2014.03.16 07:00 - Self Herding

The Guardian for this meeting was Bleu Oleander. The comments are by Bleu Oleander.

Bleu Oleander: 's current display-name is "Bleu".
--BELL--
Bleu Oleander: hiya Lila
Lila Darkmatter: Hi Bleu - really like this look.. dark but classy
Bleu Oleander: ty! fun for a change
Bleu Oleander: oops lost you
Bleu Oleander: ah back!
Lila Darkmatter: I went to adjust my chat box and hit a LM link up top, lol
Lila Darkmatter: sorry
Bleu Oleander: :) happens
Lila Darkmatter: (just woke, not firing on all cylinders I fear)
Bleu Oleander: me either
Bleu Oleander: somehow acquired a cold
Lila Darkmatter: me too!! so sorry to hear that - awful :(
Bleu Oleander: spring colds are the worst
Bleu Oleander: want to go out and play but feeling punky
Lila Darkmatter: aw
Lila Darkmatter: yes... better to take the time to rest
Bleu Oleander: yes
Lila Darkmatter: I've been doing so for a few days... if you want to lay down I won't be offended too
Bleu Oleander: its ok for a while

Bleu Oleander: btw, major discovery being announced tomorrow

Bleu Oleander: universe-wise
Lila Darkmatter: do you have it today?
Lila Darkmatter: :)
Bleu Oleander: haha
Bleu Oleander: trying to get it out of our friends
Bleu Oleander: they're being very quiet
Lila Darkmatter: do you have an inkling about what area? particle-y news?

Bleu Oleander: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=42751

Lila Darkmatter: ty
Bleu Oleander: my guess is dark matter related so apropriate to be talking with you :)
Lila Darkmatter smiles
Lila Darkmatter: it seems that if they come to some understanding of dark matter we are a bit closer to understanding the multiple universes idea... not that I really understand how that is so
Bleu Oleander: yes, me either
Lila Darkmatter: sort of amazing that when one is listening to a scientist who is able to explain really clearly, in that moment it is as though one does know themselves... but, poof, lol
Bleu Oleander: lol
Lila Darkmatter: well my experience is that way anyway ^^
Bleu Oleander: challenge for me is to try to then explain it to someone else
Bleu Oleander: then I see how little I understand lol
Lila Darkmatter nods...
Lila Darkmatter: Einstein said something similar about testing own understanding
Lila Darkmatter: but then I think, there are plenty of people not able to explain things in words
Lila Darkmatter: so, maybe not cut n dry :)
Bleu Oleander: yes
Lila Darkmatter: so then some have a special role in being able to research and reach out
Bleu Oleander: speaking of words, going to meet the author if the Swerve this week
Bleu Oleander: I really loved that book
Bleu Oleander: about words, books, history
Lila Darkmatter: remind me... sounds familiar but drawing a blank
Bleu Oleander: Stephen Greenblatt
Bleu Oleander: about finding Lucretius' "on the nature of things"
Lila Darkmatter: hmmmm
Lila Darkmatter: seems worth reading... not just for 'info' but beauty
Bleu Oleander: he also wrote Will in the World
Lila Darkmatter: Ohhh I read most of that
--BELL--
Bleu Oleander: pulitzer prize for Swerve
Lila Darkmatter: I did read all of Bloom's Invention of a Human
Bleu Oleander: his topic is "tell my story - the human compulsion to narrate"
Lila Darkmatter: ahhh
Lila Darkmatter: to fully tell one's story is different than to tell stories about one's story I guess
Bleu Oleander: layers of stories
Lila Darkmatter: like, some won't write memoir because they can't resist the urge to tamper... but, how could one not, of course memoir has a bias, that is factored
Bleu Oleander: yes all stories have bias
Bleu Oleander: history too
Lila Darkmatter: indeed
Lila Darkmatter: it impresses me when someone is open about their bias... like, a friend who is writing and is adept at showing both sides of a character
Lila Darkmatter: very hard to do (well, at least two sides/contasts) with attachments
Bleu Oleander: many times though we don't even know our biases as biases
Bleu Oleander: so much under the radar

Bleu Oleander: Dan Ariely's coursera class is great (A Beginner's Guide to Irrational Behavior) should be required viewing!

Lila Darkmatter: I wonder about that... whether my kids or grandchildren will read things I've written and see me as narrow
Lila Darkmatter: I hope not narrow "for my time" - suppose a good aspiration
Lila Darkmatter: ohhhh ::pouts::: am so behind on things... would like to take that and think I may be signed up
Lila Darkmatter listens
Bleu Oleander: just at the beginning so good time to jump in :)
Lila Darkmatter: :) how is the astronomy course?
Bleu Oleander: good, but have heard most of it so many times now :)
Lila Darkmatter: :)

Bleu Oleander: so Dan talks about "self herding"
Bleu Oleander: very interesting term
Lila Darkmatter: hmmm yes
Bleu Oleander: how an initial decision influences future ones
Bleu Oleander: we don't even realize it
Lila Darkmatter: trajectories?
Lila Darkmatter: I can think of what seemed like small decisions (at the time) that altered whole of my life
Bleu Oleander: we herd ourselves towards things that validate our past decisions
Bleu Oleander: very entertaining class
Lila Darkmatter: herd implies 'many' ?
Lila Darkmatter: disparate parts?
Bleu Oleander: yes, all of our thoughts and ideas, directions ... many of "us" to herd lol
Lila Darkmatter: hehhe
Lila Darkmatter: last night I fell asleep with an audio on.. as Alan Watts was saying that the thinker could be considered just a thought...
Lila Darkmatter: or -just... but, whether 'true' or not, an interesting contemplation
Bleu Oleander: not sure I understand that
Bleu Oleander: the thinker is a thought?
Lila Darkmatter: nor I... but was interesting to muse on... the idea of a 'beginning' though that spawns others
Lila Darkmatter: poetic
Bleu Oleander: I suppose that the "self" is really a collection of thoughts that form a process then
Lila Darkmatter nods...
Lila Darkmatter: seems so
Lila Darkmatter: like, most of what makes us up isn't even "human" dna I think... bacteria?

Bleu Oleander: coming up on PBS is a series based on another fav book ... "Your Inner Fish" Neil Shubin
Lila Darkmatter: ah, saw that... what is it about?
Bleu Oleander: origins of humans

--BELL--

Bleu Oleander: he discovered Tiktaalik - a "missing link" creature
Bleu Oleander: really fun book so looking forward to the series
Lila Darkmatter: great.... can't imagine adding another book right now so something to look forward to :)
Bleu Oleander: ha ha me either but I do
Lila Darkmatter: plus, fun to watch those with my son
Bleu Oleander: yes
Bleu Oleander: did you watch cosmos?
Lila Darkmatter: yes... thought he did a good job, although I have a bit of a peeve with too many graphics
Bleu Oleander: I watched Sagan's right afterwards
Bleu Oleander: was interesting to see the same shots
Bleu Oleander: same script
Lila Darkmatter: the story of Sagan reaching out to Tyson is inspiring, sweet
Bleu Oleander: Sagan's bit about the Alexandria Library was interesting but the new show left that out
Bleu Oleander: in favor of the Bruno story
Lila Darkmatter: it was a bit controversial for him to spend time on that story, but I like it... see it as a bridge
Bleu Oleander: yes
Bleu Oleander: the graphics will catch some new eyes
Lila Darkmatter nods... true
Lila Darkmatter: It is just that with the Science/Discovery channel shows, they have so much interesting content, but they frustrate the viewer with taking up so much time with graphics ... the same.. over and over
Bleu Oleander: yes can become jaded
Lila Darkmatter: most seem okay with it, but to me it often feels too 'newsy'
Lila Darkmatter: I think this is better so far... just a kind of 'fear' of mine
Bleu Oleander: will see how the rest goes ... nice that they put it on the website
Lila Darkmatter: it is 'on demand' on my cable too, so that even though I missed it I was able to watch
Bleu Oleander: yes I watched it on my computer
Lila Darkmatter: last night I dragged myself out of sick bed to see Paul Simon and Sting in concert... was wonderful... not too much hoopla but a large-ish talented band
Bleu Oleander: live?
Lila Darkmatter: yes
Xirana Oximoxi: 's current display-name is "Xirana".
Bleu Oleander: I love Sting
Bleu Oleander: hiya Xiri
Bleu Oleander: how have u been?
Xirana Oximoxi: hello Bleu and Lila:)
Lila Darkmatter: lately really impressed with musicians who never stop playing... Sting sounded better than ever
Lila Darkmatter: Hi Xiri! :)
Xirana Oximoxi: I'm fine thank you! more busy in rl :)
Bleu Oleander: me too, painting?
Xirana Oximoxi: yes, painting and writitng an now illustrating the tales I've writen
Lila Darkmatter is too busy, but with little to show for it :)
Bleu Oleander: for a book?
Lila Darkmatter: Oh, how's it going Xiri?
Xirana Oximoxi: and after it...trying to publish it
Bleu Oleander: I really want to try "blurb"
Bleu Oleander: a friend of mine makes gorgeous books
Bleu Oleander: using that
Xirana Oximoxi: Amazon is very good, but not for Children's books...it will be my last option
Xirana Oximoxi: usually publishers want all completly unpublished
Lila Darkmatter: seems a benefit to books that can go to kindle too
Lila Darkmatter: although it is a little sad for me to think of babies with glowing ipads instead of paper books :)
Bleu Oleander: well by then maybe a chip lol
Xirana Oximoxi: yes....but the fact is they are usuing ipads now....
Lila Darkmatter nods
Lila Darkmatter: ack, chip
Bleu Oleander: lol
Lila Darkmatter: although, when they figure out that foreign language implant thing, I'm in
Bleu Oleander: ha ha yes!
Lila Darkmatter: maybe if they hadn't been worrying about boobs all these years
--BELL--
Lila Darkmatter giggles
Bleu Oleander: lol
Xirana Oximoxi: are you painting in rl Bleu? a new project?
Bleu Oleander: no too busy with our salons atm
Bleu Oleander: thinking about it though, if that counts :)
Xirana Oximoxi: ok...your salons are very interesting :)
Xirana Oximoxi: yes...thinking counts:)
Bleu Oleander: yes so much going on haven't had time to go into the studio
Lila Darkmatter: :)
Bleu Oleander: need to have a fire sale of all my old ones
Bleu Oleander: then that will inspire me to create more
Xirana Oximoxi: I paint over it :)
Bleu Oleander: i've done that
Lila Darkmatter: ah, send link when you do Bleu
Lila Darkmatter: really love your glass blocks
Bleu Oleander: years from now when they x-ray my work ... haha
Xirana Oximoxi: hehe :)
Lila Darkmatter: down to the dogs playing poker? ;p;
Bleu Oleander: lol
Bleu Oleander: literally
Lila Darkmatter: are you collaborating with someone Xiri?
Xirana Oximoxi: in what sense, Lila?
Lila Darkmatter: with the book
Xirana Oximoxi: ahh no, not collaborating. I have been looking for a writer that wanted to illustrate his books...and at the end I've finished writitng them myself :)
Bleu Oleander: :)
Lila Darkmatter: ooh, I see... good for you
Xirana Oximoxi: I've had a lot of fun too...I did write long ago, but it was a long time I did not...and it has been quite difficult
Xirana Oximoxi: but...well..we will see how it all ends..I still have a lot of work drawing now
Lila Darkmatter: look forward :)
Bleu Oleander: fun to have such a project
Xirana Oximoxi: here is the link to my portfolio...it is still a 'work in progres' :) http://nuriavivesportfolioeng.wordpress.com/
Lila Darkmatter clicks
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Xirana Oximoxi: ideas and comments are welcome:)
Bleu Oleander: I love your drawings
Bleu Oleander: thanks for the link!
Lila Darkmatter: *wonderful* Xiri, ty
Xirana Oximoxi: you're welcome:)
Xirana Oximoxi: thanks Lila:)
Bleu Oleander: is there a mtg today?
Xirana Oximoxi: yes
Bleu Oleander: ah there's the note :)
Lila Darkmatter: love the 'can do' spirit of that... that you were looking for someone but, in the end, just jump in yourself
Lila Darkmatter: :) yes... IMed Aggers ... lila can't send notes
Bleu Oleander: :)
Lila Darkmatter: not sure why... is on list
Xirana Oximoxi: yes:)...it's been all new for me...but...
Lila Darkmatter: always new :) guess that's pretty 'can do' too :)
Xirana Oximoxi: yes..or at least to try:)
Bleu Oleander: ok thanks for coming
Lila Darkmatter: Eliza is in hiding... hope it will be okay if I attend meeting today
Bleu Oleander: we'll throw things at Lila
Bleu Oleander: lol
Lila Darkmatter: heheh
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Lila Darkmatter: thank you Bleu
Bleu Oleander: ok see you there
Xirana Oximoxi: see you there:)