(Random note: while writing this piece, I realized that "media" is the plural of "medium." Mind=blown)
Here's an experiment: Look through your bookshelf. How many items there are 10 years or older? Perhaps a few? A lot? Okay. How many will still be there 10 years from now? 20 years? 50 years? Probably most of them, if you're anything like me.
For the vast majority of recorded history, physical media has been the preferred medium of record. That is to say, if you had something important, or something to be remembered, you wrote it down, and you could hold it in your hand. You could bet pretty good money that it would be around for a while.
The examination of books, art, photographs, and other physical media from decades, centuries, or millennia ago gives us fantastic insight in to the nature of society from whence they came. This is made possible through the incredible property of physical media being able to preserve itself. That is, it has endured in spite of society's neglect, or occasionally even efforts to destroy it.
Now, to continue our little experiment: page through your computer's hard drive. How many files are at least 10 years old? Probably relatively few (unless you're a digital pack rat), but most likely because the majority of us didn't have our life centered around a computer 10 years ago, back when AOL was both the leading ISP and content provider on the web.
Finally: take another look at the files on your computer. How many of those will you still have in 10 years? How about 20 years? 50 years? Fewer than your books?
----
The prevalence of the internet and computers allows people to create information at a truly unfathomable rate--worldwide, an amount of data equivalent to the size of the Library of Congress is generated in the order of minutes, if not seconds. Websites, articles, blogs, photos, and tweets are created and stored in the digital multiverse, all waiting to be retrieved for the foreseeable future.
But here lies the problem: when a library shuts down, the books remain. One can still go and retrieve the information contained in that building. The written word is, generally speaking, accessible to everyone, anytime. However, when a website (for example) shuts down, the information within is--poof--gone forever, unless someone consciously decides to retain that data in a usable form.
So, I propose my question: Given the increasing dependence on the computer and digital (not physical) media, what will serve as the historical record of our society? How will people centuries from now generate an account of what our lives are like, with so much of our world taking place in the world of 1's and 0's?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Fun Fact: Uptown Rainbow Edition
The Uptown Rainbow grocery store is built on the site of Minneapolis Arena, which served as the home of Golden Gopher Hockey before Williams Arena (old Mariucci) opened in 1950. [Vintage Minnesota Hockey]
Monday, November 23, 2009
Yoga is not an alternative to vaccination
The following was written in response to a column in the Minnesota Daily and published on November 24, 2009 with minor changes.
Yoga is a great way to achieve a healthy diet, daily physical activity, and good mental fitness, which can lead to better overall health. However, Hadley Gustin's suggestion that yoga is a "viable alternative to... vaccinations" is irresponsible at best, and dangerous at worst. There are no scientific studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of yoga in preventing illness beyond the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the placebo effect; vaccines are unquestionably the best way to prevent communicable diseases.
Smallpox, which is estimated to have killed over 300 million people in the 20th century alone, was completely eradicated in 1977. This was not achieved through everyone "eradicating toxicity" through "a series of forceful exhalations," but through a miracle of modern "Western" medicine and science: vaccines. Many other diseases are becoming increasingly uncommon because of vaccination programs. Those who are not vaccinated are protected by herd immunity: since those around them are vaccinated, their risk of exposure is greatly reduced.
Few people will deny that our society needs to start living a healthier lifestyle, and doing so will take large steps towards reducing the the occurrence of preventable ailments such as Diabetes and obesity, but adhering to the delusion that this same regimen will prevent the spread of communicable diseases like H1N1 influenza is the kind of thinking that has led to recent outbreaks of Whooping Cough in Australia and Mumps in Great Britain.
So, you can pose and exhale all you like, but for the benefit of yourself and everyone around you, please get your vaccinations--there really is no other alternative.
Yoga is a great way to achieve a healthy diet, daily physical activity, and good mental fitness, which can lead to better overall health. However, Hadley Gustin's suggestion that yoga is a "viable alternative to... vaccinations" is irresponsible at best, and dangerous at worst. There are no scientific studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of yoga in preventing illness beyond the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the placebo effect; vaccines are unquestionably the best way to prevent communicable diseases.
Smallpox, which is estimated to have killed over 300 million people in the 20th century alone, was completely eradicated in 1977. This was not achieved through everyone "eradicating toxicity" through "a series of forceful exhalations," but through a miracle of modern "Western" medicine and science: vaccines. Many other diseases are becoming increasingly uncommon because of vaccination programs. Those who are not vaccinated are protected by herd immunity: since those around them are vaccinated, their risk of exposure is greatly reduced.
Few people will deny that our society needs to start living a healthier lifestyle, and doing so will take large steps towards reducing the the occurrence of preventable ailments such as Diabetes and obesity, but adhering to the delusion that this same regimen will prevent the spread of communicable diseases like H1N1 influenza is the kind of thinking that has led to recent outbreaks of Whooping Cough in Australia and Mumps in Great Britain.
So, you can pose and exhale all you like, but for the benefit of yourself and everyone around you, please get your vaccinations--there really is no other alternative.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sportsmanship vs. Atmosphere
There has been a lot of recent debate in the papers and on the internet concerning the behavior of University students, especially in the context of the conduct of Gopher fans during and around sporting events. Issues range from complaints from the larger Minneapolis community about rowdy behavior on weekends and in the late hours of the night, to issues with the student section using foul language to intimidate opposing teams at games.
On one side of the issue, people take the side of the students: after all, they are college students, and they're doing "what college students are supposed to do." It is ridiculous to assume that fans of college sports will sit idly on their hands and applaud as if they were watching a golf tournament, and then go home and peacefully drink tea: college sports are special because of the fans and the atmosphere surrounding the games. It's no coincidence that 21 of the 22 largest stadiums in the U.S., including all of the top ten, house college football teams.
On the other side of the issue is the assertion that students are representatives of the University of Minnesota, and should conduct themselves as such. They should respect the community, opposing teams, and fellow students in the name of good sportsmanship. This does not necessarily mean “no fun,” but there are serious issues to be addressed in the conduct of some fans that are deeply engraved in their vision of the “college experience.”
It is here that we find ourselves at an impasse: the administration and community-at-large would like to see more respectful students, but students are unwilling to give up the culture and traditions that have developed on campus for the past 150 years. Both are advancing their agendas in the name of creating a "better game day experience." They are equally admirable goals, and are part of what makes our University great.
Possibly caused by the infamous "hockey riots" following the Gophers' 2002 and 2003 NCAA Hockey Championships, the University of Minnesota has repeatedly imposed sets of rules on the student body in a well-intentioned but feeble attempt to control fan behavior. These have taken many forms: the "Student Code of Conduct," the "Fan Bill of Rights," and most recently, the "Fan Code of Conduct."
Through all of these additions and changes to policy, one thing has remained constant: the University of Minnesota has not taken any real steps toward improving the atmosphere at sporting events. Yes, the rules technically absolve the University of any wrongdoing or responsibility for fans' actions (after all, it is ultimately up to the individual to obey rules), but if the University is truly serious about improving fan conduct, they must do more than develop guidelines for fans.
First, they must directly and non-arbitrarily enforce the rules that are in place. Aside from the alcohol policy, the "Fan Code of Conduct" is largely a joke--has anyone ever seen someone get kicked out of a game for swearing at the referees? Disciplinary action is currently only taken for offenses that are otherwise punishable under the letter of law. Publishing a newsletter doesn't do anything to influence fan behavior short of increasing the number of paper airplanes thrown on the field. If the rules in place are not enforceable, they should be replaced with ones that are.
Second, the University must actively help to replace the practices that they oppose. Tradition, no matter what it is, is still just that--tradition. For a tradition to "die" peacefully, a suitable alternative must be proposed and accepted. Currently, when the administration does manage to exact a change in the cheers (usually by prohibiting the band from playing the appropriate cues--hardly a good solution), students are liable to act out in ways that are worse than the original "offense." This is the cause of the viscous cycle in which we are currently trapped, resulting in increasingly Draconian policies dictating behavior that--as previously mentioned--are rarely enforced, and an overall disdain for said rules among the fans they are prescribed to.
To date, both the students' and administration's actions have been similarly polarizing to the opposite party. Admirably, neither has compromised their primary principles. It is an unfortunate consequence of the human condition that University policy is much more flexible than the mob mentality of 10,000 students; the University must begin to work proactively with fans to change the common perception of a “college atmosphere” to the kind of game day experience we can all enjoy.
On one side of the issue, people take the side of the students: after all, they are college students, and they're doing "what college students are supposed to do." It is ridiculous to assume that fans of college sports will sit idly on their hands and applaud as if they were watching a golf tournament, and then go home and peacefully drink tea: college sports are special because of the fans and the atmosphere surrounding the games. It's no coincidence that 21 of the 22 largest stadiums in the U.S., including all of the top ten, house college football teams.
On the other side of the issue is the assertion that students are representatives of the University of Minnesota, and should conduct themselves as such. They should respect the community, opposing teams, and fellow students in the name of good sportsmanship. This does not necessarily mean “no fun,” but there are serious issues to be addressed in the conduct of some fans that are deeply engraved in their vision of the “college experience.”
It is here that we find ourselves at an impasse: the administration and community-at-large would like to see more respectful students, but students are unwilling to give up the culture and traditions that have developed on campus for the past 150 years. Both are advancing their agendas in the name of creating a "better game day experience." They are equally admirable goals, and are part of what makes our University great.
Possibly caused by the infamous "hockey riots" following the Gophers' 2002 and 2003 NCAA Hockey Championships, the University of Minnesota has repeatedly imposed sets of rules on the student body in a well-intentioned but feeble attempt to control fan behavior. These have taken many forms: the "Student Code of Conduct," the "Fan Bill of Rights," and most recently, the "Fan Code of Conduct."
Through all of these additions and changes to policy, one thing has remained constant: the University of Minnesota has not taken any real steps toward improving the atmosphere at sporting events. Yes, the rules technically absolve the University of any wrongdoing or responsibility for fans' actions (after all, it is ultimately up to the individual to obey rules), but if the University is truly serious about improving fan conduct, they must do more than develop guidelines for fans.
First, they must directly and non-arbitrarily enforce the rules that are in place. Aside from the alcohol policy, the "Fan Code of Conduct" is largely a joke--has anyone ever seen someone get kicked out of a game for swearing at the referees? Disciplinary action is currently only taken for offenses that are otherwise punishable under the letter of law. Publishing a newsletter doesn't do anything to influence fan behavior short of increasing the number of paper airplanes thrown on the field. If the rules in place are not enforceable, they should be replaced with ones that are.
Second, the University must actively help to replace the practices that they oppose. Tradition, no matter what it is, is still just that--tradition. For a tradition to "die" peacefully, a suitable alternative must be proposed and accepted. Currently, when the administration does manage to exact a change in the cheers (usually by prohibiting the band from playing the appropriate cues--hardly a good solution), students are liable to act out in ways that are worse than the original "offense." This is the cause of the viscous cycle in which we are currently trapped, resulting in increasingly Draconian policies dictating behavior that--as previously mentioned--are rarely enforced, and an overall disdain for said rules among the fans they are prescribed to.
To date, both the students' and administration's actions have been similarly polarizing to the opposite party. Admirably, neither has compromised their primary principles. It is an unfortunate consequence of the human condition that University policy is much more flexible than the mob mentality of 10,000 students; the University must begin to work proactively with fans to change the common perception of a “college atmosphere” to the kind of game day experience we can all enjoy.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Battle for The Axe
It can be said that I have a strong dislike for the University of Wisconsin's athletic teams. I was born in the Twin Cities, and was raised as a Golden Gophers fan. I received a degree from the University of Minnesota, and participated in the Minnesota Marching Band. As such, the Gophers' rivalries are engraved in my mind, including the "Border Battle" between the Universities of Minnesota and Wisconsin, truly one of the best in all of sports.
But let me clarify: I do not "hate" the University of Wisconsin, or its athletic teams. I have always tried to remain in good spirits about the Border Battle; to see through the intense emotions, posturing, and slogans that inevitably arise every time the Gophers and Badgers take the field together, in order to enjoy the rivalry for what it is: a classic contest between two storied Universities, adding yet another chapter to a long tradition of competition. I have always respected the University of Wisconsin, as a quality institution, with a successful athletics program.
So, this weekend, as I cheered on my Gophers against their rivals from across the St. Croix River, I tried my hardest to exhibit nothing but the best sportsmanship. Fully aware of all of the slogans that inebriated students love to scream at anyone within earshot (especially toward those wearing red), I graciously welcomed fans of the Badgers to my home state, or at the very least let them be, hoping for them to enjoy their game day experience in Minneapolis.
At the game, I sat in my seat in the upper deck of TCF Bank Stadium, which happens to be directly in front of one the blocks of seats that are sold to opposing teams' fans. Again, I let the steady stream of Badger fans pass by me without incident; I was there to cheer on my team, not to ridicule and harass their opponents. As the clock expired, resulting in a Gophers loss, I accepted the fact that I would have to cheerfully endure yet another year of the good-natured ribbing that goes hand-in-hand with a rivalry such as this.
I sat in the emptying stadium, immersed in my own thoughts about how wonderful it would have been to see my Gophers hoist The Paul Bunyan's Axe Trophy in victory. I watched with quiet envy as the University of Wisconsin Football team cheerfully paraded around the field with the coveted prize, something that they had earned the right to do after a well-fought football game.
Then, I saw something that instantly made my dejection turn to silent rage.
Following the game, I stood and removed my hat to sing Hail! Minnesota (our Alma Mater) with the band, football team, and student section at the end of the game, as we do at every game. As I began to sing, the Wisconsin Football Team, Axe Trophy in hand, ran in between the Minnesota Football Team and Band, and began to "chop" down the goalpost that stood there, while fans of the University of Minnesota were singing their Alma Mater.
I have attended a decent number of contests between the Gophers and the Badgers; it seems that all too many of them ended in disappointing losses. I was mere yards away from the decisive touchdown in the 2005 "Miracle in the Metrodome." I was at the game at the Kohl Center when the Badgers' Men's Hockey team ended the Gophers' 22-game unbeaten streak in 2006. I was there when the Wisconsin Women's Hockey team defeated Minnesota for the National Title. But after none of these games did I ever say, as I do now:
Today was the day I lost my respect for the University of Wisconsin.
The University of Wisconsin football team should be reminded that they are not only an athletics team, but also are representatives of their institution and the state for which it is named. Today, in their rude and disrespectful actions following their victory against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, they have utterly failed in that role.
Now, I too can state with certainty: "When you say 'Wisconsin,' you've said it all."
But let me clarify: I do not "hate" the University of Wisconsin, or its athletic teams. I have always tried to remain in good spirits about the Border Battle; to see through the intense emotions, posturing, and slogans that inevitably arise every time the Gophers and Badgers take the field together, in order to enjoy the rivalry for what it is: a classic contest between two storied Universities, adding yet another chapter to a long tradition of competition. I have always respected the University of Wisconsin, as a quality institution, with a successful athletics program.
So, this weekend, as I cheered on my Gophers against their rivals from across the St. Croix River, I tried my hardest to exhibit nothing but the best sportsmanship. Fully aware of all of the slogans that inebriated students love to scream at anyone within earshot (especially toward those wearing red), I graciously welcomed fans of the Badgers to my home state, or at the very least let them be, hoping for them to enjoy their game day experience in Minneapolis.
At the game, I sat in my seat in the upper deck of TCF Bank Stadium, which happens to be directly in front of one the blocks of seats that are sold to opposing teams' fans. Again, I let the steady stream of Badger fans pass by me without incident; I was there to cheer on my team, not to ridicule and harass their opponents. As the clock expired, resulting in a Gophers loss, I accepted the fact that I would have to cheerfully endure yet another year of the good-natured ribbing that goes hand-in-hand with a rivalry such as this.
I sat in the emptying stadium, immersed in my own thoughts about how wonderful it would have been to see my Gophers hoist The Paul Bunyan's Axe Trophy in victory. I watched with quiet envy as the University of Wisconsin Football team cheerfully paraded around the field with the coveted prize, something that they had earned the right to do after a well-fought football game.
Then, I saw something that instantly made my dejection turn to silent rage.
Following the game, I stood and removed my hat to sing Hail! Minnesota (our Alma Mater) with the band, football team, and student section at the end of the game, as we do at every game. As I began to sing, the Wisconsin Football Team, Axe Trophy in hand, ran in between the Minnesota Football Team and Band, and began to "chop" down the goalpost that stood there, while fans of the University of Minnesota were singing their Alma Mater.
I have attended a decent number of contests between the Gophers and the Badgers; it seems that all too many of them ended in disappointing losses. I was mere yards away from the decisive touchdown in the 2005 "Miracle in the Metrodome." I was at the game at the Kohl Center when the Badgers' Men's Hockey team ended the Gophers' 22-game unbeaten streak in 2006. I was there when the Wisconsin Women's Hockey team defeated Minnesota for the National Title. But after none of these games did I ever say, as I do now:
Today was the day I lost my respect for the University of Wisconsin.
The University of Wisconsin football team should be reminded that they are not only an athletics team, but also are representatives of their institution and the state for which it is named. Today, in their rude and disrespectful actions following their victory against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, they have utterly failed in that role.
Now, I too can state with certainty: "When you say 'Wisconsin,' you've said it all."
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Fun Fact: Beer Statistics Edition
The Student's t-distribution was developed for quality control measures at the Guinness Brewery. [Wikipeida]
Friday, May 29, 2009
Fun Fact: Blues Edition
Howard Shore (composer of The Lord of the Rings soundtrack, among others) was the first to suggest the name "The Blues Brothers" to Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. [Wikipedia]
Friday, March 13, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
This is what I was worried about...
This economic stimulus bill is getting out of hand. On election night last November, when I watched the Democratic party rout the GOP in a stomping the likes of which we haven't seen since the 1992 elections, I instantly dreaded the results.
Not because I'm ultra-conservative or a liberal-hater, but because now, in this volatile political and economic environment, there is a single group of people "unified" in their vision for America that now has virtually unquestioned control over the nation for the next two years.
Instead of being the bipartisan body that logically discusses and finds solutions to issues that President Obama wished upon us, Congress has become a giant Democratic circlejerk that, because of majorities in both chambers of the Capitol that are the largest in recent memory, feels that they can do whatever they want to with little to no oversight or opposition - they're like a 5-year old kid when the parents leave the house.
So now, under the veil of an economic emergency, Congress has essentially been granted unlimited latitude to pass what is quite possibly the largest single pork-barrel spending bill in history. Remember when, using "National Security" as a reason, President Bush was granted executive wartime spending priveleges, and then used it to start not one, but two ill-advised wars? I'm concerned that the same thing will happen here: using current events as a shield, a now decidedly partisan Congress will push through whatever legislation they want until the next round of elections.
I sincerely hope President Obama starts calling out specific individuals for this crap--a lot of damage can be done in two years.
Not because I'm ultra-conservative or a liberal-hater, but because now, in this volatile political and economic environment, there is a single group of people "unified" in their vision for America that now has virtually unquestioned control over the nation for the next two years.
Instead of being the bipartisan body that logically discusses and finds solutions to issues that President Obama wished upon us, Congress has become a giant Democratic circlejerk that, because of majorities in both chambers of the Capitol that are the largest in recent memory, feels that they can do whatever they want to with little to no oversight or opposition - they're like a 5-year old kid when the parents leave the house.
So now, under the veil of an economic emergency, Congress has essentially been granted unlimited latitude to pass what is quite possibly the largest single pork-barrel spending bill in history. Remember when, using "National Security" as a reason, President Bush was granted executive wartime spending priveleges, and then used it to start not one, but two ill-advised wars? I'm concerned that the same thing will happen here: using current events as a shield, a now decidedly partisan Congress will push through whatever legislation they want until the next round of elections.
I sincerely hope President Obama starts calling out specific individuals for this crap--a lot of damage can be done in two years.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
New Computer or not?
The laptop I got at the beginning of freshman year is getting old. I need to at the very least wipe the Hard Drive and get a fresh install of everything on there. I only have about 3 of the original 60GB left, and I'm beginning to have some virus problems from stuff I've picked up here and there resulting in my computer (or more specifically, my X500) being kicked off the University's wireless network.
So, 3 options:
1) Wipe the 60GB HDD, reinstall everything. Result: good enough for now. Cost: minimal-to-none. Fun: not much.
2) Invest a little money in my laptop. Buy a 250GB HDD (and maybe some extra RAM while I'm at it), reinstall everything on that, move the 60GB to my little laptop (which currently has 20GB. Result: fresh install, plus an extra 190(+40)GB. Cost: $90. Fun: kind of, but not really
3) Buy a new computer. Build a desktop machine from the ground up. Result: Brand new machine that will do what I want it to for the next 5 or 6 years. Cost: $800-$900. Fun: tons.
So, 3 options:
1) Wipe the 60GB HDD, reinstall everything. Result: good enough for now. Cost: minimal-to-none. Fun: not much.
2) Invest a little money in my laptop. Buy a 250GB HDD (and maybe some extra RAM while I'm at it), reinstall everything on that, move the 60GB to my little laptop (which currently has 20GB. Result: fresh install, plus an extra 190(+40)GB. Cost: $90. Fun: kind of, but not really
3) Buy a new computer. Build a desktop machine from the ground up. Result: Brand new machine that will do what I want it to for the next 5 or 6 years. Cost: $800-$900. Fun: tons.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Importing Posts from Xanga
I've imported all my old blog posts from my (now defunct) Xanga account. I'm now officially separated from that site.
Take that, social networking proliferation!
Take that, social networking proliferation!
The Job Search
In a little under 3 months, I will be done with school and have to move off in to the real world. Which means, in the interim, I need to find a job, find a place to live, and basically re-set my life.
I've had a few interviews here and there, stemming from the two job fairs I've attended, but none of them have yielded any results (job offers, that is).
I know exactly two things about what I want to do for a living:
I'm starting to think, in my opinion, that I've never really worked "hard" for anything. Sure, I've been successful in school, been involved, won a few awards, done a few cool things, but maybe I never really was truly, really, challenged by any of these, and, maybe now that I'm required to really work at something, I'm failing miserably. To try to solve this, I'm now commiting myself to dedicate at least one hour of every day doing nothing but job searching: applying on-line, researching companies, searching for new ones.
Hopefully it'll all work out in the end.
I've had a few interviews here and there, stemming from the two job fairs I've attended, but none of them have yielded any results (job offers, that is).
I know exactly two things about what I want to do for a living:
- I want to design aircraft for a living. I've known this for 4 or 5 years now. It really doesn't matter what kind; there's just always been something fascinating about the beautiful complexity of an airplane
- I don't want to work for NASA. In the 1960's, I would. Maybe if we get in another "space race," I will. But not now. It would be cool, but I don't want to work on any project where Congress directly controls the budget.
I'm starting to think, in my opinion, that I've never really worked "hard" for anything. Sure, I've been successful in school, been involved, won a few awards, done a few cool things, but maybe I never really was truly, really, challenged by any of these, and, maybe now that I'm required to really work at something, I'm failing miserably. To try to solve this, I'm now commiting myself to dedicate at least one hour of every day doing nothing but job searching: applying on-line, researching companies, searching for new ones.
Hopefully it'll all work out in the end.
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