Dirac matrices. Spinors. Matrix elements. Trace rules. These are just a few phrases describing how I spent my Sunday. You see, on Friday when I gave an overview of my recent work to one of the SLAC research groups, I got a question early on that I could not answer. […]
This has been a long couple of weeks. I feel better today, because the smell of spring is lingering in the air. The temperature has been climbing upward in the past week, taking us to very pleasant springtime weather in the Bay Area. Today, the neighbors have mowed their lawn, […]
Food safety is one of the most pressing challenges facing the overall security of the United States. Jodi’s recent trip to India gave me a new appreciation for the safeguards already in place in this country. Outbreaks of E. Coli, as happened last year in spinach, remind us that a […]
If you’ve never had a chance to listen to “The Hold Steady”, it’s a must-hear band for people who grew up before the internet in suburban America. Somehow, when you cross the 30 mark and listen to this stuff, it puts the lunacy of childhood in perspective. “Boys and Girls […]
If you weren’t at SLAC this afternoon, then you missed a great colloquium. Art Rosenfeld, the Commissioner of the California Energy Commission, gave a presentation on how standards are a leading effort in the fight for energy efficiency and CO2 reduction. He was a charming man, whose dedication to the […]
When I was in high school, my father brought home a pair of Saucony sneakers for me. I had never heard of Saucony before – my peers were overly concerned with Nike and other popular brands. Dad told me that these were considered a top end running shoe, and I […]
Inevitably, when the weight of evidence starts to crush the ribcage of your opinion, liquifying its organs and causing massive internal hemorrhaging, opinion starts to cry for momma. That seems to be what’s happening now, concerning much of the U.S. opinion on the “reality” of human-induced global climate change. This […]
It is believed that the attack on Boston on 1-31-07 by the Mooninites is due to the pro-Moon policies of the current administration. The U.S. has a long history with the Moon, going back to the war of the Barbary Pirates in the 1700s. At that time, officers in the […]
Today, Secretary Bodman came out in defense of U.S. policy toward global climate change. He said that the U.S. spends more on this issue than the rest of the world combined (not sure on what we’re spending it, I am afraid – barely anybody even knows there’s an office of […]
*Ignignokt: Our god is a god of vengeance. A god of hate. * *Err: A god of action! * *Ignignokt: Our god is an Indian who can turn into a wolf and- * *Err: Dude, that’s Wolfen. * *Ignignokt: Yes, well Wolfen will come after you, with his razor.* These […]
I’m sorry . . . I’ve been laughing my ass off about this today. I am sure this wasn’t funny for Boston, and I apologize in advance for having a sense of humor, but this story just loosens my bowels it’s so ridiculous. Yes, that’s the first time “bowels” has […]
Here are the highlights from the omnibus spending bill passed by the House today: **NSF**:“SEC. 20916. Notwithstanding section 101, the level for ‘National Science Foundation, Research and Related Activities’ shall be $4,665,950,000, of which not to exceed $485,000,000 shall remain available until expended for Polar research and operations support, and […]