You know you are a science geek when...

You are yelling at the Wall Street Journal that the surface of the moon is covered with regolith, not dirt or soil as the article keeps saying.

edit: On reading the Wikipedia entry, apparently "standard usage among lunar scientists is to ignore that distinction" between soil and regolith.

Eating Rocks and Other Past Times

I recently finished reading Salt: A World History, and really enjoyed it. Mark Kurlansky covers a huge amount of time all over the world with sequences and vignettes about salt, its production, and use. I have been on a history kick recently, and it really is amazing just how so much of what we take for granted every day has such an important history of how it got that way.

I also finished Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco, which I had slowly gotten through over about a year. It is espicially interesting with regards to the recent Wall Street turmoil, because so many of the companies were involved then, as now. Some of them did not survive the current events.

I am also facinated by the great raconteur Eric Larson. I read Issac's storm, which was good, but not nearly as engrossing as his other two recent works. The Devil in the White City and Thunderstruck both give such an incredibly vivid description of the times and places they are in. He really brings forth the people and places, and I just enjoy that look at history.

This post is number 200. My interest in blogging ebbs and flows, I hope to keep it up, even if I am the main reader.

Up the River

The last two weekends I headed up to the Quincy, IL area to go to church and visit some friends. Two weekends ago, I went up for a Friday night singing. I got in some golf on Saturday, and visited the Quincy Museum that afternoon. Roy and Donna Grimm were kind enough to take me in for a few nights.

Last weekend was the Father and Son camp out at Mark Twain Lake west of Hannibal. Dad and I headed up after work and stayed in a hotel. We were able to spend the evening and morning sitting around talking. We brought our fishing equipment, but didn't get to use it.

Creve Coeur Lake

I headed out to Creve Coeur Lake for a few hours of windsurfing. It really is a great park to visit, and many locals make use of it. I always enjoy sailing, walking, riding, or disc golfing around the lake. Mom and Dad came out and ejoyed the perfect weather on the beach.

The Bard

Last weekend we had about 40 volunteers down to reshingle the roof at church, and we got it all done. Not having to reschedule that again is a blessing.

Last night was busy at Forest Park, with the Heritage Festival, the beautiful weather, and Shakespeare in the park. After eating dinner with Dad, I headed down to watch The Merry Wives of Windsor with some friends. I don't believe that I had ever seen a Shakespeare comedy, and it is nice to know that comedy has not changed since 1602.

Running Shoes

I found this article from the Daily Mail revealing. It turns out that expensive running shoes actually increase risk of injury. I of course like articles that confirm my preconceived notions and reaffirm my purchase of a pair of Five Fingers. I do have to say that I find the writers style lacking. His bombastic statements turn me off.

Spring Rain

I took a walk around the block this afternoon after a bit of rain. The trees are flowering and the rain really brought out the smell. It has been a long winter, and I will enjoy the spring while it lasts.

Disney World Day 1

The Schrenks and Millers are all out in Orlando to spend time together and hit up Disney World. 15 people including six children four and under. Day one was Animal Kingdom afterword general exhaustion. A week of this and we will need a break from this vacation. I am having a great time with the family, as it is rare for all of us to be able t0 get together. The kids are adorable, and a lot of fun to be with at the park. It would be nicer if some were a little older, as those too young don't get the same out of it as the older ones. I sure miss not seeing them more often.

"I need to be subsidized"

My brother, Nathan, directed me to this Calvin and Hobbes comic. Each panel just hits a little too close to reality.

San Francisco, 1906

I really like this picture of San Francisco.

Yellow Light Cameras?

According to Ars Technica in Italy the red light cameras have been tweaked and the lights set to maximize the number of people running a red light. They reduce yellow time to the minimum and entrap people in the intersection. We now have cameras like this here in Creve Coeur and the St. Louis area. I was skeptical of these from the beginning, but news like this makes me believe that the incentives for the government with these can easily go from public safety, to profit maximizing.

On an unrelated note, I really don't understand currencies and currency markets.

The Big Picture

Somehow I was directed to this blog entitled The Big Picture. It shows a series high resolution photos of current events with good captions. I have been following it for a few weeks, and have enjoyed the last few, especially the new sailing post.

Child's Play

Every year Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade run the Child's Play charity to give games and toys to children's hospitals around the globe. You can give a cash donation or choose the hospital near you and gift a specific item. They have already hit over one million dollars this year, which is pretty impressive for something two guys started in 2003.

Danny Robinson

There is a fascinating interview of Danny Robinson, a poker player, where he tells his life story and his coming to Christ. I can't seem to get just an mp3 link, but you can subscribe to the two plus two podcast and download episode 51 or go to their website and listen. Either way the interview starts at 41:17 and runs to 1:30:03. This story has quite a bit of why Vegas in the 70's was sin city. He is quite the raconteur and this interview is part of his ministry to tell poker players about Christ. One analogy he relates from Hayseed Stephens, New York Titans Quarterback, is that when you go fishing you don't jump in the water swim down and clean the fish, but you catch the fish and then clean it. Stephens said that he was catching him and then God would clean him.