First Friday Question

So, I hate the idea of resolutions, and I don't go in for all the various year start planning things that happen. (I believe that if you want to make a fresh start, you can choose to do that at any time. Why wait for January?) But I need a question for today (as school is out of session, so no subbing stories), so...

What is something you're looking forward to this year? 

I mean, I'm dreading all sorts of things, but I would rather put a positive spin on this. Although, I'm not looking forward to anything in particular. I hope to get my next video finished filming. And then I have an idea for one to do after that. 

Is there anything you're looking forward to? Are there any good movies coming out? New TV shows? Planning a trip? I'd love to hear your happy plans. (Or your dreads. Those are okay, too.)

13 Physical Constants

School is back in session next week. That means today's post is a Thursday 13. But what to write about? I'm not in the mood to think too hard...

Oh, I know. How about some numbers? I'm going to list some physics constants. Just because.

1. Speed of light in free space (c) = 2.9979 × 10⁸ m/s
2. 1 astronomical unit (AU) = 1.496 × 10¹¹ m
3. Mass of Earth (M_E) = 5.9742 × 10²⁴ kg
4. Radius of Earth (R_E) = 6.3781 × 10⁶ m
5. Avogadro’s number (N_A) = 6.022 × 10²³ /mol
6. Mass of hydrogen atom (m_H) = 1.0078μ = 1.6735 × 10⁻²⁷ kg
7. Electronic charge (e) = 1.6022 × 10⁻¹⁹ C
8. Electron rest mass (m_e) = 9.109 × 10⁻³¹ kg
9. Proton rest mass (M_p) = 1.6726 × 10⁻²⁷ kg
10. Compton wavelength of electron [λ_C = h/(m_ec)] = 2.4263 × 10⁻¹² m
11. 1 parsec (pc) = 3.086 × 10¹⁶ m
12. Mass of Sun (M_⊙) = 1.989 × 10³⁰ kg
13. Radius of Sun (R_⊙) = 6.96 × 10⁸ m

(I took the numbers from this list. I don't think anyone actually memorizes these numbers unless they use them regularly.)

Rose Parade

Do you watch the Rose Parade? If so, look out for the 605 All-Star Band. They're #70 in the lineup. Anyway, I know some of those kiddos...

I don't work at all eight of the high schools that comprise the band, but I do work at a couple of them. (I have subbed for the band directors at one time or other. I've even written posts about those days.) So, yeah, I will know a few of the kiddos. 

Should be fun to see them.