Believe it or not, this is actually book-related: I have in mind to do a chapter at the end of the book about the use of misrepresentations of quantum physics to promise magical results. I’ve been writing the dialogue to go with that this morning (because it’s more fun than what I’m supposed to be… Continue reading Evil Survey: Quantum Chicanery
Author: Chad Orzel
To Whom It May Concern
I am writing this letter in support of J. Randomstudent’s application to your graduate or professional program. I have known J. since the fall of 20__, when he was a student in my introductory physics class. From the very first day of that course, J. was a constant presence on my grade roster. I assume… Continue reading To Whom It May Concern
Maryland-UCLA
A college basketball game takes a bit over two hours– 2:10 is pretty typical, what with all the timeouts and miscellaneous stoppages of play. A blowout takes a bit less, a close game a bit more (what with all the intentional fouling at the end), but it’s a rare game that finishes in under two… Continue reading Maryland-UCLA
links for 2007-11-20
5 Upcoming Comic Book Movies That Must Be Stopped | Cracked.com ‘How the project obtained funding for their proposal, entitled “give diamond-hard skin and superhuman strength to angry young ethnic convicts” is yet another prime example of the dangerous incompetence of the Nixon administration.’ (tags: movies comics stupid) Confessions of a Community College Dean: Presidents… Continue reading links for 2007-11-20
Dorky Poll: Deadlines
I have to spend the day working with a thesis student who needs to finish up by tomorrow (no pressure), so I don’t have time to write up the seven-part detailed explanation of the physics of deep-fried turkey that I was hoping to do. Maybe next year. In its place, inspired by Backreaction’s post on… Continue reading Dorky Poll: Deadlines
Multimedia Trash Talk
In one of those “Living in the Future” sorts of moments, our regular lunchtime pick-up basketball game has an email listserver. Pretty much every day there’s a game, there’s some email chatter and trash talk. My signature comment is to describe one of the other players as being “Weak like a really weak thing.” One… Continue reading Multimedia Trash Talk
links for 2007-11-19
These Scientific Minds Think (and Drink) Alike – New York Times Scientists acting like rock stars. Buckaroo Banzai, call your agent. (tags: science society culture) In U.S. Name Count, Garcias Are Catching Up With Joneses – New York Times You’ll be shocked–shocked!– to learn that neither Kate nor I have one of the 5,000 most… Continue reading links for 2007-11-19
Woo-Hoo!
If you go to the California Bar home page, you will see that only 56.1% of the applicants who took the bar exam this year passed. If you poke around a little, you can find the list of those who passed, and on that list, you’ll find my sister’s name. She graduated law school back… Continue reading Woo-Hoo!
Death of the Hit Parade?
I’ve been thinking off and on all day about the Jon Sobel post I mentioned in the previous post. I think he’s got a point, but something about it strikes me as slightly off. To get this out of my system, I’m going to babble about it a bit here, and see if anything coherent… Continue reading Death of the Hit Parade?
Year’s Best Music: Candidates
Following on yesterday’s post about books, I started thinking about the best pop music for the year. Since getting iTunes, I’ve been able to do this quasi-scientifically, by putting together playlists of the top-rated songs for the year, which provides an easy guide to what I liked best. My first impression, thinking back, was that… Continue reading Year’s Best Music: Candidates