Happy Pi Day and Albert Einstein's 133rd Birthday!

In honor of both Pi Day and Albert Einstein's 133rd Birthday, here are some fun facts!

Pi Facts:

• Pi is the most recognized mathematical constant in the world. Scholars often consider Pi the most important and intriguing number in all of mathematics.

• Pi occurs in hundreds of equations in many sciences including those describing the DNA double helix, a rainbow, ripples spreading from where a raindrop fell into water, superstrings, general relativity, normal distribution, distribution of primes, geometry problems, waves, navigation....
  
• In 1706, an English mathematician introduced the Greek alphabet pi (π) to represent the said value. However, in 1737, Euler officially adopted this symbol to represent the value.

Here is a video with some more facts about Pi!

Now for some fun facts about Albert Einstein!

• Einstein Failed his University Entrance Exam
• In 1895, at the age of 17, Albert Einstein applied for early admission into the Swiss Federal Polytechnical School (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule or ETH). He passed the math and science sections of the entrance exam, but failed the rest (history, languages, geography, etc.)! Einstein had to go to a trade school before he retook the exam and was finally admitted to ETH a year later.
  

• When Einstein was five years old his father gave him a pocket compass. It was this compass that sparked Einstein’s interest in science. The fact that the compass pointed in the same direction no matter how it was turned made him curious about understanding the force behind it.
   
• Einstein was offered the Presidency of Israel in 1952 but declined it.
  
• After Albert Einstein’s death in 1955 his brain was removed without approval from his family and an autopsy was conducted. Thomas Harvey conducted this autopsy and eventually it was discovered that Einstein’s brain had large portion of glial cells in the region that synthesizes information. Other studies also indicated that Einstein’s brain did not have a particular kind of wrinkle and this allowed the neurons to communicate better with each other.

Here is a full BBC documentary about Albert Einstein:

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Questions? Comments? Leave them in the comments section! I always read and reply to them!

And as always...

Thanks for reading!

'The Last Airbender': Why Did I Watch You Again?

First of all, I am NOT just being a whiny fangirl. I'm usually pretty open when it comes to adaptations of my favorite books/tv shows/etc. into different forms of media. I mean, I loved Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, but I still gave the TV adaptation, Legend of the Seeker, a chance, and ended up loving that too... although it had very little in common with the books.

Having recently finished Season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I was excited to finally get to watch the movie. I had heard some griping about it, but I usually ignore others opinions on movies until I have watched them myself. I like to at least give movies a chance.

However...

The Last Airbender ≠ Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Not in any way, shape, or form. It's not just that it was almost NOTHING like the TV show. That was besides the point. The mispronunciation of character names, the not so interesting take on the story, those things bugged me. It was like M. Night Shyamalan didn't even TRY to make a good movie. That is probably not the case, but he kinda failed, and that makes me a little disappointed in him.


The visuals were ok at points... but to tell you the truth, the movie just wasn't memorable. Seriously, If you asked me to tell you something I remembered from the movie right now, I could basically only tell you that how Katara and Sokka found Aang in the movie was nothing like in the show, and that the mispronunciation of Aang and Sokka's names was just stupid and make me want to kick M. Night Shyamalan in the shins. 

I'm sorry to be so harsh... Shyamalan has been involved in some pretty good movies (The Sixth Sense, Stuart Little... two movie I liked.). I just wish he had put a little more effort into this one... I was SOOO excited about this movie.

I usually do not like when movies are re-done... best example would be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... what a mess that was! But I really think if someone decided to re-make The Last Airbender, I would be perfectly fine with it. That is, as long as they didn't screw things up too... then we would be stuck with TWO bad films! Ouch!

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Do you think I'm wrong? Right? Just have something to say? Then feel free to leave me a comment! I always read/reply!

Thanks to my friend Amanda for suggesting this topic. (^_^)

And as always...

Thanks for reading!

RIP Davy Jones, 1945 - 2012

Davy Jones has passed away. This... just... I'm just very sad right now. Here's a link to the story: Davy Jones dies at age 66 in Florida

My younger sister and I used to watch reruns of The Monkees TV show every weekend when we were kids. Such a dorky show, but still one of my favorites to this day. (Still wondering if there are episodes available on DVD somewhere... if anyone out there knows, leave an answer in the comments please. Thanks!) I loved the music most of all, and the Monkees' songs are still a staple in my playlists today.

Davy Jones, you will be missed.

These are some of my favorite videos of Davy with the Monkees.

Daydream Believer

Pleasant Valley Sunday

Valleri

David Thomas "Davy" Jones

30 December 1945 – 29 February 2012

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Thoughts and general comments are always read and appreciated. Thank you for reading.

Who's On This Geek's Playlist? - February 2012

Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Soundtrack

My friend Heather introduced me to Battlestar Gallactica, and if you haven't already seen it, you must do so ASAP! It has to be one of the best Sci-fi shows I have watched. One of the things that won me over, other than the awesome storylines and actors, was the music on the show. Lately, I have been finding myself listening to the Season 4 soundtrack a LOT. Here are a few of my favorites!

Kara Remembers:

Battlestar Sonatica:

All Along The Watchtower:

Hope you enjoyed the music. Let me know what you think in the comments section!

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Questions and comments are always welcome, read, and replied to!

And as always...

Thanks for reading!

Hulu Plus Now Available On The Wii! Decisions Decisions...

Yes, Hulu Plus became available on the Wii as of yesterday. (See here) I was super excited about this, because there are shows available through their service that are not available through Netflix, which I've been using on my Wii for the past year or so. The problem now is, which one should I keep?

The thing is, most people I know fit pretty well into two categories: avid TV show watchers who like movies but when given a choice would usually choose TV, or movie watchers who when given the same choices would choose movies over TV any day.

I do not fall into either of those categories... making the Netflix/Hulu decision kinda tough. I am a huge TV fan, but I love a good movie at least once a week.

I'm pretty sure most of you might know this, but to clarify for those who don't, Netflix has a wider selection of movies than Hulu Plus, while Hulu Plus seems to have a better selection of newer TV shows. However, in signing up for the two week free trial of Hulu Plus, I have noticed that when it comes to Syfy Channel shows they have more available than Netflix, which I like... but they don't even make full seasons available, which I find very annoying.

I also thought that if you had a subscription to Hulu Plus, you wouldn't have to see commercials during the shows. I was wrong... and to tell you the truth, that's a misstep on Hulu's part. I understand having commercials play during free selections for non-subscribers, but if I was giving them $7.99/month, I would want those ads either completely gone, or maybe have only one ad played before the show/movie you select even starts.

On the plus side for Hulu, their video quality is a lot better than Netflix, even on the Wii. So they have that going for them at least.

Still, I have a dilemma: Should I keep Netflix and cancel Hulu Plus after my 2 week trial? Or should I get rid of Netflix and stick with Hulu Plus? Both cost only $7.99/month, a pittance compared to the price of even basic cable. But until I find work, I can only afford one. GAH! I hate decisions! :-\

Well, I will be thinking about it. I'll let you all know how that turns out in two weeks time, haha. :-)

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Have any input about this small but annoying issue? Or just have something to say? Leave me a comment!

And as usual...


Thanks for reading! :-)