cf. thoughts

What is Hard Work ? We should first tackle what it means to work. We might consider work to be anything that is in some way productive . Productivity is basically every step in the process of reaching some goal, as long as that goal requires some amount of effort. In order to maintain a reasonable definition for work, we have to include a minimum level of effort as a means of precluding trivially simple tasks. This, of course, creates the problem of having to decide what the theoretical minimum work effort ought to be, but I don't think we can directly measure effort anyway, so we will keep it vague. As humans, our entire psychology is based on an inherent hierarchy of values that guides our behaviour. As an example, when you are hungry, the prime concern becomes finding food and making yourself something to eat. Since this process involves obtaining and preparing food, the process of meal preparation can be considered a productive endeavour. (Perhaps in the age of microwave

The Frugal Person's Dream Purchase I'm frugal. People I'm close to like to make fun of me for it. But despite this reputation, there are a few things I would never bat an eye to buy. The item at the top of my list is sure to turn some heads, but you're going to have to trust me on this one; I promise it's life-changing. This one item isn't anything big or luxurious, and it isn't even very expensive (although I'm sure there are luxury versions out there). It's a product that I've used every single day since I brought it home and installed it. What is this mysterious and wonderful device? It's a bidet. Basically, it's a sprinkler for cleaning your bum when you go to the washroom. How on Earth is that so revolutionary? Isn't it gross? Don't you get all wet and drippy? Isn't it expensive? I will gladly answer all of these questions with intense enthusiasm because I simply can't recommend these things enough. Bidets are

Myths and Symbols Let me start by saying that I've been very interested in symbology lately. I am at a point where I am pretty convinced that we have evolved to share a common framework for understanding reality that is heavily based upon narratives. We know of all the archetypal stories of good versus evil, of the great king and his usurping brother, of the dutiful warrior, the loving mother, and the wicked witch. We are drawn to these stories so strongly that Disney is now one of the largest companies in the world. In addition, religious artists have created iconic images, rich with symbolism and meaning, that can evoke powerful feelings when viewed with an open mind. Symbols, myths, and folklore are endlessly entertaining and enthralling. They are creations that capture our shared human nature and experience and remind us of who we are. The Tree of Life Within the context of this new-found appreciation for the classic myths and symbols of the world, I came up with a mathema

Hope for Housing CBC News recently released an article titled It's next to impossible to pay the rent working full time for minimum wage, new report calculates . In this post, I will analyse the evidence to see why the data referenced by the CBC does not corroborate their click-bait title and conclusions. The Problem with Averages First off, they link rental information from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), which provides access to annual data of average apartment and townhouse prices throughout metropolitan centres in Canada (limited to populations 10,000+). There are several issues with providing only average values. One large problem is that averages are susceptible to skewing from outliers; a small number of very expensive apartments can significantly inflate the averages. A more instructive measure of centre is the median, as its value is robust even with the existence of outliers. Furthermore, they include no measure of spread, or var

How Discipline Can Set You Free People either love or hate the word "discipline". If you hate it, it's probably because you know there are plenty of ways you could and should improve your life situation, but you haven't (yet) implemented them. You may resent people who have succeeded in applying some common sense life tips because you feel like a failure in comparison. If you love the word "discipline", you too see that there are many ways to improve, and you are eager to learn and start applying some fruitful tactics in your own life. My goal in today's post is to encourage the haters to become lovers, and the lovers to become haters. Wait... Cornerstones of Discipline First, let's start with what discipline is. Discipline essentially boils down to doing the things we ought to do, regardless of our immediate feelings toward them. Health Everyone already knows the foundations of how to live a healthy and happy life, but sometimes we deceive ours

Most of us think we are fully aware of ourselves and our surroundings. "How could I live if I weren't aware?" some may ask. In all likelihood, much of our lives are on autopilot, and worst of all, most of our thoughts are, too. One of the easiest illustrations of not being aware is to remember the last time you drove on a long stretch of highway. If you don't drive, think about the last time you stared out of a car window. The white lines and endless asphalt whiz by around you and effectively hypnotize you  into a state of unconsciousness. When I say "unconsciousness", I don't mean being asleep or sedated, I mean that the mind is not aware of its own thoughts. Reactions become automatic, and persistent thoughts, often negative, run amok uncontested. Road rage can flare, sometimes even in people that are normally calm and composed. Trying to remember what happened in the last 20 minutes, all you can think of is the road and maybe a vehicle you've be

Luc Larocque is a Canadian mathematician who has rediscovered his passion for philosophy. He has also been thinking about spirituality and how that ties into issues present in modern times, and he seeks to confer with the world at large about his thoughts. cf. thoughts The name for this blog was chosen to reflect just how much that little acronym, cf , pertains to rational discourse. The slogan is based on one of the many apt definitions of confero , the latin word we abbreviate as cf . See  wordsense  for a complete list of these incredibly fitting definitions. I also knew I wanted to write about c om f ort(ing) thoughts  and how difficult it can be to tackle one's own beliefs, which seemed like a good theme to keep as a backdrop to many of my posts.