the language of abstract nonsense

A Good Argument We Don't Often Hear

2011-09-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

Don't Leave Home Without a Helmet

2011-09-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Nasa satellite UARS nearing Earth 'could land anywhere'

Corruption 2012

2011-09-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

Rick Perry and HPV vaccine-maker have deep financial ties

Correction.....???

2011-08-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

A Reason for Expatriation:

2011-08-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

Why Rick Perry is Headed to the White House

Link, By Gabe:

2011-07-07T18:24:00.001-07:00

When the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers isn't up to the job

Friend or Enemy?

2011-07-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

M. and I recently went camping for a night. In the morning this little creature was very interested in us. It climbed out to the end of a stick a performed a display perhaps intended to scare, perhaps intended to entreat us.

p.s. please don't find me too odd for finding an insect on a stick sufficiently interesting to post.

Sorry For the Delay

2011-06-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from the trip M. and I took to Minnesota a few weeks ago. Thanks to all for another great visit!

The Cost of a Hamburger

2011-06-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

If your not familiar with the author Raj Patel, let me introduce you. I read his book "The Value of Nothing" and found it to be very insightful, informative, and understandable for someone with little economics background. If you think purely free market economics doesn't work, you will like him. If you do, you should read/listen/watch something of his. I guess it depends on what we mean when we use the word "work", or perhaps we should ask "for whom?" Here is a link to a lecture video (of which I only watched the first two minutes, so don't hold me too accountable if he starts taking his clothes off after ten minues...ha, ha..).

Bike Lanes of NYC

2011-06-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

LInk:

2011-06-10T18:49:00.001-07:00

Global warming since 1995 'now significant'

Let's Talk About the Weather

2011-05-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

Don't Read This! (Link)

2011-05-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

A link between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never!

Good Point

2011-05-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

Ripples

2011-05-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

Laughable

2011-05-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

Ha Ha Ha.......But really, this isn't funny. In the Senate committee meeting yesterday with (big) oil executives, there was lots of complaining it seems. You can read an article about it here: Senate committee puts big oil execs in the hot seat. One response was so disturbing, it was, well, hilarious. Presumably in response to taxation and regulation on 'explorable' land, the Conoco Phillips chief executive cries "We have shackles on us." Considering all the literal and (much more grave) metaphorical shackles throughout history, the use of this word to describe difficulties in appeasing shareholders is, well, laughable.

From Outer States

2011-05-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

It was great to see you, Mr. and Mrs. B., thanks for visiting!

Drill Baby Drill???

2011-05-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, renewable energy sources could be providing 80% of the world's energy needs by the middle of this century. You can read a BBC article on this report here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13337864

This leads me to comment that the only drilling we need to (aggressively, at least) pursue are the lobotomies for those who genuinely continue to deny the potential of a renewable energy future and insist that continued oil dependence is necessary for economic vitality.

For The Moms

2011-05-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Unless you are a mother, or like things that moms like on mother's day (i.e., lots of flowers), you might want to cover your eyes for this post.

What Does It Mean If I Find Both Utterly Confusing?

2011-04-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

"If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is." --- John von Neumann (Famous Mathematician)

Destructive Dating

2011-04-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever known someone who jumps from one crazy girlfriend/boyfriend to another? It's almost like they are magnetically drawn to outrageous, unstable, and dangerous people. As if Palin was not enough, now there is Trump. In a recent article I read here: The world according to Donald Trump: ‘So easy’, Trump reflects on current U.S. involvement in foreign wars and reminisces for the "good old days" when "empires acted like empires." He is quoted saying: "In the old days, when you have a war and you win, that nation’s yours. This country [U.S.] is a laughingstock throughout the world." Mr. Trump, I can think of a few historical figures with a similar, overtly imperial, attitude, and you wouldn't expect the Republican party to embrace them, but they sure seem to like you.

Untitled

2011-04-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Link:

2011-04-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

Obama’s budget is policy, not philosophy

Err,,Uhh,,,

2011-04-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

farmersmarketwineshowflowertree

2011-04-03T18:26:00.000-07:00

Guess what I did this weekend?

Spring is in the Air

2011-03-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

I Cannot Contain My Displeasure

2011-03-18T05:47:00.000-07:00

The Times Announces Digital Subscription Plan

Tomodachi

2011-03-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

Outer Banks II

2011-03-08T15:42:00.000-08:00

Outer Banks I

2011-03-06T16:50:00.000-08:00

To the outer banks for a couple of days....

Cotton Fields

Seagull Fields

Untitled

2011-02-27T17:52:00.001-08:00

Link:

2011-02-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx is Hurting

Process(ion)

2011-02-19T17:28:00.000-08:00

M. accidentally grabbed a hot pan handle the other night and wanted to share her blisters with the world....

Insight

2011-02-14T15:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/homeproject#p/a/f/0/jqxENMKaeCU

Ok, this documentary is a little overwhelming, but an amazing look at these 'modern times'. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend writing it into your schedule. Click the link above to watch the full feature.

Week-end

2011-02-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

Face-lift and Bell-tower

2011-01-28T14:53:00.000-08:00

Preaching the Abyss

2011-01-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

So, this public proselytizer, as is common, condemned the crowd to eternal damnation. Does this technically that mean no one is condemned to eternal damnation?

Link:

2011-01-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

Unhappy With International News Coverage, China Exports Its Own

frolicking zen-like nothingness

2011-01-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

Faux Coast

2011-01-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

Ice Night

2011-01-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

Coincidentally, this is M. and I going to a hockey game. As you can imagine, I am starting to suffer symptoms of geographic disorientation.

Snow Day

2011-01-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

The university did not get a snow day today, but the local township school system did. Good thing too, because, as you can see, the storm was pretty intense. No, really, this is the scene of a snow day. I have heard that it doesn't take much winter weather for chaos to ensue in the south, but this exceeds even my wildest expectations.

Chutes and Ladders

2011-01-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Jan. 5

2011-01-05T18:32:00.000-08:00

Ghost Town

2011-01-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

From CO

2010-12-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

Camera

2010-12-26T19:37:00.000-08:00

I was given a camera for Christmas, and so the postings will start consisting more of "original work." To start, there is a joke about how every burgeoning photo student will find their own feet much too interesting--so, here you go.

The tree is fake but the face is real?

2010-12-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

But who cares about any of this, anyway, as long as the consumer spending is REAL? Merry holiday eve--Happy festivalizations....more to come.

p.s. We made it to D-town. notice the incessant, continual, ever-penetrating sunshine?

The Coming Days

2010-12-18T07:45:00.000-08:00

M. and I (with great trepidation) will be flying to D-town tomorrow. I am always scared of something of the following:

Should this not occur, (oh please!) we will arrive tomorrow night.

Then, we will enjoy food and drinks with friends an family. So if you are near, let's get together (I'll be the rabbit).

Ok, I am sure that most (I guess I could be everyone) reading this has long forgotten the crash. Not me, it's pathological, my muscles are becoming tense just at the thought. To end on a better note (sorry to all those with road travel plans),

Side Effects May Occur. No, Really.

2010-12-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

Wait for it...

God Wears Victoria's Secret

2010-12-05T19:11:00.000-08:00

On Saturday M. and I went to our favorite/only independent movie rental store to find out that they are closing. While this is upsetting news, it did give us a chance to buy some favorite films (they were selling off their whole collection). Among those now on my bookshelf are "Sleeper"(above) and "Deconstructing Harry" by the great W. Allen. Here is a bit from the latter:

"Remember how we discussed Freud once?

Freud said the two most important things in life...are the work that you chose and sex.

Those two things. Women...are God."

  
"God's a woman?"

"No. I'm not saying that. We don't know if there's a God...but there are women.

Not in some imaginary heaven, but right here on earth.

And some of them...some of them...shop at Victoria's Secret..."

Nerd Alert!!

2010-11-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, I think everyone (who?) can agree I have done a good job of not talking about math. I am about to fail, now, though in very non-technical way, so click away if you can't stand a touch of nerdiness (and not in the chic-hipster-nerd way).

One of the most hilarious things in math are the names that we give things. Sometimes they are awesome, like "annihilator", which actually represents what the thing does, i.e. annihilators really do annihilate or kill things. Sometimes they are just suggestive, like "homomorphism" and "bump function"--say this one ten times fast. Sometimes they are downright ridiculous, so ridiculous you never want to say the name to a professor, like the "Hairy Ball Theorem". Of course there is a logical explanation for this name--but still.

When you are working with these things on a daily basis, you just have to stop and laugh at yourself from time to time (that's what this post is). For example, there is a surface (geometric shape) called the "saddle":

This name makes sense, as it looks like enough like a saddle. The next one, though, is called a "monkey saddle". It gets its name because it's almost a saddle, but allows a space at the back for the tail of whoever or whatever is sitting in it, and not just any tail, a monkey's tail. Who says mathematicians aren't complete lunatics?

walk in my mind, walk in my day

2010-11-14T16:08:00.000-08:00

Which one goes where?

Sometimes, "Hello" Is Enough, Sometimes....

2010-11-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

Running a Country is Harder Than Teaching Calculus

2010-11-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

In the wake of an election, I have to express one thought. To all those who like the idea of "someone just like me" running things in Washington, chew on this: running a country is (much) harder than teaching calculus. In fact, running a country is harder than teaching the fundamentals of geometric invariants for manifolds in arbitrary dimension--whatever that means, but you get the point.

While most would recoil at the thought of having to teach their own children, or someone else's kid calculus, (most people simply recoil at the word "calculus"), they love the idea of someone equally ill-prepared-for-the-job running the country.

I have a suggestion. Just like we tend to ask those who understand calculus teach calculus, let's let those that understand diplomacy, economics, history, civics, etc., run the country.

Incognito and The Phantom

2010-10-31T08:03:00.000-07:00


Happy Halloween!

Quite Frankly

2010-10-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

A breath of fresh air, this clip takes place at the end of Modern Times, which I suggest anyone see in full if they haven't. If you are familiar with any romance languages you might be tempted to translate/understand the lyrics--good luck. It is mostly gibberish. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do:

McCoy Next Door

2010-10-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

Since I still have no camera, I cannot quite bring to you the moments of my current days. Instead, I thought I would share something of the recent past. Since moving to Chapel Hill, M. and I have worried about the lack of arts and culture in small town life. Much to our pleasant surprise there is a lot of access, especially in conjunction with the university. In particular, memorial hall (pictured below) on campus brings some remarkable acts.

Tickets cost $10 for students (+1). We have already been twice, most notably to see McCoy Tyner (again, below).

If you don't know who this man is, look him up and more importantly find some of his music to listen to. Of course, the performance was phenomenal, but the opportunity to see one of the jazz greats (he is former member of the John Coltrane Quartet), well....In the coming months we are looking forward to seeing Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, the St. Petersburg Orchestra, and others. Not bad for a small southern town.

A Dash of Humility

2010-10-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

This man, 50 year old Jurgen Mennel (unknown to me before today), has just completed a 2,200 km run from Germany to Athens to commemorate the 2,500 year anniversary of the battle of marathon (at the end of which the marathon origin story took place). Granted, he is a professional ultra-marathoner, but still. By the way, he did this run in 30 days.

Here we go,,,,(or at least I)

2010-10-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

"Hmm..." was N's cordial response to the reverend's suggestion. "I suppose I could start a blog." Three weeks and some difficult template choices, later, we (or I) cut the ribbon.

Until I am convinced that at least one viewer exists, I will continue to have a very difficult time knowing what pronouns to use.

Anyway, upon some hasty consideration I decided that the reverend's suggestion was worth action, and here we are. As all mediocre things, we (or I) should begin with an introduction:
My intention is to allow others (maybe), especially friends and family, a view into my life and thoughts (and perhaps some of M's too). This could be disastrous--did I mention my decision to begin blogging was hasty? Some of what is to come will likely appear banal to everyone,,,except me. So I ask for your forgiveness for such postings in advance.

Anyway, my inner voice is telling me to shut up now. Here are some photos from the end of August, when N and M went up to the Smokies with M's parents. enjoy:


sad little waterfall


wild blueberries are delicious

apparently, these are mountains??

some people never change

sure, I am being self indulgent.