I’m fairly certain somebody has already done this, because it’s such an obvious idea. It’s a little beyond my cargo-cult VPython skills right at the moment, though (I can probably learn to do it, but not right now), and I none of the applets I Googled up seemed to be doing this, so I’m posting… Continue reading Notes Toward a Toy Model of the Arrow of Time
Author: Chad Orzel
Baby Blogging Backlog
I’ve been really bad about documenting The Pip’s growth here. The annoying thing is, I’ve actually taken pictures of him over the last couple of weeks, but I’ve been too busy to edit and post them. If there’s one thing transcontinental flights are good for, though, it’s providing you with time to do stuff like… Continue reading Baby Blogging Backlog
Difficult Problems in Automotive Thermodynamics
While clearing the cars of frost Thursday morning, I was reminded of a difference of opinion Kate and I have about the best approach to a cold car. I tend to start the car up, and immediately turn the defrost on full blast; she prefers to let the car warm up for a while first,… Continue reading Difficult Problems in Automotive Thermodynamics
Links for 2012-01-20
Ben Franklin’s 200+ Synonyms for “Drunk” – Mental Floss Today we’re celebrating Ben Franklin’s 306th birthday. If you’re celebrating at home, perhaps one of these phrases from The Drinkers Dictionary will come in handy. The lengthy list of expressions meaning “inebriated” was first published by Franklin in the Pennsylvania Gazette on January 6, 1737. Feel… Continue reading Links for 2012-01-20
How to Present Scientific Data
In the same basic vein as last week’s How to Read a Scientific Paper, here’s a kind of online draft of the class I’m going to give Friday on the appropriate ways to present scientific data. “Present” here meaning the more general “display in some form, be it a talk, a poster, a paper, or… Continue reading How to Present Scientific Data
Links for 2012-01-19
What I Wish Wikipedia and Others Were Saying About SOPA/PIPA The blackout and other protests today are the result of a long, sustained, full-court press against legislation that’s being pushed through despite widespread opposition. Yet, Lamar Smith and many other members of the U.S. House and Senate have been plowing ahead full-steam. Why? Yes, in… Continue reading Links for 2012-01-19
On Blogs and Voices
The always interesting Timothy Burke has a post that’s basically a long links dump pointing to two articles about the state of humanities in academia, which includes a sort of aside that is more interesting to me than either of the linked articles: This leads me to the second piece I really liked in this… Continue reading On Blogs and Voices
Links for 2012-01-17
1 job good, 2 jobs better? § Unqualified Offerings Inspired by FSP’s post on 2-body problems in hiring, i.e. situations where both members of a couple are seeking academic jobs, I’d like to pose some challenges to those of my readers with opinions on academic hiring. This topic is usually considered as a moral issue,… Continue reading Links for 2012-01-17
Science: It’s What’s for Breakfast
SteelyKid and I have developed a weekend routine: I make pancakes (with her help in mixing and occasionally measuring ingredients) on Saturday morning before we head out (usually to SoccerTots, but the last couple of weeks to birthday parties). On Sunday, we make French toast, before going to the Schenectady Greenmarket. Of course, while this… Continue reading Science: It’s What’s for Breakfast
Links for 2012-01-16
Swans on Tea » The Scientists’ Dilemma I recently had an interesting discussion with someone who is interested in science, but without training or experience as a scientist. The question was, basically: Why don’t we (scientists) all just lie to each other? i.e. what compels scientists to truthfully share their research results? It’s a fair… Continue reading Links for 2012-01-16