On a truck somewhere

Or an airplane. I have a tracking number.

Dr. Horrible

Yesterday was the spousal unit's birthday. I have given unto her a copy of the DVD of Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog.

heh heh heh.

Everyone's a Hero in their own way...

CD Update

Oasis allows you to track your project status on line. The interface is clumsy and somewhat anti-intuitive, but once you get used to it you can glean some info from it.

Currently my CD's have been pressed, and the artwork has been printed. The CDs are not yet silk screened, and the package still needs to be assembled, shrink wrapped and shipped.

All and all, this is progress.

Comparative Mythology

Something I've never really understood:

In standard Christian mythology, the serpent is the bad guy.

I mean, the serpent is the fellow responsible for giving the human race the knowledge of good and evil. And this is bad? Later in John 8: 32 it says "and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Seems a bit inconsistent no?

Now in Greek mythology on the other hand, Prometheus is clearly the good guy. He gives mortals fire, and the knowledge that comes with it. Same role. Same job really. Only to the Greeks, he's the good guy in the story.

Note Lucifer also means "Light bringer"

This is why Prometheus is more or less the patron saint of Libertarians and assorted Objectivist types, notwithstanding that most Objectivists are either Atheist or your classic Militant Agnostic (i.e. I don't know and you don't either)

I mean, we are not exactly that keen on authority figures if you know what I mean.

Go up to a random group of libertarians and say "hey we have this goat we need to sacrifice next Tuesday. No, don't ask why, has to be done. Pick a god so we can get on with the party."

Libertarians, liking a good party as much as the next guy, or even more depending, will most likely pick either Athena (being the god of Wisdom) or Prometheus (being the god of Knowledge), notwithstanding the fact that technically speaking Prometheus is a Titan, and not a god.

A handful will probably pick Dionysus (aka Baccus), but they are probably just hedonists posing as libertarians anyway.

Now where's a goat when I need one?

Cover Proof

Long day today, here is the cover art proof to keep ya all happy.
(there might be an artifact, but it's in the bleed space)

Space & Freedom Artwork

Oasis e-mailed me the proofs for the artwork this afternoon.

The cover, liner notes, and back traycard look outstanding. The disc silkscreen itself could be nicer, but it's ok. I told them to go with a jet black disk with title and name taken from the cover. If I had a bit more time on both ends we could have done something nicer, the disc is difficult though, as it is a silk screen, and not a color printing process.

Low resolution version of the back cover with publisher's layout grid for bleed and crop:

And for good measure, here are the inside liner notes, I really like how the background turned out:

Physics Dept

So I got an e-mail a couple of weeks ago from the Director of Graduate studies. It was one of these vaguely threatening messages that basically said "We want you to explain to us how you can possibly finish up your dissertation within our arbitrary time limit while holding a full time job"

I therefore ignored it.

I got another e-mail a couple days ago that said "You never responded, would you care to comment" and copied the original.

Note this is from a person who has basically NEVER responded to any of my communication or concerns over the past several years. So maybe, just maybe, I got a wee might snarky.

I sent an e-mail back that said:

Dr Doak,

I'm sorry, I was under the impression that ignoring e-mails was a fine time honored tradition in the Physics Department.

Hmmn, what's that burning smell? Couldn't be a bridge could it?

Well I got a response, and oh boy did I mannage to press his buttons. This time he sent a far more threatening letter.

I told him that he could tell the Chair to expect a letter directly from me that evening, and as for his recommendations...

(no I didn't say THAT, though I was tempted)

I said that as for his recommendations I didn't see how I had any control over those, he would do what he chose to do.

I then sent the Chair a nice letter telling him exactly why I had no interest in returning to the Department next semester. By my math, it would take a minimum of another 46 units to finish up the Ph.D, and it would be impossible to finish within their arbetrary time limit. And since they have never seen fit to understand that some of their students might possibly have JOBS.

And since they still stubornly refuse to give the students any (and I mean ANY) feedback regarding the comprehensive exams...

Well... Screw 'em.

Master of Physics

ASU finally posted grades to the Recorders office. As of COB yesterday, my transcript indicates that I was conferred a Master of Science in Physics as of 13 May.

WOOT!