I've Been Selected To Orbit The Planet In A Rocket

Queen invented phone, pupils say
C-3PO and Luke Skywalker
The man in this picture was first to the Moon, some pupils believe

One in 10 children thinks the Queen invented the telephone, a survey of children's science knowledge suggests.

Others gave credit for the invention to Charles Darwin and Noel Edmonds.

One in 20 of the 1,000 pupils polled thought Star Wars character Luke Skywalker or Richard Branson had been the first to set foot on the Moon.

Some 60% of nine- and 10-year-olds thought Sir Isaac Newton discovered fire, the survey for science campaign Birmingham Science City found.

Despite these misconceptions, more children want to win a Nobel prize for science than the X Factor.

The survey of primary and secondary school children in the UK suggests there is some confusion about key scientific achievements.

Some of these findings will raise a smile
Dr Pam Waddell
Birmingham Science City

Just under a half of boys (49%) correctly pinned down gravity as Newton's ground-breaking discovery, compared with 76% of girls.

Just over a third of boys said Newton discovered fire, while the remaining 16% either said he invented the internet, or discovered the solar system or America.

Eight out of 10 boys correctly identified Alexander Graham Bell as the inventor of the telephone, compared with 69% of girls.

Dr Pam Waddell from Birmingham Science City said: "While some of these findings will raise a smile, it suggests that school children aren't tuned into our scientific heroes in the same way that they might be to sporting or music legends."

She suggested it was clear that primary school children had a real interest in science.

"In fact, nearly 70% of nine and 10-year-olds would like to be famous for winning a Nobel Prize in science, yet this drops to only 33% among 11 to 15-year-olds.

"It appears children are losing an interest in science at secondary school, so more needs to be done to excite teenagers about the subject and rekindle some of their early childhood aspirations," she added.

The poll was carried out online with a panel of 1,000 UK children in early March by OnePoll.

• Current Location:Home, Home Again
• Current Mood: sad

The Stars Are Out And Shining, But All I Really Want To Know

So I bought a book called "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" because someone would not pick up her phone and talk me out of it...

Although, from what I read about it now, it is a shockingly readable and decent book.

In other news, the mother returneth on the morrow. I get to sleep in my own bed for the first time in a month!

Huzzah!

Off to do a few dishes and some laundry before passing out in a exhausted, drunken haze.

Also, took some amazing pics of, for lack of a better term, The Queen of Light taking her bow and then turning to go.

• Current Location:The Mother's House
• Current Mood: exhausted
• Current Music:Black Hole Sun ~ Peter Frampton

Sing To The Morning Light

The Queen of Light took her bow and then she turned to go
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom and walked the night alone

Oh, dance in the dark night, sing to the morning light
The Dark Lord rides in force tonight, and time will tell us all

Oh, throw down your plow and hoe, race now to my bow

Side by side we wait the might, of the darkest of them all

I hear the horses thunder down in the valley below
I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon, waiting for the eastern glow

The apples of the valley hold the seeds of happiness
The ground is rich from tender care, which they do not forget, no, no
Dance in the dark night, sing to the morning light

The apples turn to brown and black, the tyrant's face is red

Oh, war is the common cry, pick up your swords and fly
The sky is filled with good and bad, mortals never know

Oh well, the night is long, the beads of time pass slow
Tired eyes on the sunrise, waiting for the eastern glow

The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath
The drums will shake the castle wall, the Ringwraiths ride in black (ride on)

Sing as you raise your bow, (ride on) shoot straighter than before
No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold

Oh, dance in the dark night, sing to the morning light
The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back, bring it back

At last the sun is shining, the clouds of blue roll by
With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes

Oh, bring it back, bring it back...

• Current Location:The Mother's House
• Current Mood: exhausted
• Current Music:The Immigrant Song ~ Heart

Got To Keep On Playing Funky Music

So I decided to play the "25 Most Played" playlist on my iPod today. It sort of surprised me. Not as erratic as I expected. Granted, there's not much there right now. But it follows: (Note to FB peeps, feel free to use the "Read More" link)

1 Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard - In The Clubs...In Your Face
2 Peaches - The Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America
3 Here I Go Again - Whitesnake - Live In The Shadow Of The Blues
4 Lump - The Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America
5 We Are Not Going To Make It - The Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America
6 Kick Out The Jams - The Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America
7 Purple Haze - Paul Rodgers & Company - The Hendrix Set
8 Naked And Famous - The Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America
9 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC - Live
10 Foxy Lady - Paul Rodgers & Company - The Hendrix Set
11 Back In Black - AC/DC - Live
12 Highway To Hell - AC/DC - Live
13 Boll Weevil - The Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America
14 You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC - Live
15 T.N.T. - AC/DC - Live
16 One Week - Barenaked Ladies - Stunt
17 Twilight Zone - Golden Earring - Naked III: Live At The Panama
18 Never Been Any Reason - Head East - Live On Stage
19 The Happiest Days Of Our Lives - Pink Floyd - The Wall Live
20 Back Porch - The Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America
21 Stealin' - Uriah Heep - 20th Century Masters
22 Back In Black - AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip
23 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip
24 Another Brick In The Wall Part 2 - Pink Floyd - The Wall Live
25 Empty Spaces - Pink Floyd - The Wall Live

Given the randomness, size, and complexity that is my iTunes Library, this is more or less sane and mild. Really don't know what to make of that, honestly.

In other news, Windows reports that my primary hard disk is going to fail. This makes me glad! In a not really at all sense. I guess I will be dealing with that tomorrow.

• Current Location:The Mother's House
• Current Mood: sad