Reality TV Picks

Survivor: Fiji

Do far, I like Earl. He's playing a low key game and seems to have the right combination of strength and smarts. However, his tribe is down by two and he's gotten the attention of the other tribe who sent him to Exile Island for this week. Does he have friends on Moto who angled to save him from tribal council, or were they punishing him for a strong showing in the challenge? Here's hoping the third clue brings him the hidden immunity idol.

I wish I knew more about the players on the Moto tribe but since they are living in luxury it doesn't seem like they get as much camera time as the more dramatic Ravu tribe.

American Idol

I was helping Angel with her math homework when... "What is that song?" Idol was on in the next room and someone was singing "Typical" by MuteMath.

'cause I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feeling like its now or never
Can I break the spell Of the typical, the typical

Chris Sligh was breaking the typical idol mold not only by being an overweight white guy but also by picking a tune from a relatively obscure indie rock band. Chris gets my pick from the Idol men for being brazenly atypical. Is he mocking Justin with that hair?

Hooray for Ear Hair!

NASA is developing new technology that converts motion into energy. The magic is in the special proteins found in my hairy ears!

They are focusing on a protein called prestin, which is found in the outer hair cells of the human ear. In the cell membranes of these cells, prestin converts electrical voltage into motion, elongating and contracting the cell. This movement amplifies sound in the ear.

However, prestin can also work in reverse, producing electrical charges in response to mechanical stresses, such as tiny vibrations. Each protein is only capable of making nanowatts of electricity, but Matthew Silver and Kranthi Vistakula, both of IntAct Labs, believe that many proteins used together may be able to power small devices or help charge a battery.

Source: New Scientist Space

New Computer - UPDATE

I'm typing this post on my new Dell PC. It arrived yesterday. UPS even made two delivery attempts in the same day. The second time Carmen was home to sign for it. It was 8 days ahead of schedule and I didn't even have to run out to the distribution center to pick it up.

I had a problem installing Shockwave in IE7 so I emailed support. They told me to just call in so I did. I discovered that I have free phone support for the next 4 years! That's why I'll keep recommending Dell. They are good machines and the support is great too (if you buy in the outlet it's hard to beat the price too). I talked to a guy with an Indian accent for about two hours. He got my problem fixed. That was a long time on the phone but you have to admire the guy's dedication.

Tags: dell