The World Keeps Spinning -- Long Time No See

The title really says it all, well not it all or there would be no need to type the rest. The thing is regardless of what anyone does the world will keep spinning. There are many things that have nearly and continue nearly threaten to overwhelm human existence on the planet and yet here we are still creating and consuming, bickering and anxious, sleeping, eating and going about the rest of our biological functions.

That is probably why these great threats are so distant. Regardless of their potential impact we don't really see the implication until too late. Certainly there is a certain propensity in western cultures, we punish the deed based on the outcome not the intent; and so it should be in many ways. Although perhaps not entirely. As such we have people being freed when they should be held, held when the should be freed and imminent global catastrophe.

These aren't all new concerns mind, the 20th century certainly gave us a taste. Our technology is now at such a place that we could, if so inclined to, end us all (or near enough that it makes little difference). It is obvious to me, and it should be to you, that we should not do that but rather strive to make the world a better place by acting meaningfully and with great purpose in all that we do.

Having said that I am not blind to the difficulties, many of us work multiple jobs and then try to make time for our health, friends, family, hobby and then we should try to better ourselves on top of that? People are definitely finite creatures which by all accounts run better with some sleep. So how do we go about this?

I have spent the past six months to learning about the history of the world and nature of humanity. Whilst much of it is quite dark it is not without hope. This is something that is most important to take from this. Whilst the Nazis tried to improve through biological selection, the Communists through a misplaced quest for utopia and the capitalists through an unending quest for the maximum for the minimum, there is a need for dialogue in all things.

Remember that conservatives do as the name suggests, the conserve things as they were and the status quo. Their argument is a good one for it does seem to work for the most part, but they are hindered by the structure. It does not bend and is what it is. Many are lost to the outside of the structure and those inside lack the perspective to see the tower for what it is.

Those on the left are just as misguided however. For they only know what they don't want and developing new systems are hard. Most systems are quite ancient and should only be disregarded with great care and consideration. The truth of course is somewhere in the middle and there in lies the need for dialogue and conversation. For whilst most of what is said is absurd and useless within is the nugget of gold hidden by the mountain. This gold is far more valuable than mere metal. It is what we all strive for, that which is glorified for itself and banishes all darkness before it.

So regardless of where you sit, do that one simple but difficult thing. Tell the truth.

High school -- Doing it right

So I have been thinking about high school education for quite a while now and today a internet personality I really liked asked about how would people change learning in highschools this was my response. I had planned to write on this topic soon anyway.

Day9.tv  Look on the forums for the thread.

Specific is the wrong way to go!

 

Hi there Day[9], Viewers,
My name is James and I am twenty three years old currently studying my second degree in a wonderful far away land known as Australia. My first degree was about Creative Technology, particularly sound and audio, my second a straight up Engineering degree majoring in Mechanical and I have been thinking about these questions on education for the last year in reference to where I have been, where I am going and how my schooling has helped (or hindered) my development and understanding of the world around me. I have even started working on articulating them in my own personal blog.

Whilst I liked what Day[9] said in his original post I disagree entirely with the premise that educating of young people can be done in three subjects or that even changing three subjects would alter the school system at all. Education should aim to produce well rounded, well formed people and not about subject knowledge, I'm doing enough of that at uni and at this level we can cover the work in a quarter of the time. Instead it would be immensely valuable to society as a whole to spend time teaching young adults to begin to look after themselves. Teach them healthy lifestyles. How to deal with depression, to maintain exercise and be able to cook. These are basics that I taught myself once I left home really.

It would also be of value to society to have these young and creative people well versed in the arts and philosophy and be able to reason with it. To argue with it, wrestle and struggle and to be pointed in the direction of conclusions. There are so many wonderful experiences in the field of arts from ballet to tap dancing, Shakespeare to musicals, from Picasso to Debussy to Led Zeppelin to Lady Gaga. All of these things have value, even if like in the case of Nicki Minaj, it is that no one ever does it ever again ever. Hell, that is the stuff of PhD's, expanding knew knowledge others have not done before.

Despite these wonderful things an increasing dependence on technology is evident. This is a trend that has been coming for a while now, since the industrial revolution and is continuing to increase. As such basic numeracy and understanding of the physical world is required. the ability to understand what is going on with basic trig and algebra even though many people do it without realising that is in fact what they are doing (finding some number). Then to apply that to their finances as so many people here have suggested and recognised as important for making good and appropriate life choices, to build a better life.

I suppose what needs to be addressed is how much can young adults teach themselves, how much needs to be developed and nurtured and what is too important to risk someone missing. I don't have any suggestions on subjects that need doing other than to say we need to know so much now as young adults and the ceiling is getting ever higher how do we deal with an increasing need to know more? What can be cut away but how much bath water can we lose before we risk the baby? However it bodes well for education that we are able to have these discussions in public forum. It says that perhaps it is not all bad. However there is going to be an ongoing need to review and improve this system and how we as adults and leaders work to develop and grow the hearts and minds of young people.

I'm out, I plan to continue with this, this coming year. To improve writing and understanding

Hopeful - Looking here and now and forward

Organised  belief systems absolve responsibility. That's it, it has been said. One of the big unrealised issues with belief and my problem with religions. "I failed this, got fired by blah or was mean to this person because God/Zeus/Cat/Caboose wanted it this way". That is so not OK. You failed/fired cause you didn't do the work. You were mean because you were projecting your ideals and ideas onto someone else or you straight up just don't care enough to let them be them. As time goes by empirical thinking has been harder to ignore, it provides a foundation to learn so much. Reconcile that you don't know everything or rather nearly anything, you know what you know however and that is also such a vast amount. How to communicate, language and social behaviour then there is everything that you have learnt over time from school and family and friends! The sheer knowledge we have gained is astounding and yet there is always more. Is that not wonderful?

This blog has been inspired by uni exams and the fact that Prof. Brian Cox is on the radio and I happen to be on the train. For those who aren't familiar with Brian Cox he is a exceptionally clever man with a couple doctorates specialising in particle physics and astrophysics. He was also in a moderately famous pop band. "Thingggssss, can only get betterrrr..." Yeah that one. Just there is so much hope for humanity if just we could step outside ourselves for a bit. There are so many wonders that inspire. We can't ignore politics, whether US or Australian and pop culture is exceptionally prevalent it is inescapable but at the same time these things are inspiring in many ways. Except Nicki Minaj, she still is is disgrace to all things art.

So with only 1 important exam left after today and a bludge one after that what am I looking to do with my time. See and spend time with friends gathering experiences and learning. I'm gonna make some youtube videos again, although probably not vlog type ones, make some music, continue with piano and guitar. Work as well. Set some things right.

Lets see how that goes hey!