10-21-97

Hail,

I hadn't planned to do a Rambling update today, but I read something I just had to comment on.  If I can find other examples of situations like these, I will start a new section to my site.  The Spirit of Daria awards.  These will go out to those people who do something that strikes a chord in harmony with our favourite cartoon character.  Read on, and you'll see exactly what I mean...

Idaho Environmental "Science"

A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair.  He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science related to environmental issues.  In his project, the young student urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide."
And for plenty of good reasons, since it:

1.  can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
2.  is a major component in acid rain
3.  can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
4.  can kill you if you accidentally inhale it
5.  contributes to erosion
6.  decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
7.  has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients

He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.  Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that dihydrogen monoxide was... water.
The title of his prize-winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"

--The Federalist

Need I say more?

Wraith

10-18-97

Hail,

It's been a while since I've Rambled, so it's time for an update.

I'm still working on my other pages.  I'm really trying to get my graphic design skills up to a decent level, and html isn't being very cooperative.  And my job entails a certain amount of over-time work, since the best time to bug-hunt or update a network is when no-one is using it.  Never-the-less, my personal page and my Ultima Online page should be done sometime this month, which will enable me to use my (hopefully improved) design skills to this page.  Might as well get that done while we're stuck between seasons.

I've also decided to stop reading the message boards, at least until I get my pages taken care of.  I usually have an hour or so of catching up to do when I get home from work, even without the Daria boards, so unless someone can sell me a slice of next week at a bargain price, I've got too much else to do.

Now, the big news.  We have the first contest entry.  The rest of you better get a-working ;)  Whether or not it's any good (and no, I won't comment on it), it is now going to be the standard all the other stories are judged against.

Wraith