Random Thought #203

We've been studying Confucius in our China class online recently. Its interesting that in China, he is referred to by his name of Gong Zi or Kong Zi, which means Master Kong. I believe his actual name was Kong Qia. So where did Confucius come from? Is it westernized? Even if it was, where did it come from? I mean Confucius doesn't sound like anything else or have any ties to anything else. I guess I'll have to dig deeper.

Random Thought #202

How is it that the facial hair that grows on your lip (assuming you're a guy) knows when to stop? All of the other facial hair just keeps growing and growing longer and longer but the hair on your lip just seems to stop. How does it know to do that? I mean, assuming it acted like all of the other hair, you'd have to part your  moustache every time you wanted to eat. Interesting isn't it?

Random Thought #201

Do you ever wonder where mail trucks come from? Who makes them? Who came up with the design for them? Does the same company make FedEx and UPS trucks too? We can often name many of the consumer brands but many of the commercial and industrial brands are rather foreign to us. Sort of makes you wonder.

Random Thought #200

I'm currently taking a class on EdX called ChinaX from Harvard that talks all about China and they introduced me to a Chinese Philosophy professor there at Harvard and I got to watch one of his lectures on Zhangzi. I loved it and it, along with this article explain why I continue to learn in areas that have nothing to do with my current job.

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/10/why-are-hundreds-of-harvard-students-studying-ancient-chinese-philosophy/280356/

Random Thought #199

This was just great! When I watched it the first time, I actually got a little misty-eyed but I wish more and more companies would treat their customers this way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIEIvi2MuEk

I actually found a pretty cool company that creates personalized videos similar to what they did with the live Santa feed but I could see this being the future of advertising and sales.

www.idomoo.com

Random Thought #198

I hate Halloween! I've never understood the reason for it. Almost all holidays have some sort of historical significance, tradition, or happy story behind them. Not Halloween! Its pointless! Dress up as someone or something you aren't. Try to trick or scare people. Focus is on the dead, disgusting, terrifying, etc. Go to people's houses begging for candy. Rot your teeth out eating all of the candy. I just don't see any point to the holiday. Not even a day off of work. This really bothered me so I had to find out how Halloween got started. It actually has an interesting history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

I encourage you to read up on it. Its meant to remember our dead ancestors. This should be like the International Family History/Temple Work Day around the world. I found the history quite interesting and I bet nobody today knows the true history around how Halloween came into existence or even how relatively new it is in the US. Its barely 100 years old. Perhaps this next year, I'll dedicate Halloween to Family History or Temple Work. Maybe that will get me excited about Halloween.

Random Thought #197

You know as each year passes and Black Friday rolls around, it seems like the deals just start earlier and earlier. There are online deals sometimes weeks in advance and many of the brick and mortar stores start their Black Friday deals thursday night. Many would claim that this is destroying the holiday of Thanksgiving, as if Christmas hadn't done that already. I actually think its a good thing. Think of the insanity of spending endless hours out in the cold, away from your family, staying up late, fighting the crowds, stressing over whether you'll get the deals you want. Now, I can just get pretty much whatever I want online ahead of Thanksgiving and Black Friday and then get back to enjoying Thanksgiving the way it was intended; with family, friends, and other loves ones and focus on being thankful for the many blessings with which we've been blessed.

Random Thought #196

Bears have got to be the smartest animals on the planet. This whole hibernation thing is ingenious. Think about it. Spend all summer playing and having fun and enjoying yourself, then use the fall to fatten yourself up by eating an endless supply of food, only to sleep during the entire winter in a nice cozy den, then wake up and do it all over again. We should take a lesson from the bears. Those guys really know how to live!

Random Thought #195

Given the recent passing of Nelson Mandela, this talk was timely but its message is even more fundamentally important. It talks of the concept of "ubuntu" which is not only a flavor of Linux, but literally means "I am, because of you". It refers to the interrelatedness of everything and everyone. The simplest and purest form of this was disclosed to Adam and Eve when they discovered what joy was because of the existence of sadness. Joy in and of itself doesn't mean anything unless we use it in contrast to sadness. There must needs be opposites in all things so as to comprehend them and be able to choose between them. Someone speaking to an empty room has much less impact than would speaking to an audience. The speaker and their message have value because someone else heard it. We cannot become so selfish and conceited in thinking only of ourselves and our own needs without alienating ourselves and becoming even more lonely. We need each other and should start acting like it.

http://www.ted.com/talks/boyd_varty_what_i_learned_from_nelson_mandela.html

Random Thought #194

How we interact with our devices now seems to be more and more interactive and natural. A computer used to be like a robot where we commanded it to do something and it was there to execute that task. It was an object or a thing. More and more, we are starting to interact with machines as if they were individuals and we are not just consuming or inputting data, but we are interacting with and manipulating data. These are just some cool examples of this from MIT's tangle media group. Pretty cool stuff.

http://www.businessinsider.com/mit-tangible-media-group-technologies-2013-11

Random Thought #193

This next article is pretty technical in nature but I found it interesting in how networks or groupings of objects are discovered. Historically, there have been two primary methods of mapping these networks: statistical inference (guessing the next connection statistically) and/or spectral analysis (grouping nodes focusing on the flow of information - finding hubs or hot spots). This works well in most cases of denser populations but for sparse networks, it doesn't present a reliable map. The method described in this articlemakes a small modification that makes for more accurate mapping. This has implications in a number of areas such as finding links between colleagues at work as well as mapping the food cycle and the spread of diseases in communities.

http://www.santafe.edu/news/item/pnas-moore-spectral-redemption/

Random Thought #192

I grew up with Star Trek: The Next Generation but was never really into it. In retrospect, if I understood it better, I would be totally fascinated with it. The weapon on choice was the photon torpedo. It sounds good but its even cooler when you deconstruct it and understand the science behind it. Well lucky for all of you, I found an article that does just that. Without further ado, the photon torpedo: deconstructed

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/but-not-simpler/2013/12/03/how-photon-torpedoes-will-mark-an-end-to-the-energy-crisis/

Random Thought #191

This really blew my mind but you've got to figure that this would eventually happen. There always seems to be an issue with testing new drugs and treatments either because of the lack of willingness in human testers, too many variable to control, or we test on rats (which isn't necessarily a good test for a human but its allowed. Now, we can create simulated body parts on a chip and test these new drugs and treatments with better results and less risk. We could even create our own simulated human body. This is just too cool

http://www.ted.com/talks/geraldine_hamilton_body_parts_on_a_chip.html

Random Thought #190

This was just awesome. Its great to see people in such a good mood and so happy. By the end of this, you should be karaoke-ing with them. I know I was.

http://biggeekdad.com/2013/05/gas-station-karaoke-jam-session/

Random Thought #189

I found this quite interesting. Many have wondered what separates us "humans" from all other creatures? Is it our ability to think or reason? Is it that we have an opposable thumb? Nope. We cook and cooking is what allows us to sustain the immense number of neurons inside our gooey mass.

http://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_herculano_houzel_what_is_so_special_about_the_human_brain.html

Random Thought #188

Interesting little synopsis on "working memory". What it is and how it works. I found it pretty interesting

http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_doolittle_how_your_working_memory_makes_sense_of_the_world.html

Random Thought #187

I loved this video and just had to share. I guess why it hits home so much is because I'm fascinated by biology, physiology, neuroscience. I'm also passionate about the way this discovery was made. This was a collaborative effort. It wasn't the genius of a single individual. It is a representation of young millennials who challenge the conventional way of thinking and force themselves to come up with a way to solve a problem. I can relate to that in a very personal way. There is passion behind the research and the mastery of difficult concepts all for the greater good.

http://www.ted.com/talks/gregoire_courtine_the_paralyzed_rat_that_walked.html

Random Thought #186

I've written about my favorite number in the past but this is just another sharing of a really cool number. The funny part is that my favorite number is irrational. I wonder what that says about me?

http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_the_magic_of_fibonacci_numbers.html

Random Thought #185

I'm always fascinated about nature, but I think the reason I am is because I learn about everything Heavenly Father has done in his design that shields us from the reality that we are not ready to embrace. We go about our daily lives and concern ourselves with ridiculous frivolity when if it weren't for God's designs, we would be completely obliterated and everything around us would be too. Things are always set just right for our existence and our pleasure. All matter barely exists due to the state of the Higgs field which isn't overtaken because of the exact mass of the Higgs Boson. The earth is just the right distance away from the sun for life to exist. The axis is just right to allow for the right temperatures and the seasons, etc., etc. It just goes on and on. Not only are the basics in place, but He even goes out of his way to make us happy. If you've seen my previous posts on Fi or the Golden Ratio, its found everywhere in nature to a shape and design that is pleasing to us. The more I understand of nature, the more I'm convinced that Heavenly Father and Jesus created it and of their love for us

http://www.ted.com/talks/gian_giudice_why_our_universe_might_exist_on_a_knife_edge.html

Random Thought #184

You can't judge a book by its cover. This has never been more true than in today's globalized populace. I found this talk to be both entertaining and informative and makes us think twice before making judgments about someone simply by looking at them

http://www.ted.com/talks/hetain_patel_who_am_i_think_again.html

Random Thought #183

I'm taking an EdX class online called ChinaX from Harvard. I've just started but its pretty fun already. The professors are pretty laid back and even taught us a cool song for remembering the order of the most important Chinese dynasties in the first short lecture. One of our homework assignments was to record ourselves singing the song so here is my attempt. I've also included a list of the names/words for you to follow along if you like

Song

Random Thought #182

I have to admit that technology can be really exciting at times, especially when it solves major problems or leads us into exciting new frontiers but that doesn't seem to happen very often anymore. Back in the 60's, the whole country rallied behind the cause to go to the moon. It was unthinkable at the time but we did it and it was exhilarating. We've made some progress in genetics, robotics, A/I, etc but none of these have really solved any major issues. It seems that technology today is focused on delivering things like Facebook, Twitter, etc. We focus on areas that make us less productive and more lazy. Why? Because it can be capitalized on and monetized and that's what investors like. We've lost our sense of wonder and amazement and curiosity for the sake of money. This interesting TED talk provides a couple of reasons as to why we've had such a hard go of it lately. This hits close to home because it affects my job. We're more interested in developing mobile apps and keeping servers running than we are in solving some of the most exciting and challenging issues of our day.

http://www.ted.com/talks/jason_pontin_can_technology_solve_our_big_problems.html

Random Thought #181

I really enjoyed this TED video because it combines both the arts and the sciences. It really shows how the one can compliment the other or that one can be explained in terms of the other. If nothing else, hope you enjoy the effects. They are pretty cool.

http://www.ted.com/talks/fabian_oefner_psychedelic_science.html

Random Thought #180

I thought I would break from my normal thoughts and add some humor to my blog. This kept me laughing for quite some time. I hope you get some good laughs out of it and that it brightens up your day. Enjoy!

Babies Experiencing Things For The First Time

First time watching fireworks:

First time being dunked into water that’s way too cold:

First time getting caught in a bubble shower:

First time driving through a dark tunnel:

First time chatting with a puppet:

First time finding a new recipe in a cooking magazine:

First time forgetting how spoons work:

First time seeing ice cream:

First time meeting a puppy:

First time having their toes licked by a cat:

First time watching New Year’s fireworks:

First time living in a hollowed-out fruit:

First time “drinking” out of a hose:

First time forgetting how glass windows work:

First time smelling of someone’s foot:

First time opening a present:

First time experiencing the sweet, sweet glory of television:

And finally, the first time experiencing the taste of sour:

Random Thought #179

I was over at a friend's house the other day and we were looking at a globe. You know, those spinning round balls representing the earth? I know....it seems like ever since Google Maps came around, we never even think about a globe anymore, but we were talking about lines of Latitude and Longitude. The interesting thing that I never considered before was that the lines of Latitude are parallel to the equator so naturally the lines of Longitude are parallel to the Prime Meridian right? WRONG! They actually all intersect at the north and south poles. You would necessarily think this at first because we're used to looking at maps on a 2-D plane and all of the Latitudinal and Longitudinal lines intersect at right angles. Since they are all perpendicular to each other, that makes since on a 2-D plane, but we don't live on a 2-D plane, we live on a 3-D sphere, so in order for the lines to be perpendicular, one of the sets of lines cannot be exactly parallel to the base point (Equator or Prime Meridian). Since the earth is magnetic (bi-polar) and we have normal spans of night and day, the Longitudinal lines take the hit. I guess I never considered it before, but it was just kind of an "aha" moment. Interesting how things are designed just right.

Random Thought #178

I always enjoy an alternate ending to a story. In this case, this is a possible alternate ending to the story of David and Goliath as told by Malcolm Gladwell. I've actually heard this guy speak live and own a couple of his books and he's quite a good story-teller. Whether you buy his version or not, it at least makes you think, especially about the traditional meaning of the story. The story is representative of the underdog and gaining an unlikely victory, but what if David wasn't really an underdog? Nevermind the Christian perspective of God being on his side, what if he really wasn't disadvantaged?

http://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_the_unheard_story_of_david_and_goliath.html

Random Thought #177

Ever wonder how "generations" get grouped? What is the cutoff line for the Baby Boomers vs Gen X vs Gen Y? How is this line determined? What's even more interesting are the differences in personalities and perspectives. This very interesting and intriguing talk perhaps sheds a little bit of light on the question. I thoroughly enjoyed the talk so I hope you do too.

http://www.ted.com/talks/james_flynn_why_our_iq_levels_are_higher_than_our_grandparents.html

Random Thought #176

If I were to ask you whether you trust people more now or less than you would back in the 50's, what would you say? Perhaps you would say less because of the population growth, urbanization, and lack of social skills that have resulted. Perhaps that isn't the right question though. The question isn't so much as how much you trust, but rather who you trust. Do you trust doctors and judges and librarians more or less now than you did then? Do you trust politicians, marketers, car salesmen less or more now than you did then? That trust level is likely pretty close. So why do we feel so edgy now in comparison to the "good ol' days"? This talk presents an interesting hypothesis. Worth the watch at least.

http://www.ted.com/talks/onora_o_neill_what_we_don_t_understand_about_trust.html

Random Thought #175

We're always told that we should pursue knowledge and gain understanding, but are those two always synonymous? In my personal studies, it seems like the more I read and the more I learn, the more I find I don't know anything. I usually want to end up studying 5 extra topics and 10 more books after reading a single book. There is so much I don't know and yet I feel like I'm learning, but what exactly am I learning? It seems like gaining knowledge only gains me more ignorance. That isn't to say that ignorance is a bad thing. Ignorance typically has a bad connotation but in this case, I think ignorance is good. Its recognizing that there is a lot I don't know and it gives me a challenge and takes me on an exhilarating journey through unknown realms of yet-to-be-understood concepts. Its never boring on the path of learning. I hope you never lose the desire to learn and always recognize that you never really know.

http://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_firestein_the_pursuit_of_ignorance.html

Random Thought #174

I found this talk rather entertaining. I had to rewind and pause it several times before I caught him picking the pockets and misdirecting. I was able to do it, but definitely not the first time. See if you can catch this guy in the act. Supposedly one of the best pickpockets in the world.

http://www.ted.com/talks/apollo_robbins_the_art_of_misdirection.html

Random Thought #173

Nature is so cool!!! No matter how many times you try to understand it, it always amazes you with something new! This was an article my co-worker sent to me about a fungus that essentially uses mind-control to infect its host and spread itself. Its actually kinda creepy but soooo cool too!! I know this may seem super nerdy but I love this kind of stuff! Its so fascinating.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/09/absurd-creature-of-the-week-zombie-ant-fungus/#slideid-236871

Random Thought #172

What if we've got it all wrong? What if everything we've been told just plain and simple isn't true? It may be more real than you think. The Food Pyramid is a great example. Watch the movie "Fathead" on Hulu for free and you'll learn all about that. This talk by Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe from Discovery channel shares some interesting thoughts from the show. His opening story is a little bit graphic but he makes several excellent points and the entire talk is a classic. This is one of my favorites.

http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html

Random Thought #171

This video just riled up the inner geek in me. Its a fun and entertaining talk about nerdy stuff but the point he makes at the end is important. People need to strive for things and imagine what could be possible. I see so little of that anymore. Quite sad. If you're not a geek, hopefully the comedy entertains you. If not, well then just chalk it up to randomness.

http://www.ted.com/talks/adam_spencer_why_i_fell_in_love_with_monster_prime_numbers.html

Random Thought #170

This video was sent to me in an email and I thought it was very clever and kind of fun. I hope you enjoy.

http://biggeekdad.com/2013/01/im-a-daddy-and-i-know-it/

Random Thought #169

Its time again for the round-up of interesting TED videos. I've been saving these up over the past couple of weeks. I hope you find each one interesting, inspiring, and unique in their own way.

A 3-D Printed Jumbo Jet
http://www.ted.com/talks/bastian_schaefer_a_3d_printed_jumbo_jet.html

Designing for all 5 senses
http://www.ted.com/talks/jinsop_lee_design_for_all_5_senses.html

A talented pianist
http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_paravicini_and_adam_ockelford_in_the_key_of_genius.html

A creative and thoughtful architect
http://www.ted.com/talks/shigeru_ban_emergency_shelters_made_from_paper.html

Manipulating Memories
http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_ramirez_and_xu_liu_a_mouse_a_laser_beam_a_manipulated_memory.html

Random Thought #168

We live in the Information Age and as such are bombarded with tons of information every day. How do we filter that deluge? How do we cope and still retain some semblance of sanity? Just a tiny example today. I was on my way home and saw a bumper sticker on the back of the vehicle in front of me for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. I immediately thought to myself. What the heck is that? How would someone go about deciding if they wanted to train to be in the Coast Guard? My next thought was ...eh, not interesting to me. Now don't get me wrong. I have nothing against the U.S. Coast Guard and I'm sure they do a lot of very important work but it just doesn't interest me so I immediately filter it out and don't think further about it. But that very filtering mechanism is likely what is adding to the deluge of information we receive each day. It seems like everyone has got a "thing" that they are passionate about and technology has allowed everyone to share that thing with everyone else around them. I watched a video yesterday about a person who heard voices in their head and was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and now she is part of a group that is all about hearing voices in your head. I saw another video about a guy who formed a group about clouds. I think this is great as it allows like-minded individuals to connect and share but it has also led to the chaotic world we live in today where every special groups seems to think they need to push their views onto the world stage and get fair treatment. This has gone to an extreme and has caused chaotic warfare amongst the common people. If we all have special interests, that's great and we should recreationalize with others who share our view. That's shows our great uniqueness and subtle commonalities but we should do it for our enjoyment and leave others to do the same. In case you're wondering, my thing is nature and biotechnology. Anybody else share my passion?

Random Thought #167

As I've been driving along the freeways here in Houston, I've seen billboards for the Houston Museum of Natural Science's new Egypt exhibit. I'm not Egyptologist but I've read a bit about ancient Egypt and the billboards are quite clever. One of them read "Not your average pyramid scheme" and the other one actually made me laugh. It said "Ankh if you love your mummy". In english this would say "Honk if you love your mom" but ankh is the word for life in ancient Egyptian so I thought it was a clever play on words. I wonder how many people actually understand that billboard. Anyways, they have one fan who is appreciative.

Random Thought #166

Have you ever wondered why the Lamanites that Ammon converted called themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehies? That seems like such an odd name. After all, these people were converted Lamanites. I don't know the answer but here is a guess. The Lamanites and Lemuelites hated Nephi because even though they were older, it seemed like Nephi was the favored child and wanted to usurp power from them. This tradition carried down over the generations and that's why the Lamanites were always wanting to go to war and kill of the Nephites. So there was a lot of animosity between Laman and Lemuel and Nephi and Lehi and the rest of the family. Well this group of Ammon's converts didn't want to be called Lamanites anymore so that they could distinguish themselves from the Lamanites and they weren't exactly Nephites by virtue of their heritage so they had to come up with something. It could be that they still resented Lehi and Nephi for what happened back then but they had reformed now so they just called themselves The Anti-Nephi-Lehies. I guess its a good descriptive name for a group that isn't Lamanites or Nephites, hated the forefathers but since reformed. Not very catchy though. Perhaps they could have chosen the Reorganized Lamanites or something like that :P

Random Thought #165

What time is it? Time is such an interesting thing isn't it? There never seems to be enough of it unless of course you're doing something you hate or are bored stiff, then it seems to creep along like molasses. According to Einstein, time is relative and is another dimension through which we experience reality. But like it or not, time is always with us. I read an interesting line in my book yesterday about Christ coming in the "Meridian of Time". What does that mean? What kind of implications does that have? Many people think it is the middle point in history. That's why we divide time up between BC and AD. A lot of people estimate that Adam lived about 4000 years before Christ so if time was measured since the first man appeared, then we've got about 1986 or so years left. (Sometimes I wonder if I can last another day). But what about Pre-Adamites? I mean dinosaurs supposedly roamed the earth 65+ millions years ago and there were creatures here before them (let's not get into the biological support system conversation here). Did time exist for them? When did time start? Who measures it? Did the people living before Christ count down? How could they? They didn't know that time was gonna start counting upwards after Christ was born. So how did they measure time? Why are we so preoccupied with time? Heavenly Father doesn't seem to think in terms of time. After all, when everything is eternal, time kinda loses its pizzaz. He obviously is aware of our time or how we measure it because he taught Abraham somewhat of how time on Earth relates to time where He lives. Before we get too far down the rabbit hole, let's return to the Meridian of Time question. For those of you who hated math in school, the middle point is called the "median" not the "meridian"....just sayin. The common definition for meridian is "a point or period of highest development, greatest prosperity, or the like" or "of or indicating a period of greatest prosperity, splendor, success, etc." I think the birth of the Savior of the world probably meets this definition fairly well. So why is it that we started counting time differently around this time? Does it really have anything to do with time? Or is it just a marker of a miraculous and wonderful event that we chose to mark and reference all other time in relation to it? I guess time will tell ;)

Random Thought #164

This guy tackle probably one of the most complicated topics in philosophy, science, or religion; that of consciousness. I must admit that he oversimplifies quite a bit and rushes through his explanations and expects you to take them at face value but he does make a few good points. For a more in depth approach to this difficult issue, I recommend reading the book that I'm currently engaged in reading "Define Universe and Give Two Examples" by Barton E Dahneke. Its a very good read and treats this subject in a more thorough manner but perhaps this talk will at least spark your interest and get your noodle cookin'

http://www.ted.com/talks/john_searle_our_shared_condition_consciousness.html

Random Thought #163

This guy is very talented and quite entertaining. I love his sense of humor and sense of joy in what he does. Enjoy!

http://www.ted.com/talks/tom_thum_the_orchestra_in_my_mouth.html

Random Thought #162

I just had to share this comic with you because I find it so appropriate to me. Its now my laptop wallpaper. Hope you enjoy it. It is from cartoonist Arie Van de Graff who has a blog called Mormon Cartoonist. His site is at www.mormoncartoonist.com You should definitely go check it out and enjoy. I've added his site as a link below for your reference.

Random Thought #161

This is quite an interesting talk that addresses I think a fundamental difference in culture between generations. In the <= Baby Boomer generation, who you were was tied to your family, home, upbringing, status, position, etc. Perhaps this is a product of their surroundings but this has changed dramatically with >= Generation X. Starting with my generation and onwards, we define ourselves more with our relationship to others. It doesn't matter where we are or who we are around, we are fluid and adaptive and everyone is on an equal level. I think that is partly what is being addressed here. I notice this distinction especially at work. Its easy to see because there was a big hiring freeze between Baby Boomer and Gen X so the lines are quite clearly drawn. As with anything, there can definitely be a little overlap but it just seems that the perspective and culture around these groups of generations is very wide and gaping and its interesting to see what caused this. My thought is that our surroundings and circumstances have a profound impact on who we are.

For your viewing pleasure - http://www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_where_is_home.html

Random Thought #160

I've always appreciated nature and found it extremely complex and yet so beautifully simple. I've studied about Fi and its role in the natural world. I find that everything is designed just so perfectly that everything is in balance with everything else. Its so peaceful and uplifting. Its just good. Well, this TED talk about the soundscapes of nature and the levels of sound in nature (geophonies, biophonies, and anthrophonies) made me appreciate its beauty that much more. It also reminds me of man's impact. When Adam was created, God gave him dominion over all things. Many people interpret that as him being placed on the top rung of all creations and that everything was supposed to obey him. He was in charge. He WAS in charge but dominion means responsibility. It was his responsibility to take care of all of God's creations. We haven't done a very good job at fulfilling our inherited duty. One of my favorite prophets was Brigham Young because this was something he felt strongly about and both taught and practiced. I hope you enjoy the sounds and stories. This talk inspired me to find a new channel on Pandora called Nature Sounds. Its very relaxing and peaceful at work.

http://www.ted.com/talks/bernie_krause_the_voice_of_the_natural_world.html

Random Thought #159

OK. This kid is just too cool. He reminds me of me a little and he is doing what I would love to be doing right now. He found a problem, researched it on the internet, did some testing, got turned down, and then found a way to do it anyways and blew everyone out of the water! There are so many things about him and his situation that remind me of myself. Bored with traditional methods of training and instruction. Nobody has bothered to re-evaluate or change the way things had been done before. He challenged the thinking. Used his brain and logic and a little determination along with the power of the internet and completely revolutionized part of healthcare which could affects hundreds or thousands of people. And best of all, he isn't doing it to make money. Its all about the science and benefitting others. I wish I was doing what he is doing.

http://www.ted.com/talks/jack_andraka_a_promising_test_for_pancreatic_cancer_from_a_teenager.html

Random Thought #158

When you look at the great scientific and technological achievements over the years, its quite amazing that most of the major discoveries and advancements have happened in the last 300-400 years, basically since the Renaissance. The last fundamentally major achievement was invariably the Internet and the coming of the Information Age. So what's next? Have we plateaued? Well everyone keeps talking about String Theory, Quantum Mechanics and a GUT (Grand Unified Theory) or TOE (Theory of Everything) and others have talked about communicating with alien species. I even read today that we've finally created a biological transistor so we can create biological computers (that one kind of freaks me out). Well here is one interesting thought and the same people that put together ARPAnet (i.e. The Internet) is now going to fund this initiative. Check it out.

http://www.ted.com/talks/the_interspecies_internet_an_idea_in_progress.html

Random Thought #157

I absolutely love these guys. Great music. Great Energy. Great Talent. Great Attitudes. Great Kids. Enjoy.

http://www.ted.com/talks/sleepy_man_banjo_boys_bluegrass_virtuosity_from_new_jersey.html

Random Thought #156

After watching this TED talk, I really had a better appreciation for other cultures and their ways. I've never believed in the US trying to push democracy onto other countries that are trying to rebuild. Its a system but its not THE system. It was designed for a particular place and a particular time and I believe the same is true for many other parts of the world too. Many will claim that the Founding Fathers were inspired by God to draft this constitution and form this country and I do not dispute that. It was the only place at the time that could allow for religious freedom and that's what God needed to restore His church. That doesn't mean that its God's system or His way of doing things. It is A way. Its not like we're living by the Law of Consecration here anyways. I just think its interesting to see how other cultures seem to get along just fine with the systems they have in place. China is a very interesting case. Hope you enjoy

http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_x_li_a_tale_of_two_political_systems.html

Random Thought #155

The speaker is a little odd to me but her point is quite poignant. Questioning standards and ideals is healthy and quite necessary as long as its done with the right intent. Some fear questioning simply because they don't like to stand out or like to take the easy road but doubt and asking questions is healthy and a necessary element of faith. Worth the view.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lesley_hazleton_the_doubt_essential_to_faith.html

Random Thought #154

The crazier the world thinks I am, the more normal I seem - Me

Random Thought #153

This is such a powerful story. It reminds me of how there is so much suffering in the world and how blessed we are here in the states. It also reminds me of how ignorant we are of the needs of others around us and how selfish and self-centered we can be here in this country. We sit over here and watch our pointless television shows while people are scraping for their life every second of every day. I hope this brings some perspective. http://www.ted.com/talks/joseph_kim_the_family_i_lost_in_north_korea_and_the_family_i_gained.html

Random Thought #152

I just thought this was a pretty cool demonstration. Quadcopters and physics. Not for everyone but I thought it was kind of neat. http://www.ted.com/talks/raffaello_d_andrea_the_astounding_athletic_power_of_quadcopters.html

Random Thought #151

Creation is an interesting thing. There is that word "thing" again. Creation appears to be an iterative and long drawn-out process. Let me provide a few examples.

1. Creation of a computer script
2. Creation of a new business.
3. Creation of a new baby
4. Creation of a world

Let me just preface this by saying that this is not a skill or talent I have. For me, in order to create, the creator either needs to be able to see from the beginning to the end in all possible scenarios (extremely difficult) or they have to start with a base and as they encounter issues or roadblocks, they need to be able to add to their existing creation and still maintain within scope of their original plan (still fairly difficult). I believe the latter of these two alternatives occurs more often than not.

In the case of a computer script, a programmer either starts from a template or has to code from scratch. Even in the scratch scenario, there is a set paradigm or set of rules for programming. This helps to form the basic structure and uniformity of all scripts while allowing them to differ in content and function quite drastically. Programmers will typically have a vision of what they want their script to do and will start with setting up initial variables that can be used later in the script and are flexible in nature as well as core functions or sub-routines which perform a specific task. Little by little, the programmer has to build little snippets of code that do a portion of the overall functionality. (Knowledge) Then they have to test it to see if their assumptions were correct. Invariably there will be errors and they will need to be corrected and re-tested. Eventually that section of code will work as designed and its on to the next portion of functionality (iteration) which goes through the same process. As the script develops, functions are re-used for different purposes and you start to notice patterns and the general vision of the script starts to emerge. (Understanding) The programmer also has to ensure that each individual section of code is still built not only to do its job but also work together in unison with the other portions to achieve the overall purpose and vision for the script. (Meaning)

Creation of a new business or entrepreneurship follows the same pattern. The entrepreneur comes up with a vision for his business. There are initial rules that govern how businesses are regulated and how they must operate or even organize themselves. Usually a business plan is drafted up and either used as a template or presented for venture capital or other funding. Businesses usually start small offering a basic service or product (Knowledge) and over time, more services or products are offered in the same way or potentially different ways to differentiate the various aspects or units of the business. (Understanding) Eventually, successful companies find a way to continuously grow their company and yet stay align with their vision (Meaning)

Creation of a baby is slightly different as most of the creative process happens kind of like a computer script executing. We kind of just light the match or knock over the domino (for lack of better terms), but the process is essentially the same. There are basic laws of nature and a template (DNA) that govern how babies are made. Cells begin to divide and create organs and critical organs such as the heart and brain form first (Knowledge), then over time more and more organs develop and start interacting with each other to perform more complicated tasks (Understanding) and eventually a new baby is born. (Meaning)

With world creation, again, a template is used but also the ability to differentiate and create from scratch. You have fundamental laws of physics that govern matter and elemental forces, etc. Basic matter and elements organized (water, earth, lights, etc) (Knowledge), then add more complex items such as plants and animals and their respective food chains (Understanding), then ultimately humans and their free will (Meaning) as that is one of the purposes of creating worlds. All of these scenarios tend to follow the same basic principles of creation as I list them below as I see them and in no particular order:

1. a vision or plan
2. basic rules or structure governing the process
3. a template of some sort for the sake of uniformity and order
4. the ability to differentiate and provide for unique versions of that base template
5. iteration
6. start small or simple
7. test and tweak
8. add complexity based on foundational developments
9. Complex yet simple (this one is hard to describe, it just makes sense in my mind)
10. Beautiful in its own special way

Random Thought #150

I've been considering going back to school for awhile now and weighing the benefits of going back to school vs just learning on my own. I've decided to go back to school but I'm not entirely sure I'm doing it for the right reasons, merely the necessary reasons. In the book I referenced that I'm reading, it talks about 3 levels of learning but it also talks about 3 levels of learning from another perspective. It talks about facts and the knowing of them (Knowledge), The recognition of patterns and themes in the knowledge (Understanding), and the useful and productive application of that understanding (Meaning). This is also referred to in David A Bednar's book "Increase in Learning", another book I highly recommend. It just occurred to me (again in the shower) that a core part of our life, education, is nothing but a very elementary level of learning. We go through 13 years of school and at least 4 years of college studies doing nothing but learning facts and increasing our knowledge. The strange part is that employers and future success put such a high value on just basic learning. You can't even get a job today to support yourself without this piece of paper that says you know how to memorize facts. Doesn't that seem odd? Granted, in some areas and schools, they have taken in a bit further and done case studies and internships to help you start understanding how those facts fit together but it is by no means the norm or required to get a job and be "successful". Why is that? I would think that value would be placed upon a higher level of learning, that of Meaning or useful and practical application of understanding. This could also be called experience. One of my favorite authors, Hugh Nibley, regularly criticizes fellow scholars because they do nothing but spit out facts that nobody else are likely to know in their special field of study or expertise and consider themselves experts and that we should value their "expert opinion". He mocks the higher education system because it fails to provide true learning. He sees no value in a PhD or other degree because it doesn't really mean anything, and yet it means everything to the world.

I believe the same concept applies to the gospel. We can be complete gospel scholars and know all there is to know (which is great, don't get me wrong) but if that's all it is and it never grows from there, then we have failed to grasp the point of the gospel. Why do we cover the same material over and over again in our lessons and Sunday School? Why do we give Sunday School answers? Are we not simply repeating back bits of memorized knowledge? Where is the understanding? Where is the meaning? Where is the application? They say that people become wise with age. Why do you think that is? I believe that it is because they have experienced so much more and have progressed in their ladder of learning.

So back to the question, to go back to school or not to go back to school? I guess it depends on the motivation and the goal at hand. Just remember, a college education is good but it is not the end, it is only the beginning of our learning.

Random Thought #149

Have you ever said a word over and over and over again in your head? It seems like the more you say it, the stranger it sounds. I wonder why that is. Language is absurd. I think we should all just convert to selective telepathy.

Random Thought #148

What is a "thing"? Is it an object, an idea, a filler word? We use thing in so many different ways, it seems like thing doesn't really have a true definition, it changes depending on the context. Dictionary.com has an interesting definition "some entity, object, or creature that is not or cannot be specifically designated or precisely described". So thing is used in place of something we can't describe but we can't really explicitly describe thing so is thing a thing?

Random Thought #147

I have no idea why, but almost all of the ideas for this blog come to me in the shower. Strange huh!?

Random Thought #146

In the most recent book I've been reading "Define Universe and give two examples" by Barton Dahneke, I've already discovered someone who is eloquent enough with words to describe ideas that have been in my head for awhile so I thought I would use of them and put it here. One of the ideas put forth in this book is the concept of universal truth and the search involved with finding universal truth. The author describes 3 categories of learners.

1. One who doesn't know and realizes he or she doesn't know and wants to learn
2. One who doesn't know but thinks that he or she does and is not ready to learn
3. one who doesn't know and doesn't care

I thought that was a brilliant way of describing people's attitudes towards learning. It goes along with my post on Sci-Fi and how people approach new facts. What was also fascinating was that there is universal truth but people perceive the same set of facts differently based on their paradigm or system of beliefs which is formed based on previous experiences. We tend to gloss over items that fall in line with our paradigm but things that seem odd or different or difficult to understand are potentially items that are new to our paradigm or conflict with it and how we choose to encounter those objects largely shapes the future direction of that paradigm. If we fall into a category 1 learner, we recognize that this new fact doesn't fit with our paradigm and we're eager to understand why so that we can hopefully assimilate that new fact into our paradigm, thus expanding it and getting a bigger piece of the puzzle. If we are a category 2 or category 3 learning, we typically dismiss the new fact and our paradigm never changes, thus leaving us stagnant or perhaps even degrading our paradigm. Its quite an interesting book and although I've only started Chapter 2, I already highly recommend it to anyone who is curious.

Random Thought #145

I love Sci-Fi. For all the weirdness of aliens and strange worlds and gadgets, those who write about Science Fiction are truly visionaries and they leave their minds open to endless possibilities. I like this kind of thinking because it doesn't constrain the human potential and curiosity. It lets them roam free. Its interesting that many of the things that seem futuristic and impossible 50 years ago are now realities or soon will be. Think about Dick Tracy's watch or Captain Kirk's communicator? Pretty soon, we're gonna have computers built into our watches. Its the latest craze. Or consider it from this perspective. Everyone nowadays has a cell phone pretty much. Think just 150 years ago, if you showed someone a cell phone, they would think its some sort of witchcraft or sorcery or magic. Shoot, you might have been killed for playing with dark magic. If we never let our minds expand and play freely, we'll never make any kinds of new discoveries or learn anything. If there is something I don't understand or can't comprehend, I take the approach, that its possible and I just don't know how to do it yet and I want to learn how. Its so much more liberating and exciting and you never run out of things to learn or random thoughts ;)

Random Thought #144

Alone. I've had a couple of life experiences recently which have opened my eyes. Its quite amazing how hard it is to truly understand a concept until you've experienced it. People can describe a concept to you or rationalize theories but until you actually experience it, you never really know and understand. This principle was enforced with much deeper effect upon me as it applies to a couple of principles of the gospel. President Monson has repeatedly asked us to render service to our brothers and sisters. He tells many stories from his life when he has done so and made a difference in someone's life. He always seems to have a story about a widow as well. How many of us consciously think about the widows in our ward? Do we even know who they are? I know I never really considered it. Both of my grandpas have passed away within the last two years leaving both of my grandmas as widows. The concept never hit home until it happened to "me". I think to myself, who is going to look after them? Who will visit them? It must be so hard and so lonely for them. It brought me to an awareness but it still didn't happen directly to "me". Right now, my family is half way across the world and I am alone and will be for a couple of months. I am alone. Now I have a happy reunion to look forward to but it "in a way" happened to "me". I now know what it feels like to be alone. It is sad, lonely, scary, and at times miserable. I can only imagine how a widow must feel, especially not knowing when the separation will end. It must be even worse for those who don't have the gospel in their lives. It makes you appreciate the sealing power so so so so so so so much more. It makes you thank Heavenly Father for families, for sealings, for our eternal nature. When the scriptures refer to wailing and gnashing of teeth, imagine being alone for eternity. I think wailing and gnashing of teeth is putting it mildly. There are even reality TV shows now where people go out on a deserted island and try to survive on their own. They go absolutely bonkers. We need interaction, to be social, to have someone. I can't say as though I've flipped overnight and am going to go and find and visit all of the widows of my ward but I thank Heavenly Father for giving me this revelation and this experience when I was ready for it. It gives me a glimpse of what I still need to learn and who I need to become.

Random Thought #143

I love people who buck the trend, break the mold, and think outside the box. The inventor shown in this video is one of those kind of people and his invention is quite amusing and fun to play with. I especially think its interesting because I'm an IT guy. I hope you guys find it enjoyable too. http://www.ted.com/talks/jay_silver_hack_a_banana_make_a_keyboard.html

Random Thought #142

As a westerner, I've never really thought about how complicated English is as a language. Its rather odd that it is basically the global language. When I was learning Russian, it was rather difficult as well but I wouldn't say it was as complicated as English. The only other missionaries that stayed in the MTC as long as we did were those going to asian countries. I'm posting a couple of videos here today that might argue that Chinese is easier than English to understand and learn. Whereas English is so complicated with its rules that it establishes and then blatently violates or with double meanings or double spellings for the same word, Chinese seems well......Chineasy (sorry, couldn't resist) Enjoy!

English is Dumb - http://biggeekdad.com/2012/02/english-spelling-lesson/
Chinese is Chineasy - http://www.ted.com/talks/shaolan_learn_to_read_chinese_with_ease.html

Random Thought #141

I saw this short TED-Ed video and thought it was quite fascinating, especially when I looked up this guy's YouTube channels. These are the kinds of things I think about all the time. The questions that nobody really asks or thinks about but are intriguing nonetheless. Here is just a snippet that calculates how much a digital video weighs. http://www.ted.com/talks/how_much_does_a_video_weigh.html. I've added this guy's YouTube channels on the right-hand side in case any of you are curious.

Random Thought #140

I really enjoyed this Youtube video. Its great to see the youth of the church stepping up and sharing their testimonies of the gospel in their own unique way. Hope you enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdt3EbSl9Uk

Random Thought #139

I debated a long time about whether or not I should post this. Its kind of controversial and has a couple of foul words in it but I think its the wake-up call this country needs. I apologize in advance for the foul language but I hope your find this somewhat refreshing

http://youtu.be/ML3qYHWRIZk

Random Thought #138

These images were just too spectacular not to share. I bought a telescope during Black Friday two years ago and haven't used it yet but this is what I would hope to see. Absolutely stunning.

Salt Lake City photographer Royce Bair uses digital cameras and what he describes as a 'copious collection of portable incandescent and flash lighting equipment' to capture his unique views of the night sky over Utah's spectacular canyons. His shots of Wall Street Canyon at Bryce Canyon National Park with the stars of our own galaxy, the Milky Way blazing overhead showcase some of his technique. Bair has been lecturing on night photography for two decades.


A photograph of 'Wall Street' canyon at Bryce Canyon National Park on September 20, 2011 in Utah, showing a view across our own galaxy, the Milky Way


Stunningly beautiful images capture the glory of the Milky Way taken with a digital camera


A photograph of Thor's Hammer at Bryce Canyon National Park on September 20, 2011 in Utah with the Milky Way overhead The photographs of Wall Streeet were taken at Bryce Canyon National Park on September 20, 2011 in Utah.


Bryce Canyon Amphitheater at Bryce Canyon National Park on September 21, 2011 in Utah


Under lighted night exposure at Arches National Park on May 4, 2010 in Utah


Moonrise at Bryce Canyon National Park


The Milky Way over Jackson Lake and Tetons at Grand Teton National Park on August 23, 2011 in Wyoming




Delicate Arch, and Milky Way stars at Arches National Park on October 19, 2011 in Utah


A photograph of a meteor streaking between the Big Dipper and Polaris on January 4, 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah


Double Arch and Milky Way stars at Arches National Park on October 19, 2011 in Utah


A photograph of a 'hole in the wall' at Arches National Park on October 21, 2011 in Utah

Makes one feel pretty small, doesn't it?

Random Thought #137

My dad sent me this and I found it quite fascinating so thought I would share. I'm always interested in the history behind things that we take for granted each day. It had to start somewhere. Enjoy! HISTORY OF THE CAR RADIO Seems like cars always have had radios, but they didn't. Here's the true story: One evening, in 1929, two young men named William Lear and Elmer Wavering drove their girlfriends to a lookout point high above the Mississippi River town of Quincy, Illinois, to watch the sunset. It was a romantic night to be sure, but one of the women observed that it would be even nicer if they could listen to music in the car. Lear and Wavering liked the idea. Both men had tinkered with radios (Lear had served as a radio operator in the U.S. Navy during World War I) and it wasn't long before they were taking apart a home radio and trying to get it to work in a car. But it wasn't as easy as it sounds: automobiles have ignition switches, generators, spark plugs, and other electrical equipment that generate noisy static interference, making it nearly impossible to listen to the radio when the engine was running. One by one, Lear and Wavering identified and eliminated each source of electrical interference. When they finally got their radio to work, they took it to a radio convention in Chicago. There they met Paul Galvin, owner of Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. He made a product called a "battery eliminator" a device that allowed battery-powered radios to run on household AC current. But as more homes were wired for electricity, more radio manufacturers made AC-powered radios. Galvin needed a new product to manufacture. When he met Lear and Wavering at the radio convention, he found it. He believed that mass-produced, affordable car radios had the potential to become a huge business. Lear and Wavering set up shop in Galvin's factory, and when they perfected their first radio, they installed it in his Studebaker. Then Galvin went to a local banker to apply for a loan. Thinking it might sweeten the deal, he had his men install a radio in the banker's Packard. Good idea, but it didn't work -- Half an hour after the installation, the banker's Packard caught on fire. (They didn't get the loan.) Galvin didn't give up. He drove his Studebaker nearly 800 miles to Atlantic City to show off the radio at the 1930 Radio Manufacturers Association convention. Too broke to afford a booth, he parked the car outside the convention hall and cranked up the radio so that passing conventioneers could hear it. That idea worked -- He got enough orders to put the radio into production. WHAT'S IN A NAME? That first production model was called the 5T71. Galvin decided he needed to come up with something a little catchier. In those days many companies in the phonograph and radio businesses used the suffix "ola" for their names - Radiola, Columbiola, and Victrola were three of the biggest. Galvin decided to do the same thing, and since his radio was intended for use in a motor vehicle, he decided to call it the Motorola. But even with the name change, the radio still had problems: When Motorola went on sale in 1930, it cost about $110 uninstalled, at a time when you could buy a brand-new car for $650, and the country was sliding into the Great Depression. (By that measure, a radio for a new car would cost about $3,000 today.) In 1930, it took two men several days to put in a car radio -- the dashboard had to be taken apart so that the receiver and a single speaker could be installed, and the ceiling had to be cut open to install the antenna. These early radios ran on their own batteries, not on the car battery, so holes had to be cut into the floorboard to accommodate them. The installation manual had eight complete diagrams and 28 pages of instructions. Selling complicated car radios -- that cost 20 percent of the price of a brand-new car -- wouldn't have been easy in the best of times, let alone during the Great Depression. Galvin lost money in 1930 and struggled for a couple of years after that. But things picked up in 1933 when Ford began offering Motorola's pre-installed at the factory. In 1934 they got another boost when Galvin struck a deal with B.F. Goodrich tire company to sell and install them in its chain of tire stores. By then the price of the radio, installation included, had dropped to $55. The Motorola car radio was off and running. (The name of the company would be officially changed from Galvin Manufacturing to "Motorola" in 1947.) In the meantime, Galvin continued to develop new uses for car radios. In 1936, the same year that it introduced push-button tuning, it also introduced the Motorola Police Cruiser, a standard car radio that was factory preset to a single frequency to pick up police broadcasts. In 1940 he developed the first handheld two-way radio -- the Handie-Talkie -- for the U. S. Army. A lot of the communications technologies that we take for granted today were born in Motorola labs in the years that followed World War II. In 1947 they came out with the first television to sell under $200. In 1956 the company introduced the world's first pager; in 1969 it supplied the radio and television equipment that was used to televise Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon. In 1973 it invented the world's first handheld cellular phone. Today Motorola is one of the largest cell phone manufacturer in the world -- And it all started with the car radio. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO The two men who installed the first radio in Paul Galvin's car? Elmer Wavering and William Lear ended up taking very different paths in life. Wavering stayed with Motorola. In the 1950s, he helped change the automobile experience again when he developed the first automotive alternator, replacing inefficient and unreliable generators. The invention lead to such luxuries as power windows, power seats, and, eventually, air-conditioning. Lear also continued inventing. He holds more than 150 patents. Remember eight-track tape players? Lear invented that. But what he's really famous for are his contributions to the field of aviation. He invented radio direction finders for planes, aided in the invention of the autopilot, designed the first fully automatic aircraft landing system and, in 1963, introduced his most famous invention of all, the Lear Jet, the world's first mass-produced, affordable business jet. (Not bad for a guy who dropped out of school after the eighth grade.) Sometimes it is fun to find out how some of the many things that we take for granted actually came into being!...and It all started with a woman's suggestion!

Random Thought #136

What's up with hazel colored eyes? What color is hazel? If you to relate it to hazelnuts, you might think golden-brown but hazel tends to be kind of a catch-all term. Specifically with eye color, you've got either brown, blue, green, or hazel. Its like someone said, what color are your eyes? Blue? Nope. Brown? Nope. Green? Nope. Hmm, I guess we'll just call them hazel. Seriously, where does this word come from? I have hazel eyes but if I were to describe them, I guess I would say a combination of brown and light green. I just find it interesting that all the other colors are very distinct, describeable, and relateable but with hazel, nobody can really tell you what that is. It just is.

Random Thought #135

This is just an interesting little fact but I had no idea how Singapore got its name. I've since learned that singa is the malaysia/indonesian word for lion. Singapore is the english word for singa pura which translates lion city or lion shrine. Apparently when an Indonesian prince went out sailing and discovered the land, the first thing he saw was a tiger running at great speed but he actually thought it was a lion so he called the place lion land. Makes sense. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the famous white statue with a lion head on a fish's body. Another story is that this same prince, upon coming to Singapore, saw a fish with a lion's head on it (catfish??) and so called the place Singa Ore or City of Lion. Apparently Singapore used to be a little fishing village. Anyways, interesting little tidbits. Here is a picture of the famous statues/fountains, now known as the Merlion. Reminds me of the computer game "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego". Anyone getting flashbacks? Huh? Huh?

Random Thought #134

This is just a quick post about a video I watched from TED which talks about the messages that get sent out from movies to our youth. A comparison between The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. I think its well done and has a great message. Enjoy. http://www.ted.com/talks/colin_stokes_how_movies_teach_manhood.html

Random Thought #133

Have you ever been driving down the road and seen a car in front of you with a sticker that said 13.1 or 26.2 on it? I never knew what that meant until a couple of days ago. I thought it was some military call sign or a symbol of some kind of philanthropic cause or something. Turns out I was wrong. 13.1 stands for a half-marathon. A half-marathon is approximately 13.1 miles in distance. I'm not sure if you get a sticker for competing in one or actually finishing one or for winning one but that's what it stands for. Guessing you don't need much help to guess what 26.2 stands for. Yup, a marathon. Fun fact: the marathon was actually instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. (Source: Wikipedia). One of these days I want to pull up to one of these cars that has the sticker at a stop light, roll down my window and ask "Hey, why are you driving? Wouldn't you rather run?" LOL

Random Thought #132

Why is it that comedy is actually funny? Why do we laugh? I find it interesting that we laugh because we can identify with what is being said. We've usually either experienced it or know someone who has. Somehow it has to make a connection with something we already have a knowledge or or representation for. But its not just the linkage made by the joke that makes it funny, typically the topic is something that we would never actually bring up in real life. Everyone knows its true but nobody will bring it up. Its somehow taboo. Ever wonder what happened when a joke falls flat or isn't funny? I find 1 of 2 things happened. Either 1) the link wasn't made and so the audience has no idea what you are talking about. They haven't had that shared experience or 2) it was a little too taboo for them personally. Ever been the subject of a joke? Yeah, that's reason #2 right there. Ever been the outside guy on an inside joke? Yup, that's reason #1. I'm sure there is an entire psychology to comedy and how to come up with good laughs which would be an interesting read. I was just listening to a comedian the other day and as I was laughing, I just wondered why I was laughing and now its a blog post..HAHA!

Random Thought #131

As I said in my last post, why is it that we view things as having a beginning and an end. Why do we view things hierarchically? Why must there be two sides to a strip of paper? (See Mobius Strip) Why does there have to be an inside and an outside? (See Klein Bottle). Our understanding of things is based on what we observe, learn, and experience. Think about it. Everything that you know to be true today is based on past experiences. Remember the sensation of learning something existed that you never knew before? You've never experienced it before so you never thought it was possible. Imagine you lived in a world where doors always open inwards (I suppose that's relative); let's say in one direction. You would be quite staunch in your approach and would tell someone that doors can only be opened one way. Then imagine you encounter a door that opens the opposite way. How could this be? How are we to understand this strange phenomenon? It so clearly violates the way the world works and yet there is the evidence standing right in front of you. The awesome part is that we now assimilate that experience into our understanding of how the world works and we are now ok with it. Innovators have an uncanny way of pushing the boundaries of their "complete" world and discovering new and exciting things.

This is simply Godel's Incompleteness Theorem. The theorem basically says that a system (your perception in this instance)cannot be both complete and consistent. Everything you know is based on past experiences and they are all true because that's how the world works. We'll say our world is consistent. Everything makes sense and there are no anomolies. We believe that it is complete but then we learn something new that challenges the way our world works and discover our system isn't complete. We could ignore this fact and say that its false and maintain our consistency but then we can't say that our world is complete because there is something new out there that isn't part of our system. Conversely, if we accept this newly learned truth, then we believe that our system is now complete but its not consistent because doors now open in two directions instead of one. So what do we do as humans? We have to change the rules of the game. We have to change our perception and understanding (our system) so that the new information is assimilated and we are again both consistent and complete. Or are we?

Random Thought #130

A member of our ward came up to me the other day and mentioned that he could relate to what I had said in my testimoney a couple of weeks before about a friend of mine who didn't quite see the point in organized religion. This friend felt that he was a good person, believed in God, and generally tried to do what was right. He didn't see the need for all of the structure and rules and limitations and guidelines, etc. etc. I tried to tell him about the necessary ordinances and the priesthood authority but none of that really seemed to work. This fellow member came up to me and said that he had felt the same exact way earlier in his life and was inactive for a time. He relayed his feelings and experiences and we had a good conversation but what struck me most about that encounter was the fact that someone was able to relate so closely to my friend's situation.

I'm sure we've all been in some situation in which either we experience the exact same feelings, thoughts, or experiences as others or they have experienced much the same thing as we have. If you ever need advice, who do you go to? Someone who has been through something similar. If you have a question about how to do something, who do you ask? Someone who has already figured out the answer. It seems that there are cycles of patterns of thoughts, experiences, and/or feelings that different sets of people go through. Not everyone's experience is the same, but there always seems to be someone who we can relate to or who can relate to us.

As parents we teach our children, but what is the source of our teaching? Things we have already experienced or encountered or feel we have a good grip on. When we encounter a new or unfamiliar situation, we often refer to work colleagues, friends, or family. What makes us think they have the answer? I think this speaks deeply to the fact that we are all here to take the same test, we all just have different variations of the test. Remember how in grade school, they would use the same questions on the test but they weren't always in the same order or not all of the questions were on everyone's test. Different questions were left off of different people's tests. All of this was to prevent cheating and give everyone a fair shake. That's what life seems to be like. We all have the same basic test and there are of course similar questions and there are of course certain right answers, but not everyone has the exact same test. It makes one wonder how long this test has been around. I mean, there are other worlds with other spirits and Heavenly Father and Jesus both had to take the test to get to where they are. Our hierarchical understanding of beginning and end isn't able to understand this concept as there much (in our view) be some ultimate test maker. This process has to be recursive somehow. If it is recursive though, we are only looking at some point in time along the loop but we're unable to get outside the system to see who might have created this recursive loop. That leads me to another interesting thought about how our perceptions are constructed based on our surroundings and experiences but I'll go into more depth in the next post.

Random Thought #129

I think its pretty evident by now that the US is not heading in a good direction and much of what made this country great has either already disappeared or will soon with the generations of my parents and grandparents. I've often thought, what would I do if things got really really bad. What is my backup plan? I've thought about moving to a different country and gaining citizenship there. I'd like to move somewhere that is still modern but isn't constantly wrapped up in everything that is going on in the world and feels like it has to be center stage. I thought about Australia or New Zealand. If things got really bad, where would you move to? or would you? Lemme know in the comments.

Random Thought #128

I was going through my usual batch of TED videos when this one caught my eye. Its pretty cool because someone is actually using social media for something good. It also showcases the absurdidty that is government. Deep down, people are great. http://www.ted.com/talks/israel_and_iran_a_love_story.html