098 Be infinite

My last investigation of 2011

I did achieve something important this year. I ended it completely obsessed with understanding the Higgs Boson particle. But in order to even grasps that, I had to go back to the beginning.
The particles
Th elementary particles [and their spin]
Fermions, quarks and neutrinos
And then the photon [s1] and the graviton [s2]
And then finally the most exciting ideas floating aroud: Dark matter and Higgs Boson.

Guys, I am so proud of myself, I know understand the basics of this image:

Standard Model of Matter

I am still learning and there's still a lot of confusion floating around in my tired brain. I just wish I knew a theoretical physicist, to talk about all of this.

In the meantime, check out the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.


My first thought of 2012
Do you think human beings can truly understand infinity? Not just as a concept but a true understanding of something without boundaries. Is it beyond human comprehension? Are we biologically incapable of grasping the concept? Or is it just a matter of culture? Or learned thought processes?

What's up with "our" 13.75 billion year old universe?
I've often pondered this:
If "our" universe if infinite, how come it is also expanding?
that's true right? If you are expanding into something, there must be a boundary to expand against, or there's nothing to grow into ...
But then, I realize that we were never actually told that "our" universe is infinite. I just assumed it.
Well, apparently we can't see that far because of the limitations imposed by light speed. The rules are: we can't observe space beyond the limitations of light and so we can't know for sure what the size of the universe is finite or infinite or both or neither. [What the fuuuuuuuck?]

I do vaguely remember Einstein's theory of relativity and something about things mathematically moving towards infinity. All of this is abstract, but there is not mention of real, meaning "non-abstract" state of infinity. I may be wrong and I will begin 2012 with this first investigation.

My first wish of 2012 

Look, there's even a knife involved

Seeing my Krav Maga instructor again and not make a fool of myself by not being able to get through the lesson because I am so out of shape [I got winded yesterday walking up the stair to my bedroom and it really freaked me out, just thinking about going back to LA and doing that intense workout again, FREAKING OUT]




Happy New Year.

097 Prometheus

The new "much awaited" trailer from my best friend Ridley Scott has arrived. Unfortunately not much of a plot in there. Just an amalgam of lovely shots. This is worrying. They've disseminated the information very sparingly for a while now. A poster, an image and tiny interview and now a trailer that doesn't reveal much at all. Not that I am waiting for ANY spoiler at all, but just confirmation that this is worth all the hype.
Anyway, here is the latest trailer. You will enjoy this one [promise].

This week I walked along this ...

dog shit on the ground right outside the frame

Still in the South of France, in that very small part of the country where it's always sunny and just simply beautiful.
Do I dare criticize? Well, I won't do it directly, I will just mention that everybody is bringing their dogs on the beach [I am sure horses were involved as well]. As to the result of this unfortunate fact, I will let you come to your own conclusion.
This is so annoying, instead of enjoying the view, the air and the sun, I am walking around with my head lowered, eyes to the ground, ready for anything.
It was so much fun.

As far as the rest of the life "ramblings" I don't have much to say right now. That's because I am basically away from everything, taking a break from the densities of Paris, The disgusting dirtiness of urban living and the Assholes of life.

It's a change for sure. And it won't last long ... Be patient.

Another Earth[s] called Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f

Discovered and coveted

I just discovered ...

Well, it's no "Earthlike planet" for sure, but I started to watch The Big Band Theory.
The reason why I've always refused to watch it is because of Johnny Galeky. I don't know what it was, but when I was younger and I saw Roseanne [show] I was extremely disturbed by the Darleen and David relationship and never got over the disgust. So I ignored Big Bang Theory for ... well ... just about 5 seasons.
And then what the fuck? I just learned that he was born in Belgium! I can't believe it. I thought we might have met at some point but no, I don't remember him at all.

Anyway, I am not exactly sure what happened, but nevertheless, I started watching the show and now I can't stop. I am still slightly uneasy, but I got over it thanks to one character: Sheldon Cooper. He's the genius theoretical physicist who is incapable of adhering to any social standards ... Lack of understanding or irony and sarcasm, no rational romantic interest, a type of behavior that is not just eccentric but full on obsessive-compulsive [in my opinion].
I also like the engineer Howard Wolowitz [who doesn't have a Phd] and Rajesh Ramayan "Raj" Koothrappali [who can't talk to women]

Flashy right?

Those guys are eccentrics and nerds to the fullest  ... The only thing is, they're all super intelligent so people understand that, it's what they are. The same guys with lame ass jobs and completely standards IQ would have a hard time in life if they were behaving as the guys are in the show. It's totally unfair for everybody else. Really.

“Yes, well I’m polymerized tree sap and you’re an inorganic adhesive so whatever verbal projectile you launch in my direction is reflected back off of me, returning to it’s original trajectory, and adheres to you.”[Sheldon quote]

096 The Dark Knight Rises [Again]

This week I am here

Somewhere in the South of France

Did you know ...
That last week, I had my last meeting with the HG [as in HypnoGuy]. There is still no resolution in my mind as to what games we are playing, but I have to tell you, it's exhilarating. I am still not bored of it and that's already somewhat of a miracle for me. But I just wish I could fold him and tuck him in my purse. Take him out from time to time [as needed] to discuss the "thought of the day."

Tickles

The legend Ends.

Did you know ...
For months, I avoided all trailers,then spoilers then discussion, anything related toThe Dark Knight [2008] because I missed the theater version and I wanted to make sure that I could watch it anyway, in my own time. When I finally managed to sit down and watch it, I was devastated to find out that  midway through the movie I got so freaked out by the Joker and whatever else was happening that I stopped watching and walked away, just like that. Months of preparation and borderline obsessive avoidance became completely useless and all for nothing. What a sad story.
Should I watch The Dark Knight Rises?

Thought of the day ...
NASA is certainly having some image issues lately, especially with all the "We're not going to send anyone in space anymore."
I understand the logic, but still, sending Man into space is more than money and logistics at this point. It's a dream, it's power and it's bragging right. Who, around here, is not pissed off that the Russians and the Chinese are taking over? Seriously.
And then this week, I found that John Grunsfeld [former astronaut and physicist] has been named the ... [and hold on to your seat on this one, because that's a very wordy title]
New associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate.

Now, let's be clear, I am not mentionning this because it's such an exciting news to me. I am mentionning this because the announcement was accompanied with this great pic:

Funnyyyyyyy Space Man

I was laughing pretty hard. AND THEN, believe it or not, that's not even the most pathetic part of the story. This picture of John Grunsfeld immediately reminded me of something I saw a few years back, I dug it out and here it is ...

I do request you

Memories are funny this way.

Battleship
Did anyone ever think that they would at some point run out of ideas and comic books to base their movies and remakes on? But wait! What about scrabble, monopoly and Trivial Pursuit?
Well, here is Battleship. The trailer looks alrrright. Just not special. I hope I am wrong.

095 Hell On Wheels

The AMC effect
Let me start by saying this: "I have always hated Colm Meaney, for no reason at all." There I said it.
He first came to my attention as Miles O'Brien, the transporter chief on the USS Enterprise [ST:Next Generation]

Look at that ugly "smugface"

The role was quite small at first, so I just had to ignore him, but as the years went by Miles seemed to take more and more screen time. At the time, I just thought that everything about him was completely wrong. The tone, the look, the accent, the overall face ... I don't know. Again, there is absolutely no real reason for the dislike.

This dislike turned into hate when Miles O'Brien reappeared as the Chief of Operations on Deep Space Nine [Also as Chief Engineer on the USS Defiant]
Man oh man, that was just ridiculous. That bogus friendship with Dr Bashir and that bland and uninteresting relationship with his wife Keiko .... What a useless character.

His subsequent appearance in TV shows such as Law and Order: CI and Stargate: Atlantis brought him in and out of my life like a looser acquaintance I could never get rid of.

This brings me to December 2011. A date to remember [surely]. I discovered this little show on AMC called Hell on Wheels.

Here is a short synopsis of the series [as I understand it, which doesn't say much]

Well, there is this guy who's wife was killed by a Union soldier [the whole thing happens in 1865]. So while looking for the killer, who, if found is going to get it big time, the guy ends up in a settlement that is built around the first transcontinental railroad construction site. So, I am guessing the settlement moves around with it. Colm Meaney plays Thomas 'Doc' Durant the rich entrepreneur who is [I think] overseeing the construction and managing the workers.
He is an overweight and shifty little fellow with tiny little eyes that always convey a certain level of  cunning-sleaziness. And yet, I am able to appreciate him [miracle!]

Still with the smugface

Portrayed on this show are:
Slaves, Native Americans [called Indian in this period piece], preachers, whores, drunks, vengeful armed guys, greedy businessmen, a lot of horses, a lot of mud and dirt, sweaty and basically unwashed smelly looking bodies.
It's pretty cool.
I missed the pilot but I have seen 5 subsequent episodes and I still feel like I've missed the most important setup of the series. I am still not exactly sure what's going on in all the A and B and C plots and subplots [my bad, I am actually streaming this on a 9in square screen, so it's not easy to catch everything]
But for some reason, I am still watching and would love to be able to discuss this with someone else since I seemed to be the only one watching this show.

Other Cool highlights of the day

Light hitting a bottle

A camera capable of visualizing the movement of light has been unveiled by a team of scientists in the US. The equipment captures images at a rate of roughly a trillion frames per second.

The 39th anniversary of the last moon-walk

094 SciFI Interlude

Lock-Out!

With Guy Pierce

Cabin in the Woods

Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard who also happen to be the director of this mysterious flick

Extraterrestrial

By Nacho Vigalondo

093 Blow(ed)

My last 24 hours in LA were 

... windy. Broken trees, streets littered with papers, vegetation ... And then, around the corner, this beautiful sight:

That's how bad things got.

Paris ... Welcome back K
It's raining and super wet and humid everywhere. I am going to hate the next 10 days [all just raining and grey as predicted by the weather channel.]

My first ride back on the metro went like this:

Random old woman [whom I will call TOB as in; The Old Bag] gets on the already overcrowded metro. Both my purse and my computer hang from my shoulder.
TOB:
You could lower your bag down on the ground it takes less room.
Me: 
No, I am not doing that, no way. Not  moving it down.
TOB:
It would take less room you know...
Me: [Thinking: Are you insane? What do you want from me B?....]
No, I don't want to lower my bag, it's just inviting pickpockets to go ahead and have a good time with my cash.
TOB: 
No one is going to steal it, you're just lowering it down.
Me: [Thinking: Listen Lady ... Your naivete is touching, but you're starting to piss me off]
I don't know why you're insisting, there's no way in hell I am EVER going to let my bag down.
TOB:
Well, there's no need to be rude about it.
Me: [Thinking: Fuuuuuuuuuck me!]
Listen, you asked me, I am answering you, now deal with it.

Weird.