The Work of Half a Brain

Garrett Lisi has posited a new, vastly simplified unified theory. This is unique, since he spends most of his time surfing or snowboarding, despite holding a Ph.D in physics. Still, we are all reminded of Einstein by the media, so we must consider this postulation. A link is posted below. Some of my colleagues who are physicists seem pretty geeked about this -- mostly because it predicts only three dimensions of space and one of time, and because it seems to describe currently understood particles very well. Can anyone out there who understands the literature (even to a limited extent) comment on this announcement? Enquiring minds want to know.



Here's the link.

For those of you who haven't already seen it on Neil Gaiman's weblog, the following video from the new Tullycraft album 'Every Scene Needs a Center'. Enjoy.

ARRR! This be my post for International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Now give me my veggie booty! ARRRRR!

Well, it's official. I think I have a new home.

I'm finally settled in here in Worcester, and life in the lab is going pretty well. I have one project that is reporting good results, another that is in the beginning stages, and only a short walk from work to home. I'm making some friends, as well, and so is M. Best of all, she has a job that is actually related to things she's interested in, instead of pouring coffee all the day (no offense to those baristas that I know -- my life would be empty and sad without your caffeine). She's working for the company that produces the fundraising software she used to use at the Ronald McDonald House, and she's really excited about it. Sadly, the job is 60-80% travel, but we'll get that worked out.

Fall has arrived in Massachusetts, and with it the trees have begun to change. It's really striking out here -- it's so hilly out east that you're constantly looking at picture-perfect hillsides of trees in a palette of reds and oranges and yellows -- it almost makes up for the lack of good college football to watch. Almost.

With M out so often soon, I've decided to take up a hobby or two as well. I'm open for votes, but here's the list I'm considering:

1. Join a Go club (there's one in Somerville that would be fun)
2. Take up the guitar (I own one, but don't know how to play it)
3. Learn a martial art (I lean towards less attack-driven arts, so perhaps one of the praying mantis kung fu styles)

If you have a better idea, I'm all for it.

Calmly, carefully dominating the best team in baseball, and then going to celebrate: that's impressive.

Coming back out afterwards, though, to spray champagne on the crowd in recognition of their perseverance: THAT is class.