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The half-dead tree of standard models of particle physics
Today, we speak about the standard models of particle physics, and often students of physics call it beautiful. But this version of the theory was not conceived at once. It is the product of many iterations until it was settled to its current form in ~1975. Many of the alternatives were more mathematically appealing, but…
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Why I sign emails with “Cheers”
In New Zealand, I was lucky enough to have as a teacher the extraordinarily knowledgeable and patient senior scientist Tim Natusch. Tim brought me for observing at the Auckland observatory, where we many times looked from the dome at the long, white cloud lending the Maori name to the island (Aoteroa), and to the radio…
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“I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.” ― Vincent Van Gogh
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Competition
I don’t really understand sport competition. There is no denying that sport competitions are popular. I don’t participate in them much – to start with, I don’t like crowds or being yelled at. I suppose the core is that humans value extremes for their rarity. Competing is one way, but not the only way, to…
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Running
I don’t think running is the pinnacle of human excellence. Marathon running is very popular among top scientists. I used to run half-marathons – rarely in events, mostly for myself – somewhat regularly at one point in my life. I want to talk about my approach to running and the advantages, drawbacks and importance of…
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“Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it” ― Daniel Kahneman
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“The first step to lose a game is to accept the rules.” ― Johannes Buchner
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“If you’re thinking without writing, you only think you’re thinking.” ― Leslie Lamport
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It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done. ― Vincent Van Gogh
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Phones are consumer devices, laptops are creator devices
On phones, you cannot create new concepts. Phones can be creative for photos, but they are not for creating new ideas. They are for consuming images, films, and other people’s ideas. It is difficult to create new things until you interrupt consuming other people’s ideas. Don’t spend your time on a device that cannot create.…