Daylight Savings Time Causes Global Warming

An important discovery in Arkansas: You would think that members of Congress would have considered the warming effect that an extra hour of daylight would have on our climate. Or did they ?” Via James.

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Categorized as Silliness

Help Me Spend Money

I usually listen to music on the computer using the “Party Shuffle” feature of iTunes on a playlist consisting of recently acquired music. It gives me a chance to get a good feel for new albums, and then when I’m at work or on the road, I listen to the four-and-five-star playlist. I haven’t bought… Continue reading Help Me Spend Money

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Categorized as Music

Pixel-Stained Technopeasants Unite!

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!

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Categorized as Blogs

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

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Categorized as Politics

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

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Categorized as Music

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?

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Categorized as Physics

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

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Categorized as Physics

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

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Categorized as Biking

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

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Categorized as Music