Ahead of my short trip to Paris tomorrow, of which more anon, I thought I’d post this wonderful performance by quintessential bebop pianist Bud Powell of his own composition, Parisian Thoroughfare. This track comes from the same B;ue Note album The Amazing Bud Powell as the version of Over The Rainbow I posted recently, which is one of the most played on my iPod. I hope you like this,
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Posted in Jazz with tags Bud Powell, Parisian Thoroughfare on December 14, 2014 by telescoperArt Quiz
Posted in Art with tags Art, bust on December 14, 2014 by telescoper
I have acquired (for safe keeping) the plaster-cast portrait bust shown in the above image. Anyone care to guess (a) who it is and (b) which artist made it? Hint: there is a physics theme….
Answers through the comments box please!
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Posted in Uncategorized on December 13, 2014 by telescoperOh! You’re supposed to wear these in your beard….!
- Beard Liberation Front
Press release
10th December 07803 167266
CAMPAIGNERS BACK BEARD BAUBLES FOR CHRISTMAS
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has backed the new Christmas trend for Beard Baubles.
The Baubles, Christmas decorations which will hang in organic or hipster beards, are in aid of a men’s health charity.
The BLF says that unlike the absurd false bearded Santas to be seen in High Streets at this time of year, the Beard Baubles demand a genuine beard and are seasonal fun.
The campaigners caution however that the traditional practice of placing a sprig of mistletoe in the beard should not be ignored
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, Beard Baubles emphasise how important facial hair has become in modern society and Beard Baubles are a bit of Xmas fun in aid of an important health charity. We say, if it feels good, do it.
The…
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The Submarines of Burlington House
Posted in Art, Biographical on December 12, 2014 by telescoper
I’m in London for the Monthly Open Meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society, followed by dinner with the Club. I just popped into the courtyard of Burlington House in front of the Royal Academy of Arts to see what was going on, and I found this giant fish tank full of tiny rusty submarines. Not sure what it represents but at least It makes a change! It’s part of an exhibition by Anselm Kiefer, apparently.
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Posted in The Universe and Stuff with tags Bicep2, Cosmic Microwave Background, Cosmology, Ferrrara, Paris, Planck on December 11, 2014 by telescoperAfter yesterday’s frivolity, I return to community service mode today with a short post before a series of end-of-term meetings.
You may recall that not long ago I posted an item about a meeting in Ferrara which started on 1st December and which concerned results from the Planck satellite. Well, although the number of new results was disappointingly limited, all the talks given at that meeting are now available online here. Not all of the talks are about new Planck results, and some of those that do are merely tasters of things that will be more completely divulged in due course, but there is still a lot of interesting material there so I recommend cosmology types have a good look through. Any comments would be welcome through the usual channel below.
I’ll take this opportunity to pass on another couple of related items. First is that there is another meeting on Planck, in Paris next week. Coincidentally, I will be in Paris on Monday and Tuesday for a completely unrelated matter (of which more anon) but I will try to keep up with the cosmology business via Twitter etc and pass on whatever I can pick up.
The other bit of news is that there is to be a press conference on December 22nd at which I’m led to believe the outcome of the joint analysis of CMB polarization by Planck and BICEP2 will be unveiled. Now that will be interesting, so stay tuned!
Oh, and my poll on this subject is still open:
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Head of School’s Christmas Message to MPS
Posted in Uncategorized on December 10, 2014 by telescoperSince today is the occasion of Yuletide prandial celebrations for both the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Physics & Astronomy, I wonder if I might crave the momentary indulgence of all staff within the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, of which said Departments are constituents, in order to discharge a by no means disagreeable obligation which has, over the years, become more or less established practice in the University as we approach the terminal period of the year — calendar, of course, not financial, nor indeed academic — in fact, not to put too fine a point on it, the interregnum between the First Teaching Block and the First Assessment Period — and submit to you, with all appropriate deference, for your consideration at a convenient juncture, a sincere and sanguine expectation — indeed confidence — indeed one might go so far as to say hope — that the aforementioned period may be, at the end of the day, when all relevant factors have been taken into consideration, susceptible to being deemed to be such as to merit a final verdict of having been by no means unsatisfactory in its overall outcome and, in the final analysis, to give grounds for being judged, on mature reflection, to have been conducive to generating a degree of gratification which will be seen in retrospect to have been significantly higher than the general average.
In other words, Happy Christmas!
P.S. This message is adapated from the television series Yes, Professor Minister...
Lying is an Occupation
Posted in Poetry, Politics with tags Laetitia Pilkington, occupations, Poetry on December 10, 2014 by telescoperLying is an occupation,
Used by all who mean to rise;
Politicians owe their station,
But to well concerted lies.
These to lovers give assistance,
To ensnare the fair-one’s heart;
And the virgin’s best resistance
Yields to this commanding art.
Study this superior science,
Would you rise in Church or State;
Bid to Truth a bold defiance,
‘Tis the practice of the great.
by Laetitia Pilkington (1709-1750)
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Happy Birthday XMM Newton!
Posted in The Universe and Stuff with tags X-ray astronomy, XMM-Newton on December 10, 2014 by telescoperI just discovered this morning that it’s fifteen years to the day since the launch of the orbiting X-ray Observatory XMM Newton. Here’s a nice slide-show with audio accompaniment featuring Drs Darren Baskill and Kathy Romer, both colleagues of mine in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Sussex, which was recorded for the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the launch of XMM-Newton, back on 10th December 2009.
Here’s a nice video about the science of XMM-Newton.
Anyway, I hope the birthday celebrations go well. I know I can barely contain my excitement…
XMM-Newton being prepared for launch…
In Praise Of The Oldie
Posted in Biographical, Crosswords with tags The Oldie on December 9, 2014 by telescoperFeeling the effects of advancing years, and ahead of another weekend out of circulation, I purchased a copy of the December edition of The Oldie last week to help pass the time. I heartily recommend this magazine to readers of a certain age for its eclectic mixture of articles, cartoons and, best of all from my point of view, a splendid crossword (set by Antico). In fact there are two crosswords, a tricky thematic cryptic puzzle called Genius, and a straightforward definition puzzle, namely, a little harshly, Moron. For the December edition there was a bumper-sized Genius puzzle which took me a good hour to solve, a distraction that I found most welcome. I’ve posted off my solution already in the hope that I can win another dictionary to add to my collection.
The Christmas OLdie also included a calendar which is already hanging on my office wall. Here is a cartoon from the calendar, which tickled me because of its topicality and operatic connection:
I’ve decided to take out a year’s subscription, so I hope they’ll forgive any copyright infringement involved in including that cartoon!
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Posted in Brighton with tags Brighton, Falmer, Meeting House, University of Sussex on December 9, 2014 by telescoperNow that I’m back in Brighton I thought I’d share this very nice picture of the University of Sussex Campus at Falmer, complete with Christmas tree and decorations. I got the picture from the University’s facebook page. That’s the Meeting House you can see behind the tree, by the way..
In the Dark 