mauitian ([info]mauitian) wrote,
@ 2007-10-26 12:07:00
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Puff piece
Must... control... ego.

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[info]tanjent
2007-10-26 07:12 pm UTC (link)
let me know where to send my down payment for my room in the science hostel. :)

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-26 07:26 pm UTC (link)
The idea is that it would be free, as long as you're working on some cool new science.

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[info]radiantsun
2007-10-26 07:13 pm UTC (link)
that picture of the universe looks like a mandala.

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-26 07:24 pm UTC (link)
*sigh*

Yah, it does. I'm afraid this work is going to unavoidably encourage mysticism, because of these mandala-like diagrams that are coming out. And it's not easy for me to claim the connection to the mystical isn't appropriate.

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[info]radiantsun
2007-10-26 07:32 pm UTC (link)
I wasnt making a connection other than appearance. maybe you can make a connection to somthing else, like how some things look like something and have nothing to do with it-- like poo and chocolate pudding. although

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[info]radiantsun
2007-10-26 07:35 pm UTC (link)
er although pudding eventually turns into poo, so that might not be a good comparison.

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-26 07:53 pm UTC (link)
But this raises an interesting question. Why do we find patterns like mandalas aesthetically pleasing? Does our aesthetic sense motivate us to look for these patterns in the universe? Or is it the universe, which shaped our evolution, that compels us to find these patterns pretty? I think it's both.

So is it possible ancient Tibetans got a glimpse of the underlying structure of the universe through omphaloskepsis? I can't say it isn't.

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[info]radiantsun
2007-10-26 07:57 pm UTC (link)
good questions. what is? omphaloskepsis I suppose I can google it.

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[info]snarkyshark2
2007-10-26 08:09 pm UTC (link)
Holy fuck. I'm so happy for you! That was one bad-ass article.

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-26 08:13 pm UTC (link)
It's not exactly objective reporting though. It's just a profile article done for FQXi's in house newsletter.

I'm more curious to see how the New Scientist article comes out. :)

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[info]tink3959
2007-10-26 08:19 pm UTC (link)
Post it when it comes out? (@_@)

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-26 08:22 pm UTC (link)
Yes, my ego will insist upon it.

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[info]velellavelella
2007-10-26 08:15 pm UTC (link)
Erm. ... While you're there - read the profile on Louis Crane.

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-26 08:21 pm UTC (link)
Yah, the reporter wasn't as kind to Louis.

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[info]lightling
2007-10-26 09:27 pm UTC (link)
Dang, yo! That's really awesome. Congrats!

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-26 10:09 pm UTC (link)
Yip!

Hey, if I do want to do a small run of T-shirts with this E8 mandala on them -- about how much would that cost?
I think there are about sixteen different colors in it... not sure if that's a problem.

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[info]lightling
2007-10-26 10:19 pm UTC (link)
It depends on a number of things...

You can check at DesignAShirt.com - I've had good experiences with these guys. And I have a coupon for $10 off - use coupon code: SAVE TEN.

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e8 ftw!
[info]radium
2007-10-26 09:46 pm UTC (link)
yip! congrats yo!

do you have a high resolution copy of the "mandala" that i can use for poster-size prints? really, it's time to start thinking of the marketing opportunities -- set up a little storefront for posters, t-shirts, "Dr. Lisi" action figures (it worked for this dude!), syndication through ThinkGeek... the possibilities are endless! :)

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Re: e8 ftw!
[info]mauitian
2007-10-26 10:07 pm UTC (link)
Ha! Yah, sure, here's a hi-res jpg:

http://deferentialgeometry.org/talks/Perimeter07/e8.jpg

And I made a movie of it spinning in eight dimensions:

http://deferentialgeometry.org/talks/Perimeter07/anim/e8spin.mov

I'd rather that not go on YouTube, or T-shirts be hocked, until I get the accompanying paper out in a week or two.

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[info]smandal
2007-10-26 10:44 pm UTC (link)
It's funny that more institutes don't have their own housing close to the office, though adjoined housing may be a bit monastery-like :) Physicists on the Manhattan Project spoke about how pleasant it was, and their productivity speaks for itself.

There are tentative plans for the IPMU to have housing for its temporary members, if for no other reason that it's a hassle to get an apartment in Japan.

Perhaps, once you have a family, the physics becomes more a ob and less a lifestyle ...

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-29 02:37 am UTC (link)
I'm not sure why there aren't these sorts of institutes in the U.S. I've heard Russia has or had set ups like this. Perimeter puts its visitors up in nearby apartments, which is very nice.

You might be right about families. For a science hostel, I think it would be a bad idea to have kids in the common areas (other than the scientists themselves). I figure, with the right sort of housing compound, a researcher with kids could stay in their own separate dwelling, and visit the main building as desired. Kids are fun to have around, but they're distracting in a non-relaxing way.

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[info]smandal
2007-10-29 03:12 am UTC (link)
I have this feeling that in the US physics is just another occupation (albeit a demanding one), whereas in some other parts of the world there's more "collective energy" behind it. This was sort of automatic with the Manhattan Project and Apollo; I don't know whether minor social engineering like institute housing can create this environment in less exciting times.

I use the term "social engineering" because this environment is precisely what socialist states tried to accomplish across all of society. I imagine it worked for a few years before the purges began :)

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[info]_elle_
2007-10-27 05:21 am UTC (link)
Very cool :)

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-29 02:37 am UTC (link)
Yip!

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Does culinary science count?
[info]wiredgirl2
2007-10-28 04:14 am UTC (link)
I'd be willing to live at the science hostel if someone would fund my molecular gastronomy projects and maybe even eat them.

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Re: Does culinary science count?
[info]resipisco
2007-10-28 10:56 pm UTC (link)
An in-house experimental chef would be the icing on the cake.

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Re: Does culinary science count?
[info]mauitian
2007-10-28 11:24 pm UTC (link)
I was thinking a chef would be the only full-time paid position. But this may be a better idea.

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Re: Does culinary science count?
[info]resipisco
2007-10-29 01:04 am UTC (link)
Totally, science can learn a lot from art. The girls are cuter, too.

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Re: Does culinary science count?
[info]mauitian
2007-10-29 02:42 am UTC (link)
You're preaching to the choir, son.

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[info]resipisco
2007-10-28 10:58 pm UTC (link)
Nice going, Steve.

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-29 02:43 am UTC (link)
Thanks, Oscar.

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[info]reichart
2007-10-29 06:02 am UTC (link)
It begins...

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[info]mauitian
2007-10-29 02:31 pm UTC (link)
took long enough.

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[info]scottsch
2007-10-29 08:55 pm UTC (link)
Nice!

Must... control... ego.

That shouldn't be much more difficult than unifying gravity with QM.

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[info]jemvla
2007-11-15 04:01 pm UTC (link)
Neato! You are so famous! And what a pretty movie too! I'll try to get a projector and replay it on my white ceiling for this party I'm planning. So many great patterns - one for each religion I bet ;)

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[info]onesoul
2007-11-16 01:42 pm UTC (link)
perspectivism has been telling me for years you are outstanding it is about time others realized it as well!!! Congrats!

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