Recently, Random's thoughts about his girl child's fourth birthday prompted me to muse about the passage of time.

Michele Catalano recently posted some similar thoughts of her own on the subject.

Last night, I found this video of a hilarious (but unaired) XBOX ad that really encapsulates the feeling I've been having recently. (Via New Links).

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I found a perfect Heinlein quote for the coming month, to mark the momentous Iraqi elections yesterday:

Democracy is a poor system; the only thing that can be said for it is that it's eight times as good as any other method. Its worst fault is that its leaders reflect their constituents--a low level, but what can you expect?

From Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land.

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This week's serving is the interesting, but ultimately unsuccessful, German WWII transport aircraft, the Arado Ar 232 Tausendfuessler "Tatzelwurm" (i.e., "Millipede").

It came in two variants, the Ar 232A, which was powered by 2 BMW 801 engines, and the Ar 232 B, powered by 4 BMW-Bramo 323 R-2 engines. The plane had a normal "tricycle" landing gear for landings on well-paved airfields. However, the landing gear could be "broken," to lower the plane onto the 22 belly wheels, from which the plane derived its nickname. This allowed the cargo ramp to be extended at a smaller angle from the rear of the cargo bay. The belly wheels also allowed for additional support when landing on rough surfaces. Amazingly, even when fully loaded with a 16-metric-ton cargo, the plane could take off in 200 meters (shorter with rocket-assisted takeoff).

Here's the "A" in flight:

A nice shot of the "Millipede" landing gear on an "A":

And a different view of the landing gear on a "B":

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I didn't really doubt that the Iraqis would vote in high numbers today, but it's nice to see the people of Iraq put the lie to the "vote and die" meme spread by the MSM and their hack political cartoonists.

Tim Blair seems to have the best roundup of links to positive and negative coverage. I like Scrappleface's take on the event, too.

Some faces of freedom in the extended entry:
more...

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Recently, a Texas lawmaker introduced a bill that would require Texas school districts to include the body mass index of pupils as part of their regular report cards.

I'm sorry, but parents should know if their kids are fat (or "husky") without the school districts telling them so. And, frankly, Texas schools have a lot more to worry about than the BMI of their students.

As to the irony (pointed out by Texan Munuvian Ilyka): check out the apparent BMI issues of the legislator (legislatrix?) who introduced the bill.

(This lady has also introduced a bill requiring development of lactation education programs for elementary and secondary schools' science curricula. Hello? Why do those kids need to learn about lactation in elementary school?).

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Graham at Point2Point points out this archive of colorful illustrations from the 1940s and 1950s. Looks like the kind of place where Lileks would feel right at home.

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Kathy the Cake Eater has a thoughtful and thought-provoking post on the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz today.

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Not entirely safe for work.

Via Dave Barry's blog, here's a recipe for Janet Jackson Breast Cupcakes.

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Today is [was?] Australia Day. Cheers to Alan, Pixy, Yobbo, and other friends down under. I hope you all enjoyed your lamb.

Update: Looks like Random beat me to the punch this morning. While I'm updating, I'll pass this along to Yobbo as an Australia Day gift.

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1 Gift giving isn't traditionally part of Australia day, (unless the gifts contain alcohol) but thanks nevertheless

Posted by: yobbo at January 27, 2005 11:19 PM (YPW3p)

2 Ta for the good wishes. FWIW we had traditional Oz tucker - roast pork with apple sauce and 3 veg, and a Pavlova for afters. Lamb's too expensive, it all goes to export these days.

Posted by: Alan E Brain at February 04, 2005 10:05 AM (W/EA3)

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Thanks to everyone who provided feedback to help nominate this week's candidates. To reward your participation, I am going to change the original terms of the poll a bit. Instead of limiting it to four candidates, this week's poll will be a five-way contest, to accommodate the candidates who received more than one recommendation.

Without further ado, this week's contestants:

Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown (portrayed by Nicola Bryant):

Leela (portrayed by Louise Jameson):

Romana II (portrayed by Lalla Ward):

Rose Tyler (portrayed by Billie Piper) - the newest sidekick, and one whose name seems to be a delightful play on "Tyler Rose," which Texans should recognize (since the town of Tyler, Texas is famous for its roses, which are often sold by drifters and cultists at various traffic intersections):

And last but far from least, Zoe (portrayed by Wendy Padbury):

Update: Welcome, Instapundit readers! Please feel free to make yourselves at home here. Please also check out some of the fine bloggers you may not be familiar with in my blogrolls to the right.

Be sure to check out the Gallery of previous SF Babe poll winners, and be assured that I am keeping track of your recommendations for future candidates. I update the poll weekly, and plan to have some "best of" polls pitting the winners against one another. The permanent link for the poll is http://texasbestgrok.mu.nu/index.php#SFBabePoll. Thanks!

Results (Posted 1 February 2005):

Peri - 62 of 318 votes (19%)
Leela - 107 of 318 votes (34%) WINNER
Romana II - 41 of 318 votes (13%)
Rose - 41 of 318 votes (13%)
Zoe - 67 of 318 votes (21%)

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Your Famous Blogger Twin is InstaPundit

Smart, well-informed, a true polymath Don't be surprised if your blogging brings you fame as well!

Funny thing is, I can't seem to attract that Instalanche.

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Pixy Misa, the benevolent dictator of Munuviana, wonders who would play the various denizens of Mu.Nu when they make the movie.

I see "Back to the Future"-era Christopher Lloyd as Pixy.

I can see John Goodman as Ted, as suggested by Jen Lars and Ted himself.

And speaking of Jen, I hope she doesn't take offense that I would see the "pre-political-ass" Janeane Garofalo portraying her.

Robert and Steve. Hmm... so many options here. Felix and Oscar? Lenny and Squiggy? Lloyd and Harry? Starsky and Hutch? You get the idea...

Random would be portrayed by the Atticus Finch version of Gregory Peck.

Kathy the Cake Eater (who would be portrayed by Helen Hunt per Robbo) thinks Dennis Quaid would play me, as Texans should play Texans. I like her idea, but there are many Texan actors in addition to Dennis to choose from. So, a quick poll. I'm really interested to see which of the following Texan actors you think would match my online persona, i.e., which of the faces goes with my online "voice":

Dennis Quaid
Owen Wilson
Bill Paxton
Tommy Lee Jones

I look forward to your answers.

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1 No offense to Janeane at all. I always thought she was cute, actually. And I'm voting for...Bill Paxton. If you were Dennis Quaid, I'd have to play myself so we could write in an affair to "Hollywoodize" things.

Posted by: Jennifer at January 24, 2005 10:30 PM (eRDZk)

2 Heh. I don't think Mrs. L. would approve of that story line...

Posted by: JohnL at January 24, 2005 10:52 PM (gplif)

3 I'm still going with the Dennis Quaid option. Although, if you threw McConaughey on that list, I might be forced to throw in a changeup.

Posted by: Kathy at January 24, 2005 11:03 PM (sQLe5)

4 That's funny. I almost included McConaughey on the list, but he's just too frikkin' weird (naked bongo drum dancing with another guy??) I included fellow Dallasite Owen Wilson for that offbeat option. (I like him and Paxton best of the options I presented).

Posted by: JohnL at January 24, 2005 11:05 PM (gplif)

5 Yeah, I understand where you're coming from with McConaughey. But still...Owen? His nose is just goofed to hell and back. Honestly. What's the point of living in Beverly Hills if you don't bother to get your nose fixed? It's like ignoring all the beggars in Calcutta: he's ruining the local economy! Unfortunately, I'm not really all that fond of Bill Paxton, so I can't go for that option or Tommy Lee Jones, either. Dennis is still the fave.

Posted by: Kathy at January 24, 2005 11:36 PM (sQLe5)

6 I guess I'm not thinking about looks quite as much as personality. I think the sardonic, laid-back styles of Owen and Bill fit my mental image of this site. YMMV, of course.

Posted by: JohnL at January 24, 2005 11:51 PM (gplif)

7 I was thinking more along the lines of Sofia Vergara for me. It does mean taking a few liberties with the script, but I think the end result will be worth it.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at January 25, 2005 02:16 AM (+S1Ft)

8 Would those script liberties be along the lines of The Crying Game or There's Something About Miriam?

Posted by: JohnL at January 25, 2005 08:05 AM (YVul2)

9 So we need to identify your voice. Hmm. An intelligent man who talks a lot about space, powerful flying machines, and women from outer space. Clearly Tommie Lee Jones from MIB. Either that or the Obnoxious Older Brother of Bill Paxton in Weird Science.

Posted by: owlish at January 25, 2005 09:04 AM (sBj9U)

10 Well, not only am I in good company, you picked a very flattering stand in for me! Thanks, John!

Posted by: RP at January 25, 2005 12:21 PM (LlPKh)

11 I've always thought Bill Paxton is hot.

Posted by: LeeAnn at January 25, 2005 04:04 PM (vqSdN)

12 You've never struck me as crusty enough to be Tommy Lee Jones, so I'm gonna go with Paxton too. Helen Hunt will be over in a wet t-shirt and sports bra directly.

Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at January 25, 2005 04:18 PM (UMVKj)

13 does anyone here think bill paxton and dennis quaid look alike? I mean, you can tell a difference but i still think they do. I guess the question is only relevant because they are both mentioned on here, and i have been to texas before...

Posted by: Cody at February 27, 2005 01:05 AM (Kvm4c)

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<sarcasm>

I'm sure this particular issue has not received the attention it properly deserves!

Write your congressmen!

Now!

I mean it!

Forward this to everyone in your address book!

I really, really mean it! This is so much more important than Kid Rock and Spongebob!

</sarcasm ends>

Via Rand Simberg, with whom I agree 100 percent on this.

I stopped using cursive in eighth grade. For quick notetaking I use a modified (and largely illegible to others) hybrid of print and script. Whenever I have tried to "fancy up" a thank you note by writing it in cursive, it looks like an eighth-grader's messy writing. Much better to print legibly than to adhere to a pointless old tradition.

I do almost all writing (including outlining and drafting, when applicable) on a keyboard these days. I occasionally plot out visual works (slideshows, web pages) with pen and ink, but do all content at the computer.

I say give the kids typing lessons for most of the time spent on cursive, and use just a small amount of time to teach them how to read cursive, which is still a valuable skill (the reading, that is). Let them learn it with calligraphy as an elective for occasional use. Otherwise, pitch it overboard.

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This week's serving is the V/STOL (vertical/short takeoff and landing) attack aircraft, the Harrier. The aircraft has an interesting developmental history, with inputs from France (original engine design), West Germany, the UK and US (explained in more detail here):

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Nothing much tonight. Lots to write about but no energy. The stress of the week has strangled my muse.

Here's a link to Michele, who came up with the idea of summarizing your favorite movie in exactly seven words -- no more, no less. At last count, she had well over 400 comments (2 by me).

My movie, in seven words:

Jail. Mission. Reunion. Concert. Car Chase. Jail.

Know which one it is?

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Via Crooked Timber, yet another reason (#957?) to love the Internet:

I'm not a huge fan of Wagner, but the Goethe Institute has prepared an interactive multimedia site covering his Ring of the Niebelungen. While aimed at youth, the site is quite rewarding (and presented in German or English).

I paged through some of the comic strip version in German and found it quite entertaining and interesting. This would definitely be a great resource for anyone seeking greater familiarity with the Ring, with the German language, or both.

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Indeed.

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Oh Lord, this is too funny (because it's so true). When I first ventured onto the 'net about 10 years ago, I hung out a lot on USENET (especially alt.music.yes and sci.space.policy). These descriptions could just as easily apply to bloggers as to discussion group members. Hmmm... I think I have an idea for a meme...

Via Utterly Boring.

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What a week so far. Science fair at school, and all that that implies. Two sets of petri dishes culturing household germs, cardboard presentation triptychs, color printer issuing reports: Problem - Hypothesis - Materials - Procedure - Results - Conclusion.

Meantime, we have the Cub Scout pinewood derby this weekend, so we are simultaneously engineering what we hope to be winning cars. The boys did all their own cutting, and a fair amount of painting (I've had to pitch in on some coats of paint during my lunch hour to make sure they are adequately done in time for Friday's check-in).

Unfortunately, all of this has been very boy-centric and our girl has been watching a lot of Barbie videos (ugh - better than Bratz, at least) and spending time occupying herself in her room. In fact, today my wife found her dancing - gyrating really - on her bed without a shirt on. When told to put on her shirt, she answered, "that's OK, I'm a boy!"

Ai yai yai. We all NEED the weekend to get here soon so we can get this craziness behind us.

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I coach my sons' recreational soccer teams. My daughter (age 5) played soccer for the first time in the Fall in a different rec league. A referee made a good call in one of her games that led to the other team's not getting a goal. At the end of the game, which they tied, the other team's coach was telling his little girls that it was all right, they won anyway, and the score was really one for his team, one for their opponents, and one for the ref.

Five year olds.

Ass.

Fortunately, most parents, coaches, and refs over the five years that I've been coaching have been very positive. They want the kids to learn to play and to play their best, but only as a means of having fun and getting some exercise. They have not been fanatical about winning or ashamed of losing.

So I'm glad to see that Hockey Canada has assembled a set of wonderful public service announcements to drive home the message that parents should be good sports.

If you've got a fast internet connection, check out the videos here.

The kids are watching. And they repeat what they see and hear.

(link via Bad Jocks).

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