GammaGlobulin

TAIWAN? You cannot be serious!!!!!!!!!!! What part of Taiwan? Fulong? Such a joke that it is not even funny. Gives me the shivers even to contemplate Taiwan for anything other than fishing for squid with squid lights all along the coastal parts of Taiwan. Terrible place. 665 people per square kilometer. Most of the land is mountainous. Population density is CRAZY. You must be JOKING. Just telling the truth. I could easily debate this question with any native of Taiwan. Taiwan is not number one. Taiwan is definitely number TWO. So solly.

You know, besides Thylacines, boy, in the near future... It seems to be more about the USSR. We are sure to hear much more from the CCP, very soon. Better to get it over with now, than later, maybe... Dear Prudence... Everything seems to be turning white....

One aspect of this question worries me: How do we teach our children in such a way that we can be both honest about the state of the world and yet provide our children with enough optimism, sufficient to allow them to live meaningful lives, not filled with overwhelming nihilistic thoughts. In other words, how can we help our children to see the reality of our collective world predicament, and yet be resilient enough to still carry on. In my opinion, which is not worth even two satang, is that you cannot fool children. Although children are not old enough to have completely perfected the art of denial, no matter how useful this defense mechanism might prove to be during the present years and also in the next few decades. This is a quandary of import for the future. How do we protect children from the truth, what we might mistakenly believe to be the truth. How do we help them to live happier lives, particularly when many of them are smarter than we? Maybe, the answer might be to divert their attention through such things as Musk-type technology visions of a future on Mars. One thing we do know, and this is that none of us live in reality. Reality is a concept which we do not know. There is always a lens between us and reality. If we were to break this lens, and see reality as it actually is, then doing so would blow our minds.

If I were to interview Musk, I would ask him about the Thylacinus cynocephalus. For example: If, say, One Million humans were to eventually colonize Mars, then how many other mammals might bite the dust, in the interim, before we could move all of Earth's living organisms, including mosquitoes, to Mars? Maybe Musk's vision is sort of like another Noah's Ark experiment. As you will notice, if you watch the TED interview with Musk which I linked above, then you will understand that Musk states he wishes to protect "CONCIOUSNESS". Presumably, he is referring to some sort of precious consciousness such as that which can be found here on the Farang Pub. Obviously, here on the Farang Pub, we do not need any interaction with other living creatures, just in order to feel happy. Few of us, I guess, ever visit the zoo, being mostly engaged with typing on our keyboards. Maybe this is the same with Musk. He has become so focused on getting to Mars, maybe, that he might have forgotten the blessed fruits here on Earth. For sure, life on Mars, for Humans, would not be a bowl of cherries, even if you might be able to grow a few, on Mars, which, in itself, would be a major achievement. I love Elon! He cracks me up. And, his achievements are out of this world.

So, anyway... I mentioned, in my last topic, something about....have you ever read "Don Quixote". And what do you think, after reading this Cervantes novel? Do you believe that Elon Musk is a modern-day Don Quixote de la Mancha, a brave and chivalrous knight, bent on saving our world, even though we might worry that he is just chasing at windmills, or wind turbines? One man cannot save the world from itself. Don Quixote does not see the world for what it is and prefers to imagine that he is living out his knightly story. Personally, I would love to believe in Elon Musk. Elon is an example of someone who is living his life to the fullest. Maslow might even deign to agree that Elon is self-actuated, in the sense of Maslow's idea of self-actualization. I have only great things to say and think about Elon Musk. Musk is one of the most entertaining and wonderful people I can imagine in this century. I truly wish him well. And, I hope he finds peace and contentment in years to come. GO Musk!

Please let me add: For our young people, and for us, as well, waking up each morning and feeling sad about our future is a debilitating thing. This interview done by the TED founder, interviewing Musk in one of his most eloquent moments, is an hour of time that you might enjoy. In other words, maybe there is hope, even though hope is useless. Hope is useless. Action counts for something. The challenges ahead, due to our past follies, are humongous. See you in the year 2121, maybe.

My Dear Friends, These days, I just wonder how our children today can keep their heads up, during class, while being bombarded with so much negative Science concerning Trends Today. In fact, unless children, and also we, are able to take a break into fantasy, then how can we become even half-way productive, and how can we enjoy the rest of our lives, no matter how long or short. Therefore, I wish to share a TED talk which I believe you will find amazingly optimistic. In this video, the question is asked, directly, to Elon Musk: Do you feel Sad? I will not give you the exact time during this video where Musk answers the question. You might need to watch the entire video in order to learn just how sad Elon might be, or not be. For what it is worth, I post the link to this TED talk, which I believe is worth something. Normally, I do not watch TED talks, just because they became overly insipid after the first year of TED. However, this interview is a breath of fresh air. I find Musk amusing and entertaining. He insists he is an alien, as you know. My reaction to this video, and yours might be much different, is that Musk still fails to understand the rapidity of the Rate of Extinction of organisms, and I do not mean orgasms, which is definitely occurring today. This Rate of Extinction is speeding up, obviously, and I find this most alarming. Yet, maybe we should still trust in Musk because.....Nobody thought he could do what he has done, and they thought this time and again. Maybe Musk is an alien. Maybe Musk is a beneficent alien. Either way, I think this video of the TED interview might be worth a look. I mean: Even if some of this is fantasy, still, have we not, these days, had enough Doom and Gloom...up to Here? Enjoy this video if you might have the inclination to view it. This is about as far as I will ever go to provide such an optimistic view of our future. Please appreciate it while this vision persists. Regards, Globulin

Just in case some young people might be reading down this far, as I have been told they sometimes do: My advice is to read more from Project Gutenberg. Here is the link to Two Years Before the Mast, by this Harvard guy, Dana.... https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4277 And, here is the link to Project Gutenberg.... https://www.gutenberg.org/ Most people here on the Farang Pub read books. Why? Because, guys here are very old, in some cases. They have not much better to do. Read books. Read The End of the Road, maybe. Or, please do not read Giles Goat Boy, until you are older. Too bawdy, for sure.

He was there before WW2. No women there, at that time, of course.

nice

During the past few years, many years, I have been reading many interesting papers coming out of the University of Washington. U Wash. I never attended this university. Yet, I believe this is one of the greatest and most inclusive universities our world ever did see. https://www.washington.edu/ I have the suspicion that, at U Wash, they must be doing great things. I think that this is not a predominantly farang place, if you know what I mean, which is good. Yet, in order to be accepted to this university, then you need to be smarter than most farang in the USA, perhaps. ======= You know, my friends, that I just feel so sad. I feel so sad because, just when we are at the point of educating our young better than we ever have before, and succeeding at this, so well..... Now, in fact, our world is heading for so many tipping points, and cascading effects, which will probably obviate any good that we might accomplish, these days, just by educating our young.. This point is debatable. One of the things I like least is young people with wireless earbuds. You never know what they are listening to.

OK, no problem. What do you think about this? "The fourteenth of August was the day fixed upon for the sailing of the brig Pilgrim on her voyage from Boston round Cape Horn to the western coast of North America. As she was to get under weigh early in the afternoon, I made my appearance on board at twelve o'clock, in full sea-rig, and with my chest, containing an outfit for a two or three year voyage, which I had undertaken from a determination to cure, if possible, by an entire change of life, and by a long absence from books and study, a weakness of the eyes, which had obliged me to give up my pursuits, and which no medical aid seemed likely to cure. The change from the tight dress coat, silk cap, and kid gloves of an undergraduate at Cambridge, to the loose duck trowsers, checked shirt and tarpaulin hat of a sailor, though somewhat of a transformation, was soon made, and I supposed that I should pass very well for a jack tar. But it is impossible to deceive the practised eye in these matters; and while I supposed myself to be looking as salt as Neptune himself, I was, no doubt, known for a landsman by every one on board as soon as I hove in sight. A sailor has a peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of wearing them which a green hand can never get. The trowsers, tight round the hips, and thence hanging long and loose round the feet, a superabundance of checked shirt, a low-crowned, well varnished black hat, worn on the back of the head, with half a fathom of black ribbon hanging over the left eye, and a peculiar tie to the black silk neckerchief, with sundry other minutiae, are signs, the want of which betray the beginner at once. Beside the points in my dress which were out of the way, doubtless my complexion and hands were enough to distinguish me from the regular salt, who, with a sun-burnt cheek, wide step, and rolling gait, swings his bronzed and toughened hands athwart-ships, half open, as though just ready to grasp a rope. "With all my imperfections on my head," I joined the crew, and we hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next day we were employed in preparations for sea, reeving studding-sail gear, crossing royal yards, putting on chafing gear, and taking on board our powder. On the following night, I stood my first watch. I remained awake nearly all the first part of the night from fear that I might not hear when I was called; and when I went on deck, so great were my ideas of the importance of my trust, that I walked regularly fore and aft the whole length of the vessel, looking out over the bows and taffrail at each turn, and was not a little surprised at the coolness of the old salt whom I called to take my place, in stowing himself snugly away under the long boat, for a nap. That was sufficient lookout, he thought, for a fine night, at anchor in a safe harbor. The next morning was Saturday, and a breeze having sprung up from the southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began beating down the bay. I took leave of those of my friends who came to see me off, and had barely opportunity to take a last look at the city, and well-known objects, as no time is allowed on board ship for sentiment. As we drew down into the lower harbor, we found the wind ahead in the bay, and were obliged to come to anchor in the roads. We remained there through the day and a part of the night. My watch began at eleven o'clock at night, and I received orders to call the captain if the wind came out from the westward. About midnight the wind became fair, and having called the captain, I was ordered to call all hands. How I accomplished this I do not know, but I am quite sure I did not give the true hoarse, boatswain call of "A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds! up anchor, a-ho-oy!" In a short time every one was in motion, the sails loosed, the yards braced, and we began to heave up the anchor, which was our last hold upon Yankee land. I could take but little part in all these preparations. My little knowledge of a vessel was all at fault. Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given and so immediately executed; there was such a hurrying about, and such an intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor's life. At length those peculiar, long-drawn sounds, which denote that the crew are heaving the windlass, began, and in a few moments we were under weigh. The noise of the water thrown from the bows began to be heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp night breeze, and rolled with the heavy ground swell, and we had actually begun our long, long journey. This was literally bidding "good night" to my native land." I suggest that you read more of this book. TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea By Richard Henry Dana, Jr. With an introduction and notes by Homer Eaton Keyes, B.L. Assistant Professor of Art in Dartmouth College ((Please note: My father attended Dartmouth College))

Have you read the book, "Don Quixote"? What do you think?

Trinity Library

And, for that matter, Have you ever attended Trinity, in Dublin? Maybe, now, it might be too late to get educated, if one were to become educated for the purpose of saving our world. Too late. So solly.

For that matter, have you ever been to Harvard? Just like Dana.

You know.... When you actually pay attention to the science, then you see. Hope and Faith have nothing to do with reality. Sure, you might find a nice song. But, a nice song has nothing to do with the physics of our world. There seems to be a very wide divide, these days, between science and the hope of society.

Anytime I feel a bit blue, I just listen to Jeff Beck. What about you?

Mostly, in all honesty, I feel so sorry for our young people. Other than this, then, bombs away, baby. I have not much love of Mankind. Other than Jack Bruce, of course, a member of Mankind, one for whom I have great respect.

So, anyway, now that we know that imperative societal changes will not be made, and that we will soon hit 4 degrees C... Then... Some like it hot. And, soon... We are going to be very hot. We do not like living. Obviously. Soon, we will be dead, I guess.

This is serious. This is not a joke. We are on a trajectory which will lead us to oblivion. In fact, sometimes I wonder if we might even reach 8 degrees C, further warming within the next 100 years.

To my friends, I just wish I could provide a more optimistic view for the future. So solly. I cannot do this. Still, we will be together, during the next few decades, while we witness the end of Humanity.

Also, regarding Global Warming, All that I can say is that we need cooling.