Posted in Freedom, Healing

The Healing Parallax by George Elerick

Video information

George Elerick on the meaning of healing.

I like his interpretation of the healing story of Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5 (and Luke 8) where Jesus said to her “Little girl, I say to you, arise”, which means grow up in the developmental sense, in the context of the father and mother leaving the room, who represent the law, or the overarching structure that once defined the identity of the person. So this symbolically means that the girl is free from the law to develop as a person, and discover her true identity, which is her salvation. Healing, then, is the ability to look at the same space but from a different angle or perspective of self. Yes, to be free from the law or ethical system is to become spiritually mature as we grow and develop to be our authentic self and discover our own identity.

I also like this quote by Marcel Proust which may relate to the above video message as well.

Quote by Marcel Proust

Yes, the real voyage of discovery is when we see ourselves with new eyes, that we are no longer defined by the law nor by our parents nor by the ethical system of the world, hence we do not need to rely on the law to experience life. Our freedom from the law marks the beginning of our journey of self-discovery, whereby we find healing from the past and continue to grow and develop as the person God intended us to be, as George Elerick mentioned.

Posted in Freedom, Healing, Psychology

The body never lies

I have checked out the website about the book “The body never lies” by Alice Miller, and I learnt that it is noted by a number of reviewers to be very helpful for those who have suffered abuse from parents at a young age to experience self-healing and freedom from repression of guilt, shame and self-hatred. One reviewer, Stephen Khamsi, wrote that one way of healing is to allow ourselves to feel our pain and our powerlessness so that we can, paradoxically, become less pained and more powerful.

“Sadly, many of us were unloved, neglected and abused. The remedy? While there are no simple answers, we do know that the body is healed when one admits to personal truths and to real feelings. But how do we admit to such truths and to such feelings? We need to feel our pain and our powerlessness so that we can, paradoxically, become less pained and more powerful. We need to admit to our “negative” emotions and change them into meaningful feelings. And we need to see through poisonous pedagogy in order to embrace and to embody integrity, awareness, responsibility, and loyalty to oneself. Our greatest personal task is to learn the difference between love and attachment…to extend our love when it’s right, but to break off attachments when they are destructive. Our greatest therapeutic task is to locate an enlightened witness—a mature and helpful individual, who can be fully present without judging, is indispensable in this process of psychological integration and personal liberation.”

It reminds me of what Peter Rollins also said in his video “Crucified Identities” that we need to embrace our pains and brokenness, not so that we can be destroyed by these emotions, but rather so that the sting is no longer there.

I also like what this reviewer, Norm Lee, wrote about how Alice Miller challenged the mistaken notion about the religious and societal expectations on people to obey the so-called fourth commandment, which has put much guilt and pressure on people who grew up under abusive parenthood.

As noted by another reviewer, Lucien Lombardo, the role of a parent is actually:

“Parents should honor and empower their children, so that they, their children and their children’s children will live their own truths over long and authentic lives! ”

I think it would also help people to know that the ten commandments may have originated not from “God” but from ancient Egyptian myths. According to Wikipedia, many historians have concluded that the ten commandments were based on an earlier document called the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

“The Book of the Dead was written circa 1800 BCE. 2 The Schofield Reference Bible estimates that the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt and the provision of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai occurred in 1491 BCE., some three centuries later. Many religious liberals, historians, and secularists have concluded that the Hebrew Scripture’s Ten Commandments were based on this earlier document, rather than vice-versa.”

(From “A possible origin of the Ten Commandments“)

Jesus also challenged the conventional idea of biological father and mother, when he said to the Jews “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother”. From Matthew 12:46–5

So in the kingdom of God, biological relations do not identify us. Rather we are identified simply as members of the same human family, for in Christ we are all one; neither male nor female, and so on.

I think this book is helpful also to enable us to understand that how our parents treat us do not define who we are, but rather their abusive behaviour is a reflection of their own wounded psyche, which they need to work on in their own lives. As this saying also noted:

Posted in Inspiration

(A poem written around 1996-97)

Silence gives me words to write,
Exploring its hollow voice,
its impalpable implications.

My voice, jarring to my ears
In the midst of stillness
That mocks at me,
Leaves me mystified
Deepens my embitterment

A word could speak several things.
Silence speaks uncountables,
Drowning the sea of words
With its deafening turmoil.

Posted in Equality, Philosophy

Status Anxiety

Here’s sharing this perceptive video about status anxiety. It presents very well the case of status anxiety that is prevalent in today’s democratic societies such as in America (and I would add countries in Asia that have been westernised or americanised) that are supposedly meritocratic due to the mindset that anyone can become successful, compared to the colonial European feudal or aristocratic societies based on hierarchal class system. As Alain de Botton noted, the idea of success is relative and flimsy as it is dependent on an ever changing perception of material wealth and level of expectation. Even though generally people have more riches than their ancestors or those in aristocratic societies, they tend to compare their lot with their neighbours and friends, in terms of whose house is bigger and whose jobs are better paid, and so on, and the constant propaganda from advertisements, motivational speakers, performance-based religion and government fuels and perpetuates status anxiety and general dissatisfaction with their own lives. He also noted that the system is not as meritocratic as it seems because not everyone rises to the top by hard work and talent alone as there are discrimination and favouritism involved in the system. Besides, the system fails to be compassionate enough to those whose lives have been met with unfortunate incidents, such as those who lost their family members who are breadwinners.

I agree with his views what truly matters in life is spiritual values such as loving one’s neighbours, as demonstrated by Mother Teresa. As one book reviewer also noted:

“Finally, envy can be cured by realizing that anyone’s achievements seem insignificant in the context of the millennia and the expansive wonders of nature. Also, we should always keep in mind that at the end of one’s days, the value of love, true friends, and charity will outweigh the quest for power, wealth, status and glory.”

(From a review of “Status Anxiety”)

Recently, I also reflected that status anxiety in a performance-based society (and religion) can result in self-loathing in people who are conditioned by the competitive and materialistic mindset.

This mindset tends to result in self-loathing because those who subscribe to this competitive mindset inevitably judge their own self-worth based on their performance and accomplishments, and they tend to blame or hate themselves for not being good enough, or not being successful enough, especially when they compare themselves to their competitors, and are always grappling with insecurity as they are thinking how to out-do others in order to prove that they are worthy or successful in the eyes of the society. This mindset may also result in the competition-oriented people becoming cold, callous, inhumane and cruel towards others who are seen as less successful than themselves. This is especially so when they have been trying to suppress their own feelings of weakness and brokenness in themselves, and end up being insensitive towards others who happen to display the very same feelings of weakness and brokenness that they hate in themselves. It is like what Peter Rollins said about people who have not learnt to accept and embrace the otherness in themselves will not be able to accept and embrace the otherness they see in other people.

(From “Why people in patriarchal societies and Abrahamic religions despise weakness and are addicted to power and success“)

I think status anxiety pervades human societies throughout history. Perhaps one reason Jesus came then is to renew people’s minds – to change their minds regarding what truly matters in life – to listen to the voice within our true self that affirms our innate intrinsic worth and value instead of listening to external voices of the performance-based societies that threaten to devalue and dehumanise us. Like what this quote by Alain says:

“Our minds are susceptible to the influence of external voices telling us what we require to be satisfied, voices that may drown out the faint sounds emitted by our souls and distract us from the careful, arduous task of accurately naming our priorities.”
Alain de Botton, Status Anxiety

Posted in Equality, Gender issues

Identity politics and “crucified identities”

Identity Politics and its Limitations

I learnt from Wikipedia that identity politics deals with various socio-political movements that are based on group identities, which can be found in the feminist movements, gay and lesbian movements and so on.

“Identity politics are political arguments that focus upon the self-interest and perspectives of self-identified social interest groups and ways in which people’s politics may be shaped by aspects of their identity through race, class, religion, gender, ethnicity, ideology, nation, sexual orientation, culture, currency, information preference, history, musical and/or literary genre, medical conditions, profession, hobby, or any other loosely correlated yet simple to intuit social organizations. … It can most notably be found in class movements, feminist movements, gay and lesbian movements, disability movements, ethnic movements and post colonial movements. But wherever it is found it is also open to wide debate and critique.”

(From Wikipedia)

While these movements have their place in enabling the voices of the minorities and the marginalised to be heard and their issues of discrimination to be addressed in the society, I learnt that there are also limitations to identity politics, because it does not necessarily bring about equality. In this blog, the writer noted that Peter Rollins had explained how the scapegoat mechanism continues to function even when the mainstream tries to include minority groups into their circles as part of identity politics.

“This is why the liberal strategy of opening up communities to previously scapegoated others is not, in itself, sufficient. In religious terms we can note how some conservative churches are beginning to open up to the possibility that gays and lesbians can be equal members of their community. Just as they eventually learned to reject explicit racism and sexism now they are gradually learning to overcome heterosexism. But the problem is that the fundamental structure of scapegoating is not broken in the acceptance of the latest “other,” and if the underlying scapegoat mechanism is not decommissioned then new “others” will always arise to protect the group from its own internal conflicts.

There will always be an other as long as we refuse to face ourselves. For example in some of these groups gays and lesbians are now being accepted as long as they embrace the idea of lifelong monogamous marriage. This means that those, gay and straight, who don’t accept that lifestyle for themselves can be excluded as immoral, corrupt and a threat to the institution of marriage.”

(From “Identity Politics and the Cross: Peter Rollins on the Scapegoat Mechanism“)

So from my understanding, the more people focus on identifying minority groups and then trying to include them into the mainstream, without first accepting the otherness in themselves, the more they continue to discriminate the minorities based on their perceived differences. Another problem is that everyone assumes that all the individuals within a particular minority group must subscribe to the same kind of lifestyle or ideology, and so the people within that group lose their individuality. I came across this article in which the writer shares how marxism (or socialism that denounces classism) helps minority groups move beyond the limits of identity politics.

Similarly, in this article, the writer explains why identity politics does not liberate the oppressed whereas Marxism provides the theoretical tools for ending oppression.

The bulk of this article is a critique of the theory behind what is known in academic and left circles as “identity politics”—the idea that only those experiencing a particular form of oppression can either define it or fight against it—counterposing to it a Marxist analysis. My central premise is that Marxism provides the theoretical tools for ending oppression, while identity politics does not.”

(From “The Politics of Identity” by Sharon Smith, International Socialist Review)

From my understanding of the article, the theory of identity politics ignores the entire element of social class, which is a problem because class inequality causes oppression. So it is thought that Marxism or socialism that seeks to remove class inequality would serve to end oppression of the minorities and the marginalised.

Crucified Identities

I have checked out the above video and I think Peter Rollins summed up very well the significance of the cross as symbolising our crucifixion of various identities, which transcends our perceived differences and moves beyond the limits of identity politics. As long as people identify themselves based on social interests or political affiliations or belief systems or ethnic groups and so on, there will always be some forms of discrimination and conflicts and tribalism, in which one group tends to think they have all the right answers and others don’t. I like the scenario he gave about a minister who would supposedly confess publicly that his own uncertainty and unknowing and that he doesn’t have all the right answers, and in some cases, the church would fire him not because they did not know he does not have all the right answers but rather they do not want to face their own uncertainties and unknowing and would rather hire someone who appears to have all the right answers to preach to them. I also agree that unity and equality can be made possible that people come together and have deep conversations by laying aside their various identities, and learn from one another, and being conscious that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, gay nor straight, republican nor democrat, high class nor low class, feminist nor misogynist, black nor white, and so on, for we are all one.

As Peter Rollins also shared in the video, it is important that people hold on to their beliefs with a loose hand. If they hold on to their beliefs too tightly, they will not be open to learn from others. The same goes with group identities. I think that is why Peter Rollins does not want to subscribe fully to identity politics because the various group identities have their limitations and ultimately do not bring about equality that they desire because it can become another “us” versus “them” mentality. I think some feminists have probably misunderstood him in the past as saying he does not care about diversity or about equality of women or minorities when he did not want to subscribe to identity politics. But he was actually going beyond the limits of identity politics, beyond feminism, and so on, as much as these movements have their place, because he sees that true equality and unity can only be made possible when people lay aside their various identities and embrace the other. He also clarified in the video that it doesn’t mean people stop being men or women and so on, but rather people can choose to look beyond these outward differences and commune at a deeper level. So his message on crucified identities resonates with me as well because I too believe the gospel of our true identity shared among humanity is one way for greater peace and equality.

Posted in Meditation, Philosophy

As the article noted:

(From Wikipedia on Gautama Buddha)

The Exclusion of Thomas

Why Study the Gospel of Thomas?

Posted in Equality, Unity and harmony

Zizek’s The Fragile Absolute: Or, Why the Christian Legacy is Worth Fighting For?

In the above video, I noted that the speaker was sharing his reflections on Slavoj Zizek’s “The fragile absolute, or why the Christian legacy is worth fighting for”. I applaud him for being an open-minded atheist who is willing to look beyond differences and have an open dialogue with Christians on how they can work together to form an alternative community that opposes the societal ways of oppression, discrimination and consumerism. As a non-believer, he has a surprisingly good grasp of the gospel about the mission that Jesus and Paul were preaching and promoting, such as the universal truth that we are all one, for there is neither slave nor free, rich or poor, and so on, for all are one in Christ.

I also like his interpretation of Jesus’ words about hating one’s father, mother, brothers and so on, which is about unplugging from the old system of discrimination and injustice and hating this system, and actively challenging instead of passively accepting it. Indeed, we can pursue the mission of Christ by the way we live, such as creating an alternative community that is based on equality and universal brotherhood, regardless of our differences in ethnicities, backgrounds and belief systems.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Author Dylan Morrison The Desire Series Part 19 ~ Helper Or Healer?

Video information

In this, the 19th talk in his ‘Desire’ series, Irish spiritual author asks whether we are helpers or healers. Helping can he suggests be simply a power play in the world of culture, whilst healing is a flow of Divine Life through one wounded individual to another. Background music by New York singer-songwriter, Cyndi McCoy.

I have listened to the video by Dylan Morrison, in which he suggested that helping is not the same as healing. According to him, helping is generally accepted as a good thing, and yet it can be a way of maintaining power over others. He added that the more professional our helping becomes, the more sinister our missional mercy (?) become, hence the professional helping industry destroys the faith of the needy ones. He then offered a self-diagnosis of a healer/helper: that a healer is never busy as he/she occupies an almost timeless space, that we as a healer is filled with mutual respect when we see ourselves in the space of the others, that a healer doesn’t give the other person a superior “I know better” attitude, and that cultural differences are irrelevant in the healing space, where we in a mysterious psychic way become one. He said that there is no rivalry involved in healing, and when the way of desire flows freely between two hearts, a channel of divine love is established, and healing can also occur in a group that lives and moves in mimetic freedom. Such groups are usually outside of strong cultural influence such as organised religions, often comprising the walking wounded.

His message mainly resonates with me, as I was also reflecting in the similar vein. I have recorded my own reflections in my iphone diary dated 17 Jan 2013, in which I wrote some thoughts on helping:

Help is not really about the strong helping the weak. This attitude tends to lack empathy and may even breed an air of superiority. Help is actually about co-identifying and co-suffering with the other person. It involves empathy, understanding, compassion, grace and gentleness in the way we help others. It is also a way to acknowledge our own humanity and recognise we need help ourselves and we are helping ourselves while helping others at the same time. It is all about inter-being (to borrow a term by Thich Nhat Hanh).

Yes, this is especially true in volunteerism whereby many volunteers testify to the fact that whenever they do volunteer work in children’s homes, senior citizen centres, and so on, they often feel as if they are helping themselves to be liberated from their own problems or challenges in life. It is a demonstration of how we are all connected and one with one another, and each of us is an extension of the other, and vice versa.

Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live in someone else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy for you too.

~Frederick Buechner

Posted in Philosophy

Hegel’s dialectic influences the way we look at history

I have listened to the video, and I paused the video a few times, and googled to find out more about Hegelian dialectics, before continuing to listen to the video so as to have a more complete understanding with some background knowledge in mind.

For example, I learnt from this website that Hegel “developed his concept of dialectic, in which the contradiction between a proposition (thesis) and its antithesis is resolved at a higher level of truth (synthesis)”.

I noted that the video is about the question “In which ways did Hegel’s dialectic influence the way we look at history?” and “Hegel thought that history is dialectic, a constant change along a path towards a definite end.” The narrator said that it deals with such questions like “Why do empires rise and fall? Why do certain things change through history, eg ideas? How and why do certain people influence history?” He added that some of Hegel’s writings are very difficult to understand, such as his philosophy of history. It challenges people to fully grasp what he was saying.

The narrator said that Hegel is interested in the search for truth. He also said that one way of finding truth is through debate. But the problem with debate is that people keep their own beliefs. They want to win over the other side. They would use arguments with logic but not emotions. But to Hegel, he believed we have to go through 3 stages until we come to the point where we can say with clarity how things have become or how things have changed.

For Hegel, the first stage is known as the abstract or an idea or opinion or thesis. We then look for the opposite to it, the negative idea, or the antithesis. Moving from the original idea (thesis) to the other (antithesis), we then come to the conclusion of a new, concrete understanding called synthesis.

This is different from other kinds of ideas or reasonings, such as inductive and deductive methods of reasonings. Deductive is when there is a generalisation – many kinds of opinions, and through them we come to a conclusion; and inductive is when we have an example, and we make a proposition.

The narrator said that to come up with any concrete or definite statement about the state of affairs, or how things are happening in Europe, we must go through the abstract and the negative – we must have the thesis and the antithesis – to come to a concrete conclusion about how things have changed.

Hegel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So, for Hegel, history is dialectic. It is the stages that are continually changing because a status quo – the way things are, like feudalism in Europe – will then be faced with a new way of thinking… such as the Renaissance…. and from that, there is this conflict which ends up with a new synthesis, a new way in which people see themselves and the world.

Eg if we lived in the 16th century, we would begin to get a lot of freedom, breaking away from church dogma, and we are being allowed to become more humanistic, and we will see the world not through the power of God but through the power of reasoning. That is a complete change away from the previous status quo. So we move through Reformation and Renaissance with a new understanding of where we come from.

The narrator added that history is always moving forward. It is never static. It is deterministic – it is determined to go in a particular way. It is changing because it is “geist”. We have developed through stages, where one synthesis is challenged by a new thesis, and the cycle of thesis-antithesis-synthesis goes on.

Humans are evolving in a constant change. With new technologies, we have to adapt new ways of working and communicating. In future, as technologies keep changing, we have to also keep adopt new ways of working and communicating again and again.

However, as the narrator noted, there is a flaw in this mode of thinking. There are subjective and objective ways of seeing things, which result in differences in opinions. What is change to one person may not be so for another person.

Nevertheless, Hegel’s writings certainly influence German nationalism. His ideas led to a march forward towards a higher realm in German idealism. The narrator then talked about Zeitgeist – the spirit within a certain period. He said that the prevailing feeling in the Victorian era is different from that in the 1960s due to a change in the way people see the world because of technological evolution, wars, etc.

The narrator then ended the video by saying that Hegel’s dialectic can be used in our own research and understanding of history. We can ask ourselves: Do things occur because of the status quo being challenged by new ways of thinking through whatever crisis, through whatever stages of development of technology and people’s understanding, etc, and from that, do we then reach a synthesis? What was the Zeitgeist at that time? How about today?

I remember reading recently that someone in this forum also noted that Hegel’s dialectic describes a seemingly neverending cycle of changes in history, whereby the synthesis that has emerged becomes a new thesis, which will one day be challenged by a new antithesis in future, which will in turn lead to a new synthesis, and the cycle goes on. The forum member wrote:

“It’s a theory of the evolution of knowledge or culture. Earlier posters have explained it pretty well, but the one point that’s only been touched on is that the dialectic cycle continues. So first you have your thesis. This leads to rebel thinkers or a different political viewpoint in opposition, the antithesis. Eventually these to combine (often violently) into a new paradigm which takes the best parts of both into the synthesis. Now, the synthesis is the dominant paradigm, so it’s the new thesis, meaning there will be an opposition theory, a new antithesis, which will lead to a new synthesis, which itself becomes the third thesis, leading to a third antithesis, etc.”

All in all, I see Hegel’s dialectic as a useful tool or model in helping us understand the changes in history. I would summarise it in my own words like this: What used to work in a society in the past may not work as well in the future because of changes in the way people see the world, which are influenced by cultural, technological, political changes and so on. So the prevailing system in which we function will have to evolve as well. But after a new system has been put into place, it will sooner or later become obsolete, and the status quo will again be challenged once more by a new antithesis, and then a new synthesis will be necessary to restore the balance. And this cycle continues to flow and change alongside with the evolution of humanity and the rest of the world.

One example I could think of is the Pisces age that was said to be dominant from the first century AD till around 2012, to borrow a new age theory. It was based on “approval of authority gives people a sense of self-worth.” But from 2012 onwards, a new antithesis is necessary to challenge the status quo of the Pisces Age. It is called the Aquarian Age. In the Aquarian Age, people will gain their sense of self-worth through self-approval. Each will be aware of his own divinity. But there is a conflict between the old adherents of Pisces Age who wanted to hold on to authority, power and influence and the new followers of Aquarian Age who want to promote freedom, justice and equality for everyone. Maybe a new synthesis will emerge based on new ways of understanding, that manages to combine these two apparently incompatible theories in a unique and unpredictable way. I am not sure what to call this synthesis – a new Age of consciousness? I suppose that is where subjectivity comes in because different people will have different opinions on what to call it, and whether it is really considered a change, as mentioned in the video.

As mentioned earlier, I was reading up more about Hegelian dialectics while watching the video. For example, I learnt from this website that Hegel’s logic differs from Aristotle’s logic – Hegel chose to see everything as a whole, whereas Aristotle chose to see separate, discrete entities in a deductive pattern.

“For Hegel, only the whole is true. Every stage or phase or moment is partial, and therefore partially untrue. Hegel’s grand idea is “totality” which preserves within it each of the ideas or stages that it has overcome or subsumed. Overcoming or subsuming is a developmental process made up of “moments” (stages or phases). The totality is the product of that process which preserves all of its “moments” as elements in a structure, rather than as stages or phases.”

Similarly, pages 89-90 of this book “Philosophy for Kids: Questions that help you wonder… about everything” noted that Hegel thought about all individual things, not just a particular human being. No one thing can be understood by itself. Rather, anything and everything must be seen in the light of relations to everything else.

Yes, I agree that all things are interconnected. We exist in relation to others, as we are not discrete, isolated entities.

Earlier while watching the video and grappling with difficult and new concepts and ideas, I was reflecting that generally speaking, while academics has its place, it needs to be relevant and easy to understand, as shared with you before. Otherwise, it can only create a distance itself from the rest of the world. While sometimes using highly specialised terms is necessary, the development of ideas needs to be clear and concise. Dense, complex writings are not always helpful if they confuse the readers just to give the impression that they are deep. Some of the most profound ideas are simple and yet deep, such as Jesus’ parables, and can be understood by kids. One gauge I would use to evaluate a writing, whether an academic or philosophical or any kind of writing, is by asking myself this question: “Can kids understand? If an average kid cannot understand, how can this writing really be useful? How does this writing contribute in making the world a better, more cohesive and peaceful place in a practical sense?”

I remember Jesus said “I thank You Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes” (Matt 11:25), as a rebuke to the religious leaders who did not appreciate his miracles of healing people.

Later as I continued to meditate on this, I realised that then again, sometimes certain ideas are meant to be complex. There is more than meets the eye beyond the surface of things, as quantum physics would reveal. For instance, someone from the evangelical christian background sent a mass text message on the handphone earlier on to share this verse, which I supposed was meant to encourage others – “Delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart”. (from Psalms) Yet my interpretation of this verse has changed from understanding it literally to understanding it metaphorically. To evangelicals, “the Lord” probably meant some literal judicial figure in the sky. But to me, “the Lord” is probably referring to our highest self who is Love. So, sometimes, mystical realities cannot be easily translated or described in words.

Similarly, when it comes to the philosophy of history, maybe it is not that easy to describe using words alone. Hegel’s writing comes across as difficult to understand to many people maybe because the original German language itself in which he wrote is complex. He was probably also trying to articulate his ideas in a way that made sense to him, and was not deliberately trying to obsfucate his thoughts to confuse his readers. It is probably the result of the complex subject nature he was dealing with that requires a certain way of thinking in order to go deeper beyond the surface, so the apparent complexity is somewhat inevitable.

Maybe one good thing about deep and complex philosophical ideas is that it challenges people to “decode” the mystery – it becomes like a treasure hunt where people look for clues to unlock the mystery, and will experience the thrill of uncovering the meaning behind the codes, bit by bit. It will bring a new and interesting dimension to an otherwise bland, mundane and overly simplistic way of thinking that much of the society operates on – one that is deep, mysterious and rewarding as we delve beyond the surface of reality, and feed on our own personal revelations and perceptions of life.

Posted in Grace, Identity

Ethics is tied up with capitalism

I have checked out the above message by George Elerick, and I agree ethics is not something we do but rather is who we are. The performance-based concept of ethics is self-centred, which is about looking good in front of others. Yes, in this sense, ethics is tied up with capitalism because capitalism is based on self-centredness instead of other-centredness.

As he pointed out, Paul wrote that we are all one in Christ, and our identity is based on who we are in Christ and not based on how we perform. It reminds me of a blog I posted on grace and ethics, based on a blog by Peter Rollins.


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Theft by False Pretenses Law in California – Penal Code Section 532

Theft By False Pretenses in California

Theft by false pretenses is covered under California Penal Code Section 532. In basic terms, it’s when someone is convinced to voluntarily give up of something of value based on false or fraudulent representation. In other words, it’s lying or making false promises to fool someone to give them their property. Under California law, it’s a type of theft crime, but is achieved through deception rather than any type of physical force. In fact, if you are criminally charged with this type of theft offense in Los Angeles County, you can face the same type of legal penalties as any individual who was charged with more commonly known forms of theft cases, such as robbery or burglary. The legal punishment for this type of theft offense will typically depend on the total value of the items that was taken. The main legal issue often argued under a theft by false pretense charge is whether you made a false representation of a fact in order to defraud another person, or whether the allegation was sufficiently corroborated. It’s important to note that a Los Angeles County prosecutor can still charge you with theft by false pretenses if they believe you recklessly misrepresented something without any justification, or believe you intentionally omitted a fact when you were obligated to do so. A “false pretense” is any act or word, where the specific purpose is to deceive someone. You can make a false pretense if you intentionally deceive someone by (1) providing information you know is false; (2) make a promise you have no intention of keeping; (3) don’t give information you are obligated to provide, and; (4) make a reckless misrepresentation. Theft by false pretenses is closely related to many California white collar crimes dealing with fraud offenses. These include unemployment insurance fraud, internet fraud, check fraud, credit card fraud, and embezzlement. In order for an LA County prosecutor to obtain a conviction, they have to be able to prove the key element of the crime, which is that you knowingly and intentionally deceived the alleged victim through some type of misrepresentation. They will normally attempt to prove you lied about a material fact in order to obtain property from the owner.

If you are facing allegations of theft by false pretense, you would be wise to exercise your legal right to remain silent. In most cases, a police detective will attempt to get statements from you about the case. You should be polite, but decline to make any statements without first consulting with an attorney. It’s important to understand that you could make incriminating statements without realizing it. These statements could be used against you later in court. The police detective who called you is well paid to build a criminal case and make arrest. That’s what they do. In spite of their politeness, don’t be fooled, they are not your friend. Instead, contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at Eisner Gorin LLP immediately. Our attorneys will closely examine the details of the accusation in order to start preparing an effective defense strategy. Now that we have discussed a basic overview of theft by false pretenses above, let’s now take a closer look at the legal definition, legal punishments, and potential legal defenses below.

California Penal Code Section 532 – Theft by False Pretense

In simple language, this legal definition means you can be charged with theft by false pretenses for lying to persuade someone to give them your property or anything that has value. Again, In order to obtain a conviction, the prosecutor has to be able to prove, beyond any reasonable doubt, specific elements of the crimes. These elements include:

A “false pretense” covers a wide array of conduct, but it’s legally defined as any act, word, symbol, or token, where the intent purpose is to deceive. This includes making reckless statements without having any information to justify its true, but intent is the key factor in criminal prosecution of theft by false pretenses. Another key factor for the prosecutor to prove is the reliance of the victim who gave up their property because they believed your false statements were true. This means the victim must have actually given you their property because they relied on your misrepresentation. Additionally, a theft by false pretenses requires that you obtained ownership of the victim’s property, rather than just possession. Call a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at our law firm for additional information and to review the details of your case.

Legal Penalties for a Theft by False Pretense Conviction

If you are convicted of theft by false pretenses in violation of California Penal Code Section 532, the legal penalties will depend on the amount of money or property taken. If the total value of property is $950 or less, it’s considered petty theft, which is a misdemeanor offense that can carry a sentence of up to 6 months in the county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both. If the total value of the property is more than $950, you will be charged with grand theft, which can be filed as either a misdemeanor or felony crime. See related: Grand Theft Firearm. If convicted of a felony, the legal penalties can include up to 3 years in a California state prison.

Legal Defenses Against Theft by False Pretense Charges

Contact a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you or a family member are facing misdemeanor of felony charges of theft by false pretenses under Penal Code 532, you need to consult with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Eisner Gorin LLP immediately. Remain silent and do not talk to the police. Our lawyers need to review your case in order to determine your best legal options moving forward. We have a track record of success in all type of theft related cases. We offer a free immediate response. Call our law firm at 877-781-1570.


Inclusion Overview

A recap from the semester

What is inclusion?

Inclusion is integrating students with disabilities with their peers. It is finding a balance between providing the student with all needed accommodations without separating them from their fellow classmates.

Why is it important?

Inclusion is important in order to dissolve any barriers between children with disabilities and those without disabilities. All students should be encouraged to participate in the same activity with peers. Supports and accommodations may be needed in order to implement this. This is a time when children's sense of self is developing, it is important that they see themselves as equal to their peers instead of held back by their disability.

What are some challeneges?

Implementing Inclusion may be difficult at first. Teacher should be trained on how best to teach and accommodate varying levels of skills. It is important that the right amount of assistance is given. To much assistance may create a divide between the other students, to little assistance may hinder the students success. Teachers may find it difficult to encourage peer interaction. In order to create a friendly environment, group work should be encouraged and educating the students about disabilities can be beneficial.

Fully Understanding Inclusion

The class material and activities provided a comprehensive overview of inclusion. The class viewed videos on how a real classroom would function, identifying possible difficulties and strategies. The F.A.T. City assignment allowed me to place myself in the shoes of a children with disables in a general education classroom and see how the teacher can help aid in the students success. These strategies were then seen in person during the classroom observation assignment. It was helpful to learn about the topic through text then visually through videos and observation.
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Online Resource

Inclusion does not only concern the parents of the child with disabilities and the teacher but also the parents of the other child in the class. In some case, other parents may be worried that the child with disabilities will be distracting. However, the parents can be comforted by observing the classroom to see first hand, that inclusion can benefit all children.

Inclusion can help improve language skills of students with disabilities. The “peer effect” indicates that being surrounded by peers with a normally developing level of communication will enhance the child’s communication through integration. These results are not observed when children with low communication and language skills are grouped together.

Resources for Teachers

Below are a list of resources that can help teachers adapt their teaching strategies to help create a productive, friendly, inclusive classroom. Strategies include education of disabilities, children's books on the topic, encouraging collaboration, and more.
Inclusive Learning: Everyone's In - Overview


The journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step

Breathing in

Image may contain: sky and nature

“Breathing in, I see myself as still water.

Breathing out, I reflect things as they are.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

* Swan feather floating on Hatchet Pond, Hampshire, England

Being with it fully

– Joseph Goldstein

from the book “Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom”
ISBN: 978-1590300169 –

Feelings and breathing

Image may contain: one or more people, ocean, outdoor and nature

~ Thich Nhat Hanh~

The Rhythm Of Our Breathing Influences Our Brain Function And Behavior

Us Buddhists have known this since the beginning…

Breathing is not just for consuming oxygen; it’s also related to brain function and behavior.

Source: The Rhythm Of Our Breathing Influences Our Brain Function And Behavior

June 19, 2017

The Rhythm Of Our Breathing Influences Our Brain Function And Behavior

Northwestern Medicine scientists have found for the first time ever that the rhythm of breathing causes electrical activity in the human mind that boosts emotional judgments and memory recall.

These influences on behavior are based on whether you inhale or exhale and whether you breathe through the mouth or the nose.

In the research, each person was able to identify a fearful face faster if they saw the face while breathing in compared to breathing out. Additionally, individuals were more likely to recall an object if they encountered it on the inhaled breath than on the exhaled one. Interestingly, the effect vanished if breathing was through the mouth.

“One of the major findings in this study is that there is a dramatic difference in brain activity in the amygdala and hippocampus during inhalation compared with exhalation,” said lead author Christina Zelano, assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “When you breathe in, we discovered you are stimulating neurons in the olfactory cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, all across the limbic system.”

Northwestern scientists first found these differences in brain activity while examining 7 patients with epilepsy who were scheduled for brain surgery. A week before the surgery, a surgeon implanted electrodes into the patients’ brains to identify the origin of their seizures. That gave scientists the opportunity to acquire electro-physiological data directly from their brains. The electrical signals proved that brain activity fluctuated with breathing. The activity takes place in brain areas where feelings, memory and smells are processed.

The discovery led scientists to ask if cognitive functions typically related to these brain areas — especially fear processing and memory — could also be influenced by breathing.

The amygdala is strongly connected to the emotional processing, especially fear-related emotions. So scientists asked about 60 individuals to make quick decisions on emotional expressions in the lab environment as their breathing was being recorded. While looking at pictures of faces expressing either fear or surprise, the individuals had to tell, as fast as they could, which feeling each face was expressing. ( picture is for illustrative purposes only.)

When faces were shown during inhalation, subjects recognized them as fearful faster than when faces were shown during exhalation. This was not the case for faces expressing surprise. These results decreased when individuals performed the same task while the breathing was through the mouth.

In another experiment — tied to the hippocampus — the same individuals were looking at pictures of objects on a computer screen and tried to remember them. Later, they were asked to describe those objects. Researchers discovered that recall was better if the pictures were shown during inhalation.

According to Zelano, the discoveries indicate that fast breathing may offer an advantage when somebody is in a dangerous situation.

Another potential result of the research is on the main mechanisms of meditation or focused breathing. “When you inhale, you are in a sense synchronizing brain oscillations across the limbic network,” Zelano noted.

Sources/References: Northwestern University,


At the Fifth International Ruby
, like others I sat engrossed by Nathaniel
Talbott’s talk
on the "long tail" of software development.
There we were, an audience full of geeks who like to write code, hearing
how our favorite technology (Ruby) was enabling geeks who like to write
code to make money doing so. It was an exciting and tempting idea.

Nathaniel talked about his wife’s co-op’s Excel spreadsheets,
and how many small (often local) organizations across the country have
similar, ineffective spreadsheets. There’s money to be made in
writing small, focused applications to cater to the very specific needs of
these little groups, says Nathaniel. And according to the bigger ongoing
"long tail" discussion on the ‘net, there is an opportunity
to provide previously underserved fringe groups with a product that will
delight them like no general-purpose product has or can.

Tempting, as I said. And true sometimes, I would guess. But…

Sam Ruby, who was also at
the conference, picked
the long tail presentation as a favorite
. But while the conference
brought up a lot of discussion of Naked
in Ruby and various RAD tools, I think Sam hit on something
more relevant that a lot of us are likely to miss:

        Those are the long tailer developers of today.  Nathaniel asks:
        what happens when t approaches zero?  Nathaniel's answer was that
        people who aren't currently developers wont suddenly want to become
        ones even if the cost were essentially zero.  IMHO, the answer is
        that you will see a lot more applications like that financial
        application that was written in Excel.

It’s not just about who will be doing this development.
It’s about why. Hint: These people aren’t going to be
developing apps themselves because it’s cheaper than before.

We developers are quick to dismiss the little Excel and Access applications
that "lusers" tend to write. We assume that they would do them in
a "better" technology if only they knew how. But they
don’t, so they either have to wait around for a software developer to
come around and save the day, or they have to settle for this ugly
spreadsheet stuff.

Techno-elitist myopia. This is the tail-wagging-the-dog part of the post.

Users don’t make spreadsheets just because they don’t know
Java. They make them because they like them, and because they
want to make them. I can think of at least two reasons why.

First, the spreadsheets often fill an empty hole. They are created, not
because the end users desperately needed them, but because one member of
the group had the ability to create them and enjoyed filling the
gap for the group. It’s one part self-expression, one part learning,
and two parts showing off.

Second, spreadsheets are inherently controllable by the end user. Sure, a
small, user-focused development shop with a simple app can turn changes
around really quickly. But, if a user wants, say, a new column added to a
report view, it takes longer to email and ask the developers to add it than
it would to just select and insert a column in Excel. I know we’re
not talking about big companies here, but something I witnessed in
Corporate America is that end users would guard their little Excel/Access
"applications" from their IT departments as if hording treasure.
As soon as they lost control, and their apps were "upgraded" to
some kind of super-scalable J2EE monstrosity (custom-developed
just for them—the long tail in action), their applications
would become (maybe) more generally useful and (definitely) less
specifically useful. Changes took a long time. They apps didn’t act
exactly as they liked. The secret spreadsheets would often see an
underground revival after the spotlight moved on.

We developers are getting excited over the opportunity to develop small
apps for small bases of users. But we might be attempting to apply a sustaining
technology solution where there is a disruptive technology
waiting to
shake things up.

As developers, we see problems in terms of the potential applications we
could write. We even tend to see the spreadsheet itself as a problem. So we
naturally want to save users from themselves and give them a real

But what these "long tail" users often really want is a
spreadsheet. So why aren’t we solving the real problems with
spreadsheets instead of trying to get rid of them?

I’ve had the privilege to test and experiment with an early version
of a piece of software that is trying to solve this problem. Avi Bryant
(the brains behind the incredibly innovative Seaside web framework) and Andrew
Catton’s company, Smallthought
have created a product called Dabble. From Dabble’s web page,

        Dabble combines the best of group spreadsheets, custom databases,
        information online.

Or, you can just think of it as the application that solves the problem
that Nathaniel, Sam Ruby, and I are talking about in these posts. And it
does a fantastic job of it.

I built two of my own not-an-applications with it while I was testing it.
One was a fairly simple contact manager for my other nonprofit (We’ve been
using Yahoo "databases" and text files).

The other was a re-implementation of the Rails-based project management
tool, eXplain Project Management Tool
(nice simple app, by the way—try it out). In Dabble, with
absolutely no programming, I incrementally created a project management
tool with all of the functionality of PMT in about 30 minutes. That 30
minutes included submitting bug reports and feature suggestions.

I’ve been sitting silently on Dabble for a few months now as
Smallthought has been working on it. Every time I see one of these
"Web 2.0" posts pop up in my RSS aggregator, I bite my tongue. I
don’t know what "Web 2.0" is, but I hope it’s like
this. I’m really excited about Dabble, and I can’t
wait to see what people do with it. As of today, you can sign up to be notified of Dabble’s
impending release. If you’re really lucky (unofficial word), you may
even get a beta invitation out of it.


Thank you for your interest in applying to CYCLEMODE international 2018.

*If you are applying to exhibit for the first time, please make sure to send in detailed contact information.

Cycle Mode international Head Office (TVO EXPRO Ltd.)

1-2-15, Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0008, Japan
Tel:+81-6-6947-0284 Fax:+81-6-6944-9912


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O Sweet Mr Math

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

6:22 PM

Now I think I've covered the real numbers in enough detail to move on to the next topic, which is functions and sets. Intuition about functions from high school algebra is a good place to start, but as usual, we want to generalize the concept and examine it in more detail.

A function, broadly speaking, is a mapping from members of one set to members of another set. Strictly speaking, the members of the sets don't have to be numbers, although in practice they often are, and the function can be written as a mathematical expression. The set that we are mapping from is the domain of the function. The important rule about functions and domains is that every member, or point, of the domain set maps to exactly one point in the set the function is mapping to, or the codomain.

There is no similar restriction on the codomain. Points in the codomain may not be reachable from any point in the domain. A simple example makes this clear. Define a function f as a mapping from the real numbers to the real numbers. We can label the domain as X and the codomain as Y, to be clear that the two sets are distinct, although they both have as members all real numbers. The notation for this is f:X→Y.

We will define f as a formula that maps points in domain into the codomain. For any point x∈X, f(x)=x2. For any x in the real numbers (the domain), we can find an f(x) in the codomain (also the real numbers), and no x in the domain maps to more that one point in codomain. However, there are points in the codomain that cannot be reached by this mapping, since no real number squared is a negative number. The subset of the codomain of points that can be mapped to from the domain is called the range. For this function, the range is the set of non-negative real numbers.

If the range of a function is equal to the codomain of the function, we can say that the function is onto or that it is a surjection.

The other thing to notice about f(x)=x2 is that for any positive f(x), there are two different numbers in the domain which map to that number. If every point in the range is mapped to by only one point in the domain, then the function is one-to-one or is an injection.

Any given function can be one-to-one, onto, both, or neither. If a function is both one-to-one and onto, it is a bijection.

For whatever reason, I am personally more comfortable with the terms injection, surjection, and bijection than I am with one-to-one and onto. I think "one-to-one" implies bijection to me, which is not correct. My goal is to deliberately use the words one-to-one and onto here to try to train myself to use them correctly.

What does "rolls a hoover" mean, anyway?

Why is the HTML for this page not valid?


Grey matter in brain linked to altruism: Study

Berne: Some people who are more forthcoming with help than others can thank the size of their grey matter, housed at the junction of the two brain lobes, says a new study.

Researchers from Switzerland`s University of Zurich led by Ernst Fehr, director of the department of economics, found a link between brain anatomy and altruistic behaviour in the first ever study of this kind.

Some people are almost never willing to sacrifice money to benefit others while others behave very altruistically. Previous studies had shown that the grey matter is linked to the ability to put oneself in someone else`s shoes in order to understand their thoughts and feelings.

Altruism is probably closely related to this ability.

Consequently, researchers suspected that individual differences in this part of the brain might be linked to differences in altruistic behaviour, according to a Zurich statement.

Yosuke Morishima, post-doctoral researcher in economics at Zurich, said: "People who behaved more altruistically also had a higher proportion of grey matter at the junction between the parietal and temporal lobes."

Ernst Fehr adds: "These are exciting results for us. However, one should not jump to the conclusion that altruistic behaviour is determined by biological factors alone."


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Implementing the 5S Steps

For companies that have limited operating expenses, 5S gives them a methodology to delivery process improvements with a high return on investment and immediate payback.  Before implementing any improvement approaches such as Lean or Six Sigma, organizations should implement the 5S steps.  By doing this, the likelihood of your continuous improvement efforts succeeding is greatly increased, as the benefits from your 5S implementation will be apparent and therefore easier to achieve buy-in at all levels of the organization.

5S Step Benefits

With respect to manufacturing improvements, when comparing a manufacturing plants where none of the 5S practices are in place, and plants with a full 5S environment, benefits typically are found in various process areas and average:

Quality  – 90 percent improvement;

Productivity  –  15-20 percent improvement;

WIP Reduction  – 50-80 percent improvement;

Increase in Space  –  30-40 percent improvement;

Accident Reduction – 90 percent improvement; and

Non- Value-Added Time Reduction  –  25 percent improvement.

The 5S steps aren’t just for the shop floor.  Think about it: in a typical day in the office how much time do you waste searching for information, looking for computer files, and walking back and forth to the printer to retrieve a printout or fax?  Are there mistakes being made because you have inaccurate or outdated information?  The 5S themes of organization and standardization are universally applicable to all work environments.

Each of 5S steps are critical to optimize outcomes.

1st S       Sort

In the Sort step, necessary items for the workplace are separated from unnecessary items and subsequently removed.  A “red tag” campaign is conducted to evaluate items based on their usefulness and frequency of use.  Unnecessary items crowd the workplace and make it difficult to find and keep important items near the work area.  These items include obsolete equipment, broken tools, obsolete inventory, scrap, old files, etc.  Safety and productivity are improved as a result of the extra floor space created.

2nd S      Set-in-Order

The 2nd S involves installing systems whereby necessary items are always located in logically predetermined locations.  Based on the inventory classification of the red tag campaign, items are placed in locations based on frequency of use.  Frequently used items are placed at or near the workplace while infrequently used items are stored in specified locations.  When items are stored in logical places time is not wasted looking for the appropriate tools or fixtures.  The “gold standard” for the 2nd S is a workplace organized such that needed items can be retrieved within 30 seconds with a minimal number of steps.

3rd S       Shine

The 3rd S consists of the carrying out of regular cleaning activities that ensure that machine downtime is minimized by keeping the factory dirt and dust free and the machines properly maintained. Observers are always amazed when they see how incredibly clean the shop floors are of world-class Japanese manufacturing plants.  Daily cleaning of machines and production areas results in a dust and dirt-free factory which reduces breakdowns and maintenance costs while improving safety and quality. Outside of the shop floor, an organized office can help employees feel more comfortable in a clean and uncluttered environment, which in turn can improve quality of work.

4th S       Standardize

The goal of the 4th S is to maintain and entrench and the first 3S’s via standardization. This is achieved by providing easily understood visual warnings as well as standardized work methods and procedures.  Equipment is marked and labeled so that observation and inspection of equipment can be conducted easily and uniformly.  Anyone on the shop floor, not just the actual operator, should be able to determine when a machine or other piece of equipment is malfunctioning.  As a result, determining the condition and status of equipment becomes accurate and easy and responsiveness increases.  Reaction time to malfunctions is reduced resulting in reduced downtime.  Standardized procedures result in the most efficient use of resources as only the most efficient practices are followed.

5th S       Sustain

The 5th S involves developing habits to entrench the 5Ss on an individual basis.  5S must become a way of life, and not just another quick fix program. The key tool for this entrenchment is a detailed regular appraisal of the workplace called the 5S Audit.  The audit ensures that the 5S program continues indefinitely and a return to old habits does not occur.

Where should the 5S steps be applied?

The answer is in all industries and all departments – it can and should be applied everywhere. 5S creates the basis for Lean thinking.  By getting the workplace under control, waste can be more easily identified and eliminated.  Root causes of process variability will also become more visible. Finally, implementing 5S will help you get some significant quick wins that will help build momentum for your continuous improvement program.

 Contact our Operational Excellence Consultants

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The Shape of Water (2017)

the shape1

the shape

Bob the Gambler, Bob le Flambeur (1956) – Film Review

bob gamblerDirected by Jean-Pierre Melville

Bob the Gambler was the first Melville movie I’d ever seen, and as most said it was an uncharacteristic piece for him, I was a little sad; I really liked the movie and wanted to dive into other Melville films that were just as quirky and sly as this one.

The film is about a man named Bob, and yes, he’s a gambler; he has a gaming slot machine in his closet, a little taste he indulges in at home for fun, and spends a lot of his time in gambling houses and casinos.

Bob has had one stint in prison and we find out that he’s got a bit of a guardian angel in the form of a cop. He gets picked up in a police car for a generous ride; one of the cops wants to make sure he stays out of trouble. He has them drop him off a couple blocks before his destination though, so as to not hurt his reputation.

Bob has a young apprentice, Paolo, a quasi son of sorts, but without any consent or censoring between them. He tries to keep Paolo out of trouble, or at least out of the hands of hotheads and their criminal schemes. The atmosphere and sense of place is a movie-lovers dream. The misty streets, long, narrow roads filled with high light-posts, and small little bars where people go in as fast as they pour out; ideal surroundings for a man who fancies himself a gangster.

Bob has started to run out of money as a result of his obsessive gambling, and when a friend tells him how much money a certain Casino holds in their safe, he instantly decides he wants to rob it. But he doesn’t act on sudden impulse like a lowly street hood, he tightly plans it out.

He hires distractions, men to hold-up the staff, and a professional safe-cracker; one of the more clever scenes involves the gang standing around the safe-cracker as he uses an amplifier to listen to the small clicks and movements of the combination lock, practicing for the future head-to-head with the real lock, the one that matters. He needs to softly listen for all the right internal whistling gizmos and clicks, while at the same time keeping in mind the need for it to be cracked under four minutes.

Bob      The plan and heist, of course, brings with it some very real obstacles. Earlier in the story, a young hothead, Marc, gets tangled around some trouble and the police subsequently offer him a deal: if he leads them to a bigger, top-of-the-top racket, and said tip results in a legitimately successful arrest, they’ll drop the charges against him.

Paulo, even after Bob tells him never to tell a dame their plans, goes off and brags about their upcoming plans. Then, when Paulo’s girl plays around with Marc behind his back, she tells him this, not thinking Paulo is going to go through with it, and, of course, Marc tips the police. One-by-one, the domino’s fall on top of Bob’s carefully articulated plans.

A heavy dose of irony presents itself towards the end, while Bob’s a bit distracted; his strict schedule for the heist is interrupted once he begins winning considerable sums at the tables, at the exact casino he’s about to attempt to steal eighty-million from. During the entire course of the film poor Bob has the worst of luck: It’s only good when his luck is just moments away from tipping back to the ‘bad’ spectrum.

Shutter Island

Shutter Island is not a low-point in Scorsese’s career, but simply an indulgence. It has similar elements to his past films, with 40s dressed men and a classic, noirish feeling and tone, but doesn’t satisfy on all aspects. With a plot as complex as Shutter Island, after the fact plot-holes keep appearing in the after-glow thoughts, and that is the kind of distraction that takes attention away from the main themes. Yet, what are the themes of Scorsese’s recent film? Confusion, denial, desperation..

The movie does not at all lack beauty in its camera-work; its first scene is a wonderful pan onto a mist-covered boat, with detective Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) leaning on the handling with his partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) smoking a cigarette; Teddy leave s soon, his sea-sick rising in his stomach, for the bathroom. They are headed to investigate the merit of a psychiatric institution, but what their looking for is not told to us from the start; and even if it was, it would end up an entirely different thing. The movie strives on paranoia and fear, from conspiracy to mystery: the two investigate a case where a woman seems to have disappeared from her room, while at the same time not being seen escaping by the night guards. The island is searched, nothing found. The rest of the film is dedicated to finding her-as well as Teddy dealing with his own past troubles.

Their were flash-back sequences in the film, or dream-sequences, of Teddy with his wife as she fades away and out of existence from him. These I feel are derivative and a low-point for Scorsese’s cinematic inventiveness. She flakes away like a burning newspaper, and she is gone leaving Teddy teared-up and devastated. It creates no mood, nor visual ecstasy,  and is like a sequence trying to mock Lynch’s methods; a hand flying up as he was thinking of her, or hugging a corpse even: He resorts to the weakest of metaphors and imagery.

The film easily sums up its whole with facets of the mentally ill; this character acted like this, because he was paranoid or delusional. But this seems like the only thing that does work right, there are other things that are never bothered to be explained or elaborated; you can definitely get the feeling that this could have been smarter if Scorsese wasn’t making a movie for commercial success. It’s a bold horror entry no doubt-but with more assumptions being done than an actual plot, it’s a misty film in itself.

Christopher Nolan’s memento takes the narrative linearity of film and flips it upside down; Leonard, played by Guy Pierce, must work backwards to find out his wife’s death because he no longer has a short-term memory. The premise of this is fulfilled to its fullest: He writes notes, not on a pad, but tattooed across his body. The motel-clerk has him booked for two rooms, so he can receive two payments. And everything that Leonard encounters could potentially not be what it seems.

Tense, provocative, and highly intelligent, Memento displays British director Nolan’s talent,and sets the tone for his later, also highly psychological films.

Blade Runner

Director: Ridley Scott
Stars: Harrison Ford
Runtime: 1h 54m

Blade Runner is a meditative auto-pilot of a film, in which we are led by our philosophically-minded host Rick Deckard through the eerily-lit cityscape of L.A. 2019. His android cohort and ambivalent sex-doll, played by the porcelain Sean Young, creates a baby-like contrast to the films consistently brooding tone. It’s performances are universally well supplemented and the direction by Ridley Scott is sharp and dimensional.

The story follows Rick Deckard, a Blade-Runner whose sole job is to find and destroy rogue androids. He is troubled by doing this after so long, similar to a public defender’s self-consciousness, but this feeling he sort of diagnoses as the normal hatred for working,and irrelevant; and in the Philip K. Dick book this would be even more reasonable to think, as they woke up to mood-alarms and selected which mood they wanted for the day. Then he gathers the attention of an android woman upon visiting the prism-shaped Tyrell complex, and is released from his self-described sinning after seriously considering having sex with the woman Android. He continues his search for the rogue androids, the posse that sent a fellow Blade Runner to the grave, with the hesitation of the android-woman Rachel wallowing beside him in her lucid thoughts of who she, having found out to be a patented Tyrell Android, really is.

The structure is well-kept throughout, matched with solid operatic musical entries that one can imagine
echoing through the metallic structures where the Rogue androids reside. In fact, everything in the movie seems of the same proportions: huge. Do we ever see small apartment complexes or homes? The set design I have no problems with, although I may say the bleakness of it all makes the prospect of monochrome seem well fitting; I’m surprised they never released a DVD in such format, as it would undoubtedly make a few bucks.

Blade Runner flows like a lofty philosophical talk with a well-acquainted friend. It is about human contradiction, human responsibility, morality and the realization of the bigger ‘reason’ for doing things that may be morally transparent to some. It explores the the cause for exploitation with human artificial intelligence, a concept dismissed in the simstim prostitution of most sci-fi films. And most of all, it displays that even in a world of programmed-action, you can choose the right path.

Blade Runner, to put it emphatically, is a masterpiece. It’s provocative morality along with the ethereal tone bring about a not well-known mixture: Tough guy sentimentality. And with this comes entertainment-discrepancies for a shell-pumping culture, which would explain its meager box office on first release. Philip K. Dick, the author of the source novel ‘Do androids dream of electric sheep?’ had seen some movie shots of the L.A. design and apparently was very much in awe. This was before his seizure and consequential death, when soon thereafter a solid chunk of his body of work was adapted to the screen. Recommended to all sci-fi and even open-minded drama connoisseurs.

Jean Luc-Godard seems to think if you correlate number-tags to a woman’s neck you can call yourself science-fiction; although it may not be the normative spaceship piloting fair, Alphaville is unique in its philosophical approach. William Gibson, author of Neuromancer, cites Escape from precinct 13 as an inspiration to his writings, a John Carpenter film, when a character mentions, paraphrased, “I flew over Normandy during the invasion”, and by this single strip of contextual dialogue, it emits a time and place unrealized simply by exteriors; this is done often in Alphaville, as the time in which filmed does not permit the use of special-effects that we have today.

Near the end of the third act the director positions aerial shots stationed on Lemmy backing out by way of a stolen car and zigzagging out of the parking lot, causing the whole scene to feel predetermined; above, a deity, spectating the intergalactic missions of Lenny.

The stark black and white camerawork sets a somber mood, and the lengthy film, when pushed past its own pretensions, is also very interesting and engaging.

Film Review: Chinatown

Chinatown, directed by the acclaimed director Roman Polanski,  is a feat of modern noir, and an equally crowning achievement from Robert Towne, whose screenplay made the show. It takes place in a classic Los Angelos, and is about a private investigator named J.J. Gittes, who gets a call for help from a woman looking for an investigator of her husband’s murder. This woman turns out to be in a very complex case, one that has to deal with the power behind the Water supply of Los Angeles, and a series of murders. Mr. Mulroy was the partner of Noah Cross, (John Huston), and is found dead in the waters of Los Angeles. Tons of water is being poured meaningless into the bay: Why?

The movie takes a contemplative look into the world of the private-eye, and into the world of a woman who has been confused about herself and family for a very long-time; “She’s my sister! She’s my daughter!”. I feel as though the film shows J.J. Gittes as a man who goes after the controversial-cases, a sort of light mobman, and this case is him trying to set his reputation, both internally and publicly, straight. The film boasts great scenes of light-decor filled with smoke, and tense, mysterious gestures from the characters: We, because we follow Mr. Gittes, never know what the other characters are doing or why, especially Mrs. Mulroy and Noah Cross, her father, though one can assume she has been subjected the most unfairly. You can see it in her eyes, and the dark, careless way she speaks.

Their is a famous scene with Roman Polanski as a stand-in actor, a gangster-like figure around the water-supply area, who cuts Gittes nose off, leaving him with a metaphorical bandaged nose for the rest of the film, a lack of scent. And it couldn’t be more true, though not out of incompetence; He takes pictures, keeps his findings hidden from colleagues, and blasphemies politicians as he attempts to get information, truly seeing for himself and for us, the corrupt world of covering the tracks in political life. The water’s are muddy, and we sense it early on.

Roman Polanski’s ‘Chinatown’ is a tense and suspenseful movie: It takes us through dark alleys and clouded actions, and out the end with still unsettled grounds: It’s what happens in Chinatown. A jarring, wild ride of classic noir film-making, and a great testament to Polanski’s talent of atmosphere and meticulous staging.

Scarlett Street

Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” has penetrated pop-culture’s vein in the 20th Century, creating a suavely paced, intelligent and versatile thriller of the mind. The word Inception is used in culture falsely here-forth, and most people don’t realize that Nolan didn’t invent the word Inception. It means to begin or incite, but in a sense there is a modular meaning to the word now: According to Online dictionaries, the term inception in the realm of science means “the act of instilling an idea into someone’s mind by entering his or her dreams.” And Nolan has incited ideas into many people’s minds: layers of knowledge, of impenetrable realities and uncontrollable human emotions. Though vital, the film could use Fellini as the director of the emotive moments, which consist of long gazes and dream-like stillness, that ultimately seem empty and forced. Without them, the movie would be a structure of constructs, ideas, and tasks; but Nolan at least knows that a movie consisting only of logic like so is not much of a movie at all.

Inception surrounds the circumstance of Dom Cobb, who is an extractor of dreams, performing tasks for corporations against rival companies. He does this with unexplained dream-intervention technology. After a devastating situation of death and sabotage of Cobb’s wife, which he is considered as the main suspect, he must flee from his children and out of the country. Now, after sporadic jobs, he finds a corporate-entity who pronounces shadily that he can return him to his kids for doing one job for him, and this job involves inception, an operation Cobb’s done only once, unsuccessfully. They must incite, meaning actually create an idea instead of removing one, that Robert Fischer wants to break up his father’s empire. To do this, Cobb assembles a mighty team of specialists, Arthur, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) the point-man, who finds out information on all persons involved, Eames (Tom Hardy) who can morph into a new body and pretend to be a close person in the dreamers life, and Ariadna (Ellen Page), the young architect student who designs the dream.  The crew conflict with each other and their pasts, especially Cobbs, since it can appear and harm them in a dream, and confront multiple layers of dreaming for the single-goal of an idea.

What is left in the dark, on a cerebral level, is which layer of the dream we are currently watching. Nolan is able to do this without making the viewer frustrated, but I think he fails on the part of human mystery. There is nothing abnormal about the human scenario, only the dream: All that we think or hesitate about before entering the dream is what ultimately does happen: Cobb’s wife, security in Fischers dreams, and the like. But what of the personality of Fischer: What if he was not as easy-going, or melancholy to the point of vulnerability, but instead there was a traumatic shock to the crew. Like Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now, Fischer could use more subconscious mystery and deceit, maybe with a pinch of Lynchian terror. Yet, this would not compromise to the consistent nature of Nolan’s filmography, which is essentially psychological noir, not abstraction.

On a critical level, the film has flaws. But don’t mistake these as meaning I didn’t or don’t like Inception; I saw it three times when first released and still find it an enticing and unique movie experience. It is truly revolutionary, in fact, as it took in a large gross while still being intelligent and visceral. Filmmakers will hopefully soon realize that people are more capable of understanding what’s on the screen than Hollywood assumes.

Minority Report – Film Review

Although I’m not a surging fan of Spielberg’s movies, “Minority Report” is an overlooked gem in his filmography. It features a super sci-fi atmosphere and a universe as special as it is bizarrely complex.

Tom Cruise leads as  John Anderton, traversing the viewer through a journey of corporate corruption. The film poses a complicated narrative about the various contradictions within the concept of free will. The movie is based off of a short-story/novella by Philip K. Dick, an author who specialized in dissecting the legitimicy of our reality.

Their is a gloomy, closet-light sort of decor to the whole film. It isn’t a romance sci-fi, or even a extremely flashy science fiction movie, but a dark, sometimes depressing outlook on loss; in parts it reminds one of Ridley Scott’s noirish Blade Runner.

In this world, in 2054 A.D., government has the ability to predict future murders and stop them in their mind-dwelling tracks; It’s called the Pre-cog program, and involves three telepathic visionaries of the future outputting  information to the agency.

The troops flee out and arrive at the potential murder area to conflict with the violence. Chief Anderton is the best at his job: Spielberg confidently shows Anderton’s confidence with full frontal views of him moving his arms with virtual information, swinging it, and looking for clues on the motherboard.

The staging is excellent in the way it takes the plot with the utmost sense of importance, even if most of the film is frantic getaways. I don’t think its much of a criticism to say it consisted only of getaways, because each pit-stop is revealing of the times; he’s not hiding behind garbage cans, but getting his eye-removed so he can re-enter his past-employed  building, or finding an elderly women with an odd love for botany.

It reveals the society’s technology all at the same time: Much of this was of Spielberg and crew’s own invention, since Philip K. Dick’s story has little explanation of devices used, and was never one to bother on such descriptivism anyway, being a writer concerned mostly with character and plot.

The film is a masterpiece of super-detective science fiction, wildly synced action sequences and incredible art and concept design. The actors fill out their characters skillfully, including Max von Sydow as the president of the pre-cog program and Collin Farell as a snoopy investigator.


5 Strategies for Managing Anxious Thoughts

Anxiety has a way of hijacking our mind and body to a point of exhaustion. It wants to convince us that worrying can help us control the problem and prepare for the future. Even though we know, that many of the anxious thoughts are illogical, we often can’t seem to shut them off. Here are 5 easy techniques you can use when faced with maladaptive thoughts.

  • Distraction. Find a way of diverting your attention away from the thought, even if it is just for a second. Do that continuously until the thought goes away. For example, listen to music, think of something positive, or mindfully drink a glass of water. You can also wear a rubber band on your wrist and every time a certain thought arises, snap the rubber band.
  • Exercise Outdoors. Anxious mind often contributes to a tense body. When you engage in intense exercise, you help your body release tension and your mind often times relaxes as well. Not to mention a set of physiological processes, that help to elevate dopamine and other helpful neurotransmitters. A series of studies have also shown that walking in nature can stop rumination. Go hiking or running in a park and tune into the sounds and smells around you.
  • Be an observer. Mindfulness meditation can be very helpful with this one. You can practice observing your thoughts and being able to disengage from them. You can allow the thoughts to come, knowing that you do not have to act on them or have an emotional reaction to them. They are just thoughts, not facts, and you get to decide which ones you want to pay attention to. You can notice a negative thought and say to yourself:”my brain is creating stories again but I don’t have to listen to them, I chose to focus on something else”. You can imagine your mind is like a hotel and the thoughts are like guests trying to check it. You can welcome them and kindly say:” I am sorry, I have no rooms available for you”.
  • Talk back. Because anxious thoughts are irrational, you can try to question them. Ask yourself: “Is this really true? What evidence do I have? Am I helping myself by worrying? How can I make this easier for myself? How can I think of this differently?”. You can also come up with short words or phrases you can say to yourself when certain maladaptive thoughts arise. For example: “Let go”, “Not helping”, “Thanks for sharing but I’m not getting on this train of thought”.
  • Have a plan. When experiencing anxiety, we often go towards worst case scenarios. If there is an issue you often worry about, come up with a plan of what you will do if the worst happens (even if unlikely). Also, making To Do lists and creating structure in your day, can calm the anxious mind.

If you are interested in creating a personalized anxiety management plan, please contact me at or schedule the appointment directly through my website. In person or video sessions are available. I can work with you on developing the skills you need to bring more calm and balance into your life.

Discovering Your Life’s Work

Many of us struggle with career decisions at some point in our lives. L. Boldt in the book “Zen and the Art of Making a Living”, describes the basic factors that will likely come into place, to create your life’s work. The following framework can be a helpful guide in search for an unique vocation:

Integrity – Your life’s work is aligned with your values and things you deeply care about. It is born out of your ideals and visions. It gives you sense of meaning and purpose.

Question: What do I care about? What do I stand for? What are my values?

Service – Your life’s work gives you an opportunity to make the world a better place. It becomes your unique opportunity to contribute to greater good.

Question: How do I want to serve?

Enjoyment – You life’s work is something you truly enjoy to do. Without enjoyment, your creativity may not find a true expression and you are likely to get burned out.

Question:  What do I love to do? What kind of activities help me experience joy, engagement and creativity?

Excellence – Your life’s work is something you are really good at and something you are willing to fully dedicate yourself to.

Question: What am I willing to persist at, until I achieve excellence?

Mindful Mastery of Emotions

Perhaps the most useful skill we can all learn is emotional tolerance. By mastering this skill, we can open up to any emotion without trying to change it. We also can feel the unpleasant sensations in the body, without being afraid of them. That requires a certain degree of mindful, non-judgemental awareness. Rather than letting our mind try to move away from what is unpleasant, we allow ourselves to be with what is. We accept our emotional states the way they are.

What happens when we do that? We realize, that these emotionally charged sensations change, shift and eventually go away. We also realize that they are not fatal. That gives us enormous power. We don’t have to act on every emotion we have, we can observe it and let it pass.We gain the ability to act despite our emotions. We may be able to feel the fear and do it anyway. We can become overwhelmed with depression and deep down know it is just a momentary state that will not last forever.

Emotional tolerance develops gradually and starts with a single moment of mindfulness. Let yourself become aware of what is happening in your body right now without trying to change it. Observe how these sensations come and go. Accept this moment the way it is.

Three Breathing Techniques For Greater Well Being

c'mon inner peace Breathing happens in the NOW, so as soon as you bring your attention to it, you are in the present moment. The real challenge, however, is to stay there. The stories on your mind and external distractions will try to pull you away from it. Each second, you have another chance to bring your attention back to the breath. Then, an amazing thing happens: your life is no loger controlled by the regrets about the past and fears of the future. Your breath can become a great anchor to the present moment, a way of grounding yourself. Regulating the breath, is a great way to manage the stress response in your body. Throughout the years of working with clients struggling with stress and anxiety, I have found the following techniques to be especially effective:

The Unbearable Heaviness Of Limitless Possibilities

(Marianne Williamson)

When we are feeling stuck and dissatisfied with our lives it is so easy to blame circumstances outside of ourselves. Each time we do it, we give up responsibility for our own lives. Making others responsible for our misfortunes, doesn’t put us in a position of power. It is so much harder to create a real change, if we expect others to remove the obstacles for us.

The truth is, every minute, we are making choices that influence the outcomes of our lives. Sometimes the choice is to stay silent, rather than speak up, when we are being mistreated. Other time, the choice is to sleep in, rather than work out in the morning. We get to choose what we focus on, and how we perceive the events in our lives. To accept that we are absolutely, completely responsible for how we live our lives, is very scary. It implies limitless possibilities, but also comes with the burden of responsibility.

Perhaps this is the reason why change is so difficult sometimes. We are afraid to accept how powerful we are. We may have spent our lives being told the exact opposite. We may have been programed to believe, that there are limits to what we can do. Going against this programing takes effort. Making that effort, means turning off the default mode and taking control. This is the choice we can make very day. A choice to open to new possibilities and a choice to go against our conditioning.

Effortless Living

Burt Shavitz is a founder and face of Burt’s Bees, a line of natural, personal care products. He is also a subject of a documentary called:”Burt’s Buzz”, that chronicles his life and the story of Burt’s Bees. Burt is an inspirational character, who despite modest income chooses to live in a small hut in rural Maine, without TV, internet or hot water.

His authenticity, contentment with life and resourcefulness, truly amazes me. He appears to have a great strength of character and resilience that draws people to him. He is not a fan of crowds, however, and is known to say: ” A good day is when none shows up and you don’t have to go anywhere”.

Burt, now 80, seems to have the courage to live on his terms. That is something we can all learn from him. Throughout his life, he always followed his curiosity. Rather than focusing on making a living, he chose to focus on making a life. By living simply, he always found a way to support himself. He was not afraid to leave situations that were not serving him anymore.

Perhaps, this is the way to make our life more effortless. We need to trust, that our curiosity can lead us to our calling and that what we have to offer, is enough to create a meaningful life.


Ferdinand Bol Paints Portrait of Elisabeth Bas

Elisabeth Bas (1571, Kampen - 2 August 1649, Amsterdam) was a figure in the Dutch Republic.

She was the wife of Jochem Hendricksz. Swartenhont.

Swartenhont was a captain in the navy of the Dutch Republic and a military hero. Jochem Swartenhont was painted, wearing his military decorations by Nicolaes Eliasz. Pickenoy (1588-1655) - Pickenoy also painted Joachem's daughter Maria. During the Twelve Years' Truce (1609-1621) Jochem was out of work and set up a tavern in Amsterdam named after the Prince of Orange. It was on the corner of the Nes and the Pieter Jacobszstraat and was patronised by politicians, artists and writers. After Jochem's death Elisabeth sold it, becoming rich (she left 28,000 guilders on her death).

Jochem died in 1627, leaving his wife and four children. Three of these children died before their mother. The eldest daughter, Maria, had had three children and so these were adopted by Elisabeth on Maria's death - one of them, Maria Rey, later commissioned a portrait of Elisabeth from Ferdinand Bol. It is now in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, where it is known as Elisabeth Bas and attributed to Ferdinand Bol (1616 - 1680), though the identity of the sitter is held to be in doubt by the Rijksmuseum. Until 1911 it was thought to be by Rembrandt, but that year the Rembrandt expert Abraham Bredius re-attributed it to Bol. Such a re-attribution was hotly contested by the collector and art historian Cornelis Hofstede de Groot (1836-1930), but is now accepted. A brand of cigars was named after this painting in the 20th century, produced at a factory at Boxtel and using the painting as a logo, and their bands and the boxes for cigars of this brand are still collectors' items.

Extra large view of the image

An old woman is sitting quietly in her chair. On the table beside her is a book. She is wearing a kind of two-piece: a black dress and matching coat trimmed with fur, which is draped elegantly over the chair. In her hand is a handkerchief. This type of costume was fashionable around 1640 but the large ruff and the cap with wing flaps were out-of-date by this time. Nevertheless, the older generation tended to ignore the whims of fashion and continued to wear these garments.


Restoration Hardware Holdings (RH) Drops 5.88% on February 05

Equities Staff  |

Restoration Hardware Holdings (RH) was one of the Russell 2000's biggest losers for Friday February 05 as the stock slid 5.88% to $52.78, a loss of $-3.3 per share. Starting at an opening price of $56.00 a share, the stock traded between $52.34 and $56.63 over the course of the trading day. Volume was 1.83 million shares over 12,250 trades, against an average daily volume of 1.22 million shares and a total float of 40.48 million.

The losses send Restoration Hardware Holdings down to a market cap of $2.14 billion. In the last year, Restoration Hardware Holdings has traded between $106.49 and $54.09, and its 50-day SMA is currently $75.96 and 200-day SMA is $91.21.

The stock has a P/E Ratio of 25.9.

Emerging Growth

IMV Inc.


Culinary Chef Job Outlook

There are currently an estimated 146,500 Culinary Chefs in the United States. The Culinary Chef job market is expected to grow by 9.6% between 2016 and 2026.

Culinary Chef Employability Rating

C Sokanu rates Culinary Chefs with a C employability rating, meaning this career should provide moderate employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 23,200 Culinary Chefs. That number is based on 14,100 additional Culinary Chefs, and the retirement of 9,100 existing Culinary Chefs.

Demand for Culinary Chefs

The fast pace and long hours demanded by this occupation typically lead to a high rate of turnover. Not surprisingly, therefore, the majority of job openings for culinary chefs will result from the need to replace those who choose to leave or retire from this occupation. Competition for the most prestigious and highest paying jobs at high-end restaurants and hotels is expected to be very strong. Job prospects will be best for chefs who combine a culinary degree with several years of experience, proven creativity, and business skills. Demand for chefs is not created solely by restaurants; exclusive retirement communities, convention centres, cruise ship companies, and private hospitals consistently hire culinary experts. Some established movie production companies are also employing culinary chefs to literally ‘cater’ to the actors, extras, and crews on their movie sets. General population growth is expected to create demand for more fine dining experiences, resulting in continued demand for innovative culinary chefs.

Supply of Culinary Chefs

The Culinary Chef industry is not particularly concentrated in any state.

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