Remember my post "Everything is a Part of You"? I heard an NPR story about how in one year from now, 98% of the atoms in your body won't be there. They will have been replaced by new atoms. You lose atoms through not only excrement (including sweat), but by cutting your hair or fingernails and by shedding your skin. As I was listening to the report, I thought that the atoms in your DNA should stay put so that they could instruct the new atoms how to form the proper structures. Near the end of the piece, my suspicions were confirmed.
I'm not sure what the figure is on the rate of replacement of atoms in other living things. I wonder if it's lower for trees. Or tortoises (or anything with a slow metabolism).
It's nice when you hear somebody else clarify your idea. Now I have a quantitative figure behind me too (which is good for those science types).
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Humane Society
Written - 5/25/2002
Is the Humane Society really such a great saver of animals? Or are they a ruthless killing machine, disposing of thousands of seemingly unwanted animals every year?
I'm not entirely sure. However, I think that the animals that they do kill would have been killed anyways, so that nullifies most of the wrong of killing them. Especially because they try to get the animals they kill adopted before they meet their end. They also manage to find a safe and loving home for the animals that are in their shelter.
I got a dog from the Humane Society a two Decembers ago (2000). She has been the best dog ever. It is obvious that she had been abused before she arrived at the Humane Society. She had been there for a while without being adopted. This may have been because of a tail that was truncated before its natural end...this could have been the result of abuse by previous owners or just an accident. She also could not sit without falling on her side. She had been there for about 3 months and it was evident that her time there was limited. When we went to look at dogs, I wanted another one, a more aesthetic one, but this dog was a door dasher and had problems listening.
As it turns out, her tail does not bother her in the least. I think now that it adds to her personality. She has been such a great companion. I have wanted a dog that I could run with ever since I started running. Abbey (my Humane Society adoptee) runs up to 5 miles with me. And she's fast too. She is well mannered and extremely personable.
I would recommend a dog or cat from the Humane Society to any of you who are looking for an animal. Not just because it is a lot cheaper, but it also reduces unwanted animals running around by spaying and neutering the animals before they leave. Also, anyone who buys an animal from a pet store is condoning the existence of puppy mills where bitches are forced to continually stay pregnant and give birth to endless litters...until the day when they are not producing as they should be...then they are exterminated...cruelly...please don't but animals from pet stores.
Is the Humane Society really such a great saver of animals? Or are they a ruthless killing machine, disposing of thousands of seemingly unwanted animals every year?
I'm not entirely sure. However, I think that the animals that they do kill would have been killed anyways, so that nullifies most of the wrong of killing them. Especially because they try to get the animals they kill adopted before they meet their end. They also manage to find a safe and loving home for the animals that are in their shelter.
I got a dog from the Humane Society a two Decembers ago (2000). She has been the best dog ever. It is obvious that she had been abused before she arrived at the Humane Society. She had been there for a while without being adopted. This may have been because of a tail that was truncated before its natural end...this could have been the result of abuse by previous owners or just an accident. She also could not sit without falling on her side. She had been there for about 3 months and it was evident that her time there was limited. When we went to look at dogs, I wanted another one, a more aesthetic one, but this dog was a door dasher and had problems listening.
As it turns out, her tail does not bother her in the least. I think now that it adds to her personality. She has been such a great companion. I have wanted a dog that I could run with ever since I started running. Abbey (my Humane Society adoptee) runs up to 5 miles with me. And she's fast too. She is well mannered and extremely personable.
I would recommend a dog or cat from the Humane Society to any of you who are looking for an animal. Not just because it is a lot cheaper, but it also reduces unwanted animals running around by spaying and neutering the animals before they leave. Also, anyone who buys an animal from a pet store is condoning the existence of puppy mills where bitches are forced to continually stay pregnant and give birth to endless litters...until the day when they are not producing as they should be...then they are exterminated...cruelly...please don't but animals from pet stores.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
One-Dollar Coins
In the US, we've tried to circulate a dollar coin a few times, but it never seems to work out. There was the large, silver dollar followed by the smaller gold-colored ones. Most recently, I got a dollar coin with George Washington's mug on it (goodbye Sacagawea). According to this reliable source, there's a new president's face gonna come out on one of these here coins for a little while. I bet you can guess where I got that darned dollar coin...that's right!...the Post Office!! It seems like they're the only ones who use it. Try putting that coin in a non-stamp vending machine.
The smallest denomination paper bill in Euros is worth 5. There are coins for 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro, and 2 euros. Although it took a little bit of getting used to, I ended up liking the 1 and 2 euro coins. It was also initially weird not to have quarters. I just don't think that Americans are willing to carry around and use one dollar coins. Why do we keep making them? Perhaps they'll be worth something to collectors in 50 years.
The smallest denomination paper bill in Euros is worth 5. There are coins for 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro, and 2 euros. Although it took a little bit of getting used to, I ended up liking the 1 and 2 euro coins. It was also initially weird not to have quarters. I just don't think that Americans are willing to carry around and use one dollar coins. Why do we keep making them? Perhaps they'll be worth something to collectors in 50 years.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
7-11
FREE SLURPEES TODAY!!
Too bad I live in a stupid town without the convenience store carrying the greatest "slushy" beverage known to man.
Too bad I live in a stupid town without the convenience store carrying the greatest "slushy" beverage known to man.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Roommate Bullshit
I need a roommate. What? You thought I had one lined up? Well, I did. Let me go ahead and say that I kicked Neil out early (thus forfeiting rent $$$) so that this guy could move in. And I've turned down other people asking for a place to live because I thought this dude A was going to move in. This past Saturday, A called me and said that he found a place to live with one of his friends for $100 cheaper per month. Who could blame him for not wanting to live with me. It's just too bad that I didn't get news of this until such a late date. I am pretty sure that A wasn't trying to mess with me. He came up to Tally from Orlando just to check my place out.
After I got the message on Saturday about me needing a new roommate, I did the first thing that came to my head: I asked Micah (new econ student, not from the HC) to let me know if any of the incoming econ students need a place. He is in touch with all the incoming econ students. He brings his A-game. I also put word to Dr. Bullock who shot an email to department heads of grad programs campus-wide. Hopefully this will turn out alright. My mom seems to think that there's "a reason this happened." I hope she's right.
After I got the message on Saturday about me needing a new roommate, I did the first thing that came to my head: I asked Micah (new econ student, not from the HC) to let me know if any of the incoming econ students need a place. He is in touch with all the incoming econ students. He brings his A-game. I also put word to Dr. Bullock who shot an email to department heads of grad programs campus-wide. Hopefully this will turn out alright. My mom seems to think that there's "a reason this happened." I hope she's right.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Liquid Bandaids
Liquid bandaids work like this: There's a bottle of liquid that you drop onto an applicator. A reaction takes place, you rub the activated applicator over the wound, and a seal forms. The seal keeps all the bad stuff out. It's also less visibly noticeable than a regular bandaid and doesn't need to be reapplied. Pretty badass if you ask me.
About 8 days ago, I stepped on a piece of glass at a party at my neighbors' house. The bottom of the foot is a hard place to keep a bandage. It's hard to keep it clean too. At the very least, your foot sweats a lot. Not to mention the possible foreign material that can get lodged in there when you walk around barefoot.
Whitney says that she's always thought that bandaids are for wusses, but concedes that liquid bandaids aren't. I wonder what kind of cool factor they have. Sometimes you want people to see you visibly wounded and other times you don't. Enter liquid bandaid.
Mani says (and I've heard other places) that you can use super glue to do the same thing. I think super glue is a little cheaper, but maybe not quite as sanitary. And I'm not sure how I feel about the super glue-solvents getting into my system.
About 8 days ago, I stepped on a piece of glass at a party at my neighbors' house. The bottom of the foot is a hard place to keep a bandage. It's hard to keep it clean too. At the very least, your foot sweats a lot. Not to mention the possible foreign material that can get lodged in there when you walk around barefoot.
Whitney says that she's always thought that bandaids are for wusses, but concedes that liquid bandaids aren't. I wonder what kind of cool factor they have. Sometimes you want people to see you visibly wounded and other times you don't. Enter liquid bandaid.
Mani says (and I've heard other places) that you can use super glue to do the same thing. I think super glue is a little cheaper, but maybe not quite as sanitary. And I'm not sure how I feel about the super glue-solvents getting into my system.
Pick #32
Sheryl Crow - Hard to Make a Stand from the self-titled album.
I brought all my CDs up to Tallahassee, and I've been going through and listening to entire albums. Some of them haven't been played in about 5 years. It's pretty cool to go back and see what I used to listen to. Some of it's crap (what was I thinking when I bought the Chumbawamba disc????), but other stuff is classic (Live, Boston, No Doubt). I think I got the Sheryl Crow album for "A Change."
I brought all my CDs up to Tallahassee, and I've been going through and listening to entire albums. Some of them haven't been played in about 5 years. It's pretty cool to go back and see what I used to listen to. Some of it's crap (what was I thinking when I bought the Chumbawamba disc????), but other stuff is classic (Live, Boston, No Doubt). I think I got the Sheryl Crow album for "A Change."
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