Here again briefly, gone again

[The Apache people welcome a new-born boy into the world with the greeting "May he walk in beauty".]

Introduction

I'm 'Pattern-chaser', a middle-aged human male, Gaian Daoist, software architect, earring-wearer and armchair philosopher. I owe tribal loyalties to England1 and Cymru2, Great Britain and Europe, with due respect to the Celts, to whom I owe my surname.

Statistics-lovers may like to know that I have been loitering here on h2g2 since 26th May 2000. I returned in May 2013 after several years absence. smiley - ok

I have made a lifelong study of Interesting Things, including:

  • subjectivity smiley - artist and objectivity smiley - scientist
  • perception, consciousness and the unconscious mind
  • music smiley - musicalnote
  • nature smiley - peacedove and pantheism smiley - earth
  • design and creativity
  • the Old Gods (Adonis smiley - cool, Apis, Artemis smiley - moon, Attis, Eris smiley - flan, Fenris smiley - dog, Isis smiley - witch, Osiris smiley - skull...)
  • stories and legends; swords smiley - pirate and sorcery smiley - wizard
  • the Moon smiley - fullmoon

The Myth of 42

I am a true researcher. U131178: -13 -11 +78 = 54 = 42 (base 13), as in "what is six times nine?" smiley - winkeye

Researchers of note

See my list of friends (right at the very bottom of this page) for the names of some researchers I think are worth seeking out. Yes, they mostly participate in the Freedom from Faith Foundation, which is where I hang out most of the time. Anyone of any faith (including atheists) is welcome (but leave your dogma at the door smiley - winkeye); come and take a look! smiley - smiley

Interesting links

  • George Lakoff's views on various things, including religion. Lakoff has done a lot of work on metaphor and cognitive linguistics.
  • Review of "Religion Explained: The Human Instincts That Fashion Gods, Spirits and Ancestors" by Pascal Boyer.
  • "...how Subconscious Thoughts Cook on the Back Burner" by William H. Calvin.
  • "...happiness is not something that happens. It is not the result of good fortune or random chance. It is not something that money can buy or power command. It does not depend on outside events, but, rather, on how we interpret them. Happiness, in fact, is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated, and defended privately by each person." - Flow Experience
  • Predictive deduction is the name of a method described by Chris Lang to make decisions on a rational basis. Although his approach is quite different from mine, it is an interesting extension to my "What is reality?" journal entry, where I suggest that statistics could be extended to (perhaps) quantify the accuracy of our uncertain perceptions. See what you think.

Why 'Pattern-chaser'?

There are a number of different reasons why I chose my nickname, listed below, but mostly I chose it because I like the sound of it, and the image it evokes in my mind. smiley - winkeye

  • Within our brains, the nucleus accumbens and the anterior cingulate smiley - doh help us recognise patterns. Repetition and alternation are two of the most basic, and we respond to them automatically. We don't realise we're doing it, and we can't stop it any more than we can stop our hearts from beating. Human beings seek patterns. So, to some extent, "Pattern-chaser" is equivalent to "human" or perhaps even "Adam"! smiley - ok
  • Perhaps because of my Celtic ancestry smiley - huh, there's a 'tribal' feel to the name that attracts me.
  • In my profession - software design - 'software patterns' have been influential in recent years. Finding and using the right pattern(s) can be a key part of creating an elegant and successful design.

    • A parting shot

    "Live your life so the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long, and its purpose the service of your people.

    Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no living thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

    When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

    -- Tecumseh (1768-1813)

    Thanks for visiting. Please leave a message. smiley - smiley

    Pattern-chaser

    "Who cares, wins"

    1The land of my birth, and where I live now2Wales, the land where I grew up

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    Gone again

    Researcher U131178

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