A couple of good videos about the historic black hole image: Why it’s such a big deal, and how to understand it.
Mashup art by Todd Alcott.
Astronomers have captured the first-ever image of a black hole… this is a fantastic achievement.
I said, “I feel like I’ve finally got my shit together.” I said it and I didn’t believe it. I don’t think any of us really get our shit together, ever. We try, and that’s all we can do. The rest is not our business.
I turn 50 in one month, and I keep trying.
Other people’s weeknotes are a thing and I like that.
Related to the last, all of Vermeer’s paintings in one place.
An engineer thinks time seems to speed up as we age because of physical deterioration of our eyes and brains. He might be onto something. I think it’s also because a) when you’re a kid, you’re living completely in the now without all the regrets and worries that come with adulting, and b) when you’re ten, a year is a much bigger chunk of your life than when you’re fifty. Whichever way, it’s all perception.
Some thoughts on Christchurch, a week on.
Arohanui to the victims and their families. No one should have to go through that. Much aroha too to the people of Christchurch, some of whom I know and care about, and who have already been through so, so much.
The gunman is an enemy of humanity, and a fucking coward. I hope he’s tried behind closed doors and denied a platform of any sort.
Some of the stuff circulating on the internet is vile, but all the talk of doing something about it will ultimately come to nothing. The horse has well and truly bolted.
It was disturbing to find that a basic gun licence holder in this country could so easily get hold of assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. The government was right to ban these so promptly. In this matter – and in the rest of the way she’s conducted herself this week – Jacinda Ardern has done well.
Criticism of Islam as a system of thought – or Christianity, or any other system of thought for that matter which purports to have all the answers and presumes to tell others how to live – should not be conflated with dislike of Muslims as people. We need to always be able to debate systems of thought.
No one chooses their skin colour, and regardless of it most of us here in NZ try our best to be good, and kind, and to raise our kids to be the same. Can we try harder? Of course. Always.