Explanation of the Beginning and End of the Universe

 Seems correct to me.

People Won't Believe The Truth?

 

Seems to be happen in all countries. Korea and the US have a similar problem.

The conservatives are pushing misinformation, disinformation, and falsehoods. They have become cognitively dissonant and act irrationally. 

And they seem to draw the attention and trust of other cognitively dissonant people.

Arguing with cognitively dissonant people is not very productive. What to do?

Take time to enjoy life? What if enjoyment and satisfaction came from doing good (God or some other dimensional thing)?

Could it be that cognitively dissonant people are more angry and dissatisfied than cognitively consonant people? 

Why? Karma? God? A metaphysical dimension?

Cognitively dissonant people seem to be drawn to rhetoric espousing hatred and fear?

Are Information and Consciousness Dimensions?

Would think so. 

Is thought plus will a force? Would think so. Thought and will can move physical objects.

If there is nothing, then no information. If there is a almost infinitely small point. Then space and information are created. If there are two infinitely small points, then there is more information in the system.

Information + Consciousness = Knowledge? 

Information + Algorithms + Consciousness = Knowledge? 

Information + Algorithms + (Energy?) = Consciousness? 

Consciousness = Life?

Average Price of Seoul Apartments?

 Much higher than a couple of months ago.

The average price of an apartment in Seoul is now KRW 1.2bn, or slightly over USD 1m. Pay about USD 500 a year in property taxes and people wonder why real estate prices keep going up.

One good thing about being Korean. We have a very good health care system. Everyone pays into a national health insurance plan. It's very inexpensive, compared to the US and other Western nations.

On a much different note...

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that isolated systems will progress to a state with the most entropy, or disorder.

Only applies to physical phenomena, it seems. For metaphysical concepts, another theory seems to be needed.

Knowledge and technology seem to become more complex as time passes. The entity "human civilization" seems to be developing into something of a higher order. Debatable? 

Average Price of Seoul Apartments?

Around 1,000,000,000 Korean Won or about 860,000 US Dollars.

Prices of apartments, or condominiums, in my neighborhood rose roughly fourfold in ten years, from what I recall.

Happened in a lot of cities around the world.

For homeowners, probably a good thing. For non-homeowners with low incomes? People should have the right to healthy food, health care and a clean residence at an affordable price that lets them save money for retirement and emergencies?

Some day?

A Lot Of People Are CRAZY?

 Don't want to wear masks or get vaccinated. Believe outrageous lies.

Why? Cognitive Dissonance. Should consider it a pandemic. Probably be listed as a mental health problem in the future.

One is born "clean", but as one grows older and lies, one becomes stuck in a loop or circle that becomes harder to escape each time around.

Yet, some do escape. How? Through thought. 

But most people don't like to reflect on things that are linked to their mistakes, reflect on life and death, how did this all come to be, and such? 

Too busy chasing fun, entertainment and other egoistic pastimes?

I keep circling back to this topic every decade. Conclusion? One has to absorb the bad energy (vibes) of the cognitively dissonant and try to make a better world. 

Easiest way to do that? Blog. 

Hardest way? Directly meeting cognitively dissonant people. Like a black hole. Sucks all positive energy and leaves me feeling really unsettled.

Didn't Know

Two people from the district office visited my home and told me I was eligible to recieve AstraZeneca's vaccine for the coronavirus. Didn't know that.

I signed up for the free vaccination at a clinic within a few minutes walk. 

Think they are crosschecking eligible people with those who applied for a vaccination and vaccinated people. Very proactive.

I sometimes go through several weeks, sometimes months, without watching Korean news on TV or online. Most of the media is directly controlled by the right wing (ie. rich) and often have TV news shows with conservative guests as commentators criticizing the Moon administration and the ruling progressive party. Very depressing. 

My children don't watch the news either. Wonder why? I never talked to them about my opinions on the media. They probably come down to the same conclusions. 

Alien Lifeforms?

Physically, life has limits. 

Intellectually? Depends on whether knowledge is finite?

If humans "meet" other worldly "creatures", it will most likely be more an intellectual, rather than physical meeting?

What would a more advanced civilization, or intellectual "being", communicate to us? Avoid climate change, be truthful?

Such a being most likely would try to communicate with us through telepathy. But how would we understand that "being", if the "being" only planted seeds of thoughts in our consciousness, and left the decision up to us (as in Startrek - not interfering in "untouched" civilizations)?

Why Do We Get So Much Joy Out Of Beating One Another?

Probably some instinct that evolved over time. 

I play poker for virtual money. I am almost a billionaire. There are people with trillions, so I am sort of poor.

When I catch someone bluffing, or play slow and fool someone, it makes really my day! I laugh, smile, chuckle. 

American football, soccer, basketball, other sports. People go crazy. 

Seems like we should be evolving out of such behavior. From a certain perspective, it seems very mean.

Vibrations in Physics

Various theories in physics stipulate that an infinitely small string or point vibrates and creates all things physical. 

In my mind, if you vibrate a point or string at certain frequencies, you get symmetrical patterns. In the physical world, not everything is symmetrical. 

So the vibration must be asymmetrical and still impart constructive information. Sounds like we are in a simulation? Could be. I was undecided before.

A Good Thing About Covid-19?

Played a part in stopping Trump from almost certain reelection. 

Would be looked upon as Divine Intervention by many, if it weren't for all the death and suffering. 

Few probably think about what America and the World would be like with Trump in a second term as President.

The conservative party in Korea has been acting like Trump for decades and have become even more emboldened watching Trump spout lies. Pretty sure the situation is the same the world over. 

Used to drink very weak coffee, but surprisingly found out it was causing ulcers. 

Saw Jaco play with Pat Metheny. Think it was in 77?

The Cognitively Dissonant vs The Cognitively Consonant?

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.

Closest to God?

Good. 

Just one letter away. Must be the way.

God? Good? 

Good God!

Right Not to Wear Masks?

 It's illegal to not wear seat belts, smoke in public places, or drive drunk.

You rarely hear people argue about freedom in the above cases. 

Wearing masks saves lives. Not doing so in a coronavirus pandemic endangers the person not wearing the mask and those around that person.

The people arguing that it is their right not to wear masks are most likely cognitively dissonant.

Be true or become cognitively dissonant. 

Non-local Dimensions

Many years ago, someone wrote that quantum entanglement and wave-particle duality are probably examples of non-local dimensions.

Some physicists agree that quantum entanglement could be a non-local effect, The article below is lengthy, but towards the end, it is discussed.

Quanta: The Most Famous Paradox in Physics Nears Its End

Thoughts rule.

Also, people seem to fail to grasp the importance of cognitive dissonance. To me, it shouts that if one is not true, one can become crazy. 

Example? Trump, he lies all the time. 

Truth and conscience rule.

Are thoughts, truth, conscience, maybe even emotions related or connected to some force like a God?

Some Koreans Don't Wear Masks

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? 

Even Pope Francis Sees Problems with Capitalism

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.

Thank God for good music.

CNN: Pope Francis says capitalism has failed in the pandemic

What Is A Good Life?

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). 

Black Holes Are Wormholes?

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. 

Is it evidence of a God, or a natural law?

Right not to wear masks?

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?

Separate God From Religion?

Good idea? Sure would be nice.

Think about it. Would a God approve of religions? Did God write the Bible? Did God edit, translate or assemble separate writings into the Bible?

I am certain that I know way more than the total of what I have learned, experienced, observed, contemplated and so on.

Why? Some sort of God driven or bestowed enlightenment? That is what I have concluded.

Read an article in Science Daily: Unconscious learning underlies belief in God, study suggests

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.

Cosmic Inflation, Beginning of Time?

A couple of concepts that I have doubted. And now many physicists doubt them also.

BBC: Future: What if the Universe has no end?

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.

May be God needs help?

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?

What a wonderful world it would be...

Why Did Trump Commute Stone's Sentence?

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.).

Transcendence from Individualism and Materialism?

Possible for some, seemingly impossible for some more.

Some go back and forth?

Scientific American: What Humans Could Be.

Koreans with BCG Vaccinations vs Countries with Serious Coronavirus Infections?

Remember reading about Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccinations seem to reduce the number of deaths due to coronavirus and that they were conducting studies into it.

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...

The link is to an article on the matter.

BCG Vaccine Fighting Coronavirus in South Asia

Is God an Entity, Force, or Some Other Phenomenon?

Doubt that God is something like that most religions describe. Seems to be too much from a human perspective.

Feelings, emotions, and the ilk are human characteristics. What if God did not have feelings, emotions and such?

Wonder if God has something to do with knowledge, reason, or conscience? Maybe enjoyment of music...

Even religions like music.

Could it be that good people enjoy music and other things in life than bad people? That's a good thought.

Could it be that good people think more clearly and are more satisfied with life than bad people? Seems to be so. 

Seoul Is Almost Back To Normal - Very Crowded

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.

Maybe I am stupid? But...

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?

Wikipedia - Expansion of the Universe

Excerpt -

"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. ".

Grocery Shopping Back to Normal in Seoul Regardless of Coronavirus

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.

String Theory Proposes There Are Lots of Dimensions

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.

Loads of tourists in Seoul, Korea and all over the globe!

I see lots of tourists in Seoul.

Tourists seem to outnumber Koreans in certain areas near the Dongdaemun (West Gate) shopping area.

I visited Phenom Penh, Bangkok, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, London and many more cities and saw other Koreans, Chinese, British, and tourists of other nationalities everywhere.

If China forgives South Korea for allowing US's THAAD anti-missile system to be installed in Korea and removes its unofficial boycott of Chinese tourists to South Korea, I should see even more Chinese while walking through my neighborhood, which is next to Dongdaemun.

Tourism is becoming really big in Korea and all over the world, it seems. A few decades ago, there were very few tourists.

Lots of expatriates living in Korea. Also, the number of families of mixed races has risen sharply over the past decade. Korean-Vietnamese, Korean-Cambodian, Korean-American and so on.

Typical False News and Lies Spread By Most Media in Korea

Most of the media in Korea are conservative and owned by the rich.

They are dead set against liberals and progressives.

I happened to read some blatant lies in an English article in Business Korea by the publisher.

Business Korea article : South Korea under ‘Insane' President

Pro-government rallies draw larger crowds. Usually anti-government rallies are small in scale.

He says that President Moon is "insane". Most Koreans respect President Moon very much and half the country thinks he is doing a very good job. This is in spite of all the incessantly bad press and outright lies from the conservatives and the rich.

The rich and powerful are losing control and they hate it.

Trump wants Korea to pay more for American troops there?

Korea is the only country to pay to have American troops and bases. Subic Bay and Okinawa were American bases that the US paid a lease to the host country. American bases in Europe are funded by the US.

The US paid for the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. They are paying to protect Saudi Arabian oil fields. An article  in the Wall Street Journal mentions the scope of US involvement since the oil field attacks.

The US pays for strategic military power in various regions of the world. In Korea, they have the THAAD anti-defense system. It is an early warning system for the US, in my opinion, and not of much use to Korea. There are enough missiles in North Korea to overwhelm the system and obliterate Korea many times over.

The only good thing he has done is stand up to China. It is a socialist country with undemocratic laws, extremely protectionist and unfair in trading. For example, to publish a video game in China, you need to get government approval, but they have not approved one single game from a foreign company. Only Chinese companies have gotten approval. So you have to be a minority partner in a joint venture with a Chinese company or go through a Chinese company. Either way, the business in China will be controlled by Chinese. There are seemingly endless examples of unfairness in all the other industries.

Korea can't afford to fight with China too hard. China accounts for around 42% of its trade surplus. Maybe Trump wants Korea to pay because of Korea's trade surplus, but if you follow that argument, he should be asking Japan to, at least, start to pay for US troops there.

Korea does not pay for the other countries that have military forces in Korea through the UN. Also the present situation with North Korea is not wholly due to South Korea's decisions and will, the US has the final world as the head of the military command in Korea during a war. Korea will take back command over its military forces even during wars in a few years, as agreed with the US.

The US military is all over the world and in dozens of countries, why is Korea the only country that helps pay for US forces in their country? And why does Korea have to pay more?

I don't think South Koreans are really scared by North Korea, militarily. We are more scared of China or Russia helping North Korea, and so is the US. That is one of the reasons that the US forces are still in Korea.

So, I think most people would see a sharing of the costs for US troops in Korea as logical. Asking for Korea to pay for the whole cost of US troops in Korea and related support operations in Guam and in the US ($ 4.7 billion), does not seem fair. It seems Trump is daring Korea to reject his demands and ask US troops to leave Korea.

(Updated 17 November - From an Reuters article, I found out that Japan also pays a share of the costs for US troops there and that the US wants them to pay 4 times more, around $ 8 billion for the costs. There are about 24,000 US troops in Korea and 54,000 in Japan.

Korea's Far Right Liberty Korea Party Is Full Of Former Prosecutors

The Liberty Korea Party is vehemently opposed to Cho Kuk's appointment to Minister of Justice.

Minister Cho's mission is to reform the justice system, especially the prosecutor's office. 

The Liberty Korea Party has a large number of former prosecutors as members. Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, Speaker Na Kyung-won, Choi Kyo-il, Kwak Sang-do, former party leader Hong Jun-pyo, Chung Mi-kyung, Jeong Jeom-sik, Kim Do-eup, Kim Jae-kyung, Joo Kwang-deok and too many others to mention. 

Prosecutors are close to rich families (like owning families of business conglomerates) and are targets for grooming by the rich and powerful. They also wield a lot of power. 

I knew a few prosecutors and used to go out drinking with them and their rich friends. Once, they leave civil service, they all earn millions as lawyers. Many also seem to be selected by the conservative party to run in elections and become members of the party. 

I think they have a lot of influence over their former colleagues at the prosecutor's office and do not want reforms to stop abuses of power and corruption.

Space, Time and Energy

Space and Time are related to Gravity. Energy is related to Mass and Life.

Theorists say that in even the smallest unit of space/time, there always is a fluctuation of energy, which reacts to create strings which make up subatomic particles, which make up the world. The fluctuations add up to zero, according to leading theory.

Zero-point energy

If that is so, there doesn't need to be a "big bang" for the universe to exist. The big bang is used to explain the cosmic background radiation.

Photons do not experience time or distance.

Does light experience time?

So, radiation should not experience time or distance.

Science has seen that heavier atoms decay into lighter atoms over time. Protons are theorized to decay into radiation over time, but this have not been proven yet.

But if protons did decay, then all matter will decay into radiation (photons) in the distant future.

All those photons do not experience time or distance.

All the energy from all the matter in the universe that has decayed will be in a state without time or distance. Something like the conditions for the "big bang", but since the photons do not experience distance, there is no space to explode into. So, there is no need for the "cosmic inflation" that says everything expanded at much faster than the speed of light.

So, after a very very long time, everything will become photons, and the conditions for a big bang without cosmic inflation will be fulfilled. I heard a famous British physicist speak about this on Youtube many years ago. It sounds good to me.

Theoretically, black holes emit radiation and eventually disappear.

Stephen Hawking Was Right: Black Holes Can Evaporate, Weird New Study Shows

Korean Justice System To Be Reformed

Korean President Moon Jae-in appointed Cho Kuk as Minister of Justice despite intense opposition from conservative parties and most media. Even prosecutors are suspected of overreaching their authority in issuing unprecedented and unusually very prompt search warrants for his family and associates, in which I suspect was an attempt to find something to prevent his appointment. I am sure if they manage to uncover any crimes that Cho Kuk will not be personally involved. It is just a smear campaign, in my opinion. I can't recall having seen such intense political and media opposition to a ministerial appointment. Historic.

Moon appoints Cho Kuk as justice minister despite huge political opposition

It seems the ones in power are extremely opposed to his appointment. I wonder why. Maybe it is because he is going to reform the system to prevent habitual abuses of power by prosecutors, judges, and police, in many cases to the advantage of the conservative rich and powerful.

Almost all the polls cited in the news state that those opposed to the appointment outnumber those in favor, but the presidential site where people can register their support or opposition, those in favor of the appointment outnumbered those who are opposed by two to one.

Most Koreans agree that the justice system needs to be reformed in order to prevent past abuses, except for those who used this to their advantage.

I am sure plenty of Koreans are really glad that he was appointed, in spite of the widespread and intense campaign opposing his appointment.

How To Get Drunk, Crash Into A Motorcycle, Attempt To Switch Drivers And Still Not Get Arrested?

Live in Korea.

Netizens react to reports of rapper Noel's drunk driving and official apology by his politician father

Contrast that with smoke a joint and get arrested immediately. Something is very wrong here.

The guy's father is a politician. He shouts and yells during parliamentary hearings at ministerial candidates just because they belong to another party. Like father, like son. If it was an opposing politician's son who did this, he would be yelling that they are corrupt and scum of the earth, or something like that. And that they used their influence to help make their son a success.

Victim alleges that rapper NO:EL (Jang Yong Joon) initially attempted to conceal DUI accident

Is Japan's Abe Jealous Of Korea?

Abe has been complaining that western news media write his name in the wrong order. He wants it to be written as Abe Shinzo. And he is having the Japanese government write Japanese names in surname first order when written in English.

Japan wants to change the way we use Japanese names

Western media has been writing Korean names in the surname first order, as it is written in Korean, for years. We never had the Korean government take action to do this. It happened naturally.

I think Abe is also jealous of Korea's prosperity and overtaking of Japan in certain industries

For example, western press always writes President Moon's name in the proper order:

Moon Jae-in: TIME Person of the Year 2018 Runner Up

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's nominee for justice minister

Why has the support for South Korea's President Moon Jae-in 

Believe it or not, even the Japanese are protesting discrimination and racism against Koreans in Japan media and by Japanese right wing politicians.

Japan's Shukan Post apologizes after being blasted for discrimination toward South Koreans

Very few articles on this in English, but there are many in Korean.

Japanese protest racism against Koreans and call for goodwill (in Korean)

Japanese in Tokyo protest discrimination against Koreans (in Korean)

Where would a western professor feel comfortable slandering Koreans? Japan.

Racist Professor Calls Student 'That F***ing Korean Gook' 

Koreans have always liked Japanese products and Japan. That's one of the reasons Korea has ALWAYS had a trade deficit with Japan, ever since the end of World War II. They are our neighbors.

We just don't like radical conservative Japanese politicians who incite racism against Koreans and deny that Japan committed war crimes against Koreans (Chinese, Taiwanese, Filipinos, and others).

There was a statement in 1993 from cabinet secretary Yohei Kono, who wrote the Kono Statement, acknowledging Japan's involvement in the enslavement of "comfort women" and apologizing.

Background reading (extra credit) - Ethnic issues in Japan

The Good Things About Getting High On Pot

Let's assume that it is consumed in a healthy manner and not by smoking.

It usually helps me to relax, enjoy music, enjoy exercising, enjoy working, be less stressed, be more content, be less aggressive, have more empathy, be more inclined to exercise, be more creative, helps me to think and have much better orgasms. It makes life much interesting. Ask people who get high, if they agree with this. I am sure most will tell you that it is so.

I think if you are lazy at heart, if you get high, you will become lazy. But if you are an active person, you will still be active even if you get really stoned.

But they made pot illegal in Korea. Did you know that we use to have native Korean weed? It was strong and tasty. I am pretty certain that it is extinct now.

Imagine all the people getting high legally in the USA, Canada and other parts of the world. Remember the 60s? People getting high, spreading good vibes and stuff. A lot more people are getting high now. The effects from this should start to really show in the coming years.

Getting high is the cheapest form of entertainment and meditation that I know of. I don't need expensive cars, luxury items, or admiration of others to enjoy my life. I am sure that others who get high agree.

They keep on arresting famous people and scions of Korean business conglomerates for pot. Most media treat it as a serious crime with "reefer madness" type of reporting. Most young Koreans after hearing their idols and the rich are getting high are certainly going to wonder what they are missing. I wonder if the media knows that they are corrupting young Koreans. If they get caught getting high, it is partially the media's fault.

Arrest warrant sought for CJ Group scion on drug charges

523 drug offenders busted in March crackdown

Singer-actor Park confesses to taking drug

What a downer! Korea is still criminalizing something much less dangerous and addictive than alcohol, while allowing advertising of alcohol everywhere. Other countries are exporting the stuff, doing R&D, patenting medicines, building businesses, and much more constructive things.

Korean Imports Of Japanese Beer Down 95%

Japanese beer used to be the leading imported beer in Korea. Its imports dropped to $223,000 in August compared to $7.57 million in the same month last year, according to the following Maeil Business News report.

Korea’s beer import from Japan plunges 95% in August 

This is entirely due to Abe and the ultra right wing Nippon Kaigi (Japan Council). They keep telling outright lies and making racist comments about Korea.

For example:

1. Japanese occupation helped modernize Korea. (They built roads and railways to "steal" Korean minerals, food and other goods to Japan. Also factories to utilize "slave" labor).

2. Dokdo Island belongs to Japan and that Korea is illegally occupying it. (Illegal to whom? Certainly not Korean and international law).

3. The agreement signed by Japan and Korea to get financial aid as war repatriation exempts Japanese from all responsibility for crimes committed by Japan on Koreans. Abe even goes as far as to deny them. Legal scholars agree that the agreement only applies to the governments and not individual personal claims to the companies that enslaved the Koreans.

Also, it was a Supreme Court ruling that awarded damages and ordered the assets of a Japanese company be sold, after Abe ordered the company not to pay. The Korean government cannot do anything to override a court decision, yet Abe demands that the government somehow override the Supreme Court.

Internationally, courts have ruled that individual rights overrides government agreements.

The Japan Council is made up of radical right wing members who continually deny war crimes and tell outright racist lies about Korea.

Also a pet peeve. Does paying damages to comfort women or enslaved Korean mean that Japan doesn't need to apologize to the comfort women (it has never officially done so yet)? Does it mean that Koreans cannot mention this or build statues commemorating them? Does it mean that Japan can rewrite the history that it teaches to children to instill hate against Korea and nationalism in Japan?

Feel much better now. Koreans have nothing against Japan. Only Abe and the Japan Council.

It feels that most Koreans are sick of hearing all the racist comments from these people. The ultra right wing try to stereotype Koreans as stupid and not having the willpower for long term fights. It seems that this boycott of Japanese goods is going to last a long long time. Even if Abe changes his ultra right wing foreign minister and policies.

The Korean media is emphasizing the lies made by the Japanese right wing. They should also report on how racist those comments are and how they stereotype Koreans as inferior, criminals and such.

Why Does It Seem To Me That A Lot Of People Are Mindless?

A lot of people are so scared to death of death that they are unreasonable, especially the rich who indulge in excessive consumption, thrill seeking and conceit. Those who try to live a "full" life before they die and have tunnel vision. Running away from truth. Hoping against hope that some thing like a God does not exist.

A lot live their lives without a purpose other than to survive and try to be rich. They seem to have a mind with only basic primitive instincts. No conception of goodwill, sharing and whatnot. A basic mind, not a mindful mind. Mindful mind? One that reflects a lot on life and the world. One that reflects a long time before expressing opinions or taking action.

I can tell the difference between a mindful person and one that is not. I am sure you can too. We all are mindless at times.

What makes a mindful mind mindful? Being free of cognitive dissonance?

Thank goodness, there are also a lot of people who notice things about the world and want to make things better. However, I run into very few such people in Korea. We have them, but they are a definitely a minority.

Korean President Moon's Reply To Samurai Wannabe Abe

In a televised speech at the beginning of a meeting with ministers this morning, President Moon gave a speech asking that Japan be truthful about its past and its actions.

He said that even Korea has done bad things in the past, and so has Germany. But both countries were truthful about the past and overcame them.

He added that Japan should not cover up and falsify the negative parts of its history, but be honest about it.

With regards to the removal of Korea from Japan's list of countries with less restrictions on Japanese exports, Moon said that if it was in retaliation for Korea's Supreme Court decision as Abe stated in the beginning before he changed the reason to national security and then a revision of Japan's export regulations, then he should state it as such and not lie.

Japan is the one twisting the truth and spreading false news, yet Abe thinks he is pulling one over the world.

The Trump administrations recent comments on South Korea's defense exercises off of the island of Dok-do, which has historically always been labelled as Korean territory in Korean and Japanese maps (only in recent times has Japan tried to claim ownership, but they along with China have always tried to invade Korea since ancient times), along with the stated disappointment at Korea's decision not to extend an intelligence sharing agreement with Japan seems to be a ploy to gain concessions in the US-Japan trade negotiations. The US used to be fair in its comments. Shame.

Japan's previously stated reason for Korea's removal from Japan's "White List" was that Korea is a national security risk to Japan. Korean press have asked frequently, if Korea is a national security risk, why would Japan have an intelligence sharing agreement with Korea? Now, Japan changed its reason to "a revision of its export regulations".

Publicly Making Negative Assumptions About People Should Be Illegal

Like calling someone a "bad" person. One should only be allowed to reference facts and then ask the listener to decide.

I noticed that most mindless people use this strategy of calling people names and negatively labeling them

If God is a Group of Dimensions?

If God turns out to be a phenomena from a group of dimensions, then is the word, God, a coincidence or did some thing make it that way?

Media Polls vs Korean Presidential Website Petition Results?

Most of the Korean media report polls that state the majority of Koreans are opposed to the appointment of progressive law professor Cho Kuk as Minister of Justice.

Yet, on the Korean presidential website, the number of people supporting the petition asking Cho Kuk be appointed as Justice Minister totaled over 400,000. While the petition opposing the appointment had over 250,000 supporters. I think the large number of people opposed is due to the negative media on Cho Kuk for the past several weeks. Nothing about the good things he has done. You need to log in using Facebook or other social network site in order to support or register a petition.

From what I see on TV, it seems the rich and powerful conservatives in Korean are mounting an all out campaign against Cho Kuk who has promised to reform the justice system to stamp out abuses of power. They exaggerate small student demonstrations against Cho Kuk. I am pretty sure some conservatives persuaded some students to demonstrate. I am also pretty sure the majority of students are in favor of Cho Kuk, but not his daughter, at the moment. Due to allegations of the daughter receiving favoritism in getting named in research papers which allegedly played a part in her getting accepted to medical school. She attended private school and had a privileged upbringing which makes her pretty unpopular with students, at the moment. Things are pretty bleak for Korean students with very high unemployment in Korea which I am pretty sure is due to the previous conservative administrations which focused on self-enrichment and suppression of liberal and progressive ideals and people for a decade and has opposed every reform proposed by progressive administrations by blocking and boycotting legislation. People are sick of this. At least, I am.

I hope he does become the minister of justice. Korea desperately needs to reform its justice system to stop abuses by powerful individuals.

A Quantum Dimension or The Quantum Dimension?

Is there one or are there many quantum dimensions?

Quantum dimensions? Metaphysical dimensions. Some dimension that is invisible to physical detection. A non-local dimension that is not affected so much by the space/time/energy dimension.

Non-local phenomena? Wave-particle duality, quantum entanglement, collective intelligence and similar phenomena describe things that do not seem to be connected physically, but have a connection nonetheless. They must be connected through some metaphysical dimension(s).

Some say "will" evolved from the need to survive. Where did we get the need to survive? From the sun? Or some thing or some phenomena that exists in metaphysical dimensions and the detectable dimensions. The sun provides energy for most life on earth. So it could explain basic life. But where did the need to build supercomputers come from? Not sure if it came from the sun. Is the potential of ideas be larger than the total energy received from the sun?

Some scientists theorize that life emerged from chemical reactions in something like a drop of oil that caused it to have the ability to replicate  (some basic genetic code) and eventually evolve by chance. Seems like something from nothing. Especially if that life can make nuclear bombs and semiconductors from rocks.

Then could basic instincts, ability to learn from experience, and such eventually evolve into self-awareness and an explosion in communication of ideas by chance? I think there are probably different degrees of self-awareness.

Feelings, experience, logic seem so far removed from energy, yet require energy to exist.

So energy, mass, gravity, feelings and such are all related, in other words have some connections.

Maybe it's not a metaphysical dimension, maybe it's just a phenomena? No, for quantum entanglement, the entangled objects affect each other over space/time instantly. So, there must be a way for them to connect. That way is through an as of yet undetected non-local dimension or dimensions. If there is a connection, then there is something that connects them, something that we cannot yet detect physically.

Consciousness

Everything seems infinitely complicated, like a googol.

What makes up consciousness? There are our basic instincts, knowledge, experience, and more.

Some people only think in the first person, while others are comfortable without using people as the subject in a sentence. Does thinking in the first person lead to selfish thoughts? Yes. So, if they are stuck at that level of consciousness, then it could be bad.

If everyone was required to write sentences without using people as the subject in sentences, I am sure it will eventually lead to more enlightenment. They should be required to write such sentences and comment on philosophical questions until they reach a certain level of understanding.

Also, a year or two of using only positive sentences without "not", "no" and other negative words is another way of expanding mental horizons.

In addition, people talk too much. They should be required to debate only in writing, especially in politics. If everything is in writing, everything can be examined, considered, and if needed, counter arguments can be made after deep thought. Hopefully an end to brief slogan filled speeches appealing to instincts.

Bad people accuse others of doing bad things that they themselves have done and usually are doing. The Liberty Korea Party accuses the Moon administration of abuses of power. The party supports disgraced former Korean presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Keun-hye, who abused power as well as blacklisting liberals and progressives. Why do they do this? Most of their thoughts result from their decisions and actions. When they try to think, their thought are limited to what they know and do, so they can imagine little else. They can't accuse people of something they don't know about.

If you look closely at what people write or what their arguments are, then you can tell a lot about that person.

A lot of people just blab away, like Trump. They are stuck in that mind frame. Why? I have asked many times. My conclusion so far is that they are running away from death. They need to do something exciting, fun, and such before they die. Blabbing is a popular pastime, it seems. Where one can brag, boast, be conceited and the like.

Cognitive dissonance should be taught and discussed extensively. I pretty sure that's what Jesus was trying to do. He asked people to be true and not be so materialistic.

Good News and Bad News

Environmental, social and governance are now factors widely taken into consideration to evaluate the sustainability and ethical impact of an investment in a company or business.

Top U.S. CEOs say companies should put social responsibility above profit

The Business Roundtable group's statement was signed by CEOs of some top US companies. An investor's group was opposed to the idea arguing “accountability to everyone means accountability to no one.” .

Too bad there's very little sincere evidence of such ideas in the corporate worlds and societies of Korea, China, Japan and other countries.

Too Bad It's Legal To Be An A-hole

I try not to think about it, but there are lots of really bad people out there. They may be kind to their family and friends, but to the poor and powerless, they are really unkind.

When I drive, drivers cut me off, honk behind me even when I am stopped at a red light, give me dirty looks, and so on.

In life, many of the rich don't give a hoot about the poor and homeless. It's not their problem. There are people who litter. Dirty streets are not their problem. There are people and companies that pollute. World pollution is not their problem, they will probably reply if asked.