web-goddess

Scientists are learning more about how Charlotte‘s children flew away. That’s neat.

Pop Quiz: Which American state, according to the Department of Homeland Security, has the most potential terrorist targets?Answer: Indiana. That’s so weird and incorrect. Although if the Essenhaus gets blown up, the terrorists really will have won.

The Snook likes to do crossword puzzles, and he’s long held the opinion that Sudoku is an inferior form of entertainment. Crosswords rely on knowledge and lateral thinking; Sudoku seems to just rely on logic and brute force. In fact, he’s long suspected that there’s a mechanical method or algorithm to solving Sudoku that doesn’t use any brain power at all. Turns out he was right!

Because there was some confusion at work today, let me clear this up: I do not have gastroenteritis. I (probably) have gastritis, which is something different. Gastro is a stomach flu that lasts a few days. Gastritis can be chronic and may or may not have an ulcer involved. And now you know.

Beer Bottle Bricks. Huh. These would have solved a lot of the Snook’s homebrew storage problems!

Happy birthday to my little sister, who is celebrating her 27th birthday today. It’s also the last birthday she’ll ever have without also being a Mom. (That is so weird.) I’ve arranged a little surprise for her…

Later: Success! Three half-gallons of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream were just delivered to her office… courtesy of a completely random person on the Internet. It all started last week when I decided that my sister needed something sweet for her birthday. Being thwarted in my attempts to order online, I turned to AskMetaFilter. Amongst the suggestions of (expensive) ice cream delivery companies, a lovely person called FuzzyVerde volunteered to do the delivery herself. She even got a festive cooler with ice in case Amy didn’t have freezer space at work. My sister loved it. Is this a heartwarming story or what? Thanks, FuzzyVerde!

Even later: Now I’ve got all MetaFilter talking about random acts of kindness…

Differential diagnosis… I have a suspected case of gastritis. I’ve got a prescription for super antacid and a proscription from spicy foods, ibuprofen, and alcohol. But on the upside – I’m definitely not pregnant!

Sydney by Night. Whoa. (Link courtesy of the Snook, who adds: “Zoom in all the way and you can even see people eating in Aria.”)

We are officially booked in for lunch at Melbourne’s Flower Drum on the 22nd, and I am getting excited. (Thanks to Michael for the suggestion!)

10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage Will Ruin Society. My favorite is #5: “Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.”