Random Stuff
esiegel | November 14, 2010"No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous." -Henry Brooks Adams
There are plenty of advocates out there for letting go of the great, descriptive, but outdated words of our language. And I simply can't get on board with that. As Storyhill will tell you, there's value in holding on.
Holding OnWhy? Those of you who've been reading this site for a while know that one of the great struggles I deal with is expressing, in a clear, straightforward, and meaningful way, these physical concepts that baffle some of the world's greatest…
esiegel | November 7, 2010"She said believe in yourself and believe in your dreams. I took away those words and will keep them in my memory for a lifetime." -Dominique Dawes
Every weekend, I try to come to you with a story that is a break from the regular physics and astronomy stuff I write about. This weekend, I was listening to a sweet song by Alison Krauss,
I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby,
and looking at a picture of the Elephant Nebula. Why is it called the Elephant Nebula? Well... it kind of looks like... well...
Yeah. It's an elephant. Maybe a snuffleupagus, but probably an elephant. And one of the first…
esiegel | October 31, 2010"Dusty Rhodes, do you think you're what our forefathers were thinking about when they thought up the American Dream? Ooooh, yeah, I don't think so."
-Macho Man Randy Savage
Those of you who've known me for any length of time know that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and know that I put a whole lot of effort into my costumes. Here's a scary song for you to take you through this year's costume,
Caleb Meyer,by Gillian Welch. But I am not Gillian Welch for Halloween this year.
One of the most ridiculous -- yet entertaining -- characters from my childhood was this guy: the Macho Man…
esiegel | October 17, 2010"The Dancer believes that his art has something to say which cannot be expressed in words or in any other way than by dancing... there are times when the simple dignity of movement can fulfill the function of a volume of words." -Doris Humphrey
I don't know what the weather is like for the rest of you, but here, it's deceptively cold. What do I mean?
You know that feeling, when you look outside, and the world looks bright, sunny, and full of color? And then you open the door or window, or step outside, and the world feels like this:
Cold! And all you want to do is run back inside, hide…
esiegel | October 9, 2010"If being an egomaniac means I believe in what I do and in my art or music, then in that respect you can call me that... I believe in what I do, and I'll say it."
-John Lennon
John Lennon, assassinated thirty years ago, would have been 70 today. Sometimes, a simple song can say it better than any prose can.
JuliaThis was written for his mother, Julia, who died in an accident when John was a teenager. Happy birthday -- to John Lennon and to everyone who remembers his music -- from me and the rest of scienceblogs!
esiegel | September 26, 2010"You lost your way
I tried to find it for you
A brighter day to clear your name
The thing is where you are and
Where you're going is the same" -Storyhill
Those of you who've been listening to the songs I post each weekend may remember this week's band, Storyhill. (They have a new album out, BTW.) Here's a great song of theirs for you to listen to,
Give Up The Ghost.And this weekend, I do give it up. A recent XKCD comic accuses physicists of being incredibly annoying in the following fashion:
Ahem.
Well, I never...
Oh, wait. The most famous bit of work I've ever done here at Starts With A…
esiegel | September 19, 2010"On the chess-board lies and hypocrisy do not survive long." -Emanuel Lasker
Along with art, music, math, and sports, it's well known that the game of Chess is one of the best activities a child can engage in to develop their mind. I can think of no better song than Kings and Queens by Loudon Wainwright III to lead you through this article, so here's a great little live version of it:
Kings and QueensAs someone who learned chess at age 5 and continues to play as an adult, I am positive that chess offers some things that almost no other competition does.
First off, chess is always a…
esiegel | September 12, 2010"Well, although I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better off than he is; for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows." -Socrates
This weekend, I'm pleased to bring you a song by Wizz Jones, a British singer-songwriter who's been at it for over 50 years, yet who most people have never heard of. Have a listen to one of my favorite songs of his, about a man who returns from World War II and never quite makes peace with what happened.
Wizz Jones - Burma StarAnd one of the things that we need to make peace with, wherever any of us goes, is that…
esiegel | September 5, 2010"Each song has its own secret that's different from another song, and each has its own life. Sometimes it has to be teased out, whereas other times it might come fast. There are no laws about songwriting or producing. It depends on what you're doing, not just who you're doing." -Mark Knopfler
There are a whole bunch of great songs in the world, great for a myriad of different things. Some are great for dancing, others for jamming out to, still others for just relaxing and listening to, and then there are the ones that I love to blast while I drive. But it's extraordinarily rare to find one…
esiegel | August 15, 2010"For human love--the beings that change or die;
Die--change--forget: to care so is a curse,
Yet cursed we'll be rather than not care thus." -Mathilde Blind
Every once in a while, a new artist comes along that surprises me in some fashion, and with Joe Firstman, it's his sincerity and earnestness. Have a listen to this one:
Saving All The LoveIt's the hottest year on record, so get out there with the people special to you and find a way to make this day awesome if you can! Where will I be?
It's often amazing what you can find just a few miles away, even if you live in a major city. Enjoy your…
esiegel | August 8, 2010"No matter how hard you work to bring yourself up, there's someone out there working just as hard, to put you down." -Dr. Dre
I always admire people who can both find success in life while staying true to who they are. And Dr. Dre is someone who, in my opinion, has managed to do just that. He's found success as a rapper, producer, and a philanthropist. I had figured I'd always know him best for his debut solo album, The Chronic. Have a listen to my favorite song off that album:
Nuthin' But A G ThangBut something new has happened this week, which sheds new light on Dre. (In a very awesome way…
esiegel | July 30, 2010"We came all this way to explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth." -Astronaut Bill Anders, Pilot, Apollo 8
Humanity's ventures to the Moon have always been symbolic of the greatest things our species has ever achieved. In fact, Bill Anders, quoted above, is also famous for taking the first-ever picture of the Earth from orbit around the Moon!
Of course, most of us are more familiar with the Moon as seen from Earth. So for you to listen to, here's a bluegrass classic -- The Lonesome Moonlight Waltz -- as performed by the Bluegrass Album Band.
Lonesome…
esiegel | July 24, 2010
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -Albert Einstein
Every weekend, I try to add a little something that's a little more than the science, astronomy, and physics I talk about during the week. Well, this weekend, I'm keeping it simple. Listen to Safety Joe by John Prine, and really listen to the lyrics.
Safety Joe
I know too many people like this, and there hasn't been a song that's made me this sad in a long time. So get out there and live this weekend, whatever that means for you.
Live.
Go…
esiegel | July 18, 2010"Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all." -Abraham Lincoln
Last weekend, I presented you with two remarkable covers, one from music and one from astronomy. This week, I'm going to show you the reverse of that; going back to the forgotten originals. Many of you will remember the early 1990s, where some fantastic music performances happened on MTV's
Unplugged, including a remarkable performance by Nirvana. They closed the show with this song,
Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night,which is a cover of an old song by Huddie William Ledbetter,…
esiegel | July 2, 2010"Any red-blooded, flag-fearing American would love the M-320. Celebrate the independence of your nation by blowing up a small part of it." -The Simpsons
There are many things that your life has to offer as far as fun goes, and it's different for each person. For me, music is a huge part of it. Here's a double feature by Michael Chapman:
Dewsbury Road / That Time of Night.So as my nation celebrates its independence and I chill out at a music festival, I hope you find something great to enjoy! And if you want a little astronomical eye candy in the meantime, here's looking into the heart of a…
esiegel | June 30, 2010"I have given them the last rites, now you do what you will. You are stronger than us, but soon I think they be stronger than you." -Dawn of the Dead
Here at Starts With a Bang, one of the things I'm passionate about is putting forth all sorts of different pieces of evidence for dark matter, and trying to help you piece together a coherent picture of how the Universe works.
But every once in a while, something comes along to derail me. I'm not going to let that happen today, though. From showing you how two colliding galaxy clusters interact, separating the majority of protons, neutrons, and…
esiegel | June 27, 2010"Voyagers discover that the world can never be larger than the person that is in the world; but it is impossible to foresee this, it is impossible to be warned."
-James A. Baldwin
Sometimes, good things happen. And sometimes, you need to get out there, however down you're feeling, and make them happen. For me, a little bit of pump-up music always helps with that. While I'll usually pick something like Guns n' Roses, I like introducing you to music you may not know (or may have missed), so here's Long Way Down by the Goo Goo Dolls, a minor hit from when I was a teenager.
Long Way DownTwo…
esiegel | June 20, 2010Four years of football are calculated to breed in the average man more of the ingredients of success in life than almost any academic course he takes.
-Knute Rockne
Of course, academics are (mostly) on summer vacation right now, so the worst you're likely to run into is getting stuck behind a school bus on the roads. Which isn't so bad, even, if you listen to Storyhill's take on it.
Schoolbus by StoryhillBut having completed a PhD program, and having known a few hundred other grad students during the last decade or so, I can proudly recognize some of the ingredients of success that may be…
esiegel | June 13, 2010"All that I desire to point out is the general principle that life imitates art far more than art imitates life." -Oscar Wilde
It isn't only the wonders of the Universe themselves that impress me. Oftentimes, just as spectacular are the technological achievements that have brought those wonders to us. (Or, in the case of space exploration, brought us to them!) So for you today, I've got a fabulous song to go with this article: Weary Memory by Iron & Wine.
Weary MemoryAustralian artist Peter Hennessey has taken his appreciation to the next level. He's taken on many of the most famous…
esiegel | May 30, 2010"Shave off your beard and wear a dress. You would be a great female impersonator." -Simon Cowell
No, this post has nothing to do with Simon Cowell, but like American Idol, I do have a song for you. Have a listen to Almost Cut My Hair by Crosby, Stills & Nash, while you enjoy the read. (And while Graham Nash has gone short, 40 years later Crosby and Stills haven't!)
Almost Cut My Hair.mp3Many of you were around last year, when I shaved my head (and then some) for charity. I went from having long, curly hair to having my head completely shaved. It was a brand new look for me, and although…