AUGH WHAT

I keep forgetting this crap exists! I mean really is it so hard for me to remember something so simple as having a diary? Or journal or "web-log" or whatever? Yes, it is too hard. I don't remember things like that.

Amber is playing sing-star, but i have no idea what songs she's singing. Oh well. I think she wants me to, but I can't sing and I don't know any of these songs so no I don't think I'll be doing that.

Also i think i'll use my other twitter account more, like for when i'm feeling introverted (which is basically all of the time) so i don't have to unfollow people and then have them hate me forever and kill me with a hook that looks like the blue oyster cult logo.

Toxoplasma gondii / Toxoplasmosis

This is the coolest parasite ever. It spends its life cycle in cats, but can live in other animals. It spends time in other animals mostly in brain tissue and is pretty clever about it. It's mostly harmless (a healthy human or cat can easily keep it completely at bay,) although may be harmful to fetuses, so it's a concern for pregnant women.

It lives and reproduces in a cat's stomache, and, like most parasites that do, it spreads through feces. But, here's the problem: cats avoid feces. Some other animals (like rats and mice) do not and since fecal matter is good fertilizer, it could end up in humans via plants.

Here's the awesome part: rats and mice are instinctively afraid of the scent of felid urine. This helps them to avoid cats and cat territory. Toxoplasmosis selectively alters their brain chemistry to make them attracted to this scent. It doesn't change any of their other fears (if the rat dies from something else, so does the parasite.) So now that rats are attracted to cats, T. gondii is suddenly and happily back in a cat's stomache!

Sinister, eh?

T. gondii has also been shown to have effects on humans, basically raising estrogen production in women and testosterone production in men.

Meh

no

ALLEZ CUISINE!

     I love Iron Chef. It's the best show ever.  It's almost campy, but ends up being completely genuine.  After all, we have contests of trying to put balls in holes that we take seriously, why not cooking?  I love everything about the show.  The food, the music, the commentary, the theatrics/story: it's wonderful.

     But Iron Chef America sucks.  There isn't the same rivalry they have in the original: even when they have some competitive spirit, there's no real pride or honour, there's no respect.  It seems like they don't take cooking as seriously. It's not their profession, it's their job.  Overall, the commentary isn't as insightful, though Alton Brown is certainly a fantastic commentator (I'd say as good as the originals.)  They put no effort into the story, or presentation: the food is supposed to stand alone.  And, how can it?  Frankly, the chefs on ICA aren't of the same caliber as the originals.  The creations never look (or even sound) as good, and don't show the same skill or creativity.  It ends up typical of boisterous-America: loud, irritating, and without substance.

     So, it's time to make a new version; a truly world version of Iron Chef.  Nine chefs chosen from around the world: Japanese, Chinese, Thai, French, English, Italian, Mid-Eastern, Bavarian/Russian, and Latin.   Each from the region of their cooking, and each a true master of cuisine.  Judges would also be internationally chosen, as to avoid a 'home-taste advantage.'  The stadium would be as grand as CS-I, but have the professional appliances of CS-II. Costumes would of course be required, to keep with the grandiose nature of the program.  Commentary would be done in the original style (a host and color commentator joined by one or two judges, with a floor-commentator to provide details,) but would involve Alton Brown (by kidnapping if necessary.)  CS-III will be high in the mountains in an undisclosed location.  To compensate, the battles will be lengthened to 90 or 120 minutes.  I haven't decided whether to use the score from Blackdraft, or an original.  The story will be as grand as the original, with the chairman frequently traveling by stagecoach, always beginning stories with "If memory serves..."

Good idea!

Stephen Colbert had a good idea: send Max Baucus your healthcare bills. Since he wants to help Americans with no health insurance, but not, you know, do anything about it, he clearly just wants to pay it himself!! He can just take it out of the $1,196,463 the insurance industry has contributed to his campaigns!

SO! Send all of your unpaid healthcare bills to:

Max Baucus
511 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510

Ugh

"For god's sake, democrats, they're countering your arguments with nonsense, and crushing you."
-Jon Stewart

Oh right!

I got a third interview set for next friday, and the apartment is held until then.

Nothing

That's what I got done in the rest of the day.

Woah!

Today I have:

Cleaned the bathroom/threw out Erin's old stuff
Replaced my passenger-side headlamp
Replaced the knob/deadbolt on my door

And it's only 11:00! I wonder what I'll do this afternoon :)


P.S. someone buy me a set of Snap-on tools. In addition to all the usual things, I'll need an 18V cordless drill, impact drill, reciprocating saw, extra batteries, and battery charger.

Your mom graduated from college with honours!

Erin has left. That chapter of my life is, for all intents and purposes, over.

iPhones, carries, and 4G

     Okay yes, I want an iPhone. I'm not fond of AT&T, but I'm equally disinterested in Verizon. AT&T has a slight advantage in customer service, but it still leaves vast amounts to be desired, and their network infrastructure isn't as strong. Verizon's 3G service is better, and the 4G service is much closer, but their customer service is abysmal at best.

     I like Sprint for their network strength (they ay not have 4G ready as soon as Verizon, but their tech looks promising) and T-Mobile for their customer service. I'd really like Virgin the best (they operate over Sprint's network and have fantastic customer service,) but I don't see that happening.

     Whatever happens next year, I hope i can get an iPhone, and not be limited to AT&T or Verizon.

What?

James Turner did a little B&S update a few months back, figure this out:

Oops

I forgot two webcomics! These ones I don't so much watch, or bookmark an RSS page, as I'm subscribed to by email.

Copper, by Kazu Kibuishi. This one updates rarely, but is well worth the wait. Kazu's artwork is amazing.
Beaver & Steve. This was my favourite for years, but as you can see, it's on indefinite hiatus, probably never to return.

Letter From an Occupant

Still my favourite from Neko or The New Pornographers.

Would this be crazy?

      The current per child tax credit in the US is $1000 per child, set to reduce to $500 per child next year. The current system just sets people up to have too many kids, rather than help raise them, since even $1000/year is a drop in the bucket next to the cost of raising a child. How about instead of simply dropping it, we change it:

For a couple:
$1000/year for one child (the same as this year)
$500/year for a second child (75% total of this year's system, or 150% of next year's system)
$0/year for a third (50% total of this year, or 100% of next year)
$-500/year for a fourth child, bringing it back down to the credit for one)
$-1000/year for a fifth child (bringing it to 0)
$-2000/year for a sixth child (you would owe MORE taxes for having so many children)
$-1000/year for each additional


For a single parent:
$2000/year for the first
$0 for the second
$-1000/year for the third and subsequent

     The extra revenue goes to schools, WIC programs (which will be expanded to single fathers,) and other community programs for kids.

     This way having a responsible number of children is encouraged, while having more is discouraged. The one child policy china had wouldn't really work here; it's too communist. This is capitalist at its very core, and would go a lot farther to help disadvantaged kids, while making it so there are fewer of them.

Two turntables and a microphone

     Why, internet? Why must I use you so often? The internet is so ubiquitous in modern life that I doubt most people see it as an activity any more than breathing, or merely perceiving. It's simply a natural extension. I wonder how long until transhumanism injects the internet into my brain... I can only hope it comes with an off switch.

     What websites must you visit daily? I have many webcomics: Dominic Deegan, Penny Arcade, Ctrl-Alt-Del, AppleGeeks, Dresden Codak, Anders Loves Maria, PvP, GodMode, Rooster Teeth (makers of Red vs Blue,) Count Your Sheep, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, Girls With Slingshots, Three Panel Soul (formerly MacHall,) Overcompensating, WIGU, The Noob, Get Fuzzy, White Ninja, Sore Thumbs, Candi, Questionable Content, Marry Me Movie, No Pink Ponies, and Pajama Forest! I check Oddee and The Chive for funny pictures, Digg, Reddit, SlashDot, and Current_ TV for news. Twitter, Blogger, and gMail for networking/blogging, and I usually watch a video or two on Hulu.

     Most of those, I visit daily. Sometimes I let Slashdot, Reddit and Current_ go, since most of the things I'm interested there are also on Digg.

     There are some other links I would hate to lose. Although I rarely purchase, I have several online stores bookmarked. I also have a dozen or so Wikis, to keep all of this information I'm supposed to know handy.

Things to say?

I feel discontent... I suppose I just want next week to be over, and a new job to be secured. It feels like I'm just waiting for the future to arrive.

Also!

Try watching this without doing air guitar:

Everyone saw this ,right?

waaauuuggghhhh!

     Okay, I've been super busy um.... doing something more important than watching Naruto: Shippuden. I did finally get all three outlets going, ran the r6 cable through into my room, and moved my desk. It turns out I can't have more than one modem, but I found my wireless card.

     Also got new tabs. win!