Tag Archives: Taiwan

16 Basic Desires: China versus US

Posted on December 27, 2015 | Leave a comment

16 Types of Motivation and Culture Table Resized

16 Basic Desires  

I have been teaching in Asia at the college level for the last sixteen years. This semester just like every semester I reflected that my Thai students have very different motivations than other students I have had including American and Chinese students. I didn’t really find anything on the internet that was useful directly but I did run into one general theory of motivation that I think is detailed enough to be useful in the classroom and with adaptation the English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom.

Professor Steven Reiss has proposed a theory that found 16 basic desires that guide nearly all human behavior. The focus of research on motivation in the ESL classroom is on intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation.   Lile provides a good overview of the application of intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation in the classroom as well as some practical suggestions.

My observation is that most American teachers in Asia tend to think that Americans have more intrinsic motivation and Asians have more extrinsic motivation.  In language terms this is framed as integrative motivation (intrinsic) versus instrumental motivation(extrinsic). I might agree that Asians study English because this subject can lead to career advancement when they graduate but I think the picture is actually much more complex.

Below are the 16 basic desires listed by Reiss and I would like to suggest that there are consistent cross-cultural differences. My analysis is informal, subjective and speculative but based upon more than 20 years living in nine different countries. This is a post on my personal blog not a research article! Perhaps my blog post will MOTIVATE a researcher to follow up with empirical research that can be published in a peer reviewed research journal.

I am American. I lived in China for one year and Taiwan for seven years so I do have some familiarity with Chinese culture. In my opinion Chinese and Taiwanese are only slightly different in the area of motivation. Chinese/Taiwanese on the other hand as a group are very different from Americans. Below is a table comparing the US and China using Hofstede’s Dimensions.

Hofstede US vs China

I have five years of teaching Americans at the secondary level and ten years of experience teaching Americans at the college level. Below is a record of my thoughts followed by a table that provides a synopsis of my analysis.

Acceptance – The need for approval

The US scores higher on Hofstede’s individualism score than China so probably acceptance is a higher motivation in China than the US. Many Chinese universities do have an official class leader. I have found that choosing one or two students to be class leaders when this formal mechanism is not present does seem to motivate the top students and I think most Americans would find this practice elitist and at odds with their egalitarian sensibilities.

Curiosity – The need to learn

Americans are perhaps the most curious people I have ever lived with. Curiosity is almost a defining characteristic of Americans. As a teacher who has taught in American and Chinese settings I have had to adapt my teaching style by relying less on curiosity as a the motivating factor in my lessons. However, Chinese, based purely on my experience, are more curious than perhaps Thai students, who I have taught for over six years. There are ethnographic studies that show American students are very active in the classroom compared to their Asian counterparts. Inductive lessons seem to work better with Americans since inductive lessons rely heavily on curiosity.

Eating – The need for food

I would say food is a more central part of Chinese culture than American culture but this is a very subjective view. At the college level, students are much more likely to take their respected university American teacher out to dinner in China. Conversely, rewarding your top students with a dinner at a restaurant can instill an incredible amount of loyalty among your Chinese students. This practice might seem a little elitist to many Americans but is not unheard of in the US.

Family – The need to raise children

Again as a measurably more collectivist culture, China is generally presumed to view family as being more important than Americans. At the practical level this means Chinese students may miss class because of family obligations. Chinese parents can and do order their adult college students to attend family functions. For example, my Chinese students studying in Thailand can be told by their parents that they need to go home for Chinese New Year. Officially Chinese New Year is not a holiday in Thailand. An American teacher should reflect that giving a Chinese student more leeway in this area than an American student might be a positive cultural adaptation on the part of the teacher that will instill more loyalty in the students in the long run.

Honor – The need to be loyal to the traditional values of one’s clan/ethnic group

As defined above, China clearly values honor more than Americans. American is a multi-cultural country and even defining “American” values is difficult. However, there are some transcultural values such as a commitment to democracy that are very strong in Americans. Criticizing your host country in class is a bad idea anywhere but is probably an even worse idea in China. Discussion of the Three Ts (Taiwan, Tibet, and Tiananmen) in China in an inappropriate manner can lead to your quick dismissal from your teaching post.

Idealism – The need for social justice

Americans have a very strong commitment to democracy and that includes strong views about social justice including a strong commitment to equality under the law, privacy, and the rights of the individual overall. Discussions about politics may lead to dead silence in your college class in China. There may be less interest in the topic and of course the students may correctly assume this is a topic that can get everyone involved into trouble.   As mentioned, the three T’s, Tiananmen, Tibet and Taiwan are probably best avoided in classroom discussions in China. This is the one area in which Taiwan is very different. You have a much, much more freedom to discuss politics in Taiwan but I would say once again this might be a topic Taiwanese are not all that interested in compared to Americans.

Independence – The need for individuality

As measured by Hoftstede, the US is much more individualistic than China. Autonomy is a large goal for many Americans at work and in life. I think my biggest surprise in Asia has been that many college students are studying majors their parents want them to rather than majors they want to study. Asian students do seem less willing to share class work alone and would rather share work with the class with a group or a classmate. Having a student read their paper alone in front of the class might actually be perceived as punishment by many Chinese students.

Order – The need for organized, stable, predictable environments

There is a lot of overlap between this concept and Hofstede’s concept of uncertainty avoidance. China scores higher on uncertainty avoidance. Chinese might prefer a more predictable environment than US students.

Physical activity – The need for exercise

I don’t perceive a lot of difference between American and Chinese students in this area. Chinese universities sometimes have a physical education requirement that is not present in American universities. However, both countries suffer from rising obesity albeit the US more so than China for now.

Power – The need for influence of will.

Hofstede’s power distance dimension applies to this area directly. There is much higher power distance teachers and students in a Chinese classroom than in an American classroom. I do think Chinese students will be less comfortable with extracurricular activities without strong teacher supervision and certainly the Chinese system will not allow them a much freedom as in the US. However, that doesn’t mean the Chinese students don’t want more power over their lives. Chinese in a work setting do seem to be willing to go to great lengths to achieve more power.

Romance – The need for sex and for beauty

Maybe a long time ago China was less driven by consumerism and the message that everyone should be sexy and beautiful. I think nowadays both countries put a premium on romantic needs as part of a successful life.

Saving – The need to collect

Chinese have a higher uncertainty avoidance index and a tradition of saving more income than Americans.

Social contact – The need for friends (peer relationships)

China is less individualistic than the US and peer relationships are much more important than in the US.

Social status – The need for social standing/importance

Both Chinese and Americans put a premium on social standing. I would say this is something that both countries have in common.

Tranquility – The need to be safe

Again, China has a higher uncertainty avoidance score so a desire for tranquility is probably higher among Chinese students than American students.

Vengeance – The need to strike back and to compete

There is a Chinese legalistic tradition that favors harsh punishment in order to maintain social harmony. In theory harsh punishment is not about revenge but historically this has not always been the case. The US probably emphasizes due process more than any other country in the world and certainly more so than China! Due process does make using the system to exact revenge using state resources more difficult regardless of motivation.

Links

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/curious/201407/16-ways-motivate-anyone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation#Intrinsic_motivation_and_the_16_basic_desires_theory

Document at:

My Articles About China and/or Chinese Culture

16 Basic Desires: China versus US

35 Accomplishments of Modern China

36 Stratagems

Acronym for Eight Types of Chinese Regional Cuisine

American versus Chinese Culture

American versus Chinese Culture

Astrology Chinese

Chinese Astrological Analysis of Nations

Chinese Astrology 60 Year Cycle

Chinese Do’s and Don’ts

Chinese Dream and American Reality

Chinese vs. Western Astrology

Confucius in Thailand 2012

Extending China’s One Belt One Road Initiative to Latin America

Table of Chinese Astrology 19th – 21st Century

The 36 Stratagems as Portrayed in Comic Books

Virtual Chinese Reunification Palace

Am I Kitsune

WereVerse Universe Baby!

Google Drive Link: WereVerse Universe

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Taiwan Faces Dangerous Times!

Posted on January 26, 2014 | Leave a comment

Taiwan Faces Dangerous Times

The source material is from articles from the US, Taiwan and mainland China and there is a lot of repetition between these studies so I have attempted to focus on different weaknesses in the Taiwanese military position in the different studies.

A) Synopsis of points taken from Brookings Study (2011)

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2011/08/chinas-military-development-yang

This study is a bit dated since the military situation is changing dramatically but still makes some points worth noting.

1) The PLA has vastly improved the military capabilities of its artillery, including missiles, air capabilities, naval capabilities, ground and amphibious capabilities, cyber and electronic capabilities, and enjoys a huge quantitative edge in all these areas and will soon have a qualitative edge as well! The Brookings Study does not mention any dates.

2) China has pursued a policy of befriending neighboring nations that narrows Taiwan’s military options.  I would have to add this policy has been much less effective since 2010 when the report came out and many Asian neighbors now do view China as a potential military threat.  However, I see no attempt by Taiwan to take advantage of this situation as is the case with Japan.

B) Synopsis of points taken from Taiwan’s Defense Ministry (2012) via Reuters. 

I would have loved to get a copy of the actual report in English but couldn’t find it anywhere on the web.  The study was widely quoted in media outlets around the world.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/09/uk-taiwan-china-idUKBRE99808Y20131009

3) “In the future, the Chinese military will continue focusing on further integration of its military units, with the expectation that it will be able to resist foreign forces’ intervention in any attack on Taiwan.”

4) “Over the long-term, it will be wholly sufficient to engage in a war over Taiwan by 2020.”

C) Synopsis of points taken from an article in mainland China. 

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200208/16/eng20020816_101585.shtml

The following article has to be viewed with some suspicion since the line between objective journalism and propaganda often does not exist in newspapers in China but I would say some of the points are valid and very interesting.

5) Wartime ammunition insufficient.  This point has been verified by Taiwanese military reports in the past that I read while I was in Taiwan in the Taipei Times a long time ago!  An almost incredible, surrealistic situation in which Taiwan’s military literally runs out of ammo in days and even hours!  Perhaps steps have already been taken to rectify this colossal weakness.

6) “Many men are afraid of dying” i.e. poor morale on the part of soldiers in Taiwan. I think the article exaggerates the number of desertions that would occur in combat among Taiwanese soldiers.  Taiwanese soldiers are after all trained professionals.   Chinese military thought going back to Sun Tzu puts a lot of emphasis on psychological elements and this article does not disappoint.  There are some interesting points about American psychology that I think are difficult to verify logically but the historical events used to make the points did happen.  There is a place for this sort of “Chinese” analysis and I would like to add a few psychological observations of my own.

D) Personal Observations

Personal observations are extremely subjective and this is by far the weakest evidence in this essay.  However, not everyone has had the experience of living in both China and Taiwan.  I hope my observations are at least interesting.

7) I have taught in China and Taiwan and have dealt with hundreds of Chinese students and thousands of Taiwanese students.  Taiwanese students in general tend to be better educated and more polished than their Chinese counterparts.  However, Chinese students are tougher than their Taiwanese counterparts!  Many schools in China still have a physical education requirement in college.   Chinese students can put up with physical hardship since frankly as a less developed country there is more hardship to put up with.  Chinese students are often ambitious to the point of delusional.  Taiwanese students seem to have given up on life before life has even started.  Chinese students are like Rocky in the Hollywood movie and have a fire in the belly.  Taiwanese students just don’t have that same fire in the belly.

I think calling the current generations of Taiwanese “peaches”, as is common in the Taiwanese press, is an exaggeration but the current generation is softer than their parents and far softer than their grandparents.  I like the softness of Taiwanese but not sure it’s a good quality in soldiers! I am not sure how important this point is in modern warfare but 300 hundred Spartans were able to defeat thousands of Persian but 300 peaches would not fare as well!

8) Based on countless conversations with mainland Chinese students I would have to say that the mainland Chinese are united in their belief that Taiwan is part of China and that they personally would volunteer for such an operation.  When I have talked with Taiwanese students they have consistently expressed the view that war between mainland China and Taiwan as a big joke and basically feel their only hope is US intervention and would attempt to flee the conflict rather than fight or resist China.  I am totally aware that Chinese are more likely to say what is “politically correct” than Taiwanese due to the differences between the governments of both lands.  However, in private Chinese students can be surprisingly honest about what they really think.  Even Chinese who want more democracy in China and do not support many Chinese government policies do agree with the Chinese government when it comes to Taiwan!  One has to say that students are not professional soldiers.  However I do think students are representative of civilians in general in many respects. Based on this limited sample, students, I would have to say China wins in the civilian morale department!

Conclusion

Politics is the art of the possible.  Taiwan realistically has two options in the long run:  peaceful reunification or a war with China that it will surely lose.  Economic integration could buy Taiwan time that could be used to address the issues listed in this paper but I think this is very, very unlikely.

Taiwanese simply lack the Real Politik outlook needed to make the sacrifices needed to prevent reunification.  Taiwan has a truly mountainous center and giant monetary reserves and could study how Switzerland and Finland resisted giant neighbors using mountainous geography.  Taiwan could also study how Israel used a universal military conscription system effectively versus the mockery of such a system that currently exists in Taiwan.  China has the largest army in the world and Taiwan’s current big plan is to have even less soldiers than now in an all volunteer force in the future.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/01/22/2003581842

To paraphrase a rather famous mainlander, “War is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. The Taiwanese are more refined, leisurely, gentle, temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous than their mainland Chinese brothers and their strengths as humans will be their undoing in war!  This seems to be a recurring theme in Chinese history.  Taiwanese like their low taxes and creature comforts and do not have the will to do what must be done!  In short, Taiwan truly is a paper tiger and a smart paper tiger negotiates before the other side figures what’s up!

The vast majority of Taiwanese do not want to become part of mainland China!  Can mainland China become a society that Taiwanese want to join voluntarily?  Taiwan is part of China legally but can one ethically ignore the desire of the vast majority of Taiwanese to remain separate from a society that has not evolved politically to a level the Taiwanese consider acceptable?

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You can also download my autobiography of my struggle with a bipolar condition on  Am I Kitsune on my Google Drive.

WereVerse Universe Baby!

WereVerse Universe at Google Drive Link

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Microbreweries in Asia

Posted on December 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Microbreweries in Asia, Adstragold Microbrewery, Singapore City, Singapore, Archipelago Brewery, Singapore City, Singapore, Asia Brewery, Makati, Philippines, Big Man Beer, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Boxing Cat Brewery, Shanghai, China, Brewerkz - Singapore City, Singapore, Craft Brews, Malaysia, Craftworks Taphouse and Bistro, Seoul, South Korea, DenBeer, Drei Kronen 1308 Brauhaus, Beijing, China, Great Leap Brewing, Beijing, China, Hoa Vien Brauhaus, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Inuyama Loreley Beer, Inuyama, Japan, Jolly Brewery + Restaurant, Taipei, Taiwan, Khos Torkh, Mörön, Mongolia, Lan Anh - Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Lan Chin, Hanoi, Vietnam, Land Beer Circus, Nagoya, Japan, Le Ble D'or, Sanchung, Taiwan, Le Ble D'or, Taipei, Taiwan, LeVel33 Microbrewery, Singapore City, Singapore, Lion Beer Brauhaus, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, London Pub Towser, Nagoya, Japan, Louisiane Brewhouse, Nha Trang, Vietnam, Man Han Lou Restaurant, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Munich Germany Beer Restaurant, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nguyen Du Brauhof, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, North Taiwan Brewery, Wugu, Taiwan, Okhotsk Beer, 北京欧可啤酒, Beijing, China, Paulaner , Pivo Prada, Manila, Philippines, Platinum Microbrewery, Seoul, South Korea, Red Dot Brewhouse, Singapore City, Singapore, Saddle Cantina, Beijing, China, Shanghai Brewery, Shanghai, China, Slow Boat Brewery, Beijing, China, SMS Pub - Batam, Indonesia, Taiwan Micro Brewing Company, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Tawandang Microbrewery, Bangkok, Thailand, Tawandang Microbrewery, Singapore City, Singapore, The Londoner Brew Pub, Bangkok, Thailand, The Pump Room - Singapore City, Singapore, The Tap Room: Kingdom Brewery, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Will Beer, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Microbreweries in Singapore, Microbreweries in Korea, Microbreweries in China. Microbreweries in Taiwan, Microbreweries in Vietnam, Microbreweries in SE Asia, Microbreweries in Cambodia, Microbreweries in Malaysia, Microbreweries in Indonesia

Adstragold Microbrewery – Singapore City, Singapore

Archipelago Brewery – Singapore City, Singapore

Asia Brewery – Makati, Philippines

Big Man Beer – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Boxing Cat Brewery – Shanghai, China

Brewerkz – Singapore City, Singapore

Craft Brews – Three locations in Malaysia

Craftworks Taphouse and Bistro – Seoul, South Korea

DenBeer – Several locations in Japan

Drei Kronen 1308 Brauhaus – Beijing, China

Great Leap Brewing – Beijing, China

Hoa Vien Brauhaus – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Inuyama Loreley Beer – Inuyama, Japan

Jolly Brewery + Restaurant – Taipei, Taiwan

Khos Torkh – Mörön, Mongolia

Lan Anh – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Lan Chin – Hanoi, Vietnam

Land Beer Circus – Nagoya, Japan

Le Ble D’or – Sanchung, Taiwan

Le Ble D’or – Taipei, Taiwan

LeVel33 Microbrewery – Singapore City, Singapore

Lion Beer Brauhaus – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

London Pub Towser – Nagoya, Japan

Louisiane Brewhouse – Nha Trang, Vietnam

Man Han Lou Restaurant – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Munich Germany Beer Restaurant – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Nguyen Du Brauhof – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

North Taiwan Brewery – Wugu, Taiwan

Okhotsk Beer 北京欧可啤酒 – Beijing, China

Paulaner – This company has microbreweries throughout Asia.

Pivo Prada – Manila, Philippines

Platinum Microbrewery – Seoul, South Korea

Red Dot Brewhouse – Singapore City, Singapore

Saddle Cantina– Beijing, China

Shanghai Brewery – Shanghai, China

Slow Boat Brewery – Several locations in China

SMS Pub – Batam, Indonesia

Taiwan Micro Brewing Company – Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Tawandang  Microbrewery – Bangkok, Thailand

Tawandang  Microbrewery – Singapore City, Singapore

The Londoner Brew Pub – Bangkok, Thailand

The Pump Room – Singapore City, Singapore

The Tap Room: Kingdom Brewery – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Will Beer – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Hugh Fox III - Casino

You can also download my autobiography of my struggle with a bipolar condition on  Am I Kitsune on my Google Drive.

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Taiwanese Blogger jailed over critical restaurant review!

Posted on June 27, 2011 | Leave a comment

From:

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/06/23/2003506487

Article reproduced below:

OBJECTIVITY:  The judge said the blogger should not have criticized the restaurant’s food as ‘too salty’ in general, because she had eaten dried noodles and two side dishes

By Lin Liang-che / Staff Reporter

The Taichung branch of Taiwan High Court on Tuesday sentenced a blogger who wrote that a restaurant’s beef noodles were too salty to 30 days in detention and two years of probation and ordered her to pay NT$200,000 (6,900 USD) in compensation to the restaurant.

The blogger, surnamed Liu (劉), writes about a variety of topics — including food, health, interior design and lifestyle topics — and has received more than 60,000 hits on her Web site.

After visiting a Taichung beef noodle restaurant in July 2008, where she had dried noodles and side dishes, Liu wrote that the restaurant served food that was too salty, the place was unsanitary because there were cockroaches and that the
owner was a “bully” because he let customers park their cars haphazardly, leading to traffic jams.

The restaurant’s owner, surnamed Yang (楊), learned about Liu’s blog post
from a regular customer, and filed charges against her, accusing her of
defamation.

The Taichung District Court ruled that Liu’s criticism of the restaurant exceeded
reasonable bounds and sentenced her to 30 days in detention, a ruling that Liu
appealed.

The High Court found that Liu’s criticism about cockroaches in the restaurant to be a narration of facts, not intentional slander.

However, the judge also ruled that Liu should not have criticized all the restaurant’s food as too salty because she only had one dish on her single visit.

Health officials who inspected the restaurant did not find conditions to be as
unsanitary as Liu had described, so the High Court also ruled that Liu must pay
NT$200,000 to the owner for revenues lost as a result of her blog post.

The ruling is final.

Liu has apologized to the restaurant for the incident.

Yang said he filed the charges because Liu’s negative comments about his restaurant led many customers to call him to ask if her review was true.

He said he hoped the case would teach her a lesson.

Huang Cheng-lee (黃呈利), a lawyer in Taichung, said that bloggers who post food reviews should remember to be truthful in their commentary and supplement their comments with photographs to protect themselves.

He also said bloggers should be objective and fair in their writing.

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Where can you buy American comic books in Asia?

Posted on June 7, 2009 | Leave a comment

I have some answers.  First of all American comic books are defined as comic books from the United States of America.  This means not anime, manga or whatever!  If you can’t find Japanese comic books in Asia then you have more serious problems than where to find American comic books.  Asia on the whole prefers Japanese comic books to American comic books by a factor of ten at least.  British stuff, especially 2000 AD stuff is found in the same places as American comic books which is why I initially titled this post where you can find Western comic books but I mean Western as in culture not as in cowboys and the latter meaning was misleading.

First of all there is a Japanese chain called Kinokuniya that is all over Asia. The chain sucks when it comes to Western comic books in Japan but is pretty good about having Western comic books in their stores outside of Japan.

Below is a list of Kinokuniya stores in Asia:

Singapore

Ngee Ann City, Orchard

Bugis Junction, Bugis

Liang Court, Chinatown

Indonesia

Sogo Plaza Senayan, Jakarta

Debenhams Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta

Sogo Pondok Indah Mall, Jakarta

Seibu Grand Indonesia, Jakarta
Malaysia

Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur

Thailand

CentralWorld, Bangkok

Siam Paragon, Bangkok – The best source of Western comic books outside of the Philippines!

Emporium, Bangkok

Australia

I mention the store but of course Australia is basically a Western country that happens to be in Asia and Western comic books are everywhere.

Sydney The Galeries Victoria, New South Wales

Taiwan

Dayeh Takashimaya, Taipei

Breeze Center, Taipei

Kuang San Sogo, Taichung

Talee Isetan, Kaoshiung

United Arab Emirates

Dubai, Dubai Mall

Page One is a Singaporean chain of bookstores that is also all over Asia and also has a pretty good selection of Western comic books.

Page One locations are listed below:

Singapore

Vivocity

 

Malaysia

Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur

 

Hong Kong

Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong (with cafe)

Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui

Times Square, Causeway Bay (formerly known as Page One Twins)

 

Taiwan

SOGO Fuxing, Taipei

Taipei 101, Taipei

The best country in Asia for Western comic books, besides Australia,  is the Philippines.  All the major chains have a section devoted to Western comic books and there are out and out dedicated comic book stores in most of the big malls in Manila.

My other website at:

Fox Superpower List

More comic book articles on this blog at:

http://foxhugh.com/?s=comic

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Virtual Chinese Reunification Palace

Posted on January 18, 2009 | Leave a comment
 
 

 

 

Taipei’s National Palace Museum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Palace_Museum)

has the largest collection of Chinese art in the world.

The museum now lists 620,250 pieces.  In comparison, the Louvre has 35,000 works of art.  This is an apples and oranges comparison to some extent since the Louvre has pieces of unmatched quality.  The Louvre also focuses on paintings while most of the pieces in the National Palace Museum are not paintings. Still the National Palace Museum does have 50,000 paintings!  Sadly only a small part of the National Palace Museum is on display at any given time due to a lack of space.  I have visited both the Louvre and the National Palace Museum and I would say it takes about 3-4 days to check out the Louvre while the National Palace Museum takes half a day to see such is the extreme disparity in facilities between the two museums.  The lack of space for the collection of the National Palace Museum is a scandal since Taiwan does not have a top 100 tourist attraction and could with more space have one of the top museums in the world and a top 100 tourist attraction.  A vastly expanded National Palace Museum would be a special draw for mainland Chinese tourists.

Mainland China has the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City and once the two collections were part of single collection.  The collection was split after the Chinese Civil War.  Is there any way to reunite these two incredible collections that are symbols of the common Chinese culture that Taiwan and Mainland China share?

I propose the both collections could be united in a Virtual Chinese Reunification Palace.  Most of the collections of both museums exist in photographic digital form already.  What if these pieces were displayed in a 3D environment the user could “walk through” online?  In addition tools could be added that would users to make their own version of a Virtual Chinese Reunification Palace and this could be an assignment that school children on both sides could work on together.

This project would aid the cause of peaceful reunifcation between mainland China and Taiwan.

An article about this topic that appeared in the International Herald Tribune shortly after I published this post at:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/12/asia/imperial.php

My Articles About China and/or Chinese Culture

16 Basic Desires: China versus US

35 Accomplishments of Modern China

36 Stratagems

Acronym for Eight Types of Chinese Regional Cuisine

American versus Chinese Culture

American versus Chinese Culture

Astrology Chinese

Chinese Astrological Analysis of Nations

Chinese Astrology 60 Year Cycle

Chinese Do’s and Don’ts

Chinese Dream and American Reality

Chinese vs. Western Astrology

Confucius in Thailand 2012

Extending China’s One Belt One Road Initiative to Latin America

Table of Chinese Astrology 19th – 21st Century

The 36 Stratagems as Portrayed in Comic Books

Virtual Chinese Reunification Palace

WereVerse Universe Baby!

 

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Half Square Dictionary

Posted on March 31, 2008 | Leave a comment

 

 

7.00

Patient’s Memes

 

 

 

Half Square is a postmodern encyclopedia of the 21st century in the form of a novel. The novel deals with subjects as diverse as the emergence of Cyber Buddhism and the development of the Asian Union.   Below is a complete list of the topics the novel deals with.  I am looking for an agent or publisher.

Dr. Delta: One of the symptoms of Freak Show, and most patients suffering from a meta-psychopathology, was his use of an idiosyncratic memes that made communication difficult.  The unique nature of his memes has been analyzed. This memetic listing is meant to aid the researcher while reading this transcript.  The definitions have been cross-referenced with the session’s subsections in order to aid researchers.

Some of the memes have also been classified in terms of their virulence and infectiousness level. This memetic listing will help future researchers prioritize research to counter the memes in this transcript.  Many of the memes have spread to the general public already due to the highly contagious nature of the patient’s metaschizophrenia. Many of the memes in this appendix have been purged from the transcript that was shared with the public and can only be found in the top secret version X of this transcript.

666 Phone Call – The 666 phone call is a humorous story by the patient that involves a three way call between a rabbi, bacteria and an Omega that led to the great flood.  This meme is representative of the patient’s obsession with threes. This meme is comic to the point of being harmless. See session subsection 5.04. The virulence level is 0.3.  The infectiousness level is high (8.0-10) precisely due to the meme’s comic nature.  Jokes tend to spread readily but are harmless. 

666 Degrees of Separation – At 666 degrees of separation everyone in the universe knows everyone else in the universe or at least according to the patient.  See session subsection 5.14.  This meme is mildly virulent (2.2) when combined with the Omega and post baseline memes and induces a sense of general paranoia.  This meme is fairly infectious (4.3).  In order to counter this meme imagine that energy is coming out of the center of your stomach in spaghetti form.  Now imagine you are cutting the spaghetti with a fork. 

Anti-God – The Anti-God is a nihilistic God that is the ultimate projection the patient’s own nihilism.  According to the patient, the Anti-God may decide to end the cycle of existence once and for all.  See session subsection 5.10.  This is by far the most dangerous meme generated by the patient.  The meme is very infectious (7.2) and highly virulent (7.45).  Try to meditate on whatever God or higher power you believe in to counter this meme.

Artcol – Artcol is short for art colony.  See session subsection 3.28.

Asian Union (AU) – One of the three political unions that rule the Square Earth.  The AU consisted of most of the countries in Asia.  The AU was the most powerful union economically.  See session subsection 3.03.  The meme is highly infectious among certain Asian subgroups.  The infectiousness in Shanghai is 9.3.  Some argue this meme is spreading throughout Asia so quiickly that it will lead to the creation of an Asian Union.  Virulence is difficult to determine.

Assistive Reality – Reality enhancement used to help handicapped persons.  See corrective reality, enhanced reality, and muffled reality.  See session subsection 3.24.

Astral Maggots – Astral maggots eat astral crap so that every life form in the universe doesn’t get the willies.  You can be reborn as an astral maggot in Hell.  See session subsection 5.02.  This meme is similar to astral crap both in virulence and infectiousness.

Astral Noise – A low-level astral energy that pervades the universe.  The patient did not deny the existence of an after life but thought that most humans end up becoming astral noise after their death.  See session subsection 5.13.  This meme can be virulent to those whose ego structure integrity is dependent on a belief in the after life.

AU – See the “Asian Union” entry.

Astrology – The patient had some rather interesting ideas about astrology.  See session subsections 5.24 and 2.16.

Baby God – God right after the Big Bang and for about a billion years afterwards.  Baby God resembles gods in the various pantheons and loves to have fun.  See Pre-God, Teenage God, Middle Aged God, Old Man God and Anti-God.  See session subsection 5.05.

Bar Codes – Bar code technology was used as a license plate for reality helmets and to augment satellite surveillance technology.  See session subsection 3.38.  The use of bar codes as described by the patient is a highly infectious (7.22) and virulent meme (8.02) that can lead to paranoia. 

BIS – See the “Bureau of Intelligence Synthesis” entry. 

Book Squares – The Book Squares are the scholar caste of the Squares. See Sneaky Squares, Money Squares and War Squares entries.  See session subsection 1.22.

Bridge Ships – Ships created by Mainland China to act as pieces of a bridge between Mainland China and Taiwan during the invasion of Taiwan.  See session subsection 3.20.

Bureau of Intelligence Synthesis (BIS) – The premiere intelligence agency of the United Americas.  See session subsection 1.24.  This meme is highly contagious and virulent (8.0-9.0).  Many left wing young professionals in the East and West Coast of the US have been infected by this meme.  The reader should affirm that the BIS not real.

Buscom – Buscom is short for business community.  A Buscom is a rebirth community for businessmen.  See session subsection 3.27.  

 
 

Cain – Cain was the first Half Square.  Cain is the Half Square of death.  Cain killed his brother Abel.  See session subsection 1.29.

 

Ceremony of the Five Inside Cuts  – A ceremony of the Red Vampires of the Red Sword nation, a soldier was promoted to the rank of captain.  A pentagram was cut into the abdomen of the soldier using a samurai sword.  See session subsection 2.14.

Ceremony of the Five Outside Cuts – A ceremony of the red vampires of the Red Sword Nation in which a captain was promoted to the rank of general.  The star points of the pentagram were connected using a samurai sword.  See session subsection 2.14.

Chihuahua Aztec Curse Theory – A theory that postulates that the reason Chihuahuas are insane is due to a punishment from God for eating human flesh fed to them by the Aztecs.  See session subsection 1.27.  This meme has spread widely but seems harmless.

Chihuahua Tight Brain Theory – A scientific theory that attempts to explain the insanity of Chihuahuas.  See session subsection 1.28.  The rate of infection for this meme seems to slightly lower than the Aztec Curse Theory meme for unknown reasons.

Combot – The combot is a type of homobot that is specifically used for combat.  See session subsection 3.12.

Compurings – Rings with computer functions.  See session subsection 5.20.

Corrective Reality – A type of enhanced reality used to correct deviant behavior.  See assistive reality, enhanced reality, and muffled reality.  See session subsection 3.24.

Cospros – Cospros is short for cosmopolitan proletariat.  The Cospros were a global middle class that shared an international view of society and a virtual aesthetic.  See session subsection 3.22.

Counter Spyware – Counter spyware sends false information to spyware.  Spyware monitors a computer and does exist.  This meme is mildly virulent (0.23) but highly contagious (8.25).  There are many people that now believe counter spyware does exist.  See subsection 3.31.

Cyberaddiction – Addiction to electrical stimuli provided via cyberplugs. The meme is not very contagious but highly virulent.  Several teenagers in the US and Western Europe have attempted to stimulate their medulla through make shift systems and this has led to their death.  Fortunately such incidents seem to be few and far between. See session subsection 2.02.

Cyber-Buddhism – Cyber-Buddhism was a type of Buddhism that used cyber- plugs and other high tech devices in order to achieve enlightenment.  See session subsection 2.16.

Cyberlady – An onscreen computer companion.  See session subsection 2.04.

Cyber-Lincoln Brigade – A think tank that met in cyberspace and was devoted to furthering the strategic goals of the UA.  See session subsection 3.10. 

Cyberplugs – Plugs in the base of the skull that allow direct electrical stimulation of the brain.  See session subsection 1.08.

Cyberzombies – A person whose brain has been damaged through the use of cyberplugs.  See session subsection 2.03.  The existence of Cyberzombies has become an urban legend but this meme does not seem virulent.

Da Vinci, Leonardo – Da Vinci was the third Half Square.  Da Vinci is the Half Square of reason.  See session subsection 1.31.

Deep Purple – Computer chess program.  See session 2.19.

Devil – An Omega with free will.  See session subsection 6.06.

Dolphins – According to the patient on his world, dolphins are an intelligent species on the Square Earth.  Dolphins have mastered hyper dimensional technology and have HKP.  The dolphins were the only species on Earth that remembered to send God a card on his birthday and God had not destroyed the Earth on several occasions due to this fact.  The first Square ambassador to the dolphins was Jonah.  See session subsection 1.26.

Door, William – Door was the CEO of Macrohard.  See session subsection 3.34.

Driller – A driller is one of three types of medical microbots.  A driller drills microscopic holes.  See slicer and grabber.  See session subsection 3.18. 

 
 

 

 

E-Animal – Short for enhanced animal.  An e-animal had been genetically altered to have the intelligence of a six-year old human and had about the same level of emotional maturity.  See session subsection 2.17.

East China – China split up into two separate nations: East China and West China.  East China is the most economically powerful nation in the AU.  The capital of East China is Shanghai.  See session subsection 3.01.

Electronic Trainer – Gyms use computers instead of human trainers in the patient’s world.  See subsection 2.20.

Encounters of the Fifth Kind – A human turned into an alien.  See session subsection 5.18. 

Encounters of the Sixth Kind – A human is turned into an alien and used to fight humans.  See session subsection 5.18.  There has been an increase of reported abductions involving encounters of the fifth and sixth kind.

Enhanced Reality – The general term for technology that provides extra input about reality in real time using direct sensory input.  This is not an invention of the patient what is an invention of the patient are several subcategories of enhanced reality.  See assistive reality, muffled reality and corrective reality.  See session subsection 3.23.

Erotron – Erotron was the imaginary girlfriend of the patient.  Erotron is probably a personification of the sexual feelings that Freak Show has not been able to handle in mature and normal manner.  This combined with the obsession Freak Show had with sexbots suggests that he dealt with erotic/sexual feelings via a series of technological fantasies that made sex more controllable in the patient’s mind.  See session subsection 1.11.

EU – See the “European Union” entry.

European Union (EU) – One of three political unions that ran the Square Earth.  The EU encompasses all the countries in Europe except Great Britain that elected to leave the EU and join the United Americas in reaction to Russia being accepted into the EU.  See session subsection 3.04.

Four Noble Truths Formula – The truths are a Buddhist syllogism about the human condition. The patient used a formulaic approach to apply the four noble truths to various situations.  Below is my interpretation of the formula the patient was using even though the patient never referred to the formula directly: 

1) The problem is suffering.

2) Y is the cause of suffering.

3) The solution to Y will lead to the solution of the problem of suffering.

4) X is the solution to Y.

Giant Bar Code Reader – A properly equipped satellite would secretly observe bar codes put on objects.  This meme is highly contagious and has spread throughout the world.  See session subsection 3.38.

Gigabot – A gigabot is a robot larger than any life form on Earth.  Only the UA created gigabots and was using them to terraform planets.  See nanobot, microbot, homobot and megabot.  See session subsection 3.11.

Gigatrain – The largest megatrain ever made.  The Gigatrain circled the Moon and was designed to hurl antimatter missiles at the Sun in order to destroy the solar system.  The Gigatrain could also be used to destroy post baselines or destroy asteroids that threaten the Earth.  See session subsection 5.19.  There is no truth to the rumors that NASA’s manned Mars mission is a decoy and they really want to create a Moon base to build a Gigatrain.

God – According to the patient God is the universe as a conscious synergic whole.  See Pre-God, Baby God, Teenage God, Middle Aged God, Old Man God and Anti-God. 

Golden Tuna – A tuna that has been genetically engineered tuna that was the symbol of the economic prosperity of the AU.  Golden tuna had gold scales and collected gold in its gills.  See session subsection 2.18.

Goo – Goo is a self-replicating system that operates at the nano-level.  There are several types of goo at the theoretical level including gray, black, blue, gold, khaki, green and red.  Freak Show mentioned one type of goo known as purple goo.  Purple goo is a self-replicating drug.  Incredibly a purple goo drug lab was discovered during a DEA drug bust a year after the death of Freak Show.  See session subsection 5.22.

Grabber – A grabber is one of three standard types of microbot.  A grabber grabs microscopic material.  See driller and slicer.  See session subsection 3.19.

 
Half Square – The offspring produced when you mate a Homo erectus and a Homo sapien.  In the imaginary world of Freak Show, there have only been six recorded cases of a Half Square in the history of the patient’s Square Earth.  Freak Show identified himself as the sixth Half Square and this is an obvious delusion of grandeur.  See session subsection 1.02.

Head Steward – A position created in the aftermath of the Square Earth 9/11.  The Head Steward was in charge of the passengers in an airline.  Specifically, the Head Steward was in charge of security and passenger comfort and was authorized to direct the stewardesses to use force to take down unruly passengers or combat terrorists.  See session subsection 1.10.

Hell – A lower realm that God sends some beings to as astral maggots or astral crap. See session subsection 5.01.

Hexachromatic Vision – In theory a Square mutant could have six color rods and a Square prophecy suggests such a member would have the ability to see spirits.  See session subsection 1.21.

Hexagon – The Hexagon is the Square Earth equivalent of the Pentagon.  NASA was added to the Square Earth Pentagon in order to create the Hexagon due to 9/11.  See session subsection 3.15.

Hitler, Adolph – Hitler was the fourth Half Square.  Hitler was the Half Square of hate.  Freak Show obviously had many problems dealing with authority and father figures.  Hitler in his imaginary world may be a type of father figure.  See session subsection 1.32.

HKP – This is an acronym for Hyper Kinesic Perception.

Holo-car – A holo-car uses holographic technology to change its outward appearance.  See session subsection 1.15.

Holo-gallery – A gallery used in artcols in the patient’s world in order to holographically project one set of art to stores and galleries around the world for global art shows.  See session subsection 3.28.

Holo-lab – A lab that uses holographic technology and supercomputers to simulate a real experiment.  The advent of a cheap G6 based supercomputers at Virginia Tech make may such a lab a reality sooner than anyone would have anticipated.  See session subsection 3.29.

Holo-lawn – This is a lawn that holographically projects lawn ornaments and animals.  See session subsection 6.10.

Homobot – A robot with human dimensions.  See nanobot, microbot, minibot, and gigabot.  See session subsection 3.10.

Hyperconsciousness Project – A project in which clones of Einstein, William Door and Buddha work on various projects as a team.  Einstein, Door and Buddha may represent different aspects of the patient’s personality that he needed to reconcile.  See session subsection 3.33.

Hyperdimensional – A meme used by the patient a good deal.  According to the dictionary, hyperdimensional means more than four dimensions 

Hyperkinesic Perception (HKP) – HKP is the ability to perceive and process spatial information in a manner vastly superior to that of your average person.  Homo erectus members are born with HKP. Recent studies that show something like HKP can in fact explain a lot of ESP phenomena suggest that the patient may have had some insight into this type of perception.  Did the patient have HKP and did this allow him to infect others with greater ease?  See session subsection 1.18.  

I Ching – The patient saw the I Ching as a tool to figure out a trialistic universe.  See session subsection 6.03.

Interspecies Communication Institute – A specialized organization of the War Square caste in charge of covert action.  In particular, the institute controls Sloppy Square communications for the purposes of control and to covertly use said systems to communicate to Squares around the world.  The institute also handles most communications between Squares and dolphins. This meme is both highly infectious and virulent.  There is no evidence that such an institute exists.  The investigation that followed Dr. Gamma’s break down showed that Dr. Gamma was apparently infected by this meme early on and believed a co-worker worked for such an organization.  Dr. Gamma refuses to divulge what co-worker he suspected and this is further proof his recovery is not going well.  See session subsection 3.36.

Jesus – Jesus was the second Half Square of the Square Earth.  Jesus was the Half Square of love on this Earth.  See session subsection 1.30.

Killer-Ape – Killer Ape is a reference to Homo sapiens in the old language of the Squares.  See session subsection 1.25.

LIP – Acronym for laser, ion, and plasma missile order of battle system.  See session subsection 5.18.

Macrohard – Macrohard was the biggest and most powerful corporation in the Square Earth.  Macrohard will create the Gigatrain that will lead to the destruction of the Square Earth.  See session subsection 2.05.

Macrotrend – According to the patient universal baseline level civilization trend.  See session subsection 6.07.

Master Roshi – Master Roshi is the founder and leader of the Cyber-Buddhist Church.  Master Roshi may be a father figure manifestation of the patient.  See session subsection 2.15.

Matriarch – The Matriarch is the spiritual leader of the Squares.  The Matriarch is an obvious mother figure shows the patient’s preoccupation with female power.  See session subsection 1.14.

Maximalism – A cospro philosophy that rejects minimalism and states that more is more and that life should be lived big.  Virtualism is one means for achieving maximalism.  See session subsection 3.21.

McMickey – The largest fast food chain in the patient’s imaginary world and an informal hangout of expats around the world.  See session subsection 4.01.

MDA – See the “Military Digital Assistant” entry. 

Megabot – A megabot is a robot that is the approximate size of a large mammal.  See nanobot, microbot, minibot, homobot and gigabot.  See session subsection 3.11.

Megatrain – A maglev train that can achieve supersonic speeds and that can also launch missiles and/or satellites.  Maglev trains do exist and there is maglev train connection Pudong and Shanghai but there is no evidence that maglevs could be used both for transportation and to launch missiles.  See session subsection 3.08.

Memetic Map – A map that summarizes huge amounts of data for the BIS.  See session subsection 1.23.

Metamemetic – Metamemetics is that study of memes that control other memes.  See session subsection 3.21

Metatechnology – Metatechnology is the study of technological synergies rather than individual technologies.  See subsection 5.23.

Memetic Classes – Memetic classes are a way of looking at political classes in terms of their memetic role.  See session subsection 3.00

Military digital assistant (MDA) – An MDA is a military version of a personal digital assistant.  See session subsection 3.36.

Middle-Aged God – God at midlife and the God the Buddha communicated with.  See Pre-God, Baby God, Teenage God, Old Man God, and Anti-God entries.  See session subsection 5.07.

Microbots – A robot the size of a microbe to the size of an insect.  See nanobot, minibot, homobot and gigabot.  See session subsection 3.11.

Minibot – A minibot is smaller than a human being but larger than a microbe.  See nanobot, microbot, homobot, megabot, and gigabot.  See session subsection 3.11.

Muffled Reality – A subtype of enhanced reality that attempts to lessen aversive input.  See assistive reality, corrective reality and enhanced reality.  See session subsection 3.24.

Nanobot – A nanobot is a robot that is smaller than any life form on Earth.  The AU is the leader in nanobot technology.  See microbot, minibot, homobot, megabot, and gigabot.  See session subsection 3.11.

Nanopayment Virus – A nanopayment virus is used to steal fractional amounts of money during Internet transactions.  See session subsection 1.05.

NHF – An acronym for No Hands Firing System.

Non-Square Earths – Earths that emerge in some Big Bang cycles in which there are only Homo sapiens and no modern Homo erectus.  The Omegas have noticed that these Earths are less technologically developed than Square Earths but survive longer.  See session subsection 6.11.

Old Man God – Old man God is God at the end of his existence.  Old man God is pretty bitter and is similar to Jehovah in the Bible.  Old man God has gone ahead and created hell as opposed to recycling to punish the wicked.  See Pre-God, Baby God, Teenage God, Middle Aged God, and Anti-God.  See session subsection 5.08.

Omega Brain – a brain that is modified with computer and/or genetic technology.  This is the second most dangerous meme generated by the patient, the Anti-God meme being the patient’s most dangerous meme.  The current new age Omega Brain movement is both dangerous and delusional.  First of all the technology does not exist to create an Omega Brain and secondly such a creation would be an abomination.  See session subsection 5.03.

Omega Law – This law states that intelligence grows exponentially after the appearance of the first Omega brain in a technological civilization.  See session subsection 5.03.

Omegas – The Omegas are super androids that serve God.  See session 5.00.

Omega – In physics the measure of the cosmic density of matter.

Panpsychic Killers – The universe is alive and wants to kill us. This is a typical paranoid delusion.  This meme has shown mild infectivity and mild virulence.  See session subsection 6.05

Pentachromatic Vision – According to the patient mutant Homo erectus are occasionally born with pentachromatic vision.  See session subsection 1.20.

Phoenix Corporation – A chain that provides suspended animation services.  See session subsection 4.03.

Plasma Missiles – Plasma missiles combine energy weapon technology and nuclear technology.  See session subsection 5.15.

Pornbot – a software program that seeks free porn according to thematic and/or fetish preferences and downloads this porn automatically.  Sales of pornbot software formed the initial basis of the fortune of William Door.  See session subsection 3.31.

Post Baseline – A post baseline has replaced Darwinian evolution with technologically based evolution and uses technology to evolve.  There are two types: downloaded and uploaded.  Downloaded post baselines chose to keep a body and download into bodies as needed.  Uploaded post baselines upload into a planetary or even interstellar computer system and choose to live in a virtual reality.  See session subsection 5.00.

Pre-God Universes– The pre-God universes are the billions of Big Bang universes that had gravity that was to strong or too weak and that did not create life and therefore this life never evolved into God.  These universes are referred to as Pre-God universes.  See Baby God, Teenage God, Middle Aged God, Old Man God and Anti-God.  See session subsection 5.9.

Prophecy of the Sixth Half Square – According to this prophecy there will be six Half- Squares including Jesus and that the sixth Half Square will presage the end of the world.  See session subsection 1.30.   

 Rampant Paranoia – According to the patient, rampant paranoia is a gift from God.  See subsection 6.04.

Reagan, Ronald – Reagan was the fifth Half Square.  The fifth Half Square is the Half Square of order.  See session subsection 1.33.

Reality Helmet – A helmet used for assistive, corrective, enhanced and muffled reality.  See session subsection 3.25.

Rebirth – A life state that combines features of work and retirement created in response to longer life spans and earlier retirement.  In rebirth a Cospro will do consulting using the resources of a community created for this purpose.  See session subsection 3.26.

Recycle – Rebirth into a new body i.e. reincarnation.  Microrecycling happens within a Big Bang cycle.  Macrorecycling is from one Big Bang to another.  See session subsection 5.12.

Red Death – A mixture of tetrodotoxin and LSD.  See session subsection 2.12.

Red Emperor – The leader of a Red Vampire Yakuza gang in Japan.  See session subsection 2.13.

Reverse Recycling – Generally one recycles from the present into the future.  Occasionally, a person recycles from the future into the past.  See session subsection 6.09.

RGC – This is an acronym for Rio Grande Canal.

Rio Grande Canal (RGC) – A canal that extends the Rio Grande and provides a natural border between the United States and Mexico and also allows the UA to move it’s navy from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice-versa.  See session subsection 1.03.

Robot Size Rule – The concept that the single most important characteristic of a robot’s body is the size of the robot 3.14.  

 Scicom – A term that is short for science community.  A scicom is a rebirth community for scientists.  See session subsection 3.31.

Self-Replicating System (SRS) – A self-replicating system has advantages of economy and power but has disadvantages in the area of control.  See session subsection 3.09.

Sexbot – A homobot created for sexual purposes.  Many sexbots do not posses cybernetic systems and therefore, are arguably, not robots at all.  See session subsection 2.08.

Slicer – A slicer is one of three types of microbots.  A microbot is used to slice microscopic materials.  See driller and grabber.  See session subsection 3.17.

Sloppy Divorce – Shooting technique employed by the Squares in which the person standing next to the Square, usually their Sloppy Square investigative partner is shot using the ricochet of a bullet.  See session subsection 3.35.

Sloppy Squares – A Square slang term for a Homo sapien.  See session subsection 1.17.

Small Brain Syndrome – The patient claimed that the Omegas have discovered an inverse relationship between intelligence and clairvoyance among baselines.  In general, if your brain is smaller then you are more clairvoyant but you also have less ability to do something about your premonitions due to your small brain.  See session subsection 6.06.

 Sneaky Squares – The Sneaky Squares are a Square caste in charge of covert operations.  See Book Squares, Money Squares and War Squares entries.  See session subsection 3.37.

Solarians – These are post baselines that use photosynthesis instead of eating.  See session subsection 5.17.

Spiral of Being – The patient’s version of the Chain of Being.  See session subsection 5.03.

Squares – The slang term for Homo erectus used by Homo erectus.  See session subsection 1.12.

Square Earth Law – Technological knowledge from one Big Bang cycle should not be shared with beings from another Big Bang cycle.  In particular, technological knowledge from a Square Earth should not be shared with members of a non-Square Earth.  The Omegas punish transgressions of this law with spontaneous combustion and Freak Show was worried that this would happen to him.  See session subsection 5.11.

SRS – This is an acronym that stands for Self-Replicating System.

Subship – A supersonic transport technology that uses the life support of a submarine and the propulsion system of a maglev train in order to travel in tunnels under the ocean.  See session subsection 3.07.

Super Color – A color that you need tetrachromatic vision to see.  Square messages are often written in the margins of books in super color.  See session subsection 1.04.

Syntarian – A person who eats synthetic food so as to avoid even killing plant life.  See virtuarian.  See session subsection 1.06.

Taiwan – In the patient’s mind, Mainland China invades Taiwan.  See subsection 3.19.  I lived and taught at the university level in Taiwan and find the patient exceptionally well informed about this part of the world.

 Tank Dome – A geodesic dome made of reactive armor and Chobham.  A tank dome provides flexible fortification and can be used as a standalone military structure or to provide fortification to an existing structure.  See session subsection 3.16.

Tankbot – A type of megabot created for combat.  A tankbot fulfills the role of tank in a battlefield, but unlike a tank, can walk and climb over obstacles and is therefore more mobile than a traditional tank.  See session subsection 3.13.

Teenage God – This is God when he is around 2-5 billion years old.  According to the patient, Teenage God is filled with hope and idealism.  Teenage God talked to Jesus.  See Pre-God, Baby God, Middle Aged God, Old Man God and Anti-God.  See session subsection 5.10.

Tetrachromatic Vision – Homo erectus have four optical rods, as opposed to three, that provide superior color vision.  See session subsection 1.19.

Triple Ten Day – This refers to October 10, 2010.  On this day an event will happen will lead to the eventually lead to the reunification of mainland China and Taiwan.  Due to the sensitivity of this meme, the meme has been removed from all versions of the transcript except version X.

Money Squares –The Money Squares are the leadership caste of the Squares and are generally but not always female.  See Book Square, Sneaky Squares, and War Squares entries.  See session subsection 1.13, 1.24.

Triad – The Triad is a reference to the three political unions that govern the Square Earth.  See session subsection 3.05.

Triadic Evolution – The process whereby power moved away from the member states and into the union governance structures in an escalating response to the centralization of power in the other unions. See session subsection 1.34.

Trialism – This is a metaphysical theory that the universe consists of three types of phenomena.  The three types of phenomena include causal phenomena, existential phenomena and synchronous phenomena. See session subsection 6.02.

Trilateral Commission – A commission created to resolve disputes between the three unions.  The Trilateral Commission is housed in the building that used to house the United Nations that was no longer active having been largely supplanted by the triad as a form of international governance.  See session subsection 3.06.

United Americas (UA) – The most militarily powerful of the three political unions that govern the patient’s imaginary Square Earth.  The UA encompasses North, Central and South America as well as Australia and Great Britain. See session subsection 1.09.

Universal Laws of Technology – The patient claimed that metatechnologists on his Earth had identified universal laws of technology. 

1) Technology is out of control in the entire space-time continuum.

3) For every problem solved by technology another problem is created by the same technology.

4) When it comes to technology, you get what you pay for.

6) When it comes to technology when it rains it pours.

10) If it can be done then it will be done. So do it before they do it.

12) You need the right brain to for the right tool.

25) Technology has a life of its own.

Vampires – A group of Japanese otaku that act like vampires.  Vampires include White and Red Vampires.  See session subsection 2.10.

Virtualism – The philosophy that technology should be used to maximize experience and virtual experience should be used when actual experience is not economically feasible.  See session subsection 3.23.

Virtuarian – A virtuarian is a person that eats synthetic food that has zero calorie content.  See syntarian.  See session subsection 1.07.

War Square – This is one of the three castes of the Squares.  War Squares are the warriors of the Squares.  See Book Square, Sneaky Square and Money Square entries.  See session subsection 1.24.

West China – West China separated from East China due to differences in social policy.  West China is much poorer than East China and had a Maoist government.  The capital of West China was Xian.  See session subsection 3.01.

White Death – A powdered form of tetradotoxin.  Tetradotoxin is used in Japanese vampire rituals.  I cannot determine if the current use of tetradotoxin as a recreational drug is related to the spread of this meme by the patient.  See session subsection 2.11. 

Ying – Yang Kids – The Ying-Yang Kids are an informal group of teenagers in Shanghai that tried to combine the philosophies of Jesus and Charles Manson. The rise of Ying-yang gangs in Chinatowns around the world may or may not be related to this meme. See session subsection 3.34.

Z-Rays – Imaginary electromagnetic waves that have a smaller wavelength than Gamma rays.  See section 1.21.

WereVerse Universe Baby!

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