A Catch-22

What if every mundane, repetitive and/or low paying job were replaced by computers/robots just like in Sci-Fi movies?
They already are… from check-out counters to call centers, all types of manufacturing and even… education. I think it’s reasonable to assume that as corporations look for even more ways to cut costs and technology advances, this is [...]

Self-centered cultures narrow your viewpoint
The link above describes a study done with Chinese students who were both born in and recently immigrated to America. In short, the students born in China were more able to intuit the other persons viewpoint (by a landslide) in comparison to the students born in America. The theory is that [...]

Pimp Chronicles

…so worth the time.
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=3426554

the eleventh hour

today is the day i will stop calling myself an atheist. from now on i will call myself a “metaphorisist”. i discussed “metaphorist” with siering, but the definition of that word is: one who makes metaphors. i study metaphors and, as far as i am aware, there is no word for that so, i made [...]

semantics

in almost every spiritual philosophy one of the key arguments is the struggle between tolerance and judgment. in my opinion, the struggle is caused by the juxtaposition of reality and the ideal; i.e.: ideally, you would like to never be judgmental, but in reality, unless you are mentally handicapped and somebody else makes decisions for [...]

The Proverbs of Hell

i just learned of these and i wanted to share…
In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.
Drive your cart and plow over the bones of the dead.
The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.
She who desires but acts not, breeds pestilence.
The cut worm forgives the plow.
She whose face gives no light, [...]

anthrax, bombs and vietnam

i’ve been chomping at the bit to write this one, but alas, my “free internet” privileges have come to an end and i had to make a pilgrimage to the local coffee shop to do it.
this holiday i had the pleasure of meeting someone i have heard only inspiring things about for quite some time. [...]

welcome to the jungle

i have been sick, off and on, since nov. 30th. wee! anyway, i have learned a lot more about non-traditional medicine in these last few weeks…
supplements:
multi
omega 3’s – reduce inflammation
vitamin d – controlling infection
vitamin c – duh
zinc – for sore throat, stimulates the immune system, but should not be taken in large doses for an [...]

the “gifted” class

Stout, M. (2000). The feel-good curriculum: The dumbing down of America’s kids in the name of self-esteem. Cambridge, MA: Perseus.
This book is a direct indictment of the self-esteem movement in North American schools. Stout’s goal is clear and simple: debunk the beliefs and myths disseminated by those “false prophets” who have made self-esteem one of [...]

a few definitions

The DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder are: (don’t try this at home, folks):
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy, as indicated by at least five of the following:
1. a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he [...]