Recent Activities, May 2008

Lots of stuff going on, but everything is still fairly relaxed compared to what it was during the school year. Let's see...
1. Ritsuko, Masashi, and I went to see "Walking with Dinosaurs" last night. Very cool.
2. Masa's birthday party is in the works. Looks like we'll be trying to jam 13 adults and 9 kids into our little 900 square feet apartment. Hopefully the weather will be nice...
3. Immunizations are coming along. Had my Tetanus and HBV #1 last Friday. One arm is still severely bruised. Still need: TB skin test (Redimed), HBV #2 & 3, and one more MMR (come on, Mom and Dad! I should have had these finished a long time ago)!
*FYI for Allen County (IN) residents going into health care: Department of Health will do your necessary immunizations for free.
4. Got our apartment lined up yesterday. We have a 2 bed, 2 bath apartment in Huntington Ridge (ratings). Looks like a nice place, with washer/dryer, and only 5 miles from school (=40min bike ride). We'll probably do 6 month or a year, see if we like it or not, and maybe look for a cheaper place if we don't think it is worth $825/month.
5. 25 actual work days remaining!!

My new XBOX 360!

Yes, I finally took the plunge into the world of high-definition gaming. $200 for a system (with 20GB hard drive), two wireless controllers, headset, and 4 or 5 games (including Halo 3) was too good to pass up! Masashi and I play this WWII airplane fighter game together, and he is quite good! Too bad the game doesn't give the option to play the Japanese side in the Pacific theater (though you can use Japanese planes). I've been playing Halo 3 every night, then, and look forward to getting GTA4 sometime in the future. I don't want to pay $60 for a new game, though, so I just might wait. I might get Elder Scrolls: Oblivion soon, though; I need a role-playing game to satisfy the dungeons and dragons geek in me! The HD thing is great (we do have an HD TV), and sometimes I just like to look around at the scenery in the games. I'm sure this time-waster will get stowed away come July and the beginning of dental school, but for now it sure beats watching crumby TV shows in the evening.

Russian Music

I decided to listen to music instead of the news this morning on my way to work, and this is what I found. Menuet from Petite Suite is so beautiful; the melody suggests such simple yet colorful elegance and the harmonies are accessible while still suggesting what Debussy will later move on to. The melody actually made me think this was a Russian piece at first, as it is not unlike many of the wonderful melodies found in pieces by the Russian "Mighty Handful or other Russian composers.

Russian music is a whole other story, and I have a greater love of Russian music (Russian "classical" music, that is) than any other. Listening to pieces by Rimsky-Korsakov, Balakirev, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, ...the list can go on and on...I feel like I am being given a glimpse of another world. The Mighty Five take me back to Tsarist Russian and I can only wondering at its beauty and grandeur (I am not idealizing the past, only seeing the beautiful parts of it that have been captured in Russian music of the time). Prokofiev and Shostakovich, on the other hand, take me to a Soviet Russia struggling with its new identity while still holding tight to its past and traditions. Maybe what I see in Russia's music is not what she was but rather what she could have been...

Mutants on a Flat Earth

We had some of our friends over yesterday afternoon, and someone (not me) mentioned the idea the Japanese living in America their whole life look less "Japanese" due to mutations that would cause changes in physical structure. Then, one of my friends began talking about how his high school teacher told them that mutations can arise (like mutant genes) due to non-environmental factors that lead to traits that could then be passed on to their kids. Everyone except for me seemed to think that this was perfectly logical, all nodded their heads at the wisdom of my friend's most likely mis-quoted high school teacher.

I couldn't take the nonsense and just had to set everyone straight. I usually try to avoid confrontations with this particular friend as he usually talks with the kind of authority that might mislead you into thinking he is an authority on whatever subject he is telling you about. I had to disagree, and point to the fact the Darwin's theory of evolution pretty firmly dismissed the idea of Lamarkian evolution over 100 years ago. Thus begins the fun:

1. "But, Darwin's theory is just that, a theory."
-I explain that a "theory" in science is not the same the common definition of a theory as nothing more than a hypothesis.

2. Something to the extent of "But how do we really know?"
-I reply that Darwin's theory was the backbone of modern biology and that future research should begin upon this cornerstone as it is the best explanation we have.

3. Intent on defending himself: "I believe it is important to keep an open mind. How would Columbus even have discovered that the world was round if he hadn't gone against popular thought and maintained an open mind?"
-I failed to explain that Columbus did not discover that the world was round, and that few people from the 3rd century B.C.E actually believed in a flat earth. I did explain, though, where his logic was going. I said Darwin's theory of evolution is to Lamarckian evolution as a spherical earth is to a round earth. We would never go back to testing hypotheses based on a flat-earth model, so why would we go back to Lamarckian evolution as a model for biological studies?

4. "But we can see the earth is a sphere from space!"
-This was the point that I realized logical discussion was probably not going to get anywhere with my friend, and I was glad to be relieved from our argument by another friend calling on the phone. I did explain, though, that Darwin's theory can been seen and has been seen. It is a common misconception that evolution takes too long to ever observe, but we can see it! I tried to convey to him that the importance of Darwin's theory to biology and was every bit as significant, if not more so, as proof that the world wasn't flat.

Even with all this, he countered with his "proof" of seeing "so many" Americans raised in Japan who looked different than Americans not raised in Japan. Maybe this is about where the phone rang, as I was thinking a biology lesson was enough without having to give them some basic statistics tutoring as well!!! I did not bring up the fact that my friend had only spent several weeks in Japan and I had lived there for nearly four years. Someone mentioned that changes could come about due to lifestyle, which I agreed with but reminded everyone that these changes COULD NOT be passed on to children. Everyone seemed skeptical of this for some reason still. My friend who called saved me from having to discuss the topic anymore. It was some how reassuring talking to him, a doctor, reminding me that not everybody in the world thinks of evolution as some weird theory.

The shocking (though it shouldn't be) thing about this whole messy discussion was that my friend was not arguing based on any religious beliefs. He just had been so bombarded with misconceptions about evolution that, when mixed with his unwavering belief in himself, it made him just as zealous as any religious zealot. I guess I could be described as a zealot, too, a zealous defender of logic and rationalism, but that's besides the point. I think a lot of people choose to disbelieve evolution due to religious reasons, but those people have to be intelligent enough to clearly study and interpret religious texts to come to that conclusion. The rest, both religious and non-religious, who are anti-evolution probably do not arrive at any conclusion based on their own reasoning, but rather lack the ability to do anything more than simply repeat the myths and fallacies they hear around them.

The argument that God created humans as they are now is common and proceeds out of its own logic; I can accept that people would believe that. I did not think, though, that I'd live see the day when some atheist was so defensive of his pride that he'd stoop to defending Lamarckian evolution just to keep from being wrong! Not even the idea of me stretching my arms every day and then fathering children with longer arms seemed to phase this guy! Come on, people!!

Do you have questions about evolution? Check this page out!

Farming Subidies

An unfortunate bill just passed through the House yesterday and "is expected to pass the Senate today:" it's a farming subsidy bill that will pay a majority of its money out to wealthy, monster farms while hindering small farmer and environmental efforts. I have nothing against large-scale farming operations, but I do not think that taxpayer money should be paid to farms currently seeing record profits. I like the way this article by Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle puts it: "A farm couple will be allowed to earn up to $2.5 million a year before government payments are cut off under new rules that lawmakers called a major reform. An urban couple applying for food stamps is cut off at $17,808 in income and may own only one car." Most of these subsidies go to the largest operations, and the tax burden will be enormous if crop prices drop.

Tilling virgin prairie, giving disaster money to "bail out farmers plowing marginal land." is this what the Democratic Party means by "CHANGE?" I voted for Barack Obama in the recent primary here in Indiana, but bills like this really give me pause. Are we really voting for change, or are we just voting for a different way to waste money? Granted, the amount spent on these subsidies will pale in comparison to the amount currently being spent on the war in Iraq, but I thought the Democrats (and the Republicans who joined them) were above pandering to the electorate. Obama has a great message and an equally exciting personality, but are policies like this farm bill really what America needs? I don't know, honestly. I guess I need to do more research...

"I don't care"

Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," which I am currently reading, that made me thing about this: why do we so often say "I don't care" in response to choices presented to us? For example, my wife often asks me "So, what would you like to eat tonight?" and so often I will reply with a "Hmm, I don't really care. Anything is good." It's obvious that I really do care and that this type of reply is just a way of shrugging off the responsibility of making a decision that you feel is either unimportant, that someone else is just as qualified to decide, or both. I wonder what using this phrase does to you and those you using it on, though? Is it really that harmless?

One negative effect of this phrase would be to indicate to the person to whom you are responding that their question is not worth your time and is unimportant. If it was unimportant, though, would the person have asked it? While you might not feel the question is important, the fact that someone else does feel it is important enough to ask should make you stop and think. The fact that this person sought your advice on the matter should also be considered. The fact is you potentially say two things when you say "I don't care," both detrimental to your relationship with others and yourself: 1. The question is unimportant, and thus the person asking is of lower intelligence than yourself for not being able to see that this question was unimportant when you could, and 2. you (the questioned) are unimportant to this particular decision making process, and thus to the person asking (who thought the decision was important enough to ask about).

We not only belittle the questioner but also ourselves, the questioned. The ultimate result would be, I believe, a slightly wider gap between our self and the other person. Growing distance between two people can mostly likely give rise to other communication gaps and lead to other problems.

I've decided that I will try not to use the term "I don't care." Anyone who seeks my advice deserves some answer, even if it just narrows down the choices or presents only a slightly less vague idea of your feelings about the matter. We owe a thoughtful response to both our family and friends as well as ourselves.

Spring Semester 2008 is complete. Now what?

It is officially over. After a semester of classes that were usually very interesting, sometimes boring, sometimes stressful, and rarely much worry grade-wise, the ultimate sign that it is done, the posting of the grades, has been completed. My grades haven't concerned me this semester (which was a nice feeling), so I won't concern you with them, either. Rest assured, though, that I did "well" enough to retain my spot at Colorado.

The question of "what to do now?" was put to me hard today. Masashi smashed the tip of his finger (not too badly) in the door, which took a lot of his normal energy out of him and left him asleep on the couch just before dinner. Of course, Ritsuko and I had a nice dinner together and then watched some TV. But, as she began doing the things she normally does in the evening, I was left wondering what I would do. Normally, I'd get Masa ready for bed and then study or just go to bed myself. I was kind of a strange feeling not to have anything pressing to do, but I enjoyed the time by picking up "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" where I had left it at lunch while listening to some of my own compositions.

The two (my music and Robert Pirsig's book) seemed to go so well together. I put down the book halfway through the final piece and found myself suddenly enveloped in the music. I wasn't until several minutes after the last note had faded away that I realized there was no longer any music coming through the headphones, that my mind was simply continuing the impression of sound. Why? Maybe to maintain that state of floating that I was in. I need to write some more music sometime, for me.

I'm thankful I can just write music for myself and not have to churn out watered down versions of myself for junior high school bands just so I can put food on the table. I remember some of my composition lessons where most of the professors would offer advise to help me along with what they thought I was trying to achieve. Other times, though, they would try to push me down path, to impose their sound upon my music. I rarely allowed this to continue, and if I did the music was promptly corrected back to my original ideals as soon as the recital was over and the grades out.

Of course, I would probably write more music if I were to have continued down the road of a professional composer. Yet, we all know that quantity does not equal quality. Funny we should come to this term, "quality," as that is exactly where I left off with Pirsig: Phaedrus's search for what exactly "quality" is. The works of my professors were rarely "quality" pieces, yet I feel that most of mine are. Is this simply my ego, or is there something about creating for no one else other than yourself that allows you to pursue what is, in your view, of the purest quality and highest value? I guess I leave that question up in the air for now as I'm not sure of the answer.

Anyway, tomorrow is a long day: work, then CPR class (required by University of Colorado). Time for sleep.

Indiana Votes for Obama!!

Haha. Well, at least I did! Voting was effortless and quick, a real treat. We'll just have to wait and see if Obama was able to keep Hillary's lead to a minimum. Either way, it still looks like the battle is far from over.

Sorry, Senator Clinton, you just can't do it. I'm going to vote for Obama.

The New York Times has a great little bit of media (on the left side of this page and down a bit, title "Paths to Victory) about what Hillary Clinton needs to get in order to win the nomination. Even if Clinton does as well in the remaining primaries as she did in Pennsylvania, she will still need 70% of the unpledged superdelegates to win. Why is she doing this? I believe both Obama and Clinton are excellent choices, but this all needs to end. There is no way the superdelegates are going to vote so overwhelmingly against the popular vote, so I feel Clinton would do the nation a favor by simply dropping out now. I will do my part by going on Saturday and voting early for Barack Obama. Of course, this doesn't mean I've made up my mind yet about which part I will vote for in the general election, but I have a feeling Obama will be the way to go.