A Candle in the Dark

Once finals are over, I will make a few honest-to-goodness posts, where I actually write a lot about something interesting. For now, enjoy this cartoon I found, and the Sagan quote that expresses the same idea but with a somewhat different tone...




"I worry that, especially as the Millennium edges nearer, pseudo-science and superstition will seem year by year more tempting, the siren song of unreason more sonorous and attractive. Where have we heard it before? Whenever our ethnic or national prejudices are aroused, in times of scarcity, during challenges to national self-esteem or nerve, when we agonize about our diminished cosmic place and purpose, or when fanaticism is bubbling up around us-then, habits of thought familiar from ages past reach for the controls.

The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir."
- Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science As a Candle in the Dark

Thanksgiving with the Kranzes

I have been a total delinquent so far when it comes to making actual blog posts. I have lots of ideas for things to post here, but I haven't had time to sit down and write them up. Maybe later this week? Maybe.

In the mean time, please enjoy this thanksgiving parody of Apollo 13. Apparently it was put together by some employees at Johnson Space Center, and rumor has it that Gene Kranz himself now shows it to his family every thanksgiving. Of course, I can't verify that, but I can guarantee that if you've seen Apollo 13, you'll enjoy this:

My Triangle

On November 6 I will be taking my Qualifying exam, and my proposal for the NSF fellowship is also due, so for the next week or so, I won't be able to make any very long posts.

In the meantime, check out this YouTube video of James Blunt singing on Sesame Street, brought to my attention by Inkycircus.



If only more celebrities went out of their way to educate children about geometry... if nothing else, the world would be a much more hilarious place.