tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.comments2024-03-01T08:23:13.398+00:00 The Fictional AetherUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger401125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-38966020855098716242021-12-24T11:16:36.065+00:002021-12-24T11:16:36.065+00:00And now the quest is over!And now the quest is over!Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-27434478906539144232021-12-22T12:57:48.029+00:002021-12-22T12:57:48.029+00:00All binaries are precessing (a bit), but the quest...All binaries are precessing (a bit), but the quest is for one that is measurably not non-precessing.<br />Or maybe for a bunch of them that, as a whole, are not so... evidence against non-precession is cumulative! Thomas Denthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355010444546331416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-49068267610656900302021-03-13T11:20:45.375+00:002021-03-13T11:20:45.375+00:00I'll bear that it mind when I compose my 4000-...I'll bear that it mind when I compose my 4000-word rant on the rampant misuse of "so called". Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-88871402514464649212021-03-12T23:05:38.214+00:002021-03-12T23:05:38.214+00:00Che?
I could follow you when you were buying stamp...Che?<br />I could follow you when you were buying stamps in Rome, but this is too advanced. :)<br /><br />GreenOnYellownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-92115565308431038162021-03-09T15:55:30.087+00:002021-03-09T15:55:30.087+00:00It's always the errant whiches that I'm fi...It's always the errant whiches that I'm finding. They're continually leaping out at me. The final paragraph is a lie, but I hoped that writing it would make it true. Let's see.Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-2214543910839573102021-03-09T15:33:07.471+00:002021-03-09T15:33:07.471+00:00I'll still change "that" to "wh...I'll still change "that" to "which" (or vice versa, as appropriate) in text I have some editorial control over, but I don't flag it when refereeing.<br /><br />For me, too, it was a distinction I only really became aware of after moving to the U.S. for grad school. I think that in some ways, American English is more finicky about this stuff than the Hiberno-English I grew up with -- or perhaps just Academic American English.<br /><br />Another similar issue for me was the difference between "whether" and "if". Back on the Old Sod, we'd just say "if" all the time.DreadPiratehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10572994666809362274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-13436442183131817682020-10-31T11:09:40.391+00:002020-10-31T11:09:40.391+00:00I will give this a try come cocktail hour. I have ...I will give this a try come cocktail hour. I have several favourites I would be happy to share if you are interested in some variety.Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17321521117866095547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-6822550966633569532020-10-30T22:06:41.400+00:002020-10-30T22:06:41.400+00:00I see you're a man who enjoys variety.I see you're a man who enjoys variety.Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-39712059750503787742020-10-30T18:39:44.167+00:002020-10-30T18:39:44.167+00:00Sounds tasty. Here's my recipe for the perfect...Sounds tasty. Here's my recipe for the perfect gimlet: whiskey neat. YummmmM. Ruprighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16407460612728477237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-2077955953635877582020-05-04T07:48:15.640+01:002020-05-04T07:48:15.640+01:00100% true. The craze and Mantra "publish or p...100% true. The craze and Mantra "publish or perish " has done more harm than good to academia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-30552335001586715302020-04-19T17:37:08.619+01:002020-04-19T17:37:08.619+01:00I keep hoping that the silver lining in the U.S. i...I keep hoping that the silver lining in the U.S. is a “Darwinian solution” to our sociopolitical nightmare.DaraShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382943555612489469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-66732384905172196312020-04-08T21:48:07.401+01:002020-04-08T21:48:07.401+01:00I'll add it to my list of things I wish I coul...I'll add it to my list of things I wish I could be doing. Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-74372946988564347732020-04-08T15:50:11.667+01:002020-04-08T15:50:11.667+01:00Glad to see the essential services are still being...Glad to see the essential services are still being provided!<br />It's a matter of personal taste (and mine is not particularly reliable). It's also the ambiance... When this is over, promise you go for a tour of the Castelli.GreenOnYellownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-60073445124531685772020-04-08T08:28:02.202+01:002020-04-08T08:28:02.202+01:00The neighbourhood enoteca is open. With only one p...The neighbourhood enoteca is open. With only one person allowed in at a time, I feel very guilty browsing slowly -- so recommendations are welcome!Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-91868940881737884512020-04-07T21:52:11.617+01:002020-04-07T21:52:11.617+01:00If you are interested, they also have decent wines...If you are interested, they also have decent wines in the region!<br />Not sure how difficult it is to get to the "Castelli" from where you are though...<br />I guess you cannot just write "looking for booze" as a reason to leave the house. Bummer.GreenOnYellownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-55453965935043584672020-03-20T19:54:42.865+00:002020-03-20T19:54:42.865+00:00What a delightful read! What a delightful read! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13808171713196540066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-31084886212848054372020-03-19T05:51:38.548+00:002020-03-19T05:51:38.548+00:00Excellent- it made me laugh.Excellent- it made me laugh.martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16913675194944157770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-67914071585527428102020-03-13T20:35:10.962+00:002020-03-13T20:35:10.962+00:00May you and your family be safe!May you and your family be safe!GreenOnYellownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-57871415041551012462019-11-30T14:48:14.495+00:002019-11-30T14:48:14.495+00:00I am reluctant to equate "everybody in Italy ...I am reluctant to equate "everybody in Italy knows" with truth. But my letter did arrive. I sent my UK proxy vote application the same way. I really hope that arrives, too. Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-13037900089849903902019-11-29T19:35:32.072+00:002019-11-29T19:35:32.072+00:00That went too fast, maybe I should explain.
Pollo ...That went too fast, maybe I should explain.<br />Pollo (literally chicken, but it means gullible individual) because everybody in Italy knows that with registered mail you just pay more but the odds of your mail getting lost are just the same!<br />However, (and I am not being nationalistic here, God no) the mail in Italy is rather reliable in these days (I know I am spoiling your story, sorry!). The reputation is however well deserved from the good old '60, '70, '80 where it was worse that your literary genius (insomma…) will be able to conjure up. It is said that the reason why "Il nuovo cimento" went from one of the best physics journals to NOT-one-of-the-best-physics-journals is because the Italian mail kept loosing submitted manuscripts, and in those days that meant a lot.<br />Cheers<br />GreenOnYellownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-20211506135344607452019-11-29T19:15:59.103+00:002019-11-29T19:15:59.103+00:00> So: I wanted to send my envelope by registere...> So: I wanted to send my envelope by registered mail.<br />Pollo.GreenOnYellownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-75561895391160312019-11-05T10:46:12.515+00:002019-11-05T10:46:12.515+00:00I could not refrain from commenting. Well written!...I could not refrain from commenting. Well written!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-47233983421368004312019-10-15T20:35:01.312+01:002019-10-15T20:35:01.312+01:00Then you will be accustomed to waiting!
I'm a...Then you will be accustomed to waiting!<br /><br />I'm aiming for once every couple of weeks... unless I get distracted.Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-63500376325409600522019-10-15T20:16:42.614+01:002019-10-15T20:16:42.614+01:00Mammamia!
Please do write more often about your ad...Mammamia!<br />Please do write more often about your adventures!<br />(Full disclosure: I'm Italian)GreenOnYellownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055612246610286525.post-63231583678798099812019-06-04T12:01:20.722+01:002019-06-04T12:01:20.722+01:00You're right, I didn't notice that astrona...You're right, I didn't notice that astronaut comment from Feynman when I wrote this piece -- even though it's the last thing in the story! I guess I didn't re-read the whole thing from start to finish, which I should have. <br /><br />Maybe it's unfair to call it the "Feynman Fallacy" when he himself succumbed to it much less than his fans, and arguably much less than most of the rest of humanity. On the other hand, most people would agree that he did little, your last quote notwithstanding, to disabuse people of their mythic perception of him. <br /><br />On Sally Ride: I first heard that she was the source of the o-ring explanation in the concluding titles of a BBC dramatisation of the story. ("The Challenger", with John Hurt doing a great job as Feynman.) I wondered where they had got this from, and I went so far as actually getting hold of someone who worked on the show... and they *would not tell me*! My guess is that Kutyna told them, but wanted his involvement to be confidential. I thought my failed attempt at amateur journalism would be a nice story in itself (I also succumbed to the Feynman Fallacy, "how hard can journalism be!"), but there were some confidentiality requirements attached to the conversation I had (I can't even remember what it was that was so damn secret), and I found the whole thing so frustrating that I just wrote the "In fact it turns out that..." and left it at that. Mark Hannamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011146336221492349noreply@blogger.com