I’m giving my talk about blogs as a tool for science outreach again on Monday, and need an updated version of the cute-kid picture screenshot I use in that. So here’s a composite of the two kid pictures I posted a week or two ago, because it should all fit on screen, even on my… Continue reading Cute Kid Composite
Category: Personal
Nostalgia and the Next Generation
“Daddy, I wanna play with the robot dog!” “It’s not a dog, honey, it’s an Imperial walker. An AT-AT. A fearsome armored assault transport used to overwhelm the Rebel defenses in the battle of Hoth.” “…” “…” “…” “OK, fine, you can play with the robot dog.” We came down to my parents’ for Thanksgiving… Continue reading Nostalgia and the Next Generation
The Pip, Balance Expert
Since SteelyKid got her own cute-photo post last night, it’s only fair to give equal time to The Pip. This morning, for reasons that passeth adult understanding, the kids decided to balance teddy bears on their heads, SteelyKid using Bertha the Big Bear (who is just a little smaller than The Pip), while the Little… Continue reading The Pip, Balance Expert
SteelyKid, Scientist
One of SteelyKid’s classmates came over for a couple hours today. After a bit, they got into the Magic School Bus science kit she got for her birthday, and decided to invent “new kinds of water.” The “featured image” above shows her reinventing stock images… And doing a better job of it than this clown.… Continue reading SteelyKid, Scientist
Work-Life Juggling, Then and Now
A couple of Mondays ago, I was at work and got the dreaded phone call from day care. “[The Pip]’s got conjunctivitis again. It’s really bad, and he needs to go home right away.” Admittedly, this isn’t the very worst phone call a parent could receive, but it’s very much Not Good. Conjunctivitis means a… Continue reading Work-Life Juggling, Then and Now
Time Management, or A Day in the Life
In comments to the Sagan post, Niall asked about how I spend my time. This is about to change, as today is the last day of my class for the fall term, then we have an extended break, but it’s probably interesting in a life-in-academia way to put up my schedule at the moment: Monday,… Continue reading Time Management, or A Day in the Life
Official Portrait Blogging 2013-14
Because I know there are still a few people who come here for the cute-kid pictures, I give you the official SteelyKid portrait for the 2013-14 academic year. This is actually a photo of a photo, because that’s the easiest way to convert the print they sent us to a digital format, and also because… Continue reading Official Portrait Blogging 2013-14
Happy Pip-Day!
Two years ago, as of 4:35 this morning, The Pip was born. And now he’s a great big toddler, obsessed with pirates and dinosaurs, running everywhere and talking a LOT… He’s had a bit of a rough week, with another flare-up of conjunctivitis in his right eye, requiring eye ointment and antibiotics, the less said… Continue reading Happy Pip-Day!
The Ultimate Alien Message
In January of 1990, a friend and I designed the ultimate message to an alien civilization. Okay, admittedly, this wan’t a recognized scientific accomplishment. After all, in January of 1990, I was a freshman at Williams. The alien message we designed was part of a first-year Winter Study seminar class. Winter Study, for those not… Continue reading The Ultimate Alien Message
The Elusive Niskayuna Sloth
[Scene: In the car on the way from soccer to lunch at Five Guys. SteelyKid is in her car seat, studying the Halloween-themed temporary tattoos all over her arms.] SteelyKid: Do bats fly right-side-up, or upside-down? Daddy: From the bat’s point of view, it’s right side up more or less by definition. They do sleep… Continue reading The Elusive Niskayuna Sloth