“Scientists will always look for answers.”
“Maybe they shouldn’t ask so many questions!”
Maybe Brooklyn from Sakura Killers had it right. (Apologies for the allusion only 3 or 4 of my readers understand.)
A couple of cosmologists are blaming human observation of dark matter for possibly shortening the lifespan of the universe:
“The intriguing question is this,” Prof Krauss told the Telegraph. “If we attempt to apply quantum mechanics to the universe as a whole, and if our present state is unstable, then what sets the clock that governs decay? Once we determine our current state by observations, have we reset the clock? If so, as incredible as it may seem, our detection of dark energy may have reduced the life expectancy of our universe.”
So the problem here is that we’re pretty much guaranteed that instead of maybe having great-great-great-great-great-great-great-(x5 million)-grandkids, we’ll only get great-great-great-great-great-great-great-(x4.5 million)-grandkids?
It’s the kind of thing that keeps people awake at night.
November 24th, 2007
9 comments
Posted by Donnie
Filed under Burning Agony, Science/Technology
There’s some debate as to the future of the Internet. Since the technology was developed by Al Gore and the infrastructure was created in the United States, the core servers sit on US soil. Other countries have started to say “we don’t like this arrangement”. The commenters responding to this Digg have been rather entertaining, many of them blinded to any other logic besides USA = bad.
November 20th, 2007
8 comments
Posted by Donnie
Filed under Science/Technology
This is a complete disaster. It resembles some sort of unholy amalgam of Space Ghost, Phil Hendrie, and Homestar Runner, except much worse. I plan on having exactly zero podcasts in the future.
Liquid Egg Product Podcast (1.6 MB, 3:25)
The original was recorded as a WAV file, so I downloaded some software to convert to MP3. The trial version of the software only converts the first 2/3 of a file, but it ended so perfectly, I decided not to bother trying to stick in the rest.
November 20th, 2007
15 comments
Posted by Donnie
Filed under Entertainment
Thanks to Tacticus Maximus for linking a program called MSA Data, which downloads and analyzes tournament results from the USCF.
It was a tad nostalgic seeing all those names from tournaments and clubs past. I was a bit surprised at how infrequently I met some of them in tournaments–1 person thrice, 10 twice, and 49 just once. (Oddly, I’ve already played one person from the Houston Chess Club twice in two tournaments.)
The good
My best upset was 327 points higher.
My best draw was 588 points higher.
Worst loss was to a 1400 (168 points lower at the time), and the next worst was to a 1497 (112 points). (I thought there’d be at least one real crapball game where I lost to an 1100 or something, but no such luck.)
The bad
Record against similarly rated opponents is +5/-8/=2. Not particularly healthy.
Record against players 100 or more points higher? +7/-28/=5. It’s not like I’m playing Experts and Masters all the time (9 games) to make the disparity so great.
The optimistic
Unofficially, I’m 31% of the way to obtaining the 100 point increase I’m shooting for. As far as following that +100 plan? Kinda doing parts 1, 3, and 5, while ignoring 2 and 4.
[UPDATE: One of the tournaments I played in was called the "Waco Full Frontal Autumn Open". Not the most optimal verbiage, methinks.]
November 19th, 2007
7 comments
Posted by Donnie
Filed under Chess
The King of Spain probably has a lot of new fans.
In the recent Ibero-American Summit, there was a mite bit of friction generated between Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and the Spanish representatives, prime minister Zapatero and king Juan Carlos:
Mr Chavez called Mr Aznar, a close ally of US President George W Bush, a fascist, adding “fascists are not human. A snake is more human.”
Mr Zapatero said: “[Former Prime Minister] Aznar was democratically elected by the Spanish people and was a legitimate representative of the Spanish people.”
Mr Chavez repeatedly tried to interrupt, despite his microphone being turned off. The king leaned forward and said: “Why don’t you shut up?”
A “Why don’t you shut up?” ringtone has become a hit, generating a couple million of dollars of income.
November 19th, 2007
no comments
Posted by Donnie
Filed under In the News
1. All you Boston sports fans, take note: The Revolution failed New English fans yet again, being defeated by the Houston Dynamo 2-1 in the Major League Soccer championship game. Weep, petty northeasterners, while I lord this result over you. Ha, ha, ha, ha!
… … … …
This would be a lot more satisfying if Americans actually cared about soccer (football).
2. It is worth noting that soccer (football) will always be more popular in America than wooden shoes racing:
3. The Miami Dolphins lose again to fall to 0-10. 6 games until immortality, and what a long 6 games that will be.
November 19th, 2007
4 comments
Posted by Donnie
Filed under Sports
First of all, all of y’all’s comments have been awesome the last few days. Sorry I haven’t gotten around to responding to them, but it’s been very entertaining.
I will be leaving to go on a short business trip tonight, and am unlikely to blog over the weekend. The Mascot will be responsible for making sure nothing blows up until my return. (That includes not CHMOD 777′ing all the files on the server this time, OK Mr. Egg???). [The Mascot says: Yeah, whatever.]
November 15th, 2007
5 comments
Posted by Donnie
Filed under Grilled Cheese
In 2008, the United States will elect a new president to replace President Bush. I suspect most of the world will not be crying into their Coca-Cola over that one. Poster design stolen from the Fred ‘08 campaign.
November 14th, 2007
11 comments
Posted by Donnie
Filed under Mascot for President
