Delusional Trust

http://scienceblog.com/60653/trust-makes-you-delusional-and-thats-not-all-bad/

This article seems funny to me. I have no doubts about this conclusion. How we look at the world is determined by how we remember other experiences and ideas. Trust is built over time and through certain kinds of situations. I am very glad that I trust my boyfriend and I am very glad that my trust can be a positive force in our relationship. It is funny though how we look at 'being delusional.' As if having a lens through which you view reality is a bad thing. We cannot get away from the lenses we use to view reality. We cannot comprehend reality without any lenses, we would not be able to assign any values to our experiences or feelings. I would not want a world in which I could not understand anything in any way. I may not always like the lenses which make me delusional, but I can work to change them when they make themselves known. I rather accept trust as a positive delusion. I do know that some day that may hurt me, but then it also may not. The uncertainty is probably worth the forgiveness and happiness which I have experienced in my life so far. I wonder what other value lens make us delusional by psychological standards. I would guess love also for sure. Love colors our worlds and makes us able to live with and accept other people despite lots of bad experiences. Those experiences matter less when you love another person in any way. I might rather have a kinder world in which we are all 'delusional' because of trust or love. How about you?

Have a Science Talk on Me

I like my Lenten study so much. Reading and reflecting on the science of the day has been a lot of fun and has given my mind some thing else to wrestle with. Today I read two articles. There are too many articles that I want to read and cannot keep up with them all. Neither were about scientific breakthroughs or cool scientific techniques or anything, but they were interesting and things that as someone in the religious world I need to think about. The first was about how we can use cancer as an analogy for social injustice in the world. I think that is a good analogy. http://cancerincytes.scienceblog.com/2013/02/26/the-cancer-that-is-social-injustice-2/ Apparently there is an institute looking at and helping healthcare needs of the products of social injustice. I don't know much about psychology, so I don't know if there is study about the creation of social injustice and what fuels people to tear other people down. Certainly, I do not know anyone that likes to be torn apart on a daily basis, so I don't know why we tear each other apart on a daily basis. I do understand that there is a lot of misplaced anger in the world because we cannot blame the real structures which create our suffering. And granted there are simple people who create suffering for others. Whether all such cases are products of structures which perpetuate social injustice, I cannot say. However, I can say that we need to take a careful look at the structures we employ to see if they are creating or maintaining social injustice. Then we need to do something about them to change them.
On a different note of Christian moral life, I also read an article about pushing the boundaries of science. http://thebrainbank.scienceblog.com/2013/02/25/pushing-scientific-boundaries-how-far-is-too-far/ It is interesting to me that the article talks about the motives driving the boundary pushing studies in order to judge whether they are acceptable. I am not sure how scientific boards which regulate such things determine what is pushing the boundaries and so forth, but I can say that I am glad the author did not take an end justifies the means approach. We cannot know where we will be in another hundred years and what we will accept as normal at that point. I am so looking forward to seeing what changes over the course of my life. As painful as the discussions about scientific boundaries has been and as painful as the discussions about public ethics and morals are, I am very glad that we have them. I do believe that talking through issues with people of differing opinions helps the general understanding. If you don't agree, talk to me about it. ;)

Uniqueness is Proveable

I don't know about you, but I love the xkcd comic. Even more I love his what if weekly blog where people send in questions and he searches for an answer and shows a bunch of the steps he took to find an answer. The ridiculous things that come up with physics and imagination. I wanted to write about it today because he uses some fun mathematics and also because I have been thinking about the phenomena of Twitter. The question today is "How many unique English tweets are possible? How long would it take for the population of the world to read them all out loud?" And to put the answer in perspective, he incorporates the old story about the bird sharpening its beak on a mountain and wearing the mountain down to show how long is a day of eternity. You may remember my own thoughts on eternity here last year. Eternity is heady stuff. The answer to the first question is effectively never. The calculation shows that it would take 'ten thousand eternal years' to read it all out loud. Long enough to get bored with it all. Although the creativity of humanity, and especially those speaking the English language, is just ludicrous enough for you perhaps not to get bored all that time. Yesterday in theology class we were talking about the image of God in humanity and how historically what is considered to be the image of God in humanity has changed through rationality, creativity, and community. I wondered, out loud even, if perhaps since God could be described as so many things, that every human has something different as the image of God within them. Interesting idea for theology perhaps. Apparently because of the definite article which has always been used in talking about the image of God, there can only be one thing amongst all of us. However, since the phrase comes from the Old Testament, I am going to look it up in Hebrew. Why does everyone have to be made in the same image of God? We are all very different people. I will have to think more about it. Uniqueness can be proven mathematically in some areas. I think it is amazing how we are all unique. 

Solar Power Baby!

The article I read was about a new kind of solar energy collection system. The system is based on different metals than most solar energy collection systems. I am always amazed at what we can find metals to do. When you learn about metal in grade school it doesn't seem so special. Its usually hard and sometimes shiny and it conducts electricity. However, that whole conducting electricity and energy is so special and widely used in our technology. This article is much more in depth and scientific than many others I have written about in the last week and a half, but it is good to stretch the brain. They have found a new way to have usable electrons which could split water molecules and not tarnish or harm the metal that was providing the electrons. That is rather great. The do say that it is fast becoming an efficient manner of collecting solar energy and that is really worth the cost. We need efficiency and clean solar energy and other types of alternative energy to help our future have a future. There is only so much energy in the oil and plant life on this earth, but there is a lot more energy in the every day processes that feed the earth.

 http://scienceblog.com/60546/a-whole-new-kind-of-solar-energy-technology/

Save the Water!

http://scienceblogs.com/significantfigures/index.php/2013/02/21/on-the-back-of-an-envelope-brush-your-teeth-but-turn-the-water-off/

This is a nice article for all those people who really wonder if turning off the faucet during teeth brushing would help the environment. I have never seen anyone do the math on the figure, but I am glad now that I have learned to turn the water off. I also never realized how fast and the pressure of sinks. A water flow of 2.5 gallons per minute seems so high! I couldn't imagine that a sink would fill a gallon in a minute, but here the figure is more than two gallons! I will have to test my sink for a minute with my five gallon bucket and see where it fills to. Simple science for determining the flow rate. I have thought about the excess water from showers and toilets and diets before, but I haven't seen the ideas that are in the comments there. I could easily save the cold water from the shower and use it in my toilet or for my fish tank or water my lawn (gasp! that was a joke, I don't really have a lawn and I certainly wouldn't ever water it). I am not sure how to make the laundry idea work with my washer, but I suppose I could find out some how. I could also just drink it. Its the same water that comes out of the other sinks. And its already cold!

What ways do you think you could save water?

PS. I timed my sink and in a minute it almost filled the bucket to 2 gallons. My pressure is not as high as the article's calculation says, but I do live on top of a plateau.

Easy Visual Science Saturday

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/02/22/friday-cephalopod-octophotography/

I read two articles today, however they both befit a Saturday in which I have already baked six different kinds of breads and crackers and run nine miles. Meaning of course that they are easy and cool reads. The first is really short article, but highly entertaining. The author of the article went sea diving and the octopus he was video taping stole his camera! The picture at the top is just one still frame from the video and I highly recommend watching the three minute octopus movie. Who knows, it may become the next big thing and you don't want to miss out on seeing the first. The music is quite appropriate and plays into the emotion of the video very well. It is a wonderful adventure. :)


http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2013/02/22/for-the-love-of-science/

The second article I read is a very accurate description of how everyone is a scientist. I think that lots of people forget that they are scientists and exploring their worlds. The point of view adds a little bit of fun to the way we learn and grow everyday, but most people move away from understanding themselves as scientists because they were no good at academic science. There is a large difference between academic science and the exploration of the world we all do as scientists. The pictures in the article not only help make some of the points the author is trying to make about the way we advanced in academic science because of the differences between scientific theories and the actuality, but also are really cool and pretty. Especially the last one. So I suggest you make it to the end of the article just to see the picture. Reading about science won't hurt you either. ;)

Psychology of Giving and Other Stuff

http://ucresearch.tumblr.com/post/43085813026/if-your-valentines-day-is-less-than-ideal-dont

I am thoroughly enjoying getting to explore scienceblog.com. It is helping me feel more connected to the world while here in seminary without having to watch or look at the news and feel depressed about all the bad things being reported. I do care about the bad stuff that is happening in the world, and it is now very close by with the internet, however I do not need to be depressed about it all everyday. I would like to be able to think that there is good stuff going on in the world every day. I know there is. Good stuff happens in my life, so it has to happen in others' lives too. That is one reason I am liking exploring the science. There are good and bad things going on in science and obviously people are passionate about these things. Passion makes life more vivid. I really enjoyed the comic above, not because I have broken up ever, but because of how the science was easy, accessible, funny, and makes you feel better. Your hat is awesome. Especially if someone who puts you down regularly speaks against it, as a general rule. And speaking of people who build you up versus people who put you down, I also read this article: http://scienceblog.com/60480/in-rich-and-poor-nations-giving-makes-people-feel-better-than-getting/ about how people feel better after buying something for someone else rather than for themselves. It is really funny in a culture that highlights and emphasizes retail therapy and buying stuff for oneself, that we actually feel better when we buy stuff for other people. Even more interestingly enough, people across the world have the same feeling when it comes to buying stuff for other people. How great! We should spend more of our money on others and making sure other people have what they need as well as ourselves. Sadly, as the person who commented pointed out, this does not work in some situations. We do not feel the same way about giving part of our money to the government or other organizations who will then buy stuff for the poor themselves. I wonder if it also has to do with the reception. One of the reasons I was turned down from a summer mission trip to Panama was that I would not be able to eat the food the poorer folks I would be working with would try to feed me. I was slightly appalled when I read that the trip planners allow the volunteers to eat the food of the poor. However, I know how hospitality works. When you invite someone into your house, you like to be able to offer them something. I have myself gotten told off for being rude for bringing my own food into other people's houses, even when they know that they cannot adequately feed me without making me sick. I get stuck in that catch twenty two frequently. Most people just then shy away from inviting me into their homes. It works. The feeling of being able to give something to someone else, to share what we have, to provide for someone is powerful. Psychology and science may link it to the evolutionary needs of humanity. Humans helping humans probably will allow the species to live longer than us always cutting each other throats. Religion will link it to the gifts of God. I think both are true. Loving one's neighbor is sometimes easier than you might think.

What do you take for Granted?

http://scienceblogs.com/sciencepunk/2013/02/20/implanted-bionic-eye-allows-the-blind-to-see-again/

This article is very cool. It is impressive that scientists have been able to make forward progress in helping some people to see again. The article does say that the picture is not very good and the analogy is a fuzzy black and white tv, but for someone who has lost all their sight, being able to see anything would be very exciting. Obviously, I have never been blind. I could end up being blind at some point in my life, but I am hopeful that it won't happen any time soon. I have though lived with broken bones and the implication of not being able to use my dominate hand for a good while. That was painful and interesting enough to make me think differently about what I take for granted. I do not take my abilities to move and write and braid my hair and tie my shoes for granted anymore. When I am good, I remember to be thankful for all the things which I can do easily that other people struggle with. It is also kind of like being on a special diet. Knowing one's limits really makes a difference. There are not many worse things than trying to go too far with a broken bone or a health problem and then being in pain because of your own challenge. I am so glad that we can use some of our scientific knowledge to be helpful to people who feel that they have lost something. There are always opportunities in things, but we have to mourn our loses first. Lots of people get stuck on one side or the other, without allowing themselves to either hope or mourn properly. I am glad the article mentions about the perspective of the people in the study for whom even the littlest bit of returned sight is a gift. We should all be thankful for the gifts we are given, even if other people do not think they are gifts. I am grateful for every chance to be with my Latro. I am grateful for everyone who has struggled with dietary problems before me and has allowed me to use their recipes to make wonderful things without what everyone else takes for granted. Because even food isn't for granted.

The Climate Challenge

http://scienceblogs.com/significantfigures/index.php/2013/02/20/climate-change-snow-and-ice-and-water-resources/

I think this article is very good in its description of some of the changes happening with climate change in a short article. I think however that articles like this do not do enough to talk about the opportunities of climate change. I am not talking about pool contractors making a fortune in coming years in temperate zones because of increasing heat or whatever, but the opportunities to create new technology and reuse the resources we have better. Necessity is the mother of invention, correct? Humanity has a lot to invent soon. Otherwise I am going to cry every year when I cannot dream of a white winter because such things no longer exist. I love my soft snow and my blowing snow and my crunchy snow and my dense snow which never seems to go away despite warm days. I like my hot summer days as well, but I love snow. Granted, I am in no position to talk about making new things. I can barely keep up with my own work, let alone playing with ideas for new inventions. But imagine a world in which we could reallocate money so that education and welfare could be better funded and managed, then people could be challenged to be creative and work together. I guess that is really what is missing. The challenge. People are out there thinking and commenting on what is going on in the world. People are having 'parking lot' meetings behind the backs of all the people we think should be taking care of issues and we are judging how they are doing without necessarily helping. We need to help each other. We need to challenge everyone to share their vision and their voice. Perhaps one person cannot afford to build something which they have dreamed, but someone else doesn't have a dream but the time and resources. Matching them up might be hard, but it would be even harder if no one shares their positions. I have never worked in a lab and I have never worked with other people's ideas in building, however it does seem to me that we could help each other out. Who would we give these ideas to? Colleges? Corporations? Anyone know? More importantly, what are your ideas?

Keeping the Heart of the Matter - Marie Daly

http://www.usasciencefestival.org/schoolprograms/2014-role-models-in-science-engineering.html?pid=366&sid=767:Marie

Today is a history lesson. The first African American woman to get a PhD in the US did so in Chemistry in 1947 from Columbia. Her determination alone is enough to commend her to our eyes. Not many women at the time were able to set out and accomplish that which they wanted to at the time. Even still today, many women do not feel that they are able to accomplish what they want with their lives. For many it is family responsibilities, feeding, clothing, and caring for their loved ones. For others it is the institutions of the world who refuse to allow women to work in certain places or who do not take the words and actions of women seriously. Thankfully, I have grown up in a time and place which has afforded me the ability to be who I want to be and to work for what I want to accomplish. I am very grateful to the women who walked before in me in the world and in my chosen career field. (If you follow Lent Madness, I can tell you I will be voting for Florence Li-Tim Oi.) There are plenty of ways in which the world has worked against these institutions and towards better lives for women. Recently we had the One Billion Rising campaign day, which goes against violence towards women in the world.
I don't know much about Marie Daly, but she obviously followed her heart and I think that is what is great about anybody who makes their own life in this world. Its an especially easy analogy to make considering she studied heart health as related to cigarettes and diet. Marie Daly is not the only woman or man or person who is notable because they followed their heart and made an impact on the world. I am hopeful that in the coming days I will get to think and learn about other new people in science who followed their hearts and made an impact for which we can all be grateful.

Jobs in the Water Industry? I'll get my floaties!

Http://scienceblogs.com/significantfigures/index.php/2013/02/14/smart-water-new-jobs/

We go for meta here. I write little articles about articles, which are usually about other articles. How far away from information can we get while still passing along information? I am not sure of the answer, but I do know that the article today was talking about the outcomes of different kinds of investment in sustainable water jobs. It seems that some investments are creating more jobs than others while still covering the necessary problems needing more work. The article of the article compares the same amount of monetary investment in alternative water supply projects which creates 10-15 jobs whereas that investment in storm water management projects creates anywhere from 10-70 jobs. It seems we need to have better accountability to where our money is going and what it is producing in the water industry. Water is such a precious commodity. My religious reflection this morning was from Deuteronomy where Moses is giving a speech to the Israelites who are about to enter the promised land. Moses reminds them that they best not forget what God has done for them because they could not have managed to do what God has done for them by themselves. It is a good reminder for all of us and it seems pertinent to the water situation we have in the world now. Well, to many situations we have in the world now. We did not always put ourselves in the situation we are in. That does not mean we should blame those who came before us. We can however change the parts of the situation which we can and be grateful for the parts of the situation that are good. The water industry takes care of something lots of people in the United States takes for granted, clean water in our homes. However most of the worlds population cannot take that for granted. Clean water in their home is a product of much work and see worry. Granted, we cannot care about everything all the time. However, money accountability is something we can ask for. Transparency and good investing.

A Serious Distance Problem

http://scienceblogs.com/universe/2013/02/15/what-distance-is/

I really like this article. More of just a description of something we all know and feel, but do not talk about per se. I have been struggling with distance issues myself these past few months. First, because I am in a long distance relationship and that changes how and what forms of connection and communication are intimate. Second, on the opposite side of the spectrum, there is a classmate of mine who violates my sense of space whenever he comes near by. My thoughts on this second problem have bridged that knowledge and distance divide since I get annoyed that he has touched my arm even though he does not know me at all. The presumed closeness without true knowledge is disturbing at that point. Constrasted totally with the true knowledge that my boyfriend has without the ability to be in any close distance.
I always loved the Powers of Ten video. Mostly for me it showed how things are so relative. What we think of as close range from inches to feet, but the real close things are things so close we cannot see or feel them. I do not wear socks to bed and when comparing with other people I explain it as not being intimate with socks so they can't be in bed with me. Yet, they surround and enclose my feet at a distance of nanometers and I rely upon them to keep my feet warm.
Relativity poses a serious distance problem.

Water, water, and not a drop to drink!

http://scienceblogs.com/lifelines/2013/02/15/how-using-the-restroom-may-be-harmful-to-fish/
It's even worse for the fish! Can you imagine the substance all around and within you to be toxic to you? That is not a good environment. It would be like having smog problems everywhere and having it cause mental and physical health problems. The poor fish! I don't know anything about the drug they researched in this article, but I would imagine that it is not the only harmful drug that is going through human systems and ending up in the water. Perhaps we can invent some kind of filter for people who take serious drugs to use so that excess drugs do not end up in the water. Installed in the toilets and then disposed of in another way, we could cut down on the pollutants in the environment causing havoc with the natural ecosystems. I don't know what would filter such toxins out or how best to dispose of them, but I am sure there are researchers who could figure those things out. I can't say we should all just taking serious medicines, because the quality of life given by the existence of the drugs is worth it to them. We should just be better about where we allow such things to go.

A little water + dry Math = Fun, Vivid Math

'"Vividness" in Mathematics'
http://scienceblogs.com/evolutionblog/2013/02/14/vividness-in-mathematics/

Of course I choose the article this morning about mathematics and literature. Mathematics in conjunction with other subjects is awesome. Mathematics does not get the credit and attention it deserves. Coming from the girl who double majored in college in Mathematics and Religious studies. However, I do think all of the men in the article make a good observation about the state of mathematics in the United States. Math is presented and taught in dry little lines of pure notation and you really have to stretch your own imagination to understand or figure out what is important and useful about the mathematics beyond the problems given. While I really disliked my integrated math program in middle and high school, the greatest thing about that program was that the mathematics was presented in vivid ways. The problems were vivid and obviously showed what good the mathematics would do for you. I remember the calculus projects I did in high school where we had to figure out the volume of a Hershey kiss and a Reese's peanut butter cup by calculating the area under the curves, after of course figuring out the curves, so that we could figure out how many of each we could pack on a trip. The project was a little in depth for normal practical application, but it was fun and we saw calculus in normal areas of life beyond parabolas and limits. I think a little vividness in mathematics would help expand the way that people think about mathematics and why it is an important subject to learn, especially on higher academic levels. I am not totally sure about this, but it seems that teachers and textbooks do a better job of making math vivid for younger audiences, but when you get into high school and college, especially college, the vividness of what mathematics does is somewhat lost. Mathematics does take a certain way of looking at the world and a dedication in some areas to abstract notions, but even if mathematical ideas could be better taught with vividness, people may not be able to do the mathematics themselves, but they would have a better understanding of some natural phenomena. My senior mathematics thesis sealed this idea for me in that lots of people understand the idea of what I did and learned about, the recreation of the grid beyond MC Escher's Print Gallery print using math, though they could not do that themselves. In every case that I have explained it, people walk away with a little more appreciation for what mathematics can do.

Obviously I like math. I don't like its bad reputation and that people do not think it connects to anything else. I just connected it to food and art. Just ask me sometime to connect math and religion. I always have fun with that. ;)

Hooray for Brains!

"Unconscious processing improves decision making"
http://scienceblog.com/59688/unconscious-processing-improves-decision-making/

Funny enough, I have always thought this about my brain and have confused people who asked me for decisions by walking off doing something else and then coming back a few minutes later with a fully thought out decision that I didn't really think about. Human brains are quite impressive. I have always been rather grateful that my brain can handle continuing to think about things when I need to deal with something else. I bet this technique is something some people would be interested to learn. I don't know how far it goes, there are probably some situations when one needs to think through all the parts of a decision consciously to be able to make a good decision.
Do they teach effective problem solving techniques in schools these days? I know they do not teach effective coping methods well.
 The first comment on the article says "It’s interesting to consider the fact that our brains our so perfectly designed that when left to their own devices they function more efficiently than when we are in a position to control, and therefore restrict them." (by Jeremy Hensley) I am not sure I totally agree with him. Our brains take all sorts of shortcuts that are helpful in some situations, but when it comes to things like stereotyping, I disagree that the shortcuts my brain takes are always helpful. In those situations, people who are stereotyped can be very hurt that my brain made unconscious shortcuts around them. Those decisions may save thinking time in situations where other people do not matter, but I rather think that all people matter. Its a Christian love thing. All people for me are God's people and thus deserve some dignity and respect.
I do look forward to seeing more research on this kind of topic. I am always interested in research on the brain and the mind-body (brain) connection. There are so many aspects about our own brain which we do not understand. Especially those of us not in the field. (I can especially say that I am very grateful for my brain when it comes up with stuff that I know when I think I did not know it, like on tests, which I am hopeful will happen a little bit this morning!)

Programming Ancient Languages

For part of my Lenten practice, I am going to be reading and reflecting on a science article each day. Hopefully they will all end up here. Today is Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent. Today's article was:
Computerized 'Rosetta Stone' Reconstructs Ancient Languages

The article is pretty cool for someone who loves languages. In Ancient Hebrew class we sometimes talk about Ugaric and the way that Ugaric studies have helped understand some of the rare ancient Hebrew words in the Torah that were previously unknown. In liturgics we did talk about how in serious religious situations, people usually go back to the older, more archaic language/vocabulary to express time honored emotions. Not only are our abilities to program a computer to find aspects and sound connections impressive, but the idea that ancient languages are based on patterns which we still use today is kind of impressive. Human brains obviously have some traits that do follow through despite generations upon generations of small changes.
This is the kind of thing I would do more if I had more time in my life, study ancient languages. Along with study ancient mathematics. The article has an exception for Latin, which I am surprised about. What patterns does Latin not follow?
Humans create their own meanings and understandings through their symbols, and language is the principle vehicle for sharing those. Emotions, patterns, and music may be better vehicles, but language is probably the most used. And to think we are always surprised when what we find written are normal things about business and politics and religion. We have our patterns. If only we could change those patterns to reflect the joy and love we feel instead of the pain and hurt.
I wonder if they have or will send something like Ancient Hebrew through such a program. I wonder if we have missed stuff in our nuanced skilled language reconstructions. Just in taking Hebrew class, I have learned new things about the Torah which could change the way most Christians view the bible and their theology. Just because we like our worldview, doesn't mean its the best.

Dinner Guests -- Round 2.1

Finally! The next installment of my dinner guest tournament. For those of you that have bad memories, I've been challenged to select three fictional characters that I can invite to dinner (obviously, since they're fictional, I won't really be having a dinner, but that doesn't mean I can't pretend!).

First, here is the left half of the bracket after Round 1:

And my picks:

Abed v. Sawyer
This one wasn't too difficult. Although Sawyer's wit is amusing, it's going to be hard to pass up inviting Abed.

Neville v. River
While River is quite the character, I don't think I would want to spend my night making sure she doesn't kill anyone... I'll go with Neville.

Han v. R2D2
This was definitely one of the toughest this round, but I can't bring myself to kick out R2 just yet, he's just so cute!

Odd v. Leia
While Leia is pretty bad ass, Odd is too awesome a character to pass up having dinner with!

Captain Reynolds v. Hagrid
I'm going to have to go with Captain Tightpants on this one, sorry Hagrid.

Dumbledore v. Luna
This was a tough one, and my first thought was for Luna. But thinking about it more, I realize Dumbledore is not only a wise and powerful wizard, but he certainly has his share of wit.

Amy v. Dwight
I'm sure Dwight would not fail in making any party at least memorable, Amy Pond would have plenty of stories to share about her adventures with the Doctor.

Enoch v. Eliza
Eliza is one of my favorite Baroque Cycle characters, but Enoch would have many stories to share and questions to answer.

With that, here's the left side of the bracket so far: