Ahhhhhhhhh.....Tropical cryostasis time time.
Now, where did I put that IV margarita bag?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
True Dat!
[Hmm, well that's awkward.]
http://www.catholic.com/radio/shows/deconstructing-atheism-6393# [Note: it was a nice QnA session until some minion of Dawkins came and railroaded it. But, it does provide a good example of a using red herrings instead of answering questions. Also Dr Feser used the word, 'filibustering']
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
KANT!
I had a very enjoyable conversation with a nice young man yesterday about socialism and that drifted into philosophy. Regrettably, I allowed the conversation to carry for too long and my fault might have cost me a long and quiet summer. All I really wanted was to be made into a liquid Nitrogen ice cube and be placed on a beach with a tank of margaritas intravenously attached to me, hoping to be woken up when September ends.
The conversation of course reminded me of the sad state of ethics modules in university today. From my conversations with friends who had to take brief modules on ethics regarding their specific areas of study, eg law, business, and my sad experience with medical ethics, I seen to have stumbled upon a pattern. These introductory courses, firstly never seem to teach critical thinking, and secondly, only teach Kant and Bentham. Apparently, no other philosophy is applicable to ethics, or maybe no one has heard of them. Though, in fairness, my lecturer did briefly mention Alasdair McIntyre in a one short sentence and mumbled something about his study of virtue ethics before proceeding to lovingly stuff Principlism down out throats with as much love as Charlotte had for Marat.
Of course, one then wonders, how on earth can these poor naïve students actually foster a sense of morality in their decisions when they are presented with the choice between living their live solely in pleasureless duty or to seek the greatest pleasure regardless of duty? It's not surprising then, how everyone who discusses economics, business or moral issues with me seems to limit the extent of their choices to demarcation of the fence of the law. If it's legal, it's fair game. No wonder socialism is still creeping into every nook and cranny that it can squeeze its slimy relativistic spine through.
It's also no wonder that no one thinks religious input into welfare within a country is necessary. Clearly, what the Church can do, the state can do just as well, of course, assuming that all its citizen will behave ideally. Ah, the cunning seductive sell of socialism. A perfect topic for digression in the near future, when we're all sitting at the feeding stations plotting to overthrow the oppressive middle aged nurses who control the IV foods. Well, those of us who haven't been euthanised yet, anyway. Funny, I don't hear the laughter of children anywhere in that tale. I suppose they're all to far away in state camps, being milked for whatever youth they have. It's a conspiracy I tell you!
Sadly, the conversation we had while thoroughly enjoyable was a bit circular, because the poor fellow was a bit of a skeptic on everything. Though I did give him some food for thought regarding natural law. Please say a prayer for him.
The conversation of course reminded me of the sad state of ethics modules in university today. From my conversations with friends who had to take brief modules on ethics regarding their specific areas of study, eg law, business, and my sad experience with medical ethics, I seen to have stumbled upon a pattern. These introductory courses, firstly never seem to teach critical thinking, and secondly, only teach Kant and Bentham. Apparently, no other philosophy is applicable to ethics, or maybe no one has heard of them. Though, in fairness, my lecturer did briefly mention Alasdair McIntyre in a one short sentence and mumbled something about his study of virtue ethics before proceeding to lovingly stuff Principlism down out throats with as much love as Charlotte had for Marat.
Of course, one then wonders, how on earth can these poor naïve students actually foster a sense of morality in their decisions when they are presented with the choice between living their live solely in pleasureless duty or to seek the greatest pleasure regardless of duty? It's not surprising then, how everyone who discusses economics, business or moral issues with me seems to limit the extent of their choices to demarcation of the fence of the law. If it's legal, it's fair game. No wonder socialism is still creeping into every nook and cranny that it can squeeze its slimy relativistic spine through.
It's also no wonder that no one thinks religious input into welfare within a country is necessary. Clearly, what the Church can do, the state can do just as well, of course, assuming that all its citizen will behave ideally. Ah, the cunning seductive sell of socialism. A perfect topic for digression in the near future, when we're all sitting at the feeding stations plotting to overthrow the oppressive middle aged nurses who control the IV foods. Well, those of us who haven't been euthanised yet, anyway. Funny, I don't hear the laughter of children anywhere in that tale. I suppose they're all to far away in state camps, being milked for whatever youth they have. It's a conspiracy I tell you!
Sadly, the conversation we had while thoroughly enjoyable was a bit circular, because the poor fellow was a bit of a skeptic on everything. Though I did give him some food for thought regarding natural law. Please say a prayer for him.
Today is a Dies Irae type day.
Dies irae, dies illa,
Solvet sæclum in favilla:
Teste David cum Sibylla.
Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando judex est venturus,
Cuncte stricte discussurus!
Tuba mirum spargens sonum
Per sepulcra regionum,
Coget omnes ante thronum.
Solvet sæclum in favilla:
Teste David cum Sibylla.
Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando judex est venturus,
Cuncte stricte discussurus!
Tuba mirum spargens sonum
Per sepulcra regionum,
Coget omnes ante thronum.
Monday, May 28, 2012
I just had a laugh. I was looking though my blog statistics for the day (because I am narcissistic or paranoid. well, the mirror says I look good in my tinfoil hat, so there.) and I notice that I had one few today from a search of the keywords, 'ejaculation process video'. Now, I'm not sure what the poor sod was looking for; and no matter what anyway says to me, I am holding firm that this was some poor physiology student trying to understand the sympathetic nervous system, he ended reading my little right up about embryology. I don't think that was quite what he was searching for. Though, I would recommend youtube as a better website to find physiology lectures.
我知道， 我是那麼孩子氣，但是真的好笑。
我知道， 我是那麼孩子氣，但是真的好笑。
Horrid Week Ahead.
UUUUUUUUUUNNNGH-uuuuugggghnnnnn
On the agenda for this week, three exams on three modules which I don't think I can finish revising, or more accurately, memorising. There's one tomorrow on the CVS, GIT, Nutrition, Immune, and drug metabolism. I do beseech your most kind prayers! I can scarcely recall anything about vitamins, except that they're probably good for you, somehow, and if you eat enough Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch, you'll probably fulfill the FDA's RDA.
Hmmm....I wonder if I can pull a Blackadder. Whooble seems much more appealing than N-acetyl-P-Benzoquinone-Imine or Efferent Arteriole Vasoconstrictor Feedback Mechanism. Hmm...Whooble?
Disclaimer: the author does not actually recommend or condone the eating Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch alone to fulfill the daily recommended amounts of the FDA. He suggests that it may be considered part of a well balanced diet of Corn Pops, Cocoa Pops, Waffle Crisps, Apple Jacks and Pop Tarts. He also recommends eating these accompanied with milk. Whooble.
On the agenda for this week, three exams on three modules which I don't think I can finish revising, or more accurately, memorising. There's one tomorrow on the CVS, GIT, Nutrition, Immune, and drug metabolism. I do beseech your most kind prayers! I can scarcely recall anything about vitamins, except that they're probably good for you, somehow, and if you eat enough Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch, you'll probably fulfill the FDA's RDA.
Hmmm....I wonder if I can pull a Blackadder. Whooble seems much more appealing than N-acetyl-P-Benzoquinone-Imine or Efferent Arteriole Vasoconstrictor Feedback Mechanism. Hmm...Whooble?
Friday, May 18, 2012
Ascension and the Easter Candle
I am very far behind in my revision (and almost in panic and desperation, alas an acute attack of medicus scholariasis, please pray for me!), but I feel that I must share these thoughts with you, because they are too beautiful to keep to myself until next year. My priest pointed this out to me in passing comment after Mass, and it gave me much thought to mediate on during my walk home.
Being my first year in Dublin, this most unworthy soul has been given the great blessing and privilege to be hear Mass in the extraordinary form on a daily basis. Thus, this year, I have had the great grace to experience much of the liturgy through the lens of the extraordinary form, and so I assisted at my first EF Mass for the Ascension.
During this Mass, following the end of the Mass of the Catechumens (Liturgy of the Word), before the Creed is sun, the Paschal candle is extinguished. In silence following the homily, the server takes the extinguisher (I don't know what you call it :/) and solemnly put it over the candle's flame, and when he removes it, all that is left is a trail of smoke ascending heavenward. After Mass, the candle is removed from the Sanctuary. The entire procedure is simple and plain, yet extremely poignant.
Throughout the entire of Easter, from the Vigil to until Ascension, the Paschal candle is light during Mass and remains on the gospel side of the sanctuary. The light is Christ Himself, having risen from the dead, he remains with us, in plain sight, as He did with His apostles for forty days. During that time, there was much rejoicing! One of the responsaries of the minor hours of the Office through Eastertide is , 'Gavisis sunt discipuli. Alleluia. Viso Domino. Alleluia', from John 20:20, The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. How happy we were when He rose, but then on Ascension, He leaves us again. When the candle is put out, the physical lost of the Light of the World is felt, and we feel as the apostles, lost, and scared, and we in this manner until pentecost, when He sends the Paraclete to us.
It was only after He had sent them His spirit that the apostles understood their mission and begun to preach the Word. Then they celebrated Mass, and conferred Christ down unto the altar. He promised that He would not leave us orphans, and He hasn't.
It makes you wonder the words of the Gospel of the 3rd Sunday of Easter, wherein He teased His disciples.
'A little while, and now you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me' - John 16:16.
(yes, yes, I know this relates more to resurrection.)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Mother Angelica
I usually need to put on some noise while I'm revising, just to blank out the quiet. While it depends, sometimes I work in the quiet, sometimes I have music or a show on. When I am writing, I like it quiet, when I am making notes or memorising or doing papers, it is not so essential. Sometimes I put a talk on. Lately, I've been listening to Mother Angelica. I love listening to Mother Angelica's shows, almost as much as I love listening to Fulton Sheen talk. I think it's great amount of love that she puts into her show, she just seems to oozing it. May God bless her!
Ascension Thursday!
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Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord!
'Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This is the same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, so shall come in like manner, alleluia'
Monday, May 14, 2012
One Litre of Tears - Suffering in the Media.
Yes, I know, I should be studying, promos are coming up. Sadly, my brain is full and distracted these days, so I shall do a little bit of writing instead until Mass. Also, I feel that I probably should write something intelligent, I fear the last few posts may have...uh...been...uh a tad nonsensical. I digress.
Lately, I've been watching a lot of asian movies and shows. Obviously, eternal wisdom would advise that when one has uh... attention difficulties, it would probably be wise not to distract oneself further whilst one revises for upcoming examinations. I suppose it doesn't help that my mandarin, cantonese and japanese is so bad, that I actually have to look at the subtitles to understand the dialogue is taking me away from understanding aldol condensation, but I digress once again.
I have been watching asian shows largely because I have run out of english things to watch. Lately, they've all become rather dull, and it broke my heart that House is ending. So far, I've rewatched the japanese series, 一リットルの涙, or One Litre of Tears, and also the Taiwanese movie, 帶一片風景走, (lit. take you on a scenic walk); the english title is 'Leaving Gracefully'. Both the series and the film were beautiful takes on life with Spinocerebullar Ataxia, progessive neurodegenerative disease of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls motor function and control. Over time, the patient loses control of her body, movement is sluggish and hard, muscles become stiff, walking deteriorates, eventually, control of the vocal cords go and one is left bedridden; all the while, mental function remains. To have this disease is to eventually become trapped in your own body, not paralysed, but practically useless.
Both are based on true stories. One Litre of Tears is an eponymous, loose adaptation of book written by 15 year old Japanese girl, Kito Aya. It is essentially her diary, written over the ten years that she had her disease until her death, documenting her thoughts, struggles, hopes and dreams. The book was a best seller in Japan. Leaving Gracefully, also based on a book, A Million Steps of Love, is about a typical family in Taiwan, a blue collar construction worker husband, Chih-hui, happily married to his wife, Hsiu-mei and their adolescent daughter. Their life takes a dramatic turn when Hsiu-mei is diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia. When Chih-hui finally comes to terms with his wife's disease, he decides to take her on the honeymoon they never had, going around the island of Taiwan on foot, hence the name of the movie.
What is most beautiful about these films is the clear beauty and joy that can be found in suffering. All the characters grow tremendously through the stories and become better people over time, learning to appreciate life and living. Here, you will find a clear picture of what love truly means.
I find it telling that you will never see such mainstream films come out of Hollywood, or her European equivalent. To date, I cannot recall a movie that I watched over the last decade that dealt with suffering and living with dignity, much less, an entire television series dedicated to it. This is due to the great secularisation of the west. The reckless abandon of her Judeo-Christian roots and morals has made the west essentially pagan. The irony of the culture of death is that it essentially stems from the fear of death.
One of the reasons the early Christians were so bitterly persecuted by the pagans was that they completely freaked them out. The romans essentially lived for themselves. Women and children were second class citizens, abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide were frequently practised (it's telling that Hippocrates considered abortion and euthanasia very contrary to medical ethos). Similarly, the institute of marriage was looked down on and neglected by promiscuous men to the point where Caesar Augustus ordered men to get married in a desperate attempt to deal with declining rate of marriage and births. Partying, sex with anyone of any sex, and wine were the name of the game back in the day. It's not hard to imagine then, that anyone that attached to enjoying the fleeting pleasures of one's life would also have a great fear of that which would permanently rob one of those pleasures, that is, death. A cemetery would be the last place to catch a Roman in those days.
Then come the Christians, whose founder conquered death itself, and thus there was nothing to fear. They visited the cemeteries, kept bits and pieces of their dead loved ones to be kissed and venerated, they thought chastity, modesty, and temperance. Women and children were treated as equals and marriage was abundant. Virginity and fasting and mortification celebrated. They paraded around with symbols of the conqueror of death, practically embracing it. It's not surprising the pagans completely flipped. And, I'm pretty sure gleefully attending one's own torture and execution for confessing the aforementioned conqueror of death didn't help very much. I wonder if this is beginning to sound familiar. Hmmm...
When you fear and hate something, it is typical to banish all images of it from sight. They, who campaign for the culture of death, fear suffering and disability and death, and have set out to preach that suffering from disability is a bane upon society, is profitless to society. Thus, the physically disabled are hidden from the camera unless they are a secondary character, a spectacle or some comic element. To see the suffering thrive in joy on the screen would be a disaster to the campaigners of the death, much less to see the normal profit from the suffering in an immaterial way. The whole issue of euthanasia is a terrifying thought. One often hears stories from places where it is legalised of euthanasia being committed against the will, or as the authorities deemed. This is the present sordid situation of the west.
However, that is not to say that philosophies of the life in the east are superior to the Judeo-Christian philosophy of the west, such that they allow them to produce such stories. Such an idea couldn't be more contrary. It is a great irony, in fact. The east is governed by eastern mysticism, and all the various philosophies and religions that arose in the east are founded on relativism. Hinduism and Buddhism are both based on the idea that one will be reincarnated after death, born into a new life based upon how one behaved in the previous life, until one has lived a life of the highest good. Hence, the rigid chaste system in India. It is from this principle that the relativism emerges, while, you must strive to be good and do good all your life, you have not just one lifetime to make mistakes, but many lifetimes. Therefore, even if one commits some evil in this life, it is a minuscule.
An example is the attitude of the east towards abortion. Hinduism considers it a gravely immoral act, and condemns it harshly, however, relents that in the dire situation whether mother's life is in danger, such an act may be permissible in order to say the mother's life. It's very utilitarian. Taiwan and Japan are countries with high abortion rates because of a similar attitude, thus their great decline in birth rate. One never hears about them because, unlike in the west, where abortion is celebrated, they know it is evil and wrong. It is done out of utility, and the lost child is mourned. In Japan, companies even offer grieving ceremonies for mothers. One marvels at the thought that these people celebrate the day of conception of a child, instead of the day of birth.
How then, is the western philosophy inferior? It is influenced by Christian theology, given to the world by God Himself. It is based on an absolute morality and truth that is no subject to the control of man, but stems from the constancy of the creator. That is why the life is celebrated, from conception to end of it in this mortal world. That is why suffering is exalted. So, then, why are we not the ones making films about suffering and enduring it with joy, bringing hope and changing lives, instead of escaping it?
This is one my favourite scenes from One Litre of Tears. If I ever become a father, I would like to be like this one. PS: There is also a film version of this book, which has been more filial to it. It was excellent.
Lately, I've been watching a lot of asian movies and shows. Obviously, eternal wisdom would advise that when one has uh... attention difficulties, it would probably be wise not to distract oneself further whilst one revises for upcoming examinations. I suppose it doesn't help that my mandarin, cantonese and japanese is so bad, that I actually have to look at the subtitles to understand the dialogue is taking me away from understanding aldol condensation, but I digress once again.
I have been watching asian shows largely because I have run out of english things to watch. Lately, they've all become rather dull, and it broke my heart that House is ending. So far, I've rewatched the japanese series, 一リットルの涙, or One Litre of Tears, and also the Taiwanese movie, 帶一片風景走, (lit. take you on a scenic walk); the english title is 'Leaving Gracefully'. Both the series and the film were beautiful takes on life with Spinocerebullar Ataxia, progessive neurodegenerative disease of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls motor function and control. Over time, the patient loses control of her body, movement is sluggish and hard, muscles become stiff, walking deteriorates, eventually, control of the vocal cords go and one is left bedridden; all the while, mental function remains. To have this disease is to eventually become trapped in your own body, not paralysed, but practically useless.
Both are based on true stories. One Litre of Tears is an eponymous, loose adaptation of book written by 15 year old Japanese girl, Kito Aya. It is essentially her diary, written over the ten years that she had her disease until her death, documenting her thoughts, struggles, hopes and dreams. The book was a best seller in Japan. Leaving Gracefully, also based on a book, A Million Steps of Love, is about a typical family in Taiwan, a blue collar construction worker husband, Chih-hui, happily married to his wife, Hsiu-mei and their adolescent daughter. Their life takes a dramatic turn when Hsiu-mei is diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia. When Chih-hui finally comes to terms with his wife's disease, he decides to take her on the honeymoon they never had, going around the island of Taiwan on foot, hence the name of the movie.
What is most beautiful about these films is the clear beauty and joy that can be found in suffering. All the characters grow tremendously through the stories and become better people over time, learning to appreciate life and living. Here, you will find a clear picture of what love truly means.
I find it telling that you will never see such mainstream films come out of Hollywood, or her European equivalent. To date, I cannot recall a movie that I watched over the last decade that dealt with suffering and living with dignity, much less, an entire television series dedicated to it. This is due to the great secularisation of the west. The reckless abandon of her Judeo-Christian roots and morals has made the west essentially pagan. The irony of the culture of death is that it essentially stems from the fear of death.
One of the reasons the early Christians were so bitterly persecuted by the pagans was that they completely freaked them out. The romans essentially lived for themselves. Women and children were second class citizens, abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide were frequently practised (it's telling that Hippocrates considered abortion and euthanasia very contrary to medical ethos). Similarly, the institute of marriage was looked down on and neglected by promiscuous men to the point where Caesar Augustus ordered men to get married in a desperate attempt to deal with declining rate of marriage and births. Partying, sex with anyone of any sex, and wine were the name of the game back in the day. It's not hard to imagine then, that anyone that attached to enjoying the fleeting pleasures of one's life would also have a great fear of that which would permanently rob one of those pleasures, that is, death. A cemetery would be the last place to catch a Roman in those days.
Then come the Christians, whose founder conquered death itself, and thus there was nothing to fear. They visited the cemeteries, kept bits and pieces of their dead loved ones to be kissed and venerated, they thought chastity, modesty, and temperance. Women and children were treated as equals and marriage was abundant. Virginity and fasting and mortification celebrated. They paraded around with symbols of the conqueror of death, practically embracing it. It's not surprising the pagans completely flipped. And, I'm pretty sure gleefully attending one's own torture and execution for confessing the aforementioned conqueror of death didn't help very much. I wonder if this is beginning to sound familiar. Hmmm...
When you fear and hate something, it is typical to banish all images of it from sight. They, who campaign for the culture of death, fear suffering and disability and death, and have set out to preach that suffering from disability is a bane upon society, is profitless to society. Thus, the physically disabled are hidden from the camera unless they are a secondary character, a spectacle or some comic element. To see the suffering thrive in joy on the screen would be a disaster to the campaigners of the death, much less to see the normal profit from the suffering in an immaterial way. The whole issue of euthanasia is a terrifying thought. One often hears stories from places where it is legalised of euthanasia being committed against the will, or as the authorities deemed. This is the present sordid situation of the west.
However, that is not to say that philosophies of the life in the east are superior to the Judeo-Christian philosophy of the west, such that they allow them to produce such stories. Such an idea couldn't be more contrary. It is a great irony, in fact. The east is governed by eastern mysticism, and all the various philosophies and religions that arose in the east are founded on relativism. Hinduism and Buddhism are both based on the idea that one will be reincarnated after death, born into a new life based upon how one behaved in the previous life, until one has lived a life of the highest good. Hence, the rigid chaste system in India. It is from this principle that the relativism emerges, while, you must strive to be good and do good all your life, you have not just one lifetime to make mistakes, but many lifetimes. Therefore, even if one commits some evil in this life, it is a minuscule.
An example is the attitude of the east towards abortion. Hinduism considers it a gravely immoral act, and condemns it harshly, however, relents that in the dire situation whether mother's life is in danger, such an act may be permissible in order to say the mother's life. It's very utilitarian. Taiwan and Japan are countries with high abortion rates because of a similar attitude, thus their great decline in birth rate. One never hears about them because, unlike in the west, where abortion is celebrated, they know it is evil and wrong. It is done out of utility, and the lost child is mourned. In Japan, companies even offer grieving ceremonies for mothers. One marvels at the thought that these people celebrate the day of conception of a child, instead of the day of birth.
How then, is the western philosophy inferior? It is influenced by Christian theology, given to the world by God Himself. It is based on an absolute morality and truth that is no subject to the control of man, but stems from the constancy of the creator. That is why the life is celebrated, from conception to end of it in this mortal world. That is why suffering is exalted. So, then, why are we not the ones making films about suffering and enduring it with joy, bringing hope and changing lives, instead of escaping it?
This is one my favourite scenes from One Litre of Tears. If I ever become a father, I would like to be like this one. PS: There is also a film version of this book, which has been more filial to it. It was excellent.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
RAWRR
I like to RAWR,
but my friend said that since I cut my hair, I no longer look like a fat lion, so I suppose I shall have to change to a fat whale sound.
UUUUUUUUUUNNNGH-uuuuugggghnnnnn
OooooooOOoouuuurgggghhhh-uuuuuuuurrrrrrr
Pretty close right?
but my friend said that since I cut my hair, I no longer look like a fat lion, so I suppose I shall have to change to a fat whale sound.
UUUUUUUUUUNNNGH-uuuuugggghnnnnn
OooooooOOoouuuurgggghhhh-uuuuuuuurrrrrrr
Pretty close right?
Friday, May 11, 2012
A new dawn, a new day.
The home stretch of the academic year. The examinations are on the hunt, prowling, stalking through the tall grass. Home, is but a few weeks reach away.
et alibi, ea non manet me, et numquam non mansit.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
孩子氣 (Childish)
孩子氣
陳妍希
看到當年教室窗口前的你和我
像月亮在黑夜起不了光合作用
若不是Cupid錯射蘋果在你胸口
來時的路會多麼不同
每次交換考卷和你曖昧的交流
多少排列組合只想坐在你身後
若不是當時我們都有一點懵懂
現在的我會多麼不同
溫柔的孩子氣 伴隨那些年光陰
像太陽般和煦 深深溫暖我的心
你笨拙的擦去 我臉上所有淚滴
擁入懷裡 再也不分離
每次交換考卷和你曖昧的交流
多少排列組合只想坐在你身後
若不是當時我們都有一點懵懂
現在的我會多麼不同
倔強的孩子氣 拉遠我們的距離
自己擦乾淚滴 不回頭轉身而去
是命運的結局 還是下一章序曲
看著天燈 緩緩的升起
直到那天喚醒 平行時空的夢境
月光灑滿回憶 我們在星空下相遇
Just a thought on Dawkins
I just came across a quote from Richard Dawkins while being distracted by tumblr (thank you tumblr)
Attached to the post, which was from one of those Catholic tumblrs, was 'let's see if this is true', followed by a long, long list of Catholic priest scientists.
Mmm, that had me thinking, I don't think it's possible to be a practising and faithful Catholic and accept not understanding the world. No, no, it's quite impossible really. The Baltimore Catechism states that the meaning of life is to 'know, love and serve God in this world, and be happy with Him in the next.' How does one get to know God? By opening one's heart to Him, by assisting at Mass, by reading His Word, by talking to Him, by getting to know His Saints and His creations. Essentially, one will know God better if one strives to understand His creation, for He created the world with love, and imbued Himself into it. That is not to be misread as pantheism; what I mean is that in every progression and discovery that we make in science, there is His signature of beauty and elegance and intelligence signed so clearly.
Consider that Dr Francis Collins, the director of the Human Genome Project, converted to Christianity after pondering the formation of a frozen waterfall while on a hike. The Big Bang Theory was created by the priest, Msgr Georges Lemaître.
After all, God created the world intelligently on purpose, he created in such a fashion that we may understand and through it find Him and know Him. I think Christians are the least satisfied with the understanding of the world too, for they realise, in light of God, that they truly know and understand very little.
Sunday, May 06, 2012
FAT DOCTORS.
I can't concentrate anymore, there are too many faraway thoughts swimming in my head, and I'd rather not dwell on them or I might play Toccata in Dm on repeat. Mmm.. I shall write instead. Aren't you lucky, two posts in forty hours, during exam season. Actually, that's a tremendous achievement for normal periods. Fortuna te benedicit.
I came across this article trolling Medscape yesterday, 'Can Hospitals Say, 'Only Thin Doctors Can Work Here.' I laughed. It was almost as funny as the opthamologists are happiest doctors article. It's an interesting read, or listen; as it's a transcript of a vodcast, of a ethical analysis on the this Texan Hospital's latest policy.
Basically, the hospital is basing it's rationale on the idea that one cannot hold double standards. That is, one cannot tell a patient to keep fit and healthy if oneself is unfit and unhealthy, thus showing a hypocrisy in the physicians ideas. Hypocrisy is very much disdained in society for the lack of integrity that it shows a person has. Thought, typically hypocrisy is a moral dilemma. For example, it would be hypocritical for a parent to tell a child not to tell lies, then after that proceed to lie; whether or not in the presence of the child is irrelevant, the action itself destroys the parent's moral authority. While not a complete example, I am sure that you my dear can appreciate the situation. Within hypocrisy is the problem that whilst the moral teaching is correct, because the teaching authority does not follow the teaching, the innate sense of justice embedded in our souls spots the injustice immediately, and then the fallen human nature asks, 'if he, who is the supposed moral and righteous one does not follow his own teachings, why should we have to?'. After all, to be good and virtuous is a challenge that one strives for one's entire life. A life of sin is a life of laziness and easiness.
So thus, it begs the questions of whether being fat is immoral, and whether a fat doctor is morally capable of giving orders to his fat patients to be healthy and lose weight. Of course, ideally, everyone should be fit and healthy, and I emphasis that the definition of healthy does merely mean keeping one's weight within the boundaries of acceptable; it includes cardiovascular fitness, blood plasma levels of various nutrients, normal blood pressure, etc. Also, we do have a moral obligation to God and to society to take care of our bodies, for our body is to be the tabernacle of the Sacratissimum, and to contribute to society requires our good health. That said, a duty to the health of our souls is of much greater important to the Lord, and care for the soul will hopefully translate into care for the body through the virtues of moderation and temperance. Also, many would argue with regards to doctoring, it is a fairly sedentary job, so being unhealthy may not necessary cripple one's abilities to work. However, these points are not crucial in tho this question, and I merely them up to remind there is a duty to one's health. Yes, I am a really lousy writer.
So, returning to the moral question. I would argue that being fat is not necessarily immoral, save when it is caused out of conscious constant gluttony and sloth. While the hospital policy extends to all staff in the hospital, I shall only write with regards to doctors, since that is my area, however, I certain that the situation is similar for nurses as well. If one is familiar with the life of the junior doctor, one will know that the five years of medical school hardly provide much time for relaxation and personal time, in the latter part of school, studying is done on top of spending the entire day in the hospital, clerking patients or observing clinics or surgery. The years following graduation are similar; the studying never stops though now the doctor has the added responsibility of treating patients, and being on call. In Singapore, a call is 36hrs, and one has to do 6 a month. While the med student may clock off from the hospital on time, the doctors rarely ever do, there is always some patient that needs tending to, or some emergency to be looked into. Work begins early in the day, usually at six am, and doesn't end until six or seven (I might be exaggerating a little). Hence, there is actually little time that can be spent exercising, and often the temptation of eating a quick meal is strong. Who doesn't want to come home after a long day, grab a quick bite from a hawker centre of fast food joint and collapse on the couch? Also, there is the issue of smoking physicians, though most of them hide it from their patients. Hey, habits like that are hard to kick when you pick them up at 18. Hence, personal health sometimes takes a backseat to other pressing duties. However, this is not to let medical professionals of the hook, merely for you to appreciate the situation.
Anyway, being fat has nothing to do with being a good doctor. Doctors, of all people, know very intimately the effects and correlations to diseases linked to being fat. Furthermore, patients go to doctors to receive treatment and advice on how to cure their diseases, thus, what they are seeking is the doctor's knowledge, and medical skills. The doctors aren't personal trainers after all, they don't look after fitness, they look after health, though the two are related.
That said, it is a rather hilarious situation, considering, doctors are not exactly a commodity in excess in most parts of the world. Of course, the entire thing is a superficial ethical issue. Actually, the only reason that I am writing this is because I really hope this silliness does not become a trend worldwide. Well, actually, this is hope is more selfish that it seems, you see, I am about the size of a whale, and I really hope that I do not end up employable when I graduate in 5 years.
<--- david. That is humpback whale, by the way. I wanted to use a picture of a killer whale, because they are my favourite species, but they aren't really whales. I also thought of using a sperm whale picture, because most cartoons draw sperm whales, but alas, I am not so great as the magnificent sperm whale who fights epic battles with giant squid in the deep depths of the ocean, and from time to time butts heads with obsessed, self-glorified fishermen in submarines. So the humpback, a dumb, fat, gentle whale who makes annoying sounds. Sounds like me.
I came across this article trolling Medscape yesterday, 'Can Hospitals Say, 'Only Thin Doctors Can Work Here.' I laughed. It was almost as funny as the opthamologists are happiest doctors article. It's an interesting read, or listen; as it's a transcript of a vodcast, of a ethical analysis on the this Texan Hospital's latest policy.
Basically, the hospital is basing it's rationale on the idea that one cannot hold double standards. That is, one cannot tell a patient to keep fit and healthy if oneself is unfit and unhealthy, thus showing a hypocrisy in the physicians ideas. Hypocrisy is very much disdained in society for the lack of integrity that it shows a person has. Thought, typically hypocrisy is a moral dilemma. For example, it would be hypocritical for a parent to tell a child not to tell lies, then after that proceed to lie; whether or not in the presence of the child is irrelevant, the action itself destroys the parent's moral authority. While not a complete example, I am sure that you my dear can appreciate the situation. Within hypocrisy is the problem that whilst the moral teaching is correct, because the teaching authority does not follow the teaching, the innate sense of justice embedded in our souls spots the injustice immediately, and then the fallen human nature asks, 'if he, who is the supposed moral and righteous one does not follow his own teachings, why should we have to?'. After all, to be good and virtuous is a challenge that one strives for one's entire life. A life of sin is a life of laziness and easiness.
So thus, it begs the questions of whether being fat is immoral, and whether a fat doctor is morally capable of giving orders to his fat patients to be healthy and lose weight. Of course, ideally, everyone should be fit and healthy, and I emphasis that the definition of healthy does merely mean keeping one's weight within the boundaries of acceptable; it includes cardiovascular fitness, blood plasma levels of various nutrients, normal blood pressure, etc. Also, we do have a moral obligation to God and to society to take care of our bodies, for our body is to be the tabernacle of the Sacratissimum, and to contribute to society requires our good health. That said, a duty to the health of our souls is of much greater important to the Lord, and care for the soul will hopefully translate into care for the body through the virtues of moderation and temperance. Also, many would argue with regards to doctoring, it is a fairly sedentary job, so being unhealthy may not necessary cripple one's abilities to work. However, these points are not crucial in tho this question, and I merely them up to remind there is a duty to one's health. Yes, I am a really lousy writer.
So, returning to the moral question. I would argue that being fat is not necessarily immoral, save when it is caused out of conscious constant gluttony and sloth. While the hospital policy extends to all staff in the hospital, I shall only write with regards to doctors, since that is my area, however, I certain that the situation is similar for nurses as well. If one is familiar with the life of the junior doctor, one will know that the five years of medical school hardly provide much time for relaxation and personal time, in the latter part of school, studying is done on top of spending the entire day in the hospital, clerking patients or observing clinics or surgery. The years following graduation are similar; the studying never stops though now the doctor has the added responsibility of treating patients, and being on call. In Singapore, a call is 36hrs, and one has to do 6 a month. While the med student may clock off from the hospital on time, the doctors rarely ever do, there is always some patient that needs tending to, or some emergency to be looked into. Work begins early in the day, usually at six am, and doesn't end until six or seven (I might be exaggerating a little). Hence, there is actually little time that can be spent exercising, and often the temptation of eating a quick meal is strong. Who doesn't want to come home after a long day, grab a quick bite from a hawker centre of fast food joint and collapse on the couch? Also, there is the issue of smoking physicians, though most of them hide it from their patients. Hey, habits like that are hard to kick when you pick them up at 18. Hence, personal health sometimes takes a backseat to other pressing duties. However, this is not to let medical professionals of the hook, merely for you to appreciate the situation.
Anyway, being fat has nothing to do with being a good doctor. Doctors, of all people, know very intimately the effects and correlations to diseases linked to being fat. Furthermore, patients go to doctors to receive treatment and advice on how to cure their diseases, thus, what they are seeking is the doctor's knowledge, and medical skills. The doctors aren't personal trainers after all, they don't look after fitness, they look after health, though the two are related.
<--- david. That is humpback whale, by the way. I wanted to use a picture of a killer whale, because they are my favourite species, but they aren't really whales. I also thought of using a sperm whale picture, because most cartoons draw sperm whales, but alas, I am not so great as the magnificent sperm whale who fights epic battles with giant squid in the deep depths of the ocean, and from time to time butts heads with obsessed, self-glorified fishermen in submarines. So the humpback, a dumb, fat, gentle whale who makes annoying sounds. Sounds like me.
To elaborate a little on Embryology.
I am taking a short break from my harrowing studies. So as requested, I will elaborate on my pseudotheology on the my earlier post on embryology.
So, a brief recap of the fertilisation process.
After ejaculation, ~5,000,000 sperm swim up the uterus into the fallopian tubes. Only about 200 sperm actually make it, and they take about 3-4hrs to actually be able to fertilise. They surround the egg, which is covered by layers of glycoproteins and other stuff, and uses enzymes to burrow to reach the egg's actual membrane, where it fuses with it, joining the two together, and emptying the sperm's genetic cargo into the egg's cytoplasm. The sperm also releases enzymes which begin a cortical reaction in the egg, that prevents other sperm from entering. Therefore it is just one sperm and one egg alone. The chromosomes combine, and the process of division begins.
At this point, the cell is now called a Zygote, from the greek ζυγωτός (zygotos), meaning yoked. Now, here's where the pseudotheology comes in. To yoke something, for the vocabulary challenged, that is me, means to join together, or to bind. A yoke is actually a wooden beam that you put on oxen so you could pair two of them together.
That's it for the pseudotheology, now for some other interesting allegories. Within 24 hours, the single cell zygote, all the while hard at work, divides into a two cell conceptus. The word is latin for 'conception', obviously, from which the english word is derived. It is interesting too that this is the particular nomenclature for the two cell zygote as agreed by Embryologists. I suppose, one cannot be a professor of the study of how life begins and develops and not agree that life begins at conception. This rather difficult to ignore fact is plastered all over embryology textbooks. (Though of course, if you're pro-choice, life begins at 14 days, or in the third trimester...or well, maybe at the age of seven, according to some bioethicists who promote infantcide...sorry 'post-birth abortion').
By day 6 or 7, the embryo, has divided many more times, turned into a blastocyst, travelled a long journey to the uterus and began the process of implantation. It literally burrows its way into the its mother's uterus, by using enzymes that digest the outermost layer of the uterus, allowing it to burrow into the endometrial tissue. And, like any good mum who embraces her child when he comes running to her, the endometrium will actually grows over the embryo!
The entire process is completed by the 14th day, and by the 16th day the placenta begins to form. It is a special tissue that is a combination of both fœtal cells and the mother's cells. It provides the embryo with oxygen, nutrients, and removes waste from the embryo. It actually a very interesting link, as the mother's immune cells do not attack the growing child within her, though they have direct access, and also, that the embryonic cells can actually travel across the placenta into the mother's blood stream! At this stage, they are still stem cells and the mother will carry them for life. That's right, for every child that is conceived in her womb, that child does not only take her flesh and blood, but literally becomes apart of her's! Mothers are awesome!
I got the last bit of this article, which you should all read. In it, the author goes on to contemplate how the Blessed Virgin Mary literally carried her the body of Christ within her all her life, and how she was always in communion with God. It is amazing thought! Can you imagine, God took her flesh, and then dwelt in her from then on. How the protestants can ever say that she isn't special is beyond me. No one has been blessed like she has, or done what she has, or received what she received, and no one ever will. Also, My CTS Missal has reflections for the rosary with regards to the Eucharist, and for the second joyful mystery, on the visitation, it reflects about how Our Lady acted as the viaticum, the little metal box made to hold the Sacratissimum which was to be brought to the sick, carrying our Lord to her cousin, heavily pregnant (and of course, later she presents her precious child to the whole world, to us, during the presentation). Our Lady always brings her son to us, and the only way we can get to know Him proper, is to get to know her.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Friday, May 04, 2012
What I did during Physics today.
But I swear I was paying attention! I will admit to being distracted. I wonder if I should have added a little bow to her hair.
Also this song is stuck in my mind.
開首的一篇是某某出生 媽媽給寶寶奉上這一生頭一吻
開端之後或晴或暗 怎麼走就像連續劇 也 欠缺安穩
或者 於某集我可抬頭欣賞到你
或者 一轉念便要失去你
或者 轉折漸太多 遺忘怎擁抱你
或者 擁緊偏已斷氣
情人們一呼一吸相愛到底 結局或同樣
仍想將你我這幕 演得更理想
能修補即管修補 不要再想 再一刻人便缺氧
熟悉的歌曲 等與你合唱
「彈蘭啲罅 彈蘭啲罅 彈」
「彈蘭啲罅 彈蘭啲罅 彈」
新一章怎可是你我分開 可否改寫得像你我當初還相愛
只可惜上集難逆轉 傷感的下集仍然未播 我會修改
如果 當晚沒有分神來緊張佈置
如果 不必誤會再猜疑
如果 將對白說得平和 不加諷刺
如果 真的可有下次
情人們一呼一吸相愛到底 結局或同樣
仍然能拖緊彼此 走絕地雪霜
如能重修好一雙 不要再想 再一刻人便缺氧
明知可一起 不要再獨唱
情人們一呼一吸相愛到底 結局或同樣
仍想將你我這幕 演得更理想
如能重修好一雙 不要再想 再一刻誰亦要退下場
多得你在場 多得我在場 天空也在場 演好這一章 呼吸太無常
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
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