While working on a review of a book that talks about the fortuitously bio-friendly constants of nature (review forthcoming, don’t worry), I mistyped “ratio of proton to electron masses” and “ratio of proton to electron charges.” Which is, of course, 1, and thus not a terribly interesting ratio. But that got me wondering: is there… Continue reading Stupid Idle Question
New Jersey in the Morning’s Like a Lunar Landscape
In that it’s bombarded by meteorites, anyway. The object that crashed into a New Jersey house has been confirmed as a meterorite by, well, looking at it: The family has not yet given permission for physical testing of the meteorite, but from looking at it, Dr. Delaney and other experts were able to tell that… Continue reading New Jersey in the Morning’s Like a Lunar Landscape
Identity
I’m A Boy I’m A Ghost I’m A Loner Dottie, A Rebel… I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day I’m A Midnight Mover I’m a Rocker I’m A Terrible Person
Jack McDevitt Interview
Jack McDevitt is a prolific SF author, with a couple of running series that recently appeared in booklog entries here (see, for example, Antiquities Dealers in Spaaaace!!!). Coincidentally, he’s also talked to the Slush God, in an interview posted at SciFi Weekly. He says a bunch of interesting stuff, and not just about his books:… Continue reading Jack McDevitt Interview
Wanted: Rocket Scientists
Via Tobia Buckell, Jeff Bezos is looking for a few good geeks: Blue Origin; Blue Origin wants you! Actually, Blue Origin needs you and wants to hire you … assuming you’re a hard working, technically gifted, team-oriented, experienced aerospace engineer or engineering leader. If you might be interested in joining us, please keep reading. We’re… Continue reading Wanted: Rocket Scientists
Turtles All the Way Down
A Christmas gift from my sister: Yes, that’s an origami Discworld. A big turtle, four elephants, and a flat world inhabited by silly people. All folded out of paper (well, the map was printed and cut out, but the elephants and turtle are origmai). From a different angle:
When Gravity Fails
It’s a little-known fact that gravity is stronger in the vicinity of our couch: Her Majesty just can’t manage to lift her head. I think string theory is involved, but I’m not sure.
Statement on Teaching
One of the standard elements of most academic hiring and promotion applications, at least at a small liberal arts college, is some sort of statement from the candidate about teaching. This is called different things at different places– “statement of teaching philosophy” is a common term for it, and the tenure process here calls for… Continue reading Statement on Teaching
What’s the Matter with Wisconsin?
Inside Higher Ed reports on an impressively bad idea from the upper midwest: “If we can’t lure them here, let’s tether them here,” said Mark O’Connell, executive director of the Wisconsin Counties Association, a lobbying organization, and a member of the Commission on Enhancing the Mission of the Wisconsin Colleges, a group created to advise… Continue reading What’s the Matter with Wisconsin?
Come On In, the Methane’s Fine
The Times has an article announcing the discovery of methane lakes on Titan: The discovery, reported yesterday by an international team of researchers, was made by a radar survey of Titan’s high northern latitudes by the Cassini spacecraft, which has been orbiting Saturn and its retinue of satellites since July 2004. One of the mission’s… Continue reading Come On In, the Methane’s Fine