Theoretical Musings
Dave Bacon is a theoretical ski bum who is also an assistant research professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. His research is on quantum computing, his scientific passions extend to everything in physics, mathematics, computer science and beyond, and his personal pleasures include making wine, playing poker, skiing, camping, and daydreaming (although not all of those at the same time.)
September 30, 2008
Category: Quantum Basterdizations
A quantum physics spotting in....rugby? An article about rugby player Jonny Wilkinson:The experiment was conceived by the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödin-ger to demonstrate a conundrum at the heart of quantum physics: that a sub-atomic particle exists in two states. However,...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 6:26 PM • 2 Comments • • View blog reactions
Category: Quantum
Two quantum postdoc advertisements crossed my desk this week, from two fine institutions. Good postdocs if you can land one! The first advertisement is a double wammy from CaltechCENTER FOR THE PHYSICS OF INFORMATION CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Postdoctoral Research...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 6:01 PM • 5 Comments • • View blog reactions
Category: Quantum
The New York Times has an article about Chongo Chuck. Chongo is a legendary homeless rock climber who lived in Yosemite for years. He is also the author of The Homeless Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. Anyone ever seen a copy?...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 1:42 PM • 1 Comments • • View blog reactions
Category: Mathematics
DARPA math challenges. My favorite is "Mathematical Challenge Nineteen: Settle the Riemann Hypothesis." I'm guess that's one where you can't follow the age old strategy of writing a grant proposal for work you've already figured out ;)...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 12:36 PM • 0 Comments • • View blog reactions
September 29, 2008
Category: Finance
Yes, it's all finance all the time, here at the Pontiff. Where else can you go to get your daily dose of extralusionary intelligence? Once again it's a New York Times article Maybe Short-Selling Isn't So Bad, After All. Now...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 12:01 PM • 19 Comments • • View blog reactions
September 28, 2008
Category: Funny Ha Ha
From this Sunday's New York Times in an article entitled Wall Street, R.I.P.:In search of ever-higher returns -- and larger yachts, faster cars and pricier art collections for their top executives -- Wall Street firms bulked up their trading desks...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 11:49 AM • 5 Comments • • View blog reactions
September 27, 2008
Category: Off The Deep End
I'm not the man they think I am at home Oh no no no I'm a rocket man...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 1:19 AM • 0 Comments • • View blog reactions
September 26, 2008
Category: Words
The prime number theorem is a statement of a quantuplicity: there are about N/log N prime numbers in the first N numbers.quantuplicity noun. The quantitative relationship between two amounts. Usually referring specifically to the case when this is expressed as...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 9:02 PM • 2 Comments • • View blog reactions
Category: Finance
There are many things I do not understand in the wide world of finance, but the one which perplexes me the most is why people believe that their money is safe under their mattress....
Posted by Dave Bacon at 11:20 AM • 3 Comments • • View blog reactions
September 25, 2008
Category: Self: Meet Center. Center: Meet Self.
Reminder that Sandra, Maria, Grrl, and I will be Ozzies this Saturday. Translation: beer! That's Saturday, Sept. 27th at 4 pm in the upstairs mezzanine at Ozzie's. The address is 105 W. Mercer St., Seattle, WA 98119. That's in lower...
Posted by Dave Bacon at 4:12 PM • 1 Comments • • View blog reactions
YES! Send me a free issue of Seed.
If I like what I see, I'll receive 5 more issues (6 in all) for just $14.95. That's 50% off the cover price! If I'm not completely satisfied, I'll simply write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing. The free issue is mine to keep.
(Non-U.S. subscribers, click here.)
