Dave Bacon is a theoretical ski bum who is also an pseudo professor 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.)
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Category: Physics
Posted on: October 14, 2008 11:28 AM, by Dave Bacon
Garrett Lisi, surfer and creator of possible theories of everything, has given a TED talk:
I had never thought to put Schrodinger into the box.
"I try to balance my life between physics, love, and surfing. That way even if the physics I work on comes to nothing, I've lived a good life." Word.
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Comments
The idea is to think outside the box and in the box at the sane time.
Posted by: eddie | October 14, 2008 6:14 PM
Just from seeing people mention his theory of everything, I get the sense that some people think he's making complicated stuff too simple. Does anyone know enough about this to really explain why some physicists dislike his idea/approach so much?
Posted by: Nick | October 14, 2008 6:24 PM
I thought his model was pretty thoroughly debunked? That he was doing things like ignoring vectors? Now I hear he's been going around giving lectures and has funding from Templeton... what's going on?
This is actually a serious question - I'd like to know if there's still some reason for his theory to be taken seriously.
Posted by: Anon | October 14, 2008 7:18 PM
the first example of the Schrodinger cat thinking outside the box (sorry, I could not help it)
Posted by: milkshake | October 15, 2008 6:28 AM
I don't know about his theory, but I really like his approach to life. Balance is something a lot of physics geeks don't have and sorely need. I also like the fact he is an independent researcher instead of playing within the system. Not saying people shouldn't be in academia but academics can be major snobs.
Posted by: David McMahon | October 15, 2008 12:09 PM
Hey academics are elitists, not snobs :)
Posted by: Dave Bacon | October 15, 2008 12:23 PM
Anon: ignoring vectors, you are probably thinking about the discussion of "adding" bosons and fermions. But yes there are problems: for example http://golem.ph.utexas.edu/~distler/blog/archives/001505.html
Perhaps if you object to the Templeton foundation you should send a donation to him :)
Posted by: Dave Bacon | October 15, 2008 12:43 PM
Helpful link! Thanks Dave!
Posted by: Nick | October 15, 2008 1:05 PM