“The fascinating question to me is: Can we take our skills — our core competencies, as we call them in business — and apply them very directly to solving some of the problems” in society, he said. “And not just for publicity, but to make a difference.”
i’m inspired.
One day we will have this technology and scale in nearly every home and in our laptops and we will reminisce and say : “remember when it used to cost 7000 dollars ?” …
Correctness, Profound Truth, and Paradox
Our usual and “correct” ways of explaining the world and who “I” am, are often severely tested. This is particularly true at times when we feel stuck, angry, confused, or demoralized, and we do not yet understand what will constitute “right action”. At such times our current understanding is not all encompassing enough to understand the paradox that envelops us. Usually at such times a search for only one answer or understanding is simply not enough. Niels Bohr, the 1922 Nobel Laureate in Physics has been quoted as saying: “The opposite of a correct statement is an incorrect statement. The opposite of a profound truth is another profound truth.” Bohr used the word “complementarity” to characterise the relationship between apparently contradictory phenomena. It is only when seemingly contradictory phenomena are “understood” or appreciated as a whole, that we can begin to offer a temporarily complete description of what is, or what needs to be. In order to feel into profound truth we need to somehow embody a larger understanding of the world, our relationships, the environment, the Universe, and God. We need a way of knowing that embraces paradox, and goes beyond what “I” know or believe to be true. This is a form of knowing that welcomes diverse opinions of what is “correct.” Such knowing involves a discourse between our emotions and our intellect. A discourse between self and other. A discourse that is much more comprehensive than a dialogue about right and wrong. A discourse that invites a softening and opening up to the complementarity of what initially appear to be polar opposites. A discourse that requires passion, compassion, and commitment. A discourse that embraces differences, as integral parts of the whole. A discourse that can at times feel dangerous, but yet holds great potential.
In Seishindo we attempt to open up our discussions, and our selves, to the possibility of feeling into profound truth.
Jim discusses screensavers, information theory, and (with crowd participation) the Whitney music box, which sets an algorithm to music. Blending visual, musical, technical, mathematical, and intentionally useless elements, Jim gives a notable Gel talk.
Powers of Ten (via zetingliu)
a look at the scale of the universe, from an atom to the furthest reaches of space
