Again, something unoriginal, but it really blew my mind when I heard it. This is a special lecture Richard Feynman gave to some graduates at Caltech where he taught. The audio recording, and a pretty ballin' picture of Feynman can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6ck3rO_m3A&NR=1
If you're in an awkward location where you can't listen to it, here's the text which I typed out myself:
A poet I think it is once said, "The whole universe is in a glass of wine." I don't know, and I don't know if we'll ever know in what sense he meant that, for the poets don't write to be understood. But it is true that if you look in glass of wine closely enough we see the entire universe.
There are the things of physics: the twisting liquid which evaporates depending on the wind and weather, the reflections in the glass, and our imagination adds the atoms. The glass is a distillation of the earth's rocks, and in its composition we see the secrets of the universe's age, and the evolution of the stars. What strange array of chemicals are in the wine? How did they come to be? There are the ferments, the enzymes, the substrates, and the products. There in wine is found the great generalization: all life is fermentation. Nobody can discover the chemistry of wine without discovering the cause of much disease. How vivid is the claret, pressing its existence into the consciousness that watches it!
And if in our small minds, for some convenience, divide this glass of wine, this universe, into parts - physics, biology, geology, astronomy, psychology, and all - remember that nature does not know it! So we should put it all back together, not forgetting ultimately what it is for. Let it give us one more final pleasure: drink it and forget it all!
Enjoy, and read this one last quote of Feynman's,
Physics is like sex; sure, you can get some interesting results, but that's not why we do it.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Your Heart Is An Empty Room
I apologize for the lack of creativity and originality lately for blog postings, but I was just listening to this song, and it's definitely got some of the best lyrics I've ever heard. The perfect mix of topics and poetry. This is mostly to look back later and smile.
Death Cab For Cutie - Your Heart Is An Empty Room
Burn it down till the embers smoke on the ground
And start new when your heart is an empty room
With walls of the deepest blue
Home's face: how it ages when you're away
Spring blooms and you find the love that's true
But you don't know what now to do
Cause the chase is all you know
And she stopped running months ago
And all you see is where else you could be When you're at home
And out on the street Are so many possibilities to not be alone
The flames and smoke climbed out of every window
And disappeared with everything that you held dear
But you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need
Cause you knew you were finally free
Cause all you see is where else you could be, When you're at home
Out on the street are so many possibilities to not be alone
And all you see is where else you could be,
when you're at home,
There on the street,
are so many possibilities to not be alone
Death Cab For Cutie - Your Heart Is An Empty Room
Burn it down till the embers smoke on the ground
And start new when your heart is an empty room
With walls of the deepest blue
Home's face: how it ages when you're away
Spring blooms and you find the love that's true
But you don't know what now to do
Cause the chase is all you know
And she stopped running months ago
And all you see is where else you could be When you're at home
And out on the street Are so many possibilities to not be alone
The flames and smoke climbed out of every window
And disappeared with everything that you held dear
But you shed not a single tear for the things that you didn't need
Cause you knew you were finally free
Cause all you see is where else you could be, When you're at home
Out on the street are so many possibilities to not be alone
And all you see is where else you could be,
when you're at home,
There on the street,
are so many possibilities to not be alone
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson
Just thought I'd mark this pretty momentous occasion on my blog. I'm sure everyone knows about this by now. What a strange life, and pretty short too. I wonder what his family, and those really close to him are thinking now. He did change something great in the eyes of the world though.
RIP MJ, and peace to your family and friends.
RIP MJ, and peace to your family and friends.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
808 and The E.N.D.
New music's coming out every day.
Kanye West's newest compilation of funky beats, electro-hip rhythms and auto-tuned melodic chorus riffs make a great mix, but does anyone really know where the 808 name comes from?
808 is actually short for a synthetic drum system, the Roland TR-808. A rebel amongst the 80s hip-hop beat systems, and basically thrown under the gutter by Roland itself after about a decade of lack of sales, suddenly this instrument has gained a huge amount of fame in the past few years, lyrical praise from Lil Wayne, Britney Spears (ugh...) and of course Kanye. His new album Heartbreak is full of riffs featuring the long-lost track splitter, full of faked-out drum sounds that are, in this day and age, so familiar that we probably even think it's just the norm.
Check out more at this site, Slate --- http://www.slate.com/id/2205718/
Black Eyed Peas finally came out with their newest bash-out against the electro-funk norm with The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies). According to group member Taboo (the asian-looking yet actually native american descedant Karate master) the new album is meant to build upon the individual success of the members of the group, especially Fergie, who has unleashed herself upon the world lately with a ridiculously sexy and badass attitude, and will.i.am who has become significantly more credible in the producing and musical concept scene. will. is actually the main contributor on this disk, bringing into question Taboo's claims, but the beats are sick, no doubt about it. Favourites include a very melodic Meet Me Halfway, the newest radio fav I Gotta Feeling (+ video, check it out here --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_2rrxONlLo&feature=fvst), Imma Be which sounds ridiculously similar to A Milli from Lil Wayne (I wonder if he'll come out and claim that one amongst his millions of milli remixes), and a sick remix of the original Pump It aptly titled Pump It Harder found on the Target-Only Deluxe Edition. Oh and the slightly random rock beat Now Generation holds its own, I'm just curious why it's there at all with its retro hippy feel.
Hope you enjoyed this different type of blog. Comment on what you think. In the meantime enjoy a bit of 808 and Ring-A-Ling.
Kanye West's newest compilation of funky beats, electro-hip rhythms and auto-tuned melodic chorus riffs make a great mix, but does anyone really know where the 808 name comes from?
808 is actually short for a synthetic drum system, the Roland TR-808. A rebel amongst the 80s hip-hop beat systems, and basically thrown under the gutter by Roland itself after about a decade of lack of sales, suddenly this instrument has gained a huge amount of fame in the past few years, lyrical praise from Lil Wayne, Britney Spears (ugh...) and of course Kanye. His new album Heartbreak is full of riffs featuring the long-lost track splitter, full of faked-out drum sounds that are, in this day and age, so familiar that we probably even think it's just the norm.
Check out more at this site, Slate --- http://www.slate.com/id/2205718/
Black Eyed Peas finally came out with their newest bash-out against the electro-funk norm with The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies). According to group member Taboo (the asian-looking yet actually native american descedant Karate master) the new album is meant to build upon the individual success of the members of the group, especially Fergie, who has unleashed herself upon the world lately with a ridiculously sexy and badass attitude, and will.i.am who has become significantly more credible in the producing and musical concept scene. will. is actually the main contributor on this disk, bringing into question Taboo's claims, but the beats are sick, no doubt about it. Favourites include a very melodic Meet Me Halfway, the newest radio fav I Gotta Feeling (+ video, check it out here --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_2rrxONlLo&feature=fvst), Imma Be which sounds ridiculously similar to A Milli from Lil Wayne (I wonder if he'll come out and claim that one amongst his millions of milli remixes), and a sick remix of the original Pump It aptly titled Pump It Harder found on the Target-Only Deluxe Edition. Oh and the slightly random rock beat Now Generation holds its own, I'm just curious why it's there at all with its retro hippy feel.
Hope you enjoyed this different type of blog. Comment on what you think. In the meantime enjoy a bit of 808 and Ring-A-Ling.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
omens and karma
two pretty weird things have happened to me recently that I thought "how can this not be related to karma? this is just too weird":
1) the other day i was sitting in my room, and i looked out my window, and a rabbit was sitting right under my window sill, and so i watched it for a bit, and then suddenly it actually tried to get up to my window. like literally tried to jump up to the sill. it startled me so much that right after i shifted away from the window, and the rabbit ran away. Then, yesterday, i was looking out my window again, and suddenly there were birds in the backyard. all robins, and not just a few. probably over 30. i even called over my housemate to show him, and we were both pretty surprised by the whole thing. one really bizarre thing is how they all sat along the fence once they realized we were there, in a perfectly organized, spaced-out line. these things seem too crazy or odd, like some type of omen.
2) i am in a co-op education program. for my first job, during the interview in which i got the job later, the guy who was interviewing me asked me to clarify something on my resume. after i did, he basically said something like, "oh, that's really interesting, you should try to elaborate that a bit more, make it a bit clearer so that people know what it is" and i ended up doing so. very recently, i ended up getting my third co-op job. in the interview (also in person, and also in a room which i believe was right next to, if not the same room as the one i was just talking about), my interviewer was asking me about previous work experience, and it came up that i had succeeded in doing something pretty great at my last job, to do with research, that i didn't mention on my resume. she basically said the same thing as the last guy: "oh wow! that's really great, you should really include that for people to know, that's quite the achievement". next thing you know - job offer. is that karma, or just some really random coincidence? i'm thinking maybe in the future i should leave things off my resume just for the sake of mentioning them later!
one more thing - i thought it was interesting, one of my friends mentioned that he doesn't write in his blog all the time because he just doesn't have anything to say. i realized i think the same way, even though i never thought of it. i guess hence why i haven't written lately.
more thoughts and ambiguity in personalization to come.
1) the other day i was sitting in my room, and i looked out my window, and a rabbit was sitting right under my window sill, and so i watched it for a bit, and then suddenly it actually tried to get up to my window. like literally tried to jump up to the sill. it startled me so much that right after i shifted away from the window, and the rabbit ran away. Then, yesterday, i was looking out my window again, and suddenly there were birds in the backyard. all robins, and not just a few. probably over 30. i even called over my housemate to show him, and we were both pretty surprised by the whole thing. one really bizarre thing is how they all sat along the fence once they realized we were there, in a perfectly organized, spaced-out line. these things seem too crazy or odd, like some type of omen.
2) i am in a co-op education program. for my first job, during the interview in which i got the job later, the guy who was interviewing me asked me to clarify something on my resume. after i did, he basically said something like, "oh, that's really interesting, you should try to elaborate that a bit more, make it a bit clearer so that people know what it is" and i ended up doing so. very recently, i ended up getting my third co-op job. in the interview (also in person, and also in a room which i believe was right next to, if not the same room as the one i was just talking about), my interviewer was asking me about previous work experience, and it came up that i had succeeded in doing something pretty great at my last job, to do with research, that i didn't mention on my resume. she basically said the same thing as the last guy: "oh wow! that's really great, you should really include that for people to know, that's quite the achievement". next thing you know - job offer. is that karma, or just some really random coincidence? i'm thinking maybe in the future i should leave things off my resume just for the sake of mentioning them later!
one more thing - i thought it was interesting, one of my friends mentioned that he doesn't write in his blog all the time because he just doesn't have anything to say. i realized i think the same way, even though i never thought of it. i guess hence why i haven't written lately.
more thoughts and ambiguity in personalization to come.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
bball
I decided to play alot of basketball today, just to relax. I think everyone likes to have something like that in their life, something where they can just breathe deeply and ignore all the stress and other less fun things they have to deal with. It feels good to focus on one thing in particular, without worrying about anything else. I'm really ok, nothing great, but I think with practice I can get alot better. Just having a hobby like that on the side is good, to keep the mind just relaxed and able to think of things besides yourself.
Someone in my class today (probably to their chagrin I won't mention their name) told me they had read my blog. Honestly I was pretty surprised, mostly because I had started this with the intention of not really focussing on what other people thought, but just as something that I could write for myself. But now that I think about it, a bit of fine-tuning on the posts would probably make it more inviting to alot of other people. Maybe they might find something useful in it, and gain something, or just change their views.
we'll see how this goes...
p.s. to Google for owning Blogger, its stupid that people have to have a special account to make comments. You guys are fools.
Someone in my class today (probably to their chagrin I won't mention their name) told me they had read my blog. Honestly I was pretty surprised, mostly because I had started this with the intention of not really focussing on what other people thought, but just as something that I could write for myself. But now that I think about it, a bit of fine-tuning on the posts would probably make it more inviting to alot of other people. Maybe they might find something useful in it, and gain something, or just change their views.
we'll see how this goes...
p.s. to Google for owning Blogger, its stupid that people have to have a special account to make comments. You guys are fools.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
thanks
why do hardly any people say thanks?
it's probably one of my biggest pet peeves. I can't stand it when you do something for someone, go out of your way to make sure they're life is a bit easier, and they don't even thank you, or possibly even make any gesture of appreciation. how did people get so rude? are there parents like that? were they never taught how important appreciating other's actions is? I just can't believe how many people there are who simply expect things, and don't even realize that another person is doing something for them. how would they feel if it was them?
some people are so socially awkward too. like they just peak their head down the stairs and stare at you, and then run back up, as if you have absolutely no worth to them, god forbid that a real honest conversation happened.
sigh...
it's probably one of my biggest pet peeves. I can't stand it when you do something for someone, go out of your way to make sure they're life is a bit easier, and they don't even thank you, or possibly even make any gesture of appreciation. how did people get so rude? are there parents like that? were they never taught how important appreciating other's actions is? I just can't believe how many people there are who simply expect things, and don't even realize that another person is doing something for them. how would they feel if it was them?
some people are so socially awkward too. like they just peak their head down the stairs and stare at you, and then run back up, as if you have absolutely no worth to them, god forbid that a real honest conversation happened.
sigh...
Monday, June 8, 2009
ups and downs
man eminem has some deep lyrics. like seriously depressingly deep. i don't think i'd ever like to listen to that stuff unless i was in a horrible mood.
but today was pretty damn good. when things go to plan people are happy. but sometimes things out of plan are equally awesome. my girlfriend always tells me that spontaneity and random events are the best parts of life, and honestly i'd probably have to agree. I think i spent over 2 hours today laughing with my friend over the most random things, and we still ended up finishing our midterm exam in one piece. maybe laughter is the best medicine, or the best shield.
i'm thinking i should switch up the format of my blog, maybe write some poetry, or comment on popular culture. i think whatever i end up doing, i just want it to be what I want, because that's really the point of all this. haha, maybe eventually i'll get more than one comment (thanks s).
as eminem might say, don't lose yourself, because the moment you own your life, you better never let it go.
but today was pretty damn good. when things go to plan people are happy. but sometimes things out of plan are equally awesome. my girlfriend always tells me that spontaneity and random events are the best parts of life, and honestly i'd probably have to agree. I think i spent over 2 hours today laughing with my friend over the most random things, and we still ended up finishing our midterm exam in one piece. maybe laughter is the best medicine, or the best shield.
i'm thinking i should switch up the format of my blog, maybe write some poetry, or comment on popular culture. i think whatever i end up doing, i just want it to be what I want, because that's really the point of all this. haha, maybe eventually i'll get more than one comment (thanks s).
as eminem might say, don't lose yourself, because the moment you own your life, you better never let it go.
Friday, June 5, 2009
definitely forgot
wow! what a hectic week! another crazy rollercoaster ride. i was shaking this morning from a bit of exhaustion, what a nuts adventure.
Interviews are interesting things. They always throw random things at you, that, whether they make sense or not, make themselves into the most awkward moments. Why do people get so worked up and nervous about interviews? I understand that looking for a job is important, but it seems like people relate more to others that are relaxed and congenial, not affected but stuttering or underwhelming shakes. I wish i had the stamina to go through a week of never-ending crazy and then sit down and be able to relate to some guy sitting in a lab across the country. Maybe I've pushed myself to far with this life, or maybe I just need a good break. But those are impossible to come by, at least right now.
I wish I could go to India. soon.
Interviews are interesting things. They always throw random things at you, that, whether they make sense or not, make themselves into the most awkward moments. Why do people get so worked up and nervous about interviews? I understand that looking for a job is important, but it seems like people relate more to others that are relaxed and congenial, not affected but stuttering or underwhelming shakes. I wish i had the stamina to go through a week of never-ending crazy and then sit down and be able to relate to some guy sitting in a lab across the country. Maybe I've pushed myself to far with this life, or maybe I just need a good break. But those are impossible to come by, at least right now.
I wish I could go to India. soon.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
almost forgot
i actually turned off my computer before realizing i hadn't written anything today. anyways, wow what a day of ups and downs. it's crazy how random and interesting life is. i guess i'm saying interesting, rather than something like awful, because my day ended on a good note. But what if it hadn't? what if the oscillating wave of goods and bads had just decided to stop on the negative? i guess my mood would be totally different - maybe i wouldn't have even decided to come back on and write this. i wonder if alot of people really think about their days, reflect on their experiences. I saw two people that I haven't seen in a long time today, and it was really great. it's always good to keep in contact with people i find, networking is really a brilliant advantage to life. hopefully i'm able to keep those contacts for the future.
more, as always
more, as always
Monday, June 1, 2009
waste of my time....maybe
why do teachers give assignments? why cant they just test us all at once? lol, sometimes i guess i feel the exact opposite; wanting unit tests and segmented percentage of the course. i guess people's minds change.
i had an interesting conversation with two friends today about what might happen if we took all the middle- and upper-class people out of the world and just had the impoverished and uneducated remaining. would like literally start all over again? would people have to teach themselves math and physics and complex science and art all over? Would there be another generation of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Picasso, Rembrandt, Monet, Einstein, The Beatles, Kiss, and Eric Clapton? Would there be new world leaders, completely different from their predecessors? Would North America become the wasteland of the world, while Russia or even Swaziland become the reigning world power?
An interesting concept. And now for sleep.
i had an interesting conversation with two friends today about what might happen if we took all the middle- and upper-class people out of the world and just had the impoverished and uneducated remaining. would like literally start all over again? would people have to teach themselves math and physics and complex science and art all over? Would there be another generation of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Picasso, Rembrandt, Monet, Einstein, The Beatles, Kiss, and Eric Clapton? Would there be new world leaders, completely different from their predecessors? Would North America become the wasteland of the world, while Russia or even Swaziland become the reigning world power?
An interesting concept. And now for sleep.
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