tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755707616247957212024-03-14T02:32:03.007-04:00Berserk FatherI am a father, a husband and a scientist. This blog will be a small window into the insanity that is my world.Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-38045819846731534402012-06-04T09:53:00.000-04:002012-06-04T10:00:00.766-04:00Haiku Monday - Invisible Failure<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.frikipix.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/frikipix_massive_windows_failure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.frikipix.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/frikipix_massive_windows_failure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><i>Invisible Failure</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I work and I toil</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My invisible failure</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Time wasted untold </div>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-82324051003623058772012-03-30T11:35:00.000-04:002012-03-30T11:35:03.472-04:00Punk Rock Friday - To Save my SoulI am having a crappy day. LBS was a terror this morning - fighting about what pants to wear - even though he picked them out. Same thing every day this week. I am really just done with dealing with. Beautiful Wife is under a galaxy-load of stress from work and was not a pleasant women this morning. This irked me more than usual and we fought. I was a complete jerk - she reciprocated my kindness. I only got about 5 hours of sleep - I was working until midnight just like I have every night this week. I am tired, drained, and feeling a bit thin in the soul. I feel simultaneously like I need a good stiff whiskey, a gallon of coffee, and twenty nights worth of sleep.<br />
<br />
So to try and soothe my soul a bit I thought I would pull Punk Rock Friday out of the dusty corner I put it in. Here we go:<br />
<br />
Ducky Boys - For the Underdogs:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8bqOJRgnO4" width="480"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Flogging Molly - The Worst Day Since Yesterday:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bkPUGeoDbbk" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Dropkick Murphys - Bar Room Hero:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wpIVk2AY3sw" width="480"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Rancid - Fall Back Down:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-BWBrcF7sWQ" width="480"></iframe>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-18341960443836940392012-03-16T10:44:00.000-04:002012-03-16T10:44:20.658-04:00Great Irish Physicists and Scientists - Redux<div style="text-align: justify;">
Note this was originally posted 3/17/2011. Here is the original link: <a href="http://berserkfather.blogspot.com/2011/03/great-irish-physicists-and-scientists.html">Great Irish Physicists and Scientists</a><br />
<br />
In honor of St. Patrick's Day (my
favorite holiday), I thought I would compile a list of great Irish
physicists and scientists. I will focus on physicists but will include a
few other scientists for good measure. Greatness and therefore
inclusion in this list will be measured by me simply by my opinion.
How's is that for scientific!</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/George_Francis_FitzGerald.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/George_Francis_FitzGerald.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George FitzGerald</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_FitzGerald"><b>George FitzGerald</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
His
claim to fame is the FitzGerald-Lorentz length contraction - the
decrease of the length of an objection (along the direction of motion)
with non-zero velocity relative to an observer. This is an important
result of Einstein's special theory of relativity. Born in Dublin, he
was a professor at Trinity College.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Johnstone_Stoney"><b>George Stoney</b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Stoney,
from County Offaly, is the man who introduced both the concept and the
word "electron" for the fundamental unit of electricity. Also a
professor at Trinity College.<br />
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Ernest_Walton.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Ernest_Walton.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ernest Walton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Walton">Ernest Walton</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Walton is credited to be the first person to (artificially) split an atom<b> </b>and
therefore ushered in the nuclear age. He was a student of Rutherford
at the Cavendish lab at Cambridge. Went on to a professorship also at
Trinity college. He won the 1951 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Sir
John Douglas Cockcroft <i>"for their pioneer work on the transmutation of atomic nuclei by artificially accelerated atomic particles." </i>Currently the only Irishman to have won a Nobel Prize in science.</div>
<br />
<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Thomas_Trouton">Frederick Trouton</a> </b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Trouton
is most famous for Trouton's rule, which states that for various
liquids, the entropy of vaporization is same: approximately 88 J/(K
mol). Trouton's rule is typically used to estimate the entropy of
vaporization for liquids due to its simple form. Trouton, born in
Dublin, studied physics at Trinity College, where he also received his
first academic appointment upon graduation. He went on to a
professorship at Imperial College London.</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/SS-stokes.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/SS-stokes.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sir George Stokes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hamilton_%28physicist%29"><b>James Hamilton</b></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hamilton,
born in Sligo, was an early contributor to S-matrix theory. He went on
to make significant contribution to the understanding of the strong
nuclear force, specifically in the area of meson-nucleon and meson-meson
interactions. Hamilton held appointments at Cambridge, University
College London and the Neils Bohr Institute.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_George_Stokes,_1st_Baronet"><b>Sir George Stokes</b></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yes,
he is that Stokes - from Navier-Stokes equations (fluid dynamics) and
Stokes' Theorem (differential geometry). Born in Sligo, Stokes was a
professor of mathematics at Cambridge. A contemporary of Lord Kelvin
and James Maxwell, Stokes made significant contributions to a variety of
fields, including mathematics, fluid dynamics, optics, spectroscopy and
chemistry.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Lord_Kelvin_photograph.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Lord_Kelvin_photograph.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thomson,_1st_Baron_Kelvin">William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) </a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thomson,
born in Belfast, was knighted by Queen Victoria was later elevated to
Baron Kelvin of Lorgs and is best known as Lord Kelvin. He made major
contributions to astrophysics, fluid dynamics, naval engineering, but he
is most known for his contributions to thermodynamics, specifically
that there is a lower bound to temperature. The kelvin scale of
temperature is<b> </b>named after Thomson.<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Schr%C3%B6dinger">Erwin Schrödinger</a> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Aha!
And you thought he was Austrian. Well he was, but he was also a
naturalized citizen of Ireland. Schrödinger, famous for his
contributions to quantum mechanics (hence the Schrödinger equation) and
is in fact considered one of the <i>"fathers"</i> of quantum mechanics.
Schrödinger became a naturalized citizen of Ireland during his 17 years
in Dublin, during which he helped to establish the Institute for
Advanced Studies and was the Director of the School of Theoretical
Physics.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Boyle">Robert Boyle</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yes,
the father of modern chemistry was indeed Irish. Boyle was born in
Waterford County. He is most famous for Boyle's Law, which says that
for a closed system at constant temperature, the pressure is inversely
proportional to the volume. This is something that every high school
kid taking chemistry is well aware of.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am sure there are plenty of others. Sorry to anyone I have missed!</div>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-37382544148954292012-03-14T09:45:00.003-04:002012-03-14T09:46:08.137-04:00Happy Pi Day! Fun and Facts about Pi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ck022.k12.sd.us/images/pi%20day/pigraphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://ck022.k12.sd.us/images/pi%20day/pigraphic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pi - you know it from all those boring math classes you had to take in school... But Pi is actually much cooler than math class. Did you know that? Also, today, March 14 is international Pi day! No, not pie. Though I think it is perfectly okay to celebrate Pi day with pie.<br />
<br />
Why is it Pi day? Well, simply because March 14 or 3/14 is the first three digits in the number Pi. Technically, Pi day starts at 1:59 pm (since the next three digits after 3.14 is 159 [making the first 6 digits 3.14159]).<br />
<br />
So, what is Pi?<br />
<br />
Pi is simply defined as the ratio of the circumference of a circle (technically a Euclidean circle - circumference is simply the length around the circle) to its diameter. Remember diameter is just the straight line distance across a circle through its center. Said less mathy - Pi is the number of times the diameter of a circle will wrap around the circumference.<br />
<br />
Pi is also an irrational number. That simply means it cannot be expressed as a simple fraction (like 22/7 for instance). Therefore, when you write Pi as a decimal it never ends and it never repeats. Crazy right? It just keeps going on forever. <br />
<br />
Some interesting facts about Pi:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Albert Einstein was born on Pi day - 3/14/1879</li>
<li>Pi has been studied for over 4000 years dating back to the Babylonians in approximated 2000 BC</li>
<li>Beginning at position 762 in Pi, there are six nines in a row. This is called the Feynman point.</li>
<li>In 1897, the Indiana State Legislature tried to "square the circle," and therefore legislate the value of pi.</li>
<li>Pi occurs extensively in Physics (and other sciences) especially when a formula or problem has rotational or spherical symmetry involved.</li>
</ul>
Well, I am going to go and find out where I am going to eat pie for lunch today. I am suddenly very hungry. I leave you with a math joke:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mathusiasts.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/pi-berational.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://mathusiasts.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/pi-berational.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-68204125629954890032012-03-07T16:47:00.003-05:002012-03-07T16:48:51.398-05:00Spring Break - not so much of a break<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.qkme.me/36c7sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://i.qkme.me/36c7sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, I actually didn't give any homework. But they have a midterm the first class after spring break! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So, I am on Spring Break this week from teaching. Yeah, it just is not as cool as it was when I was a student. I never went anywhere warm (I was a poor punk rock kid in college), but I had a week off of classes where all I had to do was work my 3 jobs. I could catch up on sleep, go out drinking every night (well that wasn't much of a change) - basically just screw around more than normal.<br />
<br />
As a professor... now my spring break consists of catching up on all the work I put off because it could wait until spring break, grading all those things I need to grade, tracking down students who are failing, finishing up research projects that get left half finished, finishing up proposals that are due soon, and falling asleep earlier than expected... E X C I T I N G, right?<br />
<br />
Teaching has also taught me a lot about statistics. I have just under 400 students in my lecture. With 400 students you basically get the full range of types of humans. Every crazy little nuance in the human character is likely to be present. And they all come to me with their problems regarding this class... because, well, I am in charge am I not?<br />
<br />
So far during this semester I have had:<br />
-students cry during my quizzes and exams (yes, more than one...)<br />
-a student try to cyberbully me by email (it was truly hilarious)<br />
-students asking to stay in my class while in jail<br />
-students try to get me to get them jobs... (WTH... you know me 6 weeks and you want me to try and pull string for you?????)<br />
<br />
And you want to know the most frustrating part of it all - I have to act like an adult. I have to follow the rules. I have to be the one to do the right thing concerning it every time. It takes so much more work to be stuck being the mature, responsible one in the student-teacher relationship. Annoying.<br />
<br />
<br />Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-81259706205277775852012-01-11T09:35:00.001-05:002012-01-11T09:36:12.642-05:00Because I just don't have enough to do...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Mad_scientist.svg/641px-Mad_scientist.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Mad_scientist.svg/641px-Mad_scientist.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Oh new year, you make me kinda crazy...<br />
<br />
But in a good way, I suppose. So, with the first of the year, I started not one but two new jobs... Like I needed any more to do.<br />
<br />
I am no longer a postdoc! HURRAY! The world rejoices. I am a Research Professor now, which is cool. But basically, nothing has changed for my job. I still do a huge amount of research. I just get paid to the research by this big name state university. A Research Professor is not what we call a Tenure Track position. That is, I am not teaching any classes. I am just doing research. I wish I was Tenure Track, but I know I will get there eventually.<br />
<br />
However, I have started as an Adjunct Professor at another, lesser big name university. Teaching an introductory astronomy course. Which has been a whirlwind, to say the least. I teach an hour and a half lecture twice a week and a two hour lab once a week. That doesn't count all the preparation, driving to and from one job to another, and dealing with the insanity that is college students in the digital age. It appears that simply having an email address is cause enough for them to think I will solve all their problems for them... I am slightly annoyed. <br />
<br />
Yesterday, I had my first lab and lecture. Lecture went fantastic. It was everything I remember loving about teaching. Lab, on the other hand, was a sort of fiasco. There may or may not have been a crying student...<br />
<br />
Either way, I am really happy with how the new year has started, but I am so damn busy... I think I dreamed last night about getting a good night sleep. That is sad.<br />
<br />
In little munchkin news, Sweet Little Hellion has started to be hardcore potty trained. We are probably going to forgo the nighttime Pullup this weekend since she has started asking to not wear it... I am so ready to be diaper free in the Berserker Clan. S O R E A D Y !Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-30500349111645261442011-12-16T10:11:00.002-05:002011-12-16T10:12:01.435-05:00Punk Rock Friday - Mommy's Little MonsterFrom the great documentary - Another State of Mind - here is a nice video from 1983 of Social Distortion playing <i>Mommy's Little Monster </i>in Winnipeg, Canada.<br />
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nXjCBXDzAok" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-87420634171679380132011-12-14T09:49:00.001-05:002011-12-14T10:00:24.093-05:00Work Work, Zug ZugSorry all, I have been traveling for work - gallivanting across the US presenting my work at a conference. Drinking free beer, being jet-lagged, and missing my family. Previous to that, I was busting my butt to finish that work. Then I got a nasty cold from all the dumb, germy people who go on planes right when I get back home. I will have a post up on the recent CERN results on the finding the Higgs boson later today. <i>EDIT: Actually, for some reason it appeared below this one... blogger has weird freaking software on the backend I guess... very confusing.</i><br />
<br />
PS - I was in San Francisco when the Mythbusters shot a cannon ball into someones house on accident. Coincidence or not - you decide????Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-12150821979704395842011-12-14T09:43:00.000-05:002011-12-14T09:54:36.342-05:00Searching for the Higgs boson - new LHC resultsSome of you may have heard that 2 of the experiments at CERN (the European particle collider built to find the Higgs boson).<br />
<br />
So, what is the Higgs boson? Well, in the standard model of particle physics, the Higgs boson is the particle which couples to everything else and gives those particles mass. It is a strange notion of quantum field theory and may be difficult to understand. Basically, the language of particle physics is quantum field theory. Quantum field theory tells us interactions between particles are mediated by bosons. For a more concrete example, electromagnetic interactions are mediated by photons (the interaction (or gauge) boson of quantum electrodynamics - the quantum field theory that describes electromagnetic interactions). So, when two like charges repel each other - they two charges are exchanging a bunch of photons to accomplish that interaction. I hope that helps in some way.<br />
<br />
Here is a summary of particle interactions in the standard model:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BvfMCfooBpU/Tuix_SwE7iI/AAAAAAAAAHE/7uqXr13418c/s1600/775px-Elementary_particle_interactions.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BvfMCfooBpU/Tuix_SwE7iI/AAAAAAAAAHE/7uqXr13418c/s400/775px-Elementary_particle_interactions.svg.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There is a great video put out by Fermilab (a US particle physics lab) on searching for the Higgs and how it is done:<br />
<br />
<br />
So, recent results by two different experiments at CERN, ATLAS and CMS, both have constrained the mass of the Higgs to a much smaller region. CMS gives the limits of 115-127 GeV/c² and ATLAS gives the limits of 116-131 GeV/c². <br />
<br />
For those with a little more interest here are some plots from <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2011/12/13/science-it-marches-on/">Sean Carrol's blog</a> (he borrowed from others, so follow the trail down the rabbit hole if you like!).<br />
<br />
Here are the ATLAS preliminary results:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/files/2011/12/atlasfull.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/files/2011/12/atlasfull.png" width="400" /></a></div>
And the CMS preliminary results:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/files/2011/12/cls_comb_zoom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/files/2011/12/cls_comb_zoom.png" width="400" /></a></div>
The way you read these plots is this: Any time the black dotted line dips below 1 on the vertical scale, these mass regions for the Higgs are excluded. Anytime the black line dotted line rises above the yellow shaded region, there is increased confidence the Higgs may be hiding in there.<br />
<br />
ATLAS is seeing a peak at approximately 126 GeV/c², while CMS is observes a peak at about 124 GeV/c².<br />
<br />
Guido Tonelli, the Spokesperson for CMS <a href="http://www.quantumdiaries.org/2011/12/13/higgs-liveblog/">said this at the CERN Higgs Seminar</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"…we observe in our data a modest excess of events between 115 and 127
GeV that appears, quite consistently, in five independent channels. The
excess is most compatible with a SM Higgs hypothesis in the vicinity of
124 GeV and below, but the statistical significance (2.6 sigma local and
1.9 sigma global after correcting for the LEE in the low mass region)
is not large enough to say anything conclusive."</blockquote>
<br />
While Fabiola Gianotti, the ATLAS Spokesperson said this (also at the CERN Higgs Seminar):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We observe an excess of events around m_H ~ 126 GeV: local
significance of 3.6 sigma, with contributions from the H –>2 gammas
(2.8 sigma), H –> ZZ –>4l (2.1 sigma), H –> WW –> lvlv
(1.4 sigma), SM Higgs expectation: 2.4 sigma local –> observed excess
compatible with signal strength, the global significance (taking
account Look-Elsewhere-Effect) is ~2.3 sigma"</blockquote>
<br />
So, the big take away is that the LHC is closing in on the Higgs, but there is still a lot of data to collect next year. It should also be noted that the LHC just finished the 2011 runs about 6 weeks ago. So these results are very preliminary, but also very promising!Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-58694839159745614882011-12-01T09:53:00.001-05:002011-12-01T10:16:57.659-05:00Toys I want for ChristmasSo, I was thinking about Christmas gifts last night for my kids. Which led to thinking of stuff I want. I really like buying my kids toys, because they are just so damn cool. Plus, I am bigger than them and can make them share them with me. Because, you know I am just a big kid anyways. And I am mean.<br />
<br />
My wife knows this, which is why she bought me a giant 2.5 foot wide Millennium Falcon as a special gift when my daughter was born. Why would I get a gift, you ask? Because I was such an awesome husband during her pregnancy - taking care of the house and our son, so she could be a little less miserable. So, here is what she got me:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-2-5-Millennium-Falcon/dp/B0013TO94U/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61kP0Job+BL.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Amazon<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-2-5-Millennium-Falcon/dp/B0013TO94U/"><br /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yeah, that is right, it is over 2 and a half feet long and it is awesome!<br />
<br />
Anyways, so what would be on my Christmas list if I was rich and awesome and didn't actually need things - cool toys of course.<br />
<br />
Keeping in the Star Wars theme, I would go with this next:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Terrain-Armored-Transport-Vehicle/dp/B0039X06OU/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81-FlfD5S-L._AA1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Terrain-Armored-Transport-Vehicle/dp/B0039X06OU/">While tactically the worst possible design for a troop transport - I dig the AT-AT.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then, maybe the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Boba-Electronic-Helmet/dp/B0039X06RM">electronic Boba Fett helmet</a>, cause Fett is Bad (yeah, bad with a capital <i>B</i>):<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Boba-Electronic-Helmet/dp/B0039X06RM" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71TpLwS935L._AA1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pew pew, then blast off with my jet pack!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To class the joint up a bit - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Carbonite-R2-D2-Silicon/dp/B005LX0NAS/">some sweet ice cube trays</a>:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51C8UnmxT5L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51C8UnmxT5L.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I am drinking my whiskey, I would pretend Han is getting drunk with me too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now, some weaponry to accompany my drunken self with my Boba Fett helmet on (because we all know that would happen):<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nerf-N-Strike-Longstrike-CS-6-Blaster/dp/B003H9MSPG/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/817ZlGeuFnL._AA1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1428699050">It shoots 35 feet! No one would be safe in my house!</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nerf-N-Strike-Longstrike-CS-6-Blaster/dp/B003H9MSPG/"><br /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And for when things really get out of control:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/AK-Rubberband-Rifle-Sling-Scope/dp/B003AGQK6Y/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31BDP0WFtGL._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/AK-Rubberband-Rifle-Sling-Scope/dp/B003AGQK6Y/">A rubber band gun shaped like an AK-47 - YES PLEASE!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, am I missing anything?<br />
<br />
Also, does anyone have any good board game recommendations? The wife and I want to restock our board games (we lost a bunch in the floods). Needs to be able to be played by 2 players - something strategic and fun is what I am thinking. Was thinking about <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36218/dominion">Dominion</a>.. any thoughts from the interwebz people? Thanks in advance.<br />
<br />Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-80117073969689866942011-11-30T14:01:00.001-05:002011-11-30T23:10:42.349-05:00Thanksgiving - the aftermath<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gusset/3117892536/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="12 Days 2008 - Turkey Sacrifice by gusset, on Flickr"><img alt="12 Days 2008 - Turkey Sacrifice" height="375" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3127/3117892536_cd398573ae.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey Sacrifice by flikr user gusset (used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Great title, is it not?<br />
<br />
So, I have been very far away from reading and writing blogs lately. Sorry about that. Busy with trying to get work finished before our Thanksgiving famication to Wisconsin. Yep just made that word <i>famication</i> up. No, it is not a vacation. Since I spend all my time trying to relax but never getting to because I have to drive to or from some family members house every day. I don't know why I bother flying home, I spent a total of 10 hours in cars driving to different family members' homes for a 6 day visit.<br />
<br />
When I first got married I thought it was nice that my in-laws lived an hour from my parents. Thank you world for clearing that misconception up.<br />
<br />
Actually other than the usual holiday family insanity, it was a great trip. I spent a lot of time with friends I haven't seen in a long time and got to catch up. I also got to party like the rock star that I am. Let me explain.<br />
<br />
So, Thanksgiving Day I had our celebration with my in-laws at my mother-in-laws house. My last visit with her <a href="http://berserkfather.blogspot.com/2011/07/back-home-quick-recap-of-northwoods.html">was a disaster</a>. I thought I did, but I never really went into it on here like I had planned. The quick and dirty of it is that she blew up at me about something that was not my doing (actually her daughter, my wife's fault) then proceeded to basically say she doesn't like me, never has. In my ever mature nature, I let her know the same thing right back with a few fuck yous thrown in for good measure. It basically ended with me conceding that I need to be more thankful to her and her conceding nothing. Win some, lose some. Oh well.<br />
<br />
So, I was more than a little nervous about this visit. It went fine (from my point of view anyway).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisse/5821425200/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Ain't no party like a communist party! by wisze, on Flickr"><img alt="Ain't no party like a communist party!" height="375" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3120/5821425200_a74abbf01b.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know... it's funny. Photo by flikr user wisze (used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After Thanksgiving Day, we drove up to my parents to celebrate my birthday. Which was a blast! My brother and his wife and kids came over. The kids sang happy birthday to me, we had cake, a good time was had by all. My parents watched the kids in the evening while Beautiful Wife and I went out for a few beers with my brother and my best friend. The four of us met out at an Irish pub where a good friend of mine was singing and playing guitar. We drank and were merry til 3 am... Yes, I partied like a rock star till 3 am. 3.A.M<br />
<br />
I haven't seen 3 AM without a sick kid in 5 years. I was hurting on Saturday. Especially when Turkey Day round 2 started at 10 am with family showing up. Ouch.<br />
<br />
After a turkey lunch I had dinner plans. One of my best friends from college married a girl this summer from my neck of the woods, so BW and I got to get together for dinner. It was great seeing a great old friend. And I got out of the house sans kidlets 2 nights in a row. That also hasn't happened in over 4 years. It was great.<br />
<br />
The next morning we did Christmas for the kids with my family since they won't see them on Christmas. We do Thanksgiving instead of Christmas these days because it is just easier.<br />
<br />
So, for you folks keeping track at home. Those 4 days consisted of: Thanksgiving, Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas.<br />
<br />
Can I just skip holidays/celebrations for a few months... Please?<br />
<br />
<br />Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-78658514321853092552011-11-07T15:38:00.005-05:002011-11-08T09:02:56.831-05:00Haiku Monday - Ode to DST<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a href="http://www.freefoto.com//" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Station Clock New York - FreeFoto.com"><img alt="Damn you DST!" height="266" src="http://www.freefoto.com/images/11/22/11_22_10---Station-Clock--York_web.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<b>Ode to DST</b><br />
<i>Daylight Savings Time</i><br />
<i>Darkness envelopes my evenings</i><br />
<i>Who needs light at 6? </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>EDIT: I spelled Haiku wrong in the title... I guess that is about as good of a ringing endorsement for the topic as any. WOW, I need an editor.</i></div>
<br />
<br /></div>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-33054033898063842442011-11-04T10:30:00.000-04:002011-11-04T10:30:03.932-04:00Punk Rock Fathers - the other F word & Punk Rock FridayA possibly really great documentary is coming out called <a href="http://www.theotherfwordmovie.com/">The Other F-word</a>:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85NxEdXe_NU/TrPhkZwro5I/AAAAAAAAAG0/Kv1jxMtwW2I/s1600/TheOtherFWord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85NxEdXe_NU/TrPhkZwro5I/AAAAAAAAAG0/Kv1jxMtwW2I/s400/TheOtherFWord.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shamelessly stolen from their Facebook page.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is an exploration of how men, who grew up saying fuck off to authority, are now fathers and have to deal with raising a child. How they rectify fatherhood with their so-called punk rock beliefs. It looks at some pretty big names in the punk rock world with interviews, from the road and home, and examines all of their different attitudes, parenting styles, and beliefs on parenting.<br />
<br />
From their <a href="http://www.theotherfwordmovie.com/">website</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<i>The Other F Word</i> is a raucous, eye-opening, sad and unexpectedly wise look at veteran
punk rockers as they adapt to the challenges of fatherhood. To be sure, watching foul-
mouthed, colorfully inked musicians attempt to fit themselves into Ward Cleaver's smoking
jacket provides for some consistently hilarious situational comedy, but the film's deeper
delving into a whole generation of artists clumsily making amends for their own absentee
parents could strike a resonant note with anyone (punk or not) who's stumbled headfirst
into family life."
<br />
<br />
- <i>Andrew Barker, Variety</i></blockquote>
<br />
Wow, seems right up my alley! Being the punk rock father and scientist that I am. I am very excited to try and see this. I will likely have to wait a very long time as they are only screening in NYC and LA right now. And to that I say <i>Fuck You Hollywood</i>. One would think that a movie about punk rock might try and be a little more DIY with distribution. But, alas, it is still done by non-punk people. At least the production was done independent and that means no big movie studio trying to make it Hollywood.<br />
<br />
So for Punk Rock Friday, I present songs by two of the father's featured in the film.<br />
<br />
The first (actually two) is by Bad Religion, whose singer Greg Graffin is featured in the film. Graffin was originally from my home state (Wisconsin) and spent part of his youth there. He has two kids and has been the front man for Bad Religion since 1979 (He's old!).<br />
<br />
Here are two version of <i>Sorrow</i> by Bad Religion:<br />
<br />
Live in 2009<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p6NLzwmdH-E" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Acoustic <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mF446voItlQ" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Next up is Duane Peters, legendary punk rocker and professional skater. Peters 20 year-old son Chess (Chelsea) Peters was killed in a car accident on July 6, 2007. A horrible, unthinkable thing to have happen. Duane put out a whole record of songs for his son. We are not going to go that route, because it makes me a little misty eyed. There is real grief in that record and it hits home for me for some reason.<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
So I present to you (one of) my favorite US Bombs song, <i>Jaks</i><br />
<i> </i>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qjSSmmI2a9Y" width="640"></iframe>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-40346158517072877402011-11-04T08:47:00.000-04:002011-11-04T08:47:20.140-04:00The Painful Truth of xkcdNothing like a geek comic make me feel old:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/mtv_generation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/mtv_generation.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-54853106789976780952011-11-02T10:58:00.003-04:002011-11-02T15:03:23.533-04:00The Potty Training Blues<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/strocel/3529615922/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The potty by AmberStrocel, on Flickr"><img alt="The potty" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3529615922_d8ec295098.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Flickr user AmberStocel (CC BY-ND 2.0)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Poop is all over the house these days... not much has really changed since <a href="http://berserkfather.blogspot.com/2011/07/ant-induced-rage-and-potty-training.html">I wrote back in July about a potty misadventure.</a><br />
<br />
Well at least that is the way it feels to me. Sweet Little Hellion is two and a half now. She has been potty training steadily these past 2 months. Overall it is going okay. At school she is a rock star. At home, it is very hit or miss. The at home part is largely parenting fail. With Little Berserker Spawn (4 year old boy) potty training was pretty on point. He was first born and his sister was still an infant. I like infants. They make funny faces, they snuggle and they don't talk back, hit, bite, scream, or whine. At least not as much as a 2 year old does...<br />
<br />
Our lives are just too insane and we cannot give SLH all the attention for potty training she needs. She is also so very easy going, that things like a giant turd sandwich in her Dora undies don't bother her much...<br />
<br />
It has been bringing me increasing frustration these past 2 weeks. There is nothing I find worse then poop-filled underwear. I don't mind diapers or poopy diapers. Not a big deal to me at all. But having to clean out underwear... disgusting. And SLH knows that it frustrates me. She feels bad about it. Which makes me feel awful for being such a selfish jackhole.<br />
<br />
So as a first step in trying to get her along the road to diaper-less bliss, we are trying to get her to just tell us she has poopy pants. And when she tells me, I force a smile and lay on the praise for telling me. She asks me if I am happy in her little angelic voice, "Daddy happy?" And I respond that I am happy she told me and that next time let's use the potty!<br />
<br />
That is right, I have to tell my two and a half year old daughter that I am happy about her poopy underwear... <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/byte/3101847487/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Potty training kids, just got easier? by byte, on Flickr"><img alt="Potty training kids, just got easier?" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/3101847487_8632a92fc7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah, potty training is all stickers, smiles, bunnies and bears. Photo credit: flicker user byte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Going along with the whole poop motif I have going on... what can I say - I am pure C-L-A-S-S! SLH has this horrible timing issue of her bowels. She poops every morning 2 minutes before we need to leave the house for daycare and work... E V E R Y M O R N I N G... It doesn't matter when I try to leave. It doesn't matter what day of the week. I could try and trick her and leave for work an hour earlier... she would have the brown stinkies...<br />
<br />
Did I mention I am the sole adult responsible for the morning (mis)adventures of getting to daycare? BW leaves before us because she works much further away. The kids go to daycare just down the block from my office, so I am the head honcho for mornings. YEAH FOR ME ON MORNING TURD DUTY!Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-21491188147404157982011-10-31T15:49:00.000-04:002011-10-31T15:58:32.543-04:00Haiku Monday - Halloween!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> Halloween</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>All hallows eve, YAR!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>A pirate and a clone say</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>More candy please, Dad</i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" height="332" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; width: 412px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.soil-net.com/album/Places_Objects/slides/Halloween%20pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.soil-net.com/album/Places_Objects/slides/Halloween%20pumpkin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From soil-net.com (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-78268152923501104152011-10-28T09:19:00.000-04:002011-10-28T09:32:29.620-04:00Punk Rock Friday - New Direction by the Gorilla Biscuits<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Gorilla_Biscuits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Gorilla_Biscuits.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Andy McKay [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
What do you mean it's time
<br />
Time for me to grow up?
<br />
I don't want any part
<br />
It's right to follow my heart
<br />
The new kids ran
<br />
Ran out the back door fast
<br />
And the bands that came before
<br />
They had their noses in the air
<br />
Pretending that they cared about our scene
<br />
Just because our money's green
<br />
I'll tell you stage dives
<br />
Make me feel more alive
<br />
Than coded messages in slowed down songs
<br />
<br />
Now you're so ashamed
<br />
Now I'm so ashamed of you
<br />
We believed the same things
<br />
You stand to the side
<br />
Rebirth of hardcore pride
<br />
It all came true
<br />
Too bad you can't see
<br />
All the good things that I see</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<pre style="font-family: inherit;"><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Back in, back in the days</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">when I'd wait tosee the old bands play</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It didn't seem like wasted days</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was so sincere, but now I see more clearly</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Music's only work to them. It's not to me</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I say, hats off to bands that change</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Good luck, go your own way&nbsp;</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why play for us, if your heart's not in it?&nbsp;</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cause what might seem dumb to you</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">is pounding in my heart.</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now you're so ashamed,</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now you're so ashamed of you</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We believed the same things.</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You stand to the side</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rebirth of hardcore pride</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It all came true</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Too bad you can't see</span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No, you just can't fucking see it.</span>
Now you just turn your back
You said I don't want it anymore
Old friends you attack
Our pain out of touch. You don't get it do you?
New stage, new ideas.
You don't have to make excuses for us
Sitting there looking back, I'm scared
Don't spoil memories of the way things
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YMBKSLs_fVg" width="640"></iframe></pre>
</pre>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-74695377420822545072011-10-24T15:35:00.000-04:002011-10-28T09:19:04.391-04:00Haiku Monday - Wrong Age<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/3924642107/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="mom-and-two-kids,-WESTINGHOUSE by x-ray delta one, on Flickr"><img alt="mom-and-two-kids,-WESTINGHOUSE" height="398" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3924642107_45a596909d.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture Credit: James Vaughan, CC BY-SA 2.0 </td></tr>
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<b>Wrong Age</b></div>
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<i>Simple life for me </i></div>
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<i>Kids are better than adults</i></div>
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<i>Gray is for the weak</i></div>
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Good luck deciphering this one people... well it is really not all that deep, I am just sort of mentally slow and prone to thinking much too highly of myself.</div>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-21358046150496035142011-10-20T10:06:00.002-04:002011-10-20T10:07:28.215-04:00Stupid PeopleOne of my favorite things in life is the whole notion of the <a href="http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/">Darwin Awards</a>. <i>The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who <span style="font-size: small;">accidentally remove themselves from it...</span></i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgdvS8TS3xYoRHW18O3uA_OFF_Lsovi4cr2ctDjbc8T1knr4JfyEvBcNnjoRsiD71HQNUQGbA2XLIIUY943DdfNS0QnC3n_WEfprExFOfhmYT0_dKnNKctamtL3a8cNtbQKhqw9fYr4OM/s1600/633623116503005366-DARWINAWARDS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgdvS8TS3xYoRHW18O3uA_OFF_Lsovi4cr2ctDjbc8T1knr4JfyEvBcNnjoRsiD71HQNUQGbA2XLIIUY943DdfNS0QnC3n_WEfprExFOfhmYT0_dKnNKctamtL3a8cNtbQKhqw9fYr4OM/s320/633623116503005366-DARWINAWARDS.jpg" width="256" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Taken from their website:</span><br />
<blockquote>
In the spirit of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin" title="Charles Darwin">Charles Darwin</a>,
the Darwin Awards commemorate individuals who protect our gene pool by
making the ultimate sacrifice of their own lives. Darwin Award winners
eliminate themselves in an extraordinarily idiotic manner, thereby
improving our species' chances of long-term survival.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></blockquote>
They were started by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Northcutt">Wendy Northcutt </a>and have evolved into an annual book. There are some real gems out there - like the one where <a href="http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2010-07.html">two professional racecar mechanics put methanol in a 55 gallon drum and tried to ride it like Wile E. Coyote.</a><br />
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But, I bring to you today someone who just missed the cut for the Darwin Awards:<br />
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<br />Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-34978580792062365532011-10-17T09:24:00.002-04:002011-10-17T09:25:05.136-04:00Haiku Monday - No Coffee?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sk3Suav059Y/TpwskRXbl9I/AAAAAAAAAGE/b9QtsMPJrZA/s1600/RyanAPSEvil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sk3Suav059Y/TpwskRXbl9I/AAAAAAAAAGE/b9QtsMPJrZA/s320/RyanAPSEvil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>No Coffee?</b></div>
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<i>Truly horrible event</i></div>
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<i>No work coffee on Monday? </i><b> </b></div>
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<b> </b><i>Brain weeps like fall leaves</i></div>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-10158339290560875272011-10-14T14:58:00.002-04:002011-10-14T16:06:56.706-04:00Cancer and the Sword of Damocles<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://icallthisart.3dcartstores.com/Cancer-is-Bullshit_p_42.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://icallthisart.3dcartstores.com/assets/images/icallthisart_bandbacktogether-cancer_is_bullshit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PreScript - buy this shirt - band back together is a great website and cause. <br />
Plus, Aunt Becky rules.</td></tr>
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Let me just say, cancer is bullshit.<br />
<br />
My wife is a cancer survivor. You can read more about it on my first blog (re)post here: <a href="http://berserkfather.blogspot.com/2011/01/horror-show-old-blog.html">Horror Show</a>. The short(ish) story of it is thus: 8 months or so after we were married, my wife was diagnosed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanoma">malignant melanoma</a> (a typically deadly form of skin cancer), the same cancer her father died of 6 months before. Very scary. She had surgery and has been cancer free for 5 years now. Unlike cancer, being a cancer survivor is awesome.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Damocles-WestallPC20080120-8842A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Damocles-WestallPC20080120-8842A.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="description"><i>Sword of Damocles</i>, 1812, oil painting on canvas. </span><span class="fn" id="creator"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Richard_Westall" title="Richard Westall">Richard Westall</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />
But, the trauma of having cancer takes it toll. I liken it to the parable of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_of_Damocles">Sword of Damocles</a>. Damocles was a bit of a brown noser back in Greece in the day, and was sucking up to his king, saying how lucky the king was to be surrounded with so much beauty, wealth, and wisdom. His king asked him if he wanted to change places and Damocles jumped at it. The king gave up his royal throne to Damocles. The catch was that the wise king hung a sword above the throne, suspended point down by only a thin hair. Damocles soon begged the king to trade back.<br />
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So, kicking cancer's ass is great. But that nagging feeling is always with my wife that it will come back. That sword is always hanging over her. Every day. Anything that is out of the ordinary for her body results in an evening of worry and a trip to the doctor the next morning. She is worried about leaving me to raise 2 kids alone. Leaving her kids motherless. It is hard on her. Really hard on her.<br />
<br />
For me, it is stress. She gets worked up, I try to remain calm, try not to worry. Just last night, she found a lump in her shoulder. It was like a big, inflamed lymph node on top of her shoulder. Crazy lymph nodes is a sign of cancer. My wife was freaking out. All last night. I was freaking out, but I couldn't show it. Plus I have to be the voice of reason and try and tell her not to worry, we don't know what the hell it could be. Also, I usually need time to digest things and understand where I fall with them and how I want to deal with them. When things are sprung on me, I typically am not very comforting. I usually need to sleep on them, let both my conscious and subconscious minds gnaw on it for a while, before I feel at ease to talk about it and deal with it.<br />
<br />
So, Beautiful Wife went to the doctor this morning. Well, it turns out to be a very normal thing. A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipoma">Lipoma</a> - a fatty, benign tumor. About 1% of the population has them and they are typically not treated unless they start to cause problems or start growing rapidly.<br />
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So, the sword hasn't fallen, but it is sure still hanging up there...Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-54431097484839573512011-10-14T09:33:00.002-04:002011-10-14T16:07:20.447-04:00Punk Rock Friday - Harry Bridges by RancidBack in my much more glamorous days of fronting a punk band, one of the main themes I wrote about was the class divide in the US. So, in that vain I present to you Harry Bridges by Rancid:<br />
Live Version from '94 (great concert footage, decent sound)
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/waWXH-K-uwA" width="640"></iframe>
Album version (better sound)
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kDkCH0pfXi4" width="640"></iframe> For anyone interested here is the wiki page for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Bridges">Harry Bridges</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Thursday">Blood Thursday</a> (referenced in the first line of the song).<br />
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You can probably guess where I fall on the political spectrum, but I respect all opinions given the person respects mine. So, feel free to discuss.Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-79376987484667090742011-09-22T09:10:00.002-04:002011-09-22T09:11:08.177-04:005 year old Lego Star Wars Movie<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27271711@N04/3046594918/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=""You are too short to be a stormtrooper!" (explore) by The mofoJT, on Flickr"><img alt=""You are too short to be a stormtrooper!" (explore)" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/3046594918_e6bc20d789.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of flikr user The mofoJT</td></tr>
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A great little stop action Lego Star Wars Movie. It is filled with pew-pew awesomeness. A great reminder of being a kid.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1WccERmZTWc" width="640"></iframe>Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-56662150279096419692011-09-21T09:47:00.001-04:002011-09-23T09:52:38.590-04:006 Ton NASA Satellite Falling From the Sky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mix.msfc.nasa.gov/IMAGES/MEDIUM/9254338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://mix.msfc.nasa.gov/IMAGES/MEDIUM/9254338.jpg" width="617" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), credit NASA MSFC</td></tr>
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Sometime near Friday, September 23, 2011, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Atmosphere_Research_Satellite">Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite</a> (UARS) will crash back to Earth. UARS helped to <span style="font-size: small;">define the role of the upper atmosphere in climate and climate variability, by measuring </span><span style="font-size: small;"> ozone and chemical compounds found in the ozone layer which affect ozone chemistry and
processes. UARS also helped characterize </span><span style="font-size: small;">winds and temperatures in the stratosphere as well as the energy
input from the Sun. All of these helped better understand our upper atmosphere and Earth's climate.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It turns out that the this huge satellite may have some pieces which reach ground level. Sounds exciting! Don't touch though. Space.com ran an article about how FEMA is on alert for any issues. You can read it: </span><a href="http://www.space.com/13009-falling-nasa-satellite-uars-fema-response-plans.html"><span style="font-size: small;">FEMA Prepared for Dead NASA Satellite's Plunge to Earth This Week.</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">From the article, </span><br />
<blockquote>
Numerically speaking it comes out to a chance of 1 in 3,200 that one
person anywhere in the world might be struck by a piece of debris. "So
those are actually, obviously, very, very low odds that anything —
anybody is going to be impacted by this debris," Johnson added.</blockquote>
Pretty small odds indeed... unless you are the person that gets hit... actually, I think that seems like very large odds. Given that 2/3 of the planet is covered by water, that number seems ridiculously high... anyone else have any thoughts about it?<br />
<br />
EDIT: Thought I would update the article with my comment below in case someone doesn't read the comment. The 1 in 3200 is integrated over the entire world population. The odds for any individual is 1 in 2.1E13 or 1 in 21 Trillion. Very small odd indeed. Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75570761624795721.post-67007224387786435502011-09-09T10:14:00.000-04:002011-09-21T08:46:25.578-04:00Those darn kids... and Punk Rock FridayI have a few fun stories to share along with some quality punk rock to start your weekend. Stories first:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ogHK_O9-WjM/TmoaUAGxCYI/AAAAAAAAAFA/y29b4imrIro/s1600/Light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ogHK_O9-WjM/TmoaUAGxCYI/AAAAAAAAAFA/y29b4imrIro/s320/Light.jpg" width="320" /></a>So, Sweet Little Helion (my 2 year old daughter) loves the color yellow. Maybe loves is an incorrect description - she is slightly obsessed with it. She searches out yellow cars and houses when we drive, then smiles and points them out to everyone. And you <u>must</u> acknowledge the yellow. She would live in her yellow butterfly shirt every day if I didn't tear it off her body to wash it - to the tears and rage that only a toddler can produce. So, the other night Beautiful Wife is upstairs putting SLH to bed and they were chatting a bit. She asked SLH what color she would paint her room if she had the choice, expecting full well that she would hear 'Yellow!' in her sweet little toddler voice which sounds closer to her saying 'Lellow'. Instead, SLH responds with 'Black.' in this deadpan, matter of fact way. Weird little kids.<br />
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So, last night I am walking past SLH's room an hour after her bedtime and I hear her singing 'I love yellow, I love yellow' over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. She just repeated her yellow mantra for like 5 minutes. I think we are going to have to start a yellow cult or something...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gulicks/6114709/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Lalibela, Ethiopia - Man in saffron robe by mexikids, on Flickr"><img alt="Lalibela, Ethiopia - Man in saffron robe" height="500" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/5/6114709_3273f08b05.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All pray to the all mighty YELLOW! Photo by mexikids at Flickr</td></tr>
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Ok maybe not... I am too light skinned to wear that much yellow anyway... SLH will be devastated.<br />
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On another note, the other morning BW was getting ready for work, SLH was playing on the floor and Little Berserker Spawn, our 4 year old son, was sitting on our bed watching some news and eating some cheerios. BW had done something a little new with her hair that morning and I thought it looked really nice, so I said, "I really like your hair." Now, LBS wanted to also complement her, but did not want to copy me so he said, "Mommy, I really like yourrrrr... underwear!" I burst out laughing and BW was very kind and gracious, and said, 'Thank you, LBS.' While shooting the crazy laughing eyes at me. HAHAHAHA! To be fair, she was getting dressed and didn't have her pants on yet.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Punk Rock Friday - the Ramones</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, in honor of my funny kids I present to you for Punk Rock Friday their favorite songs: Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio? and Rock N Roll High School. They Rock N Roll Radio is LBS' favorite while SLH switches between the two.</span></span><br />
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<br />Berserk Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754926948156498352noreply@blogger.com1