Archive | history RSS feed for this section

Picture Postcard: NRNY Artwork

21 Jul

July 21, 2018

In the downtown heart of New Rochelle, NY, several pieces of artwork are popping up, courtesy of local artists. Many of them celebrate the history of the area. This one, by Charles Fazzino, celebrates its history in the arts, and particularly shines the spotlight on Terry Toons, the animation studio that was located in New Rochelle from 1930 to 1971. They produced and created cartoons featuring dozens of popular characters, including Mighty Mouse.

This particular one is about seven feet tall, made of the three-dimensional letters NRNY stacked atop each other. It gets plenty of foot traffic going by, being on a corner near the Metro North train station, Monroe College, and several large banks. In addition to the cartoons, you’ll see tributes to several celebrities as well.

Click the images to enlarge.

Just a few feet away you’ll find this more modern artwork.

 

 

 

.

.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Fallacy of “Settled Science.”

24 May

May 24, 2018

Please forgive this digression. There has been a lot of talk in the news about various topics, and the terms “scientific consensus,” “scientists agree,” and most egregiously, “settled science” have been bandied about as if they mean something.

Do not take this as my opinion on any topic. Do not read into this and think you know my opinion on global warming or genetically modified food or any topic you think I may or may not be referring to. I am not referring to any of them.

I am sick of the phrases “scientists agree” and “scientific consensus.” Those are nonsense. Science is not decided by committee.  

Scientists once agreed the sun revolved around the Earth.
Scientific consensus said that there were canals on Mars.
Scientists agreed that it was impossible to travel faster than light.
Scientific consensus said that there was nothing smaller than an atom.

Science grows and evolves as our knowledge grows and new discoveries are made. That’s why a new ligament in the human body was recently discovered. (1) That’s why the discovery of an Earth-like planet could lead to finding extraterrestrial life. (2) That’s why not all extinct species may remain extinct. (3)

Scientific agreement and consensus are not necessarily facts. They are theories and ideas and like any other theories or ideas can be disproven by later experimentation and observation.

“Settled science” is the most unscientific phrase of all. It closes the mind. It ends inquiry. It denies exploration. It is the exact opposite of what science is about. Science is NEVER settled.

 

(1) http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/11/06/your-knee-bones-connected-to-your-what-scientists-discover-new-body-part/

(2) https://www.nasa.gov/ames/kepler/nasas-kepler-discovers-first-earth-size-planet-in-the-habitable-zone-of-another-star

(3) http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/could-we-see-return-ancient-extinct-species-001400

 

One last point. If you believe in the Flat Earth Theory, don’t think this helps your cause. There’s science and then there’s bad science. The Flat Earth Theory is based on poor observation, disregard of contradictory facts, and blind adherence to dogma.

 

.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →