Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space -
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Zhu Xi
问：「太极不是未有天地之先有个浑成之物，是天地万物之理总名否？」曰：「太极只是天地万物之理。在天地言，则天地中有太极；在万物言，则万物中各有太极。未有天地之先，毕竟是先有此理。动而生阳，亦只是理；静而生阴，亦只是理。」问：「太极解何以先动而後静，先用而後体，先感而後寂？」曰：「在阴阳言，则用在阳而体在阴，然动静无端，阴阳无始，不可分先後。今只就起处言之，毕竟动前又是静，用前又是体，感前又是寂，阳前又是阴，而寂前又是感，静前又是动，将何者为先後？不可只道今日动便为始，而昨日静更不说也。如鼻息，言呼吸则辞顺，不可道吸呼。毕竟呼前又是吸，吸前又是呼。」
[Someone] asked: "Isn't Tai-ji the general name for a diffuse being that existed before there was a heaven and earth and that was the li of heaven, earth, and the myriad creatures?" [Zhu Xi] said: "Tai-ji is just the Li of heaven, earth, and the myriad creatures. Speaking with regard to heaven and earth, then within them there is [naturally] the Tai-ji. Speaking with regard to the myriad creatures, then within them there is the Tai-ji in each of them. In the final analysis, before there was either heaven or earth there was first this Li. In moving it produces Yang and yet is just a Li. In being still it produces Yin and yet is just a Li." [Someone] asked: In the explanation of the Tai-ji [Diagram], why does it mention movement (action) before stillness (inaction)? First function and then basis for function? First reaction and then silence (i.e., the silence in the heart from which all reactions come)?" [Zhu Xi] said: "Speaking in terms of Yin and Yang, the function lies with Yang and the basis for function lies with Yin. However, (alternations between) movement and stillness are without end, and Yin and Yang (alternations) are without a beginning. [So] it is impossible to differentiation between former and latter. For the moment I will address myself to the point of origination to speak of it. In the final analysis, before movement there is stillness, before function there is basis for function, before psychological reaction there is silence, before Yang there is Yin, yet before silence there is psychological reaction, and before stillness there is movement. What should be taken as prior and what as posterior? One cannot simply say that today's movement is taken to be the beginning and neglect to mention the stillness that was there yesterday. Take breathing for instance, if we say "hu xi" (exhale-inhale) then it sounds right; we can't say "xi-hu" (inhale-exhale) [because that sounds wrong to us]. [But] in the final analysis, before exhalation there in inhalation and before inhalation there is inhalation." [Recorded by the disciple Chun]
[Someone] asked: "Isn't Tai-ji the general name for a diffuse being that existed before there was a heaven and earth and that was the li of heaven, earth, and the myriad creatures?" [Zhu Xi] said: "Tai-ji is just the Li of heaven, earth, and the myriad creatures. Speaking with regard to heaven and earth, then within them there is [naturally] the Tai-ji. Speaking with regard to the myriad creatures, then within them there is the Tai-ji in each of them. In the final analysis, before there was either heaven or earth there was first this Li. In moving it produces Yang and yet is just a Li. In being still it produces Yin and yet is just a Li." [Someone] asked: In the explanation of the Tai-ji [Diagram], why does it mention movement (action) before stillness (inaction)? First function and then basis for function? First reaction and then silence (i.e., the silence in the heart from which all reactions come)?" [Zhu Xi] said: "Speaking in terms of Yin and Yang, the function lies with Yang and the basis for function lies with Yin. However, (alternations between) movement and stillness are without end, and Yin and Yang (alternations) are without a beginning. [So] it is impossible to differentiation between former and latter. For the moment I will address myself to the point of origination to speak of it. In the final analysis, before movement there is stillness, before function there is basis for function, before psychological reaction there is silence, before Yang there is Yin, yet before silence there is psychological reaction, and before stillness there is movement. What should be taken as prior and what as posterior? One cannot simply say that today's movement is taken to be the beginning and neglect to mention the stillness that was there yesterday. Take breathing for instance, if we say "hu xi" (exhale-inhale) then it sounds right; we can't say "xi-hu" (inhale-exhale) [because that sounds wrong to us]. [But] in the final analysis, before exhalation there in inhalation and before inhalation there is inhalation." [Recorded by the disciple Chun]
Friday, September 9, 2011
What I learned about this week: Oscilloscopes
For the past 2 or 3 days in class we have been learning how to operate oscilloscopes.
Here's a few pics.
Friday, September 2, 2011
More Quotes
All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force... We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind. This Mind is the matrix of all matter. - Max Planck
"Consciousness cannot be accounted for in physical terms. For consciousness is absolutely fundamental. It cannot be accounted for in terms of anything else."
— Erwin Schrödinger
What we observe as material bodies and forces are nothing but shapes and variations in the structure of space. - Erwin Schrodinger
"Consciousness cannot be accounted for in physical terms. For consciousness is absolutely fundamental. It cannot be accounted for in terms of anything else."
— Erwin Schrödinger
What we observe as material bodies and forces are nothing but shapes and variations in the structure of space. - Erwin Schrodinger
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Quotes
The world in which we live is not the only one in which we shall live or have lived. - Kurt Gödel
For a superficial observer, scientific truth is beyond the possibility of doubt; the logic of science is infallible, and if the scientists are sometimes mistaken, this is only from their mistaking its rule. - Henri Poincaré
Creative people are often considered eccentric. Everyone is creative and eccentric. We are all unique. But the vast majority are afraid to let it out. It's more accurate to describe so-called creative, eccentric people as simply less inhibited. - John T. Reed
Pursuit of money, fame, and status generally does not produce a bumper crop of friends and friendly relatives in old age. Indeed, those goals are selfish and selfishness is not a way to make friends. Furthermore, money, fame, and status tend to attract false friends which may get in the way of your acquiring real ones. - John T. Reed
Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all. - G.K. Chesterton
"human vocation is a mystical vocation that has to be realized following a three stage way, which comprehends necessarily moral transformation, intellectual research and final perfection in the identity with the absolute reality. This paradigm is universal, because it can be retraced in every tradition." - Pico della Mirandola
Revere those things beyond science which really matter and about which it is so difficult to speak. - Werner Heisenberg
'First remove murder from the world, and then capital punishment ought to follow.' - Schopenhauer
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt. - Bertrand Russell
There is something mysterious and whole, which existed before heaven and earth. Silent, formless, complete, and never changing. Living eternally everywhere in perfection, it is the mother of all things. I do not know its name; I call it the Way.” - Lao Zi
"These men have taken a supreme vow of celibacy like their fathers and their fathers before them." - Hot Shots Part Deux
For a superficial observer, scientific truth is beyond the possibility of doubt; the logic of science is infallible, and if the scientists are sometimes mistaken, this is only from their mistaking its rule. - Henri Poincaré
Creative people are often considered eccentric. Everyone is creative and eccentric. We are all unique. But the vast majority are afraid to let it out. It's more accurate to describe so-called creative, eccentric people as simply less inhibited. - John T. Reed
Pursuit of money, fame, and status generally does not produce a bumper crop of friends and friendly relatives in old age. Indeed, those goals are selfish and selfishness is not a way to make friends. Furthermore, money, fame, and status tend to attract false friends which may get in the way of your acquiring real ones. - John T. Reed
Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all. - G.K. Chesterton
"human vocation is a mystical vocation that has to be realized following a three stage way, which comprehends necessarily moral transformation, intellectual research and final perfection in the identity with the absolute reality. This paradigm is universal, because it can be retraced in every tradition." - Pico della Mirandola
Revere those things beyond science which really matter and about which it is so difficult to speak. - Werner Heisenberg
'First remove murder from the world, and then capital punishment ought to follow.' - Schopenhauer
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt. - Bertrand Russell
There is something mysterious and whole, which existed before heaven and earth. Silent, formless, complete, and never changing. Living eternally everywhere in perfection, it is the mother of all things. I do not know its name; I call it the Way.” - Lao Zi
"These men have taken a supreme vow of celibacy like their fathers and their fathers before them." - Hot Shots Part Deux
National Naval Aviation Museum
Today I went to the National Naval Aviation Museum. It was awesome!
I took around 200 pics and am uploading most of them to my facebook page.
I'll try to include some here in my blog over the weekend but, for now, here's one of me.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Recent Happenings
Hello Cyberspace,
Here's a quick update of what's happened over the past few days.
Firstly, I received my Amazon Kindle a few days ago and am LOVING it!! Seriously, if you enjoy reading as much as I do then this product is a MUST HAVE! I would have really loved having something like this a few years ago when I was travelling around in Asia because my luggage was always jammed full of paperbacks and every time I came back to the states or re-located to a new school I had to leave several behind.
However, that won't be a problem anymore! I've only purchased a few books for it so far and one of them was only $2.00 ("Democracy in America" - Tocqueville). I figure with my next few paychecks I can finally load up on all the books about nanotechnology, gold investment and austrian economics that I've been wanting to read for the past year or two.
I downloaded a sample from the "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" series and read it last night and figured it would be worth buying (for $8.00) when I get paid on September 1st...Maybe I'll buy and send a copy to my Dad for Christmas.
Moving on, today I went to the dentist for the third time this summer and received 4 fillings on the right side of my mouth. I was surprised at how relatively quick and painless the procedure was and, best of all, I didn't have to pay a dime for it!
On Wednesday I have to go back to get another 4 fillings (8 fillings total) on the left side of my mouth and then that should be it for a while.
THOR and X-MEN: FIRST CLASS come out on DVD (and Blu-Ray) in early September and that's something I'm kind of looking forward to. Why am I mentioning this? Just so that if I come back and read this entry in 5-10+ years I can remember what was going on in the world as I was writing this.
Ron Paul is running for President in the 2012 election and I really, really want him to win. I've ordered some merchandise from his campaign website and donated $25 so I'm trying to contribute what little I can to his potential success. I'm also re-reading his "End the Fed" and hoping to read his "Liberty Defined" (on Kindle, of course) in the near future.
Also, I "classed up" today which means that today was the first day of class. It's been about 3 weeks since I arrived so I guess I've had a nice break between boot camp and classes to chill out and get familiar with this corner of the base but I'm ready to hit the books.
Here's a quick update of what's happened over the past few days.
Firstly, I received my Amazon Kindle a few days ago and am LOVING it!! Seriously, if you enjoy reading as much as I do then this product is a MUST HAVE! I would have really loved having something like this a few years ago when I was travelling around in Asia because my luggage was always jammed full of paperbacks and every time I came back to the states or re-located to a new school I had to leave several behind.
However, that won't be a problem anymore! I've only purchased a few books for it so far and one of them was only $2.00 ("Democracy in America" - Tocqueville). I figure with my next few paychecks I can finally load up on all the books about nanotechnology, gold investment and austrian economics that I've been wanting to read for the past year or two.
I downloaded a sample from the "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" series and read it last night and figured it would be worth buying (for $8.00) when I get paid on September 1st...Maybe I'll buy and send a copy to my Dad for Christmas.
Moving on, today I went to the dentist for the third time this summer and received 4 fillings on the right side of my mouth. I was surprised at how relatively quick and painless the procedure was and, best of all, I didn't have to pay a dime for it!
On Wednesday I have to go back to get another 4 fillings (8 fillings total) on the left side of my mouth and then that should be it for a while.
THOR and X-MEN: FIRST CLASS come out on DVD (and Blu-Ray) in early September and that's something I'm kind of looking forward to. Why am I mentioning this? Just so that if I come back and read this entry in 5-10+ years I can remember what was going on in the world as I was writing this.
Ron Paul is running for President in the 2012 election and I really, really want him to win. I've ordered some merchandise from his campaign website and donated $25 so I'm trying to contribute what little I can to his potential success. I'm also re-reading his "End the Fed" and hoping to read his "Liberty Defined" (on Kindle, of course) in the near future.
Also, I "classed up" today which means that today was the first day of class. It's been about 3 weeks since I arrived so I guess I've had a nice break between boot camp and classes to chill out and get familiar with this corner of the base but I'm ready to hit the books.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
American Female hits the nail on the head
The following is a message I received yesterday from an American female friend of mine whose identity will remain undisclosed:
There is no question that there has been a very large moral decline in society since the early 1960s (this decline is a matter of record). How did such a massive change in social values occur in just two decades? No foreign enemy, no force of nature, no economic catastrophe caused our social and moral decline. We did this to ourselves. We trashed our own society. The force that I indict as critically, but of course not solely, responsible for our plight is the contemporary feminist movement which was revived in the 1960s.
Feminists should be commended for their efforts to bring about awareness concerning spousal and child abuse. However, feminism, our official gender ideology, masquerades as a movement for women's rights. In reality, feminism is a cruel hoax, telling women their natural biological instincts are "socially constructed" to oppress them.
Feminism is elite social engineering designed to destroy gender identity by making women masculine and men feminine. Increasingly heterosexuals are conditioned to behave like homosexuals who generally don't marry and have children. Courtship and monogamy are being replaced by sexual promiscuity, prophesied in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. The ultimate goal being to dwindle the population and create one world-wide government, with a dictator as the head, like in George Orwell's 1984.
Watch out for Big Brother. America is doomed. I believe we are at the point of no return, because of the filthy trash who own and control the television networks and the advertising that goes on them. People sit in front of their TVs as if worshipping a god. As long as people get all their information from the TV, they will become more foolish, dumbed-down and brainwashed. The moral decline in America will continue it's downward spiral. Parents will become mere incubators, producing servants of a Godless Global Communist Totalitarian Police State.
There is no question that there has been a very large moral decline in society since the early 1960s (this decline is a matter of record). How did such a massive change in social values occur in just two decades? No foreign enemy, no force of nature, no economic catastrophe caused our social and moral decline. We did this to ourselves. We trashed our own society. The force that I indict as critically, but of course not solely, responsible for our plight is the contemporary feminist movement which was revived in the 1960s.
Feminists should be commended for their efforts to bring about awareness concerning spousal and child abuse. However, feminism, our official gender ideology, masquerades as a movement for women's rights. In reality, feminism is a cruel hoax, telling women their natural biological instincts are "socially constructed" to oppress them.
Feminism is elite social engineering designed to destroy gender identity by making women masculine and men feminine. Increasingly heterosexuals are conditioned to behave like homosexuals who generally don't marry and have children. Courtship and monogamy are being replaced by sexual promiscuity, prophesied in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. The ultimate goal being to dwindle the population and create one world-wide government, with a dictator as the head, like in George Orwell's 1984.
Watch out for Big Brother. America is doomed. I believe we are at the point of no return, because of the filthy trash who own and control the television networks and the advertising that goes on them. People sit in front of their TVs as if worshipping a god. As long as people get all their information from the TV, they will become more foolish, dumbed-down and brainwashed. The moral decline in America will continue it's downward spiral. Parents will become mere incubators, producing servants of a Godless Global Communist Totalitarian Police State.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
First Entry
Hi, my name is Brandon and this is my new blog.
Between 2003 and 2009 I spent a lot of time working in Asia as an ESL teacher. I got really bored one day in Thailand and decided to write a blog, or whatever it's called, on Myspace (this was before Facebook was common) and received a lot of positive feedback from some friends there.
This encouraged me to not only continue to blog about my experiences overseas but to also buy an inexpensive digital camera and take photos which I didn't bother to do my first 2 years in China.
Eventually, I decided to stop posting blogs on myspace when I discovered this site and I've been here ever since....I don't even remember the last time I logged onto Myspace!
I came back to the USA in September 2009 to look for work but obviously the economy was weak and jobs were scarce. I'd been contemplating joining the Navy (or Air Force) for several years but always let people talk me out of enlisting. With a bad economy and a lack of decent employment it was finally easy enough for me to ignore everyone and just enlist which I did in Spring 2010. I received my contract in July 2010 but was told I wouldn't be able to ship out for 11 months....so, I basically stayed in California for 11 months without steady work or income which sucked but at least I got to spend some time with my family and do some reading.
Anyway, I just graduated from Boot Camp about 2 weeks ago and have been in Pensacola, Florida since then. I am going to be here for about 6 months I'm told and will train to become an Aviation Electronics Technician.
I intend to continue to study Mandarin Chinese and maybe take the language proficiency exam sometime in 2012. I'll earn a little more money if I pass but that's not what is motivating me to study. I want to pass just for the sake of passing but if the Navy wants to pay me extra that's cool too.
Hopefully, I'll get to spend a good portion of the next 4 years (or longer if I decide to re-enlist) travelling around the world, taking photos and writing about my experiences here for friends and family to read.
I also think it would be fun for me to come back in 5, 10, 20 years and read this...I even asked my family to save all the letters I sent them from boot camp to post up here eventually.
Well, that's all for now. I hope I will have some fun stories to write about here in the weeks, months and years to come.
Brandon
Between 2003 and 2009 I spent a lot of time working in Asia as an ESL teacher. I got really bored one day in Thailand and decided to write a blog, or whatever it's called, on Myspace (this was before Facebook was common) and received a lot of positive feedback from some friends there.
This encouraged me to not only continue to blog about my experiences overseas but to also buy an inexpensive digital camera and take photos which I didn't bother to do my first 2 years in China.
Eventually, I decided to stop posting blogs on myspace when I discovered this site and I've been here ever since....I don't even remember the last time I logged onto Myspace!
I came back to the USA in September 2009 to look for work but obviously the economy was weak and jobs were scarce. I'd been contemplating joining the Navy (or Air Force) for several years but always let people talk me out of enlisting. With a bad economy and a lack of decent employment it was finally easy enough for me to ignore everyone and just enlist which I did in Spring 2010. I received my contract in July 2010 but was told I wouldn't be able to ship out for 11 months....so, I basically stayed in California for 11 months without steady work or income which sucked but at least I got to spend some time with my family and do some reading.
Anyway, I just graduated from Boot Camp about 2 weeks ago and have been in Pensacola, Florida since then. I am going to be here for about 6 months I'm told and will train to become an Aviation Electronics Technician.
I intend to continue to study Mandarin Chinese and maybe take the language proficiency exam sometime in 2012. I'll earn a little more money if I pass but that's not what is motivating me to study. I want to pass just for the sake of passing but if the Navy wants to pay me extra that's cool too.
Hopefully, I'll get to spend a good portion of the next 4 years (or longer if I decide to re-enlist) travelling around the world, taking photos and writing about my experiences here for friends and family to read.
I also think it would be fun for me to come back in 5, 10, 20 years and read this...I even asked my family to save all the letters I sent them from boot camp to post up here eventually.
Well, that's all for now. I hope I will have some fun stories to write about here in the weeks, months and years to come.
Brandon
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