Week 7 Assignments

Germanium

Symbol: Ge

Electron configuration: Ar 3d10 4s2 4p2

Atomic number: 32

Melting point: 1,721°F (938.2°C)

Discovered: 1886

Discoverer: Clemens Winkler

Atomic mass: 72.64 ± 0.01 u

Germanium is a lustrous, hard, gray-white semi-metallic element with a crystalline and brittle structure. It is a semiconductor. Germanium and the oxide are transparent to infrared radiation. Germanium also has the unusual property that (like water) it expands as it freezes.

Germanium parts were vastly used during the first decade of semiconductor electronics, before being widely replaced by silicon parts. Silicon offers superior performance and quality control, but subjective tastes still make germanium highly desirable for certain sounds.

Alchemy – science, magic, art – or all three?

Chinese Medicine, as practiced and taught by many is an amalgam of alchemy, science, magic and art.  Historically Chinese medicine was deeply linked to Taoism, Tai Qi and scientific methods.

Wikipedia says,  

“In fact, in the early Song Dynasty, followers of this Taoist idea (chiefly the elite and upper class) would ingest mercuric sulfide, which, though tolerable in low levels, led many to suicide. Thinking that this consequential death would lead to freedom and access to the Taoist heavens, the ensuing deaths encouraged people to eschew this method of alchemy in favor of external sources.”

To practice Chinese Medicine effectively requires the capacity to view a patient through various theoretical frameworks. I think that to limit your ability to diagnose and treat within the paradigm of ‘science’ would severely limit the patients healing. In our culture we idealize science and devalue alternative approaches to explaining the natural world. Generally, we do not value alternative explanations of our experience in the world unless it can be validated by science- despite the limits which the tacit assumptions produce.

“Doing nothing, but not feeling guilty about it"

I generally include a bit of doing nothing- by myself, or with others- during my week. This week it included several long walks for the sake of nothing. While I could have been studying or working or doing my taxes or cleaning my house, I instead opted to do nothing, not produce, or materially change anything. Doing nothing felt awesome and I am a better human being for not ascribing to the predominate culture of finding my self-worth through being busy.