Science Rant

Scientific knowledge is sometimes used to demonstrate that we are just a collection of chemical reactions. When we feel pain it is really just that certain neurons are firing, and the like. The study of physical systems has lead many to conclude that that is all we are. Awareness, Consciousness, experience...what are those? The thought process goes something like this: Consciousness cannot be measured, or at least not as an object in the physical world, and so therefore it is not real. Others might say they can measure consciousness. But they're likely referring to physical correlates to consciousness in a brain, not consciousness itself. Apparently not being able to distinguish the difference between the two.

But doesn't science only exist in our minds? Does it then exist as a bunch of chemical processes there? When we speak of Science, are we speaking of chemical processes inside people's brains? If there were no experience, awareness, whatever you want to call it, would there be any science? Any chemical processes? Any physical laws? Since such constructs only exist in a mind. Perhaps you'll say, those chemical processes would still exist, there would just be no one there to be aware of them. As in, if a tree falls in the woods and nobody's there does it make a sound? Maybe so, but if there was no mind, anywhere, there would be no one in that universe to even ask about physical laws, so how could you even say they were there or not? And what are physical laws with no mind to understand what that even means?

Now then some people, who except that awareness is real and not insignificant, might say that a particular chemical process in my brain might cause me to feel pain. I prefer to say that it's correlated with my feeling pain, since without a mind to understand what chemical processes even are, such a statement would not not even exist. Any concept, including a statement, only exists in a mind. There could be no discussion, no anything, without it. So how then can you say that a chemical process "causes" the mind to sense something?

White Man Takes Supper at Sri Lankan Restaurant in Queens

He ordered the cutlets and what they called devil Chicken. When ordering, he remarked to the waitress that the cutlets were like fish balls in order to show he was familiar with the cuisine. She acknowledged that, though he didn't think she was thrilled by his comparison. When they came to the table they were flattened and looked more like fish cakes. Overall, he was pleased with them and the red sauce accompaniment. They were tasty, although they could've been warmer in the middle, he noted to himself. When ordering the main course, the devil chicken, the waitress inquired as to the spice level. White man said, don't hold back, make it spicy. To which the waitress said, it will be extremely spicy. White man said, "ok".

He would've ordered the devilled cuttlefish if they offered it. He might've ordered the devilled shrimp instead, but there was no price next to it. He wondered why they call it "devil" not "devilled". The devil chicken arrived. He was surprised by the chicken. Taking full bites of it, he found that it was not boneless. He wished he had a knife, but the fork and hands would suffice. He thought the chicken was tasty though. He also felt that the sauce was spicy, but certainly not extremely spicy. He thought to himself, why would someone go into a sri lankan restaurant alone, make it clear he knew about sri lankan food with the fish ball comment, and yet still be doubted when he asked for his food spicy? Alas, it was a little spicy.

The white man observed that slices of red onion were used, instead of chunks of the small shallot-like bombay red onion. He realized that those onions mustn't be easy to find, but that chunks of shallot would be an adequate substitute. But those are a lot of work to peel, he thought.

He deemed that there was a nice mixture of spices in the sauce, but that it was sweeter than he remembered it. It tasted somewhat like General Tso's chicken, they must be catering to american taste buds, he mused. Surely he likes general Tso's chicken, but that's not what he came for. He also thought, a lot of sauce, wish I had some rice, but then it'd be even more like general Tso's. But the worst offense to him was that there were sliced bell peppers in it instead of capsicum peppers. Maybe they can't find them here, but they could've used jalapenos or the like, he thought. He wasn't happy with the presence of tomatoes either. He believes that Asian cuisines do not know how to handle the tomato, and that it should not be in a devilled dish. And he was saddened, but certainly not surprised, to realize that it was not cooked with coconut oil.

All in all, it was Ok, but he wasn't wowed. "Bell peppers!", he sighed.

More About Summer

I've given it a lot of thought and I have an idea for a new calendar. The ancient Romans only had 10 months. The period after what is now December, but before March was not part of any month. Similarly, I'm thinking that Summer should begin on Memorial day, with the middle of summer on the solstice (of course), and it being essentially over once Bastille day has passed. Yet it should remain technically summer throughout July. After July comes the month of August, which is not part of any season, but simply August. Fall begins on the first day of September.