There's been a lot of strange things going on in my life.
I never ceased to be amazed by the number of people who seem to take action that defy rational thought. There's a lot of crazy going around.
Of course, things are never quite as irrational as they seem. Mostly it seems that people are trapped by some kind of illusion about their reality. Theres often quite understandable psychology that's going on behind the scenes. However, the results of peoples illusions can be quite devastating on those around them.
Not that all illusion or crazy is bad. I certainly live within my illusions and craziness. But I think somewhere within any sense of craziness or illusion there has to be some concept of meaning, humanity, and spirituality.
I wonder if values are dying out? I wonder if in a world of massive opportunity and knowledge that people just become apathetic to it all?
Either way I have a new respect for those crazy people who have a sense of value and meaning in their life.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Friday, March 02, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Cyfswatch
I've been watching the whole Cyfswatch thing from a bit of a distance.
There's too little information to make sense of all the events going on, but, I think its an interesting idea in that the people who want the goverment thinking changed on this are using quite an effective tool. Well, a potentially effective tool, whether things change or not is yet to be seen.
I think more and more we will see the blog world have extremely imporant role in politics and goverments. Question is, how will it be exploited?
There's too little information to make sense of all the events going on, but, I think its an interesting idea in that the people who want the goverment thinking changed on this are using quite an effective tool. Well, a potentially effective tool, whether things change or not is yet to be seen.
I think more and more we will see the blog world have extremely imporant role in politics and goverments. Question is, how will it be exploited?
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Spirit?
During life, it seems to me that hurt tends to outweigh everything else.
Take a mentally healthy person and within moments you can cause that person a hurt that will adversely change the rest of their life. You can break them.
It's hard to imagine the opposite kind of event, perhaps some would argue finding god would be such an event, or perhaps finding enlightenment / nirvana. But even these things can be cut down by a moment of hurt also. Though, some remain immune.
It seems that the things that provide protection against hurt work by disassociating ourselves from our flesh and blood. We merge into a bigger picture or disappear into nothingness. We find a way to separate our experience of life from who we are, we find our Spirit. Yet, when the going is good, we try to be one with the "moment" we try to let ourselves go, and purely *experience*, we don't want to be disassociated with our experience.
It's interesting that our brain does a similar thing. It (psychologically speaking) also disassociates painful events. It has to or otherwise we'd be overwhelmed (some people are). Our brains automatically try and protect us from our bad experiences and memories. However, it will prod us sharply if it recognises an association with a past hurt. Hence why people have all sorts of fears for unknown reasons.
So, I wonder if spirituality is simply a self defence mechanism?
This reasoning is a bit awkward really. But I have just been reflecting on a number of people and have seen that hurt has been a significant life shaping thing. I have also been reflecting on my own life and what I seem to remember is these moments "clarity", moments where things fell together and made sense. I see these things as massively positive experiences. I feel these things have shaped me as who I am. Defined my spirt. But, when I really really think about it, I actually have very selective memory. My hurt has been hidden in my mind, I dont immediately recall it, or it just dosn't seem so bad. But actually, the hurt has been significant. It shaped what moments of "clarity" I have had. My moments of "clarity" are probablly just coping mechanisims for hurt.
Even if thats what they are, they make the experience of life generally enjoyable.
Take a mentally healthy person and within moments you can cause that person a hurt that will adversely change the rest of their life. You can break them.
It's hard to imagine the opposite kind of event, perhaps some would argue finding god would be such an event, or perhaps finding enlightenment / nirvana. But even these things can be cut down by a moment of hurt also. Though, some remain immune.
It seems that the things that provide protection against hurt work by disassociating ourselves from our flesh and blood. We merge into a bigger picture or disappear into nothingness. We find a way to separate our experience of life from who we are, we find our Spirit. Yet, when the going is good, we try to be one with the "moment" we try to let ourselves go, and purely *experience*, we don't want to be disassociated with our experience.
It's interesting that our brain does a similar thing. It (psychologically speaking) also disassociates painful events. It has to or otherwise we'd be overwhelmed (some people are). Our brains automatically try and protect us from our bad experiences and memories. However, it will prod us sharply if it recognises an association with a past hurt. Hence why people have all sorts of fears for unknown reasons.
So, I wonder if spirituality is simply a self defence mechanism?
This reasoning is a bit awkward really. But I have just been reflecting on a number of people and have seen that hurt has been a significant life shaping thing. I have also been reflecting on my own life and what I seem to remember is these moments "clarity", moments where things fell together and made sense. I see these things as massively positive experiences. I feel these things have shaped me as who I am. Defined my spirt. But, when I really really think about it, I actually have very selective memory. My hurt has been hidden in my mind, I dont immediately recall it, or it just dosn't seem so bad. But actually, the hurt has been significant. It shaped what moments of "clarity" I have had. My moments of "clarity" are probablly just coping mechanisims for hurt.
Even if thats what they are, they make the experience of life generally enjoyable.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Learning
I love learning things. However I do get carried away with it and end up trying to learn WAY too many things. It's always a trade off between breadth and depth. However, currently my list is
Psychology - have a bunch of books I'm wading through
Philosophy - I keep wading through a bunch of stuff
Drawing - I didn't mean to do this one, but it's fun
Mindmapping - Revisiting this, am using it for helping to learn psychology and philosophy
Speed Reading - Revisiting this also, I got a stack of books to get through and need to get my reading speed up.
Lua - Scripting Language
Software Design - solidifying my ideas and researching a wide variety of approaches
Oh, and something else that I started doing in the new year (though it doesn't have anything to do with learning) is based on this cool idea I came across. The idea is that on the 1st of Jan, you do a push up and a sit up, on the 2nd, you do 2 pushups and 2 situps, and onwards and upwards till your doing 365 pushups and situps at the end of the year. I thought this was a great idea! Except, I found this a bit too easy, so I modified it to be a little more ambitious, so now I'm increasing every day by 3, this way I will be doing over a 1000 pushups and situps by the end of the year, today it was 85, tomorrow, 88.
Psychology - have a bunch of books I'm wading through
Philosophy - I keep wading through a bunch of stuff
Drawing - I didn't mean to do this one, but it's fun
Mindmapping - Revisiting this, am using it for helping to learn psychology and philosophy
Speed Reading - Revisiting this also, I got a stack of books to get through and need to get my reading speed up.
Lua - Scripting Language
Software Design - solidifying my ideas and researching a wide variety of approaches
Oh, and something else that I started doing in the new year (though it doesn't have anything to do with learning) is based on this cool idea I came across. The idea is that on the 1st of Jan, you do a push up and a sit up, on the 2nd, you do 2 pushups and 2 situps, and onwards and upwards till your doing 365 pushups and situps at the end of the year. I thought this was a great idea! Except, I found this a bit too easy, so I modified it to be a little more ambitious, so now I'm increasing every day by 3, this way I will be doing over a 1000 pushups and situps by the end of the year, today it was 85, tomorrow, 88.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Tragic Death
A guy from work, Chris Sprigings, and his family was driving in the waikato on the 22nd of December when a vehicle collided with them head on causing them all severe injuries
On the 24th of December his daughter, Amy, aged 12 died.
On the 4th of Januray Chris was to be transfered from Waikato hospital to Tauranga when he suffered a heart attack and died.
He leaves behind a wife and son.
I spent a bunch of time with Chris in California and Tauranga on work related business. He was a cool guy, good to talk to, he had cool stories, and jokes, was extremely blunt about things.
Crazy sad stuff
On the 24th of December his daughter, Amy, aged 12 died.
On the 4th of Januray Chris was to be transfered from Waikato hospital to Tauranga when he suffered a heart attack and died.
He leaves behind a wife and son.
I spent a bunch of time with Chris in California and Tauranga on work related business. He was a cool guy, good to talk to, he had cool stories, and jokes, was extremely blunt about things.
Crazy sad stuff
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Kiwi Christmas Snow
pohutukawa snow. Its all over our driveway and cars! (the pohutukawa is called New Zealands Christmas tree because its red blossum comes out right around christmas)
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Chew the Fat
Rediscovered Chris's blog today :)
I was really enjoying his experiments with religions.
except I think in my slacking I stopped reading, but he has a summary of buddishim thats interesting. Now that he is in a new country it will be interesting what insights he has.
I was really enjoying his experiments with religions.
except I think in my slacking I stopped reading, but he has a summary of buddishim thats interesting. Now that he is in a new country it will be interesting what insights he has.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Blinded by snow
well, I was sucked in by the eskimos and their words for snow, but the truth seems a lot more interesting http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/000405.html
Thanks for the link from http://fritchie.blogspot.com/2006/12/where-my-head-is-at-and-great-read.html#comments by http://jambecorp.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the link from http://fritchie.blogspot.com/2006/12/where-my-head-is-at-and-great-read.html#comments by http://jambecorp.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Solving the middle east problems made easy
Franks reflecting on the Israel / Palenstine situation.
The whole middle east situation is a very complex interplay of many different things.
There are many individuals with their own beliefs and idividual psychology
There are many social groups and sub groups with their own beliefs and social psychology
There is many political, power, and money influences from within the middle east and external to the middle east that want to have their say
Its a life and death situation
This all adds up to a massively complicated mess and untangling it seems really complicated
However, theres an idea about complexity that says that simple rules that feedback on themselves can create very complex behaviour. Some would argue that the universe is an example of said complex systems. Anyways, it seems to me that their might be a simple idea that will feedback on itself to create the needed complex untangling of the mess that is the middle east.
Problem is, I don't know what that simple idea is. But! I would guess the nature of the idea will be something that utilises human kindness and promotes empathy.
The whole middle east situation is a very complex interplay of many different things.
There are many individuals with their own beliefs and idividual psychology
There are many social groups and sub groups with their own beliefs and social psychology
There is many political, power, and money influences from within the middle east and external to the middle east that want to have their say
Its a life and death situation
This all adds up to a massively complicated mess and untangling it seems really complicated
However, theres an idea about complexity that says that simple rules that feedback on themselves can create very complex behaviour. Some would argue that the universe is an example of said complex systems. Anyways, it seems to me that their might be a simple idea that will feedback on itself to create the needed complex untangling of the mess that is the middle east.
Problem is, I don't know what that simple idea is. But! I would guess the nature of the idea will be something that utilises human kindness and promotes empathy.
God's Gonna Cut You Down
Another Johnny Cash. Fear tactics? or being blunt about the ultimate consequence of ones actions?
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Judging
I've been pondering on a couple of passages in the bible lately...
firstly....
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
This passage is interesting. It's a passage I've heard many christians use it to tell off other christains, which can get somewhat ironic. It's interesting that the main takeaway point is "do not judge". I'm not implying all christians interpret it this way, but it is one interpretation.
Another way to look at it is if you wish to influence others about morality then you should make sure you live your own life according to your moral beliefs. In fact living life according to your own beliefs helps you fully understand what your beliefs are, what are the high points, what are the low points, and then you actually might have a useful insight that you can share with others. ie, "walk the talk" then "talk the walk" rather than just "talk the talk". This follows nicely into the next few verses
Another way to look at it is that for people of different faiths God may judge them by their own moral beliefs. That those who do good in this world outside a belief in the christian god will be judged by their actions. Underlying this must be some idea of an objective morality.
Then we have the passage "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
This is probablly the passage that christains want to tell other christians off with. Often times people judge things by their mere appearances and end up making big fools of themselves regardless of what you believe. I think its definitely worth telling someone when they are making a fool of themselves. I see this as a call to reason. Especially as this was said by Jesus to people who were trying to use "religious rules" to chastise him. It points to a deeper nature of God than religious doctrine. God is a lot more dynamic than what is written about him.
Maybe its my perception, but I feel christians often miss this and often define God in ways he shouldn't be defined or in ways that misrepresent God. They judge and hold a measure that is perhaps beyond what they have lived and experienced.
I'm not saying all christians are like this, I'm just reflecting on the christians who have influenced and inspired me versus those that have been real dumbasses.
firstly....
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
This passage is interesting. It's a passage I've heard many christians use it to tell off other christains, which can get somewhat ironic. It's interesting that the main takeaway point is "do not judge". I'm not implying all christians interpret it this way, but it is one interpretation.
Another way to look at it is if you wish to influence others about morality then you should make sure you live your own life according to your moral beliefs. In fact living life according to your own beliefs helps you fully understand what your beliefs are, what are the high points, what are the low points, and then you actually might have a useful insight that you can share with others. ie, "walk the talk" then "talk the walk" rather than just "talk the talk". This follows nicely into the next few verses
Another way to look at it is that for people of different faiths God may judge them by their own moral beliefs. That those who do good in this world outside a belief in the christian god will be judged by their actions. Underlying this must be some idea of an objective morality.
Then we have the passage "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
This is probablly the passage that christains want to tell other christians off with. Often times people judge things by their mere appearances and end up making big fools of themselves regardless of what you believe. I think its definitely worth telling someone when they are making a fool of themselves. I see this as a call to reason. Especially as this was said by Jesus to people who were trying to use "religious rules" to chastise him. It points to a deeper nature of God than religious doctrine. God is a lot more dynamic than what is written about him.
Maybe its my perception, but I feel christians often miss this and often define God in ways he shouldn't be defined or in ways that misrepresent God. They judge and hold a measure that is perhaps beyond what they have lived and experienced.
I'm not saying all christians are like this, I'm just reflecting on the christians who have influenced and inspired me versus those that have been real dumbasses.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Upgraded
Well, I upgraded to the beta of blogger and then last night upgraded my sites template. Now you can use the very cool drag and drop layout tool! Everything seems to much improved in the new blogger (not that my blog looks much different as I quite like the simple look, in fact some would say it suits me :)
One day I might get my hands dirty and customise the look and feel a whole bunch more.
One day I might get my hands dirty and customise the look and feel a whole bunch more.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The nutty world of religion
Well, I've just had one of those odd evenings of internet browsing!
I was first browsing franks site which is a place where I like to comment on various things. Then I went over to emergent kiwi where theres a really interesting post on "hard questions". It's going to be really interesting to see how that works out, there's some really curly ones in there that I have been ponderng. From there I went to Tim abbotts site which then had an interesting link to Magic Statistics which then had an interesting reference to "Muslim Village" where I was reading through this topic which had a pointer to a contraditiction in the bible which was between II CHRONICLES 36 and II KINGS 24 about the age of Jehoiachin. Which when I first went to biblegateway it said his age was eighteen in both passages (in the NIV), so I switched it into King James and it stated his age as eight in one passage and eighteen in the other. (and google searches shows theres a bunch of debate about this...). anyways, after reading more of the muslim village topic I was interested in seeing what contradictions there were in the koran, which a google search showed a bunch of, but I came across "Putting the bible in perspective" and another page "Paul vs Jesus" which contained a bunch of some of my thinkings and a lot of other interesting thoughts and observations.
It's left me a bunch of things to ponder! However, if you do wade through all that stuff, go have a look at one of my fav youtube clips "Urban Ninja" which looks like its a lot easier than making sense of religion :-)
I was first browsing franks site which is a place where I like to comment on various things. Then I went over to emergent kiwi where theres a really interesting post on "hard questions". It's going to be really interesting to see how that works out, there's some really curly ones in there that I have been ponderng. From there I went to Tim abbotts site which then had an interesting link to Magic Statistics which then had an interesting reference to "Muslim Village" where I was reading through this topic which had a pointer to a contraditiction in the bible which was between II CHRONICLES 36 and II KINGS 24 about the age of Jehoiachin. Which when I first went to biblegateway it said his age was eighteen in both passages (in the NIV), so I switched it into King James and it stated his age as eight in one passage and eighteen in the other. (and google searches shows theres a bunch of debate about this...). anyways, after reading more of the muslim village topic I was interested in seeing what contradictions there were in the koran, which a google search showed a bunch of, but I came across "Putting the bible in perspective" and another page "Paul vs Jesus" which contained a bunch of some of my thinkings and a lot of other interesting thoughts and observations.
It's left me a bunch of things to ponder! However, if you do wade through all that stuff, go have a look at one of my fav youtube clips "Urban Ninja" which looks like its a lot easier than making sense of religion :-)
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Introspection
Introspection is one of those powerful tools that we use to reflect upon ourselves and to understand the meaning and reason for our beliefs and actions.
Yet, introspection has huge flaws. We have a tendency for misattribution. We come up with reasons for our beliefs that are wrong. In fact the act of introspection can lead us astray and make us act in a way that dosnt match what we believe. There was an experiment where people were asked to rate a bunch of fine art and pop art posters. Some people were also asked to to write down why they liked each poster. Then each person got the chance to choose a poster to take home either a pop art or fine art poster. What the researchers found was that mostly everyone liked fine art. Those that had been asked to write down why they liked posters, however, rate both pop art and fine art about equal. They then rang each person and found those who hadn't been asked to write down the "why" were generally quite happy with their poster choices. While those that had reasoned about why they like posters were less satisfied with their poster choice.
This link to psych stuff is an interesting overview of the psychology behind introspection. There's also a paper here and a billion other pages by googling around. Especially worth looking at any of the "Nisbett & Wilson" works and the psychological experiments they ran. This then lead to various other research and slighlty varying ideas of introspection.
But the main point is, don't believe yourself because often your introspection will reflect hidden assumptions from the social group your in. It is important to reflect on yourself through many ways. Expose yourself to as many ideas / cultures / social groups as possible.
Yet, introspection has huge flaws. We have a tendency for misattribution. We come up with reasons for our beliefs that are wrong. In fact the act of introspection can lead us astray and make us act in a way that dosnt match what we believe. There was an experiment where people were asked to rate a bunch of fine art and pop art posters. Some people were also asked to to write down why they liked each poster. Then each person got the chance to choose a poster to take home either a pop art or fine art poster. What the researchers found was that mostly everyone liked fine art. Those that had been asked to write down why they liked posters, however, rate both pop art and fine art about equal. They then rang each person and found those who hadn't been asked to write down the "why" were generally quite happy with their poster choices. While those that had reasoned about why they like posters were less satisfied with their poster choice.
This link to psych stuff is an interesting overview of the psychology behind introspection. There's also a paper here and a billion other pages by googling around. Especially worth looking at any of the "Nisbett & Wilson" works and the psychological experiments they ran. This then lead to various other research and slighlty varying ideas of introspection.
But the main point is, don't believe yourself because often your introspection will reflect hidden assumptions from the social group your in. It is important to reflect on yourself through many ways. Expose yourself to as many ideas / cultures / social groups as possible.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Slacker
Well its been ages since I've posted anything here.
I've even had lots and lots of things to blog about!
My biggest problem these days is I simply don't have enough time to do all the things I want. I've been learning lots and lots, reading lots and lots, and thinking lots and lots!
and of course, the more I learn the dumber I feel!
I've even had lots and lots of things to blog about!
My biggest problem these days is I simply don't have enough time to do all the things I want. I've been learning lots and lots, reading lots and lots, and thinking lots and lots!
and of course, the more I learn the dumber I feel!
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