it was close, 51-48, that's close

i read an article about supernovas. the theory is that supernovas evolve in double star systems, where one star becomes a white dwarf (one of the densest forms of matter) and accretes matter from its larger partner star until it hits the chandrasekhar limit, at which point degeneracy pressure cannot support the star, thus creating a type 1a supernova. but how does it happen. is the supernova a deflagration or a detonation. the answer is both. the star burns like a candle and then detonates, creating heavy elements. like my astronomy professor at mac asked us one day, is your outfit supernova-free. probably not. are you wearing a ring, do you have a zipper on your pants, do you have a filling in a tooth, are you wearing a watch, are you concealing a glock. thank you supernovas. anyway, the resulting thermonuclear explosion means the end of the white dwarf and sends its partner star speeding across the universe.

i don’t know if you saw the news last week that dutch filmmaker theo van gogh, who was widely known for his mocking criticism of conservative muslims, was murdered by a young muslim who had sought to make contact with militant groups in the past. well, monday in eindhoven a bomb damaged a muslim elementary school, in what authorities say they believe was intended as an act of revenge for the killing of van gogh. not good. van gogh was due to release a film about pim fortuyn. remember jean-marie le pen from france, that guy was crazy too.

and did you see the news about the upheaval caused by floresians, miniature people found to have lived on the indonesian island of flores until just 13,000 years ago. floresians stood about three and a half feet tall and had tiny brains, but they made sophisticated stone tools that demonstrate high intelligence. are floresians descendants of homo erectus, or are they descendants of homo sapiens downsized by island selection in an environment lacking predators but also lacking food sources. or maybe floresians are unrelated, like neanderthals.

good article by david brooks: the values-vote myth.
who will it be in 2008: candidates begin to jockey for 2008
this article was okay: bansai, debunking the kamikaze myth

demographics is destiny. liberals have fewer kids. liberals are a dying breed.

families join evangelical churches as a refuge against the septic tide of popular culture that threatens to carry away their children.

god, gays, guns.

am i an elitist.