I've heard many theories about "meaning" within dreams. Some will say "water stands for knowledge" and so on. That's somewhat like saying your subconscious mind is a like an author following a formal code to create a private screen-play you view in your mind at night.
Without thinking about it too much, for the longest time I have felt that there is really a more plausible explanation for it all. It's this: your subconscious is just creating imagery that is consistent with the emotions you are already dealing with.
So, say you feel threatened in a work situation -- you may dream of being robbed (both are threatening). A dream involves some physical limitation (running? talking?) -- but lately you've been thinking that some external factor is causing you to miss out on an opportunity (emotionally both are frustrating). Financial worries plus dreams of being chased (too obvious). It works just as well for happy dreams too.
I can't recall a dream in years (mine or one described to me) in which I could not fairly easily match up the action with a prominent day-time emotion.
Mar 13, 2007
Jan 18, 2007
Sony -- never again
Hmmm.... a blog is good as any place to relate ones experiences with consumer products. Especially complaints that might provide useful insight for others out there. So, here it goes.
Sony does not stand behind their products and they do it in a way that shows contempt for their customers when it comes to parts/repair service. Two cases in point:
1) Years ago I decided to take an extended road trip through out the West and South West of the USA, so I had a Sony 10 disc CD changer installed in my car and off I went. The unit worked well enough although it didn't do a great job in terms of fidelity. But the point is that a few years later it malfunctioned. Sony has a service drop-off point in my area and for each product category they have a fixed price for repair. In the case of CD players like mine the fixed price was $125 -- which I thought was high but the unit cost me $400 and they were selling their current line of similar products for about $250 so it seemed like a worthwhile repair considering that the mounting in the trunk and the wiring from the trunk to the car stereo wouldn't have to change.
Well, Sony decided that my unit was "too old" for the (promised) fixed price repair to be honored. They offered instead to repair it for $300! Remember that the new and improved units were now selling for $250? You have to wonder why a company would even make an offer like this? And who would ever accept an offer like that?
2) Again a CD player, but this time a super duper portable with radio and other nice features. Not something anyone would buy today (this was the pre-iPod era) but it was their top of the line model back then and was $125. The thing was meant for active use (shock and skip protection) but one short drop to the ground and it was toast. From my previous experience I knew that this unit's cost was right at the fixed price repair cost. They had cheapened their newer units so the current top-of-the-line unit was more like $89 and it looked cheap and lacked features I wanted, so that wasn't an option. I figured that I'm pretty handy and that if it was a mechanical problem I could get a replacement part. I opened it up and sure enough the broken piece was obvious. It was a sled that carried the optical unit of the device. The sled had a tab on each side that kept it firmly in a track as a lead-screw device moved it back and forth. One of the tabs was broken but it was too small to provide a good bearing surface for being glued back in place. No problem - what could a new sled cost from their parts department? Go ahead and guess. Now double it and double it again and again. They wanted $65 for this piece of plastic! Most of their CD Walkman models cost less than that. You have to wonder why they do things like that.
So Sony, if there are car or home stereos in my future, camcorders or laptops, flat panel TVs or DVD players I can assure you they won't be Sony's.
Sony does not stand behind their products and they do it in a way that shows contempt for their customers when it comes to parts/repair service. Two cases in point:
1) Years ago I decided to take an extended road trip through out the West and South West of the USA, so I had a Sony 10 disc CD changer installed in my car and off I went. The unit worked well enough although it didn't do a great job in terms of fidelity. But the point is that a few years later it malfunctioned. Sony has a service drop-off point in my area and for each product category they have a fixed price for repair. In the case of CD players like mine the fixed price was $125 -- which I thought was high but the unit cost me $400 and they were selling their current line of similar products for about $250 so it seemed like a worthwhile repair considering that the mounting in the trunk and the wiring from the trunk to the car stereo wouldn't have to change.
Well, Sony decided that my unit was "too old" for the (promised) fixed price repair to be honored. They offered instead to repair it for $300! Remember that the new and improved units were now selling for $250? You have to wonder why a company would even make an offer like this? And who would ever accept an offer like that?
2) Again a CD player, but this time a super duper portable with radio and other nice features. Not something anyone would buy today (this was the pre-iPod era) but it was their top of the line model back then and was $125. The thing was meant for active use (shock and skip protection) but one short drop to the ground and it was toast. From my previous experience I knew that this unit's cost was right at the fixed price repair cost. They had cheapened their newer units so the current top-of-the-line unit was more like $89 and it looked cheap and lacked features I wanted, so that wasn't an option. I figured that I'm pretty handy and that if it was a mechanical problem I could get a replacement part. I opened it up and sure enough the broken piece was obvious. It was a sled that carried the optical unit of the device. The sled had a tab on each side that kept it firmly in a track as a lead-screw device moved it back and forth. One of the tabs was broken but it was too small to provide a good bearing surface for being glued back in place. No problem - what could a new sled cost from their parts department? Go ahead and guess. Now double it and double it again and again. They wanted $65 for this piece of plastic! Most of their CD Walkman models cost less than that. You have to wonder why they do things like that.
So Sony, if there are car or home stereos in my future, camcorders or laptops, flat panel TVs or DVD players I can assure you they won't be Sony's.
Dec 22, 2006
Roasting Coffee
I just read an article in Make Magazine (issue #8) on how to make your own coffee roaster. The project involves a small propane tank and an electric screwdriver and some other parts. I read the instructions thoroughly and then went out and got an iRoast Electric Coffee Roaster which is made by a company called Hearthware.
Within 10 minutes of having it home it had been rinsed, towel dried, set-up and loaded with green coffee beans. You then have to press a button to select one of the two preset roasting schedules but you can also make up your own roasting schedule (how many minutes at what temperature, then how many minutes at a different temperature and so on). I select preset #2 for dark roast and away it goes blowing heated air through the bottom center of the glass roasting container.
The heated air blows the beans up and away from the heating element to where they land at the outer edge of the glass container. The next coffee beans in line slide toward the center and over the heating element like so many amusement park goers getting their turn on the roller coaster. As the beans fly around inside the glass container the chaff from the roasting process is captured in a compartment above it. After about 1 minute the green coffee beans take on a tan color and by two minutes they are darker still as you remove the battery from your smoke detector. In five more minutes you'll notice they are quite dark as you open the back door to let some of the smoke out of your kitchen. After about 12 minutes the beans are dark brown just like you normally get them from the store.
The roasting container accommodates up to two scoops of beans using the scooper provided with the unit. This turns out to be 2 full loads for the hopper of my coffee grinder. Anyway, the freshly roasted, and still warm, beans smell great after they've been ground. I'm somewhat surprised that this turns out to be more than a gimmick as I sit here enjoying one of the very few cups of coffee that I've ever enjoyed -- with nothing added.
Within 10 minutes of having it home it had been rinsed, towel dried, set-up and loaded with green coffee beans. You then have to press a button to select one of the two preset roasting schedules but you can also make up your own roasting schedule (how many minutes at what temperature, then how many minutes at a different temperature and so on). I select preset #2 for dark roast and away it goes blowing heated air through the bottom center of the glass roasting container.
The heated air blows the beans up and away from the heating element to where they land at the outer edge of the glass container. The next coffee beans in line slide toward the center and over the heating element like so many amusement park goers getting their turn on the roller coaster. As the beans fly around inside the glass container the chaff from the roasting process is captured in a compartment above it. After about 1 minute the green coffee beans take on a tan color and by two minutes they are darker still as you remove the battery from your smoke detector. In five more minutes you'll notice they are quite dark as you open the back door to let some of the smoke out of your kitchen. After about 12 minutes the beans are dark brown just like you normally get them from the store.
The roasting container accommodates up to two scoops of beans using the scooper provided with the unit. This turns out to be 2 full loads for the hopper of my coffee grinder. Anyway, the freshly roasted, and still warm, beans smell great after they've been ground. I'm somewhat surprised that this turns out to be more than a gimmick as I sit here enjoying one of the very few cups of coffee that I've ever enjoyed -- with nothing added.
Oct 15, 2004
The Importance of Stories
What is it about the human brain and stories? It seems that stories,
and I mean the concept of stories, is deeply interwoven in our
essential being...
The following are at some level, nothing more than stories:
Cave Paintings, Epic Poems, Novels, Plays, Operas, Songs, TV,
Movies and even Legends and Gossip -- all just story telling.
and I mean the concept of stories, is deeply interwoven in our
essential being...
The following are at some level, nothing more than stories:
Cave Paintings, Epic Poems, Novels, Plays, Operas, Songs, TV,
Movies and even Legends and Gossip -- all just story telling.
Sep 28, 2004
Organ Grinder Monkeys
We knew they were smart - trained Capuchin monkeys are clever
assistants for Italian organ grinders. They are the same species that
have been trained as "helper monkeys" for quadriplegics. But even
though they have the highest brain-to-body size ratio of any primate
other than humans, how do they know this...
During the rainy season when mosquitoes bother them, Capuchins
rub their fur with crushed millipedes that produce a chemical insect
repellent!
assistants for Italian organ grinders. They are the same species that
have been trained as "helper monkeys" for quadriplegics. But even
though they have the highest brain-to-body size ratio of any primate
other than humans, how do they know this...
During the rainy season when mosquitoes bother them, Capuchins
rub their fur with crushed millipedes that produce a chemical insect
repellent!
Jun 21, 2004
Ad hominem
From The Wikipedia
An ad hominem argument... is a logical fallacy that involves replying
to an argument or assertion by addressing the person presenting the
argument or assertion rather than the argument itself.
...
As a technique of rhetoric, it is powerful and used often, despite its
lack of subtlety.
An ad hominem argument... is a logical fallacy that involves replying
to an argument or assertion by addressing the person presenting the
argument or assertion rather than the argument itself.
...
As a technique of rhetoric, it is powerful and used often, despite its
lack of subtlety.
Jun 17, 2004
The Pledge
I just heard that the Pledge of Allegiance didn't have the words
"under god" until 1954. Eisenhower signed the change as
another means of differentiating the US from the (atheist) USSR.
"under god" until 1954. Eisenhower signed the change as
another means of differentiating the US from the (atheist) USSR.
Apr 20, 2004
Landmark Education (The Forum)
Do you know people who have attended this seminar? I do
and have attended myself. It seems that so many "graduates"
cannot stop talking about the central themes of "integrity",
"being their word" and others. It's like they really cannot
stop talking about it.
But that's not the weird thing about it. What's really weird
is how impossible it seems to be for these people to actually
do what they say (be their word) or have integrity (which
I think of as actions consistent with their stated beliefs).
It's like a truly rare thing with these people.
Now, I'll admit that I may have meet people who have
integrity and have attended The Forum but who just don't
talk about it. But it is safe to say that the more
out-of-the-closet a Landmark graduate... the more vocal...
the more true this trend seems to be.
and have attended myself. It seems that so many "graduates"
cannot stop talking about the central themes of "integrity",
"being their word" and others. It's like they really cannot
stop talking about it.
But that's not the weird thing about it. What's really weird
is how impossible it seems to be for these people to actually
do what they say (be their word) or have integrity (which
I think of as actions consistent with their stated beliefs).
It's like a truly rare thing with these people.
Now, I'll admit that I may have meet people who have
integrity and have attended The Forum but who just don't
talk about it. But it is safe to say that the more
out-of-the-closet a Landmark graduate... the more vocal...
the more true this trend seems to be.
Mar 9, 2004
Spalding Gray
I was very sorry to hear that they found his body today. I had
really hoped that he had found a way to cope and come out this
better for it.
Man, they don't make 'em like that anymore.
(update: since Spalding Gray's passing yet another stray cat
came into our lives. This one is completely gray in color so
he has been named... Spalding)
really hoped that he had found a way to cope and come out this
better for it.
Man, they don't make 'em like that anymore.
(update: since Spalding Gray's passing yet another stray cat
came into our lives. This one is completely gray in color so
he has been named... Spalding)
Feb 22, 2004
Latin Wisdom
From Pubilius Syrus: Pecunia avarum irritat non satiat
translation: The greed of money excites but doesn't satisfy.
translation: The greed of money excites but doesn't satisfy.
Feb 19, 2004
Bad Marketing
It doesn't happen very often but every once in a
while I see a commercial that I find so dissonant...
so incredibly annoying... that I get a permanent
negative association with the product it's pitching.
This is the case with every single commercial made
for YELLOW BOOK.
The new copies of YELLOW BOOK that showed up
in my lobby (like so much other junk mail) just went
directly into the recycle bin!
while I see a commercial that I find so dissonant...
so incredibly annoying... that I get a permanent
negative association with the product it's pitching.
This is the case with every single commercial made
for YELLOW BOOK.
The new copies of YELLOW BOOK that showed up
in my lobby (like so much other junk mail) just went
directly into the recycle bin!
Jan 15, 2004
Cost of Neutrality
I was looking over some stats for the previous 3 presidential elections.
2000 (too close to list these as percentages)
------------------------
Gore 50,996,582
Bush 50,456,062 (540,520 less!)
Nader 2,858,843
1996
------------------------
Clinton 50%
Dole 42%
Perot 8%
1992
------------------------
Clinton 43%
Bush 37.7%
Perot 19%
From these figures alone you might argue that the independent
candidate in the last 3 elections probably affected the outcome.
Some might also argue that in all three elections the
independent candidate got votes that are likely to have been
cast for the loser among the two non-independent candidates.
But, take a look at these statistics. These are the numbers of
eligible votes who actually voted in each of those past elections:
Participation
-------------------------------
2000 (51.3% of eligible voters)
1996 (48.8% of eligible voters)
1992 (55.2% of eligible voters)
Clearly, if these voters showed up each race could have
been entirely different. Since many feel that we are
now in a time of crisis I leave this message to the
folks that didn't make it to the polls last time:
"The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who,
in times of great moral crisis, remain neutral."
-Dante
2000 (too close to list these as percentages)
------------------------
Gore 50,996,582
Bush 50,456,062 (540,520 less!)
Nader 2,858,843
1996
------------------------
Clinton 50%
Dole 42%
Perot 8%
1992
------------------------
Clinton 43%
Bush 37.7%
Perot 19%
From these figures alone you might argue that the independent
candidate in the last 3 elections probably affected the outcome.
Some might also argue that in all three elections the
independent candidate got votes that are likely to have been
cast for the loser among the two non-independent candidates.
But, take a look at these statistics. These are the numbers of
eligible votes who actually voted in each of those past elections:
Participation
-------------------------------
2000 (51.3% of eligible voters)
1996 (48.8% of eligible voters)
1992 (55.2% of eligible voters)
Clearly, if these voters showed up each race could have
been entirely different. Since many feel that we are
now in a time of crisis I leave this message to the
folks that didn't make it to the polls last time:
"The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who,
in times of great moral crisis, remain neutral."
-Dante
Jan 11, 2004
Neuromarketing
A study done by a high school student (and his father) while
working in his father's MRI imaging lab amounts to a high
tech version of Pepsi challenge.
When subjects were given Coke or Pepsi (without knowing
which) the MRI scanner showed that Pepsi drinkers had
activity in areas of the brain associated with reward more
often than among those drinking Coke (i.e., Pepsi tastes
better).
However, when subjects knew what they were drinking the
Coke drinkers showed activity in the areas associated with
reward as well as the areas associated with motivation and
sense of self. The reaction was dramatic and there was no
such response among Pepsi drinkers. This is consistent with
the fact that Pepsi does win taste tests but Coke sells more
product.
It turns out that there are marketing firms that already
specialize in this type of work.
working in his father's MRI imaging lab amounts to a high
tech version of Pepsi challenge.
When subjects were given Coke or Pepsi (without knowing
which) the MRI scanner showed that Pepsi drinkers had
activity in areas of the brain associated with reward more
often than among those drinking Coke (i.e., Pepsi tastes
better).
However, when subjects knew what they were drinking the
Coke drinkers showed activity in the areas associated with
reward as well as the areas associated with motivation and
sense of self. The reaction was dramatic and there was no
such response among Pepsi drinkers. This is consistent with
the fact that Pepsi does win taste tests but Coke sells more
product.
It turns out that there are marketing firms that already
specialize in this type of work.
Bush's Proposals on Immigration and Manned Exploration of Mars
President Bush has recently offered up proposals on both immigration-law reform and on
manned exploration of Mars.
Let's expose this for what it really is. First off, my sources indicate that Halliburton already has a lock on the contracts to build oil pipelines back from both Mars and the moon!
And you can pretty much bet that Bush's proposal for an over haul of immigration laws is going to include verbiage that lets Martians work here for less than the minimum wage!
manned exploration of Mars.
Let's expose this for what it really is. First off, my sources indicate that Halliburton already has a lock on the contracts to build oil pipelines back from both Mars and the moon!
And you can pretty much bet that Bush's proposal for an over haul of immigration laws is going to include verbiage that lets Martians work here for less than the minimum wage!
Jan 7, 2004
Levitra. As in levitate...
These days many commercials for pharmaceuticals don't really even say what they are for. I guess if they're for you then you just know it. I have seen this a few times now and still didn't get it. There is a picture of a 40ish guy and the voice over says "some times you need a little help getting back in the game" as this guy throws a football at a tire hanging on a rope. He misses.
The music picks up to a chipper beat and he throws the ball through the tire several... I mean multiple times. The woman in his life see this and apparently, it's good. She smiles. They embrace as he deftly flings the ball over his shoulder and it accurately penetrates the opening in the woodshed and lands right in...the box.
Since I'm not a sports fan I assumed this guy was a recognized quarterback who had a shoulder injury or something... maybe arthritis and this medicine helped his throwing arm. Until I came across this on the NPR site I didn't know this medicine is a new competitor to Viagra!
NPR : Slate's Ad Report Card: Levitra's Tire Swing
The music picks up to a chipper beat and he throws the ball through the tire several... I mean multiple times. The woman in his life see this and apparently, it's good. She smiles. They embrace as he deftly flings the ball over his shoulder and it accurately penetrates the opening in the woodshed and lands right in...the box.
Since I'm not a sports fan I assumed this guy was a recognized quarterback who had a shoulder injury or something... maybe arthritis and this medicine helped his throwing arm. Until I came across this on the NPR site I didn't know this medicine is a new competitor to Viagra!
NPR : Slate's Ad Report Card: Levitra's Tire Swing
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