Housecleaning - links from days gone by (part 1)

Ok - these have just been collecting in a second browser window for weeks now - and I haven't had a chance to do anything w/ them.

So - here they are - while I am waiting for the clock to strike 2 across the country (so I can make sure all of the machines I am responsible for - have changed back to Standard time);

- Lego's - nothing your mother would approve of

- Pictures from outer space

- Pictures of the damage to Endeavor's tiles (from August's flight)

- France spy's satellites that don't exist

- The dark side - of a different moon

Is our currency changing?

[I never know the right way to title these things. I almost want to title the post w/ the premise, and then you are scratching your head trying to figure out what I am talking about - for a couple of screen's worth. But then it would be like 'Connections' in trying to figure out how what I am talking about relates to the Title].

Back in February, the latest attempt by the US Mint to release a Dollar coin - and get it accepted and used - started.

And in the space of a couple of weeks - it has had some major Quality Control issues.

What with some calling them the 'godless coin' because the phrase 'In God We Trust' is missing from the edge of these coins (that wasn't the only thing missing - so was the mint mark (that denotes the coin was struck in either Philly or Denver)).

And then there are the ones that apparently came out of Denver - missing anything on the front or back of the coin. But they got the edge info (the above missing 'In God We Trust' and the mint mark - hence knowing that they came out of Denver).

Why is the Mint fascinated by a Dollar coin? Well - based on the amount of money that the Mint has made on the State Quarters - they decided to take the next step. Make money? Yes - because the Mint is ahead of the game when people get these Quarters (and these Dollar coins), and just put them in piggy banks or coin albums. That money is affectively out of circulation. There is a term for it - but I just can't remember and/or find it at this point.

And there is always the debate that coins last longer than bills, but depending on the cost of metals - this isn't always true. The current surge in nickel (the raw material) prices actually means that the nickel's face value is less than the metals that are making it up (Remember - defacing - or melting US coins down - is still a crime).

I think the Mint needs to come up w/ a fancy slogan or term for the Dollar Coin. Because when everyone thinks of a Dollar - they think of a greenback (which is one of the few US bills that is still mostly green). The Canadian's were quite successful - I think it was unintended - by naming their 'dollar' coin the 'Looney' - based on the bird on the coin. And then they came out w/ a 2 'dollar' coin - which was termed a 'Tooney' (at least by my Canadian relatives - on my wife's side).

So what should we call this new US Dollar coin? How about the 'Geep'? Yeah - for 'Gold President'? Or should we give in to the call of our childhood, and call them Gold Pieces.... because the people in power now - are those of same people that enjoyed D&D when they were kids.

Quick Hit - How big?

I was chatting w/ a friend last night - and somehow the conversation got on to the relative size of different things. And I remembered seeing this site that had posted scale drawings of spaceships from different Sci Fi shows and Movies - so that once and for all - to help answer the question - that the USS Enterprise could or could not beat a Star Wars Star Destroyer.

I found where I had the link saved - and figured there might be others interested in it - so as my TGIF gift - here it is;

Starship Dimensions

I don't remember where I found it - it was probably some time killer that someone posted to Fark.

The Pool of Death

When you think of relief from high-heat, most people think of a swimming pool (right after the air conditioner - of course). Out here in Arizona, that was one of our requirements when we bought our house. It had to have a pool.

In some cases - a pool is like a boat. "A hole in the water where you pour money." And pour money you do. Chemicals (not just Chlorine), equipment repair (that one little plastic thingy is how much?!?!?), electricity and water. Every day - more water to replace that which has evaporated off in the previous day - more so when I deliberately turn on the water spray (to reduce the temperature of the water - I want to swim in something cooler than bath water).

After almost 2 years out here though - everything changed this summer. When my pool became the 'Pool of Death.' Within the space of 3 weeks - the pool had killed 4.

First an infant - who managed to get inside the pool fence (the State of Arizona mandates that pools have a safety fence/barrier around them) fell into the pool and drowned. I didn't find the body until at least a day later.

[For a desert - they take water safety out here seriously. California, Arizona and Florida lead the nation in drowning death's each year. When we first moved out here and actually cared enough about the local area to watch the local news everynight, it seemed that there was a drowning or near drowing every day that summer. If you have a pool and don't have the $$$ to put in a fence - there are programs set-up by several organizations that will give you a fence.]

Then about a week and a half later - it was an adolescent. Same thing - got into the pool and was unable to get out and eventually drowned.

A couple of days later - it was a pair of young ones. Have no idea how they got in, but neither came out alive.

Now - you would think that if 4 people had died in MY swimming pool - over the course of three weeks - it would have been national news and I would be investigated for why I allowed all of this to happen. But there has been no uproar, because while all of the deaths did happen - none of them were human. It was two birds (the first two) and two rabbit's (the second pair - together - never did figure this one out. Don't know if the first was trying to qualify for the Lifesaving merit badge or not - but he didn't pass :( )

But seriously - when I am in the pool w/ my 2 year old daughter - she is always within an arm's reach of an adult. ALWAYS. She is not allowed inside the pool fench without an adult - even though she has been taking swimming lessions for more than half her life now.

Stay cool this summer - and safe.