Monday, November 3, 2008
Virtual Forbidden City
Check out http://www.beyondspaceandtime.org It is a online model of the Forbidden City in Beijing. You can take tours and talk to people and stuff. Too cool.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Turnips are singularly broad-minded.
This is the first paragraph of the last chapter of "Heretics" by G.K. Chesterton. It states nicely the fact that progress should be seen in coming to more conclusions about life, not in becoming more confused and "open."
"Whether the human mind can advance or not, is a question too little discussed, for nothing can be more dangerous than to found our social philosophy on any theory which is debatable but has not been debated. But if we assume, for the sake of argument, that there has been in the past, or will be in the future, such a thing as a growth or improvement of the human mind itself, there still remains a very sharp objection to be raised against the modern version of that improvement. The vice of the modern notion of mental progress is that it is always something concerned with the breaking of bonds, the effacing of boundaries, the casting away of dogmas. But if there be such a thing as mental growth, it must mean the growth into more and more definite convictions, into more and more dogmas. The human brain is a machine for coming to conclusions; if it cannot come to conclusions it is rusty. When we hear of a man too clever to believe, we are hearing of something having almost the character of a contradiction in terms. It is like hearing of a nail that was too good to hold down a carpet; or a bolt that was too strong to keep a door shut. Man can hardly be defined, after the fashion of Carlyle, as an animal who makes tools; ants and beavers and many other animals make tools, in the sense that they make an apparatus. Man can be defined as an animal that makes dogmas. As he piles doctrine on doctrine and conclusion on conclusion in the formation of some tremendous scheme of philosophy and religion, he is, in the only legitimate sense of which the expression is capable, becoming more and more human. When he drops one doctrine after another in a refined skepticism, when he declines to tie himself to a system, when he says that he has outgrown definitions, when he says that he disbelieves in finality, when, in his own imagination, he sits as God, holding no form of creed but contemplating all, then he is by that very process sinking slowly backwards into the vagueness of the vagrant animals and the unconsciousness of the grass. Trees have no dogmas. Turnips are singularly broad-minded."
"Whether the human mind can advance or not, is a question too little discussed, for nothing can be more dangerous than to found our social philosophy on any theory which is debatable but has not been debated. But if we assume, for the sake of argument, that there has been in the past, or will be in the future, such a thing as a growth or improvement of the human mind itself, there still remains a very sharp objection to be raised against the modern version of that improvement. The vice of the modern notion of mental progress is that it is always something concerned with the breaking of bonds, the effacing of boundaries, the casting away of dogmas. But if there be such a thing as mental growth, it must mean the growth into more and more definite convictions, into more and more dogmas. The human brain is a machine for coming to conclusions; if it cannot come to conclusions it is rusty. When we hear of a man too clever to believe, we are hearing of something having almost the character of a contradiction in terms. It is like hearing of a nail that was too good to hold down a carpet; or a bolt that was too strong to keep a door shut. Man can hardly be defined, after the fashion of Carlyle, as an animal who makes tools; ants and beavers and many other animals make tools, in the sense that they make an apparatus. Man can be defined as an animal that makes dogmas. As he piles doctrine on doctrine and conclusion on conclusion in the formation of some tremendous scheme of philosophy and religion, he is, in the only legitimate sense of which the expression is capable, becoming more and more human. When he drops one doctrine after another in a refined skepticism, when he declines to tie himself to a system, when he says that he has outgrown definitions, when he says that he disbelieves in finality, when, in his own imagination, he sits as God, holding no form of creed but contemplating all, then he is by that very process sinking slowly backwards into the vagueness of the vagrant animals and the unconsciousness of the grass. Trees have no dogmas. Turnips are singularly broad-minded."
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
146
Poor soul, the center of thy sinful earth,
My sinful earth these rebel pow'rs that thee array,
Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth,
Painting thy outward walls so costly gay?
Why so large cost, having so short a lease,
Shall worms, inheritors of this excess,
Eat up thy charge? Is this thy body's end?
Then, soul, live thou upon thy servant's loss,
And let that pine to aggravate thy store:
Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross:
Within be fed, without be rich no more:
So shalt thou feed on Death, that feeds on men,
And Death once dead, there's no more dying then.
Shakespeare (of course)
My sinful earth these rebel pow'rs that thee array,
Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth,
Painting thy outward walls so costly gay?
Why so large cost, having so short a lease,
Shall worms, inheritors of this excess,
Eat up thy charge? Is this thy body's end?
Then, soul, live thou upon thy servant's loss,
And let that pine to aggravate thy store:
Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross:
Within be fed, without be rich no more:
So shalt thou feed on Death, that feeds on men,
And Death once dead, there's no more dying then.
Shakespeare (of course)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Vaccine
I took Caedmon for a vaccination today while my wife was teaching. The folks all said he was a real cute little guy as always. I'm a proud papa!
The nurse was pretty skillful with the needle. She pulled Caedmon's sleeve down and stuck the needle in--a long way--and gave him the shot. He didn't seem to notice until as she was pulling the needle out and then he said, "Aaaah." and was happy again. He didn't even cry. He just said, "Aaaah." He's a trooper.
Here are some pictures of him enjoying a morning nap.
The nurse was pretty skillful with the needle. She pulled Caedmon's sleeve down and stuck the needle in--a long way--and gave him the shot. He didn't seem to notice until as she was pulling the needle out and then he said, "Aaaah." and was happy again. He didn't even cry. He just said, "Aaaah." He's a trooper.
Here are some pictures of him enjoying a morning nap.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Wasting Time
Hi Friends and Family,
As you can tell, having a baby has kept me busy. I haven't posted for a while. I have been taking care of the baby and studying Chinese and doing some other things.
My Chinese has made great progress. I have been reading The Three Character Classic with the (very necessary) help of a commentary. I'm almost done with the book/poem now. When I finish, I plan to take a break on Chinese for a while. I have gotten pretty obsessed with this studying Chinese thing, so I need to take some time to get my life back in order. I really enjoy studying and learning tons of new things about Chinese ancient history and culture and literature, but at the end of the day I feel a bit restless, like it has all been in vain. It brings to mind a line from one of my favorite books, Ecclesiastes: "And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."
As you can tell, having a baby has kept me busy. I haven't posted for a while. I have been taking care of the baby and studying Chinese and doing some other things.
My Chinese has made great progress. I have been reading The Three Character Classic with the (very necessary) help of a commentary. I'm almost done with the book/poem now. When I finish, I plan to take a break on Chinese for a while. I have gotten pretty obsessed with this studying Chinese thing, so I need to take some time to get my life back in order. I really enjoy studying and learning tons of new things about Chinese ancient history and culture and literature, but at the end of the day I feel a bit restless, like it has all been in vain. It brings to mind a line from one of my favorite books, Ecclesiastes: "And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."
Monday, June 9, 2008
Lately
Been a bit busy lately. I haven't really had time to post for a while. Little Caedmon has been good usually. Today though he seems to be unhappy for some reason. At first I thought it was because he was figuring out that he could get picked up whenever he cries, but now I think he probably has some stomach pain. I hope the poor guy gets better soon.
We took him out for the first time on Wednesday last week. We had tried to take him out a few days before, but there is a tradition here that a mom and her newborn cannot go outside for a whole month. We, not really holding too much stock in that custom, wanted to go out for a walk. When we got to the ground floor of our building, the door keeper ladies where aghast that we would go outside before the month was over. They tried to physically prevent us from going outside. One of the ladies especially was becoming a bit angry at us. She said, "Poppy, how silly can you be? You still have two days left before you can go outside! This is a matter of lifetime importance!" A man walked in at that time and wondered out loud, "What! Even a Chinese girl doesn't know about this?" Poppy was a great sport. She was cool and happy about the whole situation. I wasn't.
On Wednesday we went out for a walk (the first month being over). We put Caedmon in a front carrier and walked around our neighborhood. We really enjoyed it. He created quite a stir wherever we went. Most people wouldn't even notice him riding in front of me, but if a person noticed him they usually seemed pretty surprised and delighted. Many people stopped in their tracks to turn around and look at him while we walked by.
Our trip on Saturday to Walmart was less idyllic. We ate lunch at KFC and then went shopping afterwards. The meal was nice, but it was a little difficult trying not to drop crumbs on the sleeping youngster under my chin. The shopping trip was a little more challenging. First, we went to the baby section to buy some wet wipes. The workers saw us coming from across the aisle and were there to greet us. They ooh-ed and ah-ed for a little while. Then there was a little boy who came beside me and just stared at Caedmon and me. As long as we were in the baby section this boy just stared and stared.
Then we went to buy something at the Adidas stand, which was in the cosmetics area. As soon as we entered, we were swarmed by cosmetics vendors plus a few customers. We tried to keep moving to avoid making a scene, but there were a lot of people wanting to ask questions and peek at him. There was one lady, a customer, who was really displeased with us. She first said that Caedmon was too small to go out. Then she was criticizing the way we were carrying him. She began to get louder and louder in her denunciations. She followed us to the Adidas area and stood there criticizing Poppy and me while I chose the stuff I wanted to buy. So much for not making a scene.
In light of this and other experiences I have had recently, it seems that I am wearing a sign around my neck that says, "I'm a parent. Please criticize me." People see us and say, "Those look like new parents! Let's go give them lots of useful tips!"
I'm trying to have a good attitude about it, but I'm not used to all of this criticism and unsolicited advice. Poppy, as always, is really wonderful about it. She is a good encouragement to me. She always says, "Sure I don't agree with them, but they are only concerned."
However, as I once again walk into my building with Caedmon, my shirt getting wet with sweat and my hat band getting moist, and the ladies shake their heads, make a tisk-tisk sound and tell me that my baby is too cold and should be wearing a blanket over his two layers of clothes and foam baby carrier, I feel that old sense of pride telling me to be annoyed.
Having a child reveals yet more places in my heart that I need God to change. It would be nice if he would choose to change me by having everyone tell me what a great and talented dad they think I am.
We took him out for the first time on Wednesday last week. We had tried to take him out a few days before, but there is a tradition here that a mom and her newborn cannot go outside for a whole month. We, not really holding too much stock in that custom, wanted to go out for a walk. When we got to the ground floor of our building, the door keeper ladies where aghast that we would go outside before the month was over. They tried to physically prevent us from going outside. One of the ladies especially was becoming a bit angry at us. She said, "Poppy, how silly can you be? You still have two days left before you can go outside! This is a matter of lifetime importance!" A man walked in at that time and wondered out loud, "What! Even a Chinese girl doesn't know about this?" Poppy was a great sport. She was cool and happy about the whole situation. I wasn't.
On Wednesday we went out for a walk (the first month being over). We put Caedmon in a front carrier and walked around our neighborhood. We really enjoyed it. He created quite a stir wherever we went. Most people wouldn't even notice him riding in front of me, but if a person noticed him they usually seemed pretty surprised and delighted. Many people stopped in their tracks to turn around and look at him while we walked by.
Our trip on Saturday to Walmart was less idyllic. We ate lunch at KFC and then went shopping afterwards. The meal was nice, but it was a little difficult trying not to drop crumbs on the sleeping youngster under my chin. The shopping trip was a little more challenging. First, we went to the baby section to buy some wet wipes. The workers saw us coming from across the aisle and were there to greet us. They ooh-ed and ah-ed for a little while. Then there was a little boy who came beside me and just stared at Caedmon and me. As long as we were in the baby section this boy just stared and stared.
Then we went to buy something at the Adidas stand, which was in the cosmetics area. As soon as we entered, we were swarmed by cosmetics vendors plus a few customers. We tried to keep moving to avoid making a scene, but there were a lot of people wanting to ask questions and peek at him. There was one lady, a customer, who was really displeased with us. She first said that Caedmon was too small to go out. Then she was criticizing the way we were carrying him. She began to get louder and louder in her denunciations. She followed us to the Adidas area and stood there criticizing Poppy and me while I chose the stuff I wanted to buy. So much for not making a scene.
In light of this and other experiences I have had recently, it seems that I am wearing a sign around my neck that says, "I'm a parent. Please criticize me." People see us and say, "Those look like new parents! Let's go give them lots of useful tips!"
I'm trying to have a good attitude about it, but I'm not used to all of this criticism and unsolicited advice. Poppy, as always, is really wonderful about it. She is a good encouragement to me. She always says, "Sure I don't agree with them, but they are only concerned."
However, as I once again walk into my building with Caedmon, my shirt getting wet with sweat and my hat band getting moist, and the ladies shake their heads, make a tisk-tisk sound and tell me that my baby is too cold and should be wearing a blanket over his two layers of clothes and foam baby carrier, I feel that old sense of pride telling me to be annoyed.
Having a child reveals yet more places in my heart that I need God to change. It would be nice if he would choose to change me by having everyone tell me what a great and talented dad they think I am.
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