1905

This house was built in 1905.

It's been almost a month

since I wrote. It's April's fool day so I'll keep it short. To short, very short.

Not enough time

These past days have gone so fast that is hard to keep track. In many ways everything is going smooth as it should but in other sense this smoothness make it hard to follow in detail what is happening. It is like being on automatic pilot. Following a schedule, meetings and reunions becomes such a rutinary state when at the same time one is looking for meaning. Last Tuesday (i think?) March 7 my dear wife and I had the pleasure of listening to Rabbi Michael Lerner at Powell's books in downtown Portland. He was presenting his new book: The Left Hand of God. But was also -and more important- sharing his views about what is happening in the spiritual world today. As soon as I read the book I'll post my comments.
Also this week I have been busy taking web seminars and enjoying every minute of it. As I learn more pedagogy: some for online tools for hybrid courses and some for adult education I feel a personal growth both in my conceptualization of the learning process and the confidence about content of what I want to communicate.
One thing I would very much like to learn is how to stretch time, as so far I see that there is not enough time!

The Values of Our Times

Today we all are talking about how it is important to looks at the “values” that rule our lives. In political, economical, and social terms how we perceive “value” determines how we act. So the common statement that we must do something because of our “values” is mostly an understatement of our reality. In most cases the idea of basing our actions on some predetermined values has lead to erroneous outcomes, in some cases even dangerously close to a disaster. The book written by Jimmy Carter (2005) “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” Simon & Schuster Publishers, ISBN: 978 0 7432 8457 8 is a very good account of present dilemma regarding how we are dealing with true values, especially he refers to Christian moral values such as taking care of the poor. Throughout a profound analysis of past and present policies of the American Government together with a knowledgeable account of monetary investments in various sectors President Carter is cautioning us to be aware of the direction in which out country is moving. In general moving generally away from our cherished Christian moral values. This is for sure a must read for those of us who are looking for a clarification of the meaning of being a true Christian…a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rightnow

I have found a very beautiful website by Ralph S Marston Jr. The URL is: http://www.llangley.com/yoga/wisdom/rightnow[2].htm If are thinking about the future, if the future is bugging you, have a look at this website.

Time for Truth ----- Time for Reality

In the book edited by Joseph Neeham in 1955 "Science, Religion, and Reality" published by Braziller, New York you'll find a good set of questions that relate to today's news. The book is a balanced exposure of ideas based on Blaise Pascal quote "Two extravagances: to exclude Reason, to admit only Reason."
George Sarton in his introductory essay questions who should be asked about reality. Who is competent to appreciate the validity and soundness of an astronomical book? Are the editors of Harper's, or Reader's Digest, or the people who have devoted their whole life to the study of astronomy?
Are physicists the ones to define the physical world? Who will help us understand the spiritual world? Would it have to be spirits? This is the difference between truth and rightness. When one moves outside the physical world into the metaphysical one the possibility of encountering "paradox" is created. Paradoxes are not irreal nor unreal, but are they real? Today we use perception as a measure of reality, polling after polling is used to state that the reality of the situation is what is perceived. As I think Einstein said Objectivity is the common denominator of subjectivity, probably mocking off those who self proclaim being in the "objective" side and using the "matter of fact" ing of their position to sustain an unsustainable proposition.

Past Post-Modern Times

“The World is Flat” according to Thomas Friedman in his book “A Brief History of the Twenty first Century” 2005; Farrar New York ISBN 0-374-29288-4 OF. Linn Library call no. HM846.F74 2005. In it Friedman goes over an extensive survey of today’s socio-political system in search of democratic leadership. Analyzes how the United States of America is lagging behind undeveloped nations in her effort for a sustainable development.
Based on a strict view of what is happening in places such as India, China and Latin America. His insight is based on extensive travel and personal interviews with important people in those countries. Just to mention one, the one with Guillermo Ortiz the governor of the Central Bank of Mexico (equivalent to Greenspan in the US) is quite interesting, basically because Ortiz was put in that position by Salinas (Mexico’s President from1988 to 1994) and represent the most active ideology of open markets for big capital and corporations.
Friedman’s analysis is clear relating: Awareness>>Attitude>>Education>>Science>>Technology>> to Prosperity.
By doing this he criticizes some of the baggage of our current situation where meritocracy is substituted by cronyism and short term substitutes long term planning and vision.
As the author opens our eyes to intangible and tangible reasons for the flattening of the earth emphasizes the need for better education as the first step and the awareness that with today’s technology many problems of society could be resolved very easily. There is absolutely no reason why more than one million people are estimated to die of malaria each year. According to the author an energy war is taking place and will be even more acute as China takes more and more of energy resources as she continues with her development. This (flat) world is amoral. Both good and bad organizations have their playing ground flattened –those who work for the advancement of society as well of those who are looking for selfish gains in detriment of all. This is what makes violent organizations so powerful regardless of their lack of acceptance by civilized society in general.
As a native of Mexico chapter 9 “The Virgin of Guadalupe” caught my attention in a special way. Friedman’s argument in this chapter could be summarized with the following idea: in the run for the bottom nobody wins! The “bottom” could be low wages, low standards of living, environmental standards, or any other socio-economic standard. As Mexico was keeping progress at the slowest rate possible in order to compete in the international market place with low wages as a member of NAFTA, China could go even lower! The proximity with the US was no match for the extremely low cost of Chinese production, even taking transportation into account. Most of the book is focused on education. Mentioning the role of parenting and the strength of public education in the US, as well as the positive impact of the influx of foreign born need for success and achievement. He doesn’t propose militarizing education but higher standards, and taking students out of their comfort zone. Students have to learn how to save and sacrifice some immediate pleasures in the present for a return in the future. India’s investment in education is paying off now many years after the strong investment done after their independence from England in the 1940s.

Wind of the Times

Why the Right Got it Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get it? Is clearly explained by Jim Wallis in his book God’s Politics, 2005. Harper Collins ISBN: 0-06-055828-8. As far as I have been able to read (not finished yet) the author’s strong arguments demonstrate a change in today’s political winds where the appearance of moral high ground that has been sequestered by self designated keepers of morality is now been freed and promoted by truly religious individuals and organizations. These self appointed “guardians” of morals are characterized by extremist positions that are similar in both Islamic fundamentalism and the so-called Christian evangelism. Even the names for these religions have nothing to do neither with the majority of churches practicing the religion nor with the people that practice it. A few extremists have hijacked these beautiful ideas and principles into false and ugly ideologies that have nothing to do with the original intent.

It is so refreshing and encouraging seeing that many good people are taking the lead in order to recuperate religion. Today we celebrate the life of a distinguished Christian who gave his life for his sisters and brothers. He was a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Martin Luther King Jr. was “only” defending the principles established in the New Testament.

Other book that I highly recommend is “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” by Jimmy Carter 2005. Simon and Schuster ISBN: 0-7432-8457-7. This book emphasizes our responsibility as religious people to take care of our fellow men to be pro life (that is against war, and any other form of killing) and to take care of the earth as stewards of creation in order to leave our descendants the environments and resources that we were given.

It seems that these are the prevailing winds.

Time for best wishes for the New Year!

Time reading is time well spent. The Universe in a Nutshell by S. Hawking (ISBN 0-553-80202-X) is a book full of interesting thoughts and it is so nicely presented. One chapter in particular must be read with great care: chapter 2 about "The shape of time". One can't say what time is, nor what shape it is but according to the theory of General Relativity one can say that "time isn't linear" nor monochromatic, nor monotonic, nor simple.
We wish all a prosperous new year full of good venture, happiness, and helth.

Disconnected Time

Disconnected time

Published in 1908 a book that was translated from German continues to be a relevant and updated discourse on the ethical questions of today. Friedrich Paulsen’s “A System of Ethics” (Scribner’s Sons Pub.) was written for the general public in a plain and direct language that enlightens and analyzes topics that were of paramount importance then and still are now. As I am reading these ideas that were thought and expressed more than one hundred years ago I become aware of the transcendence of these basic virtues and values.
Today as one start a new year (for posterity: one is talking about 2006) the same old questions are asked. But for the old question there is a new perspective. One that is not really new, but for a personal renovation can be stated as a new point of view. As when one thinks about a new year in the sense of renovation, knowing that the cycle is part of a continuum, that psychologically there is a renewal as after the hibernation of winter comes the awakening of spring.
So as we wish to all a “Prosperous and Happy New Year”, the wishes are for this next year as for all the next years. Disconnected time is being connected.

Space Time

Einstein’s Cosmos: How Albert Einstein’s Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time. Michio Kaku. 251 pp. Atlas Books. ISBN 0-393-05165-X O.F. Linn Library QC 173.59 S65 K356 2004.

Prof. Michio Kaku from City University of New York has written a wonderful account of Albert Einstein’s struggle to find the unified theory of the universe. This account goes far beyond the traditional biographies that of this great scientist have been written. For almost two hundred and fifty pages Prof. Kaku gives us an idea of the times, friends and colleagues of Albert Einstein and the way in which his thought were developed and shaped by his personal relationships. All of this is done within a profound understanding of the physics involved so this is not only a historical description of the life of a great mind, but it also enlightens one with the intricacies of the theoretical concepts in modern physics and the relationship of these concepts with natural philosophy and ultimately to our final sense of reality.

Is it to late?

Thinking about how long has it been since ...? I remembered that discussion that I had with many people at the turn of the millennium. Many used to argue that the year 2000 was not the beginning of the "new" millennium as they argued that the year 2001 should be the first. It was so difficult to explain why the year 2000 was the beginning as the counter argument was that there is no year zero at the beginning of counting. We know that zero is a number but how can we explain that this number counts as a place in the sequence of event if zero is understood as a non-event.
I don't know if it is too late to argue about our counting (measuring) of time but one thing I know: it is the semantic knowledge through our language (or the lack of it) that leads us to the understanding(or to problems) of dating. Here is an easy way out: If I have been teaching (i.e. I am still doing it) since a particular date, I can count how many years have passed (X) and I can say that I am in my Yth year. Where Y = X + 1. In this sense the year 2000 is in fact the 2001st year as 2000 years have passed.

A long time

Not the time that it has taken for me to write, as it has been a long time. But nothing compared with "cosmic" time which is what this is all about.
It is difficult to appreciate the full scope of time when one is limited to a short time experience. As our definition of time and the units that we use for its measurement are so anthropocentric it is almost impossible to make any lucubration about universal time. As Einstein proposed his basic assumptions about the universe he made one powerful move: there is unity of the universe. By stating two fundamental principles, one philosophic and one physical, the theory of relativity is able to conform the cosmos to a “continuum” where a vacuum filled with “fields” manifest itself as matter or energy depending on the configuration of the geometry of that space. It may be that because of this Einstein expressed his opinion that geometry was a “physical” science. The philosophical principle is that the laws of physics are the same for any observer. So if two observers were moving relative to each other and they observed the same phenomenon they should get to the same law as the explanation of said phenomenon. On the one hand the constancy of the speed of light in vacuum as electromagnetic radiation being the physical principle allows the connection between those observers that are moving relative to each other. Can we use the same bridge –the constancy of the speed of light – to connect our time to “cosmic” time? With string theory the effort is to connect our time to the atto –femto scale by means of quantum field theory. As far as I know this has been attempted through gravitational field theory (quantum and relativistic) but the assumption has been that if the time involved in the phenomenon is grater than that of Planck’s time (1.38 E-43 sec.) time will be considered continuous that is as an analog function where its flow is directed by the second law of thermodynamics

Andy Warhol's time

Andy Warhol writes in his 1975 book "The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B & Back Again.)"> ISBN:0-15-189050-1

About Time

From time to time
Do time
Time yourself

Weekends

In time
In no time

In good time
Between time
Time and again
Lifetime
Time-worn

Pass time
Mark time
Buy time
Keep time

On time
In time
Time off
Time out
Time in
Time card
Time lapse
Time zone

The beforetime
The meantime
The aftertime
The All-time-

Time for cosmic talk

“Blowing Bubbles in the Cosmos: Astronomical Winds, Jets, and Explosions” gives a wonderful insight into the evolution of our universe. The book written by T.W. Hartquist, J.E Dyson, and D.P. Ruffle and published by Oxford University Press in 2004 provides a full view of all sorts of phenomena observed by astrophysicists. Starting of course with a comprehensive account of the discovery of astronomical winds, and going through the quantification of their magnitude as is connected to star formation and stellar evolution. The authors look at differences in regional activity as well as the possibility for connecting supernovae and their remnants. They look at active galaxies, their nuclei, and their galactic winds. Finally the authors provide us with a comprehensive mathematical appendix and a very useful glossary.
ISBN: 0-19-513054-5. O.F.Linn library QB529.H37 2004
One reason that cosmological studies are so important can be seen in this blog's question(http://abandontheweb.blogspot.com/) " Is hi-tech timeless? one can see that it is!
Loyal starts a comment with: "In technology...More is law. More speed, more storage, more graphics, and so on." But will this law—more of an assumption, really—be true tomorrow, and is it true today?

Time for Academic Reform

The following is from Slate magazine : "Stanley N. Katz provides an overview of the liberal arts debate here.
What should students be studying in college? No one seems to agree anymore. Harvard University is in the midst of a heated debate about its general education requirements, while the Association of American Colleges and Universities has launched a campaign to promote "a liberal education." Slate has taken the occasion to ask an array of prominent academics to tackle the question at the heart of the debate: What should undergraduates leave college knowing?"
This is such an important and ongoing question that needs all of us in higher education to get involved. Two points I would like to make: Blogs are becoming a wonderful tool for the discussion, and the discussion is now open to a wider audience.
Cross references and recycling electrons is fairly efficient, so let's do it!

When time goes by ...

... it is difficult to keep track of things. One thing leads to another and by the time you realize that time has gone it is too late. More so when you are busy and in some ways productive. It is the time of the year when we transition to deeper thoughts, as winter is settling. Last week I had the opportunity of meeting with some friends of the Science Integration Institute where I presented the topic "Reality, Reason, and Imagination" we had a great time. We talked about the idea of eather and how this idea as it was abandoned helped Einstein use the Lorentz-Fitsgerald translations to sustain his relativity principles.

Time in The Physical World

One’s senses connect us to the world in many ways and through many steps. One’s mind interprets one’s perceptions obtained through one’s senses. One’s mind is made of a brain and the interconnections that neurons make that give reality to the idea.
So is it the world real? Or is it an idea? (Old question that we'll not answer here!)

Along human history there have been many discoveries of “natural” laws and phenomena that occurred by serendipity, or mistake! Some discoveries were due to unsuccessful attempts to demonstrate some unsustainable theory such as the existence of aether. This aether had been proposed to explain the transmission of light and its high speed through the universe. The experiment performed by Michelson and Morley as it failed opened the door to a new way of thinking; where the idea of “vacuum” became accepted, and as others -like Lorentz try to “fix” the problem- were very imaginative with their proposals.

Lorentz proposal of a contracting space even though wrongly stated to fix the Michelson-Morley experiment gave support later on to Einstein for his proposal of “time” relativity where time itself would shrink or dilate if the observer was moving relative to the frame of reference. Lorentz contraction –or relative expansion of the other system- is now used with no hesitation as one calculates the interaction of orbiting communication satellites that use electromagnetic signals that have to follow Einstein’s relativity theory.
Time after all is relative, so I’m going to stop here

Reality Time

Time for some real time.
Does it mean that time doesn't exist because we aren't able to explain what time is?
Reality, Reason, and Imagination are linked through the search of truth. How can one undestand reality? Natural laws have to be universal thus objective and they have to be discovered through one's reason. It is important to realize that human reason is over all dependable even though in some cases it looks like it is not!
Common sense is commonly wrong! So one has to be careful in equating common sense to human reasoning.
All this is to establish a framework for our understanding of time or lack of it.
Yesterday Oct. 1st during the Linus Pauling Award symposium George M. Whitesides (the recipiant of the prize) lectured on some of the concepts about matter that we are in the very beggining of understanding. One of this concepts is the relationship between enthalpy and entropy, as in chemistry one normally relate them in the sense that one is at the expense of the other! This concept makes one think that one really do not know what enthalpy or entropy are about.
So if enthalpy and entropy do exist even though on doesn't know what they are, maibe time also exists even though one doesn't know waht it is!

Time for Physical Thoughts

Why is it important to study the physical concept of force in its relation with the economy of a society? Two things come to one’s mind: Time and energy.
Timing is everything in economic terms as well as in social terms, as they are intrinsically dependent. When we one look at the linking between social developments and economic ones the “energy” bridge is used to understand it. How is this link defined and affected by our definition of “energy”, and how are time and energy related is a profound philosophical question that few have tried to address. We’ll try in my book (Treatise on Physical Economy) to address this question and to propose some ideas regarding the physical nature of social development and behavior. Some of these ideas have been around for a long time, some since the XVIII century and I hope some will be brand-new as they are proposed in the light of current events.