Wonder if this portrait of Slick Willie came out of Hogwarts?

Clearly, he likes them young!

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Just in time for Halloween....

You are a Tortured Conceptual Artist. Your fellow
postmodernists call you an anachronism, but
you've never cared much about the opinions of
others. After all, most of them are far too
simple-minded to appreciate the nuances of your
work. They talk, while you are part of a lived
tradition.


What kind of postmodernist are you!?
brought to you by Quizilla

from LMA

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Chrissy's recent post reminded me that I wanted to put up this link last week.

It's a free nationwide search for the addresses and photographs of sexual predators. Enter your address, and you'll get a map of your neighborhhod with links at the places where predators live. Click each link on the map and it gives you the offender's photo and a description of what he/she was convicted for and when.

(h/t Beth of My VRWC)

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Scott Adams posts these thoughts on his new blog today:

"I spend way too much time thinking of excellent crimes I could commit if I were a crime committing sort of person. Every time I read about hurricane-related looting, I wonder about the best way to do it."

As HWNNL would say, Heh. Read the rest.

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More of the adventures of Chrissy's Wee One here.

This for some reason reminded me of an awful geek story I know. My freshman chemistry professor (Yes, you Techers know who I mean) had a young son who was 4 when I was a frosh, so he must be in 8th or 9th grade now. Or higher. You'll see what I mean.

Well, a little background, Daddy is an inorganic chemist and Mommy is a mathematician, I believe. Anyway, they took junior on his first trip to San Francisco around the age of 2.5 or so. As they're driving across a bridge, I forget which now, but either the Bay or the Golden Gate, with the suspension cables, from the backseat comes a sweet little voice: "Oh Mommy and Daddy, look at the nice parabolas."

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Acidman is going into the hospital for a few weeks to get his strength back. He's left the keys to a few of us with red toenails, and we promise we won't let him down. Starting tomorrow after Rob leaves, you'll see a lot of estrogen and maybe a few cats over at Acidman's place. And maybe just maybe some cranky rants of the vintage Rob style....

Drop by Gut Rumbles and see what's new.

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This week's free dose of free association:

1. On the verge::
   
2. Tempestuous::
   
3. Coherent::
   
4. Near death::
   
5. Illiterate::
   
6. Why not?::
   
7. Period::
   
8. Long lost::
   
9. Torrid::
   
10. Nail::
    

As always my answers in the extended.... Feel free to play along in the comments!
more...

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1 On the verge:: Of a nervous breakdown Tempestuous:: weather Coherent:: sentence Near death:: experience Illiterate:: read and write Why not?:: because i say so Period:: question mark Long lost:: brother Torrid:: love affair Nail:: biting (I haven't looked at your answers yet...)

Posted by: Amanda at October 18, 2005 03:33 PM (6JiCC)

2 1. On the verge:: of madness 2. Tempestuous:: love affair 3. Coherent:: thoughts 4. Near death:: Highlander (the ep is actually Till Death, but that's what popped nto my head!) 5. Illiterate:: bumpkin 6. Why not?:: go 7. Period:: the end 8. Long lost:: brother 9. Torrid::passion 10. Nail:: clippers (I bet we're actually part of some secret study)

Posted by: Ith at October 18, 2005 04:44 PM (IHVEd)

3 from DH: 1. On the verge:: of insanity 2. Tempestuous::weather 3. Coherent::never 4. Near death::always 5. Illiterate::seventh graders 6. Why not?::because I want 7. Period::exclamation point 8. Long lost:: brother 9. Torrid:: love affair 10. Nail:: entertainment center

Posted by: caltechgirl at October 18, 2005 06:48 PM (X81mG)

4 On the verge: f a nervous breakdown Tempestuous::affair Coherent::superposition Near death::experience Illiterate::and uneducated Why not?::Cuz I said so, biatch Period::exclamation point Long lost::roomie Torrid::schwing! Nail::in the coffin Yo necesito una mujer. LTNS, etc. Going out for Negative Time this year? Drop me a line. -Your Mother's Brother's Sister's Daughter's Former Roommate

Posted by: Sherman's Skipper at October 20, 2005 12:07 AM (j88lA)

5 Coherent: LIGHT My other responses weren't very interesting.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 23, 2005 12:32 AM (QriEg)

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To two of the best, Parkway Jim and Zonker, each celebrating a birthday yesterday.

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To Blogger Anita of Fighting Inertia! (it's her first 39th)

Stop by and wish her well

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It's Halloweenie Time!

Via Ith and the Solos

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Your weekly dose of free association. Play along in the comments. My answers below the fold.

1. Quirk::
   
2. Crystal::
   
3. Pet Peeve::
   
4. Cuban::
   
5. Breasts::
   
6. Whispers::
   
7. Complicated::
   
8. Promise me::
   
9. Murder::
   
10. Filament::
    

more...

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1 # Quirk:: thing # Crystal:: cave # Pet Peeve:: bug # Cuban:: cigar # Breasts:: chicken # Whispers:: dark # Complicated:: twisty # Promise me:: lies # Murder:: she wrote # Filament:: thread

Posted by: Ith at October 11, 2005 03:34 PM (XQt37)

2 1 Quark 2 Meth 3 Michael Moore 4 Cigar 5 Yes 6 listen 7 Individual 8 Not 9 Death 10 Lightbulb

Posted by: Rodney Dill at October 11, 2005 06:32 PM (tGTSA)

3 Heh, I just check yours after I did the association, interesting.

Posted by: Rodney Dill at October 11, 2005 06:33 PM (tGTSA)

4 Quirk- Quirky Crystal- Lite Pet Peeve- Liars Cuban- Sandwich Breasts- Chicken Whispers- Sex Complicated- Knot Promise me- Never Leave Murder- Blood Filament-Bulb

Posted by: Bou at October 11, 2005 06:35 PM (5JHEt)

5 From my DH: 1. Quirk::stutter 2. Crystal::diamond 3. Pet Peeve::snoring 4. Cuban::commie 5. Breasts::boobs 6. Whispers::secrets 7. Complicated::life 8. Promise me::everything 9. Murder::Sheehan 10. Filament::light bulb

Posted by: caltechgirl at October 11, 2005 06:52 PM (7gBzo)

6 Quirk:: Crystal:: Clear Pet Peeve:: Ignorance Cuban:: Food Breasts:: Chicken Whispers:: Secrets Complicated:: Complex Promise me:: Love Murder:: Mystery Filament:: File

Posted by: Amanda at October 11, 2005 06:57 PM (HIzvB)

7 Oops...forgot: Quirk:: Character

Posted by: Amanda at October 11, 2005 06:59 PM (HIzvB)

8 Mine wasn't any good this morning... everything was followed by sleep. ;-)

Posted by: vw bug at October 14, 2005 05:15 AM (MNp8q)

9 You know, these are kinda fun. I think I'll go back and do them all. Quirk::Jamie Crystal::Method Pet Peeve::dog doo on my shoe Cuban::missile crisis Breasts::38D, ideally, but I love them all Whispers::careless Complicated::situation Promise me::a rose garden Murder::for hire Filament::tungsten

Posted by: Sherman's Skipper at October 20, 2005 10:07 PM (PNdSn)

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What is my opinion on the whole creation/darwin/ID debate?

Here's my answer, courtesy of the greatest beer in the world.

(h/t Cake Eater Kathy)

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To baby Xrlq, who is celebrating his first today.

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1 afe9asdfds

Posted by: Baby Xrlq at October 06, 2005 08:36 PM (l3eZH)

2 Dang, the year has just whizzed past! Happy birthday, lil one

Posted by: Ith at October 06, 2005 08:43 PM (P/TlQ)

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Jay of Accidental Verbosity was commenter #1000 on my Mu.Nu site.

Yay!

Of course, it was for this post, which I think also set my personal comment record at 14.

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Bob Grubbs of Caltech shares the 2005 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

Grubbs shares the prize equally with Yves Chauvin of Institut Francais du Petrole and Richard Schrock of the OIT (that's MIT, for the unaware) for the development of metathesis in Organic Chemistry.

From the Nobel website:
The word metathesis means 'change-places'. In metathesis reactions, double bonds are broken and made between carbon atoms in ways that cause atom groups to change places. This happens with the assistance of special catalyst molecules. Metathesis can be compared to a dance in which the couples change partners.

Metathesis is used daily in the chemical industry, mainly in the development of pharmaceuticals and of advanced plastic materials. Thanks to the Laureates' contributions, synthesis methods have been developed that are

* more efficient (fewer reaction steps, fewer resources required, less wastage),
* simpler to use (stable in air, at normal temperatures and pressures) and
* environmentally friendlier (non-injurious solvents, less hazardous waste products).

This represents a great step forward for "green chemistry", reducing potentially hazardous waste through smarter production. Metathesis is an example of how important basic science has been applied for the benefit of man, society and the environment.

I met Grubbs when I worked in the Chemistry department as a freshman and sophomore. I remember his labs as remarkable because one ALWAYS had to wear safety goggles inside since there had been a number of interesting explosions at odd times, but that's what you get with metal catalysts....

This brings the number of Caltech Nobels to 32 prizes awarded to 31 alumni and/or faculty. Can you name the Caltech Nobel Laureate who won TWO prizes?? Hint: The prizes were for Chemistry and Peace.

Other Nobel Laureates I've met (not that any of them would remember me):
Rudy Marcus
Ed Lewis
Ahmed Zewail
HD Politzer (who was my friend's freshman advisor)
Richard Axel
Linda Buck
Paul Greengard

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I have long been on record saying any kid of mine doesn't get a cell phone until they get a driver's license. I just don't think that there's any reason to have one until you can drive.

Well, I may be wrong. Christina (co-blogging at fistful of fortnights) demonstrates how a Mom can use the kid's cell phone to her advantage. Every morning.

Heh. Well done.

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The Pirate has a new and improved quiz to help you determine your political persuasion. What you are depends on the answer you choose to the following (one) question:

You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, a middle eastern looking man with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife, and charges. You are carrying a Glock .40, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?

Go here to choose among the answers.

My answer?? Here's a hint: never bring a knife to a gunfight.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 03:35 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 His site wont load, but I'm hoping one of the choices is it place a round in the guys left eye. Bullets wont be deflected out of an eye socket like they can be off of the forehead.

Posted by: Contagion at October 04, 2005 05:43 AM (Q5WxB)

2 I'm definitely Southern. Heh.

Posted by: Margi at October 04, 2005 08:10 AM (nwEQH)

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I've been doing these anonymously for months, but today I'm bored so I'll share:
This week's Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Quaint::
   
2. Rind::
   
3. Disease::
   
4. Queer::
   
5. Pork::
   
6. Soaked::
   
7. Skeleton::
   
8. Mold::
   
9. Finished::
   
10. Buffalo::
    

My answers in the extended.....

You can play along too. Cut and paste and leave your answers in the comments!

Many thanks to Jenna for getting me started on these.
more...

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...evoked by Punctilious' wonderful fall-themed Carnival of the Recipes this week!

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