Hint: Not China

Use this Google Map application to find up where you'd end up if you dug a hole to the other side of the Earth.

via Freakgirl

This shirt totally rocks

An Australian company has invented a t-shirt that turns air guitar into music:

The T-shirt has motion sensors built into the elbows that pick up arm movements and relay them wirelessly to a computer which interprets them as guitar riffs, said Richard Helmer, an engineer who leads the research team from the government’s Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Here's a video of the inventor explaining and demonstrating the shirt.

So geeky, yet I kind of love it.

False advertising

The Break-Up, promoted as a modern romantic comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, is not funny at all. It is the opposite of funny. It's not that it's a bad movie, but it's uncomfortably realistic and depressing.

I do love me some Vincent D'Onofrio, though.
And doesn't this guy (the art buyer) look like Tom Brady?

Unrelated, but I almost started a riot at lunch when I proclaimed my hatred for Gilmore Girls. Seriously, that show is SO BAD. Not bad-good, like the OC or other campy dramas, just plain old stinkin bad. Worst acting on television.

Foosball and fear of technology

Last night, soccer players, scientists, and photograhpers gathered to big goodbye to our friend Jorg, who is moving to South Carolina. We went to dinner at the Sunset Grill and Tap (Yummers! Plus, an excellent beer selection. Double yummers!) and then headed next door to Big City for more beers. I tested and proved correct the following mathematical equations: Belgian beers x 10% alcohol = drunk people. Drunk people + foosball = entertainment, with an occasional broken lighting fixture.















On the technology front, on the Blogger Dashboard, there's a new version of Blogger available for download. Have any of you Blogger (TM) bloggers tried it? I'm always hesitant to update software. I mean, what if I like the old version better, and then I get stuck with a crappy new verison?

List #31...Words That Confused Me as a Child

In (belated) honor of Veterans' Day, here are some words that I had severely mixed up when I was younger.

1. veterans and veterinarians: I spent the majority of elementary school believing Nov. 11 was some strange holiday to celebrate pet doctors.

2. tornados and tomatoes: I understood that these were two entirely different things, but for some reason, I assumed that tornados were red like tomatoes, and never believed that news images of tornadoes were real because the tornadoes were not red.

3. Jack Nicholson and Jack Nicklaus. Definitely thought that they were one person- and actor who was also quite good at golf. Although later dispelled, this notion was supported by Jack Nicholson's arrest for smashing a guy's windsheild with a gold club. Obviously, a golf club would be the weapon of choice for an irate actor/golfer.

4. avocados and iguana eggs. For unknown reasons, I believed that avocados were iguana eggs and refused to eat them for years. Laugh all you want, but seriously, don't they look a tad reptilian?

5. grilled cheese sandwich and girl cheese sandwich. Blame this one on my older sister, who capitalized on my initial confusing by frequently threatening to kill me and put me in a girl cheese sandwich. She also told me I was adopted. Thanks, Kerry!

6. subtle and suttle. I know now that suttle is not an actual word, but I thought that the "b" was pronounced in subtle, and suttle was a different word that meant the exact same thing. I discovered that this was false when I read an essay out loud to my English class in 12th grade and used the word subtle, you know, the one with the "b."

Concert Review: Bob Dylan

Last night, I caugh Bob Dylan at the Agganis Arena. Let me preface this post my proclaiming my complete and utter devotion to the great Bob Dylan. I bought a cassette of Blood on the Tracks in eighth grade, and it opened my eyes to a whole world of music beyond hair bands and MC Hammer. I've been a huge fan ever since. I was planning to pick up a ticket to the concert and go by myself, because none of my friends in Boston are big Dylan fans, and I would have become really annoyed at any potential complaining. I get irrationally angry when people make fun of things I like- it still makes me mad when I think about the time a good friend of mine made fun of my favorite book. Yes, Dylan's voice has been shot for the last twenty years and it's no secret, but the man is still a poet, a genius, and a legend (wow, I'm starting to sound like a creepy stalker). Unexpectedly, I ended up going with friends of a friends who were also members of the cult.
The Raconteurs, Jack White's current band opened, and I wasn't impressed (although I do like their throwback website). I love the White Stripes, and I think the duo with Meg White is a much better vehicle for showing off Jack's many muscial talents. When backed up by a full band, he sounds like any other singer in any other modern rock band. They also didn't seem to be the best choice of opener for the crowd, the majority of whom were in their fifties and sixties.
Now, onto Dylan....he started off with Absolutely Sweet Marie and followed with a mixture of old and new. (set list) I enjoyed Positively 4th Street and Masters of War (by far, sharpest anti-war song ever written), and was happy to hear Tangled Up in Blue, my favorite Dylan tune. However, his newer songs have a bluesier sound that complements his current vocal ability much better than the old songs, the majority of which he warbled through in a toneless manner. I thought that two tracks from Time Out of Mind sounded the best. The encore rendition of Like a Rolling Stone was the crowd favorite of the night. Overall, I was impressed once again, but still slightly jealous of those who had the opportunity to see Dylan in his prime.

The Globe gave Saturday night's show a positive review.

I'd like to make one comment to all concert goers: Holding up a cell phone instead of a lighter is NOT COOL.

Weekend Report

Friday- Played soccer, and my team won in a dramatic shootout, in which I was the only player on either team to make the shot. I must confess that the only reason that we ended up in the shootout was that I flubbed up on defense with three minutes left in the game, allowing the other team to score the tying goal. At least I redeemed myself. After the game, I caught my friend Mulvey's band Muy Cansado play at the second diviest bar in Framingham. (In case you're wondering....The Diviest Bar In Framingham). My friend Jose came with me to the wilds of downtown Framingham, and we had a good time at the show, with the exception of the Grossest Jello Shot Ever Created. Here's some advice: Never order a jello shot at a bar. Especially if it comes in a prepackaged container with a tinfoil lid. It was gritty and disgusting. Blech.


Grossest Jello Shots Ever Created




After the show, we noticed a Corvette in the parking lot and placed a dirty, Borat-inspired note on the windsheild, because, apparently, we're fourteen and find that shit funny.

Saturday- Ran errands all day, played soccer, then went to Rob's surprise party at Ned Devine's. I had a good time- I showed up late, so all of my friends were already pretty hammered, which is always entertaining. I even met a cute guy- nice, funny, and tall, and owns a hot air balloon company, so I didn't even have to bust out my fake-interested face and pretend to know what a hedge fund is. Instead, we talked about the hot air balloon industry and bacteria. For the record, his company does offer the Mile High package. Ew! Too bad he lives in another state and I'll never see him again.

Sunday- Went to Thanksgiving at Lori and Rob's house, and proceeded to stuff my face for four hours. Have I mentioned that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday? Well, it is. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, mmmmmmmmm... The only bad part was that I ate so much during dinner that I couldn't even handle the dessert. After that, I saw Bob Dylan at the Agganis Arena, but that will get a separate post.

Embarrassing moment of the week

So, do you ever do weird things for no reason? And then get embarrassed when someone catches you? No?
Anyways, yesterday I was using a centrifuge in a storage room filled with freezers and equipment. The storage room is at the end of a sparsely populated hallway, so I had no one to talk to while I was waiting for my sample. Bored, I noticed a small space between two large freezers and wondered if I could fit in the space. I squirmed in, and it felt sort of snug and cozy being squished in between the two freezers, so I was standing there zoning out. Just as I started process the thought "I better get out of here before someone walks by and sees me," someone walked in the room. He didn't see me, and started filling up a tank right in front of my hiding place. I figured that he would eventually look up and notice me, so I went for the preemptive strike and said hi. Of course, it scared the crap out of him, and he wondered what I was doing in there. I started laughing because, despite my explanation, which was something along the lines of "I was waiting for my samples to spin in the centrifuge and I wanted to see if I could fit in this gap between the freezers," it was inherently obvious that there was no real explanation, other than the fact that I am a WEIRDO who apparently exhibits some rodent-like affinity for small, dark spaces.

Attention The Office fans

Watch Michael and Dwight bring sexy back. Hee!

via Freakgirl

Portrait of a scientist

Here's a picture my co-workers drew of me:

I am wearing a LAME crown becuase I told a lame story at lunch. However, there is no real explanation as to why I am walking a poodle and have a turkey for a hand.

Damn, it feels good to be a Democrat

It's official, the Dems now control the House and Senate. Check out Kevin's site for much more researched and eloquent posting about the latest round of elections.

Now, if only the Democrats can come up with a legitimate contender for the Presidency in 2008....

Movie Review: Borat

The movie Borat features the British comedian Sasha Baron Cohen, most well known for his Ali G character, as Borat, a reporter from Kazakhstan who travels to the United States to research the American way and report back to his country. At his hotel in New York, he catches Baywatch on TV and decides to travel to California in pursuit of Pamela Anderson. Borat and his producer road trip in an old ice cream truck, encountering various aspects of America along the way, including a rodeo, a yard sale, an evangelical Christian meeting. Borat is as offensive as one can possibly imagine- he hates and fears Jewish people and thinks women should be slaves- and this movie is anything but tame. I'm surprised that it didn't get slapped with an NC-17 rating, especially with the grotesque extended male nudity scene, which was both the most disgusting and most hilarious thing I've ever seen. Everyone in the theater was screaming in horror, laughing, covering their eyes, or doing a combination of all three. I also wasn't sure if the people he encounters are actors or actual Americans voicing their own offensive opinions. Some, like the car salesman, were funny as hell and seemed genuine. Borat declares that he would like to buy a car to attract the type of women who shave "down there," and the salesman, without skipping a beat, responds "you're looking for a Corvette." Others, like the USC frat boys in the RV, I hope are actors, because otherwise, they are just too pathetic for words. Even though the movie is essentially a one trick pony (comedian pretending to be a foreigner goes around simultaneously offending Americans and exposing their own prejudices), it will make you laugh out loud as well as ponder how large, diverse, and strange our nation truly is. I also recommend seeing it in a theater, because the reactions of the audience definitely enhance the experience.

Remember to vote today!

I voted this morning- obviously, I voted for Patrick for governor and Kennedy for Senator. Well, I voted for all the Democrats (I drink the kool-aid, people. Deal with it.) except for Maura Hennigan because she campaigned against the new BU infectious disease research lab and is therefore an enemy of science and progress.

And I voted no on #1, about selling wine in grocery stores, because there are only two major grocery stores in the area, Shaw's and Stop and Shop, so I'd rather that small local businesses (i.e. liquor stores) benefit from the wine revenue. Because what's good for the packy is good for me.

I hope Patrick steamrolls Healey, and I predict that he will. Her campaign ads were AWFUL. Like this one, which essentially boils down to "Deval Patrick will rape you."

Weekend Report

Friday- Played soccer, then my friend Kara from Peace Corps arrived around 11:00PM. Her sister Amy and I picked her up at the airport, then we went out for beers at the bar across the street and ended up staying up to the wee hours with one of the bartenders. I don't know if I should be proud or embarassed of the fact that all of the bartenders and bouncers know me, but I consider it a good thing, as long as I keep getting the invite to the annual bar Christmas party. Free booze for all the employees and regulars- woo hoo!

Saturday- Slept in late, did some sightseeing around Boston, went to a baby shower, followed by dinner at L'Osteria in the North End (yum!) and beers at the Kinsale.



Sunday- Dragged Kara to a soccer game and to work with me, then we went to Cambridge and walked around Harvard Square. Later on, we met up with Amy and her boyfriend and had dinner at Naked Fish in Westboro. After that, we watched the unfortunate Patriots game. Way to jinx it, stupid Sports Guy. Seriously, though, the level of man love Madden and crew have for Peyton is downright disturbing. Don't they know who the real best player in the NFL is?

He's ba-ack (maybe)

Reports are coming in that Daniel Ortega is winning Nicaragua's presidential election. Hugo Chavez may have gained a powerful amigo...

More Halloween pictures

I finally recovered my lost camera- here are some additional Halloween photos for your viewing pleasure:



And finally, further proof that I am one CLASSY broad...here I am drinking wine, straight from the box:

Lunchtime conversation

Almost every day, I eat lunch with a group of coworkers, and we generally have entertaining conversation, often about diarrhea and Canada. Today, we started out by talking about a recent scientific article about a contagious tumor in dogs. Yeah, nerd stuff. Then, it became a language discussion about the word "bitch," in which we decided that everyone aside from dog breeders who uses the term bitch to refer to a female dog is not doing so seriously. We decided that it would be funny to start using bitch in conversation and set up a weekend challenge: You must go up to a stranger who is walking a dog and use the word bitch. As in, "What a cute little bitch!" or "Is your dog a male or a bitch?" or "Can I pet your bitch?"

The last example led to a new level of the challenge- anyone who does the following automatically wins:
A man and a woman are walking a dog. The man is holding the dog's leash. You ask the man "Can I pet your bitch?" and then start petting the woman.

We classified that as Level 3 in terms of potential offensiveness. But still, funny as hell. A few minutes later, someone came up with a Level 4, and it starts like this:
A man and a woman are walking a dog and a cat.

I'll let you come up with your own ending.

Undercover hottness

The actor who plays Borat? Underneath the disguise, Hot. Who knew? Not so much here, though.

Hooray, baby!

Congratulations Kim and Mike on the birth of their daughter, Maya. I went to see her last night and she is adorable! She also sneezes and hiccups a lot.

Halloween Party

The Halloween party on Saturday night was a blast- lots of friends, lots of fabulous costumes, and lots of booze, including a late night appearance of a box of wine that was the coup de grace for several partygoers. Here are a few pictures- I will post more later, but my camera mysteriously ended up in the back seat of a guest's car (and I know what you're thinking...I was not in the backseat so I have no idea how the camera got there). Anyways, Caro has some pictures on her blog, and here are some more:
The Hostesses, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan:

Best Costume, Male (Hamburger Helper Hand) and Female (Snakes on a Plane):