Because the Universe is Confusing
Archive for March, 2008
The Confederate Flag in Canada
Mar 26th
I had a shitty race day. One part of it is chronicled over on the physics blog because unfortunately it yet again involved a member of the quantum gravity group. So much for the bad reputation of strings people. Strings people are always nice to me. It’s the quantum gravity people you have to beware of.
Anyway, the second bit is that whilst escaping PI at the bookstore, I had the “pleasure” of seeing a guy in a jacket that rather prominently displayed the confederate flag.
I mean, what the fuck people? Really?
What is a Wedding Post without Social Justice commentary?
Mar 23rd
Not one about a Prescod-Weinstein-Zhao-Maldonado-Oostendorp wedding. (yup, I have a couple of step-parents too)
So, as I receive them, pictures are being posted in my picasa public web albums. The one featured in this entry comes courtesy of my cousin Sonya.
I’ll have to write later about the wedding, but needless to say, it was actually a really, really wonderful time.
In the meantime, I want to say “fuck yeah!” to the First Nations people who organized this Easter Protest against a Catholic Church in an effort to find out where the bodies of their essentially kidnapped res school children are. The Church says it will negotiate. Negotiate?!? I mean seriously … mistreating children and then hiding the burial places of the bodies? Isn’t that what serial killers do?
Happy Easter Everyone!
On a personal note: homophobia is rough :-|
Mar 11th
So, I haven’t mentioned this on the blog before because I didn’t want it to seem like the blog was a personal life journal … I am getting married on March 22, in just 11 days. While I am so thrilled to be taking the next step in creating a life with Lucy, who is the most wonderful, beautiful and hilarious woman I know, I am also really sad that I can’t share the experience with a lot of my closest friends.
Why is that? Because the US, in its ongoing obsession with controlling gay people’s lives, refuses to acknowledge gay marriage. Were we get to get married in my home state of California, it wouldn’t “count.” It wouldn’t be recognized internationally, and it wouldn’t be recognized for immigration either in Canada or the US.
My friends aren’t rich and plane tickets to Toronto are expensive. So, three of my closest friends in the whole world will be missing my wedding next week. In recognition of this, I’d like to thank the religious right and all of the homophobes out there for bringing a little more sadness into the world. I’m sure Christ is really fucking proud of you and your obsession with what goes on in my bedroom.
I’m sorry my best friends won’t be there. I can only be thankful that I’ve met some wonderful people here, that one of my close friends lives within driving distance, that I have a supportive family and an amazing soon-to-be-wife.
In other news, I am thinking of switching to WordPress. Anyone care to comment?
More on the MDA Sale
Mar 11th
Finally a reporter in Canada has decided to really give a damn about the sale of MDA to a US arms dealer. The Ottawa Citizen is did a two-part series on it.
Part I: Sovereignty for Sale was published Saturday, and Part II: Lost in Space was published Sunday.
I’m glad David Pugliese decided to do some real reporting.
The Physics of The Disordered Cosmos
Mar 8th
Inspired by my friend Nick Konidaris, I have started a mini-blog over at Tumblr where I will jot notes about my physics thoughts. It is creatively titled “The Physics of The Disordered Cosmos“.
Put it on RSS and/or check it out occasionally. You can send me comments at disorderedcosmos (guess) gmail.com
Woo.
Share Your RSS
Mar 5th
I use a website called Netvibes to read all of my RSS feeds. This is after trying about four different programs as well as Google Reader. Netvibes simply does everything better, so I stuck with it. Plus, I can check my RSS feeds no matter what computer I am at, which is fantastic during Dutch Language labs!
Anyway, it seems that yesterday they added a new feature — public pages or “Universes” as they are calling them. In addition to being able to share RSS feeds, there’s also a wall a la Facebook, so people can make friends and leave notes. So, if you’re curious about how I keep up with the news and what I read regularly, now is your chance! Check out Chanda’s RSS Universe. You’ll find everything from Hollywood industry gossip to teach yourself Chinese and Dutch podcasts to LibraryThing discussion group feeds.
When you’re done checking it out, leave a note on my wall and let me know what you think.
Music You Should Be Listening To #3
Mar 3rd
Today I am plugging someone near and dear to me. I first heard my cousin Caleb Paul sing live at the Prescod family reunion in Barbados in 2005. His voice is sweet, his delivery soulful, his words passionate. Caleb Paul is a man amongst boys when it comes to singer/songwriting. I am so proud to be announcing that he has just released his first album, Learning To Fall.
You can listen to and purchase it here on CDBaby. You can keep up with Caleb on myspace.
I wish there was a music video to accompany this entry, but you’re going to have to settle for streaming mp3 from the CDbaby page.
