The Plight of the Renter

So, I am obsessed with MLB baseball. I blame my parents. Every single time there was a game on we were either watching it or listening to it on the radio when we were driving home so that we could watch the game. Baseball has always been a big part of my life. I played softball every year until I got to high school.

Well, my team, the Texas Rangers, are FINALLY in the playoffs and I've been glued to the TV as much as I can to watch the game. So tonight I left work with just enough time to get home for the game. So I get home and get all settled and ready to watch my Rangers play. I turn on the TV and I see this: "We've detected an interruption in your service. Please contact Comcast at 1-888-634-4434 to restore service. We're sorry for the inconvenience." Really? Really? Right when I want to watch the game???

Being the proactive person that I am, I decided to call the above number. But, being a renter, I don't have any of the pertinent information that I need in order to get any help. So basically, I'm powerless and I can't watch the game.

Sometimes life is rough. Especially when the Yankees just scored and you didn't get to cry out at the TV because of it. Blah.

Physics--It Will Never Leave Me

Yesterday I learned an important physics lesson. I never liked physics and most of the time I was lost in the class, but some things have stuck with me. And they will not leave me alone. Here's what I learned for myself yesterday:

increased surface area = increased friction
increased friction = decreased velocity
decreased velocity = increased force necessary to maintain normal velocity
increased force = increased exhaustion
increased exhaustion = a tired Laura

Moral of the story: bikes with wide tires have an increased surface area. You do the math.

However, although I was huffing and puffing, while my friends were strolling along in their road bikes, the leaves and the canyon was absolutely beautiful. I was surrounded by views like this:



I do love Utah in the fall.

Freedom

Today I watched a Chilean see the light of day again. After three months of living in the shaft of a mine, holding on to the hope of possible freedom, he made it out. He got to hug his brother again. He got to breathe clean air and see the sun shine overhead. I almost started crying just watching for a few seconds. I can't even imagine how those miners must feel to be freed from what must have been the most harrowing experience of their lives--at least I hope it was the worst thing that they have had to go through. So here's to the miners and for the strength they had to hold on, and to the Chilean people for not giving up on them and giving them their lives back.