World's Largest Tidal Turbine

1.2 MegaWatts: World's Largest Tidal Turbine To Be Installed (TreeHugger)

This is an intriguing source of green energy. Maybe they could put wind turbines on top them and multiply the energy output.

The impact on sea life may be an issue that needs more investigation.

Note: The fabrication of these turbines is being done at the same facility that built the Titanic.

Every Girl Crazy 'Bout a Sharp-Dressed Man

ESPN - Dressed to 49s: Nolan allowed to suit up at home - NFL

I love the NFL, but sometimes I wonder at the way the league tries to control every minute detail.

Recently, I learned that there is no food permitted on the sidelines during an NFL game. Now this. I understand the Reebok contract thing, but this is really kind of silly. Sew a little Reebok logo on the tie or the slacks. What's the big deal?

And, why only for home games? Anyone who's coached or played knows how superstitious coaches can be. They win a game, they want to keep everything the same, including what they wear.

Highest Paying Occupations in America

This morning, I saw a brief piece on CNN HN about the five highest paying occupations in the US. First was anesthesiologist followed by surgeon. The rest were also healthcare-related.

Having my curiosity piqued, I Googled "highest paying occupations", and checked a number of the links only to find these lists vary considerably. They do have one thing in common. Healthcare occupations dominate the top of each list.

According to CareerInfoNet, anesthesiologist is first, followed by internist, then OB-GYN, oral/maxillofacial surgeons, and orthodontists.

Careerbuilder.com lists physicians/surgeons, aircraft pilots, chief executives,electrical and electronic engineers, and lawyers/judges as the top five.

Family/general practitioners, podiatrists, lawyers, dentists, and OB-GYN are at the top of work-info.com's list.

Physicians occupy first place at bizjournals. Second is airplane pilots/navigators, then lawyers. Optometrists and college medical science teachers round out the top five.

Most of these lists provide annual income and other data.

MSN Money published a list of the 25 best- and worst-paying jobs in America. Health-related professions dominated the top end of this list with 13 of 15 top spots. Chief executive and airline pilot are the only non-health careers in the top fifteen.

"Why do financially pushy parents want their children to marry doctors? Because, as Willie Sutton said of banks, that is where the money is."

By the way, the worst-paying job in America is fast-food cook.

Stormy Friday

About 6:30 PM Friday evening a brief, but powerful storm rolled through our neighborhood.

The middle building of our group had a significantly large tree down on each side of it.

There was storm damage throughout the neighborhood. There were larger branches down all around as well as numerous smaller branches, twigs, and leaves. A neighbor's kiddie pool ended up in our backyard.

Whad' Ya Know at Penn State

Yesterday, I attended a presentation of Michael Feldman's live radio show, Whad' Ya Know?, at Penn State's Eisenhower Auditorium.

I've been a fan of Whad' Ya Know? since it first aired on WPSU several years ago. I try to listen to at least some of the show every Saturday.

Whad' Ya Know? is a unique comedy-interview-music-game show featuring a fair amount of audience participation hosted by Michael Feldman. Feldman is joined by announcer Jim Packard, and band members John Thulin, Jeff Hamann, and Clyde Stubblefield.

It's always interesting to actually see people you've known only through their voices, how do they compare to the images of them you've created in your mind. Feldman was not all that different from what I had imagined, a bit shorter and a physical resemblance to Robin Williams I thought. Jim Packard was the biggest surprise. I knew he was an older man, but I had imagined him as being more robust rather than the tall, thin man he actually is.

I didn't think it was one of their best shows, but in all fairness, Feldman and his companions had to drive most of the night from Detroit after having three flights cancelled. However, I still found it very entertaining. I am very glad to have had the opportunity to see it in person.

Listen to the show

A New Era

Of course it's a cliche, but today really is the first day of the rest of my life.
Yesterday marked the final day of nearly 31 years of teaching math. I am now a retired gentleman of leisure. As yet, I have no specific plans for living in retirement. I want to first wind down and really come to terms with the fact that I no longer have to go to work.

Really, right now I don't feel anything different. Yesterday, I left school at 12:30, but so did everybody else. I suspect that the actuality of retirement is still two and a half months away.
I will certainly miss my fellow teachers. Most of them are terrific people. The early morning coffee meetings and lunch time will be the most missed things.

I'll miss working with and being around kids. On the other hand, there are a lot of them I'm glad to see the back of.

NCLB and PSSA will surely NOT be missed. In my humble opinion, these things are ruining teaching.

I'm looking forward to having the time and opportunity to expand and explore current and new interests. I think it will be nice to have the chance to do other things.

The Cash Cab

Cash Cab is a real TV game show that takes place in an actual New York taxi.

This is a really fun show. Actual taxi riders enter the cab and give their destination. Next the cab's ceiling light show illuminates and the game is explained to the passengers.

The passengers answer questions during the course of their ride. The questions begin at $25, $50, and $100 each. If three questions are answered incorrectly, the players are disqualified and kicked out of the cab. Players can "shout out" for help twice. There may be a "red light challenge" bonus for extra cash. At the end of the trip, there's an option to keep what's been won or risk it on a double-or-nothing video question.

The questions are not simple. Some are quite challenging. The host, Ben Bailey, is very talented and personable.

Repeat episodes air on the Discovery Channel Monday through Friday at 6:00 and 6:30. New episodes can be seen Wednesdays at 10 pm.

Discovery Channel :: Cash Cab

Wondering What to Get That Special Someone?

It seems the back story on the "Monster Pig" recently slain by an 11-year-old Alabama boy has an unusual and interesting twist.

The enormous hog had been raised on a farm after Rhonda Blissitt received it as a gift in December 2004 from her husband, Phil. Merry Christmas, Honey!

‘Monster Pig’ was huge — just not wild - MSNBC.com

Texas Leads in Carbon Emissions

Texas leads in carbon emissions - MSNBC.com

Texas, the leader in emitting ... greenhouse gas, cranks out more than the next two biggest producers combined, California and Pennsylvania, which together have twice Texas’ population.

The largest portion of U.S. greenhouse gases are the result of emissions from generating electricity, almost 40 percent. Close behind are transportation emissions, source of about one-third of U.S. production of carbon dioxide.

On a per-person basis, Wyoming generates more carbon dioxide than any other state: 138 tons of it a year. Idaho emits the least carbon dioxide per person, less than 23,000 pounds a year.

This Would Explain Alot

It was reported Thursday that scientists have discovered particles of cocaine, marijuana, caffeine and tobacco, in the air of Italy’s capital, Rome.

Something in the air in Rome: cocaine - MSNBC.com