In December of 2006 I found myself on a business trip in Southern California. We stayed at the Marriott on Coronado Island. When I paid for my breakfast I was given a one-dollar bill that had "Track This Bill at www.wheresgeorge.com" stamped in red ink on the edge. I went to the site and learned that Where's George "is a website that tracks the natural geographic circulation of American paper money." (wiki). Shortly after this encounter I began entering bills and so far have recorded 1,628 bills of varying denominations ($1 vs. $5, not Baptist vs. Presbyterian).
As I have pursued this hobby I have found myself questioned continuously. It is obvious that some think I am a little nuts to spend time stamping and entering bills into this website (as opposed to the other reasons they think I am nuts). Well, after a little over two years I can now tell those scoffers that I am in fact contributing to scientific research.
Channel 7 News in Chicago just did a story on how a physicist at Northwestern University is using the data from the "Where's George currency tracking project" to predict the movement of people, and therefore the Swine Flu, throughout the US. Basically, he is predicting that when currency moves between two cities you assume that people moved as well.
You can read the article and watch the video by following the link below.
We are so cautious as Americans, that we will shut down the whole southwest proper just because somebody gets "flu like symptoms". But we are also the kind of people that will come up with a promotion where two kids race to home plate, in opposite directions, and without helmets.
Folks that know me know that I like to laugh. I enjoy a hearing people laugh at my "humor", and I love laughing at other people's. I enjoy reading funny blogs and laughing at YouTube videos of guys doubled over after taking a shot 'below the belt' from a baseball hit by their toddler son.. Because of this there are a number of blogs I check and read on a regular basis. One of these is Stuff Christians Like. It is "a tongue in cheek exploration of all the silly things Christians like. From Carmen to books about the rapture to crowns of thorns you can buy for $49.99 at the local Christian bookstore. It will be sarcastic, mildly funny and if some of these things hit too close to home, perhaps a little offensive."
Today the blog takes a humorous look at the serious question "why do bad things happen to good people". The author answers by asking a question God revealed to him. I encourage you to take a few minutes and click the link below to read the blog post.
Here is a short animated graphic that shows the process for assembling the International Space Station. It is very interesting process (and important since it may become our final refuge from the Swine Flu).
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has an article about Nguyen Minh Son and Lam Duc Manh showing at Southlake's Art In The Square. You can read it by following the link below.
