Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Another Myth Debunked

In a triumph of science over wishful thinking, a recent study has found that your children are no safer in that enormous, hulking SUV that they are in a regular sedan.  With that one crossed off the list, what justifications are the SUV apologists left with now?

Monday, January 16, 2006

Engineers As Activists?

Those are not two words I normally think of together.  After all, MIT or Rensselaer do not come to mind with, say, Cal Berkely as hotbeds of student activism.  But now come the engineering students at Tulane, who have found a cause that they can and should get behind:  saving the several engineering majors that were eliminated in the post-Katrina restructuring of the university.  It really is the ultimate irony that the civil engineering program that produced the engineer who designed the original pumps that have drained water from the streets of New Orleans for decades -- many of which continued to operate while newer pumps failed -- is being eliminated now, when the city is facing so many decisions on how to properly and safely rebuild.

Tuesday, January 3, 2006

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From State of Nature

We had a relatively quiet first Christmas in New Jersey.  As quiet, that is, as things can be when the six of us are together in one place.  Some creature is pretty much always stirring around here.  We missed our extended family on Christmas day, but fortunately were able to get down to Washington for a lovely four-day visit.  Here are some pictures I took on Christmas.  Next year, let's have some visitors, please!!

Monday, January 2, 2006

Stephen is Five!

Notwithstanding Miss Manners' opinions regarding the questionable etiquette of blogging, we here at State of Nature forge on!  Here are pictures of Stephen's birthday party at the local bowling alley -- always a big hit with the little ones.  There are also a couple of bonus shots at the end of the aftermath of brownie baking for Stephen's party at preschool.   

Tomorrow . . . pictures of Christmas!