Apropos of Nothing -3-

Palomar · 2004-12-04 09:33:07

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s … santa_dc]A webcam for Father Christmas

*Yep, that sure is a sad "sign of the times." But can certainly understand parents' concerns, of course.

Remember the old Rankin/Bass stop-animation holiday program Santa Claus is Coming to Town? In it, Kris Kringle sings to the kids: "If you sit on my lap today, a kiss a toy is the price you'll pay." Was innocent then, of course (nearly 35 years ago); a kiss on the cheek in exchange for a gift.

Wow, would that ever get batted clear out of left field now!

--Cindy

clark · 2004-12-04 12:13:31

Don't be a thread nazi.

Control eh? So because I lack control I lack ownership?

Wouldn't that make the moderators the owners of posts since they have ultimate control, at least in comparison to a regular poster?

Of course I can self delete a post by deleting the content of a post. I can reedit my own post. Yet I myself cannot exercise this power over any other posts.

There is absolutely no point to any of this, just talking about nothing.

Mad Grad Student · 2004-12-04 14:33:45

Yar, I should have posted this a long time ago.

If any of you get the chance to go to White Sands National Monument or are thinking of going there you should really try to do so. On Memorial Day weekend my school's physics club (myself included) went on a two day trip in New Mexico and that was one of the places we stopped. The day we were there it was nothing but huge 30 foot white dunes and deep blue sky from horizon to horizon.
http://northcanyon.pvusd.k12.az.us/File … ]Exploring the Dunes

There were a good number of dunes that were at least thirty feet high and had slopes of about 35 degrees. That doesn't sound like much but from the top of the dune it looks like it must be at least sixty degrees, and jumping off of them you can get a good second or so of zero-g on your way down. The sand there is much different from normal sand, it's actually little ground up bits of calcite and it looks and feels like warm snow. Several times I'd say I jumped fifteen feet down or so and you can barely even feel the landing, the sand is so soft.
http://northcanyon.pvusd.k12.az.us/File … html]Group Jump (me in the middle)
http://northcanyon.pvusd.k12.az.us/File … ]Touchdown!
http://northcanyon.pvusd.k12.az.us/File … .html]View from the Top

The whole area was once a shallow sea. About 50 million years ago it dried up and left behind these vast deposits of calcite that were eventually ground down into fine white sand. All in all, it's very much like Meridiani Planum, and I couldn't help thinking this while I was there. Of course, it only took us three hours to cover about four miles of trail compared to the MERs 11 months. :laugh:

We also went to Carlsbad Caverns, another place you should try to visit if you're ever in the area. It had been about three years since I'd last flown in an airplane with an engine in it, so the 737 flight to and from El Paso was very cool, too. That's such an amazing feeling when the plane starts its decent into the pattern; when the engines are throttled down and the elevator starts to point towards the Earth everything just feels lighter on board. On a normal decent the plane probably never gets more than a 5% redcution in gravity for a few seconds, but it sure feels a lot more pronounced than that. Or maybe I'm imagining things.

As for post rights, well, we do have the option of editing and deleting our posts, so that gives us some control over them. Of course, no real property is ever produced unless you print a thread, so posts are really just intellectual property, and that comes from the brain of whoever posted it. Since possesion is 9/10ths of the law... I have no idea where I'm going with this so nvm. I don't think anyone owns these posts, since none of it's copyrighted.

"Yes, that series of words I just said made perfect sense!"
-Professor Huber Farnsworth, Futurama

Palomar · 2004-12-04 14:47:18

Yar, I should have posted this a long time ago.
If any of you get the chance to go to White Sands National Monument or are thinking of going there you should really try to do so. On Memorial Day weekend my school's physics club (myself included) went on a two day trip in New Mexico and that was one of the places we stopped. The day we were there it was nothing but huge 30 foot white dunes and deep blue sky from horizon to horizon.
http://northcanyon.pvusd.k12.az.us/File … ]Exploring the Dunes
There were a good number of dunes that were at least thirty feet high and had slopes of about 35 degrees. That doesn't sound like much but from the top of the dune it looks like it must be at least sixty degrees, and jumping off of them you can get a good second or so of zero-g on your way down. The sand there is much different from normal sand, it's actually little ground up bits of calcite and it looks and feels like warm snow. Several times I'd say I jumped fifteen feet down or so and you can barely even feel the landing, the sand is so soft.
http://northcanyon.pvusd.k12.az.us/File … html]Group Jump (me in the middle)
http://northcanyon.pvusd.k12.az.us/File … ]Touchdown!
http://northcanyon.pvusd.k12.az.us/File … .html]View from the Top
The whole area was once a shallow sea. About 50 million years ago it dried up and left behind these vast deposits of calcite that were eventually ground down into fine white sand.

*Hey Mad Grad! Great post. Yep, White Sands is something to behold. My family and I first visited in 1982. Coming from the Midwest, we were of course struck by how pristinely white the sands are...and how much it looks like snow! Of course I've lived in this area now since 1993, and found out long ago that sand also drifts along on a strong wind like snow.

Such *fine* sand...finest I've ever known. We have sand similar in texture and weight to it in our back yard, except it has a distinct orange tint.

Did you come through Las Cruces as well, or did your class reach White Sands via El Paso and Alamogordo?

Those dunes are fun. Climbing them, sliding down them, etc. etc. Nice pics you've got too!

We also went to Carlsbad Caverns, another place you should try to visit if you're ever in the area.

*Yes indeed! Have been to the Caves twice; last time in 1992; my husband (then fiancee) and I went together, shortly before marrying. I've been hankering to go back! Photos of the Caverns can't hold water to actually being there; photos can't capture the true beauty and splendor.

And I remember the bats at the entrance to the walk...! :laugh:

--Cindy

P.S.: Regarding White Sands again, it's also a phenomenal view from the high mountain peaks in Cloudcroft, and during the drive down from Cloudcroft to Alamogordo: Can see the Sands stretching for miles; an impossibly colossal patch of ultra-white sand. :up:

Mad Grad Student · 2004-12-05 18:19:44

Did you come through Las Cruces as well, or did your class reach White Sands via El Paso and Alamogordo?

This trip we went through Alamogordo, but I have been to Las Cruces twice in the past. Back when my family owned a Piper Cherokee we once put it to good use by flying over to Midland, Texas for another weekend exucrsion (unrelated with any work, though). The plane didn't have the range to go nonstop from Phoenix so we had to stop in Las Cruces, and taking off in a GA plane with a dinky little 180 hp engine, nearly full fuel tanks, and 5,000 feet between you and sea level with no turbocharger can be tricky, we ended up using almost the entire runway!

Of course, I haven't seen much of the city outside of the airport (you're from Las Cruces, I presume?). My father has been there several times and once had the good fortune of eating lunch at the airport at the same time Pete Borman happened to be there. From what he says they had a lively chat, with pictures to prove it. Maybe I should try to go by Las Cruces more often, apparently you're bound to run into an astronaut around there eventually! :laugh:

I didn't see any bats on the cave tour, but there was some spectacular stuff down there. Most of the group went on a special lower cave tour, where we got to see the infant stalactites (only a few thousand years old, they'd barely started to build outward yet), cave pearls, and the big room from below. There were no lights and no trail on the lower cave tour, just helmet lights given out at the begining, and at one point our guide had everyone shut off their lights at once. It's impossible to put into words what that's like, when there's no sound and no light, even when you're trying as hard as you can to see and hear. Cool stuff.

Palomar · 2004-12-05 23:22:54

Of course, I haven't seen much of the city outside of the airport (you're from Las Cruces, I presume?). My father has been there several times and once had the good fortune of eating lunch at the airport at the same time Pete Borman happened to be there. From what he says they had a lively chat, with pictures to prove it. Maybe I should try to go by Las Cruces more often, apparently you're bound to run into an astronaut around there eventually! :laugh:
I didn't see any bats on the cave tour, but there was some spectacular stuff down there. Most of the group went on a special lower cave tour, where we got to see the infant stalactites (only a few thousand years old, they'd barely started to build outward yet), cave pearls, and the big room from below. There were no lights and no trail on the lower cave tour, just helmet lights given out at the begining, and at one point our guide had everyone shut off their lights at once. It's impossible to put into words what that's like, when there's no sound and no light, even when you're trying as hard as you can to see and hear. Cool stuff.

*Yes, that's where I live. And yes -- astronauts have frequented this area. Frank Borman owns a large autoplex in the area; in fact, we've purchased car parts from his dealership many times.

As for "lights out" at Carlsbad Caverns: That is a fantastic, indescribable experience. Silence and darkness so complete...indescribable. Can actually feel the darkness. But it wasn't threatening or frightening (though of course we reckoned the lights would soon be on again!). :laugh:

***

Did anyone watch http://abc.go.com/movies/fivepeople.html]The Five People You Meet in Heaven on ABC this evening? One of the best movies I've ever seen -- and this "made for TV movie" knocks out the latest offerings at the Big Screen. Talk about getting a lump in the throat. :-\ I saw the book early last week, but didn't pick it up; by the title I figured it was a religious book (yeah I know..."never judge a book by its cover," I should know better!). Really beautiful movie. My husband and I both got a bit teary-eyed towards the finale. :;):

--Cindy

clark · 2004-12-09 09:19:39

Why do I have the feeling I am in the middle of a snipe hunt?

Palomar · 2004-12-10 08:36:31

*The Buzz on Michael is:

Did anyone watch TVLand's week-long special 100 Most Memorable TV Moments last evening?

Buzz Aldrin commented on Michael Jackson's "Moonwalking." Yeah, I remember that 1980s craze. Anyway, Aldrin chuckling and saying real moonwalking with a spacesuit is something quite different to Jackson's version. :laugh:

I hope Apollo 11 and Armstrong's first step on the moon is #1 in the television history ranking.

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2004-12-10 10:12:28

One hour 'til the dreaded office Christmas party. Grab some food, slip out the back, on Monday tell everyone they'd remember I was there if they hadn't drank too much.

I even put up decorations to allay suspicion.

Well, a sketch of Santa Claus with a big bag slung over his shoulder in one hand and a hammer in the other, held high against a large sickle in front of a big star with the caption "Merry Christmas to all and Workers of the World Unite!"

He does look like Karl Marx. Gives away free stuff made by little people if you've been good based his criteria... think about it.

:;):

Palomar · 2004-12-10 11:03:43

*Okaaaaay...I just got kicked out of the bathroom by my own cat. He's yeowling and meowing, wanting to go back outside. We let him out every evening; he returns bright and early in the morning, then snoozes the rest of the day. Usually.

For the past week he's been wanting OUT even in the daytime. I think there's a "lady friend" about the neighborhood... :-\ He even came into my office by bumping the door open and meowing loudly. Standing there, staring at me.

Just now went to see what those scratching noises are, coming from the other room; is he scratching at the front door? Nope, he's clawing at something in the bathroom. I look and see him in his litter box; he sees me, meows loudly in protest (he's embarrassed I guess), turns his head in anger.

Time for a visit to the vet's office and "snip-snip" I guess.

--Cindy

GraemeSkinner · 2004-12-10 14:58:10

*Okaaaaay...I just got kicked out of the bathroom by my own cat. He's yeowling and meowing, wanting to go back outside. We let him out every evening; he returns bright and early in the morning, then snoozes the rest of the day. Usually.

Sounds normal for a cat.

For the past week he's been wanting OUT even in the daytime. I think there's a "lady friend" about the neighborhood... :-\ He even came into my office by bumping the door open and meowing loudly. Standing there, staring at me.

You can't blame him

Just now went to see what those scratching noises are, coming from the other room; is he scratching at the front door? Nope, he's clawing at something in the bathroom. I look and see him in his litter box; he sees me, meows loudly in protest (he's embarrassed I guess), turns his head in anger.

Years ago I knew a cat that would not go if you look at him.

Time for a visit to the vet's office and "snip-snip" I guess.

Poor wee pussy cat, give him a couple more months

Graeme

Palomar · 2004-12-10 15:05:08

Time for a visit to the vet's office and "snip-snip" I guess.
Poor wee pussy cat, give him a couple more months
Graeme

*Well, it's been a while since kittenhood and I think he's already fathered a couple of batches of kittens. He's not being deprived and won't die a virgin. :;): :laugh:

Strangely, he -hasn't- acted this way for a long time. And soon after my post, he settled down for his daily sleepfest (ongoing for hours now). Still snoozing. Cats; go figure.

--Cindy

GraemeSkinner · 2004-12-10 15:09:38

Cats; go figure.

Impossible, no one can figure out a cat. Ours has the habbit of catching a mouse in the fields, running back home with it only to drop it in the garden for the dog to eat - that should be for the dog to crunch :;):

Graeme

Shaun Barrett · 2004-12-10 17:38:32

Cindy:-

Strangely, he -hasn't- acted this way for a long time. And soon after my post, he settled down for his daily sleepfest (ongoing for hours now). Still snoozing. Cats; go figure.

It's not hard to figure.
Obviously your cat can access New Mars, can read your posts about him, and knows perfectly well what "snip-snip" means.
He's not stupid! :;):

Palomar · 2004-12-10 20:10:24

Cindy:-
Strangely, he -hasn't- acted this way for a long time. And soon after my post, he settled down for his daily sleepfest (ongoing for hours now). Still snoozing. Cats; go figure.
It's not hard to figure.
Obviously your cat can access New Mars, can read your posts about him, and knows perfectly well what "snip-snip" means.
He's not stupid! :;):

:laugh: :laugh:

*Thanks Shaun -- I needed that.

--Cindy

Mad Grad Student · 2004-12-11 20:41:04

One of the best $1.99 I've ever spent is on the mood ring currently sitting on my right ring finger. Every once in a while something will come along and perturb the liquid crystals inside it (or something like that) and it will shift ever so slightly from yellow to green to teal to midnight blue. It's amazing how wide the range of color is in such a simple device, every time you look at it (assuming each time is 30 minutes or so apart) it looks completely different! It's psychodelicly and scientifically cool all at the same time. And whoa, dude, the colors!

On Thursday I gave a (hopefully) persuasive speech in which I tried to convince my English class that Alan Shepard is one of the 5 most inspirational people of all time. If I can get my internet site working again I can upload the powerpoint intro for all to see, though it will be without the "Kill Bill" music that accompanied the actual presentation. When all the speeches are done the class will vote on who was most inspirational and the winner gets a special prize. What the prize is is a closely-guarded secret, but I'm betting it's something pizza related. I'm hoping that since Shepard has an off-the-scale cool factor compared to some of the other candidates (hence the "Kill Bill" music) I'll have a decent shot at winning, but the guy who went after me did Mike Meyers and dressed and talked like Dr. Evil during his speech. It was absolutely hilarious and will no doubt stand out in the class's mind when we go to the polls. I might not have been able to achieve vice presidential candidacy this year, but maybe I can win a pizza party with the help of the Icy Commander.

I'm going to be indifferent towards the holidays this year, not by choice but by necessity. It's just really difficult to get into the holiday spirit when I have six finals to prepare for, two of which it's critical that I do well on, along with a bunch of last minute assignments thrown in by the more sadistic teachers. I'm not going to have time to breathe until December 17, but at least that leaves a week before Christmas to get into the spirit of things. Oh well, c'est la vive, est vive est belle. :;):

(that's life, and life is beautiful)

Palomar · 2004-12-11 21:07:54

One of the best $1.99 I've ever spent is on the mood ring currently sitting on my right ring finger. Every once in a while something will come along and perturb the liquid crystals inside it (or something like that) and it will shift ever so slightly from yellow to green to teal to midnight blue. It's amazing how wide the range of color is in such a simple device, every time you look at it (assuming each time is 30 minutes or so apart) it looks completely different! It's psychodelicly and scientifically cool all at the same time. And whoa, dude, the colors!

*Cool, Mad Grad.

Not sure I should admit this (errrrg...the time factor is getting hard): Got my first mood ring -- in fact was the first time mood rings hit my hometown after the craze began -- in 1974. Was 9 years old. The shape and band style were all the same: Large oval on a (fake of course) silver setting and silver band. Each had a little booklet accompanying it (explaining which color indicates what mood). The owners of the Ben Franklin 5 & Dime had the display resting at the edge of the checkout counter...where of course every eye COULDN'T miss it.

Everyone was so excited to put it on the finger and see what color it turned.

Wish I would have kept it; it was manufactured by the original company which produced them.

Also remember my first Pet Rock (1975). And bib overalls, granny glasses, floppy flowered hats, oh somebody stop me...

Thanks for the jaunt down Memory Lane, MG Student. Hope you continue to enjoy your mood ring.

--Cindy

P.S.: Ah, can't forget the soda fountain in the pharmacy -- they took it out (dang it) around 1975. We'd run uptown and Sally would fix us *real* cherry Cokes. Syrup, carbonated water via a little spray attachment, the works. Authentic Coca-Cola glasses, she'd pour the syrup in, shoot in the carbonated water, stir briskly. Maybe 1 other step I can't recall. Sally made the best. What a pity when they took the soda fountain out (to make room for stupid nick-nacks). Funny thing is, my sister is 2 years my senior and she barely remembers this stuff. :-\

Mad Grad Student · 2004-12-11 23:14:19

Thanks for the jaunt down Memory Lane, MG Student. Hope you continue to enjoy your mood ring.
--Cindy
P.S.: Ah, can't forget the soda fountain in the pharmacy -- they took it out (dang it) around 1975. We'd run uptown and Sally would fix us *real* cherry Cokes. Syrup, carbonated water via a little spray attachment, the works. Authentic Coca-Cola glasses, she'd pour the syrup in, shoot in the carbonated water, stir briskly. Maybe 1 other step I can't recall. Sally made the best. What a pity when they took the soda fountain out (to make room for stupid nick-nacks). Funny thing is, my sister is 2 years my senior and she barely remembers this stuff. :-\

Glad I could help. I of course can't really relate to the soda fountain story, but it sounds great. I love cherry coke but of course the only kind I've ever had was robotically manufactured that way at a plant somewhere. The loss of good service like this is unfortunate from a customer's standpoint, but I suppose it's just a fact of life. At least the companies are able to (theoretically) make things/services cheaper by removing the human element from everyplace possible.

If any of you know an aviation nut out there and need to find a good gift for the holiday of your choice, you might want to check out http://www.herpa.de/herpa_df.htm?http:/ … 71&1]Herpa Models. I have a quite modest collection of these beauties and hopefully might get a chance to expand it this Christmas. The amount of detail in the models is exquisite; they look as though you took a full-size airliner and shrunk it down to the size of a guinea pig, every rivet, bolt, and turbine blade intact. They do wonders to liven up a desk, shelf, whatever, and are probably the best buy out there for small plane models. Perhaps they're not as cute as beanie babies, but Herpas are still great to display.

"We may loose, and we may win,
but we will never be here again."
-The Eagles

Josh Cryer · 2004-12-13 01:04:32

I recently brought a lava lamp, $10.

And I have a mood ring.

Plasma'y stuff is fascinating!

http://img91.exs.cx/img91/2581/img06410 … 6410nb.jpg
http://img91.exs.cx/img91/2759/img06395 … 6395gm.jpg

Palomar · 2004-12-13 12:24:50

I recently brought a lava lamp, $10.

*Hey Josh. We've got 2 of them: One purple, one green (no glitter or confetti -- just the "old fashioned" glops).

Can't stand the yellow/red lava lamps though; my childhood dentist had a big one in his waiting room. My sister and I would both get nearly sick if we looked at those red globs undulating and floating around -- they reminded us of blood clots. And of course the nerves and unpleasantness of having to see the dentist anyway and that little high-pitched drill. :-\ I wonder if he and his wife ever knew the effect that lava lamp had on some of their patients... (::edit:: Oh no! I was just now able to download those pics. Sorry Josh!)

Hey Cobra, did you survive the office Christmas party? I'm going to buy and send you a reindeer headband; you know, it fits snug across the top of your head, floppy reindeer ears stick up from it and it's adorned with little golden jingling bells. You need a matching necktie too...(with a microchip that plays "Deck The Halls") Did you bring any sandwiches back for us?

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2004-12-13 12:44:41

Hey Cobra, did you survive the office Christmas party?

I grabbed my bonus check and ninja'd my way out the back unnoticed.

My wife promptly spent it. <doh!>

I'm going to buy and send you a reindeer headband; you know, it fits snug across the top of your head, floppy reindeer ears stick up from it and it's adorned with little golden jingling bells.

Is it flammable?

Josh Cryer · 2004-12-13 13:28:14

Cindy, oh, it's quite alright, I wanted a green one, but they were all out! Red was the only color they had which had clear liquid, I didn't really want colorized liquid, felt it would detract from the wax. Plus, red is very lava-like, wouldn't ya say? (Despite it looking like blood clots!)

BTW, I'd take a picture of myself with my new camera, but... an unfortunate accident while cutting my hair resulted in... me having to shave it all off! I look like Lex luthor or something! Quite embarrassing.

GraemeSkinner · 2004-12-13 13:30:51

BTW, I'd take a picture of myself with my new camera, but... an unfortunate accident while cutting my hair resulted in... me having to shave it all off! I look like Lex luthor or something! Quite embarrassing.

I had a beard trimming incident once that resulted in a full shave

Graeme

Palomar · 2004-12-13 13:35:31

Josh: BTW, I'd take a picture of myself with my new camera, but... an unfortunate accident while cutting my hair resulted in... me having to shave it all off! I look like Lex Luthor or something!

*So?? Yul Brenner was sexy. Glad you took my comments about red lava lamps good, though -whew-. I managed to download the pics on the 2nd try, after I made the dentist's office comments. Open mouth, insert foot.

Graeme: I had a beard trimming incident once that resulted in a full shave

*I've never had a beard trimming incident. :-\

--Cindy :laugh:

(I'd better quit drinking eggnog, the sugar is making me punchy!)

Josh Cryer · 2004-12-13 20:35:13

So?? Yul Brenner was sexy.

Ahh, but he had small ears. Like Patrick Stewart. Works well for guys like them. :;):

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