I have arrived at my hotel in Köln. I did not sleep at all on the flight. It is a bright sunny morning here in Germany, and I’m still wide awake. I’m afraid my brain has been whipsawed through so many time zones lately that it has decided screw it, it’s not going to bother sorting out that pointless sleep/wake cycle anymore, which probably means I’ll muddle along in a delirium until I die.
Who decided we should live on a spinning sphere anyway? It makes no sense.
danglingmodifier says
If you have 45 minutes to spare in Koeln and are feeling historical, the Roman Praetorium ruins are worth a visit.
jedibear says
Interesting coincidence. I just conquered Koln.
Lofty says
It’s not supposed to make sense. Meatballs just are. The FSM moves in mysterious ways.
stwriley says
Stick with it, PZ, you’re doing the right thing by staying awake. If you stay up and immediately force yourself into the new timezone’s pattern, you’ll be less jet-lagged later. Not sure why it works (an area for study by some enterprising graduate student, perhaps) but it’s always worked for me and my wife, even though we have different sleep and metabolic patterns.
FossilFishy (NOBODY, and proud of it!) says
I was going to blame that Higgs fellow, but it turns out I can’t. So I’ll just say that gravity sucks.
goaded says
Two words: Chocolate Museum. (Admittedly, not a very sciency museum.)
Some more words: Koelsh (test tubes of beer that keep coming until you are under the table or cover the glass with your beer mat), and Halver Hahn is not half a chicken, it’s rye bread roll with cheese.
rq says
Turns out, PZ arrives, and the train strike is over.
What magical powers you have, PZ!
simonfaber says
A disc makes way more sense.
Orac says
Hah. You should have tried surgery residency back in the days before work hour restrictions. Weakling!
slithey tove (twas brillig (stevem)) says
ooooo….Dangerous wording there, be careful. Ripe for quotemining, there. It’s hard to see your tongue in your cheek when you wrote that. Woards are dangerous. Not only to others, but to oneself.
diurnal rhythms are so inset into our biology, PZ should know somethin about that. But can be compensated. Beer is NOT the answer, no matter what Homer Simpson will tell ya. Cowbunga dude.
opposablethumbs says
Well somebody with “WIZZARD” on their hat was probably involved. Either that or B.S. Johnson.
sawells says
Seconding @1 re the Roman ruins. “Koeln” (Cologne) derives from Latin “Colonia”, the city was once Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium – the Claudian Colony and Altar of the Agrippinenses.
Usernames! (ᵔᴥᵔ) says
It makes prefect sense! The arguments at the Conference of Hydrogen held just after planck time were numerous and persuasive. Just because you were busy, or something, and couldn’t be bothered to attend is no excuse: the entire thing is on YouTubes.
Now, take some personal responsibility: we were NEVER supposed to travel as fast as you did. Walking or swimming/drifting are the only “natural” modes of transportation. Since you decided to ignore all common sense and decency and travel in your “death-tube” at 30,000 ft in the air, then you get what you get. :P
anteprepro says
Sleep is for the weak? No, the term that comes to mind is “No rest for the wicked” :P
Giliell, professional cynic -Ilk- says
There and back again.
I can confirm that PZ is indeed in Köln, or at least he was three hours ago when I left.
PZ, lunch with you was really nice, we have to repeat that some time again!
chigau (違う) says
So, tell us PZ.
What is Giliell really like?
Lynna, OM says
I think PZ is a bit loopy from lack of sleep. He’s on a spinning sphere so that, even when loopy, he can’t walk off the edge into the void.
opie says
You really must go see the Koln Cathedral (The Dome). It will blow your mind. And it has the added benefit of being near the best of the Kolsch breweries, Fruh am Dom. There are at least 6 other breweries withing walking distance as well, but Fruh is the best.
Don’t think, just do it.
eeyore says
The Bible says there is no rest for the wicked, and it also says the righteous don’t need any, so nobody gets any.
Rich Woods says
@rq #7:
He must have flown over the UK on the way to Koln, because our threatened weekend train strike has been called off too!
zoniedude says
“which probably means I’ll muddle along in a delirium until I die”
Isn’t that a fairly accurate description of life?
Michael says
If you are up for the climb to the top of the cathedral, it’s worth doing for the view.
llewelly says
It will eat your brain, Duke of Köln.
psanity says
Nancy: I feel faint! The whole world is spinning!
Nick Danger: Why, that’s lucky for us, Nancy — If it were flat, all the Chinese would fall off!
Nancy: Ooooohhhhhhh…
Nick: Why, she’s no fun; she fell right over.