Sand Dollars

I am often, and always, amazed at the complexities that attuned minds can make the computer accomplish. For instance, just click here

Springtime Cherry Blossom

This is getting to be fun. Our weeping cherry tree started blossoms last Saturday (thanks, HSW II), the 1000-year-old cherries in Tokyo did it last Tuesday, 21 March, and the guys at the Tidal Basin in D.C. are scheduled for Thursday, 30 March. I never became this interested in the cycles of Nature at our former manse. (Is that age or our new location? I'll have to get back to you on that.)

Brazil On Wednesday?

NASA has a full explanation of Wednesday's total solar eclipse. Unfortunately it will be seen only from points in South America, Africa, and then across southwest asia. Ah, well.

French Fries

UPDATE: More here from Power Line Power Line: In France, On the Other Hand...


Even I am a bit boggled. These elite students at the Sorbonne are rioting against a law that would permit an employer, during the first two years after the students' graduation, to fire them. No kidding, just read it here down about 13 paragraphs.

Mon Dieu! At least their cheese is pretty good.

Lat 37*53' Long 122*05'

Today's daylight is 11:58 hours. Friday's daylight is 12:01 hours. At this geographical location, it's already Spring! Official Spring, however, is on Monday, 20 March.

Weather!

Well, we're in our 10th day, or 14th day, whatever, of rain, and I'm somewhat tired of it. It's beginning to feel like Bromsgrove, or Seattle! So, I was really pleased when I read this. Fulghum (try pronouncing that name.) is a delightful writer.

Now I'm ready for California sun.

Pi Day

UPDATE: It's also Al Einstein's birthday anniversary (1879)

RKW reminds us all that today, at least on this side of the Atlantic, is Pi Day, or 3.14 :: ::

Go here:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/pi

(I'm reminded that back when we were designing projects for clients of various nationalities in locations around the Pacific and Middle East, we established an office policy for dating documents to avoid misunderstandings. Day (2 numerals)/Month (3 letters)/Year (4 numerals) Thus, today would be 14 Mar 2006, impossible to confuse with any other date.) (Unless, of course, you're using the Jewish or Muslim calendar, but that's a whole 'nother story.)

Freeway Fibrillations

Interesting contemplation of the uniqueness of the Los Angeles freeway system here. Read especially the high-tech disabling stuff toward the end of the article.

Interesting Newspaper Stuff

Another UPDATE 3/11/06 No NYT Stocks
UPDATE 3/10/06 'Washington Post' To Cut 80 Newsroom Jobs, Sources Say

I'm an old geezer, and I grew up with newspapers. Delivered them, worked at them, etc. But, WoW, do times change.
Last Saturday, on the sidewalk outside Trader Joe's in Lafayette, a card table with a guy offering free S.F.Chronicles. Later that day, a mail from the S.F.Chronicle offering a huge discount for subscribing.
Sunday, on the internet, an anecdote from a guy, fully fed up, calling the NYTimes to unsubscribe, and being offered a 50% off resubscription.
Today, in my email, an astonishing offer from the MercNews offering 2/3ds off for a print subscription.
Do we detect a sea-change?

Just wondering.