Something interesting noted regarding the Moon Landing

This particular topic has been in my mind for years. I have carefully considered the statements made by those who claim that it was a hoax, and I have to say that they make a compelling argument.
Some of the particulars in question are the missing impact crater, the different directions of shadows and the lack of any visible stars. While the jury is still out in my mind regarding this topic, one of the accusations in question may have been answered by a recent event.

The lack of any visible starts is explained in a few ways:

1. According to this link it is because the light from the sun hitting the surface of the moon is too bright for the weaker light produced by starts to be seen.
2. This site claims that the type of exposure and frame rate used when photographing the sky could account for not seeing any stars on that occasion.
3. Another explanation I have heard was on a program I watched regarding the conspiracy theory. Their explanation was that the reason we see stars flickering is because of the Earth's atmosphere. When seeing the light produced by stars, the light is distorted by our atmosphere, and possibly pollutants in our skies. This causes us to see the flickering effect of the light from the stars.

For every bit bit of evidence of a hoax, there seems to be a good explanation. Unless, like me, you have no knowledge of the intricacies of photography, you do not know if this is in fact true. I have no knowledge of the subject, so I have no reason to disbelieve the answers given to us be the experts. I also do not have any reason not to believe the conspiracy theorists, simply because I do not know the technical details of what is involved. On this subject, for me at least, seeing is believing.

It was with great interest that I watched Felix Baumgartner's space jump. History was being made. A great feat of human ingenuity was put on display. It is then when I noticed something that I probably would not have seen if the question regarding the moon landing was not already in the back of my mind.

Look at the photograph on this page of Felix's jump. See the lack of visible stars? There could once again be a myriad of reasons for this, but at least in my mind something was settled.

This of course does not answer all the questions at hand, but it does lead to the possible conclusion of at least that one part of the conspiracy. 

Beauty... what the heck is it anyway?

My mind started pondering this subject one day as we sat in a restaurant and I overheard a conversation between my wife and a young family member about whether or not she thought she was pretty. Her response was that she thought she was OK-ish. It came as somewhat of a shock to hear such a young girl already knowing her place in beauty-oriented society. That got me thinking. What is beauty and why are we so obsessed with it?

First of all, let’s look at this subject from a scientific point of view. All physical quantities of our three dimensional world have units of measure by which their values can be ascertained. For example, velocity is measured in meters per second, mass in grams and length in meters. So then, if it is so important to us, what is the unit of measure of this thing called beauty?

Of course the answer is that there is no way to measure it. It’s an interpretation of aesthetic characteristics, a perception of ‘what is though to be considered’. It’s a type of immeasurable abstract that exists only as an opinion, and an opinion is like an underarm. (It stinks when you raise it) In short, beauty is really in the eye of the beholder. That means that our opinions and interpretations are what in reality is at question here.

Consider this: Two people may be looking at the same object. One of them may be totally enthralled by what they see, while the other may be disinterested and unmoved altogether. One may marvel at the beauty they behold, while the other may be totally oblivious to it, or blatantly find it distasteful. What does that mean for the object observed? Does it mean that is or isn’t attractive? Is a sunset beautiful to look at, or is it not? The artist my well think so, but the overworked businessman may not. The painter and sculptor may find it inspiring enough to recapture it, dedicating time and effort in recreating it, while the untrained eye may simple look at it and look away again.

What about the perception of the beauty a person possesses? What makes a person beautiful, or not? We know there is no way to measure it. There is no measuring equipment that can be applied to calculate it. We know it is in the eye of the beholder, so the question isn’t whether it is beautiful or not, but rather to whom is it beautiful and to whom is it not? It is merely a perception and if it is simply the perception of a person, then what does it take to see it?

I am going to spend some time thinking it over, and in another post I’ll note down some of my thoughts regarding the attributes and values that makes us find the beauty in things, and more importantly in people.