A... huge post. No worries if -no one- gets through it. ^^;
All right, so the past few days for me have been the epitome of nifty; and not just for the Holiday. The aftermath was also excellent, and continues to be, with all credit going to the people who made it so. I promise I’ll write a huge, doting entry on it soon enough (for… my own satisfaction, as I’m sure no one needs any more of my Super Sized entries cluttering up their pages).
I hope everyone had a truly wonderful Thanksgiving, and had just as much fun tossing flour at one another and exploding your kitchens as you did single handedly eating enough for a small village. ^_^ (Now be prepared to bundle up, because the radio is already playing “Deck the Halls”, and Black Friday has called in the Winter season in early. Keep those colds in check, all right? Or I’ll worry all over you, and that will be- unpleasant.)
For now, though, there are a few topics of interest I’d really love to share/get feedback on (as always.) So, I suppose I’ll start by saying; this is a ‘faux journal entry’. Just… more babbling, in hopes of hearing judgments, and hopefully, spreading the joy of random factoids. Snapple caps can only do so much, you know…
Archaeology versus Alchemy
For 500 years, since the heyday of Alchemic study in Europe (Alchemy, in this case, being the actual ancestor of Chemistry, and having nothing to do with blond midgets/esoteric writers/and-or B-rate video games), scientists have been trying to make heads or tails of a certain material distinctive to German alchemists.
Hesse alchemists were capable of creating pottery able to withstand extreme heat, and the disparaging properties of archaic alchemic reactions. It convinced many that the philosophy on turning led into gold was indeed a possibility, since these ‘chemists’ were capable of making ‘indestructible clay’.
So, who discovered the secret? That’s right; English Archeologists. Digging up samples, and putting the pottery through extensive testing, officials in Cambridge have finally discovered the ‘Prestige’ behind ‘real alchemy’, so to speak.
Mullite.
I find this… incredibly ironic, and seriously humorous. The most renown people in the world are traditionally ‘Rocket Scientists’. Our greatest minds… and yet, with entire centuries of study… they were unable to deduce that the trick behind this ‘black magic’… was the same material used in rocket engines.
Proof that, indeed, sometimes- you jut have to leave it to the Historians. ;) And that irony is omnipotent.
Somewhere, in heaven, a German man is saying; “Drat! Vereitelt durch einen Historiker! D:”
Is Math a Science, or Science a Math?
I was having a heartfelt debate with Josh the other day, over whether Math is in fact a subdivision of Science, or, visca versa. Josh’s argument stated that essentially, everything is mathematics. The world is run on laws and principles that are fundamentally basic arithmetic, and that everything can be broken down into equations. The world ‘is’ math, governed by it, lorded over by numbers lurking invisibly. Science, in his opinion, is the art of explaining the world around us, as discovered by mathematics. He used Chaos Theory as his example of this premise. While he didn’t explain clearly -why-, I’m going to take an out-of-the-blue guess, and assume what he really meant by that was Quantum Mechanics. QM breaks Chemistry, Physics, and some parts of Bio down to the subatomic level, using math. But… it leaves some HUGE gaping chunks of Biology out, as far as my stunted knowledge in this area can tell.
All right- then my contention is his, backwards. That Science fundamentally is ‘Truth’. Science ‘IS’. Whatever IS, is Science. Science is occasionally represented or explained by mathematics; math is, in effect, a language that allows us to be capable of grasping difficult and elusive concepts. But whereas Science is the genetic makeup of the universe, so to speak, math is a man-made tool for giving ourselves limited and flawed understanding of what ‘is’. Math is a subdivision, or an apprenticeship of science because its ‘equations’ are ‘theories’ that occasionally hit the mark and discover something that was already there. Just because an archeologist digs up a pot; does that make the shovel the focus of interest?
In short, he describes science thus:
Science is a process; the Scientific Method. It is a means of thinking, to logically follow through to a conclusion of mathematical truth, that can only be proved or disproved by the mathematical laws that are already in place. Logical thinking and process is an aspect of math, and so, science is mathematical.
And I describe math…:
Math’s very Latin roots carry the meaning ‘science’. It is a branch, and an implement of scientific thought and explanation that provides greatest aid in humanly understanding what already exists. Being, in general, is science, down to the very quarks, down to the chemical reactions in the human brain that make us capable of seeing correlations in primary numbers. Math is, literally, an applied process, determined to riddle out problems in understanding what is there all along, ie., the scientific structure. So, mathematics is a branch of science, a utensil just a bit more useful then the Bunsen burner.
Thoughts? Opinions? …Opportunity to call Josh and I dense and geeky? …Arguments that math and science are really subdivisions of English?
I enjoyed Dave’s argument perhaps best of all: “Math sucks, and science is confusing; that’s all you need to know.”
Sweetest thing -ever-
Just to let you know, im sending you a card i made in the photo studio. but thats not very personal, as about 24 other people are getting the same card. so im also gunna make you one ^_~
*Smiles.* She’s too good to me.
Now, if anyone would still like a card, please feel free to say so here;
http://genkitozuku.livejournal.com/91985.html
Comments are screened still, and I thought I’d make a reminder, so no one is left out who wished for one. ^_^
Also, if -you’re- making holiday cards, and I’ve forgotten to pester you for one- remind me, PLEASE! I’d forget I had a brain if it wasn’t sealed into my head…
Ramblings, unimportant, really…
Recently, I’ve become almost obsessed with the idea of becoming a ‘bettered person’. I’m spending hours a day now, trying to glean any knowledge I can in ethics and morality, and just… listening to people. Everyone always has a unique perspective, and outlook, and however narcissistic, I can’t help but be proud of myself recently for passively hearing out opinions I find vulgar/violent. Understanding, or the attempt at compassion, is the simplest thing in the world… but so often overlooked, bypassed. People, however, will be people; and usually, it is difficult to overcome wrapping yourself in emotions when you feel strongly of a certain opinion. I’m guilty of this.
For an example, I heard out a group of men and women who strictly believe that it is a woman’s place to be ‘enslaved’ by men, with essentially no rights beyond that of servitude. While I obviously cannot even begin to bring myself to agree to this, the inferiority or any person in comparison to any other, or the stripping of necessary rights as a living thing… I respect the fact that they at least attained well thought-out arguments, however tasteless in my judgment, and in some cases, inadvertently gave me items to really think over.
Before school begins, I’ve been trying to press my mind into overload, breaking point. I’ve been devouring books, on everything from philosophy and sciences, to history and plain novels. I am still trying to fathom what to -do- with myself in school. I’ve been recently strongly attracted to the idea of going into Medical Research… no, it is not my chief interest, but the things I traditionally ‘love’ to do, writing and art… they’re always going to be with me. I can always grow in these areas, with personal experience, and direction from skilled peers. But Medical Research is not something I can do on my own… I’m still interested in Veterinary Studies, though, too. I need those shots, and rather soon, if I’m going to keep my promise to by a fluffy orange kitten and name him ‘Edward’. ^^;
Medicine would be wonderful for when I am able to do more travel to areas sorely in need of doctors… even if I can learn the very basics, it may be enough. I’m at a loss. I’ll see I suppose. Part of the adventure of it, eh? And no, I really won’t admit I’m having way too much fun teaching children. I won’t.
Lastly, I’ve been meeting people. Wonderful people, with eye-opening outlooks. Genuinely friendly people, who make me laugh, and who I hope are as glad to be around me as I them.
I’d sincerely appreciate it if anyone were willing to bring topics of discussion to me that interest them, or that they’ve been tossing about in their minds, maybe with no outlet for discussion. Mike, I have to say, has be really excellent over the past few months, about supporting erudite discussion over at his journal.
So, since it was Thanksgiving, let’s take a step back from commercialization to say: I’m thankful that so many of you feel comfortable in 'speaking' with me, and are willing to share your ideas/thoughts/feelings. ^_^ Nothing makes me happier. Except, maybe, taking conversations with Madi out of context. “No, I will not ask my mom to visit a sex shop to pick up handcuffs!” …It’s best not to ask.
Lastly, I’ll be posting up a huge cosplay schedule soon, to let everyone know what groups are being put together, and welcome anyone else to joining up. But, because I promised…
If anyone is interested in cosplaying Ouran Host Club as either Hikaru or Tamaki, please inform me. We have a group together for Anime NEXT, and we’re only short an impish Hikaru. But, our Kaoru doesn’t want to be a singular twin, so I’d appreciate if anyone might like to go as his seme. Er- elder brother. ^_^; Or, if you’d want Tamaki more, I’ll gladly give him over, and do as Madi says and be Hikaru, -despite- the fact that we’re as different as chalk and cheese when it comes to appearance. *Laughs.* Just… what I need. Another… otouto. *Adores you anyway, Madi.*
I hope everyone had a truly wonderful Thanksgiving, and had just as much fun tossing flour at one another and exploding your kitchens as you did single handedly eating enough for a small village. ^_^ (Now be prepared to bundle up, because the radio is already playing “Deck the Halls”, and Black Friday has called in the Winter season in early. Keep those colds in check, all right? Or I’ll worry all over you, and that will be- unpleasant.)
For now, though, there are a few topics of interest I’d really love to share/get feedback on (as always.) So, I suppose I’ll start by saying; this is a ‘faux journal entry’. Just… more babbling, in hopes of hearing judgments, and hopefully, spreading the joy of random factoids. Snapple caps can only do so much, you know…
Archaeology versus Alchemy
For 500 years, since the heyday of Alchemic study in Europe (Alchemy, in this case, being the actual ancestor of Chemistry, and having nothing to do with blond midgets/esoteric writers/and-or B-rate video games), scientists have been trying to make heads or tails of a certain material distinctive to German alchemists.
Hesse alchemists were capable of creating pottery able to withstand extreme heat, and the disparaging properties of archaic alchemic reactions. It convinced many that the philosophy on turning led into gold was indeed a possibility, since these ‘chemists’ were capable of making ‘indestructible clay’.
So, who discovered the secret? That’s right; English Archeologists. Digging up samples, and putting the pottery through extensive testing, officials in Cambridge have finally discovered the ‘Prestige’ behind ‘real alchemy’, so to speak.
Mullite.
I find this… incredibly ironic, and seriously humorous. The most renown people in the world are traditionally ‘Rocket Scientists’. Our greatest minds… and yet, with entire centuries of study… they were unable to deduce that the trick behind this ‘black magic’… was the same material used in rocket engines.
Proof that, indeed, sometimes- you jut have to leave it to the Historians. ;) And that irony is omnipotent.
Somewhere, in heaven, a German man is saying; “Drat! Vereitelt durch einen Historiker! D:”
Is Math a Science, or Science a Math?
I was having a heartfelt debate with Josh the other day, over whether Math is in fact a subdivision of Science, or, visca versa. Josh’s argument stated that essentially, everything is mathematics. The world is run on laws and principles that are fundamentally basic arithmetic, and that everything can be broken down into equations. The world ‘is’ math, governed by it, lorded over by numbers lurking invisibly. Science, in his opinion, is the art of explaining the world around us, as discovered by mathematics. He used Chaos Theory as his example of this premise. While he didn’t explain clearly -why-, I’m going to take an out-of-the-blue guess, and assume what he really meant by that was Quantum Mechanics. QM breaks Chemistry, Physics, and some parts of Bio down to the subatomic level, using math. But… it leaves some HUGE gaping chunks of Biology out, as far as my stunted knowledge in this area can tell.
All right- then my contention is his, backwards. That Science fundamentally is ‘Truth’. Science ‘IS’. Whatever IS, is Science. Science is occasionally represented or explained by mathematics; math is, in effect, a language that allows us to be capable of grasping difficult and elusive concepts. But whereas Science is the genetic makeup of the universe, so to speak, math is a man-made tool for giving ourselves limited and flawed understanding of what ‘is’. Math is a subdivision, or an apprenticeship of science because its ‘equations’ are ‘theories’ that occasionally hit the mark and discover something that was already there. Just because an archeologist digs up a pot; does that make the shovel the focus of interest?
In short, he describes science thus:
Science is a process; the Scientific Method. It is a means of thinking, to logically follow through to a conclusion of mathematical truth, that can only be proved or disproved by the mathematical laws that are already in place. Logical thinking and process is an aspect of math, and so, science is mathematical.
And I describe math…:
Math’s very Latin roots carry the meaning ‘science’. It is a branch, and an implement of scientific thought and explanation that provides greatest aid in humanly understanding what already exists. Being, in general, is science, down to the very quarks, down to the chemical reactions in the human brain that make us capable of seeing correlations in primary numbers. Math is, literally, an applied process, determined to riddle out problems in understanding what is there all along, ie., the scientific structure. So, mathematics is a branch of science, a utensil just a bit more useful then the Bunsen burner.
Thoughts? Opinions? …Opportunity to call Josh and I dense and geeky? …Arguments that math and science are really subdivisions of English?
I enjoyed Dave’s argument perhaps best of all: “Math sucks, and science is confusing; that’s all you need to know.”
Sweetest thing -ever-
Just to let you know, im sending you a card i made in the photo studio. but thats not very personal, as about 24 other people are getting the same card. so im also gunna make you one ^_~
*Smiles.* She’s too good to me.
Now, if anyone would still like a card, please feel free to say so here;
http://genkitozuku.livejournal.com/91985.html
Comments are screened still, and I thought I’d make a reminder, so no one is left out who wished for one. ^_^
Also, if -you’re- making holiday cards, and I’ve forgotten to pester you for one- remind me, PLEASE! I’d forget I had a brain if it wasn’t sealed into my head…
Ramblings, unimportant, really…
Recently, I’ve become almost obsessed with the idea of becoming a ‘bettered person’. I’m spending hours a day now, trying to glean any knowledge I can in ethics and morality, and just… listening to people. Everyone always has a unique perspective, and outlook, and however narcissistic, I can’t help but be proud of myself recently for passively hearing out opinions I find vulgar/violent. Understanding, or the attempt at compassion, is the simplest thing in the world… but so often overlooked, bypassed. People, however, will be people; and usually, it is difficult to overcome wrapping yourself in emotions when you feel strongly of a certain opinion. I’m guilty of this.
For an example, I heard out a group of men and women who strictly believe that it is a woman’s place to be ‘enslaved’ by men, with essentially no rights beyond that of servitude. While I obviously cannot even begin to bring myself to agree to this, the inferiority or any person in comparison to any other, or the stripping of necessary rights as a living thing… I respect the fact that they at least attained well thought-out arguments, however tasteless in my judgment, and in some cases, inadvertently gave me items to really think over.
Before school begins, I’ve been trying to press my mind into overload, breaking point. I’ve been devouring books, on everything from philosophy and sciences, to history and plain novels. I am still trying to fathom what to -do- with myself in school. I’ve been recently strongly attracted to the idea of going into Medical Research… no, it is not my chief interest, but the things I traditionally ‘love’ to do, writing and art… they’re always going to be with me. I can always grow in these areas, with personal experience, and direction from skilled peers. But Medical Research is not something I can do on my own… I’m still interested in Veterinary Studies, though, too. I need those shots, and rather soon, if I’m going to keep my promise to by a fluffy orange kitten and name him ‘Edward’. ^^;
Medicine would be wonderful for when I am able to do more travel to areas sorely in need of doctors… even if I can learn the very basics, it may be enough. I’m at a loss. I’ll see I suppose. Part of the adventure of it, eh? And no, I really won’t admit I’m having way too much fun teaching children. I won’t.
Lastly, I’ve been meeting people. Wonderful people, with eye-opening outlooks. Genuinely friendly people, who make me laugh, and who I hope are as glad to be around me as I them.
I’d sincerely appreciate it if anyone were willing to bring topics of discussion to me that interest them, or that they’ve been tossing about in their minds, maybe with no outlet for discussion. Mike, I have to say, has be really excellent over the past few months, about supporting erudite discussion over at his journal.
So, since it was Thanksgiving, let’s take a step back from commercialization to say: I’m thankful that so many of you feel comfortable in 'speaking' with me, and are willing to share your ideas/thoughts/feelings. ^_^ Nothing makes me happier. Except, maybe, taking conversations with Madi out of context. “No, I will not ask my mom to visit a sex shop to pick up handcuffs!” …It’s best not to ask.
Lastly, I’ll be posting up a huge cosplay schedule soon, to let everyone know what groups are being put together, and welcome anyone else to joining up. But, because I promised…
If anyone is interested in cosplaying Ouran Host Club as either Hikaru or Tamaki, please inform me. We have a group together for Anime NEXT, and we’re only short an impish Hikaru. But, our Kaoru doesn’t want to be a singular twin, so I’d appreciate if anyone might like to go as his seme. Er- elder brother. ^_^; Or, if you’d want Tamaki more, I’ll gladly give him over, and do as Madi says and be Hikaru, -despite- the fact that we’re as different as chalk and cheese when it comes to appearance. *Laughs.* Just… what I need. Another… otouto. *Adores you anyway, Madi.*