things j.h.r.s. said: electricity and life after death
I've been enjoying the upswing out of early pregnancy depression and sloth and general malaise of the soul lately. About two weeks ago things finally started to look up. But the "morning" sickness - which was always most rotten at 8 pm our time which is of course 8 am Toronto time - sure went out with a bang. Two weekends ago I spent Sunday crying uncontrollably about absolutely nothing. Not alot of fun for someone who cries as infrequently as me (I save the big tears for epic tragic novels and heartwrenching movies). But since then, as I say, it's been getting better all the time. Last week I actually managed to go shopping for groceries after work!
Ji and I took a cab over to the fancy-pants grocery store near school, treated ourselves to ice creams, and then went shopping. In a fit of non-Thai food cravings I picked up fantastic tortilla chips and salsa, goose rillettes (instantly devoured at home by Phet and I in a matter of minutes), Danish havarti, tamarind yogurt, canned peaches, a tray of sushi, and to top it all off, two Bounty chocolate bars. I've never eaten Bounty bars before, but somehow I got it in my head that they were just what I wanted, so I picked them up.
By the time we got through the checkout I was thoroughly exhausted. I could barely make it through the 34' celsius parking lot and into a taxi. (As a side note, one really and truly great thing about Bangkok is that you can always get a taxi within a few minutes and they're cheap. This is VERY MUCH unlike KL where it can take half an hour to get a cab, and even on occasion if you're in a queue you can wait for an hour during the rainy season. In addition, the drivers are surly and often will not agree to take you where you want to go; they have certain areas they prefer and if you're headed somewhere else, tough luck, take the next taxi. Of course, the traffic is far lighter in KL so perhaps things even up in the end. I guess that at least in Bangkok you can sit in air con comfort while you while away the hours watching the smog roll out of the traffic jams).
Ji and I seated ourselves in the cab and on the ride home he asked me the following three questions. I ask you, internet, how can one tired mother answer these? Where oh where was Phet when I needed him?
Question 1: "How do you make electricity?"
Question 2: "Why are apples round, Mum?"
Question 3: "Can you still feel your spirit when you go to heaven or hell?"
My answers were: I don't know; I don't know but isn't it interesting that lots of fruit are round; and I don't know I guess it depends what kind of afterlife you believe in. If anyone out there (Deacon Dwyer?? Deacon Dwyer??) would like to offer more insightful responses, please please write to us at fixed address.
[Ji Hong-6-March-2006]
she's electric, she's from a family full of eccentrics
Emma helpfully provided me with the following information, which made it every so much more easy to explain the concept of electricity to Ji Hong. Please note that I am still waiting on further details about what the soul feels after death!
What is electricity? This question is impossible to answer because the word "Electricity" has several contradictory meanings. These different meanings are incompatible, and the contradictions confuse everyone. If you don't understand electricity, you're not alone. Even teachers, engineers, and scientists have a hard time grasping the concept.Obviously "electricity" cannot be several different things at the same time. Unfortunately we have defined the word Electricity in a crazy way. Because the word "electricity" lacks a distinct meaning, we can never pin down the nature of electricity. In the end we are forced to declare that there's no such stuff as "electricity" at all! Here's a quick example to illustrate the problem. Do generators make electricity? To answer this question, consider the household light bulb. In a lamp cord the charges (electrons) sit in one place and wiggle back and forth. That's AC or alternating current. At the same time, the waves of electromagnetic field move rapidly forward. The wave energy does not wiggle, instead it races along the wires as it flows from the distant generators and into the light bulb. OK, now ask yourself this: is an electric current a flow of "electricity?" If so, then we MUST say that the "electricity" sits inside the wires and vibrates back and forth. It does not flow forward. Next, ask yourself if electricity is a form of energy. If it's energy, then "the electricity" DOESN'T wiggle back and forth within the wires, instead it's made of EM fields and it races forward at high speed. But it cannot do both! Which one is "the electricity", the wiggling electrons, or the high-speed EM field energy? The reference books give conflicting answers, so there *is* no answer.Below are the most common meanings of the word Electricity. Which one do you think is right? Think about it carefully. If one of these meanings is correct, all the others must be wrong! After all, no "science term" must ever have several conflicting definitions. Unfortunately dictionaries and encyclopedias have all of these contradictions. (Click the links to find out more about each one.) 1. The scientist's definition: "Electricity" means only one thing: it's the electrons and protons, the electric charge.
Electricity is a mysterious incomprehensible entity which is invisible AND visible BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. Also, it's both matter and energy. It's a type of low-frequency radio wave which is made of protons. It is a mysterious force which looks like blue-white fire, and yet cannot be seen. It moves forward at the speed of light... yet it vibrates in the AC cord without flowing forwards at all. It's totally weightless, yet it has a small weight. When electricity flows through a light bulb's filament, it gets changed entirely into light. Yet no electricity is ever used up by the light bulb, and every bit of it flows out of the filament and back down the other wire. College textbooks are full of electricity, yet they have no electric charge! Electricity is a class of phenomena which can be stored in batteries! If you want to measure a quantity of electricity, what units should you use? Why Volts of electricity, of course. And also Coulombs of electricity, Amperes, Watts, and Joules, all at the same time. Yet "electricity" is a class of phenomena; it's a type of event. Since we can't have an AMOUNT of an event, we can't really measure the quantity of electricity at all... right?Does my description above sound stupid and impossible? You're right. It is. The word "electricity" has contradictory meanings, and I'm trying to show what happens when we accept more than one meaning. Electricity is not both slow and fast at the same time. It is not both visible and invisible. Instead, approximately ten separate things have the name "electricity." There is no single stuff called "electricity." ELECTRICITY DOES NOT EXIST. Franklin, Edison, Thompson, and millions of science teachers should've had a long talk with Mrs. McCave before they decided to give a variety of independent science concepts just one single name. Mrs. McCave was invented by Dr. Seuss. She had twenty three sons. She named them all "Dave." Whenever we ask "WHAT IS ELECTRICITY," that's just like asking Mrs. McCave "WHO IS DAVE?" How can she describe her son? There can be no answer since the question itself is wrong. It's wrong to ask "who is Dave?" because we are assuming that there is only one Dave, when actually there are many different people. They all just happen to be named Dave. Who is Dave? Mrs. McCave cannot answer us until she first corrects our misunderstanding. For the same reason, we will never find a simple answer to the question "what is electricity?" because the question itself is wrong. First we must realize that "electricity" does not exist. There is no single thing named "electricity." We must learn that, while several different things exist in wires, people wrongly all of them by a single name. So never ask "WHAT IS ELECTRICITY". Instead, discard the word "electricity" and instead use the correct names for all the separate phenomena. Here are a few of them: |
Electricity is a property of matter that results from the presence or movement of electric charge. Together with magnetism, it constitutes the fundamental interaction known as electromagnetism. Electricity is responsible for many well-known physical phenomena such as lightning, electric fields and electric currents, and is put to use in industrial applications such as electronics and electric power.
According to Thales of Miletus, writing 600 BC, a form of electricity was known to the Ancient Greeks who found that rubbing fur on various substances, such as amber, would cause a particular attraction between the two. The Greeks noted that the amber buttons could attract light objects such as hair and that if they rubbed the amber for long enough they could even get a spark to jump.
An object found in Iraq in 1938, dated to about 250 BC and called the Baghdad Battery, resembles a galvanic cell and is believed by some to have been used for electroplating.
There has been speculation that an object shown in carved reliefs at the temple of Dendera was an electrical device - the so-called Dendera light - although there is no archaeological evidence to support this.
Electric charge is a property of certain subatomic particles (e.g., electrons and protons) which interacts with electromagnetic fields and causes attractive and repulsive forces between them. Electric charge gives rise to one of the four fundamental forces of nature, and is a conserved property of matter that can be quantified. In this sense, the phrase "quantity of electricity" is used interchangeably with the phrases "charge of electricity" and "quantity of charge." There are two types of charge: we call one kind of charge positive and the other negative. Through experimentation, we find that like-charged objects repel and opposite-charged objects attract one another. The magnitude of the force of attraction or repulsion is given by Coulomb's law.The electric potential difference between two points is defined as the work done per unit charge (against electrical forces) in moving a positive point charge slowly between two points. If one of the points is taken to be a reference point with zero potential, then the electric potential at any point can be defined in terms of the work done per unit charge in moving a positive point charge from that reference point to the point at which the potential is to be determined. For isolated charges, the reference point is usually taken to be infinity. The potential is measured in volts. (1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb) The electric potential is analogous to temperature: there is a different temperature at every point in space, and the temperature gradients indicate the direction of heat flows. Similarly, there is an electric potential at every point in space, and its gradient in the electric field indicates where charges move.
An electric current is a flow of electric charge, and its intensity is measured in amperes. Examples of electric currents include metallic conduction, where electrons flow through a conductor such as a metal wire, and electrolysis, where ions (charged atoms) flow through liquids. The particles themselves often move quite slowly, while the electric field that drives them propagates at close to the speed of light. See electrical conduction for more information.
Devices that use charge flow principles in materials are called electronic devices.
A direct current (DC) is a unidirectional flow, while an alternating current (AC) reverses direction repeatedly. The time average of an alternating current is zero, but its energy capability (RMS value) is not zero.
Ohm's Law is an important relationship describing the behaviour of electric currents, relating them to voltage.
For historical reasons, electric current is said to flow from the most positive part of a circuit to the most negative part. The electric current thus defined is called conventional current. It is now known that, depending on the conditions, an electric current can consist of a flow of charged particles in either direction, or even in both directions at once. The positive-to-negative convention is widely used to simplify this situation. If another definition is used - for example, "electron current" - it should be explicitly stated.
An electric shock is usually painful and can be lethal. The level of voltage is not a direct guide to the level of injury or danger of death, despite the common misconception that it is. A small shock from static electricity may contain thousands of volts but has very little current behind it due to high internal resistance. Physiological effects and damage are generally determined by current and duration. Even a low voltage causing a current of extended duration can be fatal. Ohm's Law directly correlates voltage and current for a given resistance; thus, for a particular path through the body under a particular set of conditions, a higher voltage will produce a higher current flow.With sufficiently high current there can be a muscular spasm which causes the affected person to grip and be unable to release from the current source. The maximum current that can cause the flexors of the arm to contract but that allows a person to release his hand from the current's source is termed the let-go current. For DC, the let-go current is about 75 mA for a 70-kg man. For alternating current, the let go current is about 15 mA, dependent on muscle mass.
It is strongly recommended that people should not work on exposed live conductors if at all possible. If this is not possible then insulated gloves and tools should be used. If both hands make contact with surfaces or objects at different voltages, current can flow through the body from one hand to the other. This can lead the current to pass through the heart. Similarly, if the current passes from one hand (especially the left hand) to the feet, significant current will probably pass through the heart.
Also, remember there can be a voltage potential between neutral wires and ground in the event of an improperly wired (disconnected) neutral, or in the event of an uncorrected high current condition.
Current electrical codes in many parts of the world call for installing a residual-current device (RCD or GFCI, ground fault circuit interrupter) on electrical circuits thought to pose a particular hazard to reduce the risk of electrocution. These devices work by detecting an imbalance between the hot and neutral wires. In other words, if more current is passing though the hot wire than is returning though its neutral wire, it assumes something is wrong and breaks the circuit.
Where live circuits must be frequently worked on (e.g. television repair), an isolation transformer is used. Unlike ordinary transformers which raise or lower voltage, the coil windings of an isolation transformer are at a 1:1 ratio which keeps the voltage unchanged. The purpose is to isolate the neutral wire so that it has no connection to ground. Thus, if a technician accidently touched the hot chassis and ground at the same time nothing would happen.
Neither ground fault circuit interrupters nor isolation transformers can prevent electrocution between the hot and neutral wires. This is the same path used by functional electrical appliances. However, most accidental electrocutions, and especially those not involving electrical work and repair, are via ground -- not the neutral wire.
The plumbing system in a home or other building is connected to ground through its metal pipes. Contrary to popular belief, water is not a good conductor of electricity. However, it does allow more current to flow than the (dry) human body does. Thus, being in the bath or shower will not only ground oneself to return path of the power mains, but lower the body's resistance as well. Under these circumstances, touching any metal switch or appliance that is connected to the power mains could result in electrocution. While such an appliance is not supposed to be hot on its outer metal switch or frame, it may have become so if a hot bare wire or metal part is accidently touching it inside. More use of plastics (which won't conduct electricity), grounding of appliances, and mandatory installation of ground fault circuit interrupters have greatly reduced this type of electrocution over the past few decades.
The recommended first aid for someone who had received a severe electrical shock has three major components
2. Make sure the victim is no longer in contact with the electrical current source. Turn off all power if this can be done quickly.
3. Check for breathing and heart beat and apply cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary
Electric shock is sometimes used as a punishment in novelty games such as Lightning Reaction, Shocking Roulette, Shocking Liar, Laser Shock Guns, and Shocking Tanks. In addition to these games, there are some prank toys like a fake pen or a chocolate which give out a mild shock.
weekus horribilus
Ok, I haven't suffered from any actual tragedies this past week. Everyone is safe, fine, well, all digits are still attached, no one's reported any deathly snowblower accidents, haven't gotten any dramatic and depressing news about a potential aneurisym lurking in my brain, the apartment's still standing, we've all had sufficient food and water, no one's been tossed summarily into jail without a trial. But...
Jeez I had a rotten week.
Ji and I both got sick last weekend. Well, actually, first Sloane was ill with an ongoing tummy upset and had to go to the children's clinic on Friday night. Then on Saturday and Sunday Ji and I hit rock bottom. He got a series of high fevers and a sore throat, and I got an awful sore throat accompanied by many aches, pains, and head-crushing brain aches. Phet took Ji to the clinic and came back with penicillin and six other medications. I had to make to do with the old standby of tea in lieu of all those fabulous pills out there due to the whole pregnancy bonanza. Then, delightfully enough, I dusted out our room on Sunday and was treated to a walloping, galloping, rampaging allergy attack which rendered me incapable of breathing for most of Sunday night. Ji and I mercifully took Monday off school but then had to head back on Tuesday. As a Don Martin cartoon in Mad Magazine would say: YECCCCCCHHHHH.
Ji conked out in the nurse's office twice, and I had to go there and sleep for an hour and a half on my break time due to an inability to stand up. Ji's lingering illness rendered him utterly miserable and grumpy. Oh, the two of us were just delightful. I actually had FIVE of my colleagues ask me, "Thaba, are you okay?" Sure, fine, just trying out the latest death-warmed-over styles. The icing on the chocolate brownie came on Thursday when I lost my voice. Hm, well, for some jobs that might not be so bad. Uh, computer programmer. Weaver. Assembly-line worker. Librarian. Honey-gatherer. However, for teachers the loss of one's voice is debilitating. I somehow used my last smidgen of energy to turn it all into one big, fun game and entertained my kids by writing everything on a foot-and-a-half by half-a-foot whiteboard that I carried around all day. It was actually pretty cool; the noise levels in both my classes dropped astoundingly which was very helpful for my poor head.
Oh, and I forgot to mention: all my exams were due this week! Hurrah!
Well, the good news is that I'm on the mend, Ji's doing fine, Sloane's great, and hopefully it'll stay that way for the weekend. Ashley and Sloane are headed back to Canada on Sunday, so I've been hoping for even just one day of good health to go pick up a farewell gift or two and help them get ready for the journey ahead. And here's hoping that the next time they come and stay with us they don't have to endure hanging out with someone going through 7 weeks of morning sickness induced malaise followed by a week of dreadful illness.
On a lighter note, some words from the wise have filtered through to fixed address. Here are Aunt Theresa's and Mum's responses to Ji's spirit-question (please note that Mum's has been appended from messenger, thus its poetic stylz):
Although I'm not uncle Phil, [Thanks heavens, one is enough! -Ed] I will try to respond to Ji Hong's question.
Dear Ji Hong,
One of the great mysteries of the world is what happens after we die. It is difficult to answer the question because everyone believes different things but I will share with you what I believe.
I believe that God made each of us as individuals giving us the choice of how to think and what to believe. I think each of us decides what our lives will be and we live according to our decisions. Some people are so poor that they only have the time and the energy to hunt for something to eat so it is up to the rest of us to try to help them so they will also have to time to make the choices that you and I make every day.
We also have the time to think of what comes after we die and we should choose what to believe only after a lot of thinking. I have thought about this a lot and I believe that because God made each of us and loves each of us, he wants the essence (or spirit or soul) of every one of us to have what we need after death.
So I believe that you get to choose that as well, I think that if you want to feel your spirit when you are in heaven then you will. And I believe that you will feel your spirit to the extent that you wish and nothing more.
I hope that helps. I would be happy to respond to any questions that come out of this but I want you to always remember that these are my beliefs and not necessarily truths.
I love you, Ji Hong. Auntie T.
And from Mum:
When all the spirits of our friends are up in heaven
they are all so excited to see their long lost family and friends
that they dance around
this causes electricity
which then
flows into the trees, including apple trees, which then cause the apples to swell with pride, that's why they're round
Thank goodness these ladies are around to provide guidance for my young whippersnapper! They rule.
[Ji Hong-10-March-2006]
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