March 13, 2012 – Smriti "Simmi" D. Isaac

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Does the Color Pink Exist? Scientists Aren't Sure

Getty Images

In a blog post, Robert Krulwich of the public radio show Radiolab noted that there is no pink in the colors of the rainbow. Pink is actually a combination of red and violet, two colors, which, if you look at a rainbow, are on the opposite sides of the arc. Remember the old colors of the rainbow mnemonic ROYGBIV? The R (red) is as far as it can get from V (violet). That’s where the trouble lies. Pink can’t exist in nature without a little rainbow-bending help, which would allow the shades of red and violet to commingle. This is leading scientists to believe, as Krulwich puts it, that “pink is a made-up color.” Krulwich explains:

I know, of course, that all colors are just waves of light, so every color we “see,” we see with our brains. But what this video says is that there is no such thing as a band of wavelengths that mix red and violet, and therefore, pink is not a real wavelength of light. That’s why pink is an invention. It’s not a name we give to something out there. Pink isn’t out there.

(MORE: Hues You Can Use)

So there you have it. Pink, the color, is just the wishful thinking of our brain blending the red and violet wavelengths together to create the color of many little girls’ birthday parties. But as compelling as Krulwich’s argument is, there are plenty of scientists (and probably My Little Pony fanatics) who disagree with him. In a blog post aptly named Stop This Absurd War on the Color Pink, Scientific American blogger Michael Moyer points to research that indicates that all color, whether in the rainbow or not, is a fabrication of our brains. He quotes biologist Timothy H. Goldsmith as noting that, “Color is not actually a property of light or of objects that reflect light. It is a sensation that arises within the brain.” He concludes by stating that, “Pink is real—or it is not—but it is just as real or not-real as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.”

We will leave the debate over the color pink to the experts, because we know one Pink who definitely still exists. (Although she has been going by her given name of Alecia Moore a lot lately. Perhaps she knows something we don’t.)

via newsfeed.time.com

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

On This Day: March 13

Updated March 12, 2012, 2:28 pm

On March 13, 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the United States Senate.

Go to article »

On March 13, 1855, Percival Lowell, the American astronomer who helped discover Pluto and believed that there was life on Mars, was born. Following his death on Nov. 12, 1916, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

By The Associated Press

1639 New College was renamed Harvard College for clergyman John Harvard.

1781 The planet Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel.

1852 “Uncle Sam” made his debut as a cartoon character in the New York Lantern.

1868 The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate.

1884 Standard Time was adopted throughout the United States.

1901 Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, died in Indianaoplis at age 67.

1938 Defense attorney Clarence S. Darrow died at age 80.

1964 Kitty Genovese, 28, was stabbed to death near her Queens, New York, home. The case came to be a symbol of urban apathy, though initial reports that 38 neighbors ignored Genovese’s calls for help have been disputed.

1969 Apollo 9 returned to Earth after a mission to test the lunar module.

1996 A gunman opened fire on a class of kindergarteners at an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland, killing 16 children and one teacher before killing himself.

Current Birthdays

By The Associated Press

Actor William H. Macy turns 62 years old today.

AP Photo/Jeff Christensen

Actress Dana Delany (“Body of Proof,” “China Beach”) turns 56 years old today.

AP Photo/Katy Winn

1933 Mike Stoller, Songwriter, turns 79

1939 Neil Sedaka, Singer, songwriter, turns 73

1957 John Hoeven, U.S. senator, R-N.D., turns 55

1960 Adam Clayton, Rock musician (U2), turns 52

1962 Terrence Blanchard, Jazz trumpeter, turns 50

1971 Annabeth Gish, Actress, turns 41

1972 Common, Rapper, actor, turns 40

1976 Danny Masterson, Actor (“That 70s Show”), turns 36

1985 Emile Hirsch, Actor, turns 27

Historic Birthdays

Percival Lowell 3/13/1855 – 11/12/1916 American astronomer; helped discover Pluto.Go to obituary »

59 Montdory 3/13/1594 – 11/10/1653
French actor

73 Charles Bonnet 3/13/1720 – 5/20/1793
Swiss naturalist and philosophical writer

81 Charles Grey 3/13/1764 – 7/17/1845
English Whig party leader and prime minister (1830-34)

60 Karl Schinkel 3/13/1781 – 10/9/1841
German architect and painter

68 William Glackens 3/13/1870 – 5/22/1938
American artist

63 Albert Stevens 3/13/1886 – 3/26/1949
American army officer, balloonist and aerial photographer

86 Janet Flanner 3/13/1892 – 11/7/1978
American writer and Paris correspondent for The New Yorker

71 George Seferis 3/13/1900 – 9/20/1971
Greek Nobel Prize-winning poet, essayist and diplomat

74 William J. Casey 3/13/1913 – 5/6/1987
American director of the C.I.A. (1981-87)

1639	New College was renamed Harvard College for clergyman John Harvard.
1781	The planet Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel.
1852	“Uncle Sam” made his debut as a cartoon character in the New York Lantern.
1868	The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate.
1884	Standard Time was adopted throughout the United States.
1901	Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, died in Indianaoplis at age 67.
1938	Defense attorney Clarence S. Darrow died at age 80.
1964	Kitty Genovese, 28, was stabbed to death near her Queens, New York, home. The case came to be a symbol of urban apathy, though initial reports that 38 neighbors ignored Genovese’s calls for help have been disputed.
1969	Apollo 9 returned to Earth after a mission to test the lunar module.
1996	A gunman opened fire on a class of kindergarteners at an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland, killing 16 children and one teacher before killing himself.

1933	Mike Stoller, Songwriter, turns 79
1939	Neil Sedaka, Singer, songwriter, turns 73
1957	John Hoeven, U.S. senator, R-N.D., turns 55
1960	Adam Clayton, Rock musician (U2), turns 52
1962	Terrence Blanchard, Jazz trumpeter, turns 50
1971	Annabeth Gish, Actress, turns 41
1972	Common, Rapper, actor, turns 40
1976	Danny Masterson, Actor (“That 70s Show”), turns 36
1985	Emile Hirsch, Actor, turns 27

59	Montdory 3/13/1594 – 11/10/1653 French actor
73	Charles Bonnet 3/13/1720 – 5/20/1793 Swiss naturalist and philosophical writer
81	Charles Grey 3/13/1764 – 7/17/1845 English Whig party leader and prime minister (1830-34)
60	Karl Schinkel 3/13/1781 – 10/9/1841 German architect and painter
68	William Glackens 3/13/1870 – 5/22/1938 American artist
63	Albert Stevens 3/13/1886 – 3/26/1949 American army officer, balloonist and aerial photographer
86	Janet Flanner 3/13/1892 – 11/7/1978 American writer and Paris correspondent for The New Yorker
71	George Seferis 3/13/1900 – 9/20/1971 Greek Nobel Prize-winning poet, essayist and diplomat
74	William J. Casey 3/13/1913 – 5/6/1987 American director of the C.I.A. (1981-87)

via learning.blogs.nytimes.com

Posted on March 13, 2012April 10, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

March 13

MORNING

“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12

It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of grace. A man says, “I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little faith may, but I never shall.” “I have fervent love,” says another, “I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.” He who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a continuous stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly today, it will smoke to-morrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take heed that thou gloriest not in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and his strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling. Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for men’s souls. So live that men may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him; and when that happy day shall come, when he whom you love shall say, “Come up higher,” may it be your happiness to hear him say, “Thou hast fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness which fadeth not away.” On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, “Uphold me according to thy word.” He is able, and he alone, “To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

EVENING

“I will take heed to my ways.”
Psalm 39:1

Fellow-pilgrim, say not in your heart, “I will go hither and thither, and I shall not sin;” for you are never so out of danger of sinning as to boast of security. The road is very miry, it will be hard to pick your path so as not to soil your garments. This is a world of pitch; you will need to watch often, if in handling it you are to keep your hands clean. There is a robber at every turn of the road to rob you of your jewels; there is a temptation in every mercy; there is a snare in every joy; and if you ever reach heaven, it will be a miracle of divine grace to be ascribed entirely to your Father’s power. Be on your guard. When a man carries a bomb-shell in his hand, he should mind that he does not go near a candle; and you too must take care that you enter not into temptation. Even your common actions are edged tools; you must mind how you handle them. There is nothing in this world to foster a Christian’s piety, but everything to destroy it. How anxious should you be to look up to God, that he may keep you! Your prayer should be, “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.” Having prayed, you must also watch; guarding every thought, word, and action, with holy jealousy. Do not expose yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if you are bidden to go where the darts are flying, never venture forth without your shield; for if once the devil finds you without your buckler, he will rejoice that his hour of triumph is come, and will soon make you fall down wounded by his arrows. Though slain you cannot be; wounded you may be. “Be sober; be vigilant, danger may be in an hour when all seemeth securest to thee.” Therefore, take heed to thy ways, and watch unto prayer. No man ever fell into error through being too watchful. May the Holy Spirit guide us in all our ways; so shall they always please the Lord.

via view.lists.biblegateway.com

Posted on March 13, 2012January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

‘Black stone’ is what the title in Hindi means, which is another way to say coal. This is a story of the coal miners and their impossibly hard lives in the eastern part of India. One of Amitabh Bachhan’s classic movies, it is a fine example of his ‘angry young man’ acting prowess that he honed over the 70s and 80s which resulted in the cult-like following of his work.

This was most likely not his first or last romantic pairing with Rakhee who plays a doctor who– dare we think it– actually falls in love with a coal miner. But such is life, and Mr. Bachhan alongside Shashi Kapoor and a host of other well-known Bollywood stars of the time, take us on this grand ride of a story.

It is likely that this movie went a long way in raising public awareness to the dismal and dangerous condition of the coal mining industry and the heartless corporate treatment meted out to the workers by way of low wages, no benefits, and poor living conditions. Crafted in the old Bollywood style of the day where cinematography was less sophisticated, and the dialogue deliberately belabored, Kaala Patthar weaves a large web of a story that incorporates everything from the machinations of corporate greed to the circumspect workings of an honest mining engineer, to disgrace and redemption as experienced by a miner who finds more than what he bargained for and comes out the better for it.

Prepare to set aside a solid three hours to take the movie in its entirety, or prepare to pause and play as and how your time permits. Either way, you’ll get an appreciation for old-world Bollywood, and Mr. Bachhan in particular!