Science: First Words On

RCS Posts: A method of understanding five powerful actions, science is a way to knowledge.        

 

        Science is a way one may use to better everyday life. Science is a doing. It is a method of understanding. It is the practice of a method to understand and to communicate that understanding. It may be called the scientific method. This method can be an aid to one's personal self-development. 

            As you become more acquainted with this method of understanding you will become a more understanding person. You will also come to have a better understanding of science than do most people on earth. You will also have begun a better understanding of any of the sciences even ytterbiumology!

            The scientific method includes the following 5 powerful actions: 

~ observation

~ identification

~ description

~ experimentation

~ explanation.

               These are four actions one may take to know. They are what one can do. This "what" is important but "how" may be more important. I will say a bit about this "how" right here. Observation may be the careful watching of a process, doing, or happening you have good reason to believe is real. Identification is being familiar enough with what you have observed to be able to recognize it again. A description enables you to tell another how to recognize the phenomenon and to help you to recognize it again later. Experimentation is a way to further investigate that which you have observed. Explanation is a theoretical explaining of what you are coming to understand from your observation of the phenomena you have identified.

            Just taking the above steps and so becoming more aware of your observations has empowered you. So, we might say, a scientist carefully observes and begins an explanation of her observations. The method, is how she does this. That is, it is done carefully and systematically. The scientist can tell another the system and theoretically that other should be able to duplicate the original observations and experimentation and get similar results. The quality of what is done is important, How well you observe is important. How you do it is as important as what you do.

           To understand a subject it is good to clarify the words used to describe it. Let me begin to begin to define some our terms here. The word "science" seems a good place to start. Simply, science means knowledge, the business of coming to know. Just how one knows is a serious business. Science became knowledge gathered by study and still contains that meaning. Study is a name for careful observation and interpretation within a specified field. That now often includes study of the work of others, Now science has come to include the technical and mathematical study of a subject. We will not go as far as the uses of math or the techniques if a specific science. However, the basic methods of doing science both simpler and more powerful than one might suppose. Some come to see it as an attitude.

            "Method" refers to the way an act is accomplished, how it is done. So, science is a way to understand. A particular science is a way to understanding in a particular field. Anthropology is a particular science. "Anthro- refers to humanity and -ology refers to study. So anthropology is the study of humanity. It is often about the comparative study of societies. Study is an important part of the life of most scientists. They want to know about what others in their field have learned.

                In doing their science they usually begin with observation and identification; then on to describe and investigate. Experimentation in this field has not been easy, but anthropologist are finding ways of testing their observations. Their explaining of the phenomena of their field has proven interesting and useful. They have their own way of doing their work, but they also use the basic steps of the method we are learning about (I learn as I write.).

    `        "Biology" names another science. Its about life. It is the natural scientific study of life and living organisms. It is one of the more nicely developed sciences. So nicely developed that some of its practitioners some times seem to forget that its development is dependent on the method we are looking at. Cells and genes are important aspects of this science. Understanding them begins with observation and identification and then on to explain their finds to their fellows and humanity. Biologists use the scientific method.

            You have seen that it can important that a person interested in science to have a good grasp on the nature of the scientific method. Knowledge of that method can be a great aid to one interested in knowledge. The following vocabulary points to activities useful to one who would know: observation, identification, recognition, explanation, probability, knowing, understanding, researching, theoretical description. Also, to remember that an ability to recognize and observe natural phenomena is a great aid to understanding and is part of scientific methodology. If you are interested in math you may find that solid geometry may prove an interesting way to keep your science real and less difficult to communicate.

            I believe that you have an understanding of the heart of the scientific method as a way many have found useful for gaining practical, productive knowledge.

            The ways of scientific observation are important to the development of understanding. Often it is carried with the use of technical instrumentation, but that need not be the case. My dictionary has this to say about "to observe:" to watch attentively, to notice, to make a systematic or scientific observation. I have heard that good observation may be like seeing with a new pair of glasses. "Systematic" implies that there may be a system or systems to be learned. It seems that the way of a scientific doing is as important as the what of it. I have heard that is not so much about what you but rather how you do it.

            So observation includes the acts of looking, seeing, noting, and recording of  phenomena. All this done as a step toward communicating your work to another. Your observation might be better done with instrumentation, but this is often not a necessity. 

            Observation may lead to developing an a judgement or inference. Wow! We may have stuff (good important stuff) to learn about the development of a judgement or an inference. If you can tell us anything about judgement or inference as relates to science please use the "comments" section below. You may have to click on "no comments!"

             There is more to learn about the way science is done.  However this seems about enough for now. I'll end by saying a bit about identification. Identifying a phenomenon, is in large part, for the purpose of being able to recognize it yourself in the future and to an enable others to find it, and to recognize it.

            Oh, ytterbiumology, it is beyond my present knowledge. Still it may be studied and know well enough to make us some cash. It seems that ytterbium is a real element known to many chemists and physicists. It has the symbol of Yb and the atomic number of 70. I am willing to be taught.

                                                             RCS

 

Plow: There is more to say about plowing

RCS Posts agriculture: Its about the plow. Give it up?  Just what is plowing? Its done wonders for millennia.          

 

             The plow has been a symbol of agriculture. It has been  the most important tool of of agriculture. It has seemed that farming and plowing go together like horse an carriage. Plowing has seemed a good idea.

           

     However, many are now certain that is not a good an idea as often as we have thought.

            

        The cutting into the soil and the subsequent turning of soil in plowing often liberates large amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. That has lead to a profound change in our ecology.  We now speak of our world's co2 burden.

            

        The soil is a naturally highly a highly structured environment. It is now believed that it holds or has held a majority of the Earth's biodiversity. That diversity and that structure has supported all plant life and all dependent on that life for eons. Now most forest has been open to the plow and even more of the Earth's prairie has be disrupted by the plow. And worse, plowed earth is still too often is left without cover.

            

        Plowing changes the chemical composition of soil and air! We have successfully sought to re-order and re-formulate the structure of soil. Good for us, but when is that a good practice and when is it not. It looks like we need to re-formulate our ideas of good agricultural practices. We have learned a great deal about good usage of soil, but have given industrial farmers little motive to adopt them.

            

        There are are economically useful ways to have more fruitful soil. Some of those ways may include preserving cover and plowing less.

            

        We have long spoken of letting certain land rest or lie fallow and we have often acted on our words. We are now beginning to understand that we can profit by letting certain lands be natural. We now also know that it is possible to reclaim much desert land for planting, grazing, or as an aid for our atmosphere without taking water from anyone.

                

        We still have a very great deal to learn and understand about biodiversity. Many of us now have begun to see that it not only supports the quality of our lives, but also our very lives.

            

        We need and want good food and I believe we deserve it, as do our children and youth, their children and grand children. We have actions to take to get that which we deserve and need.

            

        We have a lot to learn, much to think about and more to do. There are great doings which are doable right now.

                 

        Some are already thinking about the quality of our soil, our methods, and our survival. They need a hand. They need understanding help from many of us. Its good that there are so many of us, because with many, no one person need be overburdened.

            There are places on Earth where lands have bee let be. From those places a few of us have learned much and they are willing to share as are many others. However, few such lands are protected and all seem to be endangered. You can learn why they are worth protecting and moral ways of protecting them.

            Geneticists are please with the natural diversity of certain forests and wish for more nearly natural Prairie.

            I believe that I have already written here that letting land be is far from enough. Some desert land needs to be changed and maintained so that it retains more of the little rain it receives, so that it can maintain controlled grazing or support certain crops. There much to be done and now is the time to begin, but not halter skelter.

                Some farmers in France and China and all around the world, to their  benefit and ours, let some of their land rest and regenerate while still being productive. In France, a field may be helped to become a pond for fish, ducks, and frogs. In a very few years it may again become a fresh fertile field. We may make it more profitable for farmers to make their land more productive. Changes can be costly You may find people who will help you to help you to help farmers in the best way possible at this time.

            We Can find easy ways to support those among us willing to find profitable methods managing land which improve the land and the quality of of food produced on it.

            Some have already found profitable and sustainable alternatives to plowing.

            There is not to much to learn, but there is plenty to learn and than learning needs to be sustained. You can begin to find out today why so many believe that it is important and possible to help limit the quantity of co2 in our air; so important that people are being paid to do so. The value of biodiversity can be learned by you. Many already know a lot about it. Some have told me that there was a time when better tasting oranges, apples, and tomatoes viable. Others tell me of a plague killing cherry trees and of one variety resisting that plague. It looks beautiful and tastes great, but there is a lot more to learn from those stories.

             we all need to learn a bit, but there are some individuals who want to learn a lot about managing crops for change, quality, and and benefit for all. We can help them a bit.

            

        This is not my field, but I believe that it is an important one. You can comment in the "comments" section below and I can try to respond.

                    RCS

 

Let Days Be Full of Joy

RCS Posts: Life, joy, and love.

            Enjoy life well. Enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
Let more music and dance into your life. Bathe and wear fresh clothes. Help the children and embrace the women.  We die; shall we not live? 
            Embrace her and kiss her. Avoid drunkenness. Avoid lies. Take responsibility for your life. Choose as well as you can. 
 

            Let knowledge of your resources come to you. Be open to knowledge of yourself. Move temperately. Let knowledge of a higher quality of life come to you. 
 

            Allow yourself to serve another with appropriate dignity, honor, respect, and love. Cooperate with the natural order and the way of things. 
 

            Love the people around you. Enjoy nurturing yourself and your world. Do a bit more of what comes naturally. Enjoy nurturing and allowing yourself to be nurtured. Enjoy it exactly as it is.
 

            Love reality. Let days be full of joy.

I may read this again myself. 

            RCS

Taoistic Writings

RCS Posts Esoteric to Exoteric: Taoistic Sayings

 

            I find something attractive about a philosopher who laughs with me. I have enjoyed the humor of Taoist writers. I find much of their writing witty and accessible. Much is also usable and wise. 

Their use of the following phrases has moved my thinking and perceiving in useful ways:
+ Accept the reality of the available freedom.
+ Easy does it.
+ Attend to your energy reserve,
+ No regrets.
+ Set your burden down and enjoy the water.
+ The door is not locked.
+ Peacefully rejoice in reality.
+ Know the joyful security of wandering whe there is no path.
+ Enjoy your wit and romantic adventures.
+ Is it really so?
+ Great knowledge and long life.
+ How do you know that it is so?
+ Be little moved by praise and blame.
+ Discriminate.
+ Be clear about the nature of honor and disgrace.
+ Small self, little vanity.
+ Know the rule without ruling.
+ Know you.
+ Be willing to know the quality of your perception.
+ Let go of the clutter and the trivia.
+ Nothing is useless.
+ All is useful.
+ As you smell the roses, hear the music.
+ As you speak, be aware of how little you know.
+ Nothing depends on your point of view. 
+ Your opinion is changing this instant.
+ Let them be.
+ How can we understand it all in one day?
+ Clarify your understanding today.
+ Embrace reality.

            When you want some humor, wit, and laughter, read some of their writings.

            I guess I could have published this to my Esoteric to Exoteric blog.
 

 

 

                                                                    RCS

 

Cine En El Tiempo de Covi o Mi Otra Yo

  Count this as the opening of this new little Blog called Colombia and Colombians.

Its about a new Colombian film opening which I was invited to attend, but was unable to do.

The film opened in Medellin, Colombia last night. The audience laughed at the nonsense as they enjoyed a reflection of a side of themselves not enough felt in these times.

A bit of the storyline has been recounted to me and it seems simply interesting and quirky and perhaps a bit ironic. I do not know the author of the screen play yet.

I believe I have discovered the correct name. Its:

Mi Otra Yo

The producer is: Dago Garcia

The director: Julian Gavidia

The new star is the famous artist who goes by the name of Lokillo.

There are many artists know by Colombians in the production. One of them has become ill with this infamous virus, and was still able to fulfilled her part with aplomb and to the pleasure of her audience.

Below is somewhat personal Information I have  gathered about the man who directed this new film at the time it is needed, Don Julian Gavidia.  Mr. Gavidia seems to modern for the use of Don, but it seems I'm not. 

The following items were recently posted in RCS Posts:

URL: https://rcsposts.blogspot.com

         Julian of Medellin. Julian Gavidia. In certain circles of in this capital of Antioquia one may hear the name often. I do not know him well, but have learned some details about him.

        He has an attractive older sister in the heart of Mexico. She is a young wife and mother of a gifted son. She has a connection of sorts with Uruguay and a stronger one with the Dominquez. She also has a growing career in education.

        He also an older brother, who I have heard called Tolu, but now I understand, is spending some months in Barranquilla. His name is Juan Pablo and he has the respect of a few respectable men in Medellin. He also has a lovely and intelligent young wife.

        Julian has been called a multitasker, probably for good reason. One task he has recently completed is the creation of a film, with some help. The word is that this new Colombia movie had discriminating Paisas laughing in Medellin last evening. He is also an Arteaga with some connection with the Duque. 

        Who can tell us more about  this interesting man and his new film?

Please add information in the "comments" section below.

                RCS  

Save Our World: Become a Cowboy

RCS Posts Environment: Running out of time, Video

 

 

 

Become a cowboy and save the Earth and save our world. Become a goat girl and do the same, A  shepherd can do it too.  Learn this man's name. Listen to that which he has to say. Read his books. If you won't do that much, you could learn to stop the bigger asteroids and comets knocking our Earth out of orbit.

We need holistic herdsmen and those who have their backs, so to speak.

We do not have all the time in the world.

 

 

 

RCS

 

Will Rogers Said ...

RCS Posts history: Will Rogers humor

 

                Will Rogers is an interesting guy from our recent history.
He is often funny and smart. Check him out online; Wikipedia is a good place to start.

Below are a few things he has said that I have enjoyed. Bet you can find a quote here that you enjoy: 

~ "Ten men in the country could buy the world and 10 million can't buy enough to eat."
~ There is one thing in common with all revolutions( In fact they are pretty near wars in that respect)nobody knows what they are fighting about. 
~ "This would be a great time in the world for some man to come along that knew something."
~ We don't have to worry about anything . No nation in the world was ever sitting so pretty. If we want anything, all we have to do is buy it on credit."
~ Villains are getting as thick as college degrees. and sometimes on the same fellow."
~ When the judgement day comes, civilization will have an alibi, 'I never took a human life, I only sold the fellow the gun to take it with."
~ "We shouldn't elect a president, we should elect a magician."
~  "...the most unemployed or the hungriest man in America has contributed in some way to the wealth of every millionaire in America. It was the big boys themselves who thought that this financial drunk we are going through was going to last forever. They over-merged and over capitalized and over-everything else. That's the fix we are in now."
~ "Who considers the poor billionaire?"

            Don't blame me for the quotes. Will Rogers said it.
Some people thought that Will was some kind of cowboy others thought he was some kind of Indian. You can learn a lot about the USA by learning about him.


Richard S

What is a First Cousin Once Removed?

RCS Posts genealogy

 

 

 

 

 

Our relatives. What is our relationship? It seems its all relative.

How many first cousins can one have?

How may we say that your cousin's children are related to you?

We do seem to keep it in the family. 

                                                                            RCS

"We" Is An Activity

RCS Posts community and "we" maintenance including: communication, unity, common interests   

A kind of meditation:

We can agree that "we" is a relationship, can't we? When we agree to relate it may be good to speak of the level at which we wish to relate. At what level might it be good for us to relate? We could speak of the reason for our relationship. How might we go about relating ? Might it be important that we show our concern for our "we?"

What's in it for you? What's your interest? How is a mutual or reciprocal relationship handled?

A "we" must consist of people, persons, individuals, right? Have you seen
the start of a "we?" Was there a kind of joining? Doesn't a "we" require some kind of maintenance?

What do you suspect, believe, or know about the "we" in the "We the people..." document?

That "we" could refer to us. How do we go about keeping track of our common interests? How do we reciprocate? "We the people" are a social relationship, aren't they?

Let's say that we are the people in the "We the people" we know about.
What is the nature of our relationship? What is reason for our relationship? What's in it for you?

"We" implies a unity, a union. We can probably agree that better and worse unions can be detected. How might we form a more perfect union?

You may have some notions of "we" stirring in your mind now.

Communication is important. Talk, dialogue, discussion are important. Talk of "us" and "we"  may be so important as to be called vitally important.

I say that communication of persons is vitally important for the initiation and maintenance of a "we".    

To have a good nation we have to have a good "we". 


            Some find a sentence or two above worth contemplation.

RCS

 

 

Who's Better?

 Persons active in an organized religion, according to research of respected sociologists, are a bit better than the average person in two ways: There is a bit less criminal behavior among them and they are a bit happier.

RCS

Acupuncture: Historical Notes

 Acupuncture; history notes

 

                Are we too superior in our conceits to recognize the ability we ought to see in others?

                '

                I write here in hope that we may more enjoy the fruits of acupuncture. The French and Russians began to enjoy those fruits of the acupuncture part of Chinese Health Care many years ago. Our AMA has not pointed us to a legal road to making acupuncture an active part of our health care system. It  that seems finding and setting up that road is up us, we the people. 

               

                 The people of some countries have struggled a bit with deciding how to regulate acupuncture, bur most have allowed it legal practice. Russian elites have demanded it. Chinese demand that extensive education and careful oversight of the the practice be established and maintained. European countries have demanded that all acupuncturists be medical doctors as well. Some of them have neglected the supervision of its teaching.

 

                Some knowledge of the history of acupuncture may prove of help to to us. Allow me to pass on some of that history which have begun to learn.

 
Before 900 AD                

                A medical school was established in China during the Tang dynasty before 900 AD. Its name, translated to English can be, the Imperial Institute of Physicians. The college trained 350 students at a time in herbal medicine and surgery. Herbal medicine seems to have been the more important part of the instruction. Surgery was mainly limited to fractures, skin diseases, and wounds.

 
600 AD                

Tang emperors also organized the nation's doctors into the grand Medical Service. It will be great when we can organize our healthcare to include the best of the kinds available in other countries. The development of organized healthcare in China began at least as early as 600 AD. Certainly we ought to be able to improve and extend our healthcare in the near future.

 
About 700 AD             

    Chinese health care was regulated and delivery improved beginning in about 700 AD. Prospective doctors underwent rigorous examinations. Future doctors were examined on their familiarity with the principles of acupuncture and its diagnosis and techniques, also on the best written works. 

 

                Chinese controlled the quality of their health care then and now. There were and are laws prohibiting the practice of healthcare and cure without licenses.

 

                    

According to surviving healthcare books and documents from as far back as the Tang, a variety of maladies were treated. their practice dealt with tuberculosis, goiter, rickets, beriberi, dropsy, Cholera, dysentery, measles, smallpox, and leprosy.

As we begin to use our choice of the very best European and Asiatic healthcare, we can learn from and adopt some of their methods of  control and safety. There  is much of value we can learn if we would. We can learn to benefit from acupuncture as have the French, and Russians, and others. Our healthcare professionals have much to teach others.

Let's get back to the Tang dynasty way of dealing with acupuncture. On the second day of their examinations was a demonstration of one's effectiveness of dealing with the needles of acupuncture. A great deal more of Chinese history is becoming available these days and the Chinese share share much of their modern healthcare understanding, knowledge, and techniques. We can learn from them and help them to learn from us.

 Acupuncture points

                In 1027 AD the sung dynasty emperor, Je Tsug ordered Wang Wei, a noted acupuncturist and sculpture to cast two hollow figures with the acupuncture points points marked by their names and small holes. The figures were covered with wax and filled with water. These figures were used to train and test students. Similar figures are used by students and teachers and students today, Since the Sung dynasty only about a dozen points have been changed, added, or deleted. I understands that a total of about 365 points are used today. For the interested person there is much historic and present day information available online.

 
 Chaing Kai-shek              

 During the reign of Chaing Kai-shek, western medicine was extolled and acupuncture was repressed and schools closed. Still, the Chinese people looked to their traditional medicine. Thousands were killed by quacks and the untrained in the use of traditional medicine. Many came to doubt their ''medicine."

When the communist consolidated power acupuncturists began to use the needles where they were most likely to be used correctly, on themselves. A graduate from their schools may have pricked himself ten thousand times refining his skills and touch until teachers and testers were sure of his ability. There remained much to be learned of diagnosis.  

 

                Now, acupuncture has been modernized by Chinese doctors also trained in western medicine. Acupuncture is used extensively. Electronic needles are used, and their use has moved into most modern Chinese medicine. 

 "Head Zones"

                In 1893 Sir Henry Head, a British nerve specialist, noticed that some patients suffering from diseased gallbladders and kidneys felt pain in parts of the body far from from the stricken organs. The pain was external, on the surface of the skin, and a specific disease always resulted in pain from the same place. Think of the diagnostic possibilities, Some wise doctors have been trained in "Head Zones."

German doctors soon began to use their knowledge of "Head Zones" to deaden areas of the skin to relieve pain in internal organs. Does that remind you of anything in particular?

 

                Some American doctors add to this practice by injecting these surface areas with chemical Anesthesia to get the same result. American doctors were amazed to find that their injections in Head Zones not only relieved pain, but in many cases cure diseases. Head Zones have been too largely forgotten, but there is still a bit of ongoing work being done in the U.S. and elsewhere. 

 

            By the way, the areas of the skin Dr. Head linked with the gallbladder and kidneys are the same ones acupuncturists use today and the same ones they have used for many hundreds of years.

 

                I believe that we can benefit from careful training of good acupuncture practitioners in the U.S. I believe we would benefit even more by good appropriate oversight of those practitioners and of all physicians and health practitioners. For developing appropriate training of acupuncturists in the U.S. we could increase exchange of healthcare practitioners between China and America.

 

                

            Thank you for reading

 

 

                                                                                                RCS 

Chemistry and You and Me Too

RCS Posts science: Chemistry and me. Chemistry in your life and mine. We can live better with chemistry, but need to protect ourselves from their toxicity.

 

                I found myself thinking of chemistry the other day. Dozens of questions came to mind, memories too. 

                I began to think of myself and chemistry, I remembered that at some tender age I had collected a number of small glass bottles and containers in a space in our basement. And some larger bottles I had collected liquids and stuff from around the house. I did all this without informing my parents that I had become a chemist. After doing some mixing and matching, mostly by color, I began filling my small bottles with my marvelous mixtures. I was a chemist. As I remember, no one died or sickened from my work.

                Next I remembered that at about 8 years of age I carried out some experiments with matches, carbide, water, and alcohol. This was done mostly outdoors.

                Then came to mind a rather nice ''chemistry set'' my parents got for me when I was perhaps 10 or 11. My younger brothers got into it before I had explored it much. I hope that I did not want them to die from the quantities of my chemicals I believed that they had eaten.

                Another memory comes to mind. I was looking for my class at a high school new to me. I walked into a classroom with only a teacher there. As I came forward, I saw a rather daunting wall-chart and asked the teacher about it. He said that it was a "periodic table." I asked, "Of what?" and he said ''chemistry." I imagine that he meant to say elements. He told me where to get information about my class. As I walked on, I thought, "No chemistry for me." If he had said elements, I might have been a chemist.

                More recently after a brief review of a news article mentioning chemistry I began to think of toxic chemicals. That is when the question did begin to come. I still do not have very  useful answers to them. I will share a number of them at the end of this piece. Perhaps we have some of the same questions. Perhaps you can add some to   the list.

                There are people in the chemical industry who would provided answers to many of our questions should we ask them; teachers too. I imagine that there are others who would be pleased to help us to find answers when we show interest. I have begun to talk of "us," Perhaps because I have begun to see us as being in the same boat; a boat load of chemicals?

                It is good to remember that in many ways we do live better with chemicals. A chemist can be an honest neighbor, a good friend, a great lover, and his industry brings us a lot of good. 

                There are important members of the chemical industry who are interested in our goodwill, if not in our votes. There are people in that important industry who make it their business to know about our vote. Often they have found it more efficient to deal with our representatives in our House of Representatives than it is to deal more directly with us.

                However, many companies are making efforts to keep us informed about the chemicals used in their industries and products. Many of these companies have websites with a great deal of important information about the effects of chemicals on our lives. Much of the information they provide is free.

                There is information available. Your congress person or someone in her office her office is available to provide answers to our questions or to help us find them. She may also be interested in our comments and opinions. Search something like, House of Representatives, Washington DC online and get a phone number. Call that number and give the one who answers your zip code. You will be given the name of  your Representative the and phone number of your Reps office. When you call you can introduce yourself and it is best to have a specific question or comment.

                Once you have identified your representative you can find out how to contact his office by email or online. Then you may leave your Rep a note about what is on your mind. Or you might ask if there is pending legislation dealing with chemicals. Your courtesy will be appreciated.

                Should any questions about chemicals in our life come to you, please feel free to post them in the "comments" section. 

                You might consider joining an organization or starting one. There is power in even a very small organization.

Test on chemistry politics

~ Who can help us get the facts? How can we help ourselves to them?

~ Who would like to confuse us about the facts?

~ What do we want? 

~ What can we get now?

~ Who will help us find out how toxic a given chemical or compound in our life is?

~ Who agrees with me that we don't have to do anything?

~ Who is responsible? 

 

 

                                                                                                RCS

Trinidad & Tobago

RCS Posts: travel and cultural geography

 

Trinidad is a large island, 846 sq mi. about seven miles from Venezuela, near the mouth of the great Orinoco River. 

The people of Trinidad are from Black Africa, East India, and everywhere else. 

You can learn to bathe in glass there. You can also get a biodegradable coffin of hallucinogenic nutmeg on this interesting island.

The food is varied. The curried goat satisfying.

There  is an 85 foot tall red statue of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman. Its the tallest one outside of India.

The Maine Ridge Forest Reserve is the oldest protected forest in the Western Hemisphere. The 14,000 acres of forest were declared a reserve in 1776 while the island was under British rule.

Pitch Lake a 100 acre, La Brea Tar Pit like place, has been mined to pave roadways around the world. 

There is a beach where you can better your love life, do a sand exfoliation, and listen to Syrian music. 

Tobago is the smaller of the two Caribbean islands which make up the nation of Trinidad and  Tobago.

Tobago has great ample sandy beaches.

The capital of Tobago is the village of Scarborough.

Kayak through the mangrove swamps of Tobago. 

If you are getting the idea that Tobago is more touristy of the two islands of this Island nation you are on the correct track.

Port of Spain is the big city of the nation and it is on Trinidad.

In Trinidad and Tobago you may begin to feel you are in the real Caribbean an you would be right. It is not all of the Caribbean, but it is a lot of it.

On the two islands there is magic, it comes down the great Orinoco, 
it comes from India, it comes from Africa, and it has found a home there.

Still, It pays to be a bit careful there. Some say that there too many birds. Many say one can get wet and dirty there.

 

 

RCS 

 

Faith, Governance, The Virus, and Lessons Learned

RCS Posts governance including: Richard Wolf, trust, government

                The stirring to publish this post seems to start as follows: Yesterday evening I watched a bit of a YouTube video by Richard Wolff. I suspect that I did not even watch it to its end. Last night I had dreams about our wars and dreams about our political beginnings. Vietnam seems to have dominated those about our wars and that dreams of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.

            This morning I awoke slowly, feeling weak, fatigued, and exhausted as has been usual in recent weeks. However, I soon remembered something of my dreams and tried to remember more of them with little success. Then I began to recall a bit of the Wolff video to which I had not paid close attention.

                It seems from my present perspective that the video was about Lessons Learned (or learnable) from our Covi experience. I have not tried to revisit that video as I believe I would have in other days; so, some of what I write now may be more Sheehan than Wolff.

                As I remember, Mr. Wolff chose the following countries useful for comparing the quality of their dealings with The Virus. The countries he chose as good examples of dealing effectively with Covi: China and New Zealand, Taiwan and South Korea, Cuba and Vietnam. The two countries he chose for dealing poorly with that virus were the United Kingdom and the United States. Wolf, it seemed, felt that he saw evidence that the people of the first six countries also had more faith in their government than the last two I mentioned.

                I believe that such comparing of the governance of a people with their ability to deal with This Virus, could aid us in learning an important lesson or two.

                Wolf himself seemed to believe that he had evidence that the people of the first six countries demonstrated a belief that their government had the power and ability to deal well with the Virus and so cooperated in that dealing. Wolff also seemed to have thought that the people of The U.K. and The U.S. did not have faith that, at this time, their government was ready, willing, and able to deal with This Virus successfully. 

            Thanks for reading.

 

                 Do you think that our dealing with The Virus has to do with our faith in our government/governance? What do you think we might learn from our experience with the Virus? What is the state of our faith in our government? What would you like the nature of our governance to be? What is our responsibility for the nature of our government? What important governance might we be able to learn? What would be a good simple measure of the quality of our dealing with this Virus? Would the % of deaths or the number of deaths per hundred be a useful measure? What could we learn, that is useful, by looking at more successful dealing with the Virus as compared with the real nature of governance of, say, 100 countries? How might the U.N. be useful in this effort? Why? How might my going back to bed and forgetting about all this be helpful?

                My questions above may be taken as rhetorical, but there is a window below called "comments" and sometimes "no comments!" I that window you may put questions of your own, or answer mine, or make comments, or one comment.

                Thanks for reading.

 

 

                                                                                    RCS