Friday, June 16, 2006

Stephen Hawking Quote

Today on FoxNews: a great quote from Stephen Hawking:
He urged people with physical disabilities not to give up on their ambitions.

"You can't afford to be disabled in spirit as well as physically," he said. "People won't have time for you."
What a great attitude from someone with such a debilitating disease! He also talked about his speech software. Of course, his disease wasn't the point of the article but he was very open when answering questions about it.

For the complete story read: Hawking: Pope John Paul II Argued Against Studying Origin of Universe.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

'It's a Wonderful Life' Most Inspiring Film

Today on FoxNews: "George Bailey's brother proclaimed him the richest man in Bedford Falls. Now the story of the despondent businessman, who got a chance to see how ugly the world would be without him, has been proclaimed the most inspiring American movie."

No surprise there! Like millions of others, I love this film. I don't even know how many times I've seen it and I still cry every time I see the end. That's quality movie-making.

My favorite sentimental and not-so-subtle quotes:
Clarence: Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful whole, doesn't he? ... You see, George, you really had a wonderful life.

Harry: A toast to my big brother George, the richest man in town!

Dear George,
Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings!
Clarence
What about you? What are your favorite quotes, scenes, moments? Feel free to leave a comment... and don't feel like you have to wait until Christmas to enjoy this wonderful film!

MySpace or Bad Parenting?

I'm sure that by now you've heard about Katherine Lester, the 16-year-old who lied to her parents about needing a passport for a trip to Canada, then hopped on a plane for Jordan to meet and marry 20-year-old Abdulla Jinzawi, some guy she met on MySpace.com. If you don't already know, MySpace is popular on-line social network for teenagers.

I don't know who is more stupid here, Katherine or her parents. I know teenagers think they know everything while being amazingly naive, but this takes the cake. According to the latest news on this story, Family of Mideast Man Upset By MySpace Teen Bride's No-Show, she was supposed to sign a marriage contract as soon as she got off the plane, convert to Islam (wear a head covering, etc.), and live with Abdulla and his family in Jericho. This girl clearly has no idea of the cultural and religious mores that she would be expected to live by, or the danger of simply being an American in the Middle East. (Disclaimer: I know not all Muslims are terrorists; I know that not all Muslim/Middle Eastern cultures treat women as property/second class citizens; however, life in Jericho would be very different than life in Michigan and Katherine probably doesn't realize how difficult returning to the US might be if she changes her mind later).

Katherine's parents and family are stunned. They had no idea what she was planning, or how she could simply get on a plane and end up in the Middle East. Duh. Flying doesn't have an age requirement. Aren't they more concerned about where she got the money for the ticket and hotels? Didn't they know what she was doing on the Internet and who she was talking to? I know that since I'm not a parent some people will say I don't have right to criticize, that parents can't watch their kids every minute, etc. Based on observations of my friends with children, I beg to differ. Parents can and should know what web sites their kids are visiting and who they are talking to.

Katherine's parents obviously didn't do that. They must have also missed the April 9 episode of Dateline: MySpace Invader: A police detective shows teens and their parents that they're not as safe on MySpace as they think. They also clearly never visited MySpace, nor read its Safety Tips for users or Tips for Parents (which includes a link to remove their child's profile from MySpace).

If Katherine's stupidity was unbelievable, her parents' was even worse. No wonder the family is hiding from the media! All I know is this: if she belonged to one of my friends (or my brother!) she'd never be allowed to use the Internet again.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Survey: College Kids Like iPods Better Than Beer

According to an AP story today College Kids Like iPods Better Than Beer.* Apple should be proud. Seriously. Considering the number of college students who devote their time to drinking, this is a major accomplishment. And iPods are much safer than beer. iPods are unlikely to cause binge-drinking and other alcohol-related stupidity (drinking and driving, falling out windows, alcohol poisoning, etc.) Hoo-ray Apple! Good job! Keep those iPods coming!



* This link goes to the FoxNews version. Boycott the CNN version with its hideous apostrophe error ("Undergrad's" instead of "Undergrads")!

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Bird Flu Strikes Florida

Here's another e-mail joke that was so good I had to share. I'm glad someone has a sense of humor about this!

My theory: the danger of bird flu, like SARS, is greatly exaggerated by the media. For reliable information about it go to the Center for Disease Control.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Podcasts vs. Lectures

In "Podcast Lectures for Uni Students" the BBC describes how "a lecturer at a West Yorkshire university has abolished traditional lectures in favour of podcasts." I find this idea simultaneously intriguing and horrifying.

I love listening to podcasts and would probably really like it if one of my teachers did this. One of my favorite podcasts, Podvet, is designed for veterinary students and other people who love animals. (Warning: if you visit this site you need to know there is at least one graphic photo of a dog's injuries. You can avoid this by subscribing through iTunes.)

As an instructor, however, I hate the idea of making podcasts. I can't stand listening to a recording of my own voice! I also get the impression that while creating a podcast is easy (especially on a Mac), editing can be time-consuming and hosting it can be expensive, especially if you need to keep buying more bandwidth. At our U that probably wouldn't matter since I'd post any audio files in Blackboard where only my own students could access them, but apparently bandwidth is a common problem with many podcasts.

In short, I'll continue to enjoy listening to podcasts, but don't expect to see them added to my classes any time soon!

Friday, May 26, 2006

Real Invisibility?

What do Romulans, Frodo, and Harry Potter have in common? Devices that allow them to be invisible... and soon it could reality instead of fiction if Scientists may be able to make magic like Harry Potter on CNN.com today is true.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Towel Day

Do you know where your towel is?

In honor of Douglas Adams (1952-2001), author of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, May 25 is Towel Day. For details refer to Wikipedia and the Towel Day web site -- and don't panic!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Celebrities and Weight Loss

In a story carried by most news services today, Janet Jackson claims she lost 60 pounds in 4 months by "eating 'nice, balanced meals' and working out with a trainer." She says she gained the weight for a movie that didn't work out and had to lose it quickly for her next album/tour. Quickly = 15 pounds per month!

Just once I'd like to hear some celebrity thank her personal trainer and/or plastic surgeon (or even admit they exist) instead of pretending that all she has to do look great is eat "nice, balanced meals." If that were true, every woman I know would look like the actresses on Desperate Housewives. Real 40-year-old women don't look like that because only celebrities can afford a personal trainer who plans every meal and custom workouts!

Geez, Janet, be honest and thank your income and your trainer...

Monday, May 22, 2006

What I'm Reading: Julia Child

Last weekend I read My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'Homme. As the title suggests, it's the story of Julia's life in France with her new husband Paul, how she learned to love French food and cooking, and how she wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It's an entertaining read and I could just hear her voice as I read it -- what fun!

I was so impressed I shared a quote with my technical writing students today:
Writing has to be lively, especially for things as technical and potentially dullsville as recipes. I tried to keep my style amusing and non-pedantic, but also clear and correct. I remained my own best audience: I wanted to know why things happened on the stove, and when, and what I could to do to shape the outcome. I assumed that our ideal reader -- the servantless American cook who enjoyed producing something wonderful to eat -- would feel the same way. (77)

I loved visiting Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian and I bought her last DVD, Julia's Kitchen Wisdom, with some of my birthday money.

Julie Powell, a 30-year old secretary, loved Julia so much that she spent a year trying every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She chronicled her progress on her award-winning blog The Julia/Julie Project, which was published in book form as Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. Such an ambitious project would never occur to me. I guess I like eating more than cooking!

I recommend any and all of Julia's books, but My Life in France is personal glimpse into her private life that is well worth reading.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Cinco de Mayo

Several people sent me this in honor of Cinco de Mayo so I thought I'd share it. Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

*****

There are many stories related to the sinking of the Titanic. Some have just come to light due to the success of the recent movie.

For example, most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellman's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. The Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after New York City.

The Mexican people were eagerly awaiting delivery and were disconsolate at the loss. So much so that they declared a national day of mourning which they still observe today. It is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Podcasts Galore

Last fall I discovered podcasts. I was so busy with work that I sort of forgot about them. Yesterday I was reading How to do Everything with your iPod and iTunes by Guy Hart-Davis (my birthday present for myself) which reminded me of the many free podcasts available. After a quick look at iTunes I realized my podcasts subscriptions had stopped auto-updating the last time I updated iTunes, so I resubscribed to old favorites (PodVet, Science Friday, Skywatch, Stardate, and This Week in Technology) and discovered tons more (Archaeocast, Archaeology Channel, MacCast, Mysterious Universe, NPR Health and Science, NPR Technology, The Food Geek, and The Onion). I also figured out how to get recent episodes (more than one of each podcast) so I could get caught up on the ones I'd missed since the Holidays. Wow, I almost filled up my 4GB iPod Nano for the first time!

Another cool thing Hart-Davis's book covers is how to convert your cassettes and LPs to MP3 so you can listen to them on your iPod. Guess what my next project is? :)

Is sure is going to be hard to go back to work next week...

Friday, April 28, 2006

Good-bye Abigail

Abigail Keeler.
1993-2006.
Beloved friend and shoulder-rider, who has forever left her paw-prints on my heart.

The Rainbow Bridge

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Slap Your Co-Worker Day is Coming!!

This is one of the funniest e-mails I have received in ages so I couldn't resist sharing it here. I figure it was created by the people who work with Adam Weissman who, according to "Music Hath Charms" in a recent issue of USA Today, inflicts his music on his coworkers by playing his iPod through his computer speakers instead of using a headset. Can you imagine having a really bad day, then having this guy inflict his choice of music on you? The article says he likes to cheer up his coworkers with songs like "The Muppet Show" theme. Yes sir, one incident like this would lead to a severe slapping!

Slap Your Co-Worker Day is Coming!!

Tomorrow is the official Slap Your Irritating Co-workers Holiday. Do you have a co-worker who talks nonstop about nothing, working your last nerve with tedious and boring details that you don't give a damn about? Do you have a co-worker who ALWAYS screws up stuff creating MORE work for you? Do you have a co-worker who kisses so much booty, you can look in their mouth and see what your boss had for lunch? Do you have a co-worker who is SOOO obnoxious, when he/she enters a room, everyone else clears it? Well, on behalf of Ike Turner, I am so very, very glad to officially announce tomorrow as SLAP YOUR IRRITATING CO-WORKER DAY! There are the rules you must follow:
  • You can only slap one person per hour - no more.
  • You can slap the same person again if they irritate you again in the same day.
  • You are allowed to hold someone down as other co-workers take their turns slapping the irritant.
  • No weapons are allowed ... other than going upside somebody's head with a stapler or a hole-puncher.
  • CURSING IS MANDATORY! After you have slapped the recipient, your "assault" must be followed with something like "cause I'm sick of your stupid-a$$ always messing up stuff!"
  • If questioned by a supervisor or police (if the supervisor is the irritant), you are allowed to LIE, LIE, LIE!
Now, study the rules, break out your list of folks that you want to slap the living daylights out of and get to slapping ... and have a GREAT DAY!

Thank God I don't work with anyone who deserves slapping!

Friday, April 14, 2006

A Night to Remember

April 14, 1912. At 11:40 p.m., despite the efforts of First Officer William Murdock, Titanic struck an iceberg and damaged six of her watertight compartments. It took her 2 hours and 40 minutes to sink. In that time 1/3 of those on board escaped in lifeboats. Titanic had more than the required number of boats, enough for about half those on board, but most boats were launched with less than full capacity (for many reasons).

The other 2/3 of Titanic's passengers and crew, over 1,500 men, women, and children, died horribly and needlessly. Many faced death bravely and their stories are part of what keep the memory of Titanic alive today. Titanic died with them, after only four days of service.

Then she, the stricken hull,
The doomed, the beautiful,
Proudly to Fate abased
Her bow titanic.
Praise now her multitude,
Who, nursed her fortitude,
Fell in on deck and faced
Death without panic.

From Poems and Ballads (1896)
by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch

In 1898 Senator William Alden Smith, who led the American Inquiry of the Titanic disaster, cut this poem out of a newspaper. In late 1913 Smith re-read the poem and was struck by its eerie resemblance to Titanic. Notice that it was written 16 years before the disaster.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

The Winner: Dan Brown

I just heard that last Friday "High Court Judge Peter Smith threw out a copyright-infringement claim by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, who said Brown's blockbuster plagiarized their 1982 book, Holy Blood, Holy Grail." Read the story on CNN; includes a link to the actual verdict.

Funny, the lawsuit got more news coverage than the verdict. If I were cynical, I'd say that the media only covers surprising/unexpected stories...

Monday, April 10, 2006

94 Years Ago Today

April 10, 1912. RMS Titanic left Southampton, England for her maiden voyage to New York City. While leaving Southamptom her massive bulk snapped the lines of ships moored nearby, including the American Line's New York. A collision was avoided at the last minute, but Titanic was delayed for about an hour. She then crossed the Channel to Cherborg, France and arrived about 7 p.m. The cross-Channel passenger disembarked and after taking on passengers and mail Titanic headed for Queenstown, Ireland.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Warriors of Oz?!

Today's paper, in the coupons, contained an ad for Warriors of Oz by Hamilton Authenticated. Authenticated what? This has nothing to do with the book/movie we all know and love. Dorothy as Zena, Warrior Princess? Toto as a demon dog? Scarecrow the archer, Tinman the Cylon, and Lion the were-lion. What the hell was Hamilton Authenticated thinking and who buys this crap?

Hear that rumbling sound? It's L. Frank Baum spinning in his grave.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Time to Car Hunt?

My 1991 Toyota Camry has an elusive electrical problem. My first clue was when the horn and idiot alarm (the thing that beeps when you leave your keys in the ignition or leave the lights on) quit working. Not having a horn bothered me so I asked both my mechanic and the Toyota dealer what to do about this problem. Both told me it would be expensive to diagnose and repair because it requires essentially dismantling the car. Both told me it wasn't worth it for a 15-year-old car with 200,000+ miles on it.

I really like this car. It's in good shape for its age and still gets good gas mileage. I decided to put up with the elusive electrical problem. Before long the dome light quit, but I didn't really think about it. It could just be the bulb, after all. Then the dashboard lights for the heat/AC quit. They still come back on sometimes, when I hit a bump.

This week the elusive electrical problem added some new, weird manifestations. First, I noticed the "door ajar" light on the dashboard was flickering. It didn't go away even after I slammed all the doors. Then I pulled into McDonald's and, to my horror, realized the windows no longer work. The only time I really need to put them down is in a drive-through -- or when it's warm and rainy and the windows fog over (for which the defrost is totally useless), and that's pretty much all summer. That's when I got scared. If the windows don't work, could the same thing happen to the electric locks? I never lock the doors when I'm in the car now for fear of getting trapped inside. (I'm claustrophobic and just thinking about that makes me uneasy.)

SIGH. I guess it's time to start looking for a newer car. I dread it. I know nothing about cars. My brother tells me to buy a new Saturn using his GM Option 1 because I drive too much to lease. My father-in-law tells me I'm crazy to buy because leasing is cheaper, even if you put a lot of miles on the car. Leasing a car that's a couple of years old is even better. Do I want a Saturn or another Camry? New or used? Can I even afford a new/newer car? Is my old Camry worth any trade-in value? How low can I get the payments? Do I need a down payment? I'm so busy with grading right now that thinking about these about these things, let alone the idea of looking at new or used cars, puts my stress level through the roof.

Maybe I'll just buy a lottery ticket.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

94 Years Ago Today

April 2, 1912. RMS Titanic underwent her sea trial and passed with flying colors. Her keel was laid down March 31, 1909 and she was launched May 31, 1911. It took over two years to build her, almost a year to fit her out (complete the insides), one day to test her at sea, and 2 hours and 40 minutes to sink her just five days into her maiden voyage.

Every year from March 30, when Capt. Smith transferred from her sister Olympic, to April 15 I think about where she was each day, and what was happening to Titanic. If only I could change history!

To Be, Or Not To Be: Four Hundred Years of Vanitas Painting

Yesterday my husband and I went to the Flint Institute of Arts to see an exhibit called "To Be, Or Not To Be: Four Hundred Years of Vanitas Painting." You can read Roger's detailed post on his blog. I won't repeat his post by explaining what vanitas is or describing the exhibit, but I will admit that I had a hard time not laughing at the one piece of abstract modern art in the exhibit.

I enjoyed the exhibit. The painting are fascinating and disturbing reminders to enjoy life because it is so short. We couldn't resist buying the catalog because it was only $25. I highly recommend this exhibit but, unfortunately, today is the last day.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

The Da Vinci Crock

Lewis Purdue, author of Daughter of God and The Da Vinci Legacy, left a comment regarding my post Plagiarism or Greed? on the recent lawsuits against Dan Brown. He said:
Greed?

If you examine the facts at http://davincicrock.blogspot.com, you will find that I am donating proceeds from the suit to charity.

And that Random House sued ME, not the other way around.

And the legal fight is not over. Next hearing in NYC on April 11

Lewis, thank you for visiting my blog and setting me straight about your problems with Random House. The media sure didn't report your story accurately. (How typical!)

As promised I'm putting this in a new post with the link to your Da Vinci Crock so my readers (few though they may be) will get the whole story.

I've also put your books on my list of books to read and recommend we all read them in the interest of fairness.

I'm sure I won't be the only one waiting to see how your case turns out. Good luck, Lewis!

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Oh no! Sudoku!

It finally happened. Like so many other people I have become hooked on the latest puzzle craze: Sudoku. It's my sister-in-law's fault for letting me try her handheld electronic Sudoku. It's much easier than playing the paper-and-pencil version, and I can actually finish puzzles (easy ones, anyway).

For those who don't know, Sudoku looks like a crossword puzzle but uses numbers. I didn't think I'd like it because I'm terrible at crosswords and Scrabble. (Yes, I know it's ironic. *sigh*) Unlike crosswords, Sudoku uses logic rather than knowledge of obscure words even English majors have never heard of; maybe that's why I like it. It reminds me of cryptograms, which I love.

I love it so much I bought my own LCD Ultimate Sudoku handheld game at Wal-Mart. It's somewhat clunky compared to the kind that comes with a stylus (which you can buy at Target or Kay Bee Toys) but I like it because you can get hints if you want, make uncertain answers flash until you figure them out, choose from three levels of play, and even input puzzles from other sources. There's a built-in timer, too. All this for $13! The only thing I don't like is that you can't turn the sound off. I kind of like the sound but it would be inconvenient for travel (unless you want to annoy other people).

If you want to try Sudoku I recommend Web Sudoku. It includes instructions and you can play on-line or print the puzzles. This site has millions of puzzles with four difficulty levels (easy, medium, hard, and evil) and shareware to download so you can play Sudoku on your own computer (PC or Mac) anytime. If you play on-line you can get hints, just like the handheld version. (I like hints!)

The Daily Sudoku is also good but the site is undergoing maintenance just now. You can't play on-line but there is a printable archive with puzzles of all levels of difficulty. The site includes instructions, four types of puzzles (Classic, Monster, Kids, and Squiggly), and the option of choosing the size of the printed puzzle. The kids' section has puzzles that are good for kids or adult beginners and you have the option of choosing numbers or letters.

I recommend this game, especially the electronic form, for anyone who enjoys puzzles or wants to improve their logic/critical thinking. Using my LCD Ultimate Sudoku handheld game my time has improved from about 30 minutes to about 10 minutes for an easy puzzle. I'm enjoying it so much I might even try an intermediate puzzle sometime.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Treasures of Ancient Egypt: The Quest for Immortality

If you are looking for something cool to do on the west side of the state, visit the Treasures of Ancient Egypt: The Quest for Immortality exhibit at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. This is one of the best Egyptian exhibits I've ever seen and "the exhibition contains the largest and most comprehensive selection of antiquities ever loaned by Egypt, many never seen outside the country." Yes, you would have to visit the museum in Cairo to see this stuff.

Highlights
  • Statue of Osirus rising
  • Statue of Osirus as King of the dead
  • 8-foot head of Ramses II
  • 2 gold mummy masks
  • 1 nearly intact beaded mummy net
  • Recreation of Tuthmose III's burial chamber
  • Exquisite, delicate jewelry of a princess
There's lots more: shabtis, coffins, god statues (of all sizes), even a boat! This exhibit is worth the drive to Grand Rapids and the $17 entry fee. If you are not familiar with Egyptology you might also want to spring $6 for the self-guided audio tour. Hurry! The exhibit ends May 7.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Plagiarism or Greed?

Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code, is being sued for plagiarism. According to Lawyer: Dan Brown evidence suspect, published yesterday on CNN:
Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh are suing Da Vinci Code publisher Random House, claiming Brown's book "appropriated the architecture" of their 1982 nonfiction book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. Both books explore theories -- dismissed by theologians -- that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, the couple had a child and the bloodline survives.
Brown indirectly acknowledged Leigh and Baigent by naming a character, Sir Leigh Teabing (an anagram of Baigent) after them, but they want more. Their lawsuit could even delay release of the new film of The Da Vinci Code.

According to 'Da Vinci Code' case nears ending, published Sunday on CNN, this not the first time Brown has been sued over The Da Vinci Code, "Last August he won a court ruling against Lewis Perdue, who alleged The Da Vinci Code copied elements of two of his novels, Daughter of God and The Da Vinci Legacy."

What do these cases have in common? Greed, I'm sure. The Da Vinci Code has been on The New York Times best-seller list for two years and has sold over 40 million copies. 40 million! Just imagine that. Even if Dan Brown makes less than a dollar in royalties per book, he has made millions. I'm sure Leigh and Baigent, like Perdue before them, are motivated by the idea of getting part of that money.

I hope they don't. I'm ticked because of their greed and because their lawyer is now trying to drag Brown's wife, who helped with the research, into the case. If Leigh and Baigent win, does it mean authors can't use non-fiction or history in fictional works? I supposed we can thank James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces, for muddying the distinction between fiction and non-fiction, but Brown acknowledged that fact that he's read lots of books on his subject and none of the ideas are really new. He's right. What's new is the creative and compelling story he created that is driving people to learn more about art, history, and religion -- and I hope he's not punished for that.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Would Jesus Use an Apostrophe?

The other day I passed church sign that said:

Are you ready for Jesus return?

I don't think the sign had the intended affect result.* All I could think if was WPWJU (What punctuation would Jesus use)?

I wish people would learn how to use apostrophes!


* This is for you, Mermaldad! Everyone else can read the comments to see why.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Two Irish men were shipwrecked. After some time in the water they manage to crawl up on an iceberg.

"Are we safe now?" asked Patty.

"Of course," said Mike. "Look, here comes Titanic!"

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Eat or Sleep? Now you can do both at the same time!

According to "Study Links Ambien Use To Unconscious Food Forays" by Stephanie Saul published in The New York Times Tuesday Late Edition - Final on March 14, 2006, page 1:
The sleeping pill Ambien seems to unlock a primitive desire to eat in some patients, according to emerging medical case studies that describe how the drug's users sometimes sleepwalk into their kitchens, claw through their refrigerators like animals and consume calories ranging into the thousands.

The next morning, the night eaters remember nothing about their foraging. But they wake up to find telltale clues: mouthfuls of peanut butter, Tostitos in their beds, kitchen counters overflowing with flour, missing food, and even lighted ovens and stoves. Some are so embarrassed, they delay telling anyone, even as they gain weight.
One patient "did not link Ambien to her nocturnal eating until after she gained 100 pounds," even after her family told her about her sleep eating. Why on earth not? Where did she think the weight was coming from? Did she just wake up every morning and say, "Wow, honey, I slept really well, but I seem to have gained a bit of weight -- hey! where's all our food? Oh, well, time to hit the grocery store."

If you don't have electronic access to the NY Times, you read a simliar story on Fox News today: Ambien linked to "Sleep Eating."

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

The Curse Continues

I wrote too soon about things being back to normal, technologically. Today my iRiver portable CD player died. It was only two years old and I loved it for several reasons:
  • It was so slim and portable -- with skip protection, too!
  • It had a car adaptor, so I never had to listen to the radio.
  • It played mp3 format. I could convert my audio books to mp3 and fit a book on one disk. That meant listening to a whole book without the inconvenience of switching disks while driving.
  • It had easy-to-use switches (off, on, pause, reverse, etc.) that I could use without taking my eyes from the road.
Now it's dead and the company no longer makes portable CD players; they have been replaced with iPod-type mp3 players.

I love my iPod but I don't want to use it in the car, not even with a car adaptor and dashboard iPod holder. To do so would mean taking my eyes off the road. *Sigh.*

Fortunately, iRiver has a web site and an 800 number for customer service. They helped me find an older version of my beloved CD player in their clearance section. The price was so low they were practically giving it away. UPS tracking says it will arrive Friday, just in time for my trip to Kalamazoo Saturday, so I am saved from the boredom of radio and the danger of using an iPod in the car ... for now.

Oh, the (Technological) Irony

After my post the other day on Amazing Technology two things happened to shake my faith in my current technology.

First, on Friday I couldn't get on the Internet. Everything was hooked up correctly all the modem and router lights were happy, etc. First I called my Internet provider, then I called the company that made my router, both walked me through a bunch of troubleshooting steps, said it wasn't their product, and blamed the other. (Of course!) I spent the morning at the library using the free Wi-Fi only to discover that the problem had mysterious corrected itself by the time I got home. My IT buddy Dan called it a "server hiccup" -- there was nothing technically wrong, just a temporary loss of connection to my service provider. How annoying! I hope that doesn't happen often.

Second, on Sunday my Airport Express (which allows us to use our laptops wirelessly) died. I mean dead, and it's only two months old. Fortunately, Apple has outstanding customer service. They immediately shipped a replacement which arrived the next day! I was less pleased with CompUSA who would not exchange it, even though it was under warranty, because we didn't purchase their CompUSA customer service along with the Airport Express. I believe customer service should come with a purchase, not be something I pay extra for. Needless to say, I will never purchase anything from CompUSA again!

So things are back to normal and, technologically, life is good.

I love technology ... when it works.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

That Explains Everything!

I found this in an ad on WebMD:

"Being active and over 40 can be a pain. Boomeritis."

That explains everything!

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Amazing Technology

Technology amazes me. My first computer didn't have a hard drive. It took up the entire desk and weighed a ton (and it was small compared to its contemporaries).

My first hard drive was external and held 20 or 30 MB. I never imagined filling up all that space. Compared to our currently technology this is laughable, especially when you look at the size of the case. Talk about big and clunky!

My laptop PowerBook G4 weighs less than 5 pounds and does everything a desktop computer can, plus it's wireless. It holds 2,000 times as much data as my first hard drive.

My Lexar Jump Drive Pro holds a gigabyte. It's the size of my thumb and holds 50 times more data than my first hard drive!

My 4GB iPod Nano holds over 200 times more data than my first hard drive!

I use my laptop, jump drive, and iPod daily and I am still amazed. If computer technology has advanced this much in the last 20 years, what does the future hold? I can hardly wait to see. Maybe I will live to see Star Trek type computers. Scotty, beam me up!

***************************

Math and computer geeks can skip this section; it is for the mathematically impaired (like me). I had to ask two different people to calculate the comparison of my first hard drive to my current technology. LOL.

How the heck are gigs (GB), megs (MB), etc. measured? Here's a quick reference from greatest to least:

Gigabyte = 1 billion bytes, or 1024 MB.
Most hard drives are now measured in GBs.

Megabyte = 1 million bytes, or 1024 KB
According to Wikipedia, a megabyte of data can roughly hold:
* one larger book (excluding images)
* one "typical" sized photograph with reasonably good quality
* a hundred small images
* roughly a minute of compressed music

For comparison: A CD holds 700 MB of data or 80 min. of uncompressed music

Kilobyte = 1024 bytes
This is how much a 3" floppy disk holds.

Byte = 8 bits. Standard unit of measure for computer storage space.

Bit = binary digits

Binary digits (or binary code) are the magic combination ones and zeros that make your computer work.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

History vs. Fiction

Yesterday I stopped at a Speedway for some pop and ran smack into a conflict of academia vs. popular fiction. One the guys who worked there was telling someone about the Knights Templar in great detail. When I got to the counter I asked him if he was interested in the Templars. He said,

(WARNING: Academics of a sensitive nature will probably be horrified by his answer and should stop reading now.)

"Yeah, I've read The Da Vinci Code and seen Kingdom of Heaven."

There was a long pause as I tried to decide how to encourage this young man's interest in the Templars without sound like a condescending jerk by telling his sources are fiction which took great liberties with history in order to tell an entertaining story.

I finally said, "You know, if you are interested in the Templars, there are much better sources you could read."

Instead of being offended he was very interested. "How did you know about the Templars?" he asked.

I fought the urge to say "I read history books" and instead I explained I was college instructor and had long been interested in the Middle Ages.

He wanted to know if I could recommend any books and of course I could only think of one (Dungeon, Fire, and Sword by John J. Robinson) so I suggested he try any library and search on "Templars" or "Knights of the Temple."

(WARNING: U of M profs of a sensitive nature, especially history profs, will probably be horrified his answer and should stop reading now.)

"Cool," he said. "I go to U of M, I'll try the library there."

I restrained myself from asking if he'd had a class in history or research, or asking why he hadn't already done so, and instead encouraged him to visit the library soon.

I was horrified by this encounter. I knew some people have trouble understanding The Da Vinci Code is fiction, but hadn't run into it quite like this. I wish Dan Brown nothing but success (I liked all of his books, including The Da Vinci Code) but I think he needs to print "This is a work of fiction" on the cover instead of putting in the preface/forward/wherever.

If the young man from Speedway is reading this, I'm not picking on you, but please restore my faith in logic and common sense by reading some reliable sources about the Templars.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Fat Tuesday Treat

Paczki - (pronunciation: punch key) pl. Paczki. n. Polish for jelly-filled doughnut rolled in powdered sugar. A special treat eaten on Fat Tuesday, even by those who do not intend to give up such treats for Lent.

Fat Tuesday always sparks a debate over who makes the best Paczki. I think it's the Home Bakery in Davison but I have some of friends will only buy them from Jablonski's Baker's Corner (authentic Polish bakery) in Burton.

What's the best filling? Bavarian cream -- it's like pudding inside a doughnut. I don't crave sweets so one Paczki a year is just about right, as long as it's Bavarian cream.

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Shades of Damocles

This week is spring break, a time when students traditionally travel to warmer climates to party. I much prefer to stay home, relax, rest, read, and catch up on movies. I'm doing some of that but I'm also doing a lot of grading. This is the dark side of teaching writing.

Here's what makes grading writing hard:

1. It's time-consuming. To do a good job and be fair, I need to make sure I'm not tired and cranky when I'm grading. That means as much I would like to work straight through and grade all the papers at once and get it over with, it's not a good plan.

2. Knowing I have ungraded papers (unfinished work) stresses me out. It's like the Sword of Damocles, or should I say "the stack of ungraded papers of Damocles"?

3. I get no sympathy from anyone outside of academia. If I try to explain why I feel stressed out and cranky my listener inevitably says, "don't assign so many papers." Hel-LO! I teach writing. I have to assign papers. You can't teach someone how to write by giving them multiple choice exams! I wouldn't survive the stress if it weren't for the support of my fellow writing instructors. (I don't think I've said this, but thanks you guys!)

Students usually don't realize how stressful grading is or how much work it is. I know my own workload should make me more sympathetic towards my students, but when they complain about the five papers they have to write for my class, I just point out that for every paper they turn in to me, I have 96 to grade. (4 classes x 24 students each = 96.)

Why am I blogging if I have so many papers to grade, you ask. Well, like all writers, when I'm under a lot of pressure avoidance kicks in. Perhaps you've heard the expression "No one has a cleaner house than a writer with a deadline." The same is true of grading. Also, I'm too tired to grade right now so I'm doing something I enjoy.

I am participating in study this semester on meditation and stress reduction. I'm afraid I'm really messing up the data. I find meditation relaxing if I don't have a lot of work to do, but I can't do it when I have a stack of ungraded papers hanging over my head. Instead of focusing on the meditation and relaxing all I can think about is how many papers I could grade it that amount of time. Finishing my work reduces my stress far more effectively than meditating. Does that mean work is a form of meditation? What a scary thought!

If feel stressed every time I have a batch of papers to grade, why am I complaining this time? Probably because I'm just tired and cranky this week. I don't know if something is setting off my allergies or if I have cold, but I feel under the weather and resent being sick during my spring break! Grading during break I expected and planned for, but being sick, especially during what should be my time to do what I want, annoys the heck out of me.

I'm sure I'll feel better soon, especially if I get a lot of grading done.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Those Darn Box Elder Bugs!

It's February. It's in the 20s with near-zero windchill. Why do I keep finding Box Elder bugs in our apartment? I could understand it when the unseasonably warm temps in December and January might have been responsible for waking them up from their long winter's nap; however, why aren't they napping again? Where are they coming from? How the heck are they getting inside? Whatever their methods, I think they've started to tell their friends they've found a great winter hangout because the other day we found a ladybug.

Do Your Own Pest Control says Box Elder bugs can show up in the dead of winter and that they like to hide in the foundation, especially on warm southern and western exposures. I have no idea what they are living on, especially in the winter, since we don't have any box elder trees! At least we've only seen about one bug a month, so it's not a infestation. It's just a weird annoyance.

Bugs, I have a message for you: this apartment ain't big enough for all of us. The humans pay the rent and this human will squish you like a bug. Yeah, it's cruel, but it's better than being eaten by a Siamese Snowshoe cat. Tell your little buggy friends: move here and you'll get squished or eaten.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Get The Real Thing

All three campuses of the University of Michigan have stopped selling Coca-Cola products because of Ann Arbor students protesting Coke's alleged human rights violations in Colombia and India. Read about it at the Detroit Free Press and UM (Ann Arbor) web sites.

Diet Coke is my favorite beverage in the whole world (regular in the morning; caffeine-free after that). I don't mind bringing my own pop to work, but I do wonder why I can not find any evidence of the alleged human rights and an environmental issues the Ann Arbor students were protesting. Without evidence, this is just a bunch of students getting worked up over nothing and inconveniencing Coke drinkers on all three campuses as a result. I know they mean well, but their protests are unsubstantiated and therefore invalid. If anyone finds any evidence of their claims I want to see it!

Update Feb. 17: Despite UM's break with Coca-Cola and the alleged human rights and an environmental violations, Coke's stock (and presumably sales) remains steady, so banning Coke from UM has done nothing to hurt the Coca-Cola company. I wonder what the protestors hoped to accomplish?

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Michigan Slogans

Today I got an e-mail from brother and sister-in-law with Michigan trivia. It ended with a list of Possible New Slogans for Michigan that was so funny I couldn't resist posting it here:

The one that looks like a mitten, you moron.
Where used cars from Florida brings top dollar.
No hurricanes here.
The Orange Barrel State.
So close to Canada, you can hardly tell the difference.
We know the rules to euchre.
Got fudge?
Two Mystery Spots. No waiting.
Yes, the Porcupines are real mountains.
Soda? We say pop here, buddy.
The Midwestern "M" state without a wrestler for governor.
No riots since '67.
More than just boarded up auto plants.
Casino fever -- catch it.
Sandy beaches without severe undertow.
Happiness is a warm pasty.
Imagine an island where horse manure still litters the streets.
Water enough for any drought.
Visit Hell, Paradise, Christmas and Climax. (Can do it all the same day!)
Birthplace of Meijer Thrifty Acres.
Where Ontario is a shortcut to New York.
Gerald Ford slept here.
It's called snow. Get used to it.
Where the names of high-toned suburbs needlessly end with "e."
Deer processing available here.
Not as flat as Indiana.
Try eating corn flakes without us.
Hardly any annoying lizards or poisonous snakes. Big on flannel.
It's not the heat. It's the humidity.
Smoked fish sold here.
Good people with camping trailers.
We moved American history to Dearborn.
No toll roads and proud of it.
Our biggest bridge makes yours look puny.
Nearly went to war with Ohio once and will do it again if they pull any funny stuff.
Land of snow machines and bass boats.
#@?!* mosquitoes.
We know a place where wooden shoes are always in style.
Where lousy teams get new stadiums.
Speed limit is back up to 70, so move it!
The Red Wings State.

I thought of a couple more:

Where octopus is synonymous with hockey.
If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. It will change.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Superbowl Commercials

The groundhog was right: we got about 5 inches of snow Saturday night. Detroit cleared the snow in record time, wanting to make a good impression on all the people in town for the Superbowl. (Detroit residents: I'd be insulted if I were you! The city has shown they really can remove snow efficiently when they choose to. Their actions are saying that out of town guests are more important than you are.)

Speaking of the Superbowl, my favorite part is the commercials. I just found the Superbowl Ads site where you can watch the ads; some are also available through iTunes. This year my favorites fell into two categories: funny and TV/movie ads.

My Favorite Funny Commercials
* Budweiser. I loved the baby Clydesdale trying to pull the wagon. How adorable!
* Career Builder. We all know the guy who works with monkeys (I love those commercials!); now he has met a girl who works with jackasses. LOL.
* Aleve. Leonard Nimoy can give Trekkies the Vulcan salute thanks to arthritis-relieving Aleve.

My Favorite TV/Movie Ads
* Lost. There were several but my favorite was the guy singing something like "admit it you're hooked on Lost." Watch the Commerical on ABC!
* Pirates of the Caribbean. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, pirates, swashbuckling -- what's not to like?

Best of all was the 2nd Annual Puppy Bowl (with Kitty Half Time Show) on Animal Planet. We watched it twice. How can anyone resist watching puppies and kitties playing? (Yes, I am easily amused.)

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Happy Groundhog Day!


Happy Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting groundhog, saw his shadow this morning, which means six more weeks of winter. Wait, seeing his shadow because its sunny means more winter? And no shadow means an early spring? I've always wondered about that, so I did a quick Google search to learn more. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club includes history and FAQ about Phil and Groundhog Day. (It's another tradition we can blame on the Germans.) Another site sells official groundhog souvenirs.

Actually, I've always suspected this holiday was created by someone with severe cabin fever looking for any excuse to get out of the house. What else could explain taking a sweet, sleepy critter out of his snug, warm den and waving him about in front of a cheering crowd? I've always felt sorry for Phil. I'd hate it if someone woke me up like that. They probably use a groundhog because groundhogs are too sweet to bite under such circumstances.

What I really want to know: since this winter has been much warmer than usual, does Phil's prediction mean that winter will really start now?

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Beating the Winter Blues

It's the end of January and it's still warm and rainy -- yuck! What happened to the lovely, cold, dry weather that is so good for my sinus/allergy problems? The weather cold enough for me wear all my favorite snuggly sweaters? SIGH.

I've found one thing that makes the yucky weather more bearable: a Go Lite by Apollo Health for seasonal affective disorder. I think it's only for mild seasonal depression, not clinical depression, but you can read more about it on the web site.

We shopped around on the 'net and paid much less than the $200 listed on the web site. Mine is not programmable, like this picture, which might be why it was so much less expensive.

I've been using my Go Lite for about half an hour each morning, usually when I'm reading the news, weather, e-mail, etc., and having my morning caffeine and it really seems to help.

The real good news: we have 47 minutes more daylight than we did at this time in December.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Totally Wireless

Thanks to my friend Dan from Information Technology Systems, my home network is now wireless! I can now sit in the living room with my laptop and be on-line, print to the laser printer from any of our three computers, and share files between the computers. God, I love technology!

Frankly, with two on-line classes this semester, I'm just relieved to be back on the 'net after the death of our old router. The other day I had to take my laptop to the local library so I could work on my classes. This seemed like a good idea, especially since the library now has Wi-Fi, but it's not a good solution if you live in a small town. I was there for an hour and ran into three people I know. All of them wanted to visit and admire my laptop, which was nice but distracting.

Now the only thing I have to worry about is power failure... :)

Monday, January 02, 2006

Why I Hate January

The holidays are over.

The snow is gone.

It's warm, rainy, dark, and dreary.

Two days after Christmas (two days!!!) some retailers started putting out St. Valentine's candy.

God, how I hate January.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Christmas TV Trivia

Are you watching your old Christmas favorites on TV, VHS, and DVD? Do you sniffle when Santa sings with the little Dutch girl, Frosty melts, and George Bailey realizes he really does have a wonderful life? If so, you are ready for my first-time-ever Christmas trivia!

For each clue name the Christmas special/movie.

1. Mr. Gailey proves that Kris Kringle really is Santa.
2. Bob Wallace and Phil Davis save the Columbia Inn from bankruptcy on Christmas Eve.
3. Bing sings “White Christmas” for the first time in this movie.
4. Uncle Billy misplaces $8,000 on Christmas Eve.
5. We meet Father Chuck O’Malley for the first time.
6. Max pulls a sleigh full of Christmas cheer.
7. The Winter Warlock puts one foot in front of the other.
8. Scott Calvin becomes the new Santa.
9. Scrooge’s debtors sing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and dance on his coffin.
10. Francis Xavier Cross produces the world’s worst version of A Christmas Carol, live, on Christmas Eve.
11. The misfit toys hope Santa find them new, loving homes.
12. Henry Travers (best known as Clarence the angle in It’s a Wonderful Life) plays selfish Horace P. Bogardus.
13. Skating to “Christmastime is Here.”
14. Randy can’t put his arms down.
15. Hocus Pocus runs away from Professor Hinkle, the world’s worst magician.

The answers are in the Comments section.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Tolkien on Film Nominated for an Award!

Tolkien on Film: Essays on Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings (which contains an essay by yours truly) has been nominated for an award! Tolkien on Film was edited by Janet B. Croft, published by Mythopoeic Press, and is for sale on Amazon.

If I understand correctly, the awards will be presented at The One Ring Celebration: The Official Convention for Lord of the Rings Fans (Authorized by New Line Cinema) in Pasadena, CA, January 20-22, 2006. Convention Info

The One Ring is a fan site which is mentioned in some of the film documentaries included with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films.

Anyone can vote here. Item #2 is Best Tolkien themed book published in 2005. Tolkien on Film is #4 in the list of nominees. Vote early and vote often and thank you for your support!

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Let it Snow!

















It's a beautiful, snowy day in mid-Michigan. We're supposed to get 6-8 more inches of snow tonight.

Everybody sing along: Since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Blogging in the Library

I'm doing something I've always dreamed of: working in the library atrium (the coolest view on campus) on a wireless laptop!

Why the library atrium? Because it's got a wall of three-story windows overlooking the Flint River, with lots of trees, and nice view of the William S. White Building across the river. This beautiful view more than makes up for the lack of windows in my office. Over here I have the biggest windows and the best view on campus. If I ever find a good picture I'll post it on my blog.

How did this dream come true? The university had money to spend on on-line instructors. When my Department Chairman asked for my wish list I requested a laptop (12-inch Apple PowerBook G4), a 1 GB jump drive, and a puppy.

Yesterday the laptop and jump drive arrived. The Department Chairman assures me the puppy has been sent to the Foreign Languages department for housetraining. They have it hidden really well, since I can't find any signs of it.

In the meantime, I think I'll call my new laptop Spot, since it has a white Apple-shaped spot on the top.


Image taken from Apple's PowerBook specs.

Now I need to quit having fun and get back to my end-of-the-semester grading.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Christmas Kitties




















It's not a Christmas tree, it's a lighted cat bed...

Giving Thanks

Have you received this info via e-mail lately?

  • If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
  • If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
  • If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
  • If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.
  • If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
  • If your parents are still alive and still married ... you are very rare, even in the US and Canada.
  • If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
It's posted all over the Internet on sites like Interesting Facts to Keep Life in Perspective. These sites also give statistics based on the idea that if a village of 100 represented the world population x% would Asian, x% would be Christian, etc. The idea, apparently, is to make people who live in first world counties realize how good they've got it and to feel thankful (and possibly guilty) about it.

I thought the numbers looked questionable, so I looked this data on the Urban Legends Reference Page, which confirmed my hunch that the data isn't quite right.

Even so, Thanksgiving is a time for remember all the blessings we take for granted, like those listed above. I am thankful for these things. I thank God every day that I live in the United States of America, and I pray for our soldiers who are fighting for the freedom of people who have never known the blessings and freedom we take for granted.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Step into Christmas

Since Halloween, I've been ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love the holidays! I love the music, the lights, the decorations, the food, the happy memories, buying and wrapping presents, the anticipation, the holiday TV specials and movies -- I love it all.

Some people find the cold, short winter days depressing but that doesn't bother me until after the holidays. For now, the dark just sets off the glow of warm, inviting indoor lights and the happy glow of outdoor holiday lights. What could look more cheerful or inviting?

Maybe I need the holidays more than usual this year. Since July, we've lost five friends or acquaintances and one family member. I feel like I've been living at the funeral home. I'm trying to keep my chin up, and I hope my pretty Christmas lights will cheer me up, as they always have. All the boxes are in the living room, just waiting for me to decorate. I usually wait until after Thanksgiving, but this year I might not be able to wait that long. Like the song says, I need a little Christmas right this very minute.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of happy memories, especially those who have recently lost a loved one. I know that the first year of holidays without that loved one can be awful. If you need a little holiday cheer, stop by and look at my pretty Christmas lights!

T is for Chicken

Since I'm not a parent, I usually don't tell cute kids stories, but this one is so good I had to share!

My dear friend Denise has a three-year-old, Joshua, who just started preschool. Last week they must have been learning letters because he came home with a paper cut-out of a turkey. Stamped on the back were a bunch of T's. He proudly handed it to her and said, "Look, Mommy. T is for chicken!"

I think Denise needs to send this to Reader's Digest, don't you? How could they not publish it?

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Apostrophe Proselytizing

The other day my husband and I drove past a house that had a sign in the front yard which said:

Drywall Repair's
and
Odd Job's
Call 555-5555

Just typing that incorrectly nearly killed me! It's a good thing my husband was driving because I would have been tempted to stop and fix the sign, or, at the very least, to tell the owner that he was damaging his credibility by showing that he didn't know the difference between a plural and a possessive. I mean, I'm not hiring someone who can't tell the difference between "repair's" and "repairs," are you? It would only take me a few minutes to explain it, but that would be rude and obnoxious, wouldn't it, sort of apostrophe proselytizing? It's probably better not to say anything, but I can hardly stand seeing such a simple error go uncorrected.

I might have to sneak back some night with a can of white spray paint so I can fix that sign...

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Thanks, Rosa

Dear Rosa,

I know you weren't the first black woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus, but you are the one who became the face of the civil rights movement. Thank you, brave lady.

Because of you I have never known a USA where white and black people could not sit together or eat together. I have never seen separate black and white restrooms or drinking fountains, and opposition to interracial marriage is only a faint memory to me.

I know the sexes and races still aren't totally equal, but maybe someday we will all really be judged by our character and not the color of our skin, as Dr. King dreamed. Thanks for starting the ball rolling. Rest in peace, Rosa.

Monday, October 31, 2005

Happy Halloween!

The newspapers have been full of the usual pre-Halloween articles lately: everything from parties, to the history of Halloween, to Fundamentalists proclaiming that all Halloween-related activities are Satanic.

The Fundamentalists need to get a grip. Halloween traditions are based on the pre-Christian harvest traditions of the people we now call the Celts. Apparently Fundamentalists think anything that happened before Christ was the same worshipping Satan. They ignore the fact that pre-Christians and modern pagans (Wiccans) simply want to worship the Creator through nature, much as Native Americans do, which is compatible with Christian beliefs and sure isn't the same as worshiping Satan. I wonder if those who claim Halloween is Satanic also celebrate Christmas? Don't tell them, but many of our Christmas customs are from the Celts, the same people who brought us Halloween.

In Mexico, this holiday is called The Day of the Dead. It's similar to our Memorial Day and at a much more appropriate time of year. Fall, with its change from summer's bounty to winter's severity, long nights, and a new year is a time for closure, remembrance, and celebration.

I feel sorry for anyone whose beliefs prevent them from having fun on Halloween. I have many happy memories of trick-or-treating and watching my dad dressing up like a hunchback scarecrow to scare the kids who came trick-or-treating at our house. The kids loved it and so did we! What could be more fun than being scared while you are actually perfectly safe? I think on some level, Halloween teaches kids how to deal with fear in a safe environment.

Tonight while the religious right scorns our devil-worshipping activities, I'll be handing out candy to adorable kids in cute costumes, and remembering my dad and all fun the we had.

Happy Halloween!

Here are some fun Halloween links:

Halloween

Halloween on the Net

Halloween Online

You can find lots more via Google.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Big Brother is Watching!

I've been looking at my new site meter and I am amazed at what I can learn about those who visit my blog. I can tell what kind of hardware and software they are using, their ISP, and their geographic location. How scary! I knew this stuff was easy to track on the Internet, I just didn't realize how easy.

I'm also surprised at the number of people who visit my blog. People I don't even know have stopped to visit! Apparently I'm not a typical blog reader; I only read blogs of people I know (so far). I find it a little weird to think that someone I don't know -- on the other side of the planet! -- is reading my silly little musings.

Welcome to my little world... stop by any time.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

New Hit Counter

One of my students, Amanda, showed my how to make my hit counter ignore my computer. Thanks, Amanda! I guestimated on the number of hits (not counting my own) and re-set my counter. Today it re-started at 150.

If you're interested, I'm using Site Meter and recommend it. It will do statistics, track where visitors came from, e-mail stats to you, etc. Best of all, it's free!

Monday, October 24, 2005

Traverse City

My husband and I spent the weekend in Traverse City enjoying the fall colors. If you've never been to TC, you are missing a treat. Yes, the outskirts look like every other overgrown mall you've ever seen, but the downtown is terrific! It's several blocks of turn-of-the century buildings with a variety of shops, several art galleries, and lots of restaurants, all on Grand Traverse Bay. There are two bays, actually, separated by a peninsula, East Bay and West Bay. We stayed at the Pointes North Inn on the East Bay.

One nice thing about Pointes North Inn is that all rooms face the bay. Our room was on the first floor and the beach was just a few steps from our porch. There are lots of seagulls, ducks, and swans on the beach and they aren't afraid of people. The hotel forbids feeding them. Don't worry, though. Judging by their size, they are not starving.

Speaking of food, Friday night we ate at Mountain Jack's on the East Bay Harbor Marina. From our table we could look out over the marina and see Salmon jumping in the water. Our waiter told us the marina was seeded with about 200 Salmon, so they always have fish there to watch. Very cool!

Saturday we had breakfast pasties at Cousin Jenny's. It's a nice little British-looking cafe that specializes in pasties. They don't have a web site but are mentioned in this article: Delightful Delectables. We didn't realize they are closed on Sunday so we were not able to bring home pasties to fill our freezer. For everyone who is not from Michigan: pasties, pronounced "pass-tees," are the local version of Cornish meat pies, filled with steak, potatoes, and rutabagas. They are especially tasty with brown gravy!

After enjoying the fall colors Saturday, we ate dinner at Amicale, a French cafe. They don't have a web site, but that's probably because they are too busy creating fabulous food (a new menu every season, apparently). They are usually very busy, so while waiting for our table we took advantage of the free wireless Internet at Horizon Books, one of our favorite bookstores just a couple of doors away from Amicale, and checked our e-mail on Roger's laptop. He even posted to his blog! It was the first time I've ever checked my e-mail on a wireless network via a wireless laptop (literally: no power cord or mouse)! I felt so technologically savvy.

The only downside to an otherwise wonderful weekend was the inevitable traffic backup on I-75 south on the way home. We got off at West Branch and made our way back to M-15. Usually taking the old roads is about as fast as the expressway, but this time it took us an extra two hours to get home, probably because of the back up and heavy traffic.

If you are looking for nice place to vacation that's not too far away, I heartily recommend Traverse City. Just avoid I-75 if you possibly can.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Check-up!

Since August two people I know in their early 40s have died from massive heart failure.

Even if you never go to the doctor, make an appointment for a check up. Your odds of dying young from an undiagnosed medical condition are probably pretty low, but why take a chance? Do it for the sake everyone who cares about you -- and that's more people than you think. Trust me.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Say Good-Bye to Scotty

Actor James Doohan, best known for his role as Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott on Star Trek, died in July. He had a full, adventurous real life and was loved by many fans. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier this year. Photo and obituary courtesy of Star Trek.com.

Trivia: In addition to playing Scotty, Jimmy did many voice-overs in the original Star Trek series and in the movies. According to the Internet Movie Database, he also created the first Klingon dialog in Star Trek: the Motion Picture. His words were later expanded into a full language by others. In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Scotty gave a 20th century engineer the formula for transparent aluminum, something the military is working on. :)

Next month, as he requested, part of his ashes will be launched into space. Fans may send tributes (by Nov. 15, 500 word maximum) which will be "digitized" and put in the canister with his ashes. The canister will remain in orbit for about 10 years, then burn up in the atmosphere on re-entry. This is a nice, but puzzling, idea. What could I possibly say to someone I admire but never met?

My Favorite Scotty Quotes (non-Trek fans might want to skip this part):
  • It's green. (Original series episode "By Any Other Name" and Next Generation episode "Relics" too drunk to identify liquor by its name)
  • I can't change the laws of physics. I've got to have thirty minutes. (Original series episode "The Naked Time")
  • Laddie...don't you think you should...rephrase that? (Original series episode "The Trouble With Tribbles" right before he beats up a Klingon for insulting the Enterprise, not for insulting Capt. Kirk.)
  • Captain, the engines can't take any more! (Pick any episode)
  • McCoy: I'm a Doctor, not an engineer.
    Scotty: Now you're an engineer. (Original series episode "Mirror, Mirror")
  • Scotty: I find it hard to believe I've traveled millions of miles...
    McCoy: ...thousands...
    Scotty: ...thousands of miles for an invited tour... only to be forgotten
    McCoy: Don't lose yourself in the role (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
  • Hello, computer. (Speaking to an Apple mouse in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
  • Admiral, there be whales here! (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
  • What are ya standin' there for? Da ya not know a jailbreak when ya see one? (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, rescuing Kirk and Spock)
  • Are ya daft, lad?! How long will it really take you to fix it? (Next Generation episode "Relics," to engineer Geordi LaForge who does not share Scotty's reputation as a miracle-worker)
  • NCC-1701. No bloody A, B, C, or D. (Next Generation episode "Relics," yelling at the Enterprise-D's holodeck computer as he programs it to show the original Enterprise)
Godspeed, Jimmy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you boldly go into the undiscovered country. Give our best to Gene and De. Thank you for your brave service in WWII and the many happy memories you gave us as Scotty!

*****

Psuedo-related news Scotty would approve of: According to Sky and Telescope: Now through mid-November, Mars is closer and appears larger in a telescope than it will again until 2018! The so-called Red Planet (actually bright yellow) blazes high in the east by late evening, awaiting your telescope. It's 20 arcseconds wide, larger than it almost ever appears. A full guide to this Mars apparition, including a surface-feature map, is in the September Sky and Telescope, page 67. More about Mars

Monday, October 17, 2005

Oh Happy Day!

At long last, the overnight temperature dropped to freezing! It was two weeks later than usual, but a killing frost means an end to ragweed, bane of allergy sufferers. Hoo-ray! At last:
  • I can turn off my central air conditioning (i.e., my friend the big pollen filter) and open the windows
  • I'll be able to walk in the park and breathe through my nose at the same time
  • My chances for sinus infections will decrease
As an added benefit, I'll have beautiful fall colors to enjoy... just in time for a trip to Traverse City this coming weekend.

I'm doing my happy dance!

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Blog Advice from Hugh Hewitt

I recently read the book Blog by conservative blogger Hugh Hewitt. It's an interesting examination of blogs and how they are changing business and politics. My favorite part of the book was his advice for bloggers.
The key rules of success and significance are these:
  • Post often.
  • Link freely.
  • Be generous in praise and attribution.
  • Don't be long-winded too often, if at all. Brevity is the soul of blogging when you are getting started.
  • Paragraphs are your friend.
  • Profanity loses audiences.
  • Avoid feuds and flame wars.
  • At least at the start, skip the comments sections. You end up with the problem of nuts if you are any good.
  • Keep the title short and easy to remember so that it is easy to recall and type into the space at the top of the page. (Hewitt Blog 151-152).
It's good advice for bloggers and other writers, but I wonder how many people actually know this or do it? I recomend this book for anyone who is interested in blogs, whether they blog or not!

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Twinkies

Twinkies, the popular cream-filled tube-shaped shortcakes, are 75 years old. Incredible. My dad loved them, so we always a box of them handy. They're a little too sweet for me, so one or two year are plenty. I did always wonder why a box of 12 contains individually wrapped Twinkies, while a "single" serving package contains 2 Twinkies.

One of my friends has a cat, Mia, whose favorite food in the whole world is Twinkies. Mia is a cat of discriminating taste, however; she only eats the spongy shortcake, not the creamy filling.

After 75 years, Twinkies are part of our culture. The Interstate Bakeries Corporation, distributor of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, cites these examples:
  • Twinkiegate: A grand jury indicted a Minneapolis city council candidate for serving coffee, Kool-Aid, Twinkies and other sweets to two senior citizens groups. The act led to the passage of the Minnesota Campaign Act, widely known as the Twinkie law. The 71-year-old candidate, George Belair, lost the election but the charges against him were dropped. The case was dubbed "Twinkiegate."
  • Twinkie Hall of Fame: 89 year-old Lewis Browning of Shelbyville, Indiana, has been eating at least one Twinkie every day since 1941, consuming more than 20,000 Twinkies. James Dewar, who died at 88, is said to have consumed more than 40,000 Twinkies in his lifetime. Chicago consumes more Twinkies per capita than any other city in the United States.
  • Twinkiejackings: In the late 1970s, reports of Twinkie hijackings began surfacing. In 1975, a Kennett Square, PA house twice was broken into and robbed of its Twinkies. That same year, AWOL marines from a California base were stopped on a freeway driving a truck full of "hot" Twinkies. In 1976, someone stole a bakery truck containing 1800 Twinkies. The truck was found; the Twinkies were not. In 1978, two Albuquerque men held up a delivery truck and made off with two large boxes of Twinkies, which at the time were valued at $16. Nothing else was taken and no one was injured.
  • Twinkies to the Rescue: An elephant living in Sarasota, Fl refused food for days after undergoing surgery; Twinkies reportedly were used to end the hunger strike. When fifty baboons escaped from a wildlife reserve in an Ohio amusement park, Twinkies reportedly were among the treats used to try to lure the AWOL creatures back.
  • The Twinkie Defense: After former San Francisco supervisor Dan White killed the city’s mayor and another supervisor, he argued diminished capacity as a result of excessive junk food consumption. The strategy was dubbed the "Twinkie Defense."
Disclaimer: the Urban Legends Reference Page says the "Twinkie Defense" is not true.

My favorite news item today about the Twinkie's anniversary were the recipes from Hostess. Heck, I never thought of making anything out of Twinkies, I just ate 'em! (They're great with milk or vanilla ice cream.)
My favorite recipe wasn't from Hostess, though. It was this picture of the "Hillbilly Wedding Cake," sent to me by a student. The Urban Lengends Page says the "Hillbilly Wedding" pictures are hoax but my students and I agreed that the cake is clever and funny! One student, a Hostess connoisseur, identified the layers from top to bottom as Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Twinkies, Cup Cakes, and Suzy Q's.

I suggested this cake for my niece's wedding. Although she has a great sense of humor, we just had regular wedding cake -- but my dad would have loved the Hostess version!




Saturday, September 10, 2005

We Will Never Forget

It seems the media would like us to forget the terrorists attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Look at this picture and this video and never forget why we are fighting a war on terror.

For more photographic reminders visit September 11 News.

Never Forget:
~ The horror of passenger planes used as bombs
~ The innocent passengers on those planes
~ The terror the passengers experienced in their last moments and the bravery they showed in fighting the hijackers
~ The 200 people who fell to their deaths from the World Trade Center
~ The hundreds of police officers and firefighters who died trying to save others
~ The thousands who died that day in New York City, NY; Washington, DC; and Shanksville, PA.
~ The senators and congressmen who stood side by side that night singing "God Bless America," all partisan politics forgotten
~ The strength and leadership of New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani and President George W. Bush
~ The thousands of families who are still grieving for their lost loved ones
~ The courage of a nation and its soldiers who continue to fight terrorism wherever it occurs
"I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people."

~ President George W. Bush
Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People
Sept. 20, 2001

Thursday, September 08, 2005

New Year or Endless Summer?

The beginning of school usually feels like a new year for me: new students, new beginnings, and new classes. Not this year, however; it feels like endless summer!

I associate the beginning of school with fall, but since school started Aug. 31 temperatures have remained in the 80s. My classrooms vary from warm to hot, and that's with air conditioning.

I know I'm in a vast minority, but I hate summer. I love sunshine but hate everything else about summer: heat, humidity, mold, and pollen. I hate the effects of humidity: your clothes stick to you, you sweat while sitting still in the shade, and towels and sheets feel clammy. Thank God I have air conditioning!

It's not bad enough that the heat and humidity make it uncomfortable to be outside, they contribute to the mold and pollen levels. If you haven't already guessed, I'm allergic to mold and ragweed, so for me summer is just a long stretch of ever-increasing allergens. August and September are the worst because mold and ragweed are at their peak. Even prescription allergy medicine and air conditioning (which acts like a big allergen filter) don't completely alleviate the symptoms. Allergy sufferers won't get real relief until the first killing frost, usually the first week of October in this part of Michigan.

After that, fall is heaven: cool temps, sunny days, crisp nights, beautiful leaf colors, vivid blues skies, apple cider, pumpkins, college football, and the wonderful sound and smell of walking through fallen leaves... Come on, frost!

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

What's a Cat Bastet?

A couple people have asked about my screen name, The Cat Bastet. It's the name of the Emersons' first cat in Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody mysteries. Bastet is a distinct character in the early stories (which is no surprise to cat "owners").

The Cat Bastet is also my screen name or Nom de Clavier (Keyboard Name) on DorothyL, a discussion and idea mailing list for mystery lovers. Since one's nom is related to mystery stories, it adds an air of fun. According to the rules:
the nom may represent a person, either fictional or real, or an animal (e.g., Giant Rat of Sumatra) or a thing (e.g., Tailor Paul, a bell in Dorothy L. Sayers' The Nine Tailors) or a concept (e.g., The daughter of time, i.e., Truth from Elizabeth Tey's novel Daughter of Time) or even a word (e.g., the Latin word 'placet' by which Harriet Vane accepts Lord Peter Wimsey's proposal of marriage in Dorothy L. Sayers' Gaudy Night).

The name of a living person may NOT be chosen as a nom. You can choose to be known as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Dorothy L. Sayers or Ellis Peters, but NOT as Elizabeth Peters or Jan Burke or Sue Grafton or Sara Paretsky or Parnell Hall or Nancy Atherton. Only they are entitled to use their names, whether or not they are subscribed to DorothyL.

Those who know I wrote my Master's Thesis on Ellery Queen are probably wondering why I didn't use that as my screen name! Noms are limited to one person and someone already had Ellery Queen, so I had to choose another favorite character.

In case you don't know, Bastet was the cat-headed Egyptian goddess. So The Cat Bastet combines two of my hobbies: mysteries and Egyptology.

For those wondering why I didn't choose a Titanic-related name... come on, now. Would you want a screen name that means huge? I didn't think so!

Sunday, September 04, 2005

How NOT to Give a Cat a Pill

The last time I had our Siamese mix at the vet, he told me that Siamese have more behavioral issues than other cats. After living with one for a year and half, we'd figured that out but I decided to learn as much as I could about Siamese cats.

After checking out every book in our local library on Siamese I was amused to find some of these books were really outdated. They include basic info about the breed (some more useful than others in that respect), and general cat care info. My favorite advice on how to give a cat a pill came from Marge Naple's books:

Open the cat's mouth with your left hand. You will note a little groove formed at the base of the tongue. Drop the pill or capsule into this groove and give it a push into the cat's throat with the index finger of your right hand. Transfer your left hand to the nape of the cat's neck and pull his head right back while supporting his back and his hind legs with your right hand until he is upside down. If all this is done quickly, he will be so surprised he will swallow the pill before he knows what happened.

This might work if you have an extremely docile cat, but most cats I know wouldn't tolerate this. It seems to me that flipping the cat on his back -- so all his claws can scratch you to ribbons -- is a good idea only if you are dying to visit the Emergency Room for stitches.

What I really want to know is: has any cat owner really seen that alleged groove at the base of the tongue? Whenever I've tried to pill my cats by forcing their mouths open, I don't have time for prolonged anatomical observation. It's more like open the mouth, shove in the pill, hold the mouth shut, rub the throat, and hope for the best. Repeat. Repeat again... and again.

Thank God our Siamese mix still falls for the crushed-up-pill-mixed-into-a-spoonful-of-canned-food routine.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Cool Conjunction

Sky and Telescope says that Jupiter and Venus will be in conjunction tonight. They will be low in the sky, visible at dusk. Don't miss it!

Titanic 20 Years Later

20 years ago today a U.S.-French expedition headed by Dr. Robert Ballard found the wreck of Titanic. I don't remember what I was doing when the announcement was made, but I was fascinated by the images of the wreck. One in particular touched me: a delicate teacup sitting upright on a massive boiler, as though someone had set it down for a minute.

For me, this was the second time Titanic touched my life. The first was when I read Walter Lord's A Night to Remember in junior high school. I never got over the emotional impact of that book, and seeing the wreck renewed my interest in this beautiful ship and her disastrous death. Now in addition to a tragedy she was also a huge forensic puzzle.

Today, 20 years after her wreck was found and 93 years after her sinking, she is most famous ship (and shipwreck) of our time. Titanic societies around world continue to study her and preserve her memory. Many who have explored the wreck say Titanic has a presence, that it seems as if she doesn't want to be forgotten, as if she wants us to remember her short life, and find clues to her tragic death. Even those who have only seen pictures of the wreck are touched by it. It may be true. I think Daniel Allen Butler, author of Unsinkable: the Full Story of RMS Titanic, said it best:

"Once the Titanic gets into your life she never, ever leaves."