Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Every Pile is Atomic

Never mind metals, this is an atomic pile, capable of splitting into fragments that release hundreds of millions of energy volts:

The tallest one in the back row would be Max.

A sweeter pile since taking it all at this past long, hot weekend's soccer tournament (yes, for this is why the Suburban Soliloquist packed--whilst sipping a glass of white with KW). Their energy, though nearly exhausted at the final, earned them the championship. And it was, overall, you might say, I high voltage weekend.

This is another atomic pile:


An atom-smashing force. But in case you are not familiar with the muse, a secret: she is one combustible chain reaction of I-don't-know-whats mingled with when-to-expects?, and often the encounters are altogether foreign, alien (except in controlled environments having limited variables and distinct parameters--or is it perimeters?). Nevertheless, she's highly efficient.

It could be said that most teams, most relationships, no matter the sort, are atomic piles if carefully built and efficient in the maintenance, control and expenditure of energy.

Spent is how the Suburban Soliloquist felt upon returning from the dramatic collection and subsequent fission of boys in colorful uniforms skirring across the turf fields of central Connecticut. Which is why she appears here, today, with little news other than that of piles. Laundry, dishes, bills, emails, appointments, etc., all of which are slowly being dismantled or dispersed, or, um, better yet, delegated.

And here—not to be outdone by the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, atomic piles expert extraordinaire—is John Hodgman, the marshmallow wrapped in hugs (aha, that's an atomic pile), sharing some universal truths.

On atomic piles and alien encounters...
(It's well worth the eighteen minutes of energy you are about to expend.)


Make of that what you will, but take note of alien encounters and piling atoms about you.

28 comments:

  1. Very true - if I could borrow just a tenth of the atomic energy of the young, it would be fantastic

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    1. Do you think they'd let us borrow it, David? ;)

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  2. I thought this was going to be about a 'New Super Preparation H'! :¬)

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    1. Ha! Map, well, we could probably work that into the pile. ;)

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  3. Parameters? Yes. Final answer. ;)

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    1. Thank you, Suze! If I only had your confidence... :D

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  4. I didn't think I would, but it turns out, I watched the entire video. Where do you find this stuff?

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    1. Good for you, Nessa! (And I know how busy your schedule is getting w/classes and all.) TED has some wonderful talks here: www.ted.com/talks. You'll find quite the archive.

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  5. congrats to the soliloquist's winning-est team! you are clever—piles, reactors. oh this brings me back (is that a tiny tear in my eye? na!) to the days of travel lacrosse down the eastern seaboard. we had a great team—but maryland (or was it connecticut?) beat us in the end.

    love how you delegated your piles. ha. ; )

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    1. M- How I tire of all the sports travel, but I know when it comes to a close, I'll be missing it, too. Well, somewhat. (Neither one of them swims anymore, and I do miss those meets.) I can't tell you how often Max's soccer teams (yes, he's on several) make it to the finals but end as the runner-up (or whatever it is you call it). It was nice to see them get the trophy this time.

      Lulu plays lacrosse and it's fast becoming one of her favorites. Next to her basketball games, it's the sport I really enjoy watching. (Xcountry and track are killers.)

      Delegation = sanity. ;)

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  6. Atomic piles, parameters, and alien life forces, all vibrating in sync, emitting energy for the taking. Surely there is no energy crisis, just a lack of imagination.
    Your kids are amazing, but hey, look at mom—an amazing atomic pile of creativity and grace.
    See you soon!

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    1. I wonder if I could live off of their energy for the taking, Leah, because I don't often feel like there's a tremendous amount of energy left in my atomic pile!

      Speaking of forces, Leah... finished your book yesterday--it's marvelous! Want my daughter to read it. :)

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  7. First of all, congratulations to your A-team!!! Now, as for the last segment: I had forgotten, since I stopped watching television, that there are some compensations, and John Hodgman is certainly one. What I love about this piece, and yes I listened, if not able to watch the full 18 minutes, is that he manages to keep to his brilliant brand of nerdy deadpan humor while at the same time weaving in an utterly romantic story about his wife to be, and now wife.

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    1. Thanks, Susan! Isn't Hodgman terrific? He may be my favorite nerd. I love this story, too. He has plenty others, and what I miss on TV, I can make up for on the internet. Ah, the beauty of the ether.

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  8. I should watch it but I don't seem to be able to sit through videos. however, I can focus and concentrate for hours on my work. congrats on the A team.

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    1. Yes, Ellen, you should!! I envy the flow you have w/your work. Always producing magic, you are. But take some time to listen to Hodgman! ;)

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  9. Dear Jayne,
    congratulation to the A-team!
    The video was funny, "...and a girl talked to me" - hahaha.

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    1. Oh, Brigitta, he is funny isn't he! So natural, yet I do detect a bit of nervousness in his voice, which makes him even more endearing. :)

      The A-team is going to break soon! I'm looking forward to that. Kids are out of school next Wednesday, when summer, at least here, shall officially begin!

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  10. Love those atom-splitting weekends in atomic piles - especially with the kids! Congrats team!

    Ahhh, leave the piles for another day. Enjoy!

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    1. Loree- I took your advice and let piles alone for a while. I'll pay for it next week, but it feels good in the meantime. ;)

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  11. Fun atomic metaphors. Even more I used to enjoy the subatomic scale; quarks and gluons.

    Kids sports is always fun, football (meaning soccer of course) in the summer, and skiing (alpine and freestyle) in the winter. Sometimes I wish I was 12 years again, except always having to ask for money >:)

    Cold As Heaven

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    1. Subatomic? Oh boy, I'm not sure I want to dig that deep, Cold.

      Oh, to be 12. Lulu turns 13 tomorrow. Max turns 15 in two weeks. Time for them to start making their own money!

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  12. My A-team is all off to college now Jayne. I miss those days. But maybe? weekends cheering grandchildren....In the very, VERY, distant future...

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    1. But we know how quickly time flies! Whenever that happens, though, I know you'll embrace it, Bill. :)

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  13. congrats to your son and his winning team - well worth celebrating with a glass of vino bianco. enjoyed hodgman's discussion of portugal - i've been to sagres, years ago...seemed like the end of the earth. i thought he was going to discuss fermi's atom-splitting activity in 1940s chicago, was surprised to hear him speak of the los alamos story instead~

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  14. Very cool.. congrats to your boy and his team. :)

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  15. yes very good, but what makes a pile? think of sorites' paradox...a thousand grains of salt make a pile..take away one and it is still a pile..another it still is etc etc....when does it not become a pile? two grains? three grains? four?
    oh where was i? oh yeah your post..fantastic...i watched that hodgeman clip last week fascinating..as is your post!

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  16. Jayne: Truly, if I had a talk show similar to Charlie Rose, you would be my first guest for an incredible hour! Of course, we'd have to schedule you for return visits from time to time! These are always fun posts!! :)

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