February 2010
Why do people often vote against their own... →
wellthatsjustgreat:
aleahmarie:
Illuminating article from the BBC on why low income Americans continue to vehemently argue against the very programs designed to help them. My favorite line? “It’s like a French Revolution in reverse in which the workers come pouring down the street screaming more power to the aristocracy.”
You can see a microcosm of this same effect in the...
Heading back from Joshua Tree NP. I’ve spent 60% of weekends in 2010 there. Not too bad.
I suddenly have an extra ticket to one of the sold-out TMBG shows in LA next week. Who should I bring…?
I choose T-Pain!
January 2010
“Legion” - a modern-day Paradise Lost, but shitty and with more Dennis Quaid. Should’ve Denzel-ed…
Life According to Kellie: ANTARCTICA - Skiing on... →
My friend Kellie goes Heli-Skiing all over the world. She’s a world-class skier. Her last adventure was to Antarctica.
That is beyond bad-ass.
Piesaster
fallingandlaughing:
A piesaster is a thing that initially sounds bad, because you focus on the second half of it—“disaster.” But then you think about all the delicious pie shrapnel that would be scattered all over the place. Tasty fruit filling here, there, and everywhere. And shards of toothsome pie crust: you can use them to scoop up the filling. So it wouldn’t be so bad, a piesaster.
This...
pterodactyls asked: What's the craziest thing you've done in the name of "science" - it doesn't have to be work related, or really involve science, just along the lines of "hmm, I wonder what will happen if..." ?
Look! I figured out how to let people ask me... →
I realize I’m a little late to the game on this. What inning are we in? Is it half-time yet? I’m going to go get a giant, over-priced beer.
Unused Audio Commentary By Howard Zinn & Noam... →
In honor of Zinn (R.I.P.)
My predictions about the iPad were correct: I want one. Now.
I was up at ungodly o’clock this morning. Why? Nervous about teaching? Missed phone call? iTablet?
12 Hours Exactly
So my favorite radio station in LA, The Sound 100.3, has this feature called ‘The 10 at 10’ - 10 songs with a theme played at 10am, then the show is replayed at 10pm. The themes are usually all songs from one year, or songs with animals in the name, or songs with cowbell, or something like that. This feature is one of the many reasons why I love this station.
Today I was parking my...
Coffee with Intern Kim. Been too long, and she’s still a beautiful and enchanting lady.
“When conservative commentators grumble that “America is a center-right...”
– This President Ought to Know Better
kellydeal:
They Might Be Giants // Birdhouse In...
Obama Liquidates Himself →
Krugman spot on again.
I could have just stayed home on election day last year, or maybe just gone and voted against Prop. 8.
I'm a teaching slut
Teaching I have done in the last month or so for money:
My regular job teaching at Big Research University, where I teach two classes a quarter
I teach at least one class a quarter for the Night School associated with Big Research University for extra $$$
Human Anatomy to a group of visiting Japanese tourist chiropractors
Substitute teaching at nearby Really Rich Private junior high
Private...
un:
(via sade)
Scorpions - “Rock You Like a...
On the way to Berkeley to renew my Wilderness Medicine certification. Preparing to deal with hippy-dippy outdoor “professionals”.
“To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, to hear the lamentations...”
– Conan the Vegetarian
kellydeal:
Wilco - Heavy Metal Drummer
One of...
The Secret History of Typography in the Oxford... →
I do this all the time with the OED. It’s like going down Wikipedia rat-holes, but even nerdier.
And if you want to read a GREAT book about the making of the OED, check this out. Great tidbit from the book that I can recall off the top of my head: JRR Tolkien worked on the OED, specifically part of the W’s, including the word ‘walrus’.
ten minutes
pterodactyls:
miocyon:
pterodactyls:
is kind of a long time to be locked in a stairwell
Depends on who you got locked in with.
A croissant? A croissant isn’t bad company, you know. Kinda flaky, but easily buttered up.
I love it when they look at you all dough-eyed
ten minutes
pterodactyls:
is kind of a long time to be locked in a stairwell
Depends on who you got locked in with.
wellthatsjustgreat:
A Talk with George by...
The new credit sequence to Big Love sucks. Just FYI.
Campus in the rain is a constant trade-off btw. walking longer distances through buildings to stay dry and walking less but getting wet.
The funny thing
about Rumspringa jokes on the Internet is that you don’t have to worry about offending anyone.
(give it a sec, it’ll be funny once it sets in)
That's a hairy bush →
This pic has been viewed over 1000 times on my flickr page, far more than any other picture. The search term “hairy bush” usually gets people to it. I think that’s frakking hysterical…
This Guy
Tonite I am sitting on a panel to discuss the life and works of Darwin following a screening of the new movie about his life, ‘Creation’. Also on the panel: a science historian, the director, and the author of the book the movie is based on, “Annie’s Box” written by Darwin’s great-great-great grandson.
What bio-geek has two opposable thumbs and is crazy...
Turns out the dress pants I brought to wear tonite were tailored for a once skinnier man. Suck it in…
“Biologists, other scientists, and intellectuals in general have joined the...”
– Science, Reason, Ethics, and Modern Medicine
Spending my insomnia time educating myself more about science-based medicine, especially it’s differences from evidence-based medicine and bayesian statistics.
Claritin
I’ve had a little cold this weekend, and stuff to do, so I’ve taken some Claritin. Stuff works like a charm, except for this whole getting up at ungodly o’clock in the middle of the night thing and not being able to get back to sleep.
“Stand-up comics rarely do more than two forty-minute shows in a night, but...”
– Emily Toth
Also, I had a dream last night that mashed-up the Late Night TV wars and D&D. People were criticizing Conan for being a crappy DM.
I just realized that I’m wearing the same pajamas I wore all day yesterday. Keep it up, me!
Hypothetically
Let’s say you met someone who you liked. You found them attractive, you had things in common, you had good conversations, and liked to do similar things. Now let’s say that person had the opposite political views to you. You have spent a lot of time vocalizing and advocating for your views because you are so passionate about them. Could you stay with this person?
RT @pterodactyls - Biggest crush on John McPhee :: That is pretty much the hottest thing I’ve ever heard a woman say.
WatchEverything I need to know I learned from D&D