A Work Progressing

In 1935, a discussion between Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrödinger occurred, centered around the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Basically, the Copenhagen Interpretation says that Objects have pairs of properties that can’t be measured at the same time. Observing or measuring an object is irreversible, and an object’s properties are only defined by the measurement results. The Copenhagen interpretation states that these quantum descriptions are objective and independent of personal beliefs.

Schrödinger tried to simplify this with a “thought problem”. Imagine a steel box, inside this steel box is a cat, a Geiger counter, a vial of poison, some radioactive material, and a mechanism that would break the vial of poison if the Geiger counter detected a single decaying atom from radioactive material.

This tipping point is called “superposition” in which the unobserved cat is both dead and alive at the same time, because the box is sealed.

Once the box is opened, the observed cat is either dead or alive, but not both.

This “thought problem” has been the center of theoretical quantum physics ever since.

My first reaction is “Why a cat?” I’m assuming it must be something that is alive. It can’t be a pet rock, all pet rocks are both alive and dead all the time, even when observed. Schrödinger wanted the shock value to be obvious.

It couldn’t be your favorite succulent. A nice cactus could fit in the box, however the problem of when the cactus dies is an issue. I suspect that many observed alive cacti are actually dead cacti and we don’t know it for months.

So why a cat? A dog would scurry around knocking things over, making a mess of the box, and barking continuously.

Why not a human? Because the whole thought problem is based on a sealed box, where everything is unobserved, because when the object is seen it changes states. And a human would see all this, and try to figure out how to get out of the box.

In this reality, the cat choice is perfect, the cat is sitting or laying in some mysterious cat-like existence, pondering its Egyptian background.

There is the problem for me. Alive things are always aware of their surroundings and moving to stimulus, that’s a definition of being alive. The thought problem breaks down because it is flawed at the root.

It is all connected to the egotistical statement, “I think, therefore I am”. Because we are curious, we use time and measuring tools to define existence. Does anything exist unless man observes? This is the ultimate ego statement that only defines us as a part of reality.

Interesting, I just copied these two words and pasted them in ChatGPT, this is what I got…

“Myopic success” refers to short-term achievements or gains that are pursued or attained without considering long-term consequences or broader implications. This concept is often critiqued in various contexts, such as business, personal goals, or policy-making, where immediate results are prioritized over sustainable growth or lasting benefits.

Key Characteristics of Myopic Success:

1. Short-Term Focus: Emphasis on immediate outcomes rather than future stability or growth.

2. Lack of Foresight: Inadequate consideration of the long-term consequences or potential risks.

3. Quick Gains: Often involves strategies that yield fast results but may be unsustainable or harmful in the long run.

4. Neglect of Broader Impact: May overlook broader social, environmental, or economic impacts.

Examples:

Business: A company might prioritize quarterly profits by cutting research and development budgets, leading to a lack of innovation and long-term competitiveness.

Personal Finance: An individual might focus on high short-term returns by investing in high-risk stocks without a diversified portfolio, risking significant losses.

Public Policy: Government policies that provide immediate economic relief but do not address underlying structural issues, potentially leading to larger problems in the future.

Critique:

Sustainability: Myopic success often sacrifices sustainability for immediate gains, which can lead to eventual failure or crisis.

Ethical Concerns: It can involve unethical practices if short-term success is prioritized over long-term integrity and responsibility.

Missed Opportunities: By focusing only on the short-term, opportunities for long-term growth, innovation, and stability might be missed.

Understanding the pitfalls of myopic success is crucial for making informed decisions that balance immediate needs with future well-being.

Wow, not bad for blind prompts.

Obviously I’ve been pondering something. I recently joined and organization that was formed many years ago to save the historic Moraga Adobe in Orinda. And they succeeded!

It made me wish I had joined years ago, but maybe I could still help in other ways. The restoration challenge was great, but some things helped. Not only was it still mostly standing, it is the oldest home built in Contra Costa County. So it had obvious historical value. Built as the home of Joaquin Bernabe Moraga in 1841, it stayed in private hands until 2023.

This meant that it was vulnerable to the whims of the real estate market. It was noticed though, there were plaques indentifying the home as a historical site. The impact did not save it from being abandoned, graffitied, and even the plaques being stolen.

The life span of a building is unknown, nature will tear into it, but depending on the building material it may last a surprising long time. There is this fact to consider… the building must be built by people, it cannot build itself. If it is damaged, it will not heal itself, someone will have to restore it.

Adobes in California were everywhere. As late as 1950 there were at least 48 known Adobes in just Los Angeles. Today, not nearly so many.

In many cities, or counties, there are local organizations formed to save their adobes. Some want them to be educational centers, some want them to be museums, some want them to be restaurants, and yes, some want them to be homes.

The people who saved them are all human, the adobes are not. Adobes may be dirt and hay, but they will be here long after the humans who saved them are mere bones and dust. What then?

I’ve done a little internet research. I went quickly just to see the trends. I will have to go back to document. I found dozens of failed attempts, adobes plowed under for shopping centers with little regard for culture or history.

I also found half attempts. Adobes that almost made it but then slipped back into disrepair, primarily because the organizations had no control, or no money to purchase them from private hands.

The state and or state parks would seem the perfect solution. But the money is so tight to maintain what we already have, and in some cases where the state owns the Adobe, the other areas get the larger portion, and the Adobe gets deferred maintenance.

It then occurred to me everybody is trying the best they can to keep their end of the boat from sinking. Some are more successful at that than others.

I looked at about a dozen by-laws of the best organizations. Everyone of them was focused on saving their Adobe. That’s as it should be, but there is a broader problem if there is no effort to reach out to assist and support others in their struggle.

It takes people to build a repair adobes for the future. Sustainable people, people of all backgrounds. What happens when the core of a successful group ages out. Did they try as hard to recruit replacements for people, as they replaced adobe bricks?

Of course I’m using this Adobe restoration as a symbol for all successful changes. It’s not enough to “be the change”, you must be contagious with your passion. Think beyond yourself. Replace yourself!

I would hope for the combined efforts to save our Californio history, instead of allowing for the destruction of their homes, perhaps due to embarrassment of our actions from former years.

History is not always kind…

I’m proud of being the last child of my parents. My father was a brilliant under-achiever, due to the Depression and WWII never got the education or experience, to match his intellectual hopes.

He ended up retiring as a boilermaker, making his foremen miserable with his distain.

My mother spoke Norwegian until she was five, dropped out of school in the tenth grade, wrung chicken necks, never learned to drive, raised four children in tough times, and beat my father in bowling in her seventies.

My father was a semi-professional, bowler, bowling in three different leagues all the while when I was growing up. I was raised in a bowling alley.

Get a grip folks, one way or another, we are all Nepo Babies.

I may have mentioned before that I’m the only member of my family that was born in California. I’m not sure why history has been such a driving force, but it has been a defining interest. I’m not saying that I have been very deep, in one place, or at one time. Perhaps the problem is that if you focus on thing, you can’t see other things.

That means if I get even a little deep into one era, I feel the need to find another era to research. My life is filled with gaps in my knowledge and experience. So it goes with curiosity.

I was born in Richmond, Ca, but raised in San Pablo, a town almost completely surrounded by Richmond. San Pablo is older by about a hundred years, and has a colorful past.

I remember the rundown Alvarado Adobe, and the St. Paul’s Church on Church Lane. I also remember the old cemetery that was behind the fence on the corner.

The Adobe was bulldozed and the cemetery was moved, but the memory remained.

I read about the plains Sod-houses, but that’s okay wasn’t the same as the Adobe. It took years before I actually experienced being in an Adobe. I think we had a field trip to Sutter’s Fort in elementary school, but the was mostly American history, not Californio history. It wasn’t until years later, when I dated a young lady that lived in the town of Sonoma.

I had been there before, but now I really spent time there, right across the street from Vallejo’s home.

Then briefly, my focus was on early California history. That led to John Marsh in central Costa Costa county. That led to the California Trail before the Gold Rush, and after the Gold Rush. That led to researching the hired guides on the trail, mostly ex-mountain men. That led to the whole Rendezvous Era. That led to Lewis and Clark. That led to Napoleon. Somehow, that led to the Viking Era, and Harald Hardrada. Whew!

Now 70 years later I’m back full circle, researching the restored Moraga Adobe. Fortunately I’m being guided by a friend who has been active for years, and even related to many of the early Californios.

It’s been a fascinating trip.

I’m faced with the ghosts of history. We like to think that we evolve, that we learn from our mistakes, that the worst of history doesn’t repeat itself.

The trouble is that we are not entirely in control of events unfolding. We invent stories of history being woven in a room, and all we have to do is unlock the door, change some of the threads, and a new, and better pattern is made. It’s a nice story. There is no lock, there is no room, and there is no loom.

There is time, and there are events based in synchronicity. I am not a master of either one of these things, I am barely an observer.

For now I’m trying to be patient, trying to be still. On the world front I see patterns that seem to be familiar. Patterns that cascade down to the very sidewalk in front of me.

I’m trying to walk in moccasin style, twisting my ankle in random angles, not trying to be linear. Perhaps I won’t be led to the end result that I see coming.

It’s a goofy attempt.

Reasons why good people are outstanding!

1. They give us hope

2. They are selfless, they are not takers

3. They are there for their loved ones

4. They are productive, and they prioritize

5. They don’t judge others, or look for praise

6. They are role models, their acts are contagious

7. They have integrity, humility, compassion

8. They contribute to their communities

9. They are open-minded and diverse in ideas

10. They practice gratitude, kindness, positivity

11. They encourage, and lift others up

12. They do these things when no one is watching

I emailed a friend that I now lived in an alley behind the Casa Orinda restaurant. He asked if I had become a rat.

A ridiculous suggestion, how could a rat afford an internet connection, or an iPad?

There is a bohemian quality of how we are living. It’s a furnished apartment, weathered leather chairs, 1930s style dresser and end table, terribly scarred refrigerator that actually works. Best of all, a bathroom that is so small that, if you stand in the right spot, you can touch everything in there without moving.

I had never experienced resting my forehead on the cool, ceramic sink, while attending to my morning toils. Ahem!

Lastly, the alley is a narrow one way lane, with 50% pedestrians going in either direction. Some alone, some in noisy clusters, activating the bright security light posted above the rear kitchen door.

Briefly the individuals are bathed in a 300 watt glare, then it shuts off 5 seconds later while they are still moving. Oddly enough, the light continues to turn on throughout the night when no one is in the alley. For a time I thought it was a part of someone’s String Theory, when I looked down on it from my shuttered second story window, the light immediately came on, perhaps because I was looking at it.

Then I considered that the 93 year old restaurant had stories of being haunted… perhaps some spirits taking a stroll. A better tale in the making.

The biggest change for us is the idea of living out of two suitcases, no real possessions, just some floss and toothbrushes. A little cheese from the Frankenstein refrigerator, a microwave hot cup of cold brew coffee seems like the perfect breakfast.

How long can this last? Perhaps until the house is sold. Maybe even longer.

Upon reaching 75, I presumed that I may have some words that may be wise. Just in case I ran my ten ideas through ChatGPT to see its analysis.

“Your list of wisdom presents a collection of thoughtful and practical life lessons. Here’s an analysis of each point:

1. **If you don’t have a plan for yourself, someone else will give you a plan, and you will be living someone else’s life.**

Analysis: This emphasizes the importance of self-direction and personal agency. It warns against passivity and encourages proactive planning to ensure one lives a life true to their own desires and goals.

2. **Anything that you do, means that you are not doing something else!**

Analysis: This highlights the concept of opportunity cost, reminding us that every action has an alternative that we forgo. It’s a call to mindfulness in choosing how we spend our time and resources.

3. **Do much, rest often… honor rest!**

Analysis: Balancing productivity with rest is crucial for sustainable well-being. This advice acknowledges the need for hard work while also valuing rest and recovery as essential components of a healthy lifestyle.

4. **See things differently when possible, if not possible then open your eyes!**

Analysis: Encouraging a shift in perspective, this suggests staying open-minded and being willing to reconsider or expand one’s viewpoint. If a new perspective isn’t possible, it advocates for a deeper awareness of the current situation.

5. **Listen to the silence, let it speak to you.**

Analysis: This invites introspection and the appreciation of quiet moments. Silence can be a powerful tool for self-discovery, reflection, and gaining insight that constant noise and distraction might obscure.

6. **Movement is life. Prove life, keep moving.**

Analysis: Physical and metaphorical movement is associated with vitality and growth. This encourages maintaining an active lifestyle and a dynamic approach to life’s challenges.

7. **Do not strive, unless it is to be humble. It doesn’t work, but it’s good to try.**

Analysis: This paradoxical advice suggests that humility is a worthy pursuit, even though true humility might be elusive. It implies that striving for humility can be a valuable practice despite its inherent difficulty.

8. **Yield more, obey traffic signs when no one is watching.**

Analysis: This encourages integrity and self-discipline. Yielding symbolizes flexibility and consideration for others, while following rules without external enforcement speaks to personal ethics and responsibility.

9. **Enter into moments gently, giving more than you take.**

Analysis: This promotes a gentle, mindful approach to life and interactions. It underscores the importance of contributing positively to situations and relationships, prioritizing giving over taking.

10. **It takes a lifetime, but be who you are!**

Analysis: This acknowledges the lifelong journey of self-discovery and authenticity. It encourages perseverance in the pursuit of one’s true self, recognizing that it is an ongoing process.

Overall, your list provides a balanced mix of practical advice, philosophical insights, and encouragement for personal growth. It addresses various aspects of life, including planning, mindfulness, rest, perspective, integrity, and self-discovery, making it a well-rounded guide for thoughtful living.”

Ha! I could not have said it better! Wait… maybe I should have…???

In our most magical moment, we made devices to measure time. At first they were hour glasses, with measured amounts of fine sand. Then at nearly the same time we made water clocks, driven by consistent drops of water. Massive things, dominating a corner of the room. An improvement was to have heavy weights to provide the energy to turn wheels and levers. Clocks were installed in the towers of the city square.

Someone came up with tempered steel springs, coiled up in a fixed case to drive sprockets, and clocks were small enough to be placed on mantles above the fireplace. Just wind them up!

In the 1500s, clock makers made them small enough to be personally carried as a time piece. And this is where it got a little weird. They were small enough to be worn on the wrist, but they weren’t called “wrist-clocks”, they were wrist “watches”. And they were made for women. The men kept their time-pieces in their pockets, but they weren’t called “pocket clocks”, they were “pocket watches”.

It wasn’t until the military started to rely on “synchronized” movement that watches started showed up on men’s wrists. Sailors had to time their “watches” while on duty. Watchmen had to walk their route according to a timed schedule. Perhaps this is why they were called “watches”.

In secondary school I became a “clock-watcher”. But not the one on my wrist. I had 7th period study hall and 3:00 was the end of the day. I would glance at the clock periodically, but from 2:55 onward I was intently focused on the wall clock.

I learned something amazing. When the clock hand was just about to move forward, it moved backward for a half second. Time went backwards, then moved forward, and then we were free.

This was an important lesson!

So, I’m stuck once again because I can’t use the word “coincidence” to explain what has happened. I can’t use it because it doesn’t exist. It’s a lie, it’s a delusion,

This is very complicated so I must go very slowly to get all the nuances and subtleties.

I have a long time friend, very close when we were young men, then at a distance for forty years. Now we are reconnecting. Since we live in different states it’s important that when we have the opportunity to visit, then we try to shift things around in order to make that happen.

Ha! We are both retired now, so what do we have to shift? It’s not like “I’ll have my people call his people!”

Earlier this month, when Clay called and said he was coming this week for a short visit, I panicked. Weirdly, I have been preparing our house to sell all this month, I moved out, packed all our possessions into storage, had contractors, and stagers prepare our house for sale. On the very day the house was listed Clay called and thought I might be able to squeeze a lunch.

I might have even tried, I would have failed, and it would have put even more stress on me, maybe even caused a stroke, who knows? But  I didn’t try, and when he called, I said no!

Mostly because I was pissed at him. I was mad because I had received a voice.google message from him when he called earlier and I didn’t answer.

Here is where it gets very weird. The message was like an accidental butt dialed phone call. It was most certainly Clay’s voice, he was talking to a woman. I knew he was planning to have dinner with his cousin just a few towns away, before coming to see me. It was strangely garbled except at the beginning, it went on for about four minutes with lots of pauses, sounds of eating, clinking of silverware, etc.

But the first few words were pretty clear, the recording started sometime after the sentence had begun.

“…diabetic, overweight, he hadn’t taken care of himself…”

Okay, I did gain weight, I am a diabetic, I had a heart attack, I also had prostate cancer. I would say that qualifies me to own the statement “hadn’t taken care of himself” But I .was still pissed about how he said it, and maybe even why he said it. It kinda felt like he was throwing me under the bus to his cousin, who I’ve never met.

Because I was pissed, I said I was too busy for lunch.

It could have ended there, and have it fester under a bandaid. I had sent the recording he made to him, but he either ignored it or didn’t think it was important. I didnt comment on it, I just titled the message with a bunch of question marks,

Several hours later I wrote a message. He had mentioned in the phone call that at least a had a “good excuse”, for not meeting for lunch.

After a few minutes I began to break things down. I wrote to him that I had said at the very beginning that it was a bad time. I didn’t have an excuse, I had a “reason”.  I was mad. Of course I didn’t tell him on the phone that I was also pissed. So, I wrote to him that I was pissed, and I wondered why he was saying those things about me, even if they were true.

He didn’t respond to the lengthy message. I purposefully used messages because I didn’t want it to become lost in email clutter.

For nine hours he was silent. I’m thinking all kinds of potential responses, angry, embarrassed to be caught, or just plain vacant. I was waiting for a phone call that was going to be intense.

Near midnight I checked the messages and Clay had responded.

1. He doesn’t remember even using the phone at the dinner with his cousin, let alone leaving me a message. Yes, did have a conversation with her about their parents

2. The description of “diabetic, overweight, didn’t take care of himself” was about his father. Clay was sad that his father had died at 68 without having communicated so much more.

3. He has no idea how this happened, apologized for the confusion, treasured our relationship, and was looking for many more years of enjoyment together.

So, what am I to do with this? What am I to learn? Clearly it’s a good thing not to fester, but that’s okay, it’s not really the point.

I have this feeling that it was a complicated trap, well planned, well thought out. Absolutely the right “bread crumbs” to create a specific event. Maybe it’s just a maze.

Is that delusional thinking?

If this was designed, was it for good or evil? Did I stop the action, or did I give it completion.