I sat down at my computer today with great intentions. I was looking for some piece of breaking science news or an awesome new gadget to share with you dear readers. 
Just really provide some great coverage and strong content.
About five minutes after that I got really, really side tracked looking at Tumblr and Etsy (where I found the image to the right). When I looked down at the clock and realized I’d been under for almost two hours, I feared that I had completely wasted my afternoon. I know everyone has days like that. How could you not with all the internet awesomeness out there? It’s a very natural thing to do. It does not, however, justify you missing your 5pm deadline, and I was starting to panic. But then I realized – you guys are fellow science geeks! The afternoon was not a waste, but a geeky roundup! Oh, thank you, free form physics blog!
So if you aren’t familiar, Tumblr is a website that hosts short-form blogs. By short form I mean they are geared less toward two page rants and more toward short paragraphs and just images with captions, so there are a lot of neat photography blogs and things like that.
(I apologize to those of you who are insulted that I would even suggest that you do not know what Tumblr is. I have been very surprised at how many people do not know what it is.)(I apologize to those of you who are insulted by my surprise that you do not know what Tumblr is.)
Anyway – Tumblr has a science section*!! A couple of my favorite blogs are we are science, it’s full of stars, and Gravity. It’s the Law. Another great one called fresh photons posts a real range of beautiful science images, from more “traditional” (looks like it came from a petri dish or a telescope), to very peculiar (sprung from the brain of a very creative science fan). Like this thing:
I cannot find out where this image came from or who made it, so if you know, please tell me!
Etsy is another addictive site with the added danger that you can buy things there. It’s like a big craft fair where folks can sell home-made stuff or things they find, with a leaning toward hip vintage. I’ve found some great physics shirts there (and more here), science jewelry, more science jewelry, more science jewelry?, silk ties with equations on them, plus lots and lots and lots and of great prints. I also love the Greek symbols clock brought to you buy a seller with a Star Trek lilt.
Oddly, I’ve found a lot of physics stuff for babies, like these Nerdy Baby 1-2-3 cards (2 magnetic monopoles; 4 covalent bonds…). Nerdlings need their toys, too.
If you have favorites of your own, please share!
Enjoy the distractions and I’ll have more news for you on Friday.
*Please note that we cannot testify for these blogs or what goes on them. Read at your own risk.