Because the Universe is Confusing
Archive for December, 2009
Sorry, Vegans: Brussels Sprouts Like to Live, Too
Dec 22nd
This is one of the most fascinating pieces of science that I have read in a long, long time. And plenty of food (haha!) for thought.
When plant biologists speak of their subjects, they use active verbs and vivid images. Plants “forage” for resources like light and soil nutrients and “anticipate” rough spots and opportunities. By analyzing the ratio of red light and far red light falling on their leaves, for example, they can sense the presence of other chlorophyllated competitors nearby and try to grow the other way. Their roots ride the underground “rhizosphere” and engage in cross-cultural and microbial trade.
via Basics – Another Challenge for Ethical Eating – Plants Want to Live, Too – NYTimes.com.
Avatar
Dec 20th
So, I thought this was a pretty good editorial, written by a white person, about how the new film Avatar seems to be about white guilt manifest, yet again. Kind of like a sci-fi <i>Dances With Wolves. I enjoyed DWW as a child, but later came to recognize the fallacy in the narrative. This was thanks to George Orwell, who pointed out in an essay that the problem with my then-beloved Charles Dickens was that his solution to everything was benevolent rich people. Well, it seems that in the case of films like DWW, the solution to the poor natives’ problems is benevolent white people/master race.
The article notes that these films are about a white fantasy of not only no longer being oppressive but actually being the ones to solve the problems of people of color. Kind of like a massive Jesus/savior complex. The problem with this, of course, is that it violates the premise of autonomy — that communities should have self-determination. Ironically, autonomy is the thing that oppression destroys. So, the natives lose their autonomy just to have some white guy try to restore it for them? It doesn’t work like that, people.
Having said all of this, I haven’t actually seen the movie yet. But I’ll have to go on a day when I don’t want to relax because I suspect it’s going to involve 3 hours of being pissed off.
When Will White People Stop Making Movies Like “Avatar”? – Avatar – io9.
Quantum Field Theory by Sidney Coleman
Dec 18th
Sidney Coleman was a legend in physics, and his death in 2007 was sad for many of us. Coleman’s late-life similarity in appearance to Einstein and the proximity of his office to Einstein’s bust at Harvard freaked out my friends and I multiple times during my undergraduate years.
During my graduate years, I borrowed his quantum field theory (QFT) notes from my supervisor at Santa Cruz and learned that Coleman was not only a hell of a researcher, but also a strong teacher of a difficult topic.
Thanks to modern technology, Coleman’s image and teachings live on not just through stationary photographs and books, but also through black and white video from 1975.
Thanks to Harvard Physics for making these videos publicly available. I encourage everyone to have a look and watch the master at work: Harvard Physics: Quantum Field Theory by Sidney Coleman.
The bookstore-less streets of Laredo | Jacket Copy | Los Angeles Times
Dec 17th
With no independent bookstores in the city and the last chain outlet slated for closure, residents will have to travel about 150 miles across arid ranchland to San Antonio to buy books.
via The bookstore-less streets of Laredo | Jacket Copy | Los Angeles Times.
Fear for the life of Israyls
Dec 4th
Proof that it’s never too early to start protesting war: Here is an image of a letter I wrote expressing how I felt about the Gulf War in 1991.
An eight year old Chanda tries to convince Bush Sr. to end the Gulf War
Our Window
Dec 3rd
This is a tiny note encouraging everyone to check out Catherine’s Our Window blog. I felt inspired to do so because I now find that when I go there, even when I’m done reading, I end up leaving it open because she has set it up to play such great music.
So go take a peak at Our Window where you can learn about her adventures as a mom and baker extraordinaire.
