Clocks hold spacetime wormholes*. Everything they witness is spewed out in another place and time. And your deepest secrets might be spewed out right where and when you least expect it.
Space is curved, time is relative and nothing you think about how the world works is really true. You can blame Einstein for that. Just saying.
Many thanks to @gilesmarie for this warped view of the world.
*Relying on an artist for your understanding of physics is generally not a good idea. Any representations of actual physics in this post is an illusion.
One day the candy canes in the Christmas Shop were discussing the nature of life, the universe and everything with the Mistletoe. Mistletoe had a complete disdain for the view that life was an orderly matter that could be easily predicted and organized.
“Its no fun that way.” he said. “No one is ever joyful because they know what happens next. They are joyful because there is a surprising difference between what they expected and what actually happens.”
The Candy Canes, who were both organized in appearance and expected life cycle were skeptical. “The only thing that people feel about the unknown is fear.”
“But once the unknown becomes known, there can be joy. If the future is known, there nothing but numbness.” said Mistletoe.
The Candy Canes considered this, but since nothing in their experience had taught them what it was like when life was perfectly expected, they couldn’t agree or disagree.
“You should do something you didn’t mean to do. Something no one expects.” said the Mistletoe.
“What should we do?”
“Kiss.”
The Candy Canes looked at each other and the mistletoe with some trepidation. “What will happen,” they asked.
“No one knows. That’s what makes it fun.” chuckled the Mistletoe.
“It seems rather risky to do, if you don’t know what will happen.”
“Well, if you do it, you will find out what will happen, because it happens. ” Said the Mistletoe.
So the candy canes, turned, one to the other…leaned in and hooked each to the other. For a moment there was an awkward and tight silence. And then a spark and then Chaos. And Joy was born of Chaos.
Of course if anyone knows how to become a Vulcan and avoid emotions in thinking, I am unaware of it. In fact we have a Pop psychology culture that seems to embrace emotions in all forms. Personally, I am not a big fan of emotion. I used to be in love with Spock. I think it was his total lack of emotion and huge intellect. Which would have made him a terrible lover, but as a 10 years old this didn’t occur to me. I’m still half in love with him. And since he rejects emotion, I don’t suppose he would object if I took on the occasional side lover to make up for his lack of lover ability.
But the point is – when you are debating – don’t get emotional.
I am not really good at this, but I still think its the best idea. You see, when we debate we take a position. And whenever we take a position, we are no longer interested in learning, we are no longer interested in anything except getting a better point on our opponent. Even the word opponent brings out the very antagonistic manner of debates. I think we need to stop the debating and return to conversations. Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t want us to stop discussing controversial issues. I want us to listen, ask questions, make statements. But not be out to win an argument. Its not about winning or losing. Its about learning and discussion.
Now wasn’t that easy?
See, if you had just thought of this before, you would be so much more popular now instead of being avoided at parties. Yeah, I know, its not easy. In fact its hard. But if you can be more Spock like, you will have a whole lot less anger, a whole lot more people willing to listen and all at the cost of a small blue pill to help your blood pressure.
I believe Primal Scream Therapy is supposed to help.
Here’s the down side to the Spock Plan. See the frustration you would normally vent on the idiot who thinks UFO’s are running the white house, is now boiling around inside of you and causing a condition called hypertension. (thats high blood pressure for you uneducated types.) So here’s the solution: You can take a little blue pill every day and it will get better OR you can start scream therapy, which is apparently effective in some cases, according to some reports, but generally not accepted by most therapists, who apparently have some kind of impossible standards in the research criteria, so we can easily ignore them. Its mostly anecdotal evidence, but you can just take my word for it. Here’s how it works:
First you have a calm discussion with the UFO freak about his delusions.
During the discussion you will learn many fascinating psuedofacts about how Obama is really possessed by Aliens.
Your freaky friend will learn several fascinating facts about how to tell if UFO’s are real and where to seek counseling for his apparent delusions.
You will end the discussion with a soul wrenching primal scream.
Your freaky friend will no longer be interested in UFO’s in the white house, he will be worried about the piss that ran down his leg when you screamed.
You will instantly relax and be able to enjoy the rest of your day.
You will take the blue pill when you get into bed that evening. (this is included to satisfy the legal dept which apparently feels that advising people to use a useless therapy to control hypertension is not really a good idea or something like that but in legalsleeze. )
No, but seriously folks:
I do mean it when I say we need to try and remove the sense of antagonism and anger from our discussions. It clouds issues and I have noticed that when I am more emotional, I tend to throw in logical fallacies and use weak evidence to support my claim. It undermines the correctness of my position and it is the exact same issue that drives me crazy about nonsense peddlers.
I do not mean that we should remove all emotion from our lives. We would not be moved to involve ourselves in the debate at all if it weren’t for emotion. Its just that Spock had a point…Ya know.
Emotions don’t belong in critical thought
Framed Print 1080110062
Image Size (Inside Matt): 8″ w x 10″ h
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Its a fallacy that one bad apple spoils the bunch.
Why does the human race persist in using clearly foolish platitudes? I mean, I suppose in terms of apples and bushel baskets (or bunch) that it might be true….but I wouldn’t be surprised if that wasn’t true either. I’m not going to look it up and for those of you who are right now doing a google search to find out if there is some kind of apple rot that spreads among apples that are abutting, go ahead and share it, but realize that we (those who don’t need evidence) will mock you.
ANYWAY, my point is that the analogy is not true.
And yet its out there. Its still being used today. In 21st century web searches everywhere. I haven’t looked (although no doubt the same people who googled whether there was some kind of contagious apple rot will) to see how often the term is searched, but I can suppose enough to prove my point. You see this is where skeptics get into trouble. By trouble I mean they become boring at parties because they are always looking up the references on someone’s random comment.
So I have decided to breed a new type of thought. Its called…
Pointed but True but Not Evidential Thought.
Bet you didn’t see that coming. I may even trademark it. See its different from the talking heads on TV. They have Pointless but Entertaining but Not Evidential Thought. You can see the distinction.
You think that they feel their blather is True? No. No. No. Try not to be delusional. They are in the ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. Similar to politicians, they are only as good as they are popular. So True is of no use and no interest to them. I doubt they even have a full understanding of its meaning.
I, on the other hand, am only in it for the glory of getting more people to follow me on Twitter and make me their new best friend on Facebook. And if you want to buy an abstract art print so I can pay for more paper, that would be good too.
Its a fallacy to think one bad apple…
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Abstract Art 1080110061
Image Size (Inside Matt): 8″ w x 10″ h
Overall Size with Frame: 11-1/4″ w x 14-1/4″ h x 7/8″ d
Price $30.00
Its better (and easier) to teach someone to think critically than to teach them truth. Its extremely frustrating for me when people fight to get the creationist story included in Science Text Books. Its very upsetting when I see people refuse to immunize their children because they are afraid it will cause Autism, because I know this isn’t true. I wonder at the people who spend money on homeopathic remedies and ignore sound medical advice.
But its nearly impossible to provide evidence based information to these folks and have it be believed. The reason is that they don’t think critically. They don’t place more weight on evidence based information than on something that just sounds good. They defend their position with illogical arguments and assumptions. And they are entirely convinced that they are right. The only possible way for them to see it differently would be for them to understand the basics of evidence based decisions.
If we do not make critical thought a high priority in our education system from K -12, we will continue to see people make superstitious decisions, argue that their uneducated opinion is more valid than research and sadly we will see people die as a result.
I think our hope for the future is to promote critical thought in our schools and in our culture. I don’t consider myself perfect in this venue by any means. I am full of inner contradictions. We all are. But if we are all honest with ourselves and we have the basic understanding of critical thinking – we will win more battles than we lose.
Framed Print
Its better to teach someone to think critically
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Image Size (Inside Matt): 8″ w x 10″ h
Overall Size with Frame: 11-1/4″ w x 14-1/4″ h x 7/8″ d
Price $30.00
A Rube Goldberg Machine is an over engineered and very cool machine that uses multiple layers of complexity to do accomplish something very simple. One of my favorites is the OK Go video.
I think many Conspiracy Theories are like Rube Goldberg Machines. They involve layers of intricate assumptions and carefully conned evidence that is often misused or misinterpreted in order to arrive at their solution. The engineers of these theories throw Occams Razor entirely out the window. Just like a Rube Goldberg Machine, the theories are fascinating and oddly believable while you are listening to the engineer of the conspiracy. It isn’t until later that it occurs to you that its overly complicated and that the simpler answer is far more credible.
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Conspiracies are like Rube Goldberg MachinesFramed Print
Image Size (Inside Matt): 8″ w x 10″ h
Overall Size with Frame: 11-1/4″ w x 14-1/4″ h x 7/8″ d
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Yup…I’ve decided to dip into the world of color…OK, its more of a full flown baptism in the river of color. I don’t settle for any of that namby pamby Presbyterian drops of water on the head stuff. Well, I guess to be really honest, I don’t really embrace either, but for a metaphor isn’t not bad. OK. Its not good, but give me a break here.
I’m a big fan of critical thinking. I think belief is the biggest obstacle to critical thought. The very word belief is intrinsically tied to faith, religion and trust . While it is not the only definition, I think that trust, religion and faith are inherently linked of our understanding of the word believe in our minds.(1) When you redefine your beliefs into ideas, they are easier to discard and amend as you discover new information.
But beliefs become a part of our identity. When we announce our beliefs they are defining who we are. They mean something more than an idea we consider valid. Just saying the words changes the context of them:
I believe Climate Change is a big hoax.
I think Climate Change is a big hoax.
If its just an idea, I can hear other peoples ideas and reconsider my own. But if its a belief, I trust it and I must defend it. In fact in someways I would be a hypocrite and look very foolish indeed if I accepted evidence that changed my belief. (2)
I think it is very important for a true critical thinker to keep to ideas and avoid beliefs all together.
Convert your Beliefs 1080110065
Framed Print
Image Size (Inside Matt): 8″ w x 10″ h
Overall Size with Frame: 11-1/4″ w x 14-1/4″ h x 7/8″ d
Price $30.00
Once I was done with this one, I realized it looked like Admiral Ackbar. Again not intentional.
Since I was watching Lord of the Rings (or rather listening) when I drew it, I am at a loss as to how Star Wars entered into the picture. I wonder what I would draw if Mom and I started a Star Wars marathon. Recently we have been watching Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. I drew two Flying Spaghetti Monsters – intentionally and without much success. And three designs based on letters – also intentional and I think more successfully. So although I enjoy the Mystery series, they don’t seem to have any effect on my drawing.
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Pen & Ink
Image Size (Inside Matt): 8″ w x 10″ h
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My sister thinks this looks like an old man. I think it looks like a monster, particularly the Davy Jones Character in Pirates of the Caribbean. Oddly I had no intention when I created it of doing anything but an abstract design.
What kinds of patterns a person sees in cloud formations or in abstract art is kind of like a Rorschach test. Thankfully, those have recently been dismissed as not being an accurate method for diagnosing mental illness. Still I like to think it says something about you; or at least about who you are at that moment.
And I refuse to contemplate what it means about the person who drew the abstract design.
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Monsters and Old Men
Pen & Ink
Image Size (Inside Matt): 8″ w x 10″ h
Overall Size with Frame: 11-1/4″ w x 14-1/4″ h x 7/8″ d
Price $30.00
