Again?

There's snow in the forecast this weekend. I get the feeling like the jet stream is playing an overly elaborate prank on all of us. Like Allen Funt is going to drop out of the clouds and start laughing at us in a few weeks...

Thurs-Demo: The one that runs on batteries

Today's demo is pretty short and sweet:

The Surface Charge of Colloidal Soil Particles from Matt Kuchta on Vimeo.

The idea was modified from Ray Weil's textbook, Laboratory Manual for Introductory Soils (2009). I thought it was a great way to show off the net surface charge of soil particles - I just adjusted the demos optics in terms of wire and battery hookup.

If you think about it, there are lots of other fun things you can do with a 9V battery and an organic suspension...

A Preview

I've been testing a few ideas for tomorrow's demo video. In the process, I did something weird to Yerba Mate:

Sigh

Our public radio station had someone talking about the health virtues of eating fish. With no distinction about what fish are being over-harvested or how farm-raised fish can be worse (or better in some cases).

Last night the national news reported the findings of a study that suggested a link between working overtime and declining health. Followed by a news release (more of a corporate press release, really) that McDonald's was hiring thousands of new workers. Many of these positions would be - wait for it - at restaurants open 24 hrs a day. So they need people to work the graveyard shifts.

At some point I would like the news to point out that while X may be healthy for us, the methods we go about achieving it may have negative impacts on our immediate and large-scale environment. I'm all for eating healthy. But if the only way to achieve these health benefits is to walk out on the ice and club a dodo, I think I'll pass.

Our economy is creating jobs. But these are servile and low-wage positions. Want a job? Do everything you can to get hired - but don't work overtime: it's bad for your health (maybe)...

Compare and Contrast

Look at last week. Compare it to this week. There will probably be a big difference, as April seems to be the month where everything has to get finished. Posting may be light this week. Or it might come in a flurry towards the end of the week as I slowly lose my mind...

The Periodic Table

It's called the "Periodic" Table because it is sometimes a chair.