Owner: Reflections, Ideas, and Dreams URL:http://blog.gravityatwork.com Join Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:48:53 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Reflections in science and its interplay with society: climate, the environment, astrobiology, natural history, evolution, spirituality, mathematics, and philosophical musings. Site statistics:Click here
Work Environment 2007-05-15 23:49:04 My stereo system is one of the best purchases I have made. I think it is fair to claim that most of the work I have done while playing music in my apartment (or bedroom back in MN) has been positively influenced, yet it would be difficult-to-impossible to quantify this contribution. The music is more than just a silence-filler: it aids in the creation of a positive work environment. For some people, this can include hanging posters, drinking coffee/tea, or having a comfortable place to sit. I would have a hard time writing off a stereo system as a business expense, but it has been just as valuable for maintaining productivity as any other tool. Read more:Environment
When I grow up... 2007-05-15 05:05:51 My first attempt at spoken word, inspired by an older entry.When I grow up, I want to pick berriesWhere the food that I need every day is outsideJust a stroll through the woods every morning and eveningTo fill up my belly with what I can findI won’t need to go to the grocery storeWhere everything comes so neat in a canCanned tomatoes and peaches and cherries and salmonAnd little white cheeses in red waxy casesInstead I’ll just climb up a treeGrab an apple or twoMaybe find some sweet honeyOr else dig around in the dirtTasty shrooms all aroundAnd maybe some trufflesOr the fish in the lakeOr the deer in the woodsOr the squirrel in the treeCause some people like squirrel!But they won’t let me, they tell me I can’tHave to get me a job, have to get me a carThere’s no place left in the world I can goTo live out my dream of living the huntWhen you go to the cityIt doesn’t look prettyFor miles and miles there’s people you seeAnd it’s not that I do
Walking a Path 2007-05-18 00:40:34 I saw a spider on the sidewalk and walked around it. For a brief moment our paths crossed, and in all probability that will be the only time I ever directly encounter that particular spider. How would my life be different if this spider had not been at that time and place? Most people don't ever think about encounters like this, but it is impossible to know that the spider will have no effect on my life. Perhaps twenty years from now I'll think of this situation again, or perhaps it will never come up again. But the fact that I'm writing this post means the spider had a nonzero impact on my life. And in general I tend to think that there is no such thing as a completely inconsequential encounter--even when simply walking down the street. Read more:Walking
Unsustainble Feedback 2007-05-21 16:17:13 For you systems people out there, here's a simple feedback diagram that illustrates a general unsustainable system:With increased production (of food, for example) consumption also increases. Increased consumption leads to population growth, which in turn increases production. This forms a positive feedback loop, limited only by 1) the availability of resources, or 2) the carrying capacity of the environment. A positive feedback does not mean a system will instantaneously collapse, but no unsustainable system can persist indefinitely. Read more:Feedback
Pattern Recognition (1) 2007-05-24 21:51:44 We can learn information from a book, teacher, or other source, but it is impossible to learn a skill this way. Books provide facts, but a skill is practiced and requires application. When does mastery of information lead to skill competence? In a sense, a person's skill in a discipline can be thought of as their ability to recognize patterns. Whether in music or mathematics, pattern recognition is itself a skill that requires practice--but the repetition of this practice yields mastery of the subject. A book can teach a person the rudimentary skills of playing the guitar, but it cannot teach them how to make music--as the guitarist learns to recognize musical patterns, though, they will develop the ability to do so.Our talents and successes reflect the patterns in life we each find significant. Read more:Pattern
, Recognition
Intelligent Tenure 2007-05-22 18:44:54 Iowa State astronomy professor Guillermo Gonzalez--well known for being a proponent of Intelligent
Design--was recently denied tenure. The Discovery Institute obviously expressed concern, but the decision also prompted some criticism from the general public.In general, tenure exists to permit the unrestricted exploration of ideas in academia. A professor who is granted tenure can pursue research interests that may be seen as controversial or speculative without risking their job security. From this argument, some claim that Gonzalez was denied tenure in order to maintain scientific homogeneity of ideas--in particular with relation to Intelligent Design. There is a basic flaw in this line of reasoning, though. Gonzalez and others maintain that Intelligent Design is a scientific theory, an assertion rejected by most of the scientific community. This is not a bias toward one theory over another; rather, it is an acknowledgment that Intelligent Design is not science, and therefore is best
Album Familiarity 2007-05-25 17:18:48 The degree to which your ear is accustomed to a particular album can approximately be divided into three categories, followed by an example in my collection:New - You have only listened a few times, and each time you hear something you didn't before. (Weather Report - Black Market)Familiar - You know the music well, and you become alert at all your favorite parts (Funkadelic - Electric Spanking of War Babies)Ambient - You are familiar with the timing of all sounds and emotions in the album. You know exactly how an album will feel, and the album becomes an ambiance as much as a collection of songs. (Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's) Read more:Album
Contact 2007-05-31 14:10:30 Human vocalization is highly specialized for intra-species communication. In many cases, though, non-vocal conversation can be as precise and can lend itself to inter-species communication.Anyone with a dog or cat already knows this, but I think it applies even beyond domestic animals, primates, dolphins, and whales. All life on the planet is part of one community, and communication within any community is essential for longevity.
Sensory Input 2007-05-30 23:28:22 A blind or deaf person is considered disabled because they lack one of the five traditional senses most humans and many animals possess. Yet the world is not defined by five senses; sensory experiences are physical sensations created by the brain, not the world. We use our senses to explore the world and interpret it, and the blind man does exactly the same with a different set of senses. Plants, fungi, and microscopic organisms all interact with the world as well. They do not share our senses, but they have their own set of senses specialized for a particular lifestyle and environment. Our sensory and perception of the world is adapted to our particular needs as a species. Read more:Sensory
Utility 2007-05-29 16:31:13 This story posted at Whiskey River is an interesting parable with some markings of traditional Eastern tradition, but it brings to mind an even more fundamental question about our culture's concept of utility.A tree is considered useful if it has qualities that are desirable for people (such as food or building material). If we removed every useless tree, however, we would find ourselves in a lot of trouble. The "save the whales" campaign drew criticism because many people did not see an inherent benefit that whales brought to humanity (or to civilization). The biosphere is intricately connected in ways that we are continually discovering, however; and just as introduced species fail due to oversight, our designation of uselessness is really just an indication of our ignorance. Read more:Utility
Remember the Clue (24) - Savages 2007-05-29 00:36:48 The concept of savagery is no longer fashionable; but it is impossible to escape our primal nature, which we encounter continually every day. Read more:Remember
Hunter-Gatherer Visits 2007-06-01 09:50:36 Case #1: A member of civilization prepares for a visitor by taking time off from work. When the visitor arrives, they will relax, explore, and eat. The food they eat has been accumulated from worldwide sources, whether in restaurants or cooked in the home. Case #2: A hunter-gatherer prepares for a visitor by changing very little. When the visitor arrives, they will relax, explore, and eat. They will go out and eat from the the best trees, lakes, woods, and other sources of nearby food--with plenty of time for other things each day. In case #2, the visitor gains the experience of his guest's lifestyle by actively participating in one of the only regular activities of the host's daily life. In case #1, the host and visitor are able to spend time together, but the demands of civilization and work necessitate a limited visit duration and an artificial adjustment of daily life. Read more:Hunter
Ludlul Bel Nemeqi 2007-06-06 10:03:24 An Assyrian work by Shubshi-Meshre-Shakkan, and one of my favorite poems.Who can know the will of the gods in heaven?Who can understand the plans of the underworld gods?Where have humans learned the way of a god?He who was alive yesterday and is dead today.One moment he is worries, the next he is boisterous.One moment he is singing a joyful song,A moment later he wails like a professional mourner.Their condition changes, opening and shutting.When starving they become like corpses,When full the oppose their god.In good times they speak of scaling heaven,When they are troubled they talk of going down to hell.I am perplexed at these things; I have not been able to understand their significance.
Meta: Name Change 2007-06-04 15:50:53 Yes, I've changed the name of this blog!I think the change (which is really not all that spectacular) better captures the flavor of this blog--I do much more dreaming than scheming for the most part. Also, I've started a dream journal at Lucidipedia. I won't be merging the dream journal with this one, but I've already learned a lot by recording my dreams, and this will probably influence my musings in the future.At last the ladder which had been built slowly, slowly, one hope at a time, reached up to the clouds. And the dreamer began to climb. Read more:Change
Sensory Perception 2007-06-04 12:23:50 Our eyes, ears, and other sensory organs are simply devices that gather signals for our brains to interpret. Our perception of reality is not defined by these input devices, but instead by our brain's interpretation of these signals. Anything that alters the brain's ability to process and interpret these signals also alters our perception of reality (as the 1970's proved).This extends beyond chemical alteration of the mind, though. I am learning that the dreamworld is just as real to your mind as the waking world. The dreamworld is not a shared perception, but your perception of senses is still fully functional--the dreamworld is as real to your mind as anything else you perceive. Read more:Sensory
, Perception
The Fisherman and the Banker 2007-06-07 12:46:24 I recently came across this story on The Anthropik Network, and I think it succinctly illustrates some of the most fundamental distinctions between a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and the cultural "work ethic" that pervades the modern global society.An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.The Mexican replied, "only a little while."The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.The American then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?"The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar wi Read more:Banker
An Outsider's Perspective 2007-06-12 22:40:21 A conversation from the movie K-PAX.Mark: You have no laws?Prot: No laws, no lawyers.Mark: How do you know right from wrong?Prot: Every being in the universe knows right from wrong, Mark.Mark: But what if someone did do something wrong...committed murder or a rape, how would you punish them?Prot: Let me tell you something Mark. You humans, most of you, subscribe to this policy of an eye for an eye, a life for a life, which is known throughout the universe for its stupidity. Even your Buddha and your Christ had quite a different vision, but nobody's paid much attention to them, not even the Buddhists or the Christians. You humans...sometimes it's hard to imagine how you've made it this far. Read more:Outsider
, Perspective
Remember the Clue (26) - Solitude 2007-06-11 18:44:27 No matter how busy we are, we experience moments of solitude every day. Whether extended or brief, frequent or occasional, it is part of being human to pause and reflect upon the story that we live. Read more:Remember
, Solitude
Disappearance 2007-06-15 16:57:06 Sometimes it's nice to remove yourself from all (or most) forms of communication entirely and simply focus on being. We often do this by retreating into the wilderness, but can also be as simple as pulling the plug.And speaking of inaccessible wilderness, I'm looking forward to Locust Grove in just three weeks! Read more:Disappearance
Modes of Communication 2007-06-14 15:55:43 Below, I have categorized several (but not all) forms of communication based on four properties:Simultaneity (boolean) - Does the mode of communication require simultaneous participation by all parties?Location Dependent (boolean) - Does the method of communication require being in a specific location?Logging (boolean) - Does the method of communication typically include archival features?Preparation (time) - How much time can reasonably be spent crafting, revising, and modifying a response? Face to FaceSnail MailLand LineMobile PhoneEmailInstant MessagingSimultaneitytruefalsetruetruefalsetrueLocation Dependenttruetruetruefalsetrue/falsetrue/falseLoggingfalsetruefalsefalsetruetruePreparationnonedays+nonenonedaysminutesFace to Face communication shares the same benefits and limitations as a Land Line on this chart (aside from logging), since I did not include physical distance as a factor. Snail Mail and Email both have the benefit of thoughtfulness; that is, you can spend time composin Read more:Modes
Dream Journal 2007-06-13 12:44:29 Part of the Inner Exploration Carnival hosted at Dream
ing Life.I have been keeping a dream journal at Lucidipedia for about two weeks now. I don't ever remember having terrific dream recall, although I may have been better at it when in elementary school. I know that I have always dreamed, and I often would have vague recollections of dreams, but most of the details and memories of dreams would fade as soon as I woke up. I am amazed at how simply writing down my dreams has helped me develop the skill of dream recall. Without fail (at least so far), if I go to bed thinking, "I need to remember what I dream tonight", I inadvertently wake up with enough memory of at least one dream that I can write it down before I forget. And, once I've written it down, I sometimes even remember other parts of the dream! On the flip side, if I go to bed without consciously planning to remember, I will wake up with no memory of dreaming that night.Part of the goals of a dream journal is an asses Read more:Journal
Temporality 2007-06-19 15:58:44 If an experience gave infinite happiness but no memory, would it be worthwhile?
Like a Cancer 2007-06-18 13:04:02 Cancerous cells continue to grow and multiply without bounds, with no regard to the host organism. Untreated, this kind of expansion can be fatal to the organism.Unrestricted growth and consumption by a population follows a similar model. There is a healthy balance of growth and consumption that is kept in check by death and production; but when grown and consumption increase without any bounds, the host environment cannot keep up and will lead to collapse. Read more:Cancer
The Stocalculator 2007-06-20 13:27:48 Over a month ago, I entered the first Olympiad of Misguided Geeks, a programming contest where entrants designed simple four-function calculators in the most creative, complex, and contrived ways possible. The winning entries are quite entertaining and interesting, and the rest of the entries have some very clever and convoluted solutions as well. I didn't win (nor did I expect to), but I had fun creating my entry and have posted it here for posterity.By the contest rules, a calculator was considered fully functional if it passes the predetermined set of test cases in the correct order. I decided to take advantage of this, so my entry--the Stocalculator--is essentially a calibrated random number generator. If you input the test cases in the correct order during the month of May 2007, you will get the correct results; any other input produces random numbers. (Strictly speaking, all input produces random numbers, but it just so happens that the sequence of random output matches the
Categorically Speaking 2007-06-26 17:20:08 Why is it that many (most?) people prefer to categorize themselves whenever possible? Categories are a useful construct for discussion, but given the emphasis our culture places on individuality, it is interesting how often people apply a broad category in their own description. These may be ideologies (republican, democrat, libertarian, anarchist), philosophies (nihilist, materialist, Hindu, Christian), or qualities (race, gender, nationality)--nearly everyone (at least in our culture) puts themselves in such categories.There is a language benefit in referring to a population by a category, but often an individual will cling to the identity of a category. Is it really useful to have a binary construct of politics (republican or democrat only), gender (masculine or feminine only), or religion (theist or athiest only)? When such binaries are constructed, most of us tend to fall somewhere on a spectrum between the two (sometimes arbitrary) opposites; yet we find a need to identify with a Read more:Speaking
Distractions 2007-06-25 18:13:27 Willful ignorance is irresponsible, but willful apathy is sometimes necessary. Read more:Distractions
And on the 8th day... 2007-06-29 10:28:20 It was brought to my attention that the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY has now been open for one month. I'll limit my commentary and simply feature some excerpts from the Creation Museum brochure. Let's dive in.So, what is the Creation Museum all about? The Creation Museum presents a unique and unparalleled experience, a walk through time portraying significant, life-altering events from the past, illuminating the effects of Biblical history on our present and future world.Sounds exciting! What can I expect to see there? Walk through the Garden of Eden. Introduce yourself to our chameleons. Examine bones, the clutch of eggs from a dinosaur, an exceptional fossil collection, and a mineral collection. Enter the Cave of Sorrows and see the horrific effects of the Fall of man. Finally, see the sacrificial Lamb on the cross, and the hope of redemption.A walk through the most important events in the 6000 years of human history-
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