Isabella asked a question today that I'm sure I've thought about but really didn't know the answer so here it is.
The question: Why don't birds get electrocuted when sitting on a power line?
The answer: Electricity gives you a shock as it travels through your body on its way to the ground. This is because electricity always tries to go to the ground. When a bird sits on the wire there is no path through the bird to the ground. So the power does not travel through the birds and they do not get electrocuted. The power simply flows through the wires as usual.
Pretty cool when you think about it. But definitely not something to try at home. And thank goodness for the web, it's like the world's best encyclopedia and research tool.
ACC Tourney, the Last Gasp
If you don't know it already, we are in the grasp of 'March Madness' (and if you live anywhere near the East Coast of the US, I'm not talking about the weather). My beloved Terps take on Clemson tomorrow in the first round of the ACC Tournament down the street in DC. Tip-off is at noon and I'll be in a meeting. But after the meeting, me and my old, tired but still working (for now) laptop, are heading to a local, fan friendly watering hole and working through the game. Shame my friend Andy is off in Prague, cause he'd be available to hang out with me to watch. Oh well, just need to find a place with wireless access though, so I can keep up with clients via e-mail.
Can I just say that while they are a necessary evil, I don't really like the time after phone interviews. Maybe it's the waiting to hear back thing or the thinking back through all that was said and how it may or may not have been interpreted. But hey, it's a lead on a job. A good one at that and local. All very good things. Keep your fingers crossed.
Speaking of work, I lost a project today due to pricing. I'm not sure how 'high' I was compared to the competition but I did ask the client (who I've worked for before) if they could tell me how much difference there was between my bid and the winning bid. (I did offer them a lot along with the bid that I hoped would sway them my way but alas, that didn't happen). And only they know what politics may have played out as well. (It's a non-profit, so guaranteed there were some politics in play as well as price).
Liam and Izzy both did great in their swimming class tonight and we went out to dinner to celebrate (personally I was not in the mood to cook or clean-up and thought a night out might add some levity to the cold conditions). From 70 on Monday to not even 30 (that's degrees and fahrenheit). And it looks to stay in the 40's through next week, with more snow possible this weekend. As much as I love snow, I'm ready for Spring. Really.
And now, I'm ready to turn in. I'm sleepy, it's late and I'm going to try and get-up early with my own clock, and not someone else's, and make lunches. This is a bit of a crap shoot strategy, being me and mornings, but if I really want to do it. But I must get to sleep earlier than I have been.
Wow, Izzy (and her father) taught me something about electricity that I never knew! Did Liam get his balloons on Monday? It would be nice to know! Give my love to the kids & K.
Posted by: Elizabeth at March 10, 2005 03:44 PMSorry about the work project.
Haven't seen you around much lately,but I know how crazy things can get and "internet" has to be put off.lol