Fourth Week-Term 1

I don't care if Monday's black:

Still enjoying the residuals from Sunday's Hermitage visit. As strange as it feels to jump on an unmarked bus with a bunch of people I don't know, sharing a massive language barrier, with no idea of our direction or time table, t here's still something delicious about it.

The fear that leads to knowledge.

Then, of course, ending the evening with the lovely Bell Ringing Society.

The bells, the bells!

Isolated, cold in their tower of echos,

Ringing, ringing!

As cadavers absorb my vibrations.

Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack:

Caught a last-minute train to Liverpool to attend a last-minute Q&A with Lawrence Krauss.
It was almost everything I would never expect from a night with a superstar Physicist.
My review and the pictures of the beautiful Liverpool & the Lawrence Q&A are here.

The University of Liverpool Humanists blogged about it (used my pics!).
And another Liverpoolian gave his 2-cents as well <- This guy asked a great question, too.

Class was cancelled on Wednesday so I lucked out completely. Took an easy train ride back. Worked on the new R language.

Thursday, never looking back:

Went for a run EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. My arms can barely move from the push-ups & pull-ups I'm thrashing my way through. I have a goal. Fully unsupported handstand. It requires just the right ratio of weight:strength. Then ability steps in. I could do supported headstands before. I want to surpass that previous plateau.

Ended up in Leamington Spa for the evening having dinner, playing pool, and just generally hanging out with the local WASH Society. The night's meeting was all about opening a dialogue on the efforts and effects of religious forces. One member played the proper Devil's Advocate, though he did seem to have trouble committing to the role since he didn't agree with any of it. It gave me an opportunity to test the English waters on local policies, opinions, segregations, etc. It was the general understanding that, after comparing notes, the UK has had remarkably fewer segregation & exclusionary laws than the US, particularly if you're focussing on the last 120 years.

Ran into an extremely inebriated young hair-dresser around midnight who insisted on hitting on almost all the guys in the group. Then, inevitably, he targeted me as the one to dump his problems on. Wow, so honoured (that's sarcasm children).

Leamington Spa, however, is a lovely little slice of England worth visiting. Check out some pics here.

It's Friday, I'm in love.

Since I borrowed from them, I shall share them. Enjoy:

Liverpool & Physics

Received last minute information that something awesome was going down Tuesday evening at the University of Liverpool.

In my world, you can't call yourself a proper scholar if you pass up an opportunity to listen to this guy (or any of the other superstars of contemporary science). For those not familiar with the superstars, here is a link to my favorite panel discussion with my favorite science superstars, Sci Fi author, and more (Part 1, Part 2). In my opinion, Part 2 has the best parts of the entire discussion session.

Liverpool is a stunning city! It used to be known for sketchy alleyways and massive crime. Local law enforcement and citizens have done a wonderful job cleaning the place up and making it a beautiful city to visit.

Check it out...

If you read any Terry Pratchett, you may be familiar with this abandoned Post Office. In particular, I suggest reading the book "Going Postal," then watch the movie.

Leaf on Bold Street, where I received great service and pretty good food too. The coffee was perfect.

The bombed out church. The exterior walls are still holding strong, just no roof or interior... or windows. They show movies off the interior back wall sometimes. How great is that?!

I can't remember what this wild monstrosity is called, but it's a church the size of the SuperDome and the locals refer to it as the Wigwam. 

Stayed in a hostel overnight, Hatter's Hostel on Mount Pleasant. I can't say I'm a hostel fan, but one look at this ominous, grand exterior and I knew I had to give it a go.

I had the privilege of meeting employees on every shift for the 24 hours I was in Liverpool. Every employee was extremely nice and, in my opinion, the second best feature of the hostel. First best was the free WIFI. 

You would think that the beds with a roof overhead were the best features. But let's be honest here, this is a hostel. I was grateful for a secure, dry place to crash for 3 hours, but the bedbugs, plastic sheets & duvet, and the 7 other sleepers made it a bit difficult to fully relax. It was all worth it, though, when I eased myself into the top bunk and was lulled to sleep by the late-night rain. At least I slept so soundly that I didn't notice the bedbugs until I left. 

The ambiance was exactly what you would expect from a hostel. Private little nooks in the commons to curl up in and read while sipping 24-hour-free coffee & tea. As well as scary hallways with only one working light ("working" = "flickering").

The walk to my room was no picnic.

But my whole reason for being in Liverpool was to listen to Lawrence Krauss. He was in London the day before, shooting a movie with some other people, and the head of the student Humanist society at Liverpool University asked if Lawrence would speak at the university before he left back to the states. To everyone's surprise, super-cool-awesome-guy Lawrence said yes.

I don't know if there will be a video of his talk. Since his attendance was so last-minute, the hosting societies didn't have a lot of time to set everything up proper. He mostly answered questions and discussed his perspectives on physics today and where it could go (or not go) in the future. I had the opportunity to thank him for lending his voice to a specific education decision in Texas that finally came to a close the day before I left for Liverpool. Lawrence laughed, graciously accepted my thank you, then filled in the rest of the young, Liverpoolian audience on Texas current events. 

I was second row, center. For a change, no one blocked my view of the main event.

After the talk and pictures made to make everyone look uncomfortable, we went out for a bite to eat. Many of the other students preferred liquid suppers on this particular occasion.

This place was so posh, that even the lady's restroom was stunning. It was also covered with framed pastels of half naked women bathing. Hmmm.

The female side of the room.

The male side of the room.

At one point Lawrence had to leave for a Skype meeting. After a bit a student noticed that Lawrence left his pint of ale half finished. It was at that moment that I realized the writers of the Big Bang Theory are not that far from the mark. At least 10 physics students shared in Lawrence's leftover libations just for the sake of sharing a bit of DNA.

This was all possible because of the fanatical work of the Physics & Humanist societies at the University of Liverpool. Thank you!

Here are a couple other different perspectives on the Lawrence In Liverpool Experience:

Malburn

Ed