We Don't Smell » Science

Economics is fun!

Clarence — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 07:08:48 +0000

Economics is fun. I swear. Take it from a real-life Economics PhD:

Economics is the only field I know of that’s unclear whether or not it’s a mathematical science or a social science. Half of economists think they’re mathematicians but only know how to take derivatives and set them to zero. The other half swear economics has nothing to do with numbers and is all about concepts and human desire.

I just started Freakonomics by Steven Levitt, an award-winning economist who’s afraid of calculus. In the first few pages, he manages to prove that the monumental decrease in violent crime that took place in the late 90’s was due to the legalization of abortion in 1973 via Roe v. Wade.

If that isn’t some bullshit, I don’t know what is. No wonder I was able to fake my way though the major.

PS – If you want to know how Roe v. Wade caused the biggest drop in crime in recorded history, leave a comment, email me, or pick up your own copy you cheap bastard.

Tagged: Stand-up Economist, Economics, Freaknomics, Abortion, Roe v. Wade

Weekend Leftovers

Clarence — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:26:02 +0000

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Robotics are freaking scary! It’s only a matter of time before we’re replaced by robots — or at least an army of Albert Einsteins with freakishly real facial expressions.
A robot could never replace Ari Gold, though.
Some Napoleon Dynamite fanboy used Google maps and mapped out every location from the movie.
We need more clever marketers like these in the advertising world.
A maxi pad is mistaken for a fetus. Looks like somebody failed Bio 101.
Kung Fu vs. Yoga. ‘Nuff said.
FYI: big SUV’s not allowed on the Brooklyn Bridge.
…and the list of top 100 wikipedia searches this month.

That’s all folks! Except for the nasty weather, we had a great weekend. We hope you did too!

Tagged: Albert Einstien, Robots, Ari Gold, Entourage, Napoleon Dynamite, Clever Ads, Maxi Pads, Kung Fu, Yoga, Brooklyn Bridge, Wikipedia

But what about Neptune?

Clarence — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:10:40 +0000

I was thinking about yesterday’s post about Pluto. The main reason it doesn’t qualify to be a planet is that it doesn’t “clear the neighborhood around its orbit.” Pluto’s oblong orbit overlaps Neptunes.

Now here’s the question: If Pluto overlaps Neptune’s orbit, doesn’t that, in turn, mean that Neptune overlaps Pluto’s? Who says Pluto overlaps Neptune’s and not the other way around. Shouldn’t the aforementioned rule disqualify both planets then? Apparently, Neptune didn’t “clear the neighborhood around its orbit” either, or Pluto would’ve been banished to it’s own orbit.

Come on guys, it’s the law of syllogism (or something like that). Someone answer this for me.

Tagged: Neptune, Pluto, Planets, Astronomy, Law of Syllogism

Pluto is no longer a planet

Clarence — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:30:01 +0000

The International Astronomical Union declared today that Pluto is no longer a planet. From the AP:

For now, membership [of the planets] will be restricted to the eight ”classical” planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Much-maligned Pluto doesn’t make the grade under the new rules for a planet: ”a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a … nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.”

Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune’s.

Instead, it will be reclassified in a new category of ”dwarf planets,” similar to what long have been termed ”minor planets.” The definition also lays out a third class of lesser objects that orbit the sun — ‘’small solar system bodies,” a term that will apply to numerous asteroids, comets and other natural satellites.

Poor Pluto, stripped of it’s title — now it’s just another piece of crap floating in space. But how are elementary school kids going to remember their planets now? “My Very Elegant Mother Just Served Us Nine Pies” just doesn’t work anymore. Two suggestions I’ve seen are, “My Very Evasive Mouse Just Scares Us Now” and “Man, very erroneous! Moronic jerks shouldn’t uninclude neat Pluto.“

Do you have any suggestions? Leave some in the comments.

via NY Times

Tagged: Astronomy, Planets, Pluto, Mnemonic Devices

The Five-Second Rule really a Rule

Clarence — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 20:52:20 +0000

We’ve all done it before: drop a delicious morsel of food meant to be eaten. What do you do? Do you just watch it sit on the ground and cry? No! You rush to pick it up and exclaim, “FIVE SECOND RULE!” and then blissfully pop it into your mouth.

Why do we do this? Do we really think it’s clean if it’s been on the floor for less than five seconds? Probably not. We do it because we want to eat that damn piece of food, and we didn’t want it to go to waste. However, a new study has shown that the five second rule isn’t just a myth:

Researchers at the University of Illinois say the so-called “5-Second Rule” isn’t a myth. They say when you drop food on the floor, it’s still safe to eat if you pick it up within five seconds.

That’s because it takes at least that long for germs to devour dropped food. Sticky food though, will pick up bacteria faster than dry food.

They say that with sticky or wet food or food fallen on a carpet, all bets are off. But it’s good to know I can eat that potato chip that fell on the kitchen floor.

Â» via Waff

Tagged: Food, Five Second Rule

The ‘Perfect Ass’ Equation

Clarence — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 01:39:35 +0000

(S+C) x (B+F)/T = V is the formula that describes the “ideal female ass” in shape, bounce, firmness and symmetry, according to psychology lecturer David Holmes of Manchester Metropolitan University in England:

S is the overall shape or droopiness of the bottom, C represents how spherical the buttocks are, B measures muscular wobble or bounce, while F records the firmness. V is the hip to waist ratio, or symmetry of the bottom, and T measures the skin texture and presence of cellulite.

And you thought math wasn’t good for anything.

Read Article [Sunday Times] via BoingBoing

Tagged: Math, Butts

Happy face on Mars

Clarence — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:13:11 +0000

It looks like there is, in fact, intelligent life on Mars. And they’re laughing at us. The Mars Express spacecraft has taken pictures of the Galle Crater, an impact crater located on the eastern rim of the Argyre Planitia impact basin on Mars, and it looks suspiciously like a happy face.

Those damn happy martians. (Click thumbnail for full view)

Read Article with more pictures [ESA]

Tagged: Mars, Science

Disney climbs Everest

Clarence — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:50:18 +0000

I saw this on BoingBoing and thought it was cool. Can you imagine that in only 2 months, one small research team was able to discover that many new (and interesting) species? Makes you wonder what else is out there.

A research team from Conservation International and Disney’s Animal Kingdom spent two months surveying the animals and plants at several spots in the eastern Himalayas. The info they collected will be part of the educational components of Disney’s new Expedition Everest experience in Orlando. Here are some of the new species that the team discovered, as described on Conservation International’s Web site:

Giant hornets so deadly locals call them “Yak Killers”

A wingless grasshopper (Kingdonella sp.) that can withstand extremely low temperatures and communicates by gnashing its teeth.

A new beetle species that specializes in burying small bird and rodent carcasses into subterranean crypts to feed their offspring.

A new subspecies of small mammal known as the Qinghai vole (Microtus fuscus).

Up to three new frog species, eight new insects, and ten new species of ants.

Jumping “Yeti” mice

Baby blue-faced golden monkeys, the region’s largest primates

Hamster-like pikas that eat their own feces

Heh, pikachus have been found in the wild. And they eat their own poop. I bet they smell.

Link to Conservation International, Link to LiveScience.com article

Tagged: Disney, Everest, Science