Category Archives: Personal

And Lost in All the Kerfuffle on Gravitational Waves–

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Pace Arko

We have news that physics might have found a four neutron atomic nucleus. This is surprising because accepted wisdom in the Standard Model says that small nuclear groupings of neutrons shouldn’t form at all. Regardless, without protons to stablize them, … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on And Lost in All the Kerfuffle on Gravitational Waves–

Hold on, Let Me Get My Tinfoil Hat

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Pace Arko

As has been related in several places, I’m a skeptic. I think this is noteworthy considering the era and cultural context I grew up in: San Francisco in the 1960s and 70s. My mother has this wonderful hippie expression for … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, Science and Engineering | 1 Comment

"Now Fatigue"

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Pace Arko

January second is apparently “National Science Fiction Day” and to mark that moment, let me share a little personal history with you. My mother, now 73, was the one who first exposed me to science fiction through her large paperback … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, Science Fiction, The Future | Comments Off on "Now Fatigue"

Music and the Curse of Memory

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Pace Arko

You know what’s great about streaming music sites on the Web? You get a detailed, real-time play list as the music is playing. This means if a tune comes on that you like, you can just glance at the playlist … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Personal | Comments Off on Music and the Curse of Memory

Old News About the Divided Internet

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Pace Arko

This fulmination I’ve repeated many times and is about ten years out of date. And it’s full of remarks that people smarter and better paid than me have already long made. My time online is now divided between two realms. … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, The Internet | Comments Off on Old News About the Divided Internet

Infernal Polkas, Birthdays and The Barbie and Ken of Fear

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Pace Arko

Wow, more than a whole half century on this rock! And I got well wishes from many of my friends and family. That’s really about all I can say about my birthday. Anyway, today I just read news that Donald … Continue reading →

Posted in Games, Music, Personal, The Future | Comments Off on Infernal Polkas, Birthdays and The Barbie and Ken of Fear

3D Printing Fabricates a Small, Steel Bridge

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Pace Arko

Decades ago, I remember reading a short by Philip K Dick called “Autofac” which was about replicating machines. It was a bit like his other short called “Second Variety, ” although not as sinister, which was also about replicating machines. … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on 3D Printing Fabricates a Small, Steel Bridge

The serenity of space doesn't always need classical waltzes

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Pace Arko

Ladies and Gentleman, the terraforming of Mars as scored by Jamie XX.

Posted in Music, Personal | Comments Off on The serenity of space doesn't always need classical waltzes

My Return from The Hoh Valley Death March

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Pace Arko

Normally I don’t do status reports because I’m not famous and usually I have nothing noteworthy to report. But I promised some of my comrades this, so here goes: On the morning of Friday, the 8th of May, my trip … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | 2 Comments

Education Still Stinks, But Might be Getting Better

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Pace Arko

About eight years ago I wrote a short essay about how education has remained largely unchanged, aside from the introduction of mass education after the arrival of the printing press, since the Pyramids. This is a particularly bitter pill for … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, Science and Engineering, The Future, The Internet | Comments Off on Education Still Stinks, But Might be Getting Better