Today in...

1842– Anesthesia is used for the first time, in an operation by the American surgeon Dr. Crawford Long

1842 - Louise Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun, French court painter of Marie Antoinette, dies. (born 1755)

1867 – Alaska is purchased from Russia for $7.2 million, about 2 cents/acre ($4.19/km²), by United States Secretary of State William H. Seward. Some in the American media call this Seward's Folly.

1870 – Texas is readmitted to the Union following Reconstruction.

1972 - Vietnam War (Conflict): the Easter Offensive begins after North Vietnamese forces cross into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of South Vietnam.

1982 - Space Shuttle program: STS-3 Mission is completed with the landing of Columbia at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

2002 – Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Queen Mother of the United Kingdom dies. (b. 1900)

Also, Happy Birthday to Francisco Goya ( Spanish Painter - 1742), Vincent van Gogh (Dutch Painter - 1853), Jerry Lucas (1940 - American basketball player), Tracy Chapman (1964 - American singer), Celine Dion (1968 - Canadian singer), and Norah Jones (1979 - American singer). (And a special Happy Birthday to Jesse!)

California Logic?

True Story:
A family walked into the sandwich restaurant where I work today, including one young woman who claimed to be an employee at a branch of the same chain in L.A. (She was very excited to show them what this place was all about). After only purchasing a sandwich for the little girl with them, they left sadly, claiming that some of them 'can't eat bread' and it was a pity that we didn't offer salads. I had no idea how to respond politely, so I just opened the door for them and let them go. Um... Hello? NO branch of this chain offers soups, salads, or anything but the sandwiches for which we are known. Restaurant tour guide fail.

Grey Matters

The Neanderthal's brain was bigger than the modern human's is. Think of that next time you're wondering about the people around you in rush hour traffic.

Undomesticated Peeves

Individuals who take up an entire table (especially one meant for anywhere from four to eight people), especially when they don't have any apparent reason for it, for example, if there are plenty of smaller tables nearby and larger parties waiting for a table. Or if they clearly have nothing else to take up the space (like paperwork, homework, large bags, baby gear, etc.). There doesn't seem to be a trend for what types of people do this - I've seen people of all ages and both genders do this. The other day there was a petite girl in her late teens or early twenties sitting alone at a table for five, propping her feet up on the chair of the next table - thus taking up two tables and enough seating for seven people. The best thing: she was looking around nervously, as if she expected to be evicted from her seat at any moment (which wouldn't have been uncalled for since the restaurant was crowded to overflowing). Obviously she knew it wasn't... socially ethical?... yet she chose to ignore that and do it anyway. Fortunately, her nerves caused her to leave quickly.

Most Annoying Animal Ever...

I present to you... the Hydra-goose. It honks constantly, loudly, and now with multiple heads.

Back-to-School Facts

To get everyone ready for school, I've thrown in a few facts that are related to academia. If you're on a different spring break schedule than I am, (or not on one at all), just enjoy the opportunity to seem smarter than you are by quoting these.

The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.
The word "lethologica" describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want.
Canadian researchers have found that Einstein's brain was 15% wider than normal.
The word "nerd" was first coined by Dr. Seuss in "If I Ran the Zoo."

Spring Break Thoughts

Here's another lovely article from Science Now, just for you beach-goers this spring break/summer. Gotta love that nice soft sand between your toes. Happy Swimming!

Why Fly?

This may be a sign seen in the future... you know, when hovercrafts and flying cars are used by everyone. In the meantime, tree huggers get to go on a loooooong hike for spring break.
Happy Spring Break!

Friday Before Spring Break

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching TV. Have a good spring break, and if you spend most of it sleeping, congratulate yourself for burning more calories than you would have vegging in front of the TV. No word yet if you increase your calorie-burning if you sleep in front of the TV.

Things I Like 2

I like when someone is arguing emphatically about something, and at the end of the rant the respondent simply disagrees. No explanation, no reasons, no arguing back. Just a simple 'no'. The look of shock on the first person's face is priceless every time. They always look shocked, as if the fact that they spent all that time ranting should have convinced the person beyond a doubt.

Wolves Can Follow Human Gaze

In an attempt to be randomly scholarly, I added this article from Science Now, which you can access using the link. Basically, it has to do with wolves being able to follow the human gaze, something that was thought only happened in domesticated dogs. However, wolves pass 'gaze tests' that some dogs can't do! They probably tested my dog, who can't gaze at anything (except her own reflection) for more than five seconds.

Perspective is Everything

Proof that perspective is everything. And that charts mean next to nothing. Unless you're a patient in a hospital, in which case you should probably care about those charts.

Space-Mail

Just in case you were wondering where yours went. See? It really isn't your fault.