Examining our cognitive circumstance

Sayings and idioms about intelligence frequently use light and brightness as a metaphor for a sharp mind.

• "Not the brightest bulb [in the box / chandelier]": A common idiom used to describe someone who isn't very clever or quick-witted.

• "Bright spark" or "bright cookie": Informal, often slightly cheeky ways to describe someone who is smart or clever.

• "Let your light shine": A phrase meaning to display your talents, intelligence, or positive qualities openly and confidently.

• "Sharp as a tack": Another classic way to describe a quick, keen intelligence, even if it doesn't use the light metaphor directly.

  

Here then is the analogy. The top image represents highest possible cognitive perception. The bottom image represents the lowest possible cognitive perception. 

Suggest that the top is a result of fusing of genetic material at conception, where there is only the slightest overlap of genetic code. The bottom represents the result of the worst case of inbreeding. 

If the toroid itself were perceived as the human mind, in the top image worldview and perception is looking outward. In the bottom image the worldview is inward. 

Relate this to the human mind, there are individuals with a perceived reality that is single-dimensional. There are other individuals where the human mind is capable of perceiving itself, from outside itself, therefore observing it's own cognitive ability. This would be demonstrated by the top image. The bottom image represents the mind only capable of single view perception.

Perhaps the top image represents what can be observed is a hyper inquisitive individual. Even from a distance their light shines very bright. The lower image is the individual, where you wonder, if anybody's home, did somebody forget to turn the light on.

Add into this mix, the perception that in nature, the firstborn would be the most robust genetically to continue the genetic branch. Perhaps as in a hive of bees, the first born would be the queen, all those born thereafter would be the workers for the community. That prevents extinction of a branch.

The lowest rung on the ladder, needs a faith, an ideology, a place to focus while they engage in a lifetime of toil supporting the community.

Society's Recalibration - Part 2

Yes we are in a time of change, exponential change as never before recorded in history. Why?

For the first time in recorded history we have instant global communication. Instant global communication between people regardless of geographical location, cultural, or ethnic identity. Cultural and ethnic class structures no longer manage communications and knowledge. Self-education is today possible for any individual. General knowledge and common knowledge are readily available on multiple platforms. Wealth, class or status are no longer the gatekeepers.

Over the past decade, a Christian denomination, has experienced a 70% decline. Just over a decade ago I heard a leader of an evening congregational meeting make the statement, "we are here to discuss, and try to understand, why 80 to 90% of our children leave faith within two years of attending higher education." These children were products of private Christian schools, raised family and community environment that had been repeated generation after generation. Parents and congregations were noticing for the first time, the intergenerational hereditary fabric no longer existed.

There has been an exponential decline over the past 15 years. These children are now well integrated as adults into the general population, many raising families of their own. The previous cornerstone anchor, "faith" simple no longer exists.

The societies perpetual hereditary cycle is no longer the default trajectory. We are observing an exponential increase by those identifying as having no faith or religious affiliation.

Institutions of higher learning where established by societies centered around their faith. Gradually the natural curiosity of our species produced individual's instrumental in establishing colleges outside of core theology. Many university campuses in today's world retain a College of  Theology, however no longer the controlling and governing foundation of the campus.

During this transitional period, we also observe extremism as never before. Why? Looking broadly across societies, perhaps this is a desperate attempt reestablish the hereditary hereditary social control of many centuries past. 

At the moment geopolitical power of many nations is held by senior elite members of society. The hereditary era can now be observed to be under threat, the upcoming generations no longer carrying a faith biased torch forward. Power structures of the past are imploding.

Theology is being recalibrated, to mythology. The previously asserted  unseen forces are systematically being replaced by knowledge and understanding - "faith" no longer required, because we know.

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The phrase "God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance" is a well-known quote by astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson.

The Society's Exponential Decline - Part 1

Have you noticed lately?  Social media hypes everything, people everywhere are easily triggered.  All types of media, everywhere sensationalized everything.

Photo by Nicholas Green on Unsplash

How did we get here?  Let's step back in history and have a look.  The probability that this began before where I am going to begin is highly likely.  It's just from this point in history, that it became institutionalized and strategic method which led to the expansion of Empire.

I'm speaking of the Greek/Roman times.  During this time in history Society adopted the practice of separating the children from the adults and placing them in community compounds.  The young boys raised in a communal environment of males.

This probably is the most obvious change in continental Europe's shaping of society.  What were the integral part?  Why Institute this practice?

It was an early method indoctrination, it resulted bonding and loyalties to other males.  We would describe this terms with team sports cultures.  The beginnings of toxic masculinity.  The natural bonding which takes place in a family atmosphere was replaced.

The natural atmosphere in a family environment, which produces bonding and early brain development was replaced.  The natural development chemistry was still there, but it did not conclude its purpose as expected.  It precipitated and altered early development in the child.  The chemistry instead resulted in the creation of understanding in the impressionable mind of dominance and authority.  An atmosphere of peer pressure, a stratified power environment that was male only.  This is significant because it replaced the natural development of collaboration and communication between the genders.  The male only environment internally structured the established hierarchy, by directing natural testosterone in the direction of sports and games.  The dopamine rewards reflected back by the group to further accelerate these traits.  Within the confines of the male compound habitation arrangement male toxicity became normal and the standard.  This eliminated the establishment and development of natural gender based compassion and empathy.  It simply did not exist!

Carrying this Western European social behaviour forward into the Roman era, it resulted formidable and ruthless male citizens of society utilized in the expansion of the nationstate Empire.  Leaders within the military structure of the Empire, through their exploits, were expected to bring home the most desirable females, which they found during their military conquests.  This mixture of military exploits, and the addition of genetic material into the general population, improved the future generations capabilities for conquest and expansion. The future generations resulted in higher cognitive abilities.  This resulted then in the future generations having higher cognitive abilities, and Empire expansion proceeded.

This coincides with the implementation of Christianity, the Roman empire as an established cornerstone of Catholicism.  This blend of structure within society allowed it to conquer and rule west central Europe.  In later centuries, colonialism spread Christianity throughout the continents.  What exists today is the major dominance of Catholicism in Brazil.  Just one example, but there are many others.

Our past decade, and proprietary, abuse, scandals.  Decades of attempts of these established power structures, to sweep it under the rug, bury it from the public record.  Nondisclosure agreements, substantial payments to victims.  No faith denomination is exempt from the colonial atmosphere of faith-based male power.  At all cost, protect the name and sanctity of the institution.  Individuals when caught, are denounced as outliers of their herd.  A slap on the wrist, and reassignment to another geographical location.

Look back over history and compare what we know how to do today, and how it relates to the gradual change in our species over the centuries.  Today we utilize our current understanding to shape life forms.  For hundreds of years we have changed mammals and plants, through selective breeding processes.  A process we reflect back on and called domestication.  This same process is being implemented and changed each forward generation due to gradual changes of accepted definition of society.  Gradually moving forward, where the desired result is power of the state, facilitated by the power of the faith-based structure.  Internally society through fear and coercion rewards cohesion over individual.  The faith assures this outcome.  Repetitive group conditioning, conditioning that assures the duplication and structure of power and hierarchy.  Individuality is the enemy of the institution.  Conformity, regardless of the social cost.  Higher degrees of conformity rewarded, social, dopamine running rampant by acceptance of the herd.  There is no need for external management.  The herd manages through reinterpretations of doctrine which cannot be questioned.  In many countries noncompliance to drop leads to public.  In more liberal countries, it isolates individuals, shunned.  A process of nonviolent conformity.

~to be continued

My Justification - "imposter syndrome"

Photo by Mark Farías on Unsplash

My opening thought, "If I never start, I've just proved that I'm a better procrastinator than you are."

Where are we going to go? If I never start, neither one of us will ever know, because there is nothing to evaluate the essence of "better". Is there such thing as a procrastination award? I doubt it!

Why these ramblings and all this silliness? Do different information sources this morning. A YouTube video, an article on a publishing platform.

In the video, it was mentioned that Michael Jackson's regret in later years was that he had not spent more time practising. Really? At his level of personal achievement, this was his personal assessment?

In the article that I read, your rationalization of your "imposter syndrome", the world as you see it. However, the contradiction mentioned, the world from your point of perception, you view the world as through a "keyhole". You build an image of your self, your capability, your experience, all that you have become; and then you decide that you are not qualified. Not qualified, and therefore you never start.

You set imaginary milestones for yourself, goals that are unrealistic. Unrealistic because when you begin you need to make mistakes and learn by your experience. Therefore, you hone your skill and become. However, you are not, at the first step, that you wish to become. That takes practice, practice takes effort. The majority of people fail to engage because they effort in the beginning is so overwhelming that they never start. The first step is to start. As I heard in the video, if you plan on writing, it's not how much you do at the session. What is important is that you began the session, even if you only wrote a single line of text.

So instead of being the perfect procrastinator, certain that I am better at procrastination then you, simply because I have the tenacity to never start. Now that makes a lot of sense! So here we are on the second published article, to begin again. To begin again, with the hope and intent of taking small steps and letting the big picture manifest itself. You cannot micromanage the big picture, if you haven't started, if there is no created output, there is nothing to micromanage. Perfectionist justification of "imposter syndrome".

This is been the last few minutes of talking into my laptop, Dragon NaturallySpeaking doing the work. I'll just leave it like this, not running it through a grammar checker and content advisors such as ProWriting Aid. Because I would like this article to be just a simple flow, as though I were speaking to you sitting across the table from me. Thank you for reading, will catch you on the next one!

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Behind the scenes of human social networks: understand more....

Thank you, stats show: All Time 87,468 - WOW!

Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

According to my page, June 2025 was the last article that I published. There is been a huge gap in my publishing of late, perhaps a couple of reasons why. First of all, we have all been in delayed state because of the global virus pandemic, that could account for five years. Second, I have been in a geographical area and part of two seniors groups. This has continued on a weekly basis for the past four years. So my attention has been diverted to weekly activities, and a sense of belonging. If for no other reason, then for something to do twice a week without much thinking or planning.

Maybe it's time to stop coasting, break away from a weekly routine and get back to investing my time in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. The present time realization that I have reached 87,468 on this platform is humbling and indicates a measure of significance. I mention that because many of us experience "imposter syndrome". Imposter syndrome, the feeling that we are never quite good enough to do what we want to do. Many never break free, maybe it's time to step back to realize that the statistics have meaning. So stop procrastinating and do something! One step at a time, it doesn't have to be every day, or every week. Maybe not even once a month, but at least take some steps and do something! Statistics show a reach of between 50 and 100 people on a daily basis. Wow! If that isn't incentive, I don't know what ever would be. Thank you to all of those who have dropped by to read my musings and ramblings.

Stats: 2026-02-22

All Time 87468 | Today 39|Yesterday 84 | This Month 1836 | Last Month 1627

Back in 2020, I created a Facebook page called: 20/20 In 2020

Well so much for that, he ended up with lockdown everywhere, so much for a fresh start and driving forward with enthusiasm. Things didn't get started, so it was not a matter of coming to a grinding halt. It just was the times we were in.

Simply put, there's simply no time like the present. One step at a time, get started at it now. There is no such thing as the significance of the time, it's just doing one small step in the moment. Since 2020 I have not stopped pursuing further understanding regarding human behaviour and social interactions. Always a never ending stream of suggested videos on YouTube. There are many that I have considered a value, and I've saved many in a public folder called "Behaviour".

Back in April 2022 I reached out in another direction and registered another domain, www.calibratemcompass.com. One of those times when you wake up in the middle of the night and think you have a good idea. Much time has passed, a landing page for the domain exists, with a few links that people may find interesting. 

2026, spring is just around the corner. Time to rethink, shuffle the deck, and make some changes. Stop going twice a week to the seniors groups. Stop making it a weekly habit, and just go occasionally. This article being the first step, by opening the laptop! All the self-study and research accomplishes nothing unless the information congeals to a better understanding, and therefore one step at a time, to write and publish.

Stepping aside from weekly habits, to be spontaneous in the moment, and just do something.

So today how is this happening? Well, because I'm a nerd with technology, I'm using what I have accumulated over almost 10 year period. Yes, it's been 10 years of #vanlife, I simply tell people I'm camping full-time. Sitting in the back stow n' go seat. The laptop sitting on a thrift store found lap table. The laptop plugged into 512W lithium power bank. Using a Walmart lapel microphone attached to an over-ear headset. Why? Because! Because I'm not typing any of this, I'm speaking into a piece of software that I purchased close to eight years ago at a significant discount because of a coupon. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Personal Professional Edition. I'm not in a hurry, you can't accuse me of procrastination, were only into our eighth year since I purchased the product, to be finally doing what I'm doing now. This is some kind of a sick joke? I have no idea, but there's no stress, no to do list. Sitting in my van, camping full-time, and talking to my laptop! Sounds like a plan? What plan? There is no plan, do what you feel like doing in the moment. There is no time like the present, and here we are now in the present moment taking a stab at writing. Writing? Well, talking while the laptop does the writing. It's not because I couldn't have my fingers on the keyboard and doing this, Once upon a time I typed 86 words a minute on manual Underwood typewriter in high school, after the mistakes were subtracted. It doesn't matter, if I can get words into a document, we are moving forward. Another tool, ProWritingAid with a lifetime licensed purchased at a discount probably two years ago now. Far more tools than most people would ever dream of, so today might be the day that I get something done. But don't count on it! Just because we got this far doesn't mean we can't have part of this contraption running two wheels on the soft shoulder, and get pulled back down into the ditch with a bout of procrastination!

If you stayed with me this far, thank you for reading. Stay tuned, paying closer attention to the platform statistics perhaps is the best incentive. Again thank you for reading this far.

/h

(I'm just going to publish this without running it through the grammar application.)

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2026-06-10
with "time" change happens

Reflection: 100 years April 18, 1928 - April 18, 2028

The following is to give you some insight.

The following is "copied" from my personal writing.
/h

_____________________________

Dedication: 100 years: April 18, 1928 - April 18, 2028

This begins a preamble and dedication after much procrastination and, well yes, many many months of procrastination.

The writing is dedicated is to (my Uncle)

Frederick Clarence Titman,

b. December 18, 1905;

d. April 18, 1928, age 23

100 years:  April 18, 1928 - April 18, 2028

My brother told me that, he had been told by our father, that Dad, when visiting a Meacham elderly resident, in the Humboldt hospital on his death bed. was given a confession; “I murdered your brother.”

This is intended to be a, read between the lines, from fragments of what I can recall from long ago things said, and more critical; conclusions arrived at, now in my senior years; turning 70 this summer. (2018).

We can never know the emotions experienced by those in our family over their lifetime. Hurt, grief, anger, rejection, and more...., all the human emotions that are available. People live to experience them all. Many never tell, perhaps due to medical circumstances, or just thinking it best not to tell. Think before you judge and choose to remember only the bad, which has upset and affected your life. They were not all bad, they carried grief too, and with the lens of alcohol, everything is magnified. 

Not until very late in his life did Dad know what happened to his brother, who Grandma Susan said had been his role model.

"This is your father's older brother, he was killed in an accident.Your father adored him, and followed him around like a little puppy." 

My father would have been 8 years old at the time.

2025 update:  Probably April 18th, 1960 Mom and Dad were seen talking about something. Shortly thereafter Mom came from my grandparents old house, on the hill in our yard. She had me try on a jacket that had been kept in the family trunk of keepsakes. I turned 12 that summer, the same age of my father when his brother was murdered. That summer I wore the moss green military jacket, that I now recognize from the picture above.

The following is a summary of our family and conclusions:

My grandfather left Devon England, lied about his age because he was too young, and ran away to fight in the Boer War in South Africa.  Our family is come to understand that he as living with and being raised by his aunt at the time he left.  After the Boer war, he came to Canada, married Susan, and later enlisted and fought in the first world war.

Reflecting back over my early childhood years, I do not recall our family attending church services, I do not recall the Bible being used in our home in any way.  My grandfather, having been raised in England, was the Anglican Church of England as religious affiliation. I have arrived at the conclusion, that because there was no religious indoctrination of any kind in my own childhood, that it is highly likely that my mother and father consciously proceeded on this path.  I also conclude that it is highly likely that my father and his siblings were brought up in the same manner, no religious indoctrination.

To further dive into these conclusions, I, first of all, make the assumption that my grandfather made his conscious decision, after coming to Canada from fighting in the Boer war, to no longer practice his Church of England, Anglican faith.  

I also assume that he made this conscious decision, after what he observed during his time in the Boer war of South Africa, if I may borrow the phrase, “leap of faith”, I will further conclude by my own non-participation in the Christian faith, that I am highly likely to be following in the footsteps in this regard, of my murdered uncle.

I conclude that my uncle was murdered for one of two reasons.  

The first that the perpetrator may have been jealous of in common pursuit of relationship interest.  

The second and more probable cause was that of adherence to religious conviction.  

Rural life during the 1920s and the KKK prevalence in community, had no tolerance for anyone that would question the existence of "the holy spirit", or be observed to be a non-participant in Christian social practices.

Through my investigation of that time, I have found that in the University Archives of Saskatchewan website, that during the 1920s, the KKK had their headquarters in Biggar, Saskatchewan. I have also been told by a close community member of the community, Colonsay, Saskatchewan was also a hotbed of white supremacist activity during the decade of his death. Murdered for not joining and participating in KKK events?

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"Change", become more....
www.calibratemycompass.com 

Your Simply Can’t

It's not your fault. There's nothing you can do about it. 

What am I talking about? I'm talking about you and your personal mental health. You need to step back; you need to analyze. But first, you need to be capable and understand your placement in society relative to those around you. Are you one of the crowd? Are you part of the social ambience that exists? If so, there's no need to read further. 

If you continued, you are different; you are reaching out perhaps, to know more. I don't have perfect answers. I only have my life experiences over the past 60 years. 

Perhaps I will begin with my conclusion of the day, and then work backwards through time, attempting to describe the circumstances that brought me to this place in time.

You are alone; you are alone and feel displaced, misplaced, rejected, along with any other descriptor to describe your emotional state. 

Let's flip this around: your personal circumstance is simply your uniqueness. This uniqueness is a sense of accomplishment, and you've made it this far. Others will see you as arrogant. It's simply their jealousy. Most people make involuntary responses at the moment. Their subconscious provides the context for their response. If they sense fear, the response will be defensive. Perhaps the most difficult thing to understand in this situation is that you are not at fault when faced with this emotional response. There is only one option: walk away, do not engage further.

To be continued…