avinsen

What Part of Spring Are You?

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:31:50 GMT

You Are Kids Playing

You are a free spirited soul. More than anything else, you are often just happy to be alive.
You are always laid back and cheerful. You enjoy whatever happens to come your way.

You are spontaneous and zany. You're the kind of adult who still runs through the sprinklers.
You don't take life too seriously. You try to have fun at all times, even when you're working.

What Part of Spring Are You?

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:45:08 GMT

My results from a meme on crinklequirk's journal:

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a

Lifelong Learning Extroverted Romantic

Oh, and:

"0% of the 21443 people who have taken this quiz are like" me.

Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:02:03 GMT

Thanks to crinklequirk for making me take this one. :)

Your result for The Steampunk Style Test...

The Gadgeteer

32% Elegant, 59% Technological, 57% Historical, 52% Adventurous and 17% Playful!

You are the Gadgeteer, the embodiment of steampunk technology. Ironically, many of the things that most define your style are probably too large to easily carry about, but given the opportunity you would prefer to be seen surrounded by boiler engines, gear-driven calculators, and incredible automata. Of all the steampunk fashion styles, you place the greatest emphasis on technological accessories, and you are the most likely to create elaborate gadgets that are as much a part of your outfit as your clothes. You probably have goggles, but unlike most people you consider them to be for more than decoration. Whereas most people might look odd carrying a satchel of tools around, for you they may well be essential. Above all, you remind everyone that what sets the genre apart from Victoriana is simply the level of technology.

Try our other Steampunk test here.

Take The Steampunk Style Test at HelloQuizzy

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:14:56 GMT

This meme yoinked from crinklequirk.

Your Spiritual Number is Five

You bring adventure and change to people's lives.

You are willing to challenge your friends and push them to grow.

Right now, your life is about figuring out where to direct your energy.

If you're not careful, you can become too unreliable or flighty. You need the perfect project.

You live a free form life - which allows you to be very innovative and a great problem solver.

Rules, schedules, and structure practically destroy you. You have to do things your own way.

What's Your Spiritual Number?

Frank Miller on TCM

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:24:13 GMT

Looks like Frank Miller is Turner Classic Movies' guest programmer this month. You might remember him from his comic book career, or perhaps his string of blockbuster movies. Either way, he is picking out some classic films for TCM.

Check it out >>

Take 2 steps back

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:01:11 GMT

Those of you who know me know that I'm not normally one to complain about these things, but it really does strike me that ConAgra (parent company for Healthy Choice) has taken a couple of steps back. Their latest marketing campaign for Asian cuisine feels like it came out of the 70's when such racist portrayals were common. I really don't think that they (or for that matter their advertising company) realize just how insulting their campaign is.

Take a look for yourself >>

And here I thought we had gotten past these stupid caricatures.

Thanks to my DW crinklequirk for pointing this out.

Vote early and often!

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:27:43 GMT

A little while back, my DW decided to participate in a contest over at Jim Hines' livejournal. Essentially, Jim is asking for people to submit images of various people/critters holding his books. The prize is an advanced reader copy of his new book "The Stepsister Scheme."

Well, she spent lots of time doing a photo shoot and working on background images, and I think she came up with a really good entry.

So, go to the polls and vote for her Batman entry. (Okay, you can vote for other people's entries too, but make sure you vote for hers!)

Anyway, here is the link:

And for those who LiveJournal hates:
http://jimhines.livejournal.com/411247.html

Up

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:13:35 GMT

Since other people are doing it

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:19:21 GMT

1 minute, 25 seconds

Brian May - Astrophysicist - Now Chancellor!

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:39:57 GMT

Well, Brian May's career as in astrophysics is continuing unabated. He has just been installed at the Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.

Excerpt:

The 60-year-old was awarded an honorary fellowship for his contribution to astronomy and services to the public understanding of science last year.

He studied Astrophysics at Imperial College, London, but put his academic career on hold to play with Queen.

Dr May has taken over the Chancellor's role from former Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie.

Full Story >>

Cities at Night, an Orbital Tour Around the World

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:30:16 GMT

Just Wow!

Worth a look at.

NASA's lack of Spirit

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:19:28 GMT

Seems that the Mars Expedition Rover project is the latest victim of budget cuts at NASA. Spirit will be put into hibernation in order to save $4 million.

Read the story at Universe Today>>

Can we go to LEGOLand?

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:22:06 GMT

Saw this on Starstryder.com and thought it was too cool. I think I have geek envy.

Strike! LJ, You're On Notice!

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:37:01 GMT

Thanks to crinklequirk for posting about this.

It seems that LJ is no longer allowing free basic accounts, and they are trying to slip it under the radar. While I understand that they are trying to run a business, it seems that they also have a very obvious contempt for the average LJ User as shown by the interview posted here.

Because of the fact that I am a Basic account user and I would never have come on LJ if I had to pay and the disrespect the owners have for me and others like me, I am going on strike.

Along with (hopefully) thousands of others, I will be on a content strike on Friday, March 21, from midnight GMT to midnight GMT.

For 24 hours, we will not post or comment to LJ. Not in our own journals, not in communities. Not publicly, privately, or under friends-lock.

This is a protest that will have long-lasting effects, showing up forever in the daily posting statistics.

This is a protest that will not harm LJ in the long run, as leaving LJ might do.

This is a protest that will demonstrate the power of community, as all users unite to support Basic users and the concept of adfree space.

This is a protest that will educate the new owners that LJ is driven by user-created content.

How Can I Help?

DO post about this in your own LJ.
DO post and comment about it in appropriate communities.
DO remember that it's based on Greenwich Mean Time, which may not be your local time.
DO turn off LoudTwitter and your RSS feeds for 24 hours.
DO feel free to friend me for updates, and defriend when the strike is over.

DON'T forget to get permission from community mods before making an off-topic post or comment about the strike.
DON'T be spammy with your posts or comments about the strike.
DON'T forget to turn your LoudTwitter and RSS feeds back on when the strike is over.

Care to join?

In rememberance of Gary Gygax

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:26:20 GMT

In honor of Gary Gygax, I present the following papercraft.

d20

Update: The model was updated so that the numbers on opposite sides of the dice would add up to 21 the way that real dice would.

Lunar Eclipse tonight

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:10:11 GMT

During Totality, the Moon will glow red. This is an atmospheric effect of sunlight being refracted through Earth's atmosphere.

This will be the last full lunar eclipse til 2010.

There will be some clouds in the sky, but the moon should still be visible.

The eclipse's umbral phase will start at 7:43 pm CST and Totality (when the Moon lies entirely in the Earth's Umbral shadow) should start 9:01 pm CST.

Remember to dress warmly and go take a look!

Minneapolis Skies

"Just stay calm"

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:55:02 GMT

When are we going to fix this disaster called Homeland Security? I am speechless.

Thanks to nagasvoice for cluing me in.

---

Baby locked up at Honolulu airport dies

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Attorney Rick Fried, left, will sue the U.S. government for the death of 14-day-old Michael Futi after he and his mother, Luaipou Futi, far right, were detained at Honolulu Airport upon entering the U.S. from American Samoa. Translator Simamao Nofoa is in the middle.

Luaipou Futi was carrying this certificate of identity of her son, Michael Tony Futi, when they arrived at Honolulu Airport.

Luaipou Futi and a nurse banged on a locked door at Honolulu International Airport Friday morning and begged for medical help for Futi's 14-day-old son, who had flown here from American Samoa for heart surgery and was becoming distressed in the warm room.

MORE >>

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:01:13 GMT

Since this is going around . . .

What color is your soul painted?

Orange

Your soul is painted the color orange, which embodies the characteristics of balance, heat, enthusiasm, flamboyance, playfulness, aggression, over-emotion, danger, desire, strengthens the ability to concentrate, attraction, adaptability, and stimulation. Orange falls under the element of Fire, and symbolizes glory and fruits of the earth.

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

New Air Quality Alert

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:28:44 GMT

A new Air Quality Alert has been issued for the Twin Cities area.

Here is the message I got in my email:

Subject: Air pollution advisory - southern half of MN (includes Twin Cities)
Date: Mon, February 4, 2008 12:51 pm
To: "AIR POLLUTION ALERT" minnesota-air-alert@lists.state.mn.us
Approved: badskies

February 4, 2008

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Pollution Health Advisory for the southern half of Minnesota for today (Monday), Tuesday and possibly through Wednesday. Air quality is expected to improve as weather conditions bring winds on Wednesday.

Air monitors indicate fine particles are at a level unhealthy for sensitive groups in the Rochester area today. Levels are lower but approaching unhealthy for sensitive groups in the rest of the southern half of the state, including the Twin Cities. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, children and athletes.

Health precautions: Be prepared to postpone or reduce vigorous activity, even if you are not in the sensitive category. Fine particles can be drawn deeply into the lungs, so reduce activities that lead to deep breathing (indoors and outdoors).

Reduce air pollution: Limit driving; don't idle your vehicle or other engines; turn off as many electric devices to reduce demand on (and pollution from) power plants; postpone unnecessary fires, which add soot particles to the air.

To learn more about air pollution or check hourly updates of the air quality index (AQI), go to the MPCA's AQI Web page: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/index.cfm. Click the map location nearest your home to learn about current air quality in the area.

Continuing Air Quailty update

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:17:47 GMT

The Air Quality Alert continues today through tomorrow.

Currently as of this posting, the air quality meter is as follows:

Date	Dec 20, 2007
Time of this report	02:00 PM
AQI Value	131 - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Principal Pollutant	Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)
Health Advisory	People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should avoid prolonged exertion.

MPCA Air Quality Index for Minnesota >>

Update: Air Quality Alert

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:14:49 GMT

The air is worst today than yesterday.

Currently as of this posting, the air quality meter is as follows:

Date	Dec 19, 2007
Time of this report	01:00 PM
AQI Value	143 - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Principal Pollutant	Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)
Health Advisory	People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should avoid prolonged exertion.

MPCA Air Quality Index for Minnesota >>

Air Quality Alert

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:12:18 GMT

For those of you in the Twin Cities:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air pollution health advisory through Friday for most of Minnesota. Particularly for the Twin Cities and Rochester.

Currently as of this posting, the air quality meter is as follows:

Date	Dec 18, 2007
Time of this report	12:00 PM
AQI Value	97 - Moderate
Principal Pollutant	Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)
Health Advisory	No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range.

MPCA Air Quality Index for Minnesota >>

White House Conspiracy

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:58:07 GMT

From the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:

Committee Report: White House Engaged in Systematic Effort to Manipulate Climate Change Science

The evidence before the Committee leads to one inescapable conclusion: the Bush Administration has engaged in a systematic effort to manipulate climate change science and mislead policymakers and the public about the dangers of global warming.

Read it >>

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:25:50 GMT

Your Score: Ray Stantz

160 Heart, 170 Genius, 124 Cool, 145 Excitability

Dr. Raymond Stantz - (Dan Aykroyd)
Ghostbusters (1984)

You are Ray Stantz! The heart of the Ghostbusters. You're well-meaning, smart, and you have a childlike sense of wonder about the world. You might get taken advantage of, every once in a while, but it's okay... You're doing your part to help save the world.

"Gozer the Gozerian... good evening. As a duly designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension."

Other scientific possibilities:
Gary Wallace
Wyatt Donnelly
Peter Venkman
Jordan Cochran
Egon Spengler
Doc Brown
Newton Crosby
Paul Stephens
Ben Crandall
Wayne Szalinkski
Winston Zeddemore
Ben Jabituya
Lazlo Hollyfeld
Ray Stantz
Buckaroo Banzai
Chris Knight

Link: The Which 80s Movie Scientist Test written by xxyl on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Apple's new marketing campaign!

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:16:29 GMT

For those of you who've been following it, last week Apple release their latest version of Mac OS X. At about the same time, Comet 17P/Holmes in the constellation Perseus shifted from a magnitude 17 object (visible with a good telescope) to a magnitude 2.5 - 3 (visible with the naked eye).

Could this be a coincidence? You be the judge:

Image from the Bad Astronomy website >>