real shabby dee » observation

I Need Perspective

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:45:31 +0000

Place the smallest speck of dust you can find on your fingertip. Imagine that is our solar system. At this scale, to cross our entire galaxy would take you to the horizon. Traveling to the edge of the observable universe would place you in the vicinity of Mars.

Take the Money and Run

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:06:50 +0000

The “genius” of Steve Miller Band: “El Paso,” “hassle,” and “gas hole” all rhyme. It makes me grit my teeth a little bit.

The Candy-Purse Conundrum

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:09:10 +0000

No matter whose purse you take candy from, it always tastes like purse.

Privileged Correspondents

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:12:13 +0000

So far this morning on MSNBC, I’ve seen Meghan McCain and Luke Russert on the air. Oh, good. They’ve worked so hard to get there. I’m glad we live in a meritocracy.

Why We Need Editors

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:14:02 +0000

Final attention-grabbing line from an NBC Today Show report: “. . . he got his son circumcised; now he hopes he doesn’t hold it against him.”

I Need Perspective

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:16:51 +0000

A lesson in scale: If the Earth was the size of a ping pong ball, the Sun would be about fourteen feet in diameter, approximately five football fields away (488 yards). The speed of light would be 2.1 mph. The nearest star, Alpha Centauri, would be about 75,000 miles away.

Speed Limits

admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:20:37 +0000

I’m sitting still in my chair. The Earth beneath me is rotating at 1000 mph and is circling the sun at 65,000 mph. The solar system moves around the galaxy center at 600,000 mph and the galaxy is speeding through the Universe at 1,000,000 mph. Traveling without moving. All mileages are estimated and your results may vary.

Mislabeled Channels

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:25:35 +0000

Hey, History Channel, “Mysteries of the Freemasons” is not history. Hey, Science Channel, “How It’s Made” is not science. Get it together, will you? I don’t care if Hitler’s Thule Society developed intergalactic travel or if some yahoo can catch a giant, toothy fish.

Men’s Hormones

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:27:26 +0000

A woman shows anger or aggression and a common response is to comment on her hormonal state. Think of the number of men who are enraged or aggressive. There might be week or two a month where a woman has hormonal fluctuations and body pain adversely effecting her. Imagine if, on a similar cycle, men were more serene and non-confrontational. That would freshen the air. If anyone is victim to their hormones, it is men.

Pickle Pie

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:28:44 +0000

Peace is made with guns like apple pie is made with pickles.