iPod iChing - oh canada
Category: random
Friday. Raining, again.
So, Oh Mighty iPod - what is going on on the mystery Canadian Train in Ontario?
Woosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 3:46 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Dynamics of Cats
Speculations on astronomy, astrophysics, news I find interesting, theoretical issues, science and science policy. I will digress into computational physics, science fiction and general issues and basically whatever I feel like whenever. And, of course, cats.
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Working for an analytic exactapproximate solution to the herding problem
Recent Posts
- iPod iChing - oh canada
- flu like illness on Canadian train
- teh science frame
- cut off their goolies
- Wingardium Leviosa Aragog
- a grain of sand
- Chaiten Volcano Chile
- Nargis lingering legacy
- an ode to spring
- 'fess up
Recent Comments
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- mihos on teh science frame
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Other Information
So you want to be an astrophysicist?
Random info.
The Old Dynamics of Cats blog
Old Favourites:
- Global warming on Mars? (or here, here, or here)
- WMAP for Dummies
- Fractal Dust, LEDs and Cracks in the Cosmos
- On The Proper Subject Order in High School
- Iranian Nukes: Plain Language version
- Imminence of the Eschaton
- Chasing the wrong variable
- Triumph of Evil
- Getting cold gets you colds
- What to do...
- Hæstaréttarmálaflutningslögmannsvinnukonuútidyralyklakippuhringurinn
- Bird 'flu for theorists
- The More You Write, The More You Write...
- King of Tambora
- Goethe's Revenge
- Food for Fighting - in praise of Skyr
- Is this going to be on the test?
May 9, 2008
flu like illness on Canadian train
Category: science
Passenger train halted and quarantined in northern Ontario
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:14 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
teh science frame
Category: astro
Nima Arkani-Hamed front pages cnn.com
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:37 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
cut off their goolies
Category: academia
apropos nothing - what sort of circumstances hypothetically trigger university disciplinary investigations?
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:17 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 8, 2008
Wingardium Leviosa Aragog
Category: astro
Now we know why Ron Weasley didn't like Astronomy
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:55 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 7, 2008
a grain of sand
Category: academia
Prof Brad DeLong dislodges an academic grain of sand, and formally requests academic action on the question Prof Yoo.
The immediate response is repose.
We will see if the talus slope is ever exceeded. Inertia works both ways, even at the institutional level.
Another episode of linking as a public good.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:21 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Chaiten Volcano Chile
Category: science
The Chaiten Volcano in Chile is erupting, first time in at least 2000 years, more likely the last eruption was about 10,000 years ago.
The eruption is intensifying and local towns are being evacuated
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 7:02 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 6, 2008
Nargis lingering legacy
Category: science
The news from Tropical Cyclone Nagris keep coming and getting worse
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:17 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
an ode to spring
Category: astro
...57 papers to grade on the pile on the desk
57 papers to grade on the pile on the desk
take one off, grade it down
56 papers to grade on the pile on the desk...
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 10:45 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 5, 2008
'fess up
Category: astro
All right.
Which of you jokers edited wikipedia to say "Cosmic Magnetic Background"?
It was funny the first time, but the nth time I read that for the CMB in ugrad essays it gets tiresome... just in time for finals week, eh?
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 3:09 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
the three stages of proposal rejection
Category: astro
selected referee comments on "A bold proposal to do something new and interesting",
years 1-3
with added bonus translation
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:39 PM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 4, 2008
lucky man
Category: astro
some time ago I made an off-cuff comment to a colleague that he "had been lucky".
He reacted badly to this, and rather curtly told me he resented being told he had been lucky, he had worked for his success and earned it.
At the time I shrugged it off - no big deal, he was being a bit oversensitive.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:57 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 2, 2008
wot a day
Category: random
Boris is the new mayor of London?!
I'm so sorry, me ol' mates.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 10:47 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
iPod iChing - school's out...
Category: random
Last friday!
And, somewhere, it is snowing.
So, we skip joyfully to the Mighty iPod, and ask, intrepidly: what interesting things are we in for this summer?
Whoosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:46 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 1, 2008
Carnival of Space: Special Anniversary Edition
Category: astro
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 3:08 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 30, 2008
Presidential Wizardry
Category: random
Crucio!
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 4:38 PM • 13 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
...but we like to!
Category: science
Chad he says: Scientists Don't Have To Do Everything
Do as he says.
This is another episode of linking: because linking is an inherent public good.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:19 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 29, 2008
stars like dust
Category: astro
Gorgeous Spitzer Space Telescope Image of Ω Centauri
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 10:52 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 28, 2008
a brief history of big physics
Category: astro
Physics used to be simple: the universe was eternal, static and predictable...
but there were dark clouds on the horizon.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:08 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
What the World Needs Now...
Category: astro
Is APOD for the iPod.
Seriously. A neat little web accessible archive of the public subset of the APOD archive, continuosly updated, bundled for a quick iPod upload.
With an index, please.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:39 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 27, 2008
whence nuclear Iran?
Category: random
After the revelations about Syria's plausible secret nuclear project, destroyed by an Israeli air raid, speculation is turning back to Iran
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:09 AM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 25, 2008
carrier reinforcement
Category: random
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is being reinforced.
That is not good.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:19 PM • 13 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
iPod iChing - seasonal modulation
Category: random
Friday, at last, and just one more week to go.
So... lets be scientific today and ask the Mighty Inscrutable iPod One: have seasonal modulation of WIMPy Cold Dark Matter really been detected, as reported?
Whoosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:06 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
string theology
Category: astro
I was discussing the "Landscape" in string theory, as it relates to modern cosmology in class, and the students first reaction was: "what is all the fuss about"?
It seemed a bit mystifying to them that the community was having such angst over the issue.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:18 AM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Bombed Box on the Euphrates
Category: science
the mystery of the "box" in Syria that was bombed by the Israelis was claimed to be a North Korean design nuclear reactor
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:32 AM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 24, 2008
Carnival of Space #51
Category: astro
Carnival of Space #51 at Astro Engine now.
Next week is the big one year anniversary edition...
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:47 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Black Swans
Category: random
Happy first day of summer!
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 10:56 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 23, 2008
at the Cassegrain
Category: astro
Someone is getting lucky and the laser is getting hot
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 9:58 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
natty dread
Category: random
Another one bites the dust
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 9:48 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 22, 2008
Because
Category: random
the blog belongs to me
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 3:26 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
All over
Category: random
people changing their votes
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:51 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 21, 2008
Assorted news
Category: science
I was just pondering the appalling lack of interesting science news the other day, and then I got back home and found these: CSI Ambleside...
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:13 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Classical Football 101
Category: astro
Welcome to classical football 101.
This class will cover classical football from a historical perspective, starting with 17th century english village contests.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 8:41 AM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 18, 2008
iPod iChing - CAN we three?
Category: random
It is a beautiful warm day in the Bay as we contemplate our flight home.
So how will we fare in this fair round?
Whoosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:09 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 17, 2008
AbSciCon '08: weird life
Category: astro
The 2008 Astrobiology Science Conference is over.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:50 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Grímsbani
Category: random
It is, I gather National Poetry month...
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:05 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Reasons to be an Astrobiologist
Category: astro
The Astrobiology Science Conference sponsors a student poster competition,
this year the top four posters got cash prizes, thanks to a generous donation.
Fourth prize was $250...
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 4:47 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
GLAST launch delayed
Category: astro
GLAST was due to be launched next month.
Apparently the launch is on hold, they hope to have the issues resolved soon and a new launch date scheduled.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 4:09 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
AbSciCon '08: Super-Earth Lollapalooza
Category: astro
The "Super-Earth" topical session at the Astrobiology Science Conference wasn't quite the "Woodstock" of astrobio, but it was pretty good.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 8:32 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
reduced planets
Category: astro
the Earth is oxidized, not just because there is free oxygen in the atmosphere, but also because the rocks are predominantly silicon oxides
there has been some speculation about "carbon planets", but not much detailed modeling
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:05 AM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 16, 2008
crowdsourcing meteorological data
Category: science
Weather forecasting is a tricky business.
It is a lot better than it used to be, but most of the time, for most places, you can't put much faith in forecasts much beyond 3-5 days.
Which is a big improvement on how it used to be, but one could still hope for better.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 4:51 PM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
interdisciplinary heterodoxy
Category: astro
I love going to meetings where I can learn totally new stuff.
One of the joys of astrobiology is that I can wander into a session on some research way outside my specialty and learn something new and interesting.
It is like being a student again.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:39 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
An Astronomy Ranking
Category: astro
Here is an astronomy ranking for the US
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:27 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
CAN do
Category: astro
The number of the CAN is 38
38 is the number of the CAN.
Second largest. Not as many as I feared.
Good luck everyone.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:24 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 15, 2008
Time to Choose
Category: astro
It is April 15th, and today the fate of many will be known.
Sean exposes the inner dialogue.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:23 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
AbSciCon '08
Category: astro
After a brief hiatus last year, the annual Astrobiology Science Conference is back, and 650+ assorted scientists of various flavours are gathered in sunny Santa Clara where the SETI Institute is hosting.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:15 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 14, 2008
John Wheeler RIP
Category: astro
Holz at Cosmic Variance comments
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 9:20 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 11, 2008
Why should we spend money on space
Category: astro
"Why should we spend money on space exploration where there are so many problems here on Earth?"
asks Fraser at Universe Today
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:59 PM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
iPod iChing - whence the frontier?
Category: random
Friday again, and it is not raining, here, yet.
So we skip over to the Omniscient iPod One, and ask, most humbly: Whence The Frontier, of Physics, natch?
Whoosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:54 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
April 10, 2008
"do what I want, or I hate you"
Category: random
deep insight into the human condition
sometimes we just link because linking is good
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:26 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
