Adventures of a Digital Visionary

Web game provides breakthrough in predicting spread of epidemics | Science Blog

2006-01-25T23:33:00.000-08:00

Web game provides breakthrough in predicting spread of epidemics | Science Blog:

I really think something exciting is happening.

Just you watch...

Evil Voices

2005-12-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

Sent to me by a good friend:

"It happens, the evil inclination convinces one that he has committed a great sin, even though the sin in question was but a stringency or, perhaps, not even a sin at all. The intention of the inclination is one pointed to cause this person to fall into despair, resulting in his ceasing study of Torah.

"Every person needs to see through these convincing mind patterns and to learn to respond to this insidious voice with this affirmation, "I am not concerned with what you claim to be an important transgression. Your intention is to take me away from the precious study of Torah. You speak lies! I refuse to consider what you have to say! Even if I have committed a transgression I will give my creator greater delight in refusing to let this thought bring me to despair. Rather than letting this create a chasm between sacred work and myself I will use this moment to serve God in joy!"

"For this is an important spiritual principle: "The intention of my service is not for myself, but to cause a pleasing spirit for the Blessed One. Even if I did not concern myself with this stringency you have now made me aware of, I don't believe the Blessed One will mind, since my sole intention is not to be distracted from serving God. How could I be distracted even for one moment?

"This is a great principle in serving God: to guard oneself from despair with all one's capacities."

Sources:
Tzavaat Rivash, no.44:
Tzavot HaRivash (The Testament of the Baal Shem Tov). Brooklyn: Kehot, 1975.
and Or HaEmet, p. 103b.

First Personal Blog: The Quest for Happiness

2005-12-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

To blog or not to blog, that is the question.

Actually, it's more like: Will I blog or not?

Time will tell. Blogging is scary. I started the other poi blog and have felt a little hestitant, as I've been really... depressed.

There! I said it! Ha ha haaha hkarhurp... ha!

Yes, depressed. And I want to stop feeling embarrassed about it. After all, how bad can a guy who learned to spell embarrassed all on his own be.

It goes like this: I have a naturally tendency to get depressed. It's my artistic temperment. There are triggers. I still don't know what depression is, or how it works. Where are those lines, between thoughts and brain chemistry. Nobody really knows, as far as I know.

...but several years of financial crisis, and all the falling on my face I've done trying to get out of financial crisis hasn't helped. Yes, I need to learn to be happy even when things aren't going well. I would also probably benefit from maybe a little success or two, or knowing how I'm going to pay rent.

But this blog isn't about depression, really. It's about happiness. Or maybe it's about truth. And the truth is, I would really rather be happy.

The truth is, I am surrounded by amazing people who love me even when I hate myself.

The truth is, everybody has strengths and weaknesses.

So... there you go.

Happiness is watching Spock sing the Bilbo Baggins Balard.

http://www.tolkiencollector.com/bilbo5.mov

Logging out,

nick