mercury's caloris basin

another cool image of mercury taken in january from the messenger space craft. this enhanced color image shows the caloris basin.


found at APOD.

blast to the past

i'm off to my old undergraduate institution today to give a talk for the physics department - all my old professors! i'm a little nervous about it because i have a vivid memory of them ripping apart the research of the only astronomer i remember visiting the department. its amazing how differently the details of the two fields are, even though all the phenomena are based on the same fundamental properties. it has been interesting to write this talk for a physics audience, since they don't have the astronomical intuition i have assumed in previous professional talks. but at the same time, i feel like they are a bunch of proud parents, so i'm not really that worried!

i'll try to track down a picture of myself during my undergrad physics days to share (i'll have to scan a picture because those were pre-digi-cam days!). i sort of satisfied the "hippy" stereotype: with super long hair, tie-dye t-shirts, listening to the grateful dead and lots of bluegrass, camping constantly, etc... i spent my days in the physics department working thru homework problems with a few of the guys in my class, and spent my evenings thinking about other things entirely. i'm curious to hear what impressions my old professors had of me at that time! should be interesting! i hope i remember my way around campus! haha.

the hoop is on fire

more skills from the soul fire tribe. here's lara rocking the fire flying hula hoop! the move near the end with her arm up and her head sideways under the hoop blows me away every time!



and here's ari spinning his fire staff! the way the music lines up with his moves in this video is pretty amazing!

tattoo possibility

i might very well get a tattoo (very) soon. i have a tentative plan, but i'm open for suggestions (i know, i hear my mother saying "but why?"). send ideas for... anything.

family cuteness overload 2008

mars and saturn

has anyone been able to see or get pictures of the mars, saturn, and moon alignment this weekend? hopefully the clouds will clear tonight so i can take my fantastic green laser pointer outside and show my nephew the big dipper!

my tiniest new friend, vivienne

sometimes it's so easy to fall in love.

soul fire tribe

here's my sister spinning her poi fire for the soul fire tribe in yellow springs, ohio! pretty crazy spectacle at night!



you'll also notice some cameos by my favorite big dipper, (nephew) keldan and my favorite little dipper, (niece) areya!

keyless in ohio

i moved out of my office, my apartment, and my life in austin. i sold my scooter, my bike and very nearly everything i own. yesterday i arrived in ohio, keyless. i'll have no keys for almost two months...!!

yesterday i met my best friend's tiny little 5.5 lb. baby girl. she's adorable, and poops way more than i thought a less-than-6-pound baby would!

tomorrow i'll see my nephew and niece for the first time since christmas. i've missed my favorite little dippers and cant wait to play!

i'm here for july enjoying my family and the flowers. i have a one-way ticket to england in august, and no place reserved to stay when i get there.... yet.

absolute craziness!