Nigel discusses the effects of the melting of masses of ice and its effect on sea levels.
Nigel now talks with optimism about humans pulling together to deal with a crisis. The mix of cultural backgrounds in The States will be more positive than the mono culture of the Chinese. Men and society would benefit by them having more testosterone which together with exercise will help to counter the increasing anxiety in our society by encouraging more risk taking.
Thanks Nigel. It's good to listen to someone who spends time thinking about what is happening around us.
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Monday, 2 August 2010
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Stress
I read recently someone say
"I feel underpressure already in my life at the moment"
Is this a sign of stress?
(Which it probably isn't; but if it was)
How do people react to the statement (mine) ?
"Stress is a perception, not a reality"
"I feel under
Is this a sign of stress?
(Which it probably isn't; but if it was)
How do people react to the statement (mine) ?
"Stress is a perception, not a reality"
Friday, 28 May 2010
Motivation
Motivation is a subject that is fascinating me at the moment.
If we understood it, it would enlighten our approach to many subjects:
What motivates nations to fight?
What motivates us to get on with others. How much does passing laws help?
What motivates us to learn?
The Thinker, sculpture by Auguste Rodin Picture taken in Musee Rodin in Paris, France by wikipedian Pufacz who kindly grants us permission to use his photo
What motivates us to work hard?
To do things that we don't want to?
To eat cakes?
To be tenacious and do a job really well ?
To wake up in the morning?
To have another swig at the Whiskey bottle?
To watch yet more Tele?
What place does "ownership" have in motivation?
A discussion group I go to every fortnight is examining this subject!
We are asked:
"What motivates me to do what I'm doing now?"
And then to make a note of our answer.
"Dunno" is not a valid answer we are told !
"Fed up with asking the question" is, in my book.
If I go on like this, I'll be motivated to do nothing!
It's good to be made to stop and think - just now and again - but introspection is for Ostriches to use a cliche - poor maligned Ostriches.
Time to go and do 'stuff' and to hell with why?
"Because I want to" is my answer.
But wait a minute.
Perhaps that's the answer to the riddle.
Sounds like a better reason than "Dunno".
The next thing to check, it seems to me, is how do we feel after the event?
Five minutes fter eating a cake - how do we feel?
Five minutes after doing a job really well - how do we feel?
Five minutes after watching tele - again - how do we feel?
Now, how about comparing the results of "How do we feel ?" and deciding which we rate highest?
Having done a bit of analysis of what are we going to do about it?
F**k all, could well be the answer!
What do you think?
If we understood it, it would enlighten our approach to many subjects:
What motivates nations to fight?
What motivates us to get on with others. How much does passing laws help?
What motivates us to learn?
The Thinker, sculpture by Auguste Rodin Picture taken in Musee Rodin in Paris, France by wikipedian Pufacz who kindly grants us permission to use his photo
What motivates us to work hard?
To do things that we don't want to?
To eat cakes?
To be tenacious and do a job really well ?
To wake up in the morning?
To have another swig at the Whiskey bottle?
To watch yet more Tele?
What place does "ownership" have in motivation?
. _._._._._.
A discussion group I go to every fortnight is examining this subject!
We are asked:
"What motivates me to do what I'm doing now?"
And then to make a note of our answer.
"Dunno" is not a valid answer we are told !
"Fed up with asking the question" is, in my book.
If I go on like this, I'll be motivated to do nothing!
It's good to be made to stop and think - just now and again - but introspection is for Ostriches to use a cliche - poor maligned Ostriches.
Time to go and do 'stuff' and to hell with why?
"Because I want to" is my answer.
But wait a minute.
Perhaps that's the answer to the riddle.
Sounds like a better reason than "Dunno".
The next thing to check, it seems to me, is how do we feel after the event?
Five minutes fter eating a cake - how do we feel?
Five minutes after doing a job really well - how do we feel?
Five minutes after watching tele - again - how do we feel?
Now, how about comparing the results of "How do we feel ?" and deciding which we rate highest?
Having done a bit of analysis of what are we going to do about it?
F**k all, could well be the answer!
What do you think?
Saturday, 17 October 2009
A strong challenge to educational thinking
"In a damning indictment of Labour's education record since 1997, the Cambridge University-led review accuses the government of introducing an educational diet "even narrower than that of the Victorian elementary schools"."
Reports the Guardian yesterday.
At last an independent group with considerable authority is speaking out. An exhaustive study that must be heeded.
As a former teacher in both primary and secondary schools, I agree wholeheartedly with their findings.
This is one area of Labour's policies that has been disastrous for young people and their parents.
At an early age children need to develop naturally in a positive stress free environment with as much contact with parents and friends as possible.
They have an abounding drive to find things out. This is how they learn to speak with all its rewards of communication. The last thing they need is to be regimented in larger groups. They need as much one to one interaction as they can get, to answer and develop their individual exploration of the world in a positive encouraging atmosphere.
Teachers who love education, know this, and are dismayed by government diktats.
Many of those that had a long experience of teaching found the new emphasis over the last ten years, unwillingly imposed from on high by Head Teachers, unacceptable to their sense of what was right.
Most of them who were proactive and had that highly valued quality of self motivation, got out of a spirit crushing system and found other jobs .This happened all the way from the classroom to the Head's office.
Coming before an election - will this register with the voters?
The Liberal Democrats have been consulting with teachers and concerned parents for the last few years and will have a well thought out policy. I don't trust the Conservatives one bit with their "bring in the army" approach.
"Zit Down"
"Don't move.You vill zit quietly ant listen to vat I zay"
"You vill learn vat is good for you"
"No questions allowt"
"Vat is dis - Vy? Vy? Vy?"
"Vee know vat iss bess for you"
Know wonder Ulverston kids misbehave as they occasionally do. Try experiencing their 'learning' environment at Victoria High.
Teachers turn into bullies when they are themselves put under pressure.
Keeping my fingers crossed for the future!
Reports the Guardian yesterday.
At last an independent group with considerable authority is speaking out. An exhaustive study that must be heeded.
As a former teacher in both primary and secondary schools, I agree wholeheartedly with their findings.
This is one area of Labour's policies that has been disastrous for young people and their parents.
At an early age children need to develop naturally in a positive stress free environment with as much contact with parents and friends as possible.
They have an abounding drive to find things out. This is how they learn to speak with all its rewards of communication. The last thing they need is to be regimented in larger groups. They need as much one to one interaction as they can get, to answer and develop their individual exploration of the world in a positive encouraging atmosphere.
Teachers who love education, know this, and are dismayed by government diktats.
Many of those that had a long experience of teaching found the new emphasis over the last ten years, unwillingly imposed from on high by Head Teachers, unacceptable to their sense of what was right.
Most of them who were proactive and had that highly valued quality of self motivation, got out of a spirit crushing system and found other jobs .This happened all the way from the classroom to the Head's office.
Coming before an election - will this register with the voters?
The Liberal Democrats have been consulting with teachers and concerned parents for the last few years and will have a well thought out policy. I don't trust the Conservatives one bit with their "bring in the army" approach.
"Zit Down"
"Don't move.You vill zit quietly ant listen to vat I zay"
"You vill learn vat is good for you"
"No questions allowt"
"Vat is dis - Vy? Vy? Vy?"
"Vee know vat iss bess for you"
Know wonder Ulverston kids misbehave as they occasionally do. Try experiencing their 'learning' environment at Victoria High.
Teachers turn into bullies when they are themselves put under pressure.
Keeping my fingers crossed for the future!
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Prince Charles at the Dimbleby lecture
Wow.
An impressive lecture last night.
I was stunned by the depth of his insight and how he touched on such a wide range of topics and brought them all together.
Does he pose a significant alternative to the leadership of the country?
Looking forward to reading what the papers have to say.
I hope that they don't just pick on climate change - there was far more in the lecture than that. For me he dealt with a great variety of topics concerning our environment: In particular the loss of our communities.
What will the papers and television think of his views. Will politicians follow his leadership and listen?
What will the general public make of it?
I'll certainly be reading his speech again and hope that others also find his views important.
Well worth the 50 minutes time to watch this program on iPlayer.
The full text is available here.
An impressive lecture last night.
I was stunned by the depth of his insight and how he touched on such a wide range of topics and brought them all together.
Does he pose a significant alternative to the leadership of the country?
Looking forward to reading what the papers have to say.
I hope that they don't just pick on climate change - there was far more in the lecture than that. For me he dealt with a great variety of topics concerning our environment: In particular the loss of our communities.
What will the papers and television think of his views. Will politicians follow his leadership and listen?
What will the general public make of it?
I'll certainly be reading his speech again and hope that others also find his views important.
Well worth the 50 minutes time to watch this program on iPlayer.
The full text is available here.
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