Not so Special and Not so Smart

Most people are uncomfortable with the old "chimps and humans are 99 % identical in their DNA", but Dr. Neil D-T spins in a way that makes that discomfort more tangible.  Since Astrophysicists are the best at making us puny humans feel small and insignificant, it is not so surprising that one would bring home the sci-fi classic "we would be like toddler chimps to the aliens".  Not so special and not so smart...

For a bonus, nice exposition on where the elements comes from making us both banal and cosmic... something I keep insisting on as super-interesting to my own students much to their teenage indifference

Where's He Get it From?

Me to Chongers: "Seriously, am I the funniest Dad you ever had?"
Chongers: "Yes, but, seriously, am I the funniest son you ever had?"

4 years old and he's already one step ahead of me..

Veteran's Day

 One of my father's best friends growing up was a cousin of his.  They were born the same year and they spent lots of time together while growing up, but when the Vietnam War started, they had very different feelings about that war.  My Dad's cousin enlisted, became a Captain in the Army and was killed shortly before my parents got married in 1969.  When they were expecting their first child (me!), later that same year - they decided to name their child after his cousin. 

I always knew this story, but I only actively think about it upon certain occasions: when I used to meet his parents (my great uncle and great uncle, both of whom have now passed away), that day I found his name on the wall in Washington, DC when I was sixteen and found the experience unexpectedly emotional, and today, Veteran's Day.

My father turns 70 this year, I am turning 43 soon - but I am thinking of you Kenneth Robert Sawyer who died at the age of 26 over fourty years ago. 

Trick or Treat

Novice Clock Reading Skills + Good Number Sense =

"Look, Daddy - One Thousand O'clock!" - Sebastien

Think the French are Inefficient?

Just try to get away from their automated traffic ticket system:

Going 50 MPH in a 35 MPH zone at night in a rental car and the rental company had my country of residence incorrect as you can see above!  Anyone renting a car in Corsica in English must be from Great Britain, right?

When I saw the automated camera flash late one night, I figured, "What are the odds the French government would ever find me?"

Apparently higher than I thought...

Sigh, let this be a lesson to you all:  Don't mess with French government revenue from tourists!  They are serious about that!

P.S. After I paid the fine online, my credit company called me to ask if it was a bogus charge, "I wish" I responded...

My New Supporting Role...

... in a novel coming to you:

Erec is an old friend of mine and I had pre-ordered this book on Amazon as soon as I heard about it.  Very good read and then I really enjoyed when a reoccuring character named "J P Rideout" appeared on page 31: "...The dark-haired Rideout, trim and stylishly dressed, had been Kanter's steal from Wall Street and Bloomberg monitors. Rideout retained a residual superiority inherited from his French forbears, his style sharply counterbalanced by the analytical bookworm named Matt King..."