pt.1
pt.2
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
As Above So Below, An Introduction To Fractal Evolution
"A decade after Mandelbrot published his physiological speculations, some theoretical biologists began to find fractal organization controlling structures all through the body. The standard 'exponential' description of a bronchial branching proved to be quite wrong; a fractal description turned out to fit the data...." --James Gleick. In the view of the Darwinists, the endlessly exquisite designs of nature are the result of an interplay of two factors--random genetic mutation and Natural Selection. Genetic mutation proposes, Natural Selection disposes.
The question of "design" in nature was one that troubled Charles Darwin all his professional life. In the year following the publication of the Origin, he writes to Asa Gray: "I am conscious that I am in an utterly hopeless muddle. I cannot think that the world, as we see it, is the result of chance; and yet I cannot look at each separate thing as the result of design." Darwinist Ernst Mayr, for one, is well aware of the design dilemma. "No consequence of Darwin's theory of natural selection was a source of greater dismay to his opponents than the elimination of design from nature. Those who studied the countless superb adaptations of animals and plants had been most gratified by the explanation that such perfection was clearly the result of design by the maker of this world." In fact, Darwin did not eliminate design from nature, as he himself indicates in his letter to Gray. Darwin and his followers succeeded only in challenging the traditional idea that the source of all design is God.
Today, any graduate student asked to develop a paper on the subject of design in nature would invariably wind up looking into fractal geometry and mathematics. Fractal geometry, as its name implies, is a geometry focusing on the description of geometrical structures, and structuring, in fract[ion]al space
Until 1975, we didn't have a fractal geometry. Our only geometry was the familiar Euclidean geometry, which goes back over two thousand years. The Elements of Euclid (circa 300 B.C.) summarized in thirteen volumes the mathematical knowledge of ancient Greece. Up into our own century, Euclid's books of geometry were taken as the final, authoritative word on the subject. Euclidean geometry deals with whole rather than fractional realities. Plane geometry concerns planar (one- and two-dimensional) structures, and solid geometry describes volumetric (three-dimensional) structures.
"New geometry's always begin," writes James Gleick, "when someone changes a fundamental rule." Fundamental supposition would be a better term than rule. Gleick continues: "Suppose space can be curved instead of flat, a geometer says, and the result is a weird curved parody of Euclid that provides precisely the right framework for the general theory of relativity. Suppose space can have four dimensions, or five, or six. Suppose the number expressing dimension can be a fraction.... suppose shapes are defined, not by solving an equation once, but by iterating it [repeating it] in a feedback loop,....... Suppose that fractals are the secret to your answers."
The question of "design" in nature was one that troubled Charles Darwin all his professional life. In the year following the publication of the Origin, he writes to Asa Gray: "I am conscious that I am in an utterly hopeless muddle. I cannot think that the world, as we see it, is the result of chance; and yet I cannot look at each separate thing as the result of design." Darwinist Ernst Mayr, for one, is well aware of the design dilemma. "No consequence of Darwin's theory of natural selection was a source of greater dismay to his opponents than the elimination of design from nature. Those who studied the countless superb adaptations of animals and plants had been most gratified by the explanation that such perfection was clearly the result of design by the maker of this world." In fact, Darwin did not eliminate design from nature, as he himself indicates in his letter to Gray. Darwin and his followers succeeded only in challenging the traditional idea that the source of all design is God.
Today, any graduate student asked to develop a paper on the subject of design in nature would invariably wind up looking into fractal geometry and mathematics. Fractal geometry, as its name implies, is a geometry focusing on the description of geometrical structures, and structuring, in fract[ion]al space
Until 1975, we didn't have a fractal geometry. Our only geometry was the familiar Euclidean geometry, which goes back over two thousand years. The Elements of Euclid (circa 300 B.C.) summarized in thirteen volumes the mathematical knowledge of ancient Greece. Up into our own century, Euclid's books of geometry were taken as the final, authoritative word on the subject. Euclidean geometry deals with whole rather than fractional realities. Plane geometry concerns planar (one- and two-dimensional) structures, and solid geometry describes volumetric (three-dimensional) structures.
"New geometry's always begin," writes James Gleick, "when someone changes a fundamental rule." Fundamental supposition would be a better term than rule. Gleick continues: "Suppose space can be curved instead of flat, a geometer says, and the result is a weird curved parody of Euclid that provides precisely the right framework for the general theory of relativity. Suppose space can have four dimensions, or five, or six. Suppose the number expressing dimension can be a fraction.... suppose shapes are defined, not by solving an equation once, but by iterating it [repeating it] in a feedback loop,....... Suppose that fractals are the secret to your answers."
As Above So Below, An Introduction To Fractal Evolution Part 1
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Misinformed NZ hip hop journalism cant be stopped (pity)
This is a response to this blog post as written by a long-serving local DJ, producer, hip hop musician and part-time contributor Exile
You blow your own horn. You have no idea how tough it is on the streets and where the origins of Hiphop began in NZ, this is apparent in your tone and use of poor gramatical structure for balance of opinion in your article to describe the feats that people have made as Hiphop artists in NZ. You have taken the easy path of discrimination towards a genre of music in NZ, namely hiphop.
Before Scribe and before Deceptikonz NZ had not accepted its own people to make a brand of hiphop that could be even be considered as influential, to the point where the multi nationalists companies are willing to put foward offers for marketing, promotions, advertising to help spread the fact that the Hiphop artists you refer to actually have talent thats good enough to carry itself both nation wide and world wide.
In terms of lyrical content, music is a form of expression and hard times exist on the streets of South Auckland, West Auckland, Central Auckland, East Auckland infact in all the impoverished suburbs of NZ, and this is reflected in the lyrical content, hiphop in NZ is not young indeed but the artist are, and infact as the artist grows then so does the demand for intelligence in the lyrical content as there are more and more hiphop artists raising the standards. Ladi 6, King Kaps, Sunshine Soundsystem, Coco Solid, Flowsion, Hayley J Hansell, Mikey Rockwell, Kolab, RockSolid DJs, the list is goes on.
I am not defending the artist you are refering to however I am stating that the artist that have come before me have laid a solid foundation for the Hiphop genre to evolve into concious hiphop like that of African American artist Common or Mosdef or even De la Soul or on more of a political stand point Paris or Public Enemy. It is a matter of maturation that is required of our artists that are going to be the next generation to join the hiphop scene.
Hiphop is not just a genre, Hiphop is a culture in NZ and has been that way since Kool Herc left Jamaica to reside in NYC.
In summary, rather then judging what you mostly see on T.V,what you hear on the commercial radio and making a poor effort to reveiw an album by the artists you refer to, look a little deeper because as you have fallen into the commercial trap yourself by making weak comments on how NZ hiphop is over.
Look into the NZ hiphop scene a little more closely and you will hear that it is thriving more so then ever.
Hiphop - Freedom of thought - EXILE 2009
Stop begging for hits on your site make better use of your time.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
interbrigadas.org
“So, well … what did you do in South America?” I asked the guy working next to me and he came up with this mind blowing story. It goes like this: A few young people watched the movie “the revolution will not be televised” and got hooked by the revolutionary energy in Venezuela. At the same time it seems they were quite bored of partying every weekend and felt like they could use their holidays in a more sophisticated way.
Soon, they visited Venezuela and found that people were incredibly open-minded towards their ideas. So from 2007 they started organizing workshops in Latin America, where voluntaries from European countries support local communities by teaching whatever they are skilled in. During these so-called “brigades” mainly young people give lessons in ceramics, drama, history, dance, English, French, biology or graffiti.
The feedback is amazing. Not only the locals appreciate the programme, also many sponsors find this project worth supporting. Furthermore the guys finance their trips by printing and selling T-Shirts and also started organizing street concerts in Germany. Among May and June there will be some exhibitions and concerts in Berlin with various artists from Latin America.
So if you are around, check it out!
For further info please have a look at their homepages:
www.interbrigadas.org
www.myspace.com/interbrigadas
How they describe themselves:
“The International Brigades want to give young people the opportunity
to become involved in the process of change in Latin America and
express their solidarity. Our project has nothing to do with simple
tourism. Every participant is asked to bring their skills, knowledge
and creativity to local people.
We see ourselves as heterogeneous platform, which organizes solidarity
work with Venezuela, i.e. cultural exchange and educational work. Our
work goes beyond the pure demonstration of solidarity as we aid
directly on the spot.
First and foremost, we support initiatives which develop from the communes themselves, from the bottom up.”
(taken from interbrigadas.org)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Fractals, The Colors of Infinity
Arthur C. Clarke, through interviews with scientists and mathematicians like Benoit Mandlebrot, use the popular Mandlebrot Set to explore how easy formulas can bring about intricate results. It is also used in an attempt to answer questions about the longevity of the universe.
Monday, May 4, 2009
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