Meter Runs Backward. Short Popular Science article on a guy who puts power into the grid. I so want to do this… Update: And this is cool, too. A related article about using cellulosic ethanol, a type of ethanol produced when the cellulose in plants (wood chips, corn cobs) is processed by termites into sugars […]

Oz. I watched The Wizard of Oz with Ray last night. Here are the two points where she expressed the most dismay: –The professor took off in the balloon without Dorothy.–Dorothy wakes up in her own bed, and the shoes are gone. In fact, I think the movie may have to be rechristened “The Sparkly

Well, Now I Know. Many a day at my old job I thought to myself, “What would it be like if people actually did what they were supposed to do?” Now I know. It’s called “Government Beaurocracy.” My first week of work closely resembled a week spent at the DMV, filling out paperwork, waiting in

Baby update. I told Ray that Erica’s going to have a baby. “I know,” she said. “A girl baby.” “They don’t know yet,” I told her. “We just have to wait to find out.” “It’s a girl baby. But I will wait and find out,” she said. As if she wouldn’t be tickled pink either

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. theomania (thee-o-MAY-nee-uh, -MAIN-yuh) noun The belief that one is God or specially chosen by God on a mission. [From Greek theos (god) + -mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze).] (via A.Word.A.Day.) Jake: First you traded the Cadillac in for a microphone. Then you lied to me about the band. And now you’re gonna put me

Baby! My brother Matt and his wife, Erica, are expecting a baby! Woot! And for the lovely momma…Hot Mommas Maternity Botique!

An Unfortunate Review. Eldest (Inheritance series, book 2), by Christopher Paolini. (Audiobook version.) Although eagerly anticipating listening to the unabridged version, I was unable to make it through the first tape (of fourteen). Good lord. How many plot contrievances can you pack into the first half hour? Why, at least three blatantly obvious ones (I

A Prairie Home Companion. My mother says this is very funny. Apparently the midwesterners who she went to the movie with did not feel that this movie struck particularly close to home. Hmph. Garrison Keillor: We come from people who brought us up to believe that life is a struggle, and if you should feel

Book Recommendations. The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, book 3), by Eoin Colfer. Listened to the audiobook read by Nathaniel Parker. I’ve read the first two book on paper; I may have to go back and listen to the audio versions. Fun YA fantasy fiction about a preadolescent criminal mastermind who comes into contact with the

Movie… …that I want to remember to check out: Still Crazy. [Playing a game to name bands with parts of the body as part of their name] Beano: Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show!Clare: Objection, your honor!Hughie: Objection sustained.Beano: Well, some people ‘ave hooks instead of hands.Les: Yeah, but it’s not part of the body;