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.)

Mathematicians and Physicists on Twitter

Here is a list of mathematicians on Twitter with 1000+ followers. However, they missed me. I would rank number 70, assuming they didn't miss anybody with more followers than me.

Here is a list of physicists on Twitter with 1000+ followers. I am not on this list either, though it can be argued that I am also a physicist (in addition to being a mathematician).

Update (8/03/17): My account is now on the list of mathematicians.

"Awesome" Old Board Games

Here is a list of some "awesome" (and, in many ways, justifiably forgotten) board games. I remember some of them!

Several of these are "awesome", and some of them (like number four...) go directly into the "What were they thinking?" category.

(And as some of you will remember, I saw a used copy of the "Where's the Beef?" game in Columbus a few months ago.)

(Tip of the cap to whoever posts for Duran Duran on Facebook.)

I'm... Too Sexy For This List... Too Sexy For This List...

Business Insider has published its list of the 50 sexiest scientists.

To paraphrase Right Said Fred: I'm... too sexy for this list. Too sexy for this list...*

* Full disclosure: I have not yet actually looked at the list.

Lloydies from my era should read that list with visuals from a certain airband skit, of course! :)

(Tip of the cap to Kevin Hickerson.)

The 20 "Most Influential" Scientists

Well, I'm not sure I actually agree with this list of the 20 most influential living scientists, but I will point out that 2 of them are in the same department as I am (University of Oxford's Mathematical Institute), and---if I not mistaken---not even a single person on this list is at Cambridge (aka, The Other Place). Booyah!

(Tip of the cap to whoever does Facebook posts for the American Mathematical Society.)

Update: In addition to what Justin has pointed out in the comments, Milana Gitaric reminds me that Stephen Hawking is at Cambridge. Well, he is easy to overlook. :)

My Life According to Depeche Mode (I was tempted to choose "Modern English" in deference to a certain incident on KROQ)

I noticed an interest meme on Facebook today in a post by Vincent Kong, and I decided it would be an interesting exercise to try it out (and my food was actually still somewhat warm by the time I finished). I think a few of my answers are pretty clever, so I decided to include my post in this spot as well.

Instructions: Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to at least 15 people and include me. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Re-post as "my life according to (band name)".

MAP's additional note: I am spending way too much time trying to be clever with this. It helps that Depeche Mode (which is my favorite artist) has such a huge catalog. This would have been significantly harder had I picked Modern English or---dare I say it?---Baltimora.


Are you a male or female?
"Everything Counts"

Describe Yourself:
"I Want It All"

How do you feel?
"I Feel You" (Oh, _how_ do I feel... Sorry, I misunderstood the question.)

Describe where you currently live:
"Home"

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
"Only When I Lose Myself"

Your favorite form of transportation:
"Walking In My Shoes"

Your best friend is:
"I Feel Loved" (I had to resist the urge to put "Master and Servant" here. DM can be so convenient for some things... And my answer refers to the friendship type of love, by the way, so nobody should get any ideas.)

What's the weather like:
"Precious" (I guess I'm writing this on the one day of the year it's that way here... Oh crap, I need to use this later. How about "Enjoy the Silence", which actually makes sense if you've seen the music video.)

Favorite time of day:
"Waiting for the Night"

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
"World in My Eyes"

What is life to you:
"Black Celebration" (Just kidding!)

Your fear:
"Death's Door"

What is the best advice you have to give:
"Get the Balance Right!"

Thought for the Day:
"Precious"

How I would like to die:
"Black Celebration" (Am I allowed to use the same answer twice? If not, then I'll be honest and select "But Not Tonight" and have that refer to now and forever more. Maybe I should become a lich?)

My soul's present condition:
"Dream On"

My motto:
"Policy of Truth"