So it’s been a loooong time since I’ve done a “ask the evils” feature. So long now, that probably many of my current readers (*cough* knitters *cough*) probably have no idea what I’m talking about.
“feature? what is this feature? post more pictures of your knitting! or of Sadie!”
shut up.
And I mean that in the nicest way possible, of course 
Something you new people may or may not know about me is that I like to give advice. I’m actually kind of good at it! Or so I’ve been told. I have that ability to take a cold step backwards and look at a situation and figure out what really is the best course of action should be, without falling into that “OHHHH, just follow your HEART” hallmark bullshit. If only I could do that for my own life…
So do you need advice? Ask.
You have a sciencey question? Ask.
Have a question about life, love, or happiness? Ask.
Have an embarrassing question? Ask anonymously.
Have a question that only someone with a hairy chest and a manly stance can answer? Ask, and I’ll bug Kevin until he answers.
You can either ask in the comments, or use the “contact me” tab above to email me. You have until thursday to ask, and I’ll post answers on friday.
Ask away folks!
please?
I got nothing, unless you know the immediate cure for “new wii” + “too much knitting” shoulder?
YAY! Science questions!
All right, so everyone has heard of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process for converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons. Unfortunately, it is notorious for producing these fuels at an energy deficit.
Of course, when the feedstock is cheap coal and the output is expensive diesel fuel, that doesn’t really come into play, as is the case for South Africa.
Any ways, several companies, including energy firms, are investing heavily into biomass augmented and engineered bacteria processes to make the process more efficient and perhaps even carbon neutral, or if sequestration is used, carbon negative.
So, as a life scientist, would you be interested in developing bugs that eat carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and belch out methane?
You have no idea how long I have been waiting to ask you something like this.
*looks up* Wha?! I think I understand that question and yet.. no idea.
Really, my current burning question is “how does one make grad schools fall madly in love with one and offer one lots of money to become a librarian” and also, how cold does it get in Wisconsin and do I really want to go to grad school there? But that’s not so much advice as much as it is a rhetorical question.
So I’ll continue to kinda mess up the whole point of “Ask the Evils” and ask you if you know how to make creme brulee and will you make a how-to?
Wanna come do my homework?
Please??
OK - so what exactly IS fire??? Seems like a simple question yet if you think about it it’s pretty complicated. I could look in wiki but I would much rather have the ESC explanation!
Britanny Newberry is a questioner after my own heart. What about seawater algae? Have you ever thought about cross-breeding or splicing some species of saltwater algae’s genetic code into freshwater algae so as to get some kind of golden ratio of lipid development and cell division?
just a reminder to everyone that my background is in BIOLOGY and specifically GENETICS. By all means, ask questions about other fields, but I’m just going to use google to answer them, like you would.
that’s all
I can answer the question about how cold it gets in Wisconsin. Just let me know if you want the G-rated answer or the NC-17 version.
Do pigs sweat?
HA! no.
Genetic question: I know the gene for blue eyes and brown eyes is recessive to the one for brown, but a) how does hazel come about (i.e., what’s the genotype for that); b) how do some people wind up with eyes different colors (like David Bowie); and c) if a person gets one gene for blue eyes and another for green eyes, what color eyes would they normally have?
I want to know the answer to Michael’s question.
Why do American radio stations all seem to start with k or w and be called kndr or wzld or something?
FINALLY de-lurking just for this - - -
What exactly IS Kev’s favorite sexual position? We need to spice things up again . . . he he he
Do you still have the recipe for bondage chicken?
A long while ago you told us about some lubricants and toys you got at a sex shop. Did they work out well?
I actually know the answer to Michael’s question about David Bowie, and it has nothing to do with genetics. I’ll let ESC answer it, though.
My questions: Why does bacon go so well with everything? Why is knitting such a gateway craft? And perhaps most importantly, would Kev ever consider cage-fighting as a career? (I ask because Rick keeps threatening that as a career move, and they should team up.)
If I decide not to go back to law school, can I make a living with my sewing business?
And don’t give me any of that “can’t see into the future” crap, because we all know that YES YOU CAN!
Is the year that I’ll find a good man?
I think you are confusing the “ask the evils” feature with “ASK MADAME ESMERELDA” feature.
I CANNOT PREDICT THE FUTURE! I CAN, HOWEVER, OFFER ADVICE ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR FUTURE BETTER!
No–I want you to answer me. Do it NOW.
COMPLY!
(Crap. It used to work for Sloth. I guess I don’t have her powers over the internets, hey?)
If a train leaves Chicago heading toward Sacramento at 8:02 am and is traveling at 50 MPH and another train leaves St. Louis traveling toward Seattle at 10:20 pm and is going 63 MPH, then why do “they” always say it’s going to be another bad year for fall colors whether it’s been wet, dry or average?
I know this missed the Thursday deadline, but you’ve not talked about your own science in awhile. How’s the writing going?