Pan Anthem

Good to Know.

I scared the shit out of myself tonight, simply by trying to make some tea. I'm currently without a tea kettle, so I did what any respecting kitchen McGuyver would do: Fill a cup with water and put it in the Microwave.

Well, that's apparently a bad, bad idea, I found out (see the link below for why). When the microwave beeped, I opened the door, reached my hand in to grab the mug, and all hell broke loose. The water literally exploded all over the place. I jumped back, I was totally spooked. It just was there, then it exploded.

I thought this was weird, but still too shocked to go into safety mode and ditch the tea-making project for the night. So, I put the tea down on the counter, and droped the tea bag in, and the MF'r exploded again!

At this point, I'm so freaked out, all I can do is come up with crazy conclusions like the water is tainted, the mug is tainted, something having to do with Gremlins. Dah. Freaked. Out. Go to the Google.

Couldn't believe that my search string actually nailed it on the first attempt ("boiling water weird microwave"), but weirder things have happened (see above). Result #2 yielded the answer…

General Electric's response:

Thanks for contacting us. I will be happy to assist you. The e-mail that you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it.

Ok. Won't do that again. I think my Dad is an old hand at Microwaving water, best send this post his way. I actually made out pretty well tonight. I managed not to burn my face off, and I learned a little science in the process.

Link

Grow in the Dark Watch

Dan Schreck, my partner in cigar-smoking, Wii-boxing, civilian arrests, and other crimes of nerddom, has released his first album entitled, "Grow in the Dark Watch."

And it's the worst pop record I've ever heard. Dan would agree with that. Dan doesn't make pop records, he breaks pop records into their primary parts, and reassembles them into pure make-beleive. It's one of the best experimental albums of the year. When listening, I imagine putting on special goggles that turn everything I see into a legoland scene. For the faint of experimental heart, it may take a few listens to get where Dan's going with Grow in the Dark Watch. But once you get there, you'll find that the world is, and has always been made of primary colors.

Link

Yes

I'm all for this, it's a little strange, but so is the future.

Link (Trib Article)

Man Up

man up
Originally uploaded by goopymart

I like this Goopy image called, 'Man Up.' Found him through his work on the SquirrelFish logo for Webkit. I sometimes feel like the kid. Especially when I'm in a biker bar.

Blue Bins!

Ever since I moved from Madison, WI, I've been severely concerned about the Green City (that's Chicago, for those not in the know). Chicago is Green like Kermit the Frog is a frog. My wife and I have been putting our recyclables into 'blue bags' for the past four years, which never actually promised it would get recycled, it was only to confirm our commitment to saving the earth, blah blah blah.

Three weeks ago, they killed the blue bag program (thanks for killing the dream, see above). So, it was to my utmost surprise when this happened…

Blue Bins! We were one of the few wards selected for the new recycling program the city is supposed to complete by 2012.

So, this city is getting it's act together, however slowly it will take. Woohoo for blue!

Now for Daley's next act, take care of this (um, holy shit @ 1 minute 20 seconds).

Thank god, er, something, for Kurzweil

Via NY Times, articles on Kurzweil are never disappointing. Perhaps he's right? When I suggested that my mom by a Kurzweil (synth), I presented the idea by explaining that the guy takes 80 pills a day just so he can survive long enough to see the Singularity happen. Of course, she had no idea what I was talking about, but it was a bit more information than the Roland could offer, so we went with the Kurzweil.

Link

Mass Toad Evacuation ahead of Quake

Hmm, I don't know about this. Seems more likely that it's a coincidence. However, if I ever see a plethora of toads moving in a general direction, I may follow suit.

Actually, this whole Telegraph article is pretty damn creepy.

Link