The stars of the Ardastra Gardens zoo in Nassau are the famous marching flamingos. My mom likes flamingos, so I grabbed some video of their performance. I have no clue how they taught birds to march, but it’s pretty cool.
Category Archives: Science
The End of the Shuttle
Only four launches remain in the long career of NASA’s space shuttle fleet. So far I’ve only seen one launch in person. When Jenny and I went to Disney World in October 2006, the shuttle launched on our first day at EPCOT. We were at least 40 miles from the launch pad, and the skies were mostly cloudy, but we got a distant view of the gorgeous streak of light through gaps in the clouds. We couldn’t hear a thing, but I was in awe and smiling like a little boy.
My closest encounter of any kind came after fourth grade when we took a family trip to Florida and toured Kennedy Space Center. One of the shuttles was sitting on the launch pad, gleaming in the sun. I was amazed to see a machine that could actually fly from the earth into space and return safely.
The final launch is currently scheduled for September 16, and Jenny and I hope to attend. Since shuttle launches often get postponed due to weather or mechanical problems, we might or might not succeed, but we plan to try. Through work, I’m in a lottery for a spot at the best possible civilian viewing area. We should find out a couple of weeks in advance whether we get the tickets. If not, we’ll plan to watch from a nearby site. Wish us luck!
Auto-Tune
A few years ago, a Simpsons episode told the story of how Bart, Milhouse, Nelson, and Martin (I think) turned into a boy band that produced recruitment material for the Navy. (Oh, how I love The Simpsons) Even though none of the four can sing at all, they had the right “look” for a boy band, and the music producers made up for the quartet’s utter lack of talent with a mysterious dial labeled Studio Magic.
Although Studio Magic is exaggerated for laughs, it’s based on a real technology called Auto-Tune. Using sophisticated computer processing, Auto-Tune can bend a singer’s voice to match the exact pitch he/she should be singing. Sometimes a singer only needs minor corrections that an average listener’s ear could hardly detect. Sometimes a singer needs significant help. Auto-Tune can make a voice sound normal or intentionally distorted, as in the weirdly electronic vocals of Cher’s “Believe” or Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It”. It can even correct a live performance so that a singer at American Airlines Center sounds in-tune even during an off night.
The majority of singers in popular music now use Auto-Tune for studio work, and many use it in concert as well. Ever notice how some singers sound much worse live compared to their CD recordings? Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, and the Black-Eyed Peas come to mind. I suspect they are not strong singers in term of pitch accuracy, so they use Auto-Tune for studio recordings but inexplicably opt-out for concerts. Kelly Clarkson, on the other hand, produces consistent, in-tune vocals whether on CD or live. Since Kelly earned a spot in the Texas All-State Choir, I assume she has a very accurate voice that needs little pitch correction.
Some purists hate Auto-Tune. They argue that it cheapens the art and craft of singing, produces fake-sounding music, and hides the “character” that makes music interesting. Others love it because it produces a cleaner sound, saves work and time in the studio, and gives fans a better experience when it’s used in concert. What do you guys think?
Moly, Moly, Moly
I have moles. Lots of moles. So many moles that I look like a reverse constellation – white skin with dark spots. Some people call them beauty marks. Cindy Crawford sports the most famous mole in the world, except hers is called a “beauty mark” so she can remain a supermodel. If moles make one beautiful, I should be on the cover of GQ. (I’m still waiting for my call) My dermatologist jokes that I can keep my kids entertained for hours by letting them play connect-the-dots on my back.
He also says I make him nervous.
On top of my family history of skin cancer, the number and characteristics of my moles put me at higher risk for skin cancer, including malignant melanoma. I try to limit my sun exposure, which should help a bit, but the risk is already programmed into my skin regardless of sun exposure. Over time, some of my moles change in size, shape, and/or color, making them potentially precancerous.
To fight back, I visit the dermatologist twice a year, and each time he removes the two or three most suspicious moles. It’s a simple, quick procedure taking maybe 60 seconds each – anesthetic injection, removal by blade, electric cauterization. So far the lab hasn’t reported that any were actual skin cancer, but with some it was just a matter of time. After 15 years or so, I’ve had probably 40 or 50 removed. Mom nags me when necessary to schedule my next appointment.
The good news is that my moles have inspired me to compose a poem, my first in a very long time. I have entitled it, as you might have guessed, “Moly, Moly, Moly”.
Moly, Moly, Moly
Dang, my skin is moly
Like a white dalmatian, I
Have spots for all to seeMoly, Moly, Moly
Melanoma scares me
So I go back each
Six months for surgeryMoly, Moly, Moly
Which ones most displease thee?
Through the gift of Lidocaine
Thy cutting does not stingMoly, Moly, Moly
Still millions left upon me
Try to play connect-the-dots
And angry I will be.
Sorry for ruining a great hymn, but it had to be done. Someday you’ll be able to sing it normally again, I promise. =)
Obsolete
Keith at BagOfNothing.com posted an interesting list of 12 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade.
I know people who still use some of them, such as land lines and dial-up Internet. I still occasionally use a fax machine for work because there’s no better way to transfer certain documents using the provided technology, but I find it extremely annoying to use and avoid it whenever possible. I also still call people sometimes out of necessity, even though I would rather email or text.
However, Jenny and I rarely if ever use the other items on the list, even CDs. Jenny and the boys got me a couple of audio cables for Christmas that allow me to connect my iPhone or MacBook to my car stereo and home theater. Since I have my CD music imported into both devices, I can use them as my music source instead of fumbling with the CDs. I’ve actually downloaded more music this year through iTunes than I’ve bought in CD form.
To Keith’s list, I would add:
- Full-service, high-fee brokers of stocks, options, and mutual funds
- Writing checks
- Paying bills through the mail
- VHS tapes
Can you think of any other items or practices that became obsolete this decade? Do you disagree with any of these?