Eye of the Tiger

Rocky slowly got up from the mat, planning his escape. He hesitated a moment and thought. Things were not going well. What bothered him most was being held,especially since the charge against him had been weak. He considered his present situation. The lock that held him was strong but he thought he could break it. He knew, however, that his timing would have to be perfect. Rocky was aware that it was because of his early roughness that he had been penalized so severely--much too severely from his point of view. The situation was becoming frustrating; the pressure had been grinding on him for too long. He was being ridden unmercifully. Rocky was getting angry now. He felt he was ready to make his move. He knew that his success or failure would depend on what he did in the next few seconds.

Yeah, sorry, that intro. was probably more confusing than those talks from youth speakers where they just launch into reading something out of New Era without even telling you what, or why. So, I read this passage in my textbook today as an example of...constructionism, I think (I guess I'll have to review that before quiz time). Apparently there are two perspectives here that you can take. Rocky is a fighter or a prisoner.

Now the intention of this example was to clue us pre-service teachers into the fact that students interpret and learn new things based on prior knowledge. If there is little or no prior knowledge on the context or relevance of the reading, you can expect minimal comprehension. La de da, quite obvious and boring. However, what I found interesting is that this passage, from both the perspective of a fighter and a prisoner, describes the recent events in the life of my brother's little kitty...whose very name happens to BE Rocky.

A few days back Rocky developed a very red and goupy eye. I happened to be at my brother's house this weekend and got to take a look at it for myself. We didn't suspect that it had been too serious. Perhaps it was just an infection that an antibiotic eye cream could cure. So we took him to the vet on Monday and it appeared that trauma and not an infection was the cause, and that we had to see a specialist. Upon taking Rocky to the specialist, it was determined that the cut in his cornea was very likely caused by, none other than his favorite sparring partner Apollo. I don't think I need to tell you who is who:



They do so like to playfully gnaw at each other, and roll around with the occasional swipe of the paw to the jaw. And thus there came to be this claw shaped wound to Rocky's eye. Ouch. But Mr. Rocky is a tough Italian Stallion. He hasn't shown any behavior that would indicate that he is having pain, not even when the lab tech. administered these eye drops which she warned us would cause him to violently foam at the mouth. Luckily, that didn't happen, and he purred and played with us as usual.

The good news was that the blow did not puncture his lens. That would have actually guaranteed the removal of his entire eye. In this case though, there was the option of surgery, or medical treatment (with unknown success expected). Matt decided to just get the medicine for now and see what happens. If the eye doesn't heal enough by tomorrow morning, I'm pretty sure that surgery will be highly recommended so he won't have to lose the eye.

It turns out that the medication and visit alone were over $500, so it obviously becomes a question of money where surgery is concerned. Suddenly the idea of pet insurance that we so readily scoffed on the way to the vet didn't seem like that bad of an idea anymore. Anyone without any sort of savings really wouldn't be able to make these sorts of decisions, and would be confined to...even putting the animal to sleep over an injured eye. This just reminds me that the more assets we have in any sense (money, knowledge, etc.) the more choices and ethical responsibility we have.

Anyway, right now Rocky is separated from Apollo, and he can't go outside. He also has one of those cones around his neck so that he doesn't touch that eye of his. So sad to see it. His meals are supposed to be portioned too, like rations. Poor little prisoner. I hope that his eye will heal, and that surgery won't be necessary. If it is though, I hope it works out all right. He is a sweet, loving kitty, and deserves it.

Having said all that, I can't resist the impulse to post this:

Surprise Paradise!

This one's for you, Brother!
But remember to pause the music first. :)

The Price of Damned Lies

So, I was back in Business Ethics today. Guilt trip. First of all, Mr. Bearded Democratic Philosopher with a First Name That Sounds Like a Last Name (Harrison), not to be confused with "Mr. Harrison," is pretty nice (he said goodbye to me today), and good-looking as well I might add (he smiled too). Second of all, the slides that I stole, as it turns out, aren't accessible to even his students. Third, Immanuel Kant, who I supposedly like so much, would be of the opinion that stealing bread even if you are starving is still (and not any less) wrong. Setting aside my own petty theft for one moment, let's focus on the real issue. I can't like Kant AND Les Miserables?! Yes, that fact alone is truly the full extent of my guilt.

Now, on to the damned lies. You see, I'm reading this book called More Damned Lies and Statistics for my stats class. And it just so happens that my assignment due Friday ties into my little gripe against business, and my little horrah-horray for philosophy. I chose this situation that I heard about just a couple days ago as an example of what the author refers to as "missing numbers" in statistical estimations. And it involves this car:

The Ford Pinto. Now forgive me if you've heard about it before. Anyway, the story here is that back in the 70s the Ford company wanted to compete with other car manufacturers from Japan and the like, and so they made a goal that the Pinto must not be "an ounce over 2,000 lb., and not a penny over $2,000." They reached this goal, but unfortunately there was a major safety flaw in the design. The fuel tank was located behind the rear axel, which upon just over a 30 mph hit to the back of the car would cause some serious gas leakage, prone to burst the car into flames at the first spark. With rear blows of even greater forces, the doors would crush shut, and it would almost certainly lead to burn fatalities for crash victims.

Two things could have corrected the problem. One, the tank could have been put above the rear axel. Although they knew this was much safer, the reason they didn't do it was because it would drastically decrease trunk space. Apparently, trunk space was an important marketable feature. The second thing that could have been done (even after production) would have been to add a fire-prevention device in the gas tank that would cost an extra $11/vehicle. What to do?

Well, using the cost-benefit analysis they determined that the benefit of installing the device amounted to 49.5 million dollars. The cost of installing the device for each car would be 137 million dollars. So, from there the choice was obvious. But then again, how did they calculate the benefit. Did they seriously have the audacity to put a price on a human life? Well, so it would seem. And that price per individual was in the ball park of only $200,000. That's not to say that's really what they thought a life was worth, per say. The amount was calculated in reference to how much money they expected to be sued for, as well as the amount of money that the deceased victims would have earned throughout the rest of their lifetime.

At first our repulsion may be over the fact that the estimate per individual is only $200,000. But if you consider that only real dollars and cents values were considered here, we might let that go. But then an even grimmer repulsion settles in with the fact that the value of a human life didn't come into the picture AT ALL. So much for business ethics and cost-benefit analyses.

On the flip side, the parting thought of Business Ethics today was how fanatical Kant really was in defending his ethics. So much that perhaps even lying to spare a person's life is unacceptable. I find that ridiculous. Just a heavy price for another sort of damned lie.

Business Ethics?

So, I'm actually really pleased with the classes I'm facilitating so far for work this semester. Today I was excited that for the first time ever I had a philosophy class. And I also had a psychology class, a subject which I usually find very interesting. I was also thrilled that I wasn't facilitating any business classes, which I have always hated.

In fact, one time in driving by Thermal Fisher I happened to shout, very seriously, "Oh, I hate Thermal Fisher!" My sister was in the car and started laughing at the random and irrational protest. I then explained that a business professor I worked with happened to work at Thermal Fisher as well, and was always mentioning it. Every week. Several times a lecture. I guess it irritated me quite a bit.

Anyway, when I found out that the philosophy class was actually Business Ethics, I kinda groaned inside myself, "No, I thought I had gotten away." However, the professor stressed that although the students were primarily business students, that it was indeed a philosophy class, and so it would delve deeper into moral theories than they may feel is relevant. Horrah! Next week happens to be a lecture on Immanuel Kant, who I have read a bit of and learned SO much from. Even with the very little I read. So, I'm thrilled that I will be paid to go to this class!

Actually, as the professor was leaving I was about to be so lame as to ask him what exactly they were reading from Kant for the discussion next week so that I could possibly join in too, but he left without saying anything to me (which I generally consider a little rude...but since I like the class, no harm). In fact, he left without closing his slides on the computer, so I actually emailed them to myself. Yes, I am very nerdy, aren't I? Then I noticed that all of the files for all of his classes were available in an open window...so I, now don't judge me, STOLE a bunch of them. Yep, while at work I stole documents on moral theories. How ironic. It seems I just might need a business ethics course myself. How convenient! :)

Faith is the Evidence

"You've got post!" I mean, I'm back to writing my blog again. I just like that British AOL inbox greeting...that I heard about once which thereafter always made me giggle to imagine hearing. Anyway, it's finally my last semester in Logan, but no, I won't be graduating till fall. I plan to student teach in Salt Lake, where I can get free rent from my brother...right, Brother? I imagine him saying "right" in a British/Aussie-ambiguous accent (which makes a lot more sense than a certain radio commercial with a German/Jamaican-ambiguous accent), though I'm sure he wouldn't do that. Probably would just shrug and say "sure". <---Does that period belong inside the quotations marks or outside? *shrugs* I guess I'll wait till the week is up to update you on my classes. I actually thought it would be a better day today, but I did a lot of trudging and slipping up and down snowy hills and streets. Oh, I hate winter for every practical reason. That does leave a few impractical reasons which keep it from being loathed :) But I suspect a much better semester than the last. It is little worth speaking of. However, what with finding myself without a tale to tell of how well my first day of my last semester in Logan went (I don't think mentioning the coupon books would be sufficient) I actually have decided to share my testimony that I wrote for some teenage boy in the UK whose name I don't remember now, who I met on the Bebo social network back when I used that. I found it while I was rummaging looking for a check book...to buy a text book...because my funds are insufficient until midnight...because I deposited a check on the weekend...and checks trick people into thinking you are good for it, now. Haha! See, who cares about that?? Anyway, like me this boy has interests in philosophy and science, but believed that you cannot be an intelligent person and believe in God, because there is no proof. I'm not sure what conversations we had prior to me writing this testimony, but it is the only time I have shared it with a relative stranger, so, I thought it deserved a blog post.

I'm impressed by your intellectual mind, especially at your age. How can I have faith in something so false as God, you ask? How, when there is no evidence? I would like to share with you my own personal testimony. However, I must ask you to suspend your intellect for a moment. As Paul said to the Corinthians: "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:10-14)

No appeal to science or philosophy can ever prove that God exists, but only the witness that the Holy Spirit brings to our hearts. I testify to you that I have had this witness. I know that God lives, and that he is our Eternal Father. I know that his son Jesus Christ lives, and that he is my Redeemer. I know that I have been given the power to direct my life by the divine gift of choice. I know that good and evil exist. What is good fills me with peace and joy and a belief in Jesus Christ. What is not good fills me with confusion and doubt and disbelief in Christ. This is my standard for Truth, which of a necessity must be rooted in my faith in Jesus Christ.

It says in Hebrews that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." I have my evidence that these things are true, and it is my faith in the witness of the Spirit to my heart that has revealed this truth. It is stronger than physical evidence. But there is physical evidence too. You need only look up at the beauty of the night sky. What order and cosmic design! Everything I study, especially science, testifies to me of Christ and divine creation. I am now studying biology, and find the intricacies behind life to be astounding.

I know that our lives are eternal, but I value and treasure this time and this earth as well. "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul." (Doctrine and Covenants 59:18-19)

Nietzsche proclaims, "Become who you are." I find that very interesting, realizing that growth is necessary. Progression is essential. It will take time to become who I am meant to be. The Prophet Joseph Smith reveals, "If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves." So, to "become who [we] are" requires faith, God, and the power of our will to accept the Savior.

Philosophy (philosophia) may be the "love of wisdom," but faith in Christ is the exercise of wisdom. It is the finest thing I have. I thank you for letting me share my testimony with you, it is of precious worth to me. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Maybe I'll start to blog my testimony regularly on fast Sundays. I haven't been up to the pulpit in a while.