Why do I ask such question?
To me, the mind is a concept that human beings are used to describe the driver of thought. It does not exist, neither in material form nor in energy form. Therefore, chemical reaction cannot occur in the mind. If a chemical reaction is absent, then drugs could certainly not affect the mind. Then why the countless drugs coming out every day to cure “mental” health problems?
Before I answer that question, I will prematurely conclude that such drugs does not 100% guarantee a cure. If I’m to bluntly speculate, no drug existing or that has existed could ever guarantee a 100% cure because the reaction is not mathematically accurate. If you think about it carefully, can a medicine produce a chemical reaction and completely eradicate the misbehaving organism within your body? Drugs are tested in the basis of statistics. With hypotheses, scientists would perform an experiment and observe the effect, but never quantize the reaction between matters to the zero limit.
To avoid further argument, I will assume that a subnormal behavior exist and is defined to be a behavior which is not usual to the majority population. Such behavior is considered a mental health illness. When we say mental, it directly pertains to the mind. Many drugs are out to further minimize the abnormalities. How can this be possible when I previously stated that the mind cannot foster chemical reaction? The drugs do not affect the mind, rather they affect the nerves.
The nerves are the only explanation why a human being does certain things. It’s not the mind. The nerves are the ones driving the thoughts and actions. A combination of nerve state is a function. If we have countless numbers of nerves, you take countless combinations of those would give countless number of functions. A function would consist of a frame of thought or action, so a set of function could trigger a thought, actiong, or emotion. That’s the only way I can tell how medicine affect the normality of a behavior. It could either trigger the nerves to add more combination if it is lacking or turn off a combination if it has turned on a function that is usually off on a normal human.
So, is there such thing as a mind? I always carelessly use the word, but I am going to deny its existence.
September 30th, 2008
It’s very rare to find an actor with superb acting skills. My taste in films often does not agree with the public. I have no background in films, but I’m pretty firm in my belief of what a good film comprises of. My choice in watching a movie or a serial is greatly influenced by the cast. If my taste in a piece is unusual, I think that my taste in actors is more unusual. My favorite actor of all time is Jason Lee. Not so many elite moviegoers would even have him in their top-100.
I never compare actors to decide whether I like them or not. The uniqueness is a factor in deciding whether an artist is worthy of my time. Being natural onscreen is another. Yang Dong Geun is an actor of such degree. For starters, Yang is a Korean actor who starred in “Fighter In The Wind”, “Ruler Of Your Own World”, “Dr. Kkang” and “I Am Saem”.
Yang Dong Geun has a unique acting skills. His bipolar style can make you frown and make you laugh out loud the next second. His appearance typecasts his roles, but he can play any and he has proven that in “I Am Saem”. His actions shows as if he’s suppressing his emotions and ready to explode which makes you anticipate for something. I’ve always had this feeling in every project he’s made.
At first glance, an audience wouldn’t want to appoint their time in watching Yang Dong Geun’s work because at first impression, he looks like a joke. I’ve experienced that, but once you enter his realm, you’ll find one of the better actors you’ll ever encounter.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of his music.
September 25th, 2008
I was looking around WordPress for an idea for today and stumbled upon a bloggers iPersonic entry and thought I’d give it a try. I have the results below. Not perfect, but some are sound. Psychological theories are still a long way to go. I really believe that each individual is a diffusion of each other. They are the same, yet different. It’s like Philosophy. I’ve spent a few years searching for my niche in Philosophy, but I can’t completely pinpoint my loyalty.
Independent Thinkers are analytical and witty persons. They are normally self-confident and do not let themselves get worked up by conflicts and criticism. They are very much aware of their own strengths and have no doubts about their abilities. People of this personality type are often very successful in their career as they have both competence and purposefulness. Independent Thinkers are excellent strategists; logic, systematics and theoretical considerations are their world. They are eager for knowledge and always endeavor to expand and perfect their knowledge in any area which is interesting for them. Abstract thinking comes naturally to them; scientists and computer specialists are often of this type.
Independent Thinkers are specialists in their area. 
The development of their ideas and visions is important to them; they love being as flexible as possible and, ideally, of being able to work alone because they often find it a strain having to make their complex trains of thought understandable to other people. Independent Thinkers cannot stand routine. Once they consider an idea to be good it is difficult to make them give it up; they pursue the implementation of that idea obstinately and persistently, also in the face of external opposition.
Independent Thinkers are not the type who easily comes out of his shell. Speaking about their emotional life is also not one of their strong points. Anyway, social relationships are not particularly important to them; they are happy with just a few, close friends who find it easy to share their intellectual world. They find it difficult to establish new ties. In love, they need a lot of space and independence but this does not mean that their partner is not important to them. Independent Thinkers often make a cool and reserved impression on others; but this impression is deceptive: they can hardly bear it if people close to them should reject them. They prefer a harmonious, balanced relationship with a partner who shares their interests and with whom they can realize their visions.
Take the free personality test and determine your iPersonic type!
July 24th, 2008
I never thought this would happen. While having breakfast in a cafe near our office’s building, a customer sat in front of me reading the same book I’m reading, Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. The same paperback version. I never thought that with the few different people I see in the cafe, I would find someone reading a philosophy novel. I often see people reading Sheldon’s or Brown’s or other contemporaries, but I never thought I’d see someone in front of me reading Ayn Rand, and the same title needless to say.
I guess I’d better say more about the book since I’m only a few leaves away to the end. I’ve alluded so much of We The Living and I believe The Fountainhead is much better than that.
In this novel, I’ve met a perfect hero that I can relate so much to. A villain that brings out most of my anger. I feel anger which means I’m not purely an Objectivist, not an egotist, but I’m working on it. I will loan the novel to Ate Lorie, so I won’t divulge so much of the characters. So far, I’m not too concerned of the plot in Rand’s literature because her characters are interesting enough. She develops her characters wonderfully and I can’t get over imagining these individuals.
The book is difficult to read not because of her diction, but because knowledge and emotions are only emphasized. The style makes the reader hurry up and wait for the characters to verbally confess. It makes the book not suspenseful, but rather plentiful of self discovery. The emphases on these knowledge ask the reader if he thought the same. “Are you thinking what he’s thinking?”
Why do I think that the hero is perfect? Because he doesn’t care about people, about what other people would think of him, of what he’s doing, of what he’s going to do. I guess About A Boy has to move down a notch.
After this, I’ll venture to Rand’s next book, the Atlas Shrugged. Hailed to be better than The Fountainhead so I’m also excited. Only after reading the last novel that I’ll decide what (not which) my favorite book is.
July 11th, 2008
I was watching Carlos Mencia again last night and he pointed out a good point about white people not able to say certain words to minorities. He said that the founding fathers of this great nation fought for their lives to gain such freedom; the men and women of America fighting for their lives to uphold and maintain such freedom, but that freedom is restricted nonetheless. It is true that words cannot physically hurt, so as long as freedom of speech is available, anybody should be able to say whatever they want. I have been living with this kind of principles: as long as I’m not physically hurting another, I’m entitled to whatever I want to do. That’s probably why I enjoy playing with people’s minds and emotions. Don’t get me wrong. I’m ruthlessly cold when I’m provoked. I have no guilt; no conscience.
Unfortunately, people (we really are primates) moralize the things we say and do. If you expect to feed your children affluently, then you better watch your words. Reputation plays an important role in the lives of people. Something I don’t have and don’t really give a rat’s ass about it.
June 12th, 2008
“We The Living” is about a struggle of three individuals in Soviet Russia. Ayn Rand claims that the heroin inherits all the philosophical ideas from her.
In the beginning of the book, Kira was my model. She did not care about anyone but herself. She walked the path which would make her happy. She denounced society because according to her, oneself always comes first. The highest reverence of man is himself. Selfishness is a virtue.
A few chapters later, I lost interest on Kira. She contradicted herself because she fell in love. Her love affair(s) is unconventional. So what? She attached herself to another and that created a “society”. This is the beginning of her downfall and she never rose back.
I have been attempting to detach myself completely from everything — emotions, society, etc. I had the opportunity to complete the task 4 years ago. I also had another opportunity 5 months ago. Both opportunities were shattered by an emotion that everyone seeks and what caused Kira her downfall.
Once a man is detached, he shall live life like a comatose. So far, I have devised three phases in order to achieve complete detachment: (1) detach yourself from blood, (2) detach yourself from love, and (3) detach yourself from dependence. I shall explain each one.
Detachment from blood means to extract yourself from your family and relatives. This does not mean casting out of the house (you will do this in the third phase). What I meant here is to not care what happens to the family. You shouldn’t feel grief, envy, jealousy regarding the family. This may be the hardest because you grew up attuned to this form of collective. It’s the basic form of society — family.
Detachment from love means to not be in love with anybody. This is difficult as well because the emotions playing here are very enigmatic. However, this is the only phase where you have to overcome something that’s not inherent. It’s injected. It’s poison to selfishness. Total self control is needed in this phase. Strong will to resist external temptation is a must.
Detachment from dependence is not exactly independence. Independence is the result, but is not the task. This is the most difficult of the three because you will have to abandon all connections. You will no longer depend on others in order to live. You will not have a job, acquaintances, connection to the world. You will be completely alone.
The first phase, I have partially completed. There are still stray emotions I need to sort out. The second phase, I should have the full control in this. For now, I can’t say I have this taken care of. Lastly, I need to save in order to accomplish the third phase. I have a long way to go… What about you?
June 1st, 2008
I have a TOGO playlist in my iPod Nano containing 8 songs. They are all love songs save one. Most of my collections contain songs of heartbreaks. I’m not saying I’m heartbroken. I think good songs are written during a downfall of an artist because there are so many emotions. An artist who didn’t experience a downfall isn’t an artist at all — in my opinion.
I’ve seen you cry, I’ve seen you smile.
I’ve watched you sleeping for a while.
I’d be the father of your child.
I’d spend a lifetime with you.
I know your fears and you know mine.
We’ve had our doubts but now we’re fine,
And I love you, I swear that’s true.
I cannot live without you.
- Goodbye My Lover, James Blunt
This is my favorite James Blunt song. I emphasize favorite because it’s only one. These lines are loaded. I hope I never get to personify this song. I don’t know the whole story of this song and I’m not sure if he wrote this out of experience. Playing it solo in a piano made the song more beautiful. It’s a beautiful sad song I guess.
I’ll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You’ve been the only thing that’s right
In all I’ve done
And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we’ll make it anywhere
Away from here
- Run, Snow Patrol
One of the few Snow Patrol songs I love. The melody is just beautiful. The lines above tell about an escape from everything (I think) — from criticizing eyes. Sounds familiar to me. Just listen to the song if you have a chance and you’ll understand. I had to pick a line so I picked the first verses.
As I say goodbye to the way of life
I thought I had designed for me
- Try, Nelly Furtado
I guess it’s the music that made me like this song. The lines above simply tell us that there is a design for life, but it’s nearly impossible to go by that design. It’s feasible, but nearly impossible.
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
- All Good Things (Come To An End), Nelly Furtado
Very true. Need I elaborate? That’s a life cycle. That’s why I always thought that life shouldn’t be taken seriously because it’s a game within the circle. Why struggle when in the end all is lost? Life is a game in which the outcome is already decided before it starts.
May 27th, 2008
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