So, about 12 hours ago, I saw a cool t-shirt online that was about Back to the Future. About 15 minutes ago that t-shirt popped back up into my mind spurring a random string of thoughts that I'd like to share. Now, for your pleasure, is a glimpse into how Brian's mind works when he is driving alone, thinking.
"that was a pretty cool t-shirt earlier. i really want to buy it cause i would wear it for sure. 88 mph sure is fast. the future. hmmmmm. the future.
you know, i've always thought about travel through time as a motion when really, just because relativity involves moving at the speed of light, it doesn't mean travel through time has to involve motion in the original 3 dimensions. hmmmmmm. That would mean that Wells' The Time Machine had it closer than Back to the Future i think. still. i don't think travel to the past is possible, but if you could unsync yourself from normal time, you could bypass a large chunk of time. but you'd have to somehow uncouple the interior of your 'time bubble' as well, otherwise you would experience the passage of time. argh!
let's see, somehow your time bubble would have to be 'moving' at relativistic speeds unless some hitherto unknown process could accelerate time around an object. hmmmm.
how fast can superman go? i saw an episode of the Batman Superman Adventures that had the flash melt himself out of ice by vibrating his body so fast the friction melted it. superman of course had heat vision. but still, if the flash and superman were racing and nobody was winning, that must mean superman can go pretty darn fast. if so, then could he (or the flash) vibrate so fast in place that they begin to 'move' at relativistic speeds and bypass time? this is where my idea of travel to the past as illogical comes from. one can only bypass time, not go back. at least that's how i see it......"
Blah, blah. So you see, those are the paths my mind takes. What you didn't see is that during all this I was being even more elaborate, singing along with a song, thinking about an intense dream I had last night, playing a movie clip of all my thoughts as they cued in my head, and pondering my dinner selection tonight. Not to mention driving. Cue discussion about time travel if you like.
December 6, 2008
November 6, 2008
A Little Blue...
I am so upset! There are only so many authors out there that I would purchase their book regardless of knowing what the book is about. Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K Dick, C.S. Lewis, George Orwell, Richard Feynman, and Michael Crichton to name probably all of them. Sadly, I just read an article that said Michael Crichton had passed away. Oh my gosh! I had a dream of meeting him sometime in my life and now that dream is shattered. He was/is in my top three favorite authors. I must have read Jurassic Park 10 times in 4 or 5 years, I loved it that much. I’ve read all of his books except for his latest one, Next. Most I’ve read more than 3 times. Timeline is incredible and I remember getting Prey for Christmas and reading it that night. I can remember the first time I read the Great Train Robbery and Andromeda Strain. I remember where I was when I was reading Lost World and Terminal Man. And who could forget Congo even though I hate monkeys? Argh! I’m gonna miss you Crichton.
October 31, 2008
Anticipation
So to make a long story short yet concise yet full-of-all-that-you-would-need-to-know, I am preparing my skill set to partake in analyzing data for a post doc at the UW. What? Well to undergrads like myself they call that research. Cool, huh? I have to say I'm very nervous yet excited. I know that research is an important part of being an undergrad and grad in the sciences so I've been wondering how I was going to get started. Imagine my shock when all I had to do was talk to our (the Astronomy Dept.) friendly program advisor who then took me over to the faculty member with the work to be done! Whew!
What skill set am I preparing you ask? Well, I'm a Windows guy. I like PC's. To use the current cliche, I'm a PC. What I don't know very well are any things that use command lines and stuff that's behind the scenes without a friendly desktop and mouse to help me around. The data I'll be needing are accessible by Linux or programs similar to Linux (which is similar to Unix [you got me on what that is]). This faculty member, whose name is Lynne, got me a link to a crash course in Linux and I'm studying it like a fiend, trying to get good at it so I can start this project.
And the project is, you ask? Well Lynne was taking optical (visible light) data of a patch of asteroids in the Asteroid Belt and at nearly the same time, the Spitzer Space Telescope was taking an infrared (measures the heat of an object) picture of the same batch of asteroids. Now if you have either optical or infrared data on an object like an asteroid, it's difficult (not sure if its impossible) to determine its size. But, by combining both, you can determine the albedo, a measure of the reflectivity of the object and from that you can determine size. What you do with the info after that is ... up to someone else at this point I think.
There is my news for the week. That and I've been sick with a cold. I also just finished my math physics homework which was more tedious than anything I've done in about 4 months, which was when I had to move.
What skill set am I preparing you ask? Well, I'm a Windows guy. I like PC's. To use the current cliche, I'm a PC. What I don't know very well are any things that use command lines and stuff that's behind the scenes without a friendly desktop and mouse to help me around. The data I'll be needing are accessible by Linux or programs similar to Linux (which is similar to Unix [you got me on what that is]). This faculty member, whose name is Lynne, got me a link to a crash course in Linux and I'm studying it like a fiend, trying to get good at it so I can start this project.
And the project is, you ask? Well Lynne was taking optical (visible light) data of a patch of asteroids in the Asteroid Belt and at nearly the same time, the Spitzer Space Telescope was taking an infrared (measures the heat of an object) picture of the same batch of asteroids. Now if you have either optical or infrared data on an object like an asteroid, it's difficult (not sure if its impossible) to determine its size. But, by combining both, you can determine the albedo, a measure of the reflectivity of the object and from that you can determine size. What you do with the info after that is ... up to someone else at this point I think.
There is my news for the week. That and I've been sick with a cold. I also just finished my math physics homework which was more tedious than anything I've done in about 4 months, which was when I had to move.
October 15, 2008
3.3 Microseconds
It's a full moon. I've started listening to Christmas music. I'm freeing up space on my computer. And this is my 60th blog (but technically my 59th posted blog). It seems only fitting I discuss an interesting matter that has been muddling around in the back and front and sides of my head (nooks and crannies are free of this thought).
Take a moment and consider light. Go on................ It has a velocity: 3.0 x 10^8 m/s (or verbally, three hundred million meters per second). That's pretty stinking fast you say. Duh, I know, I'm an astrophysicist (in training). Anyway. Now consider what light does for us. It illuminates things. Everything you can see with your eyes is because light is reflecting off of it. Shocking! If it were not for light bouncing off things, we would not see them, unless the object itself was a source of illumination. Now, put these two ideas together. Velocity and that things we see are because of light. We are constantly seeing the past.
Yes, we are always seeing the past. Never the now. A little meta-exi-physi-stensial for you? Well, I'm only putting it how I heard it and then thought about it. Light takes time to travel from an object to our eye. Thus, unless the object is in your eye, you are experiencing it as it was in the past (and we won't discuss neuron sensory path time). There is no now when it comes to visual stimuli. It's easy to say light from a star took 100 million years to get here because it's 100 million light-years away, but it's not something people think about when they look at a train coming at them from say....1 kilometer away. Do you know how long it took that light from the train to get to you? It's Math Time (insert intro credits to favorite TV show here).
Distance = velocity x time so t = D/v or t= (1000m)/(3 x 10^8 m/s)
t= .0000033 seconds
AHHHH! That train could have exploded and you wouldn't know it for 3.3 micro seconds!!!
So, cue a discussion if you like. Perhaps others are so adamant about the absurdity of my statement that an answer to life, the universe, and everything will come out of discusssion.
P.S. As an aside, or I guess more accurately a post script, I would like to point out the distance from the Sun to the Earth is 1.49 x 10^11 meters, which is 149 billion meters. Couple that with light speed and the Sun could explode and we wouldn't have a gorram clue for 8 minutes. Makes me chuckle just thinking about it.
Take a moment and consider light. Go on................ It has a velocity: 3.0 x 10^8 m/s (or verbally, three hundred million meters per second). That's pretty stinking fast you say. Duh, I know, I'm an astrophysicist (in training). Anyway. Now consider what light does for us. It illuminates things. Everything you can see with your eyes is because light is reflecting off of it. Shocking! If it were not for light bouncing off things, we would not see them, unless the object itself was a source of illumination. Now, put these two ideas together. Velocity and that things we see are because of light. We are constantly seeing the past.
Yes, we are always seeing the past. Never the now. A little meta-exi-physi-stensial for you? Well, I'm only putting it how I heard it and then thought about it. Light takes time to travel from an object to our eye. Thus, unless the object is in your eye, you are experiencing it as it was in the past (and we won't discuss neuron sensory path time). There is no now when it comes to visual stimuli. It's easy to say light from a star took 100 million years to get here because it's 100 million light-years away, but it's not something people think about when they look at a train coming at them from say....1 kilometer away. Do you know how long it took that light from the train to get to you? It's Math Time (insert intro credits to favorite TV show here).
Distance = velocity x time so t = D/v or t= (1000m)/(3 x 10^8 m/s)
t= .0000033 seconds
AHHHH! That train could have exploded and you wouldn't know it for 3.3 micro seconds!!!
So, cue a discussion if you like. Perhaps others are so adamant about the absurdity of my statement that an answer to life, the universe, and everything will come out of discusssion.
P.S. As an aside, or I guess more accurately a post script, I would like to point out the distance from the Sun to the Earth is 1.49 x 10^11 meters, which is 149 billion meters. Couple that with light speed and the Sun could explode and we wouldn't have a gorram clue for 8 minutes. Makes me chuckle just thinking about it.
October 9, 2008
Stupid Irony
Just a quick little blurb about something I found on the internet. Yes, I know, I've succumbed to sharing things on a blog that I found while surfing. Well, this deserves it. Check it out if you want because it is really short. Here is the skinny. Some clock in New York City has been showing a running total of the national debt since 1989. The debt is now too large for the clock to properly show. What are we doing about it? We're getting a frakkin' new clock! Why in the name of all good and sensible things would we pay for a (no doubt cool looking, digital, fancy, atomic, large, very pricey for something so dumb, and pointless) new clock??!! Who cares? It's going to be ready in a year. Can you think of how much a clock thing that takes a year to build would cost? Even if it was ten dollars, I'd say, screw the clock and go buy that homeless man down the street a new sweater. I can't believe this country. Do you see the irony?
September 24, 2008
E-Ticket Dad
Recently, I went on vacation. I needed one. That's why I went. So, there you go.
Let me start out by saying, if you don't know what an E Ticket was, go here. Briefly, an E Ticket was the bestest ride at Disneyland/World. It was the cream of the crop, the most exciting. It was Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, etc. I tell you that so you understand the title. My dad took us on an E Ticket ride through Brooklyn in New York. My only advice in case you ever find yourself driving there is two-fold: look at every traffic sign you can and look out for the pedestrians as they have no respect for the right of way.
Our vacation was a New England cruise and our departure port was Pier 12 in New York, New York. Being there a day early, we decided to attend church on Sunday at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Perfect. We have directions to the church, what could go wrong? I was the navigator and it was my role to pay attention for things that perhaps the driver would not and inform him at the last possible moment about them (last possible so I didn't look like a backseat driver). Now, I'm looking for a church and so I imagine a church-like looking structure. I'm looking and don't notice that the street we're on suddenly decides to cease being a two-way and turn into a one-way... towards us. It was a required left or right turn and both my Padre and I missed it. I can't tell you how much you want to get to church when you're going down a one way street the wrong way with cars heading for you. Well, we turn off that road pretty quick, nearly running some people over. I say, "we must have passed it because the street numbers are going the wrong way." We begin to loop around the block looking for parking as well as the actual building. Swerving around Brooklyn on a Sunday morning in a rental car with Tennessee plates is really quite exhilarating.
The next big shock was when we thought we could make a left turn only to realize it was a bus only street (why do we have those so lamely labeled), which was occupied by a bus! I didn't know if it was a two lane road, or we were going down another one way the wrong way, but I saw another one way street that was a left turn so I shouted "over there!" We zoom around the bus and, you guessed it, almost hit another person and got off the bus only road. I felt I was starting to get the hang of the one way streets and remembered that there was a bus only road at such and such a turn. Now we're making progress.
On our fourth or fifth jaunt down the street that the Brooklyn Tab is supposedly on, I finally spot the (in my opinion) small block letters on a building that looks like any other building in the area. I shout "there it is!" and we now start the quest to find parking, while I look on to the location in my mind and become aware of any turn we make so we can find our way back on foot to the entrance. A couple of more turns later and we find the parking lot that goes with the church and we park. I was never so happy to go to church in my life. You really had to be there on that drive to understand. Words don't properly describe the sheer chaos. Did I happen to mention that there was a local police precinct across the street that was no doubt watching us violate dozens of traffic laws. "Crazy tourists. When they finally hit something we'll have to go out there and help 'em out." I'm sure that's not what they were really saying. Anyhoo.
How was church? Fantastic. The choir? Everything I thought it could be and more. I love choirs. I wish I could sing in one. The power, energy, harmony... I had pins and needles. The message? Right for me. Anyway, that was the first day of my vacation. I think you can imagine how the rest of it went. I hope to have time to tell a few more stories.
Let me start out by saying, if you don't know what an E Ticket was, go here. Briefly, an E Ticket was the bestest ride at Disneyland/World. It was the cream of the crop, the most exciting. It was Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, etc. I tell you that so you understand the title. My dad took us on an E Ticket ride through Brooklyn in New York. My only advice in case you ever find yourself driving there is two-fold: look at every traffic sign you can and look out for the pedestrians as they have no respect for the right of way.
Our vacation was a New England cruise and our departure port was Pier 12 in New York, New York. Being there a day early, we decided to attend church on Sunday at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Perfect. We have directions to the church, what could go wrong? I was the navigator and it was my role to pay attention for things that perhaps the driver would not and inform him at the last possible moment about them (last possible so I didn't look like a backseat driver). Now, I'm looking for a church and so I imagine a church-like looking structure. I'm looking and don't notice that the street we're on suddenly decides to cease being a two-way and turn into a one-way... towards us. It was a required left or right turn and both my Padre and I missed it. I can't tell you how much you want to get to church when you're going down a one way street the wrong way with cars heading for you. Well, we turn off that road pretty quick, nearly running some people over. I say, "we must have passed it because the street numbers are going the wrong way." We begin to loop around the block looking for parking as well as the actual building. Swerving around Brooklyn on a Sunday morning in a rental car with Tennessee plates is really quite exhilarating.
The next big shock was when we thought we could make a left turn only to realize it was a bus only street (why do we have those so lamely labeled), which was occupied by a bus! I didn't know if it was a two lane road, or we were going down another one way the wrong way, but I saw another one way street that was a left turn so I shouted "over there!" We zoom around the bus and, you guessed it, almost hit another person and got off the bus only road. I felt I was starting to get the hang of the one way streets and remembered that there was a bus only road at such and such a turn. Now we're making progress.
On our fourth or fifth jaunt down the street that the Brooklyn Tab is supposedly on, I finally spot the (in my opinion) small block letters on a building that looks like any other building in the area. I shout "there it is!" and we now start the quest to find parking, while I look on to the location in my mind and become aware of any turn we make so we can find our way back on foot to the entrance. A couple of more turns later and we find the parking lot that goes with the church and we park. I was never so happy to go to church in my life. You really had to be there on that drive to understand. Words don't properly describe the sheer chaos. Did I happen to mention that there was a local police precinct across the street that was no doubt watching us violate dozens of traffic laws. "Crazy tourists. When they finally hit something we'll have to go out there and help 'em out." I'm sure that's not what they were really saying. Anyhoo.
How was church? Fantastic. The choir? Everything I thought it could be and more. I love choirs. I wish I could sing in one. The power, energy, harmony... I had pins and needles. The message? Right for me. Anyway, that was the first day of my vacation. I think you can imagine how the rest of it went. I hope to have time to tell a few more stories.
September 5, 2008
Kopi Luwak
Ah, the Asian Palm Civet. Who would have thought that man would pay attention enough to the feces of this small mammal to notice the undigested coffee beans? I don't think I would have, but some people did and now for some reason the beans that have passed through this creature are the most expensive in the world. Who in their right mind would purchase these beans, or even a cup of coffee made from said beans before knowing if they would like it or not? Would you slap down fifty greenbacks for a 6oz. cup of Kopi Luwak coffee? I wouldn't. Thankfully, I don't have to now. Yes! It's true. I have now tasted this coffee with my own mouth, almost (being quite figurative here) straight from the Civet's rear. How? My roommate, the equitable Tyler J.S. Cronk has a friend from(or is) Indonesia(n) who gifted us with an entire bag. It may weigh a pound and thus, I was holding somewhere between $120 and $600 worth of Civet crap on Tuesday in my hand. Wow.
So, you're wondering what it tastes like? It has a very different brewing aroma than I'm used to and also has an even stronger smell in my cup. Doing my best to realize that what I'm about to drink has passed through the mouth, stomach, and anus of another animal, I gently sip the concoction. It has a seemingly floral and nutty flavor while at the same time not having either, if you follow me. I can't place it. It was definitely unique. Hold it! It was then that it hit me. After swallowing, I had very little to no coffee taste in my mouth. There was no bitter coffee taste. I was shocked by its strangeness. I sipped again just to make sure I wasn't mad and indeed, after four straight days, I can tell you this coffee does not leave very much taste in your mouth. I was amazed and so went to the Fount of All Knowledge and Wisdom (aka Wikipedia) to find out the reason. Apparently, the Civet's digestive track breaks down the protein responsible for coffee bitterness. Seeing my question answered satisfactorily, I stopped my research and so could be completely wrong. Oh well.
So, is it worthy of the title 'most expensive coffee in the world'? Well, I can see why it would cost so much due to labor and expense, but I don't think it's expensive because it is so frickin' good. It's your standard cup of joe with a different flavor, that's all. So if you're in it for the experience or are trying to impress some hot girls somewhere, go ahead and pay out the nose for a cup. But I don't think you'll be too wowed or amazed.
Fount of All Knowledge and Wisdom Link
So, you're wondering what it tastes like? It has a very different brewing aroma than I'm used to and also has an even stronger smell in my cup. Doing my best to realize that what I'm about to drink has passed through the mouth, stomach, and anus of another animal, I gently sip the concoction. It has a seemingly floral and nutty flavor while at the same time not having either, if you follow me. I can't place it. It was definitely unique. Hold it! It was then that it hit me. After swallowing, I had very little to no coffee taste in my mouth. There was no bitter coffee taste. I was shocked by its strangeness. I sipped again just to make sure I wasn't mad and indeed, after four straight days, I can tell you this coffee does not leave very much taste in your mouth. I was amazed and so went to the Fount of All Knowledge and Wisdom (aka Wikipedia) to find out the reason. Apparently, the Civet's digestive track breaks down the protein responsible for coffee bitterness. Seeing my question answered satisfactorily, I stopped my research and so could be completely wrong. Oh well.
So, is it worthy of the title 'most expensive coffee in the world'? Well, I can see why it would cost so much due to labor and expense, but I don't think it's expensive because it is so frickin' good. It's your standard cup of joe with a different flavor, that's all. So if you're in it for the experience or are trying to impress some hot girls somewhere, go ahead and pay out the nose for a cup. But I don't think you'll be too wowed or amazed.
Fount of All Knowledge and Wisdom Link
August 27, 2008
A Few Things...
Firstly, I have a link here that is probably one of the most amusing articles from Cracked.com I have had the pleasure of reading. There is strong language but it is just too funny an article to pass up. I just had to share since I have an interest in science and the CERN Hadron super collider that will probably destory the world (sarcasm intended).
Secondly, I'd like to bring to your attention a previous post of mine. It happened to me again today and for those of you who missed it the first time around, here is your chance to experience it for the first time (obviously).
And finally I just want to point out I finally made it to my Baseball game goal for the year. Game number 5 was last night and we won. I hate to say it, but I was just a little shocked. Anywhoo, there you go.
Secondly, I'd like to bring to your attention a previous post of mine. It happened to me again today and for those of you who missed it the first time around, here is your chance to experience it for the first time (obviously).
And finally I just want to point out I finally made it to my Baseball game goal for the year. Game number 5 was last night and we won. I hate to say it, but I was just a little shocked. Anywhoo, there you go.
August 22, 2008
Update
So, today I read that Brad Wright, one of the head honchos for Stargate Atlantis, is completely fine with switching from a TV show to movies as the story telling medium. In fact, everything has been done with everybody's knowledge and acceptance. I would have preferred a headline that read "Writers, Producers, Network Executives Agree to End Atlantis." That would have been a lot easier to understand and accept as a fan instead of "SciFi Channel Cancels Stargate Atlantis." So, anyway, I'm taking down the petition and asking that you don't send feedback to SciFi anymore. Thanks.
August 21, 2008
Sorrow
As if having Finals this Friday wasn't bad enough, I was quietly perusing the Internet when I ran across a post on a site I frequent, GateWorld (home of all thing Gate related). Lo and behold, they have canceled Stargate Atlantis, the successful spin off of Stargate SG-1. Although it was unavoidable, expletives great in number flew through my brain and were directed wholly at the Nielson (of the rating system) and at the SciFi network. They have canceled so many shows as of late and they are starting to hit close to home. I don't mind if a show's producers, writers, and actors decide to end a show, like Battlestar Galactica is doing, but I do hate it when they are canceled.
So who is to blame? Apparently ratings. And you know what, I just got my week old telegraph from my broker in New York about ocean front property for sale in Utah. COME ON PEOPLE! You can not use a live "night-of" rating system anymore with the power of the Internet out there. I'm sorry. I don't have TV, can't afford cable and so watch my favorite shows online. How dare a network cancel a show just because I wasn't watching their damned commercials?! I was so irate that I found the feedback email for SciFi and sent a very nice email basically saying that they're frakkin' idiots. Here is the address in case anyone wants to join in. feedback@scifi.com
I can't really say much else right now. I haven't been too impressed with the show the last season and a half but had high hopes for this season. I saw the mistakes that were being made but still watched, believing it would recover. But canceling it is just wrong.
So who is to blame? Apparently ratings. And you know what, I just got my week old telegraph from my broker in New York about ocean front property for sale in Utah. COME ON PEOPLE! You can not use a live "night-of" rating system anymore with the power of the Internet out there. I'm sorry. I don't have TV, can't afford cable and so watch my favorite shows online. How dare a network cancel a show just because I wasn't watching their damned commercials?! I was so irate that I found the feedback email for SciFi and sent a very nice email basically saying that they're frakkin' idiots. Here is the address in case anyone wants to join in. feedback@scifi.com
I can't really say much else right now. I haven't been too impressed with the show the last season and a half but had high hopes for this season. I saw the mistakes that were being made but still watched, believing it would recover. But canceling it is just wrong.
August 18, 2008
Hysteria
It feels like it's been a while since I shared. Yet it's been all of 17 days. I can only conclude that these seventeen days have either been so filled that I haven't properly fathomed the passage of time or they have been extremely slow days. Regardless...
It's Finals [feels like it should be capitalized] week. The nine week summer quarter here at UW is reaching its end. It's been rough, I'm not going to lie. Here's what it's been like in an analogy metaphor whatever form that should ring true with anybody that has ever visited Seattle.
*shimmering cross-fade* My first quarter at the U feels like I was walking along Pike's Market, minding my own business, taking in the sites and the people, smelling the flowers, getting those flavored honey stick things when all of a sudden... [thought I'd make you wait a sec on the edge of your seat] ... a giant fish slaps me in the face, stunning me into near unconsciousness! It had come from them fish throwing folk down in the corner and boy was it a big fish! I numbly get back on my feet when one of the dudes in the orange overalls comes over real fast, helps me don my own orange pant suspender doohicky and proceeds to throw me into the fray of taking orders and throwing fish. Fully recovered from my fish in the head incident, I quickly get the hang of taking orders and throwing fish. But then the lingo starts getting more complicated and the busy time of the day is here and I can't keep up and ... and........ I freak out! There's fish everywhere! Here fish, there fish. Crawdad things are crawling out of the tubs! Mini-fireworks shoot out of the ice packs! People are dancing in the streets and that blind guitar player is going to town! Dogs and cats, living together...Mass Hysteria! *cross-fade back*
That's what it's been like. I can only hope that next quarter will be a smoother ride the whole way through.
It's Finals [feels like it should be capitalized] week. The nine week summer quarter here at UW is reaching its end. It's been rough, I'm not going to lie. Here's what it's been like in an analogy metaphor whatever form that should ring true with anybody that has ever visited Seattle.
*shimmering cross-fade* My first quarter at the U feels like I was walking along Pike's Market, minding my own business, taking in the sites and the people, smelling the flowers, getting those flavored honey stick things when all of a sudden... [thought I'd make you wait a sec on the edge of your seat] ... a giant fish slaps me in the face, stunning me into near unconsciousness! It had come from them fish throwing folk down in the corner and boy was it a big fish! I numbly get back on my feet when one of the dudes in the orange overalls comes over real fast, helps me don my own orange pant suspender doohicky and proceeds to throw me into the fray of taking orders and throwing fish. Fully recovered from my fish in the head incident, I quickly get the hang of taking orders and throwing fish. But then the lingo starts getting more complicated and the busy time of the day is here and I can't keep up and ... and........ I freak out! There's fish everywhere! Here fish, there fish. Crawdad things are crawling out of the tubs! Mini-fireworks shoot out of the ice packs! People are dancing in the streets and that blind guitar player is going to town! Dogs and cats, living together...Mass Hysteria! *cross-fade back*
That's what it's been like. I can only hope that next quarter will be a smoother ride the whole way through.
August 1, 2008
Up and Running
Well, we're back. Not having the internet for...hold on let me check...12 days was pretty incredible (in an absolutely disturbing way). The lack of ability to do something really does show you how much you may have come to rely on that something. Not having the ability to check my email (what little there ever is) or my facebook (Lord forbid!) or my favorite sites like io9 or xkcd was just painful. On the other hand, not having the distracting power of the internet allowed me to get all sorts of other things done. Let me share.
The period during which my apartment was without internet was a busy time for schoolwork. There were two take home tests to complete, homework assignments to muddle through and readings off the wazoo that needed to be...well read. S without the distraction, coupled with my new favorite coffee shop also not having their free internet (!), I got a lot of work done. Wednesday, we were up and running again and let me tell you how much schoolwork I've done since that night. I've read two chapters out of my thermal physics book and most of that was while I was waiting for food to cook in the kitchen.
I'm a terrible addict! I hate it so much! What happened to the good ol' days when we were not all connected nearly instantaneously to each other? I can't even be at home without succumbing to the temptation of the 'net! I have to go somewhere else either without my computer (if there is internet there) or someplace with my computer that doesn't have internet (i.e. Barnes and Noble? [ah, but then there is the temptation of leaving with new books.]).
It's very important to recognize you're an easily-distracted-by-the-internet person. It's the first step on the road to recovery. Unless of course they pull a 1984 and are secretly watching me right now, will abduct me, reconvert me, and release me back to the public as an adoring fan of the internet... hmmmm. I love Big Brother.
The period during which my apartment was without internet was a busy time for schoolwork. There were two take home tests to complete, homework assignments to muddle through and readings off the wazoo that needed to be...well read. S without the distraction, coupled with my new favorite coffee shop also not having their free internet (!), I got a lot of work done. Wednesday, we were up and running again and let me tell you how much schoolwork I've done since that night. I've read two chapters out of my thermal physics book and most of that was while I was waiting for food to cook in the kitchen.
I'm a terrible addict! I hate it so much! What happened to the good ol' days when we were not all connected nearly instantaneously to each other? I can't even be at home without succumbing to the temptation of the 'net! I have to go somewhere else either without my computer (if there is internet there) or someplace with my computer that doesn't have internet (i.e. Barnes and Noble? [ah, but then there is the temptation of leaving with new books.]).
It's very important to recognize you're an easily-distracted-by-the-internet person. It's the first step on the road to recovery. Unless of course they pull a 1984 and are secretly watching me right now, will abduct me, reconvert me, and release me back to the public as an adoring fan of the internet... hmmmm. I love Big Brother.
July 20, 2008
Movin' Along
I hate moving. All the packing up is fine and dandy at the beginning. You feel like you're always making progress, but then it seems that the more you pack into your car/s the more seems to still be left in the old place. Eventually you're hauling out bric-a-brac piece by piece because you don't have any more boxes or bags to put the stuff into. Then you're trying to clean the apartment of the mess of people who haven't lived there in three years, or the grime that's built up because it was a mess to begin with and you couldn't help but not care. ARGH! Moving stinks.
I've been living in Washington for two years now, and have moved twice since arriving (first last year, and now this year). I better be at this place for a good two years to make up for it. It might actually work out too because the new apartment is nicer than the one we were in before. Now don't get me wrong, we had good neighbors at our old place and I loved our landladies (if you call them that) to death. They were awesome. It's just that it was getting expensive and was a little small for our needs. Our current place is larger and less expensive and the only thing wrong with I can see is that spiders apparently enjoy the area too. *groan*
Anyway, back to moving. After you've moved everything into a vehicle, you have to unload it. And do you have time to do anything but just dump it in neat piles all over your new room? No, you put it into haphazard but neat piles in your new room. But after you're all out of that old place, and it's all clean (relatively) and you actually never have to step back inside, that's when you suddenly relax, look at the mess of boxes in the new place and say, now comes the fun!
Unpacking totally rocks! You're chucking junk you forgot you had, organizing everything in a new and unique manner and generally making everything perfect. I can't wait, except I have homework to do, obligatory events to attend, and did I mention homework? So I gotta go, but I just wanted to let you all know that I'm all moved to a new place. If you want to write me a letter (since we might not have internet for a little bit) my new address is 11400 NE 132nd Street #P108 Kirkland,WA 98034 USA. Cheers!
p.s. sometimes my people tracker thing over on the right side of my blog has shown people from around the world, or at least IP addresses from around the world glancing at my writing. This is an open invitation to anybody from anywhere: please comment on something and let me know you are real. I want to believe. Even if you hate my writing and want to say so, that's okay.
I've been living in Washington for two years now, and have moved twice since arriving (first last year, and now this year). I better be at this place for a good two years to make up for it. It might actually work out too because the new apartment is nicer than the one we were in before. Now don't get me wrong, we had good neighbors at our old place and I loved our landladies (if you call them that) to death. They were awesome. It's just that it was getting expensive and was a little small for our needs. Our current place is larger and less expensive and the only thing wrong with I can see is that spiders apparently enjoy the area too. *groan*
Anyway, back to moving. After you've moved everything into a vehicle, you have to unload it. And do you have time to do anything but just dump it in neat piles all over your new room? No, you put it into haphazard but neat piles in your new room. But after you're all out of that old place, and it's all clean (relatively) and you actually never have to step back inside, that's when you suddenly relax, look at the mess of boxes in the new place and say, now comes the fun!
Unpacking totally rocks! You're chucking junk you forgot you had, organizing everything in a new and unique manner and generally making everything perfect. I can't wait, except I have homework to do, obligatory events to attend, and did I mention homework? So I gotta go, but I just wanted to let you all know that I'm all moved to a new place. If you want to write me a letter (since we might not have internet for a little bit) my new address is 11400 NE 132nd Street #P108 Kirkland,WA 98034 USA. Cheers!
p.s. sometimes my people tracker thing over on the right side of my blog has shown people from around the world, or at least IP addresses from around the world glancing at my writing. This is an open invitation to anybody from anywhere: please comment on something and let me know you are real. I want to believe. Even if you hate my writing and want to say so, that's okay.
July 3, 2008
On Being Prepared
I had a very interesting dream that seemed to segue into my work day on Wednesday and then a similar dream that started out my day today. Unfortunately, I don't exactly remember the dream...at all, but I do know that when these incidents happened, I remembered that I had dreamed it already.
The first instance was when I arrived at work after school on Wednesday. My co-worker was jesting with me and said it's appropriate to shave before coming to work. Now I have a beard and I like it. Suddenly, I had this recollection of being in, say, an alternate universe where facial hair was illegal. I didn't know how I got here, but I knew if I was to survive, I'd have to pretend I knew all about whatever they were saying to me, including the facial hair thing. I panicked just a bit at my co-worker saying this, fearing I had somehow slipped into this alternate reality for real somehow. He still had his hair though so I didn't panic for long.
So, I tell you this because I want you all to be prepared. Too many times, I've seen people (on TV shows and what not) be all dumb whenever they land in some alternate reality or timeline. They expect people to instantly be understanding when you tell them their [insert something here] isn't the way it is supposed to be. Stupid! You need to get with the flow right away and then work out where you are, how you got there, and what you're going to do or who you're going to tell about getting back to your home. Say somebody walks up to you and says, "Hey, what happened to your biometric facial interface?" You don't say "my what?" You say, "It's getting repaired," or "It just broke but I'm heading out to get another one right now." That's how you survive in alternate realities. Be prepared and quick on your feet.
The first instance was when I arrived at work after school on Wednesday. My co-worker was jesting with me and said it's appropriate to shave before coming to work. Now I have a beard and I like it. Suddenly, I had this recollection of being in, say, an alternate universe where facial hair was illegal. I didn't know how I got here, but I knew if I was to survive, I'd have to pretend I knew all about whatever they were saying to me, including the facial hair thing. I panicked just a bit at my co-worker saying this, fearing I had somehow slipped into this alternate reality for real somehow. He still had his hair though so I didn't panic for long.
So, I tell you this because I want you all to be prepared. Too many times, I've seen people (on TV shows and what not) be all dumb whenever they land in some alternate reality or timeline. They expect people to instantly be understanding when you tell them their [insert something here] isn't the way it is supposed to be. Stupid! You need to get with the flow right away and then work out where you are, how you got there, and what you're going to do or who you're going to tell about getting back to your home. Say somebody walks up to you and says, "Hey, what happened to your biometric facial interface?" You don't say "my what?" You say, "It's getting repaired," or "It just broke but I'm heading out to get another one right now." That's how you survive in alternate realities. Be prepared and quick on your feet.
June 30, 2008
Goals
So last Monday, I completed a goal I had set for myself more than two years earlier. In early 2006, I said that I would become a student at the University of Washington. Monday, June 23, I had my first class at 9:40a. How did it feel? Well, I certainly wasn't really thinking that hard about it. I didn't feel any different, but it was pretty cool to say "hey, I finished a goal I set. How about that?" I'd also like to say, I'm very proud of being a Husky. Go Dawgs!
Now, on to lighter matters. Besides the (pretty much included in prior goal) goal of graduating in three, maybe even two years, I have a much greater goal that is going to take some thinking, planning, praying, asking, pondering, and on top of all that, much information gathering. Are you ready for my new goal? Maybe it's not really a goal since that suggests an actual, I don't know, tangible ending. A "something" you can hold on to and present to people saying here it is! (i.e. my student ID) Now this thing I'm about to reveal to you is probably more of an intent to do research to determine if a goal to implement said research should be announced. Here then is my research goal. Are you ready?
I want to live on a boat.
Liveaboarders is one of the terms I've come across so far. I also understand some communities shun them while they're also a close knit group. [Aside] Please don't mistake me. I'm not going to go sell my truck, take a loan and buy a boat tomorrow. This is my research goal. I am going to learn everything I can about liveaboarding and boating. [End Aside] This could take several years and I understand that. It has always been a dream of mine to live on a boat. Not tied down to any one place: if I so choose, I'm up and away (or, more appropriately, Anchors Away!) Well there you go. Thoughts, advice, and slaps to my face are welcome.
Now, on to lighter matters. Besides the (pretty much included in prior goal) goal of graduating in three, maybe even two years, I have a much greater goal that is going to take some thinking, planning, praying, asking, pondering, and on top of all that, much information gathering. Are you ready for my new goal? Maybe it's not really a goal since that suggests an actual, I don't know, tangible ending. A "something" you can hold on to and present to people saying here it is! (i.e. my student ID) Now this thing I'm about to reveal to you is probably more of an intent to do research to determine if a goal to implement said research should be announced. Here then is my research goal. Are you ready?
I want to live on a boat.
Liveaboarders is one of the terms I've come across so far. I also understand some communities shun them while they're also a close knit group. [Aside] Please don't mistake me. I'm not going to go sell my truck, take a loan and buy a boat tomorrow. This is my research goal. I am going to learn everything I can about liveaboarding and boating. [End Aside] This could take several years and I understand that. It has always been a dream of mine to live on a boat. Not tied down to any one place: if I so choose, I'm up and away (or, more appropriately, Anchors Away!) Well there you go. Thoughts, advice, and slaps to my face are welcome.
June 16, 2008
Beer Fest 2008
Well. A contingent of my close friends and some friends of theirs (i.e. new friends to me) and I all went to Beer Fest today (Sunday, Father's Day) over in upper Juanita and it was an amazing experience. There were almost 200 craft beers there and, though it was the last day of the festival, there was plenty of selection. From porters and stouts to blondes and pales or reds and ambers. Oh gosh! I alone of the company went for the ten taster purchase with the others choosing to stay at a respectable six or seven, depending on their wives' preference to share tokens. I offer you here, a list of the beers I tried. All of them were new to me except for my ninth and tenth token. I wanted to end the night with something I knew would be good.
1. Mac & Jack's IPA
2. Elysian ESB
3. Kona Longboard Lager
4. Widmer Brothers '08 Crimson Wheat
5. Water Street Imperial Red
6. Georgetown 9 lb. Porter
7. Scuttlebutt 12 Year Anniversary Scotch Ale
8. Pike Belgian Tripel
9. Mac & Jack's African Amber
10. Mac & Jack's African Amber
I believe the taster sizes were between four and six ounces (imperial or not) and seeing as how I don't honestly know ounce sizes very well, you can do the math on all possibilities and see that I got a sizable portion of beer in the space of two hours or so. Let's go over my selections very briefly. You can let me know if you want details. Here we go.
1. Delightful start. Can't fault Mac & Jack's at all it seems.
2. ESB, not bad. I like the Elysian Stout, and I liked this.
3. Yes, they're from Hawai'i and it was fun.
4. Right next door to the Kona, how do you pass on "Crimson" Wheat? Really good.
5. This s*** messed me up. I thought I was gonna hurl with each sip/gulp.
6. I thought a porter would help me out with #5. It was good, but probably ill-timed
***took a break for funnel cakes and brats around this time. I had a brat, they all had an elephant ear***
7. Scotch and beer. Incredible! So smooth.
8. Plain old fun. The gentleman told me he had just tapped the keg and I was getting the best part of the keg, which is the first third, or king level I believe he said. Let's be honest, I'd had 7 pretty rapid tastes by then. I'm not sure what he said.
9 and 10. The African Amber. A staple of the Eastside and no mistake. I love it and had to end with it. I downed 9. and polished 10.
Let's see what else. It was named a festival, and rightly so. Unfortunately, I didn't see much of the rest of things. There was a kiddie area, food stands, fake tattoo stand things and what not. The tents for the beer were what I was interested in. The only thing I can be sad about, was that by coming on the last day, we probably missed out on the variety they might have had Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Oh well. Man, I can't wait for next year!
1. Mac & Jack's IPA
2. Elysian ESB
3. Kona Longboard Lager
4. Widmer Brothers '08 Crimson Wheat
5. Water Street Imperial Red
6. Georgetown 9 lb. Porter
7. Scuttlebutt 12 Year Anniversary Scotch Ale
8. Pike Belgian Tripel
9. Mac & Jack's African Amber
10. Mac & Jack's African Amber
I believe the taster sizes were between four and six ounces (imperial or not) and seeing as how I don't honestly know ounce sizes very well, you can do the math on all possibilities and see that I got a sizable portion of beer in the space of two hours or so. Let's go over my selections very briefly. You can let me know if you want details. Here we go.
1. Delightful start. Can't fault Mac & Jack's at all it seems.
2. ESB, not bad. I like the Elysian Stout, and I liked this.
3. Yes, they're from Hawai'i and it was fun.
4. Right next door to the Kona, how do you pass on "Crimson" Wheat? Really good.
5. This s*** messed me up. I thought I was gonna hurl with each sip/gulp.
6. I thought a porter would help me out with #5. It was good, but probably ill-timed
***took a break for funnel cakes and brats around this time. I had a brat, they all had an elephant ear***
7. Scotch and beer. Incredible! So smooth.
8. Plain old fun. The gentleman told me he had just tapped the keg and I was getting the best part of the keg, which is the first third, or king level I believe he said. Let's be honest, I'd had 7 pretty rapid tastes by then. I'm not sure what he said.
9 and 10. The African Amber. A staple of the Eastside and no mistake. I love it and had to end with it. I downed 9. and polished 10.
Let's see what else. It was named a festival, and rightly so. Unfortunately, I didn't see much of the rest of things. There was a kiddie area, food stands, fake tattoo stand things and what not. The tents for the beer were what I was interested in. The only thing I can be sad about, was that by coming on the last day, we probably missed out on the variety they might have had Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Oh well. Man, I can't wait for next year!
June 13, 2008
T+01:42:37
Well, as of 7:12p last night, 1 hour and 42 minutes after official class time, I successfully graduated from my second community college. It was the final for the one class I was taking this semester. I'd say I completed it in a little over an hour and because I was waiting for my classmate to finish, I spent the rest of the time checking my work. I came up with a delightful way to describe how incredibly awesome this test was on the easy scale. It goes like this:
Brian walked in not exactly knowing what to expect. Finals can always be tricky and especially so if they're comprehensive. But when the moment of truth came and all the studying would be put to the test (pun intended), Brian gazed at the test for a moment and immediately sized it up. Quietly pulling out his six-shooter, he said "Okay Final, time to dance."
It was a beautiful test, with very delightful questions and I screamed through it at speeds unheard of by mortal man. It felt good. I was checked at one spot but came back later and gave it a what for. Several-variable calculus final, you got pwned!
Brian walked in not exactly knowing what to expect. Finals can always be tricky and especially so if they're comprehensive. But when the moment of truth came and all the studying would be put to the test (pun intended), Brian gazed at the test for a moment and immediately sized it up. Quietly pulling out his six-shooter, he said "Okay Final, time to dance."
It was a beautiful test, with very delightful questions and I screamed through it at speeds unheard of by mortal man. It felt good. I was checked at one spot but came back later and gave it a what for. Several-variable calculus final, you got pwned!
June 7, 2008
The Ranks
Thursday I discovered that on Tuesday I had most likely joined the ranks of such people as my good friends Trevor Barnes and Tyler Cronk. That of the Short-term Memory Recall brigade in the special unit of Test Taking. Quick back story. (ripply cross fading to a new scene)
It's Tuesday, the third of June, and I had just had a very busy weekend. I had both of my parents and their spouses in town, my sister who I adore, an orchestra concert Sunday night, and month end in accounting to deal with on Monday at my work. A test was scheduled for this (Tuesday) evening and I had very little (no) time to study. Did I want to study Monday night? Heck no. I was tired and wanted to just sleep. Oh, I forgot to mention that Tuesday morning from 7:45a to 12:30p or so I had an advising and orientation session for the U (Go Huskies!). So I needed my sleep for that and got off work a little late too. All that to say I didn't study Monday. Tuesday afternoon rolls around and I leave work to go to school about two hours early and get some studying in. I review all my notes several times, gradually got more and more tired, and eventually stopped studying ten minutes or so before class.
Test time. End of test and I didn't really like any of the questions. I had a 95.53% in the class so far and to keep at least a 92% I would need to get an 81 on the test. I said to myself, certainly I pulled at least an 81 and probably not much more than that. To be honest, I don't remember taking half the test as my mind was just exhausted. I think my eyes and hand were paying attention though because of what happened Thursday.
Thursday rolls around, the instructor says that there were 18 scores in the 90 range (crap, that ain't me this time, I thought) and that the highest was 96. My test comes back. 96. I turned the paper back over in disbelief and went on with organizing my papers for today's notes. Uncomprehending, I look again at my score and it says 96. Baffled beyond all recognition, I realized that somehow, my short term memory had blessed me this time around. I will not count on it all the time, but it is good to know that I have it along with a few others. Needless to say, I'm very happy that somehow we (mouse in my pocket and I) pulled it off. Now for the final...
p.s. for those who greatly desire more details, the class was Math 227: Several Variable Calculus, my instructors name is Sasha Malinsky, Kurtis and Anne sit to my right, and Jeff behind and to the right, and there are whiteboards, not chalkboards in the room.
It's Tuesday, the third of June, and I had just had a very busy weekend. I had both of my parents and their spouses in town, my sister who I adore, an orchestra concert Sunday night, and month end in accounting to deal with on Monday at my work. A test was scheduled for this (Tuesday) evening and I had very little (no) time to study. Did I want to study Monday night? Heck no. I was tired and wanted to just sleep. Oh, I forgot to mention that Tuesday morning from 7:45a to 12:30p or so I had an advising and orientation session for the U (Go Huskies!). So I needed my sleep for that and got off work a little late too. All that to say I didn't study Monday. Tuesday afternoon rolls around and I leave work to go to school about two hours early and get some studying in. I review all my notes several times, gradually got more and more tired, and eventually stopped studying ten minutes or so before class.
Test time. End of test and I didn't really like any of the questions. I had a 95.53% in the class so far and to keep at least a 92% I would need to get an 81 on the test. I said to myself, certainly I pulled at least an 81 and probably not much more than that. To be honest, I don't remember taking half the test as my mind was just exhausted. I think my eyes and hand were paying attention though because of what happened Thursday.
Thursday rolls around, the instructor says that there were 18 scores in the 90 range (crap, that ain't me this time, I thought) and that the highest was 96. My test comes back. 96. I turned the paper back over in disbelief and went on with organizing my papers for today's notes. Uncomprehending, I look again at my score and it says 96. Baffled beyond all recognition, I realized that somehow, my short term memory had blessed me this time around. I will not count on it all the time, but it is good to know that I have it along with a few others. Needless to say, I'm very happy that somehow we (mouse in my pocket and I) pulled it off. Now for the final...
p.s. for those who greatly desire more details, the class was Math 227: Several Variable Calculus, my instructors name is Sasha Malinsky, Kurtis and Anne sit to my right, and Jeff behind and to the right, and there are whiteboards, not chalkboards in the room.
May 27, 2008
3 Day Weak-end
I tell you what, I need a vacation. A vacation from this three day weekend. If I don't have anything to do on a long weekend, I get so bored that I seriously feel like I need a vacation afterwards. Naturally, this problem has long been noticeable and the world has come up with a delightful solution: the work week. Yes, the work week was invented to counter a three day weekend that happened several hundred years ago. Some bloke got so fed up on his extended weekend and was too poor to take a vacation, that he invented the work week. In fact, he was so angry that he didn't want to have another three day weekend ever again, so he made the work week five days. There, a brief history of the work week.
Now, what did I do this weekend? Well, I watched 7 movies which is quite disgusting. Well, let's be honest, I watched more like 6.25. Here's how:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Meet Joe Black (first time, incredibly moving movie)
The Matrix: Reloaded (only scenes in the Matrix)
The Matrix: Revolutions (only scenes involving action)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The Whole Nine Yards
Casino Royale
I did do a bit of homework Monday afternoon and purchased a few books at Half-Price books during a 20% off sale. That's pretty nice. I also picked up some friends from the airport Monday, so that made me feel like I was doing something. Not too much reading, which is kind of depressing but I just didn't feel much like reading, plus it kept putting me to sleep. I napped and slept a lot this weekend. *sigh* I'm actually looking forward to going to work tomorrow...sort of...well not really. That's why I need a vacation.
p.s. i'm not dissing three day weekends. Only weekends where I don't have anything to do.
Now, what did I do this weekend? Well, I watched 7 movies which is quite disgusting. Well, let's be honest, I watched more like 6.25. Here's how:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Meet Joe Black (first time, incredibly moving movie)
The Matrix: Reloaded (only scenes in the Matrix)
The Matrix: Revolutions (only scenes involving action)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The Whole Nine Yards
Casino Royale
I did do a bit of homework Monday afternoon and purchased a few books at Half-Price books during a 20% off sale. That's pretty nice. I also picked up some friends from the airport Monday, so that made me feel like I was doing something. Not too much reading, which is kind of depressing but I just didn't feel much like reading, plus it kept putting me to sleep. I napped and slept a lot this weekend. *sigh* I'm actually looking forward to going to work tomorrow...sort of...well not really. That's why I need a vacation.
p.s. i'm not dissing three day weekends. Only weekends where I don't have anything to do.
May 24, 2008
Aluminum Cans
Two days ago, I had a terrifying moment of clarity. I think clarity is the right word. What follows may seem silly, but I'm fairly certain that if people thought like this more often, the world might be a better place.
Most people, I believe, go through the day very glazed or uncomprehending of the world and even the universe around them. I fall into this as well nearly everyday. I think it has something to do with how much thinking power it would take to go on with existing if you were having to always fathom, say, the size of the Earth, distances between stars, how unbelievably cool trees are when they're alive and growing, or how many tons of asphalt make up the United States highway system. Things like that. Who thinks about those every single day? I don't, but sometimes it comes up, and it scares the crap out of me. Two days ago, I was looking at soda cans that we have at my work. We store them in the bathroom and they come in the 36 pack containers and what not and there were probably 8 or 9 containers there. Yes, that's 288 to 324 individual cans constructed of aluminum that very likely will not get recycled. Anyway, let me try to give you an analogy to describe what happened next.
It's like when you're on Google Maps and you're zoomed into your home address or what not. You can see the surrounding streets and that's it. It takes up the whole screen. All of sudden, somebody/thing comes along, takes your mouse wheel and scrolls back, zooming the image out, and out, and out until you're staring at the entire planet. "Well," you say "that's cool and all. What's the big deal?" The big deal comes from the fact that you're still cognizant of being that tiny person on that now minuscule street that you can't even see anymore. It's an incredible dichotomy of feeling. And that's as best I can describe it in so few words. That's what happened when I stared at these soda cans. How many businesses must there be in the US alone that have these many cans? Then the world? Then I thought about the manufacturing plants, spitting out all these cans! Where the hell (pardon me) do all these flippin' cans come from? How have we not run out before now? I'll admit, I freaked out a bit, but hopefully you can see why we don't think like this.
I like to think we block these thought processes because they would cause too much stress or, I don't know, positive action. This is not an environmental activist blog post, but I just want you to take a moment and really try to comprehend the finiteness of this planet. Go ahead...
...you there yet?...
...scary isn't it?
Most people, I believe, go through the day very glazed or uncomprehending of the world and even the universe around them. I fall into this as well nearly everyday. I think it has something to do with how much thinking power it would take to go on with existing if you were having to always fathom, say, the size of the Earth, distances between stars, how unbelievably cool trees are when they're alive and growing, or how many tons of asphalt make up the United States highway system. Things like that. Who thinks about those every single day? I don't, but sometimes it comes up, and it scares the crap out of me. Two days ago, I was looking at soda cans that we have at my work. We store them in the bathroom and they come in the 36 pack containers and what not and there were probably 8 or 9 containers there. Yes, that's 288 to 324 individual cans constructed of aluminum that very likely will not get recycled. Anyway, let me try to give you an analogy to describe what happened next.
It's like when you're on Google Maps and you're zoomed into your home address or what not. You can see the surrounding streets and that's it. It takes up the whole screen. All of sudden, somebody/thing comes along, takes your mouse wheel and scrolls back, zooming the image out, and out, and out until you're staring at the entire planet. "Well," you say "that's cool and all. What's the big deal?" The big deal comes from the fact that you're still cognizant of being that tiny person on that now minuscule street that you can't even see anymore. It's an incredible dichotomy of feeling. And that's as best I can describe it in so few words. That's what happened when I stared at these soda cans. How many businesses must there be in the US alone that have these many cans? Then the world? Then I thought about the manufacturing plants, spitting out all these cans! Where the hell (pardon me) do all these flippin' cans come from? How have we not run out before now? I'll admit, I freaked out a bit, but hopefully you can see why we don't think like this.
I like to think we block these thought processes because they would cause too much stress or, I don't know, positive action. This is not an environmental activist blog post, but I just want you to take a moment and really try to comprehend the finiteness of this planet. Go ahead...
...you there yet?...
...scary isn't it?
May 4, 2008
Dawn
Bright are the stars on this morning fair
The veil between us had finally lifted;
Winter’s cloak had briefly drifted,
Leaving earth to the heavens’ care.
Stars now vanish as dawn comes along
Shielded from sight, a blindness within
Now all dim, allowing their kin
To warm the earth for now, not long.
Glancing down to the forest below
On this world's realm, a sight to see
The sun's new light on every tree
Ethereal mist on ground laid low.
A sea of trees and I an island
As morning fire warms my flesh
Renewed and revived, all is fresh
For my descent from this high land.
'Tween twig and tree, striding down
The only sound from beneath my feet
Is crunching snow, a pure white sheet,
Topping this land's upper crown.
The veil between us had finally lifted;
Winter’s cloak had briefly drifted,
Leaving earth to the heavens’ care.
Stars now vanish as dawn comes along
Shielded from sight, a blindness within
Now all dim, allowing their kin
To warm the earth for now, not long.
Glancing down to the forest below
On this world's realm, a sight to see
The sun's new light on every tree
Ethereal mist on ground laid low.
A sea of trees and I an island
As morning fire warms my flesh
Renewed and revived, all is fresh
For my descent from this high land.
'Tween twig and tree, striding down
The only sound from beneath my feet
Is crunching snow, a pure white sheet,
Topping this land's upper crown.
All around, creatures wake
To glorious dawn and Winters heat.The forest stirs as they all greet
A ball of flame that had to break.
May 3, 2008
Wishful Fiction
Trimboldt knew he might very well be in trouble. Synkrindan had been hammered on for weeks by the New Age Plant council, pestered by the ever increasing population of small children who adored his shenanigans, and hounded by the Tax Collectors branch of the Enforcers Union. It had been inevitable that the balance would be tipped. Hardly anyone knew of Synkrindan's true power if he was unable to maintain that precious balance. Taking an afternoon hike in the woods to calm down, Trimboldt and Synkrindan had come upon an open glade where small shrubs and little woodland creatures were burrowing or furrowing the land, depending on their kind. Trimboldt had accidentally brought up the Enforcers Union when suddenly Synkrindan doubled over as if in pain. His already pale blue skin became more pale and began to shimmer and glow with an ever increasing luminosity. Trimboldt knew that the Good and Self-Control that Synkrindan always employed had finally been toppled by the immensity of circumstance. The balance was falling, and with it would come the potential for incredible destruction. Trimboldt could only hope this was one of the lesser episodes.
Knowing that to stay was to risk injury, possibly mortally depending on the ferocity, Trimboldt fled for the nearest large tree to seek shelter. He could see that the woodland creatures could sense the impending doom to their glade for they had all disappeared. Synkrindan was by this time glowing brightly; a halo of his body spreading outward concentrically was lit with St. Elmo's fire. Unable to contain himself any longer, he reared back screaming to the heavens as a shockwave of unmitigated power and energy coursed outward, decimating all in its path. Trimboldt barely managed to make the tree before the pulse passed him. He felt the tree shudder and pine cones rained down, only to be swept away in the blast. Synkrindan was still screaming, releasing his pent up rage. A good man, he had been cursed with the burden of so many others so that they could lead normal, good lives. The consequence was the inability to manage so much for any given amount of time. It was possible he would go weeks or even months without the need for the release; his containment was impeccable. But every so often, this happened.
Trimboldt heard Synkrindan suddenly grow silent. Turning around from behind the tree, he looked back into the glade and stood there aghast. Synkrindan was kneeling in the middle of a crater at least as tall as one of those small children who had hounded him. No shrub or blade of grass could be seen for several dozen meters. Glancing at the tree that had sheltered him, Trimboldt saw that the bark for several inches had been scorched or blasted off, for there was no sign of fire but for the heat of the tree. Slowly, Trimboldt went up to his friend and, laying his hand upon his shoulder, asked if he was okay? Synkrindan looked up with a look of both relief and dismay and only replied with, I pray every day for this not to happen for the effect it has on others.
*sigh* sometimes i wish i could actually release my pent up angst.
Knowing that to stay was to risk injury, possibly mortally depending on the ferocity, Trimboldt fled for the nearest large tree to seek shelter. He could see that the woodland creatures could sense the impending doom to their glade for they had all disappeared. Synkrindan was by this time glowing brightly; a halo of his body spreading outward concentrically was lit with St. Elmo's fire. Unable to contain himself any longer, he reared back screaming to the heavens as a shockwave of unmitigated power and energy coursed outward, decimating all in its path. Trimboldt barely managed to make the tree before the pulse passed him. He felt the tree shudder and pine cones rained down, only to be swept away in the blast. Synkrindan was still screaming, releasing his pent up rage. A good man, he had been cursed with the burden of so many others so that they could lead normal, good lives. The consequence was the inability to manage so much for any given amount of time. It was possible he would go weeks or even months without the need for the release; his containment was impeccable. But every so often, this happened.
Trimboldt heard Synkrindan suddenly grow silent. Turning around from behind the tree, he looked back into the glade and stood there aghast. Synkrindan was kneeling in the middle of a crater at least as tall as one of those small children who had hounded him. No shrub or blade of grass could be seen for several dozen meters. Glancing at the tree that had sheltered him, Trimboldt saw that the bark for several inches had been scorched or blasted off, for there was no sign of fire but for the heat of the tree. Slowly, Trimboldt went up to his friend and, laying his hand upon his shoulder, asked if he was okay? Synkrindan looked up with a look of both relief and dismay and only replied with, I pray every day for this not to happen for the effect it has on others.
*sigh* sometimes i wish i could actually release my pent up angst.
April 16, 2008
Tagline
ONE POINT.
ONE LINE.
ONE DESTINY.
TO RULE THEIR OCTANT!
ONE LINE.
ONE DESTINY.
TO RULE THEIR OCTANT!
COMING SOON TO A WHITEBOARD NEAR YOU!
fine print: my math instructor said in class, just like a movie announcer (well maybe not quite like a movie announcer), those first two lines, and the first thing to pop into my mind were the next two lines. I think I've got something here...
April 14, 2008
What America Means To Me
Baseball, beer, hotdogs, cute girls (who like baseball), peanuts, hot tamales, bottleCaps...that's pretty much what America means to me. And I experienced it all this afternoon and evening. There are few things finer than an evening at a baseball park, watching a baseball game, doing things (i.e. beer, hotdogs, hot tamales, peanuts) that you should do at a baseball game. Who cares if your team didn't win? The game itself and the things that went on during it were awesome, and incredible. The beverages and accoutrements were delightful. I even sat next to a couple that was rooting for the opposing team, and we held meaningful conversation about the game and the teams. Ah! A delight to my soul. I thought you all should know that this weekend has been the greatest of my life...in the past several months.
Oh, and btw, my birthday (since this baseball game was my birthday present) is officially completed for this year. Thanks to all and to those six different beers (seven total) that I had this afternoon.
-bri
Oh, and btw, my birthday (since this baseball game was my birthday present) is officially completed for this year. Thanks to all and to those six different beers (seven total) that I had this afternoon.
-bri
April 11, 2008
Call on the Breeze
Something was in the wind today. There wasn't a lot of it either, so the something was quite faint and syrupy. Sweet like Pixie Stixs and Smarties, but rich and filling like Lumberjack Red. It was calling to me and demanding to know why I wasn't taking action. I looked up to the partly cloudy heavens and cried out "I WISH I COULD!!!" But the truth is my friends are all occupied, I was mired in the death throes of higher education, and it's not a solo activity. What was that something you ask?
FRISBEE
It's that time of year! When the discs will fly! Bring forth the summer nights of freedom, delight, and good times! Oh! How I long for them again! Be prepared my friends, be prepared! How's your arm?
FRISBEE
It's that time of year! When the discs will fly! Bring forth the summer nights of freedom, delight, and good times! Oh! How I long for them again! Be prepared my friends, be prepared! How's your arm?
April 4, 2008
Attention Grabber
Yesterday was a bad day. Coming on the heels of a euphoric experience of the American pasttime replete with hotdogs, beers, and garlic fries, it was a much worse bad day than it may have appeared to an outside observer. But then, who cares what the outside observer thinks on my bad day, am I right or am I right? Right. Anyway, this bad day consisted or three very interesting things and it was only on viewing the third that the other two kind of clicked into place.
1. I was up early enough for the sun rise. This may not seem like a big deal, but it was quite lovely. Some clouds were out and about as early as me and they were making some beautiful colors over the Cascades. Lighting up the sky like that made me happy...and wish I was in bed.
2. Mid-afternoon had massive solar halo activity. A thin film of cloud cover allowed the diffraction of light from the sun, making a circle rainbow around it. I'd hardly noticed these but since my recent increase in sciencey thought, I've been eagerly awaiting a prime viewing. Well I had it, and it was really cool.
3. I was out driving when the sun was setting. Now this one rocked the house. The sun going down over the Olympics with some heavy cloud cover right above the point where the clouds would meet the mountains made the sun really red-orange. Moreover, there was a break in the clouds about a thumbs length held at arms length farther up with wispy clouds in this hole. I totally thought I might get to see the so called fire rainbow. Well, it looked like the entire area behind the mountains was on fire and it was the coolest thing I'd seen since #2 and #1.
All this to say I may have had a bad day, but I think God was trying to point out to me that He's still really cool. When I saw 1, 2, and 3, it got me thinking about the technical side of what's happening (i.e. Earth's rotation, water in the atmosphere), but it also made me think that God is saying, "see what I did? I did it for you so could think about me on your bad days. Trust me to get you through it." Huh, I said. That's right. Nice timing. Thanks God. He really is that cool to come up with rainbows and planets rotating and then still love us more than any of that.
1. I was up early enough for the sun rise. This may not seem like a big deal, but it was quite lovely. Some clouds were out and about as early as me and they were making some beautiful colors over the Cascades. Lighting up the sky like that made me happy...and wish I was in bed.
2. Mid-afternoon had massive solar halo activity. A thin film of cloud cover allowed the diffraction of light from the sun, making a circle rainbow around it. I'd hardly noticed these but since my recent increase in sciencey thought, I've been eagerly awaiting a prime viewing. Well I had it, and it was really cool.
3. I was out driving when the sun was setting. Now this one rocked the house. The sun going down over the Olympics with some heavy cloud cover right above the point where the clouds would meet the mountains made the sun really red-orange. Moreover, there was a break in the clouds about a thumbs length held at arms length farther up with wispy clouds in this hole. I totally thought I might get to see the so called fire rainbow. Well, it looked like the entire area behind the mountains was on fire and it was the coolest thing I'd seen since #2 and #1.
All this to say I may have had a bad day, but I think God was trying to point out to me that He's still really cool. When I saw 1, 2, and 3, it got me thinking about the technical side of what's happening (i.e. Earth's rotation, water in the atmosphere), but it also made me think that God is saying, "see what I did? I did it for you so could think about me on your bad days. Trust me to get you through it." Huh, I said. That's right. Nice timing. Thanks God. He really is that cool to come up with rainbows and planets rotating and then still love us more than any of that.
March 14, 2008
π day
Well everyone, today is Pi day, the day that matches the beginning of the mathematical constant Pi, 3.14159... etc., ad infinitum, and what not. My calculus teacher this quarter (a capital fellow if you ask me) said that mathematicians don't really celebrate Pi day, it's the people around math people that think they should be celebrating today. People bake him pies to eat, so he doesn't argue the fact to hard. "Yeah Pi Day!" Who's making me a pie??
If you're at all interested in the amazing number that is the ratio of a the circumference of a circle to its radius, you can go to this link and search the first two hundred million numbers of Pi for any sequence of number you want. For example, my birthday, 3483, starts at the 17,774th digit of Pi. Moreover, if you were to use the full US date format of 03041983, then my birthday doesn't occur in the first 200,000,000 digits. Wow! (or not Wow! depending on how nerdy you are.)
http://www.angio.net/pi/piquery.html
There's other things that could be said about Pi. I could show you an alternate way I learned how to calculate it that use infinite series and stuff like that. It's way cool because every succesive term in the series of numbers you add up tacks 25 digits onto the end of Pi. Holy cow! What does he even mean?! Sorry everyone, but I just had to say something about it. So think about it today at 1:59:26 am and pm. (cause that'll be 3.14 159 26)
Corollary: I add this paragraph on 3/15 and would like to tell about the aftermath of Pi day. Krista Fosse, a veritable anthropomorphized precious gem, actually made me (of all people) a pie yesterday. Apple pie none the less, which is my favorite. And then Jessica Turver, a forest rose of surpassing grace and kindness, made two pies as well, not knowing it was even Pi day. Needless to say, there was much pie consumed last night in the Aerie and there was much rejoicing. Praise Him!
If you're at all interested in the amazing number that is the ratio of a the circumference of a circle to its radius, you can go to this link and search the first two hundred million numbers of Pi for any sequence of number you want. For example, my birthday, 3483, starts at the 17,774th digit of Pi. Moreover, if you were to use the full US date format of 03041983, then my birthday doesn't occur in the first 200,000,000 digits. Wow! (or not Wow! depending on how nerdy you are.)
http://www.angio.net/pi/piquery.html
There's other things that could be said about Pi. I could show you an alternate way I learned how to calculate it that use infinite series and stuff like that. It's way cool because every succesive term in the series of numbers you add up tacks 25 digits onto the end of Pi. Holy cow! What does he even mean?! Sorry everyone, but I just had to say something about it. So think about it today at 1:59:26 am and pm. (cause that'll be 3.14 159 26)
Corollary: I add this paragraph on 3/15 and would like to tell about the aftermath of Pi day. Krista Fosse, a veritable anthropomorphized precious gem, actually made me (of all people) a pie yesterday. Apple pie none the less, which is my favorite. And then Jessica Turver, a forest rose of surpassing grace and kindness, made two pies as well, not knowing it was even Pi day. Needless to say, there was much pie consumed last night in the Aerie and there was much rejoicing. Praise Him!
February 27, 2008
The Multiverse
Regardless of what the masses believe regarding the soon to be mentioned subject (preview: the multiverse theory), I believe I have come to the ultimate justification for any expenditure in proving and utilizing, if proven true, the following theory: the multiverse. Yes, the multiverse. WTF is a multiverse you ask? A brief history (as far as I understand where they [i.e. present day scientists] get their ideas), complete with diagrams.
The multiverse theory seems to me to come from two different ideas and or observations and I think either one is just dandy. Today, there is a debate about whether light is a particle or a wave, or some fancy combination of both. By particle, I mean individual "photons" of light and when I say wave, I mean the electromagnetic wave that propagates all around us allowing us to see. So, which is it? Well if you use what is called the "Double-Slit Experiment," you can demonstrate that light acts like a wave. By shining a laser at a double slit, you set up an interference pattern on a screen beyond the slit like so:
This is produced by overlapping waves. Now, the interesting thing is if you reduce the intensity of the light until only one photon of light is coming at a time through this double slit, then you get something quite interesting and remarkable. This:
Astonishing! I believe the popular opinion among the more extreme thinking branches is that the only way these single, tiny balls of light still make this pattern, even though there is nothing else in the way to hit it or knock it off course, is that in another parallel universe, somebody is running the same experiment, and those photons are interacting with out photons. There's more to say, but this is a blog and nobody cares.
The second idea is much simpler and I don't think there are any proofs yet for this. It is merely that every choice that anybody in any time has ever had to make has spawned a parallel universe; one where you did the alternative to whatever choice you eventually made. One where you went with brown socks and then destroyed the world and one where you stuck with white socks and had a good day at school. Get the drift? Good. It makes for fascinating discussions about science, psychology, morality, and Western civilization. For your viewing pleasure, I have drawn the first four dimensions and then what the multiverse would be like. Think of the sphere as one time unit. (The fourth dimension having popularly been accepted as time.)
Theoretically, since there are an infinite number of these universes, there is one where everybody has blue hair naturally, or where the sky is a deep and majestic shade of purple-green, or where most everybody is a comfortable baked clam. Yes, I know. "What a stupid theory," you must be saying. Well, I would postulate that those universes would be infinitely "far away" from us and we don't need to worry about it. If you were to think of all these universes as little beads strung along a wire, then the one where everybody is a baked clam is probably ten to the ten trillion universes away from us. It doesn't matter. I'm concerned with the universes maybe fifty or more away on either side of use. Now we come to the reason for my sharing and the justification.
Somewhere, and most likely not to far away down that imaginary line of universes, is a planet Earth where the sci-fi TV show Firefly did not get canceled. It got signed for five or six or even more seasons and went on to great things. I am going to go to this universe someday and bring back the DVD sets of these seasons, so that this world doesn't have to suffer the stupidity of certain network executives and their shortsightedness by canceling the show before it even had a chance.
(Yes, you read all that sci-babble for that. Sorry)
p.s. Even more astonishing, though I didn't include any numbers in my picture, is that these parallel universes don't necessarily have to be at the same time in...well time. You could go to a universe that is our exact universe except at an earlier or later time frame. How cool would that be?
The multiverse theory seems to me to come from two different ideas and or observations and I think either one is just dandy. Today, there is a debate about whether light is a particle or a wave, or some fancy combination of both. By particle, I mean individual "photons" of light and when I say wave, I mean the electromagnetic wave that propagates all around us allowing us to see. So, which is it? Well if you use what is called the "Double-Slit Experiment," you can demonstrate that light acts like a wave. By shining a laser at a double slit, you set up an interference pattern on a screen beyond the slit like so:
This is produced by overlapping waves. Now, the interesting thing is if you reduce the intensity of the light until only one photon of light is coming at a time through this double slit, then you get something quite interesting and remarkable. This:Astonishing! I believe the popular opinion among the more extreme thinking branches is that the only way these single, tiny balls of light still make this pattern, even though there is nothing else in the way to hit it or knock it off course, is that in another parallel universe, somebody is running the same experiment, and those photons are interacting with out photons. There's more to say, but this is a blog and nobody cares.The second idea is much simpler and I don't think there are any proofs yet for this. It is merely that every choice that anybody in any time has ever had to make has spawned a parallel universe; one where you did the alternative to whatever choice you eventually made. One where you went with brown socks and then destroyed the world and one where you stuck with white socks and had a good day at school. Get the drift? Good. It makes for fascinating discussions about science, psychology, morality, and Western civilization. For your viewing pleasure, I have drawn the first four dimensions and then what the multiverse would be like. Think of the sphere as one time unit. (The fourth dimension having popularly been accepted as time.)
Theoretically, since there are an infinite number of these universes, there is one where everybody has blue hair naturally, or where the sky is a deep and majestic shade of purple-green, or where most everybody is a comfortable baked clam. Yes, I know. "What a stupid theory," you must be saying. Well, I would postulate that those universes would be infinitely "far away" from us and we don't need to worry about it. If you were to think of all these universes as little beads strung along a wire, then the one where everybody is a baked clam is probably ten to the ten trillion universes away from us. It doesn't matter. I'm concerned with the universes maybe fifty or more away on either side of use. Now we come to the reason for my sharing and the justification.Somewhere, and most likely not to far away down that imaginary line of universes, is a planet Earth where the sci-fi TV show Firefly did not get canceled. It got signed for five or six or even more seasons and went on to great things. I am going to go to this universe someday and bring back the DVD sets of these seasons, so that this world doesn't have to suffer the stupidity of certain network executives and their shortsightedness by canceling the show before it even had a chance.
(Yes, you read all that sci-babble for that. Sorry)
p.s. Even more astonishing, though I didn't include any numbers in my picture, is that these parallel universes don't necessarily have to be at the same time in...well time. You could go to a universe that is our exact universe except at an earlier or later time frame. How cool would that be?
February 9, 2008
Segue
Walking down a hill through trees,
Every which way known to me.
I see a path I've not yet tread
And wonder why I've always said
"Every which way's known to me?"
Veering neither left nor right,
It stretches fore and out of sight
'Tween rock and stone and hill-gripped bush.
Advancing forth, I reach and push
Aside a branch that blocks the path
That's not unlike a basket's lath.
And seeing now the way is clear
I gaze and feel and sense and hear
Something strange and almost queer.
Stepping o'er threshold wide,
And glancing not from side to side,
Forth I walk my new found road
That's brightly lit by sun in nodes
And forms the sine from side to side.
Glancing back, I'm stunned to see
Everything the way it should be
For here the world has changed
On my road, ever so strange.
The air is lighter, grass sweeter,
And animals like lotus eaters.
What path do I trod with leg,
Started with so smooth a segue?
Every which way known to me.
I see a path I've not yet tread
And wonder why I've always said
"Every which way's known to me?"
Veering neither left nor right,
It stretches fore and out of sight
'Tween rock and stone and hill-gripped bush.
Advancing forth, I reach and push
Aside a branch that blocks the path
That's not unlike a basket's lath.
And seeing now the way is clear
I gaze and feel and sense and hear
Something strange and almost queer.
Stepping o'er threshold wide,
And glancing not from side to side,
Forth I walk my new found road
That's brightly lit by sun in nodes
And forms the sine from side to side.
Glancing back, I'm stunned to see
Everything the way it should be
For here the world has changed
On my road, ever so strange.
The air is lighter, grass sweeter,
And animals like lotus eaters.
What path do I trod with leg,
Started with so smooth a segue?
January 21, 2008
Coffee Injustice
I've had a major epiphany and I'm gonna need good, stout-hearted folk to rise up with me against this tyranny I've seen. Did you ever read The Flying Inn? Well it's going to be like that...only not so important. But it'll be important enough I tell you!!
When your friendly barista says to you, "is that for here?" and you of course say, "Yes," do you know what you just ordered? You just asked for your coffee to be placed in a container designed to extract heat from liquids at a remarkable rate. It seems that I get my coffee, and before you know it, it's cold!! What gives? I may like to drink my coffee rather fast, but this stuff cools it off too fast, leaving me with a cold coffee experience.
Good people, we must rise up against this. It's exactly the same situation as the Big Oil companies, hoarding the remarkable technology of gas-free cars and trucks. Big Coffee has a thermally insulating cup that cost the same as their regular 'for-here' cups. Why don't they employ it? Money, of course. But if we strike back now, while they think we're ignorant, we'll have gained an upper hand and possibly changed the course of lives everywhere, or at the very least, of coffee drinkers lives everywhere.
I don't blame the baristas. I blame their ethereal and slightly non-corporeal unknown superiors 60 times removed from them who sit in some plush chair in some plush office in some plush city, drinking their lattes in 'for-here' cups that are thermally insulated. I'll be sitting outside a random coffee shop, protesting, starting on the next day that doesn't end in 'y.' Join me.
When your friendly barista says to you, "is that for here?" and you of course say, "Yes," do you know what you just ordered? You just asked for your coffee to be placed in a container designed to extract heat from liquids at a remarkable rate. It seems that I get my coffee, and before you know it, it's cold!! What gives? I may like to drink my coffee rather fast, but this stuff cools it off too fast, leaving me with a cold coffee experience.
Good people, we must rise up against this. It's exactly the same situation as the Big Oil companies, hoarding the remarkable technology of gas-free cars and trucks. Big Coffee has a thermally insulating cup that cost the same as their regular 'for-here' cups. Why don't they employ it? Money, of course. But if we strike back now, while they think we're ignorant, we'll have gained an upper hand and possibly changed the course of lives everywhere, or at the very least, of coffee drinkers lives everywhere.
I don't blame the baristas. I blame their ethereal and slightly non-corporeal unknown superiors 60 times removed from them who sit in some plush chair in some plush office in some plush city, drinking their lattes in 'for-here' cups that are thermally insulated. I'll be sitting outside a random coffee shop, protesting, starting on the next day that doesn't end in 'y.' Join me.
January 17, 2008
The Mars Projects
It all started about eight months ago. The summit for International Peace had just concluded their fifth session and a treaty between all the countries of the world was about to be signed. It was the Mars Projects that had caused all the nations to come together. When New Montreal on the Moon had been hit by the stray asteroid and a second and third had wiped out
The Mars Projects had been an attempt by the alliance of the United States of North America and the Islands of Britain to create, maintain, and direct gravity fields in the late 21st century. To what end, they never have said exactly. Both the Earth and the Moon were, in the opinion of the
Some people will tell you that it was sabotage while others will say it was an accident, but whatever the cause, three generators were simultaneously activated by an intense power surge: cause still unknown. All three generators were suspiciously directed towards the asteroid belt beyond Mars orbit. Before the auto-cutoff systems could activate or the researchers react, several asteroids were rapidly accelerated towards the facility. In the few minutes it took them to reach Mars’ orbit, the planet had moved on, paving the way for their unrestricted access to the inner solar system. The power surge had destroyed most of the facilities primary systems, and communications were not possible with Earth or any of the colonies on the Moon until it was too late.
The first asteroid impacted the Moon near the terminator, creating a shockwave that wiped New Montreal off the map. There had been no warning, as Earth based problems had all of the colonies’ equipment trained back on the homeworld. After New Montreal, though, air to space fighters were launched from seven different platforms in a matter of seconds, but, it was too late. A second and third asteroid came down on
Dozens of lives were lost and war was certainly imminent, but the Mars colony was able to contact the
January 6, 2008
Four-cast
When you come into a new year, it's typical for people to make resolutions that apply to yourself. The intention being, usually, to become a better "you" over the course of the new year. I on the other hand have made a list of inventions, technologies, or ideas that I would like to see come about in this grand ol' leap year of 2008. The idea here being to make a better world. I think at least four hopes are reasonable, especially since it allowed me to create a cool title.
1. Presence Dampener: You know when you're walking in a parking lot at night and you 'feel' as if somebody is behind you? And then there's your friend! Or when you're in a room all alone and you can just 'tell' when somebody has entered the room? Well never fear you pranksters! The Presence Dampener is a hand-held device that will actually cause your presence to disappear when activated! Studies show that the device works by phasing only your mass into a parallel dimension. Gravity will still act on you though, because this other dimension also has gravity, so don't fear. People will no longer 'sense' you without seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, or tasting you directly!
2. Abolition of Daylight Saving Time: I believe it no longer serves a purpose and should be banned from ever happening again. It was a good idea at the time, don't get me wrong. Farmers and the like needed more daylight during particular seasons, so let's shift the clock so that normal working hours are more in sync with daytime. Fantastic. Now we have floodlights, and less people are farmers or the like. I'm pretty sure we're done with Daylight Saving Time.
3. Conversion of English to Newspeak: If you've never read 1984 by George Orwell, I suggest you try. Now. In the book, the English Socialist party had created a new language that cut out tons of superfluous words. E.g. good, great, fantastic, and incredibly phenomenal became good, plusgood, doubleplusgood, and double-doubleplusgood. See how much easier that is than having all those other words? Simplicity is elegance. (1984 fans would be chuckling because of that sentence).
4. Discovery of alien life: I'm pretty sure I'd crap my pants twice if we finally found evidence of alien life, even if it's a fossil on Mars. It doesn't have to be alive, it just has to have been alive at some time. People talk about it all the time, but if it actually happened, can you imagine the mayhem? Maybe mayhem is the wrong word, but really, if you think about it, it'd be a double-doubleplusgood event! Wow.
1. Presence Dampener: You know when you're walking in a parking lot at night and you 'feel' as if somebody is behind you? And then there's your friend! Or when you're in a room all alone and you can just 'tell' when somebody has entered the room? Well never fear you pranksters! The Presence Dampener is a hand-held device that will actually cause your presence to disappear when activated! Studies show that the device works by phasing only your mass into a parallel dimension. Gravity will still act on you though, because this other dimension also has gravity, so don't fear. People will no longer 'sense' you without seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, or tasting you directly!
2. Abolition of Daylight Saving Time: I believe it no longer serves a purpose and should be banned from ever happening again. It was a good idea at the time, don't get me wrong. Farmers and the like needed more daylight during particular seasons, so let's shift the clock so that normal working hours are more in sync with daytime. Fantastic. Now we have floodlights, and less people are farmers or the like. I'm pretty sure we're done with Daylight Saving Time.
3. Conversion of English to Newspeak: If you've never read 1984 by George Orwell, I suggest you try. Now. In the book, the English Socialist party had created a new language that cut out tons of superfluous words. E.g. good, great, fantastic, and incredibly phenomenal became good, plusgood, doubleplusgood, and double-doubleplusgood. See how much easier that is than having all those other words? Simplicity is elegance. (1984 fans would be chuckling because of that sentence).
4. Discovery of alien life: I'm pretty sure I'd crap my pants twice if we finally found evidence of alien life, even if it's a fossil on Mars. It doesn't have to be alive, it just has to have been alive at some time. People talk about it all the time, but if it actually happened, can you imagine the mayhem? Maybe mayhem is the wrong word, but really, if you think about it, it'd be a double-doubleplusgood event! Wow.
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