Solarbaby

What's this war about anyway?

2007-01-13T14:33:00.000-05:00

Excellent article today by Dahlia Lithwick at Slate.com

"The endgame in the war on terror isn't holding the line against terrorists. It's holding the line on hard-fought claims to absolutely limitless presidential authority."

How believable was it?

2007-01-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

This is great. Slate has one of those visuals where Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are rating the believability of Bush's speech as he gives it. Watch those swings at the beginning!

"The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people" YES!
"And it is unacceptable to me" Yeah right!
"Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely" YES!
"The Iraqis need our help" ?!?!
"I've committed more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq" NO WAY!

Yet another blizzard

2006-12-28T18:35:00.000-05:00

Time for another blizzard. My favorite line from a news article today:

"airlines urged ticket-holders to flee"

And, my holiday haiku:

One blizzard was fun
Time off for fun in the snow
Two seems excessive

An interesting way to stop junkmail

2006-12-08T19:17:00.000-05:00

Here's an excellent program I recently heard about. Greendimes.com will work to get your name off mailing lists AND plant a tree every month, all for just $36 a year. Seems more than worth it to me.

Moon-base nonsense

2006-12-08T19:12:00.000-05:00

I'm going to try to start posting here again, starting with a link to an excellent slate.com article about NASA's plan to build a moon-base. In particular:

"Although, of course, the base could yield a great discovery, its scientific value is likely to be small while its price is extremely high. Worse, moon-base nonsense may for decades divert NASA resources from the agency's legitimate missions, draining funding from real needs in order to construct human history's silliest white elephant."

Headline of the day

2005-08-10T22:47:00.000-05:00

From Reuters: "No link between sugar and obesity -sugar group"

Huh?

Apparently the sugar industry is trying to improve it's image. It reminds me of the tobacco industry 20 years ago (can't you just picture the headline "No link between tobacco and cancer risk -tobacco group"?) I guess that blatant denial of the obvious is once again an effective strategy for fooling the American public. It's worked for the administration for the past 5 years, so I guess it's no surprise that it's catching on elsewhere.

Evolution vs. spaghetti

2005-08-04T22:57:00.000-05:00

Well, you have probably heard that our dear leader has endored Intelligent Design, saying "I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought."

Well, I think he's not going far enough. There are many other theories that should really be taught. My current favorite is The Flying Spaghetti Monster. Please go to that link and read the whole letter- it's really worth it. Just to entice you, I'll quote a couple paragraphs:

"Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

"It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories."
...

"In conclusion, thank you for taking the time to hear our views and beliefs. I hope I was able to convey the importance of teaching this theory to your students. We will of course be able to train the teachers in this alternate theory. I am eagerly awaiting your response, and hope dearly that no legal action will need to be taken. I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence."

And that's not all-- there's also mention of pirates! Really worth the read. Check it out.

Morning news

2005-08-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note before work. I just read a LA Times article that says Roberts (SCOTUS nominee) did pro bono (free) work for a gay rights group and helped them overturn a discriminatory Colorado state law (that law "would have allowed employers and landlords to exclude gays from jobs and housing" and it was approved by the voters of Colorado-- real nice).

"Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. worked behind the scenes for gay rights activists, and his legal expertise helped them persuade the Supreme Court to issue a landmark 1996 ruling protecting people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation."

So, I don't know... maybe he's not so bad? I guess we keep watching and see what else comes up.

Getting closer in California

2005-08-02T19:35:00.000-05:00

The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of partnership rights for same sex couples who are registered as domestic partners.

"The ruling will affect a broad range of businesses, including banks and mortgage lenders, auto insurers and health clubs. Lenders will have to consider domestic partners' joint income in making loans, and insurers will have to offer the same multiple-driver discounts they give married couples."

Make that Planet Xena

2005-08-02T19:11:00.000-05:00

So, remember Planet X? Turns out that the scientists have been calling the new planet Xena.

Planet X

2005-07-30T03:22:00.000-05:00

Looks like they finally found Planet X.

"It's definitely bigger than Pluto." So says Dr. Mike Brown of the California Institute of Technology who announced today the discovery of a new planet in the outer solar system.

"We are 100 percent confident that this is the first object bigger than Pluto ever found in the outer solar system," Brown adds.

DIY SCOTUS letter

2005-07-21T19:48:00.000-05:00

I love it when Mr. Sun does the "do-it-yourself" letters, etc. Check it out and make your own letter to your Senator about the recent Supreme Court nominee

Google Maps gets even better!

2005-07-20T23:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry, it's been awhile since I posted-- I was on a work trip last week and have been severely jetlagged since then. I will get back to posting (there's a new SCOTUS nominee to discuss, for heaven's sake!), but for tonight I'm just passing on a link for your amusement. You remember how I talked up Google Maps as a far superior option to Mapquest? Well, it's gotten even better. Not only have they added satellite photos that you can chose instead of cartoon maps (which I find fascinating, but somewhat freaky), they've also kindly mapped the Moon. Check it out! And be sure to zoom all the way in. A perfect replica (though I think the color is slightly off).

All I can say is, Wow.

2005-07-06T22:28:00.000-05:00

Slate.com has a fascinating slide show about the history of the vibrator. Check out these choice quotes:

"By 1917, there were more vibrators than toasters in American homes."

...

"Also popular were vibrators that doubled as nail-buffer kits, hair brushes, backscratchers, and some that were designed as attachments for vacuum cleaners."

...

"In 1999, Rachel Maines published The Technology of Orgasm, a provocative history of the vibrator that she spent 20 years researching. Maines started out studying needlework but was intrigued to discover that the backs of old sewing magazines were filled with vibrator advertisements. In addition to treating hysteria, these early vibrators were multipurpose: They ostensibly relaxed furrowed foreheads, cured sore throats, and restored plumpness to bony arms."

Mars will NOT be unusually close to the Earth in August

2005-07-06T21:23:00.000-05:00

Here's an Urban Legend that I've already heard from a couple people.

Solarbaby (and snopes.com) to the rescue!

To quote the Urban Legend masters:

Mars passed extraordinarily close to Earth in August 2003: True.
Mars will pass extraordinarily close to Earth in August 2005: False.
Mars will pass close to Earth in October 2005: True.

Actually, the closest approach will be November 7th of this year.

Who knew?

2005-07-06T21:13:00.000-05:00

It's a third degree felony to steal someone's wireless signal (in Florida anyway).

"Benjamin Smith III, 41, faces a pretrial hearing this month following his April arrest on charges of unauthorized access to a computer network, a third-degree felony."

The sneaking around in his SUV is kind of creepy, but, geesh, if the wireless-owner was so upset about it, why didn't they just learn how to encrypt their signal? It's really not that difficult.

I know, I know, it's still a crime to steal from someone, even if they leave their door unlocked. But seriously, if you noticed someone repeatedly coming into your house, wouldn't you start locking the door??

So pretty

2005-07-05T23:56:00.000-05:00

There's no contest for today's Picture of the Day (click on the link! It's worth it, I promise)

Say it ain't so!

2005-07-01T10:03:00.000-05:00

Sandra Day O'Connor just announced her retirement. Time to start the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Very soon all hell will break loose with each side trying to gain an advantage.

I can't really see a good end to this situation. However it turns out, we've lost our swing voter and we're bound to gain someone more conservative. Just how much more conservative is the only question that remains. Personally, I'm traumatized.

More good news

2005-07-01T00:09:00.000-05:00

Spain 3rd Nation to Legalize Gay Marriage

MADRID, Spain - Spain became the third country to legalize gay marriage Thursday in a parliament vote that left gay activists blowing kisses to lawmakers and the powerful Catholic Church issuing veiled calls for defiance.

...

The bill, which became law immediately, says: "Matrimony shall have the same requirements and effects regardless of whether the persons involved are of the same or different sex."

Bush's speech

2005-06-30T08:53:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late on this one, but when it comes to the Wonkette, it's always better late than never.

George W. spoke the other night. I didn't watch it. I had an important episode of Gilmore Girls Tivoed... I'd seen the episode before, but, still, I have my priorities. And anyway, why bother to watch the speech when you can just read the Wonkette's live-blogging? An couple excerpts:

"8:02: First mention of 9/11. Drink.
8:04: Second mention of 9/11. We're going to be soooo drunk.
8:05: "Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed." Unlike most Americans, I could have prevented it."

"8:29: Military families, "the burden of war falls especially hard on you." Because of the dying and whatnot."

One more reason to move to Canada

2005-06-28T21:23:00.000-05:00

"TORONTO - Canada's House of Commons voted Tuesday to legalize gay marriage, passing landmark legislation that would grant all same-sex couples in Canada the same legal rights as those in traditional unions between a man and a woman.

The bill passed as expected, despite opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders. The legislation drafted by Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority Liberal Party government was also expected to easily pass the Senate and become federal law by the end of July."

Puppies and Santorum

2005-06-27T19:25:00.000-05:00

This line from a yahoo article today made me laugh:

"Puppies and kittens likely are not the first things that come to mind when many think of Sen. Rick Santorum..."

Considering I know Santorum best for this quote:

"Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the society. And that's what? Children. Monogamous relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be."

But maybe that's just my strange sense of humor...

Double standard

2005-06-23T22:19:00.000-05:00

"Four decades after the birth control pill became available to women, researchers at the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas Medical Center are working to develop a similar contraceptive for men.

"The researchers plan to test about a half-million chemical compounds to find a pill that does not involve hormones that men could take weekly or monthly. They also hope to find something that is close to 100 percent effective and has no risky side effects."

Great idea-- and when you're done with that, can you develop something that good for women??

Attack of the Giant Popsicle!

2005-06-22T18:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's enough to just read the title of an article:

Giant Popsicle Melts, Floods New York Park

But then again, reading the whole article can bring its own rewards:

"What was unsettling was that the fluid just kept coming," Stuart Claxton of the Guinness Book of World Records told the Daily News. "It was quite a lot of fluid. On a hot day like this, you have to move fast."

Astronomy alert

2005-06-21T23:25:00.000-05:00

Cool planetary alignment coming up this weekend-- Mercury, Venus and Saturn will be very close together at sunset on Saturday and will get closer on Sunday and Monday. Keep an eye out!