The dark hours of the movie “High Noon”
This is a fascinating book about the impact of McCarthyism and the investigation of the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) on Carl Foreman, the screen writer for the movie “High Noon.” This turbulent time had serious influence on the life and works of some of the best in Hollywood. The HUAC prepared a long list of names and asked them to testify regarding their alleged communist party activities. Some assisted the committee, many refused, and few relented. Many left the country and found home in Mexico, Europe and Latin America rather than sell out their principles and beliefs. They simply rejected the thought of naming their friends as communist party members. Carl Foreman was one of them. Having been blacklisted in Hollywood, Foreman moved to England where he wrote scripts under pseudonyms. In 1956 he co-wrote the screenplay for the acclaimed film, “The Bridge on the River Kwai” with fellow blacklisted writer Michael Wilson.
This book tells the story how moderate and conservative members of Hollywood assisted McCarthyism penetrate deep into the movie making business. The life of Carl Foreman is illustrated as a shining example. When Foreman wrote for “High Noon,” he had something very specific on his mind. A simple moral, social and a political idea, in short an allegory for McCarthyism. It was a practice of making accusations of subversion and treason without proper evidence. Hollywood was especially targeted because of its influence on American society. Making unfair allegations and using questionable investigative techniques, fueling the fear of espionage by Soviet agents, the anti-communist pursuit was reinforced by Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. For Carl Foreman, the lead actor, Gary Cooper as Marshall Will Kane of the small town named Hadleyville in New Mexico territory is in fact Carl Foreman himself. The gunmen coming to kill Marshal Kane were none other than members of HUAC, and the citizens of Hadleyvile were like the elite of Hollywood who stood passively and betrayed him as the forces of repression bore down on him. Foreman recalled years later that “As I was writing the screenplay, it became insane, because life was mirroring art and art was mirroring life.”
It is one of the most iconic images of the American cinema. One lone cowboy walking down the street of a deserted Western town for a showdown with four killers. “High Noon” is embedded in American culture and the national memory. It is a favorite film for many presidents, political movements, journalists and movie fans. Shot in just 32 days on a shoestring budget with some of the most notable movie stars working at a fraction of their regular salaries. It was a rush job to fulfill an old contract. A powerful story, top-notch screen writing, superb performance and climatic shootout made it an instant classic. It won four Academy Awards including one for Gary Cooper in the best actor category.
I did not take time to verify the veracity of all the historical details given in the book but I did come across two instances that was different from what I read in other books. Despite this observation, this is a fascinating account, and the Pulitzer Prize winning author Glenn Frankel describes the history beautifully. This book (356 pages) reads flawlessly and makes a wonderful reading for readers interested in the history of Hollywood, the history of making the film “High Noon” and how HUAC influenced Hollywood studios to blacklist uncooperative witnesses.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Book Reviewed: The History and Principles of Vedic Interpretation, By Ram Gopal
The Vedas: A Review of Various Interpretations of the Sacred Hymns
The interpretation of Rig-Veda has been a problem since the sacred hymns were being interpreted by ancient seers, and later by modern academics. The subject of Vedic interpretation is highly technical requiring a specialized knowledge of the language of the Vedas and the vast Vedic and post-Vedic literature. The study must include the grammatical, religious, cultural, philosophical, philological, lexicographical, mythological and historical studies associated with it. The early Vedic scholars interpreted from ritualistic, mythological, mystical, and natural perspectives, but the modern scholars have largely focused on linguistic, historical and cultural interpretations. Professor Ram Gopal of Punjab University has made an exhaustive literature review of the existing commentaries and evaluates the scopes and limitations of ancient Veda-bhasyas and modern exegetical studies. Despite centuries of scholarly work, the true meaning of the sacred scriptures is still being debated.
There are several chapters in this book I found very interesting, especially chapter 5, The Nairukta School of Vedic Interpretation; and chapter 6, entitled “The other ancient schools of Vedic interpretations.” Both presents a good discussion of Vedic scholarship. The mystical and philosophical interpretation of Rig-Veda is also fascinating despite the fact that this is not acknowledged by the Western Vedic scholars. The Yajnika school of Vedic exegesis puts the ritualistic interpretations on the Vedas as the most ancient and predominant among all the existing schools of Vedic interpretation. This interpretation occupy primal position in the commentaries of Sayana, Uvata, and Mahidhara on the Yajurveda; and the commentaries of Skandasvamin, Udgitha, Venkatamadhava and Sayana on Rig-Veda. The Brahmanas, Kalpa-Sutras, and Paddhatis had major impact on the ancient scholars, which account for the prominence of ritualistic interpretation in Vedic exegesis. Professor Gopal also discusses ancient and medieval bhasyakaras and their work (Chapter 7), and provides an interesting account of modern scholarship in Vedic exegesis since Henry Thomas Colebrook’s work in 1805.
Readers interested in Vedic exegesis and ancient history of Hinduism would find this book interesting.
The interpretation of Rig-Veda has been a problem since the sacred hymns were being interpreted by ancient seers, and later by modern academics. The subject of Vedic interpretation is highly technical requiring a specialized knowledge of the language of the Vedas and the vast Vedic and post-Vedic literature. The study must include the grammatical, religious, cultural, philosophical, philological, lexicographical, mythological and historical studies associated with it. The early Vedic scholars interpreted from ritualistic, mythological, mystical, and natural perspectives, but the modern scholars have largely focused on linguistic, historical and cultural interpretations. Professor Ram Gopal of Punjab University has made an exhaustive literature review of the existing commentaries and evaluates the scopes and limitations of ancient Veda-bhasyas and modern exegetical studies. Despite centuries of scholarly work, the true meaning of the sacred scriptures is still being debated.
There are several chapters in this book I found very interesting, especially chapter 5, The Nairukta School of Vedic Interpretation; and chapter 6, entitled “The other ancient schools of Vedic interpretations.” Both presents a good discussion of Vedic scholarship. The mystical and philosophical interpretation of Rig-Veda is also fascinating despite the fact that this is not acknowledged by the Western Vedic scholars. The Yajnika school of Vedic exegesis puts the ritualistic interpretations on the Vedas as the most ancient and predominant among all the existing schools of Vedic interpretation. This interpretation occupy primal position in the commentaries of Sayana, Uvata, and Mahidhara on the Yajurveda; and the commentaries of Skandasvamin, Udgitha, Venkatamadhava and Sayana on Rig-Veda. The Brahmanas, Kalpa-Sutras, and Paddhatis had major impact on the ancient scholars, which account for the prominence of ritualistic interpretation in Vedic exegesis. Professor Gopal also discusses ancient and medieval bhasyakaras and their work (Chapter 7), and provides an interesting account of modern scholarship in Vedic exegesis since Henry Thomas Colebrook’s work in 1805.
Readers interested in Vedic exegesis and ancient history of Hinduism would find this book interesting.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Book Reviewed: Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human Hardcover Daniel J. Siegel
The spiritual discernment and the human mind
This book is focused mainly for readers interested in the spiritual journey of the human mind. There is no discussion of neurobiology or quantum mind. In fact there is no science, but narrates how one can evolve mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Through engaging stories, the author explains the mysteries of our experience, and learn how one can transcend the obstacles of life to attain peace of mind.
The book is too narrative and some sections are arduous and strenuous to read. Recommended to readers interested in spirituality.
This book is focused mainly for readers interested in the spiritual journey of the human mind. There is no discussion of neurobiology or quantum mind. In fact there is no science, but narrates how one can evolve mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Through engaging stories, the author explains the mysteries of our experience, and learn how one can transcend the obstacles of life to attain peace of mind.
The book is too narrative and some sections are arduous and strenuous to read. Recommended to readers interested in spirituality.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Book Reviewed: The Gilded Age in New York, 1870-1910, by Esther Crain
The Big Apple: Capturing the beauty and complexity of a city
This is a lavish and handsomely produced book that captures the beauty and the complexity of a city that is an embodiment of ambition, aspiration, dream, romance, and a good life for millions of immigrants who came from all over the world. Yet there was a dark side to the island of Manhattan. The tumultuous years of 1870 to 1910 were the formative years for a city that was reinventing itself to be the city of hope. At the height of the Civil War, the city was torn amidst loyalties, political power, greed, racism, antisemitism and institutional bigotry. Very few were spared from this darkens; even Irish immigrants were targeted.
From its humble beginnings as a Dutch trading post in 1624, the city rose to prominence as one of the greatest cities in the world. Author Esther Crain offers an excellent narrative of the turbulent growth and change in the life of the city in the late nineteenth century, at the height of the American Civil War. The book has colorful and vibrant illustrations, hundreds of rare photographs, paintings, newspaper prints, and aerial photographs. The author brings alive the voices, poverty, sufferings, and tragic stories of men, women and children long forgotten in a city that never sleeps.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: The story is narrated in seven chapters that deals with the beginning of the Civil War; confederate plan to burn down the city; the funeral procession of President Lincoln along the Broadway approaching the Union Square; young Theodore Roosevelt witnessing the funeral procession from his grandfather’s house on Broadway; the war fever grips the city and racism boils down the alleys and streets leading to deaths and destruction; the rise of the New York Stock Exchange; shameless moneymaking by rich and famous, building obscene amount of wealth and living in the lap of luxury when the rest of the population was living in hopelessness, poverty, suffering and death; gradual rise of the city from its distress, the 1883 opening of the Brooklyn Bridge helping trade, commerce and employment; The first subway train in 1870; the construction of the Statue of Liberty and the dedication ceremony attended by President Grover Cleveland; beginning of bustling little Germany called Kleindeutschland in city’s 14the street area; Mulberry Street and the emergence of Little Italy; Jewish immigrants and the Hester Street; Mott Street and Chinatown. A growing number of poor immigrants and the rise in the population of the city and limited tenements lead to call for reform by numerous journalists and some wealthy people like Nellie Bly, Charles Loring Brace, Lillian Wald, the Salvation Army and many others. Reforms helped some to relieve the growing pain but diseases like cholera and tuberculosis also hit the city with fear and serious health crisis.
By the end of nineteenth century, the modern metropolis started to come together. Growth in business and industries pumped energy into the city. The city started to grow with steel towers and numerous spectacular structures. Manhattan expands from east to west and south to north. Soon 56 municipalities joined forces with some dissent from citizens, but it became a 320 mile metropolis and doubled its population. The state’s new charter uniting the five boroughs of New York City commenced. The metropolis was already connected by elevated trains and telephones, and it would be linked by a giant subway system and new bridges and tunnels.
There are numerous color pictures, paintings and cartoons of historical interest which I did not take time itemize, but this is definitely a collector’s book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I strongly recommend this to anyone interested in the history of Manhattan.
This is a lavish and handsomely produced book that captures the beauty and the complexity of a city that is an embodiment of ambition, aspiration, dream, romance, and a good life for millions of immigrants who came from all over the world. Yet there was a dark side to the island of Manhattan. The tumultuous years of 1870 to 1910 were the formative years for a city that was reinventing itself to be the city of hope. At the height of the Civil War, the city was torn amidst loyalties, political power, greed, racism, antisemitism and institutional bigotry. Very few were spared from this darkens; even Irish immigrants were targeted.
From its humble beginnings as a Dutch trading post in 1624, the city rose to prominence as one of the greatest cities in the world. Author Esther Crain offers an excellent narrative of the turbulent growth and change in the life of the city in the late nineteenth century, at the height of the American Civil War. The book has colorful and vibrant illustrations, hundreds of rare photographs, paintings, newspaper prints, and aerial photographs. The author brings alive the voices, poverty, sufferings, and tragic stories of men, women and children long forgotten in a city that never sleeps.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: The story is narrated in seven chapters that deals with the beginning of the Civil War; confederate plan to burn down the city; the funeral procession of President Lincoln along the Broadway approaching the Union Square; young Theodore Roosevelt witnessing the funeral procession from his grandfather’s house on Broadway; the war fever grips the city and racism boils down the alleys and streets leading to deaths and destruction; the rise of the New York Stock Exchange; shameless moneymaking by rich and famous, building obscene amount of wealth and living in the lap of luxury when the rest of the population was living in hopelessness, poverty, suffering and death; gradual rise of the city from its distress, the 1883 opening of the Brooklyn Bridge helping trade, commerce and employment; The first subway train in 1870; the construction of the Statue of Liberty and the dedication ceremony attended by President Grover Cleveland; beginning of bustling little Germany called Kleindeutschland in city’s 14the street area; Mulberry Street and the emergence of Little Italy; Jewish immigrants and the Hester Street; Mott Street and Chinatown. A growing number of poor immigrants and the rise in the population of the city and limited tenements lead to call for reform by numerous journalists and some wealthy people like Nellie Bly, Charles Loring Brace, Lillian Wald, the Salvation Army and many others. Reforms helped some to relieve the growing pain but diseases like cholera and tuberculosis also hit the city with fear and serious health crisis.
By the end of nineteenth century, the modern metropolis started to come together. Growth in business and industries pumped energy into the city. The city started to grow with steel towers and numerous spectacular structures. Manhattan expands from east to west and south to north. Soon 56 municipalities joined forces with some dissent from citizens, but it became a 320 mile metropolis and doubled its population. The state’s new charter uniting the five boroughs of New York City commenced. The metropolis was already connected by elevated trains and telephones, and it would be linked by a giant subway system and new bridges and tunnels.
There are numerous color pictures, paintings and cartoons of historical interest which I did not take time itemize, but this is definitely a collector’s book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I strongly recommend this to anyone interested in the history of Manhattan.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Book Reviewed: From Flappers to Flivvers: We Helped Make the '20s Roar! By Bettina Miller
A collection of memories of 1920s America
From Gibson Girls to suffragists, during the post-WWI’s economic revival, women emerged to express their independence. They made 1920s America roar and so was the emerging technology like radio and automobiles. This was also an exciting period for many families and young people.
In this book, the author makes the history comes alive during the early times of jazz age, when women’s hair, and skirt got shorter showing more legs. The sound from the music box bringing music, comedy and the sports right into the living room was an exciting period. The flivvers became more affordable as the production increased. The families could afford to take a trip down the lake or up to the mountains. Despite this luxury and new found freedom, for many people this was daily life, and business as usual.
This volume contains hundreds of historical images and letters printed in the Reminisce Magazine. It feels great to read about this part of the history; recommended to readers interested in flappers, flivvers, and 1920s America.
From Gibson Girls to suffragists, during the post-WWI’s economic revival, women emerged to express their independence. They made 1920s America roar and so was the emerging technology like radio and automobiles. This was also an exciting period for many families and young people.
In this book, the author makes the history comes alive during the early times of jazz age, when women’s hair, and skirt got shorter showing more legs. The sound from the music box bringing music, comedy and the sports right into the living room was an exciting period. The flivvers became more affordable as the production increased. The families could afford to take a trip down the lake or up to the mountains. Despite this luxury and new found freedom, for many people this was daily life, and business as usual.
This volume contains hundreds of historical images and letters printed in the Reminisce Magazine. It feels great to read about this part of the history; recommended to readers interested in flappers, flivvers, and 1920s America.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Book Reviewed: Gibson Girls and Suffragists: Perceptions of Women from 1900 to 1918, by Catherine Gourley
Style and suffrage at the dawn of 20th century
This book captures the essence of the mood of the country, especially in New York City at the turn of the century. The author discusses how women from all walks of life joined forces and transformed the society with one basic belief. Liberty and freedom for all women. The media, especially the magazine illustrators, the fashion industry, women’s activism and political collectivism played a role in the formative years of the American society.
Gibson Girl represented the feminine-ideal at the turn of the century. She was beautiful and regal, perhaps a bit arrogant, but also had an air of confidence, competence, and a sense of humor. But suffragists were also feisty and bold and unequivocally believed in women’s fundamental right to vote. There are numerous pictures, illustrations and photographs that tells the story of women’s struggle. This book is beautifully written and it is thoroughly enjoyable.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: At the turn of the century, the practice of calling grown women as “girls” was common in the work place. This signified disrespect for women since it meant to indicate women were dull and unintelligent. Gibson Girl, Christy Girl, Fisher Girl, Brinky Girl, Flapper, and girls of the follies were commonly used to refer to women. But women also rebelled in their own way. They didn’t like to be treated as “tootsie wootsies.” Some women rode bicycles, bounced basketballs, danced grizzly bear or the turkey trot. Some tramped through the woods. Some were flirtatious and feisty, and they fought against the consumption of alcohol, marched in the streets demanding the right to vote. Suffrage parades and civil disobedience were other outdoor activities that engaged women. As many as 5,000 women marched on May 6, 1912 down the New York’s Fifth Avenue. One banner read, “New York denies the votes to criminals, idiots and women.” The Suffragists focused on social justice and basic women’s rights. They demanded safer work conditions and better wages. Dorothy Dix, Elsie Clews Parsons, Margaret Sanger, Martha Carey Thomas, and many other well educated women spoke on behalf of women’s right and pointed out the injustices done by the society. Clergy condemned the actions of these women, but the marches and parades went on undeterred.
From true womanhood to Gibson Girl to Fisher Girl and the working girls of the factory, women’s role were slowly changing in the society in early 1900s. This was also reflected in the changing popular culture and public perception. Members of the polite society and women of wealth raised funds for women’s charity, and Vanderbilt Estate in Connecticut was always the place for the charity bazaar. During WWI, women volunteered to serve the country. One significant thing occurred in the last few weeks of WWI. For two years suffragists pressured President Woodrow Wilson to take a stand on women’s suffrage. On Sep 20, 1918, he finally spoke offering support for the 19th amendment that would give women the right to vote. In his speech to the U.S. Senate he pointed out, among other things, that unselfish contribution women in WWI. The Congress proposed the Nineteenth Amendment on June 4, 1919, and it ratified by all states within a year.
This book is highly readable and I recommend it to anyone interested in American history, women’s rights, feminist movement, and suffragists.
This book captures the essence of the mood of the country, especially in New York City at the turn of the century. The author discusses how women from all walks of life joined forces and transformed the society with one basic belief. Liberty and freedom for all women. The media, especially the magazine illustrators, the fashion industry, women’s activism and political collectivism played a role in the formative years of the American society.
Gibson Girl represented the feminine-ideal at the turn of the century. She was beautiful and regal, perhaps a bit arrogant, but also had an air of confidence, competence, and a sense of humor. But suffragists were also feisty and bold and unequivocally believed in women’s fundamental right to vote. There are numerous pictures, illustrations and photographs that tells the story of women’s struggle. This book is beautifully written and it is thoroughly enjoyable.
A brief summary of the book is as follows: At the turn of the century, the practice of calling grown women as “girls” was common in the work place. This signified disrespect for women since it meant to indicate women were dull and unintelligent. Gibson Girl, Christy Girl, Fisher Girl, Brinky Girl, Flapper, and girls of the follies were commonly used to refer to women. But women also rebelled in their own way. They didn’t like to be treated as “tootsie wootsies.” Some women rode bicycles, bounced basketballs, danced grizzly bear or the turkey trot. Some tramped through the woods. Some were flirtatious and feisty, and they fought against the consumption of alcohol, marched in the streets demanding the right to vote. Suffrage parades and civil disobedience were other outdoor activities that engaged women. As many as 5,000 women marched on May 6, 1912 down the New York’s Fifth Avenue. One banner read, “New York denies the votes to criminals, idiots and women.” The Suffragists focused on social justice and basic women’s rights. They demanded safer work conditions and better wages. Dorothy Dix, Elsie Clews Parsons, Margaret Sanger, Martha Carey Thomas, and many other well educated women spoke on behalf of women’s right and pointed out the injustices done by the society. Clergy condemned the actions of these women, but the marches and parades went on undeterred.
From true womanhood to Gibson Girl to Fisher Girl and the working girls of the factory, women’s role were slowly changing in the society in early 1900s. This was also reflected in the changing popular culture and public perception. Members of the polite society and women of wealth raised funds for women’s charity, and Vanderbilt Estate in Connecticut was always the place for the charity bazaar. During WWI, women volunteered to serve the country. One significant thing occurred in the last few weeks of WWI. For two years suffragists pressured President Woodrow Wilson to take a stand on women’s suffrage. On Sep 20, 1918, he finally spoke offering support for the 19th amendment that would give women the right to vote. In his speech to the U.S. Senate he pointed out, among other things, that unselfish contribution women in WWI. The Congress proposed the Nineteenth Amendment on June 4, 1919, and it ratified by all states within a year.
This book is highly readable and I recommend it to anyone interested in American history, women’s rights, feminist movement, and suffragists.
Friday, October 7, 2016
Book Reviewed: Goldilocks and the Water Bears: The Search for Life in the Universe, by Louisa Preston
Searching for habitable worlds
Earth has a unique spot in the solar system; it is just at the right distance from the Sun so that water stays in liquid form so that life could be born and evolve. A protective shielding of the atmosphere from harmful ionizing radiation from the parent star would be essential for sustained evolution. The planet must also have a stable atmosphere for life. The habitable worlds could be rocky planets or rocky moons as we have been learning from recent discoveries that Europa and Ganymede, two Jovian moons, and Enceladus, moon of Saturn have oceans of water beneath then surface and likely to have some primitive form of marine species. Plume of ice particles and liquid water are detected from Europa and Enceladus. NASA hopes catch the water from hundreds of miles long geysers and look for marine species.
Author Luisa Preston systematically explores various aspects of habitable worlds including the origin of life; the planets that can support and sustain life; looking for habitable worlds beyond solar system and how we can colonize Mars. Developments in technology, advanced telescopes, and new methods to identify and evaluate the habitable worlds have made significant strides in astrobiology. A number of habitable worlds have been reported since this book has been written.
A brief discussion of the current state of discoveries of exoplanets is as follows: It is progressively becoming evident that we have to treat life as a cosmic phenomenon whose emergence and driving forces should be viewed independently from the natural history of Earth. We are learning that life may be born and thrive in the harshest environments such as severe droughts, in presence of toxic compounds, extreme cold temperatures and even certain amount of ionizing radiation from the harshest environments. It has already been detected and identified as Tardigrades (water bears) on earth. They are microscopic animals that survive exposure to space and survives over sub-zero temperatures, unrelenting solar winds and an oxygen-deprived space vacuum.
Planets come in a huge variety of sizes and orbits. Some are gas giants hugging close to their parent star; others are icy, some rocky. NASA and other agencies are looking for a special kind of planet: one that’s the same size as Earth, orbiting a sun-like star in the habitable zone. As of now, according to NASA, there are 3394 confirmed exoplanets; 1250 are ice giants; 1006 gas giants; 777 super earths: 348 terrestrial and 13 exoplanets are of unknown nature. Among these, the most earth like planets are; Kepler 181f (1.11 times Earth radius); Kepler 442b (1.34 times Earth); Kepler 438b (1.1 times Earth); Kepler 62f (1.41 times Earth); GJ 66.7C c (1.5 times Earth) and Wolf 1061c (1.64 times Earth). In August 2016 a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri known as Proxima b, (1.3 times earth) was discovered. It is a rocky world, residing in the star's habitable zone, just 4.7 million miles from its host star (Earth is 93 million miles from Sun), and completes one orbit every 11.2 Earth-days. The exoplanet is tidally locked, which means it does not spin on its own axis like Earth. Moon is also tidally locked to Earth and shows only one face to Earth.
Mars exploration by three NASA rovers have yielded a wealth of information; Life forms existed on Mars billions of years ago. But when the planet lost its magnetic field, it had nothing to block the solar wind, which slowly bled off the planet's atmosphere. This complicated the evolution of a biosphere. The ionizing radiation broke up organic molecules. If life was on Mars in the past, when the planet was wetter with a thicker atmosphere. Then organisms could have gotten a foothold, life could have then adapted to a higher-radiation environment over time and retreated deeper underground for protection.
Another star that is currently drawing enormous interest in the news is the "Tabby's Star," also known as KIC 8462852 found by the NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope. This shows dramatic dips in brightness, this brightness change has been attributed to orbiting comets around the star or alien mega structure built by an advanced civilization.
Earth has a unique spot in the solar system; it is just at the right distance from the Sun so that water stays in liquid form so that life could be born and evolve. A protective shielding of the atmosphere from harmful ionizing radiation from the parent star would be essential for sustained evolution. The planet must also have a stable atmosphere for life. The habitable worlds could be rocky planets or rocky moons as we have been learning from recent discoveries that Europa and Ganymede, two Jovian moons, and Enceladus, moon of Saturn have oceans of water beneath then surface and likely to have some primitive form of marine species. Plume of ice particles and liquid water are detected from Europa and Enceladus. NASA hopes catch the water from hundreds of miles long geysers and look for marine species.
Author Luisa Preston systematically explores various aspects of habitable worlds including the origin of life; the planets that can support and sustain life; looking for habitable worlds beyond solar system and how we can colonize Mars. Developments in technology, advanced telescopes, and new methods to identify and evaluate the habitable worlds have made significant strides in astrobiology. A number of habitable worlds have been reported since this book has been written.
A brief discussion of the current state of discoveries of exoplanets is as follows: It is progressively becoming evident that we have to treat life as a cosmic phenomenon whose emergence and driving forces should be viewed independently from the natural history of Earth. We are learning that life may be born and thrive in the harshest environments such as severe droughts, in presence of toxic compounds, extreme cold temperatures and even certain amount of ionizing radiation from the harshest environments. It has already been detected and identified as Tardigrades (water bears) on earth. They are microscopic animals that survive exposure to space and survives over sub-zero temperatures, unrelenting solar winds and an oxygen-deprived space vacuum.
Planets come in a huge variety of sizes and orbits. Some are gas giants hugging close to their parent star; others are icy, some rocky. NASA and other agencies are looking for a special kind of planet: one that’s the same size as Earth, orbiting a sun-like star in the habitable zone. As of now, according to NASA, there are 3394 confirmed exoplanets; 1250 are ice giants; 1006 gas giants; 777 super earths: 348 terrestrial and 13 exoplanets are of unknown nature. Among these, the most earth like planets are; Kepler 181f (1.11 times Earth radius); Kepler 442b (1.34 times Earth); Kepler 438b (1.1 times Earth); Kepler 62f (1.41 times Earth); GJ 66.7C c (1.5 times Earth) and Wolf 1061c (1.64 times Earth). In August 2016 a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri known as Proxima b, (1.3 times earth) was discovered. It is a rocky world, residing in the star's habitable zone, just 4.7 million miles from its host star (Earth is 93 million miles from Sun), and completes one orbit every 11.2 Earth-days. The exoplanet is tidally locked, which means it does not spin on its own axis like Earth. Moon is also tidally locked to Earth and shows only one face to Earth.
Mars exploration by three NASA rovers have yielded a wealth of information; Life forms existed on Mars billions of years ago. But when the planet lost its magnetic field, it had nothing to block the solar wind, which slowly bled off the planet's atmosphere. This complicated the evolution of a biosphere. The ionizing radiation broke up organic molecules. If life was on Mars in the past, when the planet was wetter with a thicker atmosphere. Then organisms could have gotten a foothold, life could have then adapted to a higher-radiation environment over time and retreated deeper underground for protection.
Another star that is currently drawing enormous interest in the news is the "Tabby's Star," also known as KIC 8462852 found by the NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope. This shows dramatic dips in brightness, this brightness change has been attributed to orbiting comets around the star or alien mega structure built by an advanced civilization.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Book Reviewed: Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe Hardcover, by Roger Penrose
Road to Reality: New Perspectives
In this book, mathematician Roger Penrose provocatively suggest that the community of theoretical physics has engaged in promoting fashionable ideas, that have deep conceptual problems, as frontiers of new physics. The principles of quantum physics and string theory and predictions in cosmology are done recklessly. Penrose calls string theory a “fashion,” quantum mechanics “faith,” and cosmic inflation a “fantasy.”
Penrose observes that quantum physics has deep conceptual problems despite its success in predicting phenomenon in chemistry and physics. Quantum physics governs the behavior of matter and energy at the level of fundamental particles (quantum reality). In many-particle system such as biomolecules, living cells, planets, stars and galaxies, the quantum reality cease to exist; it can only be explained by the laws classical physics. Penrose thinks there is a threshold mass at which gravity (spacetime curvature) destroys the quantum phenomenon. In one of his interview, Penrose said that “you have to give up the idea of spacetime as we know it from Einstein.” The fact that an object can exist in many states at once contradicts the real world. The reason is that the mathematics of quantum physics has two parts. One is the evolution of a quantum system is described extremely precisely and accurately by the Schrödinger equation. In terms of physical reality, if you know what the state of the system is now, then you can calculate what it will be doing 10 minutes from now. However, there is the second part of quantum physics, which happens when you want to make a measurement. Instead of getting a single answer, you use the equation to work out the probabilities of many possibilities. The equation should describe the world in a completely deterministic way with certainty as we experience in real world, but it doesn’t. Penrose suggests that that the fundamental principles of quantum physics have not yet been found. Perhaps this is the reason that the full integration of classical gravity into quantum physics into a testable theory have not been successful. Penrose’s main concern is that the success of quantum physics have made physicists insensitive and treat that as the canonical gospel of physical reality. In an interview Penrose commented that his “own view is that quantum mechanics is not exactly right.”
Penrose expresses major concerns about string theory in particular which tries to present a unified picture of quantum gravity and sell it as the theory of everything. But this theory is without its usual problems, like the six hidden dimensions that has not been experimentally verified. The fact that strings are suggested to propagate in ten dimensions, and only four are large dimensions (including one time-dimension), and the rest are small, curled-up and decoupled with the larger dimensions intimidates Penrose. He would not compromise on decoupling these degrees of freedom with two sets and observes that causes instability; hence a stable ground state with four large spacetime dimensions would not be possible. Many predictions of the theory are not testable within the realm of available technology.
Penrose illustrates the inflationary cosmology as an example of fantasy since it does not explain what set the initial low entropy condition of the universe. Inflationary cosmology, which suggests that the universe inflated exponentially within a small fraction of a second after the Big Bang is a big fish observes Penrose. In fact it is sacrilegious to attack it, and even more sacrilegious is quantum physics which has become a faith. People don’t want to question it.
Penrose also discusses his “twistor” theory in which he explains how particles move and interact in spacetime, but spacetime themselves are secondary constructs that emerge out of a deeper level of reality. The conventional wisdom is that spacetime geometry fluctuate on quantum scales, altering how events relate to one another. Hence an event that was supposed to cause another may not happen creating paradoxes such as those found in time-travel. In twistor theory, causal sequences are primary and do not fluctuate. Instead the location and timing of events fluctuate. String theorists showed that an event of ambiguous location and time is nothing more or less than a string.
Many string theorists dismiss Penrose’s criticism. They claim that their theory has mathematical beauty and it has the ability to include the classical theory of gravity and it is the only theory of everything. Despite his criticism, he was invited by the Princeton University in 2003 where some of the most important proponents of string theory work. The ideas for this book was developed from these lectures.
Roger Penrose is a mathematician and firmly believes that understanding math is fundamental to the understanding of physics and physical reality. In his 2005 book, “The Road to Reality” math was extensively used as a concept learning tool even though that book was written for a general reader. This book also has math but less extensive than his 2005 book. Some sections are written for wider choice of readers but other parts require significant knowledge in mathematical physics. It will make it easier for a reader to know that Roger Penrose, in his 2009 interview with “Discover” magazine, admitted he was “bad” in math in school and in his own words he “was at least twice as slow as anybody else.” Eventually I would do very well. You see, if I could do it that way.” This is a great source encouragement for readers who did not have significant physics and math while they were in school. I recommend readers to skip the part of the book that is too intense but focus on main arguments of the book. One can still appreciate the efforts of Penrose’s masterful way of communicating his ideas.
In this book, mathematician Roger Penrose provocatively suggest that the community of theoretical physics has engaged in promoting fashionable ideas, that have deep conceptual problems, as frontiers of new physics. The principles of quantum physics and string theory and predictions in cosmology are done recklessly. Penrose calls string theory a “fashion,” quantum mechanics “faith,” and cosmic inflation a “fantasy.”
Penrose observes that quantum physics has deep conceptual problems despite its success in predicting phenomenon in chemistry and physics. Quantum physics governs the behavior of matter and energy at the level of fundamental particles (quantum reality). In many-particle system such as biomolecules, living cells, planets, stars and galaxies, the quantum reality cease to exist; it can only be explained by the laws classical physics. Penrose thinks there is a threshold mass at which gravity (spacetime curvature) destroys the quantum phenomenon. In one of his interview, Penrose said that “you have to give up the idea of spacetime as we know it from Einstein.” The fact that an object can exist in many states at once contradicts the real world. The reason is that the mathematics of quantum physics has two parts. One is the evolution of a quantum system is described extremely precisely and accurately by the Schrödinger equation. In terms of physical reality, if you know what the state of the system is now, then you can calculate what it will be doing 10 minutes from now. However, there is the second part of quantum physics, which happens when you want to make a measurement. Instead of getting a single answer, you use the equation to work out the probabilities of many possibilities. The equation should describe the world in a completely deterministic way with certainty as we experience in real world, but it doesn’t. Penrose suggests that that the fundamental principles of quantum physics have not yet been found. Perhaps this is the reason that the full integration of classical gravity into quantum physics into a testable theory have not been successful. Penrose’s main concern is that the success of quantum physics have made physicists insensitive and treat that as the canonical gospel of physical reality. In an interview Penrose commented that his “own view is that quantum mechanics is not exactly right.”
Penrose expresses major concerns about string theory in particular which tries to present a unified picture of quantum gravity and sell it as the theory of everything. But this theory is without its usual problems, like the six hidden dimensions that has not been experimentally verified. The fact that strings are suggested to propagate in ten dimensions, and only four are large dimensions (including one time-dimension), and the rest are small, curled-up and decoupled with the larger dimensions intimidates Penrose. He would not compromise on decoupling these degrees of freedom with two sets and observes that causes instability; hence a stable ground state with four large spacetime dimensions would not be possible. Many predictions of the theory are not testable within the realm of available technology.
Penrose illustrates the inflationary cosmology as an example of fantasy since it does not explain what set the initial low entropy condition of the universe. Inflationary cosmology, which suggests that the universe inflated exponentially within a small fraction of a second after the Big Bang is a big fish observes Penrose. In fact it is sacrilegious to attack it, and even more sacrilegious is quantum physics which has become a faith. People don’t want to question it.
Penrose also discusses his “twistor” theory in which he explains how particles move and interact in spacetime, but spacetime themselves are secondary constructs that emerge out of a deeper level of reality. The conventional wisdom is that spacetime geometry fluctuate on quantum scales, altering how events relate to one another. Hence an event that was supposed to cause another may not happen creating paradoxes such as those found in time-travel. In twistor theory, causal sequences are primary and do not fluctuate. Instead the location and timing of events fluctuate. String theorists showed that an event of ambiguous location and time is nothing more or less than a string.
Many string theorists dismiss Penrose’s criticism. They claim that their theory has mathematical beauty and it has the ability to include the classical theory of gravity and it is the only theory of everything. Despite his criticism, he was invited by the Princeton University in 2003 where some of the most important proponents of string theory work. The ideas for this book was developed from these lectures.
Roger Penrose is a mathematician and firmly believes that understanding math is fundamental to the understanding of physics and physical reality. In his 2005 book, “The Road to Reality” math was extensively used as a concept learning tool even though that book was written for a general reader. This book also has math but less extensive than his 2005 book. Some sections are written for wider choice of readers but other parts require significant knowledge in mathematical physics. It will make it easier for a reader to know that Roger Penrose, in his 2009 interview with “Discover” magazine, admitted he was “bad” in math in school and in his own words he “was at least twice as slow as anybody else.” Eventually I would do very well. You see, if I could do it that way.” This is a great source encouragement for readers who did not have significant physics and math while they were in school. I recommend readers to skip the part of the book that is too intense but focus on main arguments of the book. One can still appreciate the efforts of Penrose’s masterful way of communicating his ideas.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Book Reviewed: Mysticism in the Ṛgveda, by T.G. Mainkar
The sense of spiritual mystery in the Rig-Veda
Most experts of Vedic literature, especially the Western scholars shy away from explicit statements that Rig-Veda has metaphysical and spiritual concepts. These hymns are largely treated as sacrificial prayers and regard Rig-Veda as a primitive religion that worshiped Vedic gods. However some Indian scholars have reasoned that Upanishads, rich in its philosophical discussions, came into existence only after Vedas. Hence they suggest that a reexamination of some hymns of Rig-Veda reveal mystical and even metaphysical components. In this book, author Trimbak Govind Mainkar reevaluates the hymns of the Rig-Veda and discusses the mystic nature of the seers through their work. In light of numerous commentaries of both Indian and western scholars, he observes an inspiring sense of spiritual mystery in the writings of some Vedic seers. This work contains the sincerity and sublimity of rishi’s imagination. They were simply god-loving souls and their work sounds like devotional prayers. It is through their devotion to their gods, sacrifices and surroundings they perceive the truth and unity in their belief. Some of the authors were priests, poets, philosophers and aesthetes who experienced mysticism that translated into philosophical reasoning during the age of Upanishads.
The author discusses three seers in particular with respect to mysticism. He uses the rational of the samhitakaras of Rig-Veda who arranged hymns according to the authors thus helping the readers to understand the mind of the seer. Vasishta emerges as one of the most interesting sage from Rig-Veda who speaks of his communion with God Varuna and hopes to reach “salvation.” After studying the Vasistha’s verses, the author concludes that Vasishta was a mystic and had visions of his deities and mystical qualities. The second interesting personality the author considers is Dhirgatamas (Rig-Veda I.158.4; 147.3; 152.6; and 158.6). If Vasistha’s mysticism comes out of devotion, emotion and submission and that of Dhirgatamas’s comes out of intellectual quest for self-realization. This is reflected in his hymns and his life story. The third example is Kavas Ailusa. He is the author of hymns X.30-34. From his hymns we learn that he was wayward individual and almost an outcast, but eventually through perseverance he wins a place among Vedic seers and thereby showing the rest of us that there is a way for sinners towards liberation and sainthood.
There are many prayers and hymns connected with women in Rig-Veda like; Lopamudra, Apala Aitreyi, Yami, Vasukraptni, Kaksivati Ghosa, Surya, Urvashi, Brahmajaya, Vak Ambhrni, Indrani, Sraddha Kamayani, Vaivasvati, and Paulomi. Sraddha Kamayani speaks of faith and its importance. The hymns of Vak, the daughter of sage Ambhrni suggests mystical importance of speech with the perception of unity in the universal wisdom. In Upanishads, it is said that all things depend, and have beginnings in speech. In Chandogya Upanishad 6.1., it is said “Vak alambanam, Arambhanam.”
According to Sri Aurobindo and Kapali Sastriar’s esoteric interpretation, the Rig-Vedic gods are not just natural forces but they are a manifestation of the universal power and contains the elements of “Supreme Being.” It is said that the Vedic altar which is the seat of sacrifice is referred to as the farthest extremity of Earth. Paro antah prithvyah (Rig-Veda I.164.35) as the nodes of Truth, Rtsya nabhih (Rig-Veda V. 10.13.3). In some places the sacrifice is referred to as an entity with conscious activity, Tatramtsya cetanam yajnam te tanavavahai (Rig-Veda I.170.4) and the gods themselves perform conscious sacrifice, Cetanam Yajnam.
The author evaluates several hymns of Rig-Veda in four chapters; Ritualistic Mystics, Philosophical Mystics, Nature Mystics, and Love & Beauty Mystics. The discussion reads flawlessly and the literature is handled thoroughly despite the fact that this is a small book (125 pages). Very highly recommended to readers interested in Rig-Veda, the Vedic literature, and ancient history of Hinduism.
Most experts of Vedic literature, especially the Western scholars shy away from explicit statements that Rig-Veda has metaphysical and spiritual concepts. These hymns are largely treated as sacrificial prayers and regard Rig-Veda as a primitive religion that worshiped Vedic gods. However some Indian scholars have reasoned that Upanishads, rich in its philosophical discussions, came into existence only after Vedas. Hence they suggest that a reexamination of some hymns of Rig-Veda reveal mystical and even metaphysical components. In this book, author Trimbak Govind Mainkar reevaluates the hymns of the Rig-Veda and discusses the mystic nature of the seers through their work. In light of numerous commentaries of both Indian and western scholars, he observes an inspiring sense of spiritual mystery in the writings of some Vedic seers. This work contains the sincerity and sublimity of rishi’s imagination. They were simply god-loving souls and their work sounds like devotional prayers. It is through their devotion to their gods, sacrifices and surroundings they perceive the truth and unity in their belief. Some of the authors were priests, poets, philosophers and aesthetes who experienced mysticism that translated into philosophical reasoning during the age of Upanishads.
The author discusses three seers in particular with respect to mysticism. He uses the rational of the samhitakaras of Rig-Veda who arranged hymns according to the authors thus helping the readers to understand the mind of the seer. Vasishta emerges as one of the most interesting sage from Rig-Veda who speaks of his communion with God Varuna and hopes to reach “salvation.” After studying the Vasistha’s verses, the author concludes that Vasishta was a mystic and had visions of his deities and mystical qualities. The second interesting personality the author considers is Dhirgatamas (Rig-Veda I.158.4; 147.3; 152.6; and 158.6). If Vasistha’s mysticism comes out of devotion, emotion and submission and that of Dhirgatamas’s comes out of intellectual quest for self-realization. This is reflected in his hymns and his life story. The third example is Kavas Ailusa. He is the author of hymns X.30-34. From his hymns we learn that he was wayward individual and almost an outcast, but eventually through perseverance he wins a place among Vedic seers and thereby showing the rest of us that there is a way for sinners towards liberation and sainthood.
There are many prayers and hymns connected with women in Rig-Veda like; Lopamudra, Apala Aitreyi, Yami, Vasukraptni, Kaksivati Ghosa, Surya, Urvashi, Brahmajaya, Vak Ambhrni, Indrani, Sraddha Kamayani, Vaivasvati, and Paulomi. Sraddha Kamayani speaks of faith and its importance. The hymns of Vak, the daughter of sage Ambhrni suggests mystical importance of speech with the perception of unity in the universal wisdom. In Upanishads, it is said that all things depend, and have beginnings in speech. In Chandogya Upanishad 6.1., it is said “Vak alambanam, Arambhanam.”
According to Sri Aurobindo and Kapali Sastriar’s esoteric interpretation, the Rig-Vedic gods are not just natural forces but they are a manifestation of the universal power and contains the elements of “Supreme Being.” It is said that the Vedic altar which is the seat of sacrifice is referred to as the farthest extremity of Earth. Paro antah prithvyah (Rig-Veda I.164.35) as the nodes of Truth, Rtsya nabhih (Rig-Veda V. 10.13.3). In some places the sacrifice is referred to as an entity with conscious activity, Tatramtsya cetanam yajnam te tanavavahai (Rig-Veda I.170.4) and the gods themselves perform conscious sacrifice, Cetanam Yajnam.
The author evaluates several hymns of Rig-Veda in four chapters; Ritualistic Mystics, Philosophical Mystics, Nature Mystics, and Love & Beauty Mystics. The discussion reads flawlessly and the literature is handled thoroughly despite the fact that this is a small book (125 pages). Very highly recommended to readers interested in Rig-Veda, the Vedic literature, and ancient history of Hinduism.
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