Moments in Time

Posted by rae in family
at 1:39 pm on Wednesday, 25 June 2008

This week marks Ronnie and Michael’s respective graduations. Ronnie from Grade 8, Michael from Grade 12.

Next year they both head out to new schools, and both of them will be taking the TTC instead of walking to school. They’ll both be in classes with completely new people, almost all of whom they don’t know.

This week was the last time both of them will be seeing many of their schoolmates. And yet, they’re both somewhat unaware of all this. Luisa mentioned Michael’s reaction, and Ronnie’s — although perhaps a bit more elequent — hasn’t been much different.

I suppose it’s often the case that you can be unaware of some large changes when they resemble other, smaller changes that have gone before. Ronnie and Michael are used to starting summer vacation. It’s the end of that vacation that will really be different.

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“Southland Tales”

Posted by rae in entertainment, video
at 3:19 pm on Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Southland Tales

I just saw “Southland Tales” which is a mind-warping SF movie. It reminded me of “Charlie Jade”, “Repo Man” and “Johnnie Darko” (the last makes sense since it’s the same director). But before you see it, be sure to read parts 1 to 3 in graphics novel format first. The movie starts with “Part IV”.

It has some surprising names, for such an unseen movie. Sarah Michelle Gellar (”Buffy”), Dwayne Johnson (”The Rock”), John Larroquette, Christopher Lambert, and Jon Lovitz. There is a bizarre musical in the middle starring Justin Timberlake, who plays a minor character.

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My favorite comment on the new hi-res galactic snapshot

Posted by rae in General
at 9:30 am on Wednesday, 4 June 2008

spitzer galaxy shot

NASA has released a HUGE image of the milky way galaxy (396,032 x 13,520 pixels!) (yes, I downloaded all 16 full-res pieces — new desktop pics abound!), and there was news that some of the spiral arms of the galaxy may be “demoted” from bring major spiral arms. Shades of Pluto!

There was a very pithy comment on slashdot:

“two minor spiral arms of the Milky Way may be demoted.”

I suspected something like this might happen, I just didn’t dream that they’d go so far.

I mean, you have to be just a little suspicious about whether all star-forming arms are on an equal footing when you look at the names. There’s Perseus and Sagittarius. Then we get to Scutum-Centaurus, and you have to wonder if the astronomers needed a leg up in the imagination department. And then all doubt vanishes when we get to the fourth arm…Norma. Yes, Norma. Like the girl who couldn’t wait to get old enough to disown her parents, legally change her name to Chantal and get a job at the brass-pole ballet.

You just had to know they were having their doubts about arm number 4.

On a more positive note, the same bunch of guys who just slammed Scutum-Centaurus and, um, “Norma”, are also telling us that they “obtained detailed information about our galaxy’s bar, and found that it extends farther out from the centre of the galaxy than previously thought”.

A bar that’s closer to the house than you thought can’t be a bad thing. Especially when you need to walk home.

– I’ve calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.

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