Spent part of last night and this morning on an update to my so-called website, which is still neither flashy nor sophisticated.
Since PBS’ Nova (in NYC anyway) is showing “Elegant Universe” again this week and next, I thought it was timely that Slate.com had this interesting assessment of the physicist Brian Greene. The writer Amanda Schaffer articulates what I thought was valid criticism of how Greene does his whole let’s-pretty-up-science thing (his intentions – to make science palatable for non-scientists – are good; but it’s understable that Greene’s critics want evidence to back up the theories).
I like reading for pleasure; I like that in NYC, you can step into a subway car and see everyone reading something (Bible; newspaper; every possible form of literature, good or bad). But, do people outside NYC do that? According to this NY Times’ op-ed, “The Closing of the American Book,” less Americans are reading for pleasure and the argument is that this affects American culture or hurts America as a culture with an open mind, and American brains will get lethargic. Hmm…
This NY Times travel article about the new Trans-Russia highway is interesting. Imagine driving the longest highway in the world, and then (a) realize that it’s not entirely paved yet; (b) there are no hotels or restaurants or other amenities (the author notes: “And don’t expect to find gas stations, restaurants and roadside motels in Siberia. Drivers pack food and gasoline, and keep their tire irons handy for unwanted night visitors.” talk about roughing it.); and ( c ) it takes 25 days to go cross country (when taking the Trans-Siberian railroad will get you a week).
So it goes.