Correlation between Mozart and Einstein

This is an interesting link between two geniuses from alternate fields. I guess when you achieve total understanding, the idea of 'pre-existing harmony' is plausible. Here is Einstein's thought of Mozart's musical process,

Music was so pure that it seemed to have been ever-present in the universe, waiting to be discovered by the master.

and likewise, a similar discovery of his own physical theories,

The laws of nature, such as those of relativity theory, were waiting to be plucked out of the cosmos by someone with a sympathetic ear.

Hook 'Em Horns

Pics from Mom. Now if we could only get the Texans to let Vince stay in Texas.

Happy Chinese New Year on 1/29

2006 is the year of the Dog, or Chinese year 4704. My question was, what's different about the chinese calendar? Apparently, opposed to the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese calendar is baised completely on astronomical observations.

• Day - One rotation of the Earth's about is axis, which causes the apparent movement of the Sun from East to West
• Week - The concept of week is not important to the Chinese as it has no direct astrological significance.
• Month - The time it takes the Moon to go through on cycle of motion (about 29.5 days)
• Year - One roation of the Earth about the sun's axis (about 12 months)

How long is the year? The Chinese have the longest uninterupted count of a year to a value of 365.24 days. The accounting of this additional .24 days is what results in the leap month in the Chinese lunar calendar or leep day in the modern solar calendar.

Happy Birthday Mozart

Today is the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birthday. I don't care if its scientifically proven or not, I believe in the Mozart Effect for babies and everbody else. I recently began listening to some at work, and found my perceived productivity increase significantly.

Rudy's Vacation Description

How interesting it is to hear an author describe their simple vacation. Here's my favorite part, it even reminds me of Dr. George's discussion of running.

I relish the peace of the woods, the intensely blue sky, the thin, icy air, the deep breathing and steady muscular work, the solitude, the low-level problem-solving of routing, the views of the white Sierra peaks, the boulders capped with snow, the reddish-barked pines with icicles dangling from their branch-tips.

Altitude

In a related altitude story, this site gives a Google map of the highest point in each state.

Conversation Starter

It's amazing to me the things that spark conversations with a child. Isaac and I were listening to this NPR story this morning, and developed a conversation about mountain climbing and the lack of oxygen at higher elevations and how breathing works. While we didn't actually here the rest of the story, only the narrators loss of breath at an elevation of 14,000 feet; it is an interesting one, discussing the 900 year old pilgrimage of Tibetan Buddists around the sacred mountain of Kawakarpo.

Also note how a weekend worth of rain makes for a very reflective and awesome weekend.

NASA Launches Space Probe to Pluto

NASA launched a spacecraft yesterday at 1400 EST for a decade long voyage to the planet Pluto. The spacecraft won't land on Pluto until at least July 2015. It is also powered by 24 pounds of plutonium (a much better use than its common role as a nuclear warhead).

Bush Wants Google Data

I don't have anything to hide, but this is a little extreme.

“The Bush administration on Wednesday asked a federal judge to order Google Inc. to turn over a broad range of material from its closely guarded databases.”

Here's the story from Mercury News.

One could do worse than be a swinger of birches

What a great poem, it remindes me of adventuring with the kids. Robert Frost's "Birches". Here's the last stanza.

...
Earth's the right place for love:
I don't know where it's likely to go better.
I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.

Rudy on High IQs

Here's a post from Rudy regarding IQs.

IQ might more likely be proportional to the log of one’s brute processing power rather than being a linear function of it. So a thousandfold increase in processor power would make you only three times as smart.

Instead, he points out some mental processes that he feels are important to intelligent, creative people. Including: parrallel trains of thought, extra associations, anticipating ideas, modeling behaviours, and drawing conclusions.

This also reminds me of the Houston ISD decision to reward their teachers baised primarily on the standardised test results of their students. Can't imagine that this teaching towards the test does anything to help the students prepare for more creative thinking patterns.

John Henrik Clarke

We watched Dr Clarke on TV this morning and he had an enlightning statement regarding the european colonialism of Africa.

There has never been a conquering army which brought civilization to the people they conquered. Violence is not civil.

Haka Video

I was experimenting with the new Google Video search engine and found this video. Wow, I'm going to watch it before this weekend's game. No tongue sticking out though...

...And on the lighter side, the Scottish response.

New Gas Pumps - Dresser Wayne

Hey, if there's anybody out there spying (I mean reading) who used to work at Dresser Wayne, this one's for you.

A new gas pump developed by Dresser which is built on Windows CE technology. The pump will eventually let you download MP3s, get coupons, order coffee, and do basic car care evaluation while your filling up your car.

Mike's Guitar Party

Here are some more posts for Mike's Guitar Party in a photo set. Some of Christian and Caroline as well. I think by the time Faith started rocking, the camera man had gone to bed.

Primal Scream

Wow, look at this picture from Mike's jam session during Christmas. That's too cool!

Weekend Outing

Wanted to give a small post about Denise, Isaac, Leo and my adventures this last weekend. After a Christmas full of electronic gifts, we spent the entire time outside. We found a state park less than 10 minutes from our house, and spent more than 5 hours hiking. Christian, Faith, and Brian (eventually) are going to love this adventure.

The next day Isaac and I hiked while Denise had to work :( After several hours of treking around the Woodland's woodlands, we found a dog park. What a great time Leo had here frolicking with the other dogs of all shape and color. Isaac and I just sat down in the middle and enjoyed all of the free kisses (we're starting to call Isaac the dog whisperer). We had so much fun, we took Denise back when she got off work.

Finally Isaac got his first chance to go ice skating at a friend's birthday. It reminded me of our skating in Austin. Mental note to self, bring an extra pair of pants to our next ice skating party.

sorry no pictures, we were mearly enjoying the moments, most of which were totally unplanned and spontaneous - the very best kind.

Dogs Sniffing Out Cancer

This is an interesting story of dogs, labs in particular, being trained to detect cancer.

IED

Praying for Michael. Didn't understand this acronym, IED, in Nancy's report. We love you.

Rudy Analysis Surfing

Interesting mathmeticians analysis of surfing. He also points out the odd internet semantics of sitting in front of a computer on a web browser and calling it surfing. Also points out the incredible intricacy of waves, pointing out the artificial intelligence is far behind real life in this case.

(a) You're sliding down a hill of water that moves, and (b) Because you're sliding, you have the ability to move the board to the left or right beneath your center of gravity (by steering it), also the board will have very little tendency to move backwards, with the upshot that it's easier to balance on a moving board than on a still one.

Hook 'Em National Champions

Wow! For those who didn't stay up for this one, Vince was amazing! Texas' first outright national title since 1969, and you should have heard the stadium of 100,000 singing The Eyes of Texas.

Google in Braille

Check out the Google homepage today, in celebration of Louis Braille. Apparently, its a bit of a risk for them because they distort they're logo beyod being readable (unless you know braille).

Happy New Year

Denise and I had an awesome New Year celebration with one of her cousins Debbie.

During the last year, I have learned so much about the love of my family and my son and my beloved. We wish you all a year full of love and happiness.

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.
~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

p.s. Funny story, as I was sitting at the New Year's party, I met one of Debbie's neighbors Carry. After a brief time of speaking to her and her husband, she asked where I was from. It was Carry Stockton from Anderson Mill. Wow, what a small world.

Wireless YoYo

Now a cool product for the boys. A wireless yo-yo, that lets you create monsters, and battle your neighbor through a wireless connection. The more you spin the yo-yo, the stronger your monster is.