The AV Club (I promise I’m not actually turning this blog into theonionavclubwatch.com, but I do like their stuff) had a discussion of Christmas music a little while ago, which collides with last night’s campus holiday party in interesting ways. Let’s just say that there are few things in this world as horrible as a… Continue reading Classic Edition: Why I Don’t Like Christmas Music
Katrina Cleanup, One Year Later
One of the weird features of the trimester calendar that Union runs on is that we get a six-week break between the Fall and Winter terms– classes end before Thanksgiving, and resume after New Year’s. This is neither as restful nor as useful as you might naively expect, but that’s not the point of this… Continue reading Katrina Cleanup, One Year Later
Call for Nominations: Non-Specific Item of the Year
I’ve solicited nominations for a bunch of “Year’s Best” categories, with varying degrees of success. Best Pop Song was great (and has added a few songs to the list of things to check out the next time I hit iTunes), but I was hoping for more from the best physics results. Was it really that… Continue reading Call for Nominations: Non-Specific Item of the Year
Perceptions of Science Funding
There have been a couple of science funding items in Inside Higher Ed in the last few days, one suggestiong prizes to spur research, and the other reporting that most people aren’t convinced there’s a crisis: Generally, the public appreciates some of the message of the reports going out — that the United States is… Continue reading Perceptions of Science Funding
Axions and the Problem of EurekAlert
I have a couple of EurekAlert feeds in my RSS reader, because they sometimes turn up interesting things– I got the Bill Wootters item there, for example, and they had a piece on strontium clocks that I keep meaning to say something about. Of course, there’s also some total garbage, such as the kookery from… Continue reading Axions and the Problem of EurekAlert
Congratulations to Bill Wootters
One of my former professors is collecting some awards: Professor William Wootters is to be honored for his outstanding achievements in physics, not once, but twice in the academic year, by The American Physical Society and by the International Organization for Quantum Communication, Measurement and Computing. In recognition of his pioneering work in quantum theory,… Continue reading Congratulations to Bill Wootters
The AV Club on Dawkins
The Onion AV Club has a review of The God Delusion this week. “Big deal, ” you say, “Who cares what a humor magazine thinks?” I’ve found in recent years, though, that the AV Club is one of the most consistent sources of reviews of movies, music, and books out there. They’re sharp, they get… Continue reading The AV Club on Dawkins
Call for Nominations: Book of the Year (Non-Fiction)
Continuing the year-end wrap-up theme, I’ll invite suggestions for the best books of the year. Since I’m so far behind on the booklog, it’s much harder for me to remember what came out in 2006, and come up with a ranking, but I have some ideas. I’d like to hear what other people think, though,… Continue reading Call for Nominations: Book of the Year (Non-Fiction)
Call for Nominations: Book of the Year (Fiction)
Continuing the year-end wrap-up theme, I’ll invite suggestions for the best books of the year. Since I’m so far behind on the booklog, it’s much harder for me to remember what came out in 2006, and come up with a ranking, but I have some ideas. I’d like to hear what other people think, though,… Continue reading Call for Nominations: Book of the Year (Fiction)
Syracuse-Oklahoma State
Syracuse, ranked #21 according to ESPN, lost by three to #24 Oklahoma State on Tuesday night. This comes on the heels of a loss to #17 Wichita State (who climbed to #10 in this week’s rankings). That’s what happens when you play ranked teams in December. I’m not sure how they managed to get Jim… Continue reading Syracuse-Oklahoma State