#i KNOW that parts of oppenheimer are supposed to be subjective but do we ever see those women in the ~objective~ section? no

[youssefguedira]

the problem with me and nolan is that i ALMOST love a lot of his movies (that ive seen) except in almost every one there's 1 glaring aspect that i hate (it's usually misogyny) that makes it hard to like the rest of the movie

[razzle-zazzle]

Whumptober Day 03: Sticks & stones may break my bones but...

Taunting + Insults

1644 Words; Sleeper Skull AU

TW for verbal degradation

Cole didn’t notice anything wrong when he destroyed the skull.

In fact, the very first hint that something was wrong only occurred when the ninja had finally returned to the monastery, with a promise from the newly-coronated Vania to keep in touch.

And it wasn’t much of a hint, either. Just a sharp feeling that something was off followed by a mild headache that lasted the rest of the night.

It became clear what was happening the next morning.

“Good morning.”

Cole jolted upright, looking around his room frantically. Who had said that?

“Not very bright, are we?” The voice chuckled, and it was then that Cole realized the voice was coming from inside his head.

Cole groaned. “Oh, what now?”

Another chuckle, very clear amusement pulsing through Cole’s head from the source. “Surely you recognize me! I’m only what remains of the skull you used all of your power to destroy.”

Cole froze. That… was probably not good. But he’d destroyed the skull with the spinjitzu burst! He was sure of it!

The skull’s amusement pulsed through his head, alongside what felt like satisfaction? Images—no, Cole realized, memories—followed, impressions of a man casting a spell on himself. A longevity spell.

Cole’s eyes narrowed. That sounded a lot like what Yang had tried to do with the Yin Blade.

Another mental chuckle. “Ah, but you see, the man you’re thinking of was trying to live forever. I merely wanted to live on after death through my own remains.”

Okay. So it was another case of some guy doing stupid things to ensure he wasn’t forgotten. Cole could understand the feeling, but that didn’t mean he’d allow his new mental roommate to stick around.

Getting up out of the bed, Cole moved to get dressed. He’d go to Wu first, who would probably know what to do, or at least be willing to research the subject—and then he’d let the others know the skull had stuck around and might become a problem later.

Cole felt another pulse of amusement, this time tinged with condescension. The skull didn’t speak, exactly, but Cole did get the ideas it was conveying loud and clear.

“I’m not stupid enough to believe that.” He muttered, but… he supposed the skull was making some degree of sense. So he wouldn’t bug the whole team with something so insignificant. Whatever.

Cole knew from experience that Wu was exceptionally good at keeping secrets.

But now Cole could feel uncertainty creeping up in the back of his mind. They had only just returned home from Shintaro. Would it really be fair to spring this on them so soon?

And it wasn’t like the skull was actually a problem. Annoying, definitely, but clearly in no position to do anything now.

Cole fiddled with his shirt uncertainly. “Still… I probably should tell them…”

He wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince himself or not.

The skull scoffed. “Oh, go right ahead. Tell them all about how you failed to destroy me the first time. I’m sure they won’t mind.” The skull’s tone was arrogant. Cole wanted to punch it.

But… it had a point.

Cole sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Yeah, it wouldn’t be fair to dump his problems on everything else like that. And how would he even approach the issue, anyway? It’s not like he could just go up and tell them “you know that magic skull Vangelis was using to power himself? Yeah, it’s in my head now criticizing the way I dress.” They’d look at him like he’d taken a hit to the head.

It’s not like the skull was a problem. Having someone else in his head wasn't the end of the world.

Cole would just… wait a little bit to tell the others. But he definitely would, once enough time passed.

Yeah.

+=+=+=+=+

Cole realized he’d probably made a mistake once a few weeks had passed.

Too much time had passed. Now it would just be awkward.

But the skull—Marcellus, that was his name—still wasn’t a problem, so Cole just left it alone.

It was fine. Really, it was.

Cole probably should have known better.

+=+=+=+=+

Maercellus’ taunts got worse.

It didn’t matter what Cole was doing or saying or even just thinking; the necromancer had a snide remark for everything. Training (“You call that a kick? What are you, ten?”), playing video games (“Oops! Another life gone! You sure are bad at this, aren’t you?”), painting (“That doesn’t even look like a bird!”), running errands (“You’re going to forget the milk. Again~.”)—Cole couldn’t get a moment’s peace no matter what he was doing.

Benefits of a mental roommate, Cole supposed, bitter taste in his throat. But honestly? He’d faced much worse criticisms before.

He’d practically been raised in the performing arts industry, after all.

So as frustrated as Cole was, he wasn’t any more agitated than when he was at Marty Oppenheimer’s. Therefore, as annoying as they were, Marcellus’ jabs barely qualified as a problem.

Besides, Cole was a ninja. He had bigger problems to worry about. He wasn’t about to be humbled by something so insignificant.

At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.

+=+=+=+=+

Cole awoke to tears streaming down his face.

That… had not been a pleasant dream.

Sitting up, Cole wiped at his eyes with his arm, trying to forget the nightmare.

Marcellus, the little bitch he was proving to be, responded to this by replaying bits of the nightmare like a highlight reel, vague interest and amusement flickering through Cole’s mind.

“What an interesting dream.” Marcellus replayed the bit where Cole fell, and Cole curled in on himself at the memory of it. “You really do have a history with falling. And nobody ever bothers to try and catch you, either.”

“They—” Cole started, swallowing. “It’s not like—” He snorted. “It’s not like they could have caught me. Besides,” he added, before Marcellus could get a snide remark in, “I can handle myself. I’ve done plenty of rock climbing. A fall isn’t going to take me out.”

Some small part of Cole disagreed with that statement, but he ignored that part.

“Ah, but you don’t actually believe any of that, do you?” Marcellus taunted, self-satisfied with his little deduction.

Cole cringed. “Of course I do.” He said, voice softer than he intended. “I can handle myself.”

He wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince.

Marcellus snorted. “Are you really that unsure of yourself? And to think, you defeated Vangelis. I guess that says more about how weak that man truly was.” There was a bitter edge to the sorcerer’s words, disgust and condescension all wrapped into a pretty little mental package.

Cole huffed, flopping back down onto the bed. “Oh, shut up”.

“Why? I’m just stating the truth. It’s not my fault if you’re pathetic enough to feel threatened by it.”

“Just stop, okay?” Cole sighed, brushing his hand through his hair. “I don’t need your bitching on top of everything else happening right now.”

Marcellus hmmed. “Sounds boring.”

Cole groaned, rolling over onto his stomach and burying his face in the pillow. He just wanted some rest, dammit.

Despite his efforts, sleep didn’t come.

+=+=+=+=+

Cole could really do without Marcellus’ snark in the middle of a battle. But he wasn’t that lucky, so he just did his best to ignore the necromancer’s jabs.

But then he slipped up and gave his opponent an opening—Marcellus hadn’t been distracting him that time. That mistake was all him.

The sorcerer laughed, schadenfreude filling his words. “Oh, look at that. Another Cole Mistake.”

Cole flinched, the movement allowing his opponent to get a solid hit in. That stung a lot more than it should have.

He still hadn’t quite recovered by that point, so his opponent took the opportunity to kick Cole while he was down.

Cole gasped at the pain. Oh, that was definitely going to bruise.

Before he could recover and counterattack, though, Kai intervened, saving Cole from making anymore stupid mistakes.

“Dude, is something wrong?” Kai asked, as Cole finally recovered enough to engage another opponent. “It’s not like you to be so unsteady.”

Unsteady. Cole bristled, then clamped down on his first reaction. “I’m fine.” He punched his current opponent harder than he needed to. “Just distracted.” His jaw was set, shoulders tensed, which did not make fighting any easier.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cole saw Kai give him a look. “Then undistract yourself.” Kai snapped, deflecting what would have been a nasty hit. “Save it for after the battle.”

Cole nodded, not trusting himself to say anything more.

Marcellus remained quiet for the rest of the battle.

Cole didn’t fuck up again.

He didn’t do very well, either.

+=+=+=+=+

They got back to the monastery later that night.

Cole slipped away into his room with a half-mumbled “‘m tired” before any of them could question his performance.

Jay had come by his door earlier, trying to convince Cole to open it, or at least open up and talk about whatever was bothering him. But Cole had pretended to be asleep, and eventually, Jay gave up and retired to his own bed for the night.

Cole was laying on his bed, lights off, staring up at the ceiling. It felt like his head was full of static. His throat felt tight. His eyes were dry.

Marcellus was quiet, leaving Cole to his thoughts.

Not that Cole needed Marcellus to criticize him when he could pick himself apart just fine.

It was stupid. Cole was being stupid. He was better than this, dammit, so why did it feel like he was falling apart?

He was stronger than this. It was just a rough patch. He had to be better than this, and he would be.

Right?

Cole grumbled, covering his face with his hands.

Marcellus was right.

“I am pathetic.”

[2whatcom-blog]

Atheism Is Inconsistent with the Scientific Methodology, Prize-Profitable Physicist Says

Marcelo Gleiser, a 60-year-old Brazil-born theoretical physicist at Dartmouth Faculty and prolific science popularizer, has gained this yr's Templeton Prize. Valued at slightly below $1.5 million, the award from the John Templeton Basis yearly acknowledges a person "who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life's spiritual dimension." Its previous recipients embrace scientific luminaries akin to Sir Martin Rees and Freeman Dyson, in addition to spiritual or political leaders akin to Mom Teresa, Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. Throughout his 35-year scientific profession, Gleiser's analysis has lined a large breadth of subjects, starting from the properties of the early universe to the conduct of basic particles and the origins of life. However in awarding him its most prestigious honor, the Templeton Basis mainly cited his standing as a number one public mental revealing "the historical, philosophical and cultural links between science, the humanities and spirituality." He's additionally the primary Latin American to obtain the prize. Scientific American spoke with Gleiser concerning the award, how he plans to advance his message of consilience, the necessity for humility in science, why people are particular, and the basic supply of his curiosity as a physicist. Scientific American: First off, congratulations! How did you are feeling if you heard the information? Marcelo Gleiser: It was fairly a shocker. I really feel tremendously honored, very humbled and sort of nervous. It is a cocktail of feelings, to be sincere. I put a variety of weight on the truth that I am the primary Latin American to get this. That, to me anyway, is important--and I am feeling the load on my shoulders now. I've my message, you realize. The query now's methods to get it throughout as effectively and clearly as I can, now that I've a a lot larger platform to try this from. You have written and spoken eloquently about nature of actuality and consciousness, the genesis of life, the potential for life past Earth, the origin and destiny of the universe, and extra. How do all these disparate subjects synergize into one, cohesive message for you? To me, science is a technique of connecting with the thriller of existence. And for those who consider it that means, the thriller of existence is one thing that we have now puzzled about ever since folks started asking questions on who we're and the place we come from. So whereas these questions at the moment are a part of scientific analysis, they're much, a lot older than science. I am not speaking concerning the science of supplies, or high-temperature superconductivity, which is superior and tremendous necessary, however that is not the sort of science I am doing. I am speaking about science as a part of a a lot grander and older type of questioning about who we're within the huge image of the universe. To me, as a theoretical physicist and likewise somebody who spends day out within the mountains, this type of questioning affords a deeply religious reference to the world, by my thoughts and thru my physique. Einstein would have stated the identical factor, I believe, together with his cosmic spiritual feeling. Proper. So which facet of your work do you suppose is most related to the Templeton Basis's religious goals? In all probability my perception in humility. I consider we must always take a a lot humbler method to information, within the sense that for those who look rigorously on the means science works, you may see that sure, it's fantastic -- magnificent! -- however it has limits. And we have now to grasp and respect these limits. And by doing that, by understanding how science advances, science actually turns into a deeply religious dialog with the mysterious, about all of the issues we do not know. In order that's one reply to your query. And that has nothing to do with organized faith, clearly, however it does inform my place towards atheism. I think about myself an agnostic. Why are you towards atheism? I truthfully suppose atheism is inconsistent with the scientific methodology. What I imply by that's, what's atheism? It is a assertion, a categorical assertion that expresses perception in nonbelief. "I don't believe even though I have no evidence for or against, simply I don't believe." Interval. It is a declaration. However in science we do not actually do declarations. We are saying, "Okay, you can have a hypothesis, you have to have some evidence against or for that." And so an agnostic would say, look, I've no proof for God or any sort of god (What god, to start with? The Maori gods, or the Jewish or Christian or Muslim God? Which god is that?) However alternatively, an agnostic would acknowledge no proper to make a closing assertion about one thing she or he does not find out about. "The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," and all that. This positions me very a lot towards the entire "New Atheist" guys--even although I need my message to be respectful of individuals's beliefs and reasoning, which may be community-based, or dignity-based, and so forth. And I believe clearly the Templeton Basis likes all of this, as a result of that is a part of an rising dialog. It is not simply me; it is also my colleague the astrophysicist Adam Frank, and a bunch of others, speaking increasingly concerning the relation between science and spirituality. So, a message of humility, open-mindedness and tolerance. Aside from in discussions of God, the place else do you see probably the most pressing want for this ethos? You already know, I am a "Rare Earth" sort of man. I believe our state of affairs could also be quite particular, on a planetary and even galactic scale. So when folks discuss Copernicus and Copernicanism--the 'precept of mediocrity' that states we must always count on to be common and typical, I say, "You know what? It's time to get beyond that." If you look on the market on the different planets (and the exoplanets that we are able to make some sense of), if you have a look at the historical past of life on Earth, you'll notice this place known as Earth is completely superb. And possibly, sure, there are others on the market, possibly--who is aware of, we actually count on so--but proper now what we all know is that we have now this world, and we're these superb molecular machines able to self-awareness, and all that makes us very particular certainly. And we all know for a incontrovertible fact that there shall be no different people within the universe; there could also be some humanoids someplace on the market, however we're distinctive merchandise of our single, small planet's lengthy historical past. The purpose is, to grasp trendy science inside this framework is to place humanity again into sort of an ethical heart of the universe, wherein we have now the ethical responsibility to protect this planet and its life with every thing that we have got, as a result of we perceive how uncommon this entire recreation is and that for all sensible functions we're alone. For now, anyhow. We've got to do that! It is a message that I hope will resonate with plenty of folks, as a result of to me what we actually want proper now on this more and more divisive world is a brand new unifying fantasy. I imply "myth" as a narrative that defines a tradition. So, what's the fantasy that can outline the tradition of the 21st century? It needs to be a fantasy of our species, not about any explicit perception system or political social gathering. How can we presumably try this? Effectively, we are able to try this utilizing astronomy, utilizing what we have now discovered from different worlds, to place ourselves and say, "Look, folks, this is not about tribal allegiance, this is about us as a species on a very specific planet that will go on with us--or without us." I believe you realize this message effectively. I do. However let me play satan's advocate for a second, solely as a result of earlier you referred to the worth of humility in science. Some would say now is just not the time to be humble, given the rising tide of lively, open hostility to science and objectivity across the globe. How would you reply to that? That is in fact one thing folks have already advised me: "Are you really sure you want to be saying these things?" And my reply is sure, completely. There's a distinction between "science" and what we are able to name "scientism," which is the notion that science can resolve all issues. To a big extent, it isn't science however quite how humanity has used science that has put us in our current difficulties. As a result of most individuals, generally, haven't any consciousness of what science can and can't do. In order that they misuse it, and they don't take into consideration science in a extra pluralistic means. So, okay, you are going to develop a self-driving automobile? Good! However how will that automobile deal with onerous decisions, like whether or not to prioritize the lives of its occupants or the lives of pedestrian bystanders? Is it going to simply be the technologist from Google who decides? Allow us to hope not! You must speak to philosophers, it's important to speak to ethicists. And to not perceive that, to say that science has all of the solutions, to me is simply nonsense. We can not presume that we're going to resolve all the issues of the world utilizing a strict scientific method. It won't be the case, and it has never been the case, as a result of the world is just too advanced, and science has methodological powers in addition to methodological limitations. And so, what do I say? I say be sincere. There's a quote from the physicist Frank Oppenheimer that matches right here: "The worst thing a son of a bitch can do is turn you into a son of a bitch." Which is profane however good. I am not going to lie about what science can and can't do as a result of politicians are misusing science and making an attempt to politicize the scientific discourse. I will be sincere concerning the powers of science so that individuals can really consider me for my honesty and transparency. In case you do not wish to be sincere and clear, you are simply going to grow to be a liar like everyone else. Which is why I get upset by misstatements, like when you may have scientists--Stephen Hawking and Lawrence Krauss amongst them--claiming we have now solved the issue of the origin of the universe, or that string idea is right and that the ultimate "theory of everything" is at hand. Such statements are bogus. So, I really feel as if I'm a guardian for the integrity of science proper now; somebody you possibly can belief as a result of this particular person is open and sincere sufficient to confess that the scientific enterprise has limitations--which doesn't suggest it is weak! You talked about string idea, and your skepticism concerning the notion of a closing "theory of everything." The place does that skepticism come from? It's unimaginable for science to acquire a real idea of every thing. And the explanation for that's epistemological. Mainly, the best way we purchase details about the world is thru measurement. It is by devices, proper? And due to that, our measurements and devices are at all times going to inform us a variety of stuff, however they'll depart stuff out. And we can not presumably ever suppose that we may have a idea of every thing, as a result of we can not ever suppose that we all know every thing that there's to know concerning the universe. This pertains to a metaphor I developed that I used because the title of a ebook, The Island of Information. Information advances, sure? But it surely's surrounded by this ocean of the unknown. The paradox of data is that because it expands and the boundary between the recognized and the unknown modifications, you inevitably begin to ask questions that you simply could not even ask earlier than. I do not wish to discourage folks from searching for unified explanations of nature as a result of sure, we want that. Numerous physics relies on this drive to simplify and produce issues collectively. However alternatively, it's the clean assertion that there may ever be a idea of every thing that I believe is essentially fallacious from a philosophical perspective. This entire notion of finality and closing concepts is, to me, simply an try to show science into a non secular system, which is one thing I disagree with profoundly. So then how do you go forward and justify doing analysis for those who do not suppose you may get to the ultimate reply? Effectively, as a result of analysis is just not concerning the closing reply, it is concerning the technique of discovery. It is what you discover alongside the best way that issues, and it's curiosity that strikes the human spirit ahead. Talking of curiosity... You as soon as wrote, "Scientists, in a sense, are people who keep curiosity burning, trying to find answers to some of the questions they asked as children." As a toddler, was there a formative query you requested, or an expertise you had, that made you into the scientist you might be immediately? Are you continue to making an attempt to reply it? I am nonetheless fully fascinated with how a lot science can inform concerning the origin and evolution of the universe. Trendy cosmology and astrobiology have a lot of the questions I look for--the thought of the transition from nonlife, to life, to me, is completely fascinating. However to be sincere with you, the formative expertise was that I misplaced my mother. I used to be six years outdated, and that loss was completely devastating. It put me involved with the notion of time from a really early age. And clearly faith was the factor that got here instantly, as a result of I am Jewish, however I grew to become very disillusioned with the Outdated Testomony after I was an adolescent, after which I discovered Einstein. That was after I realized, you possibly can really ask questions concerning the nature of time and area and nature itself utilizing science. That simply blew me away. And so I believe it was a really early sense of loss that made me interested in existence. And if you're interested in existence, physics turns into a beautiful portal, as a result of it brings you near the character of the basic questions: area, time, origins. And I have been blissful ever since. Read the full article