Physics without mathematics?

Yes, there is a book out there with that very title, but that's not what this is about. There are reference materials coming, though, no worries there, and maybe they'll be helpful to someone. I think it's a great find, a terrific public service, and yes I am pretty proud of myself for my web searching prowess.

The real point here is trying to figure out just how deep into the world of Physics, be it Quantum or Classical, someone can go and understand without having the background in the complex mathematics that are used. The math really isn't something there to support the concepts, as you'll know if you've done a lot of looking and digging, the math actually IS the concept, and pretty much the basis everything works from. So, one would think, it's not possible to understand the theories without grasping the equations.

With all that in mind, the University of Toronto Physics Department has made available classroom materials and lessons in their Physics Virtual Bookshelf. Very many of these courses are aimed at teaching pretty advanced physics to people without the intensive math, and from what I've read so far, it works very well. One of note is a course called The Magic of Physics, a great overview of everything else. Give it a try if it interests you at all, there is some good reading and a lot of knowledge right there at our fingertips.

Newest desktop image

New for me, since I change every so often. This one is courtesy of Hubblesite, and it is STUNNING. There are dozens of this quality there- go take a look!
Man, I love the Hubble Space Telescope.

How do people like this even manage to exist?

Seriously, I just don't understand it. Are we so desperate for any thread of control, so scared that things happen outside the tiny context of our lives and minute piece of existence, that things like this can honestly be believed?

I was looking around the BAUT forum (pretty much a daily exercise for me. I am an absolute expert at forum lurking) when I came across a link to this amazingly insane article. Well, it's not the article that's insane, but the subject is so far out of the realm of common sense that I am stunned. it's a reprint from a 1980 issue of Science Digest, about a guy named Charles K. Johnson, head of the International Flat Earth Research Society. I just can't comprehend anyone going so far out of the way to deny everything that our eyes, ears, and common sense tells us is true. A short excerpt:

"The sun and moon, in the Johnson version, are only about 32 miles in diameter. They circle above the earth in the vicinity of the equator, and their apparent rising and setting are tricks of perspective, like railroad tracks that appear to meet in the distance. The moon shines by its own light and is not eclipsed by the earth. Rather, lunar eclipses are caused by an unseen dark body occasionally passing in front of the moon."

Occam's Razor, anyone? But there is more than that:

"Wherever you find people with a great reservoir of common sense," he says, "they don't believe idiotic things such as the earth spinning around the sun. Reasonable, intelligent people have always recognized that the earth is flat."

The irony is so thick it would float a neutron star.

I guess this goes a long way toward explaining why there will always be a market for miracle weight loss and hair growth pills. Humanity......sigh.

When are the brain implants coming?

Seriously soon, I hope. It would save me a tremendous amount of trauma.

I'm trying to reacquaint my brain with the world of mathematics. It's been a while since I've had to do anything beyond the calculations required for doing my taxes, so yeah- I'm a bit out of form. So I'm doing all right (not great, but...yeah. I'm remembering things) and all of a sudden I'm faced with this:

a(0) / 2 + [Sigma](sum)(k=1..inf) (a(k) cos kx + b(k) sin kx)

Fourier series, right. The problem is, I remember the name, but have NO memory at all of what it's representing, or how to plug anything in to make it mean squat.

Sigh. Back all the way to the roots and beginning algebra, I suppose. Maybe I can find a 12 year old to tutor me.

Happy Thanksgiving, at least to the Yanks

I know it's not a holiday anywhere else but the U.S. I also know that I don't do anything much to commemorate it myself, but I hope those of you that do have a great day.

New Moon evidence proves existence of Easter Bunny!

(Note: No, I am NOT serious. But seeing all this garbage makes me think I'm on to something)

I am not an expert, an astronomer, a butcher, baker, or anyone who knows much of anything. But the photos below will provide undeniable proof that the Easter Bunny is REAL, and that the ancient race of Moon dwellers knew it.

Image I: Untouched image from Google Moon.


You can see the bunny carved from the lunar surface quite clearly. But it becomes clearer....

Image II - Modified image


With a little expert image enhancement, you can now see that I am NOT seeing things. It's there. That, my friends, is a rabbit. Shaped by intelligently guided hands, very possibly a sure sign that maybe there were Moon dwellers in the past! This is very exciting and edgy science!

Image III- Final evidence

Clearly the Moon dwellers' attempt to recreate, in grand scale, a pot of boiling water and some eggs. There you have it- PROOF OF THE EASTER BUNNY! ON THE MOON! I think I'll write a book or brochure about it. I'll let you know when it's for sale.

Give a laptop to a child who needs one- and get one yourself!

Now this is an interesting program- and one I can fully support and agree with. Until November 26th, people in the US and Canada can purchase an XO Laptop and not only will they get one, but so will a school age child in a developing nation. Check the link out- the XO is a unique little machine, running a Linux-derived OS. While you're there, have a look at the program, too, and consider lending a hand.