Today’s list of things to do includes taking Larry to the dog park. Junebug could use a run, too, but not a good idea with the stitches. Then I need to take income verification paperwork to my MIL for her to sign and then go drop that off at her apartment complex. Then it’s home to start the cleaning so that I don’t have 5 million things to do on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving- vacuuming, bathroom clean up, preliminary kitchen clean, start the decluttering process. And maybe finish the day with buying a turkey fryer (oil-less). What a fun day.
Archive for November, 2011
MythBusters: Water Special
17
Nov
Second MythBusters retrospective in a row, though it looks like next week will be fan requests. Tonight was water myths, and this episode highlighted my biggest problem with the retrospective shows- no real information about the myths themselves.
The hubby did not remember the steam powered machine gun (I did), but at least they gave the outcome of that myth- busted. I did not remember the octopus egg hatching in a human stomach myth (hubby does), and they did not tell us the outcome of that myth, just talked about how cool it was to play with the octopus. Frustrating!
Students to Aid in Preserving Shipwrecks
16
Nov
If we want more kids to be interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) careers, we need to give them more opportunities like this.
While not every school has shipwrecks near by, let alone shipwrecks from the Revolutionary War, it’s still a fabulous opportunity for kids to see real world applications of some of the great technology we currently have, while at the same time providing valuable information to the people working on this project.
It might also get some kids interested in archaeology, but we can forgive them that. Kudos to the Nation Science Foundation for funding this work.
Movie Review: Hobson’s Choice
14
Nov
Hobson’s Choice is a favorite of a dear friend, so on Saturday night, I joined in her annual Thanksgiving viewing. She describes it as a romance without all the pesky romantic bits, which is a rather fair assessment.
It is also the story of how one woman took control of her own future, in a time when women had very little control, even over their own lives. (The movie is set in turn of the century Victorian England.) The ending is happy, not just because this is aHollywoodcreation, but because the protagonist wouldn’t have it any other way.
Extinct: Western Black Rhino of Africa
12
Nov
This makes me sad. I know that animals went extinct before humans even existed, and more went extinct in the years that we were hunter/gatherers, but now, when we have the ways and means to saving them, it seems like a greater tragedy.
And when I find out that the last of a species was killed solely for its horn- not for meat, not for survival, but for a luxury product –that makes me mad.
Whether you believe we were granted dominion over the earth or not, I believe we have a responsibility toward the creatures we share it with.
Thank You
11
Nov
Today is Veterans’ Day. It is a day to honor those who have served our country. I honor my brother, my father, two uncles, and both grandfathers along with a father-in-law and a grandfather-in-law that I never had the chance to meet. I also honor numerous friends who have served in every branch of the military, and some who are still serving.
Yes, I am a “Liberal”, and I do not always agree with our government’s reasoning for sending the troops places, but that does not change the respect I have for those who have chosen to serve our country.
MythBusters: Location Special
10
Nov
It’s the semi-annual retrospective/count down show. This time, we’re counting down the different locations they’ve been to. I don’t mind retrospectives, as we often get a little more information about the different myths.
This time, I learned about the existence of M6 and M7. I don’t know that I had ever realized that the build team had their own workspace. I remember the early seasons, and I remember the comments about neighbors not liking them (I mean, dead pigs in the sports car, that smell would have pissed me off, too), but I hadn’t realized it was a separate location.