Let’s lighten the Code Orange gloom

8 Responses to Let’s lighten the Code Orange gloom

1. Bryan says:

   August 2, 2004 at 11:23 am

   Something similar could be said about becoming a literary scholar :)
2. John says:

   August 2, 2004 at 11:37 am

   I resemble that remark. Science does offer a meaningful vision of human life, for given limits on the variable “human” (not to mention a given definition of meaningful). Granted, those limits plant you squarely in the sub-species “geek”.
3. Dave J says:

   August 2, 2004 at 11:39 am

   John, you’re an archbishop? Oh wait…never mind. ;-)
4. red says:

   August 2, 2004 at 11:41 am

   I know that science gives a meaningful vision of human life – but aren’t those moments of revelation and “vision” few and far between? Isn’t most of it struggling for understanding, and asking questions, endless questions??

   I’m actually reading an interesting article at the moment entitled “The questions that plague physics” … I’ll post it in a second. It’s very cool, even though I barely understand what they’re talking about.
5. Mark says:

   August 2, 2004 at 11:46 am

   I found this yesterday. It lightened the mood for me a bit.
6. John says:

   August 2, 2004 at 1:18 pm

   “I know that science gives a meaningful vision of human life – but aren’t those moments of revelation and “vision” few and far between?”

   Sheila- I was being sarcastic about the “given definition of meaningful” – all too much science is aimed only at a new publication or grant, no matter what the importance to society. Science as it’s practiced today leaves too little room for the fun of discovery.

   Don’t think the moments of discovery are lost, though. Most scientists have at least a few in their career, unless they are number jockeys churning out papers every time a mouse sneezes on their dectector. Moments of revelation and vision are what keep most people in the game. But, in terms of import, don’t confuse a moment of revelation that’s of intertest to maybe 30 specialists around the world with a moment of revelation that alters our perception of nature.

   Either moment is a thrill to experience in the lab – to see something or explain something that no one else on the planet or in history has ever seen / explained is a thrill beyond words.

   DaveJ – If I were an archbishop, I’d be an apostate, because I’ve gone over to the dark side. But not so far as to become a lawyer (although some might argue my profession is worse).
7. red says:

   August 2, 2004 at 1:25 pm

   I definitely need a “sarcasm” symbol, then!!
8. Dave J says:

   August 2, 2004 at 2:57 pm

   “But not so far as to become a lawyer…”

   Now I’m the one resembling (representing?) that remark!

   Oh, and I’m fairly sure that the winking smiley ;-) has near-universal acceptance as a sarcasm symbol, Sheila.

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