The title is not some gibberish. On the contrary, it is the most amazing number in the world. In fact, it is so mysterious that some people even have atoned it Godly status. It is not for nothing that it called the Golden Ratio or the Divine proportion.
Read this article that appeared in The Guardian and you'll know what I mean. For those interested in a Mathematical Explanation, you can read it here at Mathworld's website. Understandably, people have been fascinated by this number for a very long time and this website contains some very interesting history about the Golden Ratio.
I was more than amazed when I first stumbled across this number. It seems that in all the apparent chaos that the world seems to be in, there actually exists an underlying order. An order that we are not aware of or may be something that we know, yet dont recoginize! This number definitely provides food for some philosophical thought.
Obviously, lots of books have been written about it. Mario Livio's book, The Golden Ratio : The Story of PHI, the Worlds Most Astonishing Number, seems to be extremely interesting. One of the book's reviewers said that Livio leads us through innumerable examples of the golden number in the book - examples as varied as the breeding patterns of rabbits to optics of light rays - where the same golden ratio appears again and again and finally Livio asks the question, "Is God a Mathematician?" I intend to read the book as soon as possible and will let you all about it - if I feel like it!
Before I warp this post, this is by far the most accurate calculation of the golden ratio I found. A never-ending number indeed!
Friday, July 23, 2004
Monday, July 19, 2004
Indeed a Grand Canyon
Earlier in the day I was sorting the pictures of my recent visit to Grand Canyon. Just a look at the photographs makes me want to go back to the place. Oh! What a sight it was.
There's something for everybody to marvel at the place. Geologists will love to study the rock formations at the canyon, Naturalists will want to research the complex ecology that the canyon supports, Explorers will want to unravel the mystery that surrounds the canyon, Historians will seek to understand what the canyon has recorded for centuries, Artists will seek inspiration from this wonder and the rest of us can just stand there and be mesmerized by its the majestic presence!
None of man's creations can ever come close to this truly extraordinary sculpture that nature has created. Standing there at the canyon, you see life in all its glory. And the Canyon stands there, like an ol' grandfather, smiling at the life forms that thrive on it, that live on it and those that it has seen evolve. Way down below is the artist that created the canyon - the River Colorado flowing with vigor and youthful zest, continuing to wind its way around the canyon. One of the most enchanting sights is to watch the entire Canyon sparkle gloriously as it greets the sun in the morning and later bids adieu to it. I was lucky to witness the latter and hope to go back to see the former as well.
The documentary, the Hidden of Secrets of Grand Canyon, by Destination Cinema throws a glance at the history of the Canyon. Information about the documentary and a trailer can be found here. While it is very well made, it is all but a feeble attempt to explain the canyon. No movie, no book can describe it. There is indeed nothing like being there and witnessing it solemnly - away from the mayhem of life. If there is any place in the world that is worth re-visiting, this one surely is!
There's something for everybody to marvel at the place. Geologists will love to study the rock formations at the canyon, Naturalists will want to research the complex ecology that the canyon supports, Explorers will want to unravel the mystery that surrounds the canyon, Historians will seek to understand what the canyon has recorded for centuries, Artists will seek inspiration from this wonder and the rest of us can just stand there and be mesmerized by its the majestic presence!
None of man's creations can ever come close to this truly extraordinary sculpture that nature has created. Standing there at the canyon, you see life in all its glory. And the Canyon stands there, like an ol' grandfather, smiling at the life forms that thrive on it, that live on it and those that it has seen evolve. Way down below is the artist that created the canyon - the River Colorado flowing with vigor and youthful zest, continuing to wind its way around the canyon. One of the most enchanting sights is to watch the entire Canyon sparkle gloriously as it greets the sun in the morning and later bids adieu to it. I was lucky to witness the latter and hope to go back to see the former as well.
The documentary, the Hidden of Secrets of Grand Canyon, by Destination Cinema throws a glance at the history of the Canyon. Information about the documentary and a trailer can be found here. While it is very well made, it is all but a feeble attempt to explain the canyon. No movie, no book can describe it. There is indeed nothing like being there and witnessing it solemnly - away from the mayhem of life. If there is any place in the world that is worth re-visiting, this one surely is!
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Why, Robot !?!
I recently saw the Will Smith movie I, Robot and I tried very hard to find one good reason why the movie was made. The producers, in a single-minded quest to create mind-blowing action scenes, forget to add a motive behind the 105 min crap they dish out. This movie will deeply scar Asimov's soul for it claims to be inspired by one of his stories. But the fact, however, is that no one needs any sort of inspiration to come up with story like this.
This is one movie where you'd find popcorns much more interesting and much more exquisitely designed. If you don’t buy popcorns at the movie theatre and end up at this movie, God save you and your kind.
As one movie critic beautifully puts it, after the movie, I, Robot, "maybe I should have my own wiring examined."
This is one movie where you'd find popcorns much more interesting and much more exquisitely designed. If you don’t buy popcorns at the movie theatre and end up at this movie, God save you and your kind.
As one movie critic beautifully puts it, after the movie, I, Robot, "maybe I should have my own wiring examined."
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Thus I enter the world of blogging...
Blig, Blong and Blog. That is pretty much the reason why I've begin to blog. If you didnt quite get it, think about it. If you have even have the slightest inkling as to what it may mean, do let me know. I'm quite as eager as you are to find out! But till then, I think I'll go ahead and start rambling, mumbling, grumbling and perhaps even try spreading something intellectual in the future posts.
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