In fact, the thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere, compared with the size of the Earth, is in about the same ratio as the thickness of a coat of shellac on a schoolroom globe is to the diameter of the globe. That’s the air that nurtures us and almost all other life on Earth, that protects us from deadly ultraviolet light from the sun, that through the greenhouse effect brings the surface temperature above the freezing point. (Without the greenhouse effect, the entire Earth would plunge below the freezing point of water and we’d all be dead.) Now that atmosphere, so thin and fragile, is under assault by our technology. We are pumping all kinds of stuff into it. You know about the concern that chlorofluorocarbons are depleting the ozone layer; and that carbon dioxide and methane and other greenhouse gases are producing global warming, a steady trend amidst fluctuations produced by volcanic eruptions and other sources. Who knows what other challenges we are posing to this vulnerable layer of air that we haven’t been wise enough to foresee? | |
— Carl Sagan | |
[The title for this post is a line from a TV series (“Room 222“) which aired from the late 1960’s to mid-1970’s. One episode on the show dealt with air pollution in Southern California. The “message” was that if environmental damage “only” kills half the human population, the other half will be able to tell their children: “Once upon a time…” — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | A Wonderful Tension |
2021 | Little And Large Choices |
I Got Something To Say | |
Alternate Reality | |
2020 | When? |
2019 | Two Guides |
2018 | A Call For You |
2017 | Because I Read |
2016 | On What Matters… |
2015 | Social Security |
2014 | Bewitching |
2013 | Visiting Joy |
2012 | Dedication To Today |
2011 | Project Second Chance – Adult Literacy |
Turning Coal Into Diamonds | |
Archive for the ‘Science and Learning’ Category
Once Upon A Time There Was Air You Couldn’t See…
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Air Pollution, Atmosphere, Carl Sagan, Earth, Environment, Global Warming, Greenhouse Effect, Philosophy, Quotes, Room 222, Science on March 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »
No Implication Of Reasonableness
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged American Politics, Carl Sagan, Human Nature, Philosophy, Pseudo-Science, Quotes, Science and Learning, Scientists on December 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Very few scientists actually plunge into the murky waters of testing or challenging borderline or pseudo-scientific beliefs. The chance of finding out something really interesting — except about human nature — seems small, and the amount of time required seems large. I believe that scientists should spend more time in discussing these issues, but the fact that a given contention lacks vigorous scientific opposition in no way implies that scientists think it is reasonable. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Let Yourself Soar In 2022 |
Where You’re Concerned | |
2020 | The Most Dynamic Link |
Looking Forward To 2021 | |
2019 | A Proud Assertion |
2018 | Ask #45 About Anything |
2017 | Playing Makes Sense |
2016 | And Fathers, Sons |
2015 | My Suspect Confidence |
2014 | Disguised Blessings |
2013 | Be |
2012 | The Only Way to Win |
2011 | Honest Writing |
Keep Faith, But Also Keep Learning
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Benjamin Spock, Education, Knowledge, Learning, Philosophy, Quotes, Thinking, Trust on December 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Trust yourself. You know more than you think. | |
— Benjamin Spock | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | A Tenacious Cycle |
Once Upon A Time… | |
2020 | Kinda Like Posting To A Blog About My Day |
Just A Different Point Of View | |
You Be The Judge | |
2019 | I Think I’m Repeating Myself |
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like X-mas! | |
2018 | No Reason To Turn |
2017 | Talking Knuth |
Seeing It Through | |
2016 | Hoping For The Best Come January |
2015 | Adaptive Security |
2014 | Wants |
2013 | Side Effects |
2012 | Just Trying To Earn A Living |
2011 | Productive Worry |
Closer And Closer Possibilities
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Experiments, Philosophy, Preferences, Quotes, Science, Truth on November 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what’s true. We have a method, and that method helps us to reach not absolute truth, only asymptotic approaches to the truth — never there, just closer and closer, always finding vast new oceans of undiscovered possibilities. Cleverly designed experiments are the key. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Fighting New Guitar Fever |
Bad Trades In The Tunnel | |
2020 | Give And Gain |
Can We Talk For A Second | |
Almost Ready To Take A Breath | |
2019 | Transfiguration |
2018 | 2018 Mid-Terms |
Praying For A Blue Tsunami Election | |
2017 | Islam Is Not The Enemy |
2016 | A Checkered Past, A Checkered Future |
2015 | Preferences |
2014 | Have You Taken The Pledge? |
2013 | Nurture Tolerance |
2012 | Election Day – Please Hear What I’m Not Saying |
2011 | Mostly Strange, Always Blue |
What Is It You Want? | |
2010 | MSNBC, Bring Back Keith !!! |
Value.. | |
Worse Still… | |
Afraid So… | |
Making It | |
Don’t Jump Small | |
Time | |
Push!! | |
I’m Still Here… (A Message To Keith Olbermann) | |
Choose | |
Not Yet… | |
Mean Too | |
Still Building (and Planning) | |
Hangin’ High | |
Always… | |
A Way Of Thinking, An Essential Tool
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged A Way Of Thinking, Carl Sagan, Democracy, Facts, Hypotheses, Knowledge, New Ideas, Philosophy, Preconceptions, Quotes, Science, Scientists, Skeptical Scrutiny, Wisdom on November 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Science is much more than a body of knowledge. It is a way of thinking. This is central to its success. Science invites us to let the facts in, even when they don’t conform to our preconceptions. It counsels us to carry alternative hypotheses in our heads and see which ones best match the facts. It urges on us a fine balance between no-holds-barred openness to new ideas, however heretical, and the most rigorous skeptical scrutiny of everything — new ideas and established wisdom. We need wide appreciation of this kind of thinking. It works. It’s an essential tool for a democracy in an age of change. Our task is not just to train more scientists but also to deepen public understanding of science. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Experience A Simple Whatever |
A Thousand Kisses | |
2020 | Talking Politics With Trump Republicans |
In Another Lifetime | |
2019 | People Will Come |
Change Is Here… | |
2018 | Be My Hero – Vote Tomorrow! |
He Was All Of Us… | |
2017 | Black And White |
Advice For #DumbDonald | |
2016 | Mirror, Mirror |
2015 | Speaking With Forked Tongue |
2014 | The Code |
2013 | Eventually Formed |
2012 | Remember To Vote Tomorrow |
2011 | It Sounds Like Chaos Theory To Me |
In The Beginning…
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Apple Pie, Carl Sagan, Creation, Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Science, The Universe on November 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Are We Talking About Health Insurance / Oil Companies, Facebook Or Faux News? |
When MTV Was Young (And Fun) | |
2020 | Resting |
A New Day Just Means We Continue The Struggle (With A Smile) | |
2019 | One For Two |
Why Trump Insults Pelosi and Schiff | |
2018 | The Worst |
2017 | #DonTheCon In The Oval Office |
2016 | Are You Like #AmnestyDon And Sarah Palin? |
2015 | Begin Today |
2014 | Look Again (At Life’s Illusions) |
2013 | None Knows |
2012 | Yet |
2011 | No End In Sight |
2010 | Back At It… |
One Of The Problems (Anyway)
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Education, Experience, FAQs, Horrible Examples, How Systems Work, Human Rationality, John Gall, Laws Of Nature, Learning, Philosophy, Quotes, Systemantics (3rd Ed.): The Systems Bible on October 9, 2022| Leave a Comment »
A question frequently asked is: does not the persistent occurrence of Horrible Examples of Systems-function (or Malfunction) prove something about human nature? If humans were rational, wouldn’t they act otherwise than they do? We reply: Systems-functions are not the result of human intransigence. We take it as given that people are generally doing the very best they know how. Our point, repeatedly stressed in this text, is that Systems operate according to Laws of Nature, and that Laws of Nature are not suspended to accommodate our human shortcomings. There is no alternative to learning How Systems Work, unless one is willing to continue to run afoul of those Laws. Whoever does not study the Laws of Systemantics and learn them that way, is destined to learn them the hard way, by direct encounter in the world of Experience. That such runnning-afoul continues to occur is simply a reflection of the fact that knowledge of those laws is not yet sufficiently widespread. The problem is one of Education, and this book represents an effort in that direction. | |
― John Gall | |
From his book: “Systemantics: The Systems Bible“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Outside Yet? |
Have You Ever Won? | |
2020 | Choice |
More Rain Forecast | |
2019 | He Claims It’s Fake News And Spies |
2018 | Mine, Too |
2017 | Who’s Turn Is It Now? |
2016 | Before You Vote In November… |
2015 | Two Faithful Thoughts |
2014 | Love Light |
Orange October (III) – Giants Advance To National League Championship Series (NLCS) | |
2013 | Nothing Ridiculous |
2012 | Keeping Faith |
2011 | Summon Us, Don’t Criticize Us |
2010 | Obama’s Wars – Book Review |
Game Two – Hearbreaking Loss | |
Humble Learning
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Humility, Learning, Philosophy, Progress, Quotes, Talmud, Tongue, Wisdom on October 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Teach your tongue to say I do not know and you will progress. | |
— Talmud | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | What You’ll Find |
I Know I’m One | |
2020 | Voting Has Consequences |
We Will Get There! | |
2019 | Mutually Exclusive |
2018 | Basic Rights |
2017 | Thoughtful Attitudes |
Surprise!! | |
2016 | The Bell Tolls |
2015 | It Is What It Is |
2014 | What Have You Learned (Gently) Lately? |
Orange October (I) | |
2013 | Ignore The Man Behind The Curtain |
For A Time | |
2012 | What Are Your True Measurements |
2011 | What It Is All About |
2010 | The Magnificent Seven |
Giants Fever!! | |
Just Waiting
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Discovery, Education, Knowledge, Philosophy, Quotes, Science, Waiting on September 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | I’ll Keep Trying To Anyway |
She Knows | |
2020 | Respond |
Still Trying To Adjust | |
2019 | The Limits Of My Knowledge |
2018 | Even Tiny Progress |
2017 | Real Conservatism |
2016 | The Business Of Life |
2015 | Alone Again, Naturally |
2014 | Agreed |
2013 | Smile From Your Heart! |
2012 | Like You |
2011 | Got Days? |
2010 | K9 Humor – Has Anyone Seen My Setter? (Must read!!) |
A Longer Blog Than You Want To Read (Probably) | |
2009 | Back and Forth and Round Again… |
Vive L Différence
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Before The Law, Differences, Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia, Equality, IDIC, Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, Learning, Philosophy, Quotes, ST:TOS, Time Of Day on September 16, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Biologically and physiologically, we are not equal. Some of us learn better at different times of day. Some learn best visually, some auditorially, some tactilely, by touching. | |
— Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia | |
[IDIC* — But we should ALL be equal before the law. — kmab] | |
[IDIC — Infinite Diversity, Infinite Combinations — ST:TOS] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | At Least Not Until Sunset |
Rain On The Leaves | |
2020 | At Least A Little Less |
Two For The Post | |
2019 | Promises, Promises |
2018 | You Mean There IS Something Else? |
2017 | Be Good |
2016 | Raise Yourself |
2015 | A Kids Movie Rip-Off |
2014 | Ready, Action! |
2013 | Responding To Challenges |
2012 | Abnormal, adj. |
2011 | Large Families |
On The Brink | |
Reversing Climate Change Before It’s Too Late
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Behaviour, Climate Change, Destiny, Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Saving Humanity on September 13, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I believe that you control your destiny, that you can be what you want to be. You can also stop and say, ‘No, I won’t do it, I won’t behave this way anymore. I’m lonely and I need people around me, maybe I have to change my methods of behaving,’ and then you do it. | |
— Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Said The Anti-Vaxxer |
Ceiling Mash | |
2020 | Is #45 In Good Spirits? |
Alone With My Tears | |
2019 | Learning To… |
Day 15: Die By The Scale | |
2018 | Just Wondering |
2017 | Until I Think Of Something Better |
2016 | Who Are You? |
2015 | Renaissance Reptiles |
2014 | Book Return |
2013 | Keep Writing Your Truths |
Perilous Times For The U.S. Military | |
2012 | The Victor |
2011 | Forging Away At My Deadlines |
2010 | Try This With Your Shoes… |
A Little Of What’s Been Lost
Posted in Health, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Artisanal Skills, Bowling, Brendan I. Koerner, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Experience, Health, Maurice "Mo" Pinel, One Man's Amazing Journey to the Center of the Bowling Ball, Pandemic, Philosophy, Quotes, Sport, Vaccinations, Wired Magazine on September 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[Maurice “Mo”] Pinel dedicated a fair portion of his life to disseminating his ideas, and he left behind artifacts such as his YouTube videos that will forever serve as repositories of his eccentric wisdom. But there was so much he never managed to articulate, so much teaching he still had left to do. And because he operated in a field that withered a great deal during his decades of involvement, there is perhaps no one left with his breadth of experience nor his bone-deep sense of bowling’s elemental splendor. | |
This is what the mercilessness of the pandemic has abruptly robbed from us: tens of thousands of men and women whose rare and hard-won knowledge can never be replicated. This is how artisanal skills are forgotten, how dialects vanish, how the stories meant to sustain us ebb away from our collective memory. And it’s all happening at a pace far faster than we can grieve. | |
After meditating on all that’s been lost, I could come up with only one fitting way to honor what Mo’s time here meant. As I write these words, I stand precisely 12 days away from being fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. I plan to celebrate by taking my kids bowling. | |
— Brendan I. Koerner | |
From his article: “One Man’s Amazing Journey to the Center of the Bowling Ball“ | |
Appearing in: Wired Magazine; dtd: July / August 2021 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | I Think They Mean It |
An Endless Stream | |
2020 | ITF (365) – Update |
Word Up! | |
My Fear: A Second More Tyrannous Term | |
2019 | Reality And Imperfection |
Day 8: One Stone | |
2018 | Pity The Nation (Part 1) |
Day 41: Hiccup Or End Of Days? | |
2017 | Sharp-Edged Beauty |
2016 | Start, Keep, Finish |
2015 | Lifetime Friends |
2014 | Acknowledgement |
2013 | Longevity, Tenacity and Diversity |
2012 | What Reagan Really Cared About |
2011 | Seeming Sane (Or Not) |
The Penalty For Sedition / Insurrection / Civil War
Posted in Education, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged #45 - The Loser, 18 U.S.C. § 2384, American Politics, Civil War, Conspiracy, Equal Justice Under Law, Former President Donald Trump, Insurrection, Law And Order, Mar-a-Lago, National Security, Sedition, Senator Lindsey Graham, The First Amendment, Treason on August 29, 2022| 3 Comments »
Over the last weekend, Senator Lyndsey Graham (R – South Carolina) was interviewed on TV and virtually assured that if former President Trump is indicted for taking classified government documents to Mar-a-Lago, there will be “riots in the streets”. | |
My response to Sen. Graham is: “Fine! Rioters will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law…” | |
Under 18 U.S.C. § 2384, “seditious conspiracy” occurs when two or more persons: | |
conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof. | |
NO ONE is above the law – particularly when it comes to the defense of National Security. This especially includes former Presidents! | |
If there is sufficient evidence to indict / convict Donald Trump, then he should be indicted, arrested and brought to trial. If found guilty, Trump should serve time. If found not guilty, Trump should be released. He IS presumed to be NOT guilty until he has been found guilty by a jury of his peers. | |
If individuals (or groups) wish to meet PEACEFULLY to object to / protest the indictment, trial, or results, they have their First Amendment right to do so. They DO NOT have the right to riot or interfere with the process of the lawful administration of justice. | |
Anyone found guilty of rioting and / or conspiracy to riot should be placed on a domestic terrorist watch list for the remainder of their natural lives. They should be reminded that – in the “good, old days” – terrorism, sedition and insurrection were punished by death. | |
If we – as a nation – accept the threat of violence (“riots in the streets”) as a reason to not prosecute ANYONE who would otherwise be subject to prosecution / trial, then we are no longer a country ruled by law. | |
The general public needs to be reminded former President Trump was not the only person in his Administration who was aware of the unlawful removal and possession of government documents (not just the “classified” documents), and they should ALL be indicted and prosecuted. This is the only way to ensure this does not happen again – by an Administration from either political party. | |
“Equal Justice Under Law…“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | How Learning Infections Begin |
Stay Young At Heart | |
2020 | Policies Not People |
Just Thinking To Myself | |
2019 | Should I Start With My Religion? |
2018 | Fear And Hope |
Day 33: Good News & Prep | |
2017 | Directions |
2016 | Handle With Care |
2015 | Nothing But Pride |
2014 | Go |
2013 | Well, Does It? |
2012 | Near Misses Aren’t Successes |
2011 | Uncomfortable Feelings |
2010 | San Francisco (favorites)… |
Bullets or Butter? | |
Unlimited Curiosity In Finite Time
Posted in Education, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged A Matter Of Philosophy, Beauty, Consciousness, countingducks.wordpress.com, Curiosity, Currency, La La Land, Love, Other Blogs, Peter Wells, Philosophy, Poetry, Quotes, Silence, Temptations on August 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I want to know what everything is, and nothing is; the beauty of a note and the silence which surrounds it. I like to know and understand myself, and those whom I meet, or nearly meet. I am conscious that I will not always be conscious: that my curiosity is unlimited but my time is finite, and I cannot waste a moment of it in acquiring things which will not make me richer in a way I value. | |
The amusing thing is many would consider me as living in la la land, where poetry is a secret form of currency, and music a mode of transport which might carry me to lands and vistas invisible to the naked eye: to where angels might dwell and we begin to forgive and truly understand the love which passes all understanding. I can live with the opinions of the “many”, but I cannot live without my imagination.” | |
One of the great temptations of life is to lose sight of the beauty of the whole, or the mystery of an instant amidst the mass of worries, jealousies and insecurities which crowd in on the average day, including mine, but while I have a breath to draw I will, whatever my circumstances, raise my eyes in wonder to the horizon and marvel at the miracle of consciousness. | |
— Peter Wells | |
Originally found at one of the blogs I follow: Countingducks | |
Located at: https://countingducks.wordpress.com | |
The specific post is: A Matter Of Philosophy | |
https://countingducks.wordpress.com/2022/07/18/a-matter-of-philosophy/ | |
[Please visit the original site if you have a few minutes to spare. You’ll get hooked, too! — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | How Learning Infections Begin |
Stay Young At Heart | |
2020 | Policies Not People |
Just Thinking To Myself | |
2019 | Should I Start With My Religion? |
2018 | Fear And Hope |
Day 33: Good News & Prep | |
2017 | Directions |
2016 | Handle With Care |
2015 | Nothing But Pride |
2014 | Go |
2013 | Well, Does It? |
2012 | Near Misses Aren’t Successes |
2011 | Uncomfortable Feelings |
2010 | San Francisco (favorites)… |
Bullets or Butter? | |
Units Of Measure
Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Courage, Intelligence, Other Blogs, Paul Dirac, Philosophy, Quotes, ram H singhal, Science, Scientific Progress on August 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Scientific progress is measured in units of courage, not intelligence. | |
— Paul Dirac | |
[Found on one of the blogs I follow: “ram H singhal“ | |
Located at: https://ram0singhal.wordpress.com/ | |
The specific post is at: https://ram0singhal.wordpress.com/2021/07/13/1933-nobel-prize-in-physics-paul-adrien-maurice-dirac/ | |
Please visit the original site if you have a spare moment. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | True Fervor |
Still Sparkles | |
2020 | A Destructive Mistake |
I’d Rather Live In HER World | |
2019 | And #IncompetentTrump Is A Failure At Both |
2018 | To Excel At Your Craft |
Day 12: Waiting | |
2017 | Like When You Can Order Others To Fight For You |
2016 | Holding Fast |
2015 | Alms Or Balms |
2014 | A Day At The Beach |
2013 | Pillows |
Steppin’ | |
2012 | Invincible Summer |
2011 | Being Objective |
2010 | First Things First… |
Northwest Passages – Intro | |
Northwest Passages – Day One | |
Northwest Passages – Poetry | |
Northwest Passages – Evening One | |
Northwest Passages – Morning Two | |