Chemistry Help

In chemistry, we've been studying the progression of the various models of the atom and what evidence led to the revisions. Though the evidence for the existence of discrete, neutral, massive particles called neutrons is strong, what evidence do we have that leads us to believe the neutron is in the nucleus?

I am not suggesting that it is not. I just simply want to know why the atomic models have the neutrons in the nucleus. Was there a particular experiment or observation?

The Illusion of Choice

A recent conversation in our home:

"Honey, we need something from the store to cook dinner. Do you want to go or should I?"

"You go."

"WHAT??!!"

"Fine. I'll go."

Required Listening: BLACKFIVE: A President's D-Day prayer

BLACKFIVE: A President's D-Day prayer

Another Fun Video

Another video that, if this actually happened in real life, life would be MUCH more fun.

HT: Mad Ogre

I Missed It

D-Day was yesterday. I meant to post something appropriate.

Thank you to all who participated in D-Day, 6 June 1944. We owe you a debt of gratitude.

Go Baby! Go!

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide: "Futures Traders Bet on Dollar Gain For First Time Since 2005

By Bo Nielsen and Ye Xie
May 2 (Bloomberg) -- Futures traders are betting for the first time since December 2005 that the dollar will gain against the euro."

Update: 1 U.S. dollar = 158.679784 Hungarian forints

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Surprise! Military hits recruiting goals across the board

Who says a war drives down recruiting? It certainly doesn't seem that way. Also, I'm sure the whole fiasco with CODEPINK probably helped, too. They're probably not happy about that.

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Surprise! Military hits recruiting goals across the board

The Point?

Recently, if you haven't been under a rock, you know that protesters are trying to drive out Marine recruiters from Berkeley, CA and now Washington, DC. The general method is to show up, deface property, and in general try to prevent anyone from communicating with the recruiters about the Marine Corps. The idea is that the protesters can intimidate the Marines and scare them away.

Does that make any sense to you? Think about what the Marines are trained to do. Their primary mission is to storm hostile shores defended by vicious enemies under heavy and deadly fire. The Marines took island by island the Pacific away from the Japanese. The fought long, bloody, hand-to-hand battles in Korea. The engaged stealthy enemies in the dense jungles of Vietnam. The directly engaged Saddam's army in Kuwait.

Names like Guadalcanal, Chosin, Fallujah, Inchon, and Iwo Jima will forever be a part of the Marine Corps ethos.

Many of the Marines serving as recruiters have personally been in close-quarters combat against people willing to die just to take a single American with them to death.

Do the protesters really think that the Marines will be intimidated by a bunch of ladies in pink dresses? I mean, has CODEPINK thought about that.

I think they have. I will be willing to give them the benefit of doubt and say that they are intelligent people capable of reason. They know they can't intimidate the Marines. Therefore, all of the "direct action" protesting is for publicity, recruiting for their own organization, and is little more than a political statement.

The Marines aren't going anywhere.

But I don't think CODEPINK has truly thought it through. And, by this, I mean they haven't analyzed the consequences if they were to be successful. CODEPINK doesn't think the Marine Corps shares their values. They believe the Marine Corps is out of touch with America. Therefore, they want to drive the Marine Corps recruiters out of their neighborhoods. But this means displacing the recruiters to locations more in line with the values and beliefs of the Marines. This would have the effect of driving the Marines further away from the values and beliefs of CODEPINK. If CODEPINK has really thought of the consequences, I think that they would want Marine recruiters in their area.

But again, this is hypothetical. Remember, does anyone truly believe that the Marine Corps will be intimidated by pink dresses and megaphones?

Homeless: Can you build a life from $25? | csmonitor.com

Can you use nothing but determination and work-ethic to get yourself out of poverty? Appartently so. One writer did. He started in a homeless shelter with $25 and within 10 months was "making it". Hmm.

Homeless: Can you build a life from $25? csmonitor.com

San Jose Mercury News - Vaccines pose no risk for autism, research shows

This is big news and should go a long way to have parents vaccinate their children with all available vaccines. Unfortunately, the rate of vaccination has dropped in recent years because of fears of the side effects of vaccines. Recently, a school registrar that I know revealed, with confidence, that the actual rate of students not vaccinated in public schools is alarmingly high and schools haven't told parents for fear that enrollment would drop.

San Jose Mercury News - Vaccines pose no risk for autism, research shows

"'Thimerosal exposure bears no relationship to the risk of autism,' wrote Canadian autism researcher Dr. Eric Fombonne in an editorial accompanying the study. 'Parents of autistic children should be reassured that autism in their child did not occur through immunizations.'"

'Some doctors believe the increase [in diagnosis of autism] stems from better awareness and diagnosis of the disorder, not more actual cases.'

Also, 'in 2004, an Institute of Medicine panel, after examining more than 20 studies on autism and vaccines, said there is no convincing evidence to support any link between thimerosal or the MMR vaccine and autism. The current California Department of Public Health study adds to that body of research.'

But of course, 'Geraldine Dawson, the chief science officer for the advocacy group Autism Speaks, called the California research "a very important study. The bulk of the evidence thus far suggests that mercury is not involved, but I think parents still have many questions," Dawson said. "I think until parents are satisfied, we need to continue to examine the question."'

So, in other words, "we're not happy and we will still doubt the safety of vaccinations despite 20+ studies that show otherwise."

For parents that are reasonable and responsible, I have one piece of advice: listen to your doctor and get you children vaccinated!