I've reached another round number of postings, and as 2005, the "World Year of Physics," nears its end, I am doing better. I do not feel as intimidated by first-year physics as I was earlier this year. I know that it's going to take me longer than a year to do the rest of first-year physics, since I have to divide my time between art, physics, and commercial work. But that's all right, as long as I'm doing some physics every day, even one or two problems. I'm still in Newtonworld, and will be for some time to come.

Another good thing at 200 is that I now have e-mail contact with another Friendly Physicist (again, my policy is not to name any names) who has given me messages of encouragement and even ideas on what to do with all this physics I'm learning, while not giving up my art work. Some people think it's important that I keep doing art. I treasure my contacts with my Friendly Scientists. Some of them I have known for years now. They are one of the ways I overcome my many moments of discouragement. So thank you all Friendly Scientists, older and newer.

If you have been with me since the beginning of this Weblog, you may have noticed that I often use automotive metaphors, and that the name of my car is the "Electron." I have loved cars since my youth, especially from the visual and artistic point of view. At one point I was even interested in becoming an automotive designer. I am always aware of car design, color, features, cargo load, and performance. Since I drive the Electron almost every day, I get to see an endless variety of vehicles, everything from ordinary Nissans and Fords to fresh new high-concept cars like the lovable, box-like Toyota Scion XB (best viewed on cable modem only) or the Euro-retro Chevy HHR (also viewable only on cable modem) which comes not only in my own color of "Electron Blue," which they call "Daytona Blue," but an awesome, fiery blaze orange. These exotic new particles are now flowing in the streams of traffic in the great urban accelerator. When I do physics, I feel like I am driving, even if I am really just sitting still in front of a book and calculations. So I will continue to drive my Weblog, one electron at a time. Well, that's 200 down, 3.14159 x 10⁸⁰ to go.

Some new art

I have a small convention show coming up on Thanksgiving weekend, which I have gone to for the last twenty-six years. Science fiction fan children have been born and grown to maturity during that time. Even if I now have pretensions to being a "Fine" artist, I still love the fantasy and science fiction stuff. I have been making tiny pictures for this show, and here are a couple of the better ones.

This one's called "Green Warp." 8" x 10", acrylic on illustration board.

And this one's called "Chrome Probe." 8" x 10", acrylic on illustration board.

Posted at 4:02 am | link