While searching for some videos on YouTube that might do a better job of explaining the phenomenon of rogue waves than I can, I actually found some really, really good material. First, one of my absolute favorite people on the Intertubes, Hank Green, who is also half of the awesome duo that is the vlog brothers. Here, Hank talks about rogue waves on his SciShow channel.
Continue reading “The science and history of rogue waves, part two”
In what could prove to be a huge step forward in predicting how rogue waves are formed, and thus a tool for saving lives at sea, researchers at MIT have found a way to give 2 to 3 minutes warning of an incoming rogue wave.
I know it probably sounds stupid, but it’s hard for me to explain how excited I am about this research. So much so that I am tempted to go speak with the researchers sometime (living in Cambridge does have its advantages). But to understand why I am geeking out about this, it might help for me to go into some detail about what we know about rogue waves, and how they have affected ships at sea, as well as oil rigs, lighthouses, and coastlines. This is one of those times that my love of history (especially maritime history) and my love of science come together.
Continue reading “The science and history of rogue waves, part one”
Today I’m flying back to Boston from Dallas. As a matter of fact, as I write this I’m on the plane and we’re heading from the gate to the runway. I was surprised on my way down here how dramatic my process with the TSA wasn’t. The TSA is pretty much my nightmare of a government agency.
Today, when I went to my screening to leave Dallas, I lived my nightmare.
I can’t say I have ever been to Indianapolis. But I ever go, I am going to give the Black Acre Brewing Company some of my business, at least stop in for lunch or something. Why? Because the owner, Jordan Gleason, threw a sexist meathead out of his place and then posted a Facebook rant about how appalled he is by the way women in the service industry are treated and by sexism in general. And his post is going a bit viral as a result.
Continue reading “Indianapolis brewery owner is made of awesome”
Most of you know that I stay out of warm climates whenever possible. Therefore it seems utterly insane that I left Boston today, in the middle of a snowstorm (Ursula was her name) to fly to Dallas. Intentionally. Where it was 80 degrees.
Well, I thought it would be nice to talk about something a little more uplifting, so I thought I would share this story with you. At least until I can find something with cute furry animals.
This past Easter Sunday, some kids interrupted their Easter Egg hunt to help the police catch a couple of burglary suspects. And they did it in such a clever way, I still find myself marveling at how quickly they thought on their feet. Check out the video below the cut.
I don’t like to talk about politics too much on our blog, because frankly I need more positivity in my life, and these days it is really difficult to find anything whatsoever in politics that gives me cause for optimism. Still, I am a historian, and I can’t help but think that we are currently experiencing one of those watershed Presidential elections, like the election of 1860 or the election of 1932 or the election of 1968, in which those of us who experience it will talk about in terms of what things were like before, and what they were like after.
Continue reading “Donald Trump is more of a symptom than the cause of our political mess”
This is probably what The Bloggess would categorize as Spectacular Marketing Fail. Or maybe Exceptional PR Blunder. Anyway, when you’re trying to sell something, or in this case, give it away for free, remember the first rule of sales: Know Thy Audience.
This post might be a little stream of consciousness. It’s Holy Week, I’m tired, and last night I was exposed to one of the best/worst internet videos of all time.
A U.S. Navy ocean tug that vanished in 1921 with its entire crew of 56 officers and men has definitively been found.
The Books are Taking Over... 