The nature of TIME

TARDIS - Time And Relative Dimensions In Space

We live in a universe that has three dimensions of space that we have (nearly) free movement of. This is true except for the weak interaction of gravity and any physical objects that lie in our path. Now we also has a dimesion of time that behaves like one dimesion of space (along a line) except that it is perceived as past, present, future and each of us is stuck on one part of it and cannot stand still or go backward. Forward motion of time is constant on Earth (or very nearly constant) yet we find time going much slower as a child than as an adult. So it has an affect on perception and consciousness. This is found to be true through psychological experiements and from dreams and transcendental experiences (drugs, meditation etc).

Yet we are unable to consciously alter the flow of real time in a way analogous to how gravity affects space and time. According to Einstein matter affects space and time and the most extreme case (a black hole) traps both space and time (4 dimensions) to a singularity (0 dimensions). Since brain is matter it will be constrained by all physical laws (including quantum theories). Yet mind is not the same thing and hence we can experience or imagine a subjective change in time and space. It appears that what affects time also affects space. Hence, the dimension of time can be treated as another dimension of space (and some maths does treat it as the same).

However, if space and time are the same thing then would swapping a spatial dimension with a temporal one result in the same universe? Apparently not. Ditto if we had a scenario with 3 temporal dimensions and one spatial. Yet if I could step out of my own timeline I would be able to go into the past and future as easily as backward or forward in space. This would cause time paradoxes and seem impossible. Now if there is a link between mind (consciousness) and the affect of time and space (even in such a small area as within the body) then there may be a link between gravity and consciousness, or another fundamental force that moderates time and intelligent perception (and all other time dependent phenomena). This could both explain why reverse time travel in not possible and why theorists are fnding it so hard to devise a quantum theory of gravity. Thus a new maths may be needed to crack this problem.

Ever heard of the Scasis Paradigm (Dr Who)? he power of God or the Creator to change the content and evolution of the universe at will. Well the first to crack it would attain the status of God, the experimentor, the Creator and we would be part of a cosmic experiment. If God exists he/she/it would have arisen from a universe like this and if God does not exist then mankind may become God in the future.
(This is also used as an argument as to why we are alone in the universe - either way by experiment or by consciousness leading to universal awareness.)
(Note - this is not the same as attaining enlightenment or Buddhahood because it may not equate to having the free will to escape recurring existence or be everywhere everywhen external to our universe if other universes exist with different rules/contents/experiences.)

Doctor Who Cyber reviews

There are many differences between this new series and the old classic series. Firstly, the pace of the new episodes is incredibly fast compared to old stories such as 'Kings Daemons' and 'City of Death'. Also, there is a greater flow in character interaction and special effects. Yet the depth of plot and depth of character development is unfortunately lacking in many of the new stories. Since these things slows down the overall pace of the stories and the new format is of single and double 45 minute episodes it is not surprising that we see this happening. Finally, the packaging and almost Eastenders style is both refreshing and annoying (as is the over reliance on the sonic screwdriver). Similarities include the TARDIS, similar theme tune, the concept of the Doctor as a Time Lord (a Demi God who interferes in situations so that good prevails over evil), enemies, aliens and the companion. Overall Doctor Who has improved but I still prefer Tom Baker to either Eccleston or Tennant for the wit, humour and eccentricity alone.

The story 'Girl in the Fireplace' is my favourite of the series thus far. So many things go for it ranging from the glorious period sets and filming style to the classic witty scenes with the Doctor drunk and using a horse to smash through the final time window. Now how often do you see a horse on the deck of a spaceship? It is not just the Doctor that makes this story work - so does Sophia Myles as Madame De Pompadour and the clockwork army themselves. Yet one feels this is just a foretaste of things to come...

Here come the Cybermen. In 'Rise of the Cybermen' the Doctor and Rose arrive on a zeppelin filled parallel Earth where John Lumic abducts people and turns them into Cybermen. This is followed by 'The Age of Steel' where Lumic's Cyberman army tries to upgrade or delete the whole human race (or London at least). Mickey finds a purpose in life when Ricky dies and a three pronged attack cripples Lumic's plans as Cyber Leader. Cyber Lumic dies plummeting from a ladder hanging from his zeppelin to the towering inferno below.

Yes it is an interesting story but seems to lack much of the fear and impact that I expected (for example Cybermen without guns and what about a blood and gore conversion?). One hopes that the final two parter will be better and that the high quality is kept up throughout the series.

Letter to abort Interactive Arts degree

Below is the content of the letter that I have written to the staff at MMU highlighting my current dire situation:-

Dear Tony & Nick,

Re: My resignation from Interactive Arts

A lot of things have happened to me in the last month. Within a week of registration for the course my girlfriend has had problems with a stalker entering her property and ensuing problems with the police and her neighbours. This has caused her to become depressed and in need of constant support. As a result I have spent a lot of time with her in Leeds in the last 3 weeks. I have had to make the decision to spend time with her rather than concentrate on the course.

Until now, I have been unable to concentrate on my academic work and have been suffering from depression myself as a result of this adding to the pressure of doing so much work. For much of the last month I have not been thinking clearly or able to do much. I apologise for inconvenience caused in terms of the catalogue or show.

However, I feel that it is my procrastination with the Interactive Arts course from 2 years ago that has affected my motivation to complete it the most (otherwise I would have had the dissertation done for the autumn term and the studio diary done by Easter). My situation this term has been much more severe than it was 2 years ago and I believe that it is best to leave without completing the degree.

I am unsure as to whether I would be awarded a HND in Interactive Arts for completion of the first two years of the course or if I need to supply any further work. Also, I have not paid the fees or used any of the facilities in this time.

I do not want to take up any more of your precious time in this busy period and would like to wish you and all the students on the course good luck.

Yours Sincerely,

Timothy Stokes.

P.S. As an irony I will probably still do the studio diary and animation anyway for my portfolio and if I do interesting and competent follow on work I would like to visit the course to do presentations for future students

We live our lives again and again or NOT AT ALL

We do not or mostly do not remember our past lives. Either we have no recall whatsoever of living before (whether human, animal or alien) or we only have recall in fleeting glimpses (hypnosis, dreams or visions). Yet even those that can recall such events often have trouble with clarity and whether the experiences have happened, are imagined or are to happen.

If we have lived past lives since infinite time past (time in an absolute sense) then we would have been everyone and everything in the past and so on to the future. This depends upon the nature of time and of mind on higher dimensions (planes of existence). It depends specifically on whether mind (soul, consciousness, energy winds) are connected to the physical universe or are not when the brain ceases operation.

If connected to the universe then mind would be bound by spacetime and dimensionality to the point that repeated existence would occur only if the same conditions are repeated in the universe again or inside another universe where the physical structure is repeated. This would be like living the same life again and again. If the mind is not connected physically with the universe then it would be free to be reborn in a myriad of physical forms and non-physical forms. This is because there is depth of mind beyond physical matter and this mind would quite possibly obey different laws outside of spacetime.

Dharmic religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism believe in cyclic existence. We suffer continued birth, ageing and death since beginingless time. This process is usually in the lower (below human) realms and a major objective of these religions is to attain liberation from this continuous rebirth (renunciation). We live and die, live and die. We may live the same life in every cycle of the universe or not. We have no control over this unless the mind is trained to bypass the rebirth process altogether during and after dying. It is believed that this can be done through spiritual practice.

By looking at the curvature of space and time is there anything physical that can explain or refute repeating existence? It is mathematically possible to have a chance reoccurance of the same atomic configuration in two independant bodies in the same universe or in different identical universes. This is very unlikely unless space and time are infinite but bound by higher finite dimensions that can trigger duplicate (parallel) or oscillating universes. There are theories in cosmology and quantum gravity that could explain this. Maybe a higher level of maths is needed to solve such problems...

To Exist Forever Is HELL

To be alive for eternity without death is Hell. This is because there is no end to existence if you were to stay alive for all time.

Visualise becoming a member of a society in our universe that has developed the means to transcend death itself. As time passes - moment by moment, year by year, millennia by millennia more and more of what was has gone and there is less left in the universe (by definition from the thermodynamic arrow of time. Then in some finite but indeterminable point in the future, nothing else alive but the immortal - alone and without purpose. Forever is a time too long and being alive beyond endurance becomes not just a living Hell. It is the Hell of loneliness.

This applies to anyone and anything who reaches a point where death cannot be found through choice and which is bound by the four dimensions of space-time in a universe without end. This will also apply within universes and groups of universes where life is bound within multiple dimensions of space and time where time moves forward and there is no end to increasing chaos.

If the Devil granted a wish to become immortal it would be this kind of immortality that he/she/it would grant. It would be great at first but over time this boon would become more and more unbearable until eventually you would be screaming for it to end. Also, to be alive and conscious of everything everywhere instantaneously would still be Hell if there is no get out clause to die and no ability to forget oneself during existence.

It remains unclear to the human mind whether existing without any constraint is also Hell since the wish and act of dying would be available. Yet there is the possibility of reliving the same and/or different lives again and again regardless of the level of existence - human, Godlike or through Enlightenment. This may be the case where time in higher dimensions is non-linear or does not behave in the way it does in this universe. An ignorance of past life existence asks another question - do we cease to exist when we die?

Some Important Revelations

We all should be happy and enjoy this precious human existence. A new programme on TV about happiness and out quest for it indicates that this is becoming a major issue for us all in the UK, Europe and (hopefully) the world. Happiness cannot be found in wealth but by helping others and liking oneself. There are many ways to achieve this ranging from meditation and positive visualisation to helping others via working in the local community and developing better ways of improving life in the world.

A new way of thinking is being considered by governments. Tentative happiness policies are being suggested that would, if correctly managed, benefit us all at home, work and in the community. It is obvious that we are not happy through an increase in wealth or power. There is always a danger that if done poorly we will end up with a nanny state in extremis. Also, a police state would create more worry and paranoia because it would make people not trust each other or our government. We must be careful, very careful.

Also, there was a dramatisation of the Bradford Riots last night. This was a harrowing story of an asian family and community facing oppression from the national front and the police. So why did someone with no criminal record get 5 years in jail for throwing bricks at police? Was it because he was a scapegoat (deterent to others) or because of his race. Certainly none of the police he harmed were badly injured or killed.

What we need now is a capping on the control of the authoritative system in this (and other) countries. With our environment collapsing and reserves of oil and gas running out what we need is a non violent green revolution. This would involve a change in the way of thinking on all scales - local, national, and global. The question is - how do we do this? It could be done using the Internet (coordination of millions of like minded people) and through pressure groups, mass peaceful protests and a change in the way of thinking through the media (TV, papers, radio, online). Yet it is hard to envisage a change in attitude of those in comfortable jobs and living safe ignorant lives. It is true that if we do not make a massive effort to solve the problem now then the cost of solving it (and the suffering caused) is likely increase 10 fold (or more) each generation.

There may be no treatment for personality disorder. Our personality is set from childhood and can only be changed by sufferer. No drugs can do this (except for the odd lucky person who has a major reorientation through mind altering substances). It is not a mental health problem but one generated by the breakdown of family groups and the pressure of our fast and furious society. That vampire killer on TV (apparently found not to be schizophrenic) is labelled as a psychopath with personality disorder? For this he is sent to jail. Yet it appears that he was gullible and belived LeStat to be a real presence. Isn't this schizophrenia?

Can mankind ever explore the stars? Well maybe if we do not die in trying. Maybe our moon is needed for us to survive so those poor souls who try to colonise other worlds and other stars may go mad, become lunatics and die. Who knows unless we really try. First of all we need world peace.