Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
2014 Ig Nobel Prizes Awarded
List of laureates here.
World press reaction here.
Please stop. I'm bored. (the academic world needs more of this)
What it's really all about. Seriously. (and mercifully short)
World press reaction here.
Please stop. I'm bored. (the academic world needs more of this)
What it's really all about. Seriously. (and mercifully short)
Sunday Nite Comics: TX Chainsaw Massacre
...staring The Ramones!
[click here, blogger's still screwing up youtube links]
Several other amusing shorts by the same guy, click here.
[click here, blogger's still screwing up youtube links]
Several other amusing shorts by the same guy, click here.
Friday, September 19, 2014
My Research Field Comes Full Circle
Too bad I'm not on this project, because it looks very relevant and interesting:
Coffee Roasting Acoustics, in the June issue of JASA.
Coffee Roasting Acoustics, in the June issue of JASA.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Movie Review: American Hustle
It was an amusing, con action-packed way to spend two hours. The directing and acting did a fine job of saving this thing's scrambled-eggs plot. All four leads went way outside their usual roles and evidently had a merry old time doing this weird-o flick. The frantic pace kept things amusing.
The main thing that seemed out of place was the treatment of The 70's. The events here were set in '78-'81, but much of it felt like 1971. It was all about "Hey, let's set a movie in the 70's!" "Yeah and we can feature disco styles alongside toupees and whale-sized personal luxury cars! More polyester!" With nary a Pinto or a Vega anywhere to be seen. It sort of did to the 70's what Lord of the Rings did to the Middle Ages. Look back at the treatment of the 70's in X-Men: Days of Future Past to see the 70's done right. The 70's were a time, not some weird greasy dress-up cult.
But that's a minor quibble. This movie is all about the con, the scam, the frantic pace, and never quite trusting those closest to you. It was a fun ride for a couple of hours. But when it was over, I needed a shower to get the oily coating of smarm and synthetic fibers off my body. 2.5 out of 4 stars.
Despite the relatively low rating, I really did enjoy the movie. Once.
The main thing that seemed out of place was the treatment of The 70's. The events here were set in '78-'81, but much of it felt like 1971. It was all about "Hey, let's set a movie in the 70's!" "Yeah and we can feature disco styles alongside toupees and whale-sized personal luxury cars! More polyester!" With nary a Pinto or a Vega anywhere to be seen. It sort of did to the 70's what Lord of the Rings did to the Middle Ages. Look back at the treatment of the 70's in X-Men: Days of Future Past to see the 70's done right. The 70's were a time, not some weird greasy dress-up cult.
But that's a minor quibble. This movie is all about the con, the scam, the frantic pace, and never quite trusting those closest to you. It was a fun ride for a couple of hours. But when it was over, I needed a shower to get the oily coating of smarm and synthetic fibers off my body. 2.5 out of 4 stars.
Despite the relatively low rating, I really did enjoy the movie. Once.
Movie Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America once more swings into action from the very first minutes! Evil has penetrated into the heart of America! And through it all, the Captain kicks butt, takes names, and never, never lets his true friends down. Acting, directing, writing, and effects were all top-notch. The action sequences were thrilling. It even had a recognizable plot. Loose ends from the last movie were tied up, and a new set were unraveled for the next in the series, but ultimately Good and America prevailed.
Is there anything more to wish for in this sort of movie? 3.4 out of 4 stars.
Is there anything more to wish for in this sort of movie? 3.4 out of 4 stars.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
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