Steve's Peeves & Affinities
The awe-inspiring, checkbook-draining, exciting field of amateur astronomy. I write about what I've learned, where I've learned it, what I've bought and how it worked out, and the celestial observations I've made along the way. I'm a long-time Macintosh software engineer, and a big Apple fan. I spend maybe too much time every day, browsing news & technical sites around the Mac community, and I'll pass along tips, solutions, and tidbits culled from my travels. And of course, a bit of fun. Humor, bicycling, picture albums, interesting links, family, friends, brain teasers, careers, time wasters... and Steve's Peeves.
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- The 2007 Tour de France, or Tattered Elegance The world has heard of the decline of the Tour, and the many riders who have been sent home because they were caught taking drugs. What you won't hear is what we truly know, and what we don't know. The media feeding frenzy is in full swing, and truth and fairness are taking a beating. I wrote a small essay about it on Trust But Verify, and I reproduce it here.
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:22:35 -0400 - The great Carl Sagan explains all of time
Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:29:55 -0400 - Ever see a laser magician?
Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:15:06 -0400 - Observation Log 6/17/07: ISS & Atlantis, a slim chance, a magic moment Sometimes things just turn out right
Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:27:24 -0400 - Link- What is the sound of two computers having a conversation? Discover Magazine is running this article about two leading chatbots (computer programs that use artificial intelligence to chat with with humans) which were set up to talk to each other. The results are surprising! Here's an example:
ALICE: Do you dream?
Jabberwacky: Yes, I dream.
A: It goes without saying. Do you remember your dreams?
J: I remember them vividly.
A: What do you remember about it?
J: I think I shouldn’t flirt with a robot.
[end]
Thu, 17 May 2007 12:15:41 -0400 - Link- An unbelievable performance by classical guitar virtuoso Ji Lie
Sun, 13 May 2007 13:04:12 -0400 - Floyd Landis' arbitration hearing for testosterone-doping charges is May 14. Cue the kangaroos. As a bicyclist and a bicycling fan, I've been following the progress of 2006 Tour de France Champion Floyd Landis' long, sordid, and long story as his case is considered--no, that's the wrong word--prosecuted by one or another of the various anti-doping agencies and putative judiciary bodies. It has been a maddening spectacle to witness, an openly one-sided, arrogantly unfair railroading of a decent and honorable man and athlete. In civilized societies, suspects caught red-handed at the scene of the crime, with a separate piece of incriminating evidence in each hand and pocket, and with video tape of the actual crime... these suspects enjoy more fair treatment, benefit of the doubt, and due process than Floyd has received. I am ashamed, and I may never watch or enjoy the sport again.
I had originally intended to write frequently about this debacle on these pages, but so many others have done a better job than I could have, that instead I've enjoyed their articles. "Enjoy" is also the wrong word, since the news is most often about the inconceivably misguided, possibly corrupt actions of the so-called guardians of sport. I suggest you tune in, at least for the next few weeks, to these excellent sites for their coverage and opinions:• Rant Your Head Off
There are many jumping-off points from these three sites, including links to the various anti-doping agencies, to other blogs, to Floyd's innovative WikiDefense site, and to discussion forums. These are, in my opinion, the best places to start.
Finally, if you believe as I do that the current state of anti-doping organizations is hopelessly flawed, or inept, or even corrupt, please consider that many of the groups involved in this miscarriage of justice are federally funded. The International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Association and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency are all paid, at least in part, out of our pockets. Please consider contacting your representatives with your concerns.
[end]
Wed, 09 May 2007 14:43:28 -0400 - A STOMP-like, percussive piece with Flash animation
Sun, 06 May 2007 12:12:07 -0400 - This is the beginning of the real online music revolution Today, EMI and Apple announced a first-ever agreement to sell music online with no copy protection (aka DRM, or Digital Rights Management). I am very excited about this, and I'll certainly be buying far more music online as a result.
Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:04:21 -0400 - Comet McNaught is visible in broad daylight! I haven't seen this remarkable comet, brightest in 30 years, but I have another chance. It will be visible during the day, for a while. It's hard to say how long, due to the unpredictable nature of cometary brightness. All I need now is a clear day!
Anyway, from here in the United States, tomorrow (Sunday, January 14, 2007) the comet will appear to the left of the Sun, or about 5° to the West of the Sun on the celestial sphere. So, if you can, wait until the Sun is clearly visible, and position yourself so that a building blocks your view of the Sun. Five degrees is about the width of your fist held at arm's length (regardless of age, sex, or gender, unless you're a woman with "man hands" as Jerry Seinfeld would say--not that there's anything wrong with that!)
OK, back on track here. Again, speaking from the point of view of the northern hemisphere, block out the sun from your point of view. The sun will be moving left-to-right from your perspective, so leave the "left" of the sun visible. You could use a thick tree if you're just going to use your eyes, but I highly recommend using a house or building if you're going to use binoculars or a telescope. Once properly set up, the sun should not re-appear to your optics, and possible damage them, or make you blind. I'm serious! Sorry to be so heavy, but I want you all to be able to enjoy the lovely sky (and not sue me...).
If I get a look at the comet, I'll write it up here. Who knows, maybe it will be bright enough to take a photo. If so, that's coming, too. [end]
Sat, 13 Jan 2007 22:04:31 -0500 - Happy "Infinity Eve", from the bottom of the Analemma! [minor update] When I was in grade school, a friend told me that if you photograph the sun at noon every day (disregarding Daylight Saving Time), using a stationary camera without advancing the film, after one year you'd have a picture of an "8". This is called an analemma, and it's been well-studied and documented. (Animation courtesy Starry Night Pro. You may need to double-click it to get it started.)
Since that day in grade school, I harbored the idea that the symbol for infinity had its roots in early man's subconscious awareness of the sun's tracings. What other natural phenomenon symbolized the inexorable passage of time unending? It was an interesting observation, but unlikely when one considers that December 25 is also the birthday of the Roman Sun God Mithras, known to be celebrated as early as 1400 BC. Why unlikely? Because the (northern) civilizations of the time, enduring the hard, cold winter with food from the previous season's hunt and harvest, were not sure the Sun would return as they watched its transit get lower in the Autumn and Winter sky. While the solstice occurs about December 21 each year (sol means "sun", sistere means "to cause stillness"), the technology of the day was unable to detect the tiny rise in the Sun's path for a few days, thus December 25th was a celebration of dies natalis solis invicti, or the birth of the invincible Sun. Celebration of a new year, and the Sun's return to strength is said to go back to earliest history. So much for boyhood theories, precocious and interesting though they may be.
At this time of year, Earth is nearest the Sun and traveling at the maximum speed of its elliptical orbit, in keeping with Kepler's Laws of Planetary Movement. The Sun, at its lowest point in our sky at solstice, is very near the bottom of the analemma. That's why the lower loop is larger and why the Sun traverses it faster--we are closer and moving faster. For the curious, the Sun is at the top of the analemma at Summer Solstice, when we are farthest from the Sun and moving slowest. The Sun crosses the middle intersection at both equinoxes.
And all because of a 23.5° tilt of Earth's axis relative to its orbital plane around the Sun, and its slightly elliptical orbit.
[Update:] Space.com just printed a related article.
So, as long as we're celebrating that the Earth is at this particular Sun-relative location yet again (rather like birthdays), and the Sun is likewise in its historical spot on its analemma, I wish you a Happy Infinity Day, and many more to come. [end]
Sun, 31 Dec 2006 13:14:30 -0500 - "What's Up For 2007?" free download
Just as in 2006, the folks at the "What's Up - 365 Days of Skywatching" blog have produced a book and a free download of the book for 2007. Brief review here. [end]
Sat, 30 Dec 2006 18:30:31 -0500 - YouTube: NASA video of zero-G water sphere experiments Ever wonder what happens when you place an Alka-Seltzer into a floating sphere of water in zero G? It's surprisingly unexpected, yet repeatable. This and a few other experiments are documented in this short film. [end]
Tue, 26 Dec 2006 10:47:38 -0500 - Back from life's distractions A dear friend wrote to ask where I'd been for the last month, since I hadn't blogged in that time. I've been here, but up to my neck in alligators
Sat, 23 Dec 2006 15:06:33 -0500 - Today is Festivus! December 23 is the day of celebration for the alternative holiday Festivus (for the rest of us), popularized on the Seinfeld television series. I'll be celebrating, but non-traditionally
Sat, 23 Dec 2006 14:08:40 -0500
