Heat & Fiber vs Beach and Ocean
The Lambstown Festival is coming in at a distant 2nd to Monterey this weekend. I'll be in a continuing ed class tomorrow down there, so I'm bookending the day before and after to play in the Monterey Peninsula. So everyone who is going, and taking classes, take LOTS of pictures!
And notice how I'll be gone for 3 whole days? Well, one whole day and two partials. And yet. Check out my suitcase (which you can't because I didn't take a picture of it and it's packed). I have enough clothing for probably a week and all temperatures, four books, three WIP's and one new project. And I took out two projects (the pink cable and self striping socks). But just in case I'm stranded for several months, I'm ready.
SG1 and Stargate Atlantis have crossover episodes tomorrow night. Which I'll probably have to wait to see on Saturday because what are the chances the hotel gets the Sci Fi Channel?
Finished The Physics of Superheroes by James Kakalios (365 pages) (L).
Also finished A Fold in the Tent of the Sky by Michael Hale (355 pages) (L). *edited to add: I found this book on Helen's Knitting in the Shadows.
Oddly enough, the sci fi novel took me a day to read and the physics book three weeks. He wrote it "for the non specialist who is interested in a relatively pain free way to learn about the basic physics concepts underlying our modern technological lifestyle." I really enjoyed it.
James Kakalios has a breezy quippy style I like and he peppered the books with illustrations such as the 'cooling coffee effect'. "When you blow on your coffee to cool it off, you do not reduce the temperature of the coffee because your breath is a frosty 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Rather what you do is disturb the steam, pushing the most energetic water molecules away so that they are unable to be deflected back into the coffee. Once they are permanently removed from the coffee/steam system, the average energy (that is, temperature) of the remaining coffee decreases. This physical process is called "evaporation cooling" and is the process underlying the operation of refrigerators and why sweating is more effective in cooling you down if there is a strong breeze to carry the perspiration away"
*Not every molecule in a collection has the exactly the same kinetic energy. Those water molecules in the coffee that are energetic enough to escape from the liquid state form the clouds hovering over the coffee.
He didn't cover all my favorite superheroes, the Atom, Superman and Flash featured pretty prominently, but he did hit on a few of the X Men and the Fantastic Four. And yes, it was very breezy. And quippy. I like quippy.
The Michael Hale novel was an interesting premise. A corporation is formed around a team of psychics to both explore their gift and do business deals. One of the psychics decides to go farther and manages to time travel, changing the fate of Sharon Tate and his team mates, while attempting to amass a treasure for himself. It was a nice quick entertaining read. The characterizations were pretty thin.
And keep a good thought for Rebekah, Obsidian Kitten, and RheLynn's rescued kittens.
And notice how I'll be gone for 3 whole days? Well, one whole day and two partials. And yet. Check out my suitcase (which you can't because I didn't take a picture of it and it's packed). I have enough clothing for probably a week and all temperatures, four books, three WIP's and one new project. And I took out two projects (the pink cable and self striping socks). But just in case I'm stranded for several months, I'm ready.
SG1 and Stargate Atlantis have crossover episodes tomorrow night. Which I'll probably have to wait to see on Saturday because what are the chances the hotel gets the Sci Fi Channel?
Finished The Physics of Superheroes by James Kakalios (365 pages) (L).
Also finished A Fold in the Tent of the Sky by Michael Hale (355 pages) (L). *edited to add: I found this book on Helen's Knitting in the Shadows.
Oddly enough, the sci fi novel took me a day to read and the physics book three weeks. He wrote it "for the non specialist who is interested in a relatively pain free way to learn about the basic physics concepts underlying our modern technological lifestyle." I really enjoyed it.
James Kakalios has a breezy quippy style I like and he peppered the books with illustrations such as the 'cooling coffee effect'. "When you blow on your coffee to cool it off, you do not reduce the temperature of the coffee because your breath is a frosty 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Rather what you do is disturb the steam, pushing the most energetic water molecules away so that they are unable to be deflected back into the coffee. Once they are permanently removed from the coffee/steam system, the average energy (that is, temperature) of the remaining coffee decreases. This physical process is called "evaporation cooling" and is the process underlying the operation of refrigerators and why sweating is more effective in cooling you down if there is a strong breeze to carry the perspiration away"
*Not every molecule in a collection has the exactly the same kinetic energy. Those water molecules in the coffee that are energetic enough to escape from the liquid state form the clouds hovering over the coffee.
He didn't cover all my favorite superheroes, the Atom, Superman and Flash featured pretty prominently, but he did hit on a few of the X Men and the Fantastic Four. And yes, it was very breezy. And quippy. I like quippy.
The Michael Hale novel was an interesting premise. A corporation is formed around a team of psychics to both explore their gift and do business deals. One of the psychics decides to go farther and manages to time travel, changing the fate of Sharon Tate and his team mates, while attempting to amass a treasure for himself. It was a nice quick entertaining read. The characterizations were pretty thin.
And keep a good thought for Rebekah, Obsidian Kitten, and RheLynn's rescued kittens.
posted by Carrie K at 7:58 PM
13 Comments:
ooh... so basically, our coffee 'sweats' and by blowing on it, we provide the breeze that carries away its sweat. lovely thought!
heh - I was way off on the coffee ;o) Very cool explanation! I feel like I've had three days just slip through the cracks of the Universe -- good to see all the knitting and reading everyone is doing though, and thanks for your well wishes for Squint and Co.
What? Distant 2nd? I would have sucked it up and gone with the lamb.
I hope you can hear the tank yelling to be finished ;-)
So you're not going to Lambtown either? Maybe next year...
Ah yes, the mysterious belief that somehow time away from home is magically expanded, hence the need for the books, wips, etc.
And 'The Physics of Superheroes' sounds fascinating (I love easily accessible science - having been thrown out of the lab whilst still at school!), thanks for the tip.
Enjoy your trip.
I always load up on wip's when I travel and then seem to end up buying/starting a new one while gone. But that's all part of the fun.
Now, I've noticed that you listed the Miss Marple series on your tv watch before, but have never seen anything about Midsommer Murders (I love this show). You may like it if you like the MM ones.
Have a great time!! I'm heading to the cabin this weekend myself.
Yeah, have a great time! Although I would so have packed the other projects...You can never have TOO many, you know. Just sayin'.
Enjoy your weekend away! :)
awww, you're such a sweety! thanks!
WOw! I'm going to have to pick up that book!
I loved your description of summer vacation:
"Summer vacation is a day and a half sandwiched by a seminar where one stares vacantly at the ocean and reads on the beach. The lovely cloudy beach."
Ah. I may have had one of those earlier this year then.
Enjoy yours. Monterey is lovely no matter when you go. Do you scuba? That's where I learned - COLDER THAN HELL. But adorable sea otters.
Hmm... I also read Fold in the Tent of the Sky ... I agree, thin characterization, but neat premise.
Now I'll have to read the Physics of Superheroes -- and stop reading blogs before my list of books to read gets any longer... it's wholly out of control!
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