“What part of an inverse tangent function approaching an asymptote don’t you understand?”

So, I’ve got this winter blues thing. Don’t know if it’s technically SAD, but I suspect so. The past 5 winters I’ve not been too well, last winter wasn’t as bad so I thought this year I’d be fine, but I actually feel pretty crap. I’m even considering registering with a GP here, which if you know me, is saying something. I’m trying to keep the happy face on, but it’s hard work. I’m proud that despite feeling awful I’ve not allowed myself to stay in bed or stay home from work. It’s getting harder though.

Random things that have made me cry today:
*Will Ferrell saying “her hair smells like cinnamon” in Anchorman
*Making a cup of tea
*Realising it was 4:30
*This:
That song and video is pretty much what you’d see if you looked into my mind when I’m happy regular Emma, and not stupid, teary, depressed Emma.

In other, better news, I sold my Big Bang Theory cross stitch on Etsy. That felt pretty damn good. I hope the buyer loves it like I did.

Hell yeah!!!

THE BIG BANG THEORY: 3.09 “The Vengeance Formulation”

I think I’m grossed out by my own headline. But let’s ignore that. Because this episode was awesome.

Sometimes a show just has a standout episode. And sure, I’ve been a stickler on what I think this show should do with its comedy, but this episode is what I’ve been looking for.

We didn’t focus on Leonard and Penny as a couple! We saw one shot of them sitting together on the couch–and a quick, funny conversation about settling–and that was it. The rest focused on Sheldon and Howard.

I have to admit, I felt bad for Sheldon. I really did. And I would have probably done exactly what he did after he was humiliated on NPR: hid in his room and pouted. And I kinda got angry at his friends. Does anyone else feel that his “friends” are becoming more (dare I say it) frenemies? I mean, after the season opener when Leonard was so heartless toward Sheldon about ruining his work, and now this, with Raj making fun of him and even Leonard laughing in the cafeteria as they heard him on the radio, it just seems rather mean. Sure, it wouldn’t be as funny if his friends were up in arms about it, but this is certainly a shift in the friend dynamic.

But in the end, Leonard and Raj stepped up to help Sheldon get back at Kripke–and what a way to do it! I loved the foam. Loved it. And I loved it more when it actually fell down on Kripke, even if the big wigs of the campus got in the way.

And, of course, in pure Sheldon style, he would leave a video message saying it was him. He couldn’t just not take credit, right? Oh, but just the fact that it included motion detectors and instant video feeds–I love how these nerds work.

Meanwhile, we had Howard and Bernadette’s relationship. Well, I guess that was the question: Is he moving to a relationship? It was interesting to hear both sides about whether he should or shouldn’t. Should he settle? Is it really settling if he’s beneath her but just had high expectations?

I thought the scene in the tub was funny, but I must say, they made Katee Sackhoff look terrible. Did she get some work done on her face, or was it just the makeup? Something was off with those cheekbones. At least in my opinion.

But it was a good moment. I loved how this figment of his imagination actually brought up the fact that he could actually have a real woman, and he turned her down. And then as he tried to get back together. Ouch. The proposal was just painful.

But the song? Classic. I loved that Penny hated it and Bernadette loved it. It was very Andy from The Office, and yes, I do like his “Take a Chance on Me” better (to get Angela to date him), but this was a great number two on the desperate song list. That was great.

So fun episode! What’d you think?

Today, I found myself in an internet debate over the topic of Religion. A certain blogger who shall remain anonymous has made it their duty to call out religion and any beliefs that one may have as ‘weak’ and an excuse for the ‘misguided actions’ they apparently have ‘no control over’ (because we’re all morally weak, right?). They explained that religion is like a ’safety net’ in which those who believe ‘find comfort in’ when they fall victim to peer pressure.

I’d like to say this right now – and I don’t want to sound like a freaky religious person nor do I want to force my beliefs upon anyone – you have just as much proof that God does not exist as I have proof that he does exist. This universal debate has been ongoing for centuries and I fear it will go on for many more. As much as I’d like for the world to be a simple and peaceful place, it never will be while debates like this still exist.

[Science vs God]

Anyone who raises a point on one side can always be rebutted by another point on the opposing side. Scientists have spent lifetimes trying to find breakthroughs and explanations for why things are the way they are. There would be no need for these findings if everyone believed that it was created by someone greater than we are – someone above all of humanity – someone like God. Unfortunately, there will always be people who do not believe – the ’seeing is believing’ people. To such a point; one could argue that the earth is evidence, the sun, the air we breathe, humans, animals, nature…which is what I believe. But to those who don’t it won’t do anything but spark up the debate all over again.

Likewise, man has studied the bible through and through trying to match up the pieces of info and history of our universe. Christianity is preached all over the world – in most countries – and it has the biggest population of followers. Clearly, it is most logical explanation for why things are the way they are, and most people can see that. Though, again, to the non-believers, it’s all a myth; so really there’s no way of convincing them nor is there a ‘logical argument’, they would say.

While I have read the various theories of evolution and of the big bang, and the scientific evidence that supports it; I still can’t believe that life can be controlled/occur as a result of two random atoms colliding. Something as perfect, complex and intricate as the human body surely could not have been created by accident; by anything other than someone like God. How about babies? How do they survive in the womb? How are they automatically born with the reflex action of suckling when stroked on the cheek? How can something as simple as the anatomy of spider create such versatile and complicated webs?

Lol; I’m preaching aren’t I? I don’t mean to. But anyways, back to my point. The earth we live on is but a tiny spec of dust in a vast universe which stretches out further than any horizons and expands across any of our imaginations. You cannot begin to comprehend how large it or what else exists out there. It really is amazing. I can’t seem to believe that this is all a result of an accident though – that once upon a time there was nothing, and now there is a whole galaxy and solar system.

To the non-believers who base their opinions upon real, hard evidence in front of them – the ones who let science take over their life – I would just like to say this: have. some. respect. We may not all be smart geeks like you, we may not understand the laws of physics, or the basics of chemistry and biology – but that is no reason to undermine our beliefs and faith. I am sick to death of people shunning the bible as a mythological fairytale that was created by middle-aged men with no lives; and religion as the ‘weak’ alternative to living life.

Putting your faith into something/someone greater than who we are is not at all weak. I do not believe in God because I am scared of being eternally damned or suffering during my second life. I am not forced to believe in God by my parents, nor to attend Church on Sunday mornings. This my choice.

Religion is choice. You can’t say you’re a Christian just because you’ve been to Church every Sunday of your life since the day you born and then go out and do everything the bible tells you not to do. Sure, you may have gone to Church your whole life, but by not following God’s law, you are making a choice – to not be a good follower/faithful.

I’m not saying that doing what you want and not following the bible is weak, either. Like I said, it’s a choice. I choose to follow God’s law and put my faith in Him – and because of that I feel strength, not weakness. Just like people choose not to follow Him because they don’t believe there is enough evidence. I do no fear of being eternally damned if I sin once because I know that God will forgive me if I am truly sorry. Likewise, I don’t say I’m a believer purely because I don’t want to be eternally damned – I’m a believer because I have gone to Church practically every Sunday of my life and I have listened. I read the bible and I see the evidence in my life. Believing in God does not make me fearful; but rather strong and proud. I know that wherever I go and whatever I do, I will always be safe because God will always be right by my side.

So, to conclude – this really was in retaliation to the blog I read earlier today and also an opportunity for me to vent my anger and feelings. To the non-believers – I have respect for what you believe, please have some respect for what I believe. To those who may wonder – why do good people suffer? Why is there so much evil in the world? Well I’ll tell you; these are God’s trials – tests, if you will, to measure your faithfulness and loyalty to God. Without bad, there’d be no good to separate it from. Without suffering, there would be no compassion or forgiveness.

Arguing about whether God exists or not/any religion for that matter – is always going to be a moot debate. No one will ever win. Stop doing it. Respect each other.

That’s all I have to say for now.

-Ania

[edit]

P.S I realise that in my last post I mentioned my love for the show ‘The Big Bang Theory’. Granted, my love stems only from the fact that it is an extremely hilarious show – I am not a psycho, hypocritical religious person.

the Big Bang Theory
“The Adhesive Duck”
(Season 03 Episode 08)

RAJ:
- If I could speak the language of rabbits, they would be amazed and I would be their king…

- I would be kind to my rabbit subjects… at first….

- One day, I hold a great ball for the President of France, but the rabbits don’t come. I’m embarrassed so I eat all the lettuce in the world.. and make the rabbits watch.

I’m a little late getting this up, big a new parent is pretty exhausting, and writing two posts in one  morning was more than I had energy for.  I really like last night’s episode of The Big Bang Theory. I thought it got back to the dynamics that made the show so great, and didn’t focus solely on the Penny/Leonard relationship which many of the episodes this season have had a tendency to do.

Howard is finishing his third date with Bernadette.  She informs him that the thrid date is typically the date for sex, but wants to make sure he’s serious about her.  Howard begins to waffle.  Howard’s problem is that he has way too high an opinion of himself and the type of woman he should be dating.  Bernadette just isn’t the fantasy woman he sees himself with.  He asks for some time to think about it.

Sheldon tries to inform the guys that he’s going to be interviewed on NPR the next day, but his archenemies Kripke spoils the surprise.  Back at home Penny can’t believe that Howard has put Bernadette up on a shelf the way that he has, and chastise him for it.

The next day during Sheldon’s interview Kripke feeds a line with helium in it into Sheldon’s office and his voice begins to get higher and higher throughout the interview.  Sheldon is humiliated, and it’s not helped when he finds out that both Leonard and Raj thought it was pretty funny.  Leonard tries to cheer him up and encourage him to get revenge by playing his own practical joke on Kripke.

Howard is in the tub along with a fantasy version of Katee Sackhoff from Battlestar Galactica.  The fantasy tells him that it’s sad that he would rather sit in the tub alone and play with himself instead of being with a real woman.  Howard heads to The Cheesecake Factory to search for Bernadette.  When he finds her he drops to one knee and asks her to marry him.  She thinks he is crazy, and walks off.

Sheldon has devised the perfect revenge on Kripke.  He’s found the perfect mix of chemicals that when combined form a gooey foam.  He’s planted them in the ceiling above Kripke’s office that will be set off when he enters the room.  The problem is that Kripke enters with the university president and the board of directors.  They are all covered and a computer image of Sheldon comes on in the office telling everyone present that Sheldon was responsible with Leonard and Raj’s help.

Never one to give up Howard get’s behind the piano at The Cheesecake Factory and sings a song he’s written for Bernadette.  While Penny is disgusted, Bernadette finds it to be the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for her.

Thoughts and Observations:

• I love that Sheldon things Howard is inferior since he only has a Masters from MIT.
• Speaking of MIT, do you think that Howard’s mom when with him while he was at MIT?  Do you think she relocates with him everywhere?
• Do you think Jim Parson’s had the help of actual helium or dd he just make his voice go that high?  Either way it was very funny.
• Howard and Katee Sackhoff’s conversation in the tub was classic.  Katee: “Thanks, Howard. Always nice to be part of your masturbatory fantasies.”  Wolowitz: “Come on, Katee. Don’t make it sound so cheap.”  Katee: “I’m sorry. Fiddling with yourself in the bathtub is a real class act:”
• “My mother is very excited. She’s convening her Bible study group to listen in and then pray for my soul.” – Sheldon on his NPR interview.
• Leonard to Wolowitz: “You’d have a better shot with the three-breasted Martian hooker from Total Recall.”  Wolowitz’s response “That movie was like 20 years ago. Imagine how saggy those things would be.”
• Melissa Rauch who I’ve only seen on those I Love The… VH-1 Specials and Best Week Ever is great.  I always thought she was hilarious, and she sure can fill out those uniforms from The Cheescake Factory.
• Not much Penny in this episode, and that’s not always a bad thing.  I like Penny, but it’s nice to see it be about the guys again.

Engineers operating the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have smashed together proton beams in the machine for the very first time.

The step was described as a “great achievement” for those working on the huge physics experiment.

The low-energy collisions came after researchers circulated two beams simultaneously in the LHC’s 27km-long tunnel earlier on Monday.

The LHC is smashing together beams of protons to shed light on the cosmos.

Operated by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Cern), the LHC is the world’s largest machine and will create similar conditions to those present moments after the Big Bang.

Scientists will search for signs of the Higgs boson, a sub-atomic particle that is crucial to our current understanding of physics.

Although it is predicted to exist, scientists have not yet detected it.

Researchers working on the collider have said they are delighted with the quick progress made since the machine restarted on Friday.

“It’s a great achievement to have come this far in so short a time,” said Cern’s director-general Rolf Heuer.

“But we need to keep a sense of perspective – there’s still much to do before we can start the LHC physics programme.”

Smashing news

Housed in a tunnel 100m beneath the Franco-Swiss border, the LHC uses some 1,200 “superconducting” magnets to bend proton beams in opposite directions around the tunnel at close to the speed of light.

At allotted points around the “ring”, the proton beams cross, smashing into one another with enormous energy.

Large “detector” machines located at these crossing points will scour the wreckage of the collisions for discoveries that could roll back the frontiers of knowledge.

The giant Atlas detector was the first to see collisions

The four main detectors at the LHC are: Atlas, the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS), Alice and LHCb. Atlas and CMS are so-called multi-purpose detectors, while Alice and LHCb are designed with more specific scientific investigations in mind.

Cern’s director of communications, Dr James Gillies, said the first collisions had taken place just as a news conference was under way on Monday to discuss progress following the machine’s restart at the weekend.

“We didn’t have time to analyse them then. We waited until all four of the (detectors) had seen good candidates (for collisions),” he told BBC News.

Quick progress

The giant Atlas detector was the first to record candidate collisions at 1322 GMT. But CMS failed to see any on the first try. Alice and LHCb saw their first candidate collisions after 1600 GMT.

Operators then went back and adjusted the beam to generate collisions in the Compact Muon Solenoid detector. This time, they were successful, with the first candidates seen at around 1820 GMT.

Fabiola Gianotti, spokesperson for the Atlas scientific team, commented: “This is great news, the start of a fantastic era of physics and hopefully discoveries after 20 years’ work by the international community.”

The spokesperson for the Alice experiment, Jurgen Schukraft, said cheers erupted with the first collisions.

“This is simply tremendous,” he said.

Engineers restarted the LHC on Friday evening after a 14-month hiatus while the machine was being repaired.

It had to be shut down shortly after its inauguration when an electrical fault led to magnets being damaged and to one tonne of liquid helium leaking into the tunnel.

So Katee Sackhoff aka Battlestar Galactica’s Starbuck made a a guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory -

It was easily the best cameo yet for the show which has had Summer Glau and Wil Wheaton so far.

No Katee isn’t naked, but she is in the tub with Howard (isn’t that every male geek’s fantasy??)

Some of her best lines were in the trailer for this show and she had one other good line about Howard waiting for Princess Leia.

All in all Katee is a great sport, it’s just a frakkin shame that she’s an Angel since we all know she’s really a cylon.

Monday.  It’s a short week this week and thank goodness it really is a short week this week.  I got up this morning and got myself ready for my day today.  Heather had herself ready to go for the day along with the kids which I really appreciated because it made my  Monday morning that much easier.  I got up and got myself together for my day and ate breakfast with everyone.  Then Heather took off for work and I took a shower and joined the kids and we watched “The Early Show” on CBS.  We found out that they are recalling all the drop-side cribs in the country and I have to say that I think that recall is RIDICULOUS!  I’m not trying to downplay the deaths of people that are involved or say that any child’s death is not important, because they are.  But, to recall all drop side cribs is a little over the top.  How about telling all these parents to take two wood screws and screw the sides of their cribs in.  There – problem solved!  Kid can’t fall between the slats when it doesn’t move!  Anyway, we had a discussion about it and before I knew it, it was time for me to be off to work while the kids were off to school.

I got to work and prepared myself for a half day.  That really wasn’t such a bad thing.  I had some time this morning to finally get caught up on some paper work and really start to work ahead for the quarter.  I even had some time today to actually practice string bass for the winter concert.  This afternoon I was able to work on some things in my classroom and then get things ready for the winter concert including moving around some lights on the balcony in the auditorium to make sure that the chorus (that is now in the pit orchestra area) is properly lit up for the concert.  I got a lot accomplished in a very short amount of time.  I was shocked at what I was able to get done and how quickly I was able to do it.

I got done with my day and headed out and came home.  Heather was out driving and I helped the kids with their homework for a little bit.  Ruth cleaned up the kitchen and I worked on some things upstairs and then worked on my blog and helmets in the basement.  Heather and I got into a little bit of a tiff when she wasn’t home by quarter after five and there was no rhyme or reason as to why there was no plan for dinner.  We went back and forth on the cell phone and finally had to have dinner at “Wendy’s” on Front Street.  I took the kids with me and we met there and then came home.  Heather dropped Austin off to Scouts and then I went downstairs and watched my usual Monday night shows including “How I Met Your Mother”, “Accidentally On Purpose”, “Two and a Half Men”, “Big Bang Theory”, and “CSI Miami”.

Okay, so let’s talk about Part 4 of Chapter 18 of “Star Wars – Medstar I:  Battle Surgeons, A Clone Wars Novel” by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry……Chapter 18 (Part 4):  While in the middle of the Gordian Reach Den was waiting to be loaded into a troop transport with a soldier that he was talking to.  The soldier was ound and had lied in order to get into the military.  He survived a unit that had over seventy-percent casualties.  He was being interviewed with his thoughts on Den’s thumb camera until an insurrectionist who was undercover, blows away a bunch of soldiers with a pulse carbine.  Including the trooper he was interviewing.  The insurrectionist walks right towards me and everyone was yelling at me to run, yet I cannot becuase I am too scared.  But then a kid jumps in front of me and takes a shot to the gut that was meant for my head, saving my life.  The shooters gun jams and the security takes him down.  I then squat down wit hthe kid and ask him why he did it and his reply was that I’m so little.  Den said he assumed that the shield had equated small stature with youth.  Den said he thanked the child before he died and the child told him to tell his mother he loved her.  Yant said that was sad, but then said there was more because the shooter was human and he was a fourteen year old child as well.  he asked one of the security guards to tell his mother he loves her.  Den then said that these are the stories that people know about from the front lines.  That shows that killing isn’t grand with children dying and mother’s hearts being broken all over.  Zan said he was sorry and Den said they all are.

Does our new mythology need a creation myth?

But what purpose would such a myth serve?  Hasn’t science already told us how the Universe was formed?

Yes and no.  Science is apt to change its story, based on new discoveries.

However, according to Karen Armstrong in The Case for God, the creation stories of past mythologies were, like our scientific concepts, very flexible.  People often changed the stories, or created new ones, to meet the needs of the moment.

Armstrong says that, in ancient times…

“…A good creation myth did not describe an event in the distant past but told people something essential about the present.

“It reminded them that things often had to get worse before they got better, that creativity demanded self-sacrifice and heroic struggle, and that everybody had to work hard to preserve the energies of the cosmos and establish society on a sound foundation.  A creation story was primarily therapeutic.

“People wanted to tap into the massive implosion of energy that had—somehow—brought the world we know into being, so they would recite a creation myth when they were in need of an infusion of sacred potency, during a political crisis, at a sickbed, or when they were building a new house.

“The creation myth was often reenacted during the New Year ceremonies, when the old year was ebbing away.  Nobody felt obliged to ‘believe’ in a particular cosmology; indeed, each culture usually had several creation stories, each of which had its own lesson to impart, and people thought nothing of making up a new one if their circumstances changed.”

So, if creation myths can be therapeutic, maybe we do need one—or more than one.  Or perhaps we can still find what we need in the many creation myths of the old traditions.

If these old creation myths aren’t working for us, perhaps that’s due to the way that we use them.  These myths need to be taken out of the past and placed in the present.  These myths need rituals.  For these myths to work, we don’t need to accept them as historical fact.  We don’t need to believe their rituals contain magic.

Perhaps if we approach these myths correctly, their rituals can provide us with a sense of new strength, as they did in the past.

As for myself, the idea of the Big Bang expands my thought and diminishes me in size.  How does such an idea give me strength?  In humility, I find my true strength.  In expansion of thought, I find strength—as opposed to a false sense of power.  From this strength, perhaps I can create quiet order from my inner chaos, bring light into my darkness.   Perhaps in this “scientific” myth, I can find therapy. 

Maybe I need a ritual to make this myth more effective for me.  Perhaps such a ritual need be no more than standing in my backyard and looking up at the stars.  While doing so, I can remind myself that our sun is one of a 100 billion suns in our galaxy and our galaxy, one of a billion in this Universe.  I can remind myself that if our galaxy was the size of the United States, then our sun would be as large as the dot on this “i”.

Then I can creep back inside, back under my tiny mouse roof, and feel very small, yet very strong, as I continue my contribution to our heroic struggle, as I continue to sacrifice for the sake of creativity.

© 2009, Michael R. Patton
sky rope (subterranean rappel)
dream steps

“I bought these Star Wars sheets but they turned out to be much too stimulating to be compatible with a good night’s sleep. I don’t like the way Darth Vader stares at me.”

Saludos, ya se encuentra disponible el #11 de su revista Fantasci, en la cual abordamos en esta ocasión la serie de culto friki The Big Bang Theory; la película Sector 9; la exposición Pixar, con la que el estudio de animación celebra 20 años de vida; un dossier muy especial con el cual tratamos de cubrir toda la obra creada por el maestro del terror, Stephen King y un par de nuevas secciones.

Esperamos que lo presentado en este nuevo número sea de su agrado y en unos cuantos días podran escuchar el séptimo podcast del Freakshow.

Ahh, how I miss Mondays – when I was at school, that is. Mondays used to be my best day: no maths, and home time at 12.30pm. But that’s not all; Monday evening is host to a number of amazing shows – The Big Bang Theory, The Vampire Diaries and FlashForward (though, unfortunately for me; TVD and FF are on at the same time but on different channels so I have to tape one or the other and then watch it after).

It’s conventional in society to hate Mondays – they typify the beginning of the working week and are the furthest away from the weekend. But for a whole year, Monday has been nothing but good to me. I think if people added something to their Mondays – something they liked – then Mondays wouldn’t be so dreadful.

1) Pick a hobby/favourite past time of yours

This may be something as typical as shopping or going to the movies. But, if you live in Australia – or in particular, Melbourne – you will find that shopping centres close at 5pm on weekdays (except for Thurs and Fri) and that while cinemas stay open until midnight (or at least until the last session ends), there may not be anything showing currently that tickles your fancy. Also – movie tickets seem to be rising in prices like crazy these days.

So, when you find yourself in such a pickle – you can always rent out movies. Monday night can be movie night! If there aren’t any new releases; you are bound to find something in the weeklies section that interests you.

If movies are not your thing; how about a girls night out? Or in? Monday is a week night, but that doesn’t mean you can’t hang out after work or go out in the evening. Unlike school, there’s no homework/exams to study for so it’s not like you need a solid 8 hours sleep before every night . There’s nothing like spending quality time with friends.

2. Start doing it every Monday

Once you’ve picked your favourite past time/hobby/whatever it is that interests you; make sure you allocate it to Monday nights specifically. Though this depends on how well you follow this step. If you save your favourite hobby for only one day of the week, not only will you find Monday nights more bearable, but you will also find yourself looking forward to Monday night in order to complete your favourite past time.

Seems simple enough, eh? If more people did this, Monday night would not be so prejudiced against! Let’s join together and beat this irrational discrimination against this day of the week which has in theory, never done anything but add another day to our lives

Until next time.

-Ania

Big Bang Machine

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091120/ap_on_sc/eu_sci_big_bang_machine;_ylt=AqhYTDKMPZhVCfY876frX4ul24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTNjMjIzNGs4BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMTIwL2V1X3NjaV9iaWdfYmFuZ19tYWNoaW5lBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNgRwb3MDNgRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA2V1cm9wZXByb3Rvbg–

No doubt everyone will be delighted to hear that the Cern Large Hadron Collider is now up and running again and we are safely at risk of creating an enormous black hole which will swallow us all up and end our environmental problems once and for all.

"it's gonna cost ya..." the LHC went wrong after 9 days of use

So next time your car mechanic sucks in air and says those incredibly irritating words “It’s gonna cost a bit luv” just be glad you’re not forking out for these repairs, which came to a frightening £24 million ($40 million).

Personally I think this might have been all that it needed