Contrary to reports of money laundering of over $600 million, Korean news agencies reported that German prosecutors revealed that they are looking at only around $3 million alleged to have been money laundered by Choi Soon-sil.
This makes sense. Why would someone with $600 million bother with embezzlement of millions of dollar? Then again, why would someone need $3 million? Pretty selfish.
More countries are looking at universal income. Less labor, less mind hours are needed for productivity. Pretty soon, humans will not be too expensive to do labor. Companies need less workers, fewer companies will be needed. The world is changing. All over the world, developed countries are having trouble with job growth.
In the future, there will be no need for us to "work" to eat and have a place to live. Even now, if you change the system, there is no need for people in many countries to "work" in order to eat and live. Do the math, include only necessities.
Having people own land will always create class differences, and so on. In an ideal world, if the land is called a country, then the land would belong to the country and all the citizens. Why change the world? It will change eventually.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Saturday, December 24, 2016
The Secret Of Consciousness
It's been a while since I read up on consciousness. However, I just happened to see an article in Scientific American on the latest theories into consciousness. Not much has happened in consciousness research.
Scientific American: The Mind–Body Problem, Scientific Regress and "Woo"
Scientific American: The Mind–Body Problem, Scientific Regress and "Woo"
Friday, December 23, 2016
Korea Demonstrations - 9th Week
Protesters, demanding that President Park resign immediately and also that the Constitutional Court make a quick ruling on the impeachment, are already gathering at Gwang-hwa-mun Square. It's really cold today.
Two blocks down the road, pro-Park protesters demanding the opposite are in full force. Police stated that over 12,000 pro-Park protesters were in attendance. I would estimate around 7,000 to 8,000.
Anti-Park protesters gathering in advance for the best seats in front of the main stage.
Two blocks down the road, pro-Park protesters demanding the opposite are in full force. Police stated that over 12,000 pro-Park protesters were in attendance. I would estimate around 7,000 to 8,000.
Pro-Park protesters waving Korean flags
The number of pro-Park protesters increased around 4:30. I agree with the police estimate.
Protest organizers estimate 600,000 participated in Seoul and 100,000 in other cities. They plan to continue the protests until the middle of January 2017.
Press coverage of the demonstrations:
Korea Herald: Protestors singing carols demand Park’s removal
Korea Times: Anti-president vigil continues on Christmas Eve
Joongang Daily: All protesters wanted for Christmas is impeachment
Korea Protests On X-mas Eve
Crowds demanding that President Park resign immediately continue protesting for the 9th consecutive week. For details of the demonstrations and marches, read The Hankyoreh article: Protests seeking President's resignation continue on Christmas Eve and into the New Year.
The organizing committee's website is in Korean only and is at bisang2016.net. There you can find all sorts of materials, including pictures of past demonstrations, as on http://bisang2016.net/b/board03/841.
The following editorial is from the Chosun Daily News on President Park's initial written defense statements submitted at the impeachment hearings. The editor asks if President Park is crazy for sticking to her story that she did not know about any criminal activities of those around her, the sports and culture foundations were set up and funded voluntarily, and that she was working at the Presidential residence during the Sewol Ferry tragedy and that she promptly reacted to the situation. This goes against all the recorded phone conversations, instant messages, written notes and witness testimony. The editorial details the President's defense and how it contradicts the facts based on evidence.
Chosun Ilbo (Daily News): Has Park Lost Her Grip on Reality?
The Constitutional Court which is hearing the impeachment case against President Park asked her to submit details of her whereabouts and actions on April 16, 2014, the day of the Sewol Ferry tragedy. Everyone has asked, but she has never answered. Now, she has to answer or forfeit. No escape.
Saenuri Party member, Yi Wan-yong, was is accused of promoting witness perjury was caught on picture with members of a regional association drinking heavily at dinner several years ago. In the picture is the lawyer of Choi Soon-sil and a close associate of Woo Byung-woo. Many members of this association are linked to the Choi Soon-sil scandal. Saenuri Party member Yi Wan-yong has questioned witnesses with a strong prejudice towards questions to help Choi Soon-sil's defense. He denies all allegations, but he is under investigation and I suspect he will be found guilty. It will be hard to find concrete evidence. but I hope they find some.
Joongang Daily News: Photo connects Yi to Choi’s lawyer
The Secret Of How Life Began On Earth
As I read the beginning of this article in BBC News, I wondered about Matter = Energy = Life? Since hydrogen matter is converted to energy in the sun, light is converted into energy on Earth, and energy is converted into life.
Towards the end of the article, I wondered about life and knowledge. Is knowledge just a byproduct of life? What about self awareness?
Towards the end of the article, I wondered about life and knowledge. Is knowledge just a byproduct of life? What about self awareness?
It was a long article and showed how much research into the origins of life has progressed since I was in school. From theories supporting that amino acids, RNA, compartmentalization, metabolism, or replication was first to the present day, everything at once theory. They have proved to me that life could have started from clay in a pond of warm water. That sort of changed my world. Slightly less mystic. But I still wonder about logic, knowledge, and self awareness (consciousness).
BBC News: The Secret Of How Life Began On Earth
So, how does one link matter and thought? Matter vs. Energy vs. Life vs. Thought? Thought vs. Knowledge? Time vs. Change? Consciousness vs. Thought?
Is this what they meant by "clouding minds"? I am almost sure that Jesus was trying to teach people metaphysics and it clouded a lot of minds.
So, how does one link matter and thought? Matter vs. Energy vs. Life vs. Thought? Thought vs. Knowledge? Time vs. Change? Consciousness vs. Thought?
Is this what they meant by "clouding minds"? I am almost sure that Jesus was trying to teach people metaphysics and it clouded a lot of minds.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Choi Soon-sil Alleged To Have Over $660 Million In Europe
German prosecutors have listed Choi Soon-sil and her daughter as major criminals and are investigating their wealth. It is alleged that they have over $660 million stored in 500 companies and bank accounts under false names.
Korea Times: Probe targets Choi Soon-sil's daughter and hidden $660 million
Korea Times: Probe targets Choi Soon-sil's daughter and hidden $660 million
How to Convince Someone When Facts Fail
That's the title of a Scientific American article on cognitive dissonance and how best to handle people who refuse to believe the facts.
Experiments have shown that people will make up or distort things in order to reduce dissonance, which arises when a person holds two conflicting thoughts. Conflicting thoughts arise when someone lies, is dishonest, and such. If unchecked, it will continue in something like a feedback cycle.
Sounds like they are talking about President Park supporters. The article explains how lies or falsehoods cause people to justify themselves and lead to a distortion of reality. So, the worst thing to do is to tell pro-Park supporters that they are wrong. It will only cause them to reinforce their false beliefs and make them more radical.
They have been talking about cognitive dissonance for decades. I thought the best approach was to just observe people with cognitive dissonance from a distance and if you have to deal with them, then try to absorb some of their negativity. The article suggests pretty much the same.
1. Keep emotions out of it.
2. Don't attack. Discuss.
3. Listen carefully and try to fully understand the person's perspective.
4. Show respect.
5. Show that you understand why the person might have that opinion.
6. Try to show the person the facts and that the facts do not really change that person's view of the world.
Scientific American: How to Convince Someone When Facts Fail
Experiments have shown that people will make up or distort things in order to reduce dissonance, which arises when a person holds two conflicting thoughts. Conflicting thoughts arise when someone lies, is dishonest, and such. If unchecked, it will continue in something like a feedback cycle.
Sounds like they are talking about President Park supporters. The article explains how lies or falsehoods cause people to justify themselves and lead to a distortion of reality. So, the worst thing to do is to tell pro-Park supporters that they are wrong. It will only cause them to reinforce their false beliefs and make them more radical.
They have been talking about cognitive dissonance for decades. I thought the best approach was to just observe people with cognitive dissonance from a distance and if you have to deal with them, then try to absorb some of their negativity. The article suggests pretty much the same.
1. Keep emotions out of it.
2. Don't attack. Discuss.
3. Listen carefully and try to fully understand the person's perspective.
4. Show respect.
5. Show that you understand why the person might have that opinion.
6. Try to show the person the facts and that the facts do not really change that person's view of the world.
Scientific American: How to Convince Someone When Facts Fail