Stephan's Super-Lucky Blog

Tue - March 7, 2006

Playing with iWeb

I'm trying out Apple's iWeb software, which includes a blogging capability. My next several blog entries will be at an alternate Web site:

http://web.mac.com/saffron/iWeb/slb/

Feel free to let me know what you think.

Posted at 02:36 PM Read More

Fri - March 3, 2006

A Surprising Morning

Yesterday started with a surprise when the phone rang at 7:30 AM (it was the painter, calling to arrange our schedules). But I was even more surprised when I was hit from behind at a stop light.

Posted at 08:43 PM Read More

Sun - February 5, 2006

The Directions You Can't See

I've always been fascinated with the idea of directions orthogonal to our normal three of space. This is one reason I so enjoy H.P. Lovecraft's stories. The characters are forever seeing non-Euclidean angles which man was not meant to behold, disappearing into cracks in the space-time continuum, seeing colors never before beheld by human eyes, and the like. If, in any story, someone turns a corner into a direction that cannot be seen, I'm pretty much going to like the story. Recently, I realized there is an aspect of my daily experience which partakes of these unseeable dimensions.

Posted at 09:56 PM Read More

Thu - January 19, 2006

Future Tech

I had an idea recently about what a far-future technology might look like.

Posted at 09:22 PM Read More

Wed - January 18, 2006

Walking On My Hands

I am still a long ways away from actually being able to walk on my hands. But recently I've discovered something almost as good.

Posted at 10:47 PM Read More

Tue - December 20, 2005

Elevator Courtesy

When I was in Seattle, I was surprised by the elevator habits I encountered.

Posted at 09:49 PM Read More

Mon - December 19, 2005

Mirakulon

You know how humans go through various developmental stages in the womb, including one that's like a fish, one that's like a reptile, etc.? I just realized we also go through one that's like a machine.

Posted at 09:48 PM Read More

Sun - December 18, 2005

Note to Self: Get Over It

In my job, I've been focused on mathematics lately. This involves some remembering from my college days, and more learning of new material. There are some old habits I ought to unlearn, however.

Posted at 10:28 PM Read More

Not Practicing Makes Perfect?

How is it that I get better at things I haven't practiced in years?

Posted at 02:30 PM Read More

A Walking Epiphany

I am often amazed by how slippery certain thoughts are. Some ideas go straight into my head and stay there, easy to access. Most take a little repetition and practice. And some are almost impossible to hold onto. When I do catch the slipperiest thoughts, I usually feel well rewarded. Then the problem is, how to share those ideas with other people?

Posted at 02:18 PM Read More

Fri - December 9, 2005

Chasing Beauty

Last month, I attended the Supercomputing 2005 conference in Seattle. I managed to forget half of the power cord for my laptop, so rather than whiling away my evenings stacking donuts as I did last year, I played through some famous historical Go games. This led me to some insights that extend beyond the game of Go itself.

Posted at 06:34 PM Read More

Mon - December 5, 2005

How I Would Make a Comic Strip

In my incessant pursuit of materialism, I once again encountered Comic Life again today. I am much too lazy to actually make a comic, but if I did, here's what I'd do:

Posted at 08:57 PM Read More

Wed - September 14, 2005

Our Hero's Journey

C— happened to mention the hero's journey today, and I realized that I'm finally old enough (or, if I'm feeling charitable, experienced enough) to be at a new stage in it.

Posted at 09:03 PM Read More