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2006-09-04 - 2:31 p.m.

Chianti and celestial mechanics


Two engineers split a bottle of Chianti and then, unexpectedly, visit the history of science museum where they attempt to explain Galileo's original instruments, hygrometers, theodolites, celestial spheres, and mechanical paradoxes to the third sober member of the party, our software guru, who, while amazingly sharp, does not share our love of physical mechanics.

Sounds like a joke, except that's what we did our last night in Florence. Wandering home from dinner at Leo's, we discovered the science museum is open till 11:30 pm only one night of the month - the last Thursday. Software person was much diverted by the two of us who share love of history, theory and physics, trying to focus enough to figure out when each celestial sphere and globe was made.

(Honestly, the layout of the globe can tell you when it was made; cause Galileo's era was the time of battle over the layout of the solar system - earth or solar centric. And if you think that can't happen today, remember, we just de-planetized Pluto by popular vote. Of course, we flatter ourselves that's just reclassification and not because our understanding of the physics is fundamentally flawed. Then again, until the last fifteen years we were also certain Columbus had discovered American till archaelogical evidence proved Christopher was centuries behind Lief Ericsson.)


Italy was incredibly tiring and amazingly productive. Meetings went well, food was good as always, travel v. annoying, etc.

We had part of a free day which I spent doing the things advertised on the cover of the guidebooks. You know, shop in the local markets for a nice picnic, bargain with the locals, all the stuff normally omitted in favor of museum lines.

Except since we spent two weeks there last year, I took my day to sleep late; stop in to survey the progress at Palazzo Dalvanti (antique Florentine townhouse being slowly restored to Rennaisance glory), and wander the Central Market irritated at the terrorists that have caused liquids to be verboten. None of the tempting Chianti, olive oil, or high quality vinegar came home.

Landed in the nasty rainstorm Friday, and collapsed by 8 pm, having had no more than five hours of sleep at a stretch for a week � which meant I was awake at 5 am Saturday, thinking about Coronation. Fell asleep again by 10 am, behold the power of jet-lag.

And that�s pretty much the weekend � naps and home chores, interrupted for pleasant things, like Sunday brunch with friends including the long exiled Lisette, and unpleasant things, like finishing the items from our Italy work I�d promised to complete by Tuesday morning.


I�ve got two more business trips on the horizon, and then (I think, I hope) it will calm down to just working long hours locally.

But today, I have no work things to do, just time with the Roland. Hmmm, maybe Roland wants to take a nap�

Scribble to Theo

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