Senator Boxer's Ego is bigger than the state of California.

California Senator Barbara Boxer, in typical fine form:



As opposed to Brigadier General Michael Walsh, the commanding general of the US Army Corps of Engineers, who, you know, more or less just had his rank given to him for charm and good looks.

This woman's unfettered hubris is appalling. Again. General Walsh deserves another medal for his calm, accommodating reserve in the face of such overweening arrogance.

Yes, ma'am.

Ethiopian Mathematics

For a couple of reasons, I've been thinking about mathematics lately.

JP had a homework assignment from his Finite Mathematics class (IU/East) this past week that was really interesting. His assignment was to create an instructional video, a visual tutorial for the solving of a complicated problem incorporating ratios, matrices, chemicals, fertilizer, and marketing.

First, I marveled at the ease with which that he could solve such a tricky problem. My family's DNA is largely minus this particular gene. But my son is not only good at it, he also takes a measure of enjoyment from it's successful pursuit. The class itself is interesting in that it's emphasis is on real-world applications, not merely theoretical abstractions. Not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with theoretical abstractions, per se.

Secondly, even though he thought the whole thing was no big deal, JP was very creative in the way he assembled his tutorial video, using markers, Sharpies, digital camera, and a confident, engaging patois that made it all surprisingly interesting. No, really. His teacher is planning to use this video, and the others created by JP's classmates as the basis for a website that student's can use to learn how to solve different types of math problems. Personally, the whole thing struck me as yet another remarkable example of how technology has transformed the way we learn and communicate. However, as recently as 10 years ago, the capability of producing this kind of thing on the dining room table did not practically exist within the reach of most people. Twenty years ago, we really didn't even have the vocabulary to discuss or understand the concept.

Here is another short math video, produced by the BBC, that I found fascinating, too. It is about the strange connections between an ancient mathematical practice still in use today by Ethiopian merchants and it's connection to modern computer calculation algorithms. Check it out.



Personally, I find it a compelling argument for intelligent design and strong evidence of the creative mind of God. But I digress...

The Loaded Chicken

By popular demand, here is what a Loaded Chicken looks like.

It's not natural.

Great picture by Nancy.

---

Update: Food & Think, the cool Smithsonian blog about food, did a followup piece on the photographer who authored the original "What's in Your Fridge" project.

What's In Your Fridge?

I found Good Magazine's pictorial essay of the contents of people's refrigerators fascinating. I'm not sure why, except that it is one of those slice of life exercises that the Internets seem to be good for.

The one with the rattlesnake was pretty interesting.

Here's what's in my fridge ------------------>

Obviously my snapshot is vastly inferior to the ones in the essay. And, for the sake of authenticity and personal integrity, I didn't pose any of my foodstuffs. This is them in their natural, candid state, caught unawares before the intruding lens.

The only thing that I can see here that may merit some explanation is the thing on the top shelf next to the egg carton. That is a chicken made out of wire. It's function, allegedly, is to store the eggs. My wife always tries to get me to "load the chicken," but I refuse, on philosophical grounds.

Sometimes a guy just has to put his foot down. A man needs to know where to draw the line - what battles are worth fighting and stuff like that.



h/t Mark Bittman

Skynet Wins - Goodbye Sarah Conner

I'm not big on TV blogging, but I did just find out that one of the few shows that I enjoyed has been cancelled. Ain't that the way? Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles was really a good action series.

And now, with no one to protect us, we are all doomed to destruction and enslavery at the hands of our evil robot overlords from the future. Thanks alot, Fox.



Oh, but they did renew Dollhouse. Hate that show. I'm a fan of creator/producer Joss Whedon, but that show is stupid. Not gonna watch it. Not even gonna link to it.

Rap Chop featuring Vince (Steve Porter Remix) - MBPYNHO

This edition of Music By People You've Never Heard Of features a healthy dose of laugh-out-loud hilarity as well as a slamming remix track by Steve Porter. This is crazy, but it is also wildly creative and very well done. I love what happens at about 2:58, with the guest vocal.



This makes me want to stay up late and buy crazy plastic stuff on TV in the middle of the night.

Steamed Artichokes - Learn how to do it.

Bogota, Columbia - Missions Trip

In July, Nancy and I are going to Bogota, Columbia on a week-long short-term missions trip with a group from our church. We have a sister church there, and we hope to be involved in remodeling and equipping the school there. Our church sponsors and organizes several such trips each year, some domestic, some international and we are looking forward to it with increasing anticipation for a number of reasons.


While our church is by no means huge, here in our area we happen to be one of the larger congregations and we have people who come not only from nearby Richmond, but from any of a couple of dozen small rural communities within a 60-70 mile radius, stretching into nearby eastern Ohio. Our team of approximately a dozen is made up of some people with whom we already enjoy close friendships as well as some people that we are only just now meeting and getting to know for the first time, which I really like. There is an especially interesting and highly diverse mix of ages, personalities, experience, and areas of personal skill.

Nancy and I like to travel and we are both excited about seeing a new place, experiencing a new culture, and meeting new people. I am brushing up on my Spanish, which was always merely functional, at best, and is now more marginal than ever, having lived in Indiana for the last 10 years.

It has been fun to research and learn about Colombia, too. I was astonished to learn that the Bogota metro area has over 8 million people, which puts it just under the size of Chicago and appreciably larger than Washington, D.C.

It will really be interesting to see and hear, first hand, what life is like there. In addition to participating in the work projects, I am anxious to try the local cuisine, see some of the city, and just soak up the local culture. My hope and expectation is that we'll meet new friends, learn new things, and come away with a broader perspective on life and faith. My compadre and worship leader extraordinaire, Steve Mathews, is leading our group, so we are hoping, too, that there will be some good musical interaction, too.

Cooking with Christopher Walken

Jordan Lee Pike - MBPYNHO

Yeah, I know you've probably never heard of him, but the kid's got it.
Take a listen:

http://www.myspace.com/jordanleepike

----

Scallops & Asparagus

I am absolutely going to try this recipe, if only for the incredible color. But it sounds like it will taste amazing, too. Finding decent scallops in rural Indiana may be the tricky part. But we've got your asparagus.