Happy Winter Solstice!

And a merry christmas to those to whom it applies. :-p

Beach theft in Hungary

I know what you're thinking - how does a landlocked country like Hungary even have a beach? Well, the answer is, they don't... anymore. Someone stole it.

The country formed its own beach on the side of a river, but it has now been stolen - beach huts, playgrounds, sand and all. Read the press release HERE.

This, of course, makes you wonder a few things:
1) How do you go about stealing six thousand tonnes of sand (plus buildings and playgrounds)? Multiple trips? Get your friends to help? Sneak the sand out little by little in your shoes?
2) How do you do it without anyone noticing?
3) How do you come up with such an idea, anyway?
4) How can I get what they were drinking?

Holiday decorating

Perhaps Sheyl might be tempted to decorate her tree with THESE ornaments. The site even offers a free pattern to make this wonderful decoration that could adorn your house year round.

Common Sense

An update: 14 states are plan to or are currently rejecting federal funding if it is tied to abstinence-only sex education. "Why would we spend tax dollars on something that doesn't work?" asked Ned Calonge of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. "That doesn't make sense to me. Philosophically, I am opposed to spending government dollars on something that's ineffective. That's just irresponsible."

Mythtickle

I thought Sheyl would enjoy this comic, since she yelled at me for decorating our little tree. :-p

Please tell me this is a joke

"Spiritual Water claims its product helps you 'stay focused, believe in yourself and believe in God"



I can only be happy that the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minn have some common sense about the matter.

Danger: Avoid Death

This years winner of the annual Wacky Warning label contest

"Danger: Avoid Death"

Earth has a bad case of the humans

I thought this had been posted to the blog and went looking for it, and couldn't find it. I'm posting it now for everyne else's enjoyment, and for my selfish desire to watch it whenever I feel like it.

On a very sad note...

It is horrifying and depressing that attitudes like this are still around in modern times. For a judge to state that a 10 year old girl "probably agreed to have sex with all of you" when the 9 defendants had already pleaded guilty to rape and then to give them 6 months prison time or 12 months on probation is utterly absurd.

on a happier note...

We appear to have increased our intelligence again.

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email, education and evolution...

... apparently they should never be mixed, at least not if you want to keep your job as science curriculum director in the Texas Education Agency. Okay, so this article is more about anti-intelligent design than evolution, but I liked the alliteration. What is it about science that is so hard for the general public to understand in this country - I can understand not getting the complexities of genetics or string theory or the complicated dating techniques for rocks, but it seems as though the most basic of scientific ideas are still too difficult for the public to grasp. Don't believe me? Just look at the links to charts in the last paragraph. The US is statistically significantly below average in science knowledge (or at least the 15 year olds in the US).

What's even more frustrating about the whole situation is that politics inevitably come to play a role in it as well. Why would anyone in their right mind fire this woman for forwarding an email about a lecture? Yes, the lecture is on a controversial (not scientifically controversial, mind you) topic, but does forwarding notice about it necessarily indicate endorsement? I think absolutely not. Whether she believed in evolution or not isn't the point. As science curriculum director, I would think that it is her responsibility to promote and endorse a venue for discussion of science topics like the evolution-intelligent design debate (debate, hah, fiasco would be a better word).

Okay, sorry about the long rant. I suppose it's just a rant-y sort of day.

a new art form

Bacteria growth patterns - it's more interesting looking than you might imagine.

Energy Bill

More lovely work by the Republicans, this time in our Senate. The Energy Bill which would, increase fuel standards, end tax cuts to oil and gas companies, and increase renewable energy quotas for utilities will now be held up "indefinitely".

Another Aspect which the US has Backwards

China has now launched a safe-sex ad campaign featuring Jackie Chan and other Chinese celebrities promoting condom use to prevent AIDS/HIV. Unlike our current administration's policy of promoting abstinence only and covering their ears going "nanananan na, I can't hear you." to all the studies that show those programs don't work, and are likely fueling recent increases in teen pregnacy and STD's.

The Holidays

Donut/Cop High Speed Chase

After shoplifting eight giant red hot pickled sausages, Warren G. Whitelightning stole a Krispy Kreme truck, and did two laps around the parking before leading the cops on a high speed chase through Madison.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Verveer conceded that the scene described in the criminal complaint of several squad cars chasing a donut truck around the west side could elicit laughter from many.

"Because what you have is two different police agencies chasing the defendant in a stolen Krispy Kreme donut truck with donuts flying out of the back of the truck," he said.

Perhaps Wacked had one of these as a child. It would explain the affinity for hamsters. Sadly it was stolen.

Camping just went luxury

Of course no one is going to be throwing this in their packs to go hiking, but it looks like an interesting way to spend a night or two... or not.

We are alone

Australia has ratified the Kyoto protocol, leaving the US alone among industrialised nations in not signing. It won't actually make much difference in Australia's emissions since so many concessions were made that they can actually increase their emissions rather than cut them, though by less than expected if they were to do nothing.

a new job for melkor

watch.
it could be fun!

FSM found hiding in the fossil record

Paleontologists uncover evidence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in 505 million year old mudstone but have incorrectly identified fossil as a jellyfish.

Link to the original scientific paper here.

Utopian Beer

Samuel Adams has just released its 2007 version of the beer Utopia, which clocks in as the most expensive and most alcoholic beer - $5 per ounce, and 27 percent alcohol by volume.

Patches

Oh and supercalafragalisticexpialadoucious!

what happened?

Um, i just clicked on the link and it said we have been downgraded to college/postgrad level. So unless my "that's hilarious" comment dropped us down a notch, i'm thinking we shouldn't have been quite so presumptuous about our intelligence level... clearly they're watching us... (scary?)

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We are geniuses!

This tool checks the reading level of the blog and our result is...

happy birthday ruth

from O-dog, Sher-bear, and lee-cat (though i wanna be the bear, but it doesn't sound right lee-bear and sher-cat, though sheryl is the orange-haired one...)
and from melkor too. "meow meow meow meow meow meow... meow meow meow" ("shut up!")

Bananas

Thousands of Bananas Wash Up on Shore

melkor

hamsters are smart.
i say "shut up!" too. maybe i really do have a hamster alter ego...

greetings from the Pacific!

Hey all,

 

Greetings from the Pacific Ocean! Things are going well here - we're still underway to our first site, but things are starting to slowly materialize into actual science. I've also (finally) passed over the seasickness hurdle, though that certainly took long enough! We've seen lots of seabirds, and flying fish, and today I got my first glimpse of a manta ray and a dolphin! Our weather has also finally cleared up, at least for the moment.

 

We have a blog up and running about this cruise - a variety of different scientists are contributing both posts and pictures, so be sure to check that out. The address of the blog is:

 

http://etpcruise.blogspot.com

 

Hope you enjoy! Feel free to pass this along to anyone who might be interested (or whose email addresses I couldn't remember or got wrong).

 

~Ruth

Wake Up

Here goes nothing...

Well, I hope this post works! I am emailing you from Panama City to let you all know that I have arrived here safe and sound!

 

Today we met up with most of the scientific crew that is going to be on the ship with us and took a tour with some of them to the must see sights here in Panama. We visited the canal and watched some ships going through the locks. We also visited the rainforest, which is right alongside the canal. The rainforest trip was actually on a boat (like we wont get enough time on a ship as it is) and we were boating right inbetween these huge tankers and containerships, even the same one that we saw go through the locks! We also saw lots of animals: a crocodile, a few monkeys that came down on the boat and ate the bread the pilot was holding out for them, some eagle type birds, a midnight heron, an iguana, lots of pretty butterflies, and my favorite, a two toed sloth! All in all, it has been a great day. We are loading up our ship tomorrow with all the equipment and everything, and will be spending tomorrow night onboard, though we will not be leaving port until thursday morning.

 

Well, that is your Panama update! Next in the series an update from the R/V Seward Johnson!

 

Love,

Ruth

Anchors aweigh!!

Well, it is T-minus 7 hours until I leave to go to the airport, and I just wanted to say goodbye! I should be back sometime in the morning on Nov. 19th! Until then, adios! I'll miss you guys!

Love,
Ruth

Stress Theory 101

Pilfered from another blog Kari's Page of Rants but highly relevent to grad students everywhere.

"The fact that I have been having a particularly slothful week, despite the further fact that I really can't afford sloth right now, has led me to procrastinate (again) by refining my theory regarding stress and its relation to space-time. No, I am not an absolute freaking crackpot. After years of careful study and observation, I have concluded that there is a fundamental Law of Stress that grad students can, if necessary, harness. An understanding of this Law will allow one to finish one's dissertation...eventually.

It runs as follows:

1) Without deadlines, Stress remains a latent force only; the deadline is the catalyst that allows the utilisation of Stress. The so-called "false deadline" is insufficient as a catalyst. Though it may activate an initial Stressful reaction, this reaction is difficult to maintain without a genuine deadline.

2) The more stress factors (the dissertation, jobs, family issues, financial strain, lack of chocolate) involved, the more powerful the Stress will become. However, without a deadline, these outside factors will fail to activate the Stress reaction in the subject and will instead bring about Lethargy, Procrastination, and the Tendency to Blame Problems on Software Bugs.

3) The stress factors combine with the deadline to create in the subject a state known as Panic. Panic is not yet true Stress; it is an initial stage marked by its promotion of inactivity. At this point, the Stress is still latent. Panic can be recognised via the presence of tears, pacing, nervous Web-surfing, occasional hyperventilation, long coffee breaks with bored friends, and an apparent lack of progress on the piece of work in question.

4) As the deadline becomes more prominent, Panic will deepen and narrow in its focus, and most of its indicators will disappear, replaced briefly by wide-eyed terror and then more permanently with the ability to open necessary documents and begin work on them. The reaction is now in its most crucial stage. A withdrawal of the deadline will cause failure and residual hyperventilation. If the deadline holds steady, the subject will enter Stress and become subject to the Speed of Stress.

5) The Theory of Stress-Speed claims that the imminence of a deadline, in combination with an apparent lack of enough time to meet that deadline, will cause the space-time continuum itself to become warped. Effectively, the subject experiences what seems to be the slowing of time to a crawl. Activities that should take hours are done in minutes; the world appears to move in slow motion, though in actual fact, the subject is working much faster than seems possible to outside observers. The subject is now in a state of heightened concentration fueled by Panic.

6) The Speed of Stress is notable for this property: it always "slows time" just enough that the subject will finish all necessary activities two minutes before the deadline. The factor of two minutes is a constant that researchers have so far not been able to explain adequately.

7) The passing of the deadline causes a complete failure in the reaction; space-time reverts to apparent normality as the Speed of Stress ceases to apply. Occasionally, a side-reaction will occur, prompting an extended return of Lethargy and Procrastination, both of which states will continue until the introduction of another deadline.

This Law has been demonstrated time and time again by graduate students around the globe. I am currently stuck on #2. Do not follow in my footsteps. If you want to achieve the Speed of Stress, for heaven's sake, get a deadline."

"http://www.massey.utoronto.ca/alumni/rantingkari2006.html" Monday, October 2, 2006 post

Lola

Is gone. She was a good car, and she decided to donate her parts for the good of other Acuras everywhere. Bye Lola :(

DIY: Halloween Special

Even though I won't be here for Halloween, I thought I'd share THIS link to a do-it-yourself make your own fairy wings page.

Comic of the Day

Today's Non Sequitur

weekly random game dose

This week's topic: Nomic Games
Where the rules evolve as you play.
*Calvinball, where the only firm rule is that you must never play it the same way twice!
*1KBWC (aka - 1000 blank white cards)

Presenting: your sugary sweet monday morning video

via videosift.com

The Uncyclopedia

The content-free encyclopedia.

Through searching through their occupations descriptions I have discovered that:
I am a poor geologist (mostly due to my un-alcoholic ways)
I am also apparently a witch (due to my grammar correcting habits)
And while I'm not one, I found the picture of lumberjack eggs to be quite funny.

Fun car commercial

Normal vs. Nerd

Which way is your tact filter configured?

Fugio coin

The first penny designed by Ben Franklin for the Continental Congress apparently stated the motto: "Mind your [own] business".

ha ha

well, since it didn't fit, copy and paste the link to get the punchline...

love conquers all...

http://pbfcomics.com/?cid=0PBF67003BC-Bunny_Pit.jpg#67

More in strange news...

... dead man wakes up during autopsy.

MacGyver would be proud

Cool Little Miniature Stove!

And to further require parental supervision for our blog..

Exercise unleashes a bounce bras can't handle
Breasts fly up and down a distance of up to 8 inches, study says...

Grams and gramps are gettin' it on — get over it

Would be interested in people's reactions to the picture at the top of this article, given they discuss an earlier article containing a picture and "Much to my surprise, some readers were offended by the photograph of two old people kissing."

Council of Europe to vote on creationism

Resolution opposes the teaching of creationism in school science classes. "saying attacks on the theory of evolution were rooted "in forms of religious extremism" and amounted to a dangerous assault on science and human rights" including ID

Mr. Potatohead?

No! Mr. PotatoMASH. Check THIS site out for some pretty creative "mash ups" between Mr. Potatohead and some well known characters. My favorite is Yoda and his caption "Do or do not, there is no fry."

Update on Lawsuit of the Week

God responds to lawsuit.

Eurovision

Apparently made it onto one of my regular blogs that I read.
Read the article HERE - includes an interesting video and the even more interesting story behind it.

Some hammock time for a few bear cubs

Lawsuit of the Week

Nebraska State Senator sues God

Key quote:
Chambers says in his lawsuit that God has made terrorist threats against the senator and his constituents, inspired fear and caused “widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants.”

Ahoy mateys!

Prepare ye'selves, fer Talk Like a Pirate Day this wednesday the 19th o' September.

Yar!

jubilation!

the spork has been recovered!!!

oh, the horror...

i hate it when i can't find the spork.

Strangest Commercial

THIS is by far the strangest commercial I've seen, and it's for Cadbury chocolate.

Any thoughts on what the ad people were trying to convey with this one?

What would...

... the world be like without humans?

HERE is an interesting site with the possibilities. Hover over each time period to read the synopses.

Though I must say it seems to me that the final message is that though humans may not last forever, the stupidity of what we broadcast into space lasts forever.

August Lunar Eclipse

Well, I missed seeing the lunar eclipse, but there are some great pictures from people who were more fortunate than me - some great animations here, and other beautiful pictures here

Lunar Eclipse

Tomorrow morning - starting at 5:53 am and ending at 7:22 am.
NASA link here

A great video

GREAT Shadow Puppetry - Funny videos are here

More in astronomy events

Mars will be particularly spectacular on August 27th - we'll be very close to this planet - the red planet will rise alongside another bright red star, creating two unblinking red eyes in the east. More info here.

Calvin and Hobbes

The Complete Collection

Living in the Matrix

This article in the (I know, dreaded) NY Times suggests that we are all simulated inhabitants of a virtual world created by some future human (or posthuman), and in fact gives it a better than 20% chance that this is the case. And for some reason, I find this idea incredibly disturbing. I never had this much of a problem thinking about some god-like being creating the world (though I no longer think of that as a probable reason for our and this universe's existence). To believe in a god, omnipotent, omniscient, is one thing. But to think that we are all inhabitants of a computer simulation bothers me. Perhaps it is because the second, unlike the first, means that the reality that we experience isn't reality at all. As a geologist, and as a scientist, I find it disturbing to think that we're not experiencing reality, and that the world and earth that I study could be nothing more than some computer geek's idea of something fun to give his simulated population to play with. And even more disturbing, to me, would be that even if we are living in a simulated reality, there would be no way to get outside of the simulation and see the REAL reality.

Maybe I'm not making much sense, so I should probably finish my coffee and go on living my possibly simulated existence.

HS Essay

Stellar essay on WW2 and an unsung hero.

My particular favorite is the "Oh God, no" comment written about halfway down.

(Other great answers from the brilliant stars in our educational system can be seen here.)

Net Worth

Sweet, I have a negative net worth.

What's yours?

Thought provoking short

Sheyl may not like the theme, but I thought it was a really interesting short and wanted to share.

Happy Left-Hander's Day!

Yet another obscure holiday - a day to celebrate those of us who write with the wrong left hand.

The Scientific Laws...

... of Romance.

Science Tatoos

More widespread than I would have imagined.

Cats

Lots and lots of them.
And Sheyl thought seven cats was too many!

Happy Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night

If only my mother had known about this holiday...

1) Carefully place a dozen or more zucchini in a large, sturdy black plastic trash bag, then add a couple layers of unwanted clothing. Drive to nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army, hand over bag to nearest volunteer. Politely refuse any offered receipt. Leave quickly.

2) Look for out-of-the-way places which have signs posted, "Clean Fill Wanted."

3) Under light of full moon, either stark naked or wearing full army camouflage, carrying a machete or any garden implement, run amuck in your zucchini patch, cutting and slashing. Be sure to thank Mother Nature for her bounty before and after this cathartic experience.

4) Buy a large roll of freezer paper--the kind that sub shops use. Then proceed to wrap each zucchini that has managed to grow to a foot or more in length. Next time your child has a fundraiser, send him or her out supplied with these phony subs. Tell child to drop them off with neighbors or relatives and leave quickly. It's advisable that a responsible adult hover nearby in a get-away car.

5) Gather all available plastic containers and freezer bags. Drink a vat of your favorite caffeinated beverage, in preparation for staying up 'round the clock to purée large quantities of zucchini. This can then be packaged neatly and artistically labeled: "For Zucchini Nut Bread Recipe." These packages can be freely given, along with copies of recipe, to anyone on your Christmas list.

More in Astronomy Events

August 28th beginning at 5:52 am and ending at 7:22 am - Lunar Eclipse

Perseid Meteor Shower

This sunday, the 12th.

What makes a scientist?

Curiosity and creativity

Happy Birthday, Owen!

Prank Phone Call

Word of the Day

NEMESIS
Definition:
a formidable, often victorious opponent

Example:
The boxer devoted months of training to defeating his NEMESIS in the upcoming match.

Synonyms:
enemy, scourge


How is Owen surviving without one?

Gobo broker’s a truce between SLB and the ICO

Breaking News

By Doingitfor Shitsandgiggles, AP Special Correspondent

Gobo broker’s a truce between SLB and the ICO

In a surprise move that no analyst would have ever dreamed of happening, the international negotiator Gobo, leader of the Fraggle Five, announced today a truce between Sheyl Leigh Boil and the International Clown Organization.



AFP Photo from left to right: Sheyl Lee Boyle, Bozo (along with his dog Schnitzel), and Gobo posing for a picture just after signing their historic truce at the ICO Knoebels headquarters.



Just before the signing of the truce ICO president Bozo was quoted as saying, “This was extremely unexpected, especially since SLB was quoted less than two weeks ago as saying that we were evil and called me personally, the DEVIL!!!!! We did not see this coming.” Gobo has said that he personally contacted SLB and had convinced her that all of this suspicion and name calling was not helping either side and a show of good faith was needed to calm mounting tensions between her and the ICO. Calls to SLB and her associate Melkor for comment were not immediately returned. Not all of ICO’s members hailed the truce. ICO’s security chief Pennywise was skeptical about SLB’s motives. “All I know is that I do not trust her and I will be keeping a close, personal eye on her and her associate, just waiting for them to make one wrong move, “ said Pennywise. He added, “SLB should know that I will be watching……………………………………

......

FSM makes it big time

He's now listed, in all His noodley glory, in the Periodic Table of the Internet

Jay Leno and Anti-Helium

Happy 4th of July!

please forgive me for peeing on the rug...

i thought i was a hamster, re: my myspace kung fu hamster guise, but, okay fine, i'll settle for being a CUTE PUPPY!!!

You Are A: Puppy!

Beloved by all, puppies are energetic, playful, and loving. Your playful and outgoing nature is part of what makes you a puppy. Known for their loyalty, puppies make great pets for young and old alike. And an innocent puppy face can melt anyone's heart!

You were almost a: Monkey or a Pony
You are least like a: Duckling or a TurtleWhat Cute Animal Are You?

what are you guys?

Happy Birthday Lee!!

Our Blog

Our blog is apparently rated PG - parental guidance suggested for the use of the words death (3x), crack (2x) and shit (1x).

Of course those numbers were from before I typed out those words.


UPDATE:

apparently we are now PG-13 after posting the words that made us PG.

Haunted house

Hopefully whatever has possessed the stereo doesn't break out and try something like this.

Happy Summer Solstice!

we could have a house face-off...

since women apparently suck at this, it might take three of us to take on one of Owen...
The Middle Show Video: Girls and Sound Effects

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Correction

Wacked,
So, apparently I lied last night. You asked what that weapon was with a ball on a chain. My answer was a mace, but apparently the one with a chain is a morning star flail (image b) and the mace is the one with a spiky ball of death on top of a handle with no chain (image a).

Gnomes

Is Ruth smuggling reptiles in her avatar?

To Sheyl:

No singing, promise!

Rock Prophets

In the Readings section of Harper's Magazine, March 1999:

From “What Would Journey Do?” by Bill Wasik, in the September 24, 1998, issue of The Weekly Week, a humor magazine published in Somerville, Massachusetts. “W.W.J.D.” bracelets were created in 1989 to encourage teenagers to ask “the question ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ with each decision they made”; since then, over 14 million of the bracelets have been sold in the United States alone. Journey, a rock band, released eleven albums between 1973 and 1986, including Escape and Frontiers, both of which reached Billboard’ s Top 10 chart in the early 1980s.

* * *
You’ve all seen the “W.W.J.D.” bracelets and T-shirts that remind teens and adults alike about a good rule of thumb for living a holy life. Many, however, ask themselves these questions: Does Journey know about my battles with the enemy of my soul? Do they understand the fierce temptations that challenge me? Do they have any clue what I am going through–the sorrow, the sadness, the depression that overflow my cup? I’ve been betrayed by a friend, a lover, someone very dear–does Journey understand?

I am here today to tell you that Journey DOES understand. Because, my friend, Journey has been there before.

SITUATION ONE: Gregg and Heather have a picture-perfect marriage. The two are young and wildly successful–Heather is a bank-credit analyst, Gregg a top loafer salesman at a department store. But Heather’s job requires her to work long hours, and Gregg often feels neglected. If she really loves me, he wonders, why is she away from home so much?

It’s the quintessential modern struggle: a two-income family, overworked, always pressed for time. You may wonder how Journey, who walked the Earth so long ago, could relate to a problem like this. But did you know that Journey faced precisely this same dilemma–nearly twenty years ago?

In Frontiers 5, 0:48, they tell the story of a musician, always on the road, and the woman he’s left behind: “They say that the road ain’t no place to start a family. But right down the line, it’s been you and me. And lovin’ a music man ain’t always what it’s supposed to be. Oh girl, you stand by me. I’m forever yoursfaithfully.”

Faithfully. It’s clear that Journey intends a double meaning to this term: faithfulness to the absent spouse, yes, but also faith in Journey–and their power to heal broken relationships.

Devotional meditation: How secure is my faith in Journey? When is it strong? When does it falter?

SITUATION TWO: Alice loves her boyfriend, Sam, deeply. They’ve shared long conversations, walks on the beach, romantic dinners by candlelight. But now Sam is pressuring her to have sexual relations with him, and Alice doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t feel comfortable having sex before marriage, and someone has told her that Journey thinks it’s wrong.

At many points in the Albums, Journey speaks out strenuously on this subject. And their message is always the same: “Any way you want it–that’s the way you need it.” False prophets who tell you otherwise are leading you astray. Do not pay them heed.

The most striking passage on the topic comes from Departure 1, 0:50: “I was alone–I never knew–what good love could do. Then we touched, and we sang, about the lovin’ things! All night, all night–oh, every night!”

Devotional meditation: Do I love to move? Do I love to groove? Do I love the lovin’ things?

SITUATION THREE: Martin has reached the end of his rope. His happy marriage, his beautiful family, his thriving bakery–none of it means anything to him. At night he finds himself awake, alone, wondering: if all life ends in death, then what’s the point of going on with it?

Journey was no stranger to existential hunger. Escape 1, 2:02, perhaps captures this hunger best of all: “Workin’ hard to get my fill–everybody wants a thrill. Payin’ anything to roll the dice, just one more time. Some will win, some will lose–some were born to sing the blues. Oh, the movie never ends: it goes on, and on, and on, and on.”

In the face of such sorrow and hopelessness, does Journey go on to say that we should give up the fight?

NO!

Instead, we are told to not stop believing. To hold on to that feeling.

May the streetlight person in each of us have the courage to listen.

Devotional meditation: Have I ever stopped believing–in life, in love, in Journey? When weighed down by the cares of the world, have I let go of that feeling? Have I taken a midnight train going anywhere?

The REAL Nessie

I posted this on my "other" blog, but since I don't expect anyone other than me actually looks at that, I wanted to share this with you.

So yesterday I went to a bbq at JMatt's. He had his ipod hooked up to speakers, and as we were standing around the firepit, this made me laugh (out loud, of course):

(Music playing)
JMatt: Ween was hired to do a Pizza Hut commercial, and this is what they came up with, it's about the pizza with the cheese hidden inside.

Ween: (click here to listen. you might have to give it a second to load and slide the thing-a-majiggy whatever it's called back to the beginning a couple times to replay.)

JMatt:They gave Pizza Hut their song and Pizza Hut was like, "No, no, no, the kid's won't like it." So then Ween gave 'em this...

(JMatt runs to ipod to change song...)

Ween: (click here to listen.)

Fun with captions...

"Hello. Oh hey honey how are you? Oh no things are quiet here, not too much jihad today. What? Oh yeah I can get milk on the way home. Oh no, no, no... I did not forget to pick up Mahmuhd on the way home tonight.... What? Why are you always like this? Why can't we just be happy?

mascot update

hope you guys don't mind that i changed the picture...

behold...

the tardigrade-shaped strawberry:





And if you don't know what a tardigrade is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrada

lee is retarded.

i have a new blog. it's based on my new project. it's called "lee laughing out loud".

you can find it at leelaughsoutloud.blogspot.com.

unless you think it would be better as leelaughingoutloud.blogspot.com.

it's not too late to change it back. it used to be "me laughing out loud" but i figured "me" could be anyone, but "lee" limits it to some large but less large number of possible me's.

okay, please vote... leelaughsoutloud, or leelaughingoutloud (dot)blogspot.com?

I could live in this

Well, you might HAVE to live in this to be able to afford it...
But doesn't it look like the perfect place to spend a lazy summer afternoon?

retarded

i don't care to see people's underwear that much either, but isn't this a little ridiculous? and women wear so much shit and show so much skin that they shouldn't - why doesn't anyone pass ordinance on what too short of a skirt is, or how much is too much cleavage? or how much butt crack they shouldn't be allowed to show when sitting with their really low cut jeans? personally, i find that more obscene than seeing some kid's boxer shorts. 3 inches is too much...
people are annoying and have nothing better to do with their time or power than pass ridiculous laws.

zen state

i had an MRI yesterday and when i was done the guy said to me, "do you do a lot of long distance running?"
i said "no. why?"

he said, "because your heart rate was 40."

okay to be exact it was 42. i was hooked up to an EKG so it probably wasn't wrong.

am i really dead, and you guys are just playing a big trick on me making me think i'm not?

or am i just way ahead of myself on this zen meditation thing. i've never even tried it. guess i don't have to.

(but then, trying would be counterproductive since the idea would be to "be" rather than to try or want to be. so i guess i just was...)

Icy/Hot Death

This just in! From our Midwestern correspondent. And how much is using it "to excess"?

Scary!

My friend, a very scholarly young grad student fellow in Bloomington, studying chemistry or something painful like that, told me he found this graph while looking up some papers on SciFinder Scholar. Frightening... or should i say, frighteningly true! Ah, Stony Brook!

please consider ignoring this if you're feeling down... then again, maybe it will put your day into perspective...

I've yet to proclaim myself an atheist, but if i was really looking for something to tip the scales, i think this, and the quote at the end, might solidly do the trick...


That end quote would be (it goes by fast):
"If a god does exist, its most prominent trait is its iron-clad resolve to do absolutely nothing to help its children as they writhe in agony.
And it is this very trait that makes such a being a monster by which all others pale in comparison."

And another to brighten your day:
"If you see a blind man starving in the gutter, kick him. Why should you be kinder than God?"
— Anon

(side note: no, i do not advocate such behavior)

Sorry for the depressing post. This morning I told lobster-sheyl i must be depressed because i slept until almost noon. That's very unlike me - bad sign. Now you can all do your best to post something funny and liven this gray day.

xoxo to you my lovely housemates.

p.s., to put this in perspective, i found the content of this blog on another blog which was a message to Paris Hilton for crying about going back to jail...

Kung Fu Hampster

(I thought of wacked when I saw this)

Another day to celebrate

Happy World Ocean Day!

Another kitty tagged pic

I thought Sheyl would particularly enjoy this one.

Sheyl's Sense of Humor

I think Sheryl Sheyl is going to find this either really funny, or not funny at all. I can't really tell with her. Either way, I laughed a lot at this so I can guarantee you that Ruth will hate it.

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Happy World Environment Day

Sorry, but I think more important than Apple Computer Day or Banana Split Day or fudge at cobras day is today, World Environment Day 2007, and 77 ways to celebrate.

Graffiti

They've taken it to a whole new level

eBay

Land where you can sell and purchase holy relics

Happy Apple Computer Day!

Sorry Owen,
Plus we missed
Yell "Fudge" at the Cobras in North America Day (June 2)
but don't forget
Banana Split Day (June 8-9)

Cats and men

I saw this and thought of our mascot.

Transportation

THIS is how we should carpool to work...

June is...

Send this eCard

Kevorkian

Dr. Death has been released!

Nessie?

Watch.
You decide.

Statue of Liberty

The real story.

Profound

Never a plot more twisted...

Brrrrrrrrrrr

It's officially summer by my way of measuring. I am sitting in my office freezing with a blanket around my legs, drinking hot tea, wishing for a sweater, and staring out the window at the beautiful weather. Almost time to break out the space heater, sigh.

Acapulco again

I just put up the pictures from Acapulco on my shutterfly site. Enjoy!

Beer Ad

I'm baaa-aaack!

I had a great time in Acapulco. The conference was really interesting, and my presentation went well. I played hookey one day and went sight seeing.

I hope you guys had a good week and are having a good memorial day! See you tomorrow!

Squirrels on Crack!

”It was ill-looking and its eyes looked bloodshot, but it kept on desperately digging. It seems a strange thing to say, but it seemed to know what it was looking for."

Good Things

I just discovered I was acknowledged for the first time for a paper in marine chemistry last year!

Undergrad detritus

This would have been nice at my UG

Turtles!

So cute!

Today's Top 5 List

• The truth about double dipping!
• This would be a better idea, if it didn't already exist in our basement.
• I mean they get the ideas for porno videos from somewhere.
• At this point in my life, I had accomplished nothing.
• Were this a different group, I would make a very innapropriate joke referring to parts of my anatomy regarding this link.

Adios Amigos!

So, I leave for Acapulco tomorrow, and I realize I left a few things in the fridge (and I probably have even more that I can't remember, sorry Sheyl!) - the guacamole, whole milk yogurt and cottage cheese are up for grabs (or throw them out, please). If I've got anything else in there, help yourself.

I hope you guys all have a great week, and I'll see you after Memorial Day!

Today's Top 3 List

Sorry, it's busier here at JFK than at Islip.

Someone actually funded this study?!?
Some useless relationship advise for Sheryl
Who is protesting who here?

Today's Top 5 List

• Maybe the first thirty-seven times were a fluke!
• No one ever said birds were smart.
• Frank may save your life one day.
• Good news, if he dies, he'll probably get nominated for a Darwin award.
• Instead of writing a strongly worded letter of complaint to a retailer who has wronged you, throw gummy bears.

the saga ends...

they found scotty

Role Playing Games

They can lead to jail time if you're not careful!

ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG!

That's a bit better. Wait.

No.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Okay, that's better.

Thanks

Tourists!

they ruin everyone's good time

Tattoo's

Apparently everyone's got them.

THIS is why I miss Eurovision

as well as the resulting commentary

"I desperately hope our Ukrainian readers are sitting up tall in their seats going, "Yes! If I ever have to explain the essence of Ukraine to American bitches, THIS is the way!" Were Elton John to perform in Oz, these hybrids between the Tin Man and the Village People would be his entourage. No. 18 up there looks in serious danger of splitting his mylar pants. But who would notice? There's a gold-dipped man in knee-socks playing a sparkly accordion and a human disco-ball with a star hat singing lead vocals. Who's even paying attention to No. 18's trousers?"

The Taj Mahal

gets a facial.

Slightly Misleading, but

Cleaning ancient frescos with salad dressing

AARGGH!!!

That is all.

Beautiful

How not to...

collect scrap metal. More evidence of American intelligence, of the teenage variety.

UPDATE

Scotty is still lost.

For the record

I just don't understand the Japanese sense of humor.

Well this should clear things up for us...

how to throw a 'progressive' dinner party.

Mythbusters in trouble....

It's all Jamie's fault anyway....

Americans Are Stupid

It's a bad week to be a tree

Catalina Islands, CA:


Northern Minnesota:


Bugaboo, GA:



But an interesting week for someone who studies windblown particles...

They lost Scotty!

Apparently they had a little trouble beaming Scotty back down.

Bacteria

I love Bacteria!!

Robbery

And more clothing related crime.

tan lines

Irony?

I'm not sure what's funnier about this article:
1) the police failed to catch the individual
2) his name is Wiley
3) or just imagining Wiley trying to drive a stick shift

and am I the only one having flash-backs to a particular scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

Socks

On one hand it's a little creepy, on the other, with all the possible crimes people commit is it really worth 7, 6 and 3 years in prison?

proposal defense...

I passed!

Mud

I hate them, I hate them ALL!

Away for a while...

I'm off to beautiful scenic Lake George, NY to present my research to a group of people who have no desire to listen to my research. I should be back on either really late on Wednesday or really early on Thursday. I payed my LIPA and Keyspan, if someone could mail it off Monday, that'd be great. The heat is off in the basement, and the windows are closed....

If for some reason you need to contact me try my cell (bad service I'm told) or the Sagamore Hotel at (518)-644-9400. I'll check e-mail sporatically. See you later...

Evil Geico Gecko

I just saw a commercial for Geico where the Gecko is walking down a busy street talking to the camera.
You could see all the feet of the people passing him.

Am I a terrible person for wishing one of those shoes would squish the annoying little gecko?

What would happen to Calvin in today's world...

Honestly, I never understood why people liked Calvin and Hobbs. It always seemed really silly, the idea of a boy with a tiger doll that talked to him. This video clip examines what would happen in today's society if some kid was talking to a doll all the time...

Smoothies

An interesting variation on the common smoothie. Hmm, no thanks.

I can't get funding for my project...

And yet these people get to search for the Loch Ness monster.

Just a suggestion...

I think THIS should be the next song covered by Owen D and the Fourcasters

Speechless

Just speechless.

People

and why I hate law types

Spray Paint

Poor Doggie!

The importance of millimeters

Global warming

... and gardening. What you need to know.

The New Mona Lisa...

... using MS Paint. No small feet considering the small selection of colors and brushes available.

Warning: you might want to kill the sound on this one.

Computer Monster!

I'd rather do this in person...

...but I haven't been around in the evenings to ask! Does anyone have any objections to me hosting a pseudo-BBQ tomorrow night? It would probably kick off around 6:30pm.

Owen

The Da Vinci code?

Nah, THIS is more like the Du Fay Code.

Another article on the music of the Rosslyn Chapel.

Finally, they understand me!

Report: 70 Percent Of All Praise Sarcastic

My list of 830 and growing places to see before I die. I have to live to 200.

You'll note Grand Central Station didn't make the list ;)

Another video

I thought I'd share this Simpsons clip on grad student life.

Sheyl's probably already seen it on the phorum, but I thought I'd share it to everyone here.

Gators in the news part 2

Illegal parking wreaks havoc on traffic in Texas.

People race the strangest things

like Chihuahuas.

which, to me, seems to strongly resemble Monty Python's 100m dash for people with no sense of direction

I can't die yet...

... I've only seen 19 out of 100 of THESE

Reggie is back!

I was going to make a very funny baseball joke then realized that none of you would get it. So instead, I will very boringly post this link.

dave and lee read haiku

here's dave and i reading haiku we wrote at a bar in montreal at a meeting two years ago. home video quality...

lee loves norah poem.

if you haven't seen this poem, see my myspace page and look at the early blog posts (http://www.myspace.com/163363057). i have the slideshow there, with words.
here is just a video of me trying to recite it at the retreat this year. probably won't be that entertaining for you guys.

Killer Rabbits

Am I alone in never having heard of This incident?

I especially enjoy the Monty Python comment

AND... be sure to hold your mouse over the comic itself for a moment too...

Sheep

Or is it a HOAX?

Interesting article

Is it time to buy a new computer?

Dr. Hawking

In zero gravity.
Watch the video too.

A few from the onion

1. Urban Planner Caught in Traffic Jam of Own Creation
2. Igloo Envy
3. Sheryqwqwqwqwqwqwqwqwql's Male 12 year old alter ego excels at disection
4. Celebrate Earth Day

mmm, pie, i mean, pi...

don't try this at home...

In following carrot-woman's lead, "for everyone else's entertainment", today an egg exploded in my face and my lip hurts.

It went something like this:

I was, in "hobbit"-style, scrounging for food for lunch and had a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge in my office. I was really excited about adding these to my hodge-podge lunch, until I opened the container containing (that's why they call it a container) my eggs in it, pulled one out, and remembered that everything in that tiny little contraption of a cooling device (a.k.a. piece o' crap fridge) partially freezes.

I was very disappointed because I didn't want to wait for the eggs to thaw, and I didn't want to eat half-frozen hard-boiled eggs.

I thought to myself, I wonder if they will thaw if I put them in the microwave for 30 seconds? And then I thought, and I wonder if egg shells will burn in the microwave?

Well, only one way to find out... I decided that the microwave would surely thaw my eggs, and if I smelled or saw any signs of burning, I would quickly remove the eggs. One person in the lounge where I went to microwave them mentioned that eggs can explode if you microwave them, but I said mine were hard-boiled, so that shouldn't happened. She agreed, no, that shouldn't happen.

Now before you jump ahead and think that you know the ending, that really one of the eggs was not hard-boiled because I had mixed it up with a raw one and that it exploded in my face when I opened the microwave, no, no, no, that is NOT what happened. The eggs were indeed both hard-boiled.

So, I put them in the microwave for 30 seconds or so, removed them, and returned to my office to enjoy them with some salt. The egg shells didn't burn either.

I sat down at my desk and peeled the egg shell off the first one I picked up. The shell was a little hot, but the egg itself seemed okay. After peeling the shell, I put a little salt on it, put it up to my mouth, started to take a bite, teeth biting down, and *POP*!!! It exploded in my face!!!

My upper lip suddenly burnt terribly and started to feel numb. I promptly looked down at what I thought was a non-explosive and edible device called an egg, something I was apparently very wrong about, and saw the remnants of the bottom half of the white of the egg, encapsulating bits of yellowish-grayish-brownish yolk. Other bits of that yolk were sparsely scattered in my lap, on my shirt, and on my desk and the many things that cover it.

Needless to say, I was very disappointed about this bit of my lunch. While I did not eat the other egg as I had lost my appetite for egg by this point, I did de-shell it and cut it open with a knife (with my face partially turned and as far away from it as possible), and it was completely harmless. I tossed it into the garbage.

The End.

I wasn't going to post anymore...

... since I'm starting to feel lame for being the only one to post here.

But this article was just too strange not to share.

Pop quiz:
Which is more disturbing:
(a) there are people SO gullible out there
(b) there are people so willing to take advantage of (a)
(c) there are people who don't know the difference between a dog and a sheep
(d) these people think they are responsible enough to own and care for a pet

***EDIT***
THIS has a much better picture! (And worse puns)

RE: bees

Most amusing quote from this article:
"[B]ees may suffer from a diet that includes artificial supplements, concoctions akin to energy drinks and power bars."

at least I found the imagery amusing...

Today's Top 5 List

1. Today's half-baked hypothesis on the disappearing bees
2. Obligatory monthly gas price story
3. I didn't realize people were this desperate for action
4. If you wanted to define irony...
5. And lastly, for your viewing pleasure, may I introduce Chad Vader

Carrots

For everyone else's entertainment/pondering... I just woke up from a nap, since I came home feeling very ill. Chilled, light-headed, headachy, shaky, slightly nauseous... I feel completely better now. This is at least the third time this has happened that I can remember, always immediately after eating... baby carrots. Can one have an allergy/intolerance to carrots?! I tried googling it, and carrot allergies that come up are more like typical food allergies- itching, hives, anaphylactic shock. Very weird.

Party in Sweden's Pants

and you're invited.

Extreme living

The Hotel Version

Finally...

...a presidential debate worth watching.

RE: Oh my...

I didn't read this terribly thoroughly, but I think my favorite part is the reference to the voicemail at the very end, urging pesky callers to "get a sense of humor and/or a life, in that order."

Oh my...

Sometimes I don't understand people.

Strategic Incompetence

Who knew there was an actual name for this often observed phenomenon?

I must admit, though, to being guilty of this from time to time.

i love you! (my weng weng)

You don't say.

I, for one, figured this was pretty much a given already.

I want to read the proposal...

... that funded THIS

I also would love to know how they even came up with the idea for it in the first place...

And I'm not entirely sure if I should be disturbed that this article comes with audio and video at the end...

brilliant

yo, this idea is already the best ever!
i'll post something interesting at some point, oh, but right now i'm busy inputting 2851 elevations from a stupid topomap. stupid school. stupid GIS. stupid me for being in grad school rather than getting rich. i think that msnbc article might have it all wrong. surely the rich are smarter, just for getting rich. we should've done that BEFORE grad school...

Not too bright? You can still be rich!

LINK

Just another day at work...

... playing in the dirt with marbles...

Ah, the life of a NASA scientist.

An Inconsistant Truth

Sneaky Energy Wasters - Phantom Loads

From LIPA:

SNEAKY ENERGY WASTERS – PHANTOM LOADS
Love the convenience of a remote control? Channel surfing? Turning off the air conditioner from across the room? Think about it. How many remote controls do you have in your home? How many television sets and cable boxes? These appliances remain partially on, even though they appear to be turned off. Anything that can be powered by a remote control is in some measure “on,” all day, every day, so that it is ready to receive the “on” signal from the remote. How much electricity do they use? Not much. Approximately 7/10 of a kilowatt hour. But when you have multiple “phantom” appliances running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, those kWhs add up.

Anything with a clock–VCRs, coffee makers, microwave ovens, ranges, receivers, etc.–also uses a small amount of power all the time. Anything that uses a "power cube," such as answering machines, hand held video games and electric toothbrushes, uses very tiny amounts of power; maybe only a watt or two, but they are always using electricity. One solution for clocks is battery power. A wall mounted clock runs for nearly a year on a single battery.

Watch out for those small transformers that plug into the wall outlet to power a lower voltage appliance like cell phones. These villainous wastrels are usually very inefficient; usually having around twenty percent efficiency (which means that for every dime's worth of electricity consumed, they throw away six or eight cents worth). You can stop wasting that energy (and money) by pulling the plug.

Charging through the brush...

... is the rare Borneo Rhino, never before captured on camera!
and no, this is not a Planet Earth special.

I didn't kill no motherfucking lion

SNL Ray Lewis Disney Parody

Add to My Profile | More Videos

I mean really...

... how do they get funding for this stuff?

~R

In the beginning there was...

... the story that started this whole blog thing
The Kryptonite Story (complete with pictures!)

~R

Inaugural Address

My fellow Beacon Hillers...

(Okay, kind of a lame start, but that was the only thing that came to mind.)

Do what you will here, post funny websites, strange things in the news, or whatever else you think the "house" needs to know about. All the news that may or may not be fit to print.

Have fun, guys.

~R