Random Stuff
Category archives for Random Stuff
Weekend Diversion: Celebrate the Universe ― and Carl Sagan ― with me!
Posted by Ethan on October 14, 2012 
“History is full of people who out of fear, or ignorance, or lust for power has destroyed knowledge of immeasurable value which truly belongs to us all. We must not let it happen again.” -Carl Sagan From the streets and people of our hometown to the nations, planets, stars and galaxies (and beyond) of our…
Weekend Diversion: The Light that’s Right for Night
Posted by Ethan on October 7, 2012 
“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” -Carl Jung During the daytime, light is plentiful and abundant, and the majority of our waking lives are optimized for that. But more and more of us are active late into the…
Weekend Diversion: A Story To Tell
Posted by Ethan on September 30, 2012 
“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” -Rudyard Kipling You might not believe it, but when I was a kid, I hated writing. Absolutely hated it. And it wasn’t because I didn’t have anything to write, or because I didn’t enjoy communicating my thoughts, or because I didn’t like…
Happy New Year, Pastafarians*
Posted by Ethan on September 26, 2012 
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery The great nebular structures stretching across our galaxy are evidence of the birth and deaths of stars, or so I — an astrophysicist…
Weekend Diversion: You are responsible for what you say
Posted by Ethan on September 23, 2012 
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” -Eleanor Roosevelt I’ve always been a big fan of personal freedom, which includes the freedom to speak your mind, say what you think, ask questions, be…
Weekend Diversion: The Physics of Happy Gilmore
Posted by Ethan on September 15, 2012 
“What a shot by Happy Gilmore! <aside> Who the hell is Happy Gilmore?” -Announcer, from Happy Gilmore As I prepare to write this, it occurs to me that some of you may not have seen the greatest* movie of all time, Happy Gilmore. The movie begins with a montage of Happy’s disastrous and violent childhood,…
Weekend Diversion: Making it Count!
Posted by Ethan on September 1, 2012 
“The time will not be taken from the sum of your life. Instead of shortening it, it will indefinitely lengthen it and make you truly immortal. Nevermore will time seem short or long, and cares will never again fall heavily on you, but gently and kindly as gifts from heaven.” -John Muir, on Glacier National…
Weekend Diversion: Be Safe, Be Free!
Posted by Ethan on August 19, 2012 
“If you want total security, go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking… is freedom.” -Dwight Eisenhower One of the greatest feelings is the freedom to travel, whether by your own power or a mechanical motor, far faster than your own legs can take you. Kimya…
Weekend Diversion: The Best Falling Stars of the Year
Posted by Ethan on August 11, 2012 
“Stuff that’s hidden and murky and ambiguous is scary because you don’t know what it does.” -Jerry Garcia Earlier this month, one of my favorite musical artist of all-time would have turned seventy. This weekend, I’m off at a fantastic music festival where they’re celebrating the life of Jerry Garcia, and in addition to being the…
Weekend Diversion: Triangles, a Puzzle, and Beauty
Posted by Ethan on July 28, 2012 
“Arithmetic! Algebra! Geometry! Grandiose trinity! Luminous triangle! Whoever has not known you is without sense!” -Comte de Lautréamont When you think about it, it’s amazing that our physical Universe makes sense at all. The fact that we can observe what’s happening, determine the laws that govern it, and predict what will happen under the same…
