Thoughts...
I am reading a new book - Self-Analysis by L.Ron Hubbard. Quite amazing.

Here is a quote for you: "Are you a friend of yours? Probably the most neglected friend you have is you. And yet every man, before he can be a true friend to the world, must first become a friend to himself."

The rest of the book is really to help you discover yourself and make yourself the best friend you ever had. Try it!You can get this book from www.scientology.org

Sci-Fi is not so far
We often read Sci-Fi stories about the mind-control doctors or the evil corporate empires trying to micromanage people's lives. Is there a reason for the common recurrence of this theme? Maybe it is because it is happening.

One organization is working day and night to expose the criminal acts committed by psychiatrists in the name of mental medicine.

After decades of hard work, the results are starting to pay off, and it is about time. So what is the history of this travail? Follow the links!

Conquerors' Trilogy review May 10, 2004
Let me start by saying my blog is not going to be about the latest science fiction. It will be about, as often or not, a book or series which has been out for a while. The exception to that habit will be books by David Weber.

Conquerors' Trilogy by Timothy Zahn consists of Conquerors' Pride (1994), Conquerors' Heritage (1995) and Conquerors' Legacy (1996).

I enjoyed this series of space opera immensely. Conquerors' Pride is the first book of the series begins with a first contact between an earthmen's task force and an alien task force. The earth force is completely destroyed in six minutes after the initial radio contact goes out to the aliens.

One earthman, Commander Pheylan Cavanagh, is captured. The aliens who call themselves Zhirrzh begin to study Commander Cavanagh. The chief scientist studying him is Thrr-gilag: Kee'rr. The alien family and the Cavanagh family are the main focus through out this book and the rest of the series. Through Thrr and other aliens we get to understand an alien civilization and view how they see our civilization. I always enjoy when a writer flushes out an alien culture and civilization.

The series is oddly relevant to recent events. The Zhirrzh learn from a salvaged computer taken from the destroyed task force that we have a weapon of mass destructions called CIRCLE. It burned to a crisp with a single shot an alien armada which was set to attack earth forces some years ago. To hide CIRCLE Earth disassembled the weapon and spreads it among various plants. The Zhirrzh after learning this begin an aggressive attack on many Earth colonies in hopes of preventing Earth from digging up all of the pieces.

The trilogy might seem to be only military science fiction but it is much more then that. The military science fiction is definitely here but the story is more about how trust is created among alien civilizations and how a civilization grows.

A key part of the story is the elders of the Zhirrzh and their affect on the Zhirrzh's civilization. Imagine if your grandparents or your great grandparents were always available to communicate with you. The Zhirrzh elders pass on to a non-corporal form that can communicate with the living.

In addition to the humans and the Zhirrzh are the Yycroma and the Marchanis. The Marchanis call the Zhirrzh "Conquers without reason" which the humans shorten to conquers. The Marchanis are protected by the Commonwealth which also includes the Yycroma even though the Yycroma are perceived as threat to peace and especially to the Marchanis. The intrigue that goes on between the three races keeps the story moving along.

Lastly, there is a sentient computer, Max, that is mainly a part of the story line in the first two books.

Science and Religion
You know, if you were to examine the differences between the East and the West, you find not only physical differences, but also major differences in their approach to religion and science.

While the West continues to lead the World in scientific advancement, the East continues to bring sprititual inspiration to the West. I recently watched an early Jet Li film that was re-mastered and released with a Western title called "Twin Warriors". While you think it's just a kung-fu movie, underneath it all was in interesting philosophical message that merges metaphysics, science and the spiritual world.

If you sit and think for a bit, you will find that for the last 2000 years there have not been any advancement in the realm of religion or spirituality, yet there has been many leaps and bounds in the field of science, but the only thing that has occured in the field of religion is only intepretation, yet this has not solved the fundemental problems and duress that man has fought. Yes, for some religion has brought relief, but on a wholesale, humankind level, we still have not solved the problems of crime, illiteracy, immorality, and the list goes on.

Sometime the end of last year, I found out about a new religion that is catching on like wildfire. It's a modern religion that takes advantages of the scientific advancement of electronics to bring out spiritual fulfillment. There seems to be a scientific methodology to this religion and yet, it is a religion. It truly addresses the human soul and brings it up-to-date, puts religion in the context of our modern culture. It's quite a neat thing.

At first I wondered of it's credibility, and found that it's been recognized as a bona-fide religion by the US Supreme court and many other countries, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, etc. They already run and supply a vast team of Volunteer Ministers to assist emergency personnel at disaster sites almost everywhere in the World, including Ground Zero on 9-11.

Then my next thought was, where have I been? How did "I", a scientist miss the boat? Well, actually I haven't, I just now caught it. Therefore, would like to invite you to check out SCIENTOLOGY. You can read about it at http://www.Scientology.org or http://www.WhatIsScientology.org.

Introduction
Welcome to my blog. I hope to entertain you with my Sci-Fi reviews and my philosophical ponderings about Life, The Universe and Everything. I may even indulge you with some Chess tips too.