Hey Phil, give me a piece of lettuce.

A smithereen in sewing, is the 1/4 inch that you desperately needed which is now laying on the floor of the sewing room. I would imagine its pretty much the same in physics, its the part that isn't there.

Saying gluons over and over, just makes me all tongue tied.

Reposted from yesterday:

"If the universe were perfect, we probably wouldn't be in it."

More later, I have something to say on the subject of Everything.

bc

The failed Texas superconducting suprecollider (I'm still holding on to my red and white "No Superconducting Supercollider on Supersoil" T-shirts from California):

http://www.kiewit.com/markets/pro_12292011.html

In May 1992, a joint venture led by Gilbert Texas Construction, L.P., a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, began construction of the $33 million portion of the Superconducting Super Collider project. Located predominantly in Austin Chalk, this project involved the excavation and support of 30,000 ft. of 16.5-ft.-dia. tunnel and 19,000 ft. of 15.3-ft.-dia. tunnel using a tunnel boring machine. A total of 14 shafts up to 60 ft. in diameter and 210-ft. deep were completed in the shape of an ellipse using various support measures. The project also required a short adit to the main tunnel. In the process, crews set four tunneling world production records.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2754623

The Superconducting Supercollider, or SSC for short, would have been a particle accelerator of gargantuan proportions, nicknamed the 'window on creation' for its proposed ability of recreating some of the conditions present at the time of the Big Bang itself. It was to be built near Waxahachie, just outside Dallas, Texas, USA. It was first conceived of in 1978 at workshops of the International Committee on Future Accelerators where a powerful particle accelerator was discussed. Then in 1982, the Snowmass Summer Study that was sponsored by the Division of Particles and Fields of the American Physical Society discussed the project further. It was predicted that it would have taken around nine years to complete (from 1991 to 2000), costing nearly $12 billion, which was over twice the original estimate.

The last few sentences of the kit remind me of the required flaw in real Persian rugs; and live performance vs recording, or original art vs a print or manufactured replica. We use a lot of technology to try and make everything we use perfect and identical, but the joy and delight is often in the differences.

(Joel, did the physicists say anything about snowflakes? IS IT TRUE?)

//The visitor sees pipes, cables, humming machinery. There's a control room with lots of monitors.//

This captures exactly how I feel about this subatomic particle stuff. Kind of like Dorothy in the Hall of the Great Oz.

Joel, if you could, put back on the science-writer beanie and tell: what concrete evidence have you seen, with your own eyes, that quarks exist? Or, I'll settle for hearing from someone you interviewed who has seen the evidence. What is the evidence? What's it like?

Bonus points if you can explain why it matters to us, here in macro-world, whether quarks exist or not.

It's a holiday weekend, so the question is also offered to those of you who always work for nothing here on the A-blog.

kbertocci - Physicists believe that quarks exist because theories that demand quarks predict particles that are seen in super-collider collisions. Anything more deep than that becomes philosophy.

I really liked this column. I certainly hope we have not heard the last of Joel's Adventures in Fermiland.

Many physicists have a bias towards aesthetically pleasing theories. I know one gentleman who undertook a fruitless search for the magnetic monopole partly because it would have made Maxwell's equations prettier.

I think this obsession has arisen because many physical laws are undeniably beautiful. Timothy Ferris once wrote that Kepler's laws "Reveal a fugue in the sky." And since testing many modern theories would require a collider powered by dilithium crystals, aesthetics becomes a valuable discriminate. This is, admittedly, very unscientific.

Perhaps the pretty laws are just the on-screen talent, and the real work is being done by homely forces behind the scenes. Yet the desire for elegance remains. Or, at the very least, a theory in which all the weirdness of the universe can be explained with a minimum of variables. (If epsilon-prime is set to seven, Brittany shaves her head.)

But until then, the Standard Model, warts and all, will have to do. Yet it still seems awfully messy. As Enrico Fermi once said, "If I could remember the names of all these particles, I'd be a botanist."

What if the best explanation of the universe is, "They're not really Rules . . . they're more like Guidelines. . ." ?

Interesting point, sevenswans. How disillusioning it would be if the Universe was actually based upon a non-binding resolution.

The existence of quarks is based on experiments where high energy electrons strike protons. Most of the time they pass by as if there is nothing there, but sometimes they recoil strongly like they hit something. Check out wikipedia for more details. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_inelastic_scattering

>they're more like Guidelines.
Sounds very quantumly indeterminate to me.

Who was it that said "smashing particles together to see how the universe is made is like smashing a Swiss watch with a sledgemahhher and figuring out how it's made by observing the pieces that fall out"?

I'm prejudiced in favor of the random factor. My high school physics instructor was somewhat discombobulated that my fascination was for the times that the rules *didn't* work, with the variables that always had to be added in to cover the outlier phenomena. The cracks in the smooth fabric of explainable rules is where all the good stuff wanders around. For me, H*11 would be the unchanging predictability of Absolute Order, with everything thoroughly explained, and all factors always lining up precisely and neatly (Madeline L'Engle's Kamazotz would be an example). From personal observation, I don't believe that exists, or can exist (it certainly has no chance for existence in my household, but then again, I have cats).

There's a tremendous amount of energy involved in the breaking of order into chaos. I'd love it if someone actually invented an Improbability Drive in my lifetime.

Very nice kit. It's been a few years since I've read anything about particle physics, but I do believe that "proof" of the existence of various particles is captured on some sort of film The spurting into existence, trajectory and winking out of each particle is traced on the film. Am I right?

I think it's inherently human to want an Elegant Theory of Everything. We like beautifully wrapped theories, exquisitely balanced equation, symmetry. We like to have our science neat.

That the Standard Model isn't giving way to efforts to tie it all up clean as a whistle -- maybe this is a good joke played on humans by the cosmic overlords. You humans think we're so smart -- ha, ha! yu'll never get this mess sraightened out.

OK -- I figured outhow to copy links again (very embarassing).

thought this was interesting.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021701335.html

OK -- I figured outhow to copy links again (very embarassing). I wasn't used to the new Winows Explorer. They change small functions like that for fun I tink.

thought this was interesting.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021701335.html

Why not both? Reality as a varied series of pooled perceptions, in regular and irregular shapes, floating above a sea of random chaos. The transition from one Universal Rules to another isn't seamless, and the chaos slips and oozes through the cracks and scares the natives.

(which begs the question: Is "quantum anomaly" an oxymoron?)

nelson - Nowadays they use electronic sensors to detect particles, but in the olden days subatomic particles were photographed in what's called a "cloud chamber." This was a glass jar of air at 100% humidity. The itsy bitsy particles produced by atomic collisions induced a stream of water vapor in the chamber much like the contrails of a jet. If you stuck a magnet next to the chamber the direction and curvature of the vapor trail would reveal the particle's electric charge and mass.

The idea is supposed to have come to a physicist while drinking beer.

There's a moral there somewhere.

The mention of the cloud chamber required me to tell this story. I did my Ph.D research at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. We used a bubble chamber which is much the same idea as a cloud chamber but used cryogenic liquids instead of humid air. There were only a small number of American graduate students at CERN in those days, and we tended to hang out together when we weren't working. One day we decided to build a cloud chamber. One of the key components of a cloud chamber is dry ice. Well, it turns out that modern particle physics labs do not stock dry ice. You can get liquid nitrogen by the ton or liquid helium, but no dry ice. We took a bus all the way across Geneva to find dry ice. The cloud chamber worked and we saw particles in real time.

Rd is right when he says, "but in the olden days subatomic particles were photographed in what's called a "cloud chamber." That was state of the art when I was in junior high school!

Kb, I suspect we need to know this information in order to really "beam me up Scotty", don't you think? I mean on Star Trek, I was always fascinated by the fact that science had evolved to the point were we could move to and fro by particles. No messy automobiles or planes, trains, any of that. And just think, no accidents. Of course, occasionally on Star Trek, those particles did sometimes get lost. Although it seemed that this type of transporting only applied to ship from ship movement.

And I really loved it when just a bit of the particles showed up, you know where all them didn't make it, just a few. I always wondered, what happened the other part. Was it just wandering in space? But I believe that was a problem sometimes, and I think those folks got lost because they were always trying to get them back.

Kb, I suspect we need to know this information in order to really "beam me up Scotty", don't you think? I mean on Star Trek, I was always fascinated by the fact that science had evolved to the point were we could move to and fro by particles. No messy automobiles or planes, trains, any of that. And just think, no accidents. Of course, occasionally on Star Trek, those particles did sometimes get lost. Although it seemed that this type of transporting only applied to ship from ship movement.

And I really loved it when just a bit of the particles showed up, you know where all them didn't make it, just a few. I always wondered, what happened to the other part. Was it just wandering in space? But I believe that was a problem sometimes, and I think those folks got lost because they were always trying to get them back.

Kb, I suspect we need to know this information in order to really "beam me up Scotty", don't you think? I mean on Star Trek, I was always fascinated by the fact that science had evolved to the point were we could move to and fro by particles. No messy automobiles or planes, trains, any of that. And just think, no accidents. Of course, occasionally on Star Trek, those particles did sometimes get lost. Although it seemed that this type of transporting only applied to ship from ship movement.

And I really loved it when just a bit of the particles showed up, you know where all them didn't make it, just a few. I always wondered, what happened to the other part. Was it just wandering in space? But I believe that was a problem sometimes, and I think those folks got lost because they were always trying to get them back.

Sorry about the triple posts. I don't know how that happened. I did not need to say that three times.

I saw the movie, History of Violence, and for me, it was riveting. I did not take a bathroom break. The guy that played "Joey" or what used to be Joey was good, very good. And the actress that played his wife, wasn't bad either.

I kept thinking, so many times women in real life are really sleeping with the devil, and some don't have a clue. It seems "Joey" wanted to have a good life, but that past life just would not die. I think the wife knew something was there, but did not know the depth of that unknown.

I think that the triple posts are a result of the boodle passing through a chrono-synclastic infundibulum.

Yellojkt, I am so impressed that you can spell that. So much more difficult that protons or gluons or whatever.

Or maybe Hal just really liked Cassandra's comment.

:-)

What is now proved was once only imagined.

Kb, understanding quarks may lead to the next generation of shock and awe, or unlimited pollutionless controlled energy, or absolute proof of the existence of a just and merciful deity. Right now we're sort of at the stage of Ben Franklin flying a kite in a thundercloud.

Then again, quarks may never be of any more use than to supply desperate journalists with goofy ideas to meet weekly deadlines.

Ask about M-theory sometime.

mo, this one's for you!

(You did see it, didn't you?)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021600623.html

Joel,Something is wrong with the back of your envelope: 6 km and 11.365 mi do not match.

Joel,Something is wrong with the back of your envelope: 6 km and 11.365 mi do not match.

Joel, something is wrong with the back of your envelope. 6 kilometers and 11.765 miles do not match.

People, people, we're not doing our jobs!!

Look how on-topic the Google Ads are:

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www.BrookhavenInstruments.com

Particle Sizing Software
Measure particle, droplet & bubble size, shape and velocity.
www.oxfordlasers.com

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I think we need to revisit bc and 'Mudge in the MG. In fact, I think I saw them on the infield at Daytona...

:-)

How big is a Smithereen? I don't know, but Pat DiNizio and the rest seem pretty normal-sized to me.

http://www.officialsmithereens.com/

This was my Google ad when I refreshed:

Carefree Boat Club
Gift Basket Available for the Tree! Own the Water, Not the Boat

?

Before that, it was the same as ScottyNuke's, except for the "Quark Nursing Shoes"

Maybe the triple posts are some kind of robotic apology for all the disappeared comments...It would be typical robot logic that thinks all our string variables are equivalent.

I am an indifferent speller, but I rock at cut-and-paste.

pj - Man, I forgot all about "The Smithereens!" Thanks for that link.

Six kilometres is equivilent to 3.728 miles.

A careful reading shows that Joel equated 6 kilometers to Eleven Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Miles. There is a chance he was trying to be funny. He does that sometimes.

Actually 11,765 miles. Joel is funny. I am stupid.

KCTS, Seattle's PBS station, is showing "Exploring Space: The Quest For Life"
C-o-o-o-l. Science.

Oh, you are funny, RD.

Thank you TBG. But I see you wisely didn't counter the "stupid" description.

"The tighter physics has tried to grasp on to physical reality, to understand what it's really made of -- what are the core building blocks of life? -- at the basis of it all, life, the Universe, slips through your fingers. And you come up with something that's increasingly abstract, increasingly abstract, until you come to the realm of pure abstraction. And that's what the Unified Field is -- it's pure, abstract potential, pure abstract being, pure abstract self-aware consciousness -- which rises in waves of vibration to give rise to the particles, the people, everything you see in the vast Universe."

-- John Hagelin, in the DVD "What the Bleep!? Down the Rabbit Hole"

Well, it seems to me (without pencil and envelope) that 6 km are actually about 4 miles and not 11 something.

Cassandra, regarding your comment in the first sentence of the third paragraph of your 2:47 post; unfortunately, my wife has already figured that out.

;-)

RD, I think you are a real funny guy when you want to be, of course, some days are better than others.

And very smart.

We all have our bad days.

I feel the majority of mine fall in that category. But I love to laugh, so it's not so bad.

pj beat me to a Smithereens link, but here's one which links them to the flyaway hair kit earlier in the week.

http://kochstreams.hostcentric.com/smithereens/

Have to say, I've heard most of it, and while I can't state I wouldn't think it was great if I hadn't heard the originals, I've heard the originals a few times and these seem pointless.

I thought of the Smithereens' "Blues Before and After" when I read Joel's Kit, just didn't get a chance to mention it.

Ach, no time, no time.
Just mostly empty space and vibrating strings of probability.

Between my ears, naturally.

bc

Fun Facts on John Hagelin from Unnatural FAQs
Hagelin ran for president under the Natural Law Party and is an internationally famous flake.(that's me)

"Isn't John Hagelin a respected physicist?"
Well, yes and no. Hagelin claims to be the principal author of the hottest theory in quantum physics. True? Not quite. Superstring theory seeks to explain all physical laws in terms of one, neat system. While appearing in an impressive string of publications, Hagelin was not the primary author on the foundational superstring papers. And his co-authors and other noted scientists now distance themselves from -- and outright ridicule -- Hagelin's theories linking Transcendental Meditation and the Maharishi's teachings with quantum physics.More fun reading
http://onwww.net/trancenet.org/nlp/

Boko, fine, just throw cold water on everything. Next you will probably try convincing everyone that the world was not formed in or around 4,000 B.C. Sheesh.

Darn right. Pretty soon I think Boko will try to convince us that those little propellers on the back of bacterium *could* have arisen from natural selection.

It seems like science is getting too complicated. I recently took apart an old inverter, that thing that converts 12 volts DC to AC. I was looking for a blown fuse. Plastered on the outside were all kinds of warnings. "No User Serviceable Parts", and "Danger", that sort of thing. Anyway, I removed four screws and found the fuse. I didn't accelerate any particles through 12 thousand miles (you got the fact checker drunk again, right?) I removed four screws. You claim, they claim, the subatomic world is basically empty. I doubt it. I suspect it is full of little labels, telling you not to take things apart, and suggesting dire consequences if you do.

Maybe someday you will be able to get more normal tools to take the "building blocks of the universe" (how pretentious) apart. Like down at the Atom Depot, or something. They'll say things like "You need a gluon puller... Nano-tools, middle of Aisle C". Parents will splice their kids genes, by then, for recreation, and then they'll show them on TV.

Sorry, I watched Penn and Teller earlier today and now I'm watching Mythbusters..hang on James Randi is coming through...Yes..Yes..You're not dead?...My pants are on...Well, psychic vulture seems a little harsh..OK, OK.
What a grouch.

I thought gluons had something to do with ladies handycrafts.

How is your pain-level now Boko999? When you posted last night, I said to myself "That Boodler has a migraine."

My dad used to talk about landing on Normandy Beach and seeing the bombs blowing up everything around him to "smithereens." WWII speak I guess.

Ugly thought...great word.

Think I'll just concentrate on the cows turning into shards of beefalo.

I am getting worried about Mudge and company. I do hope things are going well for the little guy. Mudge, we love you. Check in when you can.

Time for me to go to bed. I am too tired for words, been a long day. It is so very cold here, and the wind is fierce, which doesn't help the warmth factor. God willing, I want to walk in the morning, but this weather, just too, too, cold. I know, excuses, excuses.

Have a good night everyone, sweet dreams. Peace.

G'night, Cassandra.

"Smithereens" is what my kids call it when you step on a leaf that's so dry it crumbles into, well.... smithereens.

The Smithereens first album, Especially For Your, was great. It was produced by Don Dixon who co-produced Murmur with Mitch Easter. Those are two great albums (remember when we called them that) to be associated with.

I told my husband last night when we were turning in that I was worried about Mudge's grandson. He's been in my mind all day.

I forget that when we make friends we share our jokes, our comments, our joys--and unfortunately our pains, too.

Mudge... we're all thinking about Dylan and hope all things are going well.

SCC: "You" not "Your"

and so to bed . . . .

Yoki, thanks for asking.It was a doozy. I get 2 or 3 of the clusterers a year. I can usually knock them down alternating an ice pack from my face to the back of my neck standing in a very hot shower. It feels so good when it stops. The only drug that worked, if caught at aura phase, was bellergal which is a combination of belladonna and ergot.
My Ottawa doctor wouldn't renew the presciption the doc at Sunnydale in TO had given me. 50 pills had lasted me 3 years but the Ottawa twerp asked me if I knew how powerful belladonna and ergot are.
Oh yeah, I think have an inkling.

Just to clarify. When the Toronto doctor gave me bellergal I was getting migraines much more frequently. They trailed off in my forties.

Boko, one benefit of getting older, no? I hope you're feeling okay.

I too have been thinking about Dylan today and hoping he made the trip to Orlando. Mudge, are you out there?

As Cassandra said, cold and windy in the Carolinas. The forecast says it will be warming in the middle of the week. I'm ready.

G'night, everybody!

I see where you are coming from, Boko. I don't have cluster-migraines, just the big one every now and then.

bellergal was good for me too (combined with cool breezes and hot coffee and a warm blanket). Also bellergrav (combination belladona & gravol). However, once the new generation drugs came on the market, no doctor will prescribe the old-gens. It is sort of a sad story. The new-gens do not much for me, but the meds that work are off-limits.

Now, I try not to go crazy when the aura starts, and hit it with over-the-counters, plus strong hot coffee, a warm blanket. Not the perfect solution, but.

Blessings upon your sore head.

The only person my age on a computer course I was taking was an ol' biker chick (don't bust me, those are her words) who was going through a wicked menopause. When I told her the bellergal story she bust out laughing and told me she took bellergal for the 'pause, as she called it. The stuff she took was bellergal-s which has barbituates in it.
I would melt a tablet of my presciption under my tongue during the aura phase, which usually killed the headache before it started.
If you can raise your heart rate during the aura phase you might be able to avoid the agony. I used to leave my desk and run around the outside of the building or do jumping jacks. My co-workers thought I was an eccentric.

I lied. It was Sunnybrook Health Centre in Toronto, not Sunnydale.

Good man. And *laughing.*

Still thinking good thoughts for Dylan, 'Mudge.

And my migraines are few and far between, especially since I'm getting better at spotting their approach and heading them off at the pass... Or the neck, depending on their starting point.

:-)

Oboy... Paging bc and 'Mudge! Writing opportunities galore!! *L*

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/books/19nasc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Good morning, friends. Mudge, we're just worried about you, and the little guy, hope everything is going well. Prayers and blessings sought for you and family.

When in high school, I used to have migranes something awful. I would take to the bed and the misery was just unbelievable. And to make matters worse, my mother always thought I was putting on just to get out of doing some chore, meaning I had to endure her wrath and the pain. The pain always won out. Sleep was the drug of choice. Nothing worked, but then we did not have drugs. Anything could set an attack off, a simple smell could do it. My son also suffered too.

It is so cold here this morning, I don't want to go out. I have to go to the wash room so I might as well get started. Need to amble across the street to the store for bleach. I'll walk, that will be my effort at the larger task.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. If anyone talks to Mudge, please convey my good thoughts to him and family, and the little guy. Have a good day, my friends, despite whatever obstacle stands in your way.

God loves us so much more than we can imagine through Him that died for all, Jesus Christ.

'Morning, all. Only got time for a quick Dylan update: he's doing fine, and we're about to leave to go to the hospital to help his mother bring him home. It did in fact turn out to be meningitis, the viral kind, which is spite of the name and distinctions, isn't as bad as the bacterial kind. Two days ago he was still a sick puppy; we spent nbearly all day at the hospital yesterday and he was crawling around the floor playing with his Matchbox cars with my wife. Dylan and his mom are flying out tomorrow to DisneyWorld tomorrow to re-join the rest of their family, who have been down there but pretty much miserable worrying about Dylan and his mom. It has been Dylan's most ardent desire to meet Mickey Mouse, but last nioght at the hospital he got a call from DisneyWorld from Minnie Mouse herself. Well, he was just about berserk at that. I have a suspicion that Mickey has just found himself to be an also-ran to his better half.

More details and several movie reviews to come later. (I'm a boodle and a half behind, so have much catching up to do.)

Thanks for sharing the good news, Mudge!

For all its problems, there is much to be said for modern medicine, as Dylan's experience shows.

Yes indeed, good news 'Mudge! *applause*

I kinda think Minnie will fade into the background when Dylan meets Mickey.

:-)

So glad to hear Mudge. Nothing can worry you like a sick child. And then to have it be your child's child...a double-whammy. My heart goes out to you.

S'nuke, I wouldn't bet money on that. We have our ways, you know.

Glad to hear Dylan is doing better, 'mudge. Hospitals are no place to spend a weekend.

I'd never bet against you, LiT! *L*

Good morning, all.
Mudge, I am relieved to hear that your grandson is recovering. I think we all are.

Of the many things Joel's Observation of the subatomic and all things great and small put me in the mind of is the wonderful soliloquy at the end of the 1957 film "The Incredible Shrinking Man", written by the wonderful Richard Matheson:

"I was continuing to shrink, to become... what? The infinitesimal? What was I? Still a human being? Or was I the man of the future? If there were other bursts of radiation, other clouds drifting across seas and continents, would other beings follow me into this vast new world? So close - the infinitesimal and the infinite. But suddenly, I knew they were really the two ends of the same concept. The unbelievably small and the unbelievably vast eventually meet - like the closing of a gigantic circle. I looked up, as if somehow I would grasp the heavens. The universe, worlds beyond number, God's silver tapestry spread across the night. And in that moment, I knew the answer to the riddle of the infinite. I had thought in terms of man's own limited dimension. I had presumed upon nature. That existence begins and ends in man's conception, not nature's. And I felt my body dwindling, melting, becoming nothing. My fears melted away. And in their place came acceptance. All this vast majesty of creation, it had to mean something. And then I meant something, too. Yes, smaller than the smallest, I meant something, too. To God, there is no zero. I still exist!"

On an unrelated note, I see that they've found some of the Man In the Basement's paperwork; to be precise, his original resignation speech:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/18/AR2007021801551.html

bc

I happy to hear the good news about Dylan 'Mudge. How are you?

It's amazing how much we owe to the Man in bhe Basement, bc. Wouldn't you love to have the videotape of that occasion? To hear the words as he spoke them?

Mudge, so very glad to hear Dylan is doing better. I will keep him in my thoughts till the bug is done. A little insurance prayer never hurts.

Geeb, you should have put a coffee warning on your 9:23 pm. That sounds more like a universe I can understand!

I had a cat named Boson. I swear that 95% of the people who were told the name of the cat did not know that a boson was a particle. Quantum physic is not continuous so it will stay messy. The order and elegance of classic mechanics is caused by the simplicity of the properties at play in the macro world, we cannot expect the same in the wacky pico world of sub-atomic particles.
Thanks bc for the Washington speech. The man covered himself in glory in a long and difficult war then offers his resignation to Congress, recognizing its predominance over the control of the Army. Times changed, 217 years later two men who carefully avoided active military service are telling Congress to get stuffed. Sure they were elected, but still.
Boko, at least you got 3 years of relief with the bellastuff. This was never offered to me when I had migraines. Because you don't die from migraine doctors take it lightly I think. I haven't had one in 3-4 years now, I must have been 42-43 years old when I got my last "good one", so there is hope. What worked for me was taking 2-3 of those water soluble ASA tablets they sell in Europe (why not here I ask ?) at the onset of the migraine. Then I would have a strong coffee or an additional tablet of asa with caffeine. My luggage was never searched in those days but it could have been delicate to explain the dozen of 24-tablets bottles of soluble asa I was importing on each of my trips overseas.

Dylan needs a currently-available Matchbox of a Land Rover, complete with snorkel, just in case it has to ford some deep water.

Mike Procario's tale of searching for dry ice for an old-fashioned cloud chamber reminds me of doing undergraduate plant physiology lab in a building where, because of construction, there were none of the usual conveniences. A bit of suction was arranged by filling a huge water jar, installing a two-hole cork, turning it over, and using one hole for water to try to exit, the other for air to try to enter. Considering that environmental plant physiologists, especially, are "gadget guys", it felt truly retro.

Thanks to a nasty cold with laryngitis, I've been holding a home samurai movie festival. Toshiro Mifune is still a force of nature.

Mudge... such good news! I'm so glad he's better. You can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from this boodle.

Do you mean that he didn't have the Kawasaki, but had meningitis instead? Or both? Yikes.

Either way, I'm happy he's on his way to join the family. There should have been cameras at the hospital exit:

"Dylan Curmudgeon! You've just been cured! What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to Disney World!!"

Mudge, so glad the little one is recovering.

bc, nice link. I'm just to the part in Grand Idea where he is finding out he was elected president. He was beyond a doubt, an amazing man.

Great news, Mudge. I hope he has a wonderful time at Disney World. If I were you, I'd take a long nap this afternoon to recover from the stress of the last few days.

Really cold here today, brilliant sunshine doing nothing at all to warm things up. I'm painting the trim in the very last room to be redone. It was very cold by the window which I had to open in order to paint (there is a storm window tho').

Sheesh, 'Mudge. I. like the rest, am glad to hear of Dylan's convalescence. All of you deserve a break. I hope that if you get to Florida the weather is at least decent. A Sunshine State resort in the grips of a chinook just isn't much fun.

Oh no, dr is only a page or two behind me reading TGI. Why are you calling President Washington 'the man in the basement?

Well this is as close to understanding "smithereens" as I get. Just saw this article on how scientists are using DNA and bar codes to identify animals and have identified about 15 new species - for mo - More BATS!!

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/070218_animal_barcode.html

CC999:

The Strange Man in My Basement

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/2005/10/the_strange_man_in_my_basement.html

Several years ago i was walking around after a snow storm,It was a warmer day and the snow was melting some.I looked up and saw a bat flying overhead.It was late Febuary and within say 3 weeks it was already turning to spring.I am not sure,but maybe bats are the first sign of spring.

But it is 20 and we got another couple of inches of snow last night,but I will be out all this week looking for any sign of spring.

We need to put together the Achenreading List for newcomers. This is one of the "man in the basement" articles, but I think the running gag goes back farther then that.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR2005102501367.html

I've also forgotten where the AchenFAQ is kept.

Achenfaq:

http://www.mortiifera.com/?p=67
http://www.mortiifera.com/?p=68

Found it:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/2005/12/mos_achenfaq.html

or the original at:

http://www.mortiifera.com/?p=67

and dang you, omni, for beating me to the GW link. I will get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too.

Beat at the buzzer again!!!

And can you believe I'm barely awake. I feel so tired this AM for some inexplicable reason.

Thanks Gang
I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.
gw gave a nice speech at Mount Vernon. It was only slightly self serving
Happy Presidents Day.

Perhaps smithereens are responsible for the spontaneous conversion of magnetic energy to heat and the resulting e-mag storms...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021701574.html

Help, I am being made to work!!!!

or in ths case Boko999, the kindness of Imaginary Friends

Kansas' Evolution Blues - A little off-topic for today but can't figure out how to send the secretive Joel an email: Today's Wichita Eagle has a wonderful slideshow of evolution cartoons drawn over the past eight years by their Richard Crowson, accompanied by a catchy and hilarious tune, "Evolution Blues", performed by Crowson and his wife Karen ... something Joel and other eminent scientists won't want to miss! Crowson's Evolution Blues is at http://www.kansas.com/multimedia/kansas/slides/Evolutionshow/index.html

Kansas' Evolution Blues - A little off-topic for today but can't figure out how to send the secretive Joel an email: Today's Wichita Eagle has a wonderful slideshow of evolution cartoons drawn over the past eight years by their Richard Crowson, accompanied by a catchy and hilarious tune, "Evolution Blues", performed by Crowson and his wife Karen ... something Joel and other eminent scientists won't want to miss! Crowson's Evolution Blues is at http://www.kansas.com/multimedia/kansas/slides/Evolutionshow/index.html

Kansas' Evolution Blues - A little off-topic for today but can't figure out how to send the secretive Joel an email: Today's Wichita Eagle has a wonderful slideshow of evolution cartoons drawn over the past eight years by their Richard Crowson, accompanied by a catchy and hilarious tune, "Evolution Blues", performed by Crowson and his wife Karen ... something Joel and other eminent scientists won't want to miss! Crowson's Evolution Blues is at http://www.kansas.com/multimedia/kansas/slides/Evolutionshow/index.html

Librarians and parents don't feel like the word of the day, scrotum, belongs in an award winning book. The words of biology are what drew me to like it in the first place, besides, what else could you call it without being totally crass?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/books/18newb.html?em&ex=1172034000&en=750427348f67ad88&ei=5087%0A

Boko, I hope you're feeling better. Watch out how you dose yourself with that ergot, though. Unless, of course, you have a need for seeing your imaginary friends in colours.

Please forgive multiple posts on Crowson's "Evolution Blues" (above): the Post's mailer said rejected but seems they were secretly collecting info ... guess blogging is still evolving?

I heard on a podcast about a production of "The Vagina Monolougues" that changed the name on the billboard to "The Hoo-Haw Monolouges" after community complaints about the V-word being read by small children.

While podcasts aren't the best source of news, this is Too Good To Check and definitely Too Smutty To Google From Work.

I have to believe there is an element of self-promotion to this brou-hoo-haw.

It's a hoohah. Not to be confused with a wahzoo (which, when you think of it, who could possibly confuse the two?).

I'm still waiting for the release of "The Scrotum Monologues"

I guess omni, that beats pea or bean jokes.

I think that using scientifically correct term has always been preferable to slang. At least that is what my our church Family Life class told us.

From the NYT article:

Ms. Nilsson, reached at Sunnyside Elementary School in Durango, Colo., said she had heard from dozens of librarians who agreed with her stance. "I don't want to start an issue about censorship," she said. "But you won't find men's genitalia in quality literature."
[end quote]
I think we need to start a reading list for this poor naive librarian:

"The Son Also Rises"
"Portnoy's Complaint"

Others?

The Grand Wahzoo has taken on a new and frightening signifigance.
Whaddayouguys carry your gaweeas in?

Thanks for the spelling lesson. 'Hoohah' it is.

My wife was watching Oprah on one of the snow days last week and they were calling it a 'va-jay-jay', which got my son very curious about what she was watching.

No problem. I knew you'd want to know, for the next time you need to spell it.

Awfully off-topic but the Lord God of birds has been the subject on a previous kit, so I don't feel all that bad.
The hunt for the Ivory Bill woodpecker has gone robotic.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article1403255.ece

"Twitcher" is pom-speak for birdwatcher.

Just as long as you don't confuse a hoohah with hooey.

Joel how could you. George Washington dies!
Halfway through 'The Grand Idea' and you killed off the main character. If this was fiction you'd be doomed.
So, this must be a book about an idea. People die, but ideas live on?
Can Achenbach pull this off?
I'm all aflutter.

Cool project, SD. I hope they are successful in finding the ivory-billed woodpecker. We have pileated woodpeckers at the mountain cottage, and I must say, they are spectacular. I never knew woodpeckers were so big or so gorgeous.

Oops, um, maybe that should be "The Scrotum Dialogues"

Mudge, glad Dylan's on the mend and off to Disneyworld! Watch out for Tigger.

MockoD, the cartoons are great - one even has the FSM.

Mudge, glad your grandson is doing so much better. And I hope you and the family can get a little rest. I bet that phone call was like the best thing ever.

omni, no scrotum monologue, please. The other one wasn't that great.

boko, I hope you're feeling better. I forgot to pass that along this weekend. I was worried about the little guy. I don't have migraines the way I used to when younger, but every now and then, they let me know, hey I'm still here.

Pat, I did not walk this morning, but was outside. The sky was just beautiful, that Carolina blue we all know and love. The air was so cold, it was reported to be eighteen degrees. And it is still beautiful outside, just sunny and bright, but cold. My neighbor came to the door this morning without shirt, jacket, or anything, and told me he was hot. I thought to myself, step outside. Later he came to the washroom in his car/chair with a jacket, but nothing under it, still talking about being hot. I'm beginning to believe that perhaps older people are not aware of heat and cold? I am very much aware that it is cold.

Ivansmom, can you check in? Hope your weekend was okay. The g-girl is still here, along with her mother. I'm trying to save all these memories so I can pull them out one day, maybe long after the event, and just cherish them, and hold them tightly, and thank God in my heart.

At the center, we're doing multiplication tables. The children have such a problem trying to remember them. I would love any suggestion that some of you might have to help with this. Thanks.

omni... good thing I'm not drinking coffee right now; I can't afford a new laptop!

SD
Our woods are dominated by the Pileated woodpeckers.Their flight is very unique,and when they are pecking,it almost sounds louder then a jack hammer.They also leave huge holes in whatever tree they work on.

Just walked in the door, boodle, so I'm home and Dylan is back in his home and good as a bright new penny. All cured.

Good question, TBG. As it happens, Kawasaki's disease as well as the treatment for it (don't ask me how, but that's what they said) sometimes cause asceptic viral meningitis. So yes, in fact he had both. Then there's a couple of kickers. When they begin to suspect meningitis, the do the spinal tap, of course, and they begin to immediately treat it like it was bacterial mengitis, "just in case," because that type is the really dangerous one; it can kill in two hours in some case. So they treat it and monitor it like crazy until they determine otherwise.

What this means is, high doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Meanwhile, they culture the spinal fluid (and turn the dial down from 11 to about 8 or 9) to see what shows up--that's how the determine which kind of meningitis it is. If no bacterial type shows up in 72 hours, they pronounce him clear of it.

The other kind, viral, is caused (as the name implies) by a virus, and since there are no cures for viruses (per se, with qualifiers), there is no specific "cure"; you just wait for it to go away. Of course, the antibiotics and gamma globulin help your body fight it off, so there is "treatment" but not "cure."

Also, the bacterial type is the infectious one, and if it had been that one, my wife and I, his mom and the rest of his family, etc., would also have had to get antibiotics, too. But since it wasn't we don't. The other strange thing is, although the meningitis comes from a virus, it isn't infectious. Pretty counter-intuitive, huh?

Also, the other thing is, like many people I always thought "meningitis" was the name of a germ, but it isn't. It is the name of the condition when something (baceria OR virus) crosses the blood-brain barrier and gets into the spinal and brain fluid. So in this case it was the Kawasaki virus that somehow got into the spinal fluid and caused the meningitis; Kawasaki (and other diseases) usually don't do that.

Now the next two kickers: one of the antibiotics Dylan was getting was amoxicillin, yer basic garden-variety variant of good ol' penicillin, and he appeared to be having an allergic reaction to it. So when they pulled him off amoxycillin that problem went away.

The final kicker was he had an IV line in the back of his right hand, and after a day or two it "infiltrated," causing his hand and arm to swell up and hurt. So when they pulled it out and moved it to his left hand his right hand/arm started to clear up.

Somewhere along the line, one of these diseases/conditions caused the big red rashes he had, and they cleared up to. So there were a couple things going on simultaneously, and as is often the case when this happens, it makes it harder to figure things out and separate the various conditions into their proper categories. But the hospital did a top-notch job at it.

There is an unsung hero (actually, heroine) in all this: our 15-year-old granddaughter. When the rest of the family flew to DisneyWorld Friday morning Clarissa flatly refused to go, insisting that she stay with her mother and Dylan at the hospital. So while her mother was dealing with various and sundry issues, Clarissa did a yeoman's (OK, make that yeoperson's) job running errands, straightening up the room (the irony here is unbelievable; Clarissa's room at home looks like a FEMA site), keeping Dylan amused when his mother was out of the room, going to the cafeteria to bring food back, and generally being indispensable.

On Saturday morning her mother wanted her to fly down to Florida yesterday (the crisis being nearly over), but again Clarissa flatly refused to abandon her mother and Dylan--UNLESS granny (my wife) came to the hospital, so there was always somebody on hand for back-up, and stayed overnight so Dylan's mom could get some sleep, go out for a meal, etc. (Except to go down the hall once or twice, Dylan's mom never left the room for days, until this morning when they both went home.)

So that's why my wife and I spent the day at the hospital, bringing in an emergency airlift of supplies: several bags of cheese curls (deemed essential for morale), bottles of water, ginger ale and Dr. Pepper, a gigunda Caffe Mocha (also an essential) for our daughter and a Mocha Frappachino from Starbucks for Clarissa, etc.). Curiously, the hospital cafeteria doesn't have much food on weekends for visitors/relatives, and of course even when it is open, one can eat hospital cafeteria food for only so long before going bonkers. So the airlift was a necessity.

And because my wife was spending the day/evening there, Clarissa agreed to go to Florida, and so I drove her (through a snow squall) to the airport yesterday afternoon (and at her mother's strictest instructions, I got a security pass at the ticket counter which allowed me to go through security so I could accompany Clarissa all the way to the departure area and to the tunnel itself). So I had a couple hours of quality one-on-one time with her (and bought us both an Auntie Anne's pretzel). Clarissa is my new hero (heroine).

On the way back to the hospital (again following strict instructions) I bought Popeye's for dinner for four, and so we ate "real" food in Dylan's room. That Dylan would eat Popeye's was pretty much a sign he'd fully recovered. (His room was in the infectious diseases section; the doctors and nurses had to glove up and wear masks and gowns etc., until it was determined he wasn't infectious; but the point it, he couldn't leave the room, and his mom couldn't (or at least wouldn't) leave him alone while she went to the cafeteria. So that's why the Berlin Airlift and supports troops were needed.

OK, more than enough on that subject.

Um, anonymous at 11:52, you won't find men's genitalia in "The Sun Also Rises," either. In fact, that is/was Jake's problem: an old war wound. (And the subject is alluded to so tangently that the first time I read the book many years ago I completely missed the reference.

Lunchtime: a grilled cheese and tomato soup while watching Rachel Ray run around Philly on $40 a day and eat a cheese steak from Jim's.

Back in an hour.

That was me at 11:52. While Jake's condition is hinted at obliquely, it's impossible to discuss the book without mentioning the unmentionables.

I am so glad Dylan is well. When my son was hospitalized some time back, we also found the munchie supply at Howard County General seriously deficient after hours. I ate a few meals out of rather unhealthy vending machines.

Having a kid in a hospital and running herd on all the players that give various levels of care is a nightmare. Keep that kid out of hospitals. He's lucky he has local grandparents to watch over him.

no time to boodle today. just wanted to say hooray!! that Dylan is allright and Disney bound.

It's so hard on the little onesj to have awful things like IV needles and spinal taps. Sounds like he had every possible complication too.

Mudge -- you and your family are great. Clarissa is an awesome older sister.

I get migraines. I use Immitrex with magical results. The lesser triptans don't do the trick nearly as well as Immitrex.

It's probably a good thing no one ever ave me the belladonna and ergot drug plus barbituate drug that the biker chick got. I'd sill be pestering my neurologist for it -- a sad, toothless nag going from pharmacy to pharmacy trying to get a forged presciption filled.

Beautifully clear here, with mercifully low humidity. Still pretty cold - in the 30s (I know, I know -- this isn't really cold -- but this is SE Virginia).

Tomorrow it's supposed to be nearly 60 -- and then 60 plus for days to follow. The overnite lows will shoot up higher than the daytime highs have been for weeks.

Strange weather . . .

have a great day all!

Excellent news, 'Mudge! And you never told us Melissa Joan Hart was your granddaughter! :-)

Ponderation of the day: Which location has worse vending machines -- K-12 schools or hospitals?

Ponder amongst yourselves.

:-)

None of the schools I attended before highschool had vending machines, but in HS I was very happy with ours: Coke and Spree was all I needed, mmmmm. Kept me awake for my afternoon classes.

Mudge glad everything is working out, that is one heck of a grandaughter you have there, and I can imagine one very proud set of grandparents (and parents).

Wow Mudge, it sounds like an episode of "House" without the irascible Hugh Laurie. I'm so glad Dylan is ok. And your granddaughter's take charge attitude and caring are heartwarming. What a great girl. When the chips are down, we show what we're made of - you and your family are made of gold.

Greenwithenvy, slyness;
Pileated woodpeckers are the king of my backyard when they bother to stop. We had one banging away on an old linden last Saturday, reminding us why its French name (Grand Pic) is so appropriate. A big male dug out a nest in a poplar on the other side of the street a couple of years ago. We hoped for a family of them but the poor guy never found a consort despite all his calling prowess and beautiful feather display. A local garden center had a family of pil. woodpeckers in a poplar 4-5 years ago, they were quite the attraction especially when the youngsters started peeking out of the cavity. I still hope that one day one of the great crested bird will stop at one of our feeders. We have daily visits from hairy and downy woodpeckers all year long though. Flickers come naturally for ants in the summer as our yard has anthills that would put some African ants to shame. There is nothing like driving a powerful ride-on lawnmower over one of these, there is sand and dust everywhere. I swear I once found sand in my underwear last summer after such a direct hit.
We also attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers with fruit to complete our summer crew of backyard woodpeckers. I have seen the elusive three-toed woodpecker in the neighborhood but never, yet, at our feeder. This was your (overly long) irdwatching note of the week.

Well, you go away for a couple of days, and the whole world goes down the tubes.

'Mudge- Happy that the grandmudge is doing better, and his older sister indeed sounds like someone to brag about.

On the order of tiny particles-

I always wondered what a shrinking man or woman would be made of; Are the atoms, quarks, gluons and the like shrinking themselves, or is the shrinker shedding particles like a decaying atom of Uranium, thus getting smaller by some evaporative process?

And, if the atoms are shrinking, do their masses remain the same, thereby increasing the density of the shrinker to that of a neutron star, or is mass changing at the same rate as volume?

Is the shrinker destined to become a microscopic singularity of the type to possibly produce a wormhole, or is he simply blowing away, quark by quark, like so much dust in the wind?

Just wondering, is all...

A bird of 16 stones 9 lbs killed the boodle.

Boodle is just snoozing away a paid federal holiday.

Big Bird, Shriek. BTW, a dedicated cadre of scientists believe that dinosaurs are still among us in the form of birds. Something about the anatomy of the bones in the pectoral girdle has led them to this conclusion.

Thanks for the update, Mudge.
Clarissa sounds like a wonderful older sister.

Speaking of organ dialogs, there was a movie called "Me and Him", where a guy's, er, thingy, begins talking to him.

Ah, here it is:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093240/

I remember it being mildly amusing. I could be wrong.

bc

Oh, right, I forgot - Boko, I hope you're doing better, too.

bc

Don't envy me my family. I just haven't told you about children numbers 2, 4 and 5, that's all. Those are the horror stories.

bc, I hope you are doing well. I forgot to check the bc-ometer.

Not that I have ever seen it, but there is a similarly themed movie called "Chatterbox"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075830/

No fair, SD, you have all sorts of great birds to watch!

There is a good-sized hole in a tree about 15 feet off our deck, right at eye level. I hope our presence won't disturb the pileated woodpeckers from nesting there. This will be our first spring and summer there, so I hope to tread lightly and enjoy the fauna.

My day has been spent writing case studies of firefighter deaths from exposure to heat. This is depressing stuff. I just finished one I've been wrestling with since before lunch. It involved a firefighter recruit in Florida who died in a poorly-planned and poorly-executed training exercise in August. The investigations were scathing, as they should be. Just the reports make me cringe.

Quark or ace
*Up
*Down
*Bottom
*Top
*Strange
*Charmed
squark
Gluon
Muon
Prion - oops, virus-ology
Pion
Kaon
Hadron
*Baryon (fermion)
*Meson (boson)
Luxon
Geon
dyon
Majoron
Hyperon
Phonon
Exciton
Plasmon
Polariton
polaron
Magnon
Lepton
Tachyon
Preon (not real?)
Slepton
Graviton
Saxion
Axion
Neutrino
Photino
chargino
Gravitino
Neutralino
---
I missed a bunch. Ain't words fun?

OMG, I forgot the OMG particle. Also the pomeron, which is an irritating fluffy one with a needle-razor bite....

My wife's first car was a Geon. It was identical to a Corollino.

*SIGH* Some people never learn, Slyness... :-(

Finished GI, Boko. I admit to feeling the same when he killed George off there, but the book moves along swiftly, and ties all the loose ends quite nicely.

Here is something for all you clever technical-support computer geniuses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRjVeRbhtRU

Three quarks for Muster Mark!
Sure he hasn't got much of a bark
And sure any he has it's all beside
the mark.

Poemlet from James Joyce's _Finnegans Wake_ directed against King Mark, the cuckolded husband of the Tristan & Isolde story.
Joyce was imitating the cawing of a crow.

Murray Gell-Mann,the quark-coining phycist wrote or told an editor of _The Oxford English Dictionary_ that he borrowed "quark" from James Joyce.

Blame the Irisher, er Dubliner!

I have know idea how the "charm" category entered this.

2 bucks says the 4:50 was CP

speaking of talking body parts, there's a great russian story by nikolai gogol called "the nose":

http://www.bibliomania.com/0/5/140/354/18203/1/frameset.html

in this surreal story, a person's nose becomes an autonomously acting individual. hilarity ensues. so do many "freudian" interpretations.

(dubravka ugresic, a contemporary croation writer, has written a parody of this story called "a hotdog in a warm bun," which his also very funny.)

I see where Norv Turner got himself a new NFL gig.I wonder how many years he will last in San Diego?

They sure had a pretty good team last year.

Hey, greenwithenvy, how're your poinsettias doing now? I saw a St. Patrick's Day sweatshirt yesterday at Old Navy that said "Green With Envy" and I thought you should go get one.

They are doing ok,It has been so cold,even in my house when I am not here that 2 of them are struggling.I put some miracle grow on them and they are doing a little better.They need some fresh air,warmth and sunlight......me too

That sounds like a good idea,I work near a mall that has an Old Navy store,plus I am a quarter Irish too

Mudge,

I'm very happy to hear the good news about Dylan. And hold on to that granddaughter. She's a keeper. She clearly takes after her granddad.

Mudge, glad everything worked out well. Your g-girl sounds like a very nice young lady. I'm sure you're very proud of her.

I'm off to bed. Just got in from tutoring, and so tired. Hope your evening is good, and sleep not far away. Good night. Peace.

Where is Ivansmom? And american in siam? And of course, Nani?

Lovely warm day today; I think the windchill actually got up to 0 at some point.
All this talk of sub-atomic particles is over my head, especially as I have only had time to skim. Funny is good though, I like funny (miles to km....nice.) I think Dan Brown talked about CERN, or something, in "Angels and Demons," didn't he? Anti-matter, which is like an A-bomb on steroids? That was a wierd book, a little over the top in his imagination of how to kill people. Kinda sick (imho). I'm glad that some people find quarks, neutrinos, etc. interesting and exciting; I, however, am not sciency enough. :)

Quarks is fun. Reality Rocks. Even the little bits.
The First Few Microseconds
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0009A312-037F-1448-837F83414B7F014D

This guy is undoubtedly a dangerously evil and/or deluded man but, if he really is God, could he please get on the horn with Dubya pronto about an Iraq exit strategy:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/16/miami.preacher/index.html

At least he'd likely listen to this guy.

Mudge, I echo the sentiments of relief regarding Dylan and admiration for the fortitute of Clarissa. What happened to the movie reviews? Ebert and Roeper are waiting.

Watzamatter Bill, just another guy claiming to be the messiah. At least he's still alive so you won't have to wait for him to get back from the store or where ever.tick tick tick.
I wonder if Congress will coronate him in a Senate building. After all, some lawmakers crowned Rev. Moon in the Dirkson Building.
http://www.hillnews.com/news/062204/moon.aspx

Boko, so negative. As the article points out, "Hitler and Stalin have found strength in [Rev. Moon's] teachings, mended their ways and been reborn as new persons." I'm ready to renew my vows in Yankee Stadium with anyone that powerful (not to mention the quality newspaper he owns that provides the sober counterbalance to the leftist leanings of this rag).

Now, now bill. I'm positively giddy. The Rev. Moon brings truth, light, and happiness to everything he touches. Just look at Tony Blankley.

OK, so I think I finally understand the confusion over the 6 km/11,765 miles calculation.

In some countries, a comma is used instead of a decimal point. From that perspective, it isn't so clear that the alleged back-of-the-envelope calculation is in fact a joke rather than an error.

It is very fortunate indeed that on this occasion the misunderstanding does not seem to have produced a full-blown international incident.

College Parkian,

You forgot Higg's boson--"the God particle" or "the gleam in God's eye."

We know bacterial meningitis--the infection that left my uncle deaf, the same uncle who went on to design the Alcoa and Samsonite corporate logos. Nasty business, bacterial memingitis.

Words are fun, but science is more funner.

College Parkian,

You forgot Higg's boson--"the God particle" or "the gleam in God's eye."

We know bacterial meningitis--the infection that left my uncle deaf, the same uncle who went on to design the Alcoa and Samsonite corporate logos. Nasty business, bacterial memingitis.

Words are fun, but science is more funner.

These washingtonpost.com servers are slower than Mortimer Snerd tonight.

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

And then a double post to boot!

These washingtonpost.com servers are slower than Mortimer Snerd tonight.

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

And then a double post to boot!

more funner....is that like way more better?

That is why I like it here so much....I fit right in

Hooray Mudge! I'm happy to hear that Dylan is doing well and that the g-daughter rose to the occasion. A crisis can show us some amazing things about our kids/grandkids.

Young Girls Face Sexualization
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021602263.html

"Goodbye to Girlhood"
- As Pop Culture Targets Ever Younger Girls, Psychologists Worry About a Premature Focus on Sex and Appearance -

----------------

Oh, come on now, gimme a break!!

I don't question the underlying theses for even one second, but I definitely question the seriousness and/or competence of anyone who presents this as a recent development. I'm pretty sure that the trend was well in place by the time that Annette Funicello hit the small screen.

Good morning, friends. Up early, and feeling okay, just a tad worried. Daughter and g-girl still here, but leaving this morning. So far, I'm the only one up.

Ivansmom, I was talking about you offending me, not the other way around when I asked that last question. I know sometimes my questions are real simple and may get on people's nerves, that way I added that last sentence. I always appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. I hope everything is okay with you.

Morning, Mudge, Slyness, Scotty, and all.*waving*
Mudge, hope you and family are getting back on track.

Have a good day, everyone. I read Eugene Robinson this morning and he's talking about Obama. The main point of his talk concerns whether Obama is black enough. I think that is such a ridiculous question I won't even add my penny's worth. It sounds like someone doesn't have anything negative to talk about in reference to Obama so naturally something has to be made up.

It reminds me of the Clinton years where the spot on the dress was the focus, and the media was going wild over all things, mostly oral sex. Now perhaps that isn't something to sneeze at, but did it warrant the kind of coverage it got? I don't think so. Here we are muddled down in a war where everyday lives are being lost, and people are maimed beyond recognition, and it is so quiet, one could hear a pin drop. And if that isn't bad enough, more laws have been broken, and I mean serious laws, but not a peep. No media blast, just your regular scheduled programming. I just don't understand, and I know my ability to understand is limited, but I don't get it.

No one feels bad enough to say this is enough. No one feels bad enough to broker a solution. No one feels bad enough to cry out loud. No one feels bad enough to put themselves in that place. We need to feel bad if nothing else.

I am rambling this morning, and I apologize for using your ear this morning. I guess one can tell I feel bad this morning in my spirit.

I hope your day is good, despite my rambling this morning. God loves us so much more than we can imagine through Him that died for all, Jesus Christ. And if we can remember that, moving forward is not so hard. Peace.

WaPo this morning has an article about a mulch fire in some Texas town with a funny name, Halitosis or something like that.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021901023.html

Anybody heard of this? You would think a raging out of control fire would be big news.

Morning Cassandra, everyone!! *waving*

Hey, it's actually above freezing today in DC!

:-)

yellojkt;

That's actually one of the most-viewed articles on the site.

Guess the Boodle wakes up earlier than I thought.

:-)

Hey Scotty it is above freezing up here too, warmed up overnight and now we have snow melting - Yea. I doubt this is acurate but is seems like almost a month since it was above freezing.

I went and "dugg" the story. If you are a Digg.com member, you can go here and support it.

http://digg.com/environment/Texas_Town_Fumes_as_Mulch_Mountain_Burns_On

Let's work to get the word out.

Morning, everybody! Hey Cassandra!

What a difference 24 hours makes. Yesterday it was 19 degrees when I went for my walk; this morning, it was 39. I even took off my gloves!

Maybe spring will come!

yello,
The story by Wright--about the Helotes mulch fire--appeared on page A2--Yikes! He's got the basics, as far as it goes. It's Helotes, (Spanish for corn), not Halitosis. *w*

I attended the latest town hall forum last night in Helotes and have more to say, perhaps later this morning or later today--about where things stand regarding the fire and related issues.

I also talked to Helotes Mayor Jon Alan and asked him if he's a product of Indiana. He said he is of Scottish descent and grew up in Boston, then he qualified by saying it is a suburb, Westwood. I looked up Westwood on the map and its only six miles from Medfield, where my distant great-grandfather John Wilson Jr. was a pastor for many years, he being a graduate of Harvard's first class. Medfield was also one of the towns raided in King Phillip's War.

I hinted to Allan that I would like to talk immunology with him--and some virology, although he works on the rapidly, relatively speaking, retroviruses and I'm interested in the huge, stable virus variola. We simply must speak about things not related to the fire. Do I invite him for coffee at the Helotes Starbucks?

But last night was an interesting bit of theater as Mrs. Zumwalt was there and she was on a tear during the meeting. Last night was fascinating to me for several reasons, one that the state (Austin) toxicologist was there, a young man with a master's degree, from Louisiana, whose area of study during his masters program was endocrine disruptors.

More later. I must make Loomispouse's lunch.

yello,
The story by Wright--about the Helotes mulch fire--appeared on page A2--Yikes! He's got the basics, as far as it goes. It's Helotes, (Spanish for corn), not Halitosis. *w*

I attended the latest town hall forum last night in Helotes and have more to say, perhaps later this morning or later today--about where things stand regarding the fire and related issues.

I also talked to Helotes Mayor Jon Alan and asked him if he's a product of Indiana. He said he is of Scottish descent and grew up in Boston, then he qualified by saying it is a suburb, Westwood. I looked up Westwood on the map and its only six miles from Medfield, where my distant great-grandfather John Wilson Jr. was a pastor for many years, he being a graduate of Harvard's first class. Medfield was also one of the towns raided in King Phillip's War.

I hinted to Allan that I would like to talk immunology with him--and some virology, although he works on the rapidly, relatively speaking, retroviruses and I'm interested in the huge, stable virus variola. We simply must speak about things not related to the fire. Do I invite him for coffee at the Helotes Starbucks?

But last night was an interesting bit of theater as Mrs. Zumwalt was there and she was on a tear during the meeting. Last night was fascinating to me for several reasons, one that the state (Austin) toxicologist was there, a young man with a master's degree, from Louisiana, whose area of study during his masters program was endocrine disruptors.

More later. I must make Loomispouse's lunch.

I realize that restictions on property use and enviromental regulations are the tool of Satan but how could anyone claim that a 8 acre pile of trees and brush wouldn't burn?
I wonder what the owner and authourities thought was going to happen to an 8 ac., 100 ft. pile of scub and wood over time. Heck, I'd like to know what would happen to such a humongous pile of wood trash over time. I can't imagine anything good other than lining the landowner's pockets. Or a big honking fire.

I'm in a mood for roasting marshmellows. Cough cough, hack hack.

New kit arriving soon.

Subatomic particle lifetime soon?

Legislative process soon?

Plate tectonics soon?

Damn this curiosity of mine.

:-)

Nah, Scotty. Since it's nearly the luncheon hour, the new kit may be about sandwiches, or sandwich condiments. Possibly the morphing of the sandwich into a burrito or one of those dastardly pocket things. May be the dangers of mustard.

Ooh. A teaser.
Thanks for the concern boodlers have expressed over my migraine though I feel a little embareassed as it only lasted a couple of hours and was nothing compared to what poor little Dylan went through and the serious medical problems some boodlers and their families are still facing.
You are kindly crowd.

If the post I think I lost appears when I post this then my double posting problem is an IE problem.

HI Boko--- YES, that was me, or it were I, as you prefer.

Mixing physics with Joyce? Who can resist. Not me.

Watching a 200 ft tall tree, age approx.120-170 years, going down. Sad. Sad.Sad.SADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.

Another misleading post article!! The size of a smithereen is never disclosed.

Another misleading post article!! The size of a smithereen is never disclosed.

New Kit.

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