Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez drama continues
The crazy drama that is Jelena continues, as rumors continue to swirl that Selena Gomez and her man, Justin Bieber, are on the rocks. But wait: Didn't these two just reunite earlier this week? Are they hanging out together over the Thanksgiving holiday, sharing some turkey and watching some football at their favorite restaurant, Hooters?
The tabloids are going positively berserk over the Bieber/Gomez story, and it's really hard to say what's going on. What this seems like to me is young love in the glare of the world spotlight. Anyone else think their teen relationship could've withstood that kind of pressure?
Let's have a quick recap of the Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez rumors as of late. First, they supposedly split up. Then, shortly afterward, they were spotted having dinner together at an Encino restaurant. Things reportedly got quite heated, and both Selena and Justin bolted. Supposedly, Selena then kept Justin from entering her gated community, and he sped off.
Oh, the drama! But wait a minute -- this is far from over. One tabloid report quotes a source as saying there was no restaurant fight, and that this power couple is working things out (or trying to). Selena is supposedly "embarrassed by all of this attention." I'm sure she's not happy that her very public relationship problems are, well, public, but let's think about this statement for just a second, shall we?
Selena Gomez is a star. She's been a star for quite a while. She's also been dating Justin Bieber for quite a while. By now, isn't she used to all the attention? I mean come *on* people, both Justin and Selena grew up in the glare of the paparazzi! I find it hard to believe that the biggest problem these two have is embarrassment over all of the attention.
Fans, what say you? Do you think Justin and Selena are trying to work things out, or are they past that point?
Haven: Both thrilling and funny
The past few years I began watching the Syfy television show Haven and am now quite addicted to it. It's based on Stephen King's The Colorado Kid and stars Emily Rose as Audrey Parker. An FBI agent with a unique past to say the least.
Several of the people of Haven are stricken with a supernatural or paranormal affliction called the troubles. It could be as simple as being able to be charismatic to the ability to bring back the dead. Audrey is the only person that is able to ease the troubled and help them maintain control.
Her past is inextricably linked to a woman named Lucy that was around during the kidnapping of the Colorado Kid. Lucy looked exactly like Parker and we find out actually is Parker. Every time the troubled come about Audrey comes to Haven with a different name and a different past and then leaves just as mysteriously as she arrived.
The Syfy Channel is in the middle of the third season and things seem to be coming to a head. There have been many revelations pertaining to Audrey, the Colorado Kid and Haven itself. According to the show, there are only a few weeks left before she leaves again and everyone is trying to figure out how to stop that.
Haven is one of Syfy's most popular shows and I can't see this story arc leaving after only three seasons. My guess is the end of this season will bring about just as many questions as answers. We may finally find out who Audrey Parker really is, but who knows where this will lead.
Debt doesn't have to rule you
There are many people out there whom are buried in debt and just can't seem to get out of it. Unless you are so completely overwhelmed with debt that you choose bankruptcy, there is always a way out. It may take time, but if you try and stick to it, then the debt will melt away.
The first step in deciding to end your debt is to find out exactly how much debt you owe. Your credit report is an excellent tool to assess this information because anyone that wants their money will likely put the info on your credit report.
Once you know how much you owe and to who, then you need to know exactly how much money is coming in. Take you revenues and add them up for the month. This includes all wages, bonuses, freelance money, etc. If it isn't regular steady money, then estimate it to the best of your ability.
Perhaps, the most important step to make a list of your total expenses for the month. This has to be realistic. Everything from your mortgage and car payment to your weekly trip to the frozen yogurt stand. Take all the necessary expenses, the ones that you need every month such as utilities, payments etc. and add them up. This is the bare minimum you need to pay. This does not include credit cards or other monetary loans.
You need to use the information to create a budget and set aside a specific amount for debt relief. Contact the creditors and work with them to create a plan. If they aren't willing to negotiate or if you still can't get out of debt, then bankruptcy may be your only option.
Christmas Peeps? Where will it end?
Ever since I was a kid there have been certain candies that were harbingers of the various holiday seasons. Candy canes were the first pepperminty signs of Christmas and Peeps lorded over the Easter candy aisle.
But, over the years, somehow the lines have been blurred, and while you don't see candy canes making appearances in the shapes of Easter eggs, it's a fair bet you'll find Peeps in snowmen's clothing. In fact, they've pretty much found their way into every holiday candy display all year round.
Now, I realize the change was purely business. Settling for one holiday doesn't make economic sense when you can make small adjustments in your products and work your way into other seasonal markets. Still, it feels like a betrayal to look down the holiday candy aisle and see those sugar-sprinkled gobs of marshmallowy deliciousness masquerading as snowmen and Christmas trees.
And then, as if that wasn't enough, they've started dabbling in other flavors too. It's not just sugar-flavored sugar anymore. They've also started making specialty Christmas peeps in Gingerbread, Sugar Cookie and Candy Cane flavors. WHAT?
My world was rocked when Peeps strayed from yellow birds to purple Easter bunnies, but this other holiday movement is starting to really shake me at my foundation. At the risk of sounding like an intolerant holiday candy bigot, I have to say I'm uncomfortable with the whole thing. What's next, Peeps? How do you sleep at night? Is there nothing sacred anymore?
Seasonal scented candles for the "others" on your list
I love Christmas, not just for the gorgeously adorned Christmas trees, cheery music and pretty twinkle lights, but for the scents of the season as well. Fragrances are as important to the ambiance of a holiday home as the décor. In fact, it's music and aromas people recall first when casting their memories back to childhood holidays. When I hear Elvis singing Blue Christmas, I immediately think of the way my mom's house smelled when she was baking apple pies for parties and get-togethers. Happy times.
When I'm shopping for family and close friends, I take great pride in choosing gifts very carefully to fit each and every one. I may spend weeks scanning stores, fliers and various sites online before finding the perfect thing for each person. To me, it's a ton of fun, and makes Christmas gift exchanges much more special.
Then there are the “others” on my list. People who fall under the “others” category are the folks who I don't know very well personally, but have to buy for nonetheless. You know the ones: teachers, bus drivers, the Secret Santa person at the office and, of course, the random neighbor hosting this year's Christmas party.
For the “others” I like to go with a simple theme: fall and winter scented candles. I tend to stay away from holiday decorations, because their use is limited to a couple weeks, or even days, after their received, and where's the fun in that? Seasonal candles, however, are appropriate for months to come.
Plus, there are so many different scents that you don't have to get carbon copy gifts for everyone unless you want to. For example, my son has multiple teachers and a speech specialist he sees at school. Instead of giving them all different items, I choose different scents. Then I let him put them in simple bags and mark each one with a name. Easy peasy.
Plus, fall and winter scented candles are much less gender specific than other seasons' fragrances. I would never give my sons' male bus driver a Sweet Pea scented candle, but I wouldn't think twice if it smelled like oven-fresh Pumpkin Pie.
Finally, at the very least, if the fragrance isn't a big hit with the recipient, candles are beautifully re-giftable. I know that's taboo to encourage, but it's true. It's sure to be a gift that somebody will love for sure. And what's the difference between getting someone a gift card he ultimately uses to buy holiday gifts and having him pass on a candle he won't enjoy. Money saved is always a gift, right?
When someone says, “I don't know what to get _____,” I always suggest buying seasonal candles. They're generally a good fit for anyone and the variety of fragrances available allows some wiggle room to give lots of folks similar items without wasting lots of time and money to change it up.
Nuclear Weapons 3 - Manhattan Project 2
After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December of 1942, the Manhattan project ramped up with millions of dollar and thousands of staff. Four major deposits of uranium ore had already been identified and efforts were being made to obtain ore from the three that were in Allied hands. In November of 1942 it had been determined that there should be sufficient ore available to produce an atomic weapon. Ore from the Belgian Congo, Ontario, Canada and a mine in Colorado was being collected during 1942.
The ore was dissolved in nitric acid to produce uranyl nitrate. Ether was added to the solution to remove impurities. The solution was then heated to produce uranium trioxide which was ultimate reduced to pure uranium dioxide. The Ames process was developed to produce pure uranium metal after other methods failed. Uranium dioxide was converted to uranium tetraflouride which was mixed with powdered magnesium and heated in a sealed metal tube to produce pure uranium metal.
The big problem was separating the U-235 isotope from U-238. Only .7 % of uranium ore is U-235. It was estimated that the percentage of U-235 needed to create a bomb was around 90%. Research and development of separation methods proceeded during the early 1940s.
Converting uranium to uranium hexafluoride gas was a necessary first step in isotope separation. In a centrifuge, gas with the lighter isotope would move further than the heavier isotope. Feeding the output of one centrifuge into the next would theoretically allow the needed enrichment. Unfortunately, attempts to use centrifuges for separation were unsuccessful due to technical problems with running the big centrifuges at very high speeds for extended periods of time.
Electromagnetic separation was a known technology which used magnetic fields to deflect charged particles based on mass. Copper was in short supply so tons of silver were used instead to build production systems. Despite mechanical problems and efficiency, this process was used to enrich uranium to 15% U-235.
The third process was based on the idea that gases of different molecular weight will pass through membranes at different rates. With one chamber feeding the next, a cascade of these cells could enrich uranium hexafluoride gas up to 7% U-235. This resultant product could be used to feed other processes such as the electromagnetic separation system.
The final process developed was referred to as thermal diffusion. When there is a vertical thermal gradient in a chamber full of a mixture of gases, the heavier gas will concentrate in the lower cooler part of the chamber and the lighter gas will collect in the warmer upper part of the chamber. This was a new idea and was not part of the original attempts to separate isotopes of uranium. Fifty foot columns with three tubes were constructed. Steam and water created the thermal gradient. This process was able to enrich uranium from .7% U-235 to .9% U-235.
In 1945, all three of these processes were used in series to enrich uranium. The thermal diffusion plant enriched uranium from .7% U-235 to .9% U-235. This was fed to the gaseous diffusion plant where the enrichment reached 23% U-235. The gaseous diffusion plant fed the electromagnetic separator which enriched to 89% U-235 which was sufficient for weapons production.
Electromagnetic isotope separation “racetrack”:
Take a break from writing for Thanksgiving?
One of the hardest decision that I have as both a father and a husband is when should I take a day off from writing. I have a regular day job and holidays such as Thanksgiving are some of the few times I get to be at home and not at work 24 hours of the day.
Part of me wants to sit down and finally get that six-hour writing block that I have been dreaming of and the other part wants me to put the computer away and play with my children and snuggle up with my wife for some good movies.
For me, my family has and always will be my priority. They're the ones I am writing for anyway. My wife is the one that has encouraged me to develop my writing talents and when I feel down, then she always picks me up.
I wouldn't be this person if I didn't have a family. They have made me want to strive to beyond what my education and background says I can be. Will I cut out writing completely this four-day holiday weekend? Probably not.
I still have the itch and I have to scratch it, but it will most likely be an hour or two here and there and they'll be constant interruptions from children wanting to play and a wife looking to snuggle. I don't know about you, but it sure sounds like the perfect holiday staycation to me. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
R-movies you don't want to miss during Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on your life and look at what great and wonderful things are in it. For many, it's family and a good job or other loved ones. While I am thankful for those, I am also thankful for the four days of non-stop movie watching I can do while slowly digesting 30 pounds of turkey.
Some of my favorite movies to watch are series that I wouldn't have the time to sit through had it not been for a turkey coma. The Missing in Action series starring the one and only Chuck Norris is a classic set that never fails to enjoy.
If you want to make it a little crazy, then go for an entire weekend of Chuck Norris greatest hits. Just stay away from Walker Texas Ranger and those Bowflex infomercials. Stick to Invasion U.S.A. and the like.
Stallone's Rambo series helped me make it through many post-Thanksgiving nights. Whether he's taking on a small town sheriff or giant Russian helicopters, John Rambo never gives up. What I love about Rambo isn't just that he's one kick butt soldier, but he's also emotionally damaged. Some of the talks between him and Richard Crenna are the best in action movie history.
While I think we can all agree that the Rambo series peaked at Rambo II, don't let that stop you from enjoying the whole series this week. There are far too many series to list all of them, but here are some more of my favorite: Lethal Weapon, Pumpkinhead for the horror lovers, Puppet Master, Hellraiser, etc.
Stop blogging and enjoy the holiday
There won't be many times when I actually tell you to stop blogging for a while. I've always said that a blog's sustainability depends on it ability to maintain a steady schedule. That daily or weekly post is something that your fans and sponsors count on.
My only exception is during major holidays. I don't mean you should stop blogging on holidays that means something special to you personally such as Veteran's Day, but the major holidays where pretty much the whole country shuts down.
Thanksgiving is one of those holidays. The whole point of being a dad blogger is to share your knowledge and experience as a father, but how can you do that if you spend all your time blogging? Take a break for this four-day weekend and enjoy spending time with your children and significant other.
Enjoy going to grandma's and gorging on turkey and stuffing until you bleed gravy and let the blogging pick up again on Monday. Heck, I'll even let you start writing Sunday night once the kids go to bed. Always remember that the reason you are blogging is because of family and they should always come first.
The break will also give you time relax and release all those tensions you have as well. Come back refreshed and ready to take on the world. You'll not only enjoy the blogging more, but your family will appreciate you even more. Let your family know that they are first by shutting that computer and enjoying a little one-on-one time.
I'd rather an atheist hold office
As a person who doesn't associate with any organized religion, I'm shocked by how much religion plays into politics. Too many people think that we live in a "Christian" nation, but the fact is we don't. We live in a place that provides freedom of religion to all, as put forth in the Constitution of the United States, the First Amendment, to be exact. (Hey, I paid attention in government class.)
Some states, however, are fearful of a godless person holding office. So much so, if fact, that some of them have banned atheists from holding office.
Are you serious? As a nation that tosses around how great, non-judgmental and accepting we are, we should be ashamed that any such rules exist. I would rather an atheist with no religious agenda hold office, over a super Christian that is "doing God's work."
To make matters even worse, I actually live in one of the states that doesn't allow an atheist to be elected. It just makes me sick. Here is the list of atheist-fearing states:
- Arkansas
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
I, unfortunately, reside in Texas. According to our state constitution, a person much acknowledge and accept the existence of a "Supreme Being" to be elected.
So, if you are an atheist looking to run for office in any of the aforementioned states, you just have to lie. Aren't politicians really good at that anyway? Just tell everyone how much you love and believe in God, and they will be happy to add you to the ballot.