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| Wednesday, July 02, 2008 |
| Evil Doomsday Device #1: Strong Gun |
Here's an idea for any evil scientists out there. Invent a device that can negate the nuclear Strong Force. If they ever come up with anti-gravity, I figure it's an easy step to come up with anti-strong or anti-light (anti-electromagnetic) forces.
Of course, if you were to negate the Strong Force, any protons in the area will fly apart, effectively creating a (fission) nuclear explosion in proportion to the number of atoms in the area.
Most bombs get a small percentage of the pound-or-so of really heavy atoms to actually split (which is what causes the boom), so if you managed to get a 100% fission, my guess is that you'd get something like Nagasaki if you targeted an object too small to see with a microscope. You could probably erase L.A. if you eliminated the Strong Force in one of the nails in the Hollywood sign.
But I'm guessing, really, so I'm going to make some calls to some physicist friends to find out...Labels: doomsday, evil, guns, joke |
posted by Steve @ 1:26 PM  |
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| Monday, June 23, 2008 |
| Continuing. |
I stopped blogging for a while because I realized I was usually just freaking out about politics, which is neither wholly engrossing nor remotely indicative of what I'm usually doing every day.
So I'm going to try again.Labels: blog |
| posted by Steve @ 11:16 PM |
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| Monday, June 09, 2008 |
| Two 110-hour work weeks. |
The worker bee sits
Wings wilted after working
Sitting on his flow'r Labels: poetry, work |
| posted by Steve @ 8:32 AM |
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| Monday, May 26, 2008 |
| For a voting test |
I've had it. Right up to here, I've had it with the willfully politically ignorant. I understand people are busy. I don't expect people to understand the nuances of the U.S. medical care system. I don't expect dissertations on the pros and cons of economic models. I expect basic competence.
Am I mad? You bet. Smear campaigns have a long history, but when people can rationalize that Barack Obama is a Muslim and has a crazy Christian pastor -- those people need to stay at home on election day. Of course, there are dumbasses in both political parties.
In an ideal world, I would expect every single American to generally understand a lot of basic, basic ideas that have real-world effects - even if they don't know the term. For example, pick [A] or [B]: The price of a gallon of gas went up last summer, because a lot of people [A: bought more gas to go on road trips] [B: stayed at home and didn't drive as much as the rest of the year].
A very, very basic knowledge of the laws of supply and demand - and for that matter, logic - would tell you the correct answer.
Every single American should understand:
- The very barest outline of American history (i.e., 1776, 1812, the Civil War, 1917, 1941, Vietnam).
- How tax deductions work with a normal 1040.
Is this elitism? Am I looking down my nose at the "working-class" people? You bet. But I'm working class, too.
There's a strain of anti-intellectualism in the U.S., and I suppose it's rooted in our history of being the independent-minded that can't be told what to do. But when pride in being able to do what you like - pride in freedom - becomes an excuse to wear stupidity like a badge of honor, it's just an excuse.Labels: idiots, politics, voting |
| posted by Steve @ 12:46 PM |
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| Tuesday, May 20, 2008 |
| Tim Russet and I think alike |
Tim Russert was just on MSNBC's coverage of the KY/OR primaries. In it, he said that he always wondered if it were possible for a return the the debate style of Golwater/Johnson: to fly around the country (in the same jet, no less), having unmoderated debates around the country in small town halls.
He thinks it's possible with McCain-Obama, and I'm as giddy at the idea of an elevated debate as the pundits are. I still think that ultimately most pundits (and all good ones) really relish the idea of a substantive debate because that's what gets them interested in the first place.
I can hope, can't I?Labels: politics, TV |
| posted by Steve @ 6:49 PM |
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| Blood still cries from the ground |
Victor Jara's murderer has been convicted, though not with his compatriots.
And in the world, a heart of darkness, a fire zone
Where poets speak their heart, then bleed for it
Jara sang, his song a weapon in the hands of love
You know his blood still cries from the ground
It runs like a river, runs to the sea
It runs like a river to the sea
- U2, One Tree Hill
Labels: news, poetry |
| posted by Steve @ 5:54 PM |
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| Monday, May 19, 2008 |
| Insert Punchline Here |
It's just too easy: Miller and Busch beers are making camouflage cans aimed at hunters.
Anybody see something wrong with getting more beer into the hands of the people with guns? Rachel also notes that they might not be able to find their beer after the first 6-pack...Labels: alcohol, guns, idiots, joke |
| posted by Steve @ 9:22 PM |
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| About Me |
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Name: Steve
Home: Tucson, Arizona, United States
About Me:
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