On this day, I learned the Food Network is rather unscientific. The hosts of some program were doing an experiment to see how the format of a meal influenced the ratings of the people eating the same food. They had a control group, but only one. The other group had a fancy setup and a fancy name for each dish, so imho, it would have been more scientific to have two other groups, one with a fancy name, and the other with fancy table place settings. Then you could judge whether the name or the setting had more impact on how much the diners enjoyed their meals.

I also learned that there is a frightening formula for spring motion. The simplified form is f(x) = A*sin(wt+phi) where A is amplitude, t is time, omega (w) is angular frequency, and phi shifts your formula over so that the sine goes through the correct position. Let’s just say the more complicated form involves Ae^-lambda*x.

I learned about a morbid site that tells about various famous people who died at the age you are at now, there abouts. Also people who died younger than you.

I learned about a neat idea for harvesting energy, the Solar Updraft Tower.

I learned that if you had a planet with a hole in the middle, and you fell through it, no matter which side of the planet the hole was on, it would always take the same length of time to go through it. Which makes sense, really. And on earth, that trip would take just under an hour.

I learned that if you pay over $1000 in taxes a year after you file taxes, then you will be charged a penalty for not paying in partway through the year.

On this day, I learned that sinus infections = suck. They can give you nasty phlegm, sore throat, and a fever!

I also learned that India has a new cheap car on the market.

I learned that my sinus-infection “IQ” is 154.

I learned that some belly dancers make their own costumes (quite nicely too).

On this day, I learned that the game Virus (featured on the site RG left in the entry on the 19th) will not run into Firefox 3.1 b3. So I’ve regressed back to 3.0 for the time being. Stu ran into a nasty bug anyways that closed all but the active tab and erased their existence altogether. (I’d file a bug report, but I don’t know how he triggered it and neither does he) That was another reason to regress, especially since my tabs were still open in 3.0 (btw, tabs are a terrible way to do passive reminders. I managed to overshoot a deadline for an application by an entire day before I was used to ignoring the tab)

I also learned that Peach smoothies are kinda like orange sherbet, but they’re not, and i think I’d rather have the orange sherbet, but it did feel good on my sinus-aching throat.

I learned that there are way too many ways to tie your shoes. I haven’t worn shoes with laces very much lately anyways. >;[

I learned that I was doing the double crochet stitch wrong on my rasta hat. It’s yarn over once, insert into stitch, pull through one loop, yarn over, pull through two loops. A lot easier. This, combined with my properly sized H hook should make the hat much smaller (it was swimming on my head when I’d try it on)

I also learned that Joann’s has a coupon if you want to buy any crafty things.

On this day, I learned that the dogs have a 9001 trails leading around the yard. And I followed most of them spreading tick dope. I learned that you have to make sure the lid is securely fastened before you vigorously shake the can if you don’t want all the power to wind up in a big pile on the ground.

I learned that my parents are terrible ecologists who see nothing wrong with burning polyurethane or healthy juniper bushes >;[[[[[[[[ The smoke was so black ;_;

I learned that it’s been so long since I heard the tired old Roses Are Red poem, that I completely forgot how it ended. And that I think means it’s time to lay that meme to rest. . .

I learned about several manga I’m kinda interested in reading; luckily most of them are available on-line. Tarot Cafe, Platinum Garden, Alichino, Pita Ten, We Shadows, Earthlight, and Planetes are among the ones I probably will never get around to reading, oh well.

I learned that there was a group of ladies in Britain in WW2 who used lowly methods to shame men into joining the war effort.

I learned that the Godfather, Vito Corleone shares my birthday. How cool. (The Godfather II is pretty good movie, even if nothing happens. It’s all character development and immensely absorbing).

I also learned some juicy quotes I was previously too young to understand (or too deaf to hear) while watching the second tape of Titanic. Did you know I used to spell the name Titantic? Oh goofy gradeschool girl.

On this day, I learned that the Chicago O’Hare airport does not have free wi-fi, contrary to what I told peegies. I was mistaken before because I merely saw a sign mentioning the city of chicago’s wifi network or something and didn’t actually open my computer.

I also learned that I had yarn perfect for making my rasta tam pattern! It’s an almost-unused 6oz. skein of a nice varigated cyan, blue, purple, lavender scheme. I don’t have the right size hook here, but I’m sure it’s at school.

I learned that the regional jets with the four seats in a row instead of three suck. (they have two on either side of the aisle instead of one on one side and two on the other). I don’t know if it was just my imagination, but it seemed much more cramped. My knees were touching the back of the seat in front of me >:[ Plus the guy sitting in front of me leaned his seat back first thing. When I noticed he was using a mac (a new one :(((() I got out my Apple remote for a little fun revenge. Turns out he didn’t have his paired exclusively, so I got a “fuck!” when Front Row opened, but stu scowled at me and made me stop :(
Always pair your apple remotes, kids. How to do this:
Open system preferences, go to Security, follow the instructions in the General tab for Pairing your remote.

I learned that Google was offering Gmail stickers a month after the deadline :( I don’t have a SASE anyways :(

On this day, I learned that despite what they have said in the past, a rallyburger will have mustard on it if you don’t say anything to the contrary. Gah. And if you stop long enough to press the mustard out of your burger patty, being so close and personal with your meat might just put you off your lunch.

I learned that Bath and Body Works have this new scent called ‘Butterfly Flowers’, and incredibly, when I spritzed it, it smelled exactly how I imagined it would, thinking of butterflies and flowers. Now, there happens to be a plant called butterfly bush, but I don’t recognize it as being around our house. Considering I’ve picked just about any bloom I’ve ever found here, you’d imagine I would, especially since it smells so familiar, but ;)

I learned that dreadlocks are colloquially called “locs”, and that the hat I’ve been wanting for a few months is probably a variant of a rasta tam. I was tempted to buy that one, but stu convinced me to hold off and try to find a crochet pattern first. I found one, but I don’t think I have the appropriate color yarn.
I did find out that my head is about 23.5″ in circumference, and stu’s is 24.5″ No wonder we can’t find hats! Our brains are too big.

I learned that there are some wonderful wonderful things you can do with javascript. Google has a set of experiments designed to test the limits of their new Chrome browser, but most of them work pretty good in the Firefox 3.1 beta! (which I am still using, despite not having gmail notifier :(:(() I have been on such a Kongregate kick the last few days, that mini browser games were exactly what I was craving.

I learned not that Neil Gaiman had been on the Colbert Report (already knew that), but that Stu absolutely lit up while watching the video. It’s very short, but pretty amusing, even for someone who has never watched Mr. Colbert’s show.

I learned about still another Kongregate game, music catch. I would just start a ‘Kongregate Game of the Day’ blog, but 1) that defeats the purpose of the kongregate site itself, and 2) going back to school means I probably will need to wean myself off of flash games ;) Anyways, I felt kinda dirty for playing a self-titled music game with the sound off, but it was still amazing fun. Also, even more fun is SHIFT (and its progeny). SHIFT is kinda similar in concept to my friend’s game I mentioned, but I think they are different enough to warrant both existing :)

I learned that some people at DC have a fiendish plan they recently announced. They want to have special Wednesday Comics to lure the wonder and neatitude back into comics reading in times of sad money.

On this day, I learned that it is really hard to find nice frilly spring dresses of the kind I am fond of. I didn’t end up finding any, but I found something I liked just as well, so I went with it.

I learned a lot about Indiana Jones. We watched Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and if it was too sci-fi for Indy, then I guess I just like him better that way. The trick with the magnet at the beginning was just ridiculous if you have the least knowledge of magnetism. Namely, that your magnetic fields follow the inverse square law, and objects will accelerate towards the source. Think about putting two magnets together. if you have them the right distance away, you’re okay, but if you just barely bring them together, then they will go faster and faster until they reach the place of lowest energy, touching. Indy’s bullet dust seemed to be moving at a pretty steady speed. Oh well, that’s Hollywood for you.

I also learned that apparently my aunt knows a couple who own a camper or RV or something with marble floors. I don’t know, that’s what it sounded like she said over the phone. It also sounded like she said it got 4 miles to the gallon. I would like to see this RV. Maybe live in it for a few days.

On this day, I learned a lot about Stu’s family! I learned that his grandpa has a lift on his recliner so he can sit in it from his walker and let it down so he doesn’t have to bend down. I learned that his grandma’s personality is very very similar to Frona’s, a woman who practically was my third grandma. I learned that even his aunts are just as strong women as his sister, mom, and grandma. A matriarchy for sure. I learned that the town his grandparents live in is intensely germanic, as a walk through the cemetery proved. (e.g. Schoenlein, Kamp, and so many many more).

I learned that his mom can throw a softball like nobody’s business. (and that stu is still massively afraid of the ball even with gloves on).

I learned that Ctfmon.exe from Office 2000 interferes with running some windows games on Windows 98. (Solitaire consistantly crashed, and freecell refused to open).

I also learned about another fun puzzle game <3333. I’ve almost got it beat! Level 14 is giving me some guff ;)

On this day, I learned that you shouldn’t type wordpress posts directly into the browser if you have no internet connection because firefox will lose them if you close the browser window. Yuck.

I learned that babies smell nice and still grab my hair. They are mischievous beings who will stoop to any means to put your finger in their mouths against their sharp, sharp teeth. They still love to look at cats. (it’s been a while since I’ve been around a little baby!)

I learned that space shuttle Discovery lifted off safely last night around 7pm! Yay!

I learned that welfare in Georgia, among other places, is in a sad, sad state. I think of the sorry state all our elderly are in, and that’s with medicare paying for a lot of their prescriptions and not having to feed and clothe a little kid too. I can’t imagine living in as many places as the woman in this article has, and it makes me want to help out or donate at, do whatever, at the homeless shelter in town :x I’ll work up the gumption I hope.

I also learned that early (second season) seinfeld episodes are very easy to distinguish from latter ones, just by looking at how much younger the entire cast looks.

I learned that a certain anti-Malarial drug can really mess you up. It’s really scary to think that our pharmaceutical knowledge is a lot of trial and error and good luck. It’s only been in the last hundred years that we’ve really begun to develop our own substances (sweeteners, pesticides, plastics).

On this day, I learned that Little Rock Airport has free wifi. Finally. The last time I was there, you had to pay AT&T some ridiculous sum to access your intarwebz. Chicago O’Hare apparently had it as well, but I didn’t check for myself. The only thing is that these places have almost no power outlets >:{{{{{{{
I learned about a neat way you can get to LNA, as well. Instead of getting on whatever road we usually take, we got on Roosevelt Rd right from whatever road we had been on, and on a short tour of the factory district, we came out right in front of the IMAX. Fun times!

I learned a lot of what has gone on in Greenville since Christmas. Not too many places have closed, and one of stu’s former teachers works at the hospital now, etc etc.

I learned how to plant a tree. Dad and I planted the aforementioned Tulip tree about five feet from where the old tulip tree was (I loved that tree. It had convenient branches for climbing, and I easily got as high as the roof in it. It got blighted by something and began rotting out and eventually blew over in a wind storm. I liked the pretty tulip looking flowers it had as well as the five pointed leaves which when you put them underwater, looked as though they were made of quicksilver)
You find your spot, ascertain how much shade it will get (this is why we moved it, also because the dog sleeps in the hollow where the old one was), break out a circle of sod about twice the diameter of the tree’s pot, if it’s potted, put this into one pile. Then, dig down about the depth of the pot and put this dirt in another pile. If you come across roots or wires, snap them off. Wriggle the tree back and forth in its pot until it comes out, then ease it into the hole. Cover it in with the dirt from the clean (no sod) pile. Stamp it down a bit to get rid of any air bubbles, then fill in the rest of the dirt. Toss the sod in a place of the yard where you’d like some more grass. Congrats, you just won an Al Gore miniature.