Planet ISKCON

So, I've watched Steve Job's presentation, studied the specifications, read the various opinions online and now offer my thoughts about the new Apple MacBook Pro (hate the name!) notebook computers:

Positives:

• Fair price ($2000). A similarly configured laptop from other vendors costs:
  • Gateway NX560 = $1800 (good specs, but historically terrible quality)
  • Dell E1705 = $2300 (they only sell a 17" system, which naturally costs more)
  • IBM T60 = $2049 (somewhat inferior specs in comparison to Apple)
  • Acer 8204 = $2000 (with better specs than the Apple, but ??¦ four letter word for computer disaster)
  • HP dv1000t = $1900 (significantly worse specs than the Apple)

  And yes, we can argue at great length over what it means to be similarly configured, but I've found, in general, that Apple's pricing is within 10% of everyone else. So, all things considered, no luxury tax from Apple.

• Lighter (5.6 pounds) and smaller (1 inch thick) than any equivalent notebook I know of. For example, the IBM Thinkpad T43 weights 6.0 pounds, has a 15" (vs. 15.4") screen and is 1.4 inches thick.
• Built-in high quality video camera (for when Skype eventually get around to releasing video skype for Mac ??" which should be "real soon now")
• Has a dual core Pentium-M (or I guess Intel is calling them Core Duo now) processor in it. Two processors on one chip for double the speed. In reality, depending on the application, it will only be about 30% - 60% faster. It does however really shine when doing multiple things at once. For example: try, all at once, burning a CD, downloading something from the Internet, playing a video, browsing a photo library and creating a backup and watch a single core chip grind to a halt.
• Battery life is currently unknown (but will be pretty good since it uses a new lithium-polymer battery technology instead of standard lithium-ion)
• Very bright screen. Apple says it is as good as an external LCD monitor. Better than most other laptop screens on the market (those super-bright Sony screens may look nice, but the glair off the ultra-reflective surface makes them very difficult to read text on. What use is a screen that is difficult to read off of?!).
• Much, much, much better graphics card (ATi Mobility Radeon X1600) than anything else on the market. This is important because Mac OS X takes full advantage of the graphics card, unlike Windows, which makes no use of it whatsoever (until Windows Vista is released next Christmas).

Negatives:

• Costs an extra $200 - $300 for novelty of getting the latest and greatest Intel processor. But, when the processor prices come down, Apple will probably keep the MacBook price the same and just add more features, so no harm in buying one now.
• Doesn't have a modem. Steve Jobs has decided they are obsolete (an external USB-modem costs $50).
• Cheaper consumer iBook laptops with smaller screens will probably be release in April or July.
• Can't yet run Windows applications inside of Mac OS X. However, many people (Microsoft included) are feverously working on this.
• No two-button mouse on the touchpad. Mac OS X does not need a right mouse button, but it may be difficult to use Windows (once it is available on the MacBook) without plugging in an external mouse.
• Some notable Mac application providers haven't created so called "universal binaries" yet that are needed to achieve optimum performance on Intel processors. Key applications (for example Office and Photoshop) will run relatively slowly (at 50-80% of original speed) until new versions come out.
• Seems ever so slightly rushed: same basic case as the previous model. No revolutionary new feature. (Apple is being smart by not changing too many things at once). Nothing that fundamentally distinguishes it from a standard PC (apart from the camera, weight, size, "front-row" remote control, software and operating system). Okay, there is actually plenty unique stuff about this computer. I eat my words.
• The MacBook Pro is, for all intents and purposes, an iMac desktop computer in a portable case. However, the iMac is roughly half the price. This is realistic pricing for the added portability and miniaturization, but feels rather uncomfortable, since the two systems are otherwise so similar.

It is a really good laptop. I was however wishing it to be lighter than the previous model, have a bigger hard drive, have enhanced application startup performance using Intel's Robson flash-memory caching technology and use faster Core Duo processors than 1.83 Ghz (they go up to 2.16 Ghz), all of which should have been possible, but would, of course, have driven up the cost.

Also, Apple engineers aren't magicians. While the MacBook Pro's hardware is, in my opinion, better than everything else on the market, it is only by a slight margin. The main reason for buying this computer is the Mac OS X operating system, not the hardware.

So, in review, on all accounts a great machine. Only a few unknowns still need to get resolves. I'll wait at least until April before buying one for myself . I'd really like something smaller and lighter than the current offering to replace my prehistoric Dell Inspiron 4150 monster. For example: a 13-inch MacBook Pro would hit the spot ...

Update: Apple has upgraded the MacBook Pro processor options to feature the fastest Intel processors currently available (2.16 Ghz) and boosted their default "low-end" model up to 1.83 Ghz. Large hard drives are also available as build-to-order options. Battery life also appears to be at least as good as the old Powerbooks'. However, the new MagSafe power supply brick (85W) is roughly 30% larger than the the old 15" Powerbook power supply (65W).

So, all I'm left wishing for is Robson and slightly less weight (especially since the larger power supply makes this new Mac heavier than the previous model).

So, I've watched Steve Job's presentation, studied the specifications, read the various opinions online and now offer my thoughts about the new Apple MacBook Pro (hate the name!) notebook computers:

Positives:

• Fair price ($2000). A similarly configured laptop from other vendors costs:
  • Gateway NX560 = $1800 (good specs, but historically terrible quality)
  • Dell E1705 = $2300 (they only sell a 17" system, which naturally costs more)
  • IBM T60 = $2049 (somewhat inferior specs in comparison to Apple)
  • Acer 8204 = $2000 (with better specs than the Apple, but ??¦ four letter word for computer disaster)
  • HP dv1000t = $1900 (significantly worse specs than the Apple)

  And yes, we can argue at great length over what it means to be similarly configured, but I've found, in general, that Apple's pricing is within 10% of everyone else. So, all things considered, no luxury tax from Apple.

• Lighter (5.6 pounds) and smaller (1 inch thick) than any equivalent notebook I know of. For example, the IBM Thinkpad T43 weights 6.0 pounds, has a 15" (vs. 15.4") screen and is 1.4 inches thick.
• Built-in high quality video camera (for when Skype eventually get around to releasing video skype for Mac ??" which should be "real soon now")
• Has a dual core Pentium-M (or I guess Intel is calling them Core Duo now) processor in it. Two processors on one chip for double the speed. In reality, depending on the application, it will only be about 30% - 60% faster. It does however really shine when doing multiple things at once. For example: try, all at once, burning a CD, downloading something from the Internet, playing a video, browsing a photo library and creating a backup and watch a single core chip grind to a halt.
• Battery life is currently unknown (but will be pretty good since it uses a new lithium-polymer battery technology instead of standard lithium-ion)
• Very bright screen. Apple says it is as good as an external LCD monitor. Better than most other laptop screens on the market (those super-bright Sony screens may look nice, but the glair off the ultra-reflective surface makes them very difficult to read text on. What use is a screen that is difficult to read off of?!).
• Much, much, much better graphics card (ATi Mobility Radeon X1600) than anything else on the market. This is important because Mac OS X takes full advantage of the graphics card, unlike Windows, which makes no use of it whatsoever (until Windows Vista is released next Christmas).

Negatives:

• Costs an extra $200 - $300 for novelty of getting the latest and greatest Intel processor. But, when the processor prices come down, Apple will probably keep the MacBook price the same and just add more features, so no harm in buying one now.
• Doesn't have a modem. Steve Jobs has decided they are obsolete (an external USB-modem costs $50).
• Cheaper consumer iBook laptops with smaller screens will probably be release in April or July.
• Can't yet run Windows applications inside of Mac OS X. However, many people (Microsoft included) are feverously working on this.
• No two-button mouse on the touchpad. Mac OS X does not need a right mouse button, but it may be difficult to use Windows (once it is available on the MacBook) without plugging in an external mouse.
• Some notable Mac application providers haven't created so called "universal binaries" yet that are needed to achieve optimum performance on Intel processors. Key applications (for example Office and Photoshop) will run relatively slowly (at 50-80% of original speed) until new versions come out.
• Seems ever so slightly rushed: same basic case as the previous model. No revolutionary new feature. (Apple is being smart by not changing too many things at once). Nothing that fundamentally distinguishes it from a standard PC (apart from the camera, weight, size, "front-row" remote control, software and operating system). Okay, there is actually plenty unique stuff about this computer. I eat my words.
• The MacBook Pro is, for all intents and purposes, an iMac desktop computer in a portable case. However, the iMac is roughly half the price. This is realistic pricing for the added portability and miniaturization, but feels rather uncomfortable, since the two systems are otherwise so similar.

It is a really good laptop. I was however wishing it to be lighter than the previous model, have a bigger hard drive, have enhanced application startup performance using Intel's Robson flash-memory caching technology and use faster Core Duo processors than 1.83 Ghz (they go up to 2.16 Ghz), all of which should have been possible, but would, of course, have driven up the cost.

Also, Apple engineers aren't magicians. While the MacBook Pro's hardware is, in my opinion, better than everything else on the market, it is only by a slight margin. The main reason for buying this computer is the Mac OS X operating system, not the hardware.

So, in review, on all accounts a great machine. Only a few unknowns still need to get resolves. I'll wait at least until April before buying one for myself . I'd really like something smaller and lighter than the current offering to replace my prehistoric Dell Inspiron 4150 monster. For example: a 13-inch MacBook Pro would hit the spot ...

Update: Apple has upgraded the MacBook Pro processor options to feature the fastest Intel processors currently available (2.16 Ghz) and boosted their default "low-end" model up to 1.83 Ghz. Large hard drives are also available as build-to-order options. Battery life also appears to be at least as good as the old Powerbooks'. However, the new MagSafe power supply brick (85W) is roughly 30% larger than the the old 15" Powerbook power supply (65W).

So, all I'm left wishing for is Robson and slightly less weight (especially since the larger power supply makes this new Mac heavier than the previous model).

I went to see Dr. Philip Weeks again last week. My health took a nosedive just before Christmas and I had to increase my intake of Asacol, the western drug I??(TM)m taking to stop my immune system from destroying my digestion system. The downside of Asacol is that in the long term it reduces the body??(TM)s immune system function.

According to Philip my type of ulcerative colitis is caused by my thinking too much: I tend to forever ponder, worry, deliberate, reflect and hypothesize. Moreover, my job at the moment (PhD student) is to come up with something that no one else has ever thought of. Needless to say, that involves a lot of thinking. Not good for my condition.

Luckily, although Ulcerative Colitis is quite a severe disease, my bodily constitution is quite strong. I therefore don't suffer too much, provided I strictly watch what I eat (no dairy, no deep-fried, no gluten), get enough sleep and get regular exercise.

Solution: heal the internal inflammation, reduce the acid in the body and increase the fire of digestion.

Method: regular acupuncture, herbal tinctures and moxibustion (Philip filled my navel with salt and ignited various herbs on top of it)

Some medical practitioners are purists: ??oeAyurveda is the only way!?? Not so with Philip. He, among other things, subscribes to the pragmatic philosophy of Chinese medicine. The Chinese don??(TM)t worry about mixing different types of medicine: herbs, steroids, acupuncture, antibiotics, homeopathy, surgery ??¦ whatever works, mix it all together! The main thing is to help the patient. Unfortunately, the really good Chinese doctors stay in China. Most practitioners of Chinese medicine in the west are not very skilled (and also tend to use all kinds of abominable animal products in their medical preparations).

I went to see Dr. Philip Weeks again last week. My health took a nosedive just before Christmas and I had to increase my intake of Asacol, the western drug I??(TM)m taking to stop my immune system from destroying my digestion system. The downside of Asacol is that in the long term it reduces the body??(TM)s immune system function.

According to Philip my type of ulcerative colitis is caused by my thinking too much: I tend to forever ponder, worry, deliberate, reflect and hypothesize. Moreover, my job at the moment (PhD student) is to come up with something that no one else has ever thought of. Needless to say, that involves a lot of thinking. Not good for my condition.

Luckily, although Ulcerative Colitis is quite a severe disease, my bodily constitution is quite strong. I therefore don't suffer too much, provided I strictly watch what I eat (no dairy, no deep-fried, no gluten), get enough sleep and get regular exercise.

Solution: heal the internal inflammation, reduce the acid in the body and increase the fire of digestion.

Method: regular acupuncture, herbal tinctures and moxibustion (Philip filled my navel with salt and ignited various herbs on top of it)

Some medical practitioners are purists: ??oeAyurveda is the only way!?? Not so with Philip. He, among other things, subscribes to the pragmatic philosophy of Chinese medicine. The Chinese don??(TM)t worry about mixing different types of medicine: herbs, steroids, acupuncture, antibiotics, homeopathy, surgery ??¦ whatever works, mix it all together! The main thing is to help the patient. Unfortunately, the really good Chinese doctors stay in China. Most practitioners of Chinese medicine in the west are not very skilled (and also tend to use all kinds of abominable animal products in their medical preparations).

On Christmas day our central heating system broke down. The temperature was -10 C.

We borrowed several electric heaters from the neighbors, which barely managed to keep the house somewhat warm. If the electricity had also broken down, we would have been finished.

Two days later we called a plumber to fix the system. However, after trying various things and replacing some parts of the system the boiler still refused to work. He eventually gave up and suggested phoning the manufacturer.

Two days after that a specialist from Junkers Corporation came and replaced nearly every component of the heating system. It had not been serviced for 20 years and most parts were beyond repair. Lesson learnt: take good care of machines, service them regularly and fix things as soon as they break. Leaving a fault unrepaired will very soon result in many compounding problems and cause some major headaches (or worse).

I remember that way in the dark ages (i.e. 20 or so years ago) we, and practically everyone around us, used to have a wood/coal burning stove attached to chimney. To warm the house we would light the fire. Simple. With a sufficient stockpile of burnable fuel there was practically no danger of freezing.

Now however, with the advent of nice, convenient modern central heating systems, we are no longer independent. If the underground gas supply system breaks down, we freeze. If the boiler unit breaks, we freeze. If the electricity cuts out, the boiler unit no longer works and we freeze. If the underground water supply system breaks down, the boiler can no longer heat water to supply to the radiators and ??¦ we freeze.

A good, fault tolerant system has multiple backups and few dependencies. Modern society is just the opposite: too many dependencies and no contingency plan.

For example: 5 years ago protestors prevented the fuel/gas/petrol tanker trucks from carrying out their work. Within a couple of days the entire country ground to a halt. Keeping stock is expensive, so everything in shops is delivered just-in-time. With no fuel, deliveries can't happen. The result: within a few days there was no more food in the country. The government had to step in and force the protesters to stop.

German keeps an emergency oil reserve that will last for 90 days. The USA maintains a 50 day stockpile. However, in the event of a breakdown of the distribution mechanism, those stockpiles will be pretty much useless.

Realization: if a small disaster knocks out one or two of the main utilities (water, gas, electricity, fuel) of one of our great, powerful western consumer democracies, then that nation will be reduced to total anarchy in a matter of months!

As Sitapati blogged recently: a post-apocalyptic world as portrayed in Mad Max and many other science fiction films is becoming more and more of a probability. Much more so now, than ever before.

On Christmas day our central heating system broke down. The temperature was -10 C.

We borrowed several electric heaters from the neighbors, which barely managed to keep the house somewhat warm. If the electricity had also broken down, we would have been finished.

Two days later we called a plumber to fix the system. However, after trying various things and replacing some parts of the system the boiler still refused to work. He eventually gave up and suggested phoning the manufacturer.

Two days after that a specialist from Junkers Corporation came and replaced nearly every component of the heating system. It had not been serviced for 20 years and most parts were beyond repair. Lesson learnt: take good care of machines, service them regularly and fix things as soon as they break. Leaving a fault unrepaired will very soon result in many compounding problems and cause some major headaches (or worse).

I remember that way in the dark ages (i.e. 20 or so years ago) we, and practically everyone around us, used to have a wood/coal burning stove attached to chimney. To warm the house we would light the fire. Simple. With a sufficient stockpile of burnable fuel there was practically no danger of freezing.

Now however, with the advent of nice, convenient modern central heating systems, we are no longer independent. If the underground gas supply system breaks down, we freeze. If the boiler unit breaks, we freeze. If the electricity cuts out, the boiler unit no longer works and we freeze. If the underground water supply system breaks down, the boiler can no longer heat water to supply to the radiators and ??¦ we freeze.

A good, fault tolerant system has multiple backups and few dependencies. Modern society is just the opposite: too many dependencies and no contingency plan.

For example: 5 years ago protestors prevented the fuel/gas/petrol tanker trucks from carrying out their work. Within a couple of days the entire country ground to a halt. Keeping stock is expensive, so everything in shops is delivered just-in-time. With no fuel, deliveries can't happen. The result: within a few days there was no more food in the country. The government had to step in and force the protesters to stop.

German keeps an emergency oil reserve that will last for 90 days. The USA maintains a 50 day stockpile. However, in the event of a breakdown of the distribution mechanism, those stockpiles will be pretty much useless.

Realization: if a small disaster knocks out one or two of the main utilities (water, gas, electricity, fuel) of one of our great, powerful western consumer democracies, then that nation will be reduced to total anarchy in a matter of months!

As Sitapati blogged recently: a post-apocalyptic world as portrayed in Mad Max and many other science fiction films is becoming more and more of a probability. Much more so now, than ever before.

23|1Last Saturday I hosted a Saturday Feast at my flat. Nanda Sunu, Tejpal, Ben and Joy attended. It was nice to have all their association. Good association keeps me out of trouble (smile).

On the menu:

• Quinoa, Tomato and Cucumber Salad
• Vegetarian Sheppard??(TM)s Pie
• Zucchini, Green Pepper and Tomato Subji
• Almond & Pea Rice
• Sunflower Seed Cookies

Among other things we discussed various philosophies including Buddhism. This verse and purport from the Caitanya Caritamrita explains the flaws in the nine fundamental principles of Buddhism. It's an interesting read.

However, as stated in the purport, logical argument is boring and useless. We can argue, speculate and discuss as long as we like, but, in the end, everything comes down to the direct conscious experience of Krishna. The proof of the pudding is in the eating: Krishna consciousness.

Check out some pictures of the event. Nanda Sunu has also blogged about it.

23|1Last Saturday I hosted a Saturday Feast at my flat. Nanda Sunu, Tejpal, Ben and Joy attended. It was nice to have all their association. Good association keeps me out of trouble (smile).

On the menu:

• Quinoa, Tomato and Cucumber Salad
• Vegetarian Sheppard??(TM)s Pie
• Zucchini, Green Pepper and Tomato Subji
• Almond & Pea Rice
• Sunflower Seed Cookies

Among other things we discussed various philosophies including Buddhism. This verse and purport from the Caitanya Caritamrita explains the flaws in the nine fundamental principles of Buddhism. It's an interesting read.

However, as stated in the purport, logical argument is boring and useless. We can argue, speculate and discuss as long as we like, but, in the end, everything comes down to the direct conscious experience of Krishna. The proof of the pudding is in the eating: Krishna consciousness.

Check out some pictures of the event. Nanda Sunu has also blogged about it.

Swimming is great exercise. I??(TM)ve been swimming twice a week for the past few weeks.

When I first started swimming, about four months ago, I would swim for 30 minutes and go for 14 lengths of the pool (25m) with frequent pauses at each end to catch my breath. I would also be completely wiped out for the next two days afterwards while my body recovered.

Now, in the same 30 minutes, I can swim 27 lengths and am energized afterwards. Imagine the possibilities: if my endurance and speed continues to improve at this rate, then I??(TM)ll be breaking the sound barrier in 4 years time and swimming at the speed of light after just 10 years of committed practice.

The Vedic literature recommends swimming (and wrestling) as the absolute best bodily exercise. I was skeptical when I first started, but now, after some initial austerity, I have to admit that the Vedas are (obviously) correct.

Swimming is great exercise. I??(TM)ve been swimming twice a week for the past few weeks.

When I first started swimming, about four months ago, I would swim for 30 minutes and go for 14 lengths of the pool (25m) with frequent pauses at each end to catch my breath. I would also be completely wiped out for the next two days afterwards while my body recovered.

Now, in the same 30 minutes, I can swim 27 lengths and am energized afterwards. Imagine the possibilities: if my endurance and speed continues to improve at this rate, then I??(TM)ll be breaking the sound barrier in 4 years time and swimming at the speed of light after just 10 years of committed practice.

The Vedic literature recommends swimming (and wrestling) as the absolute best bodily exercise. I was skeptical when I first started, but now, after some initial austerity, I have to admit that the Vedas are (obviously) correct.

Apple has created a short video tutorial on how to plan a good podcast. It is somewhat focused on their new GarageBand podcast-enabled audio editor (which looks like a superb application, by the way), but has some good tips on creating a nice, fun, high-quality, downloadable, timeshiftable, RSS-subscribeable online radio show. Check it out.

Apple has created a short video tutorial on how to plan a good podcast. It is somewhat focused on their new GarageBand podcast-enabled audio editor (which looks like a superb application, by the way), but has some good tips on creating a nice, fun, high-quality, downloadable, timeshiftable, RSS-subscribeable online radio show. Check it out.

School in Germany starts at 7:30am. At least it did when I was in school there. This simple, but ingenious fact contributes greatly to the overall good of German society. The children lean better in the morning hours, before the passionate mid-day sets in, they get trained to get up early and their parents are also forced to get up early. Both children and parents therefore have to go to bed earlier, reducing nightly sinful and criminal activities. Children (and adults) can't get into trouble at night if they're not awake. Brilliant!

At the same time, I wasn??(TM)t too happy about the German curriculum. Here are some things I disliked:

They choose to ignore the history of the world outside of Europe (and the American west). I really wanted to learn some Asian, African and South American history, but the teacher??(TM)s response was: ??oesorry??.

World War II was ignored. While World War I was covered in great detail, the painful memories of the second Great War were blocked out. History lessons covered the time up to 1939 and then made a jump to 1945. What happened in between, I asked. Teacher??(TM)s response: ??oenothing interesting??.

Lutheran religious education (evangelische Religion) primarily covered two themes: the role of the church in the 3rd Reich and various philosophies of religion. The latter lessons taught us na??ve kids that "religion and divinity are projections of human nature" (Ludwig Feuerbach) and that "Gott ist tot" (Friedrich Nietzsche). As a result I and practically all my friends became complete atheists.

Sports were limited to some basic team sports and track and field. Neither provided much in the way of good exercise. Team sports involved standing around most of the time waiting for the ball to come one's way. Track and field involved waiting around most of the time waiting for one's turn to run or jump. Physical education could have been orchestrated to be much more interesting and provide much more benefit for the students.

School in Germany starts at 7:30am. At least it did when I was in school there. This simple, but ingenious fact contributes greatly to the overall good of German society. The children lean better in the morning hours, before the passionate mid-day sets in, they get trained to get up early and their parents are also forced to get up early. Both children and parents therefore have to go to bed earlier, reducing nightly sinful and criminal activities. Children (and adults) can't get into trouble at night if they're not awake. Brilliant!

At the same time, I wasn??(TM)t too happy about the German curriculum. Here are some things I disliked:

They choose to ignore the history of the world outside of Europe (and the American west). I really wanted to learn some Asian, African and South American history, but the teacher??(TM)s response was: ??oesorry??.

World War II was ignored. While World War I was covered in great detail, the painful memories of the second Great War were blocked out. History lessons covered the time up to 1939 and then made a jump to 1945. What happened in between, I asked. Teacher??(TM)s response: ??oenothing interesting??.

Lutheran religious education (evangelische Religion) primarily covered two themes: the role of the church in the 3rd Reich and various philosophies of religion. The latter lessons taught us na??ve kids that "religion and divinity are projections of human nature" (Ludwig Feuerbach) and that "Gott ist tot" (Friedrich Nietzsche). As a result I and practically all my friends became complete atheists.

Sports were limited to some basic team sports and track and field. Neither provided much in the way of good exercise. Team sports involved standing around most of the time waiting for the ball to come one's way. Track and field involved waiting around most of the time waiting for one's turn to run or jump. Physical education could have been orchestrated to be much more interesting and provide much more benefit for the students.

The Apple iPod is the world's most beautiful MP3 player.

The iPod was designed by Jonathan Ive and his team of designers. Their goal was to create the perfect product. They achieved this with an extreme amount of attention to detail.

One aspect of the design is the basic shape of the device. The rectangle that is the iPod comes closer than any other MP3 player to the golden ratio 1 : 1.618 (also sometimes called the golden section). This ratio appeals to us at an unconscious level.

Attractive human faces have proportions that correspond to the golden ratio, indeed, the human body itself exemplifies this ratio, the Greek Parthenon and many other famous ancient monuments use the ratio throughout their design, the logarithmic spiral on a Nautilus Shell conforms the to golden ratio and even a TV image using those proportion is more appealing (that's why widescreen TV is 16:10). The golden section is deeply ingrained in the design of the Universe. We can't help but be attracted by it.

Here are the ratios of several popular MP3 players:

1 : 1.67 = iPod
1 : 1.75 = iRiver H10
1 : 1.47 = Creative Nomad Zen Xtra

The iRiver is too tall, the Nomad is far too fat, but the iPod's shape, though also slightly too tall, comes closest to this magic ratio. It is certainly no accident that it is the most visually appealing. I am however surprised that no other company has created an MP3 player that exactly uses the golden section (the iRiver H320 comes close by using the same ratio as the iPod, but otherwise looks like an ugly brick - sigh).

So remember, whenever you design anything try to use this golden ratio and people will become instinctively attracted.

The Apple iPod is the world's most beautiful MP3 player.

The iPod was designed by Jonathan Ive and his team of designers. Their goal was to create the perfect product. They achieved this with an extreme amount of attention to detail.

One aspect of the design is the basic shape of the device. The rectangle that is the iPod comes closer than any other MP3 player to the golden ratio 1 : 1.618 (also sometimes called the golden section). This ratio appeals to us at an unconscious level.

Attractive human faces have proportions that correspond to the golden ratio, indeed, the human body itself exemplifies this ratio, the Greek Parthenon and many other famous ancient monuments use the ratio throughout their design, the logarithmic spiral on a Nautilus Shell conforms the to golden ratio and even a TV image using those proportion is more appealing (that's why widescreen TV is 16:10). The golden section is deeply ingrained in the design of the Universe. We can't help but be attracted by it.

Here are the ratios of several popular MP3 players:

1 : 1.67 = iPod
1 : 1.75 = iRiver H10
1 : 1.47 = Creative Nomad Zen Xtra

The iRiver is too tall, the Nomad is far too fat, but the iPod's shape, though also slightly too tall, comes closest to this magic ratio. It is certainly no accident that it is the most visually appealing. I am however surprised that no other company has created an MP3 player that exactly uses the golden section (the iRiver H320 comes close by using the same ratio as the iPod, but otherwise looks like an ugly brick - sigh).

So remember, whenever you design anything try to use this golden ratio and people will become instinctively attracted.

I??(TM)m back in Manchester from my visit to Germany. My realization is that the external environment makes a huge difference one's ability to practice Krishna consciousness.

My parents??(TM) house in Germany is filled with so much stuff: over 30 years of clutter. This mass of mess (even if orderly arranged) seriously agitated my senses. I could not chant the maha-mantra property in that environment. My mind would constantly interrupt, asking me to do so many seemingly important things. Very soon I would give in to its demands, my resolve weakened by the atmosphere.

• The result: I didn??(TM)t chant all in one go, but spread out throughout the day.
• The result: chanting became a chore, an unwelcome duty that I had to push myself to do.
• The result: my meditation was wavering, weak and wholly inadequate.
• The result: my days became distracted, full of sense-gratification and completely unproductive.

Krishna is not kidding in the Bhagavad Gita when he says that he is time. With the pure single-pointed attention that Krishna consciousness brings one can accomplish many, many things in a seemingly very short amount of time.

An inattentive, unconscious person might work really hard their whole life, but ultimately get very little done. However, a fully Krishna conscious devotee (such as Srila Prabhupada) can write 60 books, circle to globe 14 times, initiate thousands of disciples and create a world-wide network of temples and ashrams all in just 12 years.

This morning, back at my flat, I was amazed at how much better my chanting was. Chanting was such a rejuvenating and refreshing experience. I didn't want to stop. I could have gone on for hours and hours.

The experience has strengthened my determination to live simply. Today I went through all the stuff in my flat and threw a load of it away. I filled two large garbage bags full of unless junk I had accumulated. I must do this kind of review more often.

I??(TM)m back in Manchester from my visit to Germany. My realization is that the external environment makes a huge difference one's ability to practice Krishna consciousness.

My parents??(TM) house in Germany is filled with so much stuff: over 30 years of clutter. This mass of mess (even if orderly arranged) seriously agitated my senses. I could not chant the maha-mantra property in that environment. My mind would constantly interrupt, asking me to do so many seemingly important things. Very soon I would give in to its demands, my resolve weakened by the atmosphere.

• The result: I didn??(TM)t chant all in one go, but spread out throughout the day.
• The result: chanting became a chore, an unwelcome duty that I had to push myself to do.
• The result: my meditation was wavering, weak and wholly inadequate.
• The result: my days became distracted, full of sense-gratification and completely unproductive.

Krishna is not kidding in the Bhagavad Gita when he says that he is time. With the pure single-pointed attention that Krishna consciousness brings one can accomplish many, many things in a seemingly very short amount of time.

An inattentive, unconscious person might work really hard their whole life, but ultimately get very little done. However, a fully Krishna conscious devotee (such as Srila Prabhupada) can write 60 books, circle to globe 14 times, initiate thousands of disciples and create a world-wide network of temples and ashrams all in just 12 years.

This morning, back at my flat, I was amazed at how much better my chanting was. Chanting was such a rejuvenating and refreshing experience. I didn't want to stop. I could have gone on for hours and hours.

The experience has strengthened my determination to live simply. Today I went through all the stuff in my flat and threw a load of it away. I filled two large garbage bags full of unless junk I had accumulated. I must do this kind of review more often.

22|1I spent Christmas in Germany with my parents. View the pictures.

I like Germany. This is partially to do with my having grown up here, but also because Germany has a very deep history and culture. Just turn on one of the many classical radio stations to see what I mean. Of course, any piety that is left in Germany is rapidly dwindling due to the influences of Kali-yuga pop-culture. Such a shame, Germany has/had so much potential.

Example: I talked to a neighbor last week (Frau Schott). A 91-year old lady. She was still sharp-witted, living with and giving advice to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her body was strong enough to walk up the town's step hills carrying her shopping basket. Certainly some very good karma there for a very nice lady.

I also met some old friends from high-school. It was interesting to hear what has happened to everyone. I can see that they are all just harvesting the results of the karma: some have gotten married (most haven't), some have children (mostly accidentally), some are still studying (forever aimless students), some are working (and are too busy to do anything else but work). I could see, in every case, that whatever my past classmates were experiencing was pre-determined. Everyone was automatically getting their various desires fulfilled by the laws of nature according to their various stocks of pious-credits. Very little free will (although quite a bit of good karma).

The same would also have happened to me. I too would be living the same, old, boring, mundane, dry, been-there-done-that life that everyone seems to take so seriously. But in the period from 2000 until 2002 I gradually made the conscious decision to switch trains: from the Karma-merry-go-round to the Krishna-Express. Looking back, I'm glad I did.

(My eternal gratitude to those devotees who influenced and advised me.)

22|1I spent Christmas in Germany with my parents. View the pictures.

I like Germany. This is partially to do with my having grown up here, but also because Germany has a very deep history and culture. Just turn on one of the many classical radio stations to see what I mean. Of course, any piety that is left in Germany is rapidly dwindling due to the influences of Kali-yuga pop-culture. Such a shame, Germany has/had so much potential.

Example: I talked to a neighbor last week (Frau Schott). A 91-year old lady. She was still sharp-witted, living with and giving advice to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her body was strong enough to walk up the town's step hills carrying her shopping basket. Certainly some very good karma there for a very nice lady.

I also met some old friends from high-school. It was interesting to hear what has happened to everyone. I can see that they are all just harvesting the results of the karma: some have gotten married (most haven't), some have children (mostly accidentally), some are still studying (forever aimless students), some are working (and are too busy to do anything else but work). I could see, in every case, that whatever my past classmates were experiencing was pre-determined. Everyone was automatically getting their various desires fulfilled by the laws of nature according to their various stocks of pious-credits. Very little free will (although quite a bit of good karma).

The same would also have happened to me. I too would be living the same, old, boring, mundane, dry, been-there-done-that life that everyone seems to take so seriously. But in the period from 2000 until 2002 I gradually made the conscious decision to switch trains: from the Karma-merry-go-round to the Krishna-Express. Looking back, I'm glad I did.

(My eternal gratitude to those devotees who influenced and advised me.)

I recently read an interesting article by Paul Graham on how to make wealth. He advocates working really, really hard in a start-up for a few years and (maybe) getting a huge pay-off from the effort (or ending up with nothing, if the venture, like ever so many start-ups, fails).

However, an interesting point he makes is the distinction between wealth and money. Wealth is what we are really after, while money is just the exchange medium for wealth we use in today's society. All the money of the world would be of no use to you if you were stranded on a desert island with nothing to buy. Similar, if you had a machine (or surabi cow) that could create anything you desired, you would have no need for money.

Graham writes:

Until recently even governments sometimes didn't grasp the distinction between money and wealth. Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations) mentions several that tried to preserve their "wealth" by forbidding the export of gold or silver. But having more of the medium of exchange would not make a country richer; if you have more money chasing the same amount of material wealth, the only result is higher prices.

Similarly, on a smaller scale, many people chase after money, when what they actually desire is wealth. Wealth is whatever someone values and therefore wants to acquire.

Graham falls into the same trap that ensnares practically everyone. He reasons:

Create things that people desire => make money => buy things you desire => objective accomplished.

In reality the following happens:

... buy things you desire => desire more => buy more => desire more => buy more => never become truly satisfied

The spiritual solution is given in BG 2.70: instead of trying to create more and more wealth we should practice minimizing your desires (and since annihilating desire is impossible, replacing it with a higher taste - BG 2.59). That way, even if we don't have the luck (good karma) to be part of a successful start-up, we'll still be supremely wealthy. We'll be able to buy all the things you want, even with a modest income, because we'll desire less stuff than the common manipulated-by-marketing consumer. Even better, we'll also will gain permanent, spiritual wealth.

All material wealth is eventually destroyed by the effects of time. However, spiritual advancement lasts forever.

I recently read an interesting article by Paul Graham on how to make wealth. He advocates working really, really hard in a start-up for a few years and (maybe) getting a huge pay-off from the effort (or ending up with nothing, if the venture, like ever so many start-ups, fails).

However, an interesting point he makes is the distinction between wealth and money. Wealth is what we are really after, while money is just the exchange medium for wealth we use in today's society. All the money of the world would be of no use to you if you were stranded on a desert island with nothing to buy. Similar, if you had a machine (or surabi cow) that could create anything you desired, you would have no need for money.

Graham writes:

Until recently even governments sometimes didn't grasp the distinction between money and wealth. Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations) mentions several that tried to preserve their "wealth" by forbidding the export of gold or silver. But having more of the medium of exchange would not make a country richer; if you have more money chasing the same amount of material wealth, the only result is higher prices.

Similarly, on a smaller scale, many people chase after money, when what they actually desire is wealth. Wealth is whatever someone values and therefore wants to acquire.

Graham falls into the same trap that ensnares practically everyone. He reasons:

Create things that people desire => make money => buy things you desire => objective accomplished.

In reality the following happens:

... buy things you desire => desire more => buy more => desire more => buy more => never become truly satisfied

The spiritual solution is given in BG 2.70: instead of trying to create more and more wealth we should practice minimizing your desires (and since annihilating desire is impossible, replacing it with a higher taste - BG 2.59). That way, even if we don't have the luck (good karma) to be part of a successful start-up, we'll still be supremely wealthy. We'll be able to buy all the things you want, even with a modest income, because we'll desire less stuff than the common manipulated-by-marketing consumer. Even better, we'll also will gain permanent, spiritual wealth.

All material wealth is eventually destroyed by the effects of time. However, spiritual advancement lasts forever.

download
Verse: BG 5.21-22
Place: ISKCON Leipzig, Germany
Time: 44 min.

Summary:
This is a very provocative verse. Krishna rejects all false pleasure. Shouldn??(TM)t there be a balance between both false and real pleasure? Physiologists say that repression can be damaging to the psyche.

No! Would you make a balance with real and counterfeit money? A yogi has better things to do than enjoy false pleasure. And, by the way, psychologist is the profession with the highest suicide rate.

Detachment requires training. We must know what is good, what is bad and get a taste of the real, unlimited pleasure obtainable by concentrating on the Supreme. Such spiritual pleasure is far, far higher than the highest material pleasure (sex life). It is worth the small inconvenience necessary to obtain it. Material pleasure simply traps us.

Questions:

• What is the role of intuition when choosing a guru?
• How to employ the material elements for the atma-tattva?
• Why do you wear a watch? Time does not play a role for Krishna! You??(TM)re under the same material stress and time pressure as everyone else. Isn??(TM)t that a contradiction?
• What does it mean to serve Krishna?
• But Krishna talks of two yogas: jnana and bhakti?

download
Verse: BG 5.21-22
Place: ISKCON Leipzig, Germany
Time: 44 min.

Summary:
This is a very provocative verse. Krishna rejects all false pleasure. Shouldn??(TM)t there be a balance between both false and real pleasure? Physiologists say that repression can be damaging to the psyche.

No! Would you make a balance with real and counterfeit money? A yogi has better things to do than enjoy false pleasure. And, by the way, psychologist is the profession with the highest suicide rate.

Detachment requires training. We must know what is good, what is bad and get a taste of the real, unlimited pleasure obtainable by concentrating on the Supreme. Such spiritual pleasure is far, far higher than the highest material pleasure (sex life). It is worth the small inconvenience necessary to obtain it. Material pleasure simply traps us.

Questions:

• What is the role of intuition when choosing a guru?
• How to employ the material elements for the atma-tattva?
• Why do you wear a watch? Time does not play a role for Krishna! You??(TM)re under the same material stress and time pressure as everyone else. Isn??(TM)t that a contradiction?
• What does it mean to serve Krishna?
• But Krishna talks of two yogas: jnana and bhakti?

I just listened to an interesting interview with John Barrow, a cosmologist and mathematician who talks about his book: The Infinite Book : A Short Guide to the Boundless, Timeless and Endless.

He explains how the Universe may or may not be infinity and outlines a theory where our particular Universe is finite, but there exists an infinitely old realm of unlimited parallel universes beyond ours. We will however, never know for sure, since, in order to get information from those other Universes that information would have to travel faster than the speed of light, which is, of course, impossible (according to Einstein).

This theory sounds remarkably similar to the view of the Universe given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Maha-Visnu is in the infinite spiritual causal ocean where time does not exist and generates unlimited finite Universes just like ours.

Barrow also explains how there are different sized infinities (as discovered by Galileo Galilei). There are, in fact, an unlimited number of infinities, each larger than the next. The infinite infinity is mathematically impossible (as shown by Georg Cantor, but hypothetically possible for a meta-physical being such as God.

There are several statements in Vedic literature that the spiritual energy is three times larger than the material energy (SB 2.6.20 and Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya-lila Chapter 21 Verses 51, 55, 56, 57, 87). Devotees always told me that these statements were not to be taken literally. I was however never satisfied with that explanation. However, using Cantor??(TM)s mathematics of infinite sets, it is indeed perfectly reasonable to talk about multiple differently sized infinities.

I just listened to an interesting interview with John Barrow, a cosmologist and mathematician who talks about his book: The Infinite Book : A Short Guide to the Boundless, Timeless and Endless.

He explains how the Universe may or may not be infinity and outlines a theory where our particular Universe is finite, but there exists an infinitely old realm of unlimited parallel universes beyond ours. We will however, never know for sure, since, in order to get information from those other Universes that information would have to travel faster than the speed of light, which is, of course, impossible (according to Einstein).

This theory sounds remarkably similar to the view of the Universe given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Maha-Visnu is in the infinite spiritual causal ocean where time does not exist and generates unlimited finite Universes just like ours.

Barrow also explains how there are different sized infinities (as discovered by Galileo Galilei). There are, in fact, an unlimited number of infinities, each larger than the next. The infinite infinity is mathematically impossible (as shown by Georg Cantor, but hypothetically possible for a meta-physical being such as God.

There are several statements in Vedic literature that the spiritual energy is three times larger than the material energy (SB 2.6.20 and Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya-lila Chapter 21 Verses 51, 55, 56, 57, 87). Devotees always told me that these statements were not to be taken literally. I was however never satisfied with that explanation. However, using Cantor??(TM)s mathematics of infinite sets, it is indeed perfectly reasonable to talk about multiple differently sized infinities.

I??(TM)ve just fixed some more bugs in this website. For some reason the last few lines of some of my modified WordPress theme files got cut off and replaced with a garbled server error message. Weird (or: hackers!?). If this website looked a bit strange over the past few days, then that was the reason.

Anyway, it's all working again now (and more secure, too). Enjoy.

(Note: I've also changed the layout slightly. Tell me what you think.)

I??(TM)ve just fixed some more bugs in this website. For some reason the last few lines of some of my modified WordPress theme files got cut off and replaced with a garbled server error message. Weird (or: hackers!?). If this website looked a bit strange over the past few days, then that was the reason.

Anyway, it's all working again now (and more secure, too). Enjoy.

(Note: I've also changed the layout slightly. Tell me what you think.)

download
Place: ISKCON Leipzig, Germany
Time: 19 min.

Summary:
Why struggle so hard for material enjoyment which is temporary in nature? Erich Honecker, for example, thought that the Berlin wall would be there 100 years from now. 6 months later: both he??(TM)s gone and the wall is gone.

There is an attitude of: "just be as happy as you can, focus on the pleasure and don??(TM)t be negative, just follow your heart and intuition". French existentialist philosopher Albert Camus said: "Don??(TM)t try to lead me, don??(TM)t try to follow me, just walk with me through the chaos".

However, in any practical situation no one actually does that. For example, when going on a walk in forest we make a plan, take a map and follow the official path established by forest rangers.

Krishna consciousness is the authorized way. The Vedic literature is the torchlight of knowledge that allows us to see the whole picture of what is going on, instead of stumbling blindly in the darkness of ignorance.

download
Place: ISKCON Leipzig, Germany
Time: 19 min.

Summary:
Why struggle so hard for material enjoyment which is temporary in nature? Erich Honecker, for example, thought that the Berlin wall would be there 100 years from now. 6 months later: both he??(TM)s gone and the wall is gone.

There is an attitude of: "just be as happy as you can, focus on the pleasure and don??(TM)t be negative, just follow your heart and intuition". French existentialist philosopher Albert Camus said: "Don??(TM)t try to lead me, don??(TM)t try to follow me, just walk with me through the chaos".

However, in any practical situation no one actually does that. For example, when going on a walk in forest we make a plan, take a map and follow the official path established by forest rangers.

Krishna consciousness is the authorized way. The Vedic literature is the torchlight of knowledge that allows us to see the whole picture of what is going on, instead of stumbling blindly in the darkness of ignorance.

Namahatta has a great article from HH Radhanath Swami. He talks about the counselor system in the temple in Mumbai, Chowpatti. It sounds like a great place. A perfect situation where everyone is super nicely cared for. The article is well worth reading.

Namahatta has a great article from HH Radhanath Swami. He talks about the counselor system in the temple in Mumbai, Chowpatti. It sounds like a great place. A perfect situation where everyone is super nicely cared for. The article is well worth reading.

This week's Vedicsoc session was different. As a follow on from Sunday's Gita reading I advertised a Bhagavad-Gita Q&A. Unfortunately the interest of the student community in such things is practically zero these days. Well, two, to be exact. I taught a very quick yoga class (some breathing and 10 sun salutes), followed by an extra long japa session (18 minutes of chanting of the maha-mantra).

Then we had what ended up being a two hours long discussion. I found myself battling mayavadi conceptions throughout most of that time. However, even given Prabhupada's authoritative purports the two guys that came did not accept. Ultimately we came to some intricate (irrelevant) detailed questions about the nature of the time which I could not answer. I stressed that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. But, alas, the maha-mantra of today's society is: "never commit to anything".

Still, we parted favourably (and I sneakily gave both of them a gift of a MP3-CD filled with Krishna conscious talks lectures).

This week's Vedicsoc session was different. As a follow on from Sunday's Gita reading I advertised a Bhagavad-Gita Q&A. Unfortunately the interest of the student community in such things is practically zero these days. Well, two, to be exact. I taught a very quick yoga class (some breathing and 10 sun salutes), followed by an extra long japa session (18 minutes of chanting of the maha-mantra).

Then we had what ended up being a two hours long discussion. I found myself battling mayavadi conceptions throughout most of that time. However, even given Prabhupada's authoritative purports the two guys that came did not accept. Ultimately we came to some intricate (irrelevant) detailed questions about the nature of the time which I could not answer. I stressed that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. But, alas, the maha-mantra of today's society is: "never commit to anything".

Still, we parted favourably (and I sneakily gave both of them a gift of a MP3-CD filled with Krishna conscious talks lectures).

Forrester magazine has an interest short article on the subject. View it here.

Forrester magazine has an interest short article on the subject. View it here.

download
Verse: SB 2.10.1
Place: ISKCON Berlin, Germany
Time: 59 min.

Summary:
There is always change. The body changes, the government changes (Devamrita Swami tells some stories of preaching in the DDR, former East Germany) and people become bewildered.

Srimad Bhagavatam however allows us to conquer the darkness of ignorance, the conception that the world is here for our enjoyment, and understand that all energy has an owner who (at least) likes be acknowledged. Devotion can come later. Devotees as devoted as Mother Yasoda can even conquer Krishna.

The creation is supreme exhibition of artistry. It is so expertly arranged that it looks like no one is behind it. It is like an expert manager who sets things into motion without people noticing it was actually him. Things generally progress from subtle to gross. It is like that in management, male/female relationships and many other things.

Don??(TM)t get caught up in all the changes, attacks of material nature and material desires. Srimad Bhagavatam gives both knowledge and detachment.

Questions:

• How is it that if we stop practicing Krishna consciousness in this life we can continue from where we left off in the next life?
• How to convince someone that God didn??(TM)t give them this world for their enjoyment?
• My understanding is that you should only have a relationship to Krishna, not anybody else, is that right?

download
Verse: SB 2.10.1
Place: ISKCON Berlin, Germany
Time: 59 min.

Summary:
There is always change. The body changes, the government changes (Devamrita Swami tells some stories of preaching in the DDR, former East Germany) and people become bewildered.

Srimad Bhagavatam however allows us to conquer the darkness of ignorance, the conception that the world is here for our enjoyment, and understand that all energy has an owner who (at least) likes be acknowledged. Devotion can come later. Devotees as devoted as Mother Yasoda can even conquer Krishna.

The creation is supreme exhibition of artistry. It is so expertly arranged that it looks like no one is behind it. It is like an expert manager who sets things into motion without people noticing it was actually him. Things generally progress from subtle to gross. It is like that in management, male/female relationships and many other things.

Don??(TM)t get caught up in all the changes, attacks of material nature and material desires. Srimad Bhagavatam gives both knowledge and detachment.

Questions:

• How is it that if we stop practicing Krishna consciousness in this life we can continue from where we left off in the next life?
• How to convince someone that God didn??(TM)t give them this world for their enjoyment?
• My understanding is that you should only have a relationship to Krishna, not anybody else, is that right?

The ancient Japanese art of paper folding has come a long way since the time of ancient Japan. Using computers to calculate the folds necessary Robert Lang creates some amazing origami artwork. Check it out here.

The ancient Japanese art of paper folding has come a long way since the time of ancient Japan. Using computers to calculate the folds necessary Robert Lang creates some amazing origami artwork. Check it out here.