Something wrong with left shoulder.
Also, the colour is a bit dirty :(
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Also, the colour is a bit dirty :(
Oil on canvas. 12 x 16 in.
Monday, December 31, 2012
E=mc^2 Einstein's Big Idea
It's quite a natural segue from 'The Hunt for Higgs', or rather, the other way round, in terms of scientific discovery.This superb docu-drama follows the development of the most famous equation by Einstein, and it is based on David Bodanis' bestseller book.
What I like the most about this documentary is, it gives the credit to people who also contributed scientifically or mathematically to his theory, some of whom are relatively unknown.
They're, for example, Antoine Lavoisier who showed water can be separated into H2 and O without any loss of mass, and Emilie du Chatelet who showed that Leibniz, rather than Newton, was right when it comes to kinetic energy mv^2.
I didn't know that she had an affair with Voltaire.
Also, Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell whose stories are well- known.
It's 'c' in Maxwell's beautiful equation that eventually led Einstein to his triumphant conclusion.
The programme also gives due credit to Lise Meitner, who should have shared Nobel prize for splitting atoms for the first time, i.e. nuclear fission.
Otto Hahn got all credit to himself.
I found their story very fascinating and a very sad one.
It's rare to see a documentary as good as this.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
The Hunt for Higgs
Although I studied Particle Physics at uni, I don't remember absolutely anything!It wasn't my major, anyway.
Still, I'm very interested in this sort of things in physics.
I can't say I understand them well, but, these subjects are really fascinating.
They say there still is one in a trillion chance that they're wrong, but, this discovery of 'Higgs-like' particles is surely this year's most exciting news in science.
That's because it explains the fundamental question of 'why we're here.'
This BBC documentary was aired before the announcement.
It's a great programme for us who have no clue about particle physics.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
War and God - Peter vs Christopher Hitchens
Glorious day here in Melbourne on this Boxing Day. One of my favourite places is Yarra Bend Park in north east of this most liveable city in the world.
I took a walk this morning, listening to this great debate between two brothers.
It's more than two hours of fascinating exchanges of philosophical thoughts between brothers whose ideologies are completely opposite.
"At least you can f***ing die and leave in North Korea.Does the Koran or Bible offer you that liberty?NO. The tyranny, the misery, the utter ownership of your entire personality, the smashing of your individuality only begins at the point of death.This is evil. This is a wicked preachment.
It attacks our deepest and most essential integrity. It's an insult.
It says you and I couldn't individually or collectively decide on the right action or right thing without celestial divine permission."
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Before the Big Bang
This is a great radio show on science. And this week's show is the biggest questions.
How did the universe come into being?
What about before Big Bang?
These questions always fascinate me.
Guests include Roger Penrose, always erudite.
The link is here.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Christopher Hitchens Vanity Fair Memorial
As the end of year approaches, I feel like reflecting on the things that happened this year. Then, I found myself watching this video again.
The memorial service was held in April.
What an amazing line up of speakers!
Stephen Fry, Martin Amis, Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, Tom Stoppard, Sean Penn, Francis Collins, and physicist Lawrence Krauss, Paul Wolfowitz, Anna Wintour, as well as Hitchens’s wife Carol Blue, brother Peter Hitchens....
James Fenton's poem was particularly moving.
What would the dead want from us
Watching from their cave?
Would they have us forever howling?
Would they have us rave
Or disfigure ourselves, or be strangled
Like some ancient emperor’s slave?
None of my dead friends were emperors
With such exorbitant tastes
And none of them were so vengeful
As to have all their friends waste
Waste quite away in sorrow
Disfigured and defaced.
I think the dead would want us
To weep for what they have lost.
I think that our luck in continuing
Is what would affect them most.
But time would find them generous
And less self-engrossed.
And time would find them generous
As they used to be
And what else would they want from us
Than an honoured place in our memory,
favourite room, a hallowed chair,
Privilege and celebrity?
And so the dead might cease to grieve
And we might make amends
And there might be a pact between
Dead friends and living friends.
What our dead friends would want from us
Would be such living friends.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
The death of Christopher Hitchens
Today marks one year since the death of Christopher Hitchens. He is one of the most influential writers in my life.
As a champion of atheist movement, he taught me a lot, most importantly, "Think for yourself."
This is such a simple statement, but, very powerful one.
His stance against religion is slightly different from another great thinker Richard Dawkins'.
Dawkins' argument is from a scientific point of view, and Hitchens' attack is from his anti-totalitarian principle.
Both of them are operating at the highest level of intellect, and I love Dawkins' writing a lot.
Still, there're something about Hitchens that I've been drawn to.
I really don't know.
He was a great man.
And I really miss his formidable voice of reason.
This is one of his last interviews with Tony Jones at ABC.
Friday, December 14, 2012
The Monarchy - A Critique of Britain's Favourite Fetish
It's been almost a year since Christopher Hitchens passed away. I have a vast collection of his appearances on TV and radio, savouring his formidable rhetoric and argumentation again and again.
I still miss his voice.
I just read this small book again.
Although the size is small, the case against Monarchy is rock solid, and as always, powerfully convincing.
"A people that began to think as citizens rather than subjects might transcend underdevelopment on their own. Inalienable human right is unique in that it needs no superhuman guarantee; no 'fount' except itself. Only servility requires the realm (suggestive word) of illusion. Illusions, of course, cannot be abolished. But they can and must be outgrown."
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Forger's Masterclass
John Myatt is a convicted art fraudster, spent some time in prison for forgery. It's amazing that he used household paints to create his artworks and auction house like Christie's couldn't tell they were fake.
That's a testimony as to how good he was.
These days, he's a celebrated artist, appearing in TV programs, holding solo exhibitions.
I really liked this series. The episodes include Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Van Gogh......
All together, there are 10 programs in which three artists try to finish their paintings in a style of chosen masters.
Highly entertaining art series.
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Neo-Impressionists
This exhibition at NGV is a smaller one than Winter Masterpiece series. However, I found this one very fascinating, due to its focus on Neo-Impressionism.
The use of colours and their applications are staggering. Such a minute attention to details, their placement on a canvas.
And the time they had to spend for paints to dry.
It's an enormous endeavour.
Great to see some paintings by Seurat, although I wish there was 'A Sunday on La Grande Jatte'.
The artists exhibited here include Camille PISSARRO, Paul SIGNAC, Maximilien LUCE, Théo VAN RYSSELBERGHE....
Again, I enjoyed a guided tour by a volunteer. It's always a great fun.
Diana Vreeland - The Eye Has to Travel
This is a very informative and entertaining documentary film about one of the iconic figures in a fashion industry. I must admit I didn't know much about her before, but, what an interesting personality she was!
In the film, there are so many fashion photos of the past, and they all look fabulous. I always like those old fashion photos, particularly the ones in the 60s.
David Bailey, one of my favourite photographers, was featured prominently in the film.
The way she talks in the film, in her later life, reminds me of Dali. Very eccentric. I love that.
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Victorian Artists' Society
I went to 'Artist of The Year Award' exhibition in East Melbourne. I was invited by my drawing friend Erica Wagner.
I've never been to this place.
It's a very classy, old building and has a long history.
I was told that lots of very famous Australian painters took part in life drawing class at this place.
All the works exhibited here are beautiful, and obviously, quality is very high.
Some of my favourites are...
Jane Jones, Karolyn Mitchell, Mary Hyde, Ray Hewitt, Ray Wilson, John Wakefield, Jenny Scholes....
Friday, December 07, 2012
We're going to die....
Opening lines from 'Unweaving the Rainbow' by Richard Dawkins.
Beautiful words. Great book.
Great man.
