Japan Spring 2012 Eclipse

Spring 2012 visit to Japan around Okazaki area.

Did not get to Tokyo or might have visited Skytree
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Skytree
http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

But we did catch a glimpse of the late part of the total eclipse.
Early morning was too cloudy in Okazaki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Solar_eclipse_set_2011-2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_May_20,_2012

Memes, Slogans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_meme
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme
Nuanced difference rather too subtle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slogan

Snorg Tees has interesting funny cute tee shirt imprint set.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snorg_Tees
http://www.snorgtees.com/

For StarWars and science geeks.
“May the mass times the acceleration be with you.”

But being a physicist, and for those who do think that it is rocket science, would have wished for
“May the time rate of change of momentum be with you.”

Not on any of these sites (?), but one of my dad’s favourites was “Ithaca is Gorges”.

While on topic of memes - Boston Phoenix on Christian Memes
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/life/149151-its-adam-and-eve-not-adam-and-scumbag-steve/
http://www.christianmemes.com/
Entertaining.

LED Holiday Lights

Relative merits of LED holiday lights by Katherine Tweed at Greentech.
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/should-clark-griswold-switched-to-led-christmas-lights1

Comments:

Look for the warm white LED holiday lights sets - a bit less efficient, but they give a better feel.

Buy light sets for next year after the season is over. The post-holiday sales can beat year-to-year price drops by as much as three-to-one. But this is as valid for incandescent sets as for LED sets.

Probably should consider a life cycle analysis. A holiday light set (any type) recovered for reuse (craigslist?) might have better cradle-to-grave economics.

This brings up the “coffee cup life cycle analysis”
http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=28765
You can search for and see endless debate and nuances. But one good conceptual summation, after materials, washing, kilns and so forth, is…

If you reuse a mug (or whatever) which was headed for waste stream, conservation is served. It is not clear cut. Older cars and air conditioners may be better off recycled. And market economics may not be well served by reuse.