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The theme of memory occurs often in the movies. Movies like Memento, 50 First Dates, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind all deal with the theme of a forgotten past. Without memory we wouldn't be able to learn, without memory, we would be like an amoeba. Without memory we would always be like a child, everyday having to relearn things.
In computational science, a whole class of problems become solvable through the use of memory.
It's memory that allows us to retains joy, to remember the good we did and experienced. However, the flipside to it, is that it also holds our mistakes and regrets.
That's where another class of movies come in, movies like Sliding Doors, Star Trek: The Voyage Home, Groundhog Day, The Time Machine, Back to the Future, Next, Minority Report, Paycheck, 12 Monkeys. These movies deal with the human problem of changing our past decisions or to see into the future to enhance our decision making ability.
A lot of mental problems come from dealing with the past, where we can't accept the past, of what happened, of hurts, of pains, a loved one slipping out of our grasp, a treasure lost, a mistake made. And then there's the future, where we wish we knew what we could do.
Movies like Paycheck, Minority Report demonstrate why the ability to look into the future is so dangerous, too dangerous in fact, because knowing the future means we control others' futures as well--a far too dangerous responsibility for man to hold.
So what is the moral of these stories? In some stories, the protagonist succeeds, in other cases, he realizes that the past cannot be changed no matter what he does.
In Back to the Future Marty changes the past a little and thereby the future as well, but learns to control his tempestuousness. In Next Nicolas Cage's character sees the future and learns to cooperate. In Groundhog Day Phil learns from his mistakes and grows from each repeated day. In Sliding Doors we are privy to two alternate futures but each shares a journey of growth. In 12 Monkeys Bruce Willis's character makes a final sacrifice to try and save the future. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Jim Carrey realizes that his love will overcome the decision to erase his past.
There is one thing in all stories, that must happen, is that either the protagonist grows from his past mistakes, achieves enlightenment and accepts what has happened, or changes in his/her behaviour to prevent repeating the same mistake.
I've been seeing a certain theme in 3 different areas of what I'm reading.
It's that we are dependent on one another.
The first, a book on "Power, Influence and Persuasion" by Harvard Business Review says that we are all dependent on everyone. Even kings are dependent on their advisors for wisdom and insight, knights for protection, earls to provide resources and manage lands.
Another book I read "Project Planning, Scheduling and Control" by James Lewis. A Project Manager doesn't just tell people what to do. In fact, he merely facilitates, because the people he works with know better than him on what to do. He is dependent on them to do the actual work, to provide insight, because they are on the ground and know what is happening.
Thirdly, "12 Christian 'Beliefs' That Can Drive You Crazy" by Henry Cloud talks of relational dependence. We need people to talk to, to ask for help. The Pharisees were hypocrites because they thought they were self-sufficient in their righteousness. That they had "got it" and didn't need God to rescue them. When we realize that we are interdependent, it is a step in humility.
I've got an opportunity to travel to Sydney and thought I'd try to get a ride on the A380.
But it seems that that's a bad time. There are hardly any flights available for that period! No SQ, BA or QF flights.
An 8.5 hour trip extended to about 11 hours. Diverting me to Brisbane or Melbourne.
The following is the inspirational story of Jason McElwain. Basketball fans will understand better. This story is one of the things that makes America great.
For those thinking of a good list of romantic songs to play during your dinner, here's my favourite list of romantic songs, in no particular order.
She - Elvis Costello (Used by my friend at his wedding dinner, very nice.)
Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
Tonight, I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack
Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
Somewhere Out There - Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram
How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
All I Ask of You - Cliff Richard & Sarah Brightman
All For One, All For Love - Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting
Celebrate You - Steven Curtis Chapman
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman - Bryan Adams
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton (lyrics are really meaningful)
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams
True - Spandau Ballet (used in countless movies)
Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
Eternal Flame - Bangles
Endless Love - Lionel Richie, Diana Ross
Your Song - Elton John
We've Only Just Begun - The Carpenters
Every Woman In The World - Air Supply
Annie's Song - John Denver
Perhaps Love - John Denver
Emotion - Destiny's Child
Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton John
Link to Straits Times article: School's 'halal zone' ruling causes stir.
I've had Muslim colleagues join me at a non-halal restaurant and the only thing they were restricted in is that they just don't order pork to consume. They had no problems with us ordering bacon and ham and eating it next to them.
I went to a sandwich shop the other day and the shop had bacon and ham on the ingredients list. I asked the sandwich artist whether he had a problem with handling pork and he said no. (He appeared to be a Malay and therefore likely to be a Muslim).
I think I understand what kosher/halal rules are meant for. Perhaps in the ancient past it may have meant to protect from unhygienic and high risk food, but now they have devolved into ceremony. But they have a lesson to teach man.
It is not that pork is a dirty meat, or lobsters and prawns are bad. These meats are disallowed under Biblical dietary laws.
The meaning behind them is this, it takes effort to remain clean. We have to watch what we do in things that we take for granted, natural habits like eating.
Jesus said it isn't what goes into a man that makes him unclean, it's what comes out of him. His words, thoughts and actions.
To remain kosher (for Jews), or halal (to Muslims), it means we must inspect what we consume, in our minds, its what we think, what we say. It means a life of safeguards, and constant vigilance.
We must be vigilant in what we speak, say or do. That's the lesson of kosher rules. When we say something in wrathful anger, or do something in lust, and forgo things in laziness. Perhaps the main thing about kosher rules is that we must not be lazy.
If we could apply the same vigilance that people of other religions emphasize on their physical diets, onto our thoughts, words and actions, we would become much better persons I believe.
The hypocrisy of dietary laws is that one may follow them to a T and yet fall short because it isn't applied to the heart where hate, lust, and sin may be nurtured.
