Last Thursday I went to a concert featuring the violinist Joshua Bell--here is his story and the story of his violin. He plays a Stradivarius violin that was made almost 300 years ago (it was made in 1713). It is amazing to think of a technology made 300 years ago and still being best in its class. In the United States, and in Raleigh, it is hard to see anything much older than 50 years. Do you think any technology of our day will still be in use 300 years from now? Will there be any buildings from our day still standing in 300 years? I am always impressed when I go to Europe or India at the old buildings (Taj Mahal 350 years old, Westminster Abbey 1000 years old). What do you think it means for a society where everything has been made in recent history and there is no expectation that something will last for hundreds/thousands of years?
PS Here is a fascinating story about an experiment that Joshua Bell was involved in . Here is the YouTube clip.
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