Reflections L - Causual Observations

What is most tragic about the fine arts is that it likely peaked in the 17th century with a slight boost given to it by the Impressionists two centuries later.  Since then the decline looks to be terminal. AI may be the final nail in a once ornate coffin.

Anything perceived as free to use, will be ultimately abused by the public. Many people simply can’t help themselves.

The tragedy of the modern is that we are drowning in a sea of unoriginal sludge.

In an insane world it is even more important that one’s thoughts be focused, rational and reliably conceived.

To an extremist the danger is not the directly opposing viewpoint but the very truth itself.

A sad observation is that most people fail to understand the limits of science including many scientists themselves.

Any religion that uses excommunication as a weapon to ensure conformity has no understanding of the God-Person relationship.

A declining society has no problem relegating the truth to a position behind popular sentiment. The eventual aim is to eventually replace the former fully with the latter.

Navigating the Chaos - Part 7 - What is Good Science?

 Good Science is the pursuit of knowledge derived from questioning. It is the science that looks at a phenomenon and attempts to elucidate its workings through rational thought and empirical investigation. It strives to be as objective as possible in its process. Conclusions are eventually drawn following the thorough analysis of evidence, but the conclusions must not extend beyond the assumptions that so define the research.

There is no single definitive scientific method, but there are broad procedures that extend from the initial observation through hypothesis to the investigation, analysis, and subsequent conclusion(s) for any inquiry.

Scientists are not guardians of truth but agents of clarification that peel away the fog of noise in an attempt to model more accurately the workings of the world. They are, of course, free to philosophize and speculate about the significance of their findings (something I personally call the extended objective), but these speculations should not overwrite or even overextend the mandate of their original research. 

The individual Scientist is bound to understand the limits of their findings which ultimately calls for an appreciation of the restrictions of their respective disciplines. Science is not a religion, nor should it be vaunted as one; however, it is the best tool that we humans have for understanding the material world. It is indeed very powerful, but it is ultimately confined to the milieu of matter/energy.

Navigating the Chaos - Part 6 - The Purpose of my book Navigating the Chaos

 It isn't easy to make sense of the chaos that is modern-day reality. Transformational change, information deluge, and a preponderance of bad ideas often leave us feeling isolated in a world that seems to be edging closer to an expedited collapse.

Post-truth has made itself heard across virtually every intellectual discipline, leaving one navigating a turbulent pathway to a workable clarity.

It is my experience that if you wish to live a life of meaning that you also have to adhere to beliefs that are well thought out, clear, and based on sound reasoning and logic.

I would say that my eventual goal is making sense of the universe. A cynic would claim that such a task is futile, fraught with obstacles, and ultimately a bridge to eventual disappointment. Perhaps this is true, but I would not renege on the journey, its path may be convoluted, but the serendipity that it invites is overwhelmingly rewarding.

Navigating the chaos is a formed-in-the-fire product of me wrestling with a multiplicity of ideas that I have come across in my stay on the planet so far. It is a consequence of both my practical experience and independent inquiry that reflects issues as diverse as the nature of science, the ebbs and flow of history, and the trajectory of our future.

A great deal of what I write here is based on my judgment that I have endeavored to substantiate with evidence and reasonable speculation. I will admit when I am at a loss and most certainly welcome the reader to challenge my conclusions.

Over the years, I have learned that all issues are not as clear-cut as their champions make them out to be, and in virtually every case, one's personal position is a derivative of the net information available. While it is necessary to have principles, it is equally important to listen to contradictory standpoints, which is why the free flow of ideas is so critical to any debate.

Navigating the Chaos - Part 5 - Thoughts on Buddhism

 There is an essence to Buddhism that, at first glance, appears to be extremely soothing. As a philosophy, it puts on a kinder face that, to so many, appears to be more welcoming than the harshness of the Judeo-Christian belief system. One such facet that has engendered one to think of Buddhism in a more enlightened framework was the replacement of the all-powerful judging God viewing each and every one of our actions with the belief in karma that argues that every action has a consequence to it. In reality, both God and the karmic system function to guide our actions toward doing what is the 'good.' 

Bad acts in the Buddhist world invite bad karma, which leads to suffering. In Western theology, these acts are punished by the wrath of God that, too, leads to suffering. So what we have here are alternative explanations for the same outcome. But are they really alternatives, or is the one, karma, perhaps merely a description as to how God meets out justice? My problem with the karma view on its own is that it is too convenient and mechanistic. It provides for the predictability of outcomes that deduces B from A. In short, it is deterministic, like the theological version of classical physics. The complexity of human nature fits neatly into an equation of fortune that 'makes it all too easy.' 

I believe that consequences are murkier on the outcome of action because the ultimate decider of our fate is Ein Sof, and Ein Sof's logic is not so simplistic. We, for example, cannot explain why infants die at such a young age. Ein Sof must clearly know the reason. 

People once believed that the rules of mathematics and classical mechanics could be used to predict the future history of the universe with complete certainty. Quantum Mechanics (uncertainty principle, wave-particle duality, etc.) threw this 'certainty' on its head. Now it appears that the universe is more intricate and unpredictable than we could ever imagine. There is a logic there, but it is hidden behind a complex veil that I am not convinced we will ever breach. The same is true of the exact repercussions of our actions.

Navigating the Chaos - Part 4 - Why Free Will Matters.

Free Will gives us a choice. We are no longer automatons. However, a consequence of Free Will is a bad choice that can lead to pain and suffering. Free Will can also lead to a life of greater harmony. Both consequences need to be present. Otherwise, our Free Will is meaningless. Existentialism also deals with this issue but has a different basis - it argues that in a world of no innate meaning, we are free to make a choice, but we have to live with the consequences of our choice.

New Lists #3 - Options after we die.

 I have absolutely no idea. Although I figure it will be one of these ten situations.

1. We cease to exist completely in all dimensions.

2. We are recycled and reborn as humans somewhere else on Earth.

3. We join with a singularity so that our consciousness becomes one with the new medium.

4. We are reborn as a life form somewhere else in the universe.

5. We are reborn as a non-human life form on Earth.

6. We join with another consciousness and are reborn in some form or another.

7. We move into another dimension that our living conscious here on Earth cannot comprehend.

8. We ascend to the paradise described in traditional views of heaven. Never to be reborn again.

9. We are reborn in another world but keep our knowledge gained from the previous life.

10. We (or at least some of us) become 'angels' or messengers. Building new worlds across the universe that will themselves be populated by life

Scientific materialism would suggest 1. I am personally hoping for 3 or 6. They are way cooler.

Navigating the Chaos - Part 3 - Why do many People hate truth tellers?

 The problem, in the words of Jack Nicholson (taken from A Few Good Men), is that we 'cannot handle the truth.'

In order for us to function in the world, we have a tendency to create structures of coping that center around the way things ought to be, not how they are. We are all guilty of this and, in time, often turn the 'ought' into the 'is.'

This may serve us well until reality comes around to remind us of our short falling. When our deception is revealed, we are forced to re-evaluate our ingrained paradigm creating much anxiety and angst. The natural response is to prevent this re-evaluation from happening in the first place, which we implement by turning our anger.

Navigating the Chaos - Part 2 - A Quick thought on Prayer

Prayer must come from the heart. I prefer to produce my own prayer words that are of a personal nature. I realize others prefer pre-written templates or established prayer. It is their choice. The way I see it, prayer opens up a lane of necessary communication with a transcendence that enriches and makes more meaningful the notion of belief. On a communal level, it acts to provide solidarity between like believers in a specific system. Psychologically it may act as a mechanism to provide and enhance the clarity of thought.

 I think that not a day goes by without me contemplating my relationship with Ein Sof. This cuts to the very core of who I am as a being, and without such personal dialogue, I would certainly be much poorer. However, in a way, I am envious of the soul who has no doubt about their faith as they appear to have contentment that has escaped me so far. My faith comes not with ease; it is a tug-o-war complicated by the rivulets of thought that color my essence. I constantly joust with my belief and have, throughout my life, gravitated from one locale of inner comfort to another

Navigating the Chaos - Part 1 - My Personal Belief Structure

 I am by nature a scientific rationalist and consequently seek proof for my beliefs and avoid as much as possible any leaps of faith. However, I am also aware that science is bound to the material world and consequently has a limited realm through which it can access knowledge.

On a personal level, I have dedicated much of my life to science, but I am consciously aware of its zones of applicability. Having said this, I will exhaust all scientific explanations before deferring to an extra-material analysis in grasping the phenomenology of events. I owe this to myself. In a sense, I am a skeptic, not a logical positivist, but a realist armed with Occam's Razor but cognizant at the same time of the extra-material universe. 

I personally believe in an essence that extends beyond the physicality of the matter/energy universe. Perhaps this is a function of my individuality (so defined by my genetics and environmental history), but as much as I have tried to shrug off its presence and succumb to scientific materialism, I simply cannot. 

The Kabbalistic concept of Ein Sof, which translates (from the Hebrew) as 'without an end, appeals to me.' This makes the extended point that to truly define the essence is to actually limit it. All power, I believe, ultimately resides with the Ein Sof, which cannot be fully articulated, reduced, or even truly conceptualized. However, its presence is ubiquitous. 

I envision Ein Sof as multifaceted, and this is a consequence of omnipotence. It can be perceived on many levels. The Spirit God is 'the transcendence' from which our souls originate, and the personal God is the one that I communicate with. However, they are intrinsically linked as one.

The way I see it is that individual souls are derived from the Ein Sof. Our abstraction from the Ein Sof does not in any way reduce the Ein Sof as it supersedes the material. The laws of physics do not limit the Ein Sof as all its constraints and realities are ultimately a product of the Ein Sof. The Ein Sof is consequently the cause of why something, as opposed to nothing, exists

As Ein Sof Derived Souls, we can interact with the Ein Sof by following the path of goodness. This involves the extension of our sense of self and a concerted focus on the positive growth of our being and the assistance of others

In the Hindu Uppanbishad, it is written - That supreme Brahman is infinite, and this conditioned Brahman is infinite. The infinite proceeds from infinite. If you subtract the infinite from the infinite, the infinite remains alone.

The Ein Sof is similar to the Uppanbishad definition of the Infinite Soul - Brahman. I am actually very much taken by the Hindu understanding of our individual soul - the Athman - being in its essence a derivative of the Brahman. As mentioned, we can approach the Ein Sof/Brahman by performing meaningful acts of goodness.

Others have addressed this dynamic but have unfortunately allowed themselves to lose focus in the vortex of cultural noise. Meaningful belief has to extend beyond this 'noise' to reclaim the connection with the Ein Sof. This brings us the greatest joy.

The direct approach toward goodness involves the elucidation of perspective. This substantiates itself in the prioritization of goals, daily events, and thoughts. Perspective is triage for the mind; it places our challenges in context so that we never lose sight of the goodness of the Ein Sof. 

Meaningful acts are tantamount to acts of kindness – an extension of one's sense of self to include the other. Martin Buber wrote about this in the 'I and Thou.' These bring one closer to Ein Sof and allow us to appreciate its magnificence. Life also has to be lived with purpose. In doing so, we discover the Ein Sof 'Spark.'

We must be thankful for what we have. I call this a consolidation of reality. Once such a step has been undertaken, the mind framework towards goodness is rooted. This catalyzes the drive.

I would argue that each morning until the end of the day, we awake with a new opportunity (for the most part) to prove and better ourselves. We should appreciate that we have life and act to help others.

Reflections XLIX - On the Diabolical

Russia’s strength has always been both the size of its population and the vastness of its territory. This has afforded them the luxury of absorbing great errors of judgement that would destroy almost any other state.  For most of its history it has acted as a bottomless pit that can swallow its own incompetence

A problem of American foreign policy architects is that they regularly overstate the demand for freedom  abroad that they so value in their own country.  They have yet to come to terms with the notion that the authoritarian impulse is well received and in many cases welcomed globally.

It is all very well connecting the dots but you have to connect them in the right order.

Just as Jerusalem serves as a gateway to spiritualism in the world Los Angeles occupies the niche as a monument to narcissism.

Structuring a society based on kindness alone produces self destruction as it blindly rewards incompetence.

For all of my life the fundamental policy of leftist governments is to enhance, support and grow welfare dependence. To this end they have succeeded.

You can indeed fool most of the people most of the time. This is done regularly at elections.

The problem with bad ideas is that they seem to have an infinite shelf life.

Relections XLVIII - Lessons from History

One problem with technology is that it can make stupid people and bad ideas seem reasonable. It has a seemingly endless ability to obfuscate.

China will make Russia in the contemporary seem relevant, so long as it supplies it with resources and can be used as a cudgel against the west. For the Russian nation that has been in decline since the end of the Cold War, any support is welcome. Beggars can’t be choosers.

Empires rarely last for a long period of time as they cannot resist the impetus to rot from within. Corruption motivated by self interest sits at the heart of human frailty.

The inherent flaw of globalism is that it is predicated on the notion of universally shared values. This is grounded in wishful thinking not reality.

Very few societies have performed better following the mass exodus of Jews, yet it is the unifying cry of many a bigot.

There should be a special Hades for those who deliberately choose not to see beyond their own  narrative of choice.

A question that is almost never asked is when does the marginal utility of formal education kick in?

The primary focus of many academics is to build linguistic word towers of nebulous quality to prevent outsiders from seeing the vacuum that exists from within.

No matter how evil an act is there will always be somebody who can rationalize it within the context of a greater good.

New Lists #2 - The 20 Greatest Characters that I most enjoyed Reading about in British Comics

1. Judge Dredd (2000AD and Judge Dredd)

2. Charley Bourne from Charley's War (Battle/Action)

3. Roy Race ( Roy of the Rovers)

4. Alf Tupper from Tough of the Tracks(Victor Comics)

5. Skid Solo (Tigers Comics)

6. Dan Dare (Eagle)

7. Tommy Barnes from Tommy's Troubles (Roy of the Rovers)

8. Johnny Cougar (Tiger Comics)

9. Joe Taggart (from Spinball in Battle/Action)

10. Jon Stark (Football Mercenary in Scoop Comic)

11. Hot Shot Hamish (Tiger/Roy of the Rovers)

12. Rogue Trooper (2000AD)

13. Numbskulls (Beezer Comic)

14. Bash Street Kids (Beano)

15. Billy Dane of Billy Boots Fame (Tiger)

16. Mighty Mouse (Roy of the Rovers)

17. ABC Warriors (2000AD)

18. Judge Anderson (2000AD and Judge Dredd)

19.Mike and his mini men (Roy of the Rovers)

20. Trigo (Trigan Empire Series)

New Lists #1 - The Top 100 Movies that I Personally like

These are movies that really resonated with me and that I would clearly watch over again (something I rarely do). I am not a film critic so I will not pass judgement and their production brilliance. This is all about personal taste and comfort. (Yes I know that Godfather should be #1 or #2.... Citizen Kane and Casablanca are on my list to watch as is Scarface and The Untouchables).

1. Back the Future (the first movie not the sequels)

2. Silence of the Lambs

3. Casino

4. Goodfellas

5. Interstellar

6. High Noon

7. Gran Torino

8. Raiders of the Lost Ark

9. Glengarry Glen Ross

10. Downfall

11. Pulp Fiction

12. Ten Commandments

13. Star Wars a New Hope

14. Schindler's List

15. The Unforgiven

16. Jurassic Park

17. Once Upon a Time in America

18. The Spy who Loved me

19. Dredd

20. Gone with The Wind

21.Blood Diamond

22. Apocalypse Now

23. Saving Private Ryan

24. Empire Strikes Back

25. Demolition Man

26. The Right Stuff

27. Sleuth (the original)

28. Trainspotting

29. Gladiator

30. American Beauty

31. Inception

32. The Party

33. Spartacus

34.  Grease

35. When Harry Met Sally

36. Goldfinger

37. The Matrix

38. Dodgeball

39. Gangs of New York

40. Fury

41. Where Eagles Dare

42. Rocky 

43.  The Chosen

44. Carry on Doctor (My favourite Carry on Movie)

45. Airplane

46. The Great Escape

47. In Time

48. There's only one Jimmy Grimble

49. Ford v Ferrari

50. Life of Brian

51. The Godfather

52. The Dark Knight

52. People v Larry Flynt

53. Whiplash

54. The Notebook

55. Amadeus

56. Wolf of Wall Street

57. The Red Violin

58. Platoon

59. Exodus

60. Jaws

61. Wild Geese

62. Karate KId

63. Princess Bride

64. American Pie

65. White Men Can't Jump

66. Full Metal Jacket

67. The Departed

68. Judgement at Nuremberg

69. The Holdovers

70. Escape to Victory

71. Rush

72. Ice Cold in Alex

73. Top Gun

74. Princess Bride

75. Donny Brasco 

76. Rear Window

77. Chariots of Fire

78. Seven

79. Rambo

80. Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1939)

81. Boogie Nights

82. Fargo

83.The Doors

84. Angel Heart

85. The Hangover

86. The Secret of My Success

87. The Death of Stalin

88. Inglourius Bastards

89. Rocky III

90. Tropic Thunder

91. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

92. Home Alone

93. Annie Hall

94. Batman (1988)

95. Bohemian Rhapsody

96.  Higher Learning

97. Coming to America

98. Enter the Dragon

99. My Cousin Vinny

100. Superman II

Reflections XLVII - Making Sense of the Narrative

 The greatest weapon that the elites have in a democratic system is that they can almost always rely on the stupidity of the voter.

The obvious weakness of rationalism is that on a practical level it doesn’t scale as well as emotion.

The surest way to destroy an economy is to fleece the wealth of the job creation class in the name of a supposed equality.

Our biggest enemy at times is our own ego. If not kept in check it will pave out a dangerous road for us to take.

China has built itself into an economic power by systematically defeating every US Presidential Administration since Richard Nixon in the great game of trade. The US paved the way for its recovery from the disasters of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

If Americans took a break from their two party partisan politics model to objectively analyzing the aspects of specific policies they might see the improvements they would like. Unfortunately this aspect of their national landscape is unlikely to change. If anything it is more inclined to worsen.

Individual intelligence counts for little if you are prone to the hysteria of the masses.

The problem with management is that they have an innate need to complicate processes to justify their net being.

Progress (whatever that nebulous term means) only makes some sense if our trajectory is understood else it can very easily lead you along a course of self destruction. Progressivism as a political movement in the United States has erred in this regard many a time.