Alas, the sixth book is out, read, and leaves us dying for more. From things mentioned on J. K. Rowling’s website (I prefer the text-only version), it seems that she will not start working on the seventh book until next year. I guess we’ll all have to just wait, then. Until then, however, we can …
Monthly Archives: July 2005
Astronomy Pics
The Astronomy Picture of the Day website is one of my favorites. It gets a hit every day when I get into work. They proprietors manage to come up with some exciting and interesting images. Today they had a picture from Greece of a sun transit by the International Space Station and Space Shuttle Discovery, …
Cats and their Sweet-tooth
I heard on NPR’s Morning Edition on the 25th that cats lack the gene that enables them to sense sweet tastes in the same way we do. This study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center was published in the Public Library of Science’s journal Genetics. I find this item fascinating from an evolutionary standpoint. Was …
Echinacea Does Not Work
The New England Journal of Medicine released a study showing that there was no efficacy in taking echinacea before, during, or after the onset of the common cold. An Evaluation of Echinacea angustifolia in Experimental Rhinovirus Infections
Hockey: Game on!
Despite the fact that there was plenty of hockey last season to be watched (college, ECHL, CHL, etc.) it’s glorious to have the NHL back in action. Here are some links to get you up to date on what the hay is going on. New Rules for 2005-2006 in the NHL. Overview of new stuff …
Days and Years
Ever wonder what day of the week a particular date falls on? Of course you have; it’s not just me. Here is a handy MS Excel download for determining which of the 28 Gregorian calendar arrangements is the one you need.
Disney and your Fingers
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=disney+biometric Without ado, I refer you to the Google search for “Disney” and “Biometric”. In order to access the park right now, you must submit to a finger scan. Harmless? Probably. Potentially useful to the Department of Homeland Security? Maybe. You read and find out. One of the links there says that if you object …
Scientology®!
Long, long ago, in my relative youth, I decided to pick up Dianetics by L.R. Hubbard and see what the heck it was all about. Entirely out of curiosity, I might add, rather than a desire to improve my teenage life. Congratulations to Mr. Hubbard because he was the first author who received my chuck-it-out-the-window …
"I've been made by the Presbyterian Church"
http://winterson.com/2005/06/episode-iii-backstroke-of-west.html This link contains one of the funniest things I’ve seen on the internet in years. It contains some commentary from excerpts from a pirated Chinese copy of Revenge of the Sith (a.k.a. The Backstroke of the West), with english subtitles. Check it out.
I love Astro(nom)(log)y!
If only we could all sue everyone for everything. Here’s a case of a Russian astrologer suing NASA for ruining ” the natural balance of forces in the universe” and for deforming her horoscope. I probably need not tell you I have little patience for astrology. The Bad Astronomer does a much better job than …