–  Kenneth Arrow

–  Donald E. Knuth
Things A Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About

Knuth found he had to study the verses immediate before and after the target verse to actually determine the meaning of the verse.  He also found a number of other things which he found personally interesting.  For example, in examining the works of others who discussed the various verses, he found there was general (and specific) disagreement as to what was actually being said.  He therefore went back and personally translated the verses from Greek and Latin.  Knuth then rewrote the verses as he understood them and approached a friend (a world expert in calligraphy), who in turn approached a number of other world experts in calligraphy and asked if they would each take a verse and “interpret”.
 

The series of verses became a an integral part of the book and later a world travelled exhibition which is currently (permanently housed) held at the San Francisco Public Library.  (And which I hope to make a visit to see.)
 

To make a longer story shorter, the book (and exhibit) produced a wide amount of interest which led to the series of lectures, which in turn led to the book I’ve recently completed reading.  For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, just prior to my trip to Baltimore, I selected twelve books to take with me to read.  “Things…” was one of these twelve.  Before anyone gets the idea this was “planned”, the taking books was indeed planned, this book was not.  I found the book at my local Half Price Books store in the storefront $2 racks.  Complete serendipity!!
 

So much for background, how did I like the book?  I enjoyed it tremendously!  What are the things a computer scientist rarely talks about?  His religion, his faith and his God.  The lectures were interesting and faintly humorous.  The author’s brilliance (depth and breadth) are obvious and his humility is engaging.  Knuth’s reasons for belief are straight forward: Faith gives me comfort and I choose to have/keep it.  He seems to be perfectly willing to straddle both worlds: science and faith; and, more importantly, he seems quite willing to let others enjoy whatever faith (or lack of faith) they may have.
 

If there is a weakness in his book, it is his occasional lapses into trying to explain a facet of God by comparing it to a known (or unknown) in science.  For example, his comparison of infinity (God) and human ability to comprehend (or more accurately not comprehend) very large values like Super K – which he describes as 10 to the 10th power, to the 10th power.  Because this value is greater than the projected number of atoms in the universe, the “value” of the number is purely symbolic.  It exists as an imaginary number (symbol) which we can describe, but which is still not the end of numbers, even though it would be impossible to even write the value down as anything except a symbol.  The bottom line is we can never understand God, we can only choose to believe or not.  Knuth chooses to believe.
 

I probably found 50-plus great ideas or things worth quoting in this book, so you’ll have to bear with me for a while as I post them periodically.   I will be scheduling them, so you won’t be hit with them all in one go, but you may find getting them over the course of the next month just as annoying.  Once again, highly recommended reading!

Find problems that emerge out of applications.  The danger is to get into some little branch of theory that becomes self-feeding and doesn’t tie back into the real world.  I have always tried to work on problems that have some practical importance, for which I thought I could get algorithms that would be practical.
 

[On the other hand], you never can tell when some idea generated in some isolated area turns out to connect with something else.  The magic of mathematics and theoretical computer science is all the unexpected connections.  You start looking for general principles and then mysterious connections emerge.  Nobody can say why this is.
 

–  Robert E. Tarjan

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women – she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target.
 

Dear Mrs. Samuel,
Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Samuel, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.
 

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people’s carts when they weren’t looking.
 

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
 

3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women’s restroom.
 

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, ‘Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away’. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.
 

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on lay-away.
 

6. August 14: Moved a ‘CAUTION – WET FLOOR’ sign to a carpeted area.
 

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he’d invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.
 

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, ‘Why can’t you people just leave me alone?‘ EMTs were called.
 

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
 

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
 

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the ‘Mission Impossible’ theme.
 

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his ‘Madonna look’ by using different sizes of funnels.
 

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled ‘PICK ME! PICK ME!‘
 

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed ‘OH NO! IT’S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!‘
 

And last, but not least:
 

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, ‘Hey! There’s no toilet paper in here.‘ One of the clerks passed out.

I found it brought back a lot of old memories.  I also was a commissioned Revenue Officer for the IRS.  I served from 1986 to the middle of 1988 (only two and a half years), before moving into the information technology field (still with the IRS) and then leaving the Service altogether in December of 1992.
 

The book stirred up a lot of old memories about the confusion of the job (and Federal employment) and the emotional toll it takes on you when you are constantly seen as the bad guy.   You quickly learn who your real friends are when people find out you actually collect taxes for the IRS.  You literally are “The Man“.  The line I used to explain the job to my friends was: “Knock, knock…  I’m here.  It’s time.”
 

Most of my friends thought it was amusing that a liberal, easy going guy like me was collecting taxes.  I thought it was “different” too – certainly unexpected.  But it was also interesting and I was good at it.  The average Revenue Officer (RO), when I was in the Service, collect $20 for each dollar of salary.  I collected $40.  The average RO secured one tax return per week.  I averaged three.
 

The author’s personal story was interesting, too – certainly more than I thought it would be.  I feel very lucky to have been married to my wife as I could very easily see how the author let the job become his life.
 

I certainly never did any of the more egregious things the author did (and claims was common practice) and I never felt the way he purports to feel about the “deadbeats” and other “unsavory” characters he had to deal with in the book.  For me, it was a job.  I did it to the best of my ability – organized, timely and effective; but it was never personal.  The taxpayers didn’t just owe me the money, they owed “us” (as in all of the United States) the money, and it was my job to get the money which was owed.  Like I said, nothing personal.  Just business.
 

Anyway, the author seems to have been much better at the job than me and he was obviously better at coping with it because he lasted over thirteen years (to my two and two-thirds).
 

One of the most interesting – and troubling – aspects of the book is the author states the job is essentially gone now.  RO’s don’t go after missed payments the way they used to.  They also work with (ie “allow to stay in business”) businesses which are pyramiding their tax liability while the RO attempts to get them back into full compliance.  I can’t believe this is true as it was absolutely essential we shut down businesses who could not stay current while they were making payments on past due liabilities.  If this is true today, it’s a wonder any business pays any taxes!!
 

All in all, a fast read and an entertaining story.  I highly recommend it!!  And of course, this was one of the many books I found (and read) not really looking for anything in particular – serendipity and chaos, again.  I guess I needed a reminder of my past…

Last week, I had a three day training session on Critical Thinking, in Oakland, and this week I’ve been attending a four day session on Microsoft Access 2007, in S.F.  I’ve been pleasantly surprised that I’ve enjoyed both and learned quite a bit as well.
 

I seem to go to management analyst training about every 4 years or so, and it’s hard to get up for what always seems to be a re-hash.  There was a lot of that this time as well, but the instructor was very entertaining.  He was “acting” as much as educating and his performance and enthusiasm were infectious.  His name is Michael Sigman and his company is CommCore Consulting Group.  I highly recommend Mike if you ever feel you need this kind of training.
 

This week’s training is being provided by Dan McAllister with LearnIt! in San Francisco.  As I said, the class is on MS-Access.  This is probably my fourth time attending Access training since 1992, and I wasn’t sure how much I was going to get out of the training.  I was hoping for at least a re-familiarization with some basic concepts and tools.  Instead, it’s been a very interesting (and fast paced) class covering a lot more database theory than I remember in any of my other class sessions.  I’m not sure why, (maybe it’s Dan,) but the three days so far have flown by.  I’m sure I’ll be able to use a lot of this when I get back to my desk and I’m also confident the other three folks we’ve got scheduled to attend will get a great introduction to databases in general and Access in particular.
 

On the BART rides in (and out) I’ve been re-reading Malcom Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point“.  I originally read the book a couple of years ago and it lead me to read his other two books: “Outliers” and “Blink“, as well. 
 

The book is about social behaviour and what makes some things explode into massive social shifts / fads / epidemics and what stops them and/or prevents them. 
 

Basically, there are three critical factors for a tipping point: the law of the few (a powerful combination of three critical actors – connectors,  mavens and salesmen), an idea or action with “stickiness”, and an environmental context (a cultural acceptance).  Given these three factors, a small change in the social equilibrium will produce a radical (enormous) change in society.
 

The author cites numerous examples of crime, cigarette smoking, and suicides to support his claims (observations).
 

The results (the radical societal changes) seem counter-intuitive, but I am emotionally (and experientially) drawn to the “Law of the Few” and the “Stickiness Factor”.  I do believe that social connectors and mavens move the world.  I’m not entirely convinced about the salesman.  That is not my experience…
 

The re-reading has led me to change my behavior.  I recently signed up for the Hunch web site.  It’s a site I read about in Wired magazine which promises to offer you recommendations about everything based on the “likes” of people who are similar to yourself.  It’s kind of like a Facebook, but with out as much background chatter about what you’re doing right this very minute (“status”). 
 

I’ve yet to receive any phenomenal ”recs” yet, but I think it is a more comfortable place (than Facebook) to post thoughts (“likes” and “faves”).  I am hoping the site will ultimately lead me to communicating with social connectors and mavens.  This seems like a mildly selfish goal to me – ethically speaking.  It also seems to be “anti-socially” social – that is, trying to “make friends” without knowing/engaging them.  Philosophically, I’m not even sure it’s possible.  Still, it seems an interesting experiment.
 

So far, I’ve exchanged messages with folks from Africa, South America, Europe and several parts of the US. 
 

I’m starting off by randomly “following” folks; looking for specific folks who say something interesting (about anything); and, then sending them messages (called “flecks”).  I’m planning to try this in a couple of rounds over the next couple of months to see what happens. 
 

Ideally, I’ll connect with a number (150) of super-connectors and mavens as described in Gladwell’s book.  At that point, I would have a pipeline into multiple societal waves as a source for thought (my own personal growth) and observation on this blog!
 

On a more personal note, I’m smiling more…  Yesterday, a lady came up to me and asked how to get to Mission Street in SF.  I advised of which train to catch.  As I was getting off, I approached her and told her there were four more stops to Mission.  She was surprised as I approached her and then broke out in a tremendous smile when she realized I was still trying to help her.
 

Today, I sat next to an elderly man who asked me for directions to the Oakland Airport.  He said he didn’t speak English.  He showed me his electronic air-pass.  I let him know when we came to his transfer point (MacArthur Station) and told him where to meet his train (the Fremont train).  He was Middle-Eastern and bowed to me repeatedly, smiling as he shuffled off the train with his two suitcases.
 

As he walked off, smiling, it reminded me of the thousands of little things Hil does for me – and that made me smile (more).
 

Perhaps a small change can have a major impact on the world…
 

PS: It has just been announced that BING will be integrating with Facebook.  This will offer Facebook users the ability to “see/search” the  faves of their Facebook friends and Hotmail contacts.  It sounds like someone is trying to steal Hunch’s lunchbox…
 

The value of the constant “c” is equal to the speed of light (commonly know as 186,000 miles per second).  So, when squared, you receive a tremendous amount of energy for a little mass. 
 

But, what happens if “c” isn’t “just” a constant?  What if “c” is an actual “thing“.  That is, what if “c” is actually equal to space AND time (or what we understand these two things to be).  What then?
 

c² = E / m
 

Now, we (normal folks) think of things as lines (one dimension), planes (two dimensions) and cubes (three dimensions).  Move a cube through space (meaning over some length of time) and you are starting to get a fourth dimension (space in time).
 

Now, what is “c”?  It is the distance light travels through space in a set amount of time.
 

Ok.  But what does this leave us with?
 

Without high level math skills and a pretty high level of understanding of physics, I can only say, “I don’t know…”
 

My feeling is that we are fundamentally incorrect in our current understanding of the universe.  At the moment, we (“science”) believe we come from a Big Bang.  There seems to be residual radiation all around us and this is believed to be the after-glow of creation.
 

One problem with this understanding is that we appear to be in a universe which is growing greater (expanding) in all directions.  That is, all parts are moving apart, in all directions, and at ever accelerating rates.  Logically, if we all  come from some fixed point of origin, we should all be moving  away from that point equally.  This does NOT appear to be what is experimentally provable.
 

That’s a problem because either the data doesn’t agree with the theory (and the theory is incorrect); or, the logic is incorrect (the universe isn’t expanding from a central point of origin AND the theory is still incorrect); or, there is something wrong with the way we are measuring and gathering the data (in which case the theory may or may not be correct, but we can’t tell and won’t be able to until we can come up with a valid experimental measure).
 

Now, let’s suppose we had one or more places where mass could not exist (as we know it) because of tremendous energy forces – say for example, in a singularity (aka “A Black Hole”).  Energy can’t escape and additional mass is continuously being added.  Where is all this “stuff” going? 
 

We don’t know…  Maybe to another “universe” or a parallel dimension?  We don’t know…  But, what if it’s merely being turned into space/time?  What if deep gravity holes “create” high gravity peaks?  What if at some related, proportional distance, “new” space/time is being created and this (new space/time) is what is actually driving all of the universe apart.  The creation of this space/time would almost of necessity create “friction/vibrations” (for want of a better term) between other points of creation.  This “frictional vibration in space” is what I would use to describe something more popularly know as energy.  In turn, compressed energy becomes mass (“matter”) in space/time.
 

Thus my little thought experiment has accounted for continuous creation of the universe (at least we now have no way to determine its age), the background energy (of the Big Bang) – it’s the “sound” of continuous creation, and what’s going  on in singularities (they are converting – recycling – mass and energy into space/time).
 

There now remain three issues (aka problems): 1) theory, a math proof – a neat equation; 2) observation, experimental proof – confirming data; and, 3) a test – a workable experiment.  As I stated, I do NOT have the math skills to propose a workable equation, nor would I really know where to start mathematically. 
 

The best I could do would be to ask: where is the background energy weak and strong?  Is there anything in either of those two types of areas?  Are “new” galaxies in or near the weak/strong points?  If yes, is there any commonality amongst them?  If no, where are new galaxies relative to the map of the background energy?
 

And these, folks, are the musings of a blogger wondering about the universe on a Fall evening…  “Just another disturbance in the time-space continuum”

The drive was surprisingly easy.  We left early (5:30) and there was very little traffic.  We stopped for a quick brecky at Mickey-D’s and were unpacking by 12 noon.  I was back on the road by 12:30 and back home by 6:30.  The drive back was fairly boring with no one to talk to, but I cranked the music up and sang along with some favorites – The Everly Brothers, The Commodore’s and Jimmy Buffett.  I’m going to have lots of lyrics to add to my site!!
 

Speaking of which, I’ve added two more of my own poems (for a total of 9, now), and six more song lyrics.  The lyrics are a mixture of old and VERY old, with one exception (a patriotic song). Anyway, here’s the brief intro to each:
 

Mine: For Those That Might  -  There is a saying in Japan that it is the raised nail which meets the hammer.  This is true universally, but until the hammering actually starts, the other nails don’t know there is a raised nail.  The interesting thing about nailing is, once your start, you frequently have to hammer the nails around the raised one as well.  The transfer of energy by the wood “raises” the neighboring nails, so the good carpenter has to give them all a quick tap as well.  Of course, this has a rippling effect to the nails around them, too.  Is there any doubt that a small group of dedicated individuals can change history…  They are the only ones who ever have!!
 

What’s A Woman Worth?  The physical beauty of youth fades with time like the glory of kings and civilizations.  But true, inner beauty – deepens and grows until, finally, it replaces the illusion of youth and strength.  Making beds, washing clothes, holding hands on long walks, quiet conversations between the lights going off and the arrival of sleep – these are some of the millions of “little” things that mean love.  This poem came out of two ideas – smelling a fragrance in a pillow and life being like the pages of a book.  The rest just flowed from that…
 

Lyrics: Signs – (Written by Les Emmerson and performed by The Five Man Electrical Band) is one of the great “Who died and made you Ayatollah?” songs of all time.  Not really a “protest” song as much as a rant of the young against the established.  (If you don’t recognize my “Ayatollah” reference, you weren’t around in the early ’80s.)  …And yes, I’ve dropped the same message into the collection basket (on more than one occasion).  I’m not sure the person opening the envelope “gets” the reference, but it brings a smile to my ironic heart to think God’s getting my missive (and thanks!)
 

Just An Old Hippie – (Written by Howard Bellamy, performed by The Bellamy Brothers) is one of those great, country story songs.  I’m not sure how younger folks relate to it because there are a lot of historical references, but for me – it’s damn near 100% accurate.
 

The Greatest Love Of All  – (Written by Linda Creed; Performed by George Benson) is probably more frequently associated with Whitney Houston, but I always think of it by George Benson.  Sadly, (for me,) this wasn’t one of the songs he played at the recent concert I attended.  As selfish (Ayn Rand-ish) as this may sound, I’m not at all sure you can truly love someone else unless you do love yourself.  This is the philosophical “true” love I’m referring to.  Of course, you can “truly” love someone else (and devote your life to them) and still not like yourself (low self-esteem issues), but I don’t rate this as equally “true” love.  “I love myself AND I love and sacrifice for you, too!” is for me a purer form of love.
 

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ -  (Written by Barry Mann, Phil Spector and Cynthia Weil; performed by The Righteous Brothers; Bobby Hatfield has passed away, Bill Medley has his own site now) is one of the greatest songs of all time.  Is there any greater expression of lost love than a person not closing their eyes when you kiss them or no tenderness in their fingertips – or eyes, when you reach for them?  The funny thing about this song is Wikipedia reports the song almost never came to market because it was considered too slow and almost a full minute longer than what was the standard playing time (for back then on the radio).  How fine is the line between never reaching air and becoming the most played song in American radio history…
 

Treat Her Like A Lady – (Written by Ali-Ollie Woodson and Otis Williams; performed by The Temptations) is one of those up-tempo songs the Temptations are famous for.  There are not enough songs about being a gentleman and this is definitely one of the best.  If you look this up on YouTube, be aware there is more than one version, and the version which seems to pop up the most does not match with my lyrics.  The explanation is lyrics are sometimes changed to match a venue or occasion.  I briefly considered using the alternate version, but decided against it, because it’s not the way I remember the song – and because the alternate really doesn’t make any sense.  The main difference is the substitution of the word “celebration” for “liberation”.  Liberation makes sense; celebration does not.
 

An American Soldier – (Written by Chuck Cannon and Toby Keith; performed by Toby Keith) is the patriotic lyrics I alluded to earlier.  I’ve heard this song many times and it’s always struck me, but I listened to it intently on the trip with Rebecca and it made me tear up.  It’s hard to communicate to someone who’s so young, that the message in this song is EXACTLY why we should NEVER be fighting for oil – in any part of the world…  Because our bravest WILL go if asked.  They will go and they will try and some may die – but not for freedom – for OIL!!  Having been a volunteer soldier in a time of peace, I cherish the lives of those who serve – particularly those who serve in times of real battle.  God Bless You!! All who serve – God Bless You and keep you safe to come back to us soon.
 

As usual, read the lyrics then go listen to the music…

A Seniors Trip To COSTCO
 

Yesterday, I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Biscuit, the Wonder Dog.  I was in the checkout line when the woman behind me asked if I had a dog.
 
What did she think I had, an elephant? So, since I’m retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn’t have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn’t, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I’d lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.
 
I told her that it was essentially a perfect balanced diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)
 
Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me.

I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter’s rear and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard…
 
Costco won’t let me shop there anymore.
 
The moral of the story: Better watch what you ask retired people.  We have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.
 

Postscript: Just out of curiosity I googled this story and found dozens of references.  Not as many as I thought I’d find, so I guess this is a fairly recent story/joke.

I Love My VFF's!!!

 
I was stumbling around the web and found this ad for Vibram FiveFingers…  Even though I generally disagree with patents and copyrights, I love the attitude of this ad.   Generally, for all that goes into them (or doesn’t go into them), I really doubt VFFs cost $50 to make, market and distribute (and that’s being generous) – so the other $30 to $80 per pair is pure profit to the company.
 

Still, I love ‘em!!!

Anyway, “EoD” was really kind of a societal song.  My preference was a much less popular song (at least I’ve never heard anyone admit to hearing it):  “What’s Exactly The Matter With Me?“.
 

Even as a child, I exhibited early (distressing) signs of nerdishness…  I discovered two words I’d never heard before – coagulating (in EoD) and apoplexy (in WEtMWM).  And, no, I’m not going to spoil your trip to the dictionary by telling you what “apoplexy” means.
 

[And one final thought - I looked at MANY lyrics sites and they ALL have this word incorrect.  So, you have the privilege of knowing you've visited a TRUE nerd site.  If you don't believe me, go listen to Barry sing the song, and then go check some of the other lyrics sites yourself.]

Although an openly avowed Republican, Richard demonstrates a remarkable (for Republicans) ability to think, reason and write.  –  Just kidding Rich!! –
 

In all seriousness, this is one heavy dude.  I don’t know him (yet); I’ve not emailed him or contacted him (yet); but everyone really needs to go look at his site!!  I’ve added his site link to my Faith, Family and Friends category because anyone who reads and thinks this much (and writes this well) is a soul-brother of mine in the time-space continuum. 
 

Live long and prosper, bro!

The basic idea is there are some folks working on gene therapy to cure cancer.  The speculate that Jesus Christ may have been able to cure illnesses because he had some means of passing on genetic cures (ie laying hands).  There is the obligatory secret society trying to stop the “good” scientists.  There are murders and sex scenes to maintain voyeuristic interest, and a minimum of science added to make the story plausible.
 

The book is a very fast read and actually quite thought provoking.  Would it matter to your faith if Christ’s ability to heal was science based and not a ”true” miracle – implying others could do the same?  (The book neglects to mention and does not attempt to explain, Christ’s non-healing miracles – or those with no physical contact.)
 

I read this book several years ago in paperback.  I was at the library for my adult literacy tutoring and found (serendipity) the hardbound version in the $.50 bin, so I picked it up.  I remembered it being enjoyable, but not much else, so the re-read was almost like new.  If you liked the Da Vinci Code, you’ll probably like this too.
 

As an aside, I’m now reading an article titled: “Under Pressure: The Search for a Stress Vaccine” about a scientist who believes he can reduce the harmful effects of stress by using gene therapy.  Basically, stress doesn’t kill you, but it makes it easier for the things which do kill you to kill you quicker.  He hopes to give you genes (using retro viruses) to fool the body into thinking your under less stress and thereby slow down the killer illnesses.

It’s important to remember this work was penned in the late 1960′s!!  Yet, it is as fresh and descriptive today as if Drucker is sitting across a table discussing modern history with you (me). 
 

The book seeks to review (and examine) four main “discontinuities” in our civilization: new technology, the world’s economy, the “political matrix of social and economic life”, and (most importantly) changes in knowledge (and their effects on teaching, learning, labor, work and politics).
 

Here is a sampling of quotes to illustrate the power of his ideas: (on American pluralism) – …a pluralist society guarantees freedom from domination by any single group.  …  In fact, the danger in pluralism, as history teaches, is not domination by this or that interest group; it is collapse into indecision and into a stalemate of competing “countervailing powers.”
 

(On knowledge) – This demand, in turn reflects the basic fact that knowledge has become productive.  The systematic and purposeful acquisition of information and its systematic application, rather than “science” or “technology,” are emerging as the new foundation for work, productivity, and effort throughout this world.  (Sounds like the prediction of the coming of Google!)
 

Knowledge work does not lead to a “disappearance of work.” …Knowledge work, like all productive work, creates its own demand.  And the demand is apparently unlimited.
 

(On educational and leadership testing) – No one test can possibly identify today who will be leadership material twenty years later.  For we do not and cannot know what will be needed twenty years hence.
 

 My copy of this book is the hardbound version and roughly 400 pages.   I would estimate I have well over 50 side notes scribbled on the pages and probably a good quarter of the book hi-lighted.  This is certainly a work I will return to again – perhaps next time to try to swallow whole, but certainly to nibble away at again and again as its digestion helps me grow.

First though, upon our return I had a chat with my daughter Rebecca and she introduced me to TED.  If you’ve not visited TED, I highly recommend you check it out.  It’s a site dedicated to Technology, Education and Design.  I’ve added the link to the side of my blog so you can find it easily – if you come here often, don’t use favorites and/or can’t remember how to spell “http://www.ted.com/“

I’ll be back shortly with a series of short posts on our trip…

In the end, the book is really in three parts.  Part one is about the biology of the brain, nerves and what modern science has to say about how we think.  The main thrust of this part is that thinking is a bodily function – how and what you think becomes a part of you.
 

Part two is about four key mental habits which the author proposes will make you a “better” person.  Better in the sense that you’ll feel happier with yourself.  The four habits are: Mental Flexibility, Affirmative Thinking, Sane Use of Language, and Valuing Ideas.
 

Part Three is about the four mega-skills you need to analyze problems and make sound decisions:  Bivergent Thinking (divergent and convergent); Helicopter Thinking (being able to see from above and then drop straight down on top of an issue); Intulogical Thinking (using intuition and logic to solve problems); and, Viscerational Thinking (using your “gut” and reasoning) to make decisions.
 

In summary, the book is trying to convince you to make your life better by thinking more positively and then using positive (affirming) language.  Thinking is a bodily function and speaking is a way of reinforcing your positive thoughts with positive actions.
 

The book offers tremendous insight into the processes of thinking, making decisions and interacting with others to get things done.  I strongly recommend it.

I’m slowly getting over some kind of flu.  I was off work for two days.  Sinuses were terrible and my right ear was effected.  Quite dizzy and disorienting.  Anyway, I’m feeling somewhat better today.

I got up to watch Germany crush Argentina in the World Cup this morning – 4 to 0!!  I don’t usually favor the Germans, but I’m coming around with this team.

After the game I went out for my first jog in what seems like ages (actually six days).  I was fine until about 30 minutes and then my right calf cramped up badly.  I almost stopped, it was so painful.  In the end, I limped for a few minutes and then it eased up.  It was still painful, but it wasn’t getting worse, so I felt it was something I could work through.  I got in my usual 70 minutes – about 4 miles.  Not fast, but they all count in the end.

Just in case anyone else ever does read this, I’ve started adding in some new bits.  The first thing is quotes.  I’ll just be adding them randomly as I come across them and they “tickle” me.  Most I will agree with, but not all – and it won’t be the criteria for me adding it.  The criteria will be – did it make me stop and think.

I also plan to start including the lyrics to songs I like.  I will probably simply add lyrics to the poetry pages I’ve already started adding.

We got back to the hotel (the Hampton Inn in Van Nuys) after 12:30. We got back on the road by 9:30 the next day (Friday, 11 June) and were home by 3:30. All in all it was a nice, smooth trip. I was not looking forward to the drive down – mostly because it was all by myself, but it turned out to be not bad at all. I listened to music (sang along) and it was quite enjoyable.

I had one of my serendipity moments on the way down. I was at the northern end of the Grapevine and looked up at the hills and saw a unusual purple color on several of the (mostly brown) hills. My first thought was, “Wow, they’ve either had a fire already or they’ve sprayed fire retardant in advance of the next fire. As I got closer, I realized the color was from a small flower and not a chemical spray. It was a faint, but very distinct purple. It wasn’t on all of the hills or spread as evenly as the brown from the grasses – which was probably why I thought it was a spray and not naturally occurring.

Anyway, it occurred to me that I was probably seeing something which only lasts a couple of days a year and which probably only happens a couple of times a year – kind of like a “desert bloom”.

I would like to make a few quick comments about the hotel. I’m not a big fan of hotels, but this was a nice little place for the prices ($130). It wasn’t much to look at from the outside and I can’t comment on the locale, but it was reasonably close to UCLA, which was my primary criteria. The inside was surprisingly quite nice, appearing reasonably modern and well kept. The room was a nice size with two full size beds. There was a large flat panel TV, and free wireless internet in the room. The bed was very comfortable and the shower was hot with good water pressure. The room smelled a little musty when I first entered it, but that soon went away with the AC on. All in all, I would highly recommend it.

I injured my back last week crawling around on the floor, shifting PCs at work in Oakland. At first I thought it was just a strained muscle, but by the end of the day, I had tell-tail sharp pain all the way down my right leg. The next morning, Tuesday, I tried to do a light jog to work it out, but all I did was aggravate it severely. I had to stop jogging because the pain in my leg was so bad. The pain continued all day until I could barely walk. I texted James to set up my inversion table and I hung when I finally got home. I managed to relax after about five minutes and I felt my spine snap back into place. The leg pain was gone and I gingerly made it through the rest of the evening. I decided not to risk injury by taking Wednesday off.

I haven’t had back (and leg) pain like that in quite a while and it put the fear of God back in me. Thank God for inversion machines!!

James’ girl friend – Natasha – graduated from high school on Friday.

Sarah had her end of year band dinner last week – Saturday before last and we went. It was lots of laughs and we are very proud of her. Go Minuteman Marching Band!!

Home stuff: Hil and I took a trip down to The Shed Shop in Fremont to have a look at sheds. We picked a model and size, so now we just have to have them come out and do the site evaluation and then we agree a day for installation. Finally!!!! We’ll have a shed. We’ve also decided we’re going to start doing the floors with bamboo. It’ll take us a few years to get it all done, but at least the decision has been made to move forward.

Perhaps, the most significant thing (to me) is that Hil has finally decided she likes our house and wants to stay in it. I think this will mean we’ll move forward on a lot of different things now.

Movie Review: Well, I finally got around to watching my DVD copy of Slumdog Millionaire. It was a very intense (and moving movie). I discussed it with my son James who dismissed it as a chick-flick, date movie. It was – at a certain level – simply a love story, but it was a lot more as well. It raised questions of philosophy – are our lives destined? It also hi-lighted man’s inhumanity towards others – particularly in circumstances of dire poverty. Bottom line – I highly recommend it.

Book Review: Yesterday, (Sunday, 13 June), I finished “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell (2005). The book is about how we are able to make almost instantaneous decisions based on limited information and those decisions turn out to be (frequently) as reliable as decisions we make with great consideration and lots of data / information. Another interesting discussion was about using different parts of the brain to remember things. If we think of the picture of a cow, we use a different part of the brain than if we think of the word “cow” and try to describe it, height, weight, color, etc., and the very act of trying to describe something tends to make us “forget” the thing we are trying to describe. This seems to happen because of the difference in the amount of brain power allotted to long term versus short term memory. Long term memory is virtually unlimited, but short term is “thimble sized”. It takes some time to move memories from short to long term and the act of interpreting the memory, by describing it, seems to short-circuit the transition from short to long term memory.

I found this point very interesting because at one point, I used to “think” in text, as in when I “thought of” a “brown cow” (in my mind), that’s what I saw – the words, not the “image” of an animal. I remember being mildly surprised at the time that others didn’t “see” the way I did. (I asked several of my friends.) I actively tried to “see” the image of a brown cow instead of the words when I thought of it and in the space of a couple of weeks, I started “seeing” the images. Unfortunately, I found I had lost the ability to “see” the words now. I’ve tried a few times to think my way back, but it seems to be completely lost to me. I don’t know if it’s a permanently one-way street, but it certainly seems to be since I’ve never met anyone else who admits to ever thinking of things that way.

Bottom Line: the book was a very fast read and raised some interesting points for me to continue thinking about. You can’t ask for much more than that from an author. I now plan to make time to go back and read the author’s other work: “The Tipping Point”.

Running and Diet: Not so good of late. With the continuing little injuries (back and legs), it’s been easy to make excuses for not running at night. I’ve found the jogging in the Gym to be not the same. For one, I try to run instead of just enjoying my time jogging. I also tend to get distracted by the TV. This means my brain is not continuously involved in my moving. It also means, when I go do my school yard jogs, my head is missing the extraneous input (distraction) from the TV. I believe the long term solution is to not jog at the gym and instead do other cross training, cardio workouts.

I’m still wearing my first pair of test shoes – the Ahnu Delta Water shoes. Granted I haven’t been pounding them daily, but they still seem to have almost no wear whatsoever. I’m already over a month using them (sporadically) and I’ve not done a hundred miles yet, but they still seem very sturdy to me.

I have always had problems with the Church as an institution.  I believe that it has a role to play in acting as an institutional representation of God here on earth.  But, and this is a large reservation, I believe the Church has a long and well documented history of financial, religious and now sexual abuse.  I believe the number of participants in these crimes against children are both few in number and few in percentage.  This does not, however, absolve the Church as an institution from dealing with the terrible facts (and consequences) of the actions of these few. 

The Church must institute a policy of zero tolerance of child abuse.  It must assist in the criminal (and civil) prosecution of any priests, ministers or other persons in religious authority.  Where the accusations are found to be untrue, the Church must actively work to clear the person’s reputation.  But where the accusations are true, the Church must stand in defense of the innocent (the children) and not hide, defend or shield the guilty.  Any senior person who does so (attempts to hide the guilty) is equally guilty (both criminally and civilly) – in my opinion – and should be equally punished.  They (the senior person) should resign their position immediately and turn themselves over to the police in the jurisdiction where the original crimes were committed.

Pedophilia is a crime.  Hiding a crime is conspiracy and makes you an accomplice to all future criminal acts.

On a lighter subject, today I finished reading “The Complete Book of Running” by James F. Fixx (copywrite 1977).  This was a tremendous book!!  It was as well written as “Born To Run” and in many ways is almost a precursor to it.  I believe the author makes some errors based on his personal experience – the recommendation of running shoes – for instance, but on the whole, the entire book is a valuable resource which I look forward to re-reading and just using as a reference every now and then.

There is one paragraph I would like to quote at length.  It has to do with why people run (why I, in particular, run): “Most people who have considered the matter have, I believe, posed the wrong question.  They have asked why running produces such extraordinary effects.  Putting the question that way elicits a certain kind of answer, and I think it is the wrong one.  My suspicion is that the effects of running are not extraordinary at all, but quite ordinary.  It is the other states, all other feelings, that are peculiar, for they are an abnegation of the way you and I are intended to feel.  As runners, I think we reach directly back along the endless chain of history.  We experience what we would have felt had we lived ten thousand years ago, eating fruits, nuts and vegetables, and keeping our hearts and lungs and muscles fit by constant movement.  We are reasserting, as modern man seldom does, our kinship with ancient man, and even with the wild beasts that preceded him.  This, I think, is our remarkable secret, one we share every time we go running.”

This is so close to the idea of man as the running predator, it is amazing to me it is not more widely recognized – particularly as Fixx’s book is over 30 years old!!

In politics, there was a summit to try to forge an international agreement on the gathering, controlling, and disposal of old nuclear material.  The main objective being to prevent it from slipping into the hands of “terrorists” who would use it to construct bombs.  I think there is – remains – this assumed belief the Muslims are out to get us (the free western world).  I personally believe we have more to worry about from internal terrorists (Timothy McVeigh types), than we will ever have to worry about from externals.  I believe the constant encouragement of hatred towards our government by right-wing extremists) is a major factor in my worries. 

It strikes me as ironic that the right places so much more “faith” in the Declaration of Independence than they do the Constitution of the United States.  The government they so despise is summed up (and formed) by three simple words at the start of the Preamble: “We the People…”

If they are so frustrated by a government which doesn’t listen to them, every couple of years they have an opportunity to make their voices heard – the opportunity is called an “Election”.

The simple fact is, we just held one – and the right lost!!  Now we (progressives) need to continue to push for the change we desperately need.  Financial reform.  Corporate re-regulation. Getting our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.  True universal, single payer health care.  And, most importantly for the future of this nation – free, universal, cradle-to-grave education!!

Then it all comes together and you realize your back window has been shattered.

Random act of violence by some jerk...

And so you start the process – call the police, call the insurance, call the shop…  The police say it appears to be a random act of vandalism.  The shop says call Safelite.  The insurance says it’ll be a $100 deductible.  So, I’m out my overtime, my $100, and I have to take a day of leave off to get the window replaced.
 

The good news is I met a nice repairman – Reggie (from Safelite).  He was very professional and seems to have done a great job.  It’s too bad you have to have something bad happen in order to meet good folks. 
 

I took advantage of the time to read “The Score Takes Care of Itself“, written by Bill Walsh with Steve Jamison and Craig Walsh.  After reading several books on running, it was nice to read about a different sport (football) and about management and leadership.  The book is sub-titled: “My Philosophy of Leadership“.  The book is copywrite in 2009 and must have come out shortly after Walsh’s death. 
 

I found it to be a VERY fast read and a very interesting one as well.  Of course, being a 49ers fan, it would be hard not to like it.  Walsh discusses some players and some game situations, but mostly he is talking about what he believes it takes to be a great leader.  Namely: personal expertise in the subject matter, a dedication to teaching and communication, and a commitment to a specifically defined and explicitly communicated standard of performance (strive for excellence and improvement). 
 

The following excerpt is from early in the book and is Walsh’s definition of his Standard of Performance:
“Exhibit a ferocious and intelligently applied work ethic directed at continual improvement; demonstrate respect for each person in the organization and the work he or she does; be deeply committed to learning and teaching, which means increasing my own expertise; be fair; demonstrate character; honor the direct connection between details and improvement, and relentlessly seek the latter; show self-control, especially where it counts most — under pressure; demonstrate and prize loyalty; use positive language and have a positive attitude; take pride in my effort as an entity separate from the result of that effort; be willing to go the extra distance for the organization; deal appropriately with victory and defeat, adulation and humiliation (don’t get crazy with victory nor dysfunctional with loss); promote internal communication that is both open and substantive (especially under stress); seek poise in myself and those I lead; put the team’s welfare and priorities ahead of my own; maintain an ongoing level of concentration and focus that is abnormally high; and make sacrifice and commitment the organization’s trademark.“ 
 

At another point he says, passion, expertise, communication and persistence are the key’s to great teaching and great leadership.  It would be hard to disagree with anything said in the book. 
 

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in management or leadership.  It’s also a great read for any 49er fan seeking insight into our glory days. 
 

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. We all got together (Mom, Carm & Art, Sean and Junior, and Hil, Sarah and me) for lunch at Fresh Choice to celebrate Mom’s and Carm’s birthdays.  It was a great time and we all had a laugh.  Afterwards we all came back to our house to hang out and have a cup of tea or coffee. 
 

Sometimes the simplest family get-togethers are the best…
 

One example of this occured while I was taking an Aikido lesson several years ago.  The person was throwing me and as I entered (attacked), I had the sense of being caught in the wind.  I could not feel the opponent, but I was so caught up in his energy and movement I followed a natual path into my fall and roll.  When I got up I asked him he felt it too, and strangely enough, he did not.  He did not feel I was particularly easy or  difficult to throw, but he did not “experience” the throw in the same energy flow I did.  This seemed strange to me because I assumed if you felt the shift with another they would also feel it.  On reflection, though, it made perfect sense as I’ve had numerous other similar experiences where time appeared to slow – or stand still – and others seemed completely unaware of the experience.
 

A similar experience (for me) used to happen every once in a while when I was a programmer.  I would be concentrating so hard for so long, I seemed to have 15 or 20 variables in my head and the cloud of the application running simultaneously in my brain (with the cpu).  In a strange way, although time seemed to slow, it was actually racing along, as I would look up and hours would have passed and it would be time to go home.  Obviously, there is a different mechanism which produces the state of euphoria, but makes the experience of time variable.

Anyway, I ended up going out on the road.  I jogged up to the North Concord BART station and then down to Salvio, up past the main library and then back home along Esperanza.  I was still short of 90 minutes, so I did two laps in the school yard to finish up the 90.  In all, I estimate about a 5 mile jog.
 

I felt real good afterwards.  I was trying out my new shoes and they were very comfortable.  I got them for 50 bucks.  About half the price of the running store I went to last weekend.  At the moment, I believe the difference between a great running shoe and an ok one is a $3 footpad insert to increase the cushioning under the balls of my feet.  Since I’ve adopted this “new” running style, that’s where most of my pain seems to be.  I also noticed that adding the small hills of my jog last night has made a big difference in my Achilles heal not hurting at the end of my jog (or today).
 

Saturday, I went out and did two of my favorite things – I bought books and a new pair of running shoes.  I must have gotten about 15 books for under $75.  I got a dozen of the clearance racks, so they were $1, $2 or $3 each. 
 

One of the books is: “Ultimate Fitness“, by Gina Kolata copywrite 2003.  The author was/is a science writer for the New York Times.  The book is a review of the science and history behind the fitness industry.  The book was eye-opening for me because I’ve always assumed the “basics” fo fitness were grounded in solid scientific research.  As it turns out, very little of what I’ve thought was “true” is in fact proven.
 

Fundamentally, there is substantial scientific evidence that going from no exercise to four or five 30 minute sessions if any moderate exercise are enough to move a person to significant health improvement over the complete non-exerciser.  After that, there is little or no evidence of any improved benefits to health or longevity.
 

The author makes a key point that health is not the same as fitness and one has to do a lot more exercise to become “fit” than one needs to do to gain health.
 

The author makes the same claims about strength training.  A moderate amount builds you up to your natural base, but after that, you need to do a lot more and a lot more specific training to make substantial gains.
 

On consideration, these statements just make common sense (as uncommon as that may be). 
 

One very interesting discovery the author relates is to do with why 220 beats per minute is considered the maximum heart rate.  It turns out this was not base on any “vast and thorough” research study.  It appears the two scientists who “discovered” the rate found it by examining 10 papers on maximum heart rates.  The sizes of the individual studies is not provided, but the author states they were small samples.  She goes on to add they were limited in that they were all men, white, under sixty-five and predominantly young.  She implies the studies may have had their own internal biases because the samples were taken at cardiac centers and not from a random sampling of the population.  The stated bias is (at least) the two most likely people going to a cardiac center for testing are cardiac patients (who will not represent the general public) and young athletes, seeking to find out the limits of their fitness training.
 

Because the two researches were US government employees at the time and were presenting their findings at a symposium, they had the imprimatur of truth/fact.  Over time, the “findings” were repeated enough they gained the status of gospel (“urban legend”).  I think the story is particularly interesting because I’ve seen posters with the 220 number on walls at my gym and at my cardiologist.
 

Other than establishing that most of what I thought about exercise is marketing and misunderstood science, the author spends most of the time discounting the hype-sters of the fitness movements/fads.  Again, this is pretty much just more common sense…
 

All in all, a very interesting book and I highly recommend it.
 

It does make the WS100 seem a little more possible now!
 

I finished my second book on running during the week.  This one is titled: Running Past 50 and is written by Richard Benyo.  It’s an old book.  The copyright is 1998, but it still had some interesting information.  One of them was the name of the Mexican/Indian tribe that does all the long distance running: the Tarahumara of the Copper Canyon region of Mexico. 
 

I looked them up and found they supposedly have a “unique” running style.  I looked that up and read various descriptions of it.  I tried it over the weekend and it seems to be fantastic!  I tried it for about 20 minutes during my 4 hour run on Friday.  I then did a full hour yesterday and again two hours tonight.  To tell the truth, except for a little tenderness in my calves, I don’t feel like I’ve been out jogging at all.  I’m going to keep trying it and see if is the “miracle” it seems to be.  Usually, when I’m done, my feet hurt and the following day, they are very tender to walk on until I get the blood going.  There has been NO foot pain at all – so far.
 

I’ve started a third book about running.  This one is by a guy who’s run across the US.  So far, he’s not mentioned the WS100, but I guess when you’ve run 3,400 miles in 80 days, 100 miles in 24 hours doesn’t seem like such a big deal.
 

Not much change at work.  I had overtime again this Saturday.  It’s nice to have some quiet time to get caught up, but it was also nice to have two days off (today is Martin Luther King Jr. holiday).
 

The diet still seems to be going well.  I weighed in on the scale at work (without a 3lbs clothes allowance) and I was under 300!!  I came in at 299.5.  Hopefully, I’m still there (or less) tomorrow at my “official” weigh-in.
 

Rebecca came home for a quick weekend visit.  She flew in on Thursday and took off today.  Her return flight was delayed multiple times and she didn’t get back to UCLA until evening.

Generally, the project is interesting because it will tie another function into the application.  Specifically, it’s interesting because the main application is about four years old and this will be the first major modification.  It should allow me to review (and hopefully improve on) some of the things that got thrown together in the heat of the initial development.
 

On the drive home, I randomly remembered two poems from many years ago.  In Broken Images was a poem I first read as an introduction statement to a science book I had in high school.  Philosophically, it’s always been a guide post warning me to think for myself and question what I (and others) “know” to be absolutely true.  The Para’s Prayer was also an introduction statement in a book.  I don’t remember the book.  I believe it was called Devils In Baggy Pants, but I’m not sure.  I read it back while I was a young, gung-ho trooper in the Army.
 

I hope you enjoy them both.  In case you’re interested – I still have the courage to ask…