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youthful optimism mix
Last night, was watching TV with a friend and saw this:
This was inspirational -- I don't remember the last time I watched this form of dance, but as a form of movement Brian "Chibotics" Gaynor shows it can be not just expressive, but lyrical. He actively interprets the song in an unquestionably touching way ( Read more... ) -
directed transmissions for SETI
Yesterday I got a phone call from some guy who called me "Professor" and asked if I had read the paper he sent me. I didn't recall any such paper so told him I hadn't gotten it. He sounded surprised and then proceeded to discourse on his Theory, which I knew I didn't have time to listen to, and I told him so, send me another copy. Okay, sure, ( Read more... ) -
notes on mortality and purpose
(Transcibed from my paper journal, written this afternoon. Citations hyperlinked as appropriate, though you should each recognize your respective influences. No, none of it is really new, it's just what's whirling around at the moment. Hopefully it'll get more traction now.)
( Notes on mortality, scientific naturalism, and their implications. ) -
slowly phasing out
Anyone who still reads this might notice that I haven't been updating as often lately. This is partly because I've been busy, but partly also because I'm actively trying to write less here and more elsewhere. This journal has historically been a showcase for all kinds of drama in my life -- partly because I really was having a hard time managing ( Read more... ) -
album review, Sting: If on a winter's night...
So Mr. Sumner has been on the wrong side of my loyalty given his last few albums, but I figure it was worth a buck or two to see what he'd done most recently. I didn't think it would be just another Christmas album from a washed-up celebrity artist, but I worried it would be more of what I have come to expect, especially with the pretentious ( Read more... ) -
"just answer the five quest-- uh, THREE questions as best you can, and we shall watch, and pray"
Put to me by fdmts, according to the meme. Ask (me) and you shall receive (similar questions).
1) How many roads must a man walk down - before you call him a man? Have you walked down that many roads? Have I?The Road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow (if I can), pursuing it with ( Read more... ) -
ARPA-E gets off the ground
Details from my inbox regarding the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E), providing some reason to be hopeful that at least someone in our government is taking green energy seriously:
"With ARPA-E, we are swinging from the heels and trying to hit home runs, not just base hits," [U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven] Chu said in his ( Read more... ) -
Reinventing wheels
I've complained a lot about various obstacles in my slog through the academic career -- lots of "service work" not directly related to publishing papers, unsupportive advisors, generally being demoralized. I haven't discussed my own general ignorance very much, but increasingly I realize what a huge issue this is in my career at this point. While ( Read more... )
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