(Spring Quarter 2001)

All of these were scribbled down on the fly during my Statistical Mechanics lecture—now to be a testament for all time to the glorious Philip Reid, he who miraculously kept me awake, alert, and interested in integrals at 9:30 in the mornings this quarter.

Concerning his lab:

• ... and don't go behind the black curtains; that's where certain death ensues.

Concerning Ludwig Boltzmann of the Boltmann constant:

• Boltzmann—killed himself because they thought of him as a kook... a bright kook, but one that had clearly missed the boat. He woulda hung around another twenty-three years at least had quantum mechanics been in vogue.
• Think about Boltzmann, who had to kill himself to get his own constant. Then Michaelis does a substitution and gets one. Think that's fair? I don't think so.

Concerning math:

• It looks formidable, but the integral is your friend.
• If you can't get the differential rate expression, guys... you're dead in the water.
• If something doesn't cancel, then something's gone awry.

Concerning joules:

• Joules are gone; I hate the joules!
• Gotta give up on the joule.

Concerning entropy:

• ... so, from this day forth, if someone asks you "what's entropy?" and you respond "disorder," I'm going to find you, and slap you.

Concerning equilibrium:

• Smack the system and make it do what you want it to!

Concerning Eastern Washington:

• There's enough carbon-tet in the ground over there to give everyone in Washington a cup. Mm mm.