Christmas in July

If any of you have the chance to read this book, I highly recommend it.  I've been reading it, off and on, for the last 6 months.  Recently I've been using it to burn through those pesky 30 minute waits at the doctor's office, as my body decides if my allergy shot is going to kill me.  (Judging from some of the welts, it's been a close call.  But I diverge.  Back to the book.)

I thought I'd share a paragraph that completely sums up what I like about this book.

Enter the bee. "What we can smell, honeybees can smell.  There is not a big difference," explains German scientist Randolf Menzel.  This is good news for smell research, for there are plenty of things you can do to a bee that you dare not do to a human. 
The Physics of Christmas, Roger Highfield, pg 197.

Highfield expertly combines research from many different disciplines in an entertaining and witty explanation of what is really going on during the holidays (at least science wise, no one understands aunt Imogen's fruit cake).  Everyone needs to read this book.  How can we have a functioning society if everyone doesn't know about Santa's genetics, the trippin' reindeer under his command, or what King Tut's beer tasted like?!

Turd Burgers, a soylent green subsitute

There are many things for which recycling can be used for.  I'm just not sure that this is one of them.

I think that it's time we admit that there's a limit to what we are willing to recycle.

Did someone say science?

I apologise for the interruption, but this is not the usual sardonic/sarcastic post that I usually generate.  I will get back to those next time.  I promise.

I recently finished reading an article in Scientific American that discussed the lack of science in the curriculum of early education. They specifically mentioned pre-K through K, but I don't recall much formal education in science before the third grade. 

I agree with the article in that we are doing our children a great disservice by not starting formal science education at an early age.  There doesn't have to be a downplay, or removal, of anything that is currently being taught in early education to include science.  But it will require more early educators to be comfortable with science ... something that is lacking currently.

However, this is something that you can easily foster in the home.  Children ask a lot of questions.  Especially young children.  When they ask a question, take some time to "seek" out the answer with them.  I understand that this can not be done for every question.  (I was 12 when my youngest sibling was born.  I remember how many questions were asked each day!)  Even if you choose only one or two questions a week, you will be teaching your child the skill set they will need to reason and apply logic.  In short, you will teach them how to learn "science."  (When they grow up, they may not like doing it, but they will be able to do it.)

I was fortunate enough to grow up as my dad was going to college.  While doing his homework, he would take the time to explain to my sister and I what he was doing.  I remember sitting on his lap holding a large flash card with a letter of the alphabet on it.  He would be reading a text book, and whenever we came across the letter we were holding, we could yell and point it out.  I'm sure it was a huge disruption in his studding (when I was going to college, I would think back to this and wonder how he got any studding done!) but I am very grateful for the time he took. 

I would like to encourage all of my readers with young children to take sometime and teach your child how to use the scientific method.  If they ask a question, ask them what they think is the answer is, why they think that is the answer, etc.  Some kids will get frustrated with this method, so try somethine else.  Get them thinking any way you can.  Teach them not to be afraid of learning new things, thinking differently from others, and even getting the wrong answer.  Help them discover the joys of learning.  I believe that this is one of the most important skill sets that parents can teach their children, and I hope to pass it on to mine.

Ok, I've been preachy enough for one day.  It's time to slaughter some darkspawn.  Dragon Age, here I come!

Mother's day conversations

Like a large majority of the American public, I call my mom on Mother's Day. This is slightly tricky for us, since my mom's prefered shift is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 3 am until everything gets done.

Anyway, I called around 5 pm (her time) since that seems to be after she get's home, but before she heads for bed. Unfortunately, Mother's day was a long work day. She called me an hour and half later, when they finally let her leave. We had a good chat.

Like all good brothers do, Will came and interupted us. The conversation went something like this:

Will: My elbow hurts.
Mom: You need to give it some time to rest. It will take longer than two days to heal.
Will: I can't!  I've got $hit to do!

My mom probably made some approprate comment, but my mind was occupied with the image of my little brother trying to deficate out of his elbow. Not a sight for the weak, but it was funny none the less.

Me:  Why does he $hit with his elbow? I use completely different part of my anatomy for that. No wonder it hurts, straining that hard can't be good for you.

Mom, true to form, picked it right up and kept it rolling. The resulting banter is what I miss most, now that I live over 1000 miles from the rest of my family. Hopefully we'll be able to visit soon.

No more empty threats ... PLEASE!

Dear Golf Digest

Please stop threatening to send the last issue, and just send it.  We didn't want the first issue and are anxiously awaiting the last issue.

Thanks

LIMITED MILES INCLUDED!!

I got to admit, I'm a little confused about this.  Sixty dollars a day seems a bit much for a moving truck, even if it includes such bonuses as:  cart, blankets and limited mileage.

Knowing that they were shelling out 60 clams a day for this beauty, I insisted that we take a pic that night.  Little did I know that it would sit in the parking lot for three more days.  I wish that I had that kind of money!

P.S.  Thanks go to Nick for the title of this post!!

Aaaaggg!!!

With all of the people Obama has appointed into powerless positions, why hasn't he appointed a "snot nazi"?  There really should be a quota on how much snot one person can produce in day....and I've exceeded my monthly allotment in just these past few days.  Why doesn't anyone shoot me and put me out of my misery?

On second thought, I think I will just go back to bed.  I'm not quite ready for Obama care.

**This is just another prime example of why blogs and colds should be kept as far apart as possible**