Hockey Playoffs Update

Red Wings:
The Wings won game 5 today 5-1, giving them a 3-2 lead in the series! Game 6 is tomorrow in Calgary. The home team has won every game so far, so the Wings will try to change that tomorrow! I was disgusted by Calgary's dirty play at the end of the game today once the game was out of their reach, including the backup goalie swinging his stick like a baseball bat into one of our players and another one of their players cold-cocking one of our guys in the face. What a bunch of thugs. GO WINGS!


Griffins:
The Griffs won tonight too 4-1, tying their series with Manitoba at 1-1. Now we have 3 games at home this week (Mon, Wed, Fri), so I'm looking forward to some exciting playoff action. If anyone wants to tag along to a game just let me know, as there will be plenty of tickets. GO GRIFFS!

GO WINGS AND GRIFFINS!

Least surprising scientific study results of the year

Abstinence-Only programs don't work

"A long-awaited national study has concluded that abstinence-only sex education, a cornerstone of the Bush administration's social agenda, does not keep teenagers from having sex..."

I feel so much safer now

I can't help but think of the Simpsons episode where the dolphins took over the world...

Navy shows off anti-terror dolphins

Congrats National Champion Spartans!

The Michigan State University hockey team just won the national championship game 3-1 in a come-from-behind victory over favored Boston College! GO SPARTANS! Incidentally, a Red Wings prospect (and future Griffin?), Justin Abdelkader, got the game winning goal for the Spartans.

Game recap from ESPN.com

12 Angry Lindseys

Bah! I just got summoned for jury duty! Now if this had happened in say October it would only be a mild inconvenience. However, my date is right in the middle of field season and while I could probably spend half a day at the court house, I CANNOT actually get put on a jury during field season. At least not and still be able to graduate. There's something on the form about asking for a deferral or excusal or whatever. Has anyone had to do this before? Any tips on getting out of it (or at least getting them to move my date to after field season is over)?

More memes

From Tina's blog

Surprise surprise...

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Science/Math Nerd (Absolute Insane Laughter as you pour toxic chemicals into a foaming tub of death!) Well, maybe you aren't this extreme, but you're in league with the crazy scientists/mathmeticians of today. Very few people have the talent of math and science is something takes a lot of brains as well. Thank whosever God you worship, or don't worship, so thank no deity whatsoever in your case, for you people! Most of us would have died off without your help.
Drama Nerd
Social Nerd
Literature Nerd
Musician
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Anime Nerd
Artistic Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Hmm ok...




Which of Henry VIII's wives are you?
this quiz was made by Lori Fury

Movie meme

From Nancy's blog...

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Star Wars (all 3 originals)

2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.
Lord of the Rings (all 3)

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Johnny Depp

4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Any of the Wayans brothers

5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Clue, The Princess Bride

6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Phantom of the Opera, several animated Disney movies (Beauty and the Beast, the Lion King, Aladdin...I had the soundtracks when I was a kid!)

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
See above

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
Dogma

9. Name a movie that you own.
Gattaca

10.Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Will Smith

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in?
No

12. Ever made out in a movie?
No

13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't yet gotten around to it.
The Godfather

14. Ever walked out of a movie?
No

15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
Forrest Gump

16. Popcorn?
I prefer something sweeter.

17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
In the summer (when good movies are coming out) probably every other week. Only every three to four months in the winter.

18. What's the last movie you saw in the theater?
The newest James Bond movie (It has been a while!)

19. What's your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Sci Fi/Fantasy/Action Adventure

20. What's the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
The Little Mermaid

21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
Scary Movie

22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
Moulin Rouge

23. What is the scariest movie you've seen?
Silence of the Lambs (I don't watch many scary movies.)

24. What is the funniest movie you've seen?
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Happy 10th Anniversary!

It's been 10 years since one of the most memorable hockey games in my lifetime. "[N]ine fights, 11 goals, 39 penalties, 148 penalty minutes, one hat trick, one "turtle" and two Stanley Cup champion goalies duking it out in an overtime thriller." It fueled the flames of a great rivalry and launched the Wing into their `97 Stanley Cup run (and also Cups in `98 and `02).

Happy anniversary to Red Wings, Avalanche
by Thomas Neumann

Lets go Red Wings!

I heart Joss Whedon

The Legacy of Joss Whedon
by Anthony Letizia

Ten years ago, on March 10, 1997, the cult television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered on the now-defunct network The WB. Based on a unsuccessful motion picture of the same name, no one gave the show much of a chance at the time, especially since no one was giving The WB much of a chance to begin with. But succeed it did, for seven seasons, in many ways changing the television landscape — and for the better — in the process... (click on link above for more!)

Favorite non-Simpson?

Coolest Non-Simpson 'Simpsons' Characters

My favorites from this list are Sideshow Bob, Kodos, and Mr. Burns. I'd also add Ralph and Duffman, although they didn't make this particular list.

An Epic Journey

Okay, maybe not epic, but I still had a heck of a time getting home from Rochester on Monday!

For those interested, here are the details:

For reference, it took me 8 hours to get to Rochester when I went out there on Saturday. (It would have been 7 1/2 but I spent a little more time at the border than I was planning on.)

On Monday, I left Rochester at 11:30 AM. The roads were clear, the weather was good. I made it about 20 minutes down I-90 and suddenly ran into completely stopped traffic:

I didn't think this was so bad at first, I mean sometimes you have traffic jams. However, 1 hour and 45 minutes later when I was still sitting in park in exactly the same spot, I felt a little more unhappy about it. However, I did do every single puzzle on the puzzle page of the USA Today that my hotel had given me that morning. Finally, after almost 2 hours traffic got moving. I finally found out what had caused the highway to be completely closed for almost 2 hours:

It was an accident that occurred during a whiteout involving 14 semi-trucks. You can see some of them in this picture on both sides of the road. Remember, this is 2 hours after the accident happened. However, after I got past this accident things went smoothly. There was no wait at all at the border, and in Canada I had about 2 hours of driving where it was even sunny. However, once I got on 403 going inland I met a familiar sight:

This time the car in front of me has an Ontario license plate! Yes, once again a highway was closed because of an accident. This time, they directed everyone off the highway (which took over an hour for me to get to the exit.) So, I was in the-middle-of-nowhere Canada with no idea where to go and the highway closed. So, I improvised. I had a guy from Ontario following me (and I have a Michigan license plate so I obviously didn't know where I was going so I have no idea why he was following me) and together the 2 of us wandered around the back roads for several miles until I finally found my way back to the highway, where it was open! My Ontario friend gave me a triumphant wave as we got back on the highway and moving. Our enthusiasm was short-lived, however:

We had only gone maybe 2 miles (~4 km, since we were in Canada eh) and right where 403 joins 401 we had traffic at a dead stop again. Yes, for the 3rd time on my trip home my highway was closed because of an accident resulting from a whiteout! Then I spent 2 hours sitting on 401. (The pic above is the view behind me from my side mirror.) I went a total of about 1 mile in those 2 hours and finally got to the exit where they were once again kicking everyone off. Luckily there was a truck stop by this exit, (although it was basically chaos because EVERYONE was stopping there,) but I did get to pee and get gas. Then, as I was coming back out to my car trying to decide what to do next, I noticed a heavenly sight: cars were moving on 401 again! I hurried back on the newly re-opened highway and headed for Michigan.

Unfortunately, the whiteouts were not done, and I had to go 25-45 mph for about 60 miles to try to avoid becoming another whiteout accident myself. Then, about 10 miles from the border, it totally cleared up! Michigan welcomed me home! I still had to get all the way across the state, so I didn't actually make it home until 1 AM. So my trip turned into a 13 1/2 hour ordeal. The lesson: uh...it sucks when they close the highway you are traveling on, but it sucks more when they do it to you three times in one day. Thats about all I got from it. Oh and when you are on a road trip, make sure you pee and eat when you get a chance, cuz you never know when you will have to sit in park on the highway for hours.

The Madness of March

McDonalds directly on my way home from campus + Shamrock Shake Season = INEVITABLE!


Actually I've already had 3!

I even got Tom to try one today. The even scarier thing is that I'm about to go on a road trip where I'll actually have to stop at fast food places anyway. Now might be a good time to buy stock in McDonalds! ;-)

In other news:

March certainly had that "in like a lion" thing down today. We had thunder and lightning, rain, freezing rain, sleet, hail, and snow. Here's hoping it means that during nest boxing time at the end of the month the weather will be lamb-like.

My birdfeeder count:
~Junco
~Goldfinch
~Black capped chickadee
~Tufted titmouse
~Nuthatch
~Cardinal

It's about time!

Women players to earn equal pay at Wimbledon

Ummm...

Another chocolate is good for your brain article.

Katie, what are the chances of getting another chocolate order in? :-)

Amazing Race!

In honor of Amazing Race Allstars starting tonight (8 PM, CBS) I was thinking about my all-time favorite TV shows:

Drama:
1. West Wing
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Buffy
4. Veronica Mars
5. (tie) Lost (the first season) & Firefly (which I only saw after it was canceled)

Comedy:
1. Simpsons
2. Colbert Report
3. Scrubs
4. Arrested Development
5. Seinfeld

Reality/Game show:
1. The Amazing Race
2. Jeopardy
3. Flip This/That House, Property Ladder
4. Iron Chef

Comments? Additions? Deletions? Cries of rage?

C-c-c-c-old!

I got home from the office this afternoon and thought...hmmm it feels cold in here, I think I should turn up the heat. I went to go check the thermostat. It was 58 degrees. (The thermostat was set at 68.) I called maintenance. The guy came and made loud noises in the basement. He went back out, got in his truck, and left. Bad sign. I bundled up. He returned later, made more noises, and finally I heard the heater starting! Good sign! The house got warm again.

I went to a hockey game. The Griffins won! I got home and thought...hmmm it feels cold in here. Bad sign. I went to go check the thermostat. It was 48 degrees. BAD SIGN. I called maintenance. He told me to try turning the switch on the furnace on and off. (Isn't that what you do to your computer when you don't know what is wrong with it and don't know what else to do?) I turned the switch on and off. The furnace started. Good sign? The house is finally almost warm. I just took my coat off two hours after getting home.

It is 7 degrees outside. If I don't ever post again it may be because the heater died again and I froze in my sleep. :(

Did I mention I'm hosting a party tomorrow night? I'm sure my guests won't mind if the house is 48 degrees...

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Winter is here with a vengeance! I think it is trying to get back at us. It is saying "I know you managed to keep me away for longer than usual this year...you had a green Christmas, it was 40 degrees and sunny in the middle of January, but I finally managed to get here and now you are going to pay!!!" We have a blizzard warning today and they have already canceled the home Griffins game that was tonight. DARN YOU WINTER! MESSING WITH MY HOCKEY!!!! And it doesn't look like it will get any better soon. High temperatures are forecasted to be in the single digit with continuing snow for a while. I know that the groundhog didn't see his shadow, but I have trouble believing spring is right around to corner!

So, since I don't have a hockey game to go to anymore tonight, I have time for one of my sporadic updates about what is going on in my life:

I went to the MOST AWESOME TALK EVER at MSU on Wednesday night. Jorge Cham, the author of PhD (Piled Higher and Deeper) comics came to MSU!!!! (Check out the link under the "links" list to the right. Also check out my photo-a-day site for a picture of Katie W and me with Jorge afterwards!!!!) His talk was amazingly funny! It was basically a survival guide to grad school. Everything he said had us rolling in the aisles because it was so funny and so completely and perfectly true. He really helped us realize that we are not alone in the unique struggles that grad students face. I was reminded not to give in the to guilt of how there is always something I should be doing, that procrastination is a good coping mechanism, and that no one is ever really happy with their thesis, so I shouldn't be putting so much pressure on myself. (Oh also that F=ma. You don't argue with F=ma!) And I laughed harder than I have laughed in years.

And...on a related note, I gave a talk at KBS about my research on Friday. All of us grads are required to do this each spring. My talk went well and I got some good positive feedback. Also I've very happy that I'm done with it! To celebrate, Katie W stayed overnight and we had a great time hanging out, playing games with our friends (the hat game and doko...I lost doko like usual but was MVP of that hat game...where the East Coast babies beat the West Coast babies twice in a row!), and then veging and watching movies today. And playing with Isis of course, who betrayed me and slept with Katie like usual!

It has been a busy but good week, and I'm looking forward to watching DA BEARS take down the Colts tomorrow!

Picture-a-day 2007

My picture-a-day pictures are up! Email me or comment here if you would like me to send you the link.

Let me just say that Shutterfly and Flickr suck! I tried them both first, but Picasa (Google's photo thingy) is the way to go if you are putting pictures up online! It is leaps and bounds ahead of the others imho. (And I'm not just saying that because I blog on Google's blog thingy! Notice I tried the other 2 first before I even got to Picasa. The first two just didn't satisfy me!) :-)

Get out of the way Isis, I'm trying to take a picture of the cardinal!

I realize that I haven't blogged in a long time. So what's new with me lately?

I finally got some cardinals at my bird feeder! However, as you can tell from the photo above, my efforts to document this fact photographically have so far been fruitless.
My extensive, tremendous species list for this winter now sits at 4:
~Black capped chickadee (2)
~Tufted titmous (2)
~Nuthatch (1)
~Cardinal (3)
All 8 of these birds show up every day. They are going through my seed like crazy!

I have been teaching this semester, and so far it is going very well. I have really missed having this sense of meaning to my weeks. The downside of course is that I am really busy (hence the lack of blogging.)

I'm giving a talk about my research plans for the summer in 2 weeks, so I guess I better figure out what those plans are soon eh?

I'm also working on getting my photo-a-day photos online. Hopefully I will have them up soon.

Comment grab bag

Happy New Year!

Sports comments:

I just watched the ceremony by the Red Wings to retire Steve Yzerman's #19. Stevie Y was the best leader ever in hockey. He was a great captain, player, and person. He is the ultimate example of a humble, decent, and classy athlete.

The Griffins played two amazing games at home this past weekend. Each of our goalies recorded a shutout against the #2 team (Hamilton, 2-0 shutout by Liv) and the #1 team (Rochester, 3-0 shutout by Jimmie Howard) in the division. In addition to solid goaltending, our team defense and motivation actually showed up! The Griffins have been really streaky this year (with exactly a .500 record right now) but if they play like they are capable of this may be a good year after all!

Headline on ESPN.com: "Lions to keep prez Millen despite continuous losing". The losing has technically not actually been continuous, it just feels that way.

The Lions couldn't even lose when they are supposed to! With their upset win against Dallas on Sunday, they lost the #1 draft pick. (Although, see previous comment for why it wouldn't have mattered anyway.)

And I don't even want to bring up the Rose Bowl... :(

Non-sports comment:

I am going to (at least attempt) a photo-a-day project for 2007. Once I get a few more I'll post a link. Does anyone know of a good photo-hosting website for me to use? The only one I know of is Shutterfly, which I'm just figuring out how to use and I'm not sure if I like it.