Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Being stupid in the time of climate change

I don't think it is the Mayor who is stupid but the people who put him in office. /picture taken from internet

It is difficult to have sympathy for people who behave irresponsibly and stupidly then expect others to help them get over the dire consequences of their action and then still blame others for not doing enough for them.

An example would be people  who willfully and gleefully sell their votes during elections and then expect good performance from the officials whom they sold their votes to. There are people too who tend to  deify personalities out of fear or ignorance in order to have a convenient someone to save them but who of course can only fail their expectations.

In this time of global warming and climate change when disasters occur at increasing frequency and fearful intensity, people should be reminded of Darwin's Law: the fit survive, the weak die.

Be stupid at your own risk.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Brainstorming and creativity as a way to relieve depression

It was while watching the entrepreneurship class/workshop of Stanford University Professor Tina Seelig through the NHK channel in Youtube that I heard this insight.

And yes I agree.

In my case, I know that when I am trying to think of something and creating something, I tend to forget the feeling of sadness, of hopelessness, of depression.

Neurologists may have the explanation why and how brainstorming can relieve depression but in my layman's mind, I liken the brain to a kingdom with many chambers where each chamber represent an aspect of all that we are- from our senses, emotion, consciousness etc.

We as the sovereign occupant of our mind can naturally be only in one place at any time. Thus, if we are in the chamber of creative thinking or doing, we tend to forget the negative feelings we have which reside in other chambers.

So to work!

.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Mind map - an aid to memory



I learned about mind mapping while watching an NHK (Japan News Channel) feature on a brainstorming workshop for entrepreneurial thinking conducted by Professor Tina Seelig of Stanford University.

In this workshop, mind mapping was used as an instrument to bring out as many ideas related to a certain defined problem in order to eventually come up with a proposed solution.

I had a chance however to use mind mapping for a different purpose - as a memory aid.

The word I was trying to recall was at the tip of my tongue but I just could not come up with it. What I did was to draw an image of what I wanted to remember and jot down all associations I could think about it. I was doing this just as an exercise and wondering if it will be of help to me.

Suddenly however, the word just popped out of my mind and voila! I got the word I wanted.

Monday, July 3, 2017

Certified good


Looking for a decent Filipino product to give as gift or share with friends and loved ones?

I can certify that this mango leather covered in caramel/chocolate candy will not disappoint. It is not just delicious, it is nicely packaged too. It may not be cheap but it is ok to discourage over eating.

I discovered this treat in Kultura, the Filipiniana section of SM mall but I hope it can be available in more outlets.

And may we have more good quality food products that we can all partake in and be proud of.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Kakistocracy and resistance

Almost overnight, and with the consent of the majority of our people, we abandoned our democracy and embraced kakistocracy.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

The successful idea

...is the one you acted on.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Using aikido principle to win an argument

This is just a musing. If it is possible to defeat an enemy in a hand to hand combat by using the force of the opponent to defeat himself, maybe it is also possible to win an argument not by arguing but by using the weight of the false logic of one's adversary to defeat himself.

This may be useful now with the proliferation of trolls and fake news broadcasters who manage to victimize many gullible people who then spread fake news and hatred to others.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Germ theory of Paglalaba - tamad style



Gumagawa ako ng sabon panglaba na ako rin ang gumagamit.

Sa aking pag unawa sa mga ganitong sabon, pinalalambot o pinadudulas nito lalo ang tubig upang makasuot ito sa pagitan ng pagkakakapit ng mga dumi at mantsa sa damit at nang sa gayon ay matangay na ito ng tubig kapag binanlawan.

Kaya naman, sa paggamit ng mga sabon ngayon, pwede na ang babad at kaunting kuskos lang ng mga damit. Hindi na talaga kailangan ng washing machine na umuubos lang ng kuryente at madaming tubig.

Pero may gusto sana akong malaman.

Maaari kaya na higit na maging malinis ang damit kung hahayaan ang mga mikrobyo na kainin ang mga makakapit na mantsa at dumi sa mga damit?

Maraming tao ang natatakot sa mikrobyo. Pero sa totoo lang, bahagi ng ating buhay ang mga mikrobyo. Meron nga lang mabuti at masamang mikrobyo at ang dapat nating malaman ay kung papaano magagamit ang mga mikrobyong ito, para maging katulong natin.

Halimbawa, maaari kayang ipakain muna sa mikrobyo ang mga dumi at mantsa ng damit para mas maging malinis ito ng hindi na gaanong kailangan ng masugid na pagkuskos?

Magagawa ito sa pagbababad muna ng mga damit sa tubig ng mahigit kalahating araw. Sapat na oras para ang mga mikrobyo ay makapagparami at kainin ang anumang organic matter sa mga damit.

Friday, May 12, 2017