Dicipline

One thing I've learned is that it is very hard to post daily.  I'm quite impressed with anyone who is able to do it.  Either they have more free time than I do or they don't waste it like I do.

A few days ago I learned about the Streisand Effect. 

A photographer was documenting the coastline of California to look at the effects of erosion.  One of the photographs featured Barbara Streisand's beachfront home.  Streisand (or her lawyers) asked for it to be removed from the photographer's website.  Prior to them making a big deal and asking for it to be taken down, it had been downloaded 6 times, 2 of those times were by her lawyers.  Post the story breaking about this, it was downloaded over 400,000 in a month.

So now whenever acknowledging something causes it to blow up more (especially online) it's referred to as the Streisand Effect.  Where did I learn about this? Online.  I was reading something in an internet article and the comments section someone said, "haven't they ever heard of the Streisand Effect?"  I hadn't, so I went and looked it up.  Of course, now I have no idea what article I was reading, but I haven't forgotten what I learned.

Something I learned from running spellcheck on this post-

A) Google doesn't recognize Streisand
B) they want me to capitalize internet.

George Carlin caused censorship!

Today I learned a little bit about censorship.  It's been going on forever, so my title is quite misleading, but somewhat true when it comes to American radio, TV, music, etc.

George Carlin came up with his routine about the "Seven dirty words you can never say on television" in 1972.  I will not list the words (self censoring, because anyone can type in 7 dirty words in google and have them in .02 seconds.) At that time, there was no official list and no official censorship board for television.  When George Carlin performed this routine in public, he was arrested for disturbing the peace.  He went on to put out another album with another dirty routine, which when aired on the radio led to complaints, which led to a court case, which led to a Supreme Court ruling which led to an official indecency regulation through the FCC.

So if you think Standards and Practices are a bit ridiculous, you can thank George Carlin.

I would like to thank Caustic Soda for today's information.  They use ALL the dirty words.

I pledge allegiance to queen fragg and her mighty state of hysteria

This is the article I read today for my "thing I learned." 

Mental Floss' twitter feed is one of the most enjoyable ways to kill a few minutes between meetings or when you need to clear your head at work.  I also read an article about why traffic lights are red and green.  Did you know that the first traffic light ever installed killed the worker operating it?

Anyway, that's kind of a tangent from today's original topic - the pledge of allegiance.  I knew that "under god" had been added later, but I had no idea that the idea stemmed from  the notion that getting flags in to American classrooms would boost sales.

For some reason, learning the pledge of allegiance makes me think of the 2nd grade.  I'm sure I learned it younger than that; don't they start it for kids in kindergarten? I liked memorization things, so I'm sure I liked the challenge of learning it.  I memorize random stuff all the time.  I have no recollection of saying the pledge in high school.  Either my school didn't do it or I just wasn't paying attention. (The latter is entirely possible.)

If you ask me now I have to say that the pledge of allegiance is stupid.  Do other countries make their kids swear to love their country?  Sounds very shady, like something Korea would have its citizens do. Not a free nation like the United States.

Goal - American citizenship and a thinner population

The average American citizen knows less about our system of government than someone from another country who has become a naturalized citizen. (Made up fact I think is correct.)  I decided that I wanted to learn everything that people studying to take the citizenship test would learn.  I figured it would be good to have goals as well as learning random factoids or tidbits on larger subjects.  I need to find a study guide.

Today I learned about pros and cons for having a fat tax (again, Chuck and Josh and Stuff You Should Know.)  Studies show that having a fat tax would raise food prices across the board.  People who are struggling to get by as it is can't take a 3% increase in all of their food costs, but maybe that's what it will take to get people to stop buying chips and start buying carrots.  I can't really talk because I eat a lot of junk food (and let's not start talking about my soda habit - I have to have some vices.)  I honestly think if they started charging a 60 cent tax on coke, then I might curb my habit.  Anyway, it will probably never happen.  Nanny state arguments and all.  Of course, they did pass taxes on cigarettes so I could be wrong.

Otters and gelatin

Yesterday I learned that otters hold hands while they're asleep in the water so they don't drift away from each other.  Cutest thing ever?  Yes. 

Today I learned that hooves are not actually used in gelatin.  They use animal bones, pig's hides and now even fish.  Using fish can help to overcome some of the religious prohibitions on gelatin items.  Good thing I'm not one of those religions because giving up candy corns and marshmallows would be hell.

The route that took me here was animal trivia-> horses hooves -> gelatin.  I've actually read 3 wikipedia articles to get to that fact, but  there you go.

I also found this "fact."

"Studies show that if a cat falls off the seventh floor of a building it has about thirty percent less chance of surviving than a cat that falls off the twentieth floor. It supposedly takes about eight floors for the cat to realize what is occurring, relax and correct itself. At about that height it hits maximum speed and when it hits the ground it's rib cage absorbs most of the impact."

How do they know? They can't test that!

Men's Hair and JPL

June 9/10, 2012

I learned about scalp pigmentation.  I'd driven by a place that advertised it in the window, and had no idea what they were doing and came home and looked it up.  So basically the idea is that they tattoo a bunch of dots on a guys head to make it look like they have the barest amount of stubble.

I guess what you really have to decide is "what color and where should my hairline be?" I would love to see this up close just to see what it really looks like.

I guess if women can get their makeup tattooed on, why not men's hair?

Yesterday we went to JPL for their annual open house.  It's always really cool to see all the people who turn up.  Yesterday there was a guy in full Vulcan Elder costume.  Tons of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  I love something that gets kids excited about science.  The coolest thing we saw yesterday was getting to go in to mission control.  We actually got to walk on the floor where all the people sit when they're controlling "space stuff."  We got to see the room that all the scientists will be in when the Mars Rover Curiosity lands.

And I learned there's an asteroid named after Anne Frank.

Jurassic Park Fractal

June 8, 2012

Today I learned about fractals.  I should actually say that today I skimmed the upper surface of fractals. I listened to half of Chuck's and Josh's podcast on fractals and have a basic idea.  Prior to the podcast the only thing I knew about fractals was the picture that introduced each chapter of Jurassic Park.

The gist of what I learned is that fractals are mostly used to mathematically explain items from nature.  The coast, a fern, a mountaintop, etc.  Things that euclidean geometry doesn't fully explain/identify.

I think I need to do more research, or at least finish listening to SYSK, before I write anymore about fractals. Now at least if someone ever mentions them, and really who ever will, I'll know enough to keep my mouth shut and not say anything lest I prove my stupidity.

Give me an x, y, and a z axis any day.

Learning 1 - Sarah 0

I think I learned something today, but I forgot it.  Which means it doesn't count.  Which brings me to the reason I started this blog.  I think my memory is going.  I'm too young to have my brain go, so I'm keeping it exercised.  I joined a website called lumosity which lets me do daily puzzles to keep up my brain power.  It tests you in memory, problem solving, flexibility and a few other categories, which I've of course forgotten.  Maybe visiting the website will keep my brain fresh.

I know they say learning a new language helps.  Maybe I'll get rosetta stone for Spanish.

I know they say crossword puzzles help.  I do those occasionally.

If you have any other brain tricks let me know.  I don't like being slow.  I've always been smart and quick.   Losing my brain power would be like losing a part of my personality.

June 6, 2012

Today I learned about the street lamps in the rite aid parking lot.  I've driven by a million times, parked in the lot, and wondered "why?"  Today on my way home I decided to finally take a picture (I'm in love with instagram right now) and look it up online.

It's an art installation.  No surprise there.  I like reading the plaques to find out where they were pulled from.

Today I also decided to look up something that has bothered me.  People always say "lineal feet" (of hallway, millwork, wall base, etc) and it always strikes me as wrong.  I say "linear feet."  Turns out linear feet is correct and lineal feet is incorrect.  Linear - measurement. Lineal - heritage.

What do you call a reproducing sphagnum?

June 4, 2012

Today I learned about moss thanks to Chuck and Josh over at Stuff You Should Know, a great podcast to which everyone should also be listening.

Moss the article
Moss the podcast

Turns out moss is pretty boring. Yes, we know it grows on the non-sun facing side of a tree, and if you're lost you can tell the direction if you can see moss.

The interesting tidbits I picked up were this:

• If you can't grow grass in your yard due to lack of sunlight, grow moss instead.
• If you want to purposefully get moss to grow on one of your trees (or a rock or something,) dig up some moss, toss it in the blender with buttermilk and then paint it on. 
• If you have moss in your yard and you want it to be there, water it with buttermilk in the spring.  
• Some mosses can go dormant for up to 19 years, then you can put water on it and it will come right back to life. 

I also learned that e.g. is exempli gratia ( for example) and i.e. is id est (it/that is.) and now that I know that I might never again use them incorrectly.

File that one under something I should have learned years ago.

June 4, 2012

Today I learned that I can see the listing for a Friends episode and know exactly which one it is and still want to watch it.

Which means I really didn't learn anything.

Actually that's not true.  I learned a lot from Caustic Soda. Today's podcast was about Science Blunders and the guest was Rosie Redfield.  Remember a few years ago when NASA said they found proof of a new form of life, to which a lot of people cried "Alien!?" It wasn't alien life, but something that scientists said was the closest to an alien life form that had ever been discovered, bacteria that creates its DNA using arsenic?  Turns out they were completely wrong.  All of the people who peer reviewed the paper were wrong.  And Science was wrong for publishing it.  Of course, I never would have remembered this happening if I hadn't been reminded by the podcast this morning.  But it was good to get an update and find out the real story.  

As of recording, and I guess "air" this morning her refutation of NASA's paper was in peer review itself, and today's blog says "accepted."  Congrats to Dr. Redfield.

PS- Caustic Soda is a great podcast if you decide to listen.  Weird topics, disgusting topics, foul topics and Canadian comic book nerds. The good kind.

Let's carve some men in a mountain.

June 3, 2012

Today I learned about Mount Rushmore.  I've never been there, and I can't say I have an overwhelming urge to go there (unlike the Hoover Dam.)

I was watching "Pawn Stars" today and a guy brought i a solid silver bas-relief plaque of Mount Rushmore that he wanted to sell for $1000.  (I think they gave him $900.)  Rick said (paraphrased,) "they commemorated Washington because he was the first president. Jefferson because he wrote all our laws.  Lincoln because he got the ball rolling on equality and Roosevelt because he made our country an international powerhouse."

Or from the National Park's Service website:

"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt." - Gutzon Borglum.

• Gutzon Borglum was the man who carved it, along with his son Lincoln.
• Gutzon had also been involved in carving Stone Mountain in Georgia. 
• At one point Congress wanted to add Susan B. Anthony was going to be added, but finding the money for it got in the way. (Typical.)
• No one died during the work. (Unlike the Hoover Dam.)
• It's named after Charles E. Rushmore, a New York attorney who was involved in mining claims in the late 1800s.
• It is in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where the ugliest gold comes from. 
• They were supposed to be carved from head to waist but they ran out of money. 
• The statue is controversial because the land was seized (typical) from Native Americans.
• It is not typically cleaned of lichens, but a guy named Alfred Karcher GmbH did it for free in 2005.  He was a pressure washer manufacturer, so this was probably good press about his pressure washers. 
• The cost of the carving was approximately One Million Dollars. in 1927-1941 dollars.
• It was NOT carved to hide the City of Gold (National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets) but it would have been way cooler if it had.

and - according to "Pawn Stars" they'd never be able to build it today because environmentalists would get in the way.

 

Raven hair, fair skin, red lips and a battle sword

June 2, 2012

Today I learned a little bit more about Snow White.  I went to see "Snow White and the Huntsman" today, which is really better than anyone is giving it credit for.  I was curious to see if this version was closer to the original tale than the Disney version (the only two versions I have seen, having never read the Grimm tale.)

And it's not.  Snow White never becomes a battle hardened queen leading an army to defeat the evil queen.  There is a poison apple, but in the original version the apple is the evil queen's third attempt to kill Snow White.  At first she, in disguise, brings her laces, and tightens her corset up so tight that Snow White cannot breathe. The dwarves save her.  Second she, in disguise, brushes Snow White's hair with a poison comb.  The dwarves save her. Third time's a charm, or so she thinks, with that poisoned apple.  The dwarves cannot save her, and they build her the glass coffin (absent from SWATH) until a prince comes along, falls in love with her beauty, and wants to take the coffin with him.  His servants trip while they're carrying the coffin, and dislodge the apple in her throat, reviving her!  No kiss?  What kind of Disney movie would that be?  Of course (spoiler alert) in SWATH the Huntsman (Thor) revives Snow White with a kiss.

And the dwarves were never Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Bashful or Doc.  And I didn't even have to look up their names.

The Disney Snow White cottages are a landmark in Los Feliz.  (Ignore that the LA Times said Silver Lake.)

These are the next block from our place, and had I been thinking I would have gone over while it was still light out to take a picture myself.

June 1, 2012

Today I learned about wireless medicine. 

I was driving home from having dinner with some friends and wondering what the heck I was going to post about.  Thank goodness for Science Friday and Ira Flato.  

Tonight's discussion was about using smart phones and genetic markers to monitor people's health, and whether this was a good idea.  Your smart phone would be able to detect rises in glucose, whether you're about to have an asthma attack, or a heart attack even.  The panel all came to an agreement that this new technology should not be used in place of going to a physical, but in tandem with traditional medical care.  The new thinking is "since people are addicted to their phones, let's use them for good."

My take is that I'm already addicted to my phone and just slightly obsessive compulsive.  If I could spend all day looking at my blood pressure and blood sugar levels in addition to facebook, email, and words with friends, I'd never put my phone down.  It's the same reason I don't own a scale.  I weigh myself 4 or 5 times a day if there's a scale around and that's not an exaggeration.  

For your listening pleasure - 

http://sciencefriday.com/segment/06/01/2012/can-technology-deliver-better-health-care.html