Gheorghe Curelet-Balan Blog

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Pier 21: A landmark Canadian historic site.

It is said that more than half of the Canadians can trace their roots to the city of Halifax (the capital of Nova Scotia province). For almost 50 years Halifax welcomed more than 1 million new Canadians. Pier 21 (www.pier21.ca/) was their first contact with the North American continent. On the back of these ships was built most of Canada.

Pier 21 links:
Pier 21 maps.
Immigrants stories.

Photo Galleries:
Aerial Photos.
http://nsonline.com/postcards/.
http://www.gov.ns.ca/cmns/notebook/photos.asp.
http://www.novascotia.worldweb.com/Photos/index.html.

Nova Scotia links:
Free maps.
Travel guides.
http://www.outdoorns.com/.
http://www.destination-ns.com.
http://www.explorenovascotia.com/.
http://www.novascotia.worldweb.com/.
History of Halifax explosion.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Notes on Edward Witten's lecture

Edward Witten's Perimeter Institute public lecture "Quest for supersymmetry" was a gentle introduction to the evolution of physics concepts in the last century and the efforts that are made today to understand the nature's deepest secrets. It looks like there is a parallel world out there that is partially discovered. Examples were given on practical applications of particle-physics research (cathode ray tube (CRT) and MRI machine) proving that investments made today in this field could have a huge effect on society. Just imagine: no CRT = no early days television and personal computers. The audience, by its unstoppable questions, was trying to suggest to Edward Witten that he needs to return to Waterloo. Two questions from the audience have impressed me: a around 12 years old kid asked about Feynman Diagrams and someone asked for a comment about a famous Feynman quote.

Next month Perimeter Institute public lecture panel discussion "Einstein - Relativity and Beyond" looks quite interesting.

Other interesting links:

Feynman diagrams:
http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/26005
http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/40796

Feynman quotes:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Richard_Feynman.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Richard_Feynman/
http://www.paulgraham.com/quo.html

Part of the audience just before the lecture on April 6th, 7pm.

Television is with us!

Rogers Television is recording the lecture that will be broadcasted (as the other Perimeter Institute lectures) on the local Rogers cable channel 20.

Waterloo Collegiate Institute (WCI) before Edward Witten's Lecture.