How fast do animals shake to dry off?

This is a great story about animals shaking water off their fur. The video (no audio) gets technical in parts with Free Body Diagrams and equal force equations, but as an engineer, it was fascinating. Essentially the force needed to shake a drop of water out away from the body, has to be equal to the force of the shaking at the place where the drop is (obviously). What may not be so obvious is that bigger animals can shake slower compared to smaller animals, and the equations in the video explain why.... Check it out!

Scientists Reveal How Fast Dogs Must Shake To Dry Their Fur : The Two-Way : NPR

Artist Builds Edible World With 'Foodscapes'

Artist Builds Edible World With 'Foodscapes'

This is a man with an amazing talent. I don't quite get the "photograph" part of this though. It looks like he's using computer graphics to create the photos. The depth and flow of the photos is just too perfect to be photographs alone. But regardless, cool art form.

And in another note, while Josh is working towards his goal this week (freefoodhrim.blogspot.com), at least he can read this post and think about food.

Heather and Andrew's Wedding

Over the weekend of October 2, Crystal and I traveled to Boston to attend her cousin Heather's wedding.  She got married to Andrew, who we've been very close with for a few years now.  We're so happy for the two of them, and know they have years of happiness ahead of them.  Crystal and I had a wonderful time celebrating with each of their families, and it was over before we knew it.  Flying in on the red eye Friday morning, and leaving Sunday afternoon makes for a rushed weekend.  But again, the wedding was beautiful and it's always great seeing family.  Here are some pictures from the rehearsal dinner (Crystal was a bride's maid) and the wedding and reception.

 Me, Crystal, and Kenzie (Crystal's cousin) at the rehearsal dinner

 Crystal and me at the wedding

Crystal, Heather (bride, obviously), Tiffany (bride's sister, front left) and Kenzie 

Kenzie and Crystal at the wedding reception

The wedding cake was made by the bride's (and Crystal's) grandma.

Heather cutting the wedding cake 

Heather and Andrew... not quite sure why this ever became a thing a weddings!! 

Steven, Mom, Crystal, and me at the reception

Christmas Day Bomber Sentence

I just read this awesome court transcript of Judge William Young's scathing remarks to the Christmas Day Bomber (Richard Reid) at his sentencing after being found guilty of the crimes he was accused of. Read the whole thing, it's worthy.

"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive one with the other. That's 80 years. On Count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you on each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need not go any further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and a just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. Let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here. And I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court where we deal with individuals as individuals, and care for individuals as individuals, as human beings we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or that happens to be your view, you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not treat with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists.

We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You're a big fellow. But you're not that big. You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense Trooper Santiago had it right when first you were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were and you said you're no big deal.

You're no big deal.

What your counsel, what your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing.

And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you. But as I search this entire record it comes as close to understanding as I know. It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely.

It is for freedom's seek that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their, their representation of you before other judges. We care about it. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties.

Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow it will be forgotten. But this, however, will long endure. Here, in this courtroom, and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged, and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag still stands for freedom. You know it always will. Custody, Mr. Officer. Stand him down."

More Meat

Carnival Cruise Lines is experimenting with a "Steak Fee".  This means a guest ordering a steak dish will pay $18 and get a slice of hormone injected, antibiotic ridden beef.  Great deal!  Bon appetit!  Story here.

Also, here's a little more information regarding "mechanically separated poultry" (a.k.a pink slime).  Pink Slime Videos!  I knew ground beef, hot dogs, pepperoni, and sausages use this filler, but I didn't think of the chicken patty type foods.  Now I have.  Gross.

Sonoma's Weekend Agility

Over the weekend Sonoma competed in her first AKC agility trial in the Excellent division.