Nyquil makes me want to bark. Frankly, that's not a good trade-off to make for the "sniffling, sneezing, coughing, stuff head-fever-so-you-can-rest" medicine. However, I know that many people swear by, rather than at, the stuff, so here's how to make your own.

n place of Acetaminophen (pain and fever reliever), Dextromethorphan HBr (cough suppressant), and Doxylamine succinate (sleep aid) we used green chile, ginger, citric acid and booze -- all herbal, if subtler, forms of the chemical stuff. A couple shots, errr, doses, of the stuff is perfect for sitting on the couch in a sweatshirt and sweating out your germs. Take that Big Pharma!

2 cups fresh mint leaves
1 cup water
1 cup agave nectar (sugar, honey work)
1 small ginger bulb
1 lemon
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. roasted green chile
2 shots Pastis
2 shots Southern Comfort

1. Start off making a mint simple syrup. Pluck 35-40 mint leaves off their stems, this should yield about 2 cups of mint. Roughly chop half the mint (set half aside for later use) and add to a saucepot with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and strain the leaves out. Put just the mint tea back on a medium heat and wait until back to a full boil. Add agave nectar, mixing, and let cook 1 minute before removing. Set aside to cool.

2. Ready your other veggies for the blender. First peel the ginger and slice into matchsticks. Next, zest your lemon, place the zest into a small dish and cover with 1 tsp. of good quality olive oil.

3. Toss the ginger, green chile and remaining cup of fresh mint to the blender. Add lemon juice. Finally add half the mint syrup, setting the rest aside for garnish. Pulse thoroughly for up to a minute. (Note: If you do not have the luxury of having authentic green chile, try subbing in a roasted jalapeño. Remove the seeds and use half in place of green chile.)

4. Strain the mixture into a bowl. Use a spoon to slush it around, allowing it to pass through the sieve or fine mesh strainer. Now you have the fresh juice part of your elixer! Taste it with a spoon, if it seems too tart or spicy, add more mint syrup one teaspoon at a time.

5. Mix. The basic proportion is one-part juice to one-part pastis to one-part whiskey. For a single dose: measure out a tablespoon of each into a cocktail shaker. Add a teaspoon of lemon zest oil. Complete with 3 ice cubes and shake fervently. Pour into a shot glass or desert wine snifter.

Tip of the blog to Lifehacker.

If it tastes at all like the original, maggots everyone will be committing suicide rather than be forced to gag over it. However, have at it if you're so inclined.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 11:10 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 498 words, total size 3 kb.

Frankly, I couldn't categorize this story found via Ace, so I shoved it into my catch all "errata". Actually, I put it there because my vision was blurry after reading the article and I knew that "errata" was at the bottom of the list. Anyway.

Short version: A little girl is diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer and dies about a year later. Since then, her parents have been finding notes she wrote and stashed all around the house, such as this:

My little girl writes me notes like this all the time. It's beyond sweet and makes my heart swell with joy. I cannot imagine how much it would hurt me if something were to happen to her, nor can I imagine my reaction to finding notes like that. I'll guess that they would make me cry and smile at the same time.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:54 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 167 words, total size 1 kb.

I've opened beer bottles using my hand and the edge of a table. I've ruined a cheap Swiss Army knife knockoff using the tinfoil corkscrew to open a wine bottle. And I've even pushed the cork down into the bottle just so that I could get to the grape. However, I've never in my entire life opened a bottle of wine with my shoe:

Kudos to Lifehacker for finding this gem.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 10:01 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 85 words, total size 1 kb.

Jay Stephenson of Stop the ACLU interviews Misha, someone who I've been reading since blogging was still in its infancy. I almost didn't recognize the Emperor's tone, because a few choice Anglo-Saxon invectives were missing from the text.

I keed, I keed. Misha's always a worthy ready, but I really enjoy when he gets his dander up. I get that this interview wasn't really the venue for that.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 08:27 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 70 words, total size 1 kb.

I just checked my Sitemeter log, something that I rarely do because it's freakishly depressing. I noticed the average number of visits was way up - for me- and I checked the past seven days. Turns out that my traffic tripled on Saturday? WTF?! I didn't actually post anything over the weekend. Hmm. Maybe that's the secret for me. Anyway, since I don't pay for the Sitemeter premium service, I have no idea what drove people my way this past weekend. If I knew, I'd do it again.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:43 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 90 words, total size 1 kb.

James Joyner does yeoman's work by diving into the fetid pit that Balloon Juice has become. He even links to Cole twice today (maybe yesterday- I didn't check the time/date stamp) and call's one of Cole's opinions "wrong-headed". Now I'm not disagreeing with Mr. Joyner, but calling Cole's opinions wrong-headed is not much different from stating that the sun will rise in the east.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 01:46 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 72 words, total size 1 kb.

Yes, I have a GPS in my car. I also have that Amish thingy- a MAP- in my car, too, as the GPS has, on occasion, said You have arrived at your destination when I'm in the middle of fucking nowhere. In any event, check out this story.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 10:29 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 64 words, total size 1 kb.

You wouldn't like her when she's angry.

I've dealt with customer service many times during my life, some good, some horrifically bad. There was a time when businesses could shit on their customers and still stay "tough shit" when we complained. Not anymore. Twitter? Facebook? Email? Blogs? Have people simply not heard of these things? I'll be honest and state that my readership, while beloved by me, is teeny tiny. However, if I were to receive a big steaming pile like Maytag tried to inflict on Dooce, I will guarantee you that some of my friends and acquaintances could help my complaints go viral. One person complaining? Not a problem to a company. One million persons complaining? You've got a corporate PR and -potentially- financial debacle.

So, my friends in the business community, consider this a friendly FYI: do not continue to treat customers, real or potential, as effluent from your various bodily orifices. You need us far more than we need you and- you might want to write this down if it'll help you remember- spread your acts of neglect and malfeasance worldwide before you have your first cup of morning coffee. Remember this word: customer. And this one: service. They are related directly to your bottom line.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 09:39 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 217 words, total size 1 kb.

John Cole tries to play a game of economic "gotcha" with Megan McArdle. Whatever disagreements I might have with Ms. McArdle, I would never try to play that sort of game because, well, it's a fool's errand which, I suppose, is why Cole tries to play it.

So yes, John, the Atlantic's economics expert didn't realize just how much the kind of regulations Democrats are now pushing had managed to screw up New York's health insurance market. In trying, while writing a blog post on the fly, to err on the side of charity towards my ideological opponents, I grossly misled my readers. Massive state interference in the insurance market is clearly much, much worse than I--the eternal pessimist!--managed to imagine. Thanks for calling that oversight to my attention.

Gigantic asshole: nothing. Megan McArdle: Two.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 07:35 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 143 words, total size 1 kb.

Rachel's beloved dog, Sunny, has passed away. Stop by and offer her your condolences. Small comfort to be sure, but I'm certain that offer will be appreciated nonetheless.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 01:46 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 32 words, total size 1 kb.

Robert Stacy McCain has created a new national week of celebration. Personally, I think that it should be extended to an entire month if it manages to upset the strident misandric harpies at places such as Pandagon.

Heh. Dan Collins does his level best to send the Pandagonettes into a frothing rage.

As for me, I'll simply add create Rule #5 entries every single day of this week.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 10:17 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 82 words, total size 1 kb.

And it's for little old me.

The more I drink, the better everyone else looks, so the rest of you slackers start pourin'.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:52 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 29 words, total size 1 kb.

Vodkapundit posted this a couple of years back and I just had to quote it here because, well, I've got a cute newborn at home:

Imagine you're on a date with a supermodel. I grew up in the '80s and I dig brunettes, so I'd choose Paulina Porizkova. You choose whoever you like.

Now imagine you're having dinner somewhere really nice. Fine food, fine wine, perfect service - the works. The conversation sparkles like the crystal, and you yourself are shining like the silverware. You're pretty sure that if you don't score tonight, she's at least going to give you a second date to try again.

And then she rips a fart so nasty it makes waves in the tablecloth.

That's kind of what it's like being the parent to a really cute kid.

At least I haven't been shat upon yet. Then again, the day isn't over yet.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 07:37 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 155 words, total size 1 kb.

And it's from the 3/9/2009 Woot of the Day:

I was happy to notice a marked improvement in the color, consistency, and bouquet of my stool. But not as happy as if IÂ’d been in the bathroom at the time.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 06:44 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 48 words, total size 1 kb.

At five little words: I need a new blender.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:38 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 19 words, total size 1 kb.

Public jackoff, 0.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 09:55 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 9 words, total size 1 kb.

Patterico does his usual bang-up job dissecting the egregious L.A. Times. Excerpt:

It happens every year: I read every post IÂ’ve written over the past 365 days about the Los Angeles Times . . . and I think to myself: this is just unbelievable. ThereÂ’s something appalling and eye-opening about seeing an entire yearÂ’s worth of the paperÂ’s bias, omissions, and distortions gathered in one post.

This year, L.A. Times editors slammed Sarah Palin, John McCain, and McCain’s ally Joe the Plumber — while they protected Barack Obama and his allies, including unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers and radical Palestinian Rashid Khalidi. The paper described a 19-point margin in opposition to gay marriage as a “narrow margin,” and displayed the usual politically correct attitudes on race, abortion, and crime. We watched the paper overreach on the story about Judge Alex Kozinski’s porn collection that wasn’t. And the paper retracted a story by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Chuck Philips, in one of the most embarrassing incidents in the paper’s history. This year saw a campaign of relentless distortions on DNA evidence; the bankruptcy of Tribune Company; and a collection of errors like none we’ve ever seen before.

Yup, it was a fun year for liberal bias and incompetence at the local rag.

Read the whole thing.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 12:46 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 221 words, total size 2 kb.

Thanks for checking in during my longest blogging absence these last 6+ years. Christmas time is always busy for me; this year was no difference. Add in the new upcoming 3rd child and my free time has slipped away.

I still find time for beer, of course. Let's not be stupid. A man's got to have his priorities.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 09:31 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 72 words, total size 1 kb.

I just read- for fun- the stuff on this page. Take a look; I'll wait.

Now think about what you just read, and then know this: I not only worked with the stuff in college, I liked it. A lot. And I still do.

My time-dependent Schrodinger Equation fu was second to none at one point. Yeah, I was a chick magnet back in college, if by chicks you mean mind-numbing loneliness and by magnet you mean black hole of despair.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:48 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 93 words, total size 1 kb.

1 There is hope for physicists... my fiancee works in Quantum Mechanics, which for me is kind of a chick magnet ... and I find the td Schrödinger equation awesome!!

Posted by: KK at November 26, 2008 07:01 PM (tWnPX)

2 Yeah, except what the page doesn't tell you is that a free particle wave function (written as a plane wave) cannot be normalized! After all, a free particle with definite energy E has a definite momentum and by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle has infinite spread in position. Gotta go with wave packets ... Sorry, I just taught this in quantum and couldn't resist. Quantum is just too cool.

Posted by: Gintaras at November 26, 2008 09:37 PM (ozm0c)

3 If you enjoyed this post, and you've got a woman in your life, hold onto her like grim death. Trust me on this.

Posted by: physics geek at November 26, 2008 10:32 PM (OIW6O)

4 Normally I get all things that are geek fu, but this is above me...

Posted by: Chalkie at December 03, 2008 01:01 AM (jvfNw)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

The fourth annual repeat of this post, just because.

WHEREAS, It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;

WHEREAS, Both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

--George Washington - October 3, 1789

Posted by: Physics Geek at 01:14 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 451 words, total size 3 kb.