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"I have to say it's a nice job perk that I can see old science fiction tropes come to life pretty much every day."
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"So according to the old joke, a fed-up student asks the physics prof who's going over kinetics in protracted detail, what good is all this? What will I ever use this for? To which the professor, not even looking up from where he's writing on the board, says "This stuff saves lives." The student balks for a second and then gets belligerent, demanding to know how first-year physics saves lives. The professor doesn't even turn around, saying "it keeps idiots like you out of med school." Maya, you can't read this yet, and it might be years before you know what half of it means, but I'm writing it down for the day you do."
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"We received an astonishing number of responses to last week's Casual Fridays study, which claimed to be able to identify what makes a good writer in just a few minutes. Of course, I wasn't actually very confident that a brief survey could actually identify the factors that make a good writer. But I did have a hunch that there were certain traits that were more likely to be associated with good writing."
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"Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Pinker duel over balancing scientific rigor with relatable narrative,"
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Very cool museum dedicated to the art of the Himalayan region (India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Bhutan, etc.). Had the second-best explanatory text of any art museum I've ever been to.
Uncertain Principles
Thoughts on physics, politics, and pop culture, by a physics professor at a small liberal arts college, plus occasional conversations with his dog.
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You've read the blog, now try the books! How to Teach Physics to Your Dog is published by Scribner, and available wherever books are sold. How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog is published by Basic Books and will be available 2/28/2012, as foretold by the Maya.
"Uncertain Principles" features the miscellaneous ramblings of a physicist at a small liberal arts college. Physics, politics, pop culture, and occasional conversations with his dog.
"Prof. Orzel gives the impression of an everyday guy who just happens to have a vast but hidden knowledge of physics." (anonymous student evaluation comment)
Emmy is a German Shepherd mix, and the Queen of Niskayuna. She likes treats, walks, chasing bunnies, and quantum physics.
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« How to Teach Physics to Your Dog is a Real Book! | Main | Judging a Book's Cover »
Links for 2008-11-23
Category: Links Dump
Posted on: November 23, 2009 7:49 AM, by Chad Orzel
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