’s show, still a little buggy, but still a huge WOW!!!

I’m scared to think “what’s next?”

I’ve posted before about Byrner’s love for the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest.  Recently I got a chance to experience a trip to the US and British Virgin Islands.It is amazing and almost as good,…  okay, it’s better than the San Juans, I’m forced to admit that the VI’s have everything the NW has including 74 degree water, and amazing snorkeling.

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Ten days sailing from island to island resulted in several amazing sunsets,  sunny days sailing,

beautiful scenery,

Even with a bit of rain everyday we were blessed with a strong wind and 5 to 8 knots of sailing every time we pulled out the canvas.

This was one of the best sailing trips I’ve ever done, even the scotch was cheap!

Ok…here’s a real sailboat.

Not even a scratch!

Here’s the story.

Fred Syversen lnterview - The Skier Who Survived 107 Meters Drop

In case you are unfamiliar, Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in South America and the Americas as a whole for that matter: 22,841 feet high.  EXACTLY the sort of place that I'd want to climb up and then jump off.

Hey Lazy Mo, when are you jumping back into the crew shell?

Yes you heard that right.  Racing downtown.

Homepage here: Lisboa downtown.