In the beginning (sounds like the Bible), there was no intelligence and it emerged?
Or there was intelligence and it started manifesting in the universe?
Intelligence, emotions and other factors begat cognitive dissonance and cognitive consonance?
Evolution-wise, or over time, there should be more people who are cognitively consonant than cognitively dissonant.
Due to democratic voting, changing a country's policies requires a majority. If the cognitively consonant control media and other private organizations, then a majority is not always needed.
If there were more cognitively consonant people, the world would be a much better and more logical place. Hope we are headed that way.
People today are a mix of contradictions. Were people meant to evolve into being more cognitively consonant?
Why do people and knowledge keep evolving into a "higher" state? Something like entropy? Maybe some effect or a type of energy that people have believed to be a God?
What is the percentage of people globally today who are cognitively consonant? Less than 1%?
It would be very hard to be 100% cognitively consonant.
What is the percentage of people globally today who are around 60% cognitively consonant? 10%?
Don't know and doubt that I will ever even if I took a long time to think about it.
However, as more than 90% of the population do wear them and since the number of coronavirus cases is very low in Korea, the ones that refuse to wear masks most likely will not become infected with COVID-19.
Korean news media reports on the number of new coronavirus cases in the previous day, related deaths and other information daily.
From that information, Koreans have seen, themselves, that a group of people refusing to wear masks and socially distance can cause hundreds, if not thousands of infections.
Korea has a national medical insurance system, contract tracing, free testing and mobile phones alerts with information on locations visited by those infected coronavirus along with recommendations to be tested to those who may have been in contact with an infected person or just want to check.
If President Moon acted like Trump, then Korea's situation definitely would be much worse.
There are groups in Korea that claim coronavirus is a hoax, refuse to socially distance and such. If Trump had led Korea, these groups would have created even more problems.
Korea has a population of over 50 million. It has had in total 25,775 coronavirus cases and 457 related deaths as of midnight on October 23. The number of new coronavirus infections yesterday was 77, of which 11 cases were from people who were tested after arriving from overseas (free of charge, I think).
If the US had taken the same approach as Korea or Japan and obtained similar results, it would have less than 200,000 coronavirus cases and 4,000 deaths.
A majority of deaths, loss of jobs and other misfortunes in the US due to coronavirus are, in my thinking, due to Trump's misguided efforts to become reelected and those that empower him. What is going on in their minds? Talk about being selfish.
Unintentional murder? Definitely thought about the consequences of playing down the coronavirus and very likely increase in deaths. Intentional murder, but done anyway because they could get away with it? Either way, it's a type of murder.
Holding large rallies? Korea let a mass rally be held a few months ago which resulted in hundreds of new cases. Accordingly, large rallies are not being allowed in Korea for now. People are allowed to go to sports events but at a 30% capacity limit with social distancing and masks required.
Holding large rallies without masks? I doubt that would be allowed, much less held, by any sane leader of a country with a coronavirus epidemic.
It's ironic that many of Trump's supporters wear MAGA hats. Trump has definitely not made America great again in the eyes of the world. Albeit, he stood up to China.
Interestingly, both China and Trump do not seem to be interested in fair play. Ditto for most corporations.
Why do people listen to demagogic politicians instead of reason? Cognitive dissonance?
I remember they used to have smoking sections on airplanes and Koreans weren't allowed to go overseas without government permission. You could get permission if you had government duties (diplomatic, etc.), for business, college education and other limited purposes.
Koreans could go abroad freely a few years after former President Park Chung-hee, often titled dictator by American media and many mindful Koreans, was assassinated.
Did you know that Koreans fought in Vietnam, mostly due to Korea being an American ally and that Americans fought in the Korean War? Some state that it was also to fight communism.
Some things have changed for the better, while some things, like climate change and pollution, have become worse. Wonder what the future will hold?
Most of the rich in Korea push out the message that capitalism is ideal and angrily contend that distributing wealth and opportunities more equitably equates to communism or socialism.
Some of them attend church. I think they will secretly disagree with the Pope's thoughts on capitalism.
Used to go to mass and church services when I was young, but stopped for many reasons.
Really hope people stop envying and paying too much credence to wealthy people, like Trump.
Seems like people, especially the elderly, have been severely brainwashed by capitalism, from what they learned in school, picked up from broadcast programs and the media (usually controlled by the rich).
Add in a big dose of cognitive dissonance and that would explain why the world is the way that it is, at least to me.
To many, a good life seems to mean to be rich, powerful, free to do as they will, have fun, and such.
To some, it seems to be a feeling of contentedness and satisfaction with life in general.
For some undecided, a good life is a mixture of the above.
How can people be contented or satisfied, when they envy wealth, power and such? They can be for, like, a few minutes, but not in general about their life.
I know many ridiculously rich people, but most of them compare themselves to people who are even more wealthy, or more powerful. Always looking for fun things to do, like golf...
Do a lot of rich people enjoy showing off their wealth and resent people who do not envy them? Are they really living a good life? I wonder...
If you take the whole meaning of "good" into consideration, then obviously not.
Compared to all the technological advances, progress towards a more equitable and fair society appears to have stalled.
A long time ago, kings and royalty used to control wealth and power. Then came the rise of the middle class during the industrial revolution, which helped to somewhat lessen inequalities between the rich and the poor. What comes next?
Should making the world better and "good" be the highest priority? We have enough money and resources to feed, house and educate everyone, but most people seem to not care, nor want to.
Some people ask why they should give away their "hard earned" wealth to others. Most of the wealthy people I know, probably over 96%, inherited the base of their wealth. Most inherited land, buildings, money, art, jewelry, and the like.
I know one who married into a wealthy family. Another who got rich from an interior design business.
Does Trump seem like the kind of guy to care about the poor? Or is he more likely to call the poor or unfortunate losers, or suckers?
Stocks could be one solution to help resolve inequities. In my world, poor people would be given first rights to promising IPOs or other lucrative offerings, and people or firms worth over tens of millions of dollars would be excluded (let the rich buy from the poor).
That would assume that the mass entering the black hole is exiting somewhere. That would probably mean that the black hole cannot indefinitely grow in mass and would lose mass eventually.
Maybe the wormhole is created only after the black hole has reached a certain mass, or the rate that mass is ejected out is slow enough to make detection almost impossible. Could be both.
Might take generations, or close to forever, to observe any loss of mass in black holes, while black holes gaining mass have already been observed.
Maybe the mass inside black holes are slowly being turned into something else that can escape gravity, some thing other than "Hawking radiation".
Does it take energy to create "space" or "time"? Maybe space-time and energy are inseparable...
Photons have no mass, yet cannot escape the gravity of black holes. Why? Photons have zero rest mass (when they are not moving relative to the observer). But by definition, they are moving very fast, so they have mass.
So, if photons are stuck inside a black hole, they achieve zero rest mass and cease to exist? What happens to their energy? Maybe they continue to zip around inside the black hole?
Does thought have mass? If thought is only the total of chemical and electrical processes, then indirectly, yes.
Also, what is God? Some thing mostly beyond our comprehension as many religions state?
Many people avoid deep thought? In many cases, yes. But why? Cognitive dissonance?
Religions say that God is, is the source of, or gives knowledge. Could be all of those...
Ever notice how "bad" people avoid deep or serious thought and tend to contradict themselves? Cognitive dissonance can do that.
Many cognitively dissonant ones are very outspoken about their right not to wear a mask.
Do they have the right to to kill people, albeit indirectly, by not wearing a mask?
If everyone wore masks and socially distanced, then there is no way that COVID-19 will spread. The rate of transmission will be so low, it is statistically and realistically impossible for it to become widespread.
Rights? People have the right to smoke cigarettes, but not everywhere. Why, it causes cancer even through second hand smoke.
Self inflicted miracle: I have had three bladder cancer surgeries in six years due to smoking, a couple of decades ago. Used to sneak in a cigarette or two every day, but still got cancer. A cigarette once in a while, still got cancer. Finally quit and no more cancer.
I thought I was a goner. Did all the things I wanted to do before I died, met old friends, contemplated in death, but failed to die.
Made and makes life seem and feel very different.
COVID-19 pandemic and closing of businesses versus everyone wearing masks, socially distancing, washing hands, avoiding crowded places. What is the logical choice?
In Korea, most people, I estimate over 95%, wear masks outside. However, there are some cognitively dissonant people who message over one million people for a mass protest (pro-conservative right wing), as well as churches that hold crowded services and lie to health authorities to hinder contact tracing, people who break quarantine, go to coffee shops, restaurants, bars and infect other people.
That is why we still have coronavirus in Korea.
In China, I read that everyone has an app that is used to enter places. If you are not infected and have had no contact or been in close proximity of an infected person, you can enter. If not, no. And I think they still wear masks.
If someone is infected in China, they close down and isolate the neighborhood for a few weeks. No chance of spreading the infection.
People seem to have too many rights that are essentially very wrong.
Right of free speech? Right to outright lie for questionable purposes?
Don't people have the right and obligation to speak in a constructive and polite manner to each other?
For me, knowing ridiculously far more than I should, as well as too many coincidences and synchronicities underlie my belief in a God that is mostly unrelated to religions.
In this article is a part on Roger Penrose, who predicts that almost all matter in the Universe will be be absorbed by huge massive black holes, which will evaporate and disappear through Hawking Radiation. Then the universe will basically be made of photons and become a singularity (which is what the universe was at the time of the Big Bang).
Something to think about - Photons, or light, do not experience time (current theories of physics state so), and thus, are not affected by distance.
I wrote a related post. Maybe a decade ago? Seems Roger Penrose theory is gaining recognition.
There seem to be many conscientious, good people who are concerned by climate change, wars, inequality, hunger and other things.
There also seem to be at least as many who appear concerned, yet waste money, waste food, waste resources, while millions go hungry and have little hope.
Been eating salads, fruit, beans, tofu, nuts, cheese for two months in order to lose weight. Exercise also. My strength improved every three days (I repeat exercises every three days). Lost around 15 pounds, but still have to lose a couple more.
Made me realize that humans are killing a lot of animals just to gorge themselves and doing it out of habit.
When I refer to God, I am talking about something that enlightens me, shows me the mistakes I have made and pushes me to try to be good, probably you also. Mostly unrelated to the Bible and religion.
I am sure that God is concerned (not that God has human characteristics, but no other way to explain at the moment), but why does good change seem to happen so slowly?
In an ideal world, humans would be vegetarians. Maybe also drink milk, eat cheese, no sugar (maybe one teaspoon a day, at most). Rich people would give all they could to charity and work towards providing everyone a place to live, along with basic needs. Expensive private cars, yachts and such taxed at over several hundred percent, or more until they fade out.
I give monthly to UNHRC, also sometimes to destitute people I happen to meet on the streets. Yet, I definitely spend more time, somewhat selfishly, being more concerned about the well being of my family than people in unfortunate situations.
I am sad sometimes, but also sometimes it seems that God rewards me and I feel happy, smile.
Used to think I was poor and actually, I was very poor compared to the rich. Then my apartment's value went up, became a journalist, started receiving a small pension, children got jobs, wife gets pension and suddenly, I am well off.
Been sort of lucky all my life, in some ways.
Is banning restaurants, meat, alcohol, things with too much sugar and fat, and the like too radical?
Maybe to keep Stone from spilling the beans on him, or writing a book?
Stone doesn't seem like a person who would go to jail willingly.
Rich Koreans keep on buying up all the real estate and residential properties in Korea as they have been great investments in the past. The problem is they keep jacking up rents and prices.
So, the government is raising residential property taxes to 6% for people who own 3 residences or more in certain neighborhoods where property prices have skyrocketed and worth over around $80 million, if I remember correctly.
Since the progressive party has a majority in the National Assembly, the bill to raise property taxes will definitely pass without any watering down from the conservative party. :)
I think most Koreans are in favor of the tax increase. I definitely am. Tax the hell out of speculators driving up prices and not paying a fair share of taxes.
I would be in favor of increasing property taxes on people with only one residential property, which includes me.
$600,000 apartment, and I only pay about $400 a year in property tax, lucky me and maybe around ten million other Koreans. The appraisal value used by the government for tax purposes is about 40-50% lower than the market price.
I keep telling other Koreans that we, including filthy rich landowners, pay almost nothing in property taxes and that we should pay more. My rich acquaintances' aversion to such ideas, I understand, but even my middle class friends disagree with me.
Hope, they start raising taxes on commercial property too, but that might cause rent increases, even though around 10% of commercial properties are vacant in downtown Seoul (estimated from all the "for rent" signs I see on buildings.).
Also used to prevent recurrence of bladder cancer. They flush the bladder with it and the bladder walls become more resistant to cancer. In most of the cases.
Have a feeling that this could be one of the reasons why Korea has managed to keep the number of coronavirus infections in control. Along with the masks and contact tracing...
Koreans seem to have great confidence in the government and health officials being able to contain coronavirus.
There are still cases because of churches not following recommendations. They can hold services, but they need to record the names of those attending, check for fever, not sit them closely together and wear masks.
Most churches are holding online services, but there are those who disregard the recommendations and are very hostile.
There were some outbreaks in call centers, mental institutions, hospitals and elderly homes.
However, markets are crowded, buses are crowded and so on with almost everyone wearing masks.
If the theoretical "Big Bang" created mostly hydrogen, helium and their isotopes and other things such as stars and explosion created the heavier elements, I don't really understand how stars formed from hydrogen and helium.
Hydrogen and helium dissipate in a vacuum. At below 14.01 Kelvin, they are a metal and can clump together. However, as soon as enough heat is generated, they should change into a gas and dissipate.
Maybe a planet-sized clump of metallic hydrogen formed and in the center, the metallic hydrogen got very hot. Would it have enough energy to implode into a star? Or would it explode with enough force to create heavier elements?
Maybe metallic hydrogen planets smashed into each other at tremendous speeds? That could create heavier elements and eventually cause star formation. That sounds more likely.
Jupiter and other gaseous planets are thought to have cores of metallic hydrogen.
But I don't like the "Big Bang" theory, as it stands now.
I like the theory that eventually all mass becomes energy (theoretically, all mass decays to hydrogen, which then decays into radiation energy), and since theoretically energy isn't affected by time or space, there will be a moment when all the energy in the universe is without time or space, which is what people call a "singularity" and from which supposedly came the "big bang", according to theorists. I think I prefer the term "sudden existence" of mass and space, which would do away with the need for cosmic inflation.
Maybe dark matter is metallic clumps of hydrogen, helium, lithium and other stuff that are too small to be visibly detected directly, and can be detected only through their gravitational effects on surrounding galaxies?
"Dark energy"? Could be the effects of pressure from all the photons and radiation shooting out in all directions. If scientist say they can build a solar sail to propel spaceships, then they should agree that photons and radiation exert pressure on mass causing them to spread out. Will this account for all the "dark energy"? I don't know. Could do the math. Maybe someday...
Did you know that the "edges of the universe" move away from each other at faster than the speed of light?
"This can be seen when observing distant galaxies more than the Hubble radius away from us (approximately 4.5 gigaparsecs or 14.7 billion light-years); these galaxies have a recession speed that is faster than the speed of light. Light that is emitted today from galaxies beyond the cosmological event horizon, about 5 gigaparsecs or 16 billion light-years, will never reach us, although we can still see the light that these galaxies emitted in the past. ".
Most of the coronavirus cases are due to selfish people who want to avoid quarantine and hide from health officials.
In Daegu, a religious group continued to hold services for their 300,000 members in spite of some of their members being infected and submitted incomplete lists of their churches and members.
After cases spiked, they cancelled services and submitted a revised list. Authorities are investigating if they deliberately submitted incomplete lists. A couple dozen of its members are still not answering their phones and not cooperating with health authorities.
90% of the cases in Korea are in the city of Daegu and surrounding North Kyungsan province.
In Seoul, with around 10m citizens, shopping is back to normal, but only some restaurants and nightclubs are doing good business. A few cases are reported in Seoul each day, but a few cases are reported daily in many cities all around the world.
Korea has tested almost 180,000 people as of this afternoon, mostly members of the religious group (they account for over 60% of the cases).
Almost everyone wears masks in Korea and there are hand sanitizers everywhere.
Korea needs a president admits to experimenting with pot, like Obama. Too many uptight people here. Some are, like, pot smokers should be incarcerated for a long time because they are a menace to society. Geez! Take a look at the world today, pot is being legalized in more countries every year.
Did you know that Carlos was arrested for pot? I think he got a fine. I'm okay with $5 dollar fines, like in Ann Arbor in the 70s.
Most say the dimensions in string theory are three spatial dimensions, a time dimension, and many dimensions that are so small that they cannot be detected.
I think that the dimensions, besides the three spatial dimensions and time dimension, are not so small they cannot be detected, but are the dimensions of meaning, intent, life, energy and so on that cannot be detected physically. Meaning, intent and life are "real", so they must have a dimensional quality.
