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Sliding Rocks Bemuse Scientists
An anonymous reader writes "Scientists can't figure out why these rocks — weighing up to several hundred pounds each — slide across a dry lake bed. The leading theory proposes that wind moves the rocks after a rain when the lake bed consists of soft and very slippery mud.
Strangely enough, although both of those are hideous and difficult to read (or stomach as in the second one), they don't have that instant migraine inducing behavior of the previous link. Something about the contrast of pink on purple just makes me want to gauge my eyes out, where as the rainbow flashing seizure inducing second link just makes me want to slap the shit out of it's author and make him take remedial web design courses.
Curiosity was framed, Ignorance killed the cat.
Don't go in August! That's crazy! The best times to go to Death Valley are March and October. The temperature is much nicer and the place is less crowded. We were there last month and all the waitresses and hotel owners in the surrounding towns were saying the same thing: "You picked a great time to come... the weather is getting nice and all the Europeans are gone." [Actual quote]
It could be constraints imposed by when they get their vacations, but one of the most well known phenomena in Death Valley is the appearance of thousands of European and Asian tourists during the hottest months of the year. We usually go once every one or two years and on the last few visits we saw that a lot of places had instituted a policy where the tip is included in the bill (so you pay taxes on it) but only in the summer months, because of the difference in tipping behavior.
One thing that was really nice about Death Valley- every place we stayed had excellent wireless.
Chairs.
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Speaking of which, my mom wants me to see a gynecologist. Now, that scares me. What does the gynecologist do to a virgin like me during physical examination? My friends says they will devirginize me. They say it hurts. Why should I go to see a gynecologist? I did not do anything wrong. I do not have a boyfriend. I am not seeing anybody. I have not done anything at all.... please help. ---- You're right, you haven't done a thing wrong. But having a gynecological exam isn't a punishment, and you don't have to do anything wrong to go. In fact, after you begin your period, you should begin the habit of having an annual (yearly) exam with a gynecologist: all women should, as part of their normal preventative healthcare, just like everyone should ideally go to the dentist once a year and their general doctor for a yearly checkup. Your regular doctor (general practitioner, or GP) can't do the best job of determining your vaginal or reproductive health, and how healthy or unhealthy you are doesn't always have to do with sex. Your mother isn't punishing you, she's caring for you responsibly. No need to be scared about your first gynecological visit. Be sure either you or your mother express to the doctor that it is your first visit, and feel free to communicate that you're nervous. I haven't met a girl or woman yet who wasn't. Ask that the doctor tells you what (s)he is doing and why as (s)he does it. It is up to you to let the doctor know what you need to be comfortable. If you want your mother in the room with you, or want her to leave, let both of them know. If your doctor is male and that makes you uncomfortable, you can ask to have a nurse in the room. Be sure and communicate with your doctor, and if for any reason (s)he seems rushed or uncooperative with your needs, cancel the appointment and find another doctor. My mother (a hospital administrator and epidemiologist whom I use as medical consult) also suggests writing down all the questions you may have about your health, your cycles, and any issues that make you nervous ahead of time, and bringing that list with you for the doctor to address. Smart lady, my Mom. Here's how the whole thing goes. Be sure to relax, and use the bathroom first to empty your bladder or bowels. Having to go to the bathroom during an exam is not a fun experience. Your doctor will begin with: * Some questions about your medical history you and your mother will answer together (or, if you've asked to go the whole visit alone, which you'll answer yourself). * A basic physical exam, just like at a "regular" doctors, including an examination of your eyes and ears, heart and lungs, blood pressure, and weight. * A basic abdominal exam, where (s)he massages your stomach and hip area, and will ask if any spots are tender or painful. * (S)he may also take some blood samples from your arm to check your hormone levels (which in the case of abnormal periods, may be out of whack). You may also get a standard blood and urine screen for STDs. * Before or after this point, you'll be given a gown to get into. Most likely, before the pelvic exam, the doctor will do a breast exam, during which (s)he will feel your breasts and chest area in massaging movements to check for any lumps or irregularities. Now, or perhaps sometime before, you may have noticed that the table you're on has stirrups, and the doctor will pull them out and ask you to slide your feet into them, and move your torso down on the table so that your bottom is sitting on the edge. To see what your doctor sees, check out our map of your genitals. Your doctor will then first just look at the appearance of your vagina, looking for any lumps or bumps, swelling, funny colors, or unusual discharge. (S)he may put a finger on your vagina to see if your glands put out any pus or mucus when touched. You may or may not get a speculum exam: if you have not been in any way sexually active, you don't actually need a speculum exam yet. A speculum is a sanitary plastic or metal clamp device which is used to hold open the vagina so that
In this case however it's not being used to describe a piece of formal logic, it's being used as a idiom common in English. Like it or not languages are evolved through common usage, not through design, and even though modern English recognizes certain formal rules, idioms, expressions, and colloquialisms are largely exempt from such rules. My usage of the idiom "begs the question" is perfectly valid and is used in this case to mean roughly the same as "raises the question".
Curiosity was framed, Ignorance killed the cat.
Not tipping is a gestural communication that says to the world "my parents didn't go to college."
Seriously dude, it's low class. 20% for everything everywhere, things in America tend to cost less than they should anyway (go out to dinner in any other first world country on a local salary). If service was slow, it's the kitchens fault, or someone who isn't serving you didn't show up. If the order was wrong, it's still likely the fault of the kitchen / understaffing. Or maybe your server has only worked their for a week. Punishing new staff is a good way never to get old staff. Whatever the problem is, if they're polite or even cordial, it's still a full tip.
Anyone who has to stand up and pretend to be happy while dealing with the public should get tips. I'd tip at retail if they'd put out a cup. The public is horrible. Customers are like children. Restaurant patrons are worse. Maintaining a positive attitude in that situation requires compensation that is visible and frequent.
Tip dammit. If they have to require it on the bill, then they probably have the unfortunate luck to have an unusually high cheap asshole component in their customer base. And the manager that set the policy won't ever see your lack of tipping. You just made someone's minimum wage hour worse. Way to go.
In Capitalist America, bank robs you!