Everyone plays. Not just the pros. World Sports Navigator

Its free. No ads. More sports and less war please. Check out World Sports Navigator on Google Play! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.andromo.dev47852.app100136

No Pesticides Lawns and Edible Dandelions

We don't kill dandelions at our house. We like all kinds of flowers and I still like to blow those dandelion fluff-seeds and watch them float on the wind. I like a new high spring growth of grass and broad-leaves before the first cutting with a Scott's push mower. These manual mowers are no harder to push than a gas engine mower because the later are so heavy. The gas mowers also rip grass violently while the push manual mower cuts grass blades like scissors. More gently, more clean cut.

We cut our grass leaving it taller than most lawns around us and thus more drought resistant. So no need to install and maintain a watering system. The mix of grasses and natural broad-leaves are more resistant to root grubs who chow down-under on manicured lawns of bluegrass.

I want clover and I like the mosses on the shady lawn at the side of our home too. Birds chirp in our heavily flowered crab apple tree and honey bees go about their business. The blossoms are dropping petals like a snow on the lawn and my Yaris (car), which fly off my car as drive away like they are spread at some wedding.

Who needs chemicals for their yard? Who wants to look at a flat, monotonous, golf green that is not actually used for golf or lawn bowling?

Not us.

From downtown Rochester Michigan ....yes Downtown...

Ken Mitton

The Science Rant's Current Top Five Posts: The Dress, Super PI Day, Grapefruit dangers with Lipitor and more.

Our current TOP FIVE list of the most popular topics this week in The Science Rant:


TheDress. Dress Mystery Color Depends on ...you

originally posted Feb 27, 2015


AT LAST, the Shocking Truth about SUPER PI DAY, VI...

originally posted Mar 14, 2015


Science of Sound - 8 Bit Computer Music is Alive a...

originally posted Mar 2, 2015


Grapefruit Dangers if you take Lipitor or many oth...

originally posted Nov 27, 2012


Dr Mitton's U of Tube Sunday Pick

originally posted Feb 1, 2015

AT LAST, the Shocking Truth about SUPER PI DAY, VISUALLY EXPLAINED

HAPPY SUPER PIE day. 3/14/15 or the first five digits of Pi = 3.1415

But is there more to super pi than just those five numbers. At The Science Rant, we think so, and have a far more revealing discovery to present on SUPER PIE. Yes, revealed here for the first time, the real reason behind what makes Pi into Super Pi. Enjoy.

Yes, its true. Any day can be Super Pie day with the correct addition to Pie.

Sincerely and scientifically yours,

Dr Mitton

Still free. World Sports Navigator for Android

Check out World Sports Navigator on Google Play!

To promote sports in general and especially amateur sports and special olympic events too. Also for following  sports networks and a variety of sports around the world. Ever follow netball? Alpine events, all ages. Free from Dr Mitton.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.andromo.dev47852.app100136

Science of Sound - 8 Bit Computer Music is Alive and Well

Sound and the science of sound. What is sound exactly? Sound is basically something we can feel literally on our skin or also with hearing if we have that sense. However you perceive sound, its not just for those with official hearing. Sound is the movement of compression waves in a gas (the air) or in a solid, where the molecules are compressed together and push on each other like a domino effect. The result is a compression wave that travels from the source to our ears or skin surface where we can hear or even feel them. That is the basic science of sound.

Sound can be created from a speaker of course, and for computers in the early 80's, good old 8-bit programmable sound generation could be produced using sound chips. The sound chip simply generated a wave form and you could control its frequency and sometimes volume or the amplitude (height) of those waves. You could also control the duration of the tones and with great dedication you could program music. This 8-bit style music has some dedicated musicians making amazing productions that are quite complex. This one below, I highly recommend for your listening pleasure. If you ever liked Metallica, you will like this. I recall seeing the video of Enter Sandman during its premiere on MuchMusic in the 90's (Canada's version of MTV). Enjoy.

listen on YouTube Enter Sandman in 8-bit style by The Greatest Bits: http://t.co/UgTpjjw5if
— Kenneth Mitton, PhD (@kpmitton) February 28, 2015