When did we become so fearful of science? Not since Galileo got thrown in a tower for accurately pointing out that we’re not the center of the universe have science and logic been hailed as Enemy Number One.

I could understand it if Big Science had done something really odious. Like…if they...

I was just looking over the amenities for my room next week and I cannot lie; I rolled my eyes when I saw that they bothered to specify the brand of toiletries they use.

Still, I looked them up just out of curiosity and...okay, I'm kind of excited about trying them now.

Postmates is the easiest way to get delivery for anything in your city.

Ok, I just wanted to say that this is totally one of my favorite new apps in a long, long time.  Postmates is a delivery service that delivers just about anything, really.  Meals, groceries, drug store items, your laundry, whatever.  You open up the app, tap in your order, provide the delivery address, and then you get quoted a price for delivery (as far as I can tell it's based on a combination of distance and complexity; I had a simple chicken dinner delivered tonight and the fee was super low.)  

Their goal is to be everywhere; I can't find a complete list but I know they're already in San Francisco (of course), Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, Seattle, San Diego, Chicago, Boston, Philly, DC, and I'm sure I've left off a city.  

I know there's been other delivery/errand services in the past but I think a lot of them failed because they weren't very convenient to use, sad for a service that's all about convenience.  Postmates is SO simple, though.  I will admit that I had some challenges setting up my first delivery address but, uh....that could've been user error, to be honest.

Anyway,, if you live in one of those cities and you think you might want to check it out, you can use my referral code z5rta for a $10 credit for delivery fee.  (When I set up my account I used a referral code from a friend and it took me two deliveries to use up the credit.  YMMV!!!)  You can go to postmates.com to get the app or get it from Play or iTunes, as applicable. 

Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef is an exciting adventure through a slowly sinking temple overcome by some of the most magnificent aquatic creatures, including 100 sharks. Explore more of the Shark Reef here.

Just to be clear, I won't be diving with the sharks.  

Because sharks are awesome but guess who once made the horribly ill-timed discovery that diving triggers their severe claustrophobia?

Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino is the Strip’s original home of cool, a tropical oasis with a central location. Book your stay and find your paradise.

I have a coupon to give away for two nights (mostly) free at the Flamingo in Las Vegas.  You'll get the room free but you'll still have to pay their resort fee which is $15 -  $25 depending on when you go (plan for $25) which is still a fantastic deal.  The Flamingo is not the fanciest hotel on the Strip but it's clean and well-cared for, the staff is super friendly, and it's definitely one of the better locations.  It's one of my favorites so I'm happy to be able to give this coupon away.  

Of course there are some terms and conditions, both Caesars and mine.  We'll start with theirs:

• Valid through December 25, 2014
• Good for a midweek (Sunday through Thursday) stay only.  No holidays, other blackout dates may apply.
• Advanced reservation required.  At the time of reservation you must give them your Total Rewards member number.  (If you don't already have one, you can sign up for free at www.totalrewards.com.  I highly recommend signing up for as many loyalty programs as you can in Vegas as they come in handy and strongly favor Total Rewards.  They've been very generous to me.)
• You must present the original coupon and Total Rewards card upon check-in.  (If you are signing up online for a TR card, no worries.  You'll just go to the TR desk and pick up your card there.)

Now here are MY terms and conditions:

• This is NOT a promo.  You do NOT have to be following me and following me will NOT increase your odds of getting the coupon.
• I only have one coupon; in the event there are multiple requests for it I will make a random drawing from all the requests I receive by Wednesday, September 24.  
• You'll need the physical coupon to check in so you'll have to be willing to give up your mailing address.  Never fear, I promise I will promptly forget all about it once I've mailed you the coupon.
• Please don't ask for unless you're really going to use it.  I don't get anything from your using the coupon but I'd it to go to someone who will use it, not just toss it in a drawer and forget about it.  
• If you are interested, please send me a message.  Don't send your address yet.
• Yes, you may reblog this - I encourage you to do so, if you think your followers might be interested - but don't reblog this more than once.   That's just gauche.
• This is optional and I'll never know if you did this or not but if you do take the coupon I sincerely hope that you will will go to the Flamingo bird sanctuary located on site and tell the flamingos "Zee says hi."  I just love them.

So I"m finally going to go check this place out next month.

San Diego Zoo September 2014

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeegrega/sets/72157647413914166/

View the album on Flickr.

I'm pretty sure the only people who actually read my posts have already seen this link on FB BUT here are some photos I took in San Diego last week.

Drama Button... For all of life's unnecessary drama. This is a fun and humorous way to compliment the epic moments in life.

This is the sound effect that went through my head during the third panel of today's Dumbing of Age.

Will Walky and Sal make peace with each other?  Will they team up for daring deeds of derring-do (for justice!) (or maybe just for kicks) as the baddest-ass brother and sister duo on campus?  Only The Shadow Willis knows for sure!

But for real, y'all, if you're not reading Dumbing of Age, you really ought to be.  I mean, if you look at the strip today, you might be all, "huh, whatever, two characters barely speaking" but if you actually read the series you realize there's so much tension packed into those silent panels that I've actually run out of crappy metaphors to describe it.

popculturebrain

BREAKING: Paul Feig in Talks to Direct ‘Ghostbusters’ Reboot With Women | Variety

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/paul-feig-ghostbusters-comedy-reboot-1201274332/

Paul Feig is being courted to direct and produce a “Ghostbusters” comedy reboot.

Feig is not helming “Ghostbusters 3″ or another sequel, in any sense of the word, as has been incorrectly reported.

The movie is a total reboot most likely with female characters played by comedic actresses in the ghostbusting roles, according to sources. The script will be written from scratch.

Now this is a reboot I want to see.

ohcamil

I MIGHT want to see this.  It will be hard for anyone to create a new Ghostbusters that I would go see.  I mean, I am so attached to the original.

The hottest new plus size swimwear trends up to 60% off at swimsuitsforall! Contact our expert swim stylists for advice on stylish and slimming swimwear.

So I just thought I'd mention this online store because I read about them elsewhere, took a look, and was surprised at how many cool suits they have at pretty decent prices.  I don't have any need for a new swim suit but someone else might.  PS They're not ALL plus size - some suits are available in size 8, for example, but they have a lot of plus size suits in a broad range of styles and colors and as someone who routinely struggles to find swim tops that will contain her breasts I totally appreciate that.

That wasn't TMI was it?

Which 1960's band do you belong to?

http://www.playbuzz.com/bronj10/which-1960s-band-do-you-belong-to

Time to audition! Will you make the cut?

My result:  The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Discover free and discounted bestselling ebooks for Kindle, iPad, Nook & more. Join BookBub for free to start reading!

I keep meaning to post this link.  I've been a subscriber to BookBub (when you sign up, you fill out a simple survey about your tastes and what devices you use and they send you a daily email - maybe you can switch the frequency, I've never checked - with links to free and discounted books you might like) and I've really enjoyed it.  I have pretty broad tastes so I've gotten a lot of free books out of it and a lot of 99 cent books, too. 

Which Famous Painter Are You?

http://www.playbuzz.com/debw10/which-famous-painter-are-you

Based on your choices, discover which famous painter you are. Are you disciplined and steady, precise and exacting? Impulsive, unleashed with abandon? Or are you more involved with the act of creating, rather than the result?

I am Salvador Dali:  "You have a wild and crazy view of life, not content to blend in with the crowd. Always entertaining, always original, you are the "life of the party", as long as you don't freak people out with your intensity."

the50sbest

Which Classic Leading Man Should You Marry?

http://www.playbuzz.com/jennyc10/which-classic-leading-man-should-you-marry

Love men from back in the day? Find out which one is your dream man!

Try it this is so fun :) I got Fred Astaire! 

headforhippieland

Hell yeah son I got William Holden

ohcamil

Heh, I got William Holden, too :)

Hidden in plain sight: Tricky ways to make industrial infrastructure vanish

http://www.itworld.com/slideshow/154798/hidden-plain-sight-tricky-ways-make-industrial-infrastructure-vanish-420969

I wrote about concealing industrial infrastructure! My most important discovery was the existence of the fakerock.com domain, for all your fake rock needs.

WPZ 06012014

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeegrega/sets/72157644553908339/

View the album on Flickr.

took some photos at the zoo today

the-vallevette-touch

byteethorbullets said: We just had a small earthquake. there’s more activity on my facebook newsfeed than there was on the seismograph.

Where was it?

Edit: I google’d locations of earthquakes and appears there was a 3.3 one in CA about 8 hours ago? I lived in CA…

ohcamil

We have earthquakes up here all the time (the joys of living in the Ring of Fire) and sometimes on a slow news night the local media will talk one of them up just to have content and the very same people who would never otherwise have noticed will be all OH MY GOD, DID YOU FEEL IT? all night long :) 

I have a number of stories about little earthquakes I never even noticed.  I think probably my favorite is the time I couldn’t figure out why I was sleeping on the floor until I realized I’d probably been sleeping on the edge of the bed and got knocked down gently enough that it didn’t wake me up.

the-vallevette-touch

Wow.  I don’t know whether to laugh or be impressed!  I wish I could sleep that deeply.

ohcamil

It's kind of funny (in the strange sense, not the ha-ha) about me and sleep.  As I'm sure I've mentioned, I've had problems with insomnia since I was a baby and I really have to work at getting an adequate amount of sleep.  It can take me forever to get to sleep, or feel like it, anyway - but once I get there, I can sleep through a lot.  

I remember reading a story about Dick Clark in which he was so tired he fell asleep during a Black Sabbath concert, if you can even imagine.  I don't think I'm *that* solid of a sleeper but I have slept through all kinds of things that wake most people.  

the-vallevette-touch

byteethorbullets said: We just had a small earthquake. there’s more activity on my facebook newsfeed than there was on the seismograph.

Where was it?

Edit: I google’d locations of earthquakes and appears there was a 3.3 one in CA about 8 hours ago? I lived in CA...

ohcamil

We have earthquakes up here all the time (the joys of living in the Ring of Fire) and sometimes on a slow news night the local media will talk one of them up just to have content and the very same people who would never otherwise have noticed will be all OH MY GOD, DID YOU FEEL IT? all night long :) 

I have a number of stories about little earthquakes I never even noticed.  I think probably my favorite is the time I couldn't figure out why I was sleeping on the floor until I realized I'd probably been sleeping on the edge of the bed and got knocked down gently enough that it didn't wake me up.

mychpw-deactivated20150702

Hawaii's trailblazing healthcare underscores disparity

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-healthcare-coverage-20140406-dto-htmlstory.html

The state’s system and widespread insurance coverage mean its residents are some of the nation’s healthiest.

Nearly everyone is covered in the nation’s healthiest places, including Hawaii, Massachusetts and parts of the Upper Midwest. By contrast, fewer than 7 in 10 working-age adults have health insurance in parts of Texas, Florida and the Deep South — areas with some of the highest rates of death from preventable illnesses.

In Texas, which has the lowest rate of insurance coverage in the nation, residents are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than they are in Hawaii, according to federal cancer data.

ohcamil

If you ever doubt the importance of access to healthcare....

JFC, I'm well aware of the problems of health care disparities and this still blows my mind.  Forty percent.  FORTY.

Pandamorphosis [Anne Belov, Kate Burkett] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Think playful pandas and you have a “what if” tale of transformation that will transport readers into a moonlit night of wishes and fantasy. Pandamorphosis is a visual adventure that explores the unintended consequences of getting what you wish for. Follow a night of magic adventure as a young girl’s passion for pandas

My friend Anne is the creator of this fabulous book.  This is the review I wrote (anyone who knows me knows that I don't mince words and am not afraid to give a meh or even bad review to a friend if I think it's warranted, so this isn't just me fluffing up a friend):

Pandamorphosisis a sweet, simple story of love, magic, and pandas brought to life in a series of wordless illustrations that are lush, vibrant, and full of life. It's a gorgeous book appropriate for both children and adults who want to indulge their sense of wonder.There's so much depth on every page - you can look at each image a dozen times and find some new detail to catch your eye each time. This is a book made with love and passion well worth owning

If you appreciate fine art and beautiful storybooks you should take a look - even if you're not a panda fanatic I totally think it's a great book for anyone who appreciate visual storytelling.