Humor

There’s a phrase given to us by the venerable computer game called Adventure, which fits many situations. The game, in which one explores caverns, searches for treasures, and solves puzzles to obtain the treasures and bring them back to the surface, contains two mazes. Most adventurers find the first maze when they go south from a particular room in the cave. “You’re in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike,” says the computer, adding that there are passages leading off in all directions. One’s first thought is to go north to retrace one’s steps, but, well, the passages are twisty (and…

One time on a dreary (particularly dreary- 300 of them a year are rather so) Seattle afternoon I was approached by a hobo(1) so I gave him some money and asked him, since he clearly had no place better to be, "Just curious, but if you are going to be homeless, why Seattle?  Why not pick some place like San Diego where the weather is good?  This has to be miserable for you." His reply; "I have family here." !!! Odd sentiments like that can be the only explanation why so many ghosts have invaded Britain, rather than some place with better weather.  I suppose they are living the…

I am back from attending the February-scheduled ongoings of the International Year of Chemistry, IYC 2011, as all the chemists and chemical educators are preparing the usual science stuff-------- presentations, seminars, workshops, industrial visits and even short films. Sophia College recently held a one-day event, "Celebrating Chemistry in the International Year of Chemistry 2011," in association with RSC West India.  However, all this made me rethink on the ordeal of professional academic scenario. Why do we have to follow a usual set of professional politeness, an articular format…

From Melville's under-appreciated Mardi: On a quest for his missing love Yillah, an AWOL sailor pretending to be a demi-god travels the (imaginary) Mardi chain of Polynesian islands via canoe fleet, in the company of fellow demi-god King Media and his entourage. After viewing some fossils, the group's resident philosopher, Babbalanja is asked how the islands were created. A scientific explanation being unsatisfactory to the group, Babbalanja presents an alternate hypothesis: Media said:—"Babbalanja, you love all mysteries; here's a fitting theme. You have given us the history of the rock;…

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo. Must say, now that's effective communication !

Believe it or not, I’m rarely accused of being a romantic. I know, I know — baffling! And this even after I brought home Thai food for our anniversary. Okay, I forgot the anniversary. But a couple days later when I brought home Thai food, boy was my wife surprised! Okay, okay, I didn’t actually *bring home* Thai food, because, you know, I was walking home from the park with the kids in the double stroller and by the time I got home it would’ve been cold…yadda, yadda, yadda. The point is this: it’s the thought that counts, even if that thought is two days late, and not, in fact, acted upon…

I've been busy with proposal work instead of Calliope.  I have to fund this satellite somehow, and earning money writing corporate proposals is enjoyable work.  Proposal writing is also a strange world. Whether for business, for government, or for grants alike, it's just not quite human. In face to face conversation, a deal is pretty simple.  "I need you to defeat Henry V." 'We can do it-- we just bested the Persian Army.'  "Deal!"  But not so lucky in proposal world. Response to customer Request for Proposal "Conquer England" by Spartans&Co. Spartan&Co (…

If you've ever been a grad student, post-doc, or a research assistant, surely there have been days when you thought, "This is the worst research project on the planet. Is this really science? Does anyone else see how crazy this is? Am I the only one in this lab who speaks English?" And worst of all—"Why the hell am I putting myself through this torture?" Oh, yeah... a degree. That's right. So how do you vent your frustrations while maintaining your cool, thus preventing a nervous breakdown and/or expulsion? Channel Lady Gaga like these students did! Behold: "Bad Project" Thanks to the…

A few science-related chuckles for the day... This is how professors should talk... For all of you new parents out there... Technology lets us exist in the winter, even today when the temp is about -30 degrees F in Minnesota... Useful knowledge for the singles mixers... xkcd, Toothpaste For Dinner, Cyanide&Happiness and PHDComics

Today our chambers of representation and government are filled with politicians and bureaucrats, who are largely careerists who cling to power, but very few statesmen who seek to secure the future generations.  While this may be an overly general statement, and men and women of good faith undoubtedly also hold important positions, most seem to be unaware of the dire connection between debt and revolution.  However, there is a clear connection between the ruin of societies due to debts incurred during war, and the stubborn reluctance of the holders of debt to find reasonable ways of…