So Here's the Interesting Part...

Have you ever heard the expression "Three times in a Blue Moon"? Of course you haven't. Nobody has. Nonetheless, as we move into 2010, I've heard or seen three relatively reputable sources define the Blue Moon of New Years Eve, incorrectly! So what the heck is a blue moon? Clearly I'm not talking about the Marcel's #1 Hit in 1961... Just to cut to the chase. First the facts, The full moon rising on New Years Eve 2009 is called a "Blue Moon". The last time a Blue Moon rose on New Years Eve was 1990. The current, common, correct definition of a "blue moon" is a 2nd Full Moon in a month. The more correct definition is when any of the four seasons contain 4 full moons, the 3rd is called a Blue Moon(on average, seasons contain only 3 full moons.) Obviously there is some history here - that's the really interesting part. Here's the evolution according to Sky and Telescope Magazine. At some point in history, talking about...

Mistletoe-a parasite?! The beautiful holiday spirit of romantic kisses-a parasite?! I couldn't believe it when my wife Julie pointed out an ugly tangle in a treetop. I'd assumed it was a crow's nest. Somehow, my mental model (completely based on a total lack of real information), was of a robust, yet beautiful climbing ivy full of European romance and charm. Of course, Julie is right. So I thought I'd like to know more about it and plant parasitism, in general. What we think of as mistletoe from myth and fable, is European Mistletoe or Viscum album . In fact the "Golden Bough" of Greek Myth was probably Viscum. It is a member of the Santalales order and specifically the family Loranthaceae . Originally, all mistletoes were contained in the family Loranthaceae , but they have now been expanded into three additional families in the same order ( Misodendraceae, Eremolepidaceae, Santalaceae ). The largest family of mistletoe, Loranthaceae ¸ contains over 900 spec...

Most people know, at least in broad brush strokes, HOW? autumn leaves turn out to be so colorful. I was wondering WHY? and Why so many colors? Just to clear up the HOW? part... At the most general level, when the weather turns colder, deciduous (leafy) trees stop making green pigment and the remaining underlying colors are revealed. More specifically, as the in the late summer, the veins in leafy trees start to constrict and the production of the compound responsible for photosynthesis, chlorophyll, is down regulated through the reduction of a single protein FtsH6. As the chlorophyll synthesis is reduced, the remaining chlorophyll is converted to a colorless set of compounds called NCCs (nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites) As the chlorophyll ebbs, three specific pigments are revealed: Carotonids are the yellow and orange colors in leaves. They are present all year long and concentrated in structures called plastids. Note that this is a class of compounds and lots of the yellow co...

The other day, I had a "vigorous" discussion with a hard core physical scientist friend of mine about my general assertion that we "create our own reality". He suggested that there was something fundamentally inconsistent about this view and my role as a research scientist. It got me thinking about what I really meant. What about the physical world? I accept (and generally rely upon) the fact that gravity exists independent of me. The chemical structure of a the minerals in the pebble sitting on the ground in front of me is known (not by me, but someone probably knows). A complex process like evolution occurs over times scales that make my lifetime, and therefore my perceptions and experiences, insignficant. All of these observations are "facts" that a large number of people (if not everyone) agree upon. Starting with a minimal set of real things, most people would agree that if something can be measured, its real. (Note that this doesn't imply the rev...

The Bene Gesserit Litany against Fear I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fiear is the little death that brings total obilteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

I find these words as true now as they were more than a century ago: “Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history.” That is what he said, That is what Abraham Lincoln said: “Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. We – even we here – hold the power and bear the responsibility”… Lincoln was a quiet man. Abe Lincoln was a quiet and melancholy man. But, when he spoke of Democracy, this is what he said: He said: “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of Democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.” Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of these United States, is everlasting in the memory of his countrymen, for on the battleground at Gettysb...

What is it that causes bilateral asymmetry in humans? listen Powered by Jott

moonlight through fall Leaves autumn night filtered eyelids should have had decaf

integrity Pronunciation: \in-ˈte-grə-tē\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French integrité, from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire Date: 14th century Definitions: 1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility 2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness 3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness Some years ago, my company was undergoing a reorganization and there was an effort to indoctrinate everyone with a new way of "embracing change". We all underwent a series of mandatory EST-like re-education sessions and there was a new kind of language that started to be used in corporate meetings. Thankfully, that era passed and we are back to using intelligence and common sense. However, there is an interesting phenomenon of rejecting everything from those sessions as by definition, false. Of course, some of the ideas and conce...

The other day I sat in on one of my 10 year old daughter's classes. Her teacher asked her to list some things she liked. Not people, not places, activities or feelings...but physical things. Its interest to think of specific objects that make us happy and wonder why. Here are 10 things I like: Spoons Old mechanical clocks Things made of brass Fossils Beach glass Books Pens Rocking chairs Miniature Paintings Handwritten Letters from somebody.

One of my fundamental beliefs is that we can all invent our the reality we percieve around us. What is "real" is very fluid and can be manipulated. In that manipulation, its reality becomes, if not self-fulfilling, at least self-enhancing. Do I mean to suggest that I could believe that gravity doesn't exist and make it so? Of course, not! However, If I believe that I have purpose, I do. If I believe I am strong, I am. If I believe I will succeed, I will. If I believe I am intelligent, I am. If I believe I am creative, I am. If I believe I am invincible, I am. If I believe I am immortal, I am. Note that these might be considered increasingly questionable assertions. But consider the alternatives. If I were wrong in these beliefs, what would happen? I'll have more to say about this...

What kind of things to I want to "Wonder and Muse" about? There's an envelope within which I want my blog to live. The edges are- Not too political-there's plenty of ranting and raving already. I'm pretty sure its been said before. Not too personal-or maybe I mean interpersonal. I don't want to whine about whatever is bothering me at the moment about somebody at work or kids or teachers... These things tend to be emotionally very intense, so they are personal, but they are very transient so they lack any kind of real meaning. Not too trite or petty. My pet peave is people who forward forwarded jokes by email (all the time). Not too lofty or self-important. I want to express things I believe in and think are important. However, I want to express a sincere and authentic voice. What's within those boundaries? Personal. I want to write essays about things I believe in. Things I feel and questions I have. Intelligent (at least to the extent of my intell...

Hmm...How many people have written a journal or diary or blog called "My first entry", or something similar. Well, you have to start somewhere. The key implication of "first" is that it isn't the "last". However, having said that, when I set up this blog, I was imagining all the profound insights I would be able to share with the world. The deep thoughts that I would scribble into my laptop at 3am when I can really see the depths of truth. Flocks of websurfers would come to see if I'd stumbled on something new. An almost as attractive image is that no one would read any of this and it will just be a private place to get things off my chest. That in the writing with the possibility that someone could read it, I would have to be honest and fair and share the things I'm feeling. Now that I'm sitting here, I can't actually think of anything particularly deep to share. Well, after all it isn't 3am yet so not to worry!