Mathematics

Tidal Asymmetry

This post set off a discussion in which I pointed out that tidal forces are asymmetric. Carl Pham expressed skepticism at this, asking if I was saying that the tide rose higher on the side of the earth closer to the moon. I hadn’t previously thought about this before, but since I do believe that tidal forces are asymmetric, this probably followed. Or at least it followed that they were different.

One attempt was made by Ilya to prove it, but I thought it flawed and oversimplified for reasons I pointed out in comments there, because one has to consider both centripetal effects and gravitational effects when analyzing tides.

Here’s my attempt. Caution, math to follow:

Continue reading Tidal Asymmetry →

Political Commentary

The Socialist Paradise

…of Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of southern Africa, is crippled by foreign currency and fuel shortages, unemployment of over 80 percent and the highest rate of inflation in the world.

“Year-on-year inflation, which stood at 1,072.2 percent in October last year, rose to 1,281.1 in December and has risen to 2,200 percent by March,” Gono said in a televised statement.

Emphasis mine. It doesn’t take long for socialist thugs to destroy breadbaskets. The Venezuelans may be on the verge of learning the same lesson.

But hey, what’s the problem? Just print more money!

Seriously, this is a tragedy, in which the neighbors, particularly South Africa, are culpable, in their unwillingness to isolate and denounce Mugabe, who is vying to become one of the worst leaders in the world.

Popular Culture

Stayin’ Alive, For Three Decades

On its thirtieth anniversary (boy, does that make me feel old) John Derbyshire has a long review of Saturday Night Fever.

I learned a lot about it that I hadn’t known before. But then, I’ve never seen the movie, for two reasons. First, it had John Travolta in it. Second, it was chock full of disco, which I’ve long thought a tool of the devil, and did at the time. Like rap, I’ve never had much interest in music in which the drums (and occasionally bass) carried the melody. Also, as many have since noted, it destroyed vibrancy of the club scene for years, when it was a lot easier and cheaper to hire a deejay with his disco records than a live band. And because
of that, despite his rave review, I think I’ll continue to remain an SNF virgin.

[Update a few minutes later]

Here’s an endorsement:

Disco–favorite music of the deaf!

Popular Culture

Stayin’ Alive, For Three Decades

On its thirtieth anniversary (boy, does that make me feel old) John Derbyshire has a long review of Saturday Night Fever.

I learned a lot about it that I hadn’t known before. But then, I’ve never seen the movie, for two reasons. First, it had John Travolta in it. Second, it was chock full of disco, which I’ve long thought a tool of the devil, and did at the time. Like rap, I’ve never had much interest in music in which the drums (and occasionally bass) carried the melody. Also, as many have since noted, it destroyed vibrancy of the club scene for years, when it was a lot easier and cheaper to hire a deejay with his disco records than a live band. And because
of that, despite his rave review, I think I’ll continue to remain an SNF virgin.

[Update a few minutes later]

Here’s an endorsement:

Disco–favorite music of the deaf!

Popular Culture

Stayin’ Alive, For Three Decades

On its thirtieth anniversary (boy, does that make me feel old) John Derbyshire has a long review of Saturday Night Fever.

I learned a lot about it that I hadn’t known before. But then, I’ve never seen the movie, for two reasons. First, it had John Travolta in it. Second, it was chock full of disco, which I’ve long thought a tool of the devil, and did at the time. Like rap, I’ve never had much interest in music in which the drums (and occasionally bass) carried the melody. Also, as many have since noted, it destroyed vibrancy of the club scene for years, when it was a lot easier and cheaper to hire a deejay with his disco records than a live band. And because
of that, despite his rave review, I think I’ll continue to remain an SNF virgin.

[Update a few minutes later]

Here’s an endorsement:

Disco–favorite music of the deaf!

Political Commentary

The Other War

I get a little tired of hearing all the whining from Democrats and other faux defenders of civil liberties over how we treat terror suspects, when the War on (Some) Drugs has had far greater atrocities on civil liberties, like this one, described by Radley Balko, for decades now, and for a much less worthy cause. The cynicism and corruption that this has generated in the nation’s police departments and federal enforcement agencies, as they make war on their own citizens, is frightening, and its depth unknown.

As Glenn says, I’d take the Dems more seriously if they’d denounce this war, which truly is “failed,” a “quagmire,” and one that we have “lost.” But that would take political courage.

Biting Commentary about Infinity…and Beyond!