Saturday, November 1, 2008

leg breaking

So, I was facing this big dilemma. I don’t like to choose, especially when it comes down to choosing people. If it were a staffing decision, then, a simple linear model would suffice, but this one is way beyond complicated.

But a man has to do what a man got to do. And Dawes’ and Ben Franklin’s long explanation on prudential algebra brought me down to this decision which cost me $20. I chose a Polish-born Nobel Prize winner over my favorite scientist, who also happens to be one of the coolest physicist, science idol and writer ever; Rotblat over Feynman.

And after reading one of the best composed and sincere writings by a scientist or a philosopher I’ve ever came across, I signed the pledge.


And then paid the $20 membership fee, and got my cool t-shirt and other ‘free’ stuff.

Anyways, the Student Pugwash is all about engaging students to promote the socially responsible use of science and technology, and in order to create effective social change, students must first understand the issues at stake, and then contemplate their ethical and moral responsibility to themselves and to society as a whole.

And as I can’t really get a consistent 10 hours of sleep a day and not that much soccer or football or sweat anymore this semester because of schoolwork and all, I decided to take the passenger’s seat for this particular intention, by the door in the backseat. Well, I didn’t get myself all messy with the administration stuff, but I’ve learnt some pretty cool and great new stuff from the very people who are pioneers and the crème de la crème in their respective already cool fields.
Seriously, after the short an hour or so lecture, you’ll get out feeling a little bit more intelligent, which is good to feed the deflated ego after having to do too much schoolwork and projects that make you feel dumber than a 12 year old giraffe. And some of the lectures even helped me change my stand on certain issues. Anyway, the most important lesson I’ve got so far is that, information, small or little goes a very long way. For $20 (actually the lecture series can be attended for free), now I’m a big advocate of nuclear energy, I have a pretty good idea on what to feed my wife during and even before pregnancy, how calico cats and women are the same, a new dimension on the black gold, corn and the energy issue, and I get to meet some new cool geeks.

So, yup, Feynman is still the favorite and the coolest scientist ever, but Rotblat, Einstein and a couple of their scientist friends made the better choice. Well, consistent to what Erick Erikson suggested, people in between their teen years, up to their early 20’s usually have this Identity vs. Role confusion. So, choosing what’s cool and what you’re supposed to be and do is pretty confusing at this age.

And talking about another favorite writer, I had a chance to hear a lecture and get my book signed by Mr. Tom Friedman some one month ago, the same night I saw Frank Duong at the Union, the night before he scored a touchdown out of an interception. He talked about his book which I yet to get a chance to read beyond page 34, and a couple of his personal experience which was great. And with this entire APEX thing going on, maybe the particular university back home should really look into this energy engineering technology thing, which according to Freidman, is the new ‘it’ thing, the new big tomorrow. And as I was 12th in line out of the nearly packed 6,025 capacity Elliot Hall of Music audience during the book signing, I get to have a little chat with him, but I forgot to ask him to sign his other book I brought along.
Ohh, again, if you somehow managed to find this humble blog, thanks for the book……

We went to see my classmate take the basketball court during the halloween night exhibition game last night. We were pretty good. The future is bright.

And for one last time, let's go slay some wolverine for lunch.

-the best indoor kicks yet--

-The tired, deflated, stressed, and in need of a pair of new kicks, a new graphic card and to break some legs-

10 comments:

iXa said...

omg. that damn shoes. nak!!!

Anonymous said...

tu la..
hot gile.. cepat gile habis stock..
tp mahal ah...
kalau xstar segan jugak nk pakai.. ahak

kenapa sabtu cepat gile habis eh???

daju said...

how was lunch? kenyang? haha

waahh..you spent you 20bucks to be part of student pugwash..and i spent 12 bucks for a cubbie?..huhu..

i've always wanted to see the nuclear reactor..kt sini ade satu..kecik je tp.. should be interesting kan..

Anonymous said...

the best, the most scrumptiuos, delightful, heart warmingly delicious, and definitely the most memorable saturday lunch in the ross ade, ever..
sooo not purdue...
the hook and ladder play, 2nd behind texas tech pnye last minute TD play je.. n the punt fake, lepas 4 thn tnggu baru nk pakai play tuh...
siller mmg the best!!!

beli la pony betul, boleh naik pg kelas...
bkn smua bnda value dia kt fnctionlty (not that i'm saying the cubbie is worthless.. ahak)..
sometimes value dia dkt esthetic component dia..

hmmm... menarik2..
but the pugwash bkn about the nuclear issues je... we talk about everything science and technology..
but the nuclear thing, with enough knowledge, we can save a lot!!!
we can save the planet...

Anonymous said...

a true geek at heart~

women and cats are the same?
sphinx?

Anonymous said...

geeks are cool.....

dua2 pon mosaic...

aaaaaaa... bengang2

Anonymous said...

obviously, i didnt have enough science in school...

relax2

Anonymous said...

i never had biology in school..

the two are the same.. sbb ade genes yg on and off..
XYXYXYXYXYXYXYXYXYXY stuff..

esok hari kamis, mestila xboleh relax

Anonymous said...

x pernah jumpa pon kasut ni?

feynman memang best ah.
mane dia buat? fat man ke little boy?

n aku rasa aku masih percaya kt theory correlation perang n technology n kemajuan.

Anonymous said...

dah lame gak a.. tapi memanjang habis stock..
aku dh angkat yg murah sket dr ni.. ahaha.. tnggu aku balik.. aku ole..
stable gile kasut nih, touch pon sdap.. tp yg murah sket pon boleh tahan a..

dia head scientist do. siap kantoikn spy nazi lg.. dia masukkn nmbers dlm ibm pnye machine je sbnrnya.. ahaha

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