Christmas 2015

The Chateau Steelypips photo card, 2015.

Normally, I save a .jpg of our holiday card and post it here. This year, I forgot, but fortunately my parents have one, so you get a photo of a photo card: Merry Christmas if you celebrate it, have a lovely Friday otherwise.

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Categorized as Personal

The Exotic Physics of an Ordinary Morning

Me speaking at TEDxAlbany; photo cropped down from one posted by @SeemaWasTaken on Twitter.

A couple of weeks ago, I gave a talk at TEDxAlbany on how quantum physics manifests in everyday life. I posted the approximate text back then, but TEDx has now put up the video: So, if you’ve been wondering what it sounded like live, well, now you can see…

Memories of Emmy

Emmy back in September, looking soulful.

SteelyKid’s second-grade teacher sent home a couple of books about kids dealing with the loss of beloved pets– one of which, The Tenth Good Thing About Barney is surprisingly atheistic. We read them at bedtime the other night, which was a little rough. After we finished, and moved her to her bed (when it’s my… Continue reading Memories of Emmy

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Categorized as Dog, Personal

Emmy Orzel, 2002-2015

Emmy in December 2003, only a few months after we got her.

We lost the Queen of Niskayuna tonight. Emmy had been having some health issues for a while, and while we were in Florida this past weekend she wasn’t eating for the pet-sitter. We tried yet another new version of the new diet food today, with only limited success. And this afternoon, she fell going up… Continue reading Emmy Orzel, 2002-2015

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Categorized as Dog, Personal

On Sports Injury Rates, or Today in Why I’m Glad I’m Not a Social Scientist

Injury rates for boys and girls in equivalent high school sports.

The topic of sports injuries is unavoidable these days– the sports radio shows I listen to in the car probably spend an hour a week bemoaning the toll playing football takes on kids. Never a publication to shy away from topics that bring easy clicks, Vox weighs in with The Most Dangerous High School Sports… Continue reading On Sports Injury Rates, or Today in Why I’m Glad I’m Not a Social Scientist

100/366: Indomitable Spirit

SteelyKid doing punches at her belt test.

As noted a couple of days ago, this was a big martial arts week at Chateau Steelypips, with The Pip’s first-ever belt test on Monday, and SteelyKid testing for her brown belt tonight. Unfortunately, tonight was also a first, namely the first belt test she’s failed. This was, sadly, entirely predictable, as her teacher has… Continue reading 100/366: Indomitable Spirit

099/366: Medicine

Emmy's new medication.

When we had our vetinary adventure back on Saturday, they drew blood for some tests. These showed that Emmy’s kidney function is somewhat impaired, leading to yet more tests, and as of last night an extensive regimen of new stuff: That’s some new kidney-friendly food (in both dry and canned varieties), a drug for her… Continue reading 099/366: Medicine

098/366: Little Dragon

The Pip getting his new belt at taekwondo.

It’s a big week in Chateau Steelypips for martial arts and cute-kid photos. On the heels of SteelyKid’s first competition this past weekend, we have the Pip’s first belt test tonight (and SteelyKid is testing for her brown belt Wednesday, so you should probably expect one more kid-martial-arts photo before all’s said and done…). Tonight’s… Continue reading 098/366: Little Dragon