| The New Cuteness |
[Jun. 30th, 2009|12:46 pm] |
Here is our new kitten, with my hand for scale. Sorry for the grainy image. Silly camera phone.
He actually looks bigger than he is in that picture. He doesn't have a name yet. We're probably going to stick with the Tolkien theme we had from Mirkwood. Isengard, Fangorn, Thorin, and Sauron are all possibilities. Maybe not Sauron.
We got him yesterday from Animal Control down in Dayville. It was very hard to come home with just one animal - they had so many that needed homes, including many well-behaved adult cats. This little guy is skin and bones right now. He was really angry on the way home from the shelter, but he's pretty happy now that he has so much room to run around in.
Mirkwood isn't 100% on the little guy just yet, but he'll come around. New kitty is still figuring out how to do things like drink water out of a bowl without shoving his nose into it (and thus sneezing) and how to not run into large white objects like the tub and the washing machine. |
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| Boom Comics |
[Jun. 21st, 2009|08:37 pm] |
I always find it a little sad when a new comics company starts up.
Let me explain why.
I started reading about 1993. For those who were around then - you remember Valiant? They had some good comics, man. Visitor, Hard Corps, Harbinger, XO-Manowar, Eternal Warrior, Solar, pretty solid books. Good concepts. Started in 1989, almost had a crossover with Image in 93-94, sold in 1994 (after the Great Comics Collapse), went under completely in a fiasco in 1999, might or might not be doing anything useful as of last year.
Or how about Crossgen? Man, I miss these guys. Meridian, Negation, and Abadazad were some of my absolute favorite books. Founded in 1998, went under in a horrific bout of financial mismanagement. I had a "lifetime" subscription to their online comics, which unfortunately lasted about a year before they finally took it down. I read almost everything they had published in that year. Remaining assets owned by Disney. (Finish Negation War? No? sigh.)
How about Defiant Comics (1993-1995)? Awesome Comics (1997-2000)? Come on, they had Alan Moore. Tekno Comix (1995-1997)? They had licensed stuff from Roddenbery, Asimov, Nimoy, Gaiman... sheesh.
So when a new comics company starts up, I don't pay any attention. However...
Boom comics was under my radar. Started in 2005. Did some miscellaneous stuff, nothing I saw or knew about. Even when Mark Waid joined up, I was a little sad that he was probably wasting his time on a company that would collapse. However, just the other day they picked up the license to publish Disney comics.
Yeah, they're set for life. |
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| I was a sicko (and still am) |
[Jun. 21st, 2009|05:58 pm] |
I'm currently getting over one hell of a flu. Knocked me on my ass for three days. On the plus side, I got a lot accomplished in Zelda. On the minus side, a fever of 103 doesn't really let you do much. This started happening on Thursday and I still have a 99-100 temperature today (which is a hell of a lot better than yesterday). To anyone I was in contact with on my trip to the valley: you might want to take some vitamins.
Emma and Mirkwood have both been taking good care of me, Emma by worrying over me continuously and the cat by standing watch for evil spirits. He made the other cat go through a lengthy vetting process before allowing her into the bedroom. I would like to thank the two of them, and also ibuprofen. |
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| NoHo? YesHo? |
[Jun. 17th, 2009|04:08 pm] |
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I'm headed towards the Amherst/Northampton area for the next few days. I may or may not show up on your doorstep or at your diner. |
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| Good Day |
[Jun. 16th, 2009|02:44 am] |
I am far behind the times here, but I just discovered the Paul Harvey passed away this year (February 28th). As a radio aficionado, especially an old radio aficionado, I had a real appreciation for Harvey and the way he talked. There's a joke that one of his old station managers threatened to sell ads during the pauses in his speech. There are few radio personalities left - frankly, the whole medium is due to be sucked down the drain and reborn - and losing one of the big ones definitely leaves a hole.
For what it's worth - good night, Paul. |
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| FDATF |
[Jun. 13th, 2009|09:45 pm] |
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A new tobacco bill moves tobacco regulation from the ATF to the FDA, which begs the question - will they just be the AT now? You can't have a two-letter acronym in DC these days, that's reserved for the name of the place only! The AT* obviously needs to find something to do while they drink and shoot. |
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| Good comics and kitties |
[Jun. 9th, 2009|01:38 am] |
I recently picked up a year-long subscription to Marvel's online comics. I've been reading two things so far. The first is the run of Captain America that started in 2002. 9-11 was very much a factor in every single issue; it's a really powerful read. I'm looking forward to continuing it.
The second is the current run of X-Factor. I started with #1 earlier tonight and I can't fucking stop. I just finished #10. If you've ever wondered whether the book is as good as everyone says it is - yes.
In other news, Mirkwood has a temporary friend! Our friend Meara has dropped off her kitty Hermia last week, and after much hissing and anti-social behavior from the new kitty, they seem to be playing today. I hope that Mirkwood is finally getting the playmate that he always wanted Shinobi to be. Hermia's only here for another two weeks, but it's good to have her here. |
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| Oooh, dangerous. |
[May. 31st, 2009|05:34 pm] |
I read the excellent chemist/pharmacist blog In The Pipeline, which has some really good stuff for a budding chemistry geek like myself. Here's one of my recent favorites.
This is material excerpted from an MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet) for a common chemical compound. I've stripped out any direct references to what it is, as well as many parts that say "not dangerous in that way" (e.g. not explosive, doesn't polymerize random crap, etc.) Try to guess what chemical this is before you get to the end.
Section 3 - Hazards Identification
EMERGENCY OVERVIEW
Appearance: light beige to gray powder.
Warning! Cancer hazard. May cause eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation.
Target Organs: Respiratory system, eyes, skin.
Potential Health Effects
Eye: Dust may cause mechanical irritation.
Skin: Dust may cause mechanical irritation.
Ingestion: May cause irritation of the digestive tract.
Inhalation: Dust is irritating to the respiratory tract.
Chronic: May cause cancer in humans. Prolonged exposure may cause delayed lung injury/fibrosis.
Section 4 - First Aid Measures
Eyes: Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. If irritation develops, get medical aid.
Skin: Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Get medical aid if irritation develops or persists.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Get medical aid if irritation or symptoms occur.
Inhalation: Remove from exposure and move to fresh air immediately. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical aid if cough or other symptoms appear.
Notes to Physician: Treat symptomatically and supportively.
Section 5 - Fire Fighting Measures
General Information: Material will not burn. Substance is noncombustible.
Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures
General Information: Use proper personal protective equipment as indicated in Section 8.
Spills/Leaks: Vacuum or sweep up material and place into a suitable disposal container. Avoid generating dusty conditions. Provide ventilation. Do not let this chemical enter the environment.
Section 7 - Handling and Storage
Handling: Minimize dust generation and accumulation. Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing. Do not ingest or inhale. Use only in a chemical fume hood.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Store in a tightly closed container.
Section 8 - Exposure Controls, Personal Protection
Engineering Controls: Facilities storing or utilizing this material should be equipped with an eyewash facility and a safety shower. Use only under a chemical fume hood.
Eyes: Wear appropriate protective eyeglasses or chemical safety goggles as described by OSHA's eye and face protection regulations in 29 CFR 1910.133 or European Standard EN166.
Skin: Wear appropriate protective gloves to prevent skin exposure.
Clothing: Wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin exposure.
Section 10 - Stability and Reactivity
Chemical Stability: Stable.
Conditions to Avoid: Incompatible materials, dust generation.
Incompatibilities with Other Materials: Strong oxidizing agents, strong bases.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Oxides of silicon.
( Name That Chemical! )
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| For the math geeks out there. |
[May. 22nd, 2009|05:06 pm] |
iPhone * iPhone = -Phone
When plotting complex phones, the iPhones usually go on the vertical axes.
By also using jPhone and kPhone one can define a set of Phone Quaternions. It is important to remember that multiplication over this set is non-transitive - you calling your friend is often a different operation from your friend calling you. In fact, when your friend calls you, you typically end up with a third person entirely. Calculating the outcomes of conference calls can quickly become tedious.
Trust me, if you know the associated math, this is hilarious.
(No, I didn't just get one. In fact, from the above it's clear that if you gave me one I would have zero Phones.) |
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| old Sluggy |
[May. 21st, 2009|08:42 am] |
I may have posted that before, but it's worth repeating. |
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| Tthings in the world today. |
[May. 18th, 2009|09:30 am] |
On the plus side:
Sri Lanka's long civil war may be over soon. The Tamil Tigers have apparently called a ceasefire.
On the minus side:
This whole swine flu thing refuses to go away. Here's a map. It's finally hit major population centers in Asia and India, and Africa looks to be next.
Today's update courtesy of Newsmap. |
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| Of cabbages and kings |
[May. 11th, 2009|12:57 pm] |
Item #1: My brother-in-law Sander is now an ensign in the Navy and holds a bachelor's degree. Go Sander! Also, go Meg, who got her degree as well.
Item #2: Comics! Last week we finally got FC: Legion #4. It should never have been a Crisis tie-in. (In fact, that crisis should have had no tie-ins, but that's a different story.) Still a great story; I can't wait to see issue #5 and the fallout in other comics. There was also JSA, with Geoff Johns writing it for the last time. Good exit, makes me sad. I hope it doesn't go downhill. This week was Buffy (going strong), Flash: Rebirth (picking up nicely from the slow 1st issue), and Power Girl. I've been waiting for Power Girl for a long time, and it's living up to my expectations. It's lighthearted and captures the character well. PG has been a favorite of mine since JLI.
Item #3: Summer starts for me on May 29th, the day after the students leave. Hopefully I'll have at least a week or two of downtime before the next big thing. I will definitely be working from July 8th through August 9th. Beyond that, I may have another week that they need me.
Item #4: Not having my glasses makes it harder for me to find my glasses.
Item #5: The new Star Trek movie didn't suck. It actually was pretty decent, and set things up for new, non-sucky Trek movies that don't have to worry about massive continuity gaffes. In case people haven't seen it yet I won't say anything, but if you like Star Trek, it's worth seeing.
Item #6. It is naptime. |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 29th, 2009|07:14 pm] |
In recognition of my perhaps overbearing love for deserts, I have decided to go a week without them. (Also without things like a cookie as a midday snack, but Frosted Shredded Wheat is still acceptable breakfast.) I normally eat 2-3 deserts a day, especially since they're served at every meal here. Boarding school food has great potential for being unhealthy if you're not careful.
And so of course it's all I'm thinking about today, especially with ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) redfishie posting about varieties of honey. Sigh. |
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| Internet / Real World crossovers. |
[Apr. 20th, 2009|01:43 pm] |
I have upgraded both my driver's license and my board game, and run a maintenance routine on my boots. Soon I will be hiring an outside contractor to help with quality-assurance on my brain.
Also, our cat is bug-free. |
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| RIP, Shinobi |
[Apr. 2nd, 2009|09:20 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  sad | ] |
???? - April 2, 2009
Shinobi (originally "Buggy") passed away this morning from a liver condition. She had been sick for the past week or so, not eating and hiding all day, and the vet said that her abdomen was almost entirely fluids.
She is survived by her people, Colin and Emma, and her some-time tormentor and best friend, Mirkwood.
She will be missed. |
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| Ropes Team |
[Apr. 1st, 2009|09:14 am] |
Do you know how hard it was to write a subject line that wasn't innuendo about bondage?
This spring I'm (finally) coaching the Ropes Team at Hyde. The kids learn to belay, go up on the ropes course a few times a week, put other sports teams through teambuilding and partnership events, and help out when parents come to visit. Here, Mom, put on this harness. Make sure the helmet's tight. (Not an April Fools joke.)
I really love this. It's so much better than coaching wrestling that I can't even describe it. Wrestling, as much as it's a cornerstone of Hyde, was something I absolutely dreaded by the end of the season. It's one thing to hurt someone who's threatening your life or the life of your loved ones. It's another thing completely to hurt others in the pursuit of winning a game.
Now I look forward to going out to practice every day. I was actually a little sad that we wouldn't have practice today (though it will really help me in terms of running errands). I like having my own little part of campus. I like having a team that I can trust and rely on. I like watching people learn, adapt, and become comfortable with things that once scared them. I still have to drag people off the bench and shove a rope into their hands sometime... but only about once per practice, not continuously. I have more enthusiastic and interested students in a team of 12 than I did in a team of 24, and I know that when these students are missing they have a good reason for it.
The fact that I actually know what I'm talking about with this activity doesn't hurt either. Feeling incompetent is a bad feeling.
We already "won" our first "game" last weekend (i.e. none of the parents involved in the weekend fell to their deaths), and I was smiling for so long that my cheeks started to hurt. Coaching something you like makes all the difference. |
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| SubUrban Dictionary? |
[Mar. 6th, 2009|01:20 pm] |
Thugrat: When rugrats grow up (physically) and begin wearing backwards hats and pants around their knees.
I'm on Spring Break. Almost all of our thugrats are as well, which makes me happy. Also, I have a kitty sitting on me, so life is good. |
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| Build-your-own CPU |
[Feb. 27th, 2009|05:37 pm] |
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After the apocalypse, this guy will be the one building your new computers. By hand. One wire at a time. Holy crap. |
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| Glee club had lots of glee but not much else. |
[Feb. 22nd, 2009|01:00 pm] |
The RPI fight song, or as much of it as I can remember.
Blah blah blah Rensselaer,
blah blah blah blah blah blah.
Blah blah blah blah-blah-blah,
blah blah blah blah blah blah!
(fight fight fight!)
Blah blah blah blah-blah-blah,
blah blah blah blah blah blah,
blah blah blah Rensselaer:
hail to thee. |
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