Recent Results on Charm Photoproduction

Photoproduction of $D_s^{\pm}$ mesons has been measured in the ZEUS detector at HERA and compared with predictions of NLO pQCD calculations. The ratio of $D_s^{*\pm}$ to $D^{*\pm}$ cross sections has been compared to results from $e^{+}e^{-}$ experiments. Orbitally excited P-wave charm mesons have been observed in the $D^{*\pm}\pi^{\mp}$ final state. The fraction of $D^{*\pm}$ 's originating from these mesons has been calculated and compared with that from $e^{+}e^{-}$ interactions. No evidence for radially excited mesons decaying to $D^{*\pm}\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ was found. The inelastic production of J/$\psi$ mesons has been measured and compared to LO and NLO pQCD predictions.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Talk given at the PHOTON 2000 Conference, Ambleside, UK, August 26-31,200

This Side Up

A poem

Is That a Pun in Your Pocket, Or...?

To publicize my two wordplay books, which were published in the early 1960s, I prepared a talk that I delivered in such exotic places as Paris and Jersey City. (Really!

The Language Perfectionist: Quotation Quota

Every few years, my friend Mardy Grothe assembles a new collection of quotations. The defining characteristic of these anthologies is that all the entries share an interesting or quirky theme

Ross Eckler: He Didn\u27t Know What Retire Meant

In the late 1980s, while writing two wordplay books, I discovered Word Ways. Ross was consistently helpful and generous in responding to my questions and assisting my research

Smart Cities for Real People

Accelerating urbanization of the population and the emergence of new smart sensors (the Internet of Things) are combining in the phenomenon of the smart city. This movement is leading to improved quality of life and public safety, helping cities to enjoy economies that help remedy some budget overruns, better health care, and is resulting in increased productivity. The following report summarizes evolving digital technology trends, including smart phone applications, mapping software, big data and sensor miniaturization and broadband networking, that combine to create a technology toolkit available to smart city developers, managers and citizens. As noted above, the benefits of the smart city are already evident in some key areas as the technology sees actual implementation, 30 years after the creation of the broadband cable modem. The challenges of urbanization require urgent action and intelligent strategies. The applications and tools that truly benefit the people who live in cities will depend not on just the tools, but their intelligent application given current systemic obstacles, some of which are highlighted in the article. Of course, all the emerging technologies mentioned are dependent on ubiquitous, economical, reliable, safe and secure networks (wired and wireless) and network service providers

Theoretical Overview of Lorentz and CPT Violation

In this talk, I discuss some recent theoretical progress concerning the Lorentz- and CPT-violating extension of the standard model. The results summarized include the development of an explicit connection between noncommutative field theory and the standard model extension, placement of new bounds in the photon sector, calculation of one-loop renormalization beta functions in QED, and an analysis of field redefinitions.Comment: 9 pages, to appear in the proceedings for 31st Coral Gables Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, Florid

Day One? Way Done!

More transposition puns and spoonerisms, original and otherwise

Ironing the Bugs Out : Mixed Metaphors

The mixed metaphor has long been vilified by language lovers. After all, a metaphor per se is often a stretch. The attempt to combine two or more vastly dissimilar figures of speech usually result in a jarring incongruity and an absurd image. Such clashes are often amusing, although the humor is strictly unintentional

The Great Commission

This last promise in Matthew extends beyond the life span of the Apostles to every believer that commits to the task of raising up a group of Christ-followers among every ethno-linguistic people groups on earth “to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20b). This phrase is also found in Matt 13:39-40, 49; 24:3, which refer to the end of the present age when the Son of Man returns to establish His kingdom. Thus the promise not only applied to these 1st century disciples, but to every disciple since then and until the end of the Church Age. We can count on His presence to empower and provide for the task