Category: Random News

Science textbooks for modern kids

dad’s books didn’t have this many pictures. I mean, who wouldn’t want to learn about Molecular Biology from a dancing pixie fairy type girl. The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology (Manga Guide to Science) [caption id="attachment_2638" align="alignright" width="222" caption="Learn about DNA from pixie fairies."]lrg[/caption]

 

Rin and Ami have been skipping molecular biology class all semester, and Professor Moro has had enough-he’s sentencing them to summer school on his private island. But they’re in store for a special lesson. Using Dr. Moro’s virtual reality machine to travel inside the human body, they’ll get a close-up look at the fascinating world of molecular biology. Join them in The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology, and learn all about DNA, RNA, proteins, amino acids, and more. Along the way, you’ll see chemical reactions first-hand and meet entertaining characters like Enzyme Man and Drinkzilla, who show how the liver metabolizes alcohol. Together with Ami and Rin, you’ll learn all about:
  • The organelles and proteins inside cells, and how they support cellular functions
  • The processes of transcription and translation, and your genes’ role in synthesizing proteins
  • The pieces that make up our genetic code, like nucleotides, codons, introns, and exons
  • The processes of DNA replication, mitosis and cytokinesis
  • Genetic technology like transduction and cloning, and the role of molecular biology in medicine
Whether you need a molecular biology refresher or you’re just fascinated by the science of life, The Manga Guide to Molecular Biology will give you a uniquely fun and informative introduction.   And when you are done with that, check out:  The Manga Guide to Calculus I might actually buy one just for the heck of it, given that I slept through most of my math classes in school.
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Explaining the stupidity of people to a three year old

[/caption] We were out for our morning drive sanity hour for the nanny today when I heard the air raid siren of the volunteer fire department in Dunkirk MD.  As we were just a few blocks away from the station, I drove over with the kids so they could see the doors open and fire trucks come out for a call. While parked across the street, I flipped on the Calvert Fire Department scanner channel on my iPhone and listened into the call. “Ambulance 59, Engine 51, respond to the medical” “What is it daddy?” my son asked. “Someone had an accident” I replied. “An accident with cars?” “I don’t know.” Then the scanner came on again.  “See the man for lacerations to the leg with a chainsaw” “What did he say daddy?” “I’m not sure” The scanner crackled “Police are responding as address has a long history of domestic violence and general disturbance calls, just in case.” “What did he say daddy?  Is it a fire?” “No, just someone being bad playing with toys he is not supposed to be playing with” was all I could think of. “Someone was a bad boy” said my son. “I think you’re right” I replied as we drove toward home. It’s a strange world…]]>

Is Turkey Frying healthy?

I honestly don’t know, but at the local gas and sip I came across these huge bottles of oil for turkey frying ($24.99 in case you are wondering).  It was about 4.5 gallons worth of oil, but what really struck me was the “Nutrition Facts” on the side of the box. Serving size:  1 Tablespoon Servings per container:  1,134 Total Fat per serving:   22% of the Recommended Daily Allowance Total Fat in this monstrosity?  250 days worth of fat… Yuck IMG_0544]]>

Thiomersal (thermisol) in H1N1 vaccines, the silly debate.

Thermisol. Thermisol is composed of 49% ethylmercury (please note:  ethyl mercury) In 1997, the EPA / FDA / WHO, etc were looking at the effects of mercury on individuals, such as those injured in industrial spills or those who consume too much seafood.  Methyl mercury (please note:  Methyl mercury) was considered harmful if an individual consumed too much of it or was exposed to it for too long.  A set of guidelines was established as to what constituted a suspect amount of methyl mercury. The FDA then took a look at ‘mercury’ in general that was in childhood vacinations.  Since they didn’t have any good data on ethyl mercury, they decide to apply the standards that were just developed for methyl mercury to childhood vaccines. The FDA found that: Given the normal amount of vaccinations for children under six months, …using the vaccines w/ preservatives at that time, …applying the standards for methyl mercury (a different type of mercury than what was actually in Thermisol), …in certain kids at a certain weight, there might be an accumulation of mercury over the guidelines recently established for methyl mercury (eventhough, again, Thermisol has ethyl mercury). As a result, the FDA worked with the drug companies to remove things like Thermisol from vaccines if at all possible, erring on the side of caution and playing it conservative, just in case. And then the theories began…. Thiomersal became the cause of autism, the reason to avoid all shots whatsoever.  Despite the efforts of many scientists and ZERO studies that have indicated a link, the idiots continue to scream holy murder from vaccinations.  In fact, the continued harping about Thiomersal has led some autism leaders to feel that discovering the real cause and gaining a real understanding of autism is being needlessly delayed by all the hype about vaccinations.  Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carey and Robert Kennedy Jr. have been leading a celebrity parade against vaccinations which, sadly, some people are listening to. Anyway, I got the family the H1N1 shots this weekend.  I didn’t even bother to ask if the vaccine was Thiomersal free or not, despite so many messageboards erupting in debates about the preservative.   I later looked it up and it probably was but I can’t really be sure unless I trace the lot number .   I’m kind of thinking it’s almost beneath my dignity to even follow up and find out. Get your flu shot.]]>

Books on my nightstand at this moment. This is silly.

Ok, I need to finish some of these before buying new ones. And guess what? Amazon just sent me a $30 gift certificate for some reason. Maybe I’ll use it on a bookcase.

Ok, this is just silly. I’m taking some of these back downstairs to the library. There are easily 5 more in here and I’m tired of making all these links.

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Book Giveaway–The Girl who Played with Fire

Stieg Larsson‘s first book the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I was patiently awaiting his next book, the Girl Who Played with Fire.  Of course waiting isn’t exactly the right term as it’s been ‘done’ for a few years now, it was just a matter of waiting for the translation to be completed.  Luckily, by the power of the net, I was ‘found’ by Alred Knopf’s marketing team which has sent me a free copy of the book to giveaway to my vast and illiterate mass of readers. So I’ll have a competition.  Post your answers below and I’ll pick from the correct responses: 1) How many Ikeas are in there in the world? 2) Who invented Swedish Fish (and why)?  You can make up the second bit. 3) What was the score in the 1980 US-Sweden gold medal hockey game? Ok, that’s enough.  Just post a comment and I’ll send it to one of you. Oh, bonus:  if you want a temporary Dragon tattoo just email me your address and I’ll mail you a bunch.  I probably have about 30 of them from the marketing team at A. Knopf. ]]>