tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56546054074898538762024-02-19T17:55:47.286-08:00The Meaning of LifePhilosophical DiscussionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-91377187468316825692020-12-31T08:08:00.002-08:002020-12-31T08:08:30.424-08:00We wear the uniforms which are appropriate to our purpose and wear different costumes for various occasions. Even the Indian guru's attire conforms to the accepted societal norm. Hipsters, New-Agers, Religious People, Hippies, Musicians, Yogis....all conform to the expectations of their peers. To most people nowadays the tie is a symbol of authority, and that's a little sad to me; there was a time when every man wore a tie, regardless of his status. I have noticed a difference in the way people treat me when I wear a tie, or even just a blazer jacket without a tie. This psychological reaction can be used to one's advantage in certain circumstances, or work against one in other circumstances. With this in mind I try to dress appropriately for the occasion. Perhaps a view into the history of neckties would help to break through the xenophobia a little? <a href="https://youtu.be/oThApiIH7dM">https://youtu.be/oThApiIH7dM</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-38715999596971414422014-04-19T19:08:00.001-07:002014-04-19T19:09:14.223-07:00"BULLDADA"<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;">The Church of the Subgenius has a term, "Bulldada," roughly, it describes things which were incredibly uncool when they were popular but due to the passage of time become cool. There appears to be some correlation between the uncoolness at the the time the thing was popular and the value of the Bulldada... </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 17.563634872436523px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-36139572313834085212014-02-23T20:27:00.001-08:002014-02-23T20:28:54.326-08:00(The Rocky Horror Picture Show)/ Science Fiction-Double Feature<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My father used to leave at the movie theatre when he had a hot date. A double-feature was cheaper than a baby-sitter and you didn't have to make it back in time.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-10880667485626094062013-12-04T20:03:00.000-08:002013-12-04T20:18:04.916-08:00CRITICAL THINKING<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE-_Ue124TgbBulYBYJ9mi0X72dcRP8Pgbjw5nbOu95RsizeAXYi98DdhVIrxbiRXiovryleTRkc7eUVhZSSY5szCTdXphhZOuQJrfHf6GUkzVd48Zyj7z0fSmwUZ-S49sqKjEN-TLJ-L/s1600/Clown+Show+086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE-_Ue124TgbBulYBYJ9mi0X72dcRP8Pgbjw5nbOu95RsizeAXYi98DdhVIrxbiRXiovryleTRkc7eUVhZSSY5szCTdXphhZOuQJrfHf6GUkzVd48Zyj7z0fSmwUZ-S49sqKjEN-TLJ-L/s200/Clown+Show+086.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">I'm not religious. I am an agnostic; possibly pantheist; I think religion, including this new wishy-washy, feel-good, law of attraction, new age cultism is stupid, verges on evil and makes people apathetic to the suffering of others. I don't believe in ghosts, souls, gods, heaven, hell, original sin, immaculate babies, angels, demons, devils, dragons, unicorns or faeries. </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">I don't believe any mumbo-jumbo, metaphysical voodoo, </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">chakras, levitation or alternative planes of reality (except as proposed by physics AKA science). I don't believe in reincarnation. I don't believe in astrology, psychics, telekinesis or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_kinesiology" target="_blank">applied kinesiology</a>. I think that by default its better to disbelieve things that cannot be proven. Instead of seeing things in black and white, I see a myriad of shades of grey. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">I believe Christ was an ordinary man just like the Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed or any other so called messiah, prophet, or deity. I consider religion to be the most destructive force on the planet. More people have been killed in the name of god than for any other reason. Religious intolerance divides people even more than racial hatred. The worst part of it is that they are all fighting over who has the best imaginary friend. I see very religious people as superstitious and intellectually challenged. Of course, I do have dear friends who are religious because I love them enough to accept them in spite of their cognitive failings. I hope that there is intelligent life somewhere out there in space, because there clearly isn't any here on Earth.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">There aren't any benevolent aliens coming to save us from self-destruction. We are all together on this fragile little mud-ball out in space and there are no emergency exits. It is up to us to take care of ourselves and each other. Even if we suddenly evolve in our consciousness enough to stop killing each other, we could easily be wiped out altogether by an asteroid, comet, solar explosion, supernova or other unforeseen calamity. Our best hope is to immediately stop fighting, dissolve all national borders, stigmatize religion enough to prevent its destructive force, and begin a global effort to colonize space. Don't worry, anyone who wants to stay on Earth will have that option.</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-65828376931251197322013-10-06T09:31:00.000-07:002013-10-06T09:32:23.273-07:00DOES THE HUMAN BODY LOSE WEIGHT AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">Do you believe that the human body loses weight at the moment of death? It is belief made popular by the 2003 film, 21 Grams, based on the experiments of Dr. Duncan "Om" MacDougall (c. 1866 – October 15, 1920), who also killed a dozen dogs during his research. However, the "good doctor's" results were never duplicated and his methods unable to produce consistent results. Supernatural claims are a dime a dozen; don't be duped. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_MacDougall_(doctor)" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 15.454545021057129px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>Duncan_MacDougall_(doctor)</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-42037524983602389752013-09-17T16:49:00.002-07:002013-09-18T05:40:35.148-07:00MAKING HISTORY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
MAKING HISTORY<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ng_0e3G0QHSJXotPRX1guGVd17C3MaGzD8TIkmM6hZBYrAnSgPB-OG-x2qusDnGOKSHOGehkHoH_D9hptPo25jn-gOJWC84l1y_M7B18z_iVb2gMrcb4isUZ6CusmPgDJmFxlnzcN0EN/s1600/Davene+Scaled.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ng_0e3G0QHSJXotPRX1guGVd17C3MaGzD8TIkmM6hZBYrAnSgPB-OG-x2qusDnGOKSHOGehkHoH_D9hptPo25jn-gOJWC84l1y_M7B18z_iVb2gMrcb4isUZ6CusmPgDJmFxlnzcN0EN/s200/Davene+Scaled.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
The invention of the internet and social networking has given humanity a gift it has never fully had before. Ours is the first generation to have general access to this revolutionary form of communication.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/tsankawi.htm" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYztqCB-ywIzmuxCYqcCegLLs0Qab0B3OxpjAjkND8GecTPDtwEXvgSgIlWuLd0eOD1lJpBWp2olVWUJUvUgAYuF8DxoXklpoaQAvRfbvcTXxV1I1TFN0KIeYJ3McEx5v1bZDj91X8KMpo/s640/Glyph+Community.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/tsankawi.htm" target="_blank">Tsankawi National Monument</a></td></tr>
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Although, we have had the gift of writing and even printing for a long time, at that time the chance that one's works would survive far through history were small. The advent of the internet and blogging/social networking technology has made it easy for all of us to make our mark on history.<br />
By creating content for the internet which is immediately shared to countless other networks and databases, we ensure our own immortality in the matrix which has become what we call the web.<br />
David Settino Scott, III </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-25077957640433842342012-12-02T18:49:00.000-08:002012-12-02T19:01:11.837-08:00DAVENE ON ARROGANCE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Arrogance: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I have been told, from time to time, that I am, or "are" arrogant...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I have addressed this issue in another post within this blog titled, <a href="http://thmngolf.blogspot.com/2012/02/humility.html#axzz2Dx7cKx5W" target="_blank">HUMILITY</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It has occurred to me that although I did mention the word "Arrogance" in my article, I never defined it as I probably should have considering the importance of my use of the word in that particular blog-post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I reprint the relevant portions of the definition of "Arrogant", according to <a href="http://dictionary.com/">dictionary.com</a>, right here: </span></div>
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Ar·ro·gant [ar-uh-guh nt] <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html"></a> Show IPA<br />
adjective<br />
1.<br />
making claims or pretensions to superiorimportance or rights; overbearingly assuming;insolently proud: an arrogant public official.<br />
2.<br />
characterized by or proceeding from <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arrogance">arrogance</a>:arrogant claims.<br />
Relevant Questions<br />
<a href="http://ask.reference.com/web?q=What%20Is%20Arrogance?&o=100100">What Is Arrogance?</a> <br />
<a href="http://ask.reference.com/web?q=How%20to%20Deal%20With%20Arrogant%20People?&o=100100">How to Deal With Arrogan...</a> <br />
<a href="http://ask.reference.com/web?q=What%20Is%20Arrogant?&o=100100">What Is Arrogant?</a> <br />
<a href="http://ask.reference.com/web?q=What%20Causes%20Arrogance?&o=100100">What Causes Arrogance?</a> <br />
Origin: <br />
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin arrogant- (stemof arrogāns ) presuming, present participle ofarrogāre. See <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arrogate">arrogate</a>, <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ant">-ant</a><br />
Related forms<br />
ar·ro·gant·ly, adverb.<br />
su·per·ar·ro·gant, adjective.<br />
su·per·ar·ro·gant·ly, adverb.<br />
un·ar·ro·gant, adjective.<br />
un·ar·ro·gant·ly, adverb.<br />
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Synonyms <br />
1. presumptuous, haughty, imperious, brazen. See <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proud">proud</a>.<br />
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Antonyms <br />
1. meek. 2. modest, humble.<br />
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00:04<br />
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Arrogant is a PSAT word you need to know.<br />
So is amass. Does it mean:<br />
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to come together; assemble<br />
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<b>Pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied a complacent smile.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I don't know exactly where it comes from, but the last paragraph here is what I identify with the most. And, with this definition in mind, I must gratefully acknowledge those people who have called me arrogant. I agree by this final definition, I am indeed arrogant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Much love to all human beings and all other life on Earth!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Davene</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-21930450843010382752012-10-20T15:24:00.000-07:002012-10-20T15:24:05.514-07:00IS CIVILIZATION MUCH OLDER THAN WE THOUGHT?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This video shows some fascinating Pre-Columbian artifacts which suggest that perhaps civilization on Earth goes back much further than scientists currently believe. Take a look and tell me what you think below. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-87140441861614406572012-10-19T09:10:00.000-07:002012-10-19T10:21:06.804-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Have you ever wondered if there was some elite power controlling your existence? Could there be an organization controlling events on a global level? The coincidences are many and they are hard to ignore...there is a good deal of religious nonsense in this video, but the first 15 minutes are very interesting.</div>
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I don't agree with everything in this video, but it is pretty good entertainment and it does ask some good questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-66985646881648595242012-02-26T08:44:00.016-08:002020-10-28T18:23:08.318-07:00HUMILITY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi136uVPSt6go_oisS-bMWVgE0VbgX1KBDrcYs96SFqVbMeM7ztg13hAeJkgA-ItBfsZlk0LruK5cHZ1cZYwOE0owPTHGM7TMA3OeG9yh9OxFtyqBm_icBMRVUfmkG2WR-J6QiXetNDVX7c/s1600/humility.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi136uVPSt6go_oisS-bMWVgE0VbgX1KBDrcYs96SFqVbMeM7ztg13hAeJkgA-ItBfsZlk0LruK5cHZ1cZYwOE0owPTHGM7TMA3OeG9yh9OxFtyqBm_icBMRVUfmkG2WR-J6QiXetNDVX7c/s400/humility.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face="Verdana,sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">A "friend" of mine recently told me that I should "humble" myself. Apparently, she felt that I have an inflated ego. Of course I don't consider myself to be overly egocentric, and in fact, I believe she was being unfair in her analysis. However, the comment did cause me to pause and begin to wonder what "humility" really means, and why is it considered to be an admirable trait? </span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I will postulate that the terms "humble" and "humility" are rather subjective and any discussion of the meaning of these terms will be somewhat arbitrary. According to <a href="http://dictionary.com/">dictionary.com</a> "humble" is defined as follows: </span></div><div class="header" style="text-align: justify;"><h2 class="me"><span style="font-size: medium;">hum·ble</span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron"><span class="boldface">huhm</span>-b<span class="ital-inline">uh</span><span class="luna-thinspace"></span>l</span><span class="pron">,</span> <span class="pron"><span class="boldface">uhm</span>-</span><span class="prondelim">]</span> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5654605407489853876&postID=6698564688164859524" title="Click to show IPA">Show IPA</a> </span></span></span><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">adjective,</span> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">-bler,</span> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">-blest,</span> </span></span><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">verb,</span> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">-bled,</span> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">-bling.</span> </span></span></span> </span></div><div class="pbk" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">adjective</span> </span></span></span><br />
</span><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">1.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"> not</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">proud</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">arrogant;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">modest:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">be</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">humble</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">although</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">successful.</span> </span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">2.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"> having</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">feeling</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">insignificance,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">inferiority,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">subservience,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">etc.:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">In</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">presence</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">so</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">many</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">world-famous</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">writers</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">I</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">felt</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">very</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">humble.</span> </span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">3.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> low</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">rank,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">importance,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">status,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">quality,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">etc.;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">lowly:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">humble</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">origin;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">humble</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">home.</span> </span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">4.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> courteously</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">respectful:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">In</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">my</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">humble</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">opinion</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">you</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">are</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">wrong.</span> </span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">5.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> low</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">height,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">level,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">etc.;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">small</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">size:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">humble</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">member</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">galaxy.</span> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="pbk" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">verb</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">(used</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">with</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">object)</span> </span></span></span><br />
</span><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">6.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">lower</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">condition,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">importance,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">dignity;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">abase.</span> </span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">7.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">destroy</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">independence,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">power,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/will">will</a><span id="hotword"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of.</span> </span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"><br />
</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span></span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"></span> </span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">Hmmmn. There is little here that I would consider to be a desirable quality in anyone...certainly one should strive to not be arrogant. From the first definition it appears that in order to be "humble" one must first be successful--that leaves me out; I have never been successful. I wonder if my "friend" was trying to help me or just put me down? Perhaps she was just calling me arrogant and unsuccessful--if so, she would not be the first to call me arrogant. I have little patience for ignorance and some people interpret that as arrogance. If she was trying to point out that I am unsuccessful, it was hardly necessary--I already know that.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="font-size: medium;">Let's take a look at the word "humility":</span></span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><div class="luna-Ent"><div class="pbk"><h2 class="me"><span style="font-size: medium;">hu·mil·i·ty</span></h2><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron">hyoo-<span class="boldface">mil</span>-i-tee</span> <span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">or, often</span>, </span><span class="pron">yoo-</span><span class="prondelim">]</span> </span></span><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">noun</span> </span></span></span><br />
</span><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">quality</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">condition</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">being</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/humble" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">humble</a><span id="hotword">; </span><span id="hotword"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">modest</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">opinion</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">estimate</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">one's</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">own</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">importance,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">rank,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">etc.</span> </span></span></div></div><div class="ety"><span><span class="x"><sup><span id="hotword" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></sup></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="sectionLabel"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">Synonyms</span> </span></span><br />
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">lowliness,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">meekness,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">submissiveness</span></span><span class="sectionLabel"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span class="sectionLabel"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">Antonyms</span> </span></span><br />
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">pride.</span></span></span></span></div></div><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="font-size: medium;">And "Humiliate":</span></span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><h3 class="r g0"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="padding-bottom: 14px; padding-right: 15px;"><em>hu·mil·i·ate</em></span><span style="font-family: "Doulos SIL", Gentum, "TITUS Cyberbit Basic", Junicode, "Aborigonal Serif", "Arial Unicode MS", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Chrysanthi Unicode"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; padding-bottom: 7px;">/(h)yo͞oˈmilēˌāt/</span><span class="speaker-icon-listen-off" id="speaker_icon" style="margin-left: .7em; margin: 0px;"></span></span></h3><table class="ts"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" valign="top" width="80px"><span style="font-size: medium;">Verb:</span></td><td style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" valign="top"><table class="ts"><tbody>
<tr><td><span style="font-size: medium;">Make (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect, esp. publicly.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
<span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">Actually, that sounds exactly like what was going on when my "friend" requested that I "humble" myself. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">The dictionary also mentions that the word originated in early feudal England and France (some time between 1200 and 1250-A.D.). This doesn't surprise me much--after reading the definition above, this looks like a word that may have been used by the clergy to keep the lower classes in "their place", much in the way they admonished the poor to be content in their misery with the promise of an everlasting reward in the afterlife (as long as they do as they are told).</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span></span></span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"> </span></span></span><br />
</span><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">Well, I still don't think these are qualities that a person in my station should try to adopt. Let me give a response to my "friend's" request that I "humble" myself here:</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="font-size: medium;">I will humble myself when my peers stop acting like selfish preschoolers who need a nap;</span></span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="font-size: medium;">I will humble myself when world leaders learn to behave responsibly and act on behalf of their people;</span></span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="font-size: medium;">I will humble myself when the wealthy stop pretending that they are more intelligent, industrious and righteous than the poor;</span></span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="font-size: medium;">I will humble myself when religious zealots stop killing people in the name of their fictitious gods;</span></span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"><span face="Verdana,sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">I will humble myself when I see other people treating each other with the same respect and unconditional love that I have for even the most ignorant and naive of my fellow humans.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">I am humbled by the immensity of the universe and the insignificance of humankind. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">My advice: Watch out for people who tell you to humble yourself.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"><span><span face="Verdana,sans-serif">David Settino Scott </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"> </span></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-73203328595164351702011-05-17T09:20:00.000-07:002011-05-17T09:20:30.620-07:00WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT HATS AGAIN?The meaning of life is explained very clearly in this clip from Monty Python's epic film, THE MEANING OF LIFE.<br />
<iframe width="400" height="309" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O2QJvc_SxFQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-43326164448350577472011-02-06T09:51:00.000-08:002011-02-06T09:53:53.426-08:00The Story of Rama and Sita<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is one of my favorite animated films, SITA SINGS THE BLUES. Watch the whole thing on YouTube! Here is part 1 of 10.<br />
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PfS2p1vFics" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Here is a link: <a href="http://thmngolf.blogspot.com/2011/02/story-of-rama-and-sita.html">http://www.sitasingstheblues.com</a><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-32227580891404949972010-11-12T23:35:00.000-08:002010-11-12T23:35:05.311-08:00THE CLASH - SANDINISTATHE CLASH SANDINISTA<br />
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I think this has something to do with the meaning of life...<br />
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<object height="305" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D1LhlVtbW_U?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D1LhlVtbW_U?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="305"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-69370197294401384772010-09-06T16:30:00.000-07:002010-09-06T16:30:59.520-07:00Insanity in the Name Of<div class="body" id="item619571">Philosophical Discussion Forum looked to be as good a place as any for me to put this little bit. I love the idea of pantheism because it puts a little bit of god in all of us and doesn't require belief in supernatural beings or outright atheism either one. That said, this is what I want people to THINK about. WHY in a thousand lifetimes would ANYONE want a God that condoned killing? I know a lot of people will condem me for daring to broach the subject, but why can't we worry about GOOD rather than a GOD? Are we so greedy as a species that we have to create the illusion of immortality in order to feel good about our little egos? I notice a recurring theme in world events. It seems that the three religions that trace their roots back to Abraham are the CAUSE of nearly all the EVIL that makes the news these days. I like what John Lennon said a few years ago, IMAGINE. Imagine no religion. Imagine a world where people loved and helped each other rather than throw stones over differences that are about of all things something that doesn't even exist except in their overactive imaginations and some really old books. Who should we believe? People that wrote on clay with sticks and sat in the dark with animals or scientists with electron microscopes and the very best of computers and sensing devices? I could care less how someone chooses to view or not view god. I CARE very much when they take up arms over an illusion that no man has ever seen and that furthermore seems to be at the root of nearly every war that was ever fought. Always this god. I wish I could catch it and put it in a bottle in the Museum of Natural History. oops...supernatural I should have said. Sorry if I stepped on anyones toes with this but the more I look at the headlines the more sure I am when I say enough of religion is ENOUGH when it is the fuel for the fire of murder and hate. Thanks for hearing my unpopular side of this. </div>December 28, 2008 | <a href="http://freeyourself.squarespace.com/contributor/3347241" title="Unregistered Commenter"> <img alt="Unregistered Commenter" class="inline-icon" src="http://freeyourself.squarespace.com/layout/iconSets/dark/user-unregistered.png" title="Unregistered Commenter" />Frank (swampcat59@yahoo.com) </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-27703395548842391662010-06-15T22:49:00.000-07:002010-06-23T22:25:39.233-07:00ZEITGIEST (MOVIE)This is a MUST-SEE film for anyone who is interested in the meaning of life.<br />
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<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-594683847743189197&hl=en&fs=true" style="height: 326px; width: 400px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3906574-10786315" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.megasuits.com';return true;" target="_blank"><img alt="Fathers Day 25% Off Sale!" border="0" height="58" src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3906574-10786315" width="226" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3906574-10535524?sid=Zeitgiest+Movie" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.familychristian.com';return true;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="250" src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-3906574-10535524" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-62815326673102574242010-05-13T10:47:00.000-07:002010-05-27T07:11:51.606-07:00THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT NOTHING - FRANK ZAPPA (VIDEO)The meaning of life is clearly laid out in this masterful musical arrangement by the immortal Frank Zappa. Thank you Mr. Zappa! You are a true guiding light. <br />
I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do: <br />
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<object height="305" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0liNBOnSqD8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0liNBOnSqD8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="305"></embed></object><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gotvape.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=696_15_1_89"><img border="0" src="http://www.gotvape.com/idevaffiliate/banners/99combo_01e.gif" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-20306793818095064642010-05-08T08:10:00.000-07:002010-05-08T08:25:40.247-07:00SUBGENIUS FETTUCCINISUBGENIUS FETTUCCINI: Rev. Stang is a constant source of comfort and inspiration to me.<br />
Happy Mother's Day! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laqLtEEadzc">SUBGENIUS FETTUCCINI</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="305" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3235yPHyw1M&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3235yPHyw1M&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="305"></embed></object></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/tplclick?lid=41000000029413814&pubid=21000000000269262"><img alt="Shop Campmor Today!" border="0" src="http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/tplimage?lid=41000000029413814&pubid=21000000000269262" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-19586922235703963862010-04-19T23:22:00.000-07:002010-05-27T18:43:07.989-07:00OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE (VIDEO)In order to understand the meaning of life one must first understand his/her place in it...you can watch this series of six parts right here just hover your cursor over the player, after the first part is over and then select Part 2.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/3i102kjspjr6AG7DCEB687C78EDB?sid=Books+1" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.biggerbooks.com';return true;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/hr79uuymsqBFLCIHJGBDCHCDJIG" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-18305934724538713842010-04-03T16:06:00.000-07:002010-04-03T16:06:20.119-07:00Philosophy Football - Monty Python<object width="400" height="305"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/79vdlEcWxvM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/79vdlEcWxvM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="305"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-4935064912081645702009-12-11T12:45:00.000-08:002010-02-05T19:37:02.506-08:00Satanic Cult In Arizona?Are they comedians? Quacks? A dangerous cult? <br />
Or, are they as they claim, just atheists and agnostics having a little fun?<br />
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Let me know what you think. See the little comment button at the bottom of this post?<br />
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<object width="400" height="305"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XzjTs1QC5Ok&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XzjTs1QC5Ok&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="305"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-63011303722265008652009-06-17T00:18:00.001-07:002017-05-15T17:55:10.947-07:00On Free Will and Determinism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Long has the debate raged over<a href="http://able2know.org/topic/138901-1"> free will</a> versus determinism. I have had discussions with several people recently relating to creative visualization: Books which espouse the <a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/">philosophy</a> that we all create our own reality and thus are the architects of our own destinies have become very popular lately. I believe that people have limited freedom of choice within certain environmental and economical limitations.<br />
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The very popular (and profitable) book, <a href="http://www.thesecret.tv/">THE SECRET</a>, written by Rhonda Byrne, has made it popular among the middle and upper classes to espouse the philosophy that the Universe is some kind of gigantic wish-granting machine, designed to give us anything we ask for. According to this book all we have to do to harness the power of this beneficent Universe-Genie, is to practice envisioning what is we want in great detail and then behaving as if we already have it. According to the book, <a href="http://www.linktv.org/video/4626/ehrenreich-did-positive-thinking-crash-the-us-economy">bad things only happen to people who engage in negative thought</a>--unfortunately, it appears that this magical wish-giving machine can’t tell the difference between fears and hopes; as a result, <a href="http://www.linktv.org/video/4626/ehrenreich-did-positive-thinking-crash-the-us-economy">optimistic people lead happy and successful lives</a>, while pessimists are constantly seeing their worst fears come true. In my opinion this book should be categorized with such things as horse-feathers, bull-pucky, and gobeldy-gook.<br />
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In order to accept such a philosophy one must assume that tragedy is caused by negative thought, instead of the other way around. I do agree that there is great power in positive thinking, and I think I am generally regarded by my friends as a fairly positive and optimistic person. In my opinion, a more realistic model of the factors influencing "<a href="http://mw1.meriam-webster.com/dictionary/success">success</a>" can be found in Malcolm Gladwell's book, <a href="http://www.gladwell.com/outliers/index.html">OUTLIERS</a>. Mr. Gladwell offers a refreshing look at the way our society thinks about success and brings up some astonishing statiscal facts to make his point. Let me ask you to ponder these questions:<br />
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1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How did the first negative thought originate?<br />
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2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why are some people gifted with this magical ability to <a href="http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000009.htm">think positively</a> all the time, while so many others seem to be unable to do so?<br />
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3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Am I a <a href="http://www.linktv.org/video/4626/ehrenreich-did-positive-thinking-crash-the-us-economy">negative thinker</a> for writing this article?<br />
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I believe that <a href="http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma-3715/changing.asp">negative thought</a> is born out of negative experience. In this way people are a little like tape-recorders: their experiences become a part of their persona. Not only do <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1247850/Positive-thinking-makes-sick-JENNI-MURRAY-hates-self-help-industry.html">negative experiences teach us to avoid unpleasant situations</a> or circumstances, they can also be useful in teaching us to survive. For instance, if I burn myself on a hot stove, I learn through <a href="http://www.mu6.com/psychology.html">negative association</a> not to get to close to hot stoves. Conversely, if I hear a song that I enjoy, I know that I will probably enjoy hearing it again in the future. Also, if I try a food I like, I am likely to try it again.<br />
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I see it as normal that <a href="http://slfedctn.blogspot.com/">wealthy and successful people</a> should believe in free will. When a person is successful at what they set have out to do, it is natural that they should have such a belief. But how many <a href="http://tcrsnst.blogspot.com/">struggling, poor or poverty stricken people</a> believe in free will? Let’s not forget that there are forces beyond our control which shape our destinies. Were the victims of the <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.asiantsunamivideos.com/Khao-Lak-by-German-Tourist.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.asiantsunamivideos.com/&usg=__B7hFLD4YiqShbZf8B75l4ndeR3I=&h=200&w=250&sz=4&hl=en&start=7&sig2=X-jgr-5GbzVHlHikwipa4g&um=1&tbnid=ZPMYGS2xm2bLPM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3D2004%2Btsunami%2Bvideos%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1&ei=rMI5SvnIE6G6sgODmonUAw">2004 Tsunami</a> or <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.stormvideo.com/catalog/images/72706006.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.stormvideo.com/catalog/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dproduct_info%26products_id%3D5&usg=__oy51vRN4Y7EGjMZcJyhKGq6L0YE=&h=404&w=540&sz=57&hl=en&start=2&sig2=JmZGAD4k4j6zOuWCKu8Tpw&um=1&tbnid=rbrgXp6WOrnoyM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhurricane%2Bkatrina%2Bdamage%2Bvideos%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1&ei=Y8M5StPFL5u4sgPOr4zfBg">Hurricane Katrina</a> simply negative thinkers? How much free will do you think an orphaned child in war-torn Iraq has? One friend of mine from a fairly affluent family argued that she knew a young man who had come to the United States from war-torn Iraq to become a successful and popular musician. After I pointed out to her that there were many talented and deserving musicians in Iraq who didn't make it out, she had no reply. My wealthy and successful readers will find this distasteful, but I will put it to you that a person’s <a href="http://hinduism.about.com/od/gurussaints/a/success.htm">success in life</a> depends more on luck (environment) than anything else. Look at the weeds in a nearby vacant lot. Why do some weeds grow to be larger than others? Generally, life grows to the limits that it's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource">resources</a> allow. That is how dominant humans have managed to occupy virtually every bit of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth">habitable space</a> on the planet.<br />
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Of course, success usually (not always) requires<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/talent"> talent</a>, <a href="http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/06/self-discipline/">self-discipline</a>, and sacrifice, but without a certain amount of good <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luck">luck</a> these qualities are not enough. Although I know people with vast estates, I have never met anyone who called themselves rich. My wealthiest friends say they are just middle class—they always point their fingers to others who have more, maybe a few of them consider themselves to be lucky. I suppose “wealth” is a very relative term. I do not equate success with wealth. For the purposes of this discussion, success should be defined as having achieved a sense of <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/well-being/">well-being</a> and satisfaction with one’s accomplishments in life and an <a href="http://www.marygersten-thetruth.com/">ability to pursue one’s true passion</a>.<br />
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One might say that a person’s measure of free will is directly proportionate to his or her wealth. I will agree with this only to a certain degree for there are certainly other factors which can either add to or decrease a person’s free will. Even the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes_list_of_billionaires">wealthiest man on Earth</a> can’t visit a nearby star should he so desire, although it’s possible that we might reach such a goal collectively as a race someday. Of course, an individual’s free will is also relative to his or her desires. In other words, if a person wants nothing more than to eat, drink, defecate, urinate, meditate and sleep, one could say s/he would even have free will in prison.<br />
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Although it might be pleasant for one to believe that all of the good fortune a person enjoys is due to the fact that they simply have a <a href="http://www.mlmphonepro.com/personal-development/seven-signs-of-a-great-attitude/">great attitude</a> and know how to ask for what they want, but if you ask any one of the millions of struggling, <a href="http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/poverty-stricken.html">poverty stricken people</a> in the world to believe that all they have to do is “be positive” and their bad luck will change, this author thinks that most would disagree.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-57022855447684918082009-03-20T18:28:00.000-07:002010-09-06T16:27:58.153-07:00Monty Python's Meaning of Life Song:<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JWVshkVF0SY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JWVshkVF0SY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-13169070406971376092009-03-20T18:24:00.000-07:002010-09-06T16:30:20.892-07:00Insanity In The Name Of Religion<div class="discussion-comment-thread"><div class="comment-wrapper authored-by-freeyourself"><div class="comment" id="post625595"><div class="discussion-comment-thread"><div class="comment-wrapper authored-by-None"><div class="comment" id="post619571"><div class="body" id="item619571">Philosophical Discussion Forum looked to be as good a place as any for me to put this little bit. I love the idea of pantheism because it puts a little bit of god in all of us and doesn't require belief in supernatural beings or outright atheism either one. That said, this is what I want people to THINK about. WHY in a thousand lifetimes would ANYONE want a God that condoned killing? I know a lot of people will condem me for daring to broach the subject, but why can't we worry about GOOD rather than a GOD? Are we so greedy as a species that we have to create the illusion of immortality in order to feel good about our little egos? I notice a recurring theme in world events. It seems that the three religions that trace their roots back to Abraham are the CAUSE of nearly all the EVIL that makes the news these days. I like what John Lennon said a few years ago, IMAGINE. Imagine no religion. Imagine a world where people loved and helped each other rather than throw stones over differences that are about of all things something that doesn't even exist except in their overactive imaginations and some really old books. Who should we believe? People that wrote on clay with sticks and sat in the dark with animals or scientists with electron microscopes and the very best of computers and sensing devices? I could care less how someone chooses to view or not view god. I CARE very much when they take up arms over an illusion that no man has ever seen and that furthermore seems to be at the root of nearly every war that was ever fought. Always this god. I wish I could catch it and put it in a bottle in the Museum of Natural History. oops...supernatural I should have said. Sorry if I stepped on anyones toes with this but the more I look at the headlines the more sure I am when I say enough of religion is ENOUGH when it is the fuel for the fire of murder and hate. Thanks for hearing my unpopular side of this. </div><div class="signature">December 28, 2008 | <a href="http://freeyourself.squarespace.com/contributor/3347241" title="Unregistered Commenter"> <img alt="Unregistered Commenter" class="inline-icon" src="http://freeyourself.squarespace.com/layout/iconSets/dark/user-unregistered.png" title="Unregistered Commenter" />Frank </a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654605407489853876.post-20550600088044952822009-01-27T12:11:00.000-08:002009-01-27T13:53:30.536-08:00<p>What is the meaning of life? Who are we? Where did we come from? What is our Purpose? FreetheGods.com invites you to post your theories, Ideas, or beliefs.</p> <object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/27-VCulMf0U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/27-VCulMf0U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object> <p>I'll kick it off with a little food for thought on <a href="http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Scientific+Panthiest">Pantheism</a>:</p><p>I am a <a href="http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Scientific+Panthiest">Pantheist</a>. I don't believe in the traditional concept of God. Instead, I think of <a href="http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Scientific+Panthiest">the Universe itself as God</a>, and conscious life as a vehicle by which the Universe may view itself. In that sense, each and every conscious being is a manifestation of the Universe (God); hence the name of the site, FreetheGods.com.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1