After we all agreed that the Earth does indeed revolve around the Sun, it seems we now need to agree on how many planets are in our solar system. Most of us were taught that there are nine planets in our system (listed by increasing distance from the Sun): Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus (always makes me giggle), Neptune, and Pluto.
Some time ago, pesky Pluto came under some scrutiny and was to be declassified–perhaps for being too small. Well like so many other exclusive clubs, it seems that if you let one in you have to let them all in. Under some new standards, the Moon may even be considered a planet along with hundreds of other object.
There is certainly much debate, but just like our resistance of the metric system, it is unlikely that the American public will change their thoughts of the nine planets–even if they probably wouldn’t be able to name them on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”
For now, Pluto will remain what astronomers are calling a “dwarf” planet–along with Sneezey and Dopey.
In related news, Klingons have been observed on Uranus! (I really couldn’t resist.)
Running is great exercise. Personally, I only run when being chased, and even then, I like to get somewhere. Running outside provides nice scenery, fresh air, and often a feeling of actually traveling some distance. Running on a track always bores me because I never felt I got anywhere and always lost count obsessing about what lap I was on. My least favorite is running on a treadmill.
Worse then running on a track, a treadmill literally gets you no where. Of course the positive aspects of a treadmill are a controlled inside environment, less impact on joints, and you can do it in a limited space.
Bicycling is a nice alternative to running due to even less impact on joints, and like running, I prefer to do this outside.
Now you can combine the worst of all of these elements into one activity using the Treadmill Bike! Take all the fun of running on a treadmill and stick it on top of a bicycle. Is any of this really necessary?
This “vehicle” is hilarious and it’s hard to decide if this isn’t actually a joke. The narrator of the video even has a hard time holding back the giggles. I just hope no one steal my idea for a stationary bicycle for the pool.
If you ever take the ear buds out of your ears, you can really enjoy some of the ridiculous things people say. However, if you would rather stay in your isolation of sound and have someone else filter the madness, then the Overheard… websites are for you.
I have been addicted to these sites for over a month. Who knows if all of this is true, but I operate under the philosophy that truth is stranger than fiction, so who cares?
Can You Hear Wednesday One-Liners Now?
Metro-North conductor: If you have been on your cell phone more than 5 minutes, you are not only annoying all of the passengers around you, but have also probably started to annoy the person on the other end of the call, so hang up.
What is our obsession with panda reproduction? It seems we are always trying to couple these animals up and forcing them to mate. I have early memories of Ling Ling back in the 70s. Well evidently are dwindling in the wild, and it is been very hard to get them to reproduce in captivity. But are we taking this too far?
Today’s news asks tries to find out if panda Lun Lun of the Atlanta zoo is pregnant. That might be bad enough, but as it is difficult to determine if pandas are pregnant (c’mon science?!) they have engaged a psychic to help!!
I must admit that I am a big skeptic regarding psychics, and therefore have no tolerance for pet psychics. I am more amazed at the amount of news attention stories like these receive. (Of course I am now contributing to it.)
You can’t watch the video and think that the whole piece isn’t a big joke. The psychic even goes on to predict that the panda wishes her baby to be named “Pu Pu.”
I started to think about how many food items there are for consumers that just aren’t the real thing, yet we seem to accept them as such. According to the Discovery Channel, Alaskan crabs really do exist, but every where I go I see something called “Sea Legs” or artificial crab. It turns out that this alternative is just some other white fish sweetened, painted, and shaped.
Despite the fact that Sea Legs is not crab, we seem to accept it as such. Sushi, Chinese food, seafood salads– these all seem to thrive on this alternative. I actually find it pretty tasty, but it bothers me that we call it crab meat when it isn’t. At what point do we actually forget what real crab meat is?
Another product that bothers me is pancake syrup. Waffles and pancakes are a big breakfast item in our house. We like to put butter (not margarine) and syrup on them. We say syrup, but we are assuming we are putting maple syrup on them, because that is what you put on pancakes–a sticky-sweet, brown viscous liquid. However, most of these don’t contain a drop of maple syrup. We have grown so accustomed to this non-maple syrup, that when we did get some from a friend who lives in Vermont, we really didn’t like it as much.
From the book Fast Food Nation, I learned how artificial flavorings are a huge business. It seems that most fast food burgers are so processed that they are left without any color or flavor, so this is just added back in chemically. We are getting very close to a futuristic sci-fi world where we eat generic tablets flavored in a variety of ways. It makes me what to shout, “Soylent Green is people!“
Fruit flavoring is perhaps the most often exploited. How many fruit “drinks” are there with big picture of fruit on the label yet state “contains no fruit juice“? I even saw a TV commercial with people running around gargantuan fruit advertising yet another drink that contains no fruit juice. What’s wrong with fruit juice, or actual fruit itself? It’s getting to the point that if we eat a red ice pop, we feel as if we had our daily allowance of fruit. Little kids don’t even refer to most foods by their artificial flavors–instead of asking for cherry or lemon ice, now we ask for them by color. “I want red!“
I actually gravitate to blue colored items, perhaps because it is so unnatural. Red is usually cherry or strawberry. Orange is orange, Yellow is lemon, etc. So what is blue? It’s nevery blueberry, and blueberries, despite their name, are more purple (which is always grape).
I am cynical enough to know that the answer to most “why?” questions is money. It’s cheaper to use these artificial flavorings, either in the production or even just the preservation and shelf-life of products.
Look around and recognize all of the substitutes there are for sugar, salt, butter, and everything else we eat.
I haven’t forgotten about North Korea and their sneaky missile fueling. This past Sunday, it was reported that North Korea was preparing for a missile “test” and the world has been waiting. If it is true that a missile has been fueled, then they are most likely going to launch it with a few weeks. Evidently, the rocket fuel is highly corrosive and not really meant to be de-fueled.
There is speculation as to what type of missile, its range, and what it is carrying, but no one knows for sure. Perhaps they are just bluffing, but I am using satellite imagery from Google Maps to keep watch. (Although these images are not live or necessarily current).
In case I am needed to defend against a missile attack, I have been training using an unofficial Missle Defense Simulator.
Over the weekend, I was interviewed by Big Bob over at the EZHelp, You & More Internet Radio Show. Bob was mostly interested in the creation and operation of MIStupid.com. The telephone interview is about 12 minutes long and can be heard here.
What do American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee and former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein have in common? They both starve themselves in attempt to control their lives.
Katharine McPhee has revealed that she had been struggling with bulimia, and sought help after her successful audition for American Idol and before the show started. She had struggled for years eating and “purging” up to seven times a day because of a poor self-image.
Saddam, on the other hand, went on a hunger strike in protest after the killing of his third lawyer. He ended his hunger strike ubruptly on Thursday, however, after missing a total of one meal.
