Big Bang Theory

It took me a couple of episodes, but I'm getting it now. Last night's show had me LOL again and again. Partly because I understood the math and science jokes, and partly because I can relate to guys who interpret questions very literally. Like the guys on the show, I have answered questions literally (innocently, not to be obfuscating) and received blank stares from the person asking the question. It could turn out to be a classic TV show on how nerds interact with society.

Oprah Campaigning for Obama

The most-influential woman in America is actively campaigning for Senator Barack Hussein Obama, against the woman who *thinks* she is the most-influential woman in America.

This could get interesting! :)

Kellie Pickler

But first, a brag. I have climbed over 250,000 feet so far this year. That includes hiking, biking, and treadmill elevation gain. I am averaging about 800 feet per day.

Kellie Pickler. What can I say? I saw her on "Do you think you are smarter than a fifth grader" the other night. She is not. She is a great singer, she is a very sweet person, she is cute, and she has a pretty southern accent, but when it comes to academics, I hate to say it, she is a dunce. I was amazed at some of the things she had never learned, such as, is France a country? I know, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. :(

Find the Comet

There is a comet in the skies visible, with the naked eye. To find it, first find Cassiopeia (the big W high in the night sky), second find Pleiades (the faint teensy-tiny dipper on the ecliptic plane to the right of Orion). The comet is roughly halfway between them. Go back to Cassiopeia and find the second and third stars from the left in the W. They point to the comet. Near the comet are three stars almost in a line. The comet is beside the middle star, a faint blob. It was a still a featureless blob when I looked at it with binoculars.

Election Results

Well, I'm generally quite happy about the local election results. Soto should be, too, as the voters agreed with him on many of picks. Turns out I am most relieved that the Seattle area voters did not approve a massive tax increase to build a toy train system to a few thousand passengers per day. Close runners-up were initiatives to make it more difficult and more transparent for the state to raise taxes and increase user fees, and to retain the 60% majority required to pass school levies. These measures are all consistent my desire to keep government small and keep taxes low, a constant battle since the strong tendency of every organization (not just governments) is to grow and spend more.