Science Wednesday!

Nothing flashy this week. Just some links and articles

First, a crazy interesting article/webpage by John Suler on the Psychology of Cyberspace.

A news clip about synthetic telepathy

And... Mathematicians have found the formula for snowflakes

Do Want!

Have you ever wanted something impossible your whole life? I know I have. I have always wanted to be able to move things with my mind, Matilda style... probably inspired by the book and movie actually. I actually try to do this pretty frequently, just to make sure I can't do it (I'll never do it if I don't try). Anyway,

NOW I CAN!

Follow the jump to read about a new toy that lets you move a ball up and down using a brain-wave reading device that then moves a ball in a separate device based on where you point your hand. It's only about $100.

I cannot wait.

Mardi Gras Post Dearth Broken!

Sometimes you get distracted. In my case (this week) it has been because internet costs a bundle in the Big Easy, plus I've been a little distracted by the city, the conference I'm at and all the pretty beads! Some weird things about the city so far while I wait for my friends in the lobby:

• On the shuttle to the hotel an Orange county woman leaned over and whispered loudly "There's an awful lot of black people here"... which is true but the situation was embarassing at best since we were the only white people on the bus... sitting in the front row... *facepalm*
• EVERYONE talks to you here. Everyone. Tourists, shop owners, random people who are just out for the night, homeless people, socialites in gowns (My favorite so far was a self-described 92-year-old broad wearing fur who I gave a set of beads to.
• Everyone calls you fun names... like Sweetie, Honey, Darlin, M'lady, and Bo Derek & Roquel
• They clean the streets with hoses that spray something that smells like oranges
• Cafe du Monde is world-famous for a reason
• I'm not sure if this is just because of the festival season, but there are tons of people handing out those "God loves you, except if you're a sinner" books today. Who knew?
• You don't have to show any skin to get beads, you just have to be loud and fast.
• Liquor stores are everywhere. All the signs for them look like they might as well have expletives in them. There are also drive-thru daqueri bars (as a local girl told me "It's only open container if you stick the straw in)
• They sell margarita jello shots and phillys in a stand inside our hotel's drop-off area... and its a pretty ritzy hotel.

Anyway, time to go do some sightseeing.

Back Up Plans (depressing post warning)

If you've noticed a decline in political posts lately it is for the simple reason that I can't watch the news for too long anymore before I get all sad and freaked out. Naturally, I'm a little less up on current events and the soap opera that the 24 hour news turns them into. I understand however that the big thing right now is the stimulus package. If it works, we still have years of recession to work through and a trillion dollars of debt to repay. If it doesn't work, nobody knows but I've heard everything from a second great depression to the government collapsing (I'll go ahead and say I think that if America had a valid presidential election during the civil war, the government will remain pretty sound through this too).

When I start to get worried about something I'll generally come up with a worst-case-scenario plan, so that I know that no matter how bad it gets, I'll at least know what to do. Here are some of my backup plans for various scenarios.

Scenario 1 - I can't find a job anywhere! I'll join the peace corps. For two years I will make almost no money, but I will be provided for and may even be able to get a graduate degree in the process. During two years the country will probably have started to recover, so by the time I get out I'll have two years good experience plus that possible extra degree. Other people might want to consider the military for better pay but I personally couldn't handle that.

Scenario 2 - Money Becomes Worthless Oh noes! Well, since I don't have that much right now at least I wouldn't be losing that much. I suppose I would squat in my house (or one near it) and try to get by. I would probably not work, since it would require paying for gas which I couldn't afford with the money I'd be making. It would be like a big camping trip, but with a house instead of a tent. I would likely team up with a group of my friends for more safety and better resources.

Scenario 3 - South Carolina Tries To Secede... Again This would make the fourth time it has been attempted. Anyway, I'd probably leave. New England here I come. (This one is really just an oddball possibility, don't take me too seriously)

Scenario 4 - Government Collapses Well... F*ck. I suppose I'll just have to do what everyone else does and survive. Again, probably team up with some amigos, maybe grow some vegetables, loot some grocery stores and play defend your castle for a while. At least it's not as cold as Russia...

Kindle? Really?

Why is everyone so excited about the Kindle? It costs more than the ipod that does the same thing. Hot gadget my ass. Who would pay that much to give up going to the bookstore anyway? Bookstores rock.