:: The Ruminant ::

The Ruminant's first visitor, amayamaya, left a nice comment requesting more posts. Just as retailers often display their first dollar, I am going to display this first comment for a while. Rest assured, amayamaya, when I get my thirty minutes of fame, you will have your fifteen. I hope I'm not too selfish to keep some of the fame for myself.

:: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 ::

Another cold day in Edmonton... thank God for those hamster tunnels.




:: Chris 6:25 AM [+] ::
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Proposition

Erin was busy at work today when a large, sweaty man walked into her coffee shop. He stood around the counter and waited for the line to clear. After everyone cleared out, he nervously made his way up to the register. "Um..." he said. Erin noticed he was carrying some Jehovas Witness literature. "Oh, I'm a Jehovas' Witness," he said, gesturing dismissivley to the pamphlets. There was an awkward pause. "Um," he continued, "this may surprise you, but I'd like to take you out to lunch."

Naturally, Erin was floored by the suggestion. She wanted to tell him she was married, but she was just too curious about Jehovah. They're meeting up tomorrow. She wasn't sure how I would take it when she told me about her date. "Heck!" I said, "If it's for Jehovah? Sure!" I mean, this guy has actually witnessed Jehovah. Sleeping with a large sweaty man isn't too high a price for that kind of insider access to the Lord. I might even tag along and see if I can sleep with him.


:: Chris 9:46 PM [+] ::
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Science Fair

Yesterday I judged at a science fair for grades K through 3. I was really surprised by how much the kids knew about sciency things. I judged two boys who made a "security device" out of some cardboard and aluminum foil, and a little 5 year-old girl who endeavored to study surfaces to which temporary tatoos will or will not stick.



Another kid grew triops, which are like sea monkeys only way cooler. You get them in little pouches of eggs, and you can grow them in a cheap plastic acquarium. They grow into crab-like things a few inches long. They've been around since before the dinosaurs. One kid also made these way-cool motors:



In conclusion, I had fun at the science fair. I might judge at another one.



:: Chris 12:26 AM [+] ::
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Happy Birthday!

Edie Brikel turned 37 today, and I turned 26 on Friday. This was my cake.


Usually my birthday herald's the coming of spring. It comes shotly after winter's last howl, and on most years my birthday greets me with a promising warm breeze and the smell of new leaves. This year, it was -30 degrees outside, tying for the coldest day of the year in Edmonton. This was the view from my office today:



Yes, I work in a remote arctic tundra.


:: Chris 7:47 PM [+] ::
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Danger is his name

Yesterday I went to a seminar presenting work co-authored by a scientist named Jean-Luc Danger. Could there be a cooler name for a scientist? He's bound to be using his scientific powers by night to fight crime. He's like a cross between Captain Picard and Batman.
:: Chris 11:47 AM [+] ::
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