Newton’s Three Laws and Me
Thank god for the first law of motion because if it were not for the friction that air creates on me and the force of gravity pulling me to the earth then I would just drift off into space until I was met with an object or environmental circumstance that would stop me from my space hurtle.
As for the second law, well thank god for that, too. As I am walking and being so faithfully stopped and started by friction and gravty I am also creating momentum as my mass times velocity propels me through space.
Also, as I am doing this walking or dancing or running or whatever it is that I am doing, I am being propelled by my own body’s force against the earth as well as the earth’s perfect match of force upon my feet. It’s a beautiful relationship.
Our “Energy Efficient” Culture
Warning: there is a soap box somewhere in there.
So here goes- our culture only recently decided that an efficient use of energy was a good idea. The industrial revolution got us started on a bad habit, a very bad habit indeed. That habit was to use energy without a care in the world for efficiency. That habit has the unfortunate side effect of using the atmosphere as a trash can. I think about all those cars out there on the road every day and the engines that propel them through space. Those engines are terribly inefficient- fire burning under a hood and a tailpipe spewing out waste right into the atmosphere. Its disgusting. Ok, maybe that is dramatic but I have to say- I do not own a car, my primary mode of transport is a bike. Ok Ok, I’m not trying to be all ego inflated and puffed up and on my soap box about it but I can say this- when you ride a bike you can actually tell how bad the pollution is out there. When you ride often enough on urban roads you are constantly smelling and breathing exhaust fumes. Sometimes it is just too much. Sometimes I have to hold my scarf or shirt to my face. When you ride in a car or drive a car you don’t notice it half as much because you are going to fast or your windows are rolled up. Riding a bike puts you in a situation where you have a more sense-oriented relationship with the world. I can smell dinners cooking on my way home at night. I can also smell a lot of exhaust. It was only when I started riding a bike that I realized just how bad this situation really is. Its pretty unnerving to be perfectly honest.
Descartes has a lot to answer for!
Yes he does!
The mind-body split anyone? The myth of the rational mind divested of any emotional influence being superior? Can anyone say patriachy, animal cruelty, arrogance?
