Somewhere in a Russian forest, high up on a mountain in a bear cage, Fedor laughed.
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Monday, October 26, 2009
Interesting things that 'keep physicists awake'
The one that, well, doesn't keep me awake (nothing does :), but makes me wonder about sometimes is not really a physics question but it is this: how much intelligence is there in us subconsciously versus consciously? How much is there in other species as well?
Here is where my question comes from: so very much of our body exists and continues working and flourishing without us ever thinking about it. We heal ourselves, our heart keeps beating, on and on and on. This happens in the natural world too with species (and even in between species). It happens in such weird ways, as Jessica pointed out yesterday, that little caterpillars eat milkweed and then instinctively molt and change into butterflies. Do they know what they are doing?
Where is this line between 'instinctual knowledge' and learned knowledge and can it be broken? I think in rare cases we have seen it done through meditation and whatnot (when monks are able to slow their heartbeat down to almost nothing)...
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Thursday, October 15, 2009
I had to do it. I had to let him know:
Bill, I am going to give it to you straight: give up the podcast ghost. I have given you an honest try on the podcast angle and it just ain't your thing dude - writing is. I have only recently started to get into podcasts and I would download yours and Carolla's podcasts but the difference between the two was STARK. He is a radio guy and you are a columnist. I think if he were to start writing columns I would laugh at him just as some of your podcasts, frankly, break the unintentional comedy meter. Ok, I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but seriously dude you are a columnist. Btw, I have your book on pre-order and am really looking forward to it. Later
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Monday, October 12, 2009
We ask today: is Hillary Clinton marginalized? Silly, silly question but I did have to respond:
Hello, Hope all is well. I wanted to write as I think it is somewhat interesting you made the point that Hillary Clinton seems to be marginalized when it seems the larger point very well may be: our government is completely marginalized. Now far be it from me to jump on some crazy conspiracy train, but I think the facts are there right now for you as a huge news organization to take this story on day after day from the huge amount of calls our government was getting from Citi and Goldman in September 2008 to the law winding it's way to the Supreme Court opening up the flood gates to corporate funding to the 6 healthcare lobbyists for every congressman: there is a huge story to be told there and that is our government is marginalized. Ideally if Reuters were to really push on this story perhaps we would start to see some real lasting change in this country including, but not limited to, public campaign financing and air time. Perhaps Reuters could even explore making a model of this yourselves for the good of our country and our children. If you would like more ideas or to discuss my vision further in this regard I would be happy to discuss things with you. Best Regards
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To our libertarian friends: Markets are not everything.
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Monday, October 05, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/05/opinion/05krugman.html?_r=1
There was what President Obama likes to call a teachable moment last week, when the International Olympic Committee rejected Chicago’s bid to be host of the 2016 Summer Games.
So what did we learn from this moment? For one thing, we learned that the modern conservative movement, which dominates the modern Republican Party, has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old.
Personally I wished he had also called out the party, more forcibly, on the fact that instead of offering helpful counter-proposals on the healthcare debate (which anyone who has analyzed says something has to be changed) the Republicans seem to just be standing there, to borrow his phrase, like bratty 13 year olds. I can only imagine if I had showed up to a debate in high school and simply said, 'Nope that is wrong and you are going to fail' instead of saying or offering anything constructive and yet we allow this to occur with regularity when it comes to the future of our nation? Shocking and sad.
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Friday, October 02, 2009
What a fucking moronic article. I hesitate to even post about it, but talk about equivocation to the major detriment of actual reporting. Mr. Dyke....s you really are an idiot if you think the actions being taken by the White House, by calling out Fox News for just completely making shit up, any way equivocates to a station going on the air, 24 hours a day, and just blasting lies under a guise of 'fair and balanced'. Despite the fact that you don't seem to be a real reporter, you should at least show concern for your country and fellow citizens to say: 'Yes, Fox News has been spreading incredible lies and inciting this country's, frankly, less educated citizens and it does have to stop.'
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Thursday, October 01, 2009
'The growth of emerging economies is “symbolic of the relative, less dominant position the United States has, not just in the economy but in leadership, intellectual and otherwise,” Volcker said.'
Emphasis mine
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