From the please-God-let-this-happen files: after ditching Colonel Reb, some students at the University of Mississippi (a.k.a. Ole Miss) want Return of the Jedi’s Admiral Ackbar — of “IT’S A TRAP!” fame — to be their school’s new mascot.
I guess it would be a natural step for Ackbar, a member of the Rebel Alliance, to join the Ole Miss Rebels. And apparently Lucasfilm is “flattered.” Does that mean they’ll allow it?
Out: “The SEC: it’s a WAR!” … In: “The SEC: it’s a TRAP!”
Hawaii was lucky. As this awesome NOAA map shows, the main thrust of the energy in yesterday’s tsunami went almost “due” WNW from the epicenter of the Chile earthquake, at an angle of approximately 294 degrees, rather than 302 degrees — i.e., roughly halfway between WNW and NW — which would have taken it straight toward the islands.
This helps explain why the Marquesas Islands — roughly in the middle of that red finger reaching WNW — got waves on the order of 6-8 feet a few hours before the tsunami’s predicted arrival in Hilo, seemingly confirming the forecasts for Hawaii, but in fact the effect in Hawaii was far less significant than predicted.
UPDATE/CORRECTION: This map apparently is the forecast — it’s based on computer model projections, not observed data. So I guess the scientists knew all along Hawaii wasn’t in the tsunami’s “bullseye,” but nevertheless there was enough risk to warrant the warnings.
Meanwhile, here’s a cool animation of the tsunami’s progress across the Pacific:
For anyone who is watching the U.S.-Canada gold-medal hockey game, and wants to say something about aboot it, here’s an open thread for you. I’m not “liveblogging,” per se, though I may post an update or two, if I feel so inspired.
GO AMURRRICA!!! BEAT CANADIA!!!
UPDATE, 1:40 PM MDT: 1-0 Canada on a goal by Toews, 7:10 left in the first period. That’s the first time Team USA has trailed in the Olympics.
2:17 PM: Perry scores for Canada, and it’s 2-0. Ruh-roh. 12:47 left in the second period.
2:31 PM: U.S. pulls within 2-1. w00t w00t!
3:29 PM: The U.S. ties it with 24 seconds left, and we’re going to OVERTIME!!! WOOOO!!!!
3:54 PM: CANADA WINS! :(
Well, good for the home team & fans. Now nothing the British press can say will make the Canadians feel that the Vancouver Olympics were anything less than the Best. Olympics. Ever.
Crosby scores the winner, sending B. Minich into convulsions of confusion. America/Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller is the MVP.
To put it in perspective, the 8.8 earthquake in Chile this morning is roughly **175 times** more powerful than the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti last month. … UPDATE/CORRECTION: Make that 500 times stronger.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund, suggested Friday the organization might one day be called on to provide countries with a global reserve currency that would serve as an alternative to the U.S. dollar.
“That day has not yet come, but I think it is intellectually healthy to explore these kinds of ideas now,” he said in a speech on the future mandate of the 186-nation Washington-based lending organization.
Well, that’s a lot of hedging, so while it’s an intriguing little story, with potentially large but extremely uncertain implications for the future, surely no one will run with it to misleadingly suggest that anything is imminent, or already decided, or that any definite statements have been made, or…
AAAAAHHH!!!!! THE DOLLAR IS DEAD!!!!! THE NEW WORLD ORDER HAS ARRIVED!!!!! OBAMA HAS BROUGHT ABOUT THE END OF THE AGE OF AMERICAN DOMINANCE!!!!! EVERYBODY PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heh.
P.S. Remember how Gandalf said Gollum “hates and loves the Ring”? I sort of feel that way about Matt Drudge.
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About the Authors
Brendan Loy is a 30-year-old attorney, erstwhile journalist, and veteran blogger in Denver, CO. He formerly blogged as the "Irish Trojan." Brendan's wife, Rebecca Loy, 29, is a stay-at-home mom in Denver. Brendan and Becky have three daughters, whose blog nicknames are "Loyette," "Loyacita" and "Loyabelle." More info here. Several others blog here in The Guest Room.
