Playing with Jonatha Brooke is Christine McKinley, a mechanical engineer, or as she describes it, "science nerd," musician and author who recently released her book, "Physics for Rock Stars: Making the Laws of the Universe Work for You." The Source caught up with McKinley about how rock stars and science are both sexy, and about how to jump a moving train.
Source Weekly: What is "Physics for Rock Stars: Making the Laws of the Universe Work for You" all about?
Christine McKinley: I started talking with friends about physics and realized how little my very smart friends knew about atomic structure and gravitational acceleration. I worried that they had nothing to think about at red lights and baby showers, so I wrote this book for them. It's a simple romp through the basics of physics – the one you missed in high school because you were terrifically stoned. In "Physics for Rock Stars," you'll see how the laws of motion and energy actually do apply to your high school career goals of drummer, secret agent, or runway model.
SW: Can you really help me learn to jump off a moving train? (Your Amazon.com book description says you can).
CM: Better than that, I can teach you how to win a fistfight on a moving train. If you want to be a secret agent or cowboy, you will need to know how to time your strikes with the movement of the train. It's all about momentum. The first step is to position yourself so that you can see the front of the train. You don't have to be stronger than the bad guy, but you do need to be smarter than him.
But I worry about how much you trust Amazon. If you enter "Gifts for Women" Amazon suggests an apron, a pink tool kit, and a feminine travel urinal. I'm not kidding, Try it.
SW: What would Bill Nye's album sound like?
CM: I know he would want his album to be danceable so he could show off his skills. But, if it were mine to produce, I'd record a single 90-minute piece with him screaming equations punctuated by ferocious clarinet solo.
"Voices" a celebration of singer songwriters
with Jonatha Brooke, Peter Bradley Adams and Christine McKinley Sun., Sept. 21 6 pm. Athletic Club of Bend, 61615 Athletic Club Dr. $24-64.
