Friday, June 10, 2005
Warm!
I swear, I've done more walking during this week's heat swell than all three of the previous cooler weeks combined. Doesn't exercise in this kind of weather count as, um, double exercise? 'Cause at this rate I'll be totally ripped by next Thursday.
Today was a blast from the past as I went to hang out with Kazu and Jung Eun at the Museum of Natural History. Kazu really seems to dig it as he's already been there twice this month. I haven't been up there in at least a decade and things sure are...the same. How many taxidermy dioramas is too many? Seriously, that museum hasn't changed much in a long time. Ben once joked that the Museum of Natural History should be put into a museum.
I had to explain to Kazu what a "suggested donation" means. He was surprised and a little dismayed as he had unknowingly paid full price earlier. He asked me why I paid at all since I didn't have to. I suppose being an unemployed student would be justification for stiffing the museum but I wouldn't feel right about that. I threw 'em $7.
One cool new thing they did have was the Hayden sphere. You walk around it and the displays offer different scale perspectives using the sphere. For example, if the sphere represented the known universe, then this little model in front of you would represent our galaxy. Likewise, there's a cosmic pathway that covers the estimated 13 billion years of our universe's existence. At the end of the timeline is a single hair which represents the 30,000 years of human history. I always appreciate reminders that human beings are insignificant compared to the reality of outer space. That's not me being cynical either, as I also consider the vastness of space strong evidence that extraterrestrial life must exist. Given the incredible size of the universe it is statistically improbable that we are the only living creatures in it.
*steps off theoretical soapbox*
This evening my dad and I went to a test screening of Everything is Illuminated. It's about this Jewish guy who goes to the Ukraine to try and locate where his grandfather grew up. Believe it or not, it's actually pretty funny in addition to the more poignant moments. It's supposed to come out this September and I recommend it. I must say, test screenings are a lot more in-depth than they used to be. I remember filling out a 3 x 5 card in the past. Now it's a full 8 x 11 double-sided piece of paper. They make you work for that free ticket now!
Today was a blast from the past as I went to hang out with Kazu and Jung Eun at the Museum of Natural History. Kazu really seems to dig it as he's already been there twice this month. I haven't been up there in at least a decade and things sure are...the same. How many taxidermy dioramas is too many? Seriously, that museum hasn't changed much in a long time. Ben once joked that the Museum of Natural History should be put into a museum.
I had to explain to Kazu what a "suggested donation" means. He was surprised and a little dismayed as he had unknowingly paid full price earlier. He asked me why I paid at all since I didn't have to. I suppose being an unemployed student would be justification for stiffing the museum but I wouldn't feel right about that. I threw 'em $7.
One cool new thing they did have was the Hayden sphere. You walk around it and the displays offer different scale perspectives using the sphere. For example, if the sphere represented the known universe, then this little model in front of you would represent our galaxy. Likewise, there's a cosmic pathway that covers the estimated 13 billion years of our universe's existence. At the end of the timeline is a single hair which represents the 30,000 years of human history. I always appreciate reminders that human beings are insignificant compared to the reality of outer space. That's not me being cynical either, as I also consider the vastness of space strong evidence that extraterrestrial life must exist. Given the incredible size of the universe it is statistically improbable that we are the only living creatures in it.
*steps off theoretical soapbox*
This evening my dad and I went to a test screening of Everything is Illuminated. It's about this Jewish guy who goes to the Ukraine to try and locate where his grandfather grew up. Believe it or not, it's actually pretty funny in addition to the more poignant moments. It's supposed to come out this September and I recommend it. I must say, test screenings are a lot more in-depth than they used to be. I remember filling out a 3 x 5 card in the past. Now it's a full 8 x 11 double-sided piece of paper. They make you work for that free ticket now!
Feedback:
コメントがあります？ Type something, please. It's less work for me.
When leaving comments, please don't remain Anonymous. Click on "Other" and pick a name!
Be sociable! No sign-up is required!
When leaving comments, please don't remain Anonymous. Click on "Other" and pick a name!
Be sociable! No sign-up is required!
unpaid advertising...I'm no sell out!
