more fun than a kaleidoscope of monkeys

For those who haven't seen it this is a movie of the rotation of the E8 Lie algebra that seems to be a workable theory for describing Everything. The various symbols represents the roots of the algebra (assigned to certain families of sub-atomic particles). Those non-physicists/mathematicians amongst you might prefer the New Scientist video that comes with commentary on how the symmetry relationships break down into describing the fundamental forces of the universe. For the rest of you, the preprint is available: An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything. I do hope it pans out. The symmetries are elegant (and given the fact that not all the predicted sub-atomic elements are currently known, it should be possible to test the hypothesis). And for those interested, a certain Dr Sundance Bilson-Thompson was thanked for valuable discussions and encouragement in the development of this paper. Yay! Go Sundance!

jedi do indeed make useful christmas tree ornaments

I dedicate this song to starfirephoenix for her Christmas parade on the weekend. And she'd probably enjoy this song song and maybe even appreciate this song as well (as would most of my other friends, for that matter). And for readers of girlgeniuscomic, here is a hint of what Gil might inflict on the invading army (it would certainly make me run away). And in the spirit of the season ("Ruuummm!!! Arrrr!") I offer this song. If you are interested in other songs, many of them earworms (I still can't get Dead Again [especially the line about finding a way to die in Myst] and Hope Eyrie out of my head without resorting to the trepanning chisel – and never was a book so accurately named as Trepanning For Dummies), then visit Tom Smith and see what he has for you. Buy! Buy! Buy! (tis the season).