Who doesn't like science?

  It amazes me that the youths of today don't find science interesting. How can children not be curious about their surroundings? A toddler's first sentence is very often, 'What's that?' and they will point at everything they come across, until the cute game becomes quite annoying.
 At what age does our thirst for knowledge fade? Does it vanish, or is it set aside while we develop social skills?
 Once children enter the school system, they are bombarded with new facts. Their minds are saturated and the thirst is quenched. Once they reach puberty, other thirst need quenching.
 It wasn't until middle age that my insatiable quest for science knowledge hit its peak. My children have grown up, leaving me more time to look for answers. The internet supplies vast amounts of facts to anyone who makes the effort to look; so why aren't they looking? Check out the link provided.
 Here's an idea: each day a science question would need to be answered correctly to gain access to a phone. Research would need to be done from another source. I bet teenagers would race to the library to be the first through the doors when it opens in the morning.
 If we could incorporate science instead of violence into an X-Box 360 game, that would hook a few more.
 We must improve how we educate our children so they can compete with the rest of the planet.
 The nerds shall inherit the Earth.

Mammoth meat, the new beef.

 Read the link. 
 I think this is a good idea. Think about it; WOOLLY Mammoths are covered with what must be wool. Think of all those poor sheep that freeze to death after being sheared. One mammoth could save the lives of several sheep. The meat alone could solve the the problem of famine all over the planet. And those ivory tusk could make pianos affordable enough, everyone will be able to own one. The planet will be filled with music. Cloning mammoths could change the world.
 Now some critics will claim that we shouldn't do this. I will try to convince them we should.
1) Extinct animals should not be cloned. I say everyone should get a second chance, even mammoths; after all, some think we we're the reason they disappeared in the first place. Maybe Noah just didn't have enough room on the Ark, they are very big animals.
2) If we clone one extinct creature, we will want to clone others. So...wouldn't you want to own your own Giant Sloth? Of course you would, who wouldn't? What about Neanderthals? We could use them as slaves...to raise the mammoths. They should know how.
3) There won't be enough food to feed the enormous beast. Just clone some ancient tree or shrub they like to eat (duh).
4) Mammoths died out at the time the glaciers receded, they couldn't survive Climate Change (Global Warming). That's why you shear them (double duh).
I hope you enjoyed my little poke. It was all in fun. Actually I don't condone enslaving cloned subspecies of Man. Neanderthals are people too.

Dealing with rejection...NEXT!

  Today's post has nothing to do with science or nature.
  This morning I received yet another rejection, or realized I misinterpreted a kind gesture; again my expectations were higher than they should have been. Either way it feels like a kick in the stones. As I sat and thought about how I felt and what I should do, it came to me. I need to write about it, while the feelings are still keeping my blood pressure above my norm.
  Writing this so quickly after swallowing a large dose of ego will settle my stomach. Maybe this is why I write.
  My wife woke up, and had to make her own coffee. I was too into my "Hobby" to make her day today.
  She needed to use the computer, but I refused to surrender. "Use your own laptop," I yelled. Then I remembered where my bread is buttered. I may have to cut this short, my wife needs the computer.
  Although today's eyeopener wasn't as much a rejection, the result is: I go back to square one. But as I write, I think.
  Even though the agent I was hoping would put my book on the best seller list probably won't, he did give me some good advice, "Build a platform".
  I did, or you wouldn't be reading this right now. Thank you to all who do. I refuse to quit. If nothing, its therapeutic.
  What doesn't kill you, will make you stronger. Peace to all mankind.
 

'The sky is falling, the sky is falling.'

OK, some birds fell out of the sky, some fish died. Does this signal the end of the world? I think not. Check out the link, "Mass bird deaths...".
Natural phenomenon like these happen all the time. Until only recently we wouldn't have heard about such things. The advent of modern cell phones has made the world a smaller place. What takes place on the other side of the world, is breaking news here in an instant.
If some birds dropped dead in your town twenty years ago, do you think it would make the national news?
As for the fish kill, get used to it. Our oceans are dying. We are in the middle of a mass extinction event, one that started at the time the glaciers were receding, and continues today. Extinction events don't happen over night, even the extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by several contributing catastrophes over a period of thousands of years. A massive impact, along with increased volcanism changed the planet's atmosphere, thus severely limiting the survival odds of the most successful animals ever to walk the planet.
Do I think these avian fatalities are proof of the most recent extinction event? Probably not, I'm sure something more acceptable than stress caused by fireworks will be found to be the cause.
Now the fish thing: yes, I do believe this has something to do with an extinction event. There are rafts of garbage floating out in the Pacific ocean, as well as other bodies of water. Our fertilizers are draining into the oceans and are a major cause of algae blooms. Fish are delicate creatures; subtle changes inflict major damage. How long did your pet fish live when you were a kid? FLUUUSSSHHH.
Until we find another planet to call home number II, we'd better take care of this one. Peace to all Mankind.

1-1-11 Does this date freak you out as much as it does me?

  Everyone gets excited about the new year. Personally, my wife and I will be moving into our new home, (remodeled hunting camp). OK, its a Mancave; but don't tell my wife. She doesn't read this, so shush.
  Scientist feel the same anticipation when it comes to receiving new data, leading to new discoveries, or proof that their theory's are right. 
  Some of the most watched experiments, are being done at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Geneva. Here the smallest are studied. The parts that make up atoms are dissected, and you'd be surprised how many there are. Does anyone from my hometown remember when our area was a candidate for a Super Collider?
  Every day the Kepler Space Telescope looks for new planets orbiting other stars. Its been finding them. 500 and climbing. How many will be found in 2011? I would love to see a map of the known universe in 2021. I need to lay off the pork chops and bacon.
  We discover more about the planet we live on every year. This year we learned about alien life living right under our feet. Where will the next new form of life be living?
  There are so many questions to be answered. The answers take us just a little closer to understanding.
  Happy New Year, Peace to all Mankind.