Feng Shui? CA lawmakers have too much time on their hands

[RichardR]

I am referring to CA assemblyman Yee's proposal to require the California Building Standards Commission to adopt building standards that promote feng shui principles and publish these standards in the California Building Standards Code. I thought it must be a joke, but I found Mr Lee's own webpage. (http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a12/press/p122004010.htm)

It's true! I sent him this email:

To: Assemblymember.Yee@assembly.ca.gov

Mr Yee:

I note you are introducing a resolution to require that building standards in California include Feng Shui in the regulations. This is an interesting idea. Do you have any evidence that Feng Shui has any influence whatsoever on building safety? If so, can you please tell me where I can read such evidence.I received an automated response from Yee, who signed himself off as:

LELAND Y. YEE, Ph.D.
Assistant Speaker pro Tempore
Assemblymember, 12th District Who was it who said no idea is so stupid you can't get a PhD to believe in it?

Anyway, I also sent this off to the guvernator:

To: governor@governor.ca.gov

Mr Schwarzenegger

I am shocked to discover that California assemblyman Leyland Y Yee is trying to introduce legislation to require the California Building Standards Commission to adopt building standards that promote feng shui principles and publish these standards in the California Building Standards Code.

I know you are for business and jobs and against unnecessary regulation. That said, I hope you will do all you can to kill this unnecessary piece of superstitious nonsense from passing into law; there is absolutely no reason at all to believe that feng shui is anything other than ancient myth.

As an owner of a construction company, I am in favor of laws that make our buildings safer, but am totally opposed to stupid and unnecessary proposals such as this one. I believe California should be #1 in the world in science and technology, and nonsense such this kind of thing hurts our credibility – in fact it makes us a laughing stock. At the very least, Mr Yee should be forced to demonstrate, through published and peer reviewed scientific literature, that feng shui has a basis in scientific fact, before it is considered. I trust you will support the scientific position. I'll give them a week and if there is no reply I'll write to the local papers.

In addition to an award for stupidity, I believe Mr Yee's proposal would also qualify for a life imitates art award. (http://www.theness.com/articles/alternativeengineering-nejs0204.html) Who knew anyone would actually try to implement what was supposed to be a spoof of alternative medicine? In any case, if we needed evidence that our lawmakers have too much time on their hands, this is it.

[Captain Trips]

I for one am proud to say that I oppose this measure. Note, though, that I have set up my house according to (some of) the principles of Feng Shui. Although I can't claim to any changes in chi (not being a qualified "energy sensitive"), I can say that it has made for a somewhat more comfortable arrangement of the furniture.

Here is the text of a message I sent to both Assemblyman Yee and to my representative in the assembly:
I urge against this bill. Not because of "flake factor", nor because of the nature of Feng Shui. However, despite comments otherwise, this is a religious matter. The very fact that certain Christian groups are opposed to it make it such. As is stated in the U.S. Constitution, the government should not be involved in matters of religion. Therefore, our state government should follow that and not support any form of religious belief. Please vote against this bill for that reason.

Although I am not opposed to religion per se, I strongly feel that government should keep its nose out of the church/temple/healing circles.

[Bottle or the Gun]

MSNBC television channel had a segment on this Feng Shui idiocy this morning. A consultant was talking about 'blocked energy' caused by boxes on the floor of a busy office. I have the wrong job if people get paid alot for this.

Relevant Dilbert

[jimlintott]

Contrary to what many may believe, feng shui is not a religion, nor is it an eastern philosophy grounded in superstition.

Okay, so maybe it isn't eastern.

[RichardR]

Well, no reply from Yee with any evidence that feng shui works. No surprise, actually.

Still, I think the fuss may have done some good. Two weeks ago, Yee's web site said he wanted to:

…require the California Building Standards Commission to adopt building standards that promote feng shui principles and publish these standards in the California Building Standards Code.However, I just checked Yee's updated webpage. (http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a12/press/p122004010.htm) and all references to the California Building Standards Code have been removed. It now says:

This resolution is simply a recommendation based on ancient science and natural wisdom, and it will not cost the state any money, nor will it mandate any changes in existing law or design standards.Well, at least it's not going to be law so perhaps the letter writing was not in vain.

Of course, he still waffles on about it, with appeals to:

authority
("Many large western companies practice feng shui, including Citibank, Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, TD Waterhouse, blah blah")

popularity
("Many spas and resorts are designed in accordance with feng shui principles, including… blah blah")

ancient tradition
("While this concept is fairly new to western society, China has been building with these principles for over four thousand years etc etc" and " This resolution is simply a recommendation based on ancient science and natural wisdom.. etc etc")

cultural diversity
("The passing of ACR 144 is about respecting the diversity of cultures blah blah")

He's still a woo woo.

Btw, have a look at two letters in the local paper (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/03/EDGSI4M2TB1.DTL) that both poke fun at Yee. (Scroll down to " Yee's fiddling" – there are two letters.) Mine didn't get published – must have been too intellectual for them. ;)

[Captain Trips]

Originally posted by Captain Trips

Here is the text of a message I sent to both Assemblyman Yee and to my representative in the assembly:
I urge against this bill. Not because of "flake factor", nor because of the nature of Feng Shui. However, despite comments otherwise, this is a religious matter. The very fact that certain Christian groups are opposed to it make it such. As is stated in the U.S. Constitution, the government should not be involved in matters of religion. Therefore, our state government should follow that and not support any form of religious belief. Please vote against this bill for that reason.


Well, here is what my Assembly representative responded:

Thank you for your email expressing your opposition to Assembly Concurrent Resolution 144 (Yee), pertaining to Feng Shui.
According to the author, this resolution would urge the California
Building Standards Commission to adopt building standards that promote Feng Shui principles and publish these standards in the California Building Standards Code. On January 12, 2004, ACR 144 was referred to the Assembly's Committee on Business and Professions for a hearing. The hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
Please know that I will keep your comments in mind should this
resolution come before me in the Assembly. I appreciate your taking the time to inform me about your concerns.

Well, at least she took me seriously. I have yet to hear back from Mr. Yee.

[DrMatt]

Also at: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~fields/wcc.txt

Previously submitted to Trustees of Washtenaw Community College via http://www.wccnet.edu/trustees/contact.php
Previously submitted to Governor Jennifer M. Grandholm via http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331--,00.html

16 February 2004

Dear Trustees of Washtenaw Community College in Ypsilanti, Michigan,

I am writing you as a citizen of Washtenaw County regarding your offering of extensive courses and certificates in Feng Shui and other nonsense, as so boldly advertised on the cover of your latest course catalog. Will you also be offering courses in entrail-reading?

The use of county funds for this purpose is a slap in the face and an insult to the intelligence of the good citizens of Washtenaw County. Not one of the faculty teaching this subject knows anything about the world which is true other than common sense--and if any of them claim to, I want to see them--or you--apply for and win the one-million-dollar prize offered by the James Randi Educational Foundation (http://www.randi.org). Until that time, I will not be satisfied unless you terminate these classes, refund all tuition fees paid for them, close the program, and fire all the faculty for perpetrating fraud against Washtenaw County--or PROVE that the subject matter is real.

Your own web site (http://www.wccnet.org/lwl/atoz.php?course=HEC+1115&search_term=200401) declares regarding Feng Shui: "There is no fixed right or wrong way." In other words, the authors of the course descriptions have already acknowledged that there's no reality in Feng Shui! So that option appears meaningless. You could do more to impress me by winning the Randi challenge--and it would bring a free million dollars into your coffers, which surely would help out.

You are perpetrating fraud against the citizens of Washtenaw County, and I am prepared to say so and keep saying so until you stop it.

Dr Matthew H. Fields
Composer
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Cc: Governor Jennifer M. Grandholm; James Randi

[smoke]

I'm not defending this measure in Cali, it's surely ridiculous nonsense (here in the midwest we prefer anti-evolution/creationism/ID nonsense over feng shui) and a waste of the legislatures time.

I did, however, want to point out that the bill is a non-binding resolution that 'urges' the commission to consider feng shui, it doesn't require them to use it. Just fyi....

[RichardR]

Originally posted by smoke
I'm not defending this measure in Cali, it's surely ridiculous nonsense (here in the midwest we prefer anti-evolution/creationism/ID nonsense over feng shui) and a waste of the legislatures time.

I did, however, want to point out that the bill is a non-binding resolution that 'urges' the commission to consider feng shui, it doesn't require them to use it. Just fyi.... Originally Yee wanted to "require the California Building Standards Commission to adopt building standards that promote feng shui principles and publish these standards in the California Building Standards Code". If it is in the building codes then it will have to be in building plans, and plans will have to be stamped by a Feng Shui master as well as by an architect and engineer. And the work will have to be inspected by a Feng Shui inspector as well as by the plumbing and electrical etc departments. All these Feng Shui people will have to be certified before they can issue their permits, inspections etc. You can't have it "in the building codes" and it be only a "recommendation" – it's either there or it isn't.

Yee has equivocated on this point, but it appears he has now dropped the requirement to include Feng Shui in the building codes, which is what you have referred to. That wasn't his position when he started this, however.

[Agammamon]

From the Commentary
ancient tradition - "While this concept is fairly new to western society, China has been building with these principles for over four thousand years etc. etc." and "This resolution is simply a recommendation based on ancient science and natural wisdom... etc. etc."



If Feng Shui is supposed to relieve stress and make people feel better then why is China's 5000+ year history as bloody as an "Western" nation's?

[Bentspoon]

quote: I'm not defending this measure in Cali, it's surely ridiculous nonsense (here in the midwest we prefer anti-evolution/creationism/ID nonsense over feng shui) and a waste of the legislatures time.

I did, however, want to point out that the bill is a non-binding resolution that 'urges' the commission to consider feng shui, it doesn't require them to use it. Just fyi...."

I realize that this is an FYI and is not a defense of stupidity. But what is the point of placing this in a non binding resolution. Do they have resolution quotas that have to be filled. The monumental waste of time spent on this in a state legislature that has a litany of issues to resolve is disgusting and it also speaks to the fact that a woo-woo just can't let go even in the face of overwhelming adversity and the minor irritant of being shown to be illogical and stupid.

What is it? Does he just have to have the terms Funk Shui in an official document?

The fact that he just doesn't give it up is grounds for a recall (if that applies). I think CA should mount a campaign to get rid of this guy.

PHD in what?? Child Psychology - these people are not well versed in science.

Chair of Mental Health?
LOL
Bentspoon

[epepke]

Irrespective of the idea of requiring it in building codes, I have a problem with a lot of the detractors of Feng Shui. Of course, all this Qui energy stuff is a load of crap. But then, on the other hand, some Asian buildings look pretty nice, and I like them.

As a software designer, I have certain ideas about software design. Let's pick one of them at random. User input errors should be avoided. Whenever possible, a means of entering data should be provided that prevent the errors. If, for example, a value can only be true or false, it is a mistake to require someone to type "true" or "false" in a field and have a parser to distinguish it from "yes" or "my guitar wants to kill your mama" or any other of the things they might type.

Let's say a thousand years go by. Software design becomes entrenched in mythology. Some bozo decides that software design principles are ruled by the mystic Californian art of Ding Fap, and if you don't follow them, you'll interrupt the flow of Donald Norman energy, which is naturally found in Mountain Dew and Jolt Cola, magical nostrums used by The Ancients.

And then a bunch of skeptics decide that it's all a bunch of hooey, that Donald Norman Energy doesn't exist in double-blind trials, and Mountain Dew can be duplicated with sugared urine, while Jolt Cola is just sugar water with some Cadmium Red in it. And therefore it follows that constraining user input is useless superstition, and scientifically, having a text field and a parser is just as good.

Hey, folks! Stripping out all the mystical nonsense, what if there are some actual good design principles in Feng Shui? Would it actually kill anybody if a public building got built in California that wasn't a blocky concrete monstrosity painted all green on the inside with a bit of marble veneer to give it a false impression of being classy?

[Jaggy Bunnet]

Originally posted by epepke
Hey, folks! Stripping out all the mystical nonsense, what if there are some actual good design principles in Feng Shui? Would it actually kill anybody if a public building got built in California that wasn't a blocky concrete monstrosity painted all green on the inside with a bit of marble veneer to give it a false impression of being classy?

Then people are free to follow the good design principles if they agree with them or ignore them if they don't.

No need to enshrine nonsense in building codes.

Should there be a law that prevents anyone writing software except in accordance with design standards that bring no benefit?

[Bottle or the Gun]

I e-mailed him and I was kind of rude about it. I plainly asked him what was wrong with him. I received an e-mail back that he had a responsibility to his constituents. Of course, he had no idea if I was a constituent or not, nor did he elaborate on what his responsibility was.

I guess we deserve the kind of government we have.

[DrMatt]

Originally posted by Agammamon

If Feng Shui is supposed to relieve stress and make people feel better then why is China's 5000+ year history as bloody as an "Western" nation's?

Um, maybe because not enough Chinese people eat at Chinese restaurants?

[DrMatt]

Originally posted by epepke


Hey, folks! Stripping out all the mystical nonsense, what if there are some actual good design principles in Feng Shui?


Fine! Let's see exactly what they are, and put 'em to the test.


Would it actually kill anybody if a public building got built in California that wasn't a blocky concrete monstrosity painted all green on the inside with a bit of marble veneer to give it a false impression of being classy?

Actually, most public buildings I've seen in California are in mock-Roman arcade style, an updated "hispanic" style that's fashionable. And then there's Disney Concert Hall.

But back on your main point. The course description for Feng Shui in the course catalog of Washtenaw Community College in Ypsilanti, Michigan says "there is no right or wrong way." In other words, there are no ideas whatsoever--ergo no valuable babies in the bathwater, and no bathwater either.

[DrMatt]

Originally posted by Jaggy Bunnet

Should there be a law that prevents anyone writing software except in accordance with design standards that bring no benefit?

At this point it's time to cite The ballad of Mel (http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/tech/computers/TheHackersDictionaryofComputerJargon/chap63.html).

[magicflute]

Posted by DrMatAt this point it's time to cite The ballad of Mel.

Sigh!! The good old days of programming!! Not the modern day bloated code. Makes you throw up!

[WinterMute]

Sigh!! The good old days of programming!! Not the modern day bloated code. Makes you throw up!

LOL, yea. Why do you want to make fire with a flamethrower when there are two sticks laying besides you.
Machine code is they way to go ;)

[BillyJoe]

.....and throw away your calculators, you can do it all by hand.

[NullPointerException]

Florida law requirse all public building of a certain size have a certain amount of art in it. Recently UCF spent 10k on an abstract painting by a local professor. Reason for purchase:We couldn't legally spend the money on real problems so instead of losing it we just commissioned the art.

[DrMatt]

Washtenaw Community College's latest catalogue-advertiser arrived yesterday. No more talk of "certification" but still three courses in Feng Shui.

[RichardR]

Just watched the Penn & Teller "Bullsh!t" on Feng Shui. They got three Feng Shui masters to advise a woman how to arrange the furniture in her house. (Each Feng Shui "master" thought they were the only one doing the furniture arranging.)

Each one had a different plan. One said that the color of the couch (red) was a terrible color and must be changed. The next one said it was the best color she could have chosen, and so on. Hilarious.

[epepke]

Originally posted by DrMatt
Fine! Let's see exactly what they are, and put 'em to the test.

Aren't there, like, ten thousand books out there about this?

The only one I have is The Little Book of Wrong Shui which contains advice like "Leave your valuables right next to your windows. This will attract many visitors to your house."

However, here's one that I think is real. The entrance to a house should not open directly into the living room. There should be a hall or an anteroom first.

Seems like a good principle to me. Let's say you're having a party. Isn't it a good idea to have a room where you can meet your guests and where they can hang up their coats?

[Zep]

Originally posted by epepke

Seems like a good principle to me. Let's say you're having a party. Isn't it a good idea to have a room where you can meet your guests and where they can hang up there coats? Flung Shoey? :)

[epepke]

Originally posted by DrMatt
But back on your main point. The course description for Feng Shui in the course catalog of Washtenaw Community College in Ypsilanti, Michigan says "there is no right or wrong way." In other words, there are no ideas whatsoever--ergo no valuable babies in the bathwater, and no bathwater either.

One of the things I like about the Palm GUI guidelines is that, for every design principle promoted, there is also a section on "breaking the rules."

Does this mean that there are no rules?

[WinterMute]

Yes and to have some chairs is a good thing if someone wants to sit down.
Oh, and a floor would come in handy as well ;-)

[Zep]

BEFORE Feng Shui
http://www.accomnoosa.com.au/prop/images/prop/lcc-1.jpg

AFTER Feng Shui
http://www.accomnoosa.com.au/prop/images/prop/lcc-1.jpg

[BillyJoe]

Zep, shouldn't that be in the puzzles section. :)

[Zep]

Originally posted by BillyJoe
Zep, shouldn't that be in the puzzles section. :) No - why should it?



:D

[BillyJoe]

Originally posted by Zep
:D Yeah - Pick the differences.