Smooth Criminal

A man and woman team has been stealing backpacks from the library I work in. They often take them out of the bathroom, remove the books, leave the bag, then sell them back to the bookstore. However, due to our new security system, the theives have been captured on video. The male culprit looks like me, so I’ve been getting crap about it. To make things better, people assure me that the culprit was taller and thinner.

Las Vegas

Ash trays on urinals, broken glass, vomit and call girl cards on the sidewalk. Electrical fires, rashes, antiquing, and a complete disregard for thermodynamics. Yes, I’m back from Las Vegas. Having finally been there, I still think Vegas sucks, but I had a great time thanks in large part to the group. I went on a tight budget, which I highly recommend against. I also learned several lessons, some of which I’m not entitled to divulge. So here’s a benign one: The water in Vegas is disgusting. Its no wonder alcohol is such a big deal. Well, if you’re thirsty, you can melt ice from the hotel’s ice machine. Its filtered again before the ice is made, and is much more drinkable. Its important to guard your precious fluids in Vegas.

Oh – negative

I was asked to donate blood for Spring Break weekend because I’m O-. I went in knowing that with my plans this weekend, at least one blood transfusion may be necessary for the group. Plus, I was in a good mood when they called, and they haven’t been hounding me.

Checking in went fine, but when the actual puncture happened, the technician bruised my arm, causing it to immediately swell. He informed me that the problem with bruising is that the plateletes all rush to the bruise and can clog the line. Well, after several needle adjustments, a hot pack, and a 98% full pouch, the flow had completely stopped. The donation won’t be usable for emergencies, but it can be used in the lab.

Sadly, my arm hurts quite a bit, and its mostly immobile. I hope I can gain full use of my arm, for, you know, causing trouble.

China, human rights, and private property

Up and coming world power China has just amended its constitution allowing for a guarantee of human rights and protection of private property. Most of the chatter around this monumental change focus on the private property aspects. A single line; “The state respects and protects human rights” is simply stated and and seems far to inchoate to be serious. However, its a start, and it will allow for precedent to be set by lawmakers.

The cynic in me cringes at the private property part of the amendment, which seems ultimately self-serving to wealthier members of the party. Sadly, this amendment didn’t happen before Three Gorges, which displaced millions, and will ultimately be an exercise in waste and power-plant envy. One of my previous college professors feels that the Three Gorges will be the downfall of the current dynasty, much in the same way that other gigantic state investments have in the past. Ironically, the other two started with a G, but all I can remember is the Great Wall. The other escapes me.

Anyway, there’s a recent NG article on China’s progression to a market economy and the environmental toll that has and will be paid by both the Chinese, and people everywhere on the planet. Its good to see that the government at least recognizes the problem.

GRE is over

I took the GRE General test today and received a score 190 points above the minimum for admission to the Geography program at PSU. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but its done. I’m not really allowed to speak to what was on the test, but I didn’t sign anything that prevents me from talking about how poorly marked and outdated the testing center was. Oh, and to software was crap. Developed with assistance from Microsoft (in 1980, no doubt).

But the Pentagon says…

Though our country vehemently denies that there is global warming, and stifles any official reports that suggest it, the Pentagon released a paper that details a near worst case scenario for 2020 given global warming’s affects on the planet.

It really is a worst case scenario, because many biologists, geologists, chemists, nerds in other words, don’t expect a complete melting of the ice caps for several more decades. Seven years ago I saw a rendering of what coastlines would look like around the world if there was a maximum melt. The estimation at the time was for a 33 meter rise in sea level. This would be quite disruptive because so much of the world’s population lives so close to its shorelines. The changes in Europe were quite dramatic, with sea water filling up the major river valleys several hundred miles inland. This may be somewhat hard to visualize, so just think about Manhattan (3+ million people) being submerged. That’s a very small example of the potential disaster. Even a miniscule 1 meter rise would have startling affects.

I suppose that doesn’t concern some people because their ranch outside Crawford, Tx is sitting at 750′ above sea level. It may be self sufficient, but its not an island. I hope he’ll invite us to camp on his land.

Yer’ Gonna Die!

The internet has certainly improved lives in small, unmeasurable ways. But thanks to quizzes like The Death Test, you can finally quantify the value of the internet in a very useful number – the day you will die. And to a lesser extent, the chances of what might kill you.

I’m happy to report I’ll be dying on June 17th, 2053.

Chances are considerable that I’ll die from cancer, a heart attack, or some complications due to electrolysis. There’s a lesser chance that I might die from alcoholism, alien abduction, or horrible accident, but my money is on cancer.Thanks to this test, I’ve learned that hairy nipples is actually an terminal ailment.

Spring 2004 Photo Montage

spring 2004 montage

I must be going image crazy or something, but here’s another. Its just a combination of images from around the yard marking that spring is here. The first one is of a hatched mason bee, the second is of a flower named something like berberia, the third is buttercup barley (yes, they’re daffodils, I know), the fourth is a knap weed shoot, and the fifth is some crocuses.