The Wonder of Miscellany

Rock, Paper, Scissors

2011-12-26T19:52:00.000-08:00

I was reading about the Exploratorium's latest After Dark event -- which focuses on Rock, Paper, Scissors -- and I came across the World RPS Society, an organization dedicated to the promotion of the game. I definitely have to learn more about the people who run this group: I think it's fascinating.

Pirates and the Jolly Roger

2011-12-07T08:14:00.001-08:00

As a longtime resident of North Carolina, my interest is piqued whenever I hear or read about Blackbeard, the fearsome pirate who terrorized maritime traffic along the state's Outer Banks. As a kid, I loved the stories of Blackbeard tying lit fuses in his beard, so when he boarded his victims' ships he would strike even more fear in their hearts. I also really loved Blackbeard's version of the Jolly Roger: the skeleton stabbing a heart seemed extra diabolical, and frankly, very creative.

And so I was heartened to find the following web posting about the Jolly Roger. Read it and fear the flag!

Philip Hoare and The Whale

2011-11-02T12:01:00.001-07:00

The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea by Philip Hoare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was very happy with _The Whale._ Like Herman Melville in _Moby-Dick_, Philip Hoare gives a sweeping view of how whales have affected human society. He also spends a lot of time cataloging the disturbing details of the whaling industry: I was particularly struck by how whalers would use a whale's blubber to fuel the fires that rendered the rest of the animal's fat. On whaling ships, whales would cook themselves.

Hoare also has a good ear for lush language. Listen to him on page 290: "And how to convey that magnitude, that mass of whalish flesh, that cavern of ceiling-high baleen?" If you like natural history, and are partial to poetic prose, this is the book for you.

View all my reviews

Wonderful Fountain Pens in Boston

2011-10-20T22:43:00.001-07:00

Today I stopped into Bromfield Pen Shop, a store in downtown Boston that sells fountain pens, fountain pen ink, and an assortment of watches and knives. In other words, it's one of my favorite places in the Northeast! The front counter had a large assortment of Viscontis, Pilots, Faber-Castells, Watermans, Pelikans and more. A shelf towards the back of the shop was stocked with a wide variety of Noodler's ink -- I resisted buying the ever-cool Antietam Red, for now -- as well as standards like Waterman, Lamy, and Private Reserve. To top it all off, Bromfield sells Mondaine watches and Victorinox pocket knives. I didn't get to spend a lot of time in this wonderland, but the next time I am near Boston Common, I will be sure to stop in again and perhaps leave with a new bottle of something.

I took the following photos with my cell phone. They aren't great, but they'll have to do for now.

Religion and Law

2011-10-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

While watching C-SPAN, I came across an audio recording of the Supreme Court proceedings for the Hosanna-Tabor vs. EEOC case. Then, I came across a commentary on the case by Stanley Fish. I tend to agree with most of the justices: there's no way to resolve the case without the federal government getting involved in religious doctrine and definitions. Tough situation... In any case, hooray for jurisprudence!

Alfred Hitchcock and Dick Cavett

2011-10-15T16:13:00.001-07:00

A few months ago, PBS re-broadcast Dick Cavett's interview with Alfred Hitchcock, and I was lucky enough to watch it. It was one of the most fascinating interviews I have ever seen, and I think the reason is that I could never tell what Hitchcock was thinking. He would crack jokes, and then only crack the tiniest of wry smiles. Or, more often, his face would show no emotion at all. And, I could never really tell whether he was making fun of himself. But, he has amazing insights into film-making and story-telling. Watch the whole thing on YouTube!

Euclid in the Rainforest -- Book Review

2011-10-06T12:27:00.001-07:00

Euclid in the Rainforest: Discovering Universal Truth in Logic and Math by Joseph Mazur
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really, really wanted to like this book. The table of contents sounded so interesting: infinity! logic! how math pertains to reality! But, the further I got into the book, the more frustrated I became. Each section -- infinity, logic, and reality -- contains several chapters, but it's never clear to the reader how each chapter relates to the overarching theme. Moreover, each chapter itself seemed just like a collection of math-related stories, one after the other, with no obvious link. (I'm sure there *were* links, but I would have had to work to find them.) Also -- and this may seem like a nit-picking critique -- the weak topic sentences really got in the way of my understanding each paragraph. Topic sentences have to set up the rest of the sentences in a paragraph, giving the reader a kind of road map, but these didn't. Arrrrgh! In my opinion, the book should be rewritten under the watchful eye of a careful editor.

View all my reviews

2011-09-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

The Exploratorium recently won yet another design award. Its Tinkering Studio was recognized by Core77, an online design magazine. The Exploratorium is one of my favorite places in the entire world, fusing science, art, design, and the humanities into a breathtaking amalgam of interesting, cool stuff. You can read more about the design award here.To watch some cool Tinkering Studio goodness, click on the embedded video below:

Amazing Antique Typewriters

2011-09-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

Salon's Elizabeth Weingarten has written a story about a fantastic collection of old writing machines. I love the look of these old typewriters: they remind me of steampunk objects. It's also interesting to learn about the ancestors of objects that have become common.

Copper Tea Kettle

2011-08-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

This morning I came across this fantastic copper tea kettle. I wonder how much it weighs when it's full....

Conklin Fountain Pens

2011-08-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Wow: I really love the old-timey design of the Conklin pen website. Apparently, Mark Twain -- one of my favorite writers -- used a Conklin crescent filler, a pen with (I think) an internal inflatable bladder. When a writer depresses the button on the barrel, the air in the bladder shoots out, creating a vacuum. Then, ink can be siphoned into the pen. Nice.

[Image is from the Conklin website.]

Waterman Fountain Pen and Amazing Handwriting

2011-08-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

The blogger Leigh Reyes recently featured an older Waterman fountain pen equipped with a music nib. Seeing beautiful calligraphy like this makes me want to learn more how to get more out of my fountain pens. I might have to invest in a pen with a more flexible nib, though. Namiki Falcon, anyone?

Anger and Patience

2011-08-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

From the Daily Dharma website:

"As a destructive force there is nothing as strong as anger. An instant of anger can destroy all the positive action accumulated over thousands of kalpas through generosity, making offerings to the buddhas, keeping discipline, and so on. So we can say that there is no fault as serious as anger.

Patience, on the other hand, as a discipline which neutralizes anger, which prevents us from succumbing to it, and which appeases the suffering we endure from the heat of the negative emotions, is quite unrivaled. It is therefore of the utmost importance that we resolve to practice patience, and a lot of inspiration can be gained by reflecting on what is wrong with anger and on the advantages of patience."

Wise words.

Long Live Ray Harryhausen!

2011-07-31T04:48:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love stop-motion animation. Something about it conveys an otherworldliness that CGI can't match.

Origami Yoda

2011-07-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

I've never been especially interested in origami, but now that I have watched some of this tutorial, I may take it up.

I'm also curious about how Fumiaki Kawahata came up with this design. In fact, how does anyone invent a new origami in the first place? I am baffled.

Black Ink

2011-07-10T18:08:00.001-07:00

Today, my girlfriend and I spent the afternoon in Black Ink, a store in the Beacon Hill region of Boston filled with miscellany (my favorite) and knick-knacks. From graphite pencils to ceramic tea cups to giant metal paper clips, Black Ink was stocked with a bewildering array of items that took about an hour to sift though. My person favorite was a giant glass jar filled with featureless cotton bags with drawstrings, ready to accept stamps, or pennies, or what have you. I love looking through stores like this.

[Photo taken from the Black Ink website]

Photo Essay of Union Station

2011-06-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

Here is an amazing photo essay of Los Angeles's Union Station. I have taken some photos of Union Station myself: the architecture inside is beautiful.

Plan 9 from Outer Space

2011-06-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

I am so happy that I found the entire Plan 9 from Outer Space on YouTube. This is supposed to be the worst movie ever made. I have watched about half of it so far. It's definitely bad, but also kind of kitschy. You be the judge.

Oreo Cameos

2011-06-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever considered replicating women's jewelry using cookies? No? Well, one person has, and the result is extraordinary. I would love to see an art gallery filled with these creations.

Sony ICF-38 Portable Radio

2011-05-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

About five years ago, I was looking for a small radio to bring to work, so I could listen to music while I typed and such. I did a little research, and found that lots of people on Amazon had ranked the Sony ICF-38 very highly. I bought one from a local Target, and wow: it has performed exceptionally. It has great reception, easy controls, and -- to my surprise -- does not eat batteries. (I used to have a Walkman that needed new batteries if its two AAs were left in over night.) Consider: I have had the same batteries in my ICF-38 for maybe four years, and have not needed to replace them. True, I don't play the radio every day, but still: four years is a long time. I recommend this radio highly.

Linus Bikes

2011-05-30T08:56:00.001-07:00

While I have been living in Los Angeles, I have seen several people with Linus bikes. Each time I see one of those bikes, I pause and gawk. The bike has simple, clean lines and swept-back handlebars that make it stand out from the crowd of mountain bikes and fixies. I may have to add a Linus to my stable one day.

Newton as Alchemist

2011-05-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a great webpage from NOVA with information about Newton as alchemist. It has some helpful background information about both Newton and alchemy.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/newton-alchemist-newman.html

Field Notes Steno Pad

2011-05-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

I recently bought a Field Notes steno pad. The weight of the paper is perfect, and the surface is smooth enough for a fountain pen. I also love the rough, brown cover. Ah, Field Notes: you know how to woo me.

Sounds of Los Angeles

2011-05-30T08:32:00.001-07:00

Here is a list of some of the more annoying sounds I hear outside my window almost every day:

1) The tamale lady yelling each morning, advertising her wares

2) What seems to be a jungle's worth of pet parrots, screeching and hooting

3) The kid who lives next door, whose laugh seems to just be a loud "ha-ha," like in the Simpsons

4) Frequent car alarms

Felix Chevrolet

2011-05-30T08:28:00.001-07:00

Near the University of Southern California is Felix Chevrolet, a car dealership with some of the most amazing signs I have ever seen. I don't know the history of this place, but it's one of my favorite locations in Los Angeles.

Koreatown in Los Angeles

2011-02-27T16:56:00.000-08:00

I was recently in a Koreatown grocery store, and took these photos. I am definitely going back!

New Posting!

2011-02-25T19:07:00.001-08:00

Sorry I've been gone for so long. I have been swamped with school work, and haven't had much free time. (Actually, I don't know if anyone reads this blog, but, for now, I will assume someone does.) I am now in the second semester of my master's program at the University of Southern California, and have begun networking, and looking for jobs and internships. If anyone out there knows of any science writing internships, let me know. I'm trying to stay positive, and assure myself that I am going to make my way in this career. Positive thinking!

Stephen Hawking Lecture at Caltech

2011-01-19T22:19:00.000-08:00

Last night, I went to a lecture by Stephen Hawking at Caltech. The lecture was scheduled to start at 8pm, and I arrived at around 6:30. The line was already enormous: people near me in the line estimated that the line contained over 1,000 people. The auditorium filled long before I made it to the entrance, so I ended up watching the lecture from outside the auditorium, on flat-screen monitors. The talk itself was lively, and I am very happy I went.

You can read about the event here.

Flax Pen to Paper

2010-11-19T17:48:00.000-08:00

Last week, I visited Flax Pen to Paper, a Flax outpost near UCLA. I was impressed: the store carries a sterling silver Namiki fountain pen, as well as several kinds of Sailor pens. The Sailors are out of my price range -- the one that fits my hand costs around $300.00 -- but I am happy to know that they are available in Los Angeles.

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Amazing Calligraphy

2010-11-19T17:31:00.000-08:00

The person featured in this video is Leigh Reyes, who, in my opinion, is an extremely skilled calligrapher. I wouldn't mind learning calligraphy at some point in my life. Wow.

Janet Iwasa and Molecular Visualization

2010-11-15T22:19:00.000-08:00

My friend Janet Iwasa was just mentioned in a New York Times article about molecular visualization. Well done Janet, and everyone else who works on this project!

Pop Culture Curator at the National Air and Space Museum

2010-11-15T21:27:00.001-08:00

Apparently, the National Air and Space Museum has a pop culture curator named "Margart Weitekamp," who manages thousands of items, including movie props, toys, stamps, games, pins, and trading cards, showing how space exploration made its way into the national consciousness. Well done, National Air and Space Museum!

Read the article here.

Image courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum.

Coordinated Dancing

2010-11-10T16:21:00.001-08:00

What is it about watching a group of people dance in unison that stirs the blood? I just watched the music video for Janet Jackson's song "Feedback," and was struck, again, by how thrilled one can feel by watching group dancing. I wish I knew why I felt this way. Does the feeling stem from early human history, and battle demonstrations? (I have included a video of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team performing their haka routine for comparison.) Also, the Michael Jackson video below shows how group dancing can be menacing. Interesting....

Rodeo Drive

2010-10-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

I have had occasion to spend some time near Rodeo Drive these past few weeks, and I'm not sure what I think. The neighborhood is spotless, and great for walking, but there aren't many stores there that interest me. I found a Taschen book store, and a stationery store that sells fountain pens, but otherwise, I get a little bored. But, one redeeming quality is the vast number of luxury and sports cars. I have had a lot of fun ogling them!

Moleskine!

2010-10-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

For my birthday, my wonderful girlfriend bought me two pocket Moleskine notebooks. Hooray! Now I have a place where I can record my band name ideas.

The Georgian Planet

2010-08-24T22:36:00.001-07:00

The Georgian Star: How William and Caroline Herschel Revolutionized Our Understanding of the Cosmos by Michael Lemonick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Michael Lemonick's prose is excellent, and I really liked Herschel's story. I knew very little about his discovery of Uranus, and nothing about his investigations of infrared light. Well done.

View all my reviews

Wow!

2010-08-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

This pitcher is amazing. You can find it at www.thepolishpotteryoutlet.com.

Korean Pottery

2010-08-11T15:36:00.001-07:00

As long as I'm on a pottery kick right now, I thought I would find some stuff from Korea. I found this photo at www.korean-arts.com. The celadon glaze is magnificent.

More Polish Pottery

2010-08-09T22:07:00.001-07:00

I don't remember if I have mentioned Polish pottery in a previous post, but here is another fine example (from www.thepolishpotteryoutlet.com). My girlfriend's cousin introduced me to this stuff, and I just love it. The geometric patterns are very cool.

Beautiful Ceramic Cup!

2010-08-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

Here is another beautiful cup from zensuke.com. I love the contrast between the brown bamboo and the blue background. And, the white lip is lovely, too.

Japanese Tea Cup

2010-08-06T00:12:00.000-07:00

I am now living in Los Angeles, and before I moved here, I went shopping for some cups, bowls, and plates at a restaurant-supply store in San Francisco. I love cool ceramics, so when I saw some fantastic cups with Japanese characters and fish drawings on them, I bought two! One of them is to the right.

Pasta Engineering!

2010-07-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

Pasta engineering! Cool!

Clouds and Libraries

2010-07-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

I was thinking these past few days about the similarities between cloud computing and public libraries. I have been hearing off and on about how some people believe that the future of owning music will be storing mp3 files in remote servers, accessible online, so that a person could access their music (or movies, or whatever) from any place that has internet access. That way, no one would have to actually buy a physical copy of a piece of music, or any other kind of media, and find a way to store it.

I thought that, in a way, that notion is kind of like a public library. People can use a library as their book collection, without having to store books in their homes. Of course, a library isn't accessible from everywhere, but using one is a way to have access to a huge amount of media without having to store that media. Interesting...

Music!

2010-06-24T15:26:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was listening to some music using my Koss PortaPro's. Every time I use them, I feel like I am rediscovering my music. They are so exceptionally good, I can't believe I don't use them all the time. Who needs a high-end stereo system?

To read a good review of them, go here.

Heat!

2010-06-24T06:22:00.001-07:00

Here in Princeton, I am getting the full summer experience. For the past few days, the high temperatures have been in the mid-90s. I haven't felt heat like this in years. San Francisco always had moderate-to-cool temperatures, which didn't vary much all year. On the other hand, I am seeing rabbits, fireflies, and groundhogs, which is exciting.

Computers and Typewriters

2010-06-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

I just read an article about people who prefer using typewriters to computers. I have to admit that I am sympathetic. On the one hand, when you use a typewriter, you don't have to worry about losing data, or making sure that a battery is charged. On the other hand, typing on a computer makes editing far, far easier: I would much rather write a 40-page essay on a computer than on a typewriter. I would have to have to retype all 40 pages, rather than just change a sentence here or there.

I feel similarly about cell phones. I like having a land line because I never have to worry about reception, or dropped calls, or whether the battery has enough charge. On the other hand, cell phones are extremely convenient. So, I'm torn.

Rain, and Physics

2010-06-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

It is raining in Princeton, and I am enjoying hearing it hear the roof outside my room. (It's strange to hear a rainstorm that is not a deluge, like the storms in San Francisco.) I am also looking forward to next week, when my bike should arrive at the local UPS store. I am itching to ride around town, and explore the paths along the river near campus.

Another note: I have been using my two Lamy fountain pens to take notes during my daily lectures, and I have been surprised at how long the ink supply has been lasting, and how smooth the nibs have been. Hooray for fountain pens! The person who sometimes sits next to me takes notes on an iPad: what an interesting juxtaposition of technologies that is.

Princeton!

2010-06-06T16:07:00.002-07:00

I have arrived at Princeton University, where I will the spend the summer as a science writing intern. So far, I love the town. I have missed being around deciduous trees, and dogwoods, and I find that I even missed summer weather. I walked along Nassau St., and was happy to find deli's, bakeries, a running supply store, a cupcake shop, a book store, and even a small movie theater. Very nice, Princeton: very nice.

Also, I am looking forward to a summer full of thunderstorms. Hooray!

A Single Word

2010-05-31T21:50:00.001-07:00

A few days ago, I came across an article in the New York Times about All Souls College at Oxford University. It seems as though the college had an entrance exam that consisted of one word, like "justice." Applicants had three hours to write an essay about the word, or topic. This idea is fascinating to me. I also loved the scenario that the writer describes below:

"The unveiling of the word was once an event of such excitement that even non-applicants reportedly gathered outside the college each year, waiting for news of the word to waft out."

Unfortunately, the exam has been discontinued.

Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/world/europe/28oxford.html?no_interstitial

All Souls College: http://www.all-souls.ox.ac.uk/

Bacon Syrup

2010-05-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

I never would have thought that anyone would have a need for bacon syrup, but Torani obviously thought there was a hole in its flavored syrup offerings. This site also suggests using bacon syrup on milkshakes, which sounds odd, though bacon and chocolate do go well together.

http://www.torani.com/products/bacon-syrup

In the Morning

2010-05-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

Here is another post from Daily Dharma that I like:

In the morning when you wake up, you reflect on the day ahead and aspire to use it to keep a wide-open heart and mind. At the end of the day, before going to sleep, you think over what you have done. If you fulfilled your aspiration, even once, rejoice in that. If you went against your aspiration, rejoice that you are able to see what you did and are no longer living in ignorance. This way you will be inspired to go forward with increasing clarity, confidence, and compassion in the days that follow.

—Pema Chödrön, ‘Bite-sized Buddhism’ (Fall, 2007)

Leigh Reyes

2010-04-27T22:15:00.000-07:00

In the past year or so, I have become very interested in fountain pens, so when I come across a pen website or resource that I like, I get very excited. The following blog is one of those resources. I don't know who Leigh Reyes is, but she seems to be a pen-and-ink connossieur, and a fantastic ink artist. (One of her drawings is on the left.) I think I would like to learn how to draw with ink, since I consider myself a pencil drawer and would like to expand my art horizons. Anyway, check out her blog.

http://www.leighreyes.com/blog/

Cool Pencil Cases

2010-04-21T16:33:00.001-07:00

I love this kind of stuff! I haven't had a pencil case in a long time, but seeing these makes me yearn for one now.

http://www.jetpens.com/index.php/cPath/159

Laundry Detergent

2010-04-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

I just read an article about laundry detergent, in which the author argues that Americans use vastly more detergent than they need to use. In fact, it seems as though washing one's clothes without any detergent at all is almost as effective as washing one's clothes with detergent, since the agitation of the washing machine does most of the cleaning. Moreover, the more detergent one uses, the more leftover soap scum is left on the clothes after washing. For some reason, I find this issue fascinating.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904575025021214910714.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5

Sharing Embarrassment

2010-04-20T23:18:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed reading the following quote, which is from Tricycle magazine:

"Embarrassment is just that—embarrassment. We need to have mercy on ourselves. We all feel embarrassed. Actually, when we do speak about these things, when we do share our embarrassment, we experience relief. The holding back is what is hard.... We need to be able to trust relationships. If two people can share their embarrassments, what a bond that creates."

http://www.tricycle.com/daily+dharma

Beards and Trustworthiness

2010-04-20T21:57:00.001-07:00

I recently came across the following story about beards and trustworthiness. Fascinating.

http://www.good.is/post/beards-as-indicators-of-trustworthiness/

Barn Owls!

2010-04-14T21:19:00.001-07:00

Today, I discovered a barn owl web-cam! As far as I can gather, this is a wild owl nesting in a box, along with its chicks, but I can't be sure. I don't even know where in the world these owls are. In any case, I love barn owls: I think they are the most beautiful kind of owl. Fantastic.

http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox/v2

More about barn owls: http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/barn_owl_info.htm

More Pottery

2010-04-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

I have decided that I want to have more pottery in my life. Does anyone know where I can buy some affordable, good-looking pottery in the San Francisco area? So far, I have happened to find good pieces at Peet's Coffee (!) and Teavana, a Bay-Area tea shop. I also have to start taking pottery classes again. They are very soothing and satisfying.

Sweet Potato Waffles!

2010-04-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

Last week, I learned of a restaurant in San Francisco that sells sweet potato waffles. Wow. I think I am going to try them this coming weekend.

Tea Bags and Potpourri

2010-03-31T16:04:00.001-07:00

I just discovered that dry tea bags make great potpourri. Cool.

Half-Marathon is Approaching!

2010-03-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

In less than two weeks, I will be running in my first half-marathon! I'm nervous, but yesterday, I ran twelve miles in about an hour and forty-five minutes, and felt pretty good. So, I think I will be okay.

Hamburger Haven

2010-02-06T19:37:00.001-08:00

A while ago, I think, I vowed to start reviewing San Francisco diners. (And if I didn't, I am making that vow now.) I hereby begin by reviewing Hamburger Haven, a restaurant on Clement Street. I first noticed it because its front door was on the corner of its building, an architectural feature that I have always liked. And, I also liked the classic counter, visible from the windows, with swivel-y chairs lined up in a row. The place looked honest, unassuming, and the kind of restaurant that could surprise a person with the best food of his life. I was hoping for that kind of culinary surprise when I walked in one Sunday, umbrella in hand. I was seated at a small booth near the door, next to a row of windows that looked onto the sidewalk outside. I was encouraged by the sight of an almost full house: almost every table and seat at the counter were filled. Good sign! After perusing the menu, I ordered a mushroom hamburger, with no cheese. (There is nothing that sauteed mushrooms does not improve.) It came, and I found that it was one of the best mushroom hamburgers I have ever eaten. The hamburger was medium, and still moist, and the mushrooms were great. All in all, I had a good time, and would recommend Hamburger Haven to anyone.

New Science Blog

2010-01-20T20:47:00.001-08:00

Hi, world. I have just created a new science blog called Science Happenings, online at http://thalesandmore.blogspot.com/. Feel free to visit me there, and read about cool and unusual science information that you might not read about elsewhere.

Calculation of Times

2010-01-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

This fountain pen is gorgeous. It is made by Pelikan, and is called "Calculation of Times." Wow: what a great name. Also, the nib comes in a broad size, which suits me fine. I love the design both on the barrel and on the nib, and the theme -- time -- is inherently interesting to me. Does anyone have one I could try?

Sailor 1911

2010-01-06T19:24:00.000-08:00

Ooo: I would love to try out this Sailor 1911 (or Professional Gear, or whatever this pen is called). I like wide nibs that let out a large amount of ink, and I bet this pen would be perfect.

Graduate School

2010-01-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

I am now in the middle of applying to graduate schools. Everything is going well, but I hope to be done soon.

Mathematics and Bagels

2009-12-09T15:44:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine at work passed around the following information about cutting a bagel so the result is two interlocked bagel rings. Fascinating, hilarious, and brilliant. Has anybody out there ever created a Moebius bagel?

http://www.georgehart.com/bagel/bagel.html

Dr. Seuss

2009-12-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

Today, I was thinking about the lyrics to "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch," and looked them up online. I was struck once again by how amazing they are. Then, I learned that they were written by Dr. Seuss. (If I am wrong, please correct me.) I think that fact has clinched it for me: Dr. Seuss is a genius. Some of the lines in the Grinch song are so inspired that I can't imagine how Dr. Seuss ever thought of them. Consider these lines:

You're a monster, Mr. Grinch.

Your heart's an empty hole.

Your brain is full of spiders,

You've got garlic in your soul.

Wow. How on Earth did Dr. Seuss think of those lyrics? Amazing. Dr. Seuss, I salute you.

Bakeries in San Francisco

2009-12-02T00:16:00.000-08:00

I think I may start reviewing San Francisco bakeries, especially those that sell piroshki's! I am also partial to curry puffs, so if anyone knows of any bakeries that sell them, please let me know.

Microscope

2009-11-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my friend Linda Vu's recommendation, I recently bought a pocket microscope from the Exploratorium's store. It was not very expensive, and it actually is a lot of fun to use. There is something very satisfying about actually seeing the warp and woof of the thread in your shirt, or the individual grains of dirt and rock in a clump of soil. Maybe I will change my vice from Facebook to simply looking at things closely.

Timex Ironman

2009-11-22T20:01:00.000-08:00

Another good aspect of training for a 5K run is that I get to buy a watch! I just bought a Timex Ironman 10-Lap, and am excited.

Rods and Mods

2009-11-19T15:47:00.000-08:00

The Exploratorium is hosting an event in February of 2010 that will showcase hot-rodded computers and modified computers cases. It should be a fantastic event: I am especially hoping to see a steampunk computer in the mix.

http://press.exploratorium.edu/rods-and-mods-february-2010/

(The image to the left shows a computer created by Jake Von Slatt. Wow.)

GRE is Done!

2009-11-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

I took the GRE on Monday, so it is done! To celebrate, I had bacon waffles at It's Tops, a diner in San Francisco. So good...

After the GRE...

2009-11-01T21:46:00.001-08:00

I may have to celebrate by getting a new fountain pen. Lamy Studio, here I come!

Refracted Light

2009-10-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

The Exploratorium has mounted large prism filters over some of its skylights, and, late in the day, sun shining through those filters creates very large rainbows on the Exploratorium walls. There is something very satisfying about seeing a spectrum four feet wide and one foot tall splashed on a wall. It's nothing like the pipsqueak spectra that anyone can produce using the standard prism sold in most museums stores. When looking at a very large spectrum, one can clearly see all of the colors, and how they fade into each other. Sometimes, scaling something up can have a huge difference.

Time Travel and Sabotage

2009-10-22T20:22:00.001-07:00

Recently, I have been hearing about a curious physics paper written about the new Large Hadron Collider, a massive particle accelerator located in Switzerland. The authors -- Holger Bech Nielsen, from the Niels Bohr Institute, and Masao Ninomiya, from Japan's Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics -- argue that, as the New York Times' Dennis Overbye puts it, "the hypothesized Higgs boson, which physicists hope to produce with the collider, might be so abhorrent to nature that its creation would ripple backward through time and stop the collider before it could make one, like a time traveler who goes back in time to kill his grandfather."

Overbye then writes two of the most astonishing paragraphs I have ever read:

" 'It must be our prediction that all Higgs producing machines shall have bad luck,' Dr. Nielsen said in an e-mail message. In an unpublished essay, Dr. Nielson said of the theory, 'Well, one could even almost say that we have a model for God.' It is their guess, he went on, 'that He rather hates Higgs particles, and attempts to avoid them.'

This malign influence from the future, they argue, could explain why the United States Superconducting Supercollider, also designed to find the Higgs, was canceled in 1993 after billions of dollars had already been spent, an event so unlikely that Dr. Nielsen calls it an 'anti-miracle.' "

When I read those paragraphs, I had to pick my jaw off the floor.

History of Science

2009-10-22T19:46:00.001-07:00

I find that I am becoming more and more interested in the history of science. If anyone has any recommendations for interesting books, please let me know. I am especially interested in Robert Hooke, I think.

Taking Photographs in Chinatown

2009-10-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, I vow to travel into San Francisco's Chinatown, and take lots of cool photographs. I especially want to photograph the tops of some of the buildings on Stockton -- or is it Grant? -- Street, where colorful flags fly, and roofs often are covered in brilliant tiles. Maybe I will also take a few surreptitious photo's of people walking by, hoping to capture some interesting expressions. I will definitely photograph the colorful produce at the various produce stands. It should be interesting.

Rescuing a Plant

2009-10-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

I have finally gotten around to rescuing my jade lily. I have had it since 2002, when I bought it at a local plant store, and it has done very well, steadily outgrowing its pots and sending out white flowers fairly often. For some reason, though, I at some point put it outside, where it began getting a lot of light. I know that this plant thrives in low-light conditions, but it was getting so big, I guess, that I thought it deserved more space. Well, its leaves slowly began to turn lighter and lighter -- bleached by the sun, I thought -- and seemed to be fading. Tonight, I have fixed the situation. I brought the lily into my room, trimmed off all of its brown leaves, and watered it. I put it in a dark corner, hoping that it will return to its former glory. I will keep everyone updated....

Neighborhood Bakery

2009-10-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

I just walked past a bagel shop near my apartment, where bakers where beginning to prepare tomorrow's bagel batch. I smelled the dough, and thought that, one day, maybe I will open a bakery. Every street needs its own bakery -- who doesn't like having fresh-baked bread within walking distance? -- and I love the hands-on aspect of the baking business. True, the hours are horrendous, but I can't think of many more pleasant ways to spend a morning.

Roller-Skating Lady on Crissy Field

2009-10-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

I love watching the roller-skating lady make her way down Crissy Field. I don't know who she is, but the sight of a woman wearing sunglasses and headphones roller-dancing makes me smile. She seems very happy!

Clock Store

2009-10-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I visited my cousin's mom and step-dad in Auburn, CA, and, on Sunday, we went to Grass Valley, a small town near Sacramento. I really liked it: it reminded me of a small town in Virginia, near where I am from. I liked that it was a fully functional town -- or at least seemed that way -- and that it had an Art Deco town hall and court house. Cool. Also, we stopped in to a clock shop, owned by a guy who repaired antique clocks. There was something soothing about being in a shop filled with ticking and tocking. And, I like clocks anyway, so I had fun. The glass display counter also had a few old fountain pens, but I resisted. I have quite enough for a while.

Auburn, Ho!

2009-10-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I drive to Auburn, to visit my cousin's mother and step-father. Hooray! I hope to take some photographs, walk in the woods, and pet a few horses.

Tree Ferns

2009-09-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today was a sunny day, so I walked a lot in Golden Gate Park. For only the second time since I moved to San Francisco, I walked on the wooden-plank pathway that winds between tree ferns, which I find magnificent. I have to spend more time just sitting on a bench in the park's botanical garden.

Leadholder

2009-09-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

I have found an online drafting pencil museum! Gadzooks!

http://www.leadholder.com/

Mile Rocks Lighthouse

2009-09-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

My friend, Pete Andrews, figured out the mystery of the orange-and-white striped platform just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. It used to be a lighthouse!

http://www.rudyalicelighthouse.net/CalLts/MileRock/MileRock.htm#img05

Beautiful Football

2009-09-05T21:59:00.001-07:00

I saw this football on Uncrate.com, and thought it was absolutely beautiful. I want one.

Sailor Fountain Pen

2009-09-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

Today, I was in the San Francisco Shopping Centre, looking for a GRE review book and a dictionary, and, of course, I stopped into the Maido stationery store to test-drive some fountain pens. I was especially curious about the Pilot Vanishing Point pens, since whenever I research fountain pens online, I always come across people who love that pen. I tried one that had a medium nib, and wasn't especially impressed. I was, however, impressed with the Sailor Sapporo. It's a little smaller than pens I use, and the nib looks smaller than other nibs I have used, but the ink flow was smooth and pleasant. I may have to save up for one.

Toy Truck

2009-09-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to write about this occurrence for a while, but, for some reason, never got around to it. Now, I have time to tell everyone about a surreal, and hilarious, situation a few months ago.

My girlfriend and I were walking along a sidewalk near my apartment, when, all of a sudden, we looked a few feet ahead of us and noticed a toy fire truck rolling slowly but steadily right towards us. It was clearly either a wind-up or motorized truck, and was probably about six inches long. Oddly, there was no one else around us: no one on the sidewalks, no one on the streets, no one in any of the house doors: the truck appeared to have materialized out of nowhere. I picked it up and looked it over, and didn't see any way to turn off the power. So, I put it back on the sidewalk, pointed it in the opposite direction from which it originally came, and Jolina and I continued walking. After we had gone a few steps, a nearby door opened, and a man came out. He picked up the truck, said it belonged to him, and, if I remember correctly, he told me and Jolina that the truck has a habit of escaping, or getting away from him. (I think he had a young son, to whom the truck really belonged.) The whole five or so minutes in which it took for all of these events to occur seemed so bizarre, like we were in a Candid Camera episode. Strange...

California Academy of Sciences

2009-08-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, I visited the Cal. Academy of Sciences again, with Jolina and her niece, and had a great time. I loved that there were no crowds, and no wait to get into the rainforest. We also saw the planetarium show, which was excellent. Though, a part of me misses the old-style planetarium show, with a star projector heaving its black bulk from the center of the space, and a guide using a laser pointer to point out stars and constellations. There was always something peaceful about those shows.

Chinese Calligraphy

2009-08-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

Today, I realized that I have not done any Chinese calligraphy since I was in college, and I miss it. Luckily, several art supply stores in San Francisco sell brushes, rice paper, and ink, so I should have no problems beginning again. It is a very calming pastime.

Susan Kruglinski and Roger Penrose

2009-08-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

I just read an amazing interview in the latest Discover magazine. Susan Kruglinski interviewed Roger Penrose, a British physicist who is interested in mathematics and quantum theory. According to the interview, Penrose invented some tesselating patterns that inspired some of M.C. Escher's prints. Wow. I had no idea that those two people were linked in any way. I have had Penrose's book The Emperor's New Mind on my shelf for a while, but haven't yet read it. Now, it is on my short list of books to read.

Pentel Tradio

2009-07-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while browsing in San Francisco's fantastic Maido Japanese stationery store, I discovered the wonderful Pentel Tradio, a fountain pen with a plastic nib. Wow: what an amazing pen. It lays down a wet, thick line, and apparently Pentel even sells refills. Highly recommended.

Urban Astronomy

2009-07-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

I just realized that, though I bought a pair of binoculars for star-gazing a while ago, I haven't used them! I will soon correct that mistake.

My First McDonald's Apple Pie!

2009-06-26T22:04:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow -- Saturday, June 27th -- I plan to try my first McDonald's apple pie. I have never eaten one, and I have been told they are amazing. So, in a few hours I shall embark on a grand culinary adventure into the world of fast food desserts.

Hamburger Haven!

2009-06-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to go to Hamburger Haven -- a diner in San Francisco -- for, oh, about seven years now, and now I think the time has come. I shall go, and try out yon hamburgers!

B-Star

2009-06-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend and I had a great dinner tonight, at a restaurant called "B-Star." It is an offshoot of Burma Superstar, the oh-so-famous San Francisco Burmese restaurant on Clement St. Hooray for Chinese meatball jook!

Picking Plums

2009-06-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I picked plums at my girlfriend's former boss's house. I love plums. I love picking them. I love eating them. I could eat them all day long.

That is my story.

Curry Buns and a New Assignment

2009-06-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

I have decided that happiness is buying a single curry bun from the local Chinese bakery, and eating it slowly as I walk back to my apartment. I also enjoy walking into that particular bakery and seeing groups of Chinese men huddled around two people playing a game that I think is Xiangqi. I always feel very much out of place in that bakery, but the lady behind the counter always smiles when she sees me, so I don't feel too bad. I ask for a bun, hand her eighty cents, and off I go.

Also, I just got a new freelance assignment! It's a little different from my past ones, but it should be fun to write.

And, my girlfriend has recently introduced me to the show Gilmore Girls. I have to admit that I like it.

The Pleasure of Listening to Music

2009-06-01T15:15:00.001-07:00

I just realized that I have not laid on my bed and listened to an album all the way through since, oh, high school. I think I would like to do so again. There are some blues albums I wouldn't mind listening to, and there is one Gypsy music album that has been intriguing me for a while. So, back to music!