An exploration of ultracoffee, radiation safety, and more often than not a beer or two.
As we approach the second anniversary of Fr. Gabriel and I completing the Camino Primitivo, it’s about time I finished Part 3. If you’d like to start with Part 1 or Part 2 first, you now have the links. Part 1 might help with defining some terms but they’re all different vectors of approach on …
Continue reading “Camino Primitivo After Action Report, Part 3”
When enough people ask the same question, it’s probably time to write down an answer, especially when your mom asks. And it’s this: “Will you be raising your BBotE prices because of Trump’s tariffs? How much?” ANSWER: Not at this time, nor can I even guess how much of an increase might be needed if …
Originally wrote this 16 years ago as I was getting my masters degree. As my adviser often asked “Don’t you want to learn normal things?” While PUREX may save us from being buried in nuclear waste it is not without peril, though it’s more of the did-you-actually-think-this-through-before-you-started-pressing-buttons variety of peril. It is vitally important to …
I have often said that my physics degrees are primarily used to make more esoteric dumb jokes and puns, especially if I can find a way to work math into them. As a coworker will be going to a new job soon, I want to immortalize two connected stories that show why I’ll miss him. …
I am pleased announce that after an absence of a mere month, the Philippine Barako coffee is back. I don’t have a lot of it and this is mostly to tide me over until the Filipino Cousin Network can get me a much larger quantity in a couple months, but the important part is that …
Most of you found me as the ridiculous coffee & steins guy. Some think of me as the radiation safety man who knows way too much history and is an embodiment of Institutional Memory (this would definitely be the point of view from the researchers and students I wrangle). To others, I am the crazy …
Continue reading “Containing Multitudes: Laser Safety Edition”
As a holiday and end of year gift, I have finished up Part II of the colonial currency and gold coin rant with all due haste. I’ve got three Dominions to cover here, so it’s a bit long. Take a break after the Raj and have a festive drink or something. Remember that handy reference guide to …
As the denizens of this blog know, Dia de los Muertos is my birthday and, in my family, one’s birthday is a high holy day. It is to be honored and you should enjoy the hell out of that day. While I will be going to visit some of the graves of members of the …
Gonna skip to the oddest bit of trivia I picked up from this trip for Part 2, rather than talk nuclear weapons and atomic ephemera this time. We started with fun in Albuquerque for Part 1 and I’ll get back to fun at the Trinity Open House and the Titan Missile Museum next time for …
Continue reading “The 2017 Atomic Heritage Roadtrip, Part 2: What Are You Doing Here, Jeff?”
[NOTE: This tale is originally occurred before Easter 2009] At work on Thursday, my co-worker asked me what my holiday plans were for Easter. I told him that I’d be going down to see my folks and eat some delicious ham. A puzzled look crossed his face and he asked, “Phil, why is it considered …
Continue reading “Some Holiday Related Bullshitting I Am Proud Of”
First off, I want to share these updated pictures that I have in the wake of the “Money Rant Two” post from a few weeks back. I got a lot of emails and tweets telling me how much they enjoyed the tale and also amazed that I am unapologetically a coin collector, in public, with …
Continue reading “Money Rant Two & Blood of the Harpy Update”
As quite a few of you have already noticed the order slots for the production window ending Halloween are now up. Fair warning, there aren’t all that many slots for this window because the coffee engines will be winding down for the next week; I’ll be in Atlanta updating my knowledge of laser safety regulations. …
I give you the creations of Fake Science. One need not be a scientist, drunk, or hep’d up on caffeine to enjoy. In particular, Electrolytes. They are what plants crave: