July 26, 2009

July 24, 2009

  • Mmmmm.


    Superlattices and Heterostructure Devices

    In this course, students are introduced to the physics and technology of superlattices and heterostructure devices (i.e., semiconductor devices whose chemical composition is varied in order to optimize electronic and/or optical performance—“band-gap engineering”). Among the devices covered in the course are modulation-doped FETs, hetero junction bipolar transistors and various quantum well devices, such as heterostructure light sources and detectors. Topics include energy band diagrams, electronic properties of heterojunctions, inter-valley and real-space transfer, electron states in quantum wells, excitons, tunneling and transport theory. Student projects involving the use of commercial device simulation software will allow direct exploration of various devices as well as provide experience with a widely used design tool.

    Delicious.

July 23, 2009

  • We Created A Monster

    Ed Cullen.  Misogynistic, angsty, barely in control, and sparkly.  Rarely has so much hate, and so much vapid, doe-eyed adoration, been poured out on a single object.

    It's popular to hate on Twilight even now.  But I must wonder, is our hate in some way responsible for the creation of this aberration?  Even as the book-burnings by frantic parents who never bothered to read Harry Potter helped spread the word about the series, is it possible that all this fervent disdain is in fact furthering the agenda of Twilight creator Stephanie Meyer?

    There's no such thing as bad publicity, after all.

July 22, 2009

  • Family

    It's good to connect with your family.  That makes them more than mere biological appendages.

July 21, 2009

July 20, 2009

  • Rethinking Dating

    I said before that I had a radical new approach to dating, but that I didn't have the time to figure out exactly how to make it work or how to go about doing it.  This has to do with preconceptions about the entire dating business.  Dating itself predestines one to failure in most cases.

    Continue reading →

July 19, 2009

July 18, 2009

  • MELL @ Otakon

    If all goes well, by the time you read this I will have seen MELL live in concert.

    Warren Ellis has this thing about how he's not a music journalist, not even remotely, and yet he was asked to write an article for The Wire. I responded on his site that even if he isn't intimately familiar with music journalism, he's a long-standing writer of social commentary, and that's ultimately what a lot of music is about.

    So how does MELL fit into this? MELL is ostensibly a pretty hard rock act, but she does all sorts of work for anime soundtracks.  Some of them, such as the one shown above, are quite cute.  This match would seem to be incongruous, but perhaps in assessing the culture associated with J-rock and anime we can find an answer.

    It is my hope that I will return from Otakon with some insight into this strange match-up.

July 17, 2009

  • Fallen Star I: Major Summoning

    It was a fine, white powder, and it glittered in the moonlight in the design of a grand circle.  The curtain to a massive window was drawn back, the pale golden orb in the sky lower and larger than normal.

    I turned my head - that much, it was safe to move - and regarded the cloaked figure opposite me.  "You have my attention," I allowed.

    It pointed an accusing finger.  "Fallen star.  I name you and bind you to our service."

    "I see."  Eyes half-lidded, I felt around the room in my mind for the things I knew must be there.  "If you name me thus, then you should be aware . . . that a star brought to ground will burn."

    The flames sprang up, instantly consuming their candles, one leaping across to engulf some ancient text.  It was only for an instant, but in that instant a hot wind stirred, and the circle was broken.  I opened my palm, and the fire danced, and they died there under the moonlight.

    "Why?" she croaked, fluid leaking into her shattered lungs.  Smoke rose from her ravaged form, and her eyes stared forward into nothingness.  "How . . . could you . . . power to resist?"

    I paused by the door.  "I am told that logic is no longer a strong suit of sorcerers in your world.  Consider, however: if a fallen star fights authority so strongly that it resists the commands of the most high, what power have you to usurp its will?"

    She could not respond.  Across the room, the moon was framed by fire as the remnants of the curtain smoldered.  Pushing the door open, I stepped out into the night.

July 16, 2009