The storyline (or should I say timeline?) of the movie, Terminator presents a few questions. A Terminator was sent back in time to kill the mother of a future resistance leader: Sarah Connor. The terminator is part of a system called Skynet. Skynet's AI became self-aware and turned against all who threatened its existence - the humans. Terminators were created to eliminate the threat. So, the terminator that was sent back in time to kill Sarah failed its mission. The remains of this terminator was then found by the future creator of Skynet and reverse-engineered.
This brings us to the question: Where did the terminator come from? Who invented it? Would this suggest the existence of parallel universes?
It appears that the terminator was invented by no one. It was just reverse-engineered and re-created. It boggles the mind.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Music Experiment
Music. The only universal language, and in my opinion the easiest to become fluent at. It conveys all emotions - even those which are indescribable by words. Though I believe instrumental songs are most of the time superior to songs with lyrics. The songs with lyrics are constrained to one meaning, one emotion, one story. Instrumental songs are up to your imagination. They can tell many stories, and can have many meanings. However, each have their own same range of emotions. If songs with lyrics are to compete with instrumental songs, the singer must have a voice that follows his or her story or message. Singers may want to portray their one meaning or story, and that is fine, and some do it with near perfection. But my personal preference is a song with a variety of meanings. It can be the same song, but it can tell a different story the next time I listen to it. This way, the song stays fresh and interesting - unlike lyrical songs that you can sing the lyrics to over and over again. Instrumental songs have that sense of mystery - a sense that calls the listener to interpret the countless meanings, to feel the variety of emotions, and to engage in the hidden stories.
So here is my experiment:
Listen to some of the songs below and post a comment describing what you hear. I would like to see how everyone's opinion compares. Minimize the window if there is a video to make the results better. Feel free to post what you hear from other songs too.
1. Gary Jules - Mad World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4&NR=1&feature=fvwp
2. God is an Astronaut - Echoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXFprnuyOEM&feature=related
3. Ronald Jenkees - Guitar Sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UvzD4gZnw4&feature=PlayList&p=9412082B3BF96B93&index=4
4. Steven King - Scarborough Fair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYHDQHQDS-4
5. Ronald Jenkees - Throwing Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O2aH4XLbto&feature=fvw
6. John Petrucci - Glasgow Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFXvfBL4WkU
7. Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMrZ7lChK-g
So here is my experiment:
Listen to some of the songs below and post a comment describing what you hear. I would like to see how everyone's opinion compares. Minimize the window if there is a video to make the results better. Feel free to post what you hear from other songs too.
1. Gary Jules - Mad World
http://www.youtube.com/wat
2. God is an Astronaut - Echoes
http://www.youtube.com/wat
3. Ronald Jenkees - Guitar Sound
http://www.youtube.com/wat
4. Steven King - Scarborough Fair
http://www.youtube.com/wat
5. Ronald Jenkees - Throwing Fire
http://www.youtube.com/wat
6. John Petrucci - Glasgow Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/wat
7. Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMrZ7lChK-g
Two Thoughts on Dreams
1. 6/4/09
I believe dreams are our brains' way of entertaining itself, like movies. Many people believe they are to be interpreted and mean something, but how can dreams tell you something you don't know? They may just point out less obvious things. I believed this at first until recently. I'll tell you what changed my mind later. I believe dreams are just random things that your brain put together subconsciously and against your will. Those things may be pull from prominent events in your life, but they are still random. No matter how hard you try to have your dream your way, it's still random.
Here is what changed my mind. It's sort of a mind game. I don't know if it just happens to me, but you should try it sometime. I have noticed that I think of two things at once: what I am originally thinking, and there are random other things that just appear. I do not try to think of random things; they are just there. Here's the challenge: as you lay down to go to sleep (it is near impossible to do it with distractions) try to not to think of anything. Pay attention to that other part of your thoughts that is constantly spitting out random things. If you try to think of random things, it won't work. I have noticed even random images appear. I realized that it is hard to do this for more than a second. I believe this is what your dreams are based on.
Here's my theory: When you go to sleep, your brain rests the part of your brain that you use to think during the day. Then the random part (that rests during the day) takes over, and therefore your dreams appear.
Side note: If you want to remember your dreams, just think before you go to sleep that you will remember it. This may sound stupid, but from my experience, it works.
2. 2/20/10
After watching an interesting (great) show called Fringe, I came up with another thought about dreams are. But first, you need to know about alternate/parallel universes.
This thought is based on the theory of alternate universes. These exist anywhere and everywhere, you just can't see them or get to them. In these alternate universes are versions of you and me; it is also possible that you don't exist in them too. Those versions of you are different in a way because they have made different decisions than you. Because there is an infinite amount of decisions you could have made, there is an infinite amount of universes where those alternate decisions are carried out. For example, you could be dancing in an alternate dimension right now instead of reading this. Earth could also be a desolate wasteland due to an alien invasion - the possibilities are endless.
Now that you know that, here is my thought: Dreams are view-ports into those alternate dimensions. That would explain the similarities to your own life as well as the weird stuff.
Another far-fetched thought: Mirrors are portals to those alternate dimensions - it's just the person on the other side is blocking you from getting through.
This may sound crazy, but it makes for a good story.
I believe dreams are our brains' way of entertaining itself, like movies. Many people believe they are to be interpreted and mean something, but how can dreams tell you something you don't know? They may just point out less obvious things. I believed this at first until recently. I'll tell you what changed my mind later. I believe dreams are just random things that your brain put together subconsciously and against your will. Those things may be pull from prominent events in your life, but they are still random. No matter how hard you try to have your dream your way, it's still random.
Here is what changed my mind. It's sort of a mind game. I don't know if it just happens to me, but you should try it sometime. I have noticed that I think of two things at once: what I am originally thinking, and there are random other things that just appear. I do not try to think of random things; they are just there. Here's the challenge: as you lay down to go to sleep (it is near impossible to do it with distractions) try to not to think of anything. Pay attention to that other part of your thoughts that is constantly spitting out random things. If you try to think of random things, it won't work. I have noticed even random images appear. I realized that it is hard to do this for more than a second. I believe this is what your dreams are based on.
Here's my theory: When you go to sleep, your brain rests the part of your brain that you use to think during the day. Then the random part (that rests during the day) takes over, and therefore your dreams appear.
Side note: If you want to remember your dreams, just think before you go to sleep that you will remember it. This may sound stupid, but from my experience, it works.
2. 2/20/10
After watching an interesting (great) show called Fringe, I came up with another thought about dreams are. But first, you need to know about alternate/parallel universes.
This thought is based on the theory of alternate universes. These exist anywhere and everywhere, you just can't see them or get to them. In these alternate universes are versions of you and me; it is also possible that you don't exist in them too. Those versions of you are different in a way because they have made different decisions than you. Because there is an infinite amount of decisions you could have made, there is an infinite amount of universes where those alternate decisions are carried out. For example, you could be dancing in an alternate dimension right now instead of reading this. Earth could also be a desolate wasteland due to an alien invasion - the possibilities are endless.
Now that you know that, here is my thought: Dreams are view-ports into those alternate dimensions. That would explain the similarities to your own life as well as the weird stuff.
Another far-fetched thought: Mirrors are portals to those alternate dimensions - it's just the person on the other side is blocking you from getting through.
This may sound crazy, but it makes for a good story.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Good vs. Evil
Good versus evil - the basis of most epic tales. I have come to realize that evil comes from selfishness and good comes from selflessness. People may not realize that they look for these traits to determine the good guys and the bad guys. I did not at first. Batman and the Joker is a great example. If you looked at their appearance they both look like bad guys. So the viewer looks to see what they do. Joker fights for himself (selfish) and Batman fights for Gotham (selfless).
Though, this can also be applied in the real world as well as a story. There is no real way of telling if a person is good or not unless you look to see if they are selfless. This is the only trait that defines a good guy. I can't think of any other way.
After thinking more about this, I began to wonder: why is it so hard to be good? Why is it so easy to be selfish? Is it just human nature that we care more about ourselves? It may be because most people do not like to sacrifice something of their own to help someone else. It may be because most people think they will get nothing out of it (this thought is selfish in itself). You decide.
-Inspired by the movie Seven Pounds-
Though, this can also be applied in the real world as well as a story. There is no real way of telling if a person is good or not unless you look to see if they are selfless. This is the only trait that defines a good guy. I can't think of any other way.
After thinking more about this, I began to wonder: why is it so hard to be good? Why is it so easy to be selfish? Is it just human nature that we care more about ourselves? It may be because most people do not like to sacrifice something of their own to help someone else. It may be because most people think they will get nothing out of it (this thought is selfish in itself). You decide.
-Inspired by the movie Seven Pounds-
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The 5th Dimension: Part 1
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein
This is a quote that I firmly believe. You can't be successful if you know everything but have no imagination. Otherwise, you would be a talking textbook with no sense of humor. For example, if you knew everything about engineering, but had no imagination, you would have a hard time coming up with new ideas to solve the problem at hand.
Imagination is the base of many incredible things: creativity, all things new, dreams (both while sleeping and goals), randomness(?), and the entire entertainment world. Think about that last one for a second. Without imagination, all movies, games, fiction books, art, half of your brain, and maybe even music (except maybe rap...) would cease to exist. Imagination is the fuel of your entertainment and success, and it is the kryptonite for eternal boredom.
This is a quote that I firmly believe. You can't be successful if you know everything but have no imagination. Otherwise, you would be a talking textbook with no sense of humor. For example, if you knew everything about engineering, but had no imagination, you would have a hard time coming up with new ideas to solve the problem at hand.
Imagination is the base of many incredible things: creativity, all things new, dreams (both while sleeping and goals), randomness(?), and the entire entertainment world. Think about that last one for a second. Without imagination, all movies, games, fiction books, art, half of your brain, and maybe even music (except maybe rap...) would cease to exist. Imagination is the fuel of your entertainment and success, and it is the kryptonite for eternal boredom.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Generation - Unknown
We live in a time where comedy comes before seriousness. Sure laughing is fun, but I like that chill that runs down my back when I hear serious things better. Things like deep lyrics, something said that has meaning, or something incredibly cool. The reason that comedy comes before seriousness is that comedy is easy to come up with, therefore it is more abundant. Once in a while someone will come up with a witty joke - something that had thought behind it. That, I like. But this time is full of inpatient people. They don't take time to come up with well-thought-out things. They don't even take the time to read "long" messages, like this one - even when they have nothing else to do. I still don't know why. Most people don't use their most important organ. Instead they turn it in to mush by drinking, smoking, and things of that nature. Every great mind has spent an enormous amount of time on important things. Think about it - Thomas Edison conducted around 3,000 experiments to get his light bulb perfected. The Wright brothers spent years on perfecting their airplane.
What I'm trying to say is this time has too many people who have a short attention span. I'm not saying everyone does, but there is an abundance. Everyone has an incredible capacity for creativity - they just don't take the time to show it.
After considering the above, this put a new spin on the quote, "Live each day like it's your last." If you do that, you'll probably be acting to your own personal benefit and not planning. Take time, and you'll change the world. Thanks for reading it through all the way.
What I'm trying to say is this time has too many people who have a short attention span. I'm not saying everyone does, but there is an abundance. Everyone has an incredible capacity for creativity - they just don't take the time to show it.
After considering the above, this put a new spin on the quote, "Live each day like it's your last." If you do that, you'll probably be acting to your own personal benefit and not planning. Take time, and you'll change the world. Thanks for reading it through all the way.
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