Life, the universe and everything
2010-09-14
Denmark - a scientific superpower!
I have just received Scientific American "Nobel Price Winning Authors" Volume 1 with articles by:
- sir Lawrence Bragg
- August Krogh
- Albert Einstein
- Niels Bohr
- I.I. Rabi
- Otte Meyerhof
- E.D. Adrian
2010-09-12
I'm unable to handle iPod's and other Mac-devices
I've tried to day to use an iPod with iTunes. A horrible experience. I don't understand the way it works.
Although I'm not a fan of Microsofts way of doing things, I'm glad that I'm using a PC with Windows. At least I'm not getting a nervous breakdown as fast as with Apple-devices. ¶ 17:14 0 comments
Although I'm not a fan of Microsofts way of doing things, I'm glad that I'm using a PC with Windows. At least I'm not getting a nervous breakdown as fast as with Apple-devices. ¶ 17:14 0 comments
2006-09-22
Small is beautiful
I have spent my whole working life employed by or connected to Aarhus Universitet.
I do consider it as an university with a high quality of research and studies.
However, I'm a bit worried now. Danish universities are growing in size through fusions - and I fear that it inevitable will result in a noticable decrease in quality.
My proof is the size of Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, ... ¶ 09:09 0 comments
I do consider it as an university with a high quality of research and studies.
However, I'm a bit worried now. Danish universities are growing in size through fusions - and I fear that it inevitable will result in a noticable decrease in quality.
My proof is the size of Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, ... ¶ 09:09 0 comments
2006-04-10
Religion and human rights
Why are we humans religious? Well, that is an easy framework for defining a meaning of life. If that is fine for you then by all means do so. However, it requires a mutual respect. I have a right to question your faith - and I have no obligation to subdue to any kind of taboo, e.g. drawing the Prophet Muhammad etc.
Any human being is more valuable than any form of god (or God, if you prefer so). Life is the most precious thing we have. Live it and stay with it. ¶ 08:50 0 comments
Any human being is more valuable than any form of god (or God, if you prefer so). Life is the most precious thing we have. Live it and stay with it. ¶ 08:50 0 comments
2006-04-02
Restart....
I've just noticed that almost nine months have passed... Well, just to verify that I'm alive!
¶ 07:31 0 comments
2005-06-11
Webdesign: WYSINWIG
We are still in the infancy of webdesign. Most of the pages are deigned with a WYSIWYG-approach: What You See Is What You Get.
BUT the reality is WYSINWIG: What You See Is Not What I Get - You have no idea of the type of computer, browser and configuration I'm using to view our page. You might gain some knowledge from various parameters read from my machine. But I might e.g. select to change the size of the window at any time, without reloading the page.
This parity between reader and author is at the very core of the web. I have not yet encountered a designer which has understood this basic feature. They are trapped in the idea that they should have total control. ¶ 10:28 4 comments
BUT the reality is WYSINWIG: What You See Is Not What I Get - You have no idea of the type of computer, browser and configuration I'm using to view our page. You might gain some knowledge from various parameters read from my machine. But I might e.g. select to change the size of the window at any time, without reloading the page.
This parity between reader and author is at the very core of the web. I have not yet encountered a designer which has understood this basic feature. They are trapped in the idea that they should have total control. ¶ 10:28 4 comments
2005-05-22
Knowledge is power
Those who are in power are often using this statement in reverse: They try to guard their knowledge so they can stay in power. They often state that they have to keep facts secret (i.e. hide their knowledge) for the sake of society, to protect the privacy of (other) individuals, etc. But in reality it is an egoistic point of view, which must be countered.
It is the collected knowledge of all humans that are of value. And we have to share it - no knowledge should be hidden. And in contrast to material assets their is no shortage problem: you can donate knowledge to others without loosing it yourself - in fact it is pure win-win - you will receive more knowledge yourself by sharing. There is nothing new in this, e.g. OpenSource software works exactly along these lines.
And once again, the net is an extremely useful tool. We are all Googling along, and the more knowledge we put on the net, the better prospects for the future. Furthermore it is one of the best ways to fight the inequality of the world. Poor countries are to a large extent kept in poverty by using the shortage-mechanism of material goods. They are trapped in poverty, because they don't have the money to buy the facilities which will bring them wealth so they can get out of poverty. Whereas energy and physical raw materials are limited, knowledge is unlimited. In economic terms, the value of energy and raw materials has a given value, expressed in a certain amount of money. But the economic value of knowledge is zero! Thus you bring an offer by donating physical stuff to other people, but not by donating knowledge. ¶ 05:51 0 comments
It is the collected knowledge of all humans that are of value. And we have to share it - no knowledge should be hidden. And in contrast to material assets their is no shortage problem: you can donate knowledge to others without loosing it yourself - in fact it is pure win-win - you will receive more knowledge yourself by sharing. There is nothing new in this, e.g. OpenSource software works exactly along these lines.
And once again, the net is an extremely useful tool. We are all Googling along, and the more knowledge we put on the net, the better prospects for the future. Furthermore it is one of the best ways to fight the inequality of the world. Poor countries are to a large extent kept in poverty by using the shortage-mechanism of material goods. They are trapped in poverty, because they don't have the money to buy the facilities which will bring them wealth so they can get out of poverty. Whereas energy and physical raw materials are limited, knowledge is unlimited. In economic terms, the value of energy and raw materials has a given value, expressed in a certain amount of money. But the economic value of knowledge is zero! Thus you bring an offer by donating physical stuff to other people, but not by donating knowledge. ¶ 05:51 0 comments
