Thursday, December 28, 2006
Noise Cancellation Earpieces
Here's another idea. I think BOSE already made it, but I don't know how theirs work. My idea though is simple. We simply have a earpiece that takes in sound from the current environment, and reverses it, and play it back into the earpiece. Then because the two sounds will cancel out, we will hear nothing.
Quality of representation: PhD Proposal
Here is an idea that I am toying with for my PhD research.
In aging, the idea is that neural representations change in several ways. Right now, we know there are changes, but we don't know what they are exactly, or why they happen the way they do. One obvious objective change we are pretty certain of is that, with age, processing speed slows down.
Now, is this a result of nerve conduction changes? Or is this more to do with changes in the processes themselves. That is, neuronal connectivity is changing, so the process computation changes as well, and changes in a way that results in slowing of the process. In addition, connectivity may also be changing in terms of a reduction in neural plasticity, the ability of neurons to form (or prune) connections based on experience.
One test I propose is related to ascertaining if the observations about neural changes with age relate to changes in processes vis a vis changes in connectivity. If neural representations are poorer with age, then it also means that they are less able to dissociate between similar representations. That is, aging reduces distinctiveness between neural representations. We should be able to measure this using the adaptation paradigm. In theory, if two representations are similar, the adaptation should be greater. To the extent that two representations are distinct, there will be less adaptation. Thus, with younger adults, there should be less adaptation to similar but different stimuli, or, there should be adaptation only when stimuli are very similar. In older adults, adaptation should happen at a lower threshold of similarity, for stimuli that are in fact quite distinct compared to that for the young.
In addition, since the neural representational quality in the lower perceptual areas feeds the cognitive processes that operate on them downstream (e.g. perceptual matching, target identification, memory, attention, decision-making etc) then it stands that if the neural representation is poorer, the cortex involved in working on these representations will either work harder to produce the same result, or be incapable of producing the same result if the representations were clearer. So, this could be measured as a correlation of frontal cortex activity with the degree of adaptation in the posterior, more perceptual areas.
In aging, the idea is that neural representations change in several ways. Right now, we know there are changes, but we don't know what they are exactly, or why they happen the way they do. One obvious objective change we are pretty certain of is that, with age, processing speed slows down.
Now, is this a result of nerve conduction changes? Or is this more to do with changes in the processes themselves. That is, neuronal connectivity is changing, so the process computation changes as well, and changes in a way that results in slowing of the process. In addition, connectivity may also be changing in terms of a reduction in neural plasticity, the ability of neurons to form (or prune) connections based on experience.
One test I propose is related to ascertaining if the observations about neural changes with age relate to changes in processes vis a vis changes in connectivity. If neural representations are poorer with age, then it also means that they are less able to dissociate between similar representations. That is, aging reduces distinctiveness between neural representations. We should be able to measure this using the adaptation paradigm. In theory, if two representations are similar, the adaptation should be greater. To the extent that two representations are distinct, there will be less adaptation. Thus, with younger adults, there should be less adaptation to similar but different stimuli, or, there should be adaptation only when stimuli are very similar. In older adults, adaptation should happen at a lower threshold of similarity, for stimuli that are in fact quite distinct compared to that for the young.
In addition, since the neural representational quality in the lower perceptual areas feeds the cognitive processes that operate on them downstream (e.g. perceptual matching, target identification, memory, attention, decision-making etc) then it stands that if the neural representation is poorer, the cortex involved in working on these representations will either work harder to produce the same result, or be incapable of producing the same result if the representations were clearer. So, this could be measured as a correlation of frontal cortex activity with the degree of adaptation in the posterior, more perceptual areas.
The Nativity Story
This is a brilliant movie. It is well done, and the dramatization does not compromise scriptural integrity. The acting is moving. The script is delightful and thoughtful, every word has weight. And the cinematography captures the holy land in all its facets. A must see. I am making this a family tradition, to screen this every Christmas.
Movie website, IMDB website
John 1:35-51
The Calling of the Disciples
Note that all these events in these few chapters occur around Bethany. Bethany is reputedly in the south east area (3 miles away) from the Mount of Olives, which is to the east of Jerusalem (check out Google Earth around the Jerusalem area with the "relief" option on to get an idea of the topography and geography). So John was baptizing in this area, Jesus had come to this area too from His home town of Nazereth, and the disciples he gathered here, Andrew, Simon Peter his brother, Nathanael, and Philip, and one other unnamed were staying in this area currently with John the Baptist. However, Andrew, Peter and Philip were from Bethsaida, a city by the north-east coast of Galilee. Two of them, Andrew and the unnamed disciple were followers of John the baptist, up to this point. Note also that these events occured in a matter of days. It appears that first, Jesus came to the area where John was baptizing, and He had lodgings there. On the day John baptize Jesus (from the gospels), John saw the vision of the dove descending on Him and identified Him as the Messiah (but we also know that John was aware of Jesus' identity for before He was baptized and John saw the vision, John already expressed humility in that he was hesitant to baptize Jesus because of his knowledge of His divinity). Note also that John adds translations of Hebrew words into Greek, perhaps being aware that his audience may not be fully Jewish.
Thus the two followers of John must have heard from John himself talk about the coming Messiah. It is therefore no surprise that when John identified Jesus as the Messiah, the two would follow Him. It also appears then, that Jesus did not just arrive on the scene out of nowhere, but that people had already a fair knowledge of His background, who He was as a person, being from Nazereth, and perhaps, He had already showed a little of His thinking in His conversations. For John was "looking at Jesus as He walked". Consider this for yourself, what are you looking at in life?
Perhaps, this event occured over a few hours, where as the two followers were with John, John talked about Jesus, and they considered what John was saying, and then decided to follow Jesus themselves. Regardless, the followers were rewarded by Jesus turning and asking "What do you seek?" This is perhaps a very difficult question for some. What do you seek in life? Some have no aim, or seek nothing. Some seek something that is material, some even seek after something that is spiritual. But perhaps, as long as that which we seek is not God, they all fall short of the ultimate desire. How interesting then, that the disciples' reply was to first acknowledge Him as teacher, and then apparently stating that they seeked to know where He stayed. But even that is enough. To know where the Divine stays. And they saw and stayed with Him. We can only guess the wonderful conversations they must have had during this time in the evening, for it was the tenth hour from sunrise.
The first response from this interaction for Andrew, was to find Simon, and to inform him that he had found the Messiah. Note again, everyone at that time was probably teetering on their toes looking for the Messiah, so this claim from his brother must have caught Simon's attention in some way. To his credit, Simon followed and was immediately declared prophetically by Jesus to be Cephas, or Peter, the rock.
Following this, Jesus wanted to return to Galilee, nearer His hometown. He had apparently come down south for certain reasons, perhaps the baptism, but had completed His purpose here for the moment. We are not told when the 40 days of temptation fit in, but presumably it was after the baptism and before He went back to Galilee. But prior to returning, He found Philip, who was from the same city as Andrew and Peter. So it appears these disciples were not random people, but people who had interacted with Jesus on various other occasions, and were chosen probably partly based on these interactions.
Philip's call to Nathanael again centers around Jesus being the Messiah. And Nathanael's response reveals the attitudes present towards Nazereth, and the inconsistency of a Messiah coming from there, since the Messiah is supposedly good.
The interaction between Jesus and Nathanael is somewhat a mystery, because it seems to be specific to Nathanael's experience. Nevertheless, John the author placed this section here, perhaps to emphasis how the disciples were convinced of Jesus' identity, and how Jesus revealed Himself to them. In Nathanael's case, it was through Jesus revealing His divine knowledge about him in a prophetic manner. Did Nathanael see something under the fig tree? Was he asking about something then? We are not told. But we are told that Jesus promised that he would see even greater things that this simple revelation of the Messiah through a prophetic word. He would see the Messiah Himself in His reconciliatory role (the angels of God ascending and descending are reminiscent of Jacob's vision of the ladder) and in glory.
Note that all these events in these few chapters occur around Bethany. Bethany is reputedly in the south east area (3 miles away) from the Mount of Olives, which is to the east of Jerusalem (check out Google Earth around the Jerusalem area with the "relief" option on to get an idea of the topography and geography). So John was baptizing in this area, Jesus had come to this area too from His home town of Nazereth, and the disciples he gathered here, Andrew, Simon Peter his brother, Nathanael, and Philip, and one other unnamed were staying in this area currently with John the Baptist. However, Andrew, Peter and Philip were from Bethsaida, a city by the north-east coast of Galilee. Two of them, Andrew and the unnamed disciple were followers of John the baptist, up to this point. Note also that these events occured in a matter of days. It appears that first, Jesus came to the area where John was baptizing, and He had lodgings there. On the day John baptize Jesus (from the gospels), John saw the vision of the dove descending on Him and identified Him as the Messiah (but we also know that John was aware of Jesus' identity for before He was baptized and John saw the vision, John already expressed humility in that he was hesitant to baptize Jesus because of his knowledge of His divinity). Note also that John adds translations of Hebrew words into Greek, perhaps being aware that his audience may not be fully Jewish.
Thus the two followers of John must have heard from John himself talk about the coming Messiah. It is therefore no surprise that when John identified Jesus as the Messiah, the two would follow Him. It also appears then, that Jesus did not just arrive on the scene out of nowhere, but that people had already a fair knowledge of His background, who He was as a person, being from Nazereth, and perhaps, He had already showed a little of His thinking in His conversations. For John was "looking at Jesus as He walked". Consider this for yourself, what are you looking at in life?
Perhaps, this event occured over a few hours, where as the two followers were with John, John talked about Jesus, and they considered what John was saying, and then decided to follow Jesus themselves. Regardless, the followers were rewarded by Jesus turning and asking "What do you seek?" This is perhaps a very difficult question for some. What do you seek in life? Some have no aim, or seek nothing. Some seek something that is material, some even seek after something that is spiritual. But perhaps, as long as that which we seek is not God, they all fall short of the ultimate desire. How interesting then, that the disciples' reply was to first acknowledge Him as teacher, and then apparently stating that they seeked to know where He stayed. But even that is enough. To know where the Divine stays. And they saw and stayed with Him. We can only guess the wonderful conversations they must have had during this time in the evening, for it was the tenth hour from sunrise.
The first response from this interaction for Andrew, was to find Simon, and to inform him that he had found the Messiah. Note again, everyone at that time was probably teetering on their toes looking for the Messiah, so this claim from his brother must have caught Simon's attention in some way. To his credit, Simon followed and was immediately declared prophetically by Jesus to be Cephas, or Peter, the rock.
Following this, Jesus wanted to return to Galilee, nearer His hometown. He had apparently come down south for certain reasons, perhaps the baptism, but had completed His purpose here for the moment. We are not told when the 40 days of temptation fit in, but presumably it was after the baptism and before He went back to Galilee. But prior to returning, He found Philip, who was from the same city as Andrew and Peter. So it appears these disciples were not random people, but people who had interacted with Jesus on various other occasions, and were chosen probably partly based on these interactions.
Philip's call to Nathanael again centers around Jesus being the Messiah. And Nathanael's response reveals the attitudes present towards Nazereth, and the inconsistency of a Messiah coming from there, since the Messiah is supposedly good.
The interaction between Jesus and Nathanael is somewhat a mystery, because it seems to be specific to Nathanael's experience. Nevertheless, John the author placed this section here, perhaps to emphasis how the disciples were convinced of Jesus' identity, and how Jesus revealed Himself to them. In Nathanael's case, it was through Jesus revealing His divine knowledge about him in a prophetic manner. Did Nathanael see something under the fig tree? Was he asking about something then? We are not told. But we are told that Jesus promised that he would see even greater things that this simple revelation of the Messiah through a prophetic word. He would see the Messiah Himself in His reconciliatory role (the angels of God ascending and descending are reminiscent of Jacob's vision of the ladder) and in glory.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Pork Rib and Lotus Root soup
Very very healthy soupIngredients
1 Lotus Root (get from oriental market, its a smooth pale-colored root, if you open it up, you'll see some holes. Its like someone took a shot gun and shot through it)
A bunch of pork ribs
A handful of peanuts
If you have baby squid even better!
Method
Just cut up the lotus root into slices, then put it all into a pot of water with the meat, peanuts and squid, and boil boil boil. Keep boiling, then when you think its done, boil some more. Do this for at 3 hrs, the longer the better. Add salt to taste. Then after you've boileded it, you can drink the soup dish with rice.
Teochew Porridge
Teochew MuiOne of the easiest meals to make. Just boil the rice for a very very very long time. Boil until the rice become soft. Then just buy some canned preserved food. Like sardine lah, salted vegetables lah, salted eel lah, sweet peanutes lah, pickles lah, spicy cabbage lah, even kimchi also can, salted egg lah, century egg lah. Then just open and eat direct, or warm up in hot water before you eat, also can. Also can. All also can.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Winter comment
Acherly hor, this winter so far very the wimpy lah. Snow little little, then no more already. But then is a bit the cold lor. Like that how can!?!? Then cold for what? You want to cold, then you must snow, if not then just hot lah. Waste the cold. Anyway, maybe I speak too soon lah. Maybe suddenly the snow will all lau chut lai. So no pic or movie today. Because, nothing to see!
John 1:29-34
"The next day..."
The day after the Baptist was questioned by the priest and Levites sent from the Pharisees, Jesus comes towards John. Perhaps He was already in the vicinity, and people were curious as to who He was. Even John said "I did not know Him", but identified Him as the Lamb of God after he saw the Spirit descend and remain on Him.
This is John the Baptist's testimony as John the author reports it. John was sent to baptize with water, to make straight the path in the wilderness for the coming of the Lord. To prepare people so that the Lord can walk through the wilderness. His baptism and preparation centered around instructing people to repent of their sins and to be cleansed. This is then how John the Baptist summarized the role of Jesus in this section. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is also the One who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. Thus, there is the taking away of sin, as well as the cleansing and purification of our hearts.
This is the testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus. John's Baptism, where did it come from?
Jesus, where did He come from?
We are now faced with this mystery. The Incarnation. God with us, in the flesh, in Jesus. The sacrificial Lamb, like all the lambs sacrificed for the atonement of sin at the Jerusalem temple. And the Holy Spirit in us? Note, previously in the Old Testament, prophets and individuals were anointed, and at times, it is recorded, the Holy Spirit came upon them, for certain works. But here, we are baptized with the Holy Spirit. This is something more than just "coming upon". This is indwelling. This is the Divine in us.
The day after the Baptist was questioned by the priest and Levites sent from the Pharisees, Jesus comes towards John. Perhaps He was already in the vicinity, and people were curious as to who He was. Even John said "I did not know Him", but identified Him as the Lamb of God after he saw the Spirit descend and remain on Him.
This is John the Baptist's testimony as John the author reports it. John was sent to baptize with water, to make straight the path in the wilderness for the coming of the Lord. To prepare people so that the Lord can walk through the wilderness. His baptism and preparation centered around instructing people to repent of their sins and to be cleansed. This is then how John the Baptist summarized the role of Jesus in this section. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is also the One who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. Thus, there is the taking away of sin, as well as the cleansing and purification of our hearts.
This is the testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus. John's Baptism, where did it come from?
Jesus, where did He come from?
We are now faced with this mystery. The Incarnation. God with us, in the flesh, in Jesus. The sacrificial Lamb, like all the lambs sacrificed for the atonement of sin at the Jerusalem temple. And the Holy Spirit in us? Note, previously in the Old Testament, prophets and individuals were anointed, and at times, it is recorded, the Holy Spirit came upon them, for certain works. But here, we are baptized with the Holy Spirit. This is something more than just "coming upon". This is indwelling. This is the Divine in us.
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