the deadliest force in the universe

I think are fascinating.  Here you have a force so strong, so intense, that nothing compares.  Even if you set off a nuclear bomb in it, you might not even notice.  I happened across an article called Black Holes: The Deadliest Force in the Universe and so of course I read it. A couple of interesting quotes from it :

“Imagine a black hole swallowing Earth, ending life in an instant.”

I’d rather not, really…  I mean, the concept of a black hole “eating” planets and solar systems would be interesting, might even make a good movie, but the whole “ending life in an instant” part is what I’d rather not dwell on too much.

Actually, there is a movie along those lines.  In Transformers: The Movie, was a giant planet (who could also transform into one bad robot) who travelled around the universe devouring planets.  It was a great movie.

Another quote from that article :

“It would be a bad day for the solar system if we got visited by a black hole,” says Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of New York’s Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History.

That may be about the biggest understatement that can be made.  Like was said earlier, this would mean the total destruction of life as we know it.  A bad day indeed…

But overall, the article does make a few interesting points, such as the fact that if a black hole got within a billion miles of Earth we’d see the effects of it.  Also, people used to think black holes were stationary, but in the year 2000, scientists discovered there are wandering black holes, which are like “nomads, renegades”.  Let’s hope one doesn’t come after us, because our weapons would be of no use on it.  (Although, as I’ve mentioned before, we have yet to test the combined forces of Chuck Norris and Mr. T on a black hole, so there may yet be hope in such a situation.)

create your own holiday

Today is National Boss’s Day.  It started on October 16, 1958, because a woman was appreciative of the job her boss (who was her dad) was doing, so she registered Oct. 16 as National Boss’s Day, choosing it because it’s his birthday.

So why am I pointing this out?  Apparently all she had to do was register it with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to make it a national holiday.  If it’s really that simple, I want to register a few holidays.  Let’s see… how about :

  • National Slackers Day — where you’re supposed to skip work.
  • National Restaurant Discovery Day — where every restaurant offers their full menu at half-price, thus encouraging everyone to go out to eat and to order more than normal (especially with appetizers and dessert).
  • National Sleep-in Day — where all businesses open two hours late (and still let you out at the normal time).
  • Weekend Savings Time — where a Monday is converted into a bonus Saturday, giving us a 3-day weekend.

I’m sure there’s a lot more good ideas, but this is a start.  Feel free to add your ideas in the comments section.

breakfast burrito at Sonic

Sonic has quit selling the spicy southwest breakfast burrito.  Let us have a moment of silence.  [pause]  It was so good.  Initially, I expected the concept of adding chipotle sauce and breaded jalapenos to the supersonic burger to work better, but it was actually better in the breakfast burrito.  (I know this is subjective truth because it’s just my opinion, but I’m the one with the keyboard in hand, so what you hear is my version of the truth.)

But all is not lost, for the regular breakfast burrito at Sonic is still excellent.  It’s filled with sausage, egg, and cheese.  Mmm…  (If any of you have the idea of spoiling my fun, I do not want to know the nutritional information.  What’s important is that it’s scrumptuous.)

Friday the 13th

As you might have noticed, today is Friday the 13th.  Now, before any of you get all crazy, let me tell you something : It’s bad luck to be superstitious.  So don’t be afraid of black cats and ladders and such…