Learn about religions. It's called free will. Earth is run by humans who invented everything you mentioned, and still allow it to continue. No one actually 'goes' to heaven, at least, not in the bible, that's just church fabrication, and only some churches!
God has nothing to do with your misconstrued notions of religion.
IANAC, however, like a true scientific skeptic, i've actually read what the bible contains and don't argue against fairy tales that the church and misguided individuals have created. You have heard of Straw men right?
I'm sure you've heard the ubiquitous 'Use the source Luke'. Read the source!
Haha, of course that would take away the fun of unfounded generalizations against religion, and this is slashdot after all!
Heehee, when did i say i dislike the american people? Also, i'm not biased against US culture, i just don't like the effects of any unsustainable culture. Ethnocentrically biased? What color is the sky in your world?:)
Hands don't spit, and mine certainly wasn't:) Yes, the cost of living it is increasing, except it's other countries who are currently paying the cost. It will take a little while longer for it to reach the shores of the rich western countries.
What makes you think i'm jealous of 'American Prosperity? Why would i be jealous of pollution, disease, food that tastes like crap, and horrible city planning? All so i can buy more gadgets and entertainment to keep my mind off of how unfulfilled my life is?
You need to learn to read what is actually written down in front of you, and not automatically attach all of your subjective connotations to the printed message. You keep accusing me of things i've never said.
And believe me, i have nothing against the great technological advances that the states has made possible. Their way of implementing and achieving those results is a different story. Needless to say though, if it weren't for things like the internet and the knowledge sharing it made possible, i would never have been able to walk like i can now.:)
Now you did ask a question, so i'll give you my best answer. How i see it, is that the people in wealthy western countries complain because they literaly live in luxury and have the time/knowledge to know that things can be better. They are far removed from the struggle of existence to see the possible effects of that struggle. Dictators complain because they know that gadgets and entertainment strips them of their power and hands it over to the companies and the media. The ones who are struggling, literally living back breaking lives (check out all the old people in places like nepal, it's hunchbacks everywhere), they won't complain if it gives them some respite. When you're literally being broken down everyday, it's a lot easier to not be concerned about what that plastic is going to do to your environment twenty years down the road. All you know is that right now, it'll allow you to buy more food, clothing, shelter, and not necessarily sufficient food, clothing, etc...
Not to mention that a lot of those cultures lack basic education. While in Nepal, i was amazed at how many people thought that solar hot water panels/tanks magically made the water hot even if the sun wasn't out! One place we stayed at couldn't understand that a huge hole in the outer shell of a thermos prevented the thermos from keeping liquids warm. It's literally magic to them, they are like children and i would say that our children at about 10 years old, probably have a more complete grasp of the world and how it works than they do. It should be our responsibility to help these people, not dump garbage on them:)
Check out The Weapon by Frederic Brown. That's the best i could find cause i'm lazy:)
Wow, pretty full of yourself eh? Love the generalizations you've made about me:)
How about, this whole way of living, of which cars are just a small part, is not sustainable. You know, it's actually good for people to utilize their bodies, it keeps them from breaking down. I'd hate to see the american way spread further than it already has. Then again, lots of people are lazy indulgent f@#ks, and just hope the tech keeps up with all the damage their unsustainable, destructive way of living causes.
Thank god i'm not an economist with their pie in the sky ideas of infinite resources. I guess the americans will be better of with this, since they were smart enough to preserve a lot of their own natural resources and convince other countries to rape their own lands and send the resources to them. Wait, is that smart? Or just plain Evil?
Perhaps you should travel the world to see the actual cost of your 'efficient' way of living.
How about increased friction as we enter denser space causing the heliosphere to collapse?
Is there anybody actually looking at that? After all, our bodies maintain pretty average temperatures, but we know that if we spend too much time where it's hot, suprise, our bodies start to heat up.
I think you don't fully understand the word efficient. I believe you're looking for the words 'easy and cheap'. Anything that isn't sustainable and destroys your resources is not efficient.
Perhaps our (Canadian) suburbs are different. I live surrounded by trees, and yet, if i walk two blocks in any direction i can reach a mall, about 5 strip malls, a forest, 4 parks, 4 major grocery stores, a rec centre, library, 3 schools, and a plethora of restaurants and businesses.
Don't you guys usually have to drive out of your suburbs to get anything done?
I'm not quite so sure why everybody thinks china is so short sighted that they haven't foreseen this. Hell, they've been developing a plan to make themselves a super power for the last century, and it's working!
People need to start seriously looking at it from China's viewpoint and what you would do in their place. The US's biggest downfall is thinking everybody else is stupid. China will own the states. Everybody doesn't think it's possible because of imaginary laws that are put in place like IP. China already sells 'pirated' goods to all of Asia, regardless of copyright or IP. They really don't need the States, so what people need to do is stop thinking China doesn't know what it's doing and start figuring out exactly what it is that they are accomplishing, i.e., what is their end goal that everything they've been doing is set to accomplish.
I feel kind of bad/sad because i'm Canadian, and one of the first things the States is going to do after they find out they're done for is to rape their neighbors.
Scientists might not get into it for the fame. However, working in the labs of some prestigious researchers, i've seen how much some will overlook to keep that top dog position.
I think it seems to blind them to the bigger picture sometimes. They are human after all.
The usage you are describing doesn't require any bar code scanning
You expect some site to have all the prices for local stores (good luck on that), if they had that, tie that into google maps and create a shopping planner that (get this) will even factor in price of gas/time for trips to multiple stores.
No, the best use of this would go hand in hand with my new computer interface. The database would be built by the people with the cameras, just point and click, price get's scanned with the barcode (At least in canada, the barcode is included with the price on the shelf), dated, and location selected or gps'd. The only way to get an up to date price database is if the users create it. The database being spread amongst the users a la FreeNET of course.
Which of course would be integrated with the rest of the system, so if the system determines you're low on l-carnitine, it'll suggest some recipes (based on price or some other variable) which contain a good dosage and price out the ingredients and create or add to your shopping list.
I'm hoping to have a working prototype in a month. No name yet, though i currently refer to it as Skynet. Though hopefully it never gets that crazy:)
You do know that's just what you write in your paper if those are the stats you did. It's worded to hopefully get more grants. It's research boilerplate.
I was wondering the same thing for a scalable system i'm designing. I pretty much thought nobody will care without some sort of implementation, and that seems to be the general consensus around here:) Way to get me off my ass and do some coding.:)
Well, i'm certainly enjoying the nice transfers i'm getting from my belkin router to my tx25xx tablet. Now i just wish my internet connection was as fast.
That quote seems to be taken out of context a lot by the church and used as dogma. It does not mean one shouldn't strive towards a greater understanding of god, and this is actually encouraged in other practices.
Yoga is a good place to start. You would be suprised by how many people call themselves scientists but refuse to do a little bit of experimenting on their own. And as you mentionned, it has proven scientific benefits as well. Our body is a machine, might as well give it it's daily maintenance.
As above, so below. Yogis say that the macro universe is reflected in the microuniverse of the body and vice versa. Understanding the mechanical principles of the human body actually leads to a concrete knowing of mechanics and engineering. It has to be so, because the human body exists within the confines of the physical universe, and is constrained by the same forces as everything else. The end goal of yoga asana practice is not physical exertion and a workout. The more you understand the less effort is required, until one moment, you are just riding the breath.
The more one rides the breath, a greater understanding results of what 'the breath' is. Eventually leading to samadhi, which is a trip unto itself, and yet you aren't physically breathing so the high isn't coming from the oxygen:)
But hey, it keeps your body fit, everything else just follows if you're open to it. Of course, an understanding of both the objective and subjective is needed to live a full life. The Architect who uses arches in his buildings but cannot stand on his hands effortlessly does not fully understand arches.
I hope you never close your mind. Good luck with your journey. If you do yoga, try and keep in mind that every asana is a tensegrity. There is no effort required, the structure is held simply by the correct placement of the limbs, and the full breath sustains it.
What's that bible phrase that get's translated fifty million different ways? Be Still -> Know God. The bible has subjective tech in it as well, just very well hidden.
Time and Space are a bit of an illusion created out of the way humans perceive their surroundings. Science is starting to break through those illusions.
Take away Time and Space, and what you are left with is a blob of energy that has always existed. For some strange reason, this energy expands and contracts, becomes complex and then simple then complex ad infinitum.
It's what yogis call the breath of god.
I say they're both totally ridiculous, because they are saying exactly the same thing from a different perspective. Of course, both camps have those who don't fully understand and are dogmatic in their beliefs. As if the Objective could exist without the Subjective and vice versa!
The beauty of it all for a scientist, is that these sages came up with a subjective understanding of the universe that rivals our own objective understanding of the universe, there's is just more poetic.:)
Actually, there are tests you can do depending on the religion/spirituality. Follow the steps and see if you get superpowers.
You my friend, are much more aware than most others here. Give it another decade or so, i think you'll see yourself come to a fuller understanding of what god is.
Everybody's got two brains, most people like to pretend the other one doesn't exist.
So, in science, the Universe can be created out of nothing, but not god?
God existing before the creation of the universe is on par with the big bang. They're both totally ridiculous and yet, almost everybody believes one of them.
What you hear has to do with how you are listening.
Your arguement is based not on god, but on your definition of god.
I'm not trying to make christianity flat, you've done that all by yourself. The body of christ is the roundness, and it has become separated from the church. hmm, just as prophesied in the bible? Perhaps god is testing his children? Jesus said 'test me and i will not be found wanting'. Those who always look outside for god will always be found wanting.
Yes, the trinity is a construction, let us say a possible explanation for Jesus' words. I am my father's son, and following my fathers example i bring inspiration to those who thirst/desire it. When you understand the spirit, you will understand the falseness of the trinity. I'm not saying it's a deliberate falseness, it's quite evident that the spirituality separated from the church quite early on, and it may just be a construction of ignorance.
I'm loosely paraphrasing as it's been decades, and frankly i find other spiritual texts much easier to read. Father doesn't use me on just anybody, so maybe you're ready for more?
1) Jesus also said he was the son of man, and that we are all the sons of god and all equal. This, of course, is the part that the church loves to gloss over as they shove their construction of the trinity down your throat.
The creator isn't the sole property of the christian church you know?
Believe me, i love the bible, it's a little more cryptic than the other spiritual texts, but has exactly the same message, in fact, it makes you work harder to uncover the jewels within. Be still and know that you are god.
Unfortunately the 'new testament' is what the church created and shovels into people, and while similar, has subtle differences that disempower people to discover their true spirituality.
I suggest you read the bible, with open mind and heart, leave the church doctrine at the door.
The concept of Jesus as the son of God and the holy trinity makes Christianity incompatible with Islam & Judaism. The concept you are talking about has nothing to do with christianity as it is an invention of the Catholic church.
I believe you're on the correct track. Our society creates 'black boxes' around everything we deal with. People use iPods and have no clue what exactly is going on inside of the white box. People regularly toss words around like 'penguin' even though they have never seen a penguin in real life, or even know anything about it.
Our schooling system doesn't help, we cram words and ideas that are disconnected from reality into the young minds of tomorrow and then wonder why they don't understand.
It's the whole calculator debacle on a societal level.
Perhaps it's just different strokes for different folks. I could say that i was rather proud of the fact that i never used a calculator all the way through to university. I was able to solve complex equations in my head. On the other side of the coin, i never actually could figure out how to use a calculator. Took me two decades to figure out analog clocks as well:)
I'm sure we're coming to a convergence point where the brains of society and the brawn of society will meld into one. Until then, the brains are always going to be the smaller population.
God has nothing to do with your misconstrued notions of religion.
IANAC, however, like a true scientific skeptic, i've actually read what the bible contains and don't argue against fairy tales that the church and misguided individuals have created. You have heard of Straw men right?
I'm sure you've heard the ubiquitous 'Use the source Luke'. Read the source!
Haha, of course that would take away the fun of unfounded generalizations against religion, and this is slashdot after all!
Hands don't spit, and mine certainly wasn't :) Yes, the cost of living it is increasing, except it's other countries who are currently paying the cost. It will take a little while longer for it to reach the shores of the rich western countries.
What makes you think i'm jealous of 'American Prosperity? Why would i be jealous of pollution, disease, food that tastes like crap, and horrible city planning? All so i can buy more gadgets and entertainment to keep my mind off of how unfulfilled my life is?
You need to learn to read what is actually written down in front of you, and not automatically attach all of your subjective connotations to the printed message. You keep accusing me of things i've never said.
And believe me, i have nothing against the great technological advances that the states has made possible. Their way of implementing and achieving those results is a different story. Needless to say though, if it weren't for things like the internet and the knowledge sharing it made possible, i would never have been able to walk like i can now. :)
Now you did ask a question, so i'll give you my best answer. How i see it, is that the people in wealthy western countries complain because they literaly live in luxury and have the time/knowledge to know that things can be better. They are far removed from the struggle of existence to see the possible effects of that struggle. Dictators complain because they know that gadgets and entertainment strips them of their power and hands it over to the companies and the media. The ones who are struggling, literally living back breaking lives (check out all the old people in places like nepal, it's hunchbacks everywhere), they won't complain if it gives them some respite. When you're literally being broken down everyday, it's a lot easier to not be concerned about what that plastic is going to do to your environment twenty years down the road. All you know is that right now, it'll allow you to buy more food, clothing, shelter, and not necessarily sufficient food, clothing, etc...
Not to mention that a lot of those cultures lack basic education. While in Nepal, i was amazed at how many people thought that solar hot water panels/tanks magically made the water hot even if the sun wasn't out! One place we stayed at couldn't understand that a huge hole in the outer shell of a thermos prevented the thermos from keeping liquids warm. It's literally magic to them, they are like children and i would say that our children at about 10 years old, probably have a more complete grasp of the world and how it works than they do. It should be our responsibility to help these people, not dump garbage on them :)
Check out The Weapon by Frederic Brown. That's the best i could find cause i'm lazy :)
How about that category of human?
How about, this whole way of living, of which cars are just a small part, is not sustainable. You know, it's actually good for people to utilize their bodies, it keeps them from breaking down. I'd hate to see the american way spread further than it already has. Then again, lots of people are lazy indulgent f@#ks, and just hope the tech keeps up with all the damage their unsustainable, destructive way of living causes.
Thank god i'm not an economist with their pie in the sky ideas of infinite resources. I guess the americans will be better of with this, since they were smart enough to preserve a lot of their own natural resources and convince other countries to rape their own lands and send the resources to them. Wait, is that smart? Or just plain Evil?
Perhaps you should travel the world to see the actual cost of your 'efficient' way of living.
Is there anybody actually looking at that? After all, our bodies maintain pretty average temperatures, but we know that if we spend too much time where it's hot, suprise, our bodies start to heat up.
I think you don't fully understand the word efficient. I believe you're looking for the words 'easy and cheap'. Anything that isn't sustainable and destroys your resources is not efficient.
Don't you guys usually have to drive out of your suburbs to get anything done?
See, no need to move :)
People need to start seriously looking at it from China's viewpoint and what you would do in their place. The US's biggest downfall is thinking everybody else is stupid. China will own the states. Everybody doesn't think it's possible because of imaginary laws that are put in place like IP. China already sells 'pirated' goods to all of Asia, regardless of copyright or IP. They really don't need the States, so what people need to do is stop thinking China doesn't know what it's doing and start figuring out exactly what it is that they are accomplishing, i.e., what is their end goal that everything they've been doing is set to accomplish.
I feel kind of bad/sad because i'm Canadian, and one of the first things the States is going to do after they find out they're done for is to rape their neighbors.
I think it seems to blind them to the bigger picture sometimes. They are human after all.
The usage you are describing doesn't require any bar code scanning
You expect some site to have all the prices for local stores (good luck on that), if they had that, tie that into google maps and create a shopping planner that (get this) will even factor in price of gas/time for trips to multiple stores.
No, the best use of this would go hand in hand with my new computer interface. The database would be built by the people with the cameras, just point and click, price get's scanned with the barcode (At least in canada, the barcode is included with the price on the shelf), dated, and location selected or gps'd. The only way to get an up to date price database is if the users create it. The database being spread amongst the users a la FreeNET of course.
Which of course would be integrated with the rest of the system, so if the system determines you're low on l-carnitine, it'll suggest some recipes (based on price or some other variable) which contain a good dosage and price out the ingredients and create or add to your shopping list.
I'm hoping to have a working prototype in a month. No name yet, though i currently refer to it as Skynet. Though hopefully it never gets that crazy :)
You do know that's just what you write in your paper if those are the stats you did. It's worded to hopefully get more grants. It's research boilerplate.
That only happens if you have bad karma :)
I was wondering the same thing for a scalable system i'm designing. I pretty much thought nobody will care without some sort of implementation, and that seems to be the general consensus around here :) Way to get me off my ass and do some coding. :)
Who doesn't enjoy proverbs? And psalms? It's like good Rumi or Shakespeare. Everything has a nugget of truth in it, some poetry is more chunky :)
Well, i'm certainly enjoying the nice transfers i'm getting from my belkin router to my tx25xx tablet. Now i just wish my internet connection was as fast.
They just failed miserably in the implementation :)
Yoga is a good place to start. You would be suprised by how many people call themselves scientists but refuse to do a little bit of experimenting on their own. And as you mentionned, it has proven scientific benefits as well. Our body is a machine, might as well give it it's daily maintenance.
As above, so below. Yogis say that the macro universe is reflected in the microuniverse of the body and vice versa. Understanding the mechanical principles of the human body actually leads to a concrete knowing of mechanics and engineering. It has to be so, because the human body exists within the confines of the physical universe, and is constrained by the same forces as everything else. The end goal of yoga asana practice is not physical exertion and a workout. The more you understand the less effort is required, until one moment, you are just riding the breath.
The more one rides the breath, a greater understanding results of what 'the breath' is. Eventually leading to samadhi, which is a trip unto itself, and yet you aren't physically breathing so the high isn't coming from the oxygen :)
But hey, it keeps your body fit, everything else just follows if you're open to it. Of course, an understanding of both the objective and subjective is needed to live a full life. The Architect who uses arches in his buildings but cannot stand on his hands effortlessly does not fully understand arches.
I hope you never close your mind. Good luck with your journey. If you do yoga, try and keep in mind that every asana is a tensegrity. There is no effort required, the structure is held simply by the correct placement of the limbs, and the full breath sustains it.
What's that bible phrase that get's translated fifty million different ways? Be Still -> Know God. The bible has subjective tech in it as well, just very well hidden.
Take away Time and Space, and what you are left with is a blob of energy that has always existed. For some strange reason, this energy expands and contracts, becomes complex and then simple then complex ad infinitum.
It's what yogis call the breath of god.
I say they're both totally ridiculous, because they are saying exactly the same thing from a different perspective. Of course, both camps have those who don't fully understand and are dogmatic in their beliefs. As if the Objective could exist without the Subjective and vice versa!
The beauty of it all for a scientist, is that these sages came up with a subjective understanding of the universe that rivals our own objective understanding of the universe, there's is just more poetic. :)
It'll be fun to see when they meet in the middle.
You my friend, are much more aware than most others here. Give it another decade or so, i think you'll see yourself come to a fuller understanding of what god is.
Everybody's got two brains, most people like to pretend the other one doesn't exist.
God existing before the creation of the universe is on par with the big bang. They're both totally ridiculous and yet, almost everybody believes one of them.
Your arguement is based not on god, but on your definition of god.
I'm not trying to make christianity flat, you've done that all by yourself. The body of christ is the roundness, and it has become separated from the church. hmm, just as prophesied in the bible? Perhaps god is testing his children? Jesus said 'test me and i will not be found wanting'. Those who always look outside for god will always be found wanting.
Yes, the trinity is a construction, let us say a possible explanation for Jesus' words. I am my father's son, and following my fathers example i bring inspiration to those who thirst/desire it. When you understand the spirit, you will understand the falseness of the trinity. I'm not saying it's a deliberate falseness, it's quite evident that the spirituality separated from the church quite early on, and it may just be a construction of ignorance.
I'm loosely paraphrasing as it's been decades, and frankly i find other spiritual texts much easier to read. Father doesn't use me on just anybody, so maybe you're ready for more?
The creator isn't the sole property of the christian church you know?
Believe me, i love the bible, it's a little more cryptic than the other spiritual texts, but has exactly the same message, in fact, it makes you work harder to uncover the jewels within. Be still and know that you are god.
Unfortunately the 'new testament' is what the church created and shovels into people, and while similar, has subtle differences that disempower people to discover their true spirituality.
I suggest you read the bible, with open mind and heart, leave the church doctrine at the door.
Our schooling system doesn't help, we cram words and ideas that are disconnected from reality into the young minds of tomorrow and then wonder why they don't understand.
It's the whole calculator debacle on a societal level.
Perhaps it's just different strokes for different folks. I could say that i was rather proud of the fact that i never used a calculator all the way through to university. I was able to solve complex equations in my head. On the other side of the coin, i never actually could figure out how to use a calculator. Took me two decades to figure out analog clocks as well :)
I'm sure we're coming to a convergence point where the brains of society and the brawn of society will meld into one. Until then, the brains are always going to be the smaller population.