Now on ScienceBlogs: Oldest Human-Made Object in Space
Thoughts on physics, politics, and pop culture, by a physics professor at a small liberal arts college, plus occasional conversations with his dog.
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.
« Links for 2009-12-07 | Main | Since the Last Progress Report, I Have Worked on This Progress Report »
Category: Music • Polls • Pop Culture
Posted on: December 7, 2009 9:25 AM, by Chad Orzel
It's officially December, so there are no longer really solid reasons for objecting to the playing of Christmas music. With the exception of the sort of stuff that shows up in Mellowmas, that is. And speaking of Mellowmas, there is this. About which, a poll:
Please choose only one, hard as it may be to believe.
Humanities & Social ScienceTrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/126580
denialism blog 02.14.2012
respectful insolence 02.14.2012
uncertain principles 02.13.2012
confessions of a science librarian 02.13.2012
starts with a bang! 02.13.2012
Comments
The ranges of reactions were similar when he went electric, and when he released Nashville Skyline (country music) and Self Portrait (American pop).
Posted by: Rosie Redfield | December 7, 2009 9:54 AM
Well, I can pretty much take or leave Dylan, myself, but my wife is fond of him. I'm not sure whether I should get this for her or not - she certainly doesn't object to christmas music, seeing as how she's been listening to Bing Crosby singing them for the last couple of days. I dunno. Maybe she'll like it. Maybe she'll kill me. Maybe he's playing it straight, or maybe it's a joke. Maybe he's playing it straight, and everybody *thinks* its a joke. Who knows?
Posted by: Tim Eisele | December 7, 2009 10:43 AM
It's officially December, so there are no longer really solid reasons for objecting to the playing of Christmas music.
Other than that it makes the entire month a hellish experience?
Posted by: John Novak | December 7, 2009 10:52 AM
Other than that it makes the entire month a hellish experience?
Second this comment. The main reason Jason and Jeff have been able to do Mellowmas for four consecutive years and counting is that criticizing bad Christmas music is very much a fish-barrel-blam! exercise. There is some good stuff out there, but the signal to noise ratio is even lower than for popular music in general.
Posted by: Eric Lund | December 7, 2009 11:07 AM
I voted "My reaction can not be described with a single radio button, but must be explained in a comment."
This album cannot possibly match the genius of Roy Zimmerman's Christmas is Pain, which is a parody of a Christmas carol in the style of Bob Dylan.
Posted by: mph | December 7, 2009 11:32 AM
I'm a huge Zimmerman fan, and have been to many of his live concerts. However...
Following Bob Dylan's Christmas album in the gallery of dubious yuletide entertainment comes Robert De Niro's Christmas movie. But then De Niro got good reviews...
Posted by: Jonathan Vos Post | December 7, 2009 12:12 PM
I voted "run away", but only because it should have read "christmas is pain". That's my favorite song on Zimmerman's album.
Posted by: Anon | December 7, 2009 1:39 PM
Bobby, Bobby, Bobby
Always the Joker
Posted by: natural cynic | December 7, 2009 3:29 PM
Bob Dylan has always been intriguing to me. If only he could sing or play an instrument!
Posted by: Evan Goer | December 7, 2009 9:53 PM
Obviously all part of the War on Christmas!
Posted by: Doug Alder | December 8, 2009 12:14 AM