Thursday Baby Blogging 121709

It’s Thursday again, and that means Baby Blogging. But first, SteelyKid has a message: “Thanks for the awesome rocking frog, Aunt Erin!” Of course, as with any toy at this age, the box is just as much fun:

Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 3: Computers

Quantum physics can sometimes seem so arcane that even humans don’t need to worry about it, let alone dogs. It’s actually tremendously important to our modern world. In fact, if you’re reading this on a computer (and how else would you be getting it?), you have quantum physics to thank for it. Computers are based… Continue reading Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 3: Computers

Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 2: Solar Panels

Yesterday’s reason to love quantum was the CCD sensor, which relies on the photoelectric effect to take digital pictures. Sticking with the photoelectric theme, today’s first quantum-enabled technology is the photovoltaic cell, the basis for solar panels. Photovoltaic cells convert light into electricity, essentially via the same photoelectric effect used in CCD’s. A photon of… Continue reading Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 2: Solar Panels

Links for 2009-12-17

slacktivist: Preferring nightmares “What I don’t get is the kind of deliberate delusion in which a person chooses to pretend the world is more horrifying and filled with more and more-monstrous monsters. Why would anyone prefer such a place to the real world? Why would anyone wish for a world filled with socialist conspiracies, secret… Continue reading Links for 2009-12-17

Published
Categorized as Links Dump

Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 1: Digital Cameras

I’ve been writing a bunch of publicity copy for the book the last few weeks, and one of those things is a list of reasons why every dog should know about quantum physics. I’ve been planning to chop that up into a bunch of individual blog posts in the run-up to the book, but the… Continue reading Why Every Dog Should Love Quantum Physics 1: Digital Cameras

Quantum Mechanics Is Not Magic, No Matter What Amazon Says

While I’m thrilled to see How to Teach Physics to Your Dog listed on Amazon, I am distressed to see it offered as a pair with something called The Intention Experiment by Lynne McTaggart. I’m not linking to the Amazon page for that book, because it’s a giant pile of crap, and I wouldn’t want… Continue reading Quantum Mechanics Is Not Magic, No Matter What Amazon Says

Links for 2009-12-16

“Edward Gorey’s “The Trouble with Tribbles”” By Shaenon K. Garrity “By morning, the mass of mewling fluff had become quite suffocating” (tags: comics television sf silly literature) Dave Foley | Film | Random Roles | The A.V. Club “With his boyish good looks and wry delivery, Dave Foley was pegged as the breakout star of… Continue reading Links for 2009-12-16

Published
Categorized as Links Dump

Seasonal Poll: Shopping in December

I’m spending today doing some Christmas shopping, god help me. So here’s a seasonally-appropriate poll for you all: The worst part of going to a mall in December is:(polls) Please choose only one. No returns or exchanges.

Quantum Zeno Effect: The Movie

It’s exactly one week to the release date for How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, and to celebrate, I’m setting off on an expedition to the local mall(s) in search of Christmas presents. May God have mercy on my soul… Anyway, I wouldn’t want you to be without entertainment while I’m off helping the… Continue reading Quantum Zeno Effect: The Movie