Faster Than Lightning

I did a quick 'back-of-the-envelope calculation' (e.g. I used Wikipedia and Google) and discovered that there is no way (hehe: no milk, no way; know milk, know whey) anyway, there is no way that Flipper could have been faster than lightning. Lightning travels at approximately 100,000 mph. Dolphins can swim up to about 25 mph (for reference, the speed of sound is ~769 mph and the flight airspeed record is 2,188 mph). So for Flipper to be even as fast as lightning he would have been travelling 4,000 times faster than other dolphins, 130 times the speed of sound, and ~78 times the flight airspeed record, not to mention the resistence of being in the water. I'm calling bullsh*t.

Here ends the lesson for today.

In other news:

• I'm trying out Facebook, so add me as a friend. If I can figure out how to put a link on here I'll give it a shot.


• I started a new position at my job way back in April. I am now a Scientist II in the Technology Transfer / Process Improvement (TTPI) bacterin group. All is going well and I'm enjoying myself.


• I've been reading a lot of books lately. For instance, I finally broke down and read the entire Harry Potter series this spring. Other notable reading includes: The Ultimate Hitchiker's Guide by Douglas Adams; The Gospel of the Flying Speghetti Monster by Bobby Henderson; and The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. I just picked up Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, so I'll let you know how that turns out.


• I have signed up for a homebrewing class and you can read more about it here.

I'm stuck here until 5 o'clock, so if I think of anything else, I'll be back. In the meantime, check out the Pharyngula blog.

Scotty B

"Patriotism is the conviction that your country is superior to all others because you were born in it." - George Bernard Shaw

Hey Hey Folks!

Hello again after a long hiatus. I'm gonna keep this short (maybe) so here goes:
I've been muy busy for the last couple months. I took the Master Gardener class through the ISU Extension office in Chickasaw county. The class was most Tuesdays and Thursdays for three hours at a pop. This started in mid-September and the last class was an all-day thing down at ISU on the 28th of last month. Other than this, I have been helping Dad at the farm, which eats up time as well as putting in plenty of overtime at work.
Things are finally settling down and I've been able to spend more time at home, which is nice. Everyone in the house has been sick at least once in the last two weeks or so. Miles and I are doing pretty well now, but Beth is still in pretty poor shape. Hopefully she gets over it soon because she's been sick for over a week straight.
I was taking a shower the other day and Miles came up to me when I got out holding part of my glasses in one hand and the other part in his other hand, proclaiming that they were "broke", as if I didn't notice. He got a time out and I've got an eye appointment coming up.
One of the things I have been able to do while I've been busy is listen to some new (to me) podcasts. My favorite is 'Skeptic's Guide to the Universe' but other than that I found a bunch of podcasts about brewing (a.k.a. brewcasts) and now that I have more free time I can hopefully get back into brewing (including bottling the brew I have had in the secondary carboy in the basement for the last two months).
Well, thats all I've got time for now. I'll try to get back in to a somewhat regular schedule with this and I've got some fun Halloween pics for you!



Scotty B

"Confusion is always the most honest response." - Marty Indik

Hello Again

Hey, long time no blog, eh? Well, here's a fresh installment of my ramblings. First things, I participated in the 6th Annual Hudson Pump & Run. My goal (for 5K) was 23m18s, and I got it done in 22m51s. Whoo hoo! I also did seven reps benching my body weight (135lbs) so that subtracted 1m45s from my time leaving me at a final time of 21m06s (a mere six seconds behind Adam who, incidentally, did not do any pumping. Way to go Adam!).
In other news, Miles started swimming lessons last week. He's not exactly a fish, but what do you expect when both Beth and I have to hold our noses to go under water. He is getting better about the water, but tomorrow is his last day of lessons so I guess we'll have to make the most of it.
Also, I drank the first of my homebrews last Friday! It turned out pretty well, even beth liked it. Now I'll have to get started on another batch so I have some variety, and then another batch, and another...
Here's some pics of Miles after he got into Mom's lipstick:


Scotty B

"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened." -Douglas Adams

p.s. Check out Gizoogle.com to translate any webpage into...

Happy Friday All!

I ran in a five mile race on Tuesday the 4th! It was my first race ever and I think it went pretty well. I got there a bit early (only a few other folks were there and one of them was working at the event) so I waited around for everybody else to show up. The event was a 5k or 5 mile, and some friends and I did the 5 mile. Adam even pushed his daughter Becca in a stroller the whole way (awesome). Results came out yesterday and I came in 39th (out of 46) with a time of 50:45. Although the five of us finished at essentially the same time, they took my tag first, so I was placed ahead of the rest of my group in the finish list (yeah, take that). I'm sure they don't mind however, as they each recently ran either a marathon or half marathon.
After the race, we all went to mickey d's and engorged ourselves with some healthy (right) breakfast food. Following breakfast, Beth, Miles and I were going to go to the Fourth of July parade, but we opted instead to go back home and take a nap.
During the race, we had noticed that the Uptown (in CC) was reopened, so today I went out to lunch there with some of my old CCC buddies. It's always good to see them. Especially Jeff, to whom I now owe two lunches (Thanks Jeff!) due to the credit card machine being out of service.
Tomorrow I look forward to bottling my beer (whoo hoo)! My pal Chaddy (an experienced homebrewer) is going to be in town (from Nebraska, :S) this weekend and said he'd help me (his going rate is beer). Dave said he'd come over and help also, so I should be good to go! I've got two cases of regular size bottles and two 32 oz bottles, so I think I have enough (lets see, 12x48 = 576+64 = 640 oz vs. 5 gal = 640 oz, whew!). Take out the samples I've taken for specific gravity readings and I should be fine.
After the bottling, I only have to wait two more weeks to try it (so much waiting)! I was, however, informed that:

"...the beer will continue to improve for next few weeks to months, depending on the style. For brown ale, similar like the one you brewed, I usually find that they improve for at least 3 months. After that, they're somewhat at their best, but some recipes will continue to improve for another 3 months."

Man, thats a lot more waiting! Oh well, I guess its plenty of time to get started on the next batch :)

Scotty B

"There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval." - George Santayana

Yeszilla

I didn't get pictures up before we left for vacation, and I apologize for that. I'll try to get some up now.
We've been pretty busy as of late! We went to Chicago for a week with Nick and Sadie and Ascher. We visited the Field Museum (with the King Tut exhibit), the Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Pier, and the Shedd Aquarium. We soon discovered that things tend to take about twice as long when you have two one-and-a-half year olds with you. The boys got along great and they behaved relatively well, but kids seem to slow things down. We did manage to do some thigs sans children though. Nick and I saw Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and the girls saw the Broadway Musical Wicked.
We've got plenty of pictures from the trip, but if you want to see them, you'll have to come over because we didn't take the digital camera ;)
In other news, I started brewing my own beer on Thursday night. I think it went pretty well overall, but I'll have to wait and see I guess. I know the yeast are working because bubbles have been coming out of the airlock. I need to read a bit more to see if I want to transfer to a secondary fermenter and if I do, when I should do so. For more details on what went down, follow this link to my other blog, now devoted to the art of homebrewing!
This first picture is from when I was filling Miles' tub up for a bath. He was reaching in playing and he just fell right in, head first. I was standing there and managed to grab his ankle as it flew up in the air, which is why only the top part of his shirt is wet.
Here he is being just like dad:
And just like mom?...
Scotty B

"Give a man a beer and he wastes an hour; teach a man to brew and he wastes a lifetime." - Bill Owens

Congrats to Tim and Gretchen Paluch on their wonderful wedding this weekend! We all had a very good time (even Miles was up until 10:00). We got to see some old friends, which is always nice. Speaking of old friends, we're going on vacation next week with Nick, Sadie and their boy Ascher. I can hardly wait, this week just isn't going fast enough. Its kina like the last week of school before summer vacation except there are no tests and this vacation is only going to last a week.
In other not-so-news, I've decided to try brewing my own beer. Partially inspired by my friend Chad (wassup Chaddy) and partially because I need a hobby, as well as the fact that its hard to find good beer around here without shelling out some $$ (I don't care what you say, $5 for a six pack is too much). I'm still trying to figure out how to get bottles as all of the bottles I have at home are screw-top (which I can't use), so if anybody has any bottles or ideas where I could get some cheap, lemme know (start drinkin and bring me your empties!).
Ok, I should go now. I'll try to get more pics of Miles up before I leave this weekend.

Scotty B

"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent." -Ronnie D. Laing

Weekend fun.

Well, even sans Miles, we had a really good time this weekend. We went camping with some friends at a place called Harvest Farms. Saturday we mostly lounged around, hung out, and drank, but Sunday, we went biking and canoeing (sp?), which was a lot of fun. Beth got a little burnt, but I got a nice tan, so I guess it all evens out, right?
I forgot to mention this before, but CONGRATS to all of you marathon runners the other weekend! Unbefreakinleivable! Be sure to check out Adam's site for some fun pics.
In other news, I got my first in a series of rabies vaccines yesterday. The shot itself didn't hurt, but my arm was a bit sore later in the day. These days a person has to get three shots. My next shot will be Wednesday 07 Jun 06, then the last one on Wednesday 21 Jun 06. Lucky it worked out that way, because the week in between I'm going to be in Chicago with some friends. For those who are wondering, I've not been bit by a stray animal, but we do test rabies vaccines on site at work and there is the chance (albeit small) that I could be exposed while in the sample room. On the bright side, if anyone has a rabid animal they need taken care of, I'm your man!
Well, I'm going to get back to some reading now.
Relax, Don't Worry...

Scotty B

"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." -Albert Einstein