Calcium

I think I've mentioned before that I check some cool (okay strange and weird) sites to find science facts. According to "Today in Science History" nothing of importance happened seeing as they noted the invention of the first pen with truly erasable ink. Apparently there were erasable ink imposters?

Anyway, like science's past, I too have nothing amazing to report back. However there are some weird things I've noticed about Michigan that have finally accumulated to being worthy of a post:

1) I think New York may be the only state that doesn't sell fireworks. Every time we crossed a state border, the first billboard was related to buying fireworks. In Michigan, you can buy fireworks in your local grocery store...

2) Again, I think it's just a growing up in NY thing, but buying wine in a grocery store really loses its appeal. But I guess it remains classy since it's still separated from beer. Nothing says grocery list like wine and fireworks.

3) Clearly I have a grocery store fetish. Cheddar cheese is only that awful yellow/orange color. In the land of dairy, apparently cheddar comes in one color only. I think I'll get worried when mozzarella changes hues.

4) Despite being in dairy country, apparently Michigan's thing is cherries. Who knew?

5) I've mentioned it before, but it's worth mentioning again: robot stores. Though U of M has a strong engineering program, I still don't understand it. On venturing in to the "bot shop" I fed a robot a coin because it was part of a fundraiser for cancer research. The robot burped at me. Is there some science humor that I just don't get?

6) This one is going to be hard to explain, so I'm sorry if you don't get it. If a road butts up to campus and is otherwise blocked by buildings, that same road will continue on the other side of campus. Try following Thayer road in Ann Arbor. You'll lose it when you hit U of M's campus and then if you walked straight through every building you'll pick it up on the other side of campus. Word of the wise: don't let Google maps tell you to follow Thayer Rd.

7) Saxophonists on rooftops. Clearly the man doesn't care about tips.
7.5) Street flutists. There's a first for everything.

So really these aren't actually weird. I'm just sheltered. 


Fun Fact: The saying "in the lime light" comes from the reference to the incandescence produced by placing a flame near lime (calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) to illuminate a theater stage.