Fatblueman

Japan fun with mental math

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:35:00 +0000

Drives me nuts!!

This is the third time this has happened. I am at the grocery store. The bill is, say, 735 yen, so I lay down 1235 yen so I can get back a 500 yen coin - less change in the change purse.

Well once again the cashier reacts with impressed surprise, praising me for my ability to do math in my head and concluding with a remark something to the effect that "I didn't think gaijin can do that!"

Like I said, third time I've heard that remark. Apparently the "Asians are good at math" stereotype runs both ways....

Schrodinger's Cat

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:34:00 +0000

One thing that has to be said when reading about the world of theoretical physics - it gets weirder than a lot of science fiction. And the current problem is that much of the theory is entirely divorced from any experimental verification - but it must be this way, because the ideas that the theories are dealing with are just not testable with current technology.

Schrodinger's Cat and the Copenhagen School are kind of like that. You have to read it through a few times to really believe that our best scientists are serious about this; that at the highest levels of science things become so very counter-intuitive and just generally Star Trek-y. Apparently Gene Rodenberry had his finger carefully on the pulse of modern physics. But at some points some of the theories that Kaku deals with enter so heavily into the realm of conjecture that you tend to start rolling your eyes a little. I know it's speculation based on current theory, but it starts to feel like just so much guesswork. One wonders how any physicist can look down his or her nose at a theologian!

Anyway, an attempt at a simple explanation (if there is such a thing):

The Schrodinger's Cat thought experiment deals with a problem caused by quantum physics that radically changes how we think about reality. With Newton and classical physics, for example, a tree is a tree. It exists whether you look at it or not. But at the smallest levels of reality, quantum physicists found experimentally that this wasn't the case. An electron before being measured, or observed, was only a wave function", essentially existing in many places at once. It could only be spoken of in terms of probability. However, when observed, the wave function would "collapse" and the electron would become the one existing and concrete thing of classical physics. But for existence, it requires an observer, an interaction with consciousness.

To resolve the discrepancy between waves of probability and our commonsense notion of existence, Bohr and Heisenberg assumed that after a measurement is made by an outside observer, the wave function magically “collapses,” and the electron falls into a definite state—that is, after looking at the tree, we see that it is truly standing. In other words, the process of observation determines the final state of the electron. Observation is vital to existence. (Kaku, Loc. 2206-10)

Here's Kaku's explanation of the actual thought experiment. Einstein could see this was the logical end of the quantum theory, but he thought it must be nonsense:

[Schrodinger] confessed to Bohr that he regretted ever proposing the wave concept if it introduced the concept of probability into physics. To demolish the idea of probabilities, he proposed an experiment. Imagine a cat sealed in a box. Inside the box, there is a bottle of poison gas, connected to a hammer, which in turn is connected to a Geiger counter placed near a piece of uranium. No one disputes that the radioactive decay of the uranium atom is purely a quantum event that cannot be predicted ahead of time. Let’s say there is a 50 percent chance that a uranium atom will decay in the next second. But if a uranium atom decays, it sets off the Geiger counter, which sets off the hammer that breaks the glass, killing the cat. Before you open the box, it is impossible to tell whether the cat is dead or alive. In fact, in order to describe the cat, physicists add the wave function of the live cat and the dead cat—that is, we put the cat in a nether world of being 50 percent dead and 50 percent alive simultaneously. Now open the box. Once we peer into the box, an observation is made, the wave function collapses, and we see that the cat is, say, alive. To Schrödinger, this was silly. How can a cat be both dead and alive at the same time, just because we haven’t looked at it? Does it suddenly spring into existence as soon as we observe it? Einstein was also displeased with this interpretation. Whenever guests came over to his house, he would say: look at the moon. Does it suddenly spring into existence when a mouse looks at it? Einstein believed the answer was no. But in some sense, the answer might be yes. (Loc. 2288-98)

More quotes about it later, but the thing is, subsequent experimentation proved that Einstein was wrong. Reality may really be that weird.

Michio Kaku - Parallel Worlds

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:04:00 +0000

So here is the first book I want to focus in on: Michio Kaku - Parallel Worlds. Kaku is, as quoted from his Wikipedia page, "an American theoretical physicist specializing in string field theory, and a futurist." He holds a chair and professorship in theoretical physics at CCNY, so basically, he knows what he is talking about.

I got reading this book as a break from all the C.S. Lewis I have been reading for next year's thesis. In fact, science reading was suggested to me by Lewis himself. I can't remember which book it was in, but Lewis makes note that it is vital to keep informed on scientific thinking and advancements, so I thought I'd follow his advice.

The thing that impresses me about Kaku is just how even he is when dealing with the big questions. The book is primarily about cosmology, and in dealing with the "biggest" questions of or origins, reality, and God, he is meticulous about presenting both or all sides of a given issue. In fact, he keeps you guessing as to what his own views are until the final chapter of the book, where he makes his own beliefs plain, but until that point it is impossible to guess what he thinks from an obvious bias in the book. That is impressive in this age of polarized fundamentalists of both theist and atheist stripe condescending to one another from very safe distances.

Much of what outlines in the book is the two emerging schools of thought in physics regarding the nature of reality itself. He deals a lot with the "Schroedinger's cat" problem, which I'll find a quote for, because I can hardly explain it myself. But in subsequent posts, I'll try to deal in more detail and with a lot more clarity about this main theme:

... this paradox goes to perhaps the deepest question in the quantum theory: how can a cat be dead and alive at the same time? To answer this question, physicists have been forced to entertain two outrageous solutions: either there is a cosmic consciousness that watches over us all, or else there are an infinite number of quantum universes. (Loc. 2107-9)

More coming soon.

Kindle My Clippings

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 +0000

I've been doing lots of Kindle reading lately, and it's certainly growing on me. Far and away the best feature is proving to be My Clippings, as I have always been a heavy underliner, but whenever I wanted to share the best passages on a blog, it required a lot of tedious typing to transfer the quote. Not so with My Clippings. Whatever you underline, or whatever note you make, goes straight to a txt file that you can cut and paste from.

The upshot of this is that there will probably be a lot more long quotes on this blog coming up, and a lot more commentary on stuff that I am reading. It's just become a lot easier.

Amazon Kindle International Edition

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:33:00 +0000

Ok, I've had it for a week so I am sure that there is a lot more to uncover, but here are the first impressions. I will say the convenience and excitement of the new gadget has had me "buried in books" this week, and I can see that with a Kindle you could get to place of having too many books on the go at once.

Michio Kaku the Super Science 'Splainer

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:07:00 +0000

A while back I read Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku. Well, truth is I listened to it, because I drive a lot and audiobooks are much more interesting than radio.

The point is, Kaku is a quantum physicist who does a brilliant job of explaining the most difficult - and most current - scientific theories in layman's terms. In Physics he goes through a bunch of science-fiction-y ideas, like pre-cognition, teleportation, hyperspace travel, etc, and talks about whether or not these are possible or impossible according to current scientific thinking. It's a fascinating read.

Physics of the Impossible

And I just noticed that he has a new one out in audiobook format called Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmo. Also looks very good.

Better barter

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:14:00 +0000

Anyone with mad web skills interested in making beautiful Youtube background page for us? Would it be worth 5 CD's to you? They make great Christmas presents :-) Msg me if yer interested...

Re-mix it

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:37:00 +0000

DJ Steve Porter. Very impressive. Apparently is making a ton of money off of Youtube with these creative re-mixes. These days if you have a good idea, you can really run with it. Need some new good ideas.

Kindle and Superfreakonomics

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:19:00 +0000

A while ago I read Freakonomics, wherein Steven Levitt uses the sorts of data-mining techniques common to economists, but then applies them to very unorthodox situations. For one, he undermined my interest in Sumo wrestling by using several years of win/loss data to show that things are exactly fair and honest in the world of the big men. Another memorable chapter was when he delves into the inner city drug trade, getting his facts and figures from the dealers themselves.

Anyway, tomorrow the "sequel", Superfreakonomics (of course), is coming out, and I am a little perturbed. See, I decided to buy a Kindle, which also should be here tomorrow, or at least within the week. But Superfreakonomics is not available for the Kindle! So what's that point owning this cutting edge reading technology if I can't read the cutting edge new releases?! I hope they work on that, and soon.

Thoughts on Sports

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:36:00 +0000

I am finding judo to be really interesting in that I have never really been into to individual sports. In basketball or football, the blame can be spread around so one's effort isn't is as directly related to success/failure as it is in judo. I am finding in judo that either you go full bore or you get slammed to the mat again and again. Not only do you lose, you also hurt way more. This serves to up one's all-around effort level.

The upshot of this is that I come home from judo completely exhausted, like in no sport I have ever participated in.

Is God a Delusion. Eric Reitan

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:20:00 +0000

Good lecture. The truth is (almost always) in the middle.

Wanted to save this for later.

Dr. Eric Reitan author of "Is God a Delusion?" lectures at the University of Tulsa on September 22, 2009 from James P on Vimeo.

Whatever....

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:16:00 +0000

It's so cool already in Japan. It's like fall weather already and only the middle of September. I have gotten used to putting up with brutal humid summer type weather until the end of September every year, but this year looks like we are getting a break.

No real point to this blog, just sitting down to punch keys. Wanted to write something. But got nothing.

Ok, how about this. Tomorrow we are heading to Osaka to play the Kansai Music Festival. And here is some band drama for you. Our violin player, who was dating our bass player - I say was, let's be clear on that point - said a while ago that she didn't want to play anymore. Then last week she phoned and said that she'd had a complete change of heart and wanted to play in Osaka. Then, after we adjusted things for a violin in the set and had a good practice all together, she flip-flopped again and said she's not doing it. Ugh. Thankfully, Coleen from Semi-On is going to step in and save us. Well, if the timing works out. Here's hoping.

But other than that, things have been going really well with the band. Tom wrote a kick-ass song recently and now we are working on an arrangement that is sounding really good. We are thinking of doing a side project where we focus on writing specifically alt-country songs and nothing else. How's this for a band name: The Rocket Saddle Company. I saw something like it on a sign. Any other country-sounding names?

And on top of that I am doing some singing with a Japanese girl named Shion who is just awesome to play with. Every time we try a new song she goes home and practices it incessantly and comes to the next practice with the song perfectly memorized and ready to go, and with a bunch of new ideas to boot. It's a pleasure to play with someone who is that interested and pro-active.

Anyway, enough for now. Gonna watch a movie. It's called The Man from Earth. Reading so much CS Lewis recently, I am finding that I have a huge appetite for fantasy and science fiction. If you have any recommendations, lemme know!

Theological Porn

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:26:00 +0000

Here's a summary post on Peter Rollins, who I mentioned in the last entry. Just wanted to record a couple quotes and the link of the entry. Might need this later.

Peter Rollins writes that the heart of Christianity lies in a born again experience which transforms us into followers of Christ who sacrificially love those who are oppressed and excluded. Anyone who has experienced this life-altering event cannot doubt that they have received it, but they can and should doubt everything they might use to describe it. They cannot even assert with confidence that this event was caused by God, for God is too lofty to say anything about...

Rollins contends that because the transcendent God surpasses the categories of our minds, we cannot even know whether he exists. When we say that God exists we “reduce God to the realm of objects,” forgetting that “God utterly transcends all concepts and thus cannot be approached as an object at all.” Rather God is “the ineffable source that is received but never conceived.” Better to identify God with the born again event (which turns God into a verb) and remain agnostic “about who, what, or even if God is (as a being).”

I don't know that it is accurate to say that "we cannot even know whether [God} exists". It is more like God, being the One who is completely "other", entirely outside our system, the being who by definition created all things including things like physics, and even reason, goes above and beyond a word like "exists" because the word itself implies time and space and God is outside of those things. So it's not like you can say nothing about God, just that it's necessary to speak a lot more carefully. Speaking of God with absolute finality and confidence that you have "got it", without room for disagreement and conversation lacks humility because in the end it's just not honest. We don't and can't have complete and final knowledge about a being that is so beyond us. That's not to say that we can't "know God" in some way, but it is to say that we dare not walk around with a billy club telling others how to "know God".

Parable Contest 2nd Place!

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:03:00 +0000

So there's this guy named Peter Rollins who wrote a book called The Orthodox Heretic in which he explores writing parables. Basically a parable is defined as a short tale that makes "the usual unusual again", a story that makes you rethink what is held as common sense.

Rollins identifies himself on his facebook page as an A/theist, which essentially means he confuses and offends both (or all) sides. If you want to get a better handle on it, read his books - they'll make you think no matter what your background.

Anyway, he held a contest and invited us to write our own parables. I thought I'd give it a go, as I had never tried writing anything other than a song, and it sounded like something that might give me a start in another direction.

I entered four parables and, good news is, he awarded one of them second place (which gets me 50 bucks in books from his publisher). Anyway, you can read his post here, and below is the parable that got the award. I will also post the rest of them, except for the really long one. That one I will save for another post.

The Conversion of Constantine

The Emperor Constantine, facing the biggest battle of his reign, looked into the setting sun at the Milvian Bridge and saw a vision of the Cross of Christ. As he gazed at the cross he heard a voice say “By this sign, conquer”.

The next day he gave up his reign as Emperor, surrendered all his many possessions, and went to live and work among the poor.  And forever after he was known as one of the greatest heroes of the faith for his obedience to the voice of God.

The Final Judgment

When I opened my eyes I realized that I was there, at the Final Judgment. What struck me first is that is that it played out exactly as I had always imagined - a dazzling, all-encompassing light that was irresistible in its attraction. It was was kindness, and goodness, and love, but in a perfected way - a pure experience that I had only tasted hints of in my lifetime. But as I moved toward it I noticed a commotion. A man was on his knees sobbing, his body heaving with sadness. To my shock, I could see plainly that the man before me was Adolf Hitler himself, crumpled on the floor, refusing to move any nearer to the light. Between his sobs he could be heard begging for a return to his earthly existence, for a second chance to live his life over. "What have I done, what have I done," came the mournful repetition.

I assumed that he was facing the terror of his coming punishment in hell, so I asked one of the others there when he would be taken away from this perfect place. The answer that came revealed my lack of understanding. "He won't be taken from this place - that is just the reason for his sorrow. All come from the Light, and all go back to it. He has been told that all is forgiven, and that he is welcome to go forward into the banquet. It is by his own will that he stays where he is."

The Wall

The teacher came to a village of affluent people living on the other side of an ancient wall from the very poor, people who they desired to help. They felt terrible that they couldn't help the people on the other side because they could hear their cries for help, but nothing could be done to get over the huge wall. So the teacher left with them a considerable sum of money saying,

"I give you this because I know how you wanted to help those on the other side, but didn't quite have the means. Use it to relieve the suffering that poverty has brought here."

So the people built a huge system of ladders and tunnels so that they could get food and medicine to those living on the other side of the wall. Though there were still problems, they were happy that their efforts resulted in a considerable raising of the standard of living of the people on the other side.

This being the case, they were shocked at how disappointed the teacher was with them upon returning to see what they had done with the money.

"Why?" they asked, "Look at all the suffering we have helped alleviate!"

The teacher responded, "I gave you that money so you could tear down the wall. In doing it this way, you have only alleviated suffering on one side of the wall".

C.S. Lewis on Capitalism and Socialism

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:30:00 +0000

Working through some of the quotes I am compiling for next year's thesis, and found these ones interesting. Very suitable for the discussions taking place these days (particularly in America) about the value of socialism versus capitalism. It's interesting how he manages to now come down dogmatically on either side. I think there is likely a wise answer in taking that approach.

To that extent a Christian society would be what we now call Leftist. On the other hand, it is always insisting on obedience...

If there were such a society in existence and you or I visited it, I think we should come away with a curious impression. We should feel that its economic life was very socialistic and, in that sense, "advanced," but that its family life and its code of manners were rather old-fashioned—perhaps even ceremonious and aristocratic. Each of us would like some bits of it, but I am afraid very few of us would like the whole thing... (Mere Christianity)

Here's a bit of the left-wing Lewis. I can almost picture him throwing rocks and dodging tear gas from behind the barricades at an anti-globalization protest (ok, maybe not that far...)

…every one's work is to produce something good: there will be no manufacture of silly luxuries and then of sillier advertisements to persuade us to buy them... (MC)

Ouch for those of you in marketing. And yet, even this quote is preceded by the sort of stern call to personal responsibility that would receive a standing ovation from James Dobson himself:

All the same, the New Testament, without going into details, gives us a pretty clear hint of what a fully Christian society would be like. Perhaps it gives us more than we can take. It tells us that there are to be no passengers or parasites: if man does not work, he ought not to eat. Every one is to work with his own hands… (MC)

To finish, one more quote from Lewis the Progressive. I thought this was an interesting quote, as it questions, boldly, the very foundations of our capitalist economic system.

Now another point. There is one bit of advice given to us by the ancient heathen Greeks, and by the Jews in the Old Testament, and by the great Christian teachers of the Middle Ages, which the modern economic system has completely disobeyed. All these people told us not to lend money at interest: and lending money at interest—what we call investment—is the basis of our whole system. Now it may not absolutely follow that we are wrong. Some people say that when Moses and Aristotle and the Christians agreed in forbidding interest (or "usury" as they called it), they could not foresee the joint stock company, and were only dunking of the private moneylender, and that, therefore, we need not bother about what they said.

That is a question I cannot decide on. I am not an economist and I simply do not know whether the investment system is responsible for the state we are in or not This is where we want the Christian economist But I should not have been honest if I had not told you that three great civilisations had agreed (or so it seems at first sight) in condemning the very thing on which we have based our whole
life. (MC)

Cambodia 4: The Krakor Floating Village

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:14:00 +0000

I forgot to post this one.

This was probably, from a tourist perspective, one of the most interesting parts of the trip. I explain it all in the video, but basically, there are a bunch of Vietnamese people living on the edge of the big lake in the middle of Cambodia. It's like going to a whole other world.

The song in there is by a guy who has had probably the biggest effect on my songwriting and general approach to music and the arts, Andrew Smith. Lyrics written by his wife Tami. Suited this video perfectly.

Cambodia 3: Phnom Penh to Pursat

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:56:00 +0000

In this video we leave Phnom Penh and head for the country... Pursat to be exact. The Cambodia we saw was flat as a pancake, featuring big lakes. If it weren't for the rice paddies and water buffalo, I might have thought I was back in Winnipeg. Even the potholes were about the same!! :-) Their mosquitos have dengue fever, ours have West Nile virus. Anyway, take a look:

Chum Mey's difficult life

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:03:00 +0000

In the last video the old man you see us speaking with who spoke of the torture he endured was a survivor of Tuol Sleng named Chum Mey. He was a very friendly guy who was happy to answer our questions. As you might expect, his life story features the brutal Khmer Rouge period, during which time his wife and children were all murdered. He turns up again here in this documentary found on Google video. In it, he is overwhelmed by the memories of what occurred there and breaks down. It is a difficult and moving scene. (from around minute 12)

Tuol Sleng Prison

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:46:00 +0000

On the first day of out trip, we spent the morning at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. It's big in the news right now because the former guards of the prison are on trial before a human rights tribunal, and lots of really painful memories are being relived.

Here are some news stories about events at the tribunal:

Khmer Rouge victims tricked on way to execution

Up to 200 Children Killed in Khmer Rouge Death Camp

KRouge prison chief admits personally torturing inmate

Back from Cambodia!

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:39:00 +0000

So I am back and beginning the long task of putting the videos into some sort of watchable order. The trip had an effect on me that I fully expected - I want to move to Cambodia now. Of course, when I visited the Philippines in March, I wanted to move there as well. I really really like life in the more "chaotic" countries and at some point, must spend a good amount of focused time there. When that will be, we'll just have to wait and see.

So here is the first video, which gives a little bit of background on Cambodia, and shows you the bar we went to the first night we were there. You can't really understand Cambodia today without taking a good hard look at the events of 1975 to 1979. The Khmer Rouge set the country so far back that their echo is still being dealt with today. So many of the people we met were living in circumstances that were a direct result of what happened 30 years ago.

Anyway, first video.

I don't believe anything, but I have many suspicions

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:21:00 +0000

Very interesting quote from a philosopher I had not heard of before, Robert Anton Wilson:

I don't believe anything, but I have many suspicions.

I strongly suspect that a world "external to," or at least independent of, my senses exists in some sense.

I also suspect that this world shows signs of intelligent design, and I suspect that such intelligence acts via feedback from all parts to all parts and without centralized sovereignity, like Internet; and that it does not function hierarchically, in the style an Oriental despotism, an American corporation or Christian theology.

I somewhat suspect that Theism and Atheism both fail to account for such decentralized intelligence, rich in circular-causal feedback.

I more-than-half suspect that all "good" writing, or all prose and poetry that one wants to read more than once, proceeds from a kind of "alteration in consciousness," i.e. a kind of controlled schizophrenia. [Don't become alarmed -- I think good acting comes from the same place.]

I sometimes suspect that what Blake called Poetic Imagination expresses this exact thought in the language of his age, and that visits by "angels" and "gods" states it an even more archaic argot.

These suspicions have grown over 72 years, but as a rather slow and stupid fellow I do not have the chutzpah to proclaim any of them as certitudes. Give me another 72 years and maybe I'll arrive at firmer conclusions.

Update:

Another quote from his wikipedia page that I find compelling:

Is", "is." "is" — the idiocy of the word haunts me. If it were abolished, human thought might begin to make sense. I don't know what anything "is"; I only know how it seems to me at this moment.

He calls himself an "agnostic mystic". I do believe I feel like that myself sometimes.

Cambodia: Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:03:00 +0000

So I guess I didn't do very well keeping the blog updated, seeing as it is Day 5 of 8 and this is the first entry. I did actually try another entry but apparently the connection was too slow for uploading pictures, so this one is going to be text only. The internet cafe we are using is actually quite good considering what you might expect to find out in the boondocks on Cambodia. In fact, while there is no western-style grocery store or convenience stores, the internet cafe is not really that far off what you find where we are from.

My back is crazy sore. But there's a good reason for that. In the last three days we have built three well bonnets and one school playground. Don't get me wrong - the point of this trip is not to do the Cambodian's work for them. HOPE is very careful about not forming dependent relationships with the people they are trying to help out. Rather it is about taking a few people from Japan on a study tour to see what the challenges are in a place where people are trying to escape the downward swirl of poverty. And so, part of that study is working side-by-side with Cambodian people in their villages as they build the infrastructure they need.

I keep comparing everything I see with the experiences I had in Manila in March. There, the sort of poverty that was primarily in my face was urban poverty. Because of that, so much of what I see in Cambodia takes on a "same-but-different" sort of quality that I find hard to describe. In a way, the rural poverty can be deceiving, because at first glance it doesn't have the same brutal, repulsive feel that urban poverty tends to. In fact, the romantic side of me thinks to myself, "Hey, this is beautiful out here! I could live here!" Crime is not an issue like it is in the city. The houses are simple, but there is no crowding and squalor like what we saw in Manila's worst slums. But it is what isn't immediately obvious that makes being poor in a rural situation so difficult. You don't have any water. So you have to walk with your kids 4 or 5 kms to a dirty backwash that is left over from the rainy season. And then your kids get sick from drinking that water. And there's no hospital for miles and miles. So often it is game over for your kid.

I often think how almost nobody would let the next door neighbor starve to death. That's what trips like these are really good for - making Cambodians feel a little more like your next door neighbor. It's a little sad that while we rely on a globalized inter-connected world to make our standard of living what it is, we find it easy to ignore the inter-connectedness of our world when it comes to poverty. In the age we are living in, we are all neighbors. If I can use a product that was made in Viet Nam or Thailand or Cambodia, I should probably pay closer attention when someone mentions that people in the same places are dying because their standard of living is so low. Perhaps it is sad that it takes a trip like this to wake us up to these realities, but on the other hand, maybe not. Maybe if we are going to take global holidays, it doesn't hurt that they connect us with the people living in the countries we visit. Instead of just lying on their beaches.

Now I am feeling preachy. But pick it up again later...

Four hours in Bangkok makes a hungry man poorer

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Well, made it to the Bangkok airport where I notice that everything is more expensive than Japan! Can't say that I expected that. I just had to have the Burger King Whopper set, but it didn't taste as good after I had to pay 10 bucks for it.

Watched The Echelon Conspiracy on the plane. Not bad in a passes-the-time sort of way. Not everyday that you see a film where the Russians quietly save the world from American stupidity.

Packing

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:15:00 +0000

My wife feels it's pathetic that the main focus of my stress regarding what I might forget to pack revolves around objects like these. Perhaps she is right.

Update: More stress. Take the iPhone? Don't take the iPhone?

More uncertain certainties....

noreply@blogger.com (JJ) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:46:00 +0000

Quote from an article on the 11 dimensions proposed by string theorists:

Brane-world theory is a subset of string theory, which proposes that quarks, electrons and other elementary particles are not really tiny spheres, but actually tiny strings. They don't look like strings to us because we see only three dimensions, and strings exist in many more -- 10 or maybe 11. We're just seeing a three-dimensional cross section.

This is one of those articles that has to cause those feelings of awe or wonder, if it doesn't, you'd better check to see if you have a pulse. When science says things like this it reinforces to me the absurdity of being dogmatically persistent in a belief in Atheism. Relating to what I said a few posts back, to posit with certainty that there is "nothing out there" that relates to our notions of God or spirituality is just stubborn fundamentalism. I don't understand why a person would want to embrace it. No, wait, actually, knowing what I do of Christian fundamentalism, I think I do kind of understand it. The thing about all the fundamentalisms is that they basically just want to be certain. People find it hard to cope with the idea that the foundation they are standing on is shaky. So whether it's Christian, Muslim, or scientific fundamentalism, or even left-wing activism for that matter, people are quick to arbitrarily decide that what they think is right. No, it's not completely arbitrary. No matter which side it is, you always just start with some sort of evidence. But the fallacy is assuming that your evidence makes your conclusions airtight - 100 percent correct.

Besides, if you can't be absolutely certain, how can you ever expect to be self-righteous and condescending!! :-)

Ok, I repeat, there is one thing you can be certain about: uncertainty. But that doesn't leave much to be self-righteous about... And surely there is nothing noble about forming no conclusions at all; I suppose this is the genesis of faith.

Related side-note: Today I saw what instantly became my favorite facebook religion status comment: "Religion: Militant Agnostic - I don't know and you damn well don't either!!!"

And if you disagree I'll gladly hear from you. We need more talk about this stuff - not less.