First Blog

#include <stdio.h>
main () { printf("Hello World\n"); }

I remember typing in the above program when first learning to program in C. It seemed appropriate to start the blog off with a "Hello World." A big hello and a warm hug to you! Although I give talks about new media and how the lines between content creation, publication, and distribution are blurring, I've haven't felt a desire to put any ideas down in writing. In fact, many of the original Phusikoi never committed their ideas to writing (such as Socrates).

Who were the Phusikoi you may ask? The Phusikoi were the first "scientists" and "Philosophers" in Ancient Greece who inquired into the nature of the universe and applied rational arguments in order to explain natural phenomenon . Their domain ranged from the nature of perception and thought to the nature of God and the origins of the universe, from the study of space, time and motion to the ultimate constituent of things. The Phusikoi were investigators and free-thinkers who openly shared their perspective and welcomed discussion and debate. Through observation, experience, and argument, the Phusikoi developed new language and methods that forms the basis of western philosophy and science (indeed, many assert that the Phusikoi invented science and philosophy).

I came across the term when I read Karen Armstrong's book A Short History of Myth and loved the name (it is also spelled Physikoi if you'd like to google it). It also reflects the spirit of open dialogue and "direct" or "first person knowledge and experience" (vs. the 3rd person knowledge you read about in books). Which is my main interest these days - how to use or apply interactive media to help raise consciousness.

So... back to why I am starting a Blog. It is something I've finally decided to do. As someone that gets paid to think outside the box (academic) and share new ideas with society (a role that I feel very fortunate and grateful to be able to play) and to inspire students, I decided that a blog would be the best medium for getting ideas out and also keep contact with the many people I meet in life.

As a first post, I would like to thank and acknowledge many friends who have both inspired and encouraged me to start this Blog including my office-mates (http://www.merecl.com) Cedrick Chan (http://adventures-of-cedrick.blogspot.com/) and Nury Vittachi (http://mrjam.typepad.com/), Loic Wong (who challenged me to start the blog and has guaranteed that there will be at least one reader), Chuck Hillig (http://www.chuckhillig.com/), Isaac Mao (http://www.isaacmao.com/meta/), Sue Blackmoore (http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/sue_blackmore/), Alvin Despain (who has always advised me to keep a journal), and Bill Lin for editorial comments.