So Now I Actually Know What They’re Talking About: I’ve seen all these articles about waterboarding, without really knowing what it is. Some reporter bet he could withstand 15 seconds of it. Think he made it? Take a look.
Girl Power Department: Dr. Isis at the Science Blogs is doing a really cool series called the Letters to Our Daughters Project, in which accomplished female scientists write letters of advice to young women considering a career in science. As the father of two daughters who would be thrilled to see them pursue and enjoy a career in science, I think this is interesting and worthwhile. Here’s a excerpt from the first one:
About a year later a classmate turned to her and called her a bitch. She thanked him for noticing, and then related how she had not reached her mother’s level of “bitchdom” yet. He said nothing more, and did not try to insult her the rest of the year. She came home from school empowered rather than insulted.
Here’s an excerpt from the second and most recent installment:
Fortunately for me as a smart girl, my family and my teachers never told me that I could not be who I wanted to be when I grew up.
Amen. I have consistently told my girls they can be anything they want to be when they grow up. They aren’t going to (and shouldn’t) choose a career just because I want them to, so they might as well do something that makes them happy. I like to expose them to stories about smart, cool women who chose their path, as opposed to having it chosen for them.
We Came to the Pyramids: Speaking of Isis, there’s this on the day before the 5th day of May:
Isis, oh, Isis, you mystical child.
What drives me to you is what drives me insane.
I still can remember the way that you smiled
On the fifth day of May in the drizzlin’ rain.
If Kafka Did Airports: This is really funny (via Will Truman):
Do Bears Poop in the Woods Department: Yes, yes a million times yes. Like every other thing in the Web 2.0 space. But as far as I can tell they haven’t sought out the overhype.
Burma-Blog: I would’ve guessed it was Texas. Oh, that’s right, we’re still a state.
Writing blog posts
Well you can dream
That they’ll be
On Techmeme
Burma-Blog
Caveman General Says: That some dinosaurs survived the asteroid cataclysm. I wonder if it was Space Invaders that got ’em. Or maybe this:
Speaking of the Surgeon General: Just remember that “the Surgeon General has one lung and a voicebox but he could still kick your sorry ass.”
Mythbusting Department: I love the epic battles between fairy tales and scientists.
Deep Art Ment: I go to great lengths to avoid all ads. DVR, XM Radio, Adblock Plus, you name it. Yet I like to read old Sears catalogs (I bought two from the 60’s off of eBay a few years ago) and old print ads. Here are some ads you won’t see anymore. And here’s a neat list of vintage illustrations.
Now I Can’t Eat that Either: Want to know how much sugar is in that healthy dish you’re about to consume?
Nice Monkey: On the other hand, some teas allegedly increase your metabolism. I’m not sure I buy it, but it makes me feel better about the Arizona Diet Peach Tea monkey I carry around on my back.
Newsome.Org 