Category Archives: Asides

Short, Tweet-like posts, often with a high snark content.

One of the two H5N1 influenza papers that fueled this brouhaha has finally seen the light of day. Rather than rehash what others have already said so well, I refer readers to the excellent summaries by Vincent Racaniello and Ed … Continue reading →

Posted on 2012.05.02 by Alan | Comments Off

I doubt I will ever craft a sentence that starts as intriguingly as the one midway through this article: “If you decide to administer first aid using a chain saw…”

Posted on 2011.11.14 by Alan | Comments Off

Last weekend’s nor’easter utterly destroyed the electrical infrastructure of Western Massachusetts, where I live. Please do not expect prompt comment approvals or email replies until next week, at the earliest. Thanks.

Posted on 2011.11.03 by Alan | Comments Off

First they came for the Kodachrome, and I did not speak out because I don’t shoot slides…

Posted on 2011.10.01 by Alan | Comments Off

The weather service is warning of “poor drainage flooding.” Isn’t all flooding due to poor drainage?

Posted on 2011.09.08 by Alan | Comments Off

Note to editors: my schedule is now full through September, and I’ve had to turn down two cool assignments today. Please keep me in mind for pieces after that, though.

Posted on 2011.08.05 by Alan | Comments Off

I mentioned this on Twitter already, but in case someone comes by this blog wondering what happened to my LinkedIn account, I closed it. This is why.

Posted on 2011.08.01 by Alan | Comments Off

Helpful Hint: when charging your phone, set your car/house keys next to it so you won’t forget it when you leave.

Posted on 2011.06.10 by Alan | Comments Off

˙əuoʎɹəʌə ‘ʎɐp s,looɟ lıɹdɐ ʎddɐɥ

Posted on 2011.04.01 by Alan | 2 Comments

Wine can apparently induce superconductivity in certain metals. I’m betting that the initial experiment wasn’t done during daylight hours.

Posted on 2011.03.10 by Alan | Comments Off