First of all...GO GIANTS!!!!
Secondly, one of our recent discussions in class has provoked a rather philosophical response from me. The discussion is looking at information vs. knowledge--specifically if there exists a difference between the two--and what characterizes information. I made the point that information doesn't have to be true or false; it really can be either. There are a lot of times where false information can cause problems, especially when considering politics or religious differences. My instructor wanted to know how I would categorize Holocaust deniers or those who believe the moon landing didn't occur. Would this be a case of a knowledge or information problem?
My response:
"I really think that there is a difference between information and knowledge. As I mentioned before, information doesn't have to be right or wrong, so in terms of Holocaust deniers, perhaps the information regarding the Holocaust, while perhaps new (in that it differs from their view and they may not have seen/thought about that perspective), they still see it as false based on their world view. You could almost view this in the same light as religion; a person who follows a particular religious view may (and often does) view the world through his/her belief system. Opposing views, while still being able to be "information" (aka new views that, again, they may not have seen or considered before), could still be viewed as "false" because they don't fit in to the believer's view of the world. So the Holocaust deniers or the folks that don't believe the moon landing happened would be viewing any information on this topic through their own view of those events.
In terms of knowledge, I almost liken it to a philosophical truth, one that would bring us to a higher understanding. This particular thought is hard for me to express in words, but another post you made (mentioning the "truth" of stories and experience) allowed me to focus it a little better. Truth/knowledge can be found in many things, both fact and fiction. For example, in fiction we often times find the truth of our humanity, meaning that we see examples of the true human experience: love, hate, despair, revenge, etc. Did the things in those books actually happen (are they fact?)? No. Is there a greater truth, a message of ourselves that we can learn from them? Yes. But the knowledge (truth) that we each get will be different, based on our personal world view. So maybe then knowledge involves personal interpretation of information.
In answer to the last part of your question, maybe both. These people gleaned truth/knowledge interpreted from information that happens to be contrary to documented evidence (fact). So do we label the information as the cause or their interpretation (where knowledge/understanding occurs) as the cause? For me, it's hard to tell. Since the process of turning information into knowledge (understand/truth) is often times near-instantaneous--as least with me, I find myself judging/interpreting information when I read/see it--it's hard to separate the two in this process."
Anyone want to add to the discussion? Please comment with your own thoughts!
And now this week's recipe. Scooter and I decided to use my crock pot and try a slow cooker recipe. My Better Homes and Gardens cookbook had a recipe for beef brisket with barbecue sauce that Scooter and I agreed to experiment with. It turned out really good and made the apartment smell wonderful!
What you'll need:
3/4 c. water
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs. cider vinegar
1 tsp. instant beef bouillon granules
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 2 1/2 lb. beef brisket
2 Tbs. corn starch
1 c. cold water
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. brown sugar
What you'll need to do:
1. For cooking liquid, in a bowl combine water, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, bouillon, mustard, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and garlic.
2. Trim fat from meat. If necessary, cut meat to fit into a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. Place meat in cooker and pour liquid over meat.
3. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 10 to 12 hours or on high-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours.
4. Take some of the cooking liquid and put it into a small saucepan. Over medium heat, add the honey and brown sugar, stir, and cook together until liquid is simmering. In a small bowl, combine the corn starch and cold water and stir until completely dissolved. Add slowly to the saucepan, stir, and cook until slightly thickened.
You can serve the brisket and sauce over potatoes, rice, or even use it to make sandwiches. The cookbook also makes the note that if you have to use a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker, double the cooking liquid. Enjoy!
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