Thoughts on Earth Day, or A Travel Brochure for Earth

Credit: NASA

A few weeks ago, on a beautiful day, I went for a jog through a nearby park and started thinking about what a nice planet we are so lucky to live on. Our nearest neighbors are a stormy, roiling furnace and a frigid, vacuous desert. The latest survey has found that there are a lot of planets out there, a lot of them may be habitable as well (capable of sustaining liquid water), but still, planets like Earth don't just show up everywhere.

Last year, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking made a mildly provocative statement that there is almost certainly intelligent life out there besides ourselves, but that it would be a mistake to try to contact them. Given what a rare oasis our planet is, maybe Hawking is correct in apparently believing that the plot of Independence Day is the most likely outcome. Hawking bases this on the idea that intelligent, space-faring species will probably act a lot like us. But then, it's not inconceivable that they might come to Earth just to take pictures, talk loudly about how inferior our customs are, and leave lousy tips. As annoying as this might be, interstellar tourism would be a boon to the global economy, which would certainly make people more concerned about conserving our planet's ecosystems.

So what sorts of things might be in a travel guide for Earth?

How denial gets between science and politics

I read this article the other day which made me think a bit about Tim's previous post on polarization. It's a bit of a long read for an article, but it deals with the psychology behind the interesting phenomenon of denial of fact, even under overwhelming evidence supporting said fact—also known as "motivated reasoning" or confirmation bias. This is a counter-intuitive, yet very familiar aspect of human nature.

It's a good read, for me it was most interesting for some ideas that touches on briefly, which is what made me think of Tim's post. First it touches on the widely held perception that the country is becoming more partisan, or polarized. Given that this is an easy scapegoat for anyone wanting to decry American politics, I'm a little skeptical about how much truth there is to this, although the last few years have seemed awfully polarized, It's not getting any better at any rate. The strange part is that this might be happening because of the democratization of information and the media, not just in spite of it. As Mooney writes:

Okay, so people gravitate toward information that confirms what they believe, and they select sources that deliver it. Same as it ever was, right? Maybe, but the problem is arguably growing more acute, given the way we now consume information—through the Facebook links of friends, or tweets that lack nuance or context, or "narrowcast" and often highly ideological media that have relatively small, like-minded audiences. Those basic human survival skills of ours, says Michigan's Arthur Lupia, are "not well-adapted to our information age."

Of course it get's worse. He also cites a study that shows that people tend to judge the trustworthiness of a source of information based on whether their findings agreed with their own values, rather than the source's expertise. So people can essentially write off any information that contradicts their worldview.

Lists; A Good Thing

As many of you know, our blog contains many lists. (I know you were expected a sweet hyperlink that highlighted all the list posts. Frankly I'm too lazy to do that.) I for one am a huge fan of this list. Besides the wonderful music you guys post about, it has not been a great year for pop music. (Justin Bieber featuring Rascal Flatts? shoot me now)

Ok Dave, enough of the crappy intro, what is this post all about?

Here we go. I was going to make a list of all the interesting things I have seen on the bike path next to my house. Sure the guy in the Jesus sweatshirt, or the couple who makes out in the same place everyday at 4pm exactly are interesting, but that is not what our blog is about. Stadium 110 demands insight, insight that I have been failing to communicate to you, the blogosphere.

When I finished my bike ride, I realized; no I don't want to make a list of things that I find interesting, I want to make a list of skills /traits I have been developing and share them with you.

1. Since "reading" is one of the hot topics, I figured I would start with a book recommendation. World War Z is an oral account of the zombie apocalypse that occurs in roughly 2012. Stupid Premise, but oddly enough it is very well written and a very enjoyable read.

2. Photography.
Maybe film school has rubbed off on me a bit, but I am really starting to get into taking photos. Here is one I actually think is pretty decent.
The mountain is a little blury in the background, but I have not touched this photo up at all. Ps This is Camp Shira 2 on Kilimanjaro at roughly 15,000 feet.

3. Ex-girlfriends:

In the media we are lead to believe that breakups can result in friendships. After the mess I was in this year I realize that is very rarely the case. I'm not saying its impossible, but most of the time if you are dumped or if you do the dumping, sh&@t goes down emotionally between two individuals.

4. Everything is cooler when put to movie trailer scores. (Video to follow in subsequent post). The time to compress the video is measured in hours.

5. Spring Concert 2k11
a. (sweet Dave a list within a list)
b. Good times ahead
c. Alcoholic whip cream = game changer.
d. Return of the cobra
e. Warm half-drunk keg to be consumed with breakfast Saturday morning
f. Dinosaur towel?
g. Let's do this.


Well there yah go. It is my sincere desire that this post can be considered one of the "high quality" posts we have all come to expect from one another.

THE COOLEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN ON THE INTERNET

Welcome to my new time waster.

http://mandaflewaway.tumblr.com/post/2057242738

I hope this never goes away. No matter what I make, it sounds good.

Found on College Humor.

First Book Review: Anathem

I'm compsing. So I'm writing a book review for the blog. I mentioned this in my comment on Mark's most recent post, but I feel that this book merits its own post. The book I am referring to is Neal Stephenson's Anathem.

Anathem takes place on a planet called Arbre, which is strikingly similar to the planet Earth. The Arbran civilization has also gone through a history very similar to that of human civilization, except the novel begins approximately 3,600 years from their equivalent of our present day. In Arbran history, a series of Terrible Events 3600 years before the story began wiped out much of the population. These Terrible Events were largely attributed to advances in science (at least as far as can be guessed, 3600 years is a long time) and the world civilization was entirely overhauled. All of the scientists, mathematicians, and philosophers were separated from society in Concents. Within these Concents, the scientists were further divided into groups that were allowed outside the walls of the Concent every 1, 10, 100, and 1000 years. Oners were often just members of the outside world interested in Concents, tenners were the most common members. Within the Concents, the members are further divided by their philosophical and epistemological preferences into Orders. The two major orders are based off of those who believe that words themselves contain meaning versus those who believe that only the physical concepts contain meaning. The history of philosophers in Arbre matches that of Earth. Since the Terrible Events, the Concents and the rest of the world have only interacted once, to destroy an oncoming asteroid. Approximately 1000 years before the story begins, it becomes clear that the Thousanders have developed a new form of technology that can change matter at any place on the planet, the outside world freaks out and kills nearly every member of the Concents. The three Concents that were untouchable reconvene, set up a new code of conduct, and restart.

When the book starts, it focuses on a young Tenner whose mentor is Anathematized, or removed from the Concent. As the book progresses, it becomes clear that he was removed due to an external crisis and that the world of the Concents will be forced to interact with the secular world yet again.

While it's a long read (900 pages), its engrossing and thought-bending. It includes one of the best thought out implementations of quantum mechanics in a sci-fi novel that I've ever encountered. The world(s) that he creates pull you in and keep you guessing about how it all works and what is going on, which he subsequently explains quite well. If I had to sum up Anathem in 1 sentence, I'd say that it's the only book that explains orbital mechanics in detail that I also couldn't put down.

Books, Book Readin', andTop 5? 10? Book Lists

Currently Reading - The Nine: Inside The Secret World of the Supreme Court by Jeffery Toobin (Review)



Some of you may know this about me, but I enjoy a good read now and then. I love reading up on random shit on the inter-webs and when a topic interests me, I write it down on a "Topics To Explore" list I have going. Those of you who lived with me or went to school with me may also know that in Northfield in the spring, there is always a book fair at the ice arena. It's called the Jesse James Book Raid and it lasts three days. The first day its like $5 for a box of books. The Second day it gets cheaper and then on the last day after 1pm, whatever is left... IS FREE.