I am now re-reading Isaac Asimov's The Gods Themselves published in 1972. The events in the book take place in 2100 AD. A maverick scientist is warning a resistant establishment about his discovery of the dangers of Inter-Universe Electron Pumping, a new found supply of abundant free and clean energy that had revolutionized humanity. He wanted it abandoned. This is his exchange with a senator in the International Congress.
"It is a mistake," [the senator] said, "to suppose that the public wants the environment protected or their lives saved and that they will be grateful to any idealist who will fight for such ends. What the public wants is their own individual comfort. We know that well enough from our experience with in the environmental crisis of the twentieth century. Once it was known that cigarettes increased the incidence of lung cancer, the obvious remedy was to stop smoking, but the desired remedy was a cigarette that did not encourage cancer. When it became clear that the internal combustion engine was polluting the atmosphere dangerously, the obvious remedy was to abandon such engines, and the desired remedy was to develop non-polluting engines."
Inter-Universe Electron Pumping is not a danger to humanity as MANBEARPIG is though :).
Labels: isaac asimov, science, scifi
I was introduced by my brother to Stephen Fry, an English humorist, actor, novelist and filmmaker. He presents a show on the BBC called Q.I. (Quite Interesting). Allan Davies, the "permanently installed guest", is one of the funniest comedians I've ever seen. Fry is featured in a short film that celebrates the 25th anniversary of the GNU operating system and talks about free software. Free as in "free speech", not "free beer". See link for video and more information.
Labels: technology
I took dozens of pictures at the Smithsonian National Museums (Air and Space, and Natural History) this summer when my parents were visiting. I enjoyed it so much that I nearly declared taking photographs in science museums an official hobby. I love taking my time at museums. Having a camera in my hand establishes that and gives me an excuse to linger and wander around. I came across this article about photographing the science museum (via Boing Boing) that gave me a lot of validation. I promise to put more pictures up from previous and (hopefully) future trips. Here's a link to the set.
Labels: personal, photography, science
Labels: nashville, photography
I will be running in the Komen Race for the Cure with the Juggling for Jugs team. Please join us or support this very good cause by donating here.
Labels: nashville
Labels: gradschool
Labels: technology
When a white person drives an older car (6+ years old) that has a resale value under $2000, they will coat the entire backside of the car in bumper stickers. Because of the abundance of space they are free to include stickers from all areas of white support: music, politics, the environment, insults to right wing politicians, and various movements that tell people to keep a city 'weird'.
But when white people have a nice new car such as a Prius or an Audi station wagon, the fear of losing resale value prevents them from applying more than one sticker. Therefore that one sticker must properly capture the essence of the car and the political views of the driver.
I feel lame... my choice of the one bumper sticker is WPLN... and it's hanging on an SUV...
That's a combined Roller Derby - Battlestar Galactica reference for ya. Yesterday, we blew away Atlanta 150-65. Rambo Sambo (ramb0 samb0) is my favorite athlete in Nashville. Fullstop. I love how she towers behind the other jammer when - rarely - she's behind and intimidates them. She did that with those tiny devils from Alabama. She also has great spirit and showmanship. I happened to be ringside in the second jam of the third period when she "pulled off" umm... a stunt. I was *gay voice* ecstaaaaatic! After the show my girlfriend, because she is the awesomest girlfriend in the world, asked her for a picture with me. This picture will hit the web soon
ps: I'm deliberately not blogging here about the shituation in Lebanon. I am not in the mood for negativity and comment wars.
pps: Here's the picture
Oh man. Meerah and I were walking this morning when we ran into a woman who witnessed two stray dogs (one of which is probably a pit bull) attack a medium size one. The poor dog was still there wrapped in a blanket. It was bleeding and was not able to move. When I was talking to her, animal control came and took the dog away. She will follow up on its situation, but I think that they will have to put it down. It is a brown-yellow medium size dog with a red collar and no tag. The exact location of where we found it is on the map below. I should have taken a picture to hopefully help the owners find it and rescue it. The two stray dogs had wandered off, and another animal control unit was looking for them. Very sad.
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