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Keeping in the spirit of 4th of July fireworks, here is a birthday tribute to the Crab Nebula. (via Wired)

My Macbook Pro power adapter went up in a puff of smoke last night. I was typing on my computer when I smelled the distinct aroma of burning plastic. I looked at my computer and, behold, there was smoke coming from the magsafe connector. The computer itself is fine, but it no longer has any juice. It’s going to be about a week or so before it’s replaced (not sure why it takes so long, but I’m just glad AppleCare works out here, too).

This is probably the best time that this could happen. I’m leaving Thursday to explore parts of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg (time/money permitting). I wasn’t planning on taking my computer with me, but I wasn’t certain. Now, it seems, Apple has decided for me. Expect updates after the weekend.

The BBC is reporting what stereotypes have been saying for decades, if not centuries. According to the report, 34% of the Irish binge-drink.

Rounding out the top three were Finland (27%) and Britain (24%). Since the report is only on EU nations, the US binge-drinking score was not compared. Too bad.

Big on questions. Short on answers.

The U.S. Mint is launching yet another one dollar coin, this time a series with all the presidential portraits. In case there is anyone out there who still thinks this might work this time, let me explain: no matter what patriotic figure you put on the coin, it will be a dismal failure in the United States.

At one time, we had dollar coins everywhere. The mythical silver dollar was a widespread piece of currency. The Eisenhower dollar, I think, was the downfall of the American dollar coin, since it was almost as big as the military-industrial complex that would follow it. Ever since then, the coin has been relegated to ridicule. Who exactly was Susan Bea Anthony, and why did we put this woman on this quarter?

The problems with the dollar coin today are quite numerous:

1. They’re heavy.
2. They’re too small, confusing with the quarter.
3. You can’t spend them anywhere.
4. There is a paper dollar that solves all the problems listed above.
5. The mint doesn’t make enough of these coins.

Currently, I live in Holland, where the one and two Euro coin is prominent. But here, the coin is much more practical. The laws of physics cannot change the fact that the coin is heavy, but the problem of it being distinct and useful seems to be solved. I think there are several reasons for this. First, there is a two Euro coin, and that does solve some of the weight issues. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the coin is useful. Not only is the coin useful for vending machines, but, as far as I’ve seen, it’s the only currency you can use in the vending machines. The paper euro (in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 20, and 500 Euro denominations) gets incrementally larger with its value, and I guess the machines don’t like to, or cannot, take them. Enter the coin. Finally, there are no one or two Euro notes, so you don’t get an alternative.

Personally, I can’t wait to get these things in circulation, but not for any practical reason. In 2009 (I’m speculating on the date), the Mint should be releasing the William Henry Harrison, or the “Harry”. President Harrison, as you may remember, was perhaps the most effective (read: least destructive) president in US history. He caught nasty cold on his inauguration and died within thirty days. 2008 candidates take note: the best policy is often to do nothing. (Sure, technically Harry did create a constitutional crisis regarding presidential succession, but he only did this after he died). But I digress. My goal is to single-handedly get the Harry into widespread circulation. My goal is to spread these things around like Johnny Appleseed, going from town to town (in the DC metro area, anyway) and spending these things like currency. Large coffee? That’ll be two Harry’s. Dinner for two at Nora? That’s one hundred and twenty Harry’s. Enter the weight problem again.

My email address for this domain gets hit with a lot of spam. It doesn’t bother me too much; I don’t use this account very much, and Apple’s spam filter does a good job of catching it. What I have noticed, however, is a change of subject lines.

I peak quickly through the list of email headers to make sure the filter hasn’t been too aggressive. For a while, I was getting spam that had incomprehensible subject headers. Now I’m getting news headlines. Do the spammers want to keep me up to date on the latest news while selling me black market Viagra? If I was more gullible, and if I didn’t get 50 copies of the same email, I might think that these letters were legit. That is, until I opened them.

My life (read: my paper) would be easier if we didn’t have the Due Process Clause. Of course, if we didn’t then I’d be complaining about how we don’t have due process of law.

NPR has this story about an adoption agency that is offering frozen embryos. Seems like a legal nightmare waiting to happen.