It took some mighty fine nets, but scientists who spent two years trawling the world's oceans for bacteria and viruses have completed the most thorough census ever of marine microbial life, revealing an astonishingly diverse and bizarre microscopic menagerie.

This is awesome. I have been waiting for the conclusion of this story since I read years ago that Craig Venter had started a new project in which he was sailing around the world in a boat collecting sea life. The paper is free to the public, so if you are at all interested, you should go and check it out. Just google PLoS Biology (which is the journal that the paper is in).

Seas Yield Surprising Catch of Unknown Genes - washingtonpost.com

So much time on their hands....

Geekologie - Legos playing Wii

As many as 8,000 gallons of a toxic solvent spilled into the Ohio River Wednesday after a barge hit an underwater dam, Coast Guard and Illinois state officials told CNN.

Um.....doh.

8,000 gallons of�toxic�chemicals�spill into Ohio River - CNN.com

wow...this looks yummy....except for the walnuts. Deadly deadly walnuts...

BLACKBERRY BROWN-SUGAR CAKE Recipe at Epicurious.com

Total lunar eclipse on March 3rd. Next Sat. We should be able to see it as the moon rises. I hope it isn't cloudy.

NASA - Eclipses During 2007

This paper describes a new concept in the way information can be protected at the molecular scale. By harnessing the principles of molecular Boolean logic, we have designed a molecular device that mimics the operation of an electronic keypad lock, e.g., a common security circuit used for numerous applications, in which access to an object or data is to be restricted to a limited number of persons. What distinguishes this lock from a simple molecular logic gate is the fact that its output signals are dependent not only on the proper combination of the inputs but also on the correct order by which these inputs are introduced. In other words, one needs to know the exact passwords that open this lock. The different password entries are coded by a combination of two chemical and one optical input signals, which can activate, separately, blue or green fluorescence output channels from pyrene or fluorescein fluorophores. The information in each channel is a single-bit light output signal that can be used to authorize a user, to verify authentication of a product, or to initiate a higher process. This development not only opens the way for a new class of molecular decision-making devices but also adds a new dimension of protection to existing defense technologies, such as cryptography and steganography, previously achieved with molecules.

Word

A Molecular Keypad Lock

Even though I wasn't invited (sniff), I still have to say that this is one of the most amazing wedding websites I've seen. The photography is amazing.

Congrats on your upcoming nuptials, Baudburn!

So beautiful!

Baudburn's upcoming wedding

You know, whether your view is that it was no big deal or a crime for Turner to put up those signs, you have to admit that the marketing worked BIG TIME. Everyone in the country now has heard about ATHF. I doubt they intended this marketing campaign to work quite this well:)

.....cant.....stop.....laughing. This is brilliant! My birthday is coming up too...hint hint

Mooninite Tee :: Adult Swim :: Raplica.com

Acidus asked me what my %225 things%22 are, and seeing as it can be used as a procrastination tool, I suppose I will try to whip something up.

1- I once marched in the Thanksgiving day parade. Someone called out %22who the f*** picked out those outfits?%22 when we passed by, because we were the colorguard, and thus wearing very bizarre outfits. I kind of agreed with the guy.

2- I had to replace a panel from the side of my car because in college some guy dented my car with his fraternity paddle. (He was mad at a friend of mine). You can still tell which panel, because it is much newer.

3- I want to be the lead singer of a punk chick band. I used to sing along a lot to the yeah yeah yeahs (thanks timball for introducing me) and pretend I was the lead singer (in private of course).

4- I have an extra set of nerves in my heart. They are much more efficient, and the beat can temporarily skip over to that set of nerves, thus making my heartbeat go from 70 beats a min to over 200 beats a min. To get rid of this, I will have to have a surgery where they take a probe to my heart from my leg, and zap the nerve to kill it. Fun:)

5- I really like stupid, sappy chick flicks (well most of them). I don't really know why. Its one of the very few %22girly%22 things I just like.

So there....and I didn't even have to use %22I was born in Canada%22 as one of them (since everyone knows that anyway...I didn't feel like it counted).

And now I get to go home. Yay.