but this i know with all my heart -- His wounds have paid my ransom
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
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Praise God! Finals are over, though I admittedly felt like this these past few weeks:
Now it's time to visit one of my favorite persons!, where I hope to put San Francisco's reputation (referenced here) to the test and emulate this:
SF is followed by a roadtrip to see two of my little sisters, am back in Saint Louis for various graduations, and then it's off to Boston on May 21st!
*****
I am a nerd. Growing up in a household where Celsius was as common as Fahrenheit and in a state where the Richter scale was ever present, I was acutely aware of units of measure from a young age. I remember thinking how cool it was that the kilogram actually exists as a physical artifact -- and that there's an entire scientific society dedicated to the art of measuring things. Imagine my surprise, then, when I first learned that units of measure could be named after people -- Alessandro Volta, for instance. Whoa. Talk about larger-than-life...!
Alas, despite my awesome grades in elementary school (oh, I miss thee!), I knew even then that scientific greatness and similar canonization-in-a-unit-of-measure would forever allude me. It was only when I headed to college that the dream was rekindled in the legend of an MIT student who lay end-to-end on the Massachusetts Avenue bridge to gauge its length one magnificent night. The final tally stood at 364.4 "smoots" (and one ear) -- and thus was born this newest unit of measure.
For years I was inspired by the story and yearned for a similarly unique claim to smoot-like glory, yet could think of nothing that could be measured that hadn't been measured already. Energy? (I have a lot.) Pressure? (It varies.) Depth? (Cheesy.) Dress size? (None of your business!)
*****
I am a dork. Am at the Urbana conference, watching truly-geographically-distinct, previously-un-connected groups of friends get together to lament of revel in my joke-telling habit when it suddenly hits me: Why not use a modified version of the Richter scale to describe what folk from Seoul to Boston today call "a Shim joke"? Brilliant!
Now, after an intense semester of scrutiny and study, the SRI Institute's division of weights and measures proudly presents the Shim Scale (as with all my pictures, click it to make it bigger):
Please don't be confused by its similarity to this! The Shim Scale, while of equal scientific caliber and authority as the Richter Scale, is quite different in scope simply because it measures something pleasurable -- the puns, stories, play-on-words and pirate jokes that are the hallmark of good humor.
No longer must you rely on vague, color-coded labels from the Department of Homeland Security! With the Shim Scale, you can accurately describe just how bad good a given Shim joke is. Use it freely and use it often -- if only to properly warn the poor sops who lovingly, patiently submit themselves to this each day. Future wife (Lord willing), be forewarned!
SF is followed by a roadtrip to see two of my little sisters, am back in Saint Louis for various graduations, and then it's off to Boston on May 21st! 
