Taking the Middle Line: Two Examples from Science (Part 1)

You know when you get a great idea, and you get so excited about it that you end up creating a monster such that the follow through for the idea becomes this over-daunting task and you end up just…not doing anything? I feel that way often with this blog.

In particular, the post I’ve wanted to write for a long time would look at a common psychological theme between the following subjects: cargo cults; homosexual conversion therapies; the hindu sect known as Aghori; and vegetarianism. All four of those subjects are worthy of their own post…which is why it seems too hard to do.

OK, so instead, I decided to write this more easily digestible and fluffy piece, pointing out two separate instances where two opposing camps in science were reconciled by taking the middle road; i.e. not black, not white, but GREY!

Connections – A History of Science Documentary TV Show by James Burke

I meant to write about this a while ago, when I first came upon the documentary TV series Connections, created, written and presented by science historian James Burke (I LOVE the history of science!).  There are three seasons (kind of… four if you count another show by him called The Day the Universe Changed), most of which you can find on Youtube. The show aired in the late 70s, with the second and third incarnations being in 1994 and 1997. The show “took an interdisciplinary approach to the history of science and invention and demonstrated how various discoveries, scientific achievements, and historical world events were built from one another successively in an interconnected way to bring about particular aspects of modern technology. The series was noted for Burke’s crisp and enthusiastic presentation (and dry humour), historical reenactments, and intricate working models.”

Vikings! …and Sea Kayaking

I’m currently reading Jared Diamond’s Collapse, in which he explores ‘natural experiments’ to try and explain what makes civilizations succeed or fail. So far he’s talked about Easter Island and other Polynesian islands, Ancient Pueblo Peoples (southwest American natives), and the Mayan. [note: the ROM (in Toronto) currently has a Mayan exhibition. I went to see it a week or two ago. I wasn't too impressed with the ROM's treatment, but the artifacts and myths that they presented were really interesting. The one thing I really liked was their idea of the milky way being a giant sky serpent who crossed the sky each night]

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Shortly before my sister was to be married this summer, my Dad had a heart attack. It was his third…I think. It wasn’t major, but the doctors were saying how it was only time till ‘the big one’ came. I think he was wanting a stent, which I believe he had received after his first heart attack, which was very major. But the doctors were saying it wouldn’t do anything, and instead were suggesting he get triple-bypass surgery. Which…I mean, in terms of medical vernacular, we’ve all heard of before. It’s like, the big word for surgery, or whatnot. Anyways, I was shocked to find out my Dad declined the surgery, and instead decided to completely revamp his lifestyle. My Mom at the time was saying that the doctors were saying that, that’s nice, but too late. And I agreed, although through blind faith and pure ignorance. My Dad said that the statistics was not in the favour of the surgery, which I just couldn’t believe. I thought, really? Wouldn’t doctors know this, and thus stop performing the surgery?

Free Will – Sam Harris

Here’s a short article from Sam Harris about how free will does not exist. I agree with him for most of it…but don’t really understand what he’s saying at the end. Read it here from his blog, or below:

End of Illness – David Agus

Hey, watch this:

It’s this doctor, Dr. Agus, talking about how we need to look at heart disease and cancer (and something else I’m forgetting) differently. He thinks a lot of those kinds of killers have more to do with how we live our lives and inflammation, rather than the typical germ-laden way of looking at medicine.

Cormac McCarthy

I have lots I want to post about…but no time to really flesh it all out. So instead, here’s an interview the NYTimes did with Cormac McCarthy, the author of All the Pretty Horses, Blood Meridian, The Road, No Country for Old Men, Suttrey, and others. Blood Meridian is among my top 3 books I’ve ever read. Right now I’m reading All the Pretty Horses and am in love. Check it out: