This is pretty cool. Curiosity and a littler perspiration for the win.
Is it practical? No, not in this form.
Is it worthwhile? Absolutely.
I highly recommend watching the 17 minute video to see what went into this effort.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
How Disneyland got built in just one year - Boing Boing
There's a movie about how Disneyland got built in a year (you can watch it on the YouTube link).
But there is also a review of the film and some additional thoughts in what went into making it.
Supernova whose light will 'reappear' in 60 years could solve the biggest problem in cosmology | Live Science
This is pretty cool. Two supernovas (or is it super novae?) were detected by the James Webb telescope. One remained visible, but the other disappeared. The reason for this has to do with the theory of cosmic lensing, essentially one is refracted by nearby objects and we can see it, while the other is hidden behind objects, and will remain invisible to us for a period of time.
The idea of this cosmic distortion was included in Einsteins theory of relativity, and has been observed at times. But the fact that there are two objects helps us to solidify the theory because we can detect the differences and see some of the objects that distort theory light.
It's cool!
Thousands of dams in the US are old, damaged and unable to cope with extreme weather. How bad is it? | Live Science
Of course can spend billions on the military under the guise of "protecting ourselves," but are willing to leave ourselves unprotected against a real enemy that is a changing climate.
Boy, is we stupid.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
The US is losing qualified scientists at a fast pace
Here's an article about how PhDs are leaving government jobs - mostly because he is cutting jobs, and undercutting science research.
I remain hopeful that either the government reverses course, or that private business takes up some of the slack. Or else, we'll be turning to Canada for more scientific answers.
Sunday, January 25, 2026
What have we become?
Back in 2000, Elian Gonzalez garnered *a lot* of attention.
Quick recap, he was a young boy who was brought by his mother from Cuba to the US. They stayed with relatives in Miami and his father - still in Cuba - waged a legal battle to have him returned to him.
People around the country took sides in the issue. It was a flashpoint. I’d invite you to Google the details if you don’t remember them.
After some time, attorney general Janet Reno sent in a group of heavily armed agents to remove him from the home he was living in, and this picture summed up the experience (and won a Pulitzer).
People were outraged at the action. While surely there were a few people who defended this course of action, sending armed soldiers to take a boy by force, in what amounted to an international custody dispute, caused quite the uproar. Over reach! Over reaction! Why were they armed? And since he was likely to be taken back to Cuba (funny, the word "deported" wasn't associated with this activity), that's outrageous!
Before she died, Janet Reno said that decision affected her deeply.
Ultimately, Elian was returned to his father in Cuba, and he now holds an office in the country.
Compare and contrast.
This week, we heard about a five year old boy being taken by armed ICE agents at school. While we don't have the luxury of a picture of the moment (at least as far as I know), I have to imagine that he had a similar look of fear.
In a way, what's the difference? Armed agents forcibly removed the boy - Liam (Ramos) Ornasser - in order to lure his parents out. And surely he will be deported along with this parents.
And in this case, our government is simply defending this. But what’s strange is that the outrage is muted. And that’s because… the AG, the director of homeland security, and the criminal in the Oval Office are gaslighting us, talking about how it was necessary to make us safer.
And I have no doubt that all of them have no trouble sleeping at night - and it is unlikely to affect them in any way at all.
Damn. A quarter century really has changed us.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Kindness Looks Small but Changes the World / Bright Side
- Growing up, I was so poor I went to school without lunch.
My biology teacher, Mrs. Eva, noticed. Without a word, she started bringing me food every day. Sometimes she'd sit with me during recess, telling me I had a brilliant future ahead. She even encouraged me to pursue med school.
I once asked why she was so kind to me. She just smiled and said, "One day, you'll pay me back." I never understood what she meant.
Later, I graduated, got a scholarship, and left town. I became a doctor.
8 years later, a frail woman was a patient at my hospital. When she saw me, she whispered, "It's me, Eva. We finally meet again... I always knew you'd succeed."
First, I didn't recognize her. But then I froze. She was a shadow of herself. Fragile and pale.
I learned she was alone, couldn't afford treatment, and had been skipping her medication. Without hesitation, I paid for everything. I gave her the best care andbecame her family during those long hospital days.
One evening, I asked her, "How did you know we'd meet again?" She smiled softly. "I didn't. But I believe life places guardian angels on our path for a reason. When I met you, I just knew."
Eva recovered. I visited her until her final days. She taught me a life lesson I'll never forget: kindness always comes back. Not because we expect it to—but because that's how the world heals.
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