Apparently the new IPCC synthesis on climate change has provided ground that current climate change is largely anthropogenic. Although it may still take up to decades for the U.S. to put carbon emission control system into their legislation, the responsibility of *Homo Sapiens* cannot be easily exempted.
For the U.S., their research focus has been shifted from proving the responsibility to "the causes, the impacts, and solutions". From [Science](http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/316/5833/1828b):
> [the budget bills] include more than half a billion dollars for new applied energy research, a novel $50 million climate research commission that would address regional impacts, and some $17 million to spread the message on climate change through education and public outreach....
>
> ...[A] draft spending bill would set aside $24.9 million for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to begin to develop two of the canceled sensors--both crucial for measuring Earth's heat balance--to bolt onto the crafts later if possible.
These priorities are, in fact, hardly anything new. The scientific society has called it for years. It is just at present that these budget requests are finally seen to. Of course such investment and prioritisation of climate-related research will surely accelerate the gain of understanding of climate trends and impacts. But the U.S. should not be boasting such late-bestowed attention to a pressing and significant problem.
2007年6月29日星期五
2007年6月27日星期三
Scientists in the blogosphere
This is an initiative of [Nature][1], providing a platform for scientists to write their opinions as blog entries. It can be seen from [this page](http://network.nature.com/blogs/list). Apparently there are already a number of researchers put their names on the Nature's list. However, if you take a closer look, you will find that most of them has only a handful of posts. Except for [this one](http://network.nature.com/blogs/user/U2929A0EA).
The causes of this gloomy appearance may include: a. established scientists are way too busy to write their blogs; b. few scientific blog writers like the templates and space provided by Nature Network; and c. there are scientific blogs out there but they are just like needles in a pile of stray that needs one to pay considerable effort to find.
By typing keywords "science" and "blog" into the search engine, it can be find that there is no serious and influencial blog space dedicated to the science community, which I think is a shame for both the Internet and scientists. I do believe that blogs can be a good place for scientific information and ideas to disseminate. While there are too many blogs which has virtually nothing meaningful on them, a scientific blog service provider may be helpful to counterbalance this trend.
****
[1]: http://www.nature.com
The causes of this gloomy appearance may include: a. established scientists are way too busy to write their blogs; b. few scientific blog writers like the templates and space provided by Nature Network; and c. there are scientific blogs out there but they are just like needles in a pile of stray that needs one to pay considerable effort to find.
By typing keywords "science" and "blog" into the search engine, it can be find that there is no serious and influencial blog space dedicated to the science community, which I think is a shame for both the Internet and scientists. I do believe that blogs can be a good place for scientific information and ideas to disseminate. While there are too many blogs which has virtually nothing meaningful on them, a scientific blog service provider may be helpful to counterbalance this trend.
****
[1]: http://www.nature.com
2007年6月15日星期五
不许郁闷
>“主席，世界上啥子四情是最痛苦地哟？”
>“上自习。”
>“还有比上自习更痛苦地不得？”
>（烟）“天天上自习……”
在北京痛苦的找房过程终于结束。目前我寄居在某大学的防空洞改造的招待所里，冬暖夏凉，安静舒适，而且既没有手机信号也没有网线，适合隐居。
之前找的几个房，因为都拿不出靠谱的房产证，虽然居住方便一些，但终归是不放心。现在想来，虽然我对小岛上的房子有诸多的不满，但当时租房的过程毕竟比这次方便多了。
为了用手机与他人保持联络，就必须从招待所的地洞里钻出来。作为一个穷学生，钻出来也没有多的事可做，只有假装还是个本科生，然后跑到该大学的教学楼去上自习。除了8月份要再考一次雅思考试需要复习，其它大量的自习时间应当怎样度过呢？其实这段时间倒觉得上自习并不是一件难熬的事，天天上自习也没有什么，大概是没有什么考试压力的缘故吧。既然时间很多，那么决定好好复习一下吃饭必须的统计学知识，有空再复习一下微积分，然后看看能不能自学个数学分析或者离散数学啥的。
>“上自习。”
>“还有比上自习更痛苦地不得？”
>（烟）“天天上自习……”
在北京痛苦的找房过程终于结束。目前我寄居在某大学的防空洞改造的招待所里，冬暖夏凉，安静舒适，而且既没有手机信号也没有网线，适合隐居。
之前找的几个房，因为都拿不出靠谱的房产证，虽然居住方便一些，但终归是不放心。现在想来，虽然我对小岛上的房子有诸多的不满，但当时租房的过程毕竟比这次方便多了。
为了用手机与他人保持联络，就必须从招待所的地洞里钻出来。作为一个穷学生，钻出来也没有多的事可做，只有假装还是个本科生，然后跑到该大学的教学楼去上自习。除了8月份要再考一次雅思考试需要复习，其它大量的自习时间应当怎样度过呢？其实这段时间倒觉得上自习并不是一件难熬的事，天天上自习也没有什么，大概是没有什么考试压力的缘故吧。既然时间很多，那么决定好好复习一下吃饭必须的统计学知识，有空再复习一下微积分，然后看看能不能自学个数学分析或者离散数学啥的。
2007年6月5日星期二
2007年4月29日星期日
Week 30: Before departure
It is just one week before I set out to Beijing and Tibet. This week is mainly about doing some small tasks that are relevant to the fieldwork. On Tuesday I met my supervisors and it turns out that I need to change the way I ask certain interview questions. They also suggest that I read more about interviews conducted in another language and culture as well as hybrid research.
I considered the problem of finding an interpreter who can accompany me all the way through the study. I wonder if any college student can do this. A more practical way may be seeking them through other research institutes or organisations.
I considered the problem of finding an interpreter who can accompany me all the way through the study. I wonder if any college student can do this. A more practical way may be seeking them through other research institutes or organisations.
2007年4月23日星期一
Week 29: Continue to deal with trivials
If I had better information when I was booking my ticket, I would have been packing and prepare for leaving this week. However I have to stay for another week or I have to pay dearly for a reschedule of my ticket.
Trying not to be too idle, I tried to come up with the structure of my annual report, as well as a data management system which should help me organise potentially large amount of notes and other raw data.
At the same time I tried to find some anecdotes from previous travellers who had been to Tibet in the hope that some of these writings may be helpful in providing some information on what to expect in the field. However, so far there has not been any useful hints from these materials.
Trying not to be too idle, I tried to come up with the structure of my annual report, as well as a data management system which should help me organise potentially large amount of notes and other raw data.
At the same time I tried to find some anecdotes from previous travellers who had been to Tibet in the hope that some of these writings may be helpful in providing some information on what to expect in the field. However, so far there has not been any useful hints from these materials.
2007年4月21日星期六
Otaku 的福音书
前段时间看电影就是为了工作之余放松，到处找那些打得暴力的片子。这几天对动作片几乎失去了兴趣，反倒想找那些节奏慢的，有些剧情的片子来看。看来我这几天太闲了。
这周末又放弃了一顿晚饭，赶到电影院看刚上映的 Reign Over Me。之前看预告片，觉得应该还是比较靠谱的一个片子。看完后果然没有失望，是我个人这段时间喜闻乐见的慢节奏小场面剧情片。而且最重要的是，片子里没有坏人。
这片子就像生活一样琐碎。里面不少角色都有自己的问题，而问题最多的两人就是两位男主角——到这里为止，我以为我在看一部另类的 buddy movie；然后看两人玩旺财战大象，跟着摇滚乐 jam，我又以为我在看一部纽约背景的 otaku 电影。作为实际上过着 otaku 生活的我来说，我觉得自己白天像 Alan，总是假装很忙地把自己关在工作里，晚上像 Charlie，一个人玩旺财战大象，自然而然地就对角色有了亲切感。片子最后，跟生活一样，他们迈过了面前的很大一道坎，不过也许还有这样那样的问题等待着他们，就像我的很多问题也没有解决一样。不过观众和角色一样都看到了生活的光明面，心满意足地走出电影院回家了。
这片子线索太多，好像每个角色的问题都得放到这两小时内解决，而且观众跟着 Charlie 一起压抑了一个多小时，最后连个明显的高潮都没有，确实是一个大闷片。但是，如果能以一个 otaku 的心态来看这个片子，真正看进去之后，会觉得它很亲切。你跟着角色们一起憋屈了，又跟着他们一起舒坦了，你走出电影院，角色们走进家门，你会觉得你和他们的生活都要继续，他们并不随着演职员表的出现而在你生活中消失了，而是像你很久不联络的朋友那样，在别的什么地方继续生活着。对于我这样一个生活在虚幻中的 otaku 来说，这电影是极为真实的。至少，Charlie 的家比我现在呆的鬼地方看起来更像一个家。
Otaku 们听到最多的教训就是“Get a life!”，而这个片子的确给了 otaku 们一点生活的滋味。如果你不能体会这个片子的好，那是因为你不是或者不曾是一个真正的宅男，恭喜你。
这周末又放弃了一顿晚饭，赶到电影院看刚上映的 Reign Over Me。之前看预告片，觉得应该还是比较靠谱的一个片子。看完后果然没有失望，是我个人这段时间喜闻乐见的慢节奏小场面剧情片。而且最重要的是，片子里没有坏人。
这片子就像生活一样琐碎。里面不少角色都有自己的问题，而问题最多的两人就是两位男主角——到这里为止，我以为我在看一部另类的 buddy movie；然后看两人玩旺财战大象，跟着摇滚乐 jam，我又以为我在看一部纽约背景的 otaku 电影。作为实际上过着 otaku 生活的我来说，我觉得自己白天像 Alan，总是假装很忙地把自己关在工作里，晚上像 Charlie，一个人玩旺财战大象，自然而然地就对角色有了亲切感。片子最后，跟生活一样，他们迈过了面前的很大一道坎，不过也许还有这样那样的问题等待着他们，就像我的很多问题也没有解决一样。不过观众和角色一样都看到了生活的光明面，心满意足地走出电影院回家了。
这片子线索太多，好像每个角色的问题都得放到这两小时内解决，而且观众跟着 Charlie 一起压抑了一个多小时，最后连个明显的高潮都没有，确实是一个大闷片。但是，如果能以一个 otaku 的心态来看这个片子，真正看进去之后，会觉得它很亲切。你跟着角色们一起憋屈了，又跟着他们一起舒坦了，你走出电影院，角色们走进家门，你会觉得你和他们的生活都要继续，他们并不随着演职员表的出现而在你生活中消失了，而是像你很久不联络的朋友那样，在别的什么地方继续生活着。对于我这样一个生活在虚幻中的 otaku 来说，这电影是极为真实的。至少，Charlie 的家比我现在呆的鬼地方看起来更像一个家。
Otaku 们听到最多的教训就是“Get a life!”，而这个片子的确给了 otaku 们一点生活的滋味。如果你不能体会这个片子的好，那是因为你不是或者不曾是一个真正的宅男，恭喜你。
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