Monday, August 21, 2017

Einstein's blunder: understanding gravity



                                                                           video 



Newton could predict the falling of an apple. His law of universal gravitation is still used today for calculating the attraction of masses. Einstein's general theory of relativity describes gravity not as a force but as a consequence of spacetime curvature, a four-dimensional unified field on which every change occurs. Although Einstein's theory is mathematically elegant, his difficult equations disagree with the universe's global picture. 

What could be the source of the problem? The Standard Model, the most widely accepted physics theory, neither explains dark energy and dark matter nor incorporates gravity. Furthermore, relativity subordinates time as a minor, fourth dimension to space, despite their essential differences. For example, space can be navigated at will, whereas time is mostly irreversible. It requires energy to move in space, but time carries an irresistible change even if we are standing still. These and other differences make time and space incompatible quantities.

In the above video, time is considered a field with equal importance to gravity or space. The spatial geometry gives rise to pressure, which is felt as gravity at any point of space. The field of gravity creates a specific and precise pressure within every single particle. It holds the clouds and atmosphere, spins the Earth every 24 hours, circumnavigates it around the Sun at 67,000 mph, cause tides on Earth while holding everything down. Therefore, gravity is the consequence of spatial tightness on the smallest level, rather than attraction. 

The Science of Consciousness, which summarizes a coherent physical world view, gives a detailed explanation of gravity and related problems. Find it on Amazon.
                                            



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Monday, August 14, 2017

The role of women in the techworld



Google employee James Damore was fired for writing negatively about the role of women in the tech world. The firestorm that followed might make it worthwhile to take stock of women and men's changing roles in society. The memo evaluated the biological differences between the sexes. Males have a bigger brain size in proportion to their bodies. Yet, no sex difference can be found in working memory capacity, and female subjects regularly perform better on verbal abilities. Males do better on tests that measure visual-spatial skills, such as spatial perception and mental rotation. Looking for the origin of this sex difference, it is good to go back to biology. Predators can catch their prey because larger brains help them to better maneuver in space. However, the male brain's enlargement probably has more to do with reproduction and sex than catching dinner. The early history of romance probably was not a Cinderella story, but a fist-fight against other suitors, raiding, and kidnapping, which favored men with superior space orientation. Does spatial orientation is an advantage in programming and the tech world? Not likely.

Does orientation in space give men more tremendous success in the boardroom? The masculine character trait of sensation-seeking, the willingness to engage in a novel or intense activity, might be advantageous in the fierce competition for leadership. A study published in Science has shown that girls, even as young as six years old, associate being "really, really smart" with men, and such stereotypes could have a life-long impact on their career choices. Until very recently, women could rarely not set foot in the male-dominated, intimidating corporate environment. Even in orchestras, women were not welcomed until the introduction of blind auditions in the 1970s. In blind auditions, the identity of candidates is concealed from the jury by a screen. Blind auditions have increased the chances of advancement of women by 50 percent. The percent of female musicians in the five highest-ranked orchestras in the nation has risen from 6 percent in 1970 to 21 percent in 1993 and 35 percent overall. Similar 'blind' hiring probably would advance women's professional opportunities elsewhere.

In the twentieth century, social transformations brought forth laws against discrimination, fraud, and whistle-blowers protection. For example, the nearly full participation of women in society (women entering the workplace and the sexual revolution) has created a more cooperative social climate for both men and women—better cooperation ushers in a more democratic and flexible social environment. A more accepting society nurtures trust, which is conducive to social and technological progress. Emotional intelligence in personal and professional situations is increasingly valued. Such feminization of the social environment leads to openness, trust, opportunities, and broader professional participation. 

However, the changing work environment also includes the mutual respect of the sexes. The recent exposure of Weinstein and others has exposed a sexist work climate. When powerful men get away with predatory, abusive behavior, equality between the genders remains illusory. Weinstein's downfall has opened the floodgates for exposing sexual misconduct. Will the wave of accusations and resignations change the work-culture for the better? Success should depend on the abilities and the will to make a difference. 


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Monday, August 7, 2017

Shopaholic: a silent addiction of our time






A hundred year ago or so the middle class in most parts of the world has lived in dire circumstances. Conveniences, which we take for granted, such as electricity, running water and indoor toilet were lacking, appliances, such as refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, lawn mower were non-existent. If you are reading my blog, then your life is very different from the above description. In our modern world, we rely on our increasingly sophisticated environment for support. We gaze into the screen of our cell phones, like Aladdin into the treasure cave. This gadget is a constant companion for communication with friends, family, weather forecast, news, appointment reminder, and for self-adulation. Cars are ubiquitous signs of material success, but in certain parts of the world such as in the US, cars are almost obligatory part of adult life. The home is the tremendous cultural indicator of personal, professional status, which holds utilitarian objects, personal mementos, and decorations that personalize the dwelling. Our reliance on our belongings, from the bed that provides a comfortable night rest, to the nourishing morning meal, ensures a stable, reliable lifestyle. Technologically advanced tools provide the backbone of modern existence, but conveniences also increasingly include visiting restaurants for a midday meal or picking up a coffee at Star Bucks. Advertisements and credit make it easy and almost unavoidable to roll out the bucks for new kitchen counter gizmo, or the jersey of your favorite player, the latest phone, or a goofy Halloween display.

However, the new gadget, appliance or technical gizmo is only interesting for a short while; it might be delegated to the closet corner, collecting dust and occupying valuable space before all its capabilities are figured out. So you paid good money to artificially reduce the size of your house. Goods, which supposed to support your lifestyle, now dangerously encroach on it as the things you enthusiastically bought a few months or years ago take up closet space. These goods handicap you because it is impossible to keep track of their existence. The stuff might be out of conscious perception, but it is uncertain what is lurking in the closet, attic or basement. Instead of serving your needs, these objects hinder your life. Like quicksand, they pull you down, hurting you when you least expect it: when you are in a hurry or managing an emergency.  

It can be shown that advertisements work by interfering with already existing intentions, desires. So buying goods in excess is a sign of mental hesitation: when we do not know what we want, everything seems to solve the problem. Goals serve the guidance and motivation for the future. The inability to focus on a goal you tend to invest hope in every sweet promise, which is brilliantly supplied by advertisers. A shopaholic might feel arousal of a treasure hunter, which grows into a strong urge to shop and buy the item. But buying gives only a temporary feeling of relief. Because all addictions stem from seeking power in the wrong places, remorse, feeling of guilt, which is necessarily followed, only aggravates the problem.

The lack of personal progress against the relentless progression of time translates into a loss of control and insecurity. Addictions serve the immediate, although painfully transient, gain of control, to catch up to others, to society, to time itself. To produce accomplishments quickly, without investing time and work, is only possible by cutting corners, by getting a good deal or feeling high. However, the problem just gets bigger at each repeated offense, after each shopping spree, because the aftereffect of these shortcuts is always the realization of loss and failure, which actually exacerbates the addiction. Is there hope for a change? 

Just like any other addiction, it takes long disciplined work to get your shopping addiction under control. Two ways to change: (1) Start a motivating activity that reins in your wayward attention. When you take part in an action that produces positive change, you spur an inner movement toward the future. (2) Give away your excess belongings. When you share with others, you make the world a better place and liberates you from guilt. The price of industrial products are coming down and probably will in the future. When you practice a thoughtfulness about your buying habits, you force yourself to focus on the future, which will turn into a habit. Focusing on the future is a goal-oriented living, whether you are saving money for a new house, car or retirement. Be patient! Success does not happen overnight. When you take your first step toward the future, toward a better life, it will generate a sense of movement. When you are moving forward, your restlessness and uncertainty will subside. Your better life is the greatest reward.

A more detailed explanation for some of these and other questions about the mind can be found in the book, The Science of Consciousness.


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The Science of Consciousness, please join the discussion
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Copyright © 2017 by Eva Deli