NOW, A LITTLE QUIZ!

This was picked as science photo of the year by the BBC. What is it? No fair looking on the internet. Hint: Everyone sees these every day!

CAN THIS BE TRUE?

This story is from BBC world news, not some goofy internet site. I just don't know if can possibly be true. Physicists and electrical engineers, enlighten me:
Man's static jacket sparks alert
An Australian man built up so much static electricity in his clothes as he walked that he burned carpets, melted plastic and sparked a mass evacuation. Frank Clewer, of the western Victorian city of Warrnambool, was wearing a synthetic nylon jacket and a woollen shirt when he went for a job interview. As he walked into the building, the carpet ignited from the 40,000 volts of static electricity that had built up.
"It sounded almost like a firecracker or something like that," he said.
"Within about five minutes, the carpet started to erupt," he told Australian radio.
Considerable current
Perplexed firemen evacuated the building and cut its electricity supply, thinking the burns could have been caused by a power surge. "There were several scorch marks in the carpet, and we could hear a cracking noise - a bit like a whip - both inside and outside the building," said fire official Henry Barton.
Mr Clewer said that after leaving the building, he scorched a piece of plastic in his car. His clothes were measured by firemen as carrying an electrical charge of 40,000 volts, the Reuters news agency quoted Mr Barton as saying. The fire official added that the charge was close to being high enough to cause the items to spontaneously combust.
"I've been firefighting for over 35 years and I've never come across anything like this," he said.

THE END OF A LONG QUEST

Despite many attempts over many years, no one has ever been able to see or photograph a living giant squid, one of the largest creatures in the world. Then, a few days ago.....
(by the way, they estimate this specimen to be over 26 feet long!) If you want to read more, there's a National Geographic story you can find on Google under "live giant squid photos"

BUSH LOOKS PRESIDENTIAL

Here's a little photo op picture (genuine? probably not!) of Bush looking decisive on the phone. Spot what's wrong!

CLARITY CORRECTION

I was a bit unclear on my last medical post. This session of chemo isn't over yet, and the PET scan that measures my fate won't be done for three weeks or so.

AMAZING 3-D SIDEWALK ART

Mike N. sent me this link of an artist who is incredible. The first two pictures shows you how he does it, and then just look at the rest! http://yoke.cc/sidewalk.htm

REPUBLICANS PLANNING FOR '08?

There was a very troubling lead editorial in the Times the other day. Ostensibly for "security reasons" the Georgia legislature passed a law that says you need either a drivers' license, passport, or special photo ID to vote. The "special ID" will cost $20. Let's all try to guess who doesn't have a drivers' license or passport, and can't afford twenty bucks for a voter ID. They argue this isn't a "poll tax" (illegal) since it's a security measure. But let's hope it's overturned. If it isn't, other states are planning to follow. The other point the editors make is that the lawmakers really don't plan for people to get the ID, since they currently have NO places in Atlanta where you can get one. You got to watch these guys. They don't believe in democracy.

LATEST HEALTH NEWS

I went in today for my last session of chemo before another PET scan, and a talk with my oncologist. After three weeks, they'll find out if this new drug had any effect. There are, he says, three alternatives: it got worse (let's not discuss it); it's shrunk; and it's remained stable. Nowadays it turns out that it's possible this can remain stable and become more or less a chronic condition, or at least one that goes on for a long time. If it shrunk enough, surgery might be attempted, but if they can't be sure of getting it all, that might be a lot of trouble for nothing. So I'll know pretty soon what way everything is going, and whether I can start planning to return to work in January.

THE LATEST FROM THE ONION

Government Relief Workers Mosey In To Help
NEW ORLEANS—Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown, leading a detachment of 7,500 relief workers, moseyed on down to New Orleans Monday afternoon. "Well, I do declare, it's my job to see if any of these poor folks need any old thing," Brown said from his command rocker on the command post porch, adding, "Mighty hot day, ain't it?" Follow-up teams of emergency relief workers are expected to begin ambling into the Gulf Coast region as early as this weekend. "They should be getting the trucks good and warmed up anytime now, and they'll be cruising into town just as soon as all the reservists stroll in," said Brown, who is currently at his desk awaiting offers of food, water, and evacuation buses to roll in from "somewhere or other."

COOL PAINTINGS

These paintings are pretty cool: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/stu/wall/
There's a lot you can do with a blank wall!

LATEST CHEMO

Yesterday was an interesting day, as my blood was transformed into a chemical stew of chemo drugs and a new drug, Avastin, which is supposed to increase longevity (always a good thing). I also got another $1000 injection to increase my red blood cells. I feel surprisingly good, despite the junk in my veins (is this how drug addicts feel???). I'm trying to keep up exercise and good eatin', though naptime looms larger in my day. Another odd feeling is that I sort of miss the start of school, and certainly my students and colleagues, though I can't say I yearn to read student papers. Perhaps I'll be back in the spring. I hope so. Everyone at Babson can hold the fort without me, I'm sure, but I'll try to make an appearance once in a while, just to remind myself I'm still gainfully employed, sort of.