November 20, 2006
December 8, 2005
Supercooled Water
(December 8th, 2005) Yesterday morning I went to get some bottled water from my garage. It had been in the garage for over a week, mostly undisturbed. The outside temperature was reportedly -17°C (about 1°F); I imagine the garage was slightly warmer than that, but still below the freezing point of water. I picked up a bottle of water and noticed that it was not frozen. In fact, it was completely liquid. But soon after I disturbed it, the water in the bottle began to crystalize. The water became progressively cloudy from the top down as it froze inside the bottle. The effect was much like the ice creeping along the walls and floors in The Day After Tomorrow.
Now THIS is freaking cool! Its been getting cold enough here lately that I might have to try this out for myself. I’ll be sure to take some videos like this guy, but I doubt they’ll be much better quality since my camera is probably quite similar to his. Oh well, it’ll be interesting, nonetheless!
November 23, 2005
Custody Battle in Knoxville
Knoxville (TN) – A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a Knoxville, TN courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.
After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Tennessee Volunteers, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.
November 12, 2005
WVLT VOLUNTEER TV Knoxville, TN: Local man: Five cities to be destroyed Friday
WVLT VOLUNTEER TV Knoxville, TN: Local man: Five cities to be destroyed Friday
Farragut, Knox County (WVLT) – A Farragut man says he’s only the messenger, claiming his personal relationship with god has revealed to him, five cities in the United States that will face economic collapse Friday, November 11, 2005.
GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN! THE PROPHETS HAVE SPOKEN! Oh wait, its Saturday and nothing happened. What a crackpot.
November 3, 2005
Two to the 100th Power: A Simple Question
Two to the 100th Power: A Simple Question
Get a big sheet of paper and a good paper cutter. Cut the sheet in half, and stack the pieces together. Turn the pile 90 degrees, cut it in half again, and stack the cut pieces again. Keep doing this until you’ve cut and stacked the sheet 100 times.
The question is: How thick will the pile be after you cut and stack the paper 100 times?
This is quite amazing. Read the whole thing, the answer WILL astonish you. Really puts things into perspective in a mathematical sort of way.
October 29, 2005
BBC NEWS | Health | Stroke gives woman British accent
BBC NEWS | Health | Stroke gives woman British accent
Wow, now this is just fucking weird. If that happened to me, I’d want a Russian accent… how ironic would it be for someone to speak in a Russian accent purporting the evils of communism. Okay, not so much anymore, but I still think it would be rad.