I was going to write something serious about physics, but it’s my student’s last day, so we’re taking him to lunch. So here’s a silly poll to entertain you until I get back: If I suspected I might be living in a dream, but couldn’t be sure, I would:survey software You can only choose one… Continue reading Silly Poll: Pinch Me
Category: Pop Culture
Inception
We haven’t yet gotten to the point where we’re comfortable leaving SteelyKid with a babysitter, so seeing the movie everybody’s talking about took a while. Since she’s off at Gammy’s, though, we got a rare night to ourselves and went to the movies. My immediate reaction is that it’s great to see a movie that’s… Continue reading Inception
Many-Worlds in Fiction: “Divided by Infinity”
Today, Tor.com has posted the complete story “Divided by Infinity” by Robert Charles Wilson. This remains probably the best science fiction story ever using the Many-Worlds interpretation of quantum physics (though it doesn’t call it that explicitly), and also the creepiest: In the year after Lorraine’s death I contemplated suicide six times. Contemplated it seriously,… Continue reading Many-Worlds in Fiction: “Divided by Infinity”
A Reason Why Paper Books Will Survive
Every couple of weeks, there’s another bunch of stories about how e-books are transforming the world, and paper books will soon survive only as collectible fetish objects. It occurred to me this morning that I share a house with a reason why paper books will be around for a while yet, at least in some… Continue reading A Reason Why Paper Books Will Survive
My Hugo Awards Ballot
The voting for the 2010 Hugo Awards closed last night. I sent in my ballot yesterday, but I’m trying to limit my computer time this weekend, so I didn’t post about it until today. The following lists are my votes, with miscellaneous commentary. The Hugos use a complicated vote-counting scheme, including a “No Award” option… Continue reading My Hugo Awards Ballot
Twitter in Business Schools
My initial reaction to the financial meltdown caused by the housing bubble was “Are our business leaders really that stupid?” Things like this news squib from Inside Higher Ed make me suspect the answer is “yes, they are that stupid”: Business schools — including such prestigious ones as those of Columbia and Harvard Universities —… Continue reading Twitter in Business Schools
How to Teach Physics to Your Japanese Dog
The vanity search this morning turned up something I hadn’t seen before: That’s the Japanese edition of How to Teach Physics to Your Dog. I knew one was in the works, but hadn’t heard when it would be out. Of course, I can’t read any of it other than my own name (rightmost column of… Continue reading How to Teach Physics to Your Japanese Dog
Why I Can’t Take Doctor Who Seriously
It was miserably swampy for most of the day today– when it wasn’t actually raining, it was so humid that you expects water to condense out of the air at any moment– so I spent a while sitting on the couch watching tv with SteelyKid. The best kid-friendly option seemed to be an episode of… Continue reading Why I Can’t Take Doctor Who Seriously
The E-Book Experience
A bit more than a month ago, I got a Sony Reader as a birthday present, upgrading my electronic book-reading platform from an old Palm Pilot. this is, obviously, not as sexy as a Kindle or a Nook, but then again, it doesn’t involve me paying fees to use wireless services and further stoke my… Continue reading The E-Book Experience
How to Teach Physics to Your Dog: Now With More Quantum
If you’re in the UK, you may very well be thinking “You know, I love the idea of How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, but I find American idiom very intimidating. If only there were an edition just for people like me…” Well, hypothetical UK person, your prayers have been answered: This is the… Continue reading How to Teach Physics to Your Dog: Now With More Quantum