Auld Lang Syne

Ok, I'm not really going to wax poetic on the year. It certainly had its ups and downs. Some of the highs were really, really high. Some of the lows were really, really low. All told, I got through another year with my health and sanity relatively intact, and that's got to be a good thing. On a blog note, I'm pretty amazed that I've kept at this for two years fairly consistently. Most of it is utter crap, and useless to everyone, including myself ... but I stuck at it anyways. So I am going to make one resolution for 2010. I'm going to try to add more substance to this blog over the next year. If I can do that, and life cooperates, I'll keep at it in 2011. If I can't be bothered to really utilize this blog to explain and push science, it'll be time to move on.

Anywho ... hope everyone has a great day, and I'll see you all next year!

What gives NewScientist?

So I'm reading an article today and about a minute into reading, the screen goes black. A bright blue box in the middle of the darkened screen tells me I've read 3 articles from NS this month, and if I want the privilege to read up to four more -- free of charge -- I need to register. Yes, I need to give you my email address so you can spam me incessantly, right? Yes, I have an email account I use just for these purposes, but that's besides the point. I stopped using ESPN to catch up on my sports because they started switching their articles to their INsider service (that and they now pipe live video on just about every page you read ... which is annoying because I don't care to watch or listen to Sports Center blurbs when I'm reading an article ... it's like websites with music on the page, they're damn annoying and intrusive). So, NewScientist ... I will not register for access to four more articles a month. Which means, I suppose I should stop visiting your site altogether. Or I will, once you fix the workaround I employed. I just don't allow any java scripts to work from your site, and the blackened screen went away, allowing me to read articles to my hearts content.

Baby want a bottle? A big dirt bottle?

LaMarr Woodley is an idiot. A really big idiot. An idiot that gets paid a lot more money than I do, but an idiot nonetheless.

Listen ya big crybaby ... if your team hadn't laid down for five games in the middle of the season, you laid down for the Cleveland Browns for crying out loud, you wouldn't have to worry about the final game on the Patsies or Bungles schedules. But, ya didn't ... you screwed the pooch and have no one to blame but yourself.

Besides, a team that lost to the Browns will surely strike no fear in the heart of any other NFL team.

Once we get into the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers is a playoff team.

No duh. Like I said ... idiot.

"I think when you say that [teams will lay down], it calls into question the character of the players on their team. And I think all those guys are character football players and competitors," Clark said. "Now if it were last year's [Steelers team], yeah, they probably wouldn't want to play us. But this year's team, I don't think strikes fear in anyone."

Woodley's teammate, Ryan Clark, is not an idiot. Oh, and he thinks Woodley is an idiot too.

"To say Cincinnati doesn't want to face us, that would kind of be a little dumb, being that they beat us twice this season," Clark said. "So I'm sure they have a lot of confidence if they do have to play us."

Exactly.

There is hope!

If this article is correct, by my calculations the Mets should win the World Series in 2014!

The outcome: Foster hit 13 home runs in his first season in New York. He played an abysmal left field, was booed mercilessly, shunned in his own clubhouse and -- even as he went on to spend 3½ more decent seasons with the Mets -- labeled one of the biggest busts in the team's history. By the time the team won the 1986 World Series, he was out of baseball.

So, the Mets sign Jason Bay for the start of the 2010 season. They tank the 2010 season and the following three, and then Viola! World Series Champs!

As we approach 2010, New York Mets history is about to repeat itself.

One can only hope!

Forget explosive-laden tighty whities ...

... being the biggest threat to your health when you travel by air. The greatest danger may come from the airport itself!

The newspaper said that 77 percent of the 35 restaurants reviewed at Reagan had at least one "critical" violation. Tasty!

I generally do not eat fast food when I'm traveling. Doesn't matter if I'm traveling by plane or car. There is nothing worse than being a couple of hours into a lengthy travel schedule and getting the Aztec two-step. Explosive diarrhea and/or vomiting at 30,000 feet in close quarters is one of the least appealing things I can imagine.

Of course, the thought does conjure up the notion of a different sort of explosive-laden tighty whities. *shudder*

Can you say ...

... "Mama's boy"? What is this kid going to do if he gets drafted by the NFL, by a team out West? Tell them no, that he's decided he's going to play for the Patriots?

It's good to be a Mets fan ...

... ok, not really.

Interesting articles ...

... in Newsweek. How Dams Influence Local Climate Patterns.

[D]ams increase atmospheric instabilities in the vertical profile of temperature and humidity. Those instabilities arise because the presence of a dam—specifically, the reservoir it creates—increases evaporation and therefore atmospheric moisture. That enhances the amount of convective energy in the air above the reservoir. The end result: more precipitation.

And another environmental article (2009 in review) from the New Scientist, complete with photo caption gold.

This strange bug-eyed salamander is was discovered in the Cordillera del Condor.

Next time I does/do make a discovery, I'll be sure to write just like they does/do.

Spam

I'm starting to see more spam rise up on my site. I'm going to hold out putting in some sort of moderation for comments as long as I can, and I hope this is just a blip on the radar that will pass. However, if I need to put in some sort of moderation, I'll try to use the least intrusive method available.

Is death a "complication"?

It appears so, at least in this instance.

Then came the Hermanstorfer's Christmas miracle. "Immediately after delivering him, her pulse came back," said Dr. Martin. Martin tells 11 News, when pregnant women have complications, they have been known to recover once the baby is delivered.

Both mother and child survived. I guess the obvious response for the child -- as he is growing up -- to the hyperbolic question "Are you trying to kill me?" (sometimes said in exasperation) by his mom should be "Been there, done that, Mom."

Pretty shocking statistics

Found here.

*In 18 U.S. states, not even one elementary math class is required for certification.

*Some teaching colleges allow admittance as long as students have math skills equal to their future students -- that is, as long as they could pass a 5th grade math test.

*It's possible in some states to pass the teacher certification exam (Praxis) without answering a single math question correctly.

*In Massachusetts, there's a special program to reacquaint teachers with math. The man who runs the program says half of teachers can't answer basic questions involving fractions and has concluded that many elementary teachers are "phobic" about math.

*Teachers seem to be math-averse from the start. College bound seniors headed for elementary education have math SAT scores significantly lower than the national average (483 vs. 515).

Pathetic. No wonder things don't add up properly.

Happy Holidays

Hope everyone enjoys this time where we usually get to slow down for a day, or two, or three ... and appreciate all that most of us already have.

I dunno ...

... who dies at the age of 32 of a heart attack?

Has to be either a congenital issue, or drug-related.

You Could Have It So Much Better

by: Franz Ferdinand

The last message you sent,
said I looked really down,
that I oughta come over,
and talk about it.
Well ... I wasn't down,
I just wasn't smiling at you, yeah.
As I look at you now it seems,
that you're slapping my back,
as if it's alright,
but its not.

I'm trying to get up,
but you're pushing me down,
oh yeah, you're pushing me down,
so I'll get up on my own.

Now there's some grinning goon,
on my TV screen.
Telling us all that
it's alright ... because
she wears this,
and he said that,
and if you get some of these,
it'll all be alright.

Well I refuse
to be a cynical goon.
Passing the masses
an easy answer.
Because it won't be alright,
Oh no it won't be alright,
it won't be alright,
unless you get up,
come on and get up!

Well I'm just a voice in your earpiece,
telling you no it's not alright.
You know you could have it so much better,
You could have it so much better.
If you tried. If you tried. If you tried.

Get up on your own!

This is not how you win the war on terror ...

... $4.5 million dollar US military hardware hacked by $26 off-the-shelf software.

Speaking of inhumane treatment ...

... sounds like this guys son should get a little. Then again, perhaps the dad is the real dummy for putting his 13 year old son on his phone plan without taking the proper precautions (like only allowing the phone to dial home and 911).

Growing up ...

... I had fond memories of attending the circus. I've been to the Ringling Bros. a couple of times as a child. However, where there is smoke, there is fire. I do not, any longer, view these shows as humane.

Article ...

... in Scientific American.

Bugs Inside.

Linkage

Small Worlds - a very interesting flash game.

Currently ...

PlayingDead Space: Extraction is a cool on-rails FPS for the Wii. It's the first time I've ever played an on-rails game, and while it took a bit of getting used to, I've become a bit fond of it. It certainly helps that EA put a ton of extras into this game, not to mention that it's fleshed out with a great story and voice acting. Definitely my game of 2009. Thanks EA!

Listening ToThe Veils are an alt rock band that has been around for a bit, but I found this album mentioned in a "Best of 2009" list somewhere on the internets. It's definitely a great album and worth a listen. They have a video or two on Youtube.