I can see the rationale for this viewpoint, but at the same time, I consider it terribly limiting. Restricting your beliefs to those things which can be sensed is just as one-sided as pure mysticism--you've just chosen a different dogma from which to start.
I see mysticism as, in part, an intuitive leap forward from the senses. It's certainly not going to be as accurate as relying strictly on sensory input, but it is an enabler for seeing farther than your senses allow.
I believe the right path, if one can be said to exist, lies in a balance of sensory grounding with mystic thought and practice. To use science as an analogy, it is the great foundation of experimental evidence which grounds us, but it is the imagination and intuition of where to look next that provides progress and inspiration.
The complete skeptic may, IMHO, minimize the risk of being wrong. This same conservatism and fear, though, may inhibit personal growth and understanding of the world that surrounds us.
He seems to be a regular guest writer at Suck, and though I don't always agree with his opinions, I really enjoy his dry humor.
Several years ago I stumbled upon An Entirely Other Site which is a sort of journal of observations by Mr. Knauss. It's one of those sites that you read the first couple and then turn your 30 second hyperlink jaunt into a more extended voyage as you dive into the archives...
Anyhow, electric cars may avoid the gasoline problem up front, but they still need to get electricity from *somewhere*. In most areas, that electricity isn't coming from solar or wind power, making them not as oh-so-envioronmentally friendly as some people like to think. Better, yes, but more of a dodge than a solution.
If you had actually bothered to look at the article, you'd know that hybrids like the Insight (and the Prius) use regenerative braking and the engine to charge the batteries. These cars aren't more fuel-efficient because they use socketed power to make up the difference; the electrical systems make it possible to use the gas power much more efficiently.
I understand, though. Rushesque spouting off on random topics you haven't bothered to comprehend can be a lot of fun...
decode the file format then hack your char to your heart's content" like in Diablo 1.
Actually, I never saw a hack for the file format for Diablo 1. All the hacks I saw dealt with the character information after it was loaded into memory, where it was stored, presumably, in an unencrypted state.
Did anyone else ever see a true file hack? My impression was that Blizzard did a pretty good job of sercuring the char files, unfortunately, the whole chain-weak-link thing is ESPECIALLY true with security.
Geeks are, almost invariable, arrogant beyond belief. We think of ourselves as motiviated, intelligent, and generally able to figure out anything on our own, given enough time and useful books.
Often, when sitting in a classroom with some dull professor who is more or less reading from a script or book, it's easy to see college as a complete waste of time.
It's not until you find that professor who truly inspires you that you understand why college is a Good Thing. The true power of the human animal is deeply rooted in discussion and communication; learning from someone who has both the experience you lack and the gift to open your eyes is truly a wonderful experience. These are the people who teach you why you aren't nearly as cool as you thought you were. And you'll end up a far better person for it, intellectually as well as socially.
Good teachers are exceedingly rare, and are probably some of our most valuable resource on the planet.
Slashdot Mirror
I see mysticism as, in part, an intuitive leap forward from the senses. It's certainly not going to be as accurate as relying strictly on sensory input, but it is an enabler for seeing farther than your senses allow.
I believe the right path, if one can be said to exist, lies in a balance of sensory grounding with mystic thought and practice. To use science as an analogy, it is the great foundation of experimental evidence which grounds us, but it is the imagination and intuition of where to look next that provides progress and inspiration.
The complete skeptic may, IMHO, minimize the risk of being wrong. This same conservatism and fear, though, may inhibit personal growth and understanding of the world that surrounds us.
Several years ago I stumbled upon An Entirely Other Site which is a sort of journal of observations by Mr. Knauss. It's one of those sites that you read the first couple and then turn your 30 second hyperlink jaunt into a more extended voyage as you dive into the archives...
If you had actually bothered to look at the article, you'd know that hybrids like the Insight (and the Prius) use regenerative braking and the engine to charge the batteries. These cars aren't more fuel-efficient because they use socketed power to make up the difference; the electrical systems make it possible to use the gas power much more efficiently.
I understand, though. Rushesque spouting off on random topics you haven't bothered to comprehend can be a lot of fun...
Actually, I never saw a hack for the file format for Diablo 1. All the hacks I saw dealt with the character information after it was loaded into memory, where it was stored, presumably, in an unencrypted state.
Did anyone else ever see a true file hack? My impression was that Blizzard did a pretty good job of sercuring the char files, unfortunately, the whole chain-weak-link thing is ESPECIALLY true with security.
Often, when sitting in a classroom with some dull professor who is more or less reading from a script or book, it's easy to see college as a complete waste of time.
It's not until you find that professor who truly inspires you that you understand why college is a Good Thing. The true power of the human animal is deeply rooted in discussion and communication; learning from someone who has both the experience you lack and the gift to open your eyes is truly a wonderful experience. These are the people who teach you why you aren't nearly as cool as you thought you were. And you'll end up a far better person for it, intellectually as well as socially.
Good teachers are exceedingly rare, and are probably some of our most valuable resource on the planet.
-Justin