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posted by suzyjax on 4/29/2010 03:10:00 PM > 0 comments

Why does the sun make your skin darker and your hair lighter and other practical science questions

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

I've always thought that colleges (or high schools, for that matter) should offer a "Practical Science" course. You would still learn concepts of biology, chemistry, and physics but through answering practical questions.

Question such as:

Why does the sun make your skin darker but your hair lighter?

How does aspirin (or ibuprofen or acetaminophen) work?

How does soap make us clean?

Why (and how) does consumption of alcoholic beverages effect the liver?

How come I can feel a car with a car stereo blasting coming before I can hear it?

How does a magnet erase electronically stored data?


There is a hundred other questions I have thought of in the past. (You know the ones that come to you while you are driving.)

I think a class such as this could make science interesting and relevant. And, probably the concepts would be retained if learned with practical application. One could easily have both lab and lecture for this type of class.

What do you think? What questions would you like a class like this to address?

Labels: Education, Science

posted by suzyjax on 5/05/2009 06:29:00 AM > 0 comments

Your Application for Gold Fish has been Denied

Sunday, January 18, 2009

We are out of fish food at work. I wanted to get out of the building at lunch, so thought "Why not drop by Petsmart while I am out"? MISSSSS-take.

First, when did fish food get so expensive? And why do all the Pet stores have one price for regular people and a special price for people willing to get their junk mail and SPAM?

But, I digress.

I also thought I might pick up some additional goldfish for our tank while I was there. Of course, there was no help to be found so I had to go all the way back to the register to have someone paged. When the sales girl finally showed up I asked for ten of the Copper Goldfish.

She starts to quiz me about the fish. Why did I want them? What size was my tank? When I give her the details that they are just fish for a tank at a hospital library, a rather large tank, she says "I'll have to check with the manager to get approval."

What?! They are 26 cent goldfish! The quality is not great and I usually assume half of them won't live a day.

Is my tank too big? They have a small 1 foot by 2 foot tank with probably 1000 goldfish inside. Does Petdumb (not petSMART) think that's how goldfish want to live--packed like the proverbial sardines in a small tank?

And it's not like we haven't bought fish from there before. The exact same fish for the exact same tank.

Since when did buying goldfish require managerial approval? Or anyone's approval for that matter?

I felt like I was on a Suze Orman segment of "Can I Afford It" with the sales clerk giving me the "Girlfriend, your DE--nied!"
posted by suzyjax on 1/18/2009 02:21:00 PM > 0 comments

Some realistic NY resolutions

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Oh, we can all make the unrealistic New Year's resolutions. The resolutions that we break before the MLK holiday: Organize the DVD collection. Lose weight. Go to the gym everyday before work.

Thus, in order to give myself a sense of achievement, I herby resolve to do the following in 2009:

• Watch more TV.
• Be just as productive at work.
• Keep blogging and twittering.
• Change hair style and/or color twice this year.
• Eliminate foreign travel.
• Discover the joys of procrastination.

posted by suzyjax on 12/31/2008 06:20:00 AM > 0 comments

After this and Plaxico, is there something about the NFL in New York state?

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

The following is from Sunday's (11/30/2008) Parade magazine, from "Personality Parade":

Q Why does Buffalo linebacker Kawika Mitchell wear his hair hanging out the
back of his helmet? Isn't he worried opponents will grab a handful? --Richard W.
Emery, Spring Valley, Calif.

A "As a defensive player, I don't have people chasing me from behind, so my hair has been grabbed only twice in my career," Kawika, 29, tells us. "I like long hair because it conveys biblical strength, like Samson's mane, and makes it easy for fans to identify me on the field."

Ummm...can't your fans easily identify you because you are wearing a jersey with your name and number on the back?
posted by suzyjax on 12/02/2008 12:21:00 PM > 0 comments

The Bake-A-Rama

I am kinda excited. The Bake-a-Rama is this weekend. What is the "Bake-A-Rama"? It's where we rent a kitchen and bake, bake, bake. Sometimes it is also make, make, make--like making fudge, rocky road, and other candy.

It's a cookie exchange and a baking event all at once!

We will begin at 5 PM Saturday night and work through Monday morning (with naps, resting, too). I finally narrowed down the list of what I will be making. There is so much good stuff that got left on the "maybe" pile. However, time and finances required that the list be what it is (and I almost forgot Gooey Butter Cookies--because I do that from heart, not from recipe).

So, drumroll please, my list for the 2008 Bake-A-Rama (in no particular order):

• Gooey Butter Cookies
• Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies
• Candy Cane Blossoms
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Sugar Cookie Surprise
• Double Delicious Cookie Bars
• Rocky Road
• Dark Chocolate Fudge
• Cookies and Cream Fudge
• White Chocolate Fudge
• Rich Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars
• Caramel/Pecan Brownies
• Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Squares
• Chocolate Chip Caramel Nut Bars
• Carnation Famous Fudge
• Sugar Spritz Cookies
• Holiday Sprinkle Cookies
• Tropical Magic Bars

posted by suzyjax on 12/02/2008 11:35:00 AM > 0 comments

Big Girl, Little Toys Part II

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Labels: Big Girl Little Toys

posted by suzyjax on 10/21/2008 09:51:00 AM > 0 comments

Big Girl, Little Toys Part I

I have lots of fun little gadgets I am using to utilize Social Media tools. The first is one I bought for myself with "change". Basically, I was saving my coins in big, over-sized Pepsi bottle. At same time last year, CoinStar (which I usually think of as a big rip-off for their high fees) was offering free coin changing if you had your coins turned into an Amazon gift certificate. In addition, if you had over $30 you would get an additional $10.




So, after doing this several times, I almost had enough for the $150 video camera. (Of course, like all technology, is cheaper now.). I bought my Flip Ultra! I use it to video everything! Children's school plays. City Council Meetings. Political speeches.


It is so easy to use. You can go from box to making a video in the short time it takes to load the two AA batteries. Then, you can go from video production to YouTube in a matter of minutes.

I could not give this a higher recommendation.

Labels: Amazon, Big Girl Little Toys

posted by suzyjax on 10/21/2008 09:41:00 AM > 0 comments

Inane Conversations Part 3

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Scene: In the electronics department at Target looking at DVD player totes. To my right is a bank of 20 televisions all on the same channel, now playing some sort of Phillips' Milk of Magnesia advertisement.

TV Commercial: What is your colon saying to you?

Me (while browsing): I'm not sure, we get "crappy" reception.

Family in next aisle howling with laughter.

Labels: Inane Conversations

posted by suzyjax on 9/28/2008 12:50:00 PM > 0 comments

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