SFWA, your source for train-wrecky goodness on the Internet has indirectly caused International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day: On this day, everyone who wants to should give away professional quality work online. It doesn’t matter if it’s a novel, a story or a poem, it doesn’t matter if it’s already been published or if it hasn’t, the… Continue reading Pixel-Stained Technopeasants Unite!
Gun Control
So, back when I was cussing a lot about the premature politicization of the Virginia Tech shootings, I threatened to give my real opinions on the subject of gun control on Monday. It’s Monday, and I try to be good to my word, so, this is that post. Dipping back into my shady past on… Continue reading Gun Control
Really Obscure Bands
Whenever I post about the music I listen to, I get a comment or two from people commenting that they’ve never heard of any of the bands I talk about. This is always a little surprising to me, because I don’t think I’m all that much of a High Fidelity type. As proof, let me… Continue reading Really Obscure Bands
Finite Supergravity?
The highlighted article in Friday’s Physical Review Letters is something Peter Woit has been going on about for months: “Cancellations Beyond Finiteness in N=8 Supergravity at Three Loops”. It’s been on the ArXiv for ages, but I’m old school, and don’t think of papers as real until they’re actually released in peer-reviewed journals. The thing… Continue reading Finite Supergravity?
Quantum Optics at Home
I’ve seen several people link to the Scientific American piece on how to make your own “quantum eraser” experiment, which also includes a list of components and a detailed set of instructions, with pictures. There’s a great “living in the future” kick to an article which assumes that you just have a laser lying around… Continue reading Quantum Optics at Home
Bicycling Report
One of my Christmas presents was a small mileage/ speed calculator for my bike, because there are few activities that can’t be improved by making them nerdier. Thus, I am able to report on today’s ride: Total Distance: 17.1 miles Maximum Speed: 23.5 mph Average speed: 13.4 mph I’m actually a little surprised by the… Continue reading Bicycling Report
There But For the Grace of God
I went to school with a crazy person. Well, OK, that in and of itself is not surprising, given the amount of schooling I have, and the subject I majored in. I almost certainly went to school with a lot of crazy people, and I can easily come up with several people who probably count… Continue reading There But For the Grace of God
Car Radio Bands
There’s a concert on campus this evening by Third Eye Blind, best known for the doo-doo-doo chorus of “Semi-Charmed Life” from about ten years ago. I wasn’t aware that they were still together, but they’re apparently here, and playing a show on the court where we usually play our pick-up basketball games. When I was… Continue reading Car Radio Bands
Goals
I want to see ample funding for scientific research, or failing that, at least adequate funding for scientific research. Good experiments should not have to go begging for research funding. I want to see funding priorities set on scientific criteria, based on what projects and programs have the best chance of improving our knowledge of… Continue reading Goals
Michael Flynn, Eifelheim [Library of Babel]
Since I’m going to be voting for the Hugos this year, I feel obliged to actually read as many of the nominated books as possible, and Michael Flynn’s Eifelheim was readily available, so I picked up a copy and read it a little while back. The novel mixes two plot threads, one in a near-future… Continue reading Michael Flynn, Eifelheim [Library of Babel]