Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Something Interesting About Earthquakes
Alternative title: Journalism, the Interesting way!
At 4:30 this morning there was an earthquake in Christchurch - a pretty big one (7.1 or 7.0, depending on whether you trust the New Zealand Herald or Wikinews more). While I in no way wish to trivialise something that probably gave a lot of people a really bad day*, I managed to find something interesting in the photos taken by Dr. Mark Quigley, a lecturer in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Canterbury, and, in my opinion, a really cool guy if he actually goes by the name "Dr. Quigs". All the photos that follow are of today's quake, and credit for them goes to Dr. Quigs.
When I picture the effects of a large earthquake, two things come to mind:
1) Damage to buildings/structures, or damage caused by pieces of the aforementioned falling off.
2) Great big cracks in the ground.
I imagine I'm like most people in this regard. But one thing that one doesn't necessarily expect from an earthquake is mounds of sand and dirt pushed up by the force of the quake.
"I didn't know earthquakes could do that!"
"Well, there's a lot you don't know about earthquakes."
The Avon river burst its banks in places.
Mud, mud, everywhere, really.
According to the bio on his website, Dr. Quigs enjoys "swims in Arctic lakes, tundra golf, and staring contests with muskox and caribou." The only way he could be more badass is if it turned out that he caused the earthquake with his lecturer powers and was actually a supervillain called something like "Dr. Quake". But only a little bit more badass.
*Okay, maybe I do enjoy trivialising it just a little. But hey, I'm not the only person having a bit of fun.
UPDATE: Also, quicksand!
At 4:30 this morning there was an earthquake in Christchurch - a pretty big one (7.1 or 7.0, depending on whether you trust the New Zealand Herald or Wikinews more). While I in no way wish to trivialise something that probably gave a lot of people a really bad day*, I managed to find something interesting in the photos taken by Dr. Mark Quigley, a lecturer in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Canterbury, and, in my opinion, a really cool guy if he actually goes by the name "Dr. Quigs". All the photos that follow are of today's quake, and credit for them goes to Dr. Quigs.
When I picture the effects of a large earthquake, two things come to mind:
1) Damage to buildings/structures, or damage caused by pieces of the aforementioned falling off.
I imagine I'm like most people in this regard. But one thing that one doesn't necessarily expect from an earthquake is mounds of sand and dirt pushed up by the force of the quake.
"I didn't know earthquakes could do that!"
"Well, there's a lot you don't know about earthquakes."
The Avon river burst its banks in places.
Mud, mud, everywhere, really.
According to the bio on his website, Dr. Quigs enjoys "swims in Arctic lakes, tundra golf, and staring contests with muskox and caribou." The only way he could be more badass is if it turned out that he caused the earthquake with his lecturer powers and was actually a supervillain called something like "Dr. Quake". But only a little bit more badass.
*Okay, maybe I do enjoy trivialising it just a little. But hey, I'm not the only person having a bit of fun.
UPDATE: Also, quicksand!
Monday, July 19, 2010
An Interesting Fact
The sweat glands on the palms of human hands are only triggered by nervousness.
Not by heat, or physical exertion or anything else.
So sweaty palms on someone are a very clear signal that there is something on their mind.
Not by heat, or physical exertion or anything else.
So sweaty palms on someone are a very clear signal that there is something on their mind.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Putting a ridiculous amount of extra blankets on your bed in winter
Pro: It makes your bed really, REALLY warm, thus enveloping you in a cocoon of comfort and serenity.
Con: It makes your bed really, REALLY warm, thus making it REALLY difficult to get out of bed in the morning.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Something Interesting About Fish
Something to remember when fishing - if you land a fish that's undersized, or you're a catch-and-release fisher:
If a hook is deeply embedded, cut the line. Fish have strong digestive acids that will dissolve metal. Studies have shown fish released in this manner have a higher survival than fish which have the hooks torn from their throats or stomach.
If a hook is deeply embedded, cut the line. Fish have strong digestive acids that will dissolve metal. Studies have shown fish released in this manner have a higher survival than fish which have the hooks torn from their throats or stomach.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Some Interesting Fingers
Hey, there's something wrong with that hand...
It has no thumb!
What's that you say? There's too many fingers? Oh yeah, well that too. That's probably from some form of polydactyly.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Well that's a little strange.
This is what Youtube presented me with when I tried to get a video the other day:
500 Internal Server Error
Sorry, something went wrong.
A team of highly trained monkeys has been dispatched to deal with this situation.
Also, please include the following information in your error report:Dtc7IAKAtp6wFmmIjDs3aZvDB1PozjVVV1C3Nn0ZZVc7F8NCfygAfMAC_Hpi
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I appreciate it not for the long string of unintelligible letters and numbers, but for the comment about highly trained monkeys. I wonder how their tech support staff feel about being referred to in this way.
Actually, it was probably their idea.
500 Internal Server Error
Sorry, something went wrong.
A team of highly trained monkeys has been dispatched to deal with this situation.
Also, please include the following information in your error report:Dtc7IAKAtp6wFmmIjDs3aZvDB1PozjVVV1C3Nn0ZZVc7F8NCfygAfMAC_Hpi
RclhfKNv2EVshXLGLHo_SZdBs8QhRMQX6GAGn-8j9G9AanQYlT5fr1E9Mg5K
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I appreciate it not for the long string of unintelligible letters and numbers, but for the comment about highly trained monkeys. I wonder how their tech support staff feel about being referred to in this way.
Actually, it was probably their idea.
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