Hard to resist…

I’ve been in a bit of a funk — my tv and computer broke last month, we don’t have cable/internet in our temporary apartment, and I’ve been swamped with work — but I simply cannot resist posting this video:

[Today's Big Thing]

One of the things I always liked about our work with force chains was how much they seemed like lightning. Even in slow motion that seems to be the case. Compare, for instance, with the distribution of force during a simulated meteor impact:

Dry Times Ahead

And so it begins… after what seemed like, for North Carolina, an unusually chilly Spring (and commencement), summer has tipped its hand a few weeks early and we are now looking at at least four days in a row near 100F. Now it is time to start really sweating the drought again. We’re still on water restrictions here (try growing tomato plants when you can only water twice a week!) and according to the University of Nebraska’s handy drought monitor, “abnormally dry” conditions are already rolling over the research Triangle while the mountains are still under extreme drought conditions.

But it could be worse, as Radiohead’s new video for “All I Need” argues. No, it’s not just that the video is from Radiohead that’s the downside (Brian B. and Brad usually would rather have a toothache than listen to them). In fact, I was hoping that Prof. Bunton might find this one a bit more accessible. Of course, part of its accessibility is that it’s not quite as melancholy as some of their songs, a fact more than made up for by the video’s message:

1776

I was just going through my forgotten and nearly dead post drafts and found this doozy. Since many of us went and sat through the amazing-looking, albeit fascist 300 together, I figure many of you might also enjoy Robot Chicken’s 300-inspired take on the American revolution:

I especially enjoy the crossing of the Delaware. Robot Chicken really captures the movie for me — I remember longing for the sophistication of Starship Troopers.

And while on the topic of the founding fathers, I can’t help but find HBO’s John Adams to be completely unnecessary. I don’t really think it’s any fault of it’s own (except maybe for casting overused Paul Giamatti) but I can’t help but giggle at the oh-so-serious looking promos that popped up seemingly everywhere a few weeks ago. I don’t know if it’s possible to have year-long movie-watching moods, but I feel like I wouldn’t be in the mood for something like this until at least next year…

Sports Puppets

One of the many reasons I miss the Triangle area is the quality of the local media (although the TV doesn’t hold a candle to my beloved Upstate). So it is with envy that I watch this video of the NBC 17 late night news on YouTube several days later.

The Importance of Rebounds

The struggling Big Ten Network may need to consider giving Kevin Borseth, the Michigan women’s basketball coach, his own show. After Michigan blew an 18 point lead against Wisconsin, Borseth melted down in the post-game press conference. By the end he’s actually coming to terms with things, but in this case getting there is far more than half the fun. Assuming he can keep up this intensity the Big Ten Network could have quite the show on their hands…

ESPN has a nice piece arguing that this clip shouldn’t define Borseth, but it’s still a must watch.

Thinking of Brad…

Wired has a brief write-up on an oscillatory reaction that has also made Slashdot.  Of course, it’s the Briggs-Rauscher reaction and not Brad’s beloved Belousov-Zhabotinsky, but it’s still a nice video.  I wonder if the two reactions are natural enemies, as with robots and dinosaurs (remember, one is from the future, the other from the past).

World’s Smallest Trophy

If ever there were a task that this blog was suited to, I think that winning the world’s smallest trophy is it.  The APS and Physics Central are sponsoring a Nano Bowl to promote interest in physics via a football-related video.  The winners get $1000 and a “nanoscale trophy” made of “silcon and metal.” 

They seem to be suggesting some sort of mechanical demonstration, but I think that a statistical/non-linear analysis might be much more interesting.  I remember reading about the physics of the “Mexican wave”

Patriots-Colts “Unusual Audio Moment”

The National Football League is denying that the above clip indicates that Indianapolis uses amplifiers to make the crowd louder when their opponents are on offense.  Officials claim that the weird audio effects were not audible in the stadium, but were introduced in the broadcasting.  While conspiracy theorists work feverishly, I am much more amused by this list of possible explanations left as a comment from “Mark G” on the Sports Illustrated blog, The 10 Spot:

1. Electronic interference from Patriot’s surveilance equipment
2. Background noise from Peyton Manning commercials playing on TVs in concession stand walkways
3. Actually sound of women being impregnated simply through a combination Brady’s boyish good looks and cavalier attitude
4. Super-sensitive mikes picked up groans from Al Davis’ Oakland hot-tub as he contemplates letting go a “washed up” Randy Moss

Any other ideas? 

Incidentally, through that blog, I have learned of another blog that is perfect for this blog.  Awful Announcing has been added to the blogroll.

Ninjas on Parade

I loved this in today’s Onion:

Ninja Parade Slips Through Town Unnoticed Once Again

This Weekend’s Football

Saturday night’s Michigan game was a blast — tied late into the fourth quarter.  Illinois matched each Michigan turnover with several mind-numbingly bad penalties.  All three of Michigan’s glamor offense players were injured for some or all of the game, though fortunately not superstar offensive tackle Jake Long.  Both teams used two quarterbacks.  Ultimately one of the wide receivers tossed the go-ahead touchdown pass.  However, the highlight was that not only did I get to hear a commentor say “now we have a football game” about two-and-a-half hours in, but while discussing how University of South Florida (then #2 in both polls) had lost and Boston College (#3) had not played, a commentator actually said that BC would “slide into the 2 hole”.  Given that Ann mostly watches football for the homo-eroticism, I thought that was absolutely classic.

Another classic that I observed briefly on ESPN was an Auburn kick return during the LSU game.  After receiving, dropping, and recovering the kick, the return man turned his back to the oncoming LSU players and was joined by four teammates, two to either side.  After swapping the ball, all five players ran in different directions.  Unfortunately, I could only find what has to be the world’s worst Youtube video ever to show the play.  Not only is the fumble edited out (Auburn fan?) but the actual yardage gained as a result isn’t shown.  Assuming he got past the 25 yard line, I would think this would become a standard way to return the ball.