Random Thoughts
In the mid-1960s the Elizabethan morality play space western known as "Star Trek" debuted and series creator Gene Roddenberry was cagey about when exactly it took place (thus the reason to use 'star dates'), but it had to have been in the 23rd century if later writers were getting their information relayed correctly. Regardless of the exact dates of their five year mission, the public was energized by the future - and the gadgets it contained.
Portable computers were completely believable and wireless communications already existed. A fax machine was clearly on the horizon, since the…
Not So Smart Money
In modern English the term 'smart money' is most commonly used in reference to money invested in the course of business or gambling by people presumed to be knowledgeable about the investment. Less formally, the term is used to show that one statement is more likely true than another: "some people say A, but the smart money is on B."
The modern meaning of 'smart money' dates from 1926, according to Merriam Webster's dictionary, prior to which the meaning was entirely different.
'Smart' can mean 'hurt' as when, after being slapped, the skin smarts.
In law…
vongehr |
For several years I felt the desire to give readers a positive message around this time of year, as it is the most depressive for many. Alas, as you can tell from my writing ever less, I have little to say. Mostly because I understand now that my writing is too difficult and dark. I actually kept writing much, enough for a hundred good posts, but I keep revising, unable to let the light I seem to be seeing shine through the words. So I will just take the opportunity and use three sentences to let some of you who care about me know that I am reasonably well and writing books, and that I am…
Ah, Cuba. My
father’s college roommate’s mother – are you following so far? – was a travel
agent, and had gone on one of these agent junkets to Havana. She danced with
the dictator Batista at a formal ball, and returned to the US with stars in her
eyes. When my parents married, nothing would do, she insisted, but for them to
honeymoon in Cuba.
Thus, I tell my Latin American friends, was I conceived in
Cuba, and this also explains, rather unscientifically, my fondness for the
music of that island.
A good tale,
even if the calendar math doesn’t work out quite right. What makes it even more…
Hank |
It is often said that the middle of the road is the worst place to drive, yet centrists pride themselves on always arguing the opposite of whatever the conversation is. They believe we should split the difference on all issues, though the actual functioning of the United Nations should have put a stake into the heart of that political vampire by now.
It turns out centrists are endangering their health in other ways, according to BMJ's annual Christmas issue, because by 'sitting on the fence' they are likely to be fatter than commies - especially Trotzkyites, who are always…
While I do intend to update this blog today or tomorrow with a report on a nice new measurement, my blogging activities have generally slowed down a bit this week, as I am traveling. On Monday I flew from Venice to Paris and then to Miami (in a brand new A380 - that was the first time for me on that giant plane). On the next day I flew to Cancun, and then headed to Playa del Carmen where I am currently staying. Travel in the next few days foresees a few more days in the Maya riviera, then back to Miami next Monday to attend the CMS week there, and finally a flight back to Venice on the…
While I do intend to update this blog today or tomorrow on a nice new measurement, my blogging activities have generally slowed down a bit this week, as I am traveling. On Monday I flew from Venice to Paris and then to Miami (in a brand new A380 - that was the first time for me on that giant plane). On the next day I flew to Cancun, and then headed to Playa del Carmen where I am currently staying. Travel in the next few days foresees a few more days in the Maya riviera, then back to Miami next Monday to attend the CMS week there, and finally a flight back to Venice on the 19th. You might…
While I do intend to update this blog today or tomorrow on a nice new measurement, my blogging activities have generally slowed down a bit this week, as I am traveling. On Monday I flew from Venice to Paris and then to Miami (in a brand new A380 - that was the first time for me on that giant plane). On the next day I flew to Cancun, and then headed to Playa del Carmen where I am currently staying. Travel in the next few days foresees a few more days in the Maya riviera, then back to Miami next Monday to attend the CMS week there, and finally a flight back to Venice on the 19th. You might…
Neatly Scattered Papers
In an article in Scientific American* on the possibility of time running backwards, the author states:
Increasing entropy is a cosmic certainty because there are always a great many more disordered states than orderly ones for any given system, similar to how there are many more ways to scatter papers across a desk than to stack them neatly in a single pile.
That sentence contains an implied statement of fact: "there are many more ways to scatter papers across a desk than to stack them neatly in a single pile."
But is it a fact?
Thankfully the grammar police are not…
Hank |
In a popular pop music song called "All About That Bass", accomplished songwriter Meghan Trainor took center stage in a video and America by storm.
With an engaging 1940s sound (1) and a positive body image message, it was quickly embraced.
Well, positive body image unless you were under a size 12, in which case you were one of the "skinny bitches", but that is not what this article is about. Fat women have won, as the thin girl getting bullied in the video showed:
The 'skinny bitch' is Daniela Dib, an accomplished dancer with Canada’s National Ballet School and the American Ballet…