Passing thoughts
jstemwedel | February 12, 2007Scientists move through the world without needing badges to indicate their various achievements.This does not mean, however, that scientists might not want badges. If scientists all wore sashes of badges over their lab coats, it might well facilitate communication by letting them determine the relevant interests and experience of the other scientists with who they are talking. Badges would also provide a natural opening with which scientists could share their best stories with each other. ("What did you freeze?")Badges also help a scientist stay nimble with a needle and thread.
Below are…
jstemwedel | February 6, 2007Dave Munger tagged me with a meme about (among other things) the effect blogging has had on my life. The questions seem worthy of relection, so I'm game:
What have you learned so far from visitors to your blog? I've learned that there are a lot of people who aren't paid to "think for a living" who think for fun and do it quite well. I've learned that people with strong opposing opinions can still have rational discussions with each other. And, of course, I've learned that what my kids say is more reliably fascinating than what I say.
If somebody offered to pay for a course (or more) for…
jstemwedel | January 31, 2007I simply cannot accept the final judgment in Bravo's Top Chef (season 2). Marcel should have won.
Sure, I didn't actually taste the two meals. But simply on the basis of innovation (especially given that the panel of judges seemed to have really good things to say about the flavors of both meals), Marcel should have had the edge. And that's before we even get into which of the two finalists showed himself to be more ethical and mature (a category Marcel also won on the merits).
I am now officially interested as heck in learning all about molecular gastronomy. It's chemistry that non-…
jstemwedel | January 29, 2007Since classes for our Spring semester started just last Wednesday, my approach to the university this morning (from freeway exit to parking garage) involved a huge line of cars, creeping very slowly. It also involved campus police directing the movement of long lines of cars at what is, in normal circumstances, a four-way stop. It has been this way since last Wednesday, and it will continue to be this week for probably another week.
In about a week, as if by magic, campus police will no longer be needed to move the traffic, and the lines of cars at any given moment will be reduced by at…
jstemwedel | January 27, 2007I took the quiz to find out which science fiction writer I am, and this is the result:
I am:John Brunner
His best known works are dystopias -- vivid realizations of the futures we want to avoid.
Which science fiction writer are you?
Is this a good thing? Is this something that seems consistent with the content and tone of my postings here? I don't usually think of myself as dystopian, but maybe I'm just the last to realize it.
jstemwedel | January 19, 2007Since I'll be in transit much of the day today, it may take longer than usual for your comments to appear. Imagine yourself in solidarity with me in a line at an airport.
In the meantime, here's who's on notice:
jstemwedel | January 18, 2007I've decided that the "intersession" we have between semesters is a cruel hoax. Though it promises a few weeks in which one might actually get some writing done, what it delivers is an endless list of tasks (many spawned by bureaucracy) that one must scurry to accomplish before the next semester starts. Feh!
As I've been scurrying, I've accumulated some items I'd like to share:
1. The Science Blogging Anthology is unleashed on an unsuspecting public!
Owing in no small part to Bora's vision and energy, you can now scoot over to Lulu.com to purchase (as a download or on dead trees) The Open…
jstemwedel | January 12, 2007Because everyone is doing it, here's the card catalog entry for this here blog:
I miss physical card catalogs. I would totally buy one for Casa Free-Ride if I could get my hands on one. (Although, would buying them up amount to contributing to their demise in libraries?) The sprogs have only ever dealt with online library catalogs, which I think is a shame. And they don't know from 8-tracks!
*Sigh*
Anyway, you are invited to make your own and report back on it.
jstemwedel | January 12, 2007You may have heard that the very dangerous professor is putting his blog on mothballs so he can play more hockey. But, it's not over until the WAAGNFNP Minister of Justice says it's over. And, she says (at comment 71 on this post) "We Are All Giant Nuclear Fireball. Now Party!":
Le Blogue-WAAGNFNP Blowout Party
WAAGNFNP High Council Club
Saturday, Jan. 13th 8pm Eastern
Doors open at 7:30pm
I'll be bringing a bag of lemons, a bag of sugar, and a case of Absolute Citron, so make sure you have your USB shotglass handy.
jstemwedel | January 11, 2007As John Lynch points out, today marks the first anniversary of the launch of ScienceBlogs, an experiment in gathering conversations about science in a dedicated corner of the blogosphere. (Yes, I know that spheres don't have corners. Let me enjoy my mixed metaphor.)
You'd never know to look at it today, but in the beginning we were a group of 14 blogs, some of which were already heavy hitters in the blogosphere, but others of which (like mine) you'd probably never heard of. Indeed, the recruitment and the weeks before the launch were a little mysterious. ("Psst! Hey kid! You wanna join…
jstemwedel | January 4, 2007Don't update your blog for a few days.
Seriously, the fact that I left a message on the machine to let her know that the Free-Ride family made it home safely was apparently not persuasive in the absence of new blog entries since our return.
I was totally offline for a few days. I got some groceries, took the kids for haircuts and doctors appointments, did a little gardening, did a little reading. I promise I'm still alive and everyone is reasonably healthy.
The prospects are even pretty good for a post on ethics and/or science in the next 24 hours.
jstemwedel | December 23, 2006If you're grabbing some quick blog-reading amongst your other goings on, I have a few posts to recommend.
At Wampum -- you know, the fine blog that runs the Koufax awards-- Mary Beth faces down a holiday with tight resources:
A few hours ago, my eldest asked me when we were going to go pick up our Christmas tree. I couldn't do anything but mumble some rather incoherent, "I'm not sure we're going to be able to have a tree this year." Trees, lights, trimmings, all cost money, and while Eric's now gainfully employed, we don't expect to see a check this week. I've picked out a few books to wrap…
jstemwedel | December 21, 2006Today the Free-Ride family schleps to the airport (with what seem to be crates of warm layers) to fly East. Assuming Super Sally's wireless internet allows it, I'll have a Friday Sprog Blog up sometime Friday.
I guess that also assumes that there are no missed connections or flight cancellations. Let's hope.
Anyway, Dave Munger tagged me with another meme, so I'm posting my response before I officially become a Holiday Traveler.
The question:
What one sentence would you tell the future if your area of expertise was about to expire? For example, Richard Feynman, the physicist, said, "The…
jstemwedel | December 20, 2006On the heels of the Hanukah meme, here's the Christmas meme, as seen at Musings of a Distractable Mind:
1. Hot Chocolate or Egg Nog?
If I must choose, nog with whipped cream (but no bourbon). I also like coffee with a slug of chocolate syrup and a shot of Peppermint Torani's.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Unless it's something big and unwieldy, Santa (or his minions) wraps them, usually in paper with pictures of Santa.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Colored lights on the tree, white outside if we get to it.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No. A long…
jstemwedel | December 20, 2006On a post where I mentioned the eight-nights'-worth-of-gifts challenge, Liz left a comment that kind of tagged me with Flea's Hanukah meme.
Since the Free-Ride household celebrates both Hanukah and Christmas, the Christmas meme will be up next.
Hold onto your kippah -- here we go!
1. Latkes or Sufganiyot?
Latkes. However, after a bunch of years where all my attempt to make my own met with disappointment -- either the latkes were greasy, or the potatoes tasted raw, or both -- I now only use the Trader Joe's frozen latkes. They taste excellent, and I have mastered the necessary skill set to…
jstemwedel | December 20, 2006David posted his holiday letter, but I didn't feel up to composing one of those. So instead, I'm going to do this "year in review" meme I saw at Geeky Mom's pad. (She got it from Trillwing.)
The rule: post the first sentence of the first post for each month.*
January: It must be a law of nature that when past and current graduate students dine together at the end of December the conversation turns, sooner or later, to cheaters.
February: These are the offerings for the semester starting February 1, 2006. [This was the month I hosted Tangled Bank #46.]
March: I have noted before that…
jstemwedel | December 15, 2006Dear Santa,
I know this is short notice, but only this week, while talking with my better half about matter, I thought of something so wonderful that I hope you'll be able to leave it in my stocking this year.
What I would like is a thermos full of photons.
Imagine how much fun this would be in a completely darkened room. Unscrew the top and suddenly, a burst of light! It's not altogether unlike the thrill of opening the can of "fancy mixed nuts" out of which springs the fake snake. But the jar of photons would be much, much cooler.
I understand how busy you are in December, so I tried to…
jstemwedel | December 13, 2006It's finals week here. My brain hurts, and I'm on what is reputed to be the easier side of the student-professor divide, so I have great empathy for my students at the moment. (At least, for the ones who aren't trying to put one over on me.)
In the last week, I have:
Conducted the last class meeting of the term for each of my courses.
Been presented with a pair of foosballs (because the canonical billiard balls are pricy) by my graduate seminar on causation.
Marked a whole mess of research assignments.
Noticed that a non-negligible number of students simply didn't do the research assignment…
jstemwedel | December 9, 2006SInce John took it, and Chad took it, I figured I'd try the Brutally Honest Personality Test too.
Oh, how very glad I am that I did:
Loser- INTP
33% Extraversion, 80% Intuition, 73% Thinking, 46% Judging
Talked to another human being lately? I'm serious. You value knowledge above ALL else. You love new ideas, and become very excited over abstractions and theories. The fact that nobody else cares still hasn't become apparent to you...
Nerd's a great word to describe you, and I seriously couldn't care less about the different definitions of the word and why you're actually more of a geek than…
jstemwedel | December 5, 2006You know how I was sick last week? I was all responsible and stuff, drinking lots of green tea and getting to sleep early and all, and over the weekend I actually felt reasonably healthy for like a day and a half. And now? I seem to have caught another nasty cold.
Which is to explain that this post may reflect my current state of not partaking as fully of consciousness as I generally like to. Also, in the interests of your own health, you should avoid licking the screen while reading this.
*Belle Waring has been sick, too, and it sounds like her bug is nastier than the one I have now,…