Why we should NOT go to Mars

Mars may or may not be the right place for you to be, but most likely, it is not for anyone except for a few top-notch scientists.

It is the most earthlike planet we'll ever reach. Days are about 24 and a half hour long. Because Mars has less gravity, we would weigh a lot less than on Earth, but there are lots of problems that we need to solve (which are either costly, nearly impossible, or both). First of all, we need oxygen. Second of all we need water (if you live in West Texas, you know what moisturizers are for). As far as I know, Mars is windy and dust storms may cover a huge part of the planet at times. Did I mention this? It is freaking cold out there, the average temperature is about -80˚F or -60˚C according to NASA.

Is there some hope? Yes. I recently read that there is a lot of carbon dioxide that remains frozen at the poles. If this is sublimated, it would trap more heat in the atmosphere. This would be enough heat to melt water and create Martian oceans. If we add heat and water to the martian atmosphere, could we get huge rain and/or winter storms? As it is a very windy planet (compared to Earth) I guess these storms would be much worse than the ones we have on Earth.

Can we transport seeds in order to get plants to take that carbon dioxide during the day and release oxygen at night? Maybe, but wouldn't it be easier to try and fix our problems here in the Earth? You bet.

If you can be entertained for six months on a spaceship (reading books, working out, staying online) and have lots of fun things to do while you're up there (and you're a top-notch scientist of course!) and don't mind all the weather inclemencies, then Mars MIGHT be the place for you to go.

Chocolate Syrup made with Honey and Dark Cocoa

Honey + dark cocoa + water = chocolate syrup

Good taste depends on whether you add the right amount of ingredients or not. It won't have those emulsifiers (what makes water and oil mix) and/or stabilizers that other commercial brands use. Because of this, it does not look like a uniform liquid, but it will be fat free!*

*The amount of fat that is naturally present in cocoa is perhaps insignificant. 

West Texas Winter Wonderland

When it snows, for a moment, everything is right.

Yes, you still have bills to pay, grades to post, lessons to plan, but at that moment, you just forget about all your worries.

It started at around 7:30 AM on January 22nd, 2015. Wet snow began falling which turned heavy and began accumulating rapidly. A few hours later, heavy snow changed to flurries and most of the snow on the ground melted. During the daytime, the temperature was steady between 33 and 34 degrees. As the sun was setting, temperatures slowly dropped, snow slowly turned heavy again and began accumulating again. If my finger calculation was right, we might've had 3 inches on the ground in the morning of the 23rd (without counting all the snow that melted before the sun set the night before).

Coming from Monterrey, I never witnessed such a heavy snowfall event before, even though I have seen more snow in the mountains of Mexico and New Mexico.

This is not the first winter storm that we've had since I moved a year and a half ago. Thanks to that, I've drawn some preliminary conclusions (yes, even though I teach math, I am still a scientist) based on my observations:

1. Snow or ice is unlikely to accumulate during the daytime when the temperature is in the upper 20s (-2˚C) or higher. This explains why snow rarely accumulates in Monterrey (on those once or twice a decade events). This might be becuase the sun's energy warms the ground above freezing unless the temperature is below the lower 20s (-6˚C) when it is cloudy. I still need to see if the melting of the ice and snow would be the same when it is sunny.

2. Cars passing by help melt the snow or the ice on the roads (at least at certain temperatures not too far from freezing).

3. When snow falls and the temperature is way below freezing, snow is actually as dry as powder. It won't stick or stain your windshield.

Many people have known what I discovered for centuries, but they did not help me figure it out. It feels nice to do this by yourself, and then confirm it with those who have documented it before you.

Monterrey, Nuevo León, México

Cuando regresas a casa, el tiempo que estas ahí nunca es suficiente. 

El regresar a la montaña hace parecer que tienes toda la ciudad de jardín. 

Vuelves a ver la neblina típica que hace que parezca que vives en un pueblo.

Tienes oportunidad de ver familiares y amigos, aunque normalmente no llevas cámara porque no siempre son reuniones sociales. 

Comes diferente (Ok, es Navidad).

Hay familiares muertos en vida, espero que revivan.

Cómprate un Bosque y Piérdete

Después de casi once meses de estar fuera de Monterrey se me vino a la mente esa frase de la prepa de “cómprate un bosque y piérdete.”

En el camino a Monterrey me perdí entre estos maples. Ha de ser por eso que el parque se llama “Lost Maples,” que significa Maples perdidos.

Después al llegar a Monterrey y ver estas vistas que ya extrañaba pensé: “No me compro un bosque, me compro estos dos, pero con las comodidades que tienes al vivir en la ciudad.”

San Antonio, Houston o Dallas, no son lo mismo sin mis cerros: