The Time Paradox: The Guide to Headache City

   The idea of time travel has always fascinated me. The ability to experience the past, our history; and the chance to see the future, what will someday be present reality. Man has dreamt of this possibility for hundreds of years, and the various literary works of the 1800's to present day display this. Scientists have long theorized at the possibility of time travel and have unofficially decided that travel to the past would never be possible, but time travel to the future might be. Still, this doesn't stop filmmakers, authors, and artists from exploring various types of time-travel stories. To me, the most interesting part of time travelling is the time paradox theory. Let me describe what a time paradox is.

   A time paradox (temporal paradox) is a theoretical paradoxical situation that is created due to time travel. For example, the grandfather paradox:

    A man goes back in time in order to kill his grandfather before the grandfather has any biological descendant. If the traveler were to succeed, either his mother or father would exist. In consequence, he would not exist as well. Thus, he would not be able to travel back in time in the first place (because he no longer exists) and his grandfather would  live and have a child who would  become the currently non-existent traveler's parent. In this way, the time travel would now exist again, and be able to go back in time to kill his grandfather. This would restart the situation. If the time traveler were to fail to kill his grandfather, however, the grandfather would still exist, produce offspring and eventually the time traveler would be born and the whole scenario starts over.

   It's in this way that we come to a paradox. The situation just keeps restarting itself. It's an infinite loop to nowhere.



   The purpose of the time paradox is to argue the impossibility of time travel. There are many theorized solutions, however. Below, I will highlight a few. They all suggest ways in which time travel could still be possible because the timeline avoids looping into infinity.

•  The Multiple Universe Solution.

This theory suggests the possibility of multiple universes, infinitely created whenever someone travels back in time. The example here is as follows: Were you to travel back in time to kill your grandfather before he had any descendants, an alternate identical universe would be created. Therefore if you successfully eliminated your grandfather, he would be dead in Universe 2 as would you be. But once you returned to your own time, you would be back in Universe 1, thus you'd still be alive. So you're dead in U2, but alive in U1.

• The Timeline Protection Solution.

This theory states that the time line would protect itself, thus protecting the universe from a paradox. This means that, no matter what a time traveler does, he would not be able to do anything to change the timeline. Back to the grandfather paradox. If the traveler were to attempt to kill his grandfather, time would have him fail. His gun would jam, be in the wrong place at the wrong time, be caught and thrown in jail, etc.

• The Novikov Self-consistency Principle.

This particular principle details a timeline which does not allow for a paradox because it defines a hypothetical scenario where nothing can be done to change time, because whatever happens must already have been part of the past. For example, say I went back in time to before the atomic bomb had been developed and gave Oppenheimer the plans to build one. Nothing would change. Because this has been a part of history all along. And if I went to kill my grandfather, I would fail for some reason; gun jammed, wrong time/place, etc. This part of the principle is similar to the Timeline Protection Solution.

• The Butterfly Effect.

This solution protects the universe from a time paradox, but that's all it protects it from. The butterfly effect is described as a physical effect on math, weather, and even time where a small change in the root definition of the subject grows exponentially to be a huge change to the original subject. This is easier said with an example. A man travels back in time to the 1940's, simply lights a cigarette, smokes it, then leaves. When he returns to 2012, he finds that the United States is now known as the United Communist Republic, we have a dictator, and he is a fugitive on the run from the law. In this example we see how one tiny change to the fabric of time (smoking a cigarette) can hugely change the rest of the world. And the farther back in time you travel, the larger the changes are to the present time. For another entertaining example of the butterfly effect, read Ray Bradbury's A Sound of Thunder in which an actual butterfly causes the butterfly effect.


   These are just a few of the many solutions to the time paradox. As of right now, we don't actually even know if time travel is possible, but someday it might be. When that happens we will need to be prepared. We will need to know what we are doing. When time travel is possible, we'll need a Guide to Headache City. Hopefully the one you just read will do. But until we have a definite yes or no on the possibility of time travel, we will continue to dream. Of the past. Of the future.

Why I Love My Country-Part 4: In God We Trust

   God is important to me. If you've been reading this blog for more than a few posts back, you probably already have noticed this. God is important to me for many reasons, most prominent being that He is the reason I am here today. He is my Father, my Creator, and my King. I owe Him everything.

   Because God gives me all that I need, I have consequently come to trust in Him and His ways. As long as I work hard and worship and respect Him, He will reward me with what I need. This is what God does and will do for all of us. The Founding Fathers, and those who came after, realized this. That is why our government is set upon the Bible, which is God's word and teachings. In God We Trust.

   The Constitutional Convention saw that is was necessary to separate government from religion. But they also saw it was needed to found our country upon God's word. They literally set our country's foundation upon our Lord. This is the largest part of why I love my country. Respect for God is fundamental in making a success out of a country. God rewards those who deserve it.

   Some people might say that the U.S. isn't very religious. I do not hold this to be true. A 2003 joint poll by USA Today, CNN, and Gallup showed that 90% of Americans support the inscription "In God We Trust." This is but one example of the American people showing their belief in something beyond this Earth. I know that not everybody believes in God, but it is my opinion that with witness, we can spread God's word even further than it already has been. The United States of America has been so successful for so long ( 236 years...) because of its founding on God. He has rewarded us, and will continue to do so as long as we respect Him, love Him, and trust in Him.

   So, now you know how I feel about my country, as well as why. I said in the first post of this blog series that I take great pride in my country. These are the three main reasons. America may not be perfect, but its close. She's a land of opportunity, with a hard-working military, and in God she trusts. She's the land of the free, kept safe by the brave. God bless her evermore. Her stars and stripes watch over us, ever may they wave. She's the land of the free and the home of the brave. May God bless her forevermore.

~Ian James~

To read the previous posts of this blog series, click on the links below:

Why I Love My Country-Part 1: Introduction. http://julyburnsred.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-i-love-my-country-part-1.html

Why I Love My Country-Part 2: Land of Opportunity. http://julyburnsred.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-i-love-my-country-part-2-land-of.html

Why I Love My Country-Part 3: The Military.  http://julyburnsred.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-i-love-my-country-part-3-military.html





5 Surefire Ways to Win A Sibling Argument

   Every house has sibling arguments, no exceptions. I know this from experience. Its inevitable that you won't agree with everything your brother(s) or sister(s) say(s). Sometimes it'll be something legitimate, like whether or not your brother should be flipping knives around in the kitchen. But we all know that sometimes (okay, most of the times) it'll be something ridiculous like whether or not cats always land on their feet, or over who's fault it is that the house is a mess. Like I said before, I know how it is. Its foolish to think that siblings would get along perfectly. I'm sure that there are a select few that get along with almost no arguments, but most of us aren't that way. And, if you're like me, winning the argument is important. It could be a situation of life or death; whether or not you get taken apart when dad comes home from work. Thus, winning that argument might allow you to live to see another day. If you are interested in knowing how to come out on top in any argument with a sibling, read on to discover the 5 Surefire Ways to Win A Sibling Argument.

   1) Use Your Age To Your Advantage...
   This is an important first step to successfully convincing your brother or sister that they are wrong and you are right. If you are older than they are, use that to your advantage by saying stuff like "I didn't get to 12th grade by not knowing how to multiply!" or "I'm four years older than you! Do you honestly believe that I don't know what I'm talking about?" And if you are younger, there are still ways for you to pull weight that way. For example, try to act innocent, or play dumb/ignorant of the rules... Stuff like that.

   2) Remember Everything Your Mother Says Concerning The Rules...
   My younger siblings have an annoying knack for remembering my mother's exact words concerning various things and they are able to easily use this as leverage over me in order to convince me to share my personal stuff with them. I still haven't figured out to use this to my own advantage and have it backfire on them, but I'm working on it.

   3) Reference The Commandments...
   If possible, reference the commandments.
"The commandments say not to hit, and that's exactly what you just did!"
But be careful... Things can get thrown back in your face REAL fast.
"You hit me first..."
 See what I mean?

   4) Involve Another Sibling As A Witness...
   Get another sibling involved, if you have one, as a witness. They can often tip the argument scales in your favor. Just be careful that they don't switch sides, and help your opponent.

   5) When In Doubt, Blame Someone Else...

                                                             It works.

   With these five guidelines, you will be empowered with the ability to win any argument with any sibling. Use this ability wisely. By the way, results are guaranteed to work on a sibling, however, this guarantee is not valid when used on parents. Hmmm... Maybe I'll have to write guidelines on how to win an argument with parents. Nope. Forget it. A child never wins an argument with a parent.

~Ian James~

Why I Love My Country-Part 3: The Military

Three years ago, my father announced to the family that he was joining the Army. In that instant, my life was hugely changed. Two years later, here I sit in South Korea. Traveling in the military is not a privilege everyone can enjoy, but I have been lucky enough to have that experience. I have, through my father, experienced the Army life first hand. As a soon-to-be-high-school graduate, I am looking to go enlisted in the Army myself. To say that I am proud in my country's military is almost an understatement. Words cannot describe it adequately. I know that saying that might sound odd, but I write it in all honesty.

  

   The Army, created June 14, 1775, has survived over 200 years as a successful branch of the military. The Army itself employs around 1,129,275. I do not have the experience nor the time to include all the other branches of the military, therefore, for simplicity's sake, I will only detail the Army. But I know enough of the other branches to recognize their sacrifice for their country. And that is where my pride stems from. Millions of men and women, leaving their regular day-in-and-day-out lives to instead put those same lives on the line to protect people they have never met. The military is a profession that certainly deserves a lot of respect. I think that sometimes we as Americans take our soldiers for granted. Even if they aren't deployed, they are still working hard to keep our country safe and secure. Most countries have their own organized militaries, but ours stands out. For several reasons. We protect not only our own country, but aid other countries as well, the most notable being South Korea. There are those who would say that this makes the United States look nosy and bullying. Maybe this is true a little bit, but I think its important that we help those who need it. If we have the ability to help, we should.

   When I got the idea to write this series, I was thinking of the top three reasons that make me so proud of my country, and I almost overlooked the military. But once I thought long and hard about it, I realized just how important the Army is in my life. I've enjoyed experiencing the Army second-hand so much, that I want to become a part of it. I want to protect and defend my country from the terrorism of groups in the Middle East, and from the Communism of North Korea. I would be ready and willing to give up my life at a moments notice; and, while that's slightly gruesome, I mean it. The United States is a part of my family, and I feel that it's important to keep my family safe. I will continue to be proud of our military; I will continue to be proud of our country.

~Ian James~

Why I Love My Country-Part 2: Land of Opportunity and Freedom

   As humans, having 'stuff' is important to us. I admit to being this way; my guitar is very important to me. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; at least, not on the offset, anyway. If you are obsessed with your stuff, then maybe it's time to spend some more time caring about people. To have stuff, though, you need money, right? And, unless you just inherited a bunch of money from your Great-Uncle Chester and Great-Aunt Bessie, you have to work in order to have money. Now, in a third-world country, jobs and, by extension, money are hard to come by. But in America, even with our 'end-of-the-world' unemployment rate, there are jobs out there for everyone. They just may not always be easy to find. So, we are much more lucky than a lot of other countries out there. That's definitely something to be grateful for.

   America is the Land of Opportunity. It's the land of HD-flat-screen TV's, which I have nothing against. It's the land of drive-through and fast-food. It's the land of iPods, iPhones, and Ikeas. In America, very few things are in short supply. I'm hard-pressed to think of any. The rich get richer, and if the poor are smart, they get richer too. This doesn't necessarily mean that life is rosy for everyone, but for the most part, it is. America. It's the land of a strong military; life with which I've experienced firsthand. It's the land of Wal-mart and Target. It's the Land of Opportunity.

   You have to realize that opportunity goes beyond having physical stuff. It goes beyond having a job. There is one big thing, as Americans, that we have. This thing should be our most prized possession. You may be thinking freedom, and if you are, you are indeed correct. Our Freedom is our most valuable component. It makes America what it is. The United States wouldn't be half of what it is without our freedom. Our religious, our political, our personal freedom. It's certainly something we take for granted, maybe not all the time, but every once in a while for sure. I am honestly bursting with pride as I write this. I just keep thinking how I would be a totally different person, living in a totally different country if, all those years ago, the Founding Fathers did not set this country atop Freedom's Hill. The countries which share this beautiful hilltop town with us number few, and none shine so brightly as we do. Of course, there is a downfall to shining brightly, as it attracts attention, but not all attention is bad. May we shine so brightly for much, much longer.

   In the Land of Opportunity, I can thrive. I am able to grow as I should, without unnecessary restraint, without unnecessary regulation. Instead, I roam freely, not hindered by monarchies or Communist regimes. I am protected by the Stars and Stripes, along with Her appointed leadership. Sometimes, to protect Freedom, there must be war, but She never seeks it. Today, I am safe; tomorrow, I will be safe. I am grateful for what I have been given, and I hope to one day pay Her back. Just recognizing all that she has done for me is a step in that direction. May America stay strong and continue to enjoy the Freedom it has worked so hard to protect and defend.

~Ian James~

Movie Review: The Passion of the Christ

   Today, I am reviewing Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. This is a difficult movie to review for several reasons, but I will do my best. This Friday is Good Friday, the day which marks Jesus' death upon the Cross. The Passion of the Christ is the perfect movie to be watched on Good Friday night. It reminds us of Christ's sacrifice that we might have eternal life with Him in Heaven.

   The story of Christ's Passion is obviously taken from the Bible, so the story itself is not tampered with. Screenplay is well put together, and the lines flow well. The entire movie is set in Aramaic and Latin with English subtitles, which gets points for artistic originality. The costumes are well done, and as far as I know, true to the period. Directing is good, camera positions are well set up. Over all, aesthetically, the movie gets about 4 out of 5 stars.

   Some points to note are the 'R' rating. Definitely, this movie is not something to share with kids under the age of 12. The movie is bloody and gory, but let's bear in mind what the movie is about. The Passion of the Christ looks to accurately recount just that; Jesus' crucifixion and last few hours of life before. This subject, Jesus' death, is one to be treated with respect. To say that the movie is awesome and really cool would be disrespectful, seeing as this is a true story of God dying for our sins. But I would be remiss to say that this movie is not a good one. It inspires and rouses the soul. It makes one ask the Lord for forgiveness, and strengthen their resolve to not sin again. So, despite its controversial gory depiction of the flogging and crucifixion of Jesus, The Passion of the Christ definitely succeeds in strengthening the spiritual relationship between man and God. I absolutely recommend it.

~Ian James~

Why I Love My Country-Part 1 : Introduction

   Pride in your country is important. In the words of President Theodore Roosevelt:

"The man who loves other countries as much as his own stands on a level with the man who loves other women as much as he loves his own wife."

   I have always taken pride in my country, for many reasons. The United States of America have not stood strong for this long without good excuse. I think that, while there are many things in our government that are not right, there are still many parts to be proud of. Our system is not perfect, but it's on the right track. Many conservatives may look at the current state of the democratic system of the States and be disappointed. But I think there is cause for rejoice at the heart of it all. Our leadership may sometimes be leading us wrong, but the foundation they stand on still remains. It has not crumbled beneath their weight.

   I feel the need to share why I still have faith in my country. I think that people, not all...but many, have forgotten what is good about our country, our government. They instead focus only on the negative; what is imperfect and flawed. Therefore, I will be sharing with you why I love my country in a four-part blog series. This introduction is part one. The rest I plan to have released every Monday for the next three weeks, so keep on the lookout. Hopefully you will find it interesting, as well as enlightening. I do not pretend to be some sort of expert on the inner workings of our government, but I do know what in this country keeps me proud. I do know why I love my country.

~Ian James~

Perfect...

   This word can be used to describe me and every other teenager on the planet, with good reason, too. Three reasons, to be exact. Let's begin with one...
  
 1) Our Extensive Knowledge...
       As teenagers, we know everything. We even know more than people who have been around longer than we have, gone to college, and accumulated wisdom that only comes with age. That's a fact. That's why I try to tell my parents not to bother ever arguing with me. I know way more than they do, so its kind of pointless for them to even bother, especially when they should know they're going to lose the argument. Our extensive knowledge also includes our proficiency for technology. My parents aren't totally fossilized and my mom is actually quite apt, but still, there is no way that they could possibly be more intelligent than me. I'm a flawless 17-year-old. Right?

    2) Our Physical Prowess...
        My father is in the Army, so he has to keep in really good shape. But while he may be stronger than I am, I don't get sore back and knees. I can sleep on the floor without being as stiff as plywood the next day. And that's if I sleep at all. But beyond physical strength, there's something else. I can eat and eat and eat some more, and not gain a pound. My elders are not so lucky.

    3) Our Incredible Skill At Everything...
        Whatever your good at, we're better. This is, by far, the biggest part of what makes us so perfect. Need I say more???

   So, the next time you have to deal with a teenager, just roll your eyes and accept the fact that they are right and you are probably wrong. It's just life; there's no way around it.

~Ian James~

Great Expectations: 21st Century for Teenagers~Part 2

*** If you have not read part 1, then do not continue. Instead, scroll down and read the first part of this blog duo. ***

   Welcome to part two of Great Expectations: 21st Century Edition for Teenagers~Part 2. I'll get right down to business right after a quick recap. In the previous section, we discussed the main story idea of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. I stated that I found it to be relatable for certain reasons. I understand what Pip, the main character, is going through. He has great expectations placed upon him, by others as well as himself. Every teenager does. It's something every person has to deal with in their life as they make the stressful, awkward, and, often times, difficult transition from child to adult. Adolescence, which we all know is what comes in-between, is just that; in-between. Sometimes, its great; going to the movies with friends, staying up all night, eating endless amounts of food and never gaining a pound. Sometimes, its no cake walk; high-school stress, pressure to be cooler than the next guy, and just plain emotional meltdowns. And while that sounds extreme to say out loud (or on paper), it happens. If you haven't had said experience, good for you; your life is under control. As for the rest of us who aren't perfect and face struggles in our life, keep reading.

   There are literally countless things to be said on the subject of adolescent life. Many suggestions to happiness and steps to success can be given, but who has time to read it all? Therefore, I have put together three easy, all-encompassing steps which will easily guide the reader to 7 good teenager years (or however many you have left.) Listed least-to-greatest importance, the three steps are as follows...

   1) "Prepare ye the way..."
        The first step is to always be prepared. Literally, expect the unexpected. Sounds impossible to do, yet it's not, whether its being prepared for the pop quiz in Algebra II or to recite the first act of Romeo and Juliet. It may not even be in the schoolwork area that you need to expect the unexpected. It could just be regular life. Maybe you or a family member gets seriously sick, or maybe Facebook goes down. ( I think we all know how tragic that is...) But seriously, be ready, because life always has something to throw your way.

   2) Understand Yourself.
       The second step may seem unimportant, but it's a mistake to think so. Understanding who you are and what you believe in are important components to shaping who you will grow into. So when you find yourself confronted with great expectations, have no fear, because you know your own abilities, your own heart, mind and soul.

   3) PRAY!
       This is the most obvious part, and is of paramount importance. Pray when you're eating, pray when you're working, pray when you're sleeping if you can. God can only help you if you ask Him to. He wants your permission, because He gave us all free will and wouldn't even thinking of changing our life without you saying so first. Always remember, when in doubt, PRAY!

   Well, there you have it. The three steps to surviving great expectations. May they help you and serve you well. There will always be things expected of you, and you may have to rise up and meet these expectations. When you do, remember that the Lord loves and cares about you. Wherever you go, He follows. Never try to outrun Him. He can and will help. You need only ask. As it is written in Matthew 7:7-

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Peace in Christ,
   ~Ian James~

Endnote: I just want to give a shout-out to my cousin, Theodore, as he is graduating eighth grade and will be entering his freshman year of high school this fall. Good luck and may God be with you as you take this next big step in your life! 

Great Expectations: 21st Century Edition for Teenagers~Part 1

   Charles Dickens has never been a favorite author of mine. The only book I truly like of his is the Christmas Carol, and then only for its shortness and originality. I enjoy the story idea, but not his writing. The same went for the book Great Expectations. I respected and was interested by the plot, but his style of writing kills me. Saying that his style is over descriptive doesn't do the thing justice. Try uber-mega-super-unnecessarily-descriptive. Apparently, the reasoning behind this is because his publisher payed him by the word, and Dickens wanted be rich, I guess. He must've been, taking Great Expectations and David Copperfield into account. But anyway, despite my absolute loathing of the swampy, overcrowded use of adjectives and run-on sentences, I still minimally enjoyed Great Expectations; again, only for the story. And, before I move on, if you think that I only find Charles Dickens difficult to read because I'm an ignorant 21st century teenager, think again; much of England in c. 1860 felt the same way, thus hurting his sales. Hmmm... So, are we saying that Dicken's greed actually made him poorer? Food for thought.

   Why do I find the storyline of Great Expectations so interesting? Because its relatable. I understand what the main character is going through, for the most part. For those of you who have not had the ridiculous pleasure of reading Dickens' work, Great Expectations is basically about the life of a young man from age 7, onward. Thus, I can relate in some ways. Pip, however, becomes friends(more or less) with an escaped convict; I, on the other hand, have never had the pleasure of doing so. Pip also is an orphan; I gratefully own two parents, with extended warranties both (just in case of accidents).Back to relatable, though. Pip has trouble just with growing up. Hormones and inexperience plague him like they do all of us. And, of course, he deals with having to live up to great expectations. We all face this problem. We've all seen the dad who forces his son to practice, practice, practice until he's perfect (My dad, while very encouraging, is thankfully not obnoxious). Nobody enjoys parents who care more about their child's appearance than the child himself. Pip is forced to go and be a gentleman, a big deal in the 19th century. Only the very wealthy could afford to do so, and only those who wished to make something of themselves ever bothered to do so. Thus, Pip finds himself having much required of him. Much expected.

   As a teenager, thirteen through nineteen, stress is to be expected(no pun). Pressure will be exerted and, at times, threaten to crush you. But with the right attitude, and the right tools, dangerous levels of hormones will never be reached and you may just survive. In part two, I will discuss HOW to survive the great expectations of the teenager years. Don't touch the dial.

~Ian James~