Tag Archives: gravity

The Trouble with Gravity – Richard Panek

by Myrna Posted on July 9, 2019

READ GREEN WITH E-BOOKS

The Trouble with Gravity

Solving the Mystery Beneath Our Feet

Richard Panek

Genre: Science & Nature

Price: $12.99

Publish Date: July 9, 2019

Publisher: HMH Books

Seller: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company


"A thoughtful meditation on the mythic, cultural, philosophical and, yes, scientific implications of what happens when a wet potato or a crystal vase slips from your hand."—Billy Collins A mind-bending exploration of gravity, the universe's greatest mystery. What is gravity? Nobody knows—and just about nobody knows that nobody knows. How something so pervasive can also be so mysterious, and how that mystery can be so wholly unrecognized outside the field of physics, is one of the greatest conundrums in modern science. But as award-winning author Richard Panek shows in this groundbreaking book, gravity is a cold case that we are closer to cracking than ever—and whose very investigation has yielded untold truths about the cosmos and humanity itself. Part scientific detective story, part meta­physical romp, The Trouble with Gravity is a revelation: the first in-depth, accessible study of this ubiquitous, elusive force. Gravity and our efforts to understand it, Panek reveals, have shaped not only the world we inhabit, but also our bodies, minds, and culture. Its influence can be seen in everything from ancient fables to modern furniture, Dante’s Inferno to the pratfalls of Laurel and Hardy, bipedalism to black holes. As we approach the truth about gravity, we should also be prepared to know both our universe and our­selves as never before.  

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The Trouble with Gravity – Richard Panek

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He gave them a raise. They gave him a Tesla.

by Ethan0387xepklg Posted on July 18, 2016

He gave them a raise. They gave him a Tesla.

By on Jul 18, 2016Share

A CEO of a credit card processing company made waves last year by raising the minimum wage at his company to $70,000, and paying for it by cutting his own $1.1 million salary to $70,000.

Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price’s act of generosity was not without its rewards: The feel-good story went viral (reporters from the New York Times and NBC News were on hand when he gave his employees the good news), and Price was widely lauded as the world’s best boss. It was as though Jesus himself had come back to run a credit card processing company — same hair and everything. In the months that followed, Price signed with the talent agency William Morris, inked a half-million dollar book deal, and now charges as much as $20,000 for speaking engagements. (He also lists his house on Airbnb for $950 a night, in case you’re looking for a cheap rental in Seattle.)

Last week, Gravity Payments made news again when Price’s employees rewarded him with a Tesla Model S, worth $70,000. Price wrote on Facebook:

The new car isn’t Price’s only reason to celebrate.

In June, he beat a lawsuit from his brother and co-founder Lucas, who accused Price of overpaying himself in the years before Price lowered his compensation. According to Bloomberg, the suit was not without merit: $1.1 million was exceptionally high for the size and revenue of the company.

Judging from the Tesla, Gravity workers seem not to care. “Yes, he probably could have bought it on his own but he’s always putting us ahead of himself,” marketing director Ryan Pirkle told Grist. “He didn’t have to raise our wages, and we didn’t have to do this. We could have gotten him a bottle of wine or given him a hug, but this is something we wanted to do.”

If his employees waited, they could have gotten him an electric car that’s half as much: The Tesla Model 3. At $35,000, it’s the company’s first entry into manufacturing a car that’s not entirely a status symbol of the rich. Then, they could’ve donated the balance to people who can’t afford Teslas — or even homes.

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He gave them a raise. They gave him a Tesla.

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John Oliver Takes on the Error-Plagued World of Credit Reporting

by SOYTerri5434 Posted on April 11, 2016

Mother Jones

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John Oliver took on the dicey world of credit reporting, or as the Last Week Tonight host described it on Sunday, the “basis for the single most important three-digit number in your whole life other than 311—the Beatles of rap rock.”

Businesses use credit reports to determine whether to lend credit to someone. But as Oliver explained, nearly a quarter of every credit report contains inaccurate information, including critical errors that can block a person from getting hired at a job and even renting an apartment.

It’s an error-ridden process by which many important life events are effectively destroyed. Watch above to see how Oliver tries to get credit reporting companies to understand the gravity of these routine mistakes.

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John Oliver Takes on the Error-Plagued World of Credit Reporting

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Congratulations on a Great Century, Gravity

by Dell5263rfxvkgv Posted on November 6, 2015

Mother Jones

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Science News has a big package in the current issue about Gravity’s Century. I’d just like to add a personal note of congratulations to this. I think gravity has had a great century. It has kept me from floating into space for 57 years. It’s kept our atmosphere intact so we can all breathe. It’s remained weak enough that Earth hasn’t spiraled into the sun. It’s helped produce thousands of adorable kitten videos. And black holes! Those are just awesome.

All in all, terrific job, gravity. You deserve all the kudos you’re getting. What’s more, I hope this makes up for our inexcusable neglect of your first big century in 1787. We’re really sorry about that. You deserved better. I guess we were busy with the whole Constitution thing and it slipped our minds. It won’t happen again, I promise.

On the constructive criticism side, though, what’s with all the fancy math? It makes you seem a little elitist. A little KISS could go a long way. Just a thought.

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Congratulations on a Great Century, Gravity

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WATCH: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Roast Celebrities at the 2014 Golden Globes

by CallieEomyavt Posted on January 13, 2014

Mother Jones

On Sunday, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler once again hosted the Golden Globe Awards. Their opening bit was—reliably—a good time. The pair spent those first ten minutes roasting nominated celebrities: “It’s the story of how George Clooney would rather float away into space and die than spend one more minute with a woman his own age,” Fey said, describing the Best Drama nominee Gravity.

Watch it here:

Amy Poehler & Tina Fey – Opening Monologue… by IdolxMuzic

And here they are hosting the Golden Globes last year:

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WATCH: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Roast Celebrities at the 2014 Golden Globes

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