Steve Olson January 29, 2007
Posted by The Probabilist in : [Links], Emotions, Goals, Society, Independence, Personal Growth, Beliefs, Work, Blogging , add a comment
Steve Olson has managed to become quite known in the blogosphere after only four months of blogging. I found many similarities in Steve’s reasons to start as he mentions that mediocrity, the common American dream and living as everyone else seems to be living just didn’t cut it any longer. His family is on a self-proclaimed quest of freedom and he’s pouring out his freedom of speech to many people’s delight, amusement and improved clarity of thought.
Steve goes to show that you don’t need to put much effort into making a snappy design, applying lots of fancy plugins or providing lots of media-rich instalments in order to draw attention and grab more readers and traffic. The attention grabber is found in the phrasing of his topics that are known to fare well on social bookmarking sites. (Just look at his top entries in the sidebar and you can learn something.) Moreover, the contents then add a stickiness to the blog as many readers find reasons to reply to his entries, be it either controversial or downright useful information he provides.
I’d say his main point of interest is his (debunking) thoughts on the education system and how to generate income. And since this issue finally seems to surface in the minds of the majority of people as they start to notice the real effects of the information age, it’s bound to elicit more discussion. He’s also a stickler for questioning things, which is a great virtue and prerequisite for making major leaps on a quest like theirs.
Steve-olson.com is a daily read for me since there’s always a new perspective to be gained on the social, emotional, financial and educational hot potatoes that dominate the current era we dwell in. How we actually respond and relate to them is what ultimately and solely affect the results we get in and out of life. Pay his blog a visit and browse through his archives and you’re sure to find something interesting.
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Tao Te Ching January 21, 2007
Posted by The Probabilist in : [Books], Consciousness, Emotions, Philosophy, Beliefs, History , 1 comment so far
Lao Tsu is estimated to have written Tao Te Ching somewhere in the 6th century B.C. in China. It comprises of 81 single paged musings or lessons of wisdom explaining the way of the Tao. The Tao, which more correctly is without a name, is according to my interpretation a spiritually guided code of behaviour, mind-set, understanding and source of the origin and continuity of all there is. Surpassed only by the Bible, this book is the most translated work in history.
Starting off, I had some trouble getting into a suitable reading mood and way of thought to become receptive to Tsu’s message. I’m guessing it’s because I’m a fairly decisive, rational and definite thinker of things. Nevertheless, I slowly sunk into the text and its meanings with further depth and found some valuable insights along. However, I found quite a similar amount of questions and slight objections running through my mind as well.
I’ll only explain one major question mark in this review that raised the biggest conundrum in me. I spent most of my life in the consciousness level of neutrality, which is noted by a very care-free, indifferent and action-free state of mind. Surpassing that stage I began to care more for my surrounding, taking action and genuinely wanting to make a difference. Conversely, I interpreted Lao Tsu’s words saying that enlightenment means not doing anything, not interfering with the universe and just accepting everything to happen as it does - Fatalism. While I did fancy that way of thinking in the past, I just couldn’t see it aligned with having a purpose of existing.
Tao Te Ching is not meant to give the same impression to every reader. While everyone comes from and with a different environment, upbringing and personality, it is still meant to be a guide to understanding the true nature of the unseen reality - that which exists regardless of what the tangible reality consists of or is governed by. Even though I wasn’t personally touched or surprised by the contents to a great degree, I can imagine that it might be and do those things to others. The overall impression is still a very healthy one as this book directs much attention to inner feelings that guide behaviour as well as interrelated actions between humans. Do give Tao Te Ching a read through if you can’t seem to find meaning or balance in the universe.
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