TechyDad, Author at TechyDad

If Science Is From Hell, Where Are Politicians From?

October 9, 2012 TechyDad Politics, Science

A couple of days ago, I read on Slashdot that Representative Paul Broun (Georgia – R) said evolution, the Big Bang theory, and embryology are "lies straight from the pit of hell." Apparently, he believes that they are designed to lead people away from thinking that they need a savior. I’m guessing this means that he thinks that science is evil and must be stopped. (Broun seriously believes that the Earth was created as-is only 10,000 years ago. As such, any proof to the contrary must be evil. Therefore all of science is evil.)

This would be troubling enough (an anti-science politician), but Broun is on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Yes, this guy is making decisions that affect science in this country while also saying that science comes from hell.

This is so wrong that I almost don’t know where to start. First of all, science is important to the future of our country. If we were to (magically) roll back our country to the 1800s, I doubt we’d be a leader in anything anymore. The United States would become a third world country which would be subject to the whims of other countries (like, for example, China or India) who put more emphasis on science and technology.

Our modern life is impossible without science. Computers wouldn’t function if we didn’t have a very good handle on physics. Medicine would be useless without biology and chemistry. Cell phones would be expensive paper weights without many different branches of science which contribute to building and maintaining both them and the satellite networks that make them useful.

We need representatives that will lead us into the future, not drag us back into the past. If you are on a science committee and declare that science is evil, this should be grounds to be kicked off the committee. It would be akin to a high ranking department of defense official saying we should totally disband our armed forces or a member of the SEC saying that insider trading really isn’t that big a deal.

As the image above says: The Stupid… It Burns!!!

NOTE: The "Fire Icon" in the image above comes from zeimusu via OpenClipArt.org. (I added the text to it.)

A Dragon VIP Experience

October 8, 2012 TechyDad Snow

Yesterday, I wrote about the DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular show. Our fun didn’t begin, or end, with the show, however. We were treated to the full VIP Experience.

Our VIP treatment began as we were allowed in early. We were given VIP badges, gift bags with some How To Train Your Dragon merchandise, and even an exclusive 3D poster.

After this, we were guided to an area where we got to don Viking apparel and weaponry.

Once we were all dressed up, we posed in front of a green screen. Our picture was taken and, magically, we were transported to the Isle of Berk.

After removing our Viking paraphernalia, we moved on to another closed off area. Here, we waited for a bit until a familiar pair of Vikings arrived.

Yes, we got to meet Hiccup and Astrid. NHL was so excited, I almost had to hold him back from charging up to them to hug them. After a short while, we were able to take a photo of all of us with them.

Soon, it was time to take our seats for the show. Once the show was finished, as everyone else left, we headed towards the front of the arena. It was time for Dragons 101. Our tech teacher was Ben (aka Ben The Bold, Ben The Brave, or Ben The Beautiful… his words, not mine. ;-) )

Here, while the crew worked on the dragons in the background, Ben explained about dragons, rigging, pyrotechnics, and more. It was amazing to hear just how much work went into the show. Both of my boys asked interesting questions. JSL asked how they made fire without hurting people. (They use gas filled boxes which the operators set off to create fireballs. However, the boxes have sensors to detect if someone is too near and won’t go off if someone is.) NHL asked how big the Red Death dragon was. (So big that it doesn’t fit in the backstage or through the opening they have. They actually deflate and inflate it like a balloon.)

The VIP Experience turned a magical show into an over-the-top amazing experience. Thanks to everyone that was involved.

Tour dates and tickets can be found by going to http://www.dreamworksdragonslive.com/tickets.php. In addition, you can save 25% off the cost of select seats by using the promo code "MOM".

Disclaimer: I received tickets to the How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular and VIP Experience for me and my family. However my opinions (and excitement) are my own.

An Amazing Dragon Filled Day

October 7, 2012 TechyDad Shows

Yesterday, we had an amazing day. It was filled with fun and excitement. With explosions and heroism. Oh, and with Vikings and dragons. Yes, we went to see DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragons Live Spectacular.

Now, since we were treated to the VIP Experience, I have a lot more to talk about than just the show. However, since B wrote about that today, I’ll cover that in my own words on Monday. For now, I’ll just try to put into words how amazing the show was.

Going in, I expected a lot. After all, we loved the Walking With Dinosaurs Live show a few years back and this show was put together by some of the same people. Well, even though Dinosaurs Live was a great show, Dragons blew away the mark Dinosaurs set.

The show begins simple enough. There’s a big stage. Very big. Nine movie screens long.

Hiccup comes out with the title of the show behind him. He’s fishing, tosses his line back… and snags the screen. As he tugs, the screen stretches until it rips right off and all around him explodes into fire.

This type of thing continues throughout the show. Characters interact with the projected images. In a lesser show, this might look cheesy, but they pulled it off in a big way.

If you are at all familiar with the plot of the DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragon movie, then pretty much know what happens in the live show. Some items have been altered slightly (mostly for time constraints or because you’re dealing with robotics/live actors versus computer animation), but the basic story remains.

You are transported back in time to about the year 500 in the small town of Berk. Berk is a simple Viking town, but one that is overrun by pests: dragons. Hiccup, the son of the chief, is as unvikinglike as possible. He’s thin and completely uncoordinated. So when the dragons attack again, taking off with their livestock, Hiccup is ordered to stay inside away from the action.

Hiccup doesn’t listen though. He knows that if he bags a dragon, he’ll get some respect (and perhaps a date). So he runs off on a quest.

Here is where perhaps the most magnificent effect takes place. Hiccup has to run over paths between exploding houses, across mountainous terrain, up the side of a cliff, and more. Of course, creating this whole landscape would be expensive. So they project it. Not on the floor, like you’d think, but on the wall.

Hiccup (aided by a harness) goes running along the wall, dodging projected explosions, hanging precariously onto a cliff that isn’t really there, and climbing a ladder before it crumbles. As Christina (from Well, In THIS House) put it: "It was like something out of a video game, but he was the character." (Trust me: My photos just don’t do it justice.)

Hiccup, despite his uncoordinated nature, actually takes down a dragon. Not just any dragon, but a Night Fury – the most feared dragon ever. And one that nobody has ever seen face to face. When Hiccup goes to examine his prize, though, he finds he can’t kill it and winds up befriending it (and naming it Toothless) instead. The results of this friendship has wide-ranging implications for Berk, Hiccup, and Toothless.

The dragons look amazing, as I expected, but I didn’t expect there to be so many types. There are smaller models used for flying scenes, larger dragons that interact with the actors, and even shadow puppet dragons which are used during some dragon exposition. They all look incredible. They were so lifelike that I found myself wishing I could go down to the arena floor to pet one. (Sadly, that wasn’t allowed.)

The thrills of the show left us all amazed. When we left (reluctantly – had we been allowed we would have watched it a dozen more times), the boys and I had dragons-on-the-brain for the rest of the day. This is definitely a show I recommend you go see. (And, if you can’t see the live action version, check out the animated movie instead.)

Tour dates and tickets can be found by going to http://www.dreamworksdragonslive.com/tickets.php. In addition, you can save 25% off the cost of select seats by using the promo code "MOM".

Disclaimer: I received tickets to the How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular for me and my family. However my opinions (and excitement) are my own.

Aloha Friday: Breakfast Time

October 5, 2012 TechyDad Aloha Friday, Food, JSL

While I’ve written about my boys being fussy eaters before, lately it has gotten worse. JSL’s usual breakfast is Boost – a protein shake that gives him vitamins, protein and other healthful stuff hidden behind a chocolaty flavor. He calls it "chocolate drink." I’ll admit I’m not 100% happy with him thinking that chocolate = breakfast, but – between that and eating nothing – I’ll break out the Boost.

The past couple of weeks, however, he’s been refusing chocolate drink. So we offer waffles, bagels, chocolate chip cereal bars… Nope. All refused. He insists that he’s not hungry, but we know better. If he doesn’t eat breakfast, then he’ll be hungry long before lunchtime.

It’s not like we’re expecting him to eat a three egg omelette, stack of pancakes, hash browns, and a giant bowl of fruit salad. Just eat half of a bagel with cream cheese and we’ll be happy. Instead breakfast time has become "fight to get JSL to eat something before he goes to school" time.

My Aloha Friday question for today is: What do you usually eat for a quick breakfast?

P.S. If you haven’t already, try out my Twitter applications: FollowerHQ and Rout.

Disclaimer: The "Fast Food, Breakfast, Pancakes" image above is by Gerald_G and is available through OpenClipArt.org.

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #159

How I Faced My Fears At Disney World

October 4, 2012 TechyDad Disney, DisneySMMoms, DisneySMMoms2012, Fear

Back in May, during the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we heard a lot of great speakers. Specifically, Lisa Druxman talking about gremlins on your shoulder stuck with me. Given that I have a fear of falling – not heights, mind you, but falling – I decided to knock that gremlin off by going on four rides that scared me. Yesterday, I posted photos of me on the rides. Today, I’d like to share some details.

Expedition Everest

No matter how strapped in I am, I’m always worried that I’ll somehow fall out on a turn. Yes, it’s a ridiculous fear, but fears are rarely logical. So I went onto Expedition Everest with NHL feeling very nervous. For those who don’t know, Expedition Everest is a climb up Mount Everest that gets stopped when the elusive Yeti breaks the tracks ahead of you. Then you plummet backwards around and down and through some dark tunnels. In the end, this ride wasn’t too bad. The backwards part was disconcerting as you couldn’t see where you were going, but at least you could see where you had been.

Verdict: Not too bad. I would go on it again.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

NHL was nervous about going on this one, but decided to be brave and go on it with me (and B and B’s father). I told him how proud I was of him. I didn’t really know what to expect with this one. This is an entirely indoor rollercoaster that takes place in the dark with Aerosmith music blaring. I prepared myself for the dark twists and turns, but what I didn’t prepare for was the start of the ride.

After getting in the car, you approach and stop at a red light. If this were a normal rollercoaster, you would slowly go up a ramp before the ride sped up. Not this ride. Once the light turns green, you go from 0 to 57mph in under 3 seconds. That isn’t a smile on my face. It’s my face being pushed back by the acceleration.

This ride was much worse than Expedition Everest. Being in the dark made every turn almost completely unexpected (some neon signs provided clues) and thus triggered my fears with every twist. This ride also had a few moments where you are upside down – a BIG no-no for my fears.

Verdict: I’m glad I went on it… but I’m not going to ride it again.

Tower of Terror

I’ve actually gone on this one before. When NHL was five, he was determined to go on the ride. I couldn’t let him show me up, so I went on it also. When it was over, the only reason I was able to get off was because I knew, if I didn’t, I’d be riding it again.

For those who don’t know, the Tower of Terror lifts you up 13 stories and then drops you. This isn’t it, though. The drop is random. You might plummet 10 stories, you might only go 5. You then go back up and down about seven times – with each rise and fall being randomly determined. This means that the ride is different every time.

This also plays right into my fear of falling. After all, the whole point of this ride *IS* falling. So, knowing what I was in for, it took all of my courage to go on it again. Every time we went up, I could have sworn I left my internal organs below and every time we dropped I felt the terror rising.

Verdict: Not. Ever. Again. I proved that I can go on it (twice) and now I’ll focus my energies on other, tamer rides in Hollywood Studios – like Toy Story Mania.

Space Mountain

This ride is similar to Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster in that it takes place in the dark. Whereas Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster had some neon signs to look at, Space Mountain had nothing. You couldn’t tell where you were or where you were going. You could tell when you went into a turn by being slammed one way or another. There was no other warning at all.

This was possibly the worst ride. Even with Tower of Terror, you knew what was happening. At the bottom of a drop, you were likely going up again. At the top of a rise, you would soon plummet. With Space Mountain, there was no such signal. Plus, I rode Space Mountain after eating a huge dinner at Boma. Not a good ride to go on when your stomach is overly full.

Verdict: I’ll stick with the People Mover from now on, thank you very much.

In the end, I’m glad that I faced my fears. Now, I won’t be quite as likely to let my fear get in the way of trying something out. However, when it comes to these rides, with the possible exception of Expedition Everest, I don’t think I’ll be going on them again anytime soon.

Disclaimer: We paid for our own trip to Disney World to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Though we were given an incredible deal from Disney, they never asked us to blog about this event. All opinions expressed above are my own.

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