Heisenberg Principle

Werner Heisenberg physicist and creator of the Heisenberg Principle, better known as the uncertainty principle, was born December 5, 1901 in Wurzburg, Bavaria, in Germany. Heisenberg had a known “reputation for controversial solutions to problems in quantum theory”, (The Sad Story of Heisenberg’s Doctorate, David Chassidy). While working at Niel Bohrs lab in Copenhagen studying “theoretical investigations into quantum theory and the nature of physics” (PBS.org), Heisenberg stumbled across what now is known as the “uncertainty principle”. A principle that describes through using the example of measuring the properties of electrons with light or radiation as a measuring device, that you can only measure one property at a time, because when measuring the position the energy would throw off the momentum, and when measuring the momentum it would in turn throw off the position. Basically stating the idea that only one quantum variable can be measured at a time, and in order to determine the other variables it is necessary to use mathematical formulas. Formulas that include the following, “the uncertainty of energy multiplied by uncertainty in time, or uncertainty in position multiplied by the uncertainty in momentum”, (Dan Sewell Ward), which is greater than or equal to a constant “h”. A principle which at first glance is a little confusing and can be described by the New York Times as “like trying to tell an Eskimo what the French language is like without talking French”.( Waldemar Kaemppfert 1927). It is merely impossible to describe the theory in words or pictures, and can more easily be described only through mathematical equations. Many for this reason have yet to be persuaded that Heisenberg’s principle holds truth and an article from Slate magazine states, “No scientific idea from the last century is more fetishized, abused, and misunderstood—by the vulgar and the learned alike—than Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.”(Jim Holt 2002). Perhaps what puzzles many more is not the equation itself but how Heisenberg was able to produce this equation so easily.

Who am I?

Hip hop vs. America a television show that features hip hop artists and prominent politicians all together in one room to discuss the affect if any that hip hop music has on society. The program is run on BET, also known as Black Entertainment Television. So in order to do some background information the first place I looked was BET.com. I began using yahoo, just because it is the default search engine I’m accustomed to using but when it brought up 8,370,000 results, not only because BET.com was the first one but I found it to be the best one so I clicked on it first. BET is not only a station dedicated to the entertainment of African Americans, and minorities, but more than anything it is a music station. I felt encompassing these two purposes it would be the best choice for researching about my topic, and also because they are the station that runs the program. Next because I could not find who produces the show to give me any feedback or background on the motives for why this show was created I decided to research the hosts, Cousin Jeff, and Toure. I then used the website to research any previous works these two men had done, what if any related to hip hop culture, or any other significant works of activism in the community. I wanted to look for their credibility as hosts for this television show in relations to its topic. I also then just to add for some extra information researched through yahoo, some of the guests that were featured on the show that I was less familiar with such as Nelson George, and minister Ben Chavis. I concluded by research by looking at the blogs later posted by viewers, and other artists not featured on the show, just to see what emotional affect if any it had on viewers. I feel BET.com was the best source, obviously because they are the creators of the television program, and apart from that is a station dedicated to the culture of hip hop.

The Streets

November 27, 1978 hip hop birthed a rapper by the name of Mike Skinner known in to the public as “The Streets”. While working and pursuing a rap career while also attempting to start his own label, what once was a group soon became a solo act. Skinner is a middle class native who writes both hip hop and garage music. Although his career quickly took off as Skinner’s albums was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, best album, best urban act, and several others. But after reading about him I begin to question how his role in the hip hop culture affects the larger culture as a whole. He has been accused of using a false accent apart from the one of his native hometown of Birmingham. As many may know in the hip hop culture a big thing that is not condoned is putting on a front. Often pretending you are something you’re not to sell records or gain public attention; leading a double life just for the limelight. People look to something they can relate to, music that reflects what they go through on a daily basis, and they want to hear it from someone who was once in their situation. So the fact that he uses an accent other than that of his hometown to me makes it hard for him to be related to not only in Birmingham, England but outside of the UK. It’s very hard to make it nowadays in the rap industry and one of the key factors is maintaining loyalty to your roots, and fans. Being that he is a UK rapper its hard to say what affect he has on a larger culture outside of that. Here in the U.S. we seldom here of rappers or artists from other countries. Over recent years we’ve just begun to move into listening to other genres such as reggae. In the hip hop culture its kind of like different cliques everyone is content to stick to what they know and are familiar with so we have yet to see a time when rappers or rather hip hop artists can move into other territories. While Skinner is a major artist in the UK and have made numerous top charting hits he isn’t really known outside it.

Peer review.

When typing my draft i had a hard time determining a thesis and what point i was really trying to get across to the reader. As i was writing i noticed that i was jumping around alot and while keeping with the same basic concept i was veering off onto other subjects and wasnt really keeping a clear thesis. Through the peer review it helped me determine what my main concept was a little more when hearing what they felt my thesis was. It was also good just to get to read other peoples paper and see how the directions they took in writing their papers compared with the direction i took, because alot of times people may interpret the instructions differently and have different ideas of what the teacher wants us to write about. Overall i received great feedback and positive commentary, and i felt i was also able to give back that same help to my peers. I just felt that the peer review could have touched a little more on the grammatical aspects of it because grammar is often my biggest weakness in writing, i often use alot of sentence fragments and what not, and have trouble identifying them on my own. Also i felt it was a very short time, and wish we would have had the opportunity to perhaps have another review, and maybe even prepare a second draft to be reviewed. However, overall i enjoyed it and it will be very helpful in assisting me in structuring my final copy.