In a break from the elevated sciences of A Briefer History of Time, I have moved on to another information-heavy but considerably more light-hearted body of text.
Al Franken is a funny dude. I don't always agree with him on his political points, but The Truth isn't here to push liberal views, it is to revoke the campaign tactics of the Republican party, and some of their social views as well. And, let's face it, the people at the top of the Republican party as of now aren't coming across as particularly intelligent. In fact, they are coming across as Lying Liars who happen to tell a lot of Lies. (I sincerely apologize if you disagree with me).
The only issue I find with this book is Al can be a little offensive sometimes. However, I've always thought that if you can't deal with a little cursing and slurring, you might need to grow up a little bit.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
September Blog #6: A Briefer History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, published 2005
Did I say I wanted to read some heavier stuff? I got heavier stuff.
Not too heavy, mind you, that is part of the beauty of this book. But Hawking's talk of theories and how partial theories do not necessarily relate to one another and will not necessarily create a universal truth is a bit deeper.
It's a bit funny that immediately after Hawking explains that a universal theory may or may not dictate our human nature, and it may be impossible for us to ever truly understand such a thing because we may not be rational beings, he falls back on Darwin's theory of natural selection to back himself up. What a mouthful.
Not too heavy, mind you, that is part of the beauty of this book. But Hawking's talk of theories and how partial theories do not necessarily relate to one another and will not necessarily create a universal truth is a bit deeper.
It's a bit funny that immediately after Hawking explains that a universal theory may or may not dictate our human nature, and it may be impossible for us to ever truly understand such a thing because we may not be rational beings, he falls back on Darwin's theory of natural selection to back himself up. What a mouthful.
September Blog #5: A Briefer History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, published 2005
Current Chapter: 3
How does one even begin to fathom the secrets of our universe? Who holds the key?
The answer, my friends, is not blowing in the wind. Past philosophers such as Aristotle and Ptolemy began a rather difficult job, and Stephen Hawking is doing his best to finish it.
A Briefer History of time is (so far) an incredibly accessible book. Hawking, one of the greatest minds of our time, has condensed the progression of our understanding of the universe into two chapters in a book. That alone says something.
Now, I'm not going to say I haven't learned anything, but I am looking forward to some of the heavier stuff, because I've already read a great deal about Ptolemy. Nerd alert!
How does one even begin to fathom the secrets of our universe? Who holds the key?
The answer, my friends, is not blowing in the wind. Past philosophers such as Aristotle and Ptolemy began a rather difficult job, and Stephen Hawking is doing his best to finish it.
A Briefer History of time is (so far) an incredibly accessible book. Hawking, one of the greatest minds of our time, has condensed the progression of our understanding of the universe into two chapters in a book. That alone says something.
Now, I'm not going to say I haven't learned anything, but I am looking forward to some of the heavier stuff, because I've already read a great deal about Ptolemy. Nerd alert!
Friday, September 11, 2009
September Blog #4: The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, published 1948
Quite the morbid story, don't you think?
If you have not read The Lottery, I highly recommend it. It is now one of my favorite short stories I have read.
Considering the time it was written, one can only imagine the sort of uproar a story like this created. Actually, I typed the story into google to learn a little more about it, and read about the uproar it created. Hooray for advances in modern science.
But, on to the story. A happy gathering of people, where people happily wait for someone to be chosen to die. It is a lottery, about as fair as it gets when it comes to chances. But it is not fair once someone has been called upon.
There are a lot of themes running around in this story, but I think that the driving theme is how human nature is unfair, and also disrespectful.
If you have not read The Lottery, I highly recommend it. It is now one of my favorite short stories I have read.
Considering the time it was written, one can only imagine the sort of uproar a story like this created. Actually, I typed the story into google to learn a little more about it, and read about the uproar it created. Hooray for advances in modern science.
But, on to the story. A happy gathering of people, where people happily wait for someone to be chosen to die. It is a lottery, about as fair as it gets when it comes to chances. But it is not fair once someone has been called upon.
There are a lot of themes running around in this story, but I think that the driving theme is how human nature is unfair, and also disrespectful.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
September Blog #2: "Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus," by LiveScience, published 2009
A fascinating article I read fairly recently.
Apparently, fungi in South America land on an ant, and then direct them to the spot ideal for the ant to die and fungus to live and reproduce. The ant then clamps it's mandibles down on the spot.
This is where it gets really interesting. Next, the fungus explodes out of the back of the ants head. Yikes!
Kind of creepy, no? I think so. The implications are extraordinary, yet scientists have no idea how the fungus controls the ant so precisely. Scientists are still observing the interaction between ants and fungus (don't imagine it would be too hard, what with fungi three times the size of the ant wobbling on it's head), but have yet to make a break through.
Apparently, fungi in South America land on an ant, and then direct them to the spot ideal for the ant to die and fungus to live and reproduce. The ant then clamps it's mandibles down on the spot.
This is where it gets really interesting. Next, the fungus explodes out of the back of the ants head. Yikes!
Kind of creepy, no? I think so. The implications are extraordinary, yet scientists have no idea how the fungus controls the ant so precisely. Scientists are still observing the interaction between ants and fungus (don't imagine it would be too hard, what with fungi three times the size of the ant wobbling on it's head), but have yet to make a break through.
September Blog #2: Selected Essays, by Ralph Emerson, published 1882
You know what might be the most irritating thing about the Transcendentalists? How quick they are to believe in the good of others. Do you know why that is annoying? Because everyone (including myself) wants that to be true.
But the HUMAN EXPERIENCE dictates that that is not so. Excuse me, but there are awful people out there. Is Hitler a good person at his core? Perhaps, but does that matter, in the big scheme of things? No, probably not. He was crazy, and he believed in things just as far-fetched sounding as many of the things Emerson and many others believe (I'm talking more than just transcendentalists).
I don't mean to compare Emerson to Hitler or Hussein. I mean to use those people to challenge Emerson's beliefs.
As a side note, it's kind of weird that Emerson ended Selected Essays with a surprisingly touching essay on Thoreau.
But the HUMAN EXPERIENCE dictates that that is not so. Excuse me, but there are awful people out there. Is Hitler a good person at his core? Perhaps, but does that matter, in the big scheme of things? No, probably not. He was crazy, and he believed in things just as far-fetched sounding as many of the things Emerson and many others believe (I'm talking more than just transcendentalists).
I don't mean to compare Emerson to Hitler or Hussein. I mean to use those people to challenge Emerson's beliefs.
As a side note, it's kind of weird that Emerson ended Selected Essays with a surprisingly touching essay on Thoreau.
September Blog #1: Selected Essays, by Ralph Emerson, published 1882
Why, oh why, did I start reading this?
I think I should've known that I had had enough of the transcendentalists. They're crazy. Maybe that's harsh. Maybe that's not.
But reading the essay titled "The Over-Soul" leaves me of the opinion that it is a little harsh. While I tend to agree with some of Emerson's views, I do not agree with them to the extent that he would believe them (most of the time).
For example, I agree with his belief that religion is a personal thing, and not something that is a "sweet envelope" with which to cover the people. However, Emerson is a tad more hypocritical than I am (or at least, I like to think so). He believes that only through his methods may one achieve total humility in the face of God. How can religion be so vulgar and overbearing if he claims his way is the only way?
I think I should've known that I had had enough of the transcendentalists. They're crazy. Maybe that's harsh. Maybe that's not.
But reading the essay titled "The Over-Soul" leaves me of the opinion that it is a little harsh. While I tend to agree with some of Emerson's views, I do not agree with them to the extent that he would believe them (most of the time).
For example, I agree with his belief that religion is a personal thing, and not something that is a "sweet envelope" with which to cover the people. However, Emerson is a tad more hypocritical than I am (or at least, I like to think so). He believes that only through his methods may one achieve total humility in the face of God. How can religion be so vulgar and overbearing if he claims his way is the only way?
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