23 weeks, 6 days

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Fascinating and moving story by Radiolab about the choices presented to a couple whose baby was born premature.

Juniper was born one day short of the rather arbitrary 24-week line at which fetuses are considered viable outside the womb. I was born six days short of the 28-week line, which is where it was drawn a few years after when Roe v. Wade made it a matter of law. Some Googling informs me that the doctor to whom my parents always attributed the saving of my life, Dr. Mary Louise Soentgen, died in 1999.

So I’ll send out a posthumous thank you to Dr. Soentgen, and anyone else working at Jefferson in 1969 and 1970. I’m still here, too.

Was just reminded of a dream last night in which I played 3-6 limit poker using bologna sandwiches as chips.

Modern Zeno’s Paradox: 1.5 mi to Starbucks. Need Starbucks for the walk to Starbucks. Will it take infinite time to arrive?

Look up Childrens Hospital (the TV show) on your Mac… see a Google Now card on phone saying 10 min drive to Children’s Hosp. of Philly.

“@io9: Doctor Who season finale shows up in the mail a few days early http://on.io9.com/FibRYTk” // amazed this isn’t on BitTorrent already

Google Now amusing fact: it’s decided I work at the Starbucks on Penn campus and automatically shows me traffic maps to there.

“@SciencePorn: Bacon affects brain like cocaine, overloading pleasure centers and requiring increasing amounts.” // As if that’s a problem.

Thanks to Penn Band, I’ve also done this inappropriately. “@pattonoswalt: Ooh! They’re playing Billy Idol’s “Mony Mony” at this child’s party! Time to break out my “Get laid get fucked!” chant…”

“@alaindebotton: Looking old is just a version of looking tired that doesn’t go away with more sleep.”

How the Internet treats women: nutshell

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I’m generally in favor of the results that come from crowdsourcing, but Internet mob mentality is one place it falls down hard. This Rebecca Watson quote is about a discussion on Reddit, but it’s generally applicable to most unmoderated online spaces:

To recap, men’s stories are valued and their struggles are supported. Women’s stories are worthless and are derided. Men overcome. Women are fucked.