gazpacho.net » Otherwise Interesting

The Physics of a Crush

Tom — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:36:33 +0000

For this Valentine’s Day I do not have a valentine. This blog entry isn’t going to be a love story. I certainly don’t want to kiss and tell. So I’m not going to write about any old flames. I’ll write about a crush, which I can safely assume all of us have had.

In high school I was in a data processing class typing at a console. From next to me came a strange sound that I can only describe as a whooshing sound that folks make when with their mouths when they’re bored. I turned to find the source was Jadwiga, our French foreign exchange student. I laughed because it was completely unexpected. She looked up and smiled.

When we finished our work, we started talking. Back at our desks she talked about a physics class she took. She produced a copy of a test she had taken before coming to America. The pages were filled with mathematics that were as foreign as the French in which it was written. I wouldn’t understand that math until my freshman year in college. She was a beautiful oracle showing me my future in a language I couldn’t comprehend.

I realized that she was at least a couple years older than me and definitely smarter than me. Of course I developed a crush on her. Thanks Jadwiga for the friendship and for inspiring me to expand my knowledge of math and science. I hope you have found happiness in your life. And, I wish all of you have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

photo credit: Andreanna Moya Photography

You’re Gonna Pi, Pi, Pi

Moved to WordPress

Tom — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:46:46 +0000

I modified my blog to use WordPress. There are still some broken links and improvements I would like to make. Please be patient with the rough edges.

Merry Christmas 2008

Tom — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:55:52 +0000

Merry Christmas everybody! Brace yourself for 2009!

Glad That I Was Born

Tom — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:20:49 +0000

Thanks friends for the birthday wishes! For 38 years I have gained friends and influenced people. Now you’re the group I have to show for my gravitas. If only you wouldn’t cancel out my vote in a few weeks.

Next month will be the tenth year anniversary of this website. Once again I have changes planned for the site. I have been investigating switching it to WordPress. Unfortunately, that would mean that the blog URLs would change. Any links to previous blog entries would be broken. I experimented with some workarounds on my Linux laptop, but didn’t find any that I liked. I may just make the change and let a 410 Gone page display for old links.

You’re Gonna Pi, Pi, Pi

Tom — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:43:06 +0000

A Sharp EL-506A Calculator

In high school I bought a calculator to use in Physics class. Not just any calculator, but a Sharp EL-506A Scientific calculator. I fell in love with it. In fact I so much did not want to be without it that I bought two of them. I’d have a backup in case one of them broke.

I remember seeing the beauty and the purity of math and science. Math contained a few axioms but opened up a world of truth. With logic and deduction I could find the answers. What else, I pondered, is out there in our big beautiful world? All we needed, I presumed, are the right answers.

Sadly, I have misplaced the backup EL-506A. But I dug out the original the other night. After a quick trip to the local Walmart, I replaced the batteries and it worked like a champ.

Notice in the photo that my name is scratched into the back of the calculator. Oh my, it’s showing pi to 10 digits!

Read a Book

Tom — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:57:32 +0000

Hey Nick, it was great seeing ya at DieCon. Congrats on fatherhood. Dis onez fo’ you, know what I’m sayin!

WARNING: Bad language and biting social satire

Love Note

Tom — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:00:59 +0000

Do you like me?
[ ] Yes
 [ ] No

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!