14 June 26

I think this tie has great potential for celebrating electricity -- I see the dots as electrons and the stripes as wires or charged plates. I'm currently honoring the birthdays of James Clerk Maxwell (yesterday) and Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (today). 

James Clerk Maxwell FRSE FRS (1831–1879) was a Scottish scientist in the field of mathematical physics. His most notable achievement was to formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism have been called the 'second great unification in physics' where the first one had been realized by Isaac Newton. (Wikipedia). 

Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806), for whom the unit of electrical charge is named, was a French physicist who wrote Coulomb's Law of electrical charges and invented the torsion balance. 

I might also mention the shocking event on 10 June 1752 when Benjamin Franklin used a kite to demonstrate that lightning is, in fact, electricity.

13 June 25

I think this tie has great potential for celebrating electricity -- I see the dots as electrons and the stripes as wires or charged plates. I'm currently honoring the birthdays of James Clerk Maxwell (today) and Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (tomorow). James Clerk Maxwell FRSE FRS (13 June 1831 – 5 November 1879) was a Scottish scientist in the field of mathematical physics. His most notable achievement was to formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism have been called the 'second great unification in physics' where the first one had been realized by Isaac Newton. (Wikipedia). Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806), for whom the unit of electrical charge is named, was a French physicist who wrote Coulomb's Law of electrical charges and invented the torsion balance. I might also mention the shocking event on 10 June 1752 when Benjamin Franklin used a kite to demonstrate that lightning is, in fact, electricity.

14 June 23

I think this tie has great potential for celebrating electricity -- I see the dots as electrons and the stripes as wires or charged plates. I'm currently honoring the birthdays of James Clerk Maxwell (yesterday) and Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (today). "James Clerk Maxwell FRSE FRS (13 June 1831 – 5 November 1879) was a Scottish scientist in the field of mathematical physics. His most notable achievement was to formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism have been called the 'second great unification in physics' where the first one had been realized by Isaac Newton." (Wikipedia). Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806), for whom the unit of electrical charge is named, was a French physicist who wrote Coulomb's Law of electrical charges and invented the torsion balance. I might also mention the shocking event on 10 June 1752 when Benjamin Franklin used a kite to demonstrate that lightning is, in fact, electricity.

14 June 22

Happy Sandpaper Day! Sandpaper was patented on 14 June 1834. I thought about creating a necktie from sandpaper, but Beth and I agreed it would be too rough. (That's a fine attempt at some coarse humor.) So instead I'm following my annual tradition of honoring the birthday of French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806). Coulomb explored how electrical energy could be stored between metal plates separated by an insulator (such as paper or air). The standard unit of electrical charge is named in his honor. On my tie, the dots between the solid stripes represent the electric field between charged plates.

13 June 21

 My tie today celebrates electricity -- I see the dots as electrons and the stripes as wires or charged plates. I'm honoring the birthdays of James Clerk Maxwell (today) and Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (tomorrow). "James Clerk Maxwell FRSE FRS (13 June 1831 – 5 November 1879) was a Scottish scientist in the field of mathematical physics. His most notable achievement was to formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism have been called the 'second great unification in physics' where the first one had been realized by Isaac Newton." (Wikipedia). Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806), for whom the unit of electrical charge is named, was a French physicist wrote Coulomb's Law and invented the torsion balance.

23 September 19

Are you feeling scatterbrained today? Our weather forecast includes "scattered showers" (after four weeks of complete dryness and high heat). The dots and stripes on my tie honor the birthday of experimental physicist Clifford Shull (1915-2001). He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1994 for his research into neutron scattering and neutron diffraction -- basically, how neutrons interact with atoms and with other subatomic particles, where tracking their motion and energies reveals details about events near the limit for existence of ultimately-tiny things.

29 August 18

What could induce me to wear this tie on 29 August, for the second year in a row? On this date in 1831, physicist Michael Faraday discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction. This is "the production of an electromotive force (i.e., voltage) across an electrical conductor due to its dynamic interaction with a magnetic field." In other words, Faraday noticed that a moving magnet caused electricity to flow through nearby wires, proving not only that magnetism and electricity are closely related but that magnets could become the fundamental machine for electric motors and generators! On my tie, I think the bright yellow, green and blue striped bars are "inducing" their colors into the dots suspended around them.

29 August 17

What could induce me to wear this tie? On this date in 1831, physicist Michael Faraday discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction. This is "the production of an electromotive force (i.e., voltage) across an electrical conductor due to its dynamic interaction with a magnetic field." In other words, Faraday noticed that a moving magnet caused electricity to flow through nearby wires, proving not only that magnetism and electricity are closely related but that magnets could become the fundamental machine for electric motors and generators! On my tie, I think the bright yellow, green and blue striped bars are "inducing" their colors into the dots suspended around them.



Diagram of induction: the moving magnet causes electricity to flow in the nearby coil.

19 June 16

For Father's Day I chose this sparkly tie with pretty colors. Today at Somerset First Presbyterian Church I'm singing a solo, "How Great Thou Art."

28 April 15

No special occasion, so I've chosen a tie I haven't worn for a while. The blue stripes may be significant if Nathanael is born today!

13 June 13

James Clerk Maxwell was born on this date in 1831. He is best known as the 3rd greatest physicist of all time, following Newton and Einstein. His home in Scotland has the wonderful name Middlebie, Kirkcudbrightshire. The pleasing alignment of patterns on my tie symbolizes Maxwell's accomplishment in showing the underlying unity of light, electricity and magnetism. Many of the objects in my office, such as the refrigerator, microwave oven and computer equipment, have their "theoretical foundations" in the work of James Clerk Maxwell.

13 June 12

Happy Birthday, James Clerk Maxwell! He was born in 1831 and died in 1879. He is most famous for demonstrating the common properties of electricity, magnetism and light. Perhaps it is "forcing" things a bit, but I chose this tie to represent a pleasant unification of dots, stripes and solid background.

23 April 12

My stripes and dots symbolize that I am quan-tie-zed today, in honor of the 1858 birthday of Max Planck, the originator of quantum theory. Planck hypothesized that energy comes in discrete units rather than continuous streams, similar to the difference between taking countable steps and shuffling your feet. Your digital computer works through quantum transitions!

23 February 11

Birthday of George Frideric Handel, 1685. Hallelujah! I think this tie is quite joyous.

13 May 09

This is a day to "make them wonder what's up." Gene with a solid tie?

Also worth noting: Stephen Colbert (of Comedy Central's Colbert Report) was born on May 13, 1964.














Yesterday (12 May) was International Nurses Day. I still have no tie appropriate for that occasion, but I celebrated it anyway with my tie that has brightly-colored stripes and dots.

11 June 08

Today is the 38th birthday of Chris Rice, one of our family's favorite Christian musicians. His works range from the wonderfully satirical "Cartoons" to the surprisingly joyful "Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)." I chose today's tie because the dots and stripes remind me of birthday party balloons and streamers.