Showing posts with label thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thinking. Show all posts

4.5.22

Photo Gallery & Story: Em and Orange and the Rubik's Cube

In this post, I tell an imaginative story about two boys and a Rubik's Cub.
Two boys hold their respective Rubik's cubes.
       Once upon a time there were two boys, one from the east side of the railroad tracks and one from the west side. Though they were born in different worlds, fate had other plans for them. The boy from the east was named Orange, a bright and ambitious young man with dreams of being an engineer someday. He worked hard to make his parents proud, but he still felt like something was missing in his life. On the other side of town was another boy named Em, who lived on the west side of town near where the railroad tracks ended at a small station house. Em grew up without much money or resources, but he did have big dreams, too; he wanted to become a famous musician one day. One day, after school let out for summer break, Orange decided to take an adventurous journey down the railroad tracks that divided their towns' east and west sides. As fate would have it, Em happened to be walking along that same section of track when Orange came across him by chance. After introducing themselves, they quickly became friends despite coming from two very different backgrounds — both offering knowledge and guidance and sharing stories about living life on their own terms despite all odds stacked against him.
     Together they explored each others' worlds as if no boundaries existed between them — exploring neighborhoods on either side of town together and sharing music, which brought joyous laughter throughout their days spent together until eventually, it seemed as if no separation between them ever really existed at all!
Orange and Em had a love for the Rubik's cube. They would spend endless hours searching for different kids at the dollar store. On lazy Saturdays, following the train tracks to the end of town, near an old lake, with a browned-out beach, they would try to solve the cubes. Orange and Em were determined to master the cube and use it as an opportunity to learn more about each other and bridge any gaps between them. As they work together, both of them discover that there is much more that unites them than divides them.
The Rubik's Cube has been a popular and beloved puzzle since it was first invented by Hungarian sculptor and professor Ernö Rubik in 1974. Since then, the cube has become even more popular, with over 350 million units sold worldwide. The cube is thought to be the best-selling toy of all time. Its unique combination of colors, shapes, and difficulty levels is believed to be responsible for its continued success today. The history of the Rubik's Cube includes some fascinating scientific developments that make this classic puzzle one of the most challenging puzzles ever created!
Some people find this puzzle challenging due to its complexity, as it often involves solving multiple steps or components to arrive at the correct answer. Others may have more experience with puzzles of this type and can quickly recognize patterns and apply strategies that help them solve the problem. Additionally, some individuals may possess innate intellectual abilities which allow them to intuitively identify solutions that others may not think of.
Solving a Rubik's cube requires combining cognitive skills, including spatial awareness and pattern recognition. While some individuals may have an innate aptitude for these abilities, scientific theories suggest that other factors, such as practice, experience, and focus can also affect the ability to solve a Rubik's cube. Research has found that people with higher levels of abstract thinking are more capable of understanding the patterns involved in solving a Rubik's cube. Additionally, problem-solving strategies play an essential role in improving performance on this task; however, different techniques work better for specific individuals depending on their particular skill set. Ultimately, it is likely that there is no single answer to what makes solving a Rubik's cube easier or more challenging - instead it depends heavily upon the individual's unique mix of cognitive skills and strategies when approaching the puzzle.
So, when Orange and Em, two boys who learned to take on the same challenge in different ways, a lesson was learned. Em approaches the cube with determination, methodically studying each piece and trying to fit them together as quickly as possible. His fast-paced approach leads to some initial success, but eventually he gets stuck - unable to move any further forward or backward. Orange takes a slower, more creative approach, viewing the cube from different angles and experimenting with unique strategies that might work better for him. He starts out slowly but gradually builds momentum until he can see small progress every time he turns it over. In the end, both boys can solve the cube using their own methods - patience combined with creativity enabling them to find success where previously there had been only frustration. 
Through this story, we learn that problem-solving doesn't always have one correct answer - depending on our circumstances and abilities, different approaches may be necessary to achieve our goals.
Having an open mind when approaching any challenge is essential as it allows one to be more creative and think outside the box. An open-minded approach encourages the consideration of multiple perspectives and ideas, which can often lead to innovative solutions that may not have been considered before. Additionally, by being open-minded, we are less likely to become stuck in a rut or fall into tunnel vision, thus allowing us to see opportunities for growth and improvement that otherwise would have remained hidden. Having an open mindset also will enable us to become more adaptable and better equipped for change — essential skills for anyone who wishes to overcome obstacles or achieve success in any field.

6.7.21

Brief Philosophical Thought: On Everydayness and How to Live One's Life to the Zaniest

In this post, I tussle with Martin Heidegger's concept of "everydayness," — all the while having fun in the town of Catskill, New York (Why, not?!).

Yellow Legs
Put your feet in the air!

Wag your tongue.
Martin Heidegger has this idea he calls everydayness. It’s a complex idea to explain, but somehow it has been on my mind. Everydayness is a condition of being in the world — with its routines, habits, conventions, etc. Let’s call them societal norms. And let’s further say societal norms were constructed to form a modicum of order and stability in living with others. Please don’t take my fish sticks, or I’ll murder you and all your kin. No one has time for that foolishness. So everydayness has its merits. But, then, it’s a tricky business when those same societal norms constructed to protect and carve out stability can also have the light effect of destroying freedom of self. Everydayness is being in a world where one is so caught up in the mundane busyness of living that one forgets how to live. For me — I feel a break from everydayness when I travel. When I’m not plugged into the typical 9 to 5 life. But something is terrifying about breaking away from everydayness. Because to break away from everydayness is to be authentic. And authenticity is most terrifying for one when one doesn’t know how to live outside the habits and conventions laid out for one. To wake up with nothing on one’s schedule, no one calling, no emails to answer, nothing demanding conformity — what’s left is the empty well of the self where authenticity is carved out. So I stick out my tongue. Get caught in the rain. Sit by the river. And feel the ache. The terror of being alive. Because life is so damn limited. A quick breath of air. Poof. You’re gone. What am I to do? And no — the answer is not in any advice or life coach’s guidance. I don’t know the answer. But at least let’s try.

Siamese Cat Sculpture in Catskill, New York
Catskill, New York populates its street corners with quirky cat sculptures.

Cosmic Cat Sculpture in Catskill, New York
Cosmic Cat

Two Kissing Dogs with Santa Hats in Catskill, New York
Kiss me, Kate!

25.4.20

A Few Notable Quotations on Stupidity and Lack of Thinking

Stupid is as stupid does.
— Tom Hanks in Forest Gump (1995)

Forest Gump (1995)\
. . . most people would die sooner than think—in fact, they do so.
— Bertrand Russell


sources: Roth, Eric, Wendy Finerman, Steve Tisch, Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, and Winston Groom. Forest Gump. Hollywood, Calif: Paramount Pictures, 1995. / Russell, Bertrand. The ABC of Relativity. United Kingdom, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, 1927.

11.1.11

Quotation: Alfred North Whitehead on Great Ideas

A great idea, says Whitehead, "is like a phantom ocean beating upon the shores of human life in successive waves of specializing."
 Alfred North Whitehead
Source: Whitehead, Alfred North. Adventures of Ideas. United Kingdom, Free Press, 1967.