Archive for June 2010
That’s a long life: What Einstein equation has to do here?
I classified this article under “lucubrations” assuming that not many readers will select this category from among the other most interesting 35 categories in my blog. In my dream, I managed an association between Einstein equation for defining energy and my definition for life.
The details and clarifications of my equation were the products of my conscious state. Einstein defined the energy of an object as the product of the “mass” of the object by the square of the speed of light C.
My definition of life is the sum of the products of elementary tasks by the speed of light. Obviously, this equation needs plenty of clarifications.
First, the equation needs not be a sum of products and we can consider many other relevant functions after the definition of a task is understood.
Let us consider that any simple activity is constituted of hundreds of infinitesimal tasks, carried successively or in parallel, in order for an activity to be accomplished. For example, in line production, every activity is subdivided into smaller tasks with computed standard time to finish an activity. The idea is to train workers to be skilled, withing the standard time for each task, and even be paid accordingly to efficiency.
Mind you, that acquiring skills and talent in any profession demands lots of repetition and investment of time and energy. Well, every repetition of any task is counted in the equation; then, you can imagine how much life has been wasted just to be accredited as a professional or a skilled worker!
If our brain and limbs could master a skill by simply “getting it” from the first trial of exposure then, imagine how much life we would have saved for another interesting things. We would feel that life is stretching so long that it seems ageless.
Repetition of a task include the thousands of times that we copy, paste, reclassify, review, re-dust off our productions and memories. Can you imagine how much life has been wasted by going back to long past activities?
Dreaming is an activity with thousands of takes to constitute a movie. Even the recurring dreams, mostly the unwanted ones, are counted. The second time we experience a “deja-vue” dream is not as bad as the first projection: we tend to sit and watch as one of the audience, instead of being part of the movie; we just wait for this bad film to finish since we feel helpless to stop it or even press “Pause”.
Listen, this is a long story and a long article and I will get to you later for further clarifications and details. Okay, I am back and I revisited my formula and revised it drastically.
Evidently, very few task go as fast as light C. For example, the movements and reactions of limbs are pretty slow compared to light; brain reactions are at best as fast as electrons or 20 thousands km per second. One of the rare task is as fast as C such as in the case when someone says: “I fell in love from the first look.” This performance has high value rating in life: It can be repeated a hundred times a day; not necessarily with one hundred different women.
For example, if you are endowed with a vivid imagination and can recapitulate “the moment” in your mind ad infinitum then, you can summarize the best that life can offer and very efficiently. My position is that it is the first occurence that counts most, but recollecting this miraculous “moment” over and over again beats all other kinds of tasks in whatever criteria system you adopt.
Life equation clearly shows that there are many sorts of activities that ruin quality of life. What is your quality of life when you commute to work? Repeating so-called automatic reactions in driving a car, a donkey, or a bike for hours a day is definitely cases of worsening the impact and mocking my formula.
For example, how often you regurgitate worries left over from yesterday when you commute? How often you re-enact the clownish acting drama for the current day difficulties? How often you ran a red light and ran over a lousy living person? All these tasks count in the equation and should be eliminated the sooner the better.
Think of algebra and how to cancel out redundant factors so that your life equation looks much simpler and beautiful. So, how did you decide to commute in order to “save time” in congested metropolis?
One small problem remains to be resolved before we set our mind to changing our life style to maximize the life equation and its many constraint equations: How many tasks and activities can fill a lifetime without being repeated again? Are we indulging in repetitions simply because we lack the imagination to figure out plenty of activities? Are traditions the main hurdle for our lack of imagination because it dangerously reduced licit or legitimate activities to be experienced?
How about getting on this wonderful job of revisiting taxonomies of tasks and activities that could excite you (or not) after retirement? How about you fine tune the many tasks that constitute professional line fishing?
Posted this week
Posted on: June 30, 2010
Part 2: Turkey’s Strategy
Posted on: June 29, 2010
Turkey’s Strategy
In part one, I explained the many problems that Turkey resolved with its neighboring States such as Greece, Armenia, Cyprus, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The long-term strategy of the Turkish State in the coming two decades is to be at a par with Italy, France, and Spain in deciding for the Mediterranean Sea peace, security, and development. To be able to be a credible partner and valued mediator Turkey has, in the mean time, to iron out all its historical and current difficulties with its global neighboring regions such as the Balkan States (such as Bulgaria, Romainia, Albania, and Serbia), the Caucasus States (such as Armenia, Azerbajan, Georgia, and Tchechnia), the Central Asian States (such as Tajikistan, and Uzbakistan), the Middle East States (such as Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan), the Near East States (Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine), the major north African States (Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco), and the Arab Gulf States.
The Balkan States have over four centuries of interactions with the Othoman Empires. Even in the 15th century, most princes in the Balkan States were vassals to the Turkish Prince who later will be called Sultan and the Caliph of Moslem after defeating the Mamelouk Sultan of Egypt in the 16th century. Even the Byzantium Emperor was a vassal, paid tribute, and had to join the Turkish Prince in his expansion wars. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, (the Turkish Prince had build a navy and blocked any sea entrance to Constantinople for sea supplies and secour by Genoa and Venice), the Othoman Empire expanded to all Central Europe and the Caucasus region.
The Othoman Empire set siege twice to Vienne (later the Capital of the Habsburg Empire) and Vienna suffered famine and was saved at the nick of time. At that time, there was no Russian Empire and the only Kingdom that could come to the rescue was the Catholic Kingdom of Poland that included current Belorussia and Ukraine. Obviously, Greece was also part of Othoman Empire and the dividing line between Turkey and the rest of Europe was the Danub River (the eastern part of Hungary was under Othoman domination.)
Emperess Catherine of Russia in the 18th century expanded the Russian Empire toward the Caucasus and Central Europe. The Balkan States were freed from the Othoman occupation but were vassals to various European Nations such as France, England, Russia, and mainly Austria (that was desintegrated after WWI) as the Othoman Empire (allied to Germany) was then defeated. Communist Russia or the Soviet Union set claim to most of the Caucasus States and a few Central Europe States.
The Caucasus region and many Central European States share many cultural, customs, linguistic, and culinary traditions (even among the Orthodox Christians) with the Turkish traditions. It seems that Turkey managed diplomatic and political entente with most of these States and the oil pipelines crossing Turkey from the oil production sources in Azerbajan and the Ural region of Russia are vital economic relief to all these regional States. Turkey managed a peaceful settlement of the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabach within Azerbajan.
During the Cold War, the military regime in Turkey sided with the USA against Communist Russia and Turkey was included in the OTAN. As West Germany was the main buffer Zone to the remaining Western European States, Turkey was the main buffer zone to the effective expansion of the Soviet Unions in the Middle East. Israel was but a secondary ally and a typical mercenary State that the Western Powers supplied financially, militarily, economically, and politically so that the Israeli Jewish soldiers pay the price for believing that they were building their ancestral mythical State (that never existed historically but in stories in their Bible). Fact is, most Arab States had sided with the US who purchased oil and supported the Arab monarchies and dictators.
The Soviet Unions extended defensive arms to the Middle East States because it refused to witness a reverse immigration of the Russian Jews. Egypt was the main State that received substantial economic and financial aid from Soviet Unions, not because Egypt was viewed as the largest Arab State but mainly because Egypt did not consider itself directly concerned with the Israeli/Palestinian cause until the invasion of Israel, France, and England in 1956 on the Suez canal.
Turkey and Iran have a long history of interactions since antiquity. Fact is, most of the Persian dynasties were Turkish in origine. In the 18th century, the Persian Safafid dynasty was indeed a Turkish tribe and then, it turned to Chiaa Islamic sect and expanded its territory all the way to Afganistan and Central Asia. Then, as it wanted to expand westward, the Othoman Sultan defeated badly the Safafid monarch and the current borders between the two nations were drawn at that period and remain intact since then. Thus, the Othoman Sultan got control of Iraq and the Arabic Peninsula (current Saudi Arabia).
As the tribe of Seoud in the Hijjaz reverted to a fundamentalist Wahhabit sect and expanded in the Arabic Peninsula then, the Othoman Sultan dispatched one of his generals Muhammad Ali (Albanian of origine) to crush the Wahhabit revolts. Muhammad Ali was very successful and destroyed the Seoud tribe Capital. Thus, Muhammad Ali was appointed governor of Egypt and then, turned against his master and established his own dynasty in Egypt. Consequently, the political relationship between Turkey (OTAN) and Egypt of Gamal Abdel Nasser (who had no option left but to side with Russia for military hardware and economic development) were mainly cold for over 35 years. Turkey is attempting to warm up with Egypt, but the current Mubarak political regime in Egypt is viewing the growing power of Turkey with suspicion since it supplanted Egypt as the main power broker in the Middle East with the Western nations.
Modern Turkey is no longer an Othoman Empire but its rapid strategy, in the last two decades, to link up with all its regional States that were part and parcel of its vast Empire for over 4 centuries is giving ammunition to the so-called “moderate” isolationist and defeatist States in the Arab World (such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Morocco) that refuse to reform and plan for the future.
Fact is, Turkey is the cornerstone State for the larger alliance among Iran, Syria, and Iraq for a stronger and much more stable Middle East political climate.
Part One: Turkey’s Strategy
Posted on: June 28, 2010
Turkey’s Strategy
The long-term strategy of the Turkish State in the coming two decades is to be at a par with Italy, France, and Spain in deciding for the Mediterranean Sea peace, security, and development. In the mean time, Turkey has to iron out all its historical and modern difficulties with its neighboring regions such as the Balkan States (such as Bulgaria, Romainia, Albania, and Serbia), the Caucasus States (such as Armenia, Azerbajan, Georgia, and Tchechnia), the Central Asian States (such as Tajikistan, and Uzbakistan), the Middle East States (such as Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan), the Near East States (Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine), the major north African States (Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco), and the Arab Gulf States. So far, in the last decade, Turkey has been successful in bringing security and stability to most of its bordering States such as Greece, Syria, Iran, and Armenia.
For example, on Turkey initiatives to its neighboring States, Turkey’s government extended a peace treaty with Armenia; the Armenian government signed it and the Armenian Parliament is yet to ratify the entire package. The USA, pressued by Israel lobby, is delaying this ratification and even threatening to ask Congress to re-open the Armenian genocide file at the turn of the 20th century. The Armenian/Lebanese demonstrated in Lebanon against the ratification, but this does not count. Sooner or later, this treaty will be ratified; and in the mean time, the many economic cooperation between the two States are growing fast. You may read my post on the Turkish and Armenian problems https://adonis49.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/cursed-cities-karss/
Turkey initiated a reconciliation between the two divided sections of Cyprus (the Greek and Turkish sectors). The Cypriot Greeks are delaying the execution of this reconciliation; mainly, because the European Union (EU) does not want Turkey to have a leg in the union, even, indirectly (Cyprus Greek is part of the EU).
There are no problems between Syria and Turkey: The borders are opened to trade, commerce, and without visas. Turkey and Syria are conducting joint military maneuvers. The Kurdish movements in Syria is under total control. Syria had claims on the district of Iskandaron on the sea shore that mandated France relinquished to Turkey in 1936. Turkey was a mediator between Syria and Israel for a peace treaty.
There are no problems between Turkey and Iran. Both States have interest to contain and manage the Kurdish separatist movements on their lands. Turkey and Iran have interest to keeping Iraq united a fter the withdrawal of the US troops in 2011 and are cooperating in that strategy. Lately, Turkey joined Brazil to coaxing Iran into signing the nuclear treaty and Turkey was successful in that mediation.
Turkey and Greece are in great terms economically and politically. Turkey aided Greece during the earthquake of 1999 and is contributing to get current Greece out of its financial morass.
Turkey has demonstrated the will to safeguard the rights of the Palestinians who were chased out of their homeland in 1948 by the new emerging State of Israel. Turkey is leading the political and diplomatic endeavors to securing the human rights and civil rights in the occupied land of Palestine.
The main problem in Turkey is internal: Turkey has to find a satisfactory resolution to its Kurdish separatist movement. Negotiations are under way with most Kurdish movements but Israel has heavily infiltrated several radical Kurdish factions to keeping the heat on the Turkish State. This case will be resolved as the US troops vacate Iraq and the Iraqi State regains some significant sovereignity over its land. (Article to be continued)
- In: health/medicine | philosophy | Poems Mine
- 1 Comment
I say. Is it time to ask the two questions?
There is this time when we seriously ask the two fundamental questions:
First, are we still healthy? And
Second, is our physical handicap not very painful?
Then, smile to life: Whatever comes during the day is fine. You are among the living.
Before this time, we don’t have eyes or ears to listen to words of wisdom or advices.
It is not that we lack intelligence or the will to learn, but life has demands on our energies to worry a lot, a strive to fulfill whatever dream we think we have. This is best strategy to mankind. I had written this short poem in 1999 and I don’t think I was that conscious of getting the wiser.
I Say
I say, every one must have his identity:
Death has forced on us the I.
I say, what exists must be discovered:
Death impressed on us to know.
I say, every feeling must be experienced:
Death created stages for us to grow.
I say, there must be a meaning to life:
Death did not leave us a choice in that.
Posted this week
Posted on: June 26, 2010
- In: Novels Mine | women
- 1 Comment
The attack; (continue #10 of fiction novel)
The night before the attack on the Capital Mtein, Antoun sensed the anxiety overwhelming his comrades and ordered to set up five bonfires and distributed the leaders to gather with the insurgents around the fires. He refrained from meeting with his leaders in close quarters and repeated his address to the five encampments separately saying:
“The time is approaching to execute our decision for a better life, a life based on fairness in the laws as worthy equals in our society. It is time to start erecting a society with the right to elect a government of the people and for the people; a government that understand the wishes and dreams of its people and has experienced the sufferings and injustices of the peasants and working people under the despotic and unfair feudal system. It is natural to feel scared otherwise, I wouldn’t trust your courage and determination if you didn’t feel apprehensive tonight. Our project is the life or death of our destiny tailored to our big heart. Our project is the dream and wish of many citizens in the towns and villages whom have been keeping these dreams burning deep in their compassionate hearts. We know each other; we are friends and we will take care of one another as we had done for many years. We have planned together our revolution to the minute details, as intelligent and responsible leaders of people should do, to succeed and win against the heartless and irresponsible feudal Cheiks, Beys and Emirs”.
“You all know by now that I don’t dwell much on abstract notions such as freedom, liberty and self-determination; we have discussed the meanings of these concepts so that we don’t abuse and short hand the intelligence of our citizens. Opening and creating opportunities for learning and working go hand in hand with empowering the individual citizens to take bold decisions, fortified by laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender, religion and social status. That is how we give sense to liberty and self–determination and that is what our citizens should demand from us.”
He went on saying: “In a few hours we march boldly toward the Capital of the loathed executioners of our rights; who denied us the joy of life commensurate to our labor, sweat and blood. Obey the orders and directives of your elected leaders and be steadfast in your fight. I can see our flags fluttering in the morning wind at the top of the Castle. Victory is whispering sweet songs and the shout of Long Live the Revolution is already deafening my ears. I can see hundreds of peasants gathering around you in the Capital’ Square and shouting in unison ‘Long Live the Revolution’! Is Victory singing to you too? I cannot hear you! Long Live the Revolution! Louder! Louder!”
The insurgent detachment headed by Antoun descended from Baskenta toward Mrouj with 150 fighters while Mustafa and Hanna accompanied by Elias headed for Falougha, in currently the Chouf County, with 200 insurgents. They were advancing at the pace of caravans and looking very much like trading caravans with a few women prominently exhibited and some well know caravan regular leaders perched on their ornamented mules. As soon as the two groups reached their first destinations they would descend on Mtein at sun down helped by the moon light. They were to wait for the combined attack at 5 o’clock in the morning after the peasants had left their homes for the fields. Supporters in the Capital were ready to guide the insurgents to the residencies of the strongmen and powerful landlords in and around the town. The insurgents were successful in capturing the targeted noblemen and entered Mtein with no major resistance.
At the same time, two dozen fighters were guarding the entrances to the Bishop Atanasios’ residence, waiting for the fire signal to elevate over the highest hill to enter the residence and have the Bishop and his monks under house arrest. At every entrance and exit passageway, a handful of guards with an officer disguised as a monk regulated the traffic of civilians and clergy. People coming in to pay a visit to the Bishop were discouraged to resume their trip because of a special conclave for the clergy and the impossibility of meeting anyone for a couple of days. The peasants working the land of the monastery or traders were allowed in and retained there. Gergis was leading this group of partisans with the mission of striking a deal with the Bishop after Antoun’s insurgents enter Mtein. Elias was behind the project of this necessary house arrest coup but was instead assigned another task because he was still officially excommunicated and for fear that his zeal might foil this important mission.
Gergis’ task was to convince the Bishop and his associates in the clergy that the takeover of power was not the work of ruffians and outlaws but of learned gentlemen, citizens concerned with the status of lawlessness and injustices which was fueling a feeling of restlessness among the population of believers. To convince the clergy that this revolt sought the approval and leadership of their Patriarch, Gergis promised that they will receive the proper documents very shortly. Gergis insisted that he was ready to deal fairly and squarely on behalf of the leaders of this popular movement of believers.
In the mean time, Bishop Atanasios agreed to say mass in the Capital Mtein next Sunday with all the official ceremonies befalling a highly important personality. The two parties were not duped in their respective intentions but they implicitly agreed that this negotiation was the business of politicians awaiting better circumstances. The Bishop was convinced that this movement, like other previous revolts, would not survive long, and that life as usual would return under the full control of the clergy and the feudal old political structure.
The official mass was to be held at nine o’clock and the leader was outside by 8 am accepting the congratulations and respect of the town people and dignitaries while anxiously keeping an eye on the horizon waiting for the Bishop to be sighted. At twenty to nine, a small group of pedestrians wearing black cloaks and following a person perched on a mule was sighted, plodding at an average pace. Antoun who had become mainly a city man and, relatively removed from the customs of the mountains and the declining economic status of the clergy, did not pay this group much attention and was scrutinizing the horizon for dust generated by a cavalry accompanying the Bishop in pageant procession. When the black clad group, many bare feet in dirty cloaks, was thirty meters away Elias nudged Antoun and shouted: “The bastard has come”.
The leader briskly faced Elias and waited for an explanation to his rude comment when someone raised his voice saying: “Let peace be upon you, Antoun my son “. The Bishop was directly confronting him from the top of his mule with a thin smile across his lips and hard eyes piercing toward the inattentive leader of the peasants. Antoun was taken aback in total surprise and fumbled down his mount, helped the Bishop to dismount and then kissed the proffered hand. Elias was beside himself and was ready to wriggle the neck of the Bishop as well as Antoun’s for his vile humility toward this despicable high placed clergy and shouted to the Bishop: “Atanathios, remember me? I am waiting for you to publicly recant your excommunication of me and everyone in the Metn.” The cunning Bishop seeing an opportunity to reclaim his power replied: “Son Elias, I am glad to admit you back into the flock. You have already suffered enough and the church is forgiving to human weaknesses”. Elias was about to retort but was taken away by a gesture of impatience from Antoun.
The new leader was received as the avenging hero who will strengthen the force of order and prevent violence, injustice, and anarchy. He could deliver his promises since the outlaw men and deserters were part and parcel of his well organized army.
Adonis Diaries 