Learning: Intellect and Emotions

We learn about intellect: memory and intelligence; but what do we learn about our emotions?

How important are our emotions, compared to our intellect?

Intellect helps us to perform tasks.  With intellect alone we may be able to perform tasks in a cold robotic manner.

Emotions determine how we feel.  So from a quality of life perspective, our emotions are important.  It seems that for an improved quality of life, we should learn about our emotions, not just about intellect.

Failures in Transport and Quality of Life

The road transport network in the UK continues to struggle with the demands placed on it.  Today the roads were very busy in the dark early hours of the morning (6.30 - 7.00am).  No doubt people are driving at this ridiculous time to (ironically) avoid the traffic at "rush hour".  The system must be very close to breaking point.

As for quality of life, it's a poor quality of life having to get up in the pitch black and then struggle through the traffic, day in day out, over and over...

As a society we're doing something wrong.  Why are we not utilising the opportunity to work from home much more!?  Why are we allowing uncontrolled population growth?  The demands of the population are exceeding the capacity of the national infrastructure: more houses are built but the roads stay the same.  You don't have to be Einstein to see the flaw in that approach - do you?

Not all science is robust

Hundreds of thousands of categorised plant species are duplicates:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8012682/Hundreds-of-thousands-of-plant-species-are-duplicates-claim-scientists.html

A project is in progress to rectify that, but it does go to show that not all science is as robust as you might expect.

"Expert" does not mean perfect.

Are we living in a designer universe?

Was our universe developed by physicists in another universe? 

This article postulates that it may have been: Designer universe article

Away Day with the Three Wise Monkeys

Today is an away day (from the office).  It's part of a continuing pattern where we are asked to contribute to a potential future strategy for our department.  Potentially it is a great and important opportunity!

Each away day has the same basic tasks - we've all been there and done that. 

• Introduction: if you're lucky it might tell you why you're really there.
• Talks by people who aren't really sure why they're there.
• Pointless group activities - because some stupid book says they are useful.
• Lunch - the highlight of the event.
• More stuff - but lower key (need time for the post-lunch snooze)

This event is special though because it's about another enforced departmental re-organisation.  Some people might be thrown out of the department altogether - but they're expected to be motivated and contribute!  We've been told that we will be "consulted" but we won't get a choice.

I look forward to the event with enthusiasm ;-)

How we miss the ... obvious [?]

Changes in images are missed by the human mind.

Study results - inconclusive still?

Study: Mobile phones cause brain tumours - or do they?

Achievements

When you look back over what you've done today, what have you achieved?

In the bigger picture of your goals, what have you achieved?

Try to do something worthwhile and relevant to your goals.

Atheists convention

At the convention there was a speech from the most (un-)popular atheist: Richard Dawkins.  This speaks volumes about biology and evolution, but what does it miss?

Most arguments in favour of atheism revolve around biology and evolution.  It's an argument that relies on a biological jigsaw puzzle, where most of the pieces are correctly placed.  However, there are some important gaps in the jigsaw; especially around the start of life.

But that whole approach overlooks one important fact.  The theory of evolution and biology (and all of Dawkins experience) says nothing about how the Universe was created.

How was the Universe created?  Did God create it?

Even physics is unable to answer this question; and there are physists who believe in God.

(Physics describes the Universe; biology just describes life on Earth, which obeys the laws of physics.)

Be Inspired: Planet Earth

Image of Planet Earth:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1254834/Nasa-reveals-detailed-images-Earth.html

Experts sometimes get it wrong

Here's an example where experts may have got it wrong.  Using biofuels seemed like a good idea at the time.  But the experts may have failed to fully think through what the total impact of this innovation would be.

Have they got biofuels wrong?

Example impacts:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7044708.ece

IT according to Microsoft et al

It's always been shouted that IT is good and IT saves you lots of time.  Well let's be careful about that last statement.

Today (having not used my Windows Vista OS for a few days) it was time for the virus checker to do its huge download and slow install.  Then a reboot.  Then Windows wanted to do its update/install..... reboot.... install some more....

That "IT efficiency" wasted a lot of my time - and I mean a lot!

Get your act together guys: MS + MucAfee.
And don't laugh Norton I dumped your virus pack a while ago because that was even worse!

Ubuntu/linux is so much faster!