I have seen someone claim that by definition our senses are an illusion … or at least our perceptions are illusory. This initially might seem an over-the-top claim. But first let's take a look at three common or garden 'illusions'. This is one of favourite illusions. It is motion induced blindness. Get the image to … Continue reading Illusions →

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZHp4JLWjNw When I heard of Hillary Clinton's comment on deplorables ... basket of deplorables. Right? They're racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic – Islamophobic – you name it. I thought it a foolish remark. These supposed deplorables have been hit hard by the crash of 2008 and are likely getting their heads above water only now. It … Continue reading Responsibility →

I must admit I am a little sensitive to this: nationalism. Also, to the sister of this metaphor: patriotism. I have been playing with this idea for a while. And it came to a head at a Rotary Conference in Spokane this June, where someone was playing to an audience and being somewhat a touch … Continue reading Nationalism →

As a point of disclosure, I think Donald Trump is a terrible President. I cannot help but dislike the man. I don't care about his hair, his orange complexion, the size of his hands, his inability to string together coherent sentences or his alleged infidelities. Ultimately these are irrelevant to the job, though speaking coherently … Continue reading Trump: Doing Well? →

I started reading How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan. I have not got very far into the book, but it is about using entheogens (psychoactive drugs) in some way to activate one's spiritual mind. I quickly skimmed through the book and it did not have a single chemical structure in it. And being … Continue reading Chemical Spirituality →

Agnosticism Very Short Introduction - Robin Le Poidevin While in the UK, I was looking for the VSI* book on consciousness, as the assistant was looking at the rack for the book, Madeleine pointed out this book on agnosticism. This is the fourth book I have read about agnosticism presumably by agnostics, they were: In … Continue reading Manifesto →

I am going to tackle a difficult problem here. I am not an expert here, not even an expert on my own experience of consciousness. Quite often it is described as The Hard Problem. Some pundits don’t see it as a problem at all. Problem or not, all is not well in the house of … Continue reading Consciousness →