It Truly Is A Strange Time

You might like Queen.  You might hate Queen.  You can have your own reasons for your opinion, and it is perfectly valid for you.  But there is a reality out there which is totally independent of our opinions and there are people who work all their lives to divine the true nature of that reality.

And then, there is Brian May.  Or perhaps I should say Dr. Brian May because he now has his PhD in Astrophysics.  He abandoned his study of space dust when Queen hit big and he and his buds had to tour the world doing concerts to sold out stadiums.  He became, I am sure, quite wealthy and in the end, done with the career in music, he returned to astrophysics and published his thesis.

I personally think that this is about the greatest accomplishment I could ever think of.  His old work was done forty years ago with instruments that he had to develop himself.  He programed his computer in freakin FORTRAN.  I used FORTRAN.  Nobody uses FORTRAN any more.  So not only did he have to resurrect his original work, but he had to bring it up to date using the forty years of science and math that he had long ago forgotten.  I know that I have long ago forgotten the math that I used in those FORTRAN programs and I know that I wouldn’t want to have to resurrect my thesis.

And then, because he is Dr. Brian Freakin May, he gets his thesis published like a real book.  You know, one that people can buy on Amazon.  In fact, let’s take a look:

https://www.amazon.com/Survey-Radial-Velocities-Zodiacal-Cloud/dp/0387777059/ref=sr_1_31?keywords=Brian+May&qid=1562199737&s=gateway&sr=8-31

Well what do you know, go ahead and buy one for yourself.

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15 Comments
Lager
Lager
July 4, 2019 9:22 am
Lager
Lager
July 4, 2019 9:26 am

Had to post the original, where they could still hit the high notes.

The previous one, at Starmus, he gave a little background on the song’s origination.

M G
M G
July 4, 2019 9:43 am

Lots and lots of fascinating musicians out there…

I like the ones named for rivers, not queers.

Lager
Lager
  M G
July 4, 2019 11:19 am

Thx for posting this, G.
I had not seen it. Found it really interesting, as I was into them in a big way, during The Grand Illusion years.
Caught a guitar pick tossed by James Young, in the front row, at one concert back then.
Have no idea where that went, or what it looks like.
Always liked their obscure tunes.
Suite Madam Blue, Castle Walls, & Man In The Wilderness, to name just 3.
Cheers.

Anonymous
Anonymous
  Hollywood Rob
July 4, 2019 12:42 pm

Aww, you mad? The 1st one of 39, from the Starmus Festival fits your theme. Kind of.
So then the thread took a moderate detour, by your arch nemesis.
Not the 1st time comments veered off topic; won’t be the last.
I’ll just go back to ignoring your petulant peeves, ‘wood.
Besides, whew! Your post isn’t really reeling in the comments, so far. By my guess, not too many give a shit about it.
Low priority interest, it seems.
Better check your fishing hook.
I think you lost your worm, dude.
But, keep bitching about the stupid fish. You’ll get a nibble sooner or later.

Sure you’ll now downvote every comment made by the enemies you’re grinding axes for. Pattern?
You betcha.
Sad.
Common ground, Robbie.
Try finding some.

Neil M. Dunn
Neil M. Dunn
July 4, 2019 2:16 pm

I saw a brief note somewhere about BMay getting his PhD but your article put a much better perspective on the accomplishment. Dr Becky(Utube) did a very nice job and has other Utubes–>another knowledged path to pursue. Thanks for the post.

heyJoe
heyJoe
July 4, 2019 2:53 pm

Dexter Holland of the Offspring recently received his PhD in Molecular Biology from USC. His thesis was on HIV research. Similar story as May. Became successful and had to delay his education.

Steve C
Steve C
July 4, 2019 3:38 pm

HR – If either of us could remember our Fortran training we’d be rich.

It’s back in demand today and there are very few that know how to program in it.

It’s still an excellent engineering language…

Maggie Brondson
Maggie Brondson
July 4, 2019 4:09 pm

Well, Robbo, you won. I will cut my vacay short and go back to Palmdale. The sexy mulatta said she felt dizzy and everything around her was spinning. I would have assumed it proved the solar vortex theory but she said her daughter informed her it was an earthquake 100 miles north. She said the ceiling lamps and the decorative parrots in the patio were swinging wildly. I said that’s how houses come down. I told her I will leave right away because there will be aftershocks and we are in the foothills. Her daughter in Sta Clarita and her sister in Burbank say it was quite strong where they are.

22winmag - The South was Right!
22winmag - The South was Right!
July 5, 2019 7:58 am

I get the feeling Brian May is part of the Laurel Canyon junk science program.

Freddie Mercury was mole/psyop, that’s pretty much a given.

Freddie Mercury Revisited

They have a habit of calling upon celebrities to put a face on some new disinformation project they are working on. For example, is it a coincidence Jim Morrison was the son on the Gulf of Tonkin Admiral? I don’t think so.