The Reason to Blog

Last night, I told Nilda about my posting on the uncertainty principle. She said to me, "Are all of your posts going to be boring?" Thanks, sweetheart. You're so wonderful.

This got me thinking about the purpose of blog. Some are like online diaries (Jon Berger), some are strictly informative (Andrew), while others go for more of an audience participation angle (Bill). To me, a blog, at best, is a diary of whats interesting to the writer at the moment, and nothing more. But I still can't figure out the reason why anybody would want to keep a blog.

The Uncertainty Principle

Knowledge is finite. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle says, among other things, that by learning about one object, we cloud our knowledge of another. For example, if we want to know the position and momentum of an object, figuring one out will make our ability to determine the other less accurate. (Once I learn how to insert a hyperlink, like Bill and Andrew, I'll do that. Until then, here's the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty_principle).

The principle also states that by looking an object, we change it. If you want to see where an atom is located, you shine a flashlight on it. But the light will excite the atom and make it move around, so you can't get an accurate reading. (This would also with with a coffee mug, but you'd need a lot of light to make a discernable difference in the coffee mug). Instead of merely saying that all we need are better instruments, the principle stands for the idea that we can never know everything. There is a limit to knowledge.

This idea was controversial when it came out. Einstein, while agreeing to its basic assumptions, did not accept it, famously stating, "I cannot believe that God would choose to play dice with the universe." Bohr, a scientist who favored the idea, responded, "Einstein, don't tell God what to do." The principle is now greatly accepted.

How does this scientific principle impact your daily life? It doesn't. How often are you going to need to know exactly where an atom is? But as a theory, as an idea in the evolution of human thought, its groundbreaking. Only by accepting what we cannot know can we truly understand what we can know.

Memorial Day

A great war-related organization is the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), which focuses on helping disabled veterans in their return to civilian life. More than anything, the influx of these soldiers back into America is going to nbe the most-lasting impact the Iraq War will have.

Alberto Gonzalez

Looking to find a way to explain away the Democratic victory in 2006, Karl Rove wanted to claim that "voter fraud" was an issue. To fabricate such a claim, Rove wanted the Justice Department to prosecute various Democrats. When certain prosecutors refused to bring bogus prosecutions, the White House fired them. This broke the cardinal rule against politicizing thje justice department and, thankfully, Congress and the press haven't let it go. Gonzalez is now taking the fall for it, but like every decision with this administration, this issue stems from Rove.

I couldn't sleep and I'm watching Bill Mahr. Who let Ben Affleck speak?

Stealing from Andrew

And yes, I know this is the same format Andrew uses for his blog, but its the best one and he's got the same cufflinks I got so he can suck it.

First entry

I don't understand why anybody would want to write a blog. Doesn't make any sense and reminds me too much of Doogie Howser. (Pause as I sit back and think, followed by a slight chuckle). I have to get back to work, these motions are killing me.