Life in Color

http://www.antiquedress.com/item4260.htm

I ran into this on a website that sells antique dresses. I almost got misty-eyed. Yes, I love red, and yes, this is an amazing dress. But what really made me pause is this question: Why is it so easy to forget that the people in old daguerreotypes lived life in color?

Thoughts on "Taking Science on Faith"

I read an interesting NYT article this week. Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/24/opinion/24davies.html?em&ex=1196312400&en=5efb2bed27ae7934&ei=5070

It reminded me of a conversation I had with a good friend, an atmospheric chemist, many months ago. She told me about a crisis of faith she encountered a year or so into her doctoral program. In short, she realized that all of the laws of chemistry and physics had simply been derived from observation. Why does pV=nRT? Because (pretty much) every time someone ran an experiment in which they calculated the relationship between volume, pressure, mols of monoatomic gas, and temperature, they ended up with the number 8.314472 m3·Pa·K−1·mol−1 left over.

What's so special about 8.314472? Nothing. Why couldn't it be 8.23945720? No good reason; it just isn't. The Ideal Gas Constant, R, is basically something that scientists came up with to fill out an equation. Sure, people went back and derived the Ideal Gas Law theoretically, but this requires simplifying assumptions and relying on R to equal 8.314472 (as well as relying on a host of other empirically-derived equations and constants). Yes, there's a mighty good dose of circular reasoning involved here.

Anyway, the Ideal Gas Law is considered a scientific law. Millions of chemistry and physics students around the world learn it. They base their calculations and lab experiments on it, though most of them have not personally found out for themselves whether or not it is true. And if they bother to ask, there is no answer to the question "why 8.314472?".

I love science. I love the scientific method. I think that it leads to the discovery of truth. However, it can only lead to the discovery of truths that can be empirically tested. Furthermore, honest scientists will admit that the empirical truths they discover can only be considered true in the physical setting in which they have been tested--they are not universal (even if they are, we have no way of knowing until we can run pV=nRT experiments in other universes).

So, I stand with the author of the article. Science is really not that much different than religion--it requires faith, just of a different kind. It requires one to believe that the universe is orderly and predictable and that empirical observations can be trusted and extrapolated from. It requires one to believe that anomalies are caused by some other, higher scientific law. And it only can provide answers to certain kinds of "why?" questions--once you begin to ask deeper "why?" questions, the only answer is that you have to take it on faith.

Mars and Venus and the Gospel

I'm always slightly uncomfortable when the "men are from Mars, women are from Venus" thing comes up. It's not that I don't think men and women are different--I do. What I don't like is the emphasis that is sometimes placed on these differences. I feel this way for three reasons.

First, we're all people who have the same fundamental needs and wants. An over-emphasis on the differences obscures the more plentiful similarities. Second, there is incredible variation within the sexes--maybe even as much as between them. Most of the women I know actually DO want to solve their problems instead of just talking about them, and the men in my family ask for directions (when they need them).

Finally, emphasizing differences tends to give us an excuse for bad behavior. For example, saying "women are naturally more charitable than men" is often an excuse used by men who just don't want to bother to actually be charitable. [Whenever I hear this, I try to point out that the most charitable person who has ever existed, Jesus Christ, is a man.] It happens on the women's side sometimes too--"he's so much better at problem-solving than me; I'm just all emotions." Regardless of whether or not the statement is true, the fact that you're an emotional person doesn't excuse you from having to learn how to solve your problems.

Given this background, you may understand why I was a little nervous when I found out that yesterday's Relief Society lesson was on "The Women of the Church." Sometimes these lessons can digress into stereotypes. However, when I read the lesson, I found President Kimball's perspective to be truly beautiful:

"...In his wisdom and mercy, our Father made men and women dependent on each other for the full flowering of their potential. Because their natures are somewhat different, they can complement each other; because they are in many ways alike, they can understand each other. Let neither envy the other for their differences; let both discern what is superficial and what is beautifully basic in those differences, and act accordingly. And may the brotherhood of the priesthood and the sisterhood of the Relief Society be a blessing in the lives of all the members of this great Church, as we help each other along the path to perfection."

Wow! Three cheers for inspired interpersonal relationship perspectives!

Halloween is a Wicked Holiday II (or, It's Not Easy Being Green With Jealousy)

Photo stolen from CompTron

I really don't like Snow White. She's got to be the most annoying Disney princess around. However, the real reason I've assembled this costume is so that I can temporarily frighten meduim-sized children by offering them apples when they come to trick-or-treat at my house. No, I don't have a house, but someday I will. Someday my prince WILL come...though Dave's doing a pretty good job as a stand-in in this shot.

I Heart Nordstrom

I bought boots today. It was the Half-Yearly sale at Nordstrom, and I had already told myself that if I found a pair of shoes that I really liked that I would get them. Turns out that the "shoes" that I ended up liking were these boots--a slightly pricier proposition, but I couldn't renege on my deal with myself.


They only had size 7 1/2 at this store, but (unlike some of my fellowshoppers who despaired at the lack of selection) I knew I could make them check other stores. So, I'll be getting a nice big package delivered to my house within the next five business days. Hooray!

Nightmare II--I am Mrs. Stephen Colbert (And You Can, Too)

Previously I discussed a nightmare regarding hand-writing my dissertation. Last night's nightmare was much funnier. Are you ready?

I dreamt that Stephen Colbert (yes, THE Stephen Colbert) had a son.

This son was also named Stephen Colbert--surprise, surprise.

Stephen Colbert, Jr. was handsome.

Stephen Colbert, Jr. proposed to me after admiring my excellent efforts at helping his father get elected President of the United States.

I became Mrs. Stephen Colbert, Jr.

I woke up laughing and feeling strangely rested.

Football Fun From a Fortnight Ago

No action shots, so you'll have to take my word for it that I actually played. But I did--I promise. And I caught a pass (in traffic). And we scored on the next play. And we won 77 to 28.

Doesn't the MonkeyWagon look fetching with its custom paint job?! And even my shoes are getting into the Silver Monkey spirit.