Archives
Posted by Justine at 0:00, October 25th, 2008 under New York City/USA, Next novel, Research, Science, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, September 30th, 2008 under Bloggery, Book challenges, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Reading, Science, State of the World, Travelling, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
I stopped studying maths in Year 7. Before that I'd made a bit of an effort but in my first year of high school (in New South Wales high school starts in Year 7) I downed tools. I was bored, annoyed, and couldn't see the point so I quit. Technically I kept going to maths class---it was compulsory until the end of Year 10---but I failed each year and was never made to repeat. I didn't learn anything new after Year 6.
At the time I thought it was excellent that I could get away with it. In class I read novels under the desk. I never studied and finished my maths exams quicker than anyone else cause I guessed all ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, September 9th, 2008 under Basketball, Bloggery, Excuses, Magic or Madness trilogy, New York City/USA, Praising, Science, Sport, State of the World, Sydney/Australia |
"Monster" and "whiteant". Have you ever used them as verbs? If your answer is yes give sentence and say where you are from.
This is in the nature of a scientific survey. Truth must be told.
That is all.
Posted by Justine at 0:00, July 25th, 2008 under Science, Words & Language |
There's a
fascinating article in The New Yorker, "The Itch" by
Atul Gawande. It's all about what causes itching, how we experience it, and what happens when it goes horribly wrong. HORRIBLY WRONG.
The case the article revolves around is so gross that I had to stop reading for awhile. Me, who is a connousieur of grossness, who is proud of
how gross my story in the First Kiss anthology is. And yet I feel compelled to share. Since I am a good person I will share after the cut.
WARNING: If you are easily grossed out DO NOT continue reading. If you have ever had shingles DO NOT continue reading. I am not kidding about this warning.
Posted by Justine at 12:59, June 27th, 2008 under Praising, Reading, Science, State of the World |
Tasmanian marsupial lives that is.
Scientists back home have discovered that marsupials really really really don't like dingo pee. They avoid it like the plague which means that farmers and the forestry industry can stop poisoning wildlife in order to protect crops. Spray the wee around and the critters stay away and the crops grow unmolested. Everybody wins.
Apparently it also makes a really lovely perfume. ((No, not really.))
Posted by Justine at 14:10, June 13th, 2008 under Science, State of the World, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 12:11, February 27th, 2008 under Science, Sydney/Australia |
All my life I have stayed out of the sun, diligently following the instructions of the anti-skin cancer campaigns. I have slipped on a long-sleeved shirt, slopped on sunscreen, and slapped on a hat. ((That campaign turned me into a life-long hat addict.)) As a result (unlike quite a few people back home) I've never had any skin cancer scares. But it turns out that I've been putting myself at
risk of rickets:
MILLIONS of Australians are exposing themselves to bone disease, fractures, diabetes and cancers by failing to get enough vitamin D, a crucial nutrient produced when skin is exposed to sunlight.
Experts have warned the highly acclaimed "Slip Slop Slap" campaign may have been taken too far by a ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, December 11th, 2007 under Science, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 21:31, October 23rd, 2007 under Ideas, Science |
Reason Cansino, the protag of my Magic or Madness trilogy, is somewhat of a mathematical prodigy, but she pales in comparison to
Terence Tao:
By age two, he had learned to read. At 9, he attended college math classes. At 20, he finished his Ph.D.
Now 31, he has grown from prodigy to one of the world's top mathematicians.
. . .
"I always liked numbers," he said.
A 2-year-old Terry Tao used toy blocks to show older children how to count. He was aquick with language and used the blocks to spell words like "dog" and "cat."
. . .
At age 5, he was enrolled in a public school, and his parents, adminstrators and teachers set up an individualized program for him. He ...
Posted by Justine at 15:41, March 13th, 2007 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Science, State of the World, Sydney/Australia |
I don't want to rubbish a whole city, especially when I was only there for a few hours, but Atlantic City is an erky perky bleah of a place. Friends warned me it was a shithole---I had no idea they were being kind. It's ugly, full of the most hideous buildings ever built and populated by zombie gamblers, who are served by an army of twelve-year-old incompetent staff. Once you're inside one of the casinos it's almost impossible to get out again. All signs lead to more gambling areas. I'm convinced that hell will be nothing but Atlantic City casinos.
This is heresy for an Australian, but, I hate gambling. I love cards and I'll bet on them, but not with ...
Posted by Justine at 9:56, October 19th, 2005 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Magic or Madness trilogy, New York City/USA, Ranting, Reading, Science, Scott's books, State of the World, Travelling, Viewing, Whingeing, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Remember that recent study that got all the publicity about overweightness and obesity not being such a big deal? Well, fabulous science writer, Rebecca Skloot,
explains it all in a way that makes sense. Thank you!
My maths and science education sort of petered out in about year seven, so I'm always incredibly grateful for anyone who can help me understand such matters.
Posted by Justine at 17:17, June 24th, 2005 under Science |
