First Work Meeting!

Today, I attended my first work meeting at the Exploratorium!  I know that most people don't like going to meetings, and I can understand that feeling, but, in some way, my being asked to come to, and even speak at, a meeting, makes me feel, well, important. 

Ducklings!

The ducklings have arrived at the Palace of Fine Arts lagoon! Make way for them!

Ham Radio Swap Meet!

This weekend, I am going to a local ham radio swap meet. I am hoping to meet some interesting people, and make good science writing contacts. Also, I am slightly interested in amateur radio: it sounds like a fun hobby (though I don't think I will be getting involved any time soon).

Audiophiles

I recently read about a self-proclaimed "audiophile" whose audio equipment cost around $300,000.  I have no desire to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on speakers, cables, and turntables, but I am finding that the audiophile hobby sounds interesting and fun.  I also am interested in the purported superior sound of vinyl records.  I haven't listened to a record since I was around six years old, but I would like to hear a record played on a high-end turntable with better-than-average speakers.  I would especially like to listen to a recently released album on both a vinyl record and on a CD, and compare the sounds.  Cool stuff.

Klockwerks

I just came across Klockwerks.com, a website showing clock creations built by Roger Wood.  According to his website, "Wood thrives on working with an immeasurable array of findings from the tarnished and forgotten to the odd or intriquing. He is a devoted collector of usual and unusual objects with one thing in common, a history."  I like clocks in general, so Wood's creations appeal to me.  His clocks aren't my favorite -- at the moment, I am very partial to the Takumi wood LED clock -- but I love the mechanical look.

Klockwerks: http://klockwerks.com/index.php

Takumi Wood LED Clock: http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/wood-led-clock

Festo Aqua Penguin

Some colleagues at the Exploratorium sent around the following YouTube video clip, showing the amazing Festo aqua penguin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8B4_fGopzw

I love how its head and tail movements make each penguin look stunningly lifelike.  But, the air penguins amaze me more, and I'm not yet sure why.  I think the reason is that they seem to move exactly the same way that the aqua penguins move in water, so the viewer starts to make comparisons between water and air.   Something about the air penguins is eerie, and fascinating to me.  I can't stop watching them.  I would love to see a flock (?) of air penguins in a large enclosed space, like a large, empty warehouse.  

Financial Literacy

I am finding more and more that I would like to increase my financial literacy.  I know a little about buying and selling stocks, how the stock market operates, and mutual funds, but I wouldn't mind knowing more.