Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Moving in the right direction

Good to see that things are moving in the right direction.

The Survey Says . . .
70+% of people now approve of interracial dating.
I wonder what the responses would be for interracial marriage?

If Noel's experience is any kind of a barometer, I hope the church can get with it on this one.

What is the deal with Halloween anyway? Is it evil?

According to Wikipedia , its sort of a mixed bag. I hope of something sweet!

I personally observe it as the day I get to collect the candies my girls don't like and don't want to bother bartering for other treats with thier pals. Oh, I know, I know . . . I'm so deep.

Who knew there was an open source brew?

Check it out. They even have open source beer now.

For those of you who don't know what open source is read about it here
.

Monday, October 10, 2005

One more award winner

I left out this important Ig Noble prize winner.

LITERATURE: The Internet entrepreneurs of Nigeria, for creating and then using e-mail to distribute a bold series of short stories, thus introducing millions of readers to a cast of rich characters -- General Sani Abacha, Mrs. Mariam Sanni Abacha, Barrister Jon A Mbeki Esq., and others -- each of whom requires just a small amount of expense money so as to obtain access to the great wealth to which they are entitled and which they would like to share with the kind person who assists them.

I know I have been touched by their efforts. I bet you have, too.

Ig Noble Prize Winners

In case you missed it, the Ig Noble prize cermony took place on October 6, 2005.

Here is a listing of the 2005 Winners

Check out the winner in the Economics Category.

ECONOMICS: Gauri Nanda of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for inventing an alarm clock that runs away and hides, repeatedly, thus ensuring that people DO get out of bed, and thus theoretically adding many productive hours to the workday.

Clever.

or this important research breakthrough.

FLUID DYNAMICS: Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow of International University Bremen, Germany and the University of Oulu , Finland; and Jozsef Gal of Loránd Eötvös University, Hungary, for using basic principles of physics to calculate the pressure that builds up inside a penguin, as detailed in their report "Pressures Produced When Penguins Pooh -- Calculations on Avian Defaecation."

I din't think I want to know how you measure that.

Identity 2.0

Here's a link to a unique presentation on Identity 2.0 by Dick Hardt of Sxip Identity. He's got an itchy trigger finger, so be warned. Heck, you might even learn something.

Saturday, October 08, 2005

Great skiing adviced

"If you're going to try to cross-country ski, start with a very small country."

Compliments of "Amazing But True Ski Stories Calendar" 9/23/05 entry

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Serious bikers, seats are still dangerous



If your putting in serious time on your bike, your ergonomic seat may still hurt you. This New York Times piece gives all the details.

If you spend a lot of time on a traditional bike seat, read it, and if necessary get a new seat. I am currently using a Specialized Body Geometry seat, compliments of my buddy, Bob, and though it doesn't go as far as the article recommends, it has been tons better than my old arched top seat. You can see Specialized seats here.

Happy trails . . . or roads.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Twisty Word tricks

These are always fun. Thanks to Dan Miller of 48days.com for bringing them to my attention.

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The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are a few of this year's winners:

1. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
2. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer,
unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
4. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
5. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
6. Glibido: All talk and no action.
7. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
8. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
9. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature:

10. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and a pain in the rear.

Monday, October 03, 2005

Quote of the Day

"Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." -- – Mulla Nasrudin