Meditations on Life's Meaning

Spontaneous Creation or The Big Splat

2010-09-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by MikeLicht, NotionsCapital

Spontaneous Creation or The Big Splat: According to the great Dr. Stephen Hawking, the creation of the universe occurred absent the presence of a god or goddess*. Therefore, (not sure if we are quoting him or the BBC News) the creation of the universe was spontaneous. We also (here at the AZD) now refer to it as "The Big Splat" (relative to the Big Bang) - kind of like a paintball or an egg being splattered against the fabric of space time. And, there you have it! But the godless creation of the universe seems somehow meaningless and purposeless. One can only imagine a cartoonish god (like the Seth McFarlane god of 'Family Guy' or the Terry Gilliam god of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail') splattering a great egg against the wall. And where did the wall come from?

However, the argument could be made that absence of a Creator at the beginning does not rule out the existence of the same...

Incidentally, we can't wait for the great Stephen Colbert's take on this in his hilarious "Stephen Hawking is Such an *ssh#l@" segment.

FOM: *Stephen Hawking: God Did Not Create the Universe (from BBC News), REUTERS News Agency on the subject, Anti-Time and SearchEdu.com on Spontaneous Creation

Please note: This posting appears simultaneously in our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary.

Anti-Time

2010-08-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by pt

Updated: Thursday, September 2, 2010* (See Below)

Anti-Time: Is the unfortunate proposal that time will eventually come to a stop - and could even be due to consequences from human activity, engineering and science. We got this idea from at least two sources: Ray Kurzweil and Star Trek: TNG Last Episodes(!). (Yes, yes we were big fans of the TV series and occasionally view a repeat every now and then.)

Our main reference is to the book by Ray Kurzweil - The Singularity is Near. One of the propositions seems to be that computer speeds will continue to increase at an accelerated pace.

One wonders if the pace will continue to the point where computations will literally exceed "light speed". What if they continue to accelerate to the point where computations will become instantaneous? At which point, time will become unnecessary (who ever thought that time was necessary?). At which point, time's reality becomes obvious and even stops. This might be the true singularity.

At which, point time itself could implode upon itself and reverse. Thus creating the phenomenon of "anti-time"? Everything affected by time (the universe) would then reverse in time. Except, of course, for certain sub-atomic particles! The universe would literally implode upon itself in this gigantic reversal. A sort of a "Reverse Big Bang" would then be created. Could the universe start all over again?

FOM: The Singularity is Near (on Google Books), The Singularity is Near (BookTV link - no video!), Wikipedia Link on Arrow of Time, Wikipedia Link on Ray Kurzweil, Glenn Beck's Interview of Kurzweil (!),US Military to Attack Moore's Law for Future Computers (from BBC News), *Stephen Hawking: God Did Not Create The Universe (from BBC News) and Time's Arrow from Google Books

Save The Tiger

2010-02-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by Tambako the Jaguar

Save The Tiger: The Big Apology is due shortly after we write this. And the similarities between Tiger's apology and the themes of this classic '70's movie are both striking and frightening. The first example being the tagline for the film - "(Harry Stoner) will do anything to get one more season". Seems like our man might be in the same position. He's putting himself out there on that stage and - we believe - he's going to get back into that game. Many have said and will continue to say "Golf can't go on without Him". That's not quite right, its that the game just wouldn't be the same without him. Just ask his throngs of adoring fans.

The game was great before Tiger's era and will continue to be great after Tiger is gone and is playing 18 holes in the next world. Ben Hogan and Sam Snead will be right there with him, on the heavenly greens. Just think about it, chances are you're a golfer. Right? Suppose Tiger shows up on your green and asks if he can join your threesome or asks if he can play through. What are you going to say? Uh-huh, we thought so. Given half-a-chance, most people would almost certainly play with Tiger. Of course, there's no way they could match the caliber of his game, his handicap nor the arc of his swing. No way. But would they miss the opportunity? Uh-uh, no way buddy. You can bet the farm on that.

Its this spirit of the game that will keep Tiger from feeling the same isolation of Harry Stoner. He may feel a lot alone on that big stage, making the biggest swing of his life and career. A Lot Alone. Wagner and Shakespeare couldn't have invoked more drama and expectation. In that regard, its kind of a thrilling moment. One of the greatest athletes of all time has been humbled. And he's being humbled again. But he'll get up and go back to what he was doing in the first place. That takes a great deal of character. More than most bloggers got, chum.

Morality and ethics? What about those you ask? Yeah, since when do those have to do with what goes on in a player's...er, sorry...Freudian slip...athlete's life outside of the arena? You've probably slipped up somewhere along the way, at least just a little. Oh it was for a good cause, right? It was forgiveable. Half of the time, these things are forgiveable. Half of the time, probably not. Look at some other great figures in history - in general - that took a fall... Recall the proverbs, "Even Homer nods" and "Let he who is without sin...". And what about the damage to his personal life? Not really any of our business, even though the media and celebrity make it our business. Which is why even write and talk about Tiger and others, anyway. You see, if there were nothing to talk about, then there would be nothing to talk about. Right? Yeah, lets leave that argument where it is, because it is an argument that has no ending.

And that half-joking crack and others about being a player? Or a sport? That's going to go on and on... He might just have to grin and bear it. You see those things can be a help. Help him keep his eye on the ball. Groan... Keep him from tripping over his club...er, shaft...er, bag...Oh never mind! The point is, there are a lot of jokes and superstitions and lore about golf that go on and on with or without Tiger. It doesn't make things a farce. One bad thing, however. The name. Before there even was a Tiger Woods, there has always been this stupid superstition about the tiger being a symbol of disappointment and disaster. Well, it may ring true. But those things can be overcome...look at Katrina, Banda Aceh...and well, others...

But what about his brand, his business, his craft...his, his money? What about it? Do you have a brand? Do have a worldwide enterprise with charitable works based solely on your talents, your celebrity and - well - how the people have responded to you? Nope. Nothing like it? There has never been a brand like Tiger. Never will be. Until the next Great One shows up. And chances are, he or she is gonna have a fall too...

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/9K28MO

FOM: Repentant Woods sorry for affairs ,Tiger Apology, Tiger Woods Apology Didn't Please Everyone, Did Tiger's Body Language Betray Him? and Tiger's Mother Defends Her Son

Revised/Updated: Friday, February 19, 2010; Sunday, February 21, 2010

NEVER Do This Drunk!

2010-02-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

Throw up on the grocery store floor...

Shave your cat...

Do #1 in the litter box...

Put beer in the pet food bowl...

Put your hand in the tree chipper...

Put your genitalia in the tree chipper...

Put someone else's genitalia in the tree chipper...

Challenge the cops to a drag race...

Punch out the officers...

Pee in the breathalyzer...

Pee on the cop with the breathalyzer...

Pee on the Thanksgiving turkey... (real life example)...

Pee on the TV...

Pee on the subway tracks...***WHAMMO!!!***

Play emperor and the slave girl and pass out...

Play emperor and the slave boy and pass out...

Dress up like Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman...

Pee yourself while reading TopTen List on Letterman...

Put dumb lists like this on Twitter...

Compete in Olympic events... EXCEPT curling...

Play with your shotgun...

Play with your cannon... (real life example)...

Try to steal a fire hydrant...

Make love to a horse... (real life example)...

Drive a #Toyota... (cross-reference)...

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/coSxaZ

The "Real" Meaning of Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by riptheskull

The "Real" Meaning of Valentine's Day:

Her: He's taking me to JARED!!!

Him: She's taking me to CABELA's!!!

Later in life -

Her: Roses and chocolate??? Where's the diamond you *ssh*le !?!?

Him: Honey, can we have a thr**some?

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/dr9tmA

The Perfect Religion

2010-02-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by Zömßiè Inc. Wholesale zombies for over 20 years

If there were a perfect Religion...God (or the Goddess!) would have created it by now!

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/c78cLq

Winter's Reign - A Prose Poem

2010-01-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

cascades Image licensed under Creative Commons by baxterclaus

Winter's Reign, A Winter Rain
In January
Walking outside
In the winter rain.
Its raining here
In January
Where its usually
24 - 15
24/7.
Trees still spring
From the earth
Waiting for spring
To releaf.
Cold and brown now
Not the conifers
In the winter rain
A miracle witnessed.
Trees still spring
From the earth
Even in the winter rain.
Where just a week ago
Tiny brown birds,
Gamboled and gyred and frolicked
On the wing
Like children at play
In the cold winter sun.
Springing from my
Favorite Queen Tree
From her lips I hear
"Out of winter, springeth green".
Numbed by her word,
Not the cold
I walked along
Dazed and alone
In my hand-me-sideways
Nautica green jacket
And my yellow rain poncho
I stepped and slipped
On icy floes
Thinking its a miracle
And water flows
And freezes
Under my feet.
From out of winter,
Cometh spring.

(Bit.ly link: http://bit.ly/5oHgBd)

Hand-Me-Sideways

2010-01-24T10:32:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by a shadow of my future self

Hand-Me-Sideways: Like hand-me-downs, but only in a lateral transition. We recently heard of someone cleaning out their closets, similar to our age, so now we have some hand-me-sideways clothing. Don't put that in the trash - somebody needs it...

The House Always Wins

2010-01-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by Roadsidepictures

You may be winning at the table now, but remember - the house always wins in the long run.

Universal Vision

2010-01-06T10:17:00.001-08:00

M101 image licensed under Creative Commons by Jared Smith

If you are a theist, when viewing the universe - you see a construct. If you are an atheist (or an agnostic) - a mystery.

Not the other way around...

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/4ZedvF

Not-So-Subtle Signs You Might Be A TwitAddict

2009-11-30T10:24:00.000-08:00

If you have ever tweeted while parallel parking, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted during a pelvic exam, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted during a colonoscopy, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted in a bidet, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted while nursing a baby, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted while changing a personal diaper, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted while inserting/removing a rectal thermometer, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted while a cop wrote you a traffic ticket, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted while your wife gave birth, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted while hanggliding or flying a plane, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted while unblocking a toilet, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted during a funeral procession, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted while putting on a condom, you might be a TwitAddict

If you have ever tweeted during oral sex, you might be a TwitAddict

As always, apologies to Jeff Foxworthy...

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/4EItD7

The Top Twelve Signs You Might Be A Twitaddict

2009-11-29T10:42:00.000-08:00

Twitaddiction or Twitaddict: The unfortunate portmanteau of Twitter or tweet and addiction. (1) You might be a twitaddict if you find yourself tweeting every day of the week.
(2) You might be a twitaddict if you find yourself tweeting every trending topic that you twead.
(3) You might be a twitaddict if you find yourself defining new words based on trending topics in Twitter (Like these guys...sigh).
(4) You might be a twitaddict if you find yourself debating whether twitaddict has 2 t's or 3.
(5) You might be a twitaddict if you find yourself tweeting while incarcerated.
(6) You might be a twitaddict if you find yourself giving up booze, beer and wine for Twitter.
(7) You might be a twitaddict if you find yourself tweeting and driving.
(8) You might be a twitaddict if you plan your day's activities around Twitter.
(9) You might be a twitaddict if the kids are late for school because you were on Twitter.
(10) You might be a twitaddict if you tweeted all day and got no work done at the job!
(11) You might be a twitaddict if you tweet in the restroom.
(12) You might be a twitaddict if you 'manage your brand' on Twitter, even though you don't have one...
Apologies to Jeff Foxworthy...

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/5Bz1qf

FOM: Results for #twitaddict on Twitter.

Please note: This posting appears simultaneously on our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary.

The Best Worst Job in the World

2009-11-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

The Best Worst Job in the World: http://bit.ly/4EGqmt Our senior editor has not had a "regular job" in several months - due to several issues. And disqualified for UI benefits, his single source of income is the $ 7.71 he's gathered in revenue on AdSense. (Of course, Google doesn't pay until you hit the $100 milepost, and then there's fees and all that. That's why he calls this the best worst job in the world. We just tell him he's mildly retarded...

Please note: This posting appears simultaneously in our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary.

Still...

2009-11-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by johnathonjonl

...above ground.

Beauty

2009-11-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by helgasms!

...comes in any size...

FOM: Plus-Size Models Take Charge and The Body Scoop for Girls (CBSNEWS)

Updated/Revised: Thursday, January 14, 2010

Zwitter

2009-11-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by cjc4454

Zwitter: http://bit.ly/LhQV1 The portmanteau of zen and Twitter. The discussion of zen on Twitter. Can you describe all reality and time in a single tweet?

"Related": Zwitterion

FOM: Collective Subconscious.2 , Zen to Go (Google Books) and Tweality.

Sacrificialism

2009-11-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

Sacrificialism: The sad but important portmanteau of sacrifice and journalism. Apparently researched in depth and at great risk by the great expository journalist Terry Gould. Mr. Gould made a recent appearance on Book TV discussing his great work Marked for Death (American Title) before the CPJ. Mr. Gould discussed the international problem of local journalists facing death threats and dying for their reporting on corrupt regimes in such places as; the Phillipines, Colombia, Irag, Russia... Mr. Gould's dialogue boiled down to the essential fact that local journalists were/are sacrificing their own lives in order to inspire others to pick up their fight against corruption through reporting.

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/3S33Oo

FOM: Marked for Death: Dying for the Story in the World's Most Dangerous Places , Markedfordeath.net, Marked for Death and Terry Gould.

Please note: This posting appears simultaneously on our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary.

Tweality

2009-11-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by turtlemom4bacon

Tweality: http://bit.ly/2L2DI7 The fortunate (?) portmanteau of tweet and reality. The 'expansion' of one's reality via one's experience with a larger mass of consciousness on Twitter or other form of collective medium. In other words, its not about all those talking heads on the tube or talk radio!

FOM: Collective Subconscious.2.

Please Note: This posting appears simultaneously on our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary.

Philosophical Crime

2009-10-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Philosophical Crime
Philosophical Crime: Not a true crime, as in breaking rules/laws outlined and proscribed by a governing body, but a crime in a sense that it breaks with a philosophy, a belief, a viewpoint, creed, some practice, failure to assist or help (negligent or non-malicious depravity...) or other abstraction.

Today (yesterday, in particular, Wednesday, October 28, 2009) we became aware of Andre Agassi's stunning and saddening admission of meth use - apparently in his new autobiography. (See our entry: Chemicallball [Era]). To us, the philosophical crime here was that the athlete was once portrayed as a rebel. We were once taught - instructed - that true rebels shun drugs and drug use. Thus, the basis of the charge of a philosophical crime in this instance - the failure of a rebel to shun drugs and their use.

The penalties for said crime or crimes? Disappointment, effects on reputation and conscience, history, the now dreaded asterisk...and possibly more. Don't get us wrong, we like Andre and wish him no harm.

Another Philosophical Crime might be the sin of omission or neglect. Where an individual, group, entity, population or other body fails to recognize or assist in urgent matters that demand attention. For example, we found it interesting to hear of the asteroid impact event in Sulawesi the other day...even though the event took place 3 weeks ago. Where are we - as a race, a people, a species - on this? How few of us recognize and treat an impact event with the deadly seriousness of this. Why are we asleep at the wheel? (Actually, we've written a position paper on asteroid tagging, see our Homeland Currency Security website. We also regularly post updated links to this danger).

World hunger - or hunger, famine, malnutrition in general - are also Philosophical Crimes in that they might be adequately addressed. Over a billion people go to bed hungry each night. Thousands starve to death everyday. Why aren't we doing more about this problem? (Actually, we've started a new concept, called The Food Corridors as a potential solution to this deadly problem. And World Focus and the CBC News does a pretty good job of covering this problem).

Suicide Bombing and Suicide Terrorism we also judge to be Philosophical Crimes. It is wrong (particularly in the name of a religion...) to kill others and oneself in acts of terrorism. It is particularly deplorable - and despicable - for any religious body or governing body to develop schemes of manned suicide attacks. For example, we recently did some historical research (of local interest to our senior editor) into the phenomena of the Japanese Kaiten and the destruction of the U.S.S. Mississinewa...

Sometimes suicide is wrong...particularly in the above cases. In some cases, where it is meant to save lives, it can however be the right option or action. We know this position to be provocative, but look at the case of Jesus Christ.

Warmongering is also a particularly deplorable - and despicable - Philosophical Crime. One or two famous examples are here. Think of the teacher in the scene (All Quiet on the Western Front) who encourages his students to join the war and give up their studies. Specifically, the educator convinces his students to give up education for war and death... We can also think of a recent more modern example given us by a recent US Administration...

Oh, and more on the failure to assist or help: The apparent footdragging see in the current debate on Health Care Reform in the US...such delay may be justifiable in order to write a good law, though.More on this topic later...

Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/4zSvG8

From the staff: We thought it odd that our senior editor would want to discuss this topic on today, his birthday, but we gave up the ghost.

Please note: This posting appears simultaneously on our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary.

The Food Corridors

2009-10-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by wetwebwork

The Food Corridors: 'Novel' concept for a new type of non-profit / charity to bring much needed food aid and implements (dowsing rods, well points, shovels, picks, buckets, rope and so on...) to those in the world facing the common enemies of malnutrition, starvation and famine. The charity organization is just now in the concept stages, but we will accept donations and pledges. Please hold on to your donations if you need a tax relief receipt immediately. The idea is to build 'food corridors' for humans much like animal habitat corridors. The concept appears to work for wildlife, why not humanity???

You may also contact us through our current Twitter webpage: http://twitter.com/georgek1029, new web pages are being planned for this new non-profit.

FOM: Food Corridor, World Focus Tags: 'Saving the Children' , Draining a Nation , The coming famine in Kenya (2009), Guatemala’s children languish from malnutrition , Mau Forest , World food aid at 20-year low, 1 billion hungry, Grow More Food in 50 Years Than All of History?, Asia Faces Food Shortage By 2050 Without Water Reform, World Food Programme (UN), Kenya faces starvation due to drought: UN (CBC News Report Link), Kenyan Herders Devastated As Long Rains Fail (Gabrielle Menezes, WFP), Bread for the World, World Hunger Year Website, Food Security, G8 pledges to boost food , supplies, Climate Change May Spur Chronic Hunger, Oxrfam Says and Oxfam .

Note: This posting appeared previously on our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary and in Tumblr.

The Food Corridors

2009-10-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by wetwebwork

You may also contact us through our current Twitter webpage: http://twitter.com/georgek1029, new web pages are being planned for this new non-profit.

Please note; this posting appears simultaneously on our sister publication, The Anti-Zen Dictionary and on Tumblr.

FOM: Draining a Nation , Guatemala’s children languish from malnutrition , World Focus Tags: ‘Saving the Children’ and Mau Forest. World food aid at 20-year low, 1 billion hungry, Grow More Food in 50 Years Than All of History?, Asia Faces Food Shortage By 2050 Without Water Reform, World Food Programme (UN), Kenya faces starvation due to drought: UN (CBC News Report Link), Kenyan Herders Devastated As Long Rains Fail (Gabrielle Menezes, WFP), Bread for the World, World Hunger Year Website, Food Security, G8 pledges to boost food , supplies, Climate Change May Spur Chronic Hunger, Oxrfam Says and Oxfam .

Instant Peace Prize or 10-Day Peace Price

2009-10-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Instant Peace Prize / 10-Day Prize: The slightly unfortunate portmanteau of Instant coffee and Nobel Peace Prize. With reference to President Obama's unprecedented winning of the prize even though only in-office (officially...) for ten days prior to the deadline for nomination. As we have publicly stated, would Mr. Obama be seen as 'courageous' (and generous) if he offered to share the prize with other champions of peace? Do these events in the timeline diminish the prestige of the prize?

FOM: Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, The Audacity of the Nobel Committee, Nobel Peace Prize Shocks Bloggers: "This is Insane" , CBSNews Nobel Committee says President Obama given Nobel Peace Prize to reward and "enhance" his diplomatic efforts: http://bit.ly/1mjuYa and georgek1029 @markknoller "It's an unprecedented honor for a new U.S. president less than 9 months in the job".

Collective Subconscious.2

2009-10-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

Mysterious Cloud image licensed under Creative Commons by bionicteaching

Collective Subconscious.2: Last night we were dreaming of Twitter (again!). Does the dream state indicate that Twitter has become a new part of our collective subconscious? Or, has Twitter inadvertently tapped into some sort of collective subconscious? Can Twitter become some sort of gateway to the 'Oversoul'? In this way, does Twitter connect to a higher spiritual plane? In this way, can Twitter point us to our 'spiritual home'?Bit.ly: http://bit.ly/1DUr31FOM: Collective subconscious, Spiritual Plane , Dharma Wheel and The Over-Soul (Essays by Emerson)

Please note: This posting appears simultaneously on our sister publication The Anti-Zen Dictionary and our twitter page @georgek1029).

This Is Not a Posting - Impossible Tweets

2009-10-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Image licensed under Creative Commons by Clifford Stoll and Wikipedia
On bit.ly: http://bit.ly/25vUEM

'Impossible Tweets' Posted on Twitter today:

This is not a tweet.

This tweet is false.

This tweet is not here.

This tweet does not exist.

.sdrawkcab ton si teewt sihT

This tweet was deleted.

This tweet is not emotionally satisfying.

This tweet will not appear until tomorrow.

This tweet will not appear today.

Posting Monday, November 2, 2009.

This tweet is a fragment.

This tweet is not a fragment.

This is a retweet.

This tweet is untrue.

This tweet is wrong.

Posting Updated Tuesday, November 10, 2009

This tweet is fake.

This tweet is not real.

This tweet is meaningless.

This tweet is factual.

This tweet is not in English.

This tweet is in French.

This is impossible.

This tweet is too long.

This tweet is illogical. (Attributed to Mr. Spock).

This tweet is not in the timeline.

This tweet is not factual.

This is a previous tweet.

Updated Sunday, November 15, 2009:

100 years from now...this tweet won't be here...

Updated Tuesday, November 16, 2009:

This tweet is random. (Apologies to Brent Spiner).

Updated Thursday, December 10, 2009:

Define normal.

Where is the universe?

The Paradox of Twitter - Does your tweet have a noumenon?

Phwitter or Sophister? http://bit.ly/5hWjyu The portmanteaus of philosophy and Twitter. Which is the more appropriate? The former, being the joining of love (philo) and twitter - or the latter, being the joining of knowledge (sophia) and twitter.

Updated Sunday, December 13, 2009:

This tweet is real.

This tweet is not real.

Phenomena are not real - only noumena are real.

This tweet is a noumenon.

This tweet is a phenomenon.

This tweet is zen.

This tweet is not zen.

This tweet is not.

This tastes like zen.

It tastes like zen, it walks like zen, it looks like zen, but it is not zen.

FOM: Rene Magritte, Klein Bottle , Douglas R. Hofstadter,