Archive for the ‘General Writings’ Category
Dollars and Pounds: Easy Come, Easy Go
EASY COME: I’ve seen guys like David Crisp numerous times at the beach. Perhaps you have too. They are the guys who go around with metal detectors sweeping the ground in search of…hmm, what are they searching for? A dime that fell out of a purse? The proverbial wedding ring that some sad woman is still crying over?
Well Mr. Crisp, an amateur treasure hunter, was at his “craft” as he strolled through Frome (Southwestern England) when the beeper on his listening device indicated he had come in contact with metal. After a bit of digging knew he had found something that exceeded his wildest imagination.
Archaeologists would be needed to help with the dig.
Human Hubris?: Changing the Planet’s Weather in the Face of an Oil Spill
Homo sapiens are a most amazing creature. We have built technologically sophisticated ships to transport ourselves to the moon. We’ve developed mobile communication systems and the internet. We’ve even figured out how to map the genome and create “artificial” life.
However, we can’t do everything. Three months into the worst man made ecological disaster in American history we haven’t yet capped a blown up oil rig which is pouring untold barrels of black sludge into the ocean. BP is pursuing a “relief well”, which basically means drilling a new well at an angle so that it captures the oil currently spilling out before it reaches the existing well’s broken opening…..or putting yet another type of cap on the well. The next best option after that seems to be using a nuclear device. Yikes!
The World Cup: What You See ISN’T Necessarily What You Get
The World Cup is the most watched sporting event on the planet. Every four years gallons of ink are used printing newspapers that report on all aspects of play. Entire nations come to a complete stop when their team is playing. Some players have even been known to have been murdered because of their poor play during the tournament.
The question is: Why is the officiating so bad…and why is instant replay on the most important calls not used?
The video below shows a goal scored by England in their match with Germany that wasn’t ruled as a goal. It is shocking because the ball bounces inside the net by at least two feet. How is it possible that in a match that is watched by hundreds of millions of people, and had been anticipated for years, could be “ruined” by a referee’s terrible non-call? (Though Germany went on to win the game 4-1 and was clearly the superior team, the game would have been tied at 2-2 and then who knows how play/strategy/tactics would have been altered?)
It’s the “Shoulds” that Lessen Your Happiness
I believe that the single most destructive word is “should”. Sadly, the word “should” prevents far too many of us from enjoying life the way it is….as opposed to the way it “should” be.
Who amongst us hasn’t had any of these thoughts?
I should have more money by now.
I should already have _________.
Why should I have to do _________ when suchabody doesn’t?
It’s not fair. It should be fair.
Try to test yourself. Listen to when you use the word “should”. Try to use it less. It is a very interesting exercise. I bet you’ll be surprised by what you catch yourself saying and thinking in connection with the word “should”.
Man as God? Replicating Artificial Life
Dr Craig Venter
One of the best TV series I ever watched was a BBC documentary called “The Day the Universe Changed”. It was hosted by James Burke and was ten episodes long. Viewers were informed how changes in belief systems, or inventions dramatically altered human understanding of the world around them. For example, when Copernicus declares that scientific evidence shows the Earth is not the center of the universe, our whole world changed in terms of human perceptions of reality and how things operate….though nothing had really changed within the real universe itself.
Last week a virtually unrecognized event took place which is of potential monumental importance. Dr. Craig Venter created a “synthetic cell” with precise genome code that allowed directed DNA to be in complete control of a cell. Human beings had created a biological self replicating life form from computer code.
I ponder that marvel and wonder what are the implications…and whether it is a good thing or a bad thing?
Do You Believe in Aliens?
Do you believe in aliens? I do.
Oh, I’m not talking about green men from Mars, though in theory I could be. Nor am I talking about some farmer from the Midwest being taken into a flying saucer and living to tell all about it. What I’m talking about is the possibility, the probability…in fact, the almost mathematical certainty that (intelligent) life exists elsewhere in the universe.
I’ve got good company that believes as I do. Stephan Hawkings, the famous wheelchair bound theoretical physicist also believes that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist.
In a universe of 100 billion galaxies, each containing hundreds of millions of stars and planets, conditions for life almost certainly are not exclusive to Earth alone. Although a lot of that life outside Earth is probably comprised mostly of simple animals and microbes, I believe that intelligent beings exist as well. (though I think it very doubtful any have ever visited Earth)
The Best Heart Surgeon in the World: Dr. Taro Yokoyama
Dr Taro Yokoyama
History dealt a tough hand to all those born in the middle of the Great Depression. If you were born of Japanese heritage, as was Taro Yokoyama, whether you grew up in the United States and spent your childhood interned in an American relocation camp during World War II, or grew up in Japan and saw the skies filled with aircraft dropping bombs, the formative years were traumatic. Like all young people, the choice of what to do with your life lay before you.
Fortunately for me, Taro Yokoyama chose to dedicate his life to specializing in open heart surgery. In particular, he specializes in “high risk” surgeries many surgeons won’t attempt.
At the time of my own personal need, when a random event led to the discovery of my having a life threatening elephantine size massive aorta aneurysm, Dr. Yokoyama had been practicing surgery for 50 years. I placed my life and more into the hands of this 75 year old calm, brilliant and steady man of few words. Here is my story.
My Fondest Sports Memories
Last week I went to a doctor my wife referred me to. (When I had called my doctor’s office and requested an appointment due to my having chest pains, I was told they could see me in six weeks) I had developed a cough while visiting England and thought I had a lung infection. After the doctor examined me, he asked if I had ever been told I had a heart murmur? I replied no. He then handed me a card of a cardiologist and told me to go there immediately as they’d be waiting for me. The cardiologist listened to my heart, gave me an EKG, and then told me to return the next day for an Echo test. (ultrasound for your heart). The day after the Echo test I had a CT scan. As of this post I’m (hopefully) recovering from open heart surgery to repair a massive aneurysm of my aorta, the largest one the cardiologist had ever seen. Here are some happy thoughts I’ve had outside of family and friends.
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Kirk Gibson
I find it most interesting that life, and it’s memories, often have sounds or smells associated with events. How often do we hear a song on the radio and it reminds of that day long ago when…….. Or we enter a room and smell a soft but distinct odor and we are flashed back to a time from the past?
Somewhat similarly, there are times in life when an event is so profound that we remember where we were at the instant of their occurence. People used to talk about what they were doing when they learned of President John Kennedy’s assassination. More recently, many people have a vivid memory of the moment they learned of the World Trade Centers being attacked 9/11/01.
For me, I have distinct memories of where I was, and how I felt, watching sporting events that I deem as classic. I’m from Los Angeles, and so my mind floats to these thoughts. If you are a sports fan from another town, your thoughts probably move to moments that animated you.
Who are We? WHO are You?
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Artist through the ages have dealt with the questions of life’s meaning and self. Why are we here? What does it all mean? Am I really even here? Who am I? Whether the artist is a painter, a poet, a dancer, a writer or a musician…..the questions of life, love and meaning are constantly at play.
On February 10th, 2010 the aged rock band The WHO played the halftime show during the Super Bowl. Reviews of their performance were underwhelming. Why people asked, were these guys given center stage during America’s biggest show? Personally, I think it was a mistake to cast The WHO in 2010. However, the band did have its day, and once had its say.
My favorite lyrics in rock music are those found on the last song on The WHO’s 1973 double album Quadrophenia. The concept album deals with a protagonist trying to find himself and meaning.
2009’s Best Picture: And the Winner is?
Last week the Academy Award for Best Picture was given to a movie called “The Hurt Locker”. This small movie, and I do mean small, had grossed only $12.5 million dollars at the time it received its Oscars. ($12.5 million is about as much money as Avatar grossed in its first few hours) The Hurt Locker was seen by far, far fewer people than had ever NOT watched a Best Picture winner.
I think there are a few reasons for that fact. Partly because of some of those reasons, but mostly because of a different set of reasons, I think the Academy made a poor choice in their selection. In fact, my choice for Best Picture was a movie that wasn’t even nominated for any Academy Awards. My choice for 2009’s Best Picture is “The Hangover”.
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