I was just having a bit of a surreal adventure looking at the search terms that people use to get to my site. It seems that people think I have a lot to say on both gaucho pants and aliens. Here is my final word on both: the former sucks, and the latter remains a mystery. Also, I don't really think that much about the meaning of Blind Melon's "No Rain".

I've posted a new article for my column - it is about the lifespan of stars (again, breaching the astronomy divide here - but clearly, astroPHYSICS). I was going to write about radar, but a lady came up to me at work today, looking for a book that would tell her son how long stars live. I found myself giving her a detailed explanation of star lifespan while she fidgeted - obviously she had other things to do, and didn't really care herself. But it got me thinking about it, so I wrote this week's article on it.

This was also the first week that I was able to work ahead, and I wrote next week's article as well (a book review!). I've discovered that my writer's block is nonexistent when I write on my lunch break at the Five and Diner around the corner from work. If it weren't for the greasy food, it would be perfect (or maybe that is the reason it *is* perfect).

I just realized that I have to reorganize my website to emphasize my column - I mean, it is sort of a major thing. I haven't been very good about posting regular blogs every time I write a new article (mainly because I am totally exhausted after doing so). I'm a little shocked at how the column is changing me. Everywhere I look, I think about physics - and see everything in that frame of mind. A few days ago I explained to a coworker why a can of compressed air gets cold when you use it, explaining some complex concepts of thermodynamics in the process. I just picked up the can, gave it a second of thought, and off the cuff, I explained it properly, and she grokked it completely. It was a really cool moment - though perhaps this means I need to get out more.

My latest Netflix fix came in the form of the film "What the Bleep Do We Know!?". It was recommended to me a long time ago by a friend, and I was sort of dreading watching it. I'm generally pretty adverse to much of metaphysics, and wasn't quite sure what it was about. Overall, I think it is a good film, even though I didn't think all of the concepts were rigorously defended enough - there was some gloss over. I don't agree with all of the conclusions, but I think that the overall message was important (and clear in the film): You make your reality.