Monday, May 14, 2012

Always Remember


Well this seems to be my last post. I’d like to say I had fun but I didn’t really have too much fun. After a while I kind of just wanted to get to the word requirement.

But here are some things to always remember:

1.       Be tolerant: Just because people don’t lead the same life you do doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the same amount of respect.

2.       Speak up: If something is wrong and you can do something about it, then do it.

3.       Love everyone: Everyone has something to give to this world and you’ll have a happier life if you find the gifts in everyone.

4.       Find the beauty in Earth: Nature is a wonderful thing and you need to make sure you get your butt outside and experience it in whatever way you can.

5.       Never stop dreaming: Always have a goal and always strive to reach it.

6.       Put your worries aside: Have fun in life! Don’t sit there and have all these worries; it’s such a waste of time.

Of course there are a million other inspirational things I could say for you to do but hopefully if you are a very uninspired person, these will at least get you started. :)

Why the Reasons for Banning Gay Marriage are Stupid

2012 Hurricane Season


While it’s been noticed that tornado season has and will be worse than last year, what about hurricane season? How will the hurricanes be this summer?
While I was looking for the answers to these questions I found that most people were basing their information off of the Colorado State forecasters. Naturally I had to look them up before I read their research to make sure they were the real deal. Here’s what I found:
“Each December for the last 16 years, Colorado State University scientists have forecast the following year’s hurricane activity. And on average, for those 16 years, a forecast of average hurricane activity each year would have done as well. Nonetheless, the latest forecast — for above-average hurricane activity next year, with seven Atlantic hurricanes between June 1 and November 30, and three major hurricanes — was covered by the Associated Press, Bloomberg and MarketWatch, which, like WSJ.com is owned by News Corp.
The Colorado State team updates the forecasts several times before and during the hurricane season, and, as you might expect, the forecasts tend to get more acurate as the year progresses — though even the later forecasts have missed badly in the last couple of years, as some of the above articles noted. The track record is much worse for the December forecast, though, a point acknowledged by lead forecaster Philip J. Klotzbach in the group’s latest report: “You always learn more when your seasonal forecast busts than when it verifies. Busted forecasts drive us to explain the reasons for the failure and likely lead to enhanced skill in future years.” (If the sports analogy that started this blog post sounds strained, consider how much Dr. Klotzbach sounds like a member of a sports team after a tough loss.)
As Dr. Klotzbach explains in the forecast, the Colorado State team — previously led by professor emeritus William Gray, who still co-writes the forecasts — has tried three different schemes over the years to formulate its December forecasts, derived from various climatic factors such as African rainfall and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures. Each initially looked good when “hindcasting” — that is, evaluating the new models based on how well they would have done had they been used to predict past seasons. But each failed when put to work forecasting the next year’s hurricane activity. Dr. Klotzbach attributes that disappointing result to relying on climatic factors that had no real link to Atlantic hurricane activity — something he says has changed in the latest forecast.
This time around, Dr. Klotzbach is trying a fourth scheme that is a hybrid of two other approaches. Of course, if Scheme D fails, it may also be discarded, though Dr. Klotzbach isn’t setting any deadlines.
Even a more-accurate seasonal forecast is of questionable utility. AccuWeather.com makes its own seasonal forecasts, and trumpeted in a recent press release that it beat the Colorado State team and other entrants in forecasting accuracy this year. Nonetheless, Ken Reeves, AccuWeather.com’s director of forecasting operations, told me, “We’re not really big fans of the seasonal number games.” What really matters, he says, is “whether they make landfall, and how strong they are at landfall.””
--This article thanks to Carl Bialik

Now, whether or not you believe these forecasters are accurate or not will determine how much you will believe their predictions below:

“The 2012 hurricane season promises to be less active than normal, and close to half as active as last year, when 20 tropical cyclones, seven hurricanes and four major hurricanes were recorded, according to a forecast released today by the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project. Forecasters Philip Klotzbach and William Gray predict the 2012 season, which begins June 1, will have 4 hurricanes, compared with an average of 6.5 hurricanes between 1981 and 2010, and 10 named storms, compared with an average of 12.
The forecasters predict that two of the hurricanes will be major storms, ranked as Category 3 or higher, with winds greater than 111 mph, which is just about average. But there will only be a total of three days when hurricanes will have that major storm status, compared with an average of 3.9 days.
The duo's April 2011 forecast called for nine hurricanes, of which five would be major, and 16 named storms.
The chance of a major hurricane making landfall in the United States this year is about 80 percent of the average, and the total tropical cyclone activity will be only 75 percent of the long term average.
"Although that is welcome news for the Gulf Coast, it certainly is not a signal for us to let our guard down," said Jefferson Parish President John Young. "Rather, our citizens should continue to make preparations for the upcoming hurricane season since any major storm can cause catastrophic property devastation and loss of human life."
In making their forecast, Klotzbach and Gray are only comparing their predicted storm activity to 29 years of hurricane records. Last year, the pair compared their predictions against a 50-year storm history from 1950 to 2000.
Under the 50-year scenario, there was an average 9.6 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3 major hurricanes.
The forecasting duo credit a combination of cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and an expected return to El Nino warmer than normal surface water conditions in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean for the reduced tropical storm activity.
The lower Atlantic water temperatures make it more difficult for storms to form, as does higher air pressures in that region that the forecasters say will occur this summer and fall.
The El Nino conditions historically have prompted greater wind shear in the upper atmosphere in the Atlantic, which tends to blow the tops off of thunderstorms, again making it more difficult for hurricanes to form.
In predicting a return to El Nino conditions in the Pacific, however, the forecasters are a bit ahead of the official National Weather Service forecast.
The service's Climate Prediction Center on Monday agreed that a two-year stretch of La Nina conditions in the tropical Pacific, representing cooler than normal surface water temperatures, has weakened. But the center's prediction only calls for a change to neutral conditions, neither cooler nor warmer, by April, with a 40 percent chance of it remaining neutral through December, compared to a 38 percent chance of turning to warmer El Nino conditions.”

--This article thanks to Greater New Orleans

I personally think that the forecasters are probably close in their predictions. They’ve done plenty of research and devote their time to this. But after all, the weather can be pretty unpredictable so who knows how the hurricane season will really turn out this year.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Bad Sunflower Seeds


Random annoyance of the day: The sunflower seeds that tastes really bad. I eat the whole seed, like shell and all, because I think it’s good. But every now and then you’ll get a really horrible one that makes you want to gag. What’s up with that?

You Don't have to be Straight to be in the Military; You just have to be able to Shoot Straight


I have a firm belief that it doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation is, you should be allowed to serve in the military. You don’t have to be straight to be a soldier; you just have to shoot straight. But here are 13 reasons (and dumb reasons at that) originally supplied by BuzzFeed. (They also agree that these claims are poorly backed-up)

1. Body Art

“In my opinion, the presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would very likely create an unacceptable risk to those high standards. It will lead to alcohol use, adultery, fraternization, and body art. If we change this rule of 'Don't Ask, Dont Tell' what are we going to do with these other rules?” - Sen. Saxby Chambliss

2. Transgenders and Hermaphrodites

“There has to be a special bond in the Military, and I think that bond is broken if you open up the military to transgenders, to hermaphrodites, to gays and lesbians. Yeah, that's gonna be part of this whole thing. It's not just gays and lesbians. It's a whole gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual community.” Rep. Duncan Hunter

3. Awkward Barrack

“It's not about anti-gay. It's about being comfortable in the barracks” - Bill O'Reilly

4. Gay People Have AIDS

Given the officially recognized correlation between homosexual conduct and HIV infection, it is reasonable to expect that repeal of the law could increase the number of troops who require medical benefits for many years but cannot be deployed.” - Elaine Donnelly, President of the Center for Military Readiness

5. iPhone Shower Photo Scandals

In her 2008 report, Elaine Donnelly talks about how new technology like iPhones make it easier to take photos of cadets in showers.

6. Because Gay People Are Like Fat/Old People

“In order to preserve military effectiveness the military “discriminates” against the overweight, the old (most must retire in their 40s or early 50s). Similarly, it is for the good of the service that homosexuals are not allowed to serve openly.” - Colonel Dave Bedey

7. Black Lesbian Gangs

Elaine Donnelly believes there will be more gang activity. In her 2008 report she told a story about a group of black lesbians who decided to “gang-assault a fellow soldier.

8. There Will Be A Draft

It (the repeal of DADT) ultimately could lead to the imposition of the draft to fill the numbers and quotas of the military.” - Tony Perkins, Louisiana State Representative from District 64 (East Baton Rouge Parish)

9. Flamboyant Displays Of Homosexual Pride

“The sudden change in military structure would add distractions from worrying about accidentally contracting AIDS by sharing showers and quarters to unwanted sexual advances and flamboyant displays of homosexual pride.” - Eugene Delgaudio

10. Abortions?

“If you vote yes, you are voting for open gay activity in our military and abortions in our hospitals.” - Seator Jim Inhofe

11. Soldiers Will Be Unwilling To Die For Their Gay Comrades

“I happen to be Army, and Army and Marines always feel that when we're out there, we're not doing it for the flag or the country; we're doing it for the guy in the next foxhole. And that would dramatically change that.” - Senator Jim Inhofe

12. Exotic Forms Of Sexual Expression

“Exotic forms of sexual expression, forcible sodomy, and inappropriate passive/aggressive actions are common in the homosexual community.” - Elaine Donnelly

13. It Just Doesn't Make Sense

“For those of us…and I'm one of them…who have gone through the military, gone through basic training, and you stop and think… it just doesn't make any sense.” - Senator Jim Inhofe”

All of these reasons are incredibly stupid. Just saying, homosexual people don’t make advances towards straight people because they know they’re not gay. I just can’t believe the ignorance some people have. If someone is willing to die for this country they should be able to join the military. I understand the whole old/fat discrimination but that’s only because of health reasons. A fit young man who also happens to be gay could perform just as well a straight man. And as far as not wanting to sacrifice your life for a gay comrade, that’s bull. If you’re so horrible of a human being that you wouldn’t risk your life to save another fellow American’s then you probably aren’t in the military anyway.

I can’t wait until the generation before me stops having say in politics. All the rules are going to change because the fight for rights for homosexuals will never die.

Swimming Olympic Trials are Held too Late


The swimming Olympic trials are held in late June/early July. While this has always been the case, Natalie Coughlin (eleven time Olympic medalist) thinks that this time is way too late to hold trials.
"I absolutely hate how late we have our Olympic trials, and always have," Coughlin said during a teleconference on April 17, 2012.
 Coughlin, who earned six swimming medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, acknowledges that there are arguments for and against holding Olympic trials earlier. She just doesn't necessarily agree with all of those arguments, she said.
 For instance, the end of the college swimming season could interfere with trials, and some coaches believe that allowing swimmers to qualify for the Olympic team too early makes swimmers complacent.
 It's the second argument that Coughlin doesn't agree with, she said. Because of the advent of post-collegiate and professional swimmers, complacency is less of an issue than it would have been in the past, she said.
 "The way swimming has gone in the past decade or so, having a lot more older swimmers -- a lot more post-graduate and professional swimmers -- I think that the idea of complacency, it's not something that would exists where we're all mature adults," Coughlin said during the teleconference. "The Olympic team 15 years ago was quite a bit younger so it was kind of a different group of people."
 Coughlin argues that holding the trials earlier would allow for more decompression time in between team selection and the Olympic Games. In addition, it would allow athletes to spend more time focusing on the events they are actually swimming in the Games, rather than spending time training for events in which they might not qualify.
 "For swimmers to swim multiple events, we have to qualify in each and every event, and you don't want to be training for an event you're not going to compete in for the London Games," Coughlin said during the teleconference.
 Despite what she sees as a less-than-ideal trials schedule, Coughlin believe the U.S. team will do well and come out on top in London, she said.
 "I think it will work out for the U.S. team, I just think it makes us all a lot more stressed out not knowing what we're doing this summer," Coughlin said during the teleconference. "…So it's difficult. I would prefer the earlier, but there's nothing we can do to change it this time around."
--This review with Coughlin was done by Sandra Johnson
I, too, believe that the trials are too late. By the time that college swimming ends and trials begin there is so much time for relaxation to take place. In order to get the best results the trials should really be during a swimmer’s competitive season or rather, at the very end of it. This way they are the fastest that they can be.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Opera is Good

Phantom of the Opera is one of my all time favorite movies and soundtracks. Here's one of the songs and scenes from the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej1zMxbhOO0