Remodeling update...

Remodeling update...  The “tapers” are hard at work, finishing up the wallboard job.  I was amused to see that they use stilts to work on the ceiling!  As usual, click on the thumbnail to embiggen it.

The plumber is also here, working in our basement to rough in the water feed and sewer connection for a new sink.

Progress!

Reason for time's arrow discovered?

Reason for time's arrow discovered?  One of the strangest unknowns in physics (and cosmology) has been the reason why time always progresses “forward”.  It seems obvious and self-evident to our senses, but it's not at all obvious and self-evident from the mathematics that underlies our understanding of physics.  Now scientists have some evidence that quantum entanglement is the cause of the one-way nature of time.  If so, it would make time's arrow the most obvious macro-scale manifestation of quantum physics...

Common sense on climate change...

Common sense on climate change...  Steve McIntyre and Bjørn Lomborg are my two favorite writers on the subject of climate change.  The latter has a new article up that provides a sober and high-level view of the climate change debate.  Lomborg is interesting in that he doesn't really dispute most of the climate science – instead, he disputes the idea of spending huge amounts of money trying to mitigate something that's not obviously bad in the first place. 

These things worry me...

These things worry me...  The world is full of people (and the countries they govern) who are perfectly willing to use military power to expand their sphere of control and influence.  For decades now, the United States has been the only power willing to stand up to such tyrannical behavior.  Our willingness hasn't been consistent or constant, but it's been there often enough to keep anything really awful from happening.  I'm not so sure these days, unfortunately.  China and Russia are too damned eager to just how far they can push a United States led by That One...

Venture capitalists are all over marijuana opportunities ...

Venture capitalists are all over marijuana opportunities ... though generally with a wink and a nudge.  A couple of years ago, long before Colorado and Washington legalized recreational marijuana, a VC I had a casual conversation with mentioned several investments he'd made in the sector – he didn't think legalization was coming, and didn't think it mattered to the business plans of the companies he was investing in.

Debbie and I will be in Colorado for our vacation this year.  It will be interesting to see what differences we'll see from our previous visits...

What could possibly go wrong?

What could possibly go wrong?  The FDA has approved Palcohol: powdered alcohol.  Just mix with water and you've got an instant alcoholic drink.  Or add it to food for that unexpected kick...

Book: When I Fell From the Sky...

Book: When I Fell From the Sky...  By Juliane (Koepcke) Diller.  This is the book I mentioned a week or so ago, about the young girl who survived falling 10,000 feet out of an airplane into the Peruvian jungle.  I just finished it last night.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  It turns out to be much more than the story of her fall and subsequent survival in the jungle – it's also a story of overcoming the misadventure, of a passion for science, and of the successful establishment of a nature preserve just a few miles from where she fell in 1971.  Highly recommended for anyone interested in science and inspiring human experience...