Saturday, August 31, 2019

What Happens in Beijing Stays in Beijing

I am off to China for the first time since 2010, and this time I'll be visiting Beijing.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Quiz: Guess the Paper Topic from the Last Line of the Abstract

Here is the last line of a recent paper's abstract: Moreover, this work presents a new and computationally non-expensive method to account for shrinkage.

Your job is to guess the topic of the paper. (In case you want to cheat, you can look at the paper.)

Monday, August 26, 2019

RIP KFOG 104.5

It was announced today that KFOG 104.5 is soon going to stop playing its brand of music and will instead simulcast from its sister sports station KNBR.

After KSCA 101.9's brief adult-alternative format died (it too broadcast The Dr. Demento Show) and it was possible to get radio stations from around the country over the internet, I listened to KFOG (which had a similar format, as well as Dr. D) a good amount for a while. Whenever my Mac would die and I didn't have access to iTunes for a while, KFOG was a also a station that I sought out during the dry spells.

Alas, as announced today, KFOG is switching formats after many years. It's a pity. In many ways, it's a natural progression — I, and many others, meet our musical needs differently nowadays — but it still makes me feel a bit sad.

Incidentally, it was through 101.9 and the aforementioned format that I first heard a song by Loreena McKennitt.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Emoji Expression

I think that I was pretty clever with this one. :)

I hope that some of you will be able to figure out the song.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Very Cool Artwork of Light and Shadow

Kumi Yamashita's art with light and shadow is very cool!

Friday, August 16, 2019

Cicadas and Amusing Lab Hijinks

I am amused!

(Tip of the cap to Lindsey N. Walker.)

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Trying to Trademark the Word "The"

THE Ohio State University is apparently trying to trademark the word "the". Oy vey.

I love University of Michigan's response on Twitter.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

List: "Critically Acclaimed Horror Film of the 2010s or Your Ph.D. Program"

Well, this list is both amusing and cynical (with several loud rings of truth, unfortunately).

(Tip of the cap to Suzanne Sindi.)

Monday, August 12, 2019

What Happens at WorldCon Stays at WorldCon

I am heading over to Dublin for this year's WorldCon!

My schedule is below.

Saturday, August 10, 2019

One of my Favorite Oxonian Ironies: 5 Years Ago Today

Thursday, August 08, 2019

Friday, August 02, 2019

Critical-Failure Dice

I need to get myself some of these critical-failure dice, which replace the "1" (for critical misses, of course) in the 20-sided die by the f-word. I want some!

And I especially like the new rainbow version of these dice!

Update (8/05/19): My dice arrived today!

Thursday, August 01, 2019

Gerrymandering Fonts