Never before in our modern society has water been such a priority for individuals, cities and nations, and it will only continue to grow in importance. However, even with such increased presence and general acknowledgement of the problems at hand, there seems to be a lack of public understanding of the issues at stake and … Continue reading New Solutions to Old Problems
Category: World
Should I stay or should I go?
When I first saw the teaser trailer for Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, I knew it was a movie that I wanted to see. It was a simple trailer in terms of special effects and action, but it spoke deeply and directly to the audience. When the first trailer came out, there was very little information on … Continue reading Should I stay or should I go?
Our Magical World
The most common criticism of the fantasy genre is that it can lead to unhealthy escapism. Why settle for the boring, drab world in which you live, when you could immerse yourself in a world full of flying beasts, floating cities, and big baddies that need to be taken down? For me, fantasy stories are … Continue reading Our Magical World
The Division of Districts and People
After watching the latest Hunger Games movie, Catching Fire, one of the many things I began wondering was “How did 12 Districts come to be?” For those who aren’t familiar with the Hunger Games Trilogy (don’t worry, I haven’t read any of the books), the nation of Panem is a dystopian North America divided into … Continue reading The Division of Districts and People
Loading Program…Earth.System
Arthur C. Clarke’s third law states, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Rachel Armstrong, the Living Architect, expanded on this idea, saying, “Any sufficiently advanced civilization is indistinguishable from nature.” These ideas remind us that technology (and civilization) is advancing at rapid rates, and before we know it, it will become unrecognizable when … Continue reading Loading Program…Earth.System
A New Perspective
Ok, so I really should be studying for finals right now, but I just have a few things to say. I just want to remind everyone that in the midst of all – be it finals, family troubles, financial troubles, ect. – to maintain perspective. It may not seem true right now, but life is … Continue reading A New Perspective
Converses and Toasters
If I have learned anything during the two weeks that I was in Honduras, it would probably be that “we live in an extremely complicated world.” I know it seems like an obvious truth, one that seems almost defeatist, as if I’ve absolved myself of any guilt I’ve felt due to laziness by accepting the … Continue reading Converses and Toasters
Modern-day Weather Machines
It’s certainly been a pretty hot summer this year. In fact, it’s been so hot, us Midwesterners are probably experiencing the worst drought in decades. Although it has rained a little bit these past few days, Summer 2012 has mostly been populated with +100 degree Fahrenheit days, cloudless skies and yellow grass. Crops are withering … Continue reading Modern-day Weather Machines
Video from Rio+20
So this has been out for awhile, but I just realized I should probably post this on my blog. Siemens came out with a video about their role in the Rio+20 Summit. The Future Influencers part (and my appearance) starts around the 4:40 mark. Like I said before, during my interview I didn't really give … Continue reading Video from Rio+20
Rio+20 – Day 5: Obrigado Rio!
I am now back home, safe and sound. The past five days may now just be memories, but they have certainly made quite the impact on my views of life, the universe, and everything. The day started off (thankfully) a little later than the previous two days. It turns out the venue for our last … Continue reading Rio+20 – Day 5: Obrigado Rio!
Ethan Yen 