Corrected Table for the Parametric Coefficients for the Optical Depth of the Universe to Gamma-rays at Various Redshifts

Table 1 in our paper, ApJ 648, 774 (2006) entitled "Intergalactic Photon Spectra from the Far IR to the UV Lyman Limit for 0 < z < 6 and the Optical Depth of the Universe to High Energy Gamma-Rays" had erroneous numbers for the coefficients fitting the parametric form for the optical depth of the universe to gamma-rays. The correct values for these parameters as described in the original text are given here in a corrected table for various redshifts for the baseline model (upper row) and fast evolution (lower row) for each individual redshift. The parametric approximation is good for optical depths between 0.01 and 100 and for gamma-ray energies up to ~2 TeV for all redshifts but also for energies up to ~10 TeV for redshifts less than 1.

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Just what I was thinking.

Sunday

So far today I've had a starbucks (trying to quit, maybe tomorrow), listened to some more patent bar test lectures on the ipod, tried cleaning the concrete driveway (no luck), drove one of those yard things around which pulls out those plug things in your grass and supposedly is good for it, and killed some weeds.

Every year I get a few of those yard guy advertisements, usually in big bold letters like "WE HAVE THE DEEPEST PLUGS AROUND!!!" which always reminds me of some porno ad. Typically the neighbor rents one, and we split it. It's heavy, noisy, and a pain in the ass.

The weeds of course are always trying to take over. Yesterday Thomas placed some strategic piss on one of the bigger ones. I was so proud.... Anyway, I've tried some various means of trying to get ahead -- pulling (never ending), removing all the rock trim and replacing the weed barrier (miserable job), and good old round up. There is something about roundup that makes you so happy...just pull the trigger and pump untold liters of toxic chemicals onto all kinds of funky non-grass green things, and hope for the best. Usually you end up spraying yourself from head to toe, depending on the wind. After that I usually go make a nice sandwich.

Tonight some friends are coming over for some reason or another that I can't quite figure out, but it's all good. I have some work to do for a client, which is slowly losing out to an afternoon nap, which surprisingly pays much less than you would expect, nap wise.

Other than that, not much else going on. I'm thoroughly enjoying being unemployed and wouldn't mind doing that forever, but that will never happen. My plan is to work until I'm so old all I do is drool on the keyboard all day. Then one fine spring afternoon flames will shoot out of said keyboard and catch my roundup soaked clothes on fire. I'll be too old and feeble to put out the flames, and that will be that.

Still life

The muffled beat of distant music someone celebrates
it's hunting season urbanised I wish I could be there
warmth and laughter the right amount of danger
Johnnie Walker wisdom as Cohen used to say

but it's pouring down with rain
do you remember?
are you alive?
do you still speak of deeds undone?

I used to be immortal I was innocent as a child
my vision was unlimited I saw rivers on the Moon
had important things to say can't remember what they were
of all the things I did none had been done before

but achievements never last
do you recall?
do you dream?
do you still need company?

I had a friend who knew the language of the future
I'm told he lost his mind they say he went away
navigating empty streets astray among the lost
a shadow in the corner of a stranger's eye

but there's nothing left to learn
do you count the years?
do you breathe?
do you still watch the sunrise?

my ambition took me further than I dreamt
I don't even need a mirror anymore
the penthouse pool is full of ice
it should be flowers winter came too soon

but you never liked to swim
so you feel safe?
are you happy?
do you still know my name?

--Covenant

Sexeh

Still

(Willie D)

Back up in your ass with the Reurection
Is the group harder than an erection
That shows more affection
They wanna ban us on Capital Hill
Cause its die muthafuckas, die muthafuckas

(Bushwick Bill)

All along [still] it was the geto, nothing but the geto
Takin short steps one foot at a time and keep my head low
And never let go
cause if I let go, then I'll be spineless
I'm goin' INSANE!

(Scarface)

I think my mind just goes outta control
And judge your subjects muthafuckas read about
I touch on the shit that they be leavin' out
I seen this muthafucka's .9 smokin'
I seen the same nigga with the .9 die with his eyes open
And simply what this means is
He didn't know that every dog had his day
Until he seen his
I bet you muthafuckas will too
Because its die muthafucka, die muthafucka still fool

(Scarface) Die muthafuckas, die muthafuckas still fool
(Willie D) Die muthafuckas, die muthafuckas still

[I think it's something in the water man, it's just
gotta be in the water]

(Bushwick Bill)

Awwww Fuck! Chuck's on a killing spree again
With guillotines for men
I walk around town with a frown on my face
Fuck the whole world, fixin' to catch a murder case
The murder rate

(Scarface)

May increase if your caught up in the world
While it's dyin', I guarentee your fryin' cause I am
On the verge of knockin' muthafuckas out for no reason
Once I get down there'll be no breathin' it seems when
Muthafuckas wanna calm down, put his palm down
Seems I gots to lay the law down
Now its on pow what you to do? I'm askin' you

(Willie D)

Step to face I'll break your ass in two, bastard you
Rather swim in some fuckin' hot tar
Before you fuck wit Willie D cause what I got for
Your ass will make ya shit your meal
Cause it's die muthafuckas, die muthafuckas still

(Scarface)

How many niggas brought they irons tonight? [Tell me]
How many niggas wanna ride tonight? [I do]
Pick out our victims when the time is right
We get they ass up off the corner cause they dyin' tonight

(Willie D)

Niggas be all up in my mug
But it's a different story when them muthafuckas coughing up blood
[When he died, looking in his eyes, was he as he cried]
I bust another cap in his ass and he died, time is 5

(Bushwick Bill)

Niggas be shootin' the gif like they for real
But when it jumps, they ain't got no murder skills
So Bill just, chops 'em down, watch 'em fall
And cut they ass head to toe, jaw to jaw

(Willie D)

But I'ma make your bitch ass holla
Cause I'ma put a hole in your head
The size of a half a dolla
[Fuck around and get your cap peeled cause this is]
Die muthafucka, die muthafucka [kill]

--Geto boys

The story

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you

I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules
But baby I broke them all for you Oh,
Because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
You do and I was made for you

You see the smile that's on my mouth
Its hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what I've been through like you do
And I was made for you...

All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am Oh,
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you

Yeah its true, I was made for you

--Brandi Carlile

Contract

Since Monday was my first day as an unemployed bum, it's appropriate that I get a contracting job offer for a 6 month gig in Florida that same day. They wanted me to start next Monday, for around $10k/month. I said no...I'd rather starve and study.

Hopefully that wasn't dumb.

This weekend I'm supposed to be hiking up in the mountains to a cabin. The trip has been planned for a year, and it's no surprise that we're supposed to get some spring storm tonight and tomorrow...so we'll see how that goes.

Nature

Friday, finally.

Crazy

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place.
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space

And when you're out there
Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly

And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that's my only advice

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,

Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control

Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me

My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking, I wanna be like them
Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done

But Maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably