The Enantioselective Adsorption of Chiral Molecules on Chiral Metal Surfaces or Why I Am So Hot
blogcabin reader participation week kicks off with a bang...or a whimper...or something.
Well. I didn't actually think many of you would respond to my little
comment queries this morning, but it appears that you all wanted to
share just as much as I wanted to read what you had to say. That's
tremendous!
Here at Blogcabin, we value readers like a monkey loves a
typewriter. In celebration of this reality, all week long (August
10-16), I'll be doing reader-interactive posts that will hopefully
inspire y'all to:
- keep coming back for more
- stay vocal!
Any blogger -- save for those with hidden blogs, who blog 'for
themselves' -- loves to hear from the people that stop by their wanton
pages. Well, not only am I a blogger, but clearly this gong show of a
blog isn't a secret, since you're all sitting (standing, kneeling,
lying) there reading it.
Let's get right to it. In today's comments, I asked readers to
suggest a title for a post, and a question that should occur in the
midst of that post. In response, I have several gazillion mini-posts to
do here. Some will certainly be longer than others, to be sure, but
that's a hallmark of blogging in general: sometimes there is much to
write on a given topic, and sometimes the whole gist can be summed up
beautifully in thirty words or less.
Without further ado...
Why I Am So Hot
(title submitted by Jan, smirking reader)
Well, Jan, there's a clear reason why,
actually. Now, some days I'm hotter than others, but since my body
temperature tends to be elevated normally as a natural course of
events, I would say that I am, at the very least, consistently warm.
Now this was Jan's question:
"Ok... Somebody is visiting Vancouver for
only one day. What, apart from spending it with Meg, would be the best
way to use that day (ei. things to see and do in Vancouver before you
are dead)?"
Vancouver is actually a pretty great city to live in. The mountains, ocean, forests, and a bustling metropolis are all within mere miles of one another. I am a big fan of beaches, and Vancouver doesn't disappoint.. We even have a nude beach! I wouldn't imagine that I need to do that again before I die, though.
If I had a visitor to Vancouver for the day, I would begin with a great breakfast at Granville Market,
where baked goods, fruit, good drinks and gorgeous flowers can be
found. We could sit and look out at the marinas, and maybe even rent a
boat to dart around the inlet! Next, a walk of the Stanley Park Sea Wall is in order, followed by a visit to the Aquarium. Lunch could be had at any number of great sushi places downtown, but I like Tanpopo
on Denman. After lunch, a nice walk around Robson St., Denman St.,
Beach Ave and the whole downtown core will help us burn off that Maguro! Mmm!
While we're down there, we can stop by the Art Gallery, or go to the Science World and the Imax Theatre. Now that we've done all the touristy things, it's time to head for Commercial Drive
for an afternoon espresso, maybe some gelato, some quirky parks and
galleries, and a great dinner somewhere small and indie with live
music! Finally, we can head to the top of Cypress Mtn. to sit out and look down at the city under the stars. It's pretty romantic, but I'm not promising anything!
So, there. That's a day. And the next day, there would be 30 more fun things to do! But you're paying!
The Enantioselective Adsorption of Chiral Molecules on Chiral Metal Surfaces
(title submitted by difficult reader Phil)
What?
Here was Phil's question:
"What was the first Chiral Metal band to emerge nationally in the 80s?"
Well, they were no Motley Crue, and I can't quite remember their names, but they looked like this. But I don't know...from that picture, they seem like more of a pop act. It's Up To Me
(title submitted by thoughtful reader Morgan)
This is a great title, because it provides me with autonomy. With
this autonomy, I am going to offer you five facts about my life right
now:
- I buy too many cosmetic items on eBay
- I tend to be temperamental in late summer
- I love twilight
- I have had odd cravings for banana bread, as of late
- I still kind of want a goldfish, but I'm not ready
Now for Morgan's question:
"How do you make yourself happy when you find that you're not?"
See, that's a big one. I was really unhappy earlier this year, after
quitting my time-zapping, heart-bursting non-profit job to work full
time at my freelance writing career. Not only did I have emotional
issues left over from my director role, but as anyone who has struck
out on their own for the first time can tell you, freelancing can be a
bit, well....tenuous. My health was haywire, my bank account was
echoing, and I really wondered if I'd gone and taken a bad risk in
quitting and striking out for myself. I knew I was isolating my little
psyche from others, and that I was shutting myself off from the world
in my disappointment with it, so I made two choices:
- I decided to look for fulltime writing employment, rather than pondering a novel and my navel
- I decided to reconnect with my friends with some trust and honesty
It wasn't easy. I had to kick at my own boundaries and hurts, and
open myself up to some serious constructive support from the people I
loved. I had to go through the potential rejection of job hunting. I
had to apply myself to something more disciplined than what I was
already doing. Well -- it worked out. For the most part. I love my job
and my great co-workers, and while I still have people I need to reconnect
with, I have managed to open myself up to the joy that the
people around me have to offer. I'm making choices towards being happy,
even on the days when I feel sad. It's those little choices that add up
to a better feeling about life, and while sometimes I just want to
crawl into my MegHole, I'd miss making a spectacle of myself.
Just a lover in a long line of fools
(title submitted by new reader Tim)
That's a great title, except that I am totally the fool in a long
line of lovers. So I don't have much to say there, my new friend. Eeek! My romantic
life is about as inherently successful thus far as trying to blow-dry a glacier.
Rather than dwell on that notion and have to remind myself of my answers on happiness above, I'm going to answer Tim's question:
"Is it worth chasing a member of the opposite sex who has made it clear she/he prefers members of their same sex?"
Well, Tim, no -- it's not. Unless you're playing tag, dude. It's like standing at the Coke machine dropping in quarters, and hoping for a Pepsi. It just isn't going to happen.
Speed of Sound and Hockey Pucks
(title submitted by beloved reader and real life megfriend Cat)
Okay, I love hockey. I'm a little obsessed with the sport, and
especially those often brawny individuals who play it, and play it
well. Rowr! I'm in several hockey pools each and every year that the
NHL is operational, and I will admit to crying when Canada won the gold
(twice!) at the SLC Olympics. I am going to do a proper post on hockey
to satisfy my fellow fan, Catherine, so let's just leave it at that for
now. Except, of course, for Catherine's question:
"What is the role of the community hockey rink in Canadian culture/small towns?"
Well, it does depend on the small town, but hockey is huge in small
town/rural Canada for the most part. Young men in just-sharpened skates
bounce one another off boards that advertise Roto Rooters and car
dealerships, hoping to catch the eye of visiting hockey scouts who will
put them in the Big Show. There's a ton of heartbreak in this process,
since few ever make it that far, but you can still get a wonderful
taste of community flavour by sitting in the stands with the
girlfriends and parents and grandparents and friends of the players,
swaddled in blankets, sippin' cups of Tim's best, and yelling epithets
at the referees. I, for one, was once nearly ejected from an arena for
instructions I gave a ref as to where to place his whistle after a
particularly shoddy call. I have also been threatened by fans of teams
I was not cheering for. But, it is Canada, so God shed His grace on
thee (me?), and I've always (obviously) made it out alive.
Better Health and Nutrition for Bloggers
(title submitted by apparently worried reader Scott)
Right off the bat, Scott, stop calling yourself a 'blogger'. That
word makes all of us sound like fat people, probably because it sounds
so much like 'clogger' (which makes me think of arteries and clunky
wooden shoes) or slogger (which implies utter slowness). That being
said, it also rhymes with 'jogger', from whence you'll need to take your
cue towards good health.
Get up from that computer, and go for a walk, or a swim, or just a
meander about the kitchen. Touch your toes, touch your significant
other...just move around a bit! That's the key -- you can eat more if
you move more. Speaking of eating, here's Scott's question:
"What is your favorite recipe that is quick, easy, and semi-nutritive?"
Well, you can't beat a good salad for ease, and variety of flavours.
My cooking tends to get a little involved, but my salads are always
simple. Try this one:
Blogger Salad
Spring mix (the kind that looks like weeds)
Vine ripened tomatoes, chopped into chunks
Sprouts galore (alfalfa, bean, but not Prefab)
Garbanzo beans
Crumbled feta
Julienned sweet red peppers
Julienned red onion
Chopped sugar peas
Grilled Breast of Chicken (marinated for 3 hours in olive oil, lime, garlic and balsamic), in chunks.
Toss it all together in a bowl with some more of the marinade (but
NOT the stuff you used to marinade the chicken), and salt and fresh-ground pepper it to taste. Mmm!
Mes gannes fauent l'heure
(title submitted by multilingual reader Greg)
Uh, well, Greg, I don't know what to say about this, dude. So let's get right to your question:
"What was your last nice dream about?"
I actually had a dream that I had a pet penguin who went everywhere
with me, and we'd go to the beach and eat sushi, and stumble around in
the waves. On the walk home, I would tuck my penguin (whose name was
Martin, inexplicably) under my arm like a football, and let him sleep
off the journey. I really want to play with penguins someday.
Some folks wanna swim with dolphins, but eh, that's like wanting to
do laps with Olympians. I'd much rather splash around with dorks...erm, penguins.
Because I Said So!
(title submitted by aggressive reader Pandora)
Nice topic, Pandora! Now I get to be bossy!
1. Hey! Take off your freakin' iPod when people are talking to you! Why? Because I said so!
2. R. Kelly is NOT the next Marvin Gaye or Al Green, you nutjobs! Why? Because I said so!
3. Girls (and boys!) under the age of 13 should not wear thong underwear! Why? Because I said so!
4. Stop making stupid jokes about how Canadians talk! Why? Because I said so!
5. Click on my PayPal link and buy me coffee for a day/month/year/decade! Why? Because I said so!
HA!!
Ahem. Onto Pandora's question:
"The biggest misperception about Meg is?"
I feed most misperceptions about me, so I have no one but myself to blame. But let's get it out there:
- I can actually stop drinking coffee for long periods of time.
- I can be rather shy at times.
- I go whole weeks without hurting myself.
- I can also stop swearing. Just not at hockey games.
Reasons Nancy is so Freakin' Cool
(title submitted by apparently encouragement-craving reader Nancy)
Okay, I could go on and on here, but I'll give you the top six reasons:
- She writes a brilliant blog here on Salon.
- She has a kickin' hubby named Norman, which is the all time best husband name EVER.
- She is witty, bright, funny, honest, and appealingly real.
- She makes choices based on practicalities and good sense, rather than dippy-brained false-idealistic notions of life.
- She has been taken over by an Alien!
- She is one of my bloggin' girls, and a big support to me in this big bad Salon world.
Her question?
"Have you ever been to that cool outdoor theater in Winnipeg?"
Uh, nope. You totally wasted that one, honey. Much love!
First International Day of Meg
(title submitted by always affirming, often-lurking reader Thel)
Imagine that. Would this occasion ever make it to the Second International Day of Meg?
I think for this one, we have to leap straight to the question asked.
"If a holiday were to be established in
your honor, what should become the traditional emblem or decoration of
Meg Day, and what would the celebrations look like?"
Well, previously multilingual reader Greg submitted a logo, and it's
great, but I'd like to open it up further to submissions -- maybe it
could end up being the design of my blog! In a couple weeks, I'll
display whatever anyone hands in, as long as it's not...icky. Greg does
have an advantage -- I mean, he thought of it on his own. 
Thanks, Greg!
As to the celebrations: everyone would go to the beach to watch a
Live 8-style concert featuring such luminaries as Al Green, Bob Dylan,
and Willie Nelson; people would eat sushi, hot wings, sourdough bread
and lots of fresh fruit; they'd talk hockey, music, books, strange
beauty treatments and make ridiculous jokes; and they'd end the day
with a huge campfire and everyone doing readings of their writing,
singing songs they wrote, and telling good anecdotes about road trips
and calamities shared with Meg. Then we'd sleep under the stars, and
wake up to good, good coffee. Worldwide.
Sound fun? Well, it does to e, so I suppose that's the point. When it's your international day, well....
Up, up, up, down, down, down
(title submitted by evocative reader Sky Bluesky)
Three Things That Go Up:
- The price of gas
- Kites
- My heart at the sight of a good, good man.
Three Things That Go Down:
- Well, I can get down. Dassrite.
- My credibility the further this entry goes...and the tone if I don't watch what I say for this last 'Thing That Goes Down'
- Martha Stewart Omnimedia stock following allegations that
Marth's love of white icing stems from a deeply, deeply predjudiced
place.
And now for Sky's question:
" What's the best Canadian band that most Americans have never heard of?"
Blue Rodeo, baby, Blue Rodeo. Jim Cuddy breaks my frickin' heart.
There are so many great Canadian bands, but these guys aren't a flash
in the pan, and they write truly, truly great songs with (mostly)
excellent vocals.
All Around the Mulberry Bush
(title submitted by apparently child-rearing reader Liz)
All around the mulberry bush
Meg chased the hockey player
Then she realized he was a dork
Because he listened to 'Slayer'
(True story.)
Now for Liz's question:
"Where sight do you most want to see?"
Is that Swedish syntax, honey? Do you mean 'what'? I'll do both in one fell swoop.
What I would like to see is a perfect sunrise with the man I love. I don't care where.
At this moment I lack the creativity to come up with a title.
(title submitted by apparently creatively-stressed reader Johnny)
So, in response, I lack the creativity to come up with a post to go with it. This is so Ecclesiastes.
Onto J. Dawg's Q:
"What did you major in in university Meg?"
I did a double major in English Literature and Political Science.
And by the way, y'all made me feel all jealous and inferior with your
educational choices.
Examining the Mundane
(title submitted by a most not-mundane reader, Wally)
You know, I have to be honest; what most people find really, really interesting is often what totally does not
grab my attention. Like Hollywood summer blockbusters. Like Oprah. Like
Tom and Katie. Like the NBA (give our damn team back!). Like the Atkins
diet. Like Paris or Mary-Kate or Ashley or Lindsay or Hilary or Britney
or K. Fed. Bah to all of you!
I like a good cup of cocoa. I like a surprise phone call. I like the
way babies stare when you do weird things, but not judgmentally. I like
doing laundry. I like plucking my eyebrows. I dream of frolicking with
penguins. I like bleu cheese dip.
I like mundane things, mostly because I'm so completely nuts that, well...they calm me. Mundane is a refuge.
Now for Wally's query:
"How do you bring such light to the work-a-day happenings of your life?"
a. You're very sweet.
b. With these.
Where the Wild Things Are
(title submitted by curiously referential reader Michael)
Something tells me Maurice Sendak is going to be all up in my ass if I go much further with that title.
So, onto your question, Mike!
"Is Jessica Simpson truly an idiot or is it a persona she's paid to display?"
Both!
What if Supeman's mind grew old, while his body stayed young?
(title submitted by superhero reader Scotch)
Whew. Thank heavens for this site.
And Scotch, I think it's sneaky to ask a question for your title, thus securing you TWO questions.
But I quote the page, in response to your concerns:
A text dated April 1960 observes that the rifle-like non-super-ray weapon employed by the Bizarros
of the Planet Htrae could permanently rob Superman of his super-powers.
Another text for this period strongly implies that Superman is
invulnerable to the aging process and therefore immortal (Superman#136, April 1960), but Superman
#181 contradicts this, noting that "Though Superman is the mightiest
man on Earth, even he cannot live forever!" (November, 1965, "The
Superman of 2965!")
Dude. No one knows. How totally unsettling.
So, onto your question:
"Does Lasik surgery affect X-ray vision?"
Yes, but they do sell those cool glasses in the back of comic books
that will get you the X-Ray vision back. And no, Scotch, if you get
those, we are not hanging out.
yay! I did it!
Tomorrow's Reader Participation Challenge:
Submit to me a Top Ten List you'd like me to craft. I will choose the best four (if I get that many).
Much love, you gong shows.
10:20:30 PM 
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