Health Update: Monday was my monthly visit with my oncologist. Once again, my labs show the major cancer markers are normal, although one (M-spike) was gone and now has returned. This reflects 14 months of remission, for which I am deeply grateful. We don’t know what the return of the M-spike means (yet). My renal…

Well, I will come up for air–although briefly–to type a few words. Most of you know the story of me building the cottage by if you don’t, here is the background to this story. Many things have been stressful about building the cottage. Yes, I know it was my fault to venture out on such…

Tomorrow is a very big day, a day that I have both dreaded and looked forward to for a long time. We will put the roof on the cottage. This cottage was designed with SIPs (structural insulated panels) for the roof. These are eight foot by sixteen feet and weigh about 400 lbs each. It…

As a segue from quantum mechanics to more practical applications (be patient for the practical part), I want to continue this thought about probabilities. In the quantum world, it is impossible to locate or measure the speed of some particles because the act of observation will influence that speed and location. So, in quantum mechanics…

I’ve mentioned that my latest field of inquiry is the quantum world, or what is called the “Standard Model of Particle Physics.” I still dabble in archeology, paleontology, geology, and astrophysics. It was astrophysics which was the “gateway drug” back into particle physics in the spring of this year. Again, my MO for this pursuit…

I saw the film tonight and it was excellent! So much so, as a movie buff, I am sure the movie will be nominated at the Academy Awards for the best picture, the best screenplay, the best director, best original screenplay, and best cinematography. On top of that, I’m confident that Irish actor, Cillian Murphy,…

I have a collection of short, disconnected thoughts that I wanted to post as a meditative potpourri. The Grand Enigma is the fact that we exist. This raises complex questions, for which ALL answers end up being implausible at some point. But I want to look at the first-tier philosophical questions and possible answers. These…

Today was a milestone in cottage building, the last wall finished and erected.