Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors. The library connects us with the insights and knowledge, painfully extracted from Nature, of the greatest minds that ever were, with the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all of our history, to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. Public libraries depend on voluntary contributions. I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | 42 |
2021 | Blessings Larger Than Life |
Tomorrow She Sails | |
2020 | The Sun Came Out |
Not A Wink On Guard | |
2019 | The Importance Of A Deadline |
Chaos Is Not Really A New Remedy | |
2018 | History Will Judge Harshly |
Father Time, Perhaps? | |
2017 | Odds Are |
2016 | Prayer, Too |
2015 | History, n. |
2014 | See It Sometime |
2013 | Precious Friend |
2012 | It Couldn’t Be Done |
Feeling Surrounded? | |
2011 | Surprise! |
Posts Tagged ‘Science’
Support Health And Depth
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Books, Carl Sagan, Civilization, History, Libraries, Nature, Philosophy, Quotes, Science on March 17, 2023| 2 Comments »
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 »
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] | |
. | |
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 | |
When Ghosts Seem Real
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Algebraic Substitution, Beliefs, Ghosts, Logic, Number System, Philosophy, Quotes, Reality, Robert M. Pirsig, Science, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on November 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Oh, the laws of physics and of logic… the number system… the principle of algebraic substitution. These are ghosts. We just believe in them so thoroughly they seem real. | |
— Robert M. Pirsig | |
From his book: “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance“ | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | So Will Persistence |
I Won’t Shed A Tear | |
2020 | Minute Fractions Of Happiness |
There’s Angels Everywhere | |
2019 | Far Too Often |
2018 | A Divided / United Nation |
2017 | What We Want |
2016 | To The Extent |
2015 | Ambition |
2014 | More Branches To Climb |
Just In Time — Happy Thanksgiving (2014) | |
2013 | For And Against |
2012 | De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bonum |
2011 | Similar And Different |
2010 | Reminiscing |
Differences | |
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 | |
. | |
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 | |
. | |
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 | |
. | |
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… |
Probably A Very Small Set
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Eugene Wigner, Mathematics, Phenomena, Philosophy, Physics, Quotes, Science, The unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences on October 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »
It is true that if there were no phenomena which were independent of all but a manageably small set of conditions, Physics would be impossible. | |
— Eugene Wigner | |
From his paper: “The unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences“ | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Only Winning Move |
Says Who? | |
2020 | I’m Guessing It’s Real |
For One More Day | |
2019 | Like Smartphones And FOMO? |
Getting Ready For Halloween | |
2018 | Nothing To Build On |
2017 | This One Is… |
2016 | Happy Is… |
2015 | Dare Yourself To |
2014 | Damned If You Do… |
2013 | On A Rainy Sunday |
2012 | Not Sure Anymore |
2011 | But What Does It Cost? |
2009 | Another Day, Another Diet… |
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 | |
. | |
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… |
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] | |
. | |
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 | |
Preparation
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Carl Sagan, Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science, Thesis on July 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »
If you take a look at science in its everyday function, of course you find that scientists run the gamut of human emotions and personalities and character and so on. But there’s one thing that is really striking to the outsider, and that is the gauntlet of criticism that is considered acceptable or even desirable. The poor graduate student at his or her Ph.D. oral exam is subjected to a withering crossfire of questions that sometimes seem hostile or contemptuous; this from the professors who have the candidate’s future in their grasp. The students naturally are nervous; who wouldn’t be? True, they’ve prepared for it for years. But they understand that at that critical moment they really have to be able to answer questions. So in preparing to defend their theses, they must anticipate questions; they have to think, “Where in my thesis is there a weakness that someone else might find — because I sure better find it before they do, because if they find it and I’m not prepared, I’m in deep trouble.” | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | No Profit Without Risk |
And One For Me | |
2020 | He’s Forgotten About Drugs And Rock ‘N Roll |
2019 | I Still Walk Daily |
A Windy Monday | |
2018 | No Religious Test, Yes Religious Ban |
2017 | Looking At #DumbDonald |
2016 | No Great Thing |
2015 | Happy Memory |
Of Two Minds | |
2014 | Sums |
2013 | Memories & Binging |
Admiration Due | |
2012 | Choices Matter |
2011 | Acceptance Is The Key |
2010 | Just A Permanent Crease… |
Bodily Functions | |
Traveling Faster Than ‘c’
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged "c", Hard Jobs, Henry Ford, Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Science, Small Jobs, The Speed Of Light on June 1, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. | |
— Henry Ford | |
[I’ve pretty much got the first 3mph down pat… ‘c’ == 186,282 miles per second — kmab] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Traveling Faster Than ‘c’ |
2021 | Maybe “Creation” Wasn’t That Difficult After All |
C’est Chic | |
2020 | #45: Time Is Ticking Away |
#45 Claims COVID-19 Defeated To Open The Economy | |
2019 | Belief Buffet |
2018 | Change Is Law |
2017 | A Dog Day Of Summer |
2016 | Chances Are |
2015 | Truer Spoken |
2014 | Not Quite There Yet (Either) |
Many Colors | |
2013 | Distance, n. |
Less Can Be More | |
2012 | Rise Up! |
The Gift | |
2011 | Artful Courage |
2010 | A Handful of Lessons… |
Not Exactly Preventing Or Realizing
Posted in History, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Artists, Conclusions, Futurologist, General Sir John Hackett (Ret.), History, Philosophy, Predictions, Quotes, Science, Scientists, The Third World War: August 1985, Trends on May 10, 2022| 4 Comments »
History is not an exact science. And ‘the historian of the future’ is as much artist as scientist or academic. But the futurologist cannot be taken lightly. He bases his conclusions on perceived trends, and his predictions themselves may possibly have some effect on the future: in helping either to prevent his predictions coming true or to realize them. | |
— General Sir John Hackett (et al) | |
From: “The Third World War: August 1985“ | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Not Exactly Preventing Or Realizing |
2021 | Maybe He Agreed With His Mum |
Come To Me, You’ll See | |
2020 | Imagine Existence |
Posing As Action | |
2019 | Voices Of The Past |
2018 | Sunrises, Rainbows And Newborn Babies |
2017 | Untold Agony |
2016 | Just Borrowed |
2015 | Warning |
2014 | Always More Productive |
2013 | Is Not |
2012 | Loosely Translated |
2011 | Your Opinions Are Not My Facts |
Might Still Flicker Or Shine
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Albert Einstein, Carlo Rovelli, Daffodils, Fermilab, General Relativity, Muons, Muonstruck, Philosophy, Physics, Quotes, Science, The Standard Model Of Particle Physics, Virginia Heffernan, Werner Heisenberg, William Wordsworth, Wired Magazine on April 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The central contention of physics has it that the building blocks of the universe will endure even if, or even when, the humans who tally them, and the planet we live on, all die. To see into the deathless universe is to try to see nothing so flamboyant as [William] Wordsworth’s favorite daffodils and walnut groves, but to peer into the coldest spaces, the black holes and the fractional electric charge of theoretical subatomic particles. These entities have no blood flow, of course, but also no DNA; they’re not susceptible to pandemics, however virulent, or the dividends and ravages of carbon. They don’t live, so they don’t die. To model the universe as precisely as possible is to try to see the one thing that even the strictest atheist agrees is everlasting — to try to achieve, in a lab, an intimation of immortality. | |
Back to the living world that’s under our feet. [Carlo] Rovelli is right to caution against the potential delusions of those who are greedy for eurekas. But, as a fellow physicist with a radical streak, he is also sympathetic to their ambitions, a drive to “learn something unexpected about the fundamental laws of nature.” To Rovelli, whose latest book describes quantum mechanics as an almost psychedelic experience, a truly radical discovery entails the observation of phenomena that fall outside three existing frameworks in physics: quantum theory, the Standard Model of particle physics, and general relativity. Only by blowing up one of those frameworks can one achieve the kind of immortality that scientists get, the glory of someone like Einstein or Heisenberg. | |
But to keep looking, as Rovelli has, as Fermilab has with this study on the muon’s magnetism, is also to apprehend hints. To follow hints. In that way, the physicist’s work and the poet’s are the same. And if Wordsworth is right, immortality can be found, of all places, in the hint — the staggering proposition by nature itself that, in spite of all the dying around us, something of all we love might be imperishable, might still flicker or shine or wobble when the rest of our world is gone. | |
— Virginia Heffernan | |
From her article: “Muonstruck“ | |
Appearing in: Wired Magazine; dtd: June 2021 | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | 3rd (40) |
Might Still Flicker Or Shine | |
2021 | Keep Growing |
I Keep Looking | |
2020 | I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Plans |
One Earth | |
2019 | Beautiful Rules |
2018 | Skepticism |
2017 | WWGD? |
2016 | Growing Greatness |
2015 | When It Is Darkest |
2014 | Knowledge And Doubt |
2013 | Three Thoughts |
2012 | Gentle Reader |
2011 | Leave The Light On For Me Anyway |