Distance Education

Once again, last Friday found me throwing my possessions into a laundry basket (sans mango this time) and driving 273 miles southbound. Then, after spending a fantastic weekend with my family and friends celebrating the birth of our country, I threw it all back in the basket and drove up that same 273-mile stretch of interstate. Holiday traffic was horrific both ways. Ultimately, I spent roughly 11.5 hours in the car.

Thank goodness for National Public Radio. Here are some things I learned in the car this weekend. The first few are courtesy of NPR’s Science Friday. The list is by no means exhaustive.

•July 11th there will be a total solar eclipse visible from the Caribbean. Many astrologists booked rooms on Easter Island years ago to make sure they could see it.
•Scientist’s have identified a genetic “longevity” signature unique to individuals who live to be 100 years or older. The crazy thing is that the centenarians still have genetic markers associated with life-threatening and chronic diseases; but, the researchers think that they don’t manifest because the genes that make up the longevity signature somehow neutralize them.
•The allium genus includes garlic, leeks, chives, onion, shallots and more veggies that I can’t remember. A guy whose name I don’t remember wrote a book about them. Fun fact: if you crush up garlic and put it on foot fungus, it will kill the fungus. It will also burn the skin off your feet.
•Geneticist’s are working to isolate genes for scale and eye color in Sticklefish. I forget why.
•General Patraeus will replace General McChrystal as the top US Commander in Afghanistan.
•Age-related cognitive decline (subtle, but present as early as age 25) can be linked to a build-up of neurotoxins in the brain resulting in a decreased ability of the brain to metabolize oxygen.
•An author named Karen Slaughter (not a pseudonym) writes crime fiction. She likes to murder someone within the first chapter of each book.
•A company in Alaska has started producing Salmon flavored vodka. They distill the alcohol in smoked salmon and then strain it out. The company suggests using it to make Bloody Marys.
•There is an exhibit is some city called Burke that showcases art by individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries.
•In 2000, Stephen King was hit by a van. He broke almost all the bones on the right side of his body. His family later bought the van and had it impounded so a crazed fan wouldn’t buy it and make a profit on ebay.
•The first tar balls washed up on the beaches of Galveston, TX. The oil catastrophe (I refuse to minimize the incident by referring to it as a “spill”) has officially hit all the gulf states.

Thank you NPR, for sharing your knowledge and making my drive bearable.