I have failed miserably to keep up my goal of reading a RMP article each week. I got stuck on a particular article about quantum mechanics, special relativity, and information theory- I wanted to keep at it rather than move onto something else. Then there was all the studying of differential geometry over the summer. I have let my reading of Gravitation slide the last several weeks. Poor sleep makes it difficult to concentrate on such things. Then there’s NHL center ice…

I’m considering a subscription to the band new Nature Physics. I’m not terribly impressed with the feature articles of issue 1 (available online).

A new round of job applications are around the corner. This is my third year of a three-year contract. My conversion to tenure-track has been approved by the Provost. But, from the start, I considered the commitment to go both ways. If they want to keep me, they’ll have to pay me more. While I’m not in the mood to try to sell a house, I could be lured away.

Just added the golf category. Seems kind of sad, but it occupies much of my mind now. I’m a little disgusted by the whole WASP upper-crustiness of it all, but damn its a great game. And it will be my main recreational outlet while I’m in Terre Haute, if not after.

I’m afraid I must abandon aikido. A painful sentence to contemplate. So much invested. Had I the physical durability, I could drop everything else. Back in May (I think it was) during my fifth week at the AAI some ill-advised groundwork did my glass elbow in. The ankle I sprained two years ago still gives me problems when I run. I must be realistic–the frame just can’t take it anymore.

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is The Greatest Show on Earth. Prog Metal Freak Opera. Last night: Locals Only (Indianapolis). Onstage: The Last Human. Encores: Bring Back the Apocalypse and Powerless.

We caved: got Direct TV for NHL Center Ice. Home opener: Avs-7 Cal-3. Bonus: now I can watch Iron Chef America!

Played Hulman Links Friday. I was smashing the irons pretty good, but my wood play was sad. 46 out… I won’t mention the in. Though I had a nice bog-par-par-bog run on the backside, it was bracketed by some “others.” Good yard markers let me figure some ranges. 8-iron: about 155.

Finished Penrose. Mowed the lawn. Dug a ditch. Played 9 holes (7 over). Made roast lemon rosemary chicken with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and a turnip. Worked through exercises from two sections of Gravitation.

Now that the Penrose book is finally, finally over, I can make more headway in Gravitation, and Zee’s QFT book is on the way.

Those last sections on loop variables and twister theory were just plain rediculous. Nice Epilogue, though.