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The Decline of the American Empire
Some believe that the end of American dominance in the world is coming to a
close. The view that the rest of the world has of America has suffered
greatly during the Bush administration. The inability to bring the Iraq war to a
close, the hypocrisy in attempting to destabilize a democratically elected
government (the current Hamas government of Palestine), flagrant
violations of human rights (denial of
habeas corpus to Guantanamo Bay detainees), as well as
violations of the civil liberties of American citizens (NSA phone
spying) are all clear signals that the United States does not practice
the ideals for which we claim to stand. From the outside it is likely very
easy for the United States to be viewed as a paranoid and crumbling empire.
Given these arguments, it seems that any more evidence is just
redundant. What else could possibly be as threatening to our way of life?
How about restrictions on intellectual pursuits? It seems that our leaders
are more interested in meddling in the personal affairs of
citizens and infusing religion into government (such as defining marriage
as only the union of one man with one woman) than ensuring we remain a
world leader in science and technology. It took a full four months (March
2006) after
our National Science Foundation (NSF) research funding period ended (November 2005) for the renewal to finally be
reviewed and approved, despite submitting it in July 2005. Other research
groups have had similar problems getting NSF renewals. The reason were
budget cuts, cuts "made necessary" by spending on the wars and tax cuts.
Pre-Bush such
lags never occurred. We were hamstrung for funds during that period and it
made it very difficult for us to carry out our research. Some senior students
had to teach,
diverting much attention away from research and others had to move to
non-NSF projects.
Who cares if two people want to get married and they happen to be of the
same sex? What harm is it going to do? That is a matter that should be
between them, their God, and their church. Government has no business
meddling in personal belief systems. However, it does have a major effect
on our progress as a nation if scientists cannot receive research funding.
But does it stop there?
No, even amateur scientists are having difficulty carrying out their
research. Due to the rise of methamphetamines, chemicals and equipment that could
be used to synthesize meth have faced restrictions. After the Oklahoma City
bombing, materials that could be used to produce explosives have
been severely restricted. Anyone who needs any of these items face scrutiny
and an undue burden in attempting to obtain them. All because these things
could be used for nefarious purposes. Such restrictions only serve
to retard the progress of scientific research in our country and to stifle
scientfic creativity. Such architects of the modern world as Intel
cofounder Gordon Moore, internet innovator Vint Cerf, Hewlett-Packard
cofounder David Packard, and neurologist Oliver Sacks all cut their
scientific teeth experimenting with chemicals at home. Current restrictions
make repeating the childhood memories of these innovators just that,
memories.
What does all this mean? It means that the current fearmongering that the
government is utilizing to restrict our freedoms is also restricting our
ability to remain as a world power in scientific research, progress, and
innovation. The paranoia that has gripped our society and perpetuated by
the government is a true epidemic. And if we don't wake up soon and realize
the error of our ways the United States will cease to be relevant in the
future of the world.
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May 31, 2006
May 27, 2006
White House invokes privilege in spy cases
I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. The Bush administration can't justify its illegal activities, so they are invoking executive privilege claiming that the matter affects national security. Given the track record of this administration, I have a very difficult time believing them. Besides, it's not worth sacrificing civil liberties for the sake of a false sense of security. What is so important that they can't share with the rest of the country, the country that they are governing, the country that elected them to power, the country that they are spying on? They do not have to give up sensitive information about the whereabouts of any terrorists. The do not even have to tell us exactly how they are collecting the information. Just give some justification of legality, some precedent that doesn't come from totalitarian regimes of the past. The fact that Bush is invoking executive privilege indicates to me that he is attempting to make the issue go away instead of facing the nation and honestly answering our questions. A fling with an intern nearly got Bill Clinton impeached, but holding prisoners without justification and now illegally spying on American citizens has done nothing more create a buzz. Where are our perogatives? I suppose the alternative should Bush be impeached is reason enough not to do it.
May 26, 2006
Another tool to waste time on the internet. . .
Here's a cool little program that you can use to lazily browse the internet. It allows you to find cool sites matched to your interests. Sites are given an thumbs up or thumbs down "review" by users so that stumblers are introduced to well reviewed sites. Give it a try. Be sure to visit the Libloggery and give it a thumbs up if you decide to install StumbleUpon. 
Yet Another Unknown Caller
This morning I received a call on my phone from the number 251-219-4166. I did a search for it but the only information I've found so far is that it is from Mobile, AL. Anyone else have any information?
May 24, 2006
Move America Forward?
Recently while perusing my news sources (on this occasion, the Drudge Report, I saw an ad that caught my ad. The ad was calling for Congress to Censure Jimmy Carter. I thought to myself, why would anyone want to Censure the former President and 2002 Nobel Peace laureate? So, out of curiosity I followed the link. Turns out it is a group of people who don't believe in logical or diplomatic solutions. They level the accusations that President Carter "has repeatedly undermined U.S. foreign policy, criticized the missions of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, as well as embracing known terrorists and terrorist organizations." Let's examine some of their so called "evidence". They state that he "Praises Hamas", the terrorist group that recently was elected to power by the Palestines. He has never praised them, but instead is attempting to recognize the legitimate results of a legitimate democratic election. Sure, we might not be happy that they were elected to power, but the fact remains that they were and we have to accept that. It does no good to refuse to recognize the Hamas government because we don't like the result of, once again, a legitimate democratic election. By witholding financial aid from the Palestinian government, we have created a vacuum into which Iran has happily jumped in, giving them a foothold right next to Israel. I actually commend President Carter for having the courage to speak up on this issue. Also, what better way to demonstrate to the Palestinian and Islamic world as whole that we adhere to democratic ideals than to recognize the result of a democratic election. What a novel concept, no? What about the accusation that he has "criticized the missions of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces"? I say, what's wrong with that? I question the missions. A great many people do. The former President, myself, and millions of other people are not criticizing the men and women of our military, but the policy behind the missions they are told to carry out. I believe we have the finest military in the history of the world, but it is unfortunately in the hands of an incompetent baffoon and his cronies. If anyone should be censured, it is George Bush. Former President Jimmy Carter should be praised for his humanitarian work, his work to promote human rights around the globe, and his ability to think critically about political situations rather than the shallow thought process so prevalent today.
May 23, 2006
Worldmapper: A really cool website
The Worldmapper website displays world maps where the modern day political terroritories have been resized on each map according to a subject of interest. For example, below are the maps resized for population during the year 1 a.d. and the year 1500 a.d. Of note is the increase in size of Japan in 1500 compared to 1. Africa also changed "shape" in 1500 compared to 1. Other maps at the site include "Total Children", "Total Elderly", "Refugee Destination", "Net Emigration", and much, much more. It's definitely worth the time to take a look, not just for the coolness factor but also to see if a map pertains to a particular interest or cause you may have.  Population in the year 1 a.d.  Population in the year 1500 a.d.
May 22, 2006
Waiting for Judy . . .
Per the unanimous response in favor of picture number three from my previous "Waiting for Judy post, here is my latest painting. It was a gift for Judy, of course.  For those interested, below is the original photograph.  You can also purchase a digital copy of the painting by visiting the Libloggery Store.
May 20, 2006
The Galileo Project
Anyone interested in history can appreciate this project put together at Rice University. It attempts to convey all aspects of Galileo's personality and genius, even including translations of letters to his daughter.
May 19, 2006
Clyde Kennard Update: Finally, Justice!
Yesterday Judge Bob Helfrich finally did what the governor of Mississippi didn't have the courage to do: clear Clyde Kennard's name. I originally posted about the injustice that Clyde Kennard had suffered and the unwillingness of Gov. Haley Barbour to clear Kennard's name. The people of Mississippi should be proud of Judge Bob Helfrich for his courage. You can read more about the judge's decision and also about the high school students who played a crucial role in advocating clemency for Kennard.
A sign that makes one say, "Huh?"
While walking back from lunch today, we saw this sign on fence enclosing a parking lot. There were no lasers anywhere in sight. Somebody has an interesting sense of humor. I laughed. That's me in the second picture, with the sign.
A Mexican Sunrise: Chapter 4: Rosalia
A young boy was running down the street away from the brothel, his feet kicking up dust. Rosalia chuckled to herself. Probably just trying to get a peek in one of the windows and got caught again. Rosalia was sitting on the porch, trying to enjoy what little bit of evening breeze had worked itself up. She was fanning herself with a Japanese fan given to her by one of the brothels richer clients. Of course he had just been passing through, but he thought Rosalia the kindest and sweetest woman he had ever met in such a place, and such a woman deserved the beautiful fan he had given her. He told her that she reminded him of the Geisha he had seen while in Japan. Rosalia herself was not beautiful. She was not repulsive either, but there were plenty of women, even at the brothel, more beautiful in appearance that her. But there was a beauty underneath her physical appearance in how she carried herself and how she spoke. Her skin was clear and the color matched the desert in which she lived. With her brown eyes she followed the boy until he was out of site. She closed her eyes and sat back in her chair, her mind focused on how the breeze felt against her face. She was wearing her favorite dress, a black house dress with a small white flower print. Although the original owner had worn it while performing daily chores, in her eyes it was the most beautiful thing she had found in the ready-to-wear store. Just as she was beginning to nod off, a voice called out. "Rosalia!" I wonder what they need now, Rosalia thought to herself. "Rosalia, can you come here for a minute!" the voice called again. Rosalia knew it was one of the girls, one who typically never had any problems. "I'll be right there." Rosalia replied, shaking off the drowsiness. The planks of the porch squeaked as she walked toward the door. Once she entered she immediately knew what the problem was. "Isdel, what do you want this time? Did Sheriff Antonio send you over here, because we already paid him this month?" "Rosalia, why must you always assume I have some sinister motive for coming here? Is there anything wrong with wanting to visit my true love and future wife?" He replied. "I'm never going to marry you. You're a drunk, a cheat, and a thief." "Now, Rosalia, you're too harsh. I'm sober now." "No you're not. I can spell the alcohol on you. I forgot to mention that you're also a liar." "Come now, my love. The house mother of a whorehouse really shouldn't be passing judgement," his voice showing agitation. "Perhaps not. If all you really wanted in coming here was to see me, you've succeeded. Now please leave." "Is Isabella available?" "You have a lot of nerve!" Rosalia was disgusted. It was not the first time Isdel had dropped by to proclaim his love for her, only to then ask for one of the ladies. "A man has needs." "Yes, Isabella is available. Wait here while I get her." Rosalia left to go upstairs. "I presume I'll get my usual discount." He yelled after her. "I presume we have no choice." She yelled back down the stairs. Isdel said nothing more because he knew it was true. As part of the arrangement that he, the sheriff, and the mayor had with the brothel, they could each visit anytime they liked at no cost. They spun it as a small price to pay for looking the other way and thus allowing the brothel to stay in town. Although, as often as they visited, Rosalia wished they would actually start looking the other way. Five minutes later, Rosalia returned with Isabella. Isabella was smiling and flirtatious toward Isdel, even though she was revolted by his presence. It wasn't that Isdel was an unattractive man. He was handsome. Tall, black hair, and gorgeous brown eyes. What was revolting was the seedy aura around him. Once Isdel and Isabella had gone upstairs, Rosalia went back to her chair on the porch. Her mind drifted to thoughts of how she very nearly married Isdel and then to Charlie. Ten years earlier, she had been set to marry Isdel. She thought him a very handsome man who could provide a good life for herself and the children she dreamed of having. After her parents had been killed by a raiding Indian war party, he had been there to take care of her. He had always been good to her and she looked with eager anticipation toward their wedding day. That was until the night she learned the truth of Isdel's character. She had gone for a walk one night as was her habit when she had trouble sleeping. She normally took a route through the entire town. As she was walking past the brothel, praying for the women and patrons inside, Isdel staggered out, drunk. Another patron ran out after him, yelling that Isdel had taken his watch and money. Isdel seemed to ignore the man, and started walking toward the salon without seeing Rosalia. The man ran toward Isdel, yelling. Once he was almost caught up to Isdel, Isdel turned with his gun drawn. The man stopped short, less than a yard away. Isdel shot him in the heart, turned, and continued walking. Rosalia watched the whole incident in stunned silence. The next morning she called off the wedding, even though it meant gossip and controversy. She just could not marry Isdel. He stood against everything she believed. He protested and denied that he had been at the brothel, but Rosalia knew what she had seen. Isdel even had the mayor and sheriff vouch for him, but she stood firm. It was during this time that she learned of the corruption in her town. The mayor, the sheriff, and Isdel formed a corrupt triumvirate that lined their own pockets at the expense of the citizens. She also now doubted the story that he had told her about her parents' deaths. A short while after ending her engagement to Isdel, a Mormon missionary by the name of Charlie arrived in town. He was deeply devoted to his faith and was very charismatic. Even though he and Rosalia shared different faiths, she was a devout Catholic, they became very close through their common faith in God and in doing good. It was for this reason that he stayed in Del Rio after his two year mission would have normally been completed. One day he surprised Rosalia by asking her to marry him. She happily accepted, knowing that God had sent him to her. Soon after their marriage, it became apparent that they were having trouble conceiving. Charlie had always been strong in his faith and accepted what came his way, but the inability of he and Rosalia to conceive was very difficult on him. On top of that, he had suffered several setbacks in his mission. The temple that he and several of his converts had began constructing burned down. In addition, a few of his fledging congregation had mysteriously disappeared. Rosalia suspected Isdel in the fire and disappearances, but had no evidence or recourse. She only knew of Isdel's vow to marry her and the intense jealously he had for her and Charlie's marriage. She did not tell Charlie her suspicions. The setbacks eventually become too much for Charlie and he began neglecting his mission, at one point declaring that God had forsaken him. He took to drinking and became belligerent toward the town residents, but remained faithful to Rosalia and never hurt her. She remained steadfast in her faith and believed that Charlie would eventually return to his old self. One night after an especially pleasant dinner, Charlie and Rosalia made love. Afterwards, he left for the bar. He simply got dressed, and started to leave. She always caught him before he left and kissed him good by. They said their "I love you's". She had not seen Charlie since that night. The next morning she went to the sheriff, knowing it was likely to do no good, and asked if anyone had seen Charlie. The sheriff rounded up a posse that included Isdel and they went off in search of him. After a couple of nights away, they returned with a story that he had probably been killed by a gang of outlaws. Rosalia knew that wasn't true, but she held on to her hope that Charlie remained alive and would one day return. Soon after Charlie's disappearance, Isdel once again attempted to court Rosalia. He told her she needed a man to provide for her, that she couldn't support herself. She always politely responded that she would rather starve homeless than live a life of luxury with a man the likes of him. However, she did realize she would have to find some way to support herself, and that is how she came to work at the brothel. It was the only place in town that would give her work, and she suspected Isdel was behind that as well. The front door slammed shut, rousing Rosalia from her thoughts. "Nice girl, that Isabella." Isdel said. "Yes, she is." Rosalia replied. "Very soft skin. Beautiful breasts. And that ass of hers . . ." "That's quite enough. Why don't you go find somebody at the bar to harass now." "Oh, don't be jealous, my Rosalia." The young boy that ran down the street earlier walked up the steps and onto the porch. "Why, hello there. Have you gotten yourself into any trouble today? Did you find your father yet?" Isdel asked the boy. The boy remained silent. Even he felt a repulsion for the man that stood on the porch with him. "Leave him alone. Weren't you leaving?" Rosalia said. "Very well. Good night to both of you. And remember that my offer still stands." Rosalia said nothing. Isdel walked away and toward the bar. The boy started to head back down the stairs when Rosalia spoke. "Charlie, we need to have a little talk about what you were doing earlier today."
May 17, 2006
Waiting for Judy . . .
Below are some pictures I took with my cell phone while waiting for Judy last Saturday. I'm thinking of making one of them the subject of my next painting. Does anyone have any preference or suggestions?
Dinner at Burger King
Tonight I had dinner at Burger King with one of my coworkers. Over our whoppers we had an interesting conversation about politics, history, and the state of the world. It got me to thinking about the current monarchy running the United States and the complacency of people simply to accept it. For example, the reaction of most people to George Bush's speech last night seems to be anger that it interupted their TV shows. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and to do as they wish, but there is a serious problem in this country when people are more concerned about missing a TV show than listening to where our leaders want to take us. I wish I could have seen the speech, but unfortunately I had a late night in the lab. The complacency doesn't stop there. Earlier this week I posted about the NSA phone data program. Alot of people are willing to accept the illegal activities of our government as long as it's under the cover of protecting us. Some people are willing to give up a little bit of freedom for a stronger sense of security. It seems the only people that can give their lives to protect our security and freedoms are the brave sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers that comprise our military. However, that simply isn't true. While I certainly don't want a terrorist attack on our soil or for innocent people to die, I also don't want to see the prevention of an attack to come at at the cost of our civil liberties and freedoms. The people that died on September 11, 2001 gave their lives for freedom. To justify intrusive government activities, spying on our own citizens, denial of basic human rights, and the deaths of innocent citizens in other countries with their deaths is an insult to their memory. To change our mindset and way of life because of the attacks means that the attackers have succeeded in at least part of their goals. We shouldn't be careless. We do have to realize we aren't isolated in the world and that there are people who want to do us harm. But we can't allow fear to justify the unfettered powers the government is currently assuming. We have to live up to our ideals, ideals promoting freedom and human rights. We shouldn't hold others up to such high standards when we aren't living up to them ourselves. Tonight my friend described the United States as a crumbling empire. At the moment, I have to agree with him. We have an over extended military, a huge national debt, a dependency on a natural resource that will soon run out, and loss of respect around the world. Other countries are rapidly developing and giving their scientists and engineers both the resources and opportunities to develop future technologies, resources and opportunies our country has scaled back due to financial and political constraints. The Bush administration would rather invest money in a war that does nothing more than generate animosity towards us rather than invest money in our intellectual power base that could give untold returns. Let's hope that soon people will wake up and start caring about this country again. It's one thing to get angry and riled up about an attack on our soil. It's easy to stand on the ruins of a fallen building, waving a flag and proclaiming that we will fight for justice. It's easy to put on a big show, to land on a battleship and proclaim a mission has been accomplished. It's quite another to realize what went wrong, to ask the right questions. Let's hope that in the coming years a leader will emerge to prevent the fall of America.
May 16, 2006
ipod nano Disk Mode
For some reason today, my ipod nano went into disk mode along with a message that it was "Okay to disconnect". I don't know why it went into disk mode, but to get it out all one has to do is reset the ipod. The instructions given below are from Apple website.
May 16, 2006
Awwww Man. . .
Well, I didn't make the Final Round of the Da Vinci Code Quest on Google. I just got the below email informing me of my failures. :( It was the last question, the anagram for "So Dark the Con of Man" that cost me. I read the book and knew it was something to do with "of the rocks". For some reason "Madonna" just completely slipped my mind and I lost valuable seconds trying to find the answer. But, it was fun and I did get a free game out of the deal. 
May 14, 2006
A Mother's Day Surprise
May 13, 2006
Should NSA be looking at phone records?
Of course not, I say. No warrant has been issued for this data collection. I can't fathom how anyone can possibly justify this invasion of privacy. But, believe it or not, some of your fellow citizens can. These are likely some of the same people that are opposed to traffic cameras to catch red light runners or other cameras in public areas that police can use to more efficiently protect citizens. However, such surveillance techniques are only okay in public areas and not inside private residences. Let's look at some of the answers people gave in favor or opposed to the NSA policy.
No, Mr. Stanfield, the real travesty is people thinking that as long as the intrusion isn't so much, then it's okay. It's not okay to violate civil rights and Constitutional principles only a little bit in order to feel a little bit more secure. Procedures and precedent are in place for obtaining warrants for such surveillance.
Well put, Mr. Stephens.
This argument is highly emotional, but if I had been one of the victims then I would definitely not want my life to be a justification for illegal government intrusions. Mark fails to realize that there is more at stake than just "a little phone number privacy." Where do we draw the line? Is the next step surveillance cameras on houses? In living rooms? In bathrooms? How much are you willing to give up for a little bit of security? The government failed on 9/11, but only because of the people in charge, not because of inadequate methods and procedures for intelligence gathering.
So, if you have nothing to hide, the you won't have any problems with the government placing cameras in your bathroom and bedroom. Afterall, it's for your own protection. A terrorist could be secretly sneaking into your home during the day and planning a terrible attack. Wouldn't you want the government to be able to see this activity and catch him? So what's the problem if the government gets to see you, your wife, your sons and daugthers bathing? It's a matter of national security, afterall. I believe the best response to the question was given by Morgan Vergara.
It is absolutely essential that we hold our government up to the very simple expectation of protecting our Constitutional freedoms. It is not okay for our civil liberties to be gradually chipped away for the sake of security. It is alarming how the Bush adminsitration is looking more and more like the novel 1984. It is also quite sad that people are up in arms about other relatively minor issues (like illegal immigration) but are not taking to the streets in the hundreds of thousands to protest violations of Constitutional rights. The government has done a good job of deflecting attention from major issues like that.
May 12, 2006
Final Theory: A book review
Today while checking on my website I saw an ad that caught my eye. It may even still be there. It was advertising a book, "The Final Theory" by Mark McCutcheon with the claim "The best selling book our scientists hope you never read. Find out why!" As a scientist myself, I had to check this out. And as a scientist, I do hope you never read this book, at least not before you gain a solid understanding of current scientific theory. While I haven't read the entire book, I did begin reading the first chapter (available for free if you click on the ad). I didn't get very far before I realized the author does not have a deep understanding of the laws he's trying to critique. In the first chapter, McCutcheon makes the claim that Newton's theory of gravity violates a fundamental law of physics. He also claims that Newton's theory simply models gravity, but does not explain it. This claim is valid, but the claim that it violates other physical laws is untrue. The physical law that Newton's theory of gravity supposedly violates is the "Law of Conservation of Energy". McCutcheon claims that the moon "would fly past the Earth and off into space if not forcefully constrained by gravity to circle the Earth, according to Newton's theory. Yet, this tremendous continual effort expended by Earth's gravitational field is not considered to diminish the strength of this field at all, millennium after millennium." I'm not exactly sure where to begin, but the statements in the book are misleading. I will offer a brief explanation that McCutcheon either does not comprehend or has intentionally left out of his book. The Earth does create a gravitional field that pulls the moon toward it. Likewise, the moon creates a gravitional field that pulls the Earth toward it. The force between the objects is proportional to both masses. As McCutcheon stated, Newton did not explain the source of gravity, simply that it exists and the force is proportional to mass and distance. The modern explanation that mass bends the space around it does offer a source for gravity. This explanation requires no continous expenditure of energy. However, this does not yet get to the key flaw in his argument. McCutcheon used a car analogy to claim that the Law of Conservation of Energy must be violated in Newton's theory of gravity. When a car increases its speed, it is accelerating. The engine is converting the potential energy of its fuel into kinetic energy, thus the Law of Conservation of Energy is obeyed. Now, if the vehicle is turned in a circle there is a force acting to change it's intial direction, and the car is undergoing centripetal acceleration. However, there is no energy required to maintain this constant diversion. Imagine twirling a yo-yo around your head. In the absence of friction and air resistance, the yo-yo would forever twirl. Gravity can be viewed as the string that ties the moon to the Earth. Adding friction and and air resistance simply causes the yo-yo (and Earth) to slow. To put it another way, gravity is a force, energy is force through a distance. Imagine pushing on a wall with all your might. You push and push, but the wall does not give. You have exerted alot of force and your body converted alot of energy. However, the wall pushed back, but did not convert any energy. The force it exerted was due to the potential energy inherit in its structure. Potential energy does not change unless converted to another form. This view is the proper one to describe the moon revolving around the Earth. The potential energy is what keeps the moon orbiting, potential energy created by gravity. No constant source supplying energy to the system is necessary as the potential energy remains stored in it. The biggest mistake McCutcheon made was in assuming that all types of acceleration require an energy conversion. However, such a basic misunderstanding of scientific principles serves to discredit his entire book, in the first chapter nonetheless. If you'd like to see some of the mistakes people can make when they only think they fully understand something, then go for this book. If you'd like to learn some science, though, find a more credible source.
May 10, 2006
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Twenty Four
Had to do this one fast today in an attempt to be one of the first 10,000 people to finish the quest and become a finalist. Don't yet know if I succeeded. I don't have the exact questions, but I do have the answers, listed below. This challenge was just like the Day Three , Day Ten, and Day Seventeen challenges. You can view the video here.
May 09, 2006
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Twenty Three
Just like the Day Six , Day Twelve, and Day Eighteen challenges, you have puzzle to put together. It may be easier to find the four corner pieces and place them first, then place the edge pieces, and finally the center pieces. Just some jigsaw puzzle solving hints. You are then asked to name the city pictured and to find items hidden around the city. "Surely your recognize this city of light. After all, it's home to the most famous painting in the world. What is the name of the city?" Answer: Paris "Correct! There are nine Cinquefoil icons hidden among the streets. Please find them and click on them." You can find the location of the Blades on the picture below.  "You have found all nine Cinquefoil icons! The icons reveal a hidden Chalice, centering on La Pyramide Inversee. But from above, it looks like something completely different; something related to the number of icons you have discovered on each Geography Challenge: 0, 1, 4, 9, . . .what is this classical sequence?" Answer: squares Shameless promotion: Since you've made a stop at the Libloggery, why don't you s tick around for awhile, read some of the posts, leave some comments, and come back soon!
May 08, 2006
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Twenty Two
Similar to the Day Five, Day Eleven, and Day Sixteen challenges. The answers to the questions are:
 Shameless promotion: Since you've made a stop at the Libloggery, why don't you stick around for awhile, read some of the posts, leave some comments, and come back soon!
May 07, 2006
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Twenty one
A more challenging version of the Day Four, Day Nine, and Day Fifteen challenges. Once you get the pictures hung you are asked a question. I've listed below the questions I got in my attempts. The easiest way to find the answers is to use the bolded words as search terms in Google Book Search. Feel free to list your questions and answers in the comments. Answer: Scipiade Answer: adulation Please post any questions not listed here in comments. Shameless promotion: Since you've made a stop at the Libloggery, why don't you stick around for awhile, read some of the posts, leave some comments, and come back soon!
May 06, 2006
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Twenty
Another more challenging version of previous challenges (in this case,Day Two, Day Eight, and Day Fourteen). After completing the puzzle (Don't give up! It can be done!) you are asked a question. Your question is probably different than mine. "According to The Numismatic Chronicle, during whose reign were the rare fleur-de-lis groats of Stirling struck?" Answer: James II The easiest way to find the answer is to use Google Book Search and use as your search terms the bolded words in your question along with the book title. Please add your question and answer to the comments. Shameless promotion: Since you've made a stop at the Libloggery, why don't you stick around for awhile, read some of the posts, leave some comments, and come back soon!
May 05, 2006
Positive Feedback
Yesterday I had my last official face to face interaction with my students while proctoring their final exam. In the past, I never seriously considered teaching as something I would want to do as my primary job. I knew if I became a professor with a research program that I would have to teach some, but after this past year, and especially this particular group of students, I think I can teach at a smaller school and be perfectly happy. The students, for the most part, were really bright. The entire class also had a great work ethic. Only on a few occasions did I have no one show up to my office hours. They truly wanted to understand the material and were challenged by the homework assignments (part of which I actually wrote). A teacher could not ask for a better group to teach. I also had my ego inflated by both the professor of the course and several of the students. The professor proclaimed that me and my fellow TA were the best he has had. He also said that the feedback he was given by the students reinforced that in his mind. The professor shakes the hands of the students after they turn in their exam, congratulating them on their work. A few of the students also chose to come over and shake my and my fellow TA's hands. It felt nice to be recognized for your work by the students you're trying to help and teach.
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Nineteen
This challenge is very similar to those from Day One, Day Seven, and Day Thirteen except this one is a 6x6. Once you solve it, you will be asked a question. "What chief Italian virtue does author William Dean Howells learn on his Italian Journeys?" Answer: patience The easiest way to find the answer is to use the Google Book Search and use as search terms the bolded words in your question along with the book title and perhaps the author. Shameless promotion: Since you've made a stop at the Libloggery, why don't you stick around for awhile, read some of the posts, leave some comments, and come back soon!
May 04, 2006
Broken Handle Bars
Tonight on my way back from school, I was chugging my way up the largest hill I have to climb. It's not too bad of a climb, and tonight I was actually making it up pretty easily. Then, a car came over the top of the hill. I was in no danger of getting hit, but the blinding headlights were a bit unnerving. As I continued chugging up the hill I suddenly lost control of the bike and started to fall to the right, towards the sidewalk. I was fortunate to catch myself, only suffering a minor scratch on my hand and a few bumps. The incident immediately brought memories of the time when I was younger (actually, still in middle school), when while riding my bike the frame broke. But, that's another story for another time. After regaining my composure, I thought the person coming over the hill surely would have seen me nearly fall, and see that my bike did hit the ground. They had pulled into the driveway left of where I just had my incident, but made no move to check on me. Another person out jogging or walking actually went to the other side of the road where there isn't even a sidewalk! Such is the courtesy and helpfullness you can expect to find from people in Indiana. Back to my bike. I checked the handle bars and realized they had broken. I couldn't really see where since it was so dark, but I knew I was probably going to have to walk the rest of the way home. Thus my 20 minute bike ride had turned into an hour walk. Once I got up to the top of the hill and into some light, I could see that a weld had broken. (The picture below was taken the next morning.)  I called my girlfriend to let her know what had just happened and that it would take me longer than expected to get home. I had told her I would call her after I got home, something that would have only taken 20 minutes had my bike not broken. After talking for a bit, I decided to try riding my bike again. After all, I should still be able to steer using the shaft to which the handle bars were attached. Let me tell you, it's not easy. The faster you get going the easier it is, much like driving a car without power steering. But since the handlebars were no longer in the proper place it was difficult to use the brakes without veering wildly. I had to steer by both turning the front wheel shaft and also leaning slightly. If a car was on the road with me, I stopped as it was too dangerous to risk losing control and going in front of the car. Stopping was easiest if I used my feet. The good news is that I did eventually make it home. Unfortunately, my bike may be out of commission for awhile. It's disappointing since the weather was finally starting to warm up enough to where I could ride to work everyday or ride around the fantastic bike paths in my area. I'm sure I can think of someway to fix my handle bars.
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Eighteen
Just like the Day Six and Day Twelve challenges, you have puzzle to put together. It may be easier to find the four corner pieces and place them first, then place the edge pieces, and finally the center pieces. Just some jigsaw puzzle solving hints. You are then asked to name the city pictured and to find items hidden around the city. "Leonardo's reverse handwriting manuscript on perpetual motion wheels can be found in this city. What is its name? (For another clue, Hyde in the north.)" Answer: London "Well done! There are four Blades hidden around the city. Please find them and click on them." Just a reminder that Blades look like pyramids. You can find the location of the Blades on the picture below.  "You have found all four Blades, and lo! they draw an X over a place just slightly north of the Victoria and Albert Museum, home of Leonardo's Codex Forster. What is its name?" Answer: Imperial College There are many things just slightly north of the Victoria and Albert Museum as you can see from the map below. But the answer they want is Imperial College.
May 03, 2006
The Urinal Game
The men out there will understand this game. For the women, here's a sneak peak into the minds of men. 
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Seventeen
Just like the Day Three and Day Ten challenges. You can view the video here.
A Horrific E-bay Experience
Over the last month, I had the worst experience on E-bay I've ever had. I've bought and sold a few things (sold more, actually) and have never had a bad experience until last month. I decided to buy a Lacoste shirt, the ones with an alligator. Unfortunately, these shirts are over $50 retail, far outside of my budget. So, I decided to give E-bay a shot. I know to be wary of counterfeits, so I was sure to find a seller advertising geunine, authentic shirts. I should have known better, but I bid on a shirt from a guy who's starting bid was $0.99 but the shipping was $19.99. I thought he was probably charging high shipping to circumvent the graduated listing fees E-bay uses. That should have been red flag for me to realize I'm probably dealing with a less than honest individual. But since he claimed the high cost of shipping was because of the "expense of high quality packing and materials" I gave him the benefit of the doubt and bid. I won the bid and paid $20.98, excited at the prospect of getting such a nice shirt for such a great bargain. However, once it arrived I immediately realized that I had been conned. The "high quality" packing was nothing more than a large yellow envelope (see end of post). It did not even have padding! And of course the shirt was a fake. The material was flimsy, the tag had the wrong price on it, and the alligator decal wasn't even close to be right. I contacted the buyer, requesting a refund because the shirt was counterfeit. I also felt I deserved to be reimbursed for the cost of shipping it back to him since that is standard practice among respectable sellers. If you receive an item not as described, you can send it back for a full refund. I would certainly do that for my customers. However, he refused to even believe the shirt was fake. He tried to deflect my arguments by claiming that he had never had any problems before, that I must have nothing better to do than to squabble over a dollar. I persisted, and he finally stated that he would give me a refund. However, since he didn't specify how much he would refund, I was not inclined to send the only piece of evidence I had in my claim against him. He is the sort of person that hides behind technicalities to justify his unethical business practices. I took the shirt to a Lacoste Boutique where the shirt was verified as counterfeit. After informing him of this, he wanted to know which boutique I took it to and the phone number. I guess he still didn't believe me. I gave him the information, and shortly thereafter saw that he had removed listings for all the other Lacoste shirts he had. However, he still didn't offer me a full refund, so I decided to pursue the issue through the PayPal dispute feature, knowing that I would only get a refund of the $20.98 and nothing for the cost of shipping the shirt back to him. It was better than getting only $0.99 back. Of course PayPal found in my favor and I received my refund. I left negative feedback for him, and in retaliation he left me negative feedback. The unfortunate thing is all of the other people that bought shirts from him and believed they got real shirts. Many have even left positive feedback for him. He was running quite a con on E-bay. In the end the whole ordeal cost me almost $5 for shipping, not including the cost of gas for driving to the boutique, so it could have been alot worse. It is a sad world we live in where people refuse to take responsibility for their actions. In order to demonstrate the shadiness and lack of morals by the seller, below are the feedback statements we exchanged.
May 02, 2006
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Sixteen
Similar to the Day Four and Day Ten challenges. The answers to the questions are:
The Lecture
The alarm clock buzzed loudly and David awoke with a fright. Oh crap! I'm supposed to meet with Jim this morning! What time is it? He looked at the now silent clock, its red numbers glowing 7:30. Crap! I only have 15 minutes to catch the bus! He sprang into action, running to the shower to get the water started. He threw off his pajamas and jumped in, frantically washing his hair, face, and body. Five minutes later he turned off the water and opened the shower curtain. Crap! My towel is the bedroom. He climbed out of the shower, opened the bathroom door and felt the chill of the air strike his wet body. He walked slowly toward his bedroom, both to minimize the impact of the cold air as he moved forward and to prevent dripping water on the carpet. He grabbed the towel and slowly dried off the bulk of the water before furiously drying his hair. He looked at the clock. 7:40. No time for breakfast. Just as furiously as he had taken a shower, he threw on some clothes. Over a white undershirt he pulled on a yellow and white striped shirt, a shirt that reminded his girlfriend of eggs over easy. He completed his outfit with jeans and tennis shoes. He packed his laptop into its carrying case and threw it around his neck, grabbing his keys on the way out the door. He hurried toward the bus stop, not quite jogging but not quite walking either. Crap! I forgot my lunch. Oh well, no time now. The previous night he had packed a lunch for the today. At the bus stop he could see people waiting at the stop before his. Good, I haven't missed it. He pulled out his cell phone to call his girlfriend, but felt something nudging his left leg. He looked down to see what it was. "Oh, I'm sorry boy. I almost forgot about you, didn't I? I'm sorry but we don't have time for breakfast today. Come here." He was talking to his pet Chihuahua. How he obtained the dog wasn't quite clear even to him, but he picked it up and put it in a special pouch he had added to his bag. "We have to make sure the bus driver can't see you." The dog looked at him contently, almost to say he completely understood. As the bus approached, he closed the pouch and raised his right arm. The bus lurched to a stop. Great. The driver who thinks she's a race car driver. He got on and before he could take his customary seat in the back corner, the driver sped off, forcing him to grab one of the poles and swing himself into his seat. My goodness, he thought. The remainder of the bus ride went pretty much as usual. At the next stop the bus almost filled up, and at the one after that it did fill so that people had to stand. Then, typical annoyances such as loud talkers and inconsiderate people forcing the bus to stop at places not officially designated a bus stop. Despite annoying occurrences, the world does keep going. Once on campus, he got off and walked briskly toward his building. He pulled out his phone to check the time. 8:10. Good, I won't be late. Once inside his building, he rushed down the long corridor that led to his office. On the way he ran into Jim. "Good morning." He said to Jim. "Good morning, David." Jim replied. "Don't forget about Terry's class today. The guest lecturer is someone we should all meet." Oh, that's right. I don't have a meeting with Jim this morning. There's a special lecturer in Terry's class. "No, I haven't forgotten. I'm going to head over there as soon as I put my stuff away." "Okay." His conversations with Jim often went like this. He felt tongue-tied, wanting to say something more lucid but always feeling he had made a fool of himself. Once at his office he met his lab mates. "Good morning." He said as he entered. Everyone replied likewise. "Hey, David, we're going over to the Union to get some coffee and breakfast before heading over to the lecture. Want to join us?" Thomas asked. "Absolutely. I didn't have time for breakfast this morning." "Okay, let's go." David put his laptop on his desk and picked up his book bag. The Chihuahua scampered quickly into the book bag. David was still surprised that nobody had discovered that he brought a dog with him to work everyday. But it was a remarkably well behaved dog. They went to the student union. The roof was permanent, but in the summer months the walls were opened to allow fresh air and sunlight to circulate through. There were several counters that offered different types of food, much like in a standard cafeteria. The coffee was self-serve, though. After collecting their coffee, bagels, and donuts, they filed into the single register line that was open. David had already eaten his donut. In his pocket he found two dimes and nickel. That should be enough for a donut. "I already ate my donut. How much is it?" David asked the cashier. "$2.56." She replied. "What?" He exclaimed. "Two dollars and fifty-six cents for a donut!" "Two are $5.12. So that means one is $2.56." "Wow." He said, pulling out his credit card. "Didn't think I'd need this to pay for a donut." "Minimum purchase to use a credit card is $5.00." "You've got to be kidding." "No, I'm afraid not, sir." "Okay, I'm already holding up the line. I'm going to come back here for lunch. Can I pay for my donut then?" "I'll ask my supervisor after I've helped these other people." "I have to get going to a lecture. I promise I'll be back at lunch. Here, let me give you my name." "You can go, but I can't guarantee that you won't get in trouble." "Okay." He moved out of the way. Once everyone had paid, they headed for the Math building, where the lecture was going to be held. It was also where Terry went for class every week. The outside of the Math building looked like any other academic building, but instead of a standard rectangular shape, a large portion of the first floor had been removed so that only the outside edges of two sides remained. These edges each held a couple of offices and elevator lobbies. One could walk through and under the building using the cut out. The red-brick exterior belied the appearance of the interior. On the second floor a very spacious lobby, much like in a five star hotel, greeted people that exited the elevators. A great quantity of stained maple paneling, tables, and countertops added to the aura of the lobby. It was impossible not to appreciate the pleasing sound that one's shoes made on the black and blue marble flooring. In the center stood an information desk with snooty greeters. They greeted everyone with suspicious stares and seldom offered any help. If someone did ask them for help, they often received cryptic responses that were impossible to decode. However, today one of the greeters had a knowing smirk on his face. When he saw the group exit the elevator, he called out "David Mirth?" David, along with the rest of the group, seemed taken aback. "Yes." "I have a message for you. Please come over here for a moment." "Okay." He turned to the rest of his group. "I guess I'll catch up with you guys in a minute. I hope it's anything bad." "Me too." Thomas said. "Catch you later." David walked over to the information desk. "What is the message?" "Did you attempt to buy a donut this morning?" "Yes, I'm going to pay for it at lunch." "Hmm. I see. Well, you're under investigation for shop-lifting." "Shop-lifting?" "Yes, you took a donut and didn't pay for it." "Oh, fantastic." "Okay, that's it." "That's it? You mean there's nothing I can do to right things?" "Hmm. No, nothing written here. Have a good day, sir." "Thanks, I think." David walked away from the information desk. Certainly they'll understand when I tell them the whole story. He checked his phone. It's 8:29. I better get going. A realization then struck David. Crap! I don't know where the class is! Terry was the only one of us that knew. What am I going to do? He looked at his phone. The lecture should be starting now. So, I'll be late. I'm pretty sure all the lectures are on the third floor. He took the stairs up to the third floor, but only found hotelesque corridors leading to many offices and small classrooms. He decided to keep going up floors until he found it. Certainly they wouldn't put a big-time lecture at the top of the building. After wandering around searching with no success, he found himself on the fifth floor. The time was now 8:45. Feeling panicked, he decided to stop and calm down for a second. I'm certainly late now. But I should still try to see part of it. Let me check the third floor again. It has to be there. Back on the third floor, he found a previously unexplored corridor. It led to a decidedly different part of the building. The walls changed from dark red maple to large grey rectangular stones. The floor was no longer marble but bare, rough concrete. The lighting, provided by torches, made it appear as if he were walking in a medieval castle. His dog poked its head out of his book bag. "Hey boy. I'm not sure where we are." The dog just looked around, seeming contented just to go along for the ride. "Come on, boy." David took a towel out of his book bag and formed a bed in which to carry the dog. The dog almost immediately fell asleep, wrapped in the towel that David held under his right arm. David continued down the corridor. Just ahead, he could make out the silhouette of a small group of people. I wonder if they can tell me where the lecture is? It's already 8:55. Might as well try. Approaching the group, he saw that they were all dressed in black robes. That's certainly unnerving. Oh well. They still might know. "Excuse me." He called, still walking toward them. They eyed him suspiciously. "Excuse me, could you tell me where the special lecture is? I'm already 30 minutes late." The eyes of one in the group lit up. "Awww. What a cute puppy!" The others then saw the dog, their eyes also lighting up. "Awww." One sighed. "Uh, thanks." David said. "Can I hold it?" One asked. David was always hesitant to let others handle his belongings, much less his dog. "Uh, I don't. . ." "Please, I won't bite." She asked again. The others giggled. "Alright." David said, reluctantly handing the dog over. "Awww." The woman holding the dog said, gleefully stroking its back. "So, do you know where the special lecture is today? I really need to get going since I'm half an hour late." The ladies looked at each other, smirking. "I think you need to take the stairwell at the end of this hall. Follow us." The group moved in unison, toward the darkest end of the hall. David felt he had no choice but to follow, especially since they still had his dog. The lighting became less reliable as they continued forward. Several of the torches were no longer lit. "Here it is." One said, pointing to an open space in the wall. David could make out the faint silhouette of a staircase inside the space. "Thank you very much" David said, reaching to take back his dog. Just as reluctantly as David had given the dog to them, they gave it back to him. "You're welcome, sir. Anytime you'd like to come back with your puppy, feel welcome." "I'll keep that in mind." David said, hurrying up the first flight of the staircase. The first few flights were not as creepy as the upper flights. It was a wooden staircase, spiraling upwards. The walls were the same stone as the corridor he had just left, but it was much darker. He felt that he was climbing through the inside of a stone tower. As if to signal where each floor began, thick wooden beams projected over the staircase, forcing David to duck under them to pass. While the wooden planks protested each step by creaking loudly, they seemed sturdy. On the upper flights, water dripped from the some of the wooden beams David had to duck under. Some of the steps were also missing, forcing David to unwillingly skip a step or two occasionally. The doors of the upper flights had the names of nuns and priests on them, the plaques framed in polished copper and the names carved into black wood and filled in with yellow paint. As he climbed he also saw what appeared to be crypts of deceased nuns and priests built into the stone wall, with the same name plaques but the copper had tarnished green. David finally reached what appeared to be the proper door. He didn't know why it seemed like the door to open, but it just felt right. He opened it and found himself in a circular room. Tall glass windows, fifteen feet in height, surrounded the room on all sides. Across the room stretched a large diameter nylon tube that David could just reach around with his arm if he tried. On the other side of the glass David could see people attending the lecture. The room on the other side of the glass had the same large window on the outside so that natural light filtered into the room that David found himself. Some in the room had their backs to David, but to his right others were sitting so they could see both the lecture and the inner room. In this section sat his coworkers, but they hadn't yet noticed him. David looked at his phone. 9:20. Well, at least I should try to get in there without anyone seeing me sneak in. He looked around, looking for a doorway or some way that might lead to the lecture room. It was then that the most surprising thing of the day happened to David. A great gush of water fell from above, drenching him. Then, the floor disappeared. He grabbed the nylon tube, hanging with a hand on either side. The tube oscillated up and down for several seconds, bringing David for the ride. His dog was able to scramble onto a ledge at the edge of the room. David looked up to see everyone in the room staring at him. So much for a silent entrance, I suppose, he thought, not really fearing the certain death he would suffer if his grip slipped. One of the windows to the room opened and the tube rotated toward it. David could now hear the lecturer speaking. It seemed that this entire setup had been a part of the speaker's act. David expected the speaker to say something profound or provocative after putting on such a show. "Thank you for attending my lecture. I certainly hope that I've been able to educate and entertain you this morning. I'll now open the floor to questions." Why the hell am I drenching wet and holding onto a nylon tube for dear life? Much to David's chagrin, nobody asked about him, though. In fact, all of the questions seemed to be very esoteric and directed more at learning where the speaker had spoken previously and where he would be going next. After the last question had been asked, the floor reappeared and David was able to climb into the lecture room. "What happened to you, man?" Thomas asked. "Is that what happens if you don't pay for a donut?" "I'm not sure. It's a long story and I just want to get dried off." "Is that your dog?" "Yes." "I didn't even know you had a dog." "Yeah, I have a dog. So, what can you tell me about the lecture."
May 01, 2006
Da Vinci Code Quest: Day Fifteen
A more challenging version of the Day Three and Day Nine challenges. Once you get the paintings properly hung, you'll get a translation question. One way to answer this is to use Babel Fish. The words and languages I got in my attempts are listed below. Feel free to list your answers in the comments. Please post any questions not listed here in comments. Shameless promotion: Since you've made a stop at the Libloggery, why don't you stick around for awhile, read some of the posts, leave some comments, and come back soon! |
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