Saturday, December 31, 2011
Welcoming in 2012
I showed this video to my corps members the other day. I think it is a well done video that not only shows the significant events of 2011, but it was done in a way which is relevant to the sign of the times, by infusing various social media elements. Social media is really becoming the source from which we receive a majority of our information. I'd argue more people find out about things via Facebook and twitter status's than the newspaper or arguably even the television. This is not necessarily a bad thing. I would argue the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street Protests really gained strength from the advent of social media sites.
I am really excited about 2012. Don't get me wrong, 2011 was an amazing year for me. So much has happened that I am grateful for. Like I said in an early blog post, I feel like I am starting in a new chapter in my life and 2012 will be a continuation of this new personal growth. For instance, I have started my application for grad school at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. I take the GRE on January 19th - wish me luck.
I also would like to continue growing at the CCC and improving my skills as an educator. I got some new books that I would like to read as well. And then there's the Russian...
Anyways, have a happy new years everyone!
Cheers
Thursday, December 8, 2011
If you are bored
This is for all you big thinkers out there.
I spend a lot of my free time thinking about the origins and ultimate fate of our universe. I'll admit, some times it seems trivial and inconsequential. What I mean by that is A) I hardly understand basic issues here on earth, how can in understand the origins of the ENTIRE universe and B) it ultimately has no bearing on any real life issues one might have. However, seeking the answers to these fundamental questions of our ultimate origin and fate has not only been enjoyable to ponder, but also mind-opening. I feel like a have a new perspective on life. Give it a try!
Let me clarify again what answer I am specifically looking for: What happened before the big bang, and what will be it's ultimate fate? I am NOT seeking to answer the meaning of life or human consciousness. In my view, life is essentially a product of entropy from the creation of the universe. Without the universe there is no life, so it is meaningless to ask what is the meaning of life if we do not understand the origins of the universe.
So I set out to seek the answers to my questions. I obviously do not have the answers already in my head, and saying that I have a predisposition on knowing what the truth is would be quite ignorant of me. So I have sought out answers from the biggest scientific minds in this area: Roger Penrose, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Michio Kaku, Steven Hawking, Richard Dawkins, Brian Green and many others.
Some differ on the ultimate answer or have yet to make up their mind, but their presentations of the answers has help me form a basic understanding of the universe and how it works; From a large (relative) scale to the tiniest (quantum) scale.
Their explanations and my intrinsic understanding has led my to a view that I feel is the most substantial.
In particular, I've been following this fellow, Roger Penrose. Penrose (Via wikipedia) is an English mathematical physicist and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He has received a number of prizes and awards, including the 1988 Wolf Prize for physics which he shared with Stephen Hawking for their contribution to our understanding of the universe.
He specifically is floating around this idea of what I have been calling a "cyclical universe". This theory proposes that our universe is not the first, nor the last of a series of repeating universes. This theory is rather satisfying and has a lot of merit. For now i will give you a video, in my next blog i will attempt to break it down into why I like it.
I spend a lot of my free time thinking about the origins and ultimate fate of our universe. I'll admit, some times it seems trivial and inconsequential. What I mean by that is A) I hardly understand basic issues here on earth, how can in understand the origins of the ENTIRE universe and B) it ultimately has no bearing on any real life issues one might have. However, seeking the answers to these fundamental questions of our ultimate origin and fate has not only been enjoyable to ponder, but also mind-opening. I feel like a have a new perspective on life. Give it a try!
Let me clarify again what answer I am specifically looking for: What happened before the big bang, and what will be it's ultimate fate? I am NOT seeking to answer the meaning of life or human consciousness. In my view, life is essentially a product of entropy from the creation of the universe. Without the universe there is no life, so it is meaningless to ask what is the meaning of life if we do not understand the origins of the universe.
So I set out to seek the answers to my questions. I obviously do not have the answers already in my head, and saying that I have a predisposition on knowing what the truth is would be quite ignorant of me. So I have sought out answers from the biggest scientific minds in this area: Roger Penrose, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Michio Kaku, Steven Hawking, Richard Dawkins, Brian Green and many others.
Some differ on the ultimate answer or have yet to make up their mind, but their presentations of the answers has help me form a basic understanding of the universe and how it works; From a large (relative) scale to the tiniest (quantum) scale.
Their explanations and my intrinsic understanding has led my to a view that I feel is the most substantial.
In particular, I've been following this fellow, Roger Penrose. Penrose (Via wikipedia) is an English mathematical physicist and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He has received a number of prizes and awards, including the 1988 Wolf Prize for physics which he shared with Stephen Hawking for their contribution to our understanding of the universe.
He specifically is floating around this idea of what I have been calling a "cyclical universe". This theory proposes that our universe is not the first, nor the last of a series of repeating universes. This theory is rather satisfying and has a lot of merit. For now i will give you a video, in my next blog i will attempt to break it down into why I like it.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Post Turkey-Day Blog
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"
This is a quote I just heard literally 30 seconds ago. I like it so much I might keep it around.
It's been a month, I know. Feels like yesterday I was finishing my last blog – in October. Time is flying by. But I'll recap this last month in a few, well-structured sentences.
I feel like I am getting better at my job every day that goes by. Love what I'm doing, even when I am bored out of my head, I am glad to be here.
I spent way too much money in November. I set up a "money map" - a monthly budget - on my wellsfargo.com account and let me see how I am spending my money and if I am sticking to my budget....nope. I am eating out way too much. It says I was 139% over my spending goal for eating at restaurants. Got to bring that down for sure.
Still no Russian learned.
I got to see my family for Turkey day - my family in the bay area - and it was really nice, per usual. I left Pismo around 12:00pm, and got to my Grandma's house in Walnut Creek, CA around, let's say, 4:00ish . I saw my G'ma Lulu, Grandpa George, Aunt Theresa and her man friend Mark (he left when I arrived however), Uncle Chris and his wife Helen, Aunt Cathy and her hubby Mike, and all their kids ~ which I think I can still count on two hands. Oh, and my pops (he doesn't have a facebook page). Everyone was really nice, curious about my life and work. Good food.
Side note* Niners were garbage.
The trip was about 4 hours each way(about 214 miles). Everyone is always surprised that I can make this trip by myself non-stop. It actually isn't that bad. 4 hours driving is about my limit. But the alone time on the road is relaxing. It is a chance to think about thing and have clairvoyance on some things.
I didn't drive straight back after dinner. I was able to spend the night at Lulu's. The rest was welcoming, even though I know I could have driven back that night, I'm glad I didn't.
My mom went to a hockey game for thanksgiving ~ who would of thunk it? Her, not me. HER.
Well that's all I want to report for now. I'm sure I'll think of more stuff later tonight but be too apathetic to do anything about it. Oh well. Happy Holidays!
~Cheers
This is a quote I just heard literally 30 seconds ago. I like it so much I might keep it around.
It's been a month, I know. Feels like yesterday I was finishing my last blog – in October. Time is flying by. But I'll recap this last month in a few, well-structured sentences.
I feel like I am getting better at my job every day that goes by. Love what I'm doing, even when I am bored out of my head, I am glad to be here.
I spent way too much money in November. I set up a "money map" - a monthly budget - on my wellsfargo.com account and let me see how I am spending my money and if I am sticking to my budget....nope. I am eating out way too much. It says I was 139% over my spending goal for eating at restaurants. Got to bring that down for sure.
Still no Russian learned.
I got to see my family for Turkey day - my family in the bay area - and it was really nice, per usual. I left Pismo around 12:00pm, and got to my Grandma's house in Walnut Creek, CA around, let's say, 4:00ish . I saw my G'ma Lulu, Grandpa George, Aunt Theresa and her man friend Mark (he left when I arrived however), Uncle Chris and his wife Helen, Aunt Cathy and her hubby Mike, and all their kids ~ which I think I can still count on two hands. Oh, and my pops (he doesn't have a facebook page). Everyone was really nice, curious about my life and work. Good food.
Side note* Niners were garbage.
The trip was about 4 hours each way(about 214 miles). Everyone is always surprised that I can make this trip by myself non-stop. It actually isn't that bad. 4 hours driving is about my limit. But the alone time on the road is relaxing. It is a chance to think about thing and have clairvoyance on some things.
I didn't drive straight back after dinner. I was able to spend the night at Lulu's. The rest was welcoming, even though I know I could have driven back that night, I'm glad I didn't.
My mom went to a hockey game for thanksgiving ~ who would of thunk it? Her, not me. HER.
Well that's all I want to report for now. I'm sure I'll think of more stuff later tonight but be too apathetic to do anything about it. Oh well. Happy Holidays!
~Cheers
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