I see no reason to segregate scientific and technical posts from humanistic ones. In my life, scientific concerns mix with ethical ones, and they shade into a philosophical interest in the nature of cognition and the nature of people. Doing science is as creative as writing fiction, and I get inspiration for both from the same gods.
You will find little here on current politics. I'm activist, but in causes not symptoms. Experience in martial arts shows me that the sure way to lose is reactivity; but if you stay cool and remember your training and what you're there for then you achieve goals and, when conflict is unavoidable, you fight and win. The idea of the liberal arts I was brought up in is that broad understanding of cultures and ideas gives you deeper, better goals -- making success more likely and more satisfying. Negatively, the hysteria since 9/11 shows how a country frightened and reactive can destroy itself more than an enemy can. I'm trying to contribute by changing the terms of discourse. See 
One fact shouldn't require special mention; but -- given the nature of the society in which I've grown up and lived -- it often does: namely that I'm gay. You'll see it in some posts and in some links below. I'm proud of being gay and do not hide; more about this on the 
Tao Te Ching —
The Classic about Ways And Instances
Lao Tzu
(Translated, with comments, by William P. Coleman)
Chapter 9
Keeping on until it’s full is not as good as stopping.
Something hammered until sharp cannot stay sharp long.
If you fill a hall with gold and jade, no one can guard it.
Pride justified in wealth brings disaster.
With the work completed, a person steps back
— that is the way of heaven.
| <– Chapter 8 |
Chapter 10 –> |
my comments:
The underlying meaning is closely related to the meaning in the last several chapters.
More is not necessarily better. Nor is less is necessarily better.
It’s not a competition — or any kind of compromise — between more and less — between how much you want and how much you can get away with. It’s not a compromise between selfishness and abnegation: neither of these is good, or even relevant.
It’s reality that’s necessarily better, whatever reality might be in a particular situation.
When is the right time to stop? When it’s “completed.” When it’s there. When it’s real.
For comparison, I’m including the translation by Lin Yutang, which I always love and respect, even when I disagree:
9. The Danger of Overweening Success
Stretch (a bow) to the very full,
Temper a (sword-edge) to its very sharpest,
When gold and jade fill your hall,
To be proud with wealth and honor
Retire when your work is done,
Tags: Ancient China, Lao Tzu, life, Lin Yutang, Tai Chi, Tao Te Ching, Taoism, thoughts, translation
