Comments on "The Edge of Physics" - A Journey to Earth's Extremes to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe by Anil Anathaswamy
About a century ago the sciences of particle physics and cosmology could be studied and appreciated by millions of educated amateur scientists all over the world. In spite of the very commendable efforts of Anil Anathaswamy, and others, times have changed considerably. However, if anybody is tempted to think that contemporary theoretical and experimental physicists are talking nonsense simply because outsiders can rarely really understand their esoteric subjects, this book should persuade them to give up such opinions.
Among the 9 or more places of advanced study visited by the author, the LHC, or Large Hadron Collider, located in France and Switzerland, seems to be the most publicized, as well as controversial. Needles to say, the project is enormously impressive; even more so than expected.
This super collider contains the world's greatest vacuums. They cannot even be measured and are equivalent to 600 miles out in space. The collider's proton beams might get "lost", and are "dangerous", moving "at full throttle" with energy equivalent to "400 ton trains traveling 150 kilometers per hour", "liquefying anything directly" in their path.
Most amazing is that the 40,000 tons of special magnets are the coldest things, or places, in the entire universe; even colder than outer space. They require 5 weeks to cool down, and 5 weeks to warm back up to room temperature.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Experimental Blog #29
Comments on the book "Supreme Conflict - The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court" by Jan Crawford Greenburg
Jan Crawford Greenburg's book on the politics and recent history of the United States Supreme Court is, naturally, supremely interesting and informative. It is especially so from about the time of 1981, the year Sandra Day O'Conner was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, to about 2006.
This book is also more specifically informative and interesting about the court appointments and careers of Justices William Rehnquist, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, and David Souter, as well as the more recent appointments of Justices John Roberts and Sam Alito.
The author also describes in very informative detail the concepts of the "New Federalism", first heard during the presidency of Richard Nixon, and "judicial restraint". Both concepts are associated with Republican Party efforts to transform, overrule, or "roll back" some of the earlier liberal court rulings. The author writes that these efforts failed several times, but eventually succeeded.
Jan Crawford Greenburg also describes very interestingly the Supreme Court's involvement and rulings in the stalled election of the year 2000, between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
Jan Crawford Greenburg's book on the politics and recent history of the United States Supreme Court is, naturally, supremely interesting and informative. It is especially so from about the time of 1981, the year Sandra Day O'Conner was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, to about 2006.
This book is also more specifically informative and interesting about the court appointments and careers of Justices William Rehnquist, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, and David Souter, as well as the more recent appointments of Justices John Roberts and Sam Alito.
The author also describes in very informative detail the concepts of the "New Federalism", first heard during the presidency of Richard Nixon, and "judicial restraint". Both concepts are associated with Republican Party efforts to transform, overrule, or "roll back" some of the earlier liberal court rulings. The author writes that these efforts failed several times, but eventually succeeded.
Jan Crawford Greenburg also describes very interestingly the Supreme Court's involvement and rulings in the stalled election of the year 2000, between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Experimental Blog #28
Comments on 2 books
"A Is for American" - Letters and Other Characters in the Newly United States by Jill Lepore
This original American historian demonstrates how much can be investigated and written about language, and its several cognitive aspects, and how important it all is to individual and national identity.
Jill Lepore's narritives of seven people include prominent known Americans, as well as an American Indian named George Guess, but better known as Sequoyah; and an African named Abd al-Rahman Ibrahima, who was brought to America to be a slave when he was about 26 years of age, but obtained his freedom about 40 years later, and went back to Africa of his own accord.
All of these people left their mark in the world as thoughtful, mentally active, and productive individuals.
"Conspirator" - Lenin in Exile by Helen Rappaport
It seems that Vladimir Ulyanov was a consistent, lifelong, and conscientious student and scholar; but before he was 20 years old he was already getting into trouble with the Okhrana, the Department for the Protection of Order and Public Security.
Vladimir, and his wife Nadya, would spend their entire adult lives repeatedly moving to avoid arrest, or in exile in Siberia{about 3 years}, or in many places in Europe{England, Switzerland, Finland, France, Poland, Germany}from about 30 years of age{for Vladimir}, in 1900 to 47 years of age, in 1917.
This book describes in remarkable detail the many events and people of those years, and in the process describes and uncovers a more believable and human story.
The amount of Lenin's collected works, at least 45 volumes, is truly extraordinary.
"A Is for American" - Letters and Other Characters in the Newly United States by Jill Lepore
This original American historian demonstrates how much can be investigated and written about language, and its several cognitive aspects, and how important it all is to individual and national identity.
Jill Lepore's narritives of seven people include prominent known Americans, as well as an American Indian named George Guess, but better known as Sequoyah; and an African named Abd al-Rahman Ibrahima, who was brought to America to be a slave when he was about 26 years of age, but obtained his freedom about 40 years later, and went back to Africa of his own accord.
All of these people left their mark in the world as thoughtful, mentally active, and productive individuals.
"Conspirator" - Lenin in Exile by Helen Rappaport
It seems that Vladimir Ulyanov was a consistent, lifelong, and conscientious student and scholar; but before he was 20 years old he was already getting into trouble with the Okhrana, the Department for the Protection of Order and Public Security.
Vladimir, and his wife Nadya, would spend their entire adult lives repeatedly moving to avoid arrest, or in exile in Siberia{about 3 years}, or in many places in Europe{England, Switzerland, Finland, France, Poland, Germany}from about 30 years of age{for Vladimir}, in 1900 to 47 years of age, in 1917.
This book describes in remarkable detail the many events and people of those years, and in the process describes and uncovers a more believable and human story.
The amount of Lenin's collected works, at least 45 volumes, is truly extraordinary.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Experimental Blog #27
Comments on "The Fossil Hunter" - Dinosaurs, Evolution, and the Woman Whose Discoveries Changed the World by Shelley Emling and "The Sisters of Sinai" - How Two Lady Adventurers Discovered the Hidden Gospels by Janet Soskice
The somewhat peculiarly written book by Shelley Emling is about the life and work of the English amateur/professional fossil hunter named Mary Anning. However, the book is also very much about the beginning modern sciences of geology, biology, and paleontology; mostly in early 19th century England, as well as France and Switzerland. Although all the scientists and searchers in these activities were religious, that is, they believed in the Bible and religion to a greater or lesser degree, and not infrequently to a very great degree; in the longer run they all contributed to establishing and accumulating scientific truth; that is, all the facts of the natural world concerning matter, space, and time. And, although it is absurd to believe that some, or all, of this scientific truth could ever be contradicted or "overthrown", the scientific understanding of things is continuously altering and expanding.
The second book above, by Janet Soskice, describes the meticulous search and deciphering of the most ancient palimpsests in order to obtain the, presumably, least distorted or adulterated versions of the books of the Bible. This search and study was in large part stimulated by the earlier scientific efforts of the people written about in Shelley Emling's book, and, of course, many others; whose scientific discoveries were undermining the authority of the Bible and religion in general.
However the results of the work of the biblical scholars supported them in the belief that they were in possession, as close as humanly possible, of the "Divine Revelation" attributed to Jesus Christ, that is, a divine revelation of supernatural, eternal, absolute and unchanging factual and moral truth, instruction, and guidance for all human life.
The somewhat peculiarly written book by Shelley Emling is about the life and work of the English amateur/professional fossil hunter named Mary Anning. However, the book is also very much about the beginning modern sciences of geology, biology, and paleontology; mostly in early 19th century England, as well as France and Switzerland. Although all the scientists and searchers in these activities were religious, that is, they believed in the Bible and religion to a greater or lesser degree, and not infrequently to a very great degree; in the longer run they all contributed to establishing and accumulating scientific truth; that is, all the facts of the natural world concerning matter, space, and time. And, although it is absurd to believe that some, or all, of this scientific truth could ever be contradicted or "overthrown", the scientific understanding of things is continuously altering and expanding.
The second book above, by Janet Soskice, describes the meticulous search and deciphering of the most ancient palimpsests in order to obtain the, presumably, least distorted or adulterated versions of the books of the Bible. This search and study was in large part stimulated by the earlier scientific efforts of the people written about in Shelley Emling's book, and, of course, many others; whose scientific discoveries were undermining the authority of the Bible and religion in general.
However the results of the work of the biblical scholars supported them in the belief that they were in possession, as close as humanly possible, of the "Divine Revelation" attributed to Jesus Christ, that is, a divine revelation of supernatural, eternal, absolute and unchanging factual and moral truth, instruction, and guidance for all human life.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Experimental Blog #26
Comments on 2 books
"Franklin Pierce" by Michael F. Holt
The author of this book, possibly the briefest in "The American Presidents" series, writes that although Franklin Pierce was one of the "most amiable and congenial" and personally charming men to ever become an American president, he served from 1853 to 1857, he is usually ranked by historians as one of the 6 to 8 worst because of "his obsession with preserving the unity of the Democratic Party." He did what he did by consistently catering to, or appeasing the southern Democratic slaveholders. Franklin Pierce was from New Hampshire. However, could the Democratic Party, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson, a Virginia slaveholder; and later identified, almost to the present day, with the politics of Andrew Jackson, a Tennessee slaveholder, really have been expected to do anything to limit the expansion of slavery?
Another book in this series claimed that Zachary Taylor, who was a southern Whig, and who was inaugarated in 1849 and died about 20 months later in 1850, was America's last chance to avoid civil war, because Zachary Taylor, although a large scale slaveholder, was sincerely opposed to the expansion of slavery to the new territories.
However, would northerners have accepted a serious and firm enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Laws, including the suppression of the famous Underground Railroad? And could Zachary Taylor, had he lived, have persuaded enough southern slaveholders to accept that there would be no more new slave states?
"And so the war came," said Abraham Lincoln years later, in 1865, when the war was almost over.
"The Cave Painters" - Probing the Mysteries of the World's First Artists by Gregory Curtis
For about 1000 generations, or about 20,000 years, as far as we know; that is, from about 32,000 to 10,000 years ago; anatomically modern Europeans created an artistic record of cave paintings and engravings. Almost 350 such caves have been discovered so far, and except for a "widely scattered few", they are all located in southern France and northern Spain.
These cave paintings and engravings reveal the abundant large animal world in which their creators lived. The animals are represented in great, but fluctuating numbers; sometimes in "huge vivid herds" of horses, reindeer, bison, mammoths, cows, bulls, bears, and even a rhinoceros.
"Franklin Pierce" by Michael F. Holt
The author of this book, possibly the briefest in "The American Presidents" series, writes that although Franklin Pierce was one of the "most amiable and congenial" and personally charming men to ever become an American president, he served from 1853 to 1857, he is usually ranked by historians as one of the 6 to 8 worst because of "his obsession with preserving the unity of the Democratic Party." He did what he did by consistently catering to, or appeasing the southern Democratic slaveholders. Franklin Pierce was from New Hampshire. However, could the Democratic Party, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson, a Virginia slaveholder; and later identified, almost to the present day, with the politics of Andrew Jackson, a Tennessee slaveholder, really have been expected to do anything to limit the expansion of slavery?
Another book in this series claimed that Zachary Taylor, who was a southern Whig, and who was inaugarated in 1849 and died about 20 months later in 1850, was America's last chance to avoid civil war, because Zachary Taylor, although a large scale slaveholder, was sincerely opposed to the expansion of slavery to the new territories.
However, would northerners have accepted a serious and firm enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Laws, including the suppression of the famous Underground Railroad? And could Zachary Taylor, had he lived, have persuaded enough southern slaveholders to accept that there would be no more new slave states?
"And so the war came," said Abraham Lincoln years later, in 1865, when the war was almost over.
"The Cave Painters" - Probing the Mysteries of the World's First Artists by Gregory Curtis
For about 1000 generations, or about 20,000 years, as far as we know; that is, from about 32,000 to 10,000 years ago; anatomically modern Europeans created an artistic record of cave paintings and engravings. Almost 350 such caves have been discovered so far, and except for a "widely scattered few", they are all located in southern France and northern Spain.
These cave paintings and engravings reveal the abundant large animal world in which their creators lived. The animals are represented in great, but fluctuating numbers; sometimes in "huge vivid herds" of horses, reindeer, bison, mammoths, cows, bulls, bears, and even a rhinoceros.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Experimental Blog #25
Comments on "Can't Remember What I Forgot - The Good News from the Front Lines of Memory Research" by Sue Halpern and "The Male Brain" - A Breakthrough Understanding of How Men and Boys Think by Louann Brizendine
Both of these books seem to be exceptional examples of the incredible developements in the neurosciences of recent decades.
The first author, Sue Halpern, has a doctorate degree and once taught at a prestigious medical college, but she is more known for her writing as an educated "outsider" to science or medicine. Her whole book is a very detailed account of research into the treatment for Alzheimer's desease. She could be described as obsessed with Alzheimer's desease to the point of being tedious, but she can be excused because this desease apparently runs in her family. Besides that, her book is none the less interesting to people with other neurological deficits.
The author of the second book, Louann Brizendine, is a practicing medical doctor, or psychiatrist, and a professor of clinical psychiatry. Her first book, "The Female Brain", was a "New York Times" best seller. Although, apparently, it did not escape some criticism.
All that I will say about her second book, "The Male Brain", is that it was similar to taking very strong medicine, or receiving very severe treatment for those of us with unlucky neurological deficits. But it was a considerable, or at least significant, help; in spite of having to recover from her medicine, or treatment.
Both of these books seem to be exceptional examples of the incredible developements in the neurosciences of recent decades.
The first author, Sue Halpern, has a doctorate degree and once taught at a prestigious medical college, but she is more known for her writing as an educated "outsider" to science or medicine. Her whole book is a very detailed account of research into the treatment for Alzheimer's desease. She could be described as obsessed with Alzheimer's desease to the point of being tedious, but she can be excused because this desease apparently runs in her family. Besides that, her book is none the less interesting to people with other neurological deficits.
The author of the second book, Louann Brizendine, is a practicing medical doctor, or psychiatrist, and a professor of clinical psychiatry. Her first book, "The Female Brain", was a "New York Times" best seller. Although, apparently, it did not escape some criticism.
All that I will say about her second book, "The Male Brain", is that it was similar to taking very strong medicine, or receiving very severe treatment for those of us with unlucky neurological deficits. But it was a considerable, or at least significant, help; in spite of having to recover from her medicine, or treatment.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Experimental Blog #24
Comments on 2 books
"A Mountain of Crumbs" - A Memoir by Elena Gorokhova
Elena Gorokhova's book comes recommended by 10 accomplished authors{counting Sergei Krushchev}. It provides many, both first and second hand, vivid and often charming descriptions of Russian-Soviet life. I also found the extensive comments, or reviews, of Russian classical authors to be very educational.
Although I could not really believe the author remembered her own childhood and young adult dreams of long ago as well as she describes, it didn't seem to matter very much.
The title, "A Mountain of Crumbs", comes from a second hand description of coping with the extreme scarcity of food in the early years of the Soviet Union, but it seems that Elena Gorokhova uses it to describe her own experience and opinion of the artificiality and pretending of official Soviet life. But how basically different was that life, or society, from other similar places or times?
"The Relentless Revolution - A History of Capitalism" by Joyce Appleby
This book is described as "a crowning achievement" and a "capstone to a distinguished career" and in other glowing terms by some of the author's equally distinguished colleagues. It certainly was very educational and clarifying on many pages, but on other pages the language and style seemed, perhaps, supercilious or obfuscating or, at least somewhat "trendy" or "closed to outsiders".
Since "Capitalism" is not really a creed as "Communism" or "Marxism" are, or were, perhaps even the basic thesis is debatable. That is, does "Capitalism" really have a history? Or, at least, what kind of history can "Capitalism" have outside the minds of a historically recent "specialized few"?
At least many people, both liberals and conservatives, apparently agree that since the end of the Soviet Union{if not actually several years earlier} we are living in a "new", or different era.
"A Mountain of Crumbs" - A Memoir by Elena Gorokhova
Elena Gorokhova's book comes recommended by 10 accomplished authors{counting Sergei Krushchev}. It provides many, both first and second hand, vivid and often charming descriptions of Russian-Soviet life. I also found the extensive comments, or reviews, of Russian classical authors to be very educational.
Although I could not really believe the author remembered her own childhood and young adult dreams of long ago as well as she describes, it didn't seem to matter very much.
The title, "A Mountain of Crumbs", comes from a second hand description of coping with the extreme scarcity of food in the early years of the Soviet Union, but it seems that Elena Gorokhova uses it to describe her own experience and opinion of the artificiality and pretending of official Soviet life. But how basically different was that life, or society, from other similar places or times?
"The Relentless Revolution - A History of Capitalism" by Joyce Appleby
This book is described as "a crowning achievement" and a "capstone to a distinguished career" and in other glowing terms by some of the author's equally distinguished colleagues. It certainly was very educational and clarifying on many pages, but on other pages the language and style seemed, perhaps, supercilious or obfuscating or, at least somewhat "trendy" or "closed to outsiders".
Since "Capitalism" is not really a creed as "Communism" or "Marxism" are, or were, perhaps even the basic thesis is debatable. That is, does "Capitalism" really have a history? Or, at least, what kind of history can "Capitalism" have outside the minds of a historically recent "specialized few"?
At least many people, both liberals and conservatives, apparently agree that since the end of the Soviet Union{if not actually several years earlier} we are living in a "new", or different era.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)