17th Century Predictions of Robert Boyle Came True

The Royal Society in London, England, is currently celebrating its 350th anniversary with an artifact exhibit which includes a fascinating Robert Boyle document. Scientist Robert Boyle was one of the society’s founders, but what makes him even more noteworthy is that he created a “wish list” of sorts in the… Continue reading

Newly Discovered Species for New Hope

At a time when marine life is facing unimaginable threats thanks to BP’s Deepwater Horizon fiasco, I thought it might be heartening to be reminded that we’re still discovering new species with which we share our world. While not new in terms of existence, as far as we know, they… Continue reading

Gambling on Ships and Oil Rigs

Something struck me today, not a bolt of lightening, more like an iceberg, or maybe a drilling rig. I don’t know why I hadn’t already connected the two before. April 14th 1912 (technically April 15th 1912 at 2:20AM) the ship that couldn’t sink sank. April 20th 2010 the deepwater drilling… Continue reading

iMusings on iPad, WePad, Now WeTab

Even though it has yet to be released, the WePad I wrote about a month ago has been renamed. Why is it that names seem to be such a focus when it comes to these tablet computers? First we had all the jokes about feminine hygiene products and Apple’s name… Continue reading

Do Cents Make Sense?

Penny for your thoughts? Better make that at least a cent and a half – the cost of one penny. Those ubiquitous little brown coins that we don’t pick up off the ground, chuck into tip jars, or simply store way at home in other jars where they’re unlikely to… Continue reading

Ocean Stats 19th Century Oceanographer Already Knew

Some things we just take for granted. We know the world is round, well spherical, but there was also a time when the we of yesteryear knew that the earth was flat. Well another thing I just took for granted was that we knew how deep and voluminous our oceans… Continue reading

Bye Bye Watch Batteries

Citizen Men's Solar WatchWith all the massive ills that accompany our ever-increasing quest for energy, I’d like to concentrate for a moment on something on a much smaller scale. My little dead watch battery. It occurs to me that there are actually ways to get a free energy supply. Solar power is nothing new, but mainstream, widespread use remains elusive. Continue reading

What Else Will Germ-Killing Paper Towels Kill?

What is this thing we have about germs? Easy to forget sometimes we are a bacteria factory ourselves, and supposed to be that way. We could never digest food if we didn’t have this symbiotic relationship with these little organisms. I remember being freaked out as a kid when I… Continue reading

15th Century Version of Blogs, Facebook, and Twitter

We have been preserving our communications probably as long as we have been. From cave drawings to hieroglyphics to alphabets the world over, languages continue to evolve. Although I suspect many would say it’s devolved a bit since the advent of digital shorthand, IYKWIM (if you know what I mean,… Continue reading

Cash Register Receipts Coated with BPA

Sometimes I think the happiest existence would be in some tiny out of the way place, cut-off from modern civilization. Living off the land, oblivious to what’s going on in the outside world. Then I think about all I would miss, including all the amazing things that have been dreamt… Continue reading