Breaking news! Astrologists recovered Pluto's diary, (buried inside the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, where NASA recently landed a probe called Philea). Pluto apparently tossed his diary at the comet as it streaked past about 8 years ago. Here are some excerpts from his diary:
Beginnings:
A small book landed on me from a nearby asteroid whizzing by. I think I shall record my life out here! It's dark, very dark, but I do not need much light. Besides, the Sun is so big, and intimidating. Maybe one day I will introduce myself, but for now I am content.
1st century:
Life has been going along quite well, although I do not get invited to many parties. Other planets are so much bigger than I am, I do not seem to fit in. However, I have found plenty of asteroids who seem to enjoy my company. Some even land on me and do some ice skating. It is quite fun.
2nd century:
There is a big commotion near the sun. Some very small humanoids on Earth are starting to notice us! They have even given some of us names. The Sun, Earth, and Moon were the first to receive attention. They are eating all the cake too, by the way.
2nd century - note:
The Sun has been promoted! It has now reached Star class. And that's not all. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have all gained Planet status, and the moon has gained Moon (orbiting around a Planet) status. Alas, some of us out here are still yet to be promoted. :( We threw a small party out here, myself, Uranus, and Neptune, along with our moons. We were all sort of blue.
1781
Uranus has finally been promoted! While I am happy for it, I am still sad that Neptune and myself have not been awarded this honor. We have grown quite close however, and she and I have played scrabble and minefield (using the asteroids) every time we pass each others way. Uranus is now officially invited to all the Planet parties, and no longer hangs out with us.
1801
Poor Neptune! Ceres was just promoted as a planet, and she is so torn up over it. I took her out dancing, and we danced the night away to forget our troubles. I told her she was such a beautiful planet, that she would be noticed and become a Planet very soon.
1846
She is now a Planet! Neptune has been classified as the 13th Planet of the solar system. She is so happy she is glowing. And though she has been invited to the Planet parties, she still plays scrabble with me on occasion.
1851
Neptune is now the 8th Planet. It seems you have to fulfill a certain size requirement to be a Planet, and Ceres is now re-classified as an Asteroid. I feel sorry for Ceres, but happy for Neptune
1890
*Sigh* Only Neptune still hangs out with me. All the other Planets, even Ceres, are going to these Planet parties, and having fun and playing games. I'm all alone out here in the furthest orbit. It's so very lonely.
1920
Will I ever be noticed?
1930
They saw me! I'm a Planet now! Yayyyyyyy!!!! I'm so happy!! They have named me Pluto, a suggestion by a young 11 year old Earthlander who lived in Oxford, England at the time. I love my new name!
1950
These parties are fun! And they have cake! Oh, I love cake!
2006
Wha? *sniff* *sob* I don't understand... Why would they demote me? I haven't done anything wrong... I've been a good Planet, I really have. Maybe they will still hang out with me. And I wanted to ask Neptune out on a formal date. What will she think?
.........
And that's all there is. Pluto must have thrown his diary at one of the passing asteroids and NASA picked it up 8 years later.
Sheepdog: poor Pluto! well, I still think he's a planet! :D
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Thursday, April 9, 2015
How to explain computers to your average 1775 farmer
The year is 1775. Things on US Soil were going crazy, what with redcoats and indians all around. Thomas Paine published common sense. But your daily history lesson aside, suppose you brought a computer, or (heaven forbid) a cell phone to this era. First you wouldn't have power, and second, no internet (gasp), but most importantly, people would probably think your a witch or sorcerer. How do you explain in their terms what a computer is and what it does?
I've taken a stab at this, for purely non-nonsensical reasons (I actually plan to time travel there and make my first million, but shhhh).
Okay, the inside of a computer is full of strange words like processor, memory, graphics card, or hard drive. What does it all mean, and why is it important?
Imagine you are a rural farmer on the outskirts of town. You need supplies, as well as templates and public records to manage your crops. There is a main road from your house into town. Each Sunday, you send an order for plant seed, apples for your horses, oranges for your goats, and carrots for your rabbits. This order is sent via courier, a small man on a small horse. He travels into town, and returns with the apples. Then he travels into town again, and returns with the oranges. You ask him why this is taking so long. He replies, "I only have one horse, and can only carry such a large load at a time." This makes sense to you, but you can't wait 3 days for your supplies. So you hire two more couriers, each on top of two more horses. Now, it only takes you two days, one day for the apples, oranges and carrots, and a second day for the plant seed.
The next week, you decide you want it all on one day. You hire a fourth courier and horse. But the path is too narrow for all 4 horses to safely travel on the same day. Frustrated, you build a 2 lane road from your farm into town. Now, all 4 horses can travel on the same day. :) Hooray!
A year passes. Your farming business has grown. You are now again waiting 3 days for delivery because you need 6 horses worth of carrots, 3 horses worth of oranges, and 2 horses worth of apples, and 1 horse of plant seed. You pay to widen the road some more, and hire another 6 couriers and horses to transport the food.
This scenario represents what is happening with your computer. Processing speed is like the number of horses and couriers sent to retrieve and deliver packets. The road represents the amount of memory (RAM), or how many horses you can have on the road at once. If you have two many deliveries (or programs) running at once, the road will get too full.
An average iphone for example, may have:
512 mb of ram (imagine a road full of 512 horses),
1000 mh processor (imagine 1000 horses, where 512 are on the road at once, and the other 500 are being loaded up and getting ready for the trip, there would always be horses on the road!)
Starting to make sense?
Okay, now what about the graphics card, or hard drive?
Well, think of the hard drive like the size of warehouse in town used to store the fruit, carrots and plant seed for the farmer. The graphics card is like a smaller road headed to the local library where the farmer may be ordering books. The graphics card is still used to carry packets, but only video packets (or way back in the day, books). Most iphones or computers only need a few horses and a small road because they are not trying to run multiple videos or photo's at one time. However, a scholar (who loves books) or a graphic design artist may need a large road and lots of horses!
Back to our iphone example:
256mb graphics card: (256 horses, just used to transfer books from the library)
8000mb hard drive (warehouse that can hold 8000 crates of fruit, veggies, and plant seed).
Hope this helps anyone looking to travel back in time to 1775!
An extra note for fun:
What about dual core, and quad core?
A lot of computers and phones are dual core, or quad core nowadays. This only refers to the processor (number of horses). A dual core phone means you have twice the number of horses. A quad core means you have 4 times the number of horses.
iphone 4s:
1000mh dual core = (2000 horses)
iphone 6:
1200mh quad core = (4800 horses)
Get it? Good!
Enjoy!
Woof!
I've taken a stab at this, for purely non-nonsensical reasons (I actually plan to time travel there and make my first million, but shhhh).
Okay, the inside of a computer is full of strange words like processor, memory, graphics card, or hard drive. What does it all mean, and why is it important?
Imagine you are a rural farmer on the outskirts of town. You need supplies, as well as templates and public records to manage your crops. There is a main road from your house into town. Each Sunday, you send an order for plant seed, apples for your horses, oranges for your goats, and carrots for your rabbits. This order is sent via courier, a small man on a small horse. He travels into town, and returns with the apples. Then he travels into town again, and returns with the oranges. You ask him why this is taking so long. He replies, "I only have one horse, and can only carry such a large load at a time." This makes sense to you, but you can't wait 3 days for your supplies. So you hire two more couriers, each on top of two more horses. Now, it only takes you two days, one day for the apples, oranges and carrots, and a second day for the plant seed.
The next week, you decide you want it all on one day. You hire a fourth courier and horse. But the path is too narrow for all 4 horses to safely travel on the same day. Frustrated, you build a 2 lane road from your farm into town. Now, all 4 horses can travel on the same day. :) Hooray!
A year passes. Your farming business has grown. You are now again waiting 3 days for delivery because you need 6 horses worth of carrots, 3 horses worth of oranges, and 2 horses worth of apples, and 1 horse of plant seed. You pay to widen the road some more, and hire another 6 couriers and horses to transport the food.
This scenario represents what is happening with your computer. Processing speed is like the number of horses and couriers sent to retrieve and deliver packets. The road represents the amount of memory (RAM), or how many horses you can have on the road at once. If you have two many deliveries (or programs) running at once, the road will get too full.
An average iphone for example, may have:
512 mb of ram (imagine a road full of 512 horses),
1000 mh processor (imagine 1000 horses, where 512 are on the road at once, and the other 500 are being loaded up and getting ready for the trip, there would always be horses on the road!)
Starting to make sense?
Okay, now what about the graphics card, or hard drive?
Well, think of the hard drive like the size of warehouse in town used to store the fruit, carrots and plant seed for the farmer. The graphics card is like a smaller road headed to the local library where the farmer may be ordering books. The graphics card is still used to carry packets, but only video packets (or way back in the day, books). Most iphones or computers only need a few horses and a small road because they are not trying to run multiple videos or photo's at one time. However, a scholar (who loves books) or a graphic design artist may need a large road and lots of horses!
Back to our iphone example:
256mb graphics card: (256 horses, just used to transfer books from the library)
8000mb hard drive (warehouse that can hold 8000 crates of fruit, veggies, and plant seed).
Hope this helps anyone looking to travel back in time to 1775!
An extra note for fun:
What about dual core, and quad core?
A lot of computers and phones are dual core, or quad core nowadays. This only refers to the processor (number of horses). A dual core phone means you have twice the number of horses. A quad core means you have 4 times the number of horses.
iphone 4s:
1000mh dual core = (2000 horses)
iphone 6:
1200mh quad core = (4800 horses)
Get it? Good!
Enjoy!
Woof!
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
4 Dimensional spacetime
So... the title isn't quite accurate. I had meant to post a lengthy discussion on the definition of 4 dimensional objects both in 3 dimensional space, and in mathematical theory (which are totally different by the way, as much of the time math and particle physics doesn't always see eye to eye) but instead, I leave you all with a verse:
Jeremiah 29:10-13 KJV
For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and fine me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:10-13 NIV
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
This verse is a great comfort in all times, good and bad, to remind us that God is always there, and that He has a plan for us, and has been planning it since the beginning. As we come up on Easter this year, it is a good reminder that when Jesus gave His life on the cross, He was thinking of us. He knew God had a plan for each and every one of us. Sometimes we tend to see things in the short term, and forget that God has everything mapped out for us, even if we don't always see it.
Happy Easter Everyone!
Jeremiah 29:10-13 KJV
For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and fine me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:10-13 NIV
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
This verse is a great comfort in all times, good and bad, to remind us that God is always there, and that He has a plan for us, and has been planning it since the beginning. As we come up on Easter this year, it is a good reminder that when Jesus gave His life on the cross, He was thinking of us. He knew God had a plan for each and every one of us. Sometimes we tend to see things in the short term, and forget that God has everything mapped out for us, even if we don't always see it.
Happy Easter Everyone!
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Hello Internet! (Again)
A Thousand apologies!
What was at first a week off to finish up some projects turned into close to a month off! Well, to start off with, here is a quick update: During my month hiatus, I launched and am almost done with a pair of Kickstarter projects, both of them Murder Mystery games. :) I hope to send them out this weekend, which will be a load off. I also ambitiously decided to create a Doctor Who themed card game for my sister-in-law who is in love with Doctor Who. I was surprised as anyone when I actually was able to get the project finished, printed, cut, and delivered in a week flat (Okay, I had some help from the bunnies)! Building on the success of this card game, I cranked out another custom card game for my brother-in-law who is in the army, as a Harry Potter theme. This took some extra time, but we were able to get that one printed and ready to go as well! But now that all that has died down, I should be able to catch back up on my blog posts. :-) Woof! Woof!
What was at first a week off to finish up some projects turned into close to a month off! Well, to start off with, here is a quick update: During my month hiatus, I launched and am almost done with a pair of Kickstarter projects, both of them Murder Mystery games. :) I hope to send them out this weekend, which will be a load off. I also ambitiously decided to create a Doctor Who themed card game for my sister-in-law who is in love with Doctor Who. I was surprised as anyone when I actually was able to get the project finished, printed, cut, and delivered in a week flat (Okay, I had some help from the bunnies)! Building on the success of this card game, I cranked out another custom card game for my brother-in-law who is in the army, as a Harry Potter theme. This took some extra time, but we were able to get that one printed and ready to go as well! But now that all that has died down, I should be able to catch back up on my blog posts. :-) Woof! Woof!
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Huh? What's this Net Neutrality Stuff?
Hello,
I am taking a quick break from my usual ramblings and mutterings to address the topic of Net Neutrality. Tomorrow, Feb. 26th, 2015 the Senate will be voting on Net Neutrality. What is it? Well, I am by no means an expert, but I shall try to lay this out in an easy-to-follow format:
The net neutrality debate (sometimes called open internet) has been in the news a lot recently. In a nutshell, it revolves around the FCC, or Federal Trade Commission. This group sets down rules and classifications for communications, among other things. Telephone lines, for example, are classified as a public utility under the telecommunications act of 1934 (amended again in 1996). As a public utility, phone lines fall under a certain set of guidelines they have to follow. The internet has no such guidelines. Supporters of Net Neutrality want to classify the internet under Title II of the telecommunications act.
Basically, if the internet were re-classified under Title II, independent companies like Comcast, Time Warner, and others would need to follow a set of rules and guidelines for how they provide service to the public (that's you and me). This can include things like no "fast or slow" lanes, equal access to websites, and more competition which would mean lower prices.
Comcast has been in the news a lot lately. It was discovered they, along with some other companies, have been looking to gain more profit by charging companies like Netflix for access to a "fast lane" to customers. This is unfair in several ways. Any companies not willing to pay for a "fast lane" could be intentionally slowed by Comcast so that the website is almost unusable. Torrent sites in particular have faced this dilemma. Meanwhile, Netflix is having to pay millions of dollars for what it used to have for free: unrestricted access to user's homes.
Will Net Neutrality fix this? The answer is a solid maybe. On the one hand, if the internet is under Title II, then the FCC and government will have the ability to regulate this aspect of the internet. On the other hand, the 322 page document outlining all the specifics and fine print of this agreement will not be released until after this has been voted on. Will this document give the government too much control? We don't know.
What is my opinion on all this? Well I don't like the way things are now. Because of the current situation, my internet is slow on some websites and faster on others, I can only receive Comcast, because they own the rights to the cable beneath my apartment. But I also don't like that we are voting on a 322 page sealed document...
There is a lot more information about this argument, but I tried to keep it concise, accurate, and mostly non-opinionated.
Hope you enjoy,
Woof!
I am taking a quick break from my usual ramblings and mutterings to address the topic of Net Neutrality. Tomorrow, Feb. 26th, 2015 the Senate will be voting on Net Neutrality. What is it? Well, I am by no means an expert, but I shall try to lay this out in an easy-to-follow format:
The net neutrality debate (sometimes called open internet) has been in the news a lot recently. In a nutshell, it revolves around the FCC, or Federal Trade Commission. This group sets down rules and classifications for communications, among other things. Telephone lines, for example, are classified as a public utility under the telecommunications act of 1934 (amended again in 1996). As a public utility, phone lines fall under a certain set of guidelines they have to follow. The internet has no such guidelines. Supporters of Net Neutrality want to classify the internet under Title II of the telecommunications act.
Basically, if the internet were re-classified under Title II, independent companies like Comcast, Time Warner, and others would need to follow a set of rules and guidelines for how they provide service to the public (that's you and me). This can include things like no "fast or slow" lanes, equal access to websites, and more competition which would mean lower prices.
Comcast has been in the news a lot lately. It was discovered they, along with some other companies, have been looking to gain more profit by charging companies like Netflix for access to a "fast lane" to customers. This is unfair in several ways. Any companies not willing to pay for a "fast lane" could be intentionally slowed by Comcast so that the website is almost unusable. Torrent sites in particular have faced this dilemma. Meanwhile, Netflix is having to pay millions of dollars for what it used to have for free: unrestricted access to user's homes.
Will Net Neutrality fix this? The answer is a solid maybe. On the one hand, if the internet is under Title II, then the FCC and government will have the ability to regulate this aspect of the internet. On the other hand, the 322 page document outlining all the specifics and fine print of this agreement will not be released until after this has been voted on. Will this document give the government too much control? We don't know.
What is my opinion on all this? Well I don't like the way things are now. Because of the current situation, my internet is slow on some websites and faster on others, I can only receive Comcast, because they own the rights to the cable beneath my apartment. But I also don't like that we are voting on a 322 page sealed document...
There is a lot more information about this argument, but I tried to keep it concise, accurate, and mostly non-opinionated.
Hope you enjoy,
Woof!
Monday, February 23, 2015
Musing And Ramblings (Repeat Title?)
Sorry about missing last week, I was working on two independent writing projects. One of my current projects involves a kickstarter campaign for a murder mystery game I have created. It promises to be a lot of fun, and contains multiple endings. The work is about finished, pending editing, and an additional 2 solutions added to the manual. I have a sequel in development which features London. I will launch this one at the conclusion of the first, and it will run for 30 days as well. I may send out advance copies of it to my current buyers, I am not sure yet. My other project has been research and initial ideas for a math curriculum book. The book is being written by Otter, and she has asked me for help. :)
In between these projects, my master has been fairly busy at work (both of them actually), and they've been doing plenty of playing on the weekends. It's given me time to catch up on my reading however! I can tell you that the shipping lanes on the west coast are at a standstill (pending Union strikes and negotiations), that Apple has done incredibly well in the wake of the Iphone 6, that 2 new phones are coming out with curved or bent screens, and that Lenovo software has been hacked. But where's the fun in that? Lets get down to the real news:
The bunnies have kept out of the kitchen, which is sad because we are low on homeade cookies and crumpets around here. I will have to bake something myself here pretty soon! The humans took the camera out for a test run a while ago and managed to use the manual settings to take some great pictures! It was nice to get out and stretch the ol' paws. The sun's been out early this year, we keep expecting clouds and rain. It's been very nice (although I wouldn't mind some rain, as reading a book is cozier when the weather's crummy). A kayak trip, and / or a beach trip should be on the calendar soon I hope! I'm looking forward to both.
Enjoy your Monday!
Woof!
In between these projects, my master has been fairly busy at work (both of them actually), and they've been doing plenty of playing on the weekends. It's given me time to catch up on my reading however! I can tell you that the shipping lanes on the west coast are at a standstill (pending Union strikes and negotiations), that Apple has done incredibly well in the wake of the Iphone 6, that 2 new phones are coming out with curved or bent screens, and that Lenovo software has been hacked. But where's the fun in that? Lets get down to the real news:
The bunnies have kept out of the kitchen, which is sad because we are low on homeade cookies and crumpets around here. I will have to bake something myself here pretty soon! The humans took the camera out for a test run a while ago and managed to use the manual settings to take some great pictures! It was nice to get out and stretch the ol' paws. The sun's been out early this year, we keep expecting clouds and rain. It's been very nice (although I wouldn't mind some rain, as reading a book is cozier when the weather's crummy). A kayak trip, and / or a beach trip should be on the calendar soon I hope! I'm looking forward to both.
Enjoy your Monday!
Woof!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Fly to Mars? Umm, I'll stay here, thanks
Woof! Woof? Wait, I don't want to go to Mars!
As this is both current events, and a bit sciencey, it seems appropriate to mention this at least once:
There is a group of people intent on a mission to colonize Mars. They hope to land in the year 2025, and guess what? It's a one way trip...
That's right. Mars One is a non-profit venture based out of the Netherlands with the goal of colonizing Mars by the year 2025. Their long term plan? To establish a permanent settlement on Mars. It sounds a bit crazy, but they've been working on this since 2012. Below I listed a sample of their incremental goals to colonizing Mars:
*Courtesy of Wikipedia.
It actually sounds plausible. The cost factor has been mentioned numerous times, and apart from multiple sponsors, Mars One plans to host a reality TV show of the entire event, which is expected to produce the bulk of the income required for the mission. Their timeline has been pushed back a few times already, but they still hope to have the first group of colonists to Mars by 2025.
Who would be willing to take a 1 way trip to Mars, and why is it only 1 way? This question has been in the news a lot recently, and it boils down to these 2 answers: People purely devoted to science, and cost. The philosophy is similar to the astronauts who signed up to go to the moon. They had no guarantee of safe return either. Neither do some of our soldiers. It is 1 way because of cost mainly. We may send a probe one day to bring them back, but the initial cost of a round trip is over 10 times the cost of a 1 way trip.
Over 1000 people have signed up as applicants, and the process has narrowed down to about 700 or so now. Eventually, 6 teams of 4 will be chosen, then trained over the next few years.
Personally? I vote a moon or underwater colony. They are both much closer. Mars in comparison, would take between 1-5 months to travel to, depending on speed, trajectory, etc. That's a long time cooped up with 3 other people!
-Sheepdog-
As this is both current events, and a bit sciencey, it seems appropriate to mention this at least once:
There is a group of people intent on a mission to colonize Mars. They hope to land in the year 2025, and guess what? It's a one way trip...
That's right. Mars One is a non-profit venture based out of the Netherlands with the goal of colonizing Mars by the year 2025. Their long term plan? To establish a permanent settlement on Mars. It sounds a bit crazy, but they've been working on this since 2012. Below I listed a sample of their incremental goals to colonizing Mars:
- 2013: The first 40 astronauts were to have been selected;[6] a replica of the settlement was planned to be built for training purposes.[7]
- 2014: The first communication satellite was to have been produced.
- 2016: A supply mission would launch with 2500 kilograms of food in a modified SpaceX Dragon.
- 2018: An exploration vehicle would launch to pick the location of the settlement.[7]
- 2021: Six additional Dragon capsules and another rover would launch with two living units, two life-support units and two supply units.
- 2022: A SpaceX Falcon Heavy would launch with the first group of four colonists.[7]
- 2023: The first colonists were to arrive on Mars in a modified Dragon capsule.
- 2025: A second group of four colonists slated to arrive.[7]
- 2033: The colony projected to reach 20 settlers. s.[8]
*Courtesy of Wikipedia.
It actually sounds plausible. The cost factor has been mentioned numerous times, and apart from multiple sponsors, Mars One plans to host a reality TV show of the entire event, which is expected to produce the bulk of the income required for the mission. Their timeline has been pushed back a few times already, but they still hope to have the first group of colonists to Mars by 2025.
Who would be willing to take a 1 way trip to Mars, and why is it only 1 way? This question has been in the news a lot recently, and it boils down to these 2 answers: People purely devoted to science, and cost. The philosophy is similar to the astronauts who signed up to go to the moon. They had no guarantee of safe return either. Neither do some of our soldiers. It is 1 way because of cost mainly. We may send a probe one day to bring them back, but the initial cost of a round trip is over 10 times the cost of a 1 way trip.
Over 1000 people have signed up as applicants, and the process has narrowed down to about 700 or so now. Eventually, 6 teams of 4 will be chosen, then trained over the next few years.
Personally? I vote a moon or underwater colony. They are both much closer. Mars in comparison, would take between 1-5 months to travel to, depending on speed, trajectory, etc. That's a long time cooped up with 3 other people!
-Sheepdog-
Sheepdog and Friends
Good Morning, and happy Tuesday (erm wednesday, sorry folks)
As of late, my mornings have been spurred on by intelligent cantering and bantering. This is often fascinating enough to keep me amused all morning long, while I have my tea and crumpets. Here are a few snippits:
Koda: Some days I feel like a clefairy at singing lessons *clefairy clefairy, fairy - bopit boppit*
Me: Aw, poor koda! And here I've been feeling like a victim of jigglypuff *zzzz* *PUFF!*
Koda: Lol. I was in bed by 9:15...and asleep by 12:00 (it was sad...sob)
Me: Hmm, there's a distinct difference in the number of remaining hours.
Koda: How is it not 8:00 yet?
Koda: Great regrets of life: an excerpt of old journal diaries from the sheepdog chapter 1: The night I gave every rabbit and their bunny beloveds a helium air baloon, between the squeaking voices, the rabbit foots on the ceiling, and questionable methods of obtaining cookies on the top shelf. Also too, when I allowed the rabbits to bring their bunny honeys in the first place (munches a comfort cookies in silence.
Koda: *Drops brick on head* Good Morning!
Me: Ouch! Why would you do that?
Koda: It's Monday of course.
Me: Oh...of course
Koda: Makes cheddar cheese biscuits at 5:30am *puts too much butter on them* while driving to work: oops they're soggy! That won't do. Hmm, maybe I'll eat this one its too soggy. Oops that one is a mess *munch* that one is terrible, no one would *gulp* eat that. 20 later at work: Koda! U made... 4 biscuits??
Koda: um yeah, I guess the recipe sucks huh? *ug I'm full and feel awful* Can I go home? I think I'm getting the flu...
Koda: After a long conversation about the dissimilar aspects of the two terms villain and the village idiot, it was decided that neither really fit daphnes personality.
Koda: (a while later) I hate soup for lunch. All morning your excited for a break - excited for lunch. Then it's lunch time! You walk into the break room open the fridge and pull out your soup. Then you heat it in the microwave, then... its 2 cups of liquid. You drink it, it takes 2 minutes And you say that was really good! Is there more? Of course not! No, you brought 2 cups of liquid, that's it! You thought to yourself 2 cups is plenty! Its filling soup! It's almost real food! No, no its not Koda, but its lots of calories, you reconcile to yourself. Nope, 350 - a little over half of what you should be eating. It will take you through 40 minutes, and then your starving hungry, and attack the work candy drawer. Now your sugar crashed, hungry, irritable, and 20 min. from the closest real food store with 4 hours of work left.
Me: Aw, that's too bad! *munches on giant sandwich and gulps down gatorade* I really *scarft* feel for you!
Koda: hey, that's not fair!
Koda: I'll live, W. is going to let me go shopping for food! (You have to feel sorry for her) #I'm bringing the rabbits
Me: Uh oh. I can imagine what their list will be like: Chicken strips, JoJo's, orange juice, cliff bar, rolls, mozerella cheese, ice cream, a donut, a few bagels, some movie snacks, popcorn, bulk chocolate, valentines candy, club crackers, salami, cream cheese, hummus, pita chips, gummy bears, plain sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar....
Koda: Oh wait, she gave me a list... *consults* 1 Lemon, 1 Lime, 1 Onion, Cilantro...what the cockadoodle?
Rabbits: *but...none of that tastes good on ice cream!*
While ordering starbucks drinks:
S: Carmel Half Caff. Machiatto
J: Tall double shot coconut milk peppermint hazelnut machiatto - whipped cream and sprinkles.
Koda: ....1 hot chocolate please
*everyone looks at Koda* What?
Koda: What? you want to renew your license..okay are you located in New York? Ah, I got that from your phone number. Yes.. I have the united states memorized... Yes, Canada too... No, no I have a life! really!
Koda: The sadness when you realize home is still 3 hours away and your hungry...
Koda: I guess there is food in the break room, dry bread, no butter, stale chocolate, old coffee, some crumbs... I'm not that desperate!
Koda: I can't talk to anyone named chantelle without hearing the pokemon red music in my head, dee da do dee da do (and then a marowak jumped out ahh! Oh hi boss...)
Koda: If I were a cartoon character: wake up destroy alarm clock eat 8 bowls of ceral - get hiccups slog thru traffic arrive sleepy splash coffe on face arrive at desk repeatedly bang head on keyboard trying to wake up break keyboard, keyboard magically fixed answer a phone call say "5 more minutes" get hit by ruler from boss answer multiple phones at once take nap under desk go to meeting listen to maxs dad about taking over the world, go home, party.
Koda: My actual day: hit alarm clock, alarm clock falls over batteries fall out, stumble to shower, which is cold, eat granola bar find shoes spend 5 minutes warming up car, drive to work which is normal, look longingly at the coffee before getting cold water, struggle to stay awake eat lunch at 9:00 no meeting sleep through lunch, go home tired and hungry
Me: well that's obvious, I would take the cartoon day any day!
Me: Let me adjust the story a bit: lunch nap in car: cold car, turn on to warm up, turn back off to save gas, Darn! Cold again! maybe I'll just drive to Safeway and buy lunch. Great. Now I'm tired again. Okay, another nap...2.5 min later, now I have to clock back in? Conclusion? They should award me two lunches!...? they won't? Okay, this working thing is for the birds!
And yes, these are real conversations!
Enjoy!
As of late, my mornings have been spurred on by intelligent cantering and bantering. This is often fascinating enough to keep me amused all morning long, while I have my tea and crumpets. Here are a few snippits:
Koda: Some days I feel like a clefairy at singing lessons *clefairy clefairy, fairy - bopit boppit*
Me: Aw, poor koda! And here I've been feeling like a victim of jigglypuff *zzzz* *PUFF!*
Koda: Lol. I was in bed by 9:15...and asleep by 12:00 (it was sad...sob)
Me: Hmm, there's a distinct difference in the number of remaining hours.
Koda: How is it not 8:00 yet?
Koda: Great regrets of life: an excerpt of old journal diaries from the sheepdog chapter 1: The night I gave every rabbit and their bunny beloveds a helium air baloon, between the squeaking voices, the rabbit foots on the ceiling, and questionable methods of obtaining cookies on the top shelf. Also too, when I allowed the rabbits to bring their bunny honeys in the first place (munches a comfort cookies in silence.
Koda: *Drops brick on head* Good Morning!
Me: Ouch! Why would you do that?
Koda: It's Monday of course.
Me: Oh...of course
Koda: Makes cheddar cheese biscuits at 5:30am *puts too much butter on them* while driving to work: oops they're soggy! That won't do. Hmm, maybe I'll eat this one its too soggy. Oops that one is a mess *munch* that one is terrible, no one would *gulp* eat that. 20 later at work: Koda! U made... 4 biscuits??
Koda: um yeah, I guess the recipe sucks huh? *ug I'm full and feel awful* Can I go home? I think I'm getting the flu...
Koda: After a long conversation about the dissimilar aspects of the two terms villain and the village idiot, it was decided that neither really fit daphnes personality.
Koda: (a while later) I hate soup for lunch. All morning your excited for a break - excited for lunch. Then it's lunch time! You walk into the break room open the fridge and pull out your soup. Then you heat it in the microwave, then... its 2 cups of liquid. You drink it, it takes 2 minutes And you say that was really good! Is there more? Of course not! No, you brought 2 cups of liquid, that's it! You thought to yourself 2 cups is plenty! Its filling soup! It's almost real food! No, no its not Koda, but its lots of calories, you reconcile to yourself. Nope, 350 - a little over half of what you should be eating. It will take you through 40 minutes, and then your starving hungry, and attack the work candy drawer. Now your sugar crashed, hungry, irritable, and 20 min. from the closest real food store with 4 hours of work left.
Me: Aw, that's too bad! *munches on giant sandwich and gulps down gatorade* I really *scarft* feel for you!
Koda: hey, that's not fair!
Koda: I'll live, W. is going to let me go shopping for food! (You have to feel sorry for her) #I'm bringing the rabbits
Me: Uh oh. I can imagine what their list will be like: Chicken strips, JoJo's, orange juice, cliff bar, rolls, mozerella cheese, ice cream, a donut, a few bagels, some movie snacks, popcorn, bulk chocolate, valentines candy, club crackers, salami, cream cheese, hummus, pita chips, gummy bears, plain sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar....
Koda: Oh wait, she gave me a list... *consults* 1 Lemon, 1 Lime, 1 Onion, Cilantro...what the cockadoodle?
Rabbits: *but...none of that tastes good on ice cream!*
While ordering starbucks drinks:
S: Carmel Half Caff. Machiatto
J: Tall double shot coconut milk peppermint hazelnut machiatto - whipped cream and sprinkles.
Koda: ....1 hot chocolate please
*everyone looks at Koda* What?
Koda: What? you want to renew your license..okay are you located in New York? Ah, I got that from your phone number. Yes.. I have the united states memorized... Yes, Canada too... No, no I have a life! really!
Koda: The sadness when you realize home is still 3 hours away and your hungry...
Koda: I guess there is food in the break room, dry bread, no butter, stale chocolate, old coffee, some crumbs... I'm not that desperate!
Koda: I can't talk to anyone named chantelle without hearing the pokemon red music in my head, dee da do dee da do (and then a marowak jumped out ahh! Oh hi boss...)
Koda: If I were a cartoon character: wake up destroy alarm clock eat 8 bowls of ceral - get hiccups slog thru traffic arrive sleepy splash coffe on face arrive at desk repeatedly bang head on keyboard trying to wake up break keyboard, keyboard magically fixed answer a phone call say "5 more minutes" get hit by ruler from boss answer multiple phones at once take nap under desk go to meeting listen to maxs dad about taking over the world, go home, party.
Koda: My actual day: hit alarm clock, alarm clock falls over batteries fall out, stumble to shower, which is cold, eat granola bar find shoes spend 5 minutes warming up car, drive to work which is normal, look longingly at the coffee before getting cold water, struggle to stay awake eat lunch at 9:00 no meeting sleep through lunch, go home tired and hungry
Me: well that's obvious, I would take the cartoon day any day!
Me: Let me adjust the story a bit: lunch nap in car: cold car, turn on to warm up, turn back off to save gas, Darn! Cold again! maybe I'll just drive to Safeway and buy lunch. Great. Now I'm tired again. Okay, another nap...2.5 min later, now I have to clock back in? Conclusion? They should award me two lunches!...? they won't? Okay, this working thing is for the birds!
And yes, these are real conversations!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Space Elevators
Happy Feb!
Now where did January go? *Looks around for January but doesn't find it*. Hmm, strange, must have disappeared. Ah well, it was fun! A bit cold, but much warmer than last year to be sure. I'm hoping for a short walk this evening, along with a few games and fun afterwards.
For this week's random topic, I have picked space elevators, an idea that has been around for decades. Recently, a small event was hosted at NASA (I believe it was NASA) purely to discuss the possibilities and risks of building a space elevator. Now If I can take a rabbit trail here (thanks bunnies) a theologian may point out that an elevator to space may begin to sound a lot like a modern version of the tower of babel. However, it may also be pointed out that the tower of babel was also meant to unite the people, where a space elevator would probably cause more issues than resolve them. But I digress.
A space elevator, in its simplest form, is a long cable attached to the earth at the equator, and extending into space. It is held up by attaching a large chunk of rock, or a space station to the other end of it. This "counterweight" would use the earth's momentum to keep the cable tight. This cable could then be used like a giant elevator, to carry things and people into space and back. To imagine this, pretend you are the earth, and are swinging a rope with a weight attached to the end around and around. The rope is held tight, because you are spinning in a circle. The same holds true for earth.
Next, how would we use this? Well, once the cable is in place, we would use transport vessels similar to ski lifts, only designed to go vertically to transport cargo back and forth to space. This can include new satellites, supplies for the space station, or even one day to the moon!
However, there are some structural issues which we still need to solve. First of all, how do we propel things up this cable? Well I suppose if we had a giant chain, we could use powerful motors on earth to lift things like in an elevator. But the cables could easily be twisted or smash together. This idea probably wouldn't work. The most discussed idea is a pair of lasers providing wireless power to the cargo. You've heard of wireless charging right? imagine a really powerful version of it, one unit on earth providing power to electric engines, and the same version in the space station to propel it the rest of the way. The idea sounds plausible, but we haven't tried building one yet. Next issue: space debris, hurricanes, and natural disasters. We would need some precautions once we build this to make sure it doesn't come falling down or break. Proposals range from small thrusters on the space station to move the cable, to extra durable cable that would last a long time. Which brings us to the final and biggest issue: we do not have anything strong enough to make the cable with! Yes, this is a fundamental problem to the whole space elevator idea. Steel is nowhere near strong enough, neither is any widely available metal we know of. Scientists have been working with nanotubes, (read super strong spider silk) which may hold the answer, but we haven't even built successful prototypes. Its just barely past the theoretical stage.
If you ask me, it's more realistic to start crating underwater colonies than to colonize space. At least that way you don't have to go looking for water. :P Just something to think about:
Shaggy the Sheepdog
Now where did January go? *Looks around for January but doesn't find it*. Hmm, strange, must have disappeared. Ah well, it was fun! A bit cold, but much warmer than last year to be sure. I'm hoping for a short walk this evening, along with a few games and fun afterwards.
For this week's random topic, I have picked space elevators, an idea that has been around for decades. Recently, a small event was hosted at NASA (I believe it was NASA) purely to discuss the possibilities and risks of building a space elevator. Now If I can take a rabbit trail here (thanks bunnies) a theologian may point out that an elevator to space may begin to sound a lot like a modern version of the tower of babel. However, it may also be pointed out that the tower of babel was also meant to unite the people, where a space elevator would probably cause more issues than resolve them. But I digress.
A space elevator, in its simplest form, is a long cable attached to the earth at the equator, and extending into space. It is held up by attaching a large chunk of rock, or a space station to the other end of it. This "counterweight" would use the earth's momentum to keep the cable tight. This cable could then be used like a giant elevator, to carry things and people into space and back. To imagine this, pretend you are the earth, and are swinging a rope with a weight attached to the end around and around. The rope is held tight, because you are spinning in a circle. The same holds true for earth.
Next, how would we use this? Well, once the cable is in place, we would use transport vessels similar to ski lifts, only designed to go vertically to transport cargo back and forth to space. This can include new satellites, supplies for the space station, or even one day to the moon!
However, there are some structural issues which we still need to solve. First of all, how do we propel things up this cable? Well I suppose if we had a giant chain, we could use powerful motors on earth to lift things like in an elevator. But the cables could easily be twisted or smash together. This idea probably wouldn't work. The most discussed idea is a pair of lasers providing wireless power to the cargo. You've heard of wireless charging right? imagine a really powerful version of it, one unit on earth providing power to electric engines, and the same version in the space station to propel it the rest of the way. The idea sounds plausible, but we haven't tried building one yet. Next issue: space debris, hurricanes, and natural disasters. We would need some precautions once we build this to make sure it doesn't come falling down or break. Proposals range from small thrusters on the space station to move the cable, to extra durable cable that would last a long time. Which brings us to the final and biggest issue: we do not have anything strong enough to make the cable with! Yes, this is a fundamental problem to the whole space elevator idea. Steel is nowhere near strong enough, neither is any widely available metal we know of. Scientists have been working with nanotubes, (read super strong spider silk) which may hold the answer, but we haven't even built successful prototypes. Its just barely past the theoretical stage.
If you ask me, it's more realistic to start crating underwater colonies than to colonize space. At least that way you don't have to go looking for water. :P Just something to think about:
Shaggy the Sheepdog
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Hello again,
Due to an unforeseen set of circumstances, I have been unable to post anything about the game of bridge yet. I apologize, but I seem to have been taken ill of late. This past weekend, along with several days from last week, have seen me curled up on the couch coughing and wheezing. The rabbits attempted to cure me, but of their proposed solutions (including standing on my head, chasing my tail, drinking from the far side of a glass, and hiding under the bed), I opted out and just took a nap. I'm beginning to feel better now, if a little tired still. I shall endeavor to post about this historical game when I have the brain cells to do it justice. In short, I may say bridge is played very similar to 4 handed pinochle, but with a regular deck. Each team must make a bid, and try to make their bid or they lose points and pay a penalty. One of the biggest differences is points are calculated very differently.
In other news, my master is almost done with his networking course, and hopes to finish by Wednesday afternoon. I'm excited for him, because that means more time for walks, and playing fetch. He recently went to the store and picked up a trunk-load of "rabbit food", that is carrot sticks, fruit, veggies and the like. Tasty to be sure, but a smidge low on the sugar side if you ask me. oh well, we can't all have cookies all the time I suppose.
Since this is one of those blogs where I try to add a kernel of knowledge with each post, here's todays: the east coast is having a winter blizzard (named hurricane Juno), and is buried in at least 2 feet of snow. The west coast had some amazing days at the beach over the weekend, highs around 55-60s,and the weather around here foggy as normal. :P
Well, that's all for now, I think I am going to find a blanket, book and some tea while I wait for my masters to return home. Oh, and if I'm quiet, the bunnies will stay asleep.
Due to an unforeseen set of circumstances, I have been unable to post anything about the game of bridge yet. I apologize, but I seem to have been taken ill of late. This past weekend, along with several days from last week, have seen me curled up on the couch coughing and wheezing. The rabbits attempted to cure me, but of their proposed solutions (including standing on my head, chasing my tail, drinking from the far side of a glass, and hiding under the bed), I opted out and just took a nap. I'm beginning to feel better now, if a little tired still. I shall endeavor to post about this historical game when I have the brain cells to do it justice. In short, I may say bridge is played very similar to 4 handed pinochle, but with a regular deck. Each team must make a bid, and try to make their bid or they lose points and pay a penalty. One of the biggest differences is points are calculated very differently.
In other news, my master is almost done with his networking course, and hopes to finish by Wednesday afternoon. I'm excited for him, because that means more time for walks, and playing fetch. He recently went to the store and picked up a trunk-load of "rabbit food", that is carrot sticks, fruit, veggies and the like. Tasty to be sure, but a smidge low on the sugar side if you ask me. oh well, we can't all have cookies all the time I suppose.
Since this is one of those blogs where I try to add a kernel of knowledge with each post, here's todays: the east coast is having a winter blizzard (named hurricane Juno), and is buried in at least 2 feet of snow. The west coast had some amazing days at the beach over the weekend, highs around 55-60s,and the weather around here foggy as normal. :P
Well, that's all for now, I think I am going to find a blanket, book and some tea while I wait for my masters to return home. Oh, and if I'm quiet, the bunnies will stay asleep.
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