Chains

[Darth Draconis]

Chains. To many to count…but as a Sith, the chains serve a purpose. They motivate us to become strong so that we may brake them. I suppose the end goals are power, freedom, and an attempt to reach perfection. Power can be for its own sake, but it is also another means to another end. I would argue that without power, there is little chance of freedom. And without freedom, how can we work towards the unreachable goal of perfection. It seems that the end goals are interconnected, they rely on each other. If you possess power, you have a tool that can be used to obtain freedom. If you have freedom, you have a tool that can be used to obtain near-perfection. In obtaining these things, I have no doubt in my mind that they change us. Now the question is, will we change for better or for worse? Will we deteriorate or evolve? That is a choice I feel we all can and must make. It is the transformation spoken of in what most of us consider Sith Lore, they were the words of the fictional Sith Lord, Darth Revan. Some would argue that these things are not within our control, but I beg to differ. It’s all a matter of choice, if you say you cannot control such things, you are weak and ignorant. If you say you choose to surrender control to the Force, that is your choice, and you must be prepared to accept the consequences, be they costly or beneficial. If you say you can control things of this nature with minimal effort, be mindful and make sure your words are not born out of arrogance or over-confidence.

Everything here is from my own mind, and is, as a result, only based on my point of view, so take what you will from what I write.

[Darth Devious]

and sometimes the chain is not something to break, but something to climb. I discovered this recently in the corporate environment. You climb the chain to have more power and control over your destiny. You shake the chain to rattle the people beneath you who are working towards your goals.


Consider Palpatine. First he was a senator. He was not satisfied with his position, but he played his role well, and created a crisis to promote his advancement. As chancellor, he had the power to create and use the clone wars to become emperor.


I recommend that all sith on this site study their work environments closely. Personally, I have acquired books about surviving and winning in the office environment. And, although I find it distasteful, it is also worthwhile to study professionalism. Professionalism can be the social lubricant that can further your advance.

[Empress Palpatine]

This reminds me of a thing that recently happened. There was an action taken by the powers that be in my town which unjustly limited access to something quite necessary. This got under my skin. I had insight into the means of how they limited this access. I described in detail how this means functioned to all sorts of angry people (who were as upset as I was). They had the boldness to act on the info and disable the thing. I never ever touched it, but I likely inspired its demise. This is what an agitator does. The activist gives a speech, whipping up the emotions, and the people act. Part of power is getting the mob to act. You can make governments fall. I was reminded of my old skin...activism.

[Mrs. Darth Vader]

I have discovered a new kind of power, the power of physics. When I studied religion I was weak because I was wasting my time trying to free myself with a power that does not exist, a myth . Myths do not free people, facts do. This freedom is not obtained by moving but by standing on a solid foundation of hard science and proven facts that are lab tested. In short I will never be tricked by the wooden nickles of religion. I believe only that which has been rigorously tested and skeptically analyzed in the lab and therefore proven as hard fact. Those theories I find interesting I hold to lightly since they are awaiting to be tested and proven or disproven.

[Darth Devious]

Mrs Darth Vader.


Welcome to my world! I encourage you to study not only physics, but also chemistry, and the other personal power sciences. I short and not at all complete list follows...

Optics
robotics.
radio communications
electronics
computer programming
computer security


now let me tell you how this knowledge is controlled by society. first society makes people believe that this subject is *HARD*. It tries to get people to study *EASIER* subjects instead.

Then for the people who are left, and want to study this. They teach the subject, but only from a perspective that benefits INDUSTRY. Never is the idea of a personal science application introduced. And never is the idea that science can be used to build personal power (a la harry potter ) introduced.

Finally, the person with a scientific education gets a job in INDUSTRY. the INDUSTRY controls their access to chemicals, and technologies for their lab, and also CONTROLS what work and research they do.

So science never becomes something that an INDIVIDUAL can use. Anyone who goes to college to study science becomes a controlled individual.


We have very few home scienctists these days.

[Mrs. Darth Vader]

Darth Devious
Thank you. A real thumbs up for your post. You are correct science like all professions are controlled by industry. The little guy has long since been kicked out of the sciences. We are trained from childhood that science requires big budgets in order to achieve anything. I bet if you could teach yourself electrical engineering you could be the next Edison, I say Edison instead of Tesla only because Edison did not have a formal education while Tesla did graduate from both electrical engineering and physics.

You gave a good list of subjects that are worth looking into. Do you know of beginner books to start with? These subjects are totally new to me so I am ignorant on them. On Electrical engineering I would need a book that is written to real newbies, like "Electrical Engineering For Dummies". Note: the title I used was an example title I do not know if they actually have a book titled that way. The point I am making is to start out simple and get harder as I go. It goes back to the banquet principle. How do I eat a banquet? One bite at a time. You advice was so good I copied it and saved it in my computer. I save the good stuff.

Good analysis of Harry Potter. The whole Harry Potter series is about teaching the students at Hogwarts skills that they will need in life. Rowling uses the world of Witch craft and Wizardry as a fun back drop to teach children the necessity of gaining life skills. It was sure a more interesting read than reading some drivel about cooperate America or England.

Could you recommend books to start with from your list.
Optics Which books and which direction?

Robotics sounds cool but where to start?

Radio Communications Do you mean how to build my own radio? CB? Ham operator set? Build a primitive radar system? Again which direction?

Electronics What does that entail? Electrical Engineering is what Nikola Tesla did. I have books that shows many of his inventions and electrical engine drawings but I do not understand the symbols used. I would love to reproduce his stuff on resonant frequency and subtle detection devices like our motion detectors.

Computer Programming I could see how much fun you could have with that knowledge.
Computer security that way you can prevent and remove any viruses you get on your own, no longer needing to call the computer doctor to get it out.

I would add Trouble Shooting to this list since that means you can run your computer from start to finish.

If I were to pick which books I would want to look at first it would be electrical engineering leaning towards resonant frequency, motion detection and radio communication and reception.

When it comes to these disciplines I am definitely the apprentice. Politics I am master but these I am just beginning. I am currently doing physics but your advice is VERY interesting. Anything you wish to suggest like book titles feel free to let me know. Thanks.

[Darth Devious]

Dear Mrs Vader.


Thank you for acknowledging my insight. You need to start with mathematics. Math is the language of all sciences. I am not talking about arithmetic here. That is used for balancing your checkbook. I am talking about geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. Its not really that hard, and I believe it is easier for older people to learn then younger people.


After that, pick up some books on chemistry and physics. They are the central sciences. math is the roots of the tree of knowledge, chemistry and physics are the trunk. after that you can branch out. Did you go to college? What was you major? Brushing up on you major could be a good starting point.


Understand this. there is no practical book on science that is descriptive. Practical books - ie books that teach you to do stuff - will be filled with math. If it claims to teach you practical science without math, then it belongs in the trash, because it will likely contain "pseudoscience".


I know a good place to start! Anything by Carl Sagan! He is excellent at explaining concepts.


Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Mrs. Darth Vader]

Dear Darth Devious
I plan on going into the math after I understand the concepts first. I remember I did a semester of physics in high school. I did poorly because the teacher gave us these equations but without the concepts so the numbers were gibberish. I am not in school so I am going at my own pace. I may take longer but so did the tortoise.

Sorry I did not get back to you right away but it is winter in Florida and the outside sees more of me than my computer. Winter in Florida is the nice season down here. You are trapped in your house during the summer because it is too hot in Florida to go outside.

I did not go to collage because my last two years of high school I had to work to keep an apartment and go to school. When I graduated I had to bring in the bacon ( make a living) so my formal education ended. Any studying and learning was done by myself by reading lots of books. I am self taught. This has both its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that without a formal degree most people blow you off as if you know nothing. The advantage is I have read stuff that no school would put on its curriculum. For example "The selected Works of Mao Tse Tung". In some ways I got to learn things that I know the average American student in collage would never be allowed to even look at.

Thank you for your advice. I got the "Cosmos" series on DVD. I read "This Demon Haunted World Science as a Candle Light in the Dark by Carl Sagan. I did start with Carl Sagan. Sagan is the best place to start any of the sciences. I read Origin Of Species" by Charles Darwin. That was the most enlightening because the way they teach evolution in school they only give half the picture. Darwin also explains the natural leaning towards Devolution. In school they give you the idea that evolution always improves an orginism but Darwin shows how it goes both ways. Only after many mistakes does the right gene get a more positive result thus the necessity for millions of years to evolve. I then tried the DVD Hawkings Universe but it was too great of a leap. I then read " Einstein" by Walter Isaacson. Then I resaw Hawkings Universe and it was easier in that order. I then read " Once Upon An Einstein" by Thibault Damour. From there I read "The Evolution of Physics" By Albert Einstein. I then read " Universe In a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawking. I saw "The Elegant Universe" on DVD by Brian Greene. It got my interest so I read the book "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene to get more details on the subject. I also read Tesla Man Out Of Time" by Margret Chaney. The best Tesla book is the one I read next because he was a contemperary of Tesla. The book I read was called "Prodigal Genius, The Life Of Nikola Tesla" by James O'Neil. This one is best if you wish to understand the man and his inventions. It is a warmer view of Tesla. You also get a sampling of his inventions. I will have to look at some of his detailed stuff on how to build it later. So you can see I am slowly, steadily reading books from respected physicists and learning as I go. I may take longer than most but I will still get there.

Thank you for your help and advice. If you ever think of a good book by a trusted scientist let me know. Any good math starter books. Like Geomatry, Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus and triganomitry.

[Darth Devious]

Ms. Vader wrote..."I plan on going into the math after I understand the concepts first. I remember I did a semester of physics in high school. I did poorly because the teacher gave us these equations but without the concepts so the numbers were gibberish. I am not in school so I am going at my own pace. I may take longer but so did the tortoise."



Unfortunately, the equations are the concepts. That is why some people call physics a "plug and chug" science. You cannot separate physics from its equations.


Often the relationship between the numbers and the concepts is to be found in the units. So I would advise that you pay attention to the units, more then the numbers. Often this is the easiest way to solve the problem.


In case you dont know, by units I mean units of measurement. an example of units would be feet, inches, meters, gallons, pascals, volts, amps, etc.


Also, get yourself a CRC book. Excellent reference, albiet a bit technical. The Van Nostrand Scientific Encylopedia is good too.

[Mrs. Darth Vader]

Dear Darth Devious

What is a CRC book? Thanks for the tip. So when looking at the math the units of measurement are the most essential. Thanks. As for Van Nostrand Scientific Encyclopedia I will have to check Barns and Nobel book store to purchase it.

[Darth Devious]

I do not remember what the CRC acronym stands for, but basically it is a comprehensive reference in math and the hard sciences.


As regards to the CRC and the encyclopedia, be prepared for sticker shock. These books are not cheap, but they cost a lot for a reason.

You might not find it a barnes and noble. You might have to look at a scientific or college book store. Amazon will have it, though. I think there is a scientific book store chain called Deiters or something.

[Mrs. Darth Vader]

Dear Darth Devious

I will check Barns and Nobel first since it is in town and I can purchase it just by walking in the door and handing them the money. If they say It is not available then I will write to a university seeing if they have a book store open to the public. That seems the most logical approach to me.

Thank you so much. You have been very helpful. I still believe what universities need to do is have a division of scientists that know how to teach science to the masses. Carl Sagan on "Cosmos" never gave math equations on the whole series but more average people learned from him than any other scientist. If the average person is trained in scientific thought, that is the best defense against becoming a third world country like Iran where religious nuts who think the world is flat make national policy. Scientific thought trains a person to think logically and with a healthy dose of skepticism. This arms one against being stupid. I know I am putting more effort into studying science than the average person in America which is why I can fallow your advice and I am greatfull. I also know I am one person among millions. The millions need to be brought on board some how. I am thinking of them as well.

Do you work at a Collage or University? Is so may be you can impart what I said here and help begin an educational revolution to the western world. It would sure be nice if education was more valued in society. I try to post "cosmos" at various message boards in hopes of getting people to think. In my low position in society it is the only corse of action that I can think of.

[Darth Devious]

Mrs Darth Vader.


Do not worry about university book stores being open to the public. All state Universities have public book stores. You do not need permission, you can just walk in an buy what you want. Colleges are different from high schools, where students need to be protected because they are children.


I think even a local community college will have the book you need, but amazon will have it too.

The problem with people like Carl Sagan, is that even though they were good at making science understandable, their explanation is often superficial. I person who only studies science at this level only gains a most basic understanding, but never a through understanding. Its like only reading cliff notes, and not reading the origional shakespeare. If you only read the cliff notes, did you really study shakespeare? At some point, you gotta understand the math.

[Mrs. Darth Vader]

Dear Darth Devious

I agree that if you want a more in dept knowledge of science you eventually have to learn the math, which I plan on doing. I also know that the masses are not going to go through all that effort. If you do not have people like Carl Saga to give introductory material so the masses get at least a broad brush idea of science than the only education the masses will have is what is offered at church. This would put the western world back to the middle ages. Sagan in "cosmos" constantly warns against keeping scientific knowledge at the top only because if the masses loose the value of science than it will be easier for the church to have the scientists killed and their books burned. This sad story of events happens often enough in history. History does in fact repeat itself. America has already sunk to third world levels of existence. We can either turn this sad states of affairs around or continue the downward spiral into feudalism and church rule and divine right. As for me I would rather 1,000 Carl Sagans to counter the trend we are on now. You should re-look at "Cosmos" especially when Carl Sagan tells the story about how the library of Alexandria was destroyed. You will notice how similar today's America is simular to then. Sagan also reminds us how many times a scientist from the past descovered that the earth revolves around the sun only to be silenced by the church and the knowledge lost. In it's place was put the sun revolves around the earth. Once we had to wait one thousand years for the re-descivery of the earth revolves the sun. Needless to say this is why science is still laging behind what it would have been had it not been for those long periods in history under church rule. The church likes a dumb populice because they can more easily control people who believe in superstition, God and the devil. More people are tortured and killed under church rule than under secular rule. This is why I will always promote scientists who are willing to talk to the masses. Those who wish to persuit science more in dept can read and study and learn the math. Do not get me wrong I am not against further study. I just want the masses to have at least a general knowledge of science at least enough to value what scientists do. This means people will not ask congress to cut scientific research because they will value science. A smarter public means a smarter voting population. It would sure be nice if the people were smarter when going to the polls.

[Darth Devious]

"It would sure be nice if the people were smarter when going to the polls."


perhaps, because then we would have have elected stupid people like Obama.


However, I also remind you to think like a Sith. Dumber people are easier to control, and so can be used to build YOUR power.

[Mrs. Darth Vader]

Darth Devious

Unfortunately if too dumb they can only be controlled by the church and I am not part of the church. If too dumb you become a third world country which is such a low life position I would not want to bother controlling. I like a higher standard of living than that which is offered by Mexico. I like eating my vegetables without getting montazoomas revenge. Germs like Ecoli only existed in third world dumps. Today America is one more third world dump. We used to be a first world country. The average American used to be smarter. You have to be willing to take the risk of keeping a people intelligent over blind controll. A people that is unable to make revolution is no longer even worth governing because they are so base there is nothing you can do. Eventually even those who controll them loose controll as they become so barbaric as to be roving bands of theives. I am a practical Sith not crazy enough to desire anarchy which is chaos.

[Darth Devious]

I agree with all points except the one about anarchy. How do you think we elected a douche like obama! Seriously though, I am a mix of republican, liberatarian, and right wing anarchist.