Here's something to think about if you're in Chicago like me, and you're thinking of going outside:Go to your kitchen and fill a pot with water. Put it on the stove and turn the burner up to high. Bring it to a boil. That water is now at about 212°F. Given that your internal body temperature is just under 99°F, the boiling water is about 113°F hotter than your body.As I … [Read more...] about The Opposite of Boiling Water
It’s Not Anti-Vax, It’s Anti-Force
Why are antivaccinationists so at home with Libertarianism?That's the question Orac asked last month at Respectful Insolence. It's kind of an odd question, since the main piece of evidence he discusses is Ronald Bailey's pro-vaccination article at Reason Magazine, one of the flagship publishers of libertarian thought. Here's the main point of Bailey's argument: People who … [Read more...] about It’s Not Anti-Vax, It’s Anti-Force
Farewell Simon, We Hardly Knew You
Last spring, our cat Ripley passed away after a somewhat lengthy period of illness. It was a very sad time for us. My wife was especially heartbroken, as Ripley had been the first cat we adopted after a catless period that followed the death of her previous cat.As is my way, I had put up a post about Ripley's passing. Unbeknownst to me, someone over at the Opinionated … [Read more...] about Farewell Simon, We Hardly Knew You
2013 In Review
Wordpress likes to send out a year-end review to all their JetPack users. Most of it is routine statistics I can find anywhere, but a few items are amusing.On my busiest day, my most popular post was "Yet Another Tale of the Awful, Awful People at ICE". I think this line captures the essence of the post: The sad thing is that if she had freaked out and, say, gouged out one … [Read more...] about 2013 In Review
10 Books, More Or Less
There's a meme of sorts going around, the rules to which are: "List 10 books that have stayed with you. Don't take more than a few minutes; don't think too hard. They don't have to be great works, just the ones that have touched you." The rules don't specify fiction, but that's how most people seem to interpret it.Here's my list:The Mote In God's Eye. Larry Niven and … [Read more...] about 10 Books, More Or Less