I’ve put together a small article explaining what I mean generally when I talk about Taoism. It’s over on my Google pages, under the Articles section.

I’m learning a lot more about GNU/Linux today and I’m becoming more impressed with the relative strengths of the design related to other O/S’es. I’ve been thinking about the bazaar method of development and the design methodology of having a tool do one simple job, but do it well.

In essence each tool “know’s” it’s limits and keeps to them, and the bazaar methodology doesn’t unthinkingly enforce a strict methodology of doing things. Which ties in with something I was reading in the Tao Te Ching this morning. In short, I’m concluding that GNU/Linux is a quite Taoist in it’s approach. Hmm, I’ll bookmark that idea for another article maybe?

So I’m on the first day of the Linux System Admin training at OpenAdvantage. Even though I’ve played with Linux, I’m finding that the training is filling in gaps I never even knew existed in my knowledge. It’s great to be able to talk to people who are so knowledgeable about FOSS (Free Open Source Software) and some of the stories they tell are very insightful! It’s amazing how many other aspects there are to the decision to deploy FOSS that go beyond the tired old TCO argument.

I can strongly recommend a Fastrack at OpenAdvantage to anyone in the Midlands wanting to learn more about Linux!

Well, I heard about the new Google Pages on Slashdot and as I have a GMail Account, I thought I’d give it a whirl.

It’s a promising start, it just lets you get to working with your content quickly and easily. I want to use it to host some articles I’m working on and some Python software that I have in the pipeline. As I add content to it, I’ll announce it here.

Watch this space …..

I was reading the Daily Express earlier, there’s a new government plan to force all faith schools to teach the basics of other religious paths. It’s backed by all the major faiths in the UK.

I think it’s a great idea. It’s a great idea for people of one faith to be able to see the point of view of another faith, this should breed tolerance and understanding which is sorely needed these days. Only understanding one faith is a surefire way to breed closed minds, which can only further split our society along ethnic and faith based divides.

This plan is quite in keeping with the Taoist priniciple of The Uncarved Block. As soon as you cast your mind in a particular role and restrict yourself to a given viewpoint you “carve your block”. A carved block (or a closed mind) has no flexibility, what it is, is all that it will ever be. It’s potential is shackled. By helping to keep the children in the state of the Uncarved Block, this opens much more potential for future growth, maybe a change in the spirituality of our society. We can but hope!

I did a quick quiz just now and apparently, this is the Sci-Fi crew I’d belong to and it’s the Nebuchadnezzar (from The Matrix).

“You scored as Nebuchadnezzar (from The Matrix). You can change the world around you. You have a strong will and a high technical aptitude. Now if only Agent Smith would quit beating up your friends.”

Check it out:
Which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? v1.0

I get to hang out on on the Neb, groovy!

Now the scary part is I did the “Which Action Hero Are You?” quiz … and came out as Neo.

“Neo is the computer hacker-turned-Messiah of the Matrix. He leads a small group of human rebels against the technology that controls them. Neo doubts his ability to lead but doesn’t want to disappoint his friends. His goal is for a world where all men know the Truth and are free from the bonds of the Matrix.”

Okaaay……

On Sunday just gone, we went to Greek church, mainly to meet the priest ahead of starting our wedding plans, but for me it was interesting to get a tiny insight into the Greek Orthodox Church.

They do things a fair bit differently to the Anglican church, it was interesting that when the priest suggested that I might one day convert to Orthodoxy (hmm, no, I don’t think so), it had to be entirely my choice. Very little different and far more mature than the Anglican approach with The Alpha Course, which I find very evangelical. I fully intend to research Greek Orthodoxy in more detail as my todo list permits!

The sermon was interesting, though Xenia had to translate it in summary for me, it dealt with forgiveness and tolerance. Basically about people being very quick to judge, but neglecting their own faults and failings. Hmm, I feel the beginnings of an article forming. As ever, watch this space!

Well, this is an interesting one! It seems that a pre-production video of “Most Haunted Live’s ” resident “psychic” Derek Acorah has got out onto the Internet.

I found it courtesy of the JREF (see my links for their site) and it blows the illusion of Acorah’s “psychic powers” right out of the water, you can find the article linked on the James Randi Educational Foundation here.

Interesting, yes?

I’ve been downed with chest infection recently, so I’ve been quite quiet. But after an antibiotics-fest I’m feeling better, so on with the show!

Like everyone, I’ve been watching this explosive business with those Islamic cartoons. I’ve been sitting thinking recently about change, where do we go from here? I think the answer lies in a book that underpins Taoism and Chinese thought in general, the 4500 year old I Ching. The I Ching tells us that as a thing reaches one extreme, it gradually becomes it’s opposite, this is inexorable, it can’t be stopped.

I think this is true, Freedom of Speech in Europe has had some damage done this week as the press in certain countries have demonstrated that they can’t be trusted to exercise it responsibly! Freedom of Speech has been taken to an extreme and now the wheel must turn to a better European position of responsible Freedom of Speech.

After the behaviour of the protestors though, the wheel must also turn for Islam, they must become more moderate, after all who can reliably do business with countries and people who fire up like that? The more moderate Muslims are now needed to come to the forefront, the extremists cannot be allowed to speak for the Muslim world, that way lies horror and pain.

I think that for the sakes of both European Free Speech and of Islam, it’s time at least in a small way, for the meek to inherit the Earth.