The east first-floor hallway of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. More photos here.
Scarecrow with a brain
It can scare away birds, but can it “while away the hours conversin’ with the flowers”? That’s what I want to know…
The first paragraph I wrote today was…
The first helium-neon laser was constructed in 1960 by Ali Javan, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In a helium-neon laser, electrodes transfer electrical energy to the helium-neon gas mixture. The current energizes the helium atoms, which then transfer their energy to the neon atoms, causing them to emit light. Although the …
Will you vow air vent chastity?
If you’re a screenwriter (or a novelist who writes stories where this sort of thing might be tempting), John August is asking you to sign “The Screenwriter’s Vow of Air Vent Chastity,” to whit: I, John August, hereby swear that I shall never place a character inside an air duct, ventilation shaft, or any other …
Photo of the Day: Night Trees
More photos here.
The first paragraph I wrote today was…
Many top athletes (such as yourself) use visualization, or “guided imagery,” to enhance their performance. They envision their best performance of the past or the desired outcome of an upcoming performance. They imagine every detail, from what they will see to how their bodies will feel as they perform to what they will hear, smell …
Photo of the Day: Upon Reflection
More photos here.
Research news from my alma mater
According to a new study, caffein raises blood pressure but lowers heart rates in children during exercise. Which is interesting enough on its own, but the main reason I link to it is that the study was carried out at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas–my alma mater. All together now! “Near the foothills of the …
The first paragraph I wrote today was…
Taking away or adding just one proton from the nucleus of an element would turn it into a completely different element with completely different properties. Neon has an atomic number of 10. If you took away just one proton, you would have flourine, a gas which, far from being inert, is highly reactive and dangerous. …
“They say the neon lights are bright…”
It’s spring! To some, nothing says “warm weather” like “cold beer”—and nothing says “cold beer” like “glowing neon.” The first neon signs in North America arrived in 1923, when Los Angeles businessman Earle C. Anthony returned home from a trip to Paris with two that read “Packard” in glowing blue and reddish-orange. Installed at his …
Belated Photo of the (Yester)Day: Leaves of Gold
More photos here.
Man, do I need one of these!
It’s the Sanderson Golf Ballfinder SCOUT–and it promises to help you find your ball in the rough, if even a tiny bit of it is showing. (Via Gizmodo.)
My latest live walk and vlog
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