"the control of artificial limbs by thought alone"?

By thought alone... with the help of a device implanted into your brain. I noticed there is a quite alot of vagueness about what potential dangers this procedure can cause but even from what they do mention- invasive surgery, attendant risks, inflammation in brain tissue, it sounds as though there is alot of risk involved and some yet to be discovered side effects. It occurs to me that Western medicine/science has a hard time accepting the power of mind when it comes to self healing but for some reason when it can involve experimental surgery, implants, technology and money acknowledging the power of mind doesn't seem as difficult anymore. hmmm

The development of a bionic person?

I'm not really sure. There is no doubt that it is remarkable technology and bionics provides an amazing possibility for a variety of medical issues such as those who have lost their limbs or use of them. However, the old school, keep it natural part of me kind of panics when I think about the ways in which developing bionic people could backfire. It seems that there is alot of potential for major enhancement of physical and mental abilities but where does that leave our spiritual, intuitive and creative aspects? Without the balance of all of these features it makes me wonder how the qi or lifeforce would be affected in a bionic person? Would it lead to a further disconnection from the natural world and how would this affect the environment? Would basic human emotions of love and compassion still be inherent in bionic people? Could there be a hostile divide created between humans and bionic people? Would the war hungry freaks take advantage of the power of bionics?(that last one is probably a yes)

Synthesis of East and West

The synthesis of and Eastern and Western treatment protocols seems to be proving very effective when dealing with serious disease such as Cancer and HIV/AIDS. Western treatments such chemotherapy or HAART are required in many cases to inhibit the virus or kill cells, however this can take a toll on a person's overall system with all of the side effects it can create. In this area, Eastern medicine can be very helpful in supporting the body in recovery and strengthening it in preparation for taking the Western medicine. I am sure that as Eastern medical approaches begin to gain more and more popularity in the West, that further synthesis of both disciplines will take place to give patients the most thorough care possible.

E-Prime

I opened my eyes at 6am, according to the screen on my mobile phone. Outside, there were drops of water that seemed as though they were falling from above. I practiced some physical movements known as Qi Gong. Afterwards I poured some puffed rice and corn flakes into a bowl, poured milk made from almonds on top and then ate this as my breakfast. I then gathered my belongings needed for class and walked outside to my car, got in and pressed the button to start the car. I pressed my foot on the gas and turned the steering wheel to drive towards school. Once I arrived, I got out of the car and walked towards the AIMC building and inside I went to the classroom upstairs where I all my classes take place. I sat down and looked at the piece of paper on my desk that read quiz. I took out a pen from my bag and began to write a response to the question that was typed on to the paper.

Europe's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has produced record-breaking high-energy particle collisions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8593780.stm

I know I'm living system because....

I am a natural organism with a cognizant nature, in a state of constant change, slowly decaying and vulnerable to millions of factors which could end this living state I am in at any moment.

Descartes has alot to answer for!

However ludicrous Descartes' ideas seem now, he was of an entirely different era and I can't blame him for just trying to figure it all out. On the other hand, with notions like "we are separate from nature' and "Most of the universe is dead" he somehow managed to have a profound influence on western thought, which in my opinion has set us back by hundreds of years. I wonder where western culture would be now if we weren't operating from belief systems that reinforce a disconnect between us and nature.

Our energy efficient culture

I think the U.S. got so hyperexcited about development and production of new, improved technology to support our modern lifestyles that we gave little thought to how dependent we would so quickly become on energy. Since this wasn't a consideration for so long, we became really lazy and a bit spoiled about how much energy we have been using. On the bright side, we now have a government that regards energy efficiency a top priority and are making moves to bring about change. However I don't think there is any overnight solution. We have gotten too far ahead of ourselves without considering the consequences, so even with all of the new advances in energy efficiency, it will still take alot of effort on our behalf to retrain our old, wasteful habits.

Week 8 Catch up Newton's three laws and me

My poor little brother. We always teased him because he would drop things, break things, spill things, bump into things. He used to be incredibly clumsy, although when it came to his gross motor skills in sports he was really precise and proficient. At home though, he was pretty much like a bull in a china shop. He was the force that would change the state of motion of any given object around him. Then we found out that he had a condition called Dyspraxia, which is an impairment of the organization of movement and very much affects coordination. Don't feel too badly for him though- he now likes to overuse his dyspraxia as an excuse for everything he messes up- even things that aren't really relevant to his condition.

Speaking of my brother, he has grown up mainly in England, where you pretty much have to be a football (soccer) fan whether you like it or not. His obsession leaked out on to me and so when I think about "The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force acting on it" I am reminded of the major force with which the players kick the ball, accelerating it at an incredible (directly proportional) speed, a la Stevie Gerrard


"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction" There is an obvious connection to the laws of cause and effect, as minor as when you put an egg in boiling water and it cooks, or as major as the millions of ways that we are polluting our planet and the immense damage that it has done on our health, our environment and the animals. We are probably only witnessing a fraction of the reactions that will occur due to to ours and past generations treatment of the earth.

Consciousness out of chaos

Through our consciousness, we have created many patterns to understand and relate to the world around us which at first glance seem logical, but examining them closer they become more like a feedback loop that we rely on and from which we develop certain habits or ways of thinking which can get us stuck. I think in all the chaos we get a bit swept up in seeing things from only one (often dramatic) perspective, but its like that saying "you don't have to believe everything you think". There is always a way to come out of the patterns we create.

Fractals as patterns of complex systems

I like the idea of fractals representing "worlds within worlds". It kind of reminds me of those Russian nesting dolls. It also warps my sense of reality which is often operating from a very human centric place, not only taking me through all of the patterns of systems within my body but also all of the systems without, of which we are such a minor pattern in the midst of mountains, rivers, clouds and beyond.

What does "ordered chaos" mean to me?

I have always had an aversion to routine and although I am sure this is in part due to lack of discipline, I also feel that it comes from the experience that so little of what we plan actually works out how we intend it to, so why set up that expectation in the first place? I think lately I am coming to the conclusion that, it is somewhat necessary to create a sense of order so that we can function within society, but it is important to combine with the understanding that the world is chaotic and this order that we create is an illusion that can break apart at any time.

Connection between energy and qi

Energy is the capacity of a physical system to perform work and qi is vital energy or life force inherent in all things. The main difference is from a western view it is considered in a more mechanical way and in eastern view I think it is seen in a more organic and universal sense. In Physics, energy is never created or destroyed, it changes from one form to another which sounds so Buddhist to me, and similar to the nature of qi in its ability to transform through the food and water we eat and drink, the air we breathe, our thoughts and intention and the way we use our bodies in posture, and movement.

Resonance in my world

A few things that resonate well with me

Buddhism
Stevie Wonder
Hot Pink
Qi Gong
Whales
Turquoise
Papaya
Swimming
Jasmine
Isabelle Allende's House of Spirits

And a few that don't

Goldfish
Cold Weather
Cigarettes
the word "supper"
Horror films

Are all vibrations "good"?

Bob Marley was all about Positive Vibrations but I think I know where his inspiration was coming from...

I don't think anything can be all good or bad. Earthquakes for example, aren't inherently bad, they occur when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault and the sudden release of energy creates seismic waves that make the ground shake. However the effects it can have on people's lives can be devastatingly bad. On a minor personal scale, in all kinds of relationships from an acquaintance level to a family level I have experienced good vibrations turn to bad and vice versa. These kind of vibrations change all the time according to mood, circumstance and perspective.

Are there connections between Sacred Geometry and Physics?

The connection I see is that both Sacred geometry and Physics are systems investigating the nature of space, time and form and their interconnectedness in our universe.

What the bleep does this CP violation really mean?

I’m a bit lost but from what I understand, the Big Bang should have produced equal amounts of matter and antimatter in which case everything would have cancelled each other out and the universe would be without matter. After testing the kaon particle decay and observing a difference in behavior patterns, it was shown that there was a violation of CP symmetry because (I think) theoretically according to the laws of physics, matter and anti matter should be created and decay at the same rate??

My a(symmetrical) world

I struggle with certain expectations of symmetry or balance within my life. Somewhere along the way I picked up a neurotic sentiment that everything needs to be balanced and that somehow I could control the balance if I only did more of this or was less like that. These days, everything I experience feels like a lesson in accepting the asymmetrical nature of things, and I am starting to see that my expectation of some ultimate symmetry doesn't correspond with the ways things actually are, which creates a feeling of disharmony. So I'm thinking that there may be some kind of peace to be found in accepting the asymmetrical ways of life. When I think about Acupuncture or other forms of alternative medicine, the goal is to bring the patient's system back into balance, but this "balance" is never uniform. With each person it takes different combinations and proportions of various elements. In this sense, it is also an asymmetrical process to find a kind of symmetry in the patients state of health.

The Four Forces and Gravity

I would compare the four forces by the strength in which they interact with matter and I was surprised to learn that gravity was relatively the weakest, since it keeps everything grounded here on earth, the earth moving around the sun and the moon moving around the earth. Seems like quite a force to me. The idea that every object in the universe exerts a gravitational force on everything else is another aspect that reveals the interdependent nature of our universe.

How has e=mc2 affected me?

As mass is shown to be a form of energy in this equation, I think it has shed some light for me on the connection between e=mc2 and the eastern concept of qi. In medical qi gong we tonify, purge, sedate or regulate our qi flow in order to restore health in our bodies and in e=mc2 the tiniest amount of matter can release massive amounts of energy, which to me demonstrates our immense capacity for healing our bodies through manipulating and unblocking the energy that is our life force. The obstacle seems to be that we have a tendency to see ourselves as purely physical beings rather than energetic beings, so our relationship with our energy can be quite disconnected. I have often written off equations as a language I just can't understand but the idea that mass and energy are dual expressions of the same universal substance at least makes some intuitive sense to me

Connectivity

I believe David Bohm's idea that "Instead of starting with the parts and showing how they work together, we start with the whole" is they very basis of connectivity. In looking at the whole picture we can see that absolutely everything depends on something else for its existence including space, time, weather, trees, plant life, animals and humans. We are all part of an energetic consciousness that unites everything in our universe. It seems our minds get so distracted by personal interest and pursuits that we lose sight of this greater connectivity and some have even come to believe that it is a false concept. However, I think deep down, we all sense this interconnection, even the most linear thinkers, through witnessing birth and death, feeling the change of seasons, moments of synchronicity and other such reminders that help bring us back to the unbroken wholeness.

Personal Evidence for Synchronicity

In trying to recall moments of synchronicity, I realized how much I enjoy these instances. There is something exciting about having some kind of upfront proof of our universal connection. I love saying something at the exact same time as someone or thinking of someone and then they call (this ALWAYS happens with my mother and I). Something that I also seem to experience frequently is that I will have a dream, lets say about a red back spider and not necessarily remember it in the morning, but then someone throughout the day will mention something about red back spider and it will bring back my dream instantly. One time I remember running into a train station in Italy, cutting it very close to missing my train when I literally ran into my friend from Australia who I had known since we were babies and neither of us knew we were both in Europe. Another instance was when my boyfriend had come across this image in a book of the seed of a coco de mer. Both of us became obsessed with the shape, wishing we could see a real one in person. Then one night we went over to his friends father's home and there it was sitting on the center of the mantle piece. I have a friend who invented a game based on the idea that synchronicity happens all the time and you can literally tune into it. You ask the radio a question and turn it on and whatever song first comes on gives you some advice on your question. I've had to play it with her a number of times now and the results are pretty uncanny. You should try it! If anything you might have a good laugh...

Is the Universe weird?

I would say the universe is more mysterious than weird. There is a lot about the universe that I don’t understand and even if I had more scientific knowledge, I’m pretty sure I still wouldn’t have the answers. Weird implies an abnormality but to say that the universe is abnormal I think is basically saying that it doesn’t make sense. Why should it though? Who are we to be able to neatly box and label everything so that we can have all the answers in a package? We are just a minute aspect of this universe and although we could afford to be more in tune with it, I think it is perfect that it doesn’t all perfectly make sense.

Uncertainty

I must admit at first I was a bit surprised to learn that light particles can appear differently depending on how they are observed and measured. This concept was clear to me in terms of human relations, because of our psychological make up and conditioning which influences our perception of each other and can change according to experience. I guess the distinction I had been making was that something like light particles don't have a psyche and therefore should remain constant every time they are observed. Of course I was not considering the role that the observer and the condition of the observation play in this. The reason I think that a shoe is an object to put on my feet is because that is how I have been taught to use it, but how would someone who has never seen a shoe perceive it? They might see it as something to eat their food out of, or some kind of center piece for the dining room table. If there is no mind perceiving, then what is the nature of anything really? I have heard in Buddhist philosophy that nothing is inherently existent and I can see how Uncertainty fits into this notion. It seems to make sense that if there is an observer creating a particular situation, then that is what brings their observation into existence, but it is processed through their personal filter and therefore does not necessarily capture the complete nature of what is being observed.

The Meaning of Time

When I think of time, I think of the birth, growth, decay and death of all things. Everything is subject to impermanence. Yet our modern world is designed to make us feel that we can somehow beat time or save time, by making everything so convenient. If our body starts to show signs of decay, we can get botox, facelifts, hair plugs and hair dyes. Since we are too busy with work to make our own food, we can microwave our precooked meals, eat out or have it delivered. We can simultaneously socialize on ichat, text, email and facebook, without ever having to step foot outside the house or actually face anyone. We are so busy being busy that we are becoming increasingly out of touch with the natural cycle of life and I think at the root of this is a fear of death. I often hear people say they feel that each year passes more quickly than the last and I have also felt this way. It may be that we have created so much distraction from the fact that nothing lasts forever, that our sense of time has become completely warped.

Week 1 Quiz

Physics Quiz

What attracts me to Chinese Medicine?

I think that Chinese medicine is a thorough and holistic system that supports the body’s natural functions in healing. Chinese Medicine has helped me though some crucial times of health crises, when Western medicine could not, and I am inspired to learn more about this medical system in depth to assist myself and others on the path of healing.

What do I think of Physics, really?

I have had a big block about Physics and science in general until now. I last studied science in high school and had difficulty understanding what was going on due to several teenage type of distractions, lack of interest and some exceptionally bad teachers. Now that I have a particular motivation to study Chinese medicine, I am looking forward to facing the fear so that I can broaden my scope of understanding of the world.

Now that I think about it, have I ever experienced time “slowing down” or “speeding up”?

As I mentioned in class, traveling has often created the sense of time slowing down for me because all of my usual routines and distractions are not in play and my whole perspective on time is shifted. On the other hand, every day I see my niece who is now 19 months old, walking and talking it seems as though someone has pressed a fast forward button from the moment she was born.