Hmmmm....

‘Time Crystals’ Could Upend Physicists’ Theory of Time

In February 2012, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frank Wilczek decided to go public with a strange and, he worried, somewhat embarrassing idea. Impossible as it seemed, Wilczek had developed an apparent proof of “time crystals” — physical structures that move in a repeating pattern, like minute hands rounding clocks, without expending energy or ever winding down. Unlike clocks or any other known objects, time crystals derive their movement not from stored energy but from a break in the symmetry of time, enabling a special form of perpetual motion.

Tonight was about

celebrating a milestone in the life of a dear friend of mine. I hope this will be read to him, as he isn't on the Internet, and I'm usually better expressing myself in writing than in person:

I am so proud of what you've accomplished over these past three years, and of the person you've become. Although each day is a struggle, you have gone forward, despite the difficulties. You've worked very hard to achieve this. I think I understand you a little better after tonight's events, and I respect the work you've done. I wish you many more years of success. I'm there to talk to should you need to. You are part of my family. Know that you are loved.

So terribly pooped--and not from working on my apartment

I just got back from a grocery run with a friend, perhaps the most grueling trip to the store I've ever done. Because he needed 24-packs of soda for an event, we went to the one by my house, which is a Kroger Marketplace. I'm fairly familiar with the store, but the printer wouldn't print out the lists and so I wound up using my phone, as my other friend had e-mailed me the documents (a produce, general, and dairy/freezer list). Our two carts barely could be pushed by the time we were finished. I forgot one item, they were out of two items, and my friend made a mistake and got fat-free creamer, so we need to go by tomorrow at one of the stores. But we were there probably for about two hours, and utterly exhausted by the time we got back. Plus, it's a steady rain outside, so we both got very wet. Now I'm back home and plan to rest for a bit and start working on the house again. But right now, I need to put my feet up and just chill for a bit.

Just realised I

haven't taken any meds today, which may be why I'm not feeling well, and especially why I'm hurting. So even though the bedroom is a landmine field of stuff from the closet, I'm going to move the fan, take my meds, and lie down for an hour or so. I'm recording Doctor Who (that's the third I've missed and will have to catch up on). I'm hoping the rain will let up at some point so I can get the new shelves in from the car and get all the cardboard out. I went and dropped off the donations and got the shelves while I was out.

Getting into a little despair

On the one hand, I have finished going through the two huge boxes in the closet with a fine-toothed comb, even finding a pair of earrings and a pendant I didn't know I still had. I threw away or recycled a lot. And I have a lot of empty boxes to take out to the recycling area. But I also just shot a light in the kitchen (which I can't replace without getting up on a folding chair, so I'm going to leave it and hope I can borrow my friends' step stool tomorrow). Also, I knocked over a somewhat rickety VHS shelf, and sort of lost it, and just went ahead and knocked the rest over, too. The solution to that issue will probably be another one of these folding stackable shelves. But obviously my mood is getting a little frazzled. I'm going to take those boxes out and see if I feel a little better, and call the game master and tell him that no, I don't think I can have it done tonight. It's close, but it's not there yet, unfortunately.

Taking a quick break

I've uncovered about half of the troublesome closet so far. The good news is that the comics and a couple of boxes will just stay there. The bad news is the second shelf would not fit in the same closet as the other; the closet's just barely too narrow. So, I'm going to hang some clothes in half of the other closet and use this one for one shelf, the comic boxes, the files from an organisation I belong to, and anything else that has to go. But I've thrown away nearly a bag full and have a big tub full or recyclables already. I've found more tote bags to donate. I'm emptying out copy paper boxes of stuff. But there are two large boxes (too big for me to move full of just random stuff that used to be in the dresser and chest-of-drawers. That's what I have to get into next. But first I'm going to go give my rent in at the leasing office, which means I need to shower first.

More power to her

To Kill A Mockingbird Author In Copyright Feud

The author of To Kill A Mockingbird is suing her literary agent's son-in-law for allegedly taking advantage of her declining hearing and eyesight to secure the book's copyright.

One of the greatest classics in American literature, widely studies in schools, and a personal favourite of mine, is paying royalties to someone other than the author, who claims to have no memory of signing away her rights to the man who now owns the copyright on her book. Even if she did sign the copyright over to him, we shouldn't allow someone to grab royalties and copyright for themselves by taking advantage of an author's ill health. I'm glad to see that even at her advanced age, she is fighting for her rights to be restored. Atticus would be proud.

It took two hours, but

here we have the wooden shelves put together and loaded back, with everything dusted. Time for a break and some food. Then it will be time to tackle closets.

See?

Just drat.

Drat

I just realised that I must switch out the shelves. The wooden ones are almost a foot taller when stacked together than the metal shelves, and will not fit in the closet. I had gone to bed thinking that part had been averted. This does not bode well. I was sitting on the bed drinking some water and comparing the two kinds in the corner by my bed. At least it is 4 am and not much later. Spatial relations was never my forte.