text:
- David Hubbard
- Abbotsford
- Canada
This conversation is closed.
Does anyone think that we can have an efficient, peaceful world?
I think it is possible for the population of the internet, which is over 38% of the population of planet Earth, to collectively design and demand a change in the manner that we are governed. We now have the ability to create a new system, by the people, for the people, worldwide.
Jul 26 2013: I am an optimist about it and think advancement of communication technology can act as catalyst for it but can't think of any time scale.
Jul 26 2013: I agree Salim that our advanced communication systems are facilitating the possibility of making more connections with each other globally. I am optimistic too:>)Jul 26 2013: Now is s good time
Jul 27 2013: Yes "NOW" always the most important time one can have .... But is the world ready NOW to embrace peace ?Jul 26 2013: One requirement I would want for one world rule that brings peace would be a visionary leader who could have forseen the technological and scientific advancements of the last 2,000 years. I believe that this prophecy demonstrates that Jesus is such a person.
A second requirement I would have is that this person be a "good shepherd" willing to lay his life down for the sheep. Again, Jesus is such a person.
There may be people who don't believe such a thing is possible. For those I would point them to a second very interesting prophecy Jesus made. "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Some people don't believe there was a Noah, logic would therefore dictate that the end of the age cannot be like the "days of Noah" if there never was a Noah. Yet, Time magazine made the Earth it's "Man of the Year" one year because of the extinctions taking place. Others are creating an "ark" to preserve all species alive. Once again, here is a man who could forsee this end 2,000 years ago. Others could argue that today is nothing like Noah's time. But Jesus didn't say it would be, He said it would be like the "days of Noah". i.e. the day Noah discovered we were heading for a mass extinction, the day Noah decided to build an ark, the day it began to rain, etc.
Jul 26 2013: Curious.................suggest you start building an ark to test the truth in your statement............Oh that's right your name ain't Noah, but are you hearing voices perchance?
Cheers...............Jul 26 2013: Interesting viewpoint.Jul 26 2013: I think we can. I don't know if we will.
Jul 26 2013: It's a choice for each of us as individuals:>)
Jul 26 2013: What about our future children?
Jul 26 2013: They are individuals with choices as well:>)
greg dahlen
Jul 25 2013: sometimes when people put conversations like this I think it tells more about them than about the world. In other words, maybe it's your life that isn't efficient or peaceful, and to some degree it's on you to change it.
- +1
What changes specifically do you want, where do you see yourself being "wrongly governed"?
Jul 26 2013: When we have a natural world that is dying, we have failure of the governing system. When we have an atmosphere that is poisoned and food that is poisoned, we have failure of the governing system. When we have corruption at the highest levels, we have failure of the governing system. War is failure of the governing system. The possibility of atomic destruction of the world as we know it is failure of the governing system. Need I go on?
That is what the current political system has produced. Possibly the general intelligence of the people would work better. Yes, it's on me to dialogue about improvements. I love my grandchildren. What I specifically want is improved survival potential by making corrections in our management system.
Jul 26 2013: I don't know, David, perhaps the optimist sees the doughnut and the pessimist sees the hole. You could on the other hand emphasize the nature preserves being established. You could emphasize how emission controls have reduced air pollution. You could emphasize all the positive leaders with integrity. You could emphasize all the peaceful areas around the world. You could emphasize the end of the Cold War and reduction of nuclear arsenals.
Nothing to say everything is solved. I somewhat think your conversation is too vast, personally I think you should focus in on a much more specific problem. But you know, if you're unhappy with government, you should get involved. Go to your city council meetings, vote, talk to your friends and neighbors about political issues, call in to talk radio programs. I don't know that you're going to think of any radical new way to do politics, it seems more promising to just get involved in the system as it is, and see what specific problems you can help. And as you do this, you may see ways to improve the system itself.
Aug 22 2013: The system needs an overhaul and we have the tools to do it. When the will of the voters is expressed in sufficient numbers, it will play a powerful role in all levels of management.Aug 24 2013: what are you looking at, David, simply getting more people to vote? Sounds good to me. Although already large numbers vote in the biggest, most important elections. Any new ideas how to get more people to vote? I try to point out to people in conversation that it's really in their interest, I mean all kinds of people I talk to.Aug 24 2013: David,
Thank you so much for continuing this dialogue. And I hope that we are not here to convince one another of right and wrong, but to investigate and discover, and i would not claim any expertise in this area.
Can we think as I, the god?
Sir, anything put together by thought, is limited fragmented and conceptual. Concepts, create the illusion of the subjective and the objective dimensions, the subjective as self-identity, and the objective as the "other". In doing so, we attribute certain values, beliefs and the rest to the both loci, and because the attributes are different, inevitably, there is conflict. But what we (and I assume) do, is that we are ignorant of the fact that the inner and the outer are concepts, and they are produced by knowledge. Knowledge as memory, cultural ideological and so on.Knowledge also gives us the false impression that there is such thing as "ugly" and "beautiful", for the sake of the example. These are not realities but concepts. We attribute values and meaning to these concepts, and out of this, we are deriving emotions. Emotions add to the falseness of the realities of the concepts, because now we "feel" something, so there is some truth to the concept. We then, because of the emotions we derive from the meaning (negative and positive) choose one over the other, beautiful over the ugly, and divide perception on this basis. We try and "be" beautiful, and the fashion industry and cosmetics are seeing that we pay the price. And we take this charade in relationships, where we please or displease others, according to our "intent", sometimes on a conscious basis, most of the time unconsciously, as we have been socialized and conditioned. So we make friends and enemies, according again to our use of language and intent, intent based on reward, on gain or loss. This conceptual structure, identifying itself with country, culture, religion, profession, religion and so on, is divisive and conflictual in its' make up.
Aug 25 2013: Mr. Atman, you have made some very insightful remarks.
Unfortunately, much of the terminology you have used, and the deep thoughts you express, are not 'digestable' by everyone reading them.
So, how do you speak to the everyday human, the one who works at menial jobs, and has little education?
How do you make peace with those around you?
Because after all is said and done, there is usually more said than done.
Do you belong to some sort of organization that is promoting peace on a world-wide scale, and do you live in harmony with principles that are not "divisive and conflictual" in it's make-up?
If time allows (because there are only 2 hours remaining in this talk), I would be interested in your answers to my inquiries.
Thanking you in advance for your kind attention,
MaryAug 25 2013: And, may I just add, because you might not come back in time, that I find that love......true love of other's is a wonderful way to create a peaceful world.
LOVE.Aug 23 2013: We still vote people in power, how come that the politicians still do what they want?
And when we take to the streets we get beaten up and arrested.
For as long as we have rulers, a ruling class, they will be ruled by one form of ideology, theirs or ours. Ideology is never all encompassing. Some people will fall between the cracks. I don't see it working.
Ruling can have a functional place, but not one where it interferes with the individuals' freedom to live according to one's deeper conscious will, and that will take thousands of years to happen because we humans do not know what our will is, we are brainwashed to serve and follow orders, beliefs, ideologies, be it from state, church, or other sources. We are afraid to be free. We need security, security creates tribalism, and the rest is like you've said. A free human mind does not need psychological security, it is able to transcend security into the realm of creativity, sameness for change,. The US founders had good plans, implemented wrongly; Marxism is also good, until it comes to implementation.
The problem as I see it is that we do not live for one another, we leave each for our own selves, in a mutually exclusive way, that is only bridged when it comes to safety and security, when we find something to belong to, a surrogate mother, usually in the form of ideology, and ideology itself leads to tribalism, There we are.
Aug 24 2013: I think that we will evolve as a civilisation. I think it will be sooner than we think.
Aug 24 2013: I sincerely hope so, for the sake of the future generations.
Aug 24 2013: We can all play a part, by thinking and talking globally. "I" can be I, the person, or I, the family, I, the species, or the planet, the life or even I, the god. When we think as I, the man, we think mainly about survival and we don't really give a damn about what happens after we die. When we think as family we worry about the kind of a world our grandchildren will inherit and wish them well.
When we think as species, we mourn our seemingly inevitable demise. I, the planet is not a viewpoint we like to take. I, the planet has a bad rash and is covered with cancers all caused by people that think only as men. I, the life is a rarefied dimension, lonely in the mountains. I, the life thinks as this amazing, miraculous, consciousness that we are.
Can we think as I, the god? But of course, it is the essential being that I am, and you are, along with all conscious beings. I, the god is timeless. from it's timeless position, it sees the universe unfold as it should, in time. It sees the unnecessary pain and cries for each hungry child. It is that in us that wants to rejoice and sing. It is that in us that loves. It is that in us that wants peace and contentment.Aug 24 2013: Continued.
But we need concepts and language to communicate in this world, so we are damned both ways, if we do and if we don't. Investigating the world of concepts, and studying semantics, we discover (not that I am an expert in semantics) that the word is not the object, the map is not the territory, words-concepts are merely descriptors and pointers, and not the thing in itself. Unfortunately, any form of identity, "I" as something, is taken by our "operating system" in the brain to be real. When it comes under attack (the conceptual structure), our immune system, the fight-flight mechanism, is deceptively triggered and we end up defending the conceptual structure as though "something real" is coming under attack. This, to my understanding, is the beginning of psychological fear. Physical fear is different, we protect a LIVING ORGANISM, where the psychological conceptual structure is not living, it is an impostor. Out of fear, we seek, like we have stated before, safety, in numbers, tribalism, nationalism, etc. And we fight, conceptually, ideologically, communism, Buddhism, any "ism" that appears to be a threat to the structure just because it is different. We like sameness, because it is like-minded, and we reject difference because the structure, being limited, cannot include and embrace difference, totality. I see what you are saying that by using the "I" as God and everything else, conceptually, we can embrace more, and my take on it, is that somehow, it has to be done without concepts; concepts can, in some way, point to it, but concepts cannot ever replace it. We have a concept called Awareness. Awareness, as a state of mind, rather than a concept, embraces everything because it is not divided, therefore non-conceptual. But we are conditioned to "grasp", to conceptualize and in doing so, create division. In Hinduism, they have two concepts or Sarvikalpa and Nirvikalpa, one is enlightenment with atributes and the second without atributes, or concepts.Aug 24 2013: Continued 2. With atributes, meaning we do not differentiate between atributes, the second without atributes at all. One of the earliest awakening "signs" is to see that concepts are meaningless, without value. We attribute meaning to concept, by value adding. Suppose that "ugly" one day becomes valued and desired, what would that do to the world of fashion and cosmetics, including surgery? (adapt?) Because we attribute values to concepts, in a positive-desirable or negative-undesirable fashion, we are unconsciously invited to desire the positive and avoid the negative, conceptually. But because the concepts relate to physical realities, we end up desiring the objects-people to whom we attribute the positive values, and avoid-reject the ones we attribute the negative ones. And the merry-go-round begins. But this is not all; we now have competition within the realm of the positive values, the self-structure-concept desires more, better, bigger, and we have not only avoidance, we have GREED. Which is nicely disguised as COMPETITION, so that we are accepting of it in a more guilt-less fashion. Then we have the concepts of man, woman, child, with their various attributes and values, and through the concepts and meaning, we impose behaviors and expectations on them, which we call "social norms" and the means of controlling the masses. You break the social norm, you become a "social outcast" especially if you speak against the rulers of your tribe, at different levels. Lose your job, friends, security etc. So we are ruled by concepts, limited by concepts, deceived by concepts. have a look at the Law, that is based on the conceptual assumption of "right and wrong". In reality, there is no right and wrong, right and wrong is a matter of stance and point of view. There is physical suffering, but we cannot take Cancer to court because we have not devised a law against it yet. And right and wrong, as law, is based again, on division, conceptual assumptions elevated to the ran
Johnny Atman
Aug 24 2013: Continued 3. -rank of belief and institutionalized as Truth. And religion is based on the "believe and do not question" statement. So we have inherited an "operating system" that is faulty, and it rules our lives, and this is a fact, undeniably so. Our mind(s) are ruled, rather than being free, and without freedom, we have no chance in hell to do what you are proposing, and this is a statement, rather than something I want to impose, and it can be questioned and debated and I invite debate, this is what we are here for. If we look at the Bible, and I speculate because I am not an expert in it, it says:
- +1
Exodus 20:4
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven (mind, my word) above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." Image, as in self image or God image. Image, meaning conceptualize and take it for Gospel. And yet we do, and as we do, we drive through the red traffic lights. Our rulers make law without questioning us about them, without putting the laws to vote. Where is democracy and freedom in this? We tow the line else we are in prison and the prisons are full of people that protest against the law, in one way or another. And Psychiatry to label us crazy? Why is someone who is poor forced to steal? Why is someone rich tempted to steal? Why is there one law for the poor and another for the rich? The rich get away with murder, and please do not ask for examples, and why if you are a certain color you get shot for carrying a wallet in your pocket? How do you change the laws in the world, so that there is one law for all, not a law that favors one class and not the other?
These, I think are the real questions we have to address, and no disrespect to anything aforesaid.
So, what can we do to educate the people about these issues?
If you could give me your email, I would like to send you an attachment with an inspired poem that came to me in a state of mind of openness.Aug 23 2013: The only way it can happen is when human being start behaving like an robot . As no two minds think the same way, as there prioritise are different
Aug 23 2013: We do have many similarities.
Aug 23 2013: Thank you , my views are most of the times, are based on science than emotional & some times on the closely watched instance. This one is totally biologicalAug 23 2013: Hi David,
I like dancing with you around brilliant ideas. Where should one begin this journey to direct democracy, and is it feasible or is it just another ideal?
Aug 23 2013: The only difference between a poll and a vote is the number of respondents. The larger it gets, the more power it has. What politician would ignore the wishes of a majority of their voters? None. What world ruler would not be affected by the express will of their populace? Very few.
Therein lies the formula for change. Collect votes directly on all decisions, with easy access to information on all sides. Soon we will see that we do not need the political structures to rule ourselves, nation wide or worldwide. We will finally have government by the people, just like the US founders planned.
Comment deleted
Aug 23 2013: Just watch. (I have confidence in the sanity of people.)
Comment deleted
Aug 23 2013: Do you deny that a sane planet is possible?
Comment deleted
Aug 23 2013: rightAug 23 2013: certainly. it merely requires people understanding unselfishness. no govt or power can exist without people yet people can easily exist without govt or power structures. self sufficiency will make the social structures built on dependency redundant.Aug 22 2013: Since the "governs/government" are the ones with the power, why do you think they would give it up for some kind of collective petition. I see no good reason they would.
You also seem to think that the 38% should "collectively design and demand a change in the manner that we are governed"...... What about the 62% Majority don't they get a say?
Aug 22 2013: If the numbers voting are large enough, they will be heard and changes will be made.Aug 22 2013: Hi David,
Can we have peace in this world? Interesting proposition. The question(s) could be: Does peace benefit anyone? Can anyone be in charge of it, control it, sell it, oversee it? Do we really, really know what peace is, not peace as the word, the ideal, but the state of mind that is at peace, at rest? If we did, there would be peace in the world and we would not be seeking it or wondering if it is possible. Someone at peace with themselves and the world would never raise this question. I am afraid but we do not know what peace is, if we seek it, this is obvious. And if we do, it would never becomes a subject, it IS a way of life, an everyday act. But the sad truth is that we do not know what peace is, because peace is not an ideal, not a destination, not an outcome of a method, no matter how many gurus and books you go through. So let's for a moment look at the obstacles to peace, maybe? What are the obstacles to peace, in your opinion, and the opinion of the readers? And what is the source of the obstacles, if we are to remove them and to be left with peace, tranquility, contentment?
Aug 22 2013: To respond to your first question, "Does peace benefit anyone?" I see you have not been in a war zone and experienced desolation and I congratulate you on it. No person should have to endure the death and damage. The lost sons fighting for a cause they don't understand, the beautiful neighbourhood a rubble. This is the reality of war. Peace as in absence from armed conflict, can't be sold but it can be exploited in savings.
We do know the state of mind that is at peace. It is free of anguish, it is happy, it is loving. Peace between people is vital for the realization of oneness to occur, which is peace. The broken bonds in families, the cold and separated neighbourhoods. The ignored and lost. The bonds that bring joy are missing in many peoples lives. Many of us are lonely and isolated people. That is not peace
Our national personality's but a reflection. So we have separatism. The brotherhood of man is isolated in little pockets, all somewhat wary of the other, spending fortunes to defend themselves from some other group. The cost of our international separatism is war. This weakens a country's economy, inhibits trade and loses the support of the people.
The obstacles to peace? Nationally, the war machine is in place and they are afraid to shut it down. Some political supporters like war. Fear is the answer. Individually it is also fear that keeps our war machines in place. It is reliance on our programmed mind, and disconnection from the one life that we are.
Peace must be peace from something. When the honking horn stops there is peace. When the crying child sleeps there is peace. When people stop dying in political conflicts there is peace. When people stop dying of hunger, there will be much more peace in the world, in the nations, in the people.
Peace, tranquility, contentment might be best viewed in reverse. Contentment breeds tranquility and tranquility breeds peace. It is not absence from something so much as it is presence
Aug 22 2013: Hi David,
You have misread my answer, but that's ok. What I meant is that the people behind war mongering, the governments, the economy, idealism, religion, all those who profit from it. That is what I meant.
My country of birth had known war for more than 2000 years, having been invaded by many war mongers, from the Huns, the Romans, Turks etc. I marvel at the rest of your insights. And "Peace must be peace from something.", I am also of the opinion that FEAR is behind all ills. Fear makes people behave in strange ways, neurotic, anxious, unsettled. And governments and the powerful exploit it, until the masses revolt. Then, the army and the police come on the streets, people from among the masses that are given a job and a position, a little taste of power, and the masses are back in fear, serving the Masters. How is peace ever possible where there is fear, exploitation, cruelty? That I would like to know. Not idealistically, but actually, realistically.
Aug 23 2013: Hi Johnny. We are dancing around the same ideas. We need a better way of managing our affairs. Direct democracy could very well be a solution. I think it is worth investigating.Aug 4 2013: In the founding days of the US, our leaders changed "life liberty and the pursuit of property" to be "life liberty and the pursuit of happiness".
The implication and vision in the rewrite should be crystal clear. 300 years after writing that, we are waking up. Green initiatives, increased regulation over pollutants and non-renewable resources, and a change in the mind of people (especially in wealthier nations where we buy and waste more "things") has shifted our values. These small but meaningful changes are evidence that we know there is room for improvement.
We are aware that we are in a state of sub-optimality. We know that through change, we can start moving towards "optimal-ness" (perfection/optimal is not achievable in evolution).
Those of us who have done a deeper dive know that on our current course, disaster is guaranteed.
Indulge me this computer-network analogy as it has correlations that match David's challenge:
A large computer network is extremely expensive. Hardware needs to be designed (process) to support software which is written (laws), system administrators need to be trained (lawmakers, officials), users need to be trained at their workstations (citizens) and an infrastructure needs to be implemented so that the individual terminals link up to the network.
In this analogy, we are running Novell. And because we have not invested or migrated to newer platforms (implement ideas), we are now so out of date the the entire architecture needs to change (all of it, even the wires) before the network crashes.
Right now it is still cheaper to use the out of date system.
Creating change means evangelizing "the finance department" (taxpayers) that we should invest (spend) in a new system (david's ideal). While I am an optimist, odds are the system will have to breakdown so the only choice is the optimal one.
"Once you change yourself, the world around you will change. I am sure of that." (Deepak above). Are we ready to pursue happiness?
Aug 22 2013: If we are on a course where disaster is guaranteed, then perhaps we should turn the ship. Direct democracy is where the people vote for themselves, rather than through representatives. It is not as complex as you would imagine. Secure online voting is already here. It is only a matter of converting more decision making power into the hands of the voters.
Would it make a change? For the voters, absolutely, they'd be empowered. For the status quo? Not so good. They'd have to sell their ideas like everyone else.
With deference to Mr. Chopra. It is avoiding the realisation of oneness to ignore the suffering of others, which, like you, are part of the one timeless life. So it is you that is suffering, it is you that is starving, it is you that is crying.Aug 2 2013: Yes the internet is a changer like any new method of communication and another source of information - telephone, radio, tv all changed society. I have concerns
1. the lack of source - so long as anonymous sources are sited by anonymous people - the noise factor and bad information abounds.
2. loudest shouters will be heard too much
3. are we going to be governed by polls? though sometimes i think we are there now
4. the dictatorship of the majority especially when they are wrong
Aug 22 2013: The lack of source is a very valid concern. Secure communication is filtering out more and more of the lunatic fringe. IP addresses can now be seen at the receiving end. That alone will remove a good part. the schizophrenic input. It's getting better.
The loudest shouters are always there, with their stories, trying to sell their wares. We're all wise to them, but we buy their stuff. All it takes is an ad budget and smart management can sell almost anything.
Why not be governed by the polls? All we have to do is make them secure and able to control duplicate voting and we have government by the people for the people.
The dictatorship of the majority changes presidents. By definition, a dictator is a person, an individual who makes the decisions and gives the orders. The majority is supposed to rule. The chances of better decisions from a majority of people is a lot greater than those of one single individual, with obligations to supporters.
Aug 22 2013: 1. you could always see the ip address on the receiving end. the problem is the validity of the ip - simple dhcp would allow someone to have a range of ips or simple spoofing can hide the ip without reasonable digging. If someone is good, a lot of digging is needed. How we control the sources is key, until then it is buyer beware.
2. It seems clear after the last several elections the RNC, DNC, pac's and candidates assume they can tell lies, semi-lies, and even the truth loud enough people will believe them.
3. most polls are done by sample groups - the unemployment rate is calculated on a sample of 60,000 for example. There was a SF short story where the elections, major decisions, etc was done every 4 years by selecting the common individual from the entire population and on his opinions base everything. the questions were not who to elect but on their leaning on topics. The final line of the story was the individual marching out proudly stating the People had done their civic duty of voting.
4. Dictatorship of the Majority is another name for mob rule. One of the points of the Constitution is to protect the minority from the anger, stupidity, rape murder, etc of the majority. Just look at the US history and you will see examples of this - treatment of the American Indian, Spanish American War, Filipino concentration camps, Japanese Internment, etc. 5 presidents were elected without a plurality and 1 was not elected at all.
Aug 23 2013: The whole idea of democracy is rule by the majority and is based in the premise that the voters know best. The concept of "dictatorship of the majority" is anti democratic. The US history you refer to is all evidence that the representative system needs replacing. Would the voters including the minorities have agreed to the abuses you mention? I doubt it. Would they have agreed to attack Iraq? The allegations of weapons of mass destruction was doubted by many, yet was not refuted publicly. We need to find a better way rather than just naming potential solutions and discarding themAug 24 2013: Saying that the concept of "dictatorship of the majority" is anti-democratic is only true if you are part of the majority. Tyranny/dictatorship of the majority has been noted as a problem within the democratic process since the beginning of the concept of democracy. It is been written about by Plato,
Tocqueville, James Madison, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, etc. There have been recent thesis on the topic
Am I for Democracy, yes but it has imperfections and this is one of them. James Madison is considered one of the Architects of the Constitution and the Senate (a compromise) and the Supreme Court were designed to fight the dictatorship of the majority.
On the abuses, the genocide of the American Indian race and culture was the wish of the vast majority, including both liberals and conservatives in some form.
If you want, we can discuss the Iraq invasion later. 8>))Jul 30 2013: I agree that using the internet is a game changer for democracies. I also agree that this would be a very effective improvement to city government where every resident of the city could participate. However, for this to work globally you would have to eliminate "gunboat diplomacy". I think this can be done by redesigning the city in such a way that it does not need the protection of an overlord. As long as cities pay tax to a federal government I don't believe world peace is possible. A second flaw that is fatal to world peace is that our current design of cities is not sustainable. You cannot live in a way that devours the world's resources and think that this can somehow be ignored and we can all live in peace.Jul 29 2013: Yes, I do believe we can one day, not necessarily in the near future, with the reservation that efficient and peaceful doesn't mean utterly violence and disaster-free, just without conscious escalation, perpetuation or starting of conflict and with any possible natural disaster discovered prior to its unravelling thanks to efficient merger between data-modelling, science and aid organizations.
The above doesn't mean a perfect world. I can envisage a perfect world, but imperfect human beings are not a part of it, at least not in their present form.
When it comes to the perfect system - any system that seems flawless can become corrupt due to imperfect human nature. Then it falls and there's need for a new one. I actually find reason to believe that we live in a new one now, just haven't found a proper name for it yet.
Jul 29 2013: Hello Anna. A very wise and insightful comment. I'm referring more to the political systems we have in place than the natural world. I would simply suggest that the people be empowered to make their own decisions regarding issues that effect them, and be able to direct the government with a voting system that utilizes current technology
Jul 30 2013: Education means empowerment.
Current education systems do not always empower or build awareness. Current technology i.e. internet, among others, is quite efficient at giving people the tools and knowledge to make their own decisions, I agree with that. It is also efficient at distracting them.
I believe TED is doing a great job at both education and building awareness with no so much distraction.
When it comes to directing governments and having an efficient voting system - are you referring to E2D parties?
Christophe mentioned pirate parties, I'm wondering if those could wash the "pirate" theme of their name (it can inspire negative associations which there may be little need for) and work towards a common goal:
http://e2d-international.org/Jul 29 2013: Our world is more peaceful and efficient than it was in the past...
I do think we are improving and need to keep improving.
Can we get a 100% peace and 100% efficiency? No. As we constantly need to adapt to new challenges and changes, we need to evolve with it.
Jul 29 2013: I think we have improved with regards to science and technology, but I don't see the basis to say we have improved in the way in which we govern ourselves.
You could argue that the US experiment with democracy is a major advancement, or you could equally argue that this "experiment" is the result of a failed human government and that this will evolve into an oligarchy in a relatively short period of time (a few hundred years).
Perhaps the real question is how to design an effective sustainable democracy
Jul 29 2013: I think we have improved, and I reffer to Steve Pinker's book 'the better angels of our nature'.
It gives a lot of historical numbers and comparisons that seem compelling to the argument that cooperativity has gone up.
democracy can certainly be inmproved... I think the models of the pirate parties worldwide are a good goal for example (a wikipedia model of democracy)Jul 29 2013: Hello Stuart.
How do we design an effective, sustainable democracy? I think that a government that is controlled by the people for the people would be a great improvement of the existing system of by the representative for their supporters. Democracy started out in Greece and Rome with direct citizen input and that was quite successful for it's day. By internet voting, It can once again be utilized.
The American experiment is manipulated by huge corporate interference, via lobbying and campaign fund support. In true democracy the people rule. It is now technically possible.
Jul 29 2013: Greece was swallowed up by Rome, which was not a democracy.
Greek form of democracy was operated by those with an ownership stake in the community and they governed their community.
I think that having an ownership stake is a critical component that we ignore. For example I think all doctors, nurses, and everyone working in the health care profession has an ownership stake in health care. They should be the ones who make the decision on how to take care of health care. On the other hand every tax payer has an ownership stake on what percent of their taxes they want designated to pay for healthcare. So then, taxpayers vote on how much money to pay for healthcare, the providers come back with the plan on the best way to use that money.
The same can be said of public school teachers and public schools, police, fire men, etc.
As far as war is concerned I think the army should be divided up fairly among the 50 states (that is if you enlist in Virginia as a resident of that state you serve in Virginia). Without an act of war our capability should be strictly defensive. In the event that we are attacked and want to raise an army for a counter attack that would have to be approved state by state. Any state could vote to not go to war, however, when the war is over they would suffer the consequences (Perhaps when the Iraq war is over that state would have to pay a premium for oil).Jul 29 2013: Hello Christophe. Do you think that the present American political system is improving or failing the people?
Jul 29 2013: As I am not an American, it is hard to judge.
I think this talk : http://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_we_the_people_and_the_republic_we_must_reclaim.html
Is probably better than an answer I can give.
I think that a multiple or non-party democratic system is better. I am a member of the pirate party (in Belgium) so partisan for direct (liquid) democracy.... but I am also quite technocratic (as part of the checks and balances), as i think a good argument (scientificaly backed) should override fantasy, even if the fantasy is the majority opinion.
As a European, I am probably more socialist (even though I feel more right-wing in my country)...
and I think what Obama does is not bad (maybe not good enough).
Change your voting system. It will help.Jul 28 2013: Never David never.
As long as the American empire, for example, and others before it, and others after it, continually decide to wage war in what they singularly decide is in their own selfish self interest, and either lie, or get the population to either be so apathetic to whats happening, or believe that "god is on their side".
So that any killing done in the name of such man made empires, or by the men your told by who say they believe in god and on god's behalf that god will automatically forgive or approves of your killing. In short until people own up to the own guilt, their own complicity, their knowledge that they have been lied to, and they didn't care, that they "just followed orders" or that somehow the enemy was/is subhuman... On the other hand, maybe god will forgive, but maybe only if you can explain why - you believed the words of other men, and forgot the word of god - the commandment "thou shalt not kill".
We'll never have a chance of a "peaceful world" ever existing, and unfortunately a few thousand years of history proves that to be the case... and an 'internet" based system, is still completely representative of the have's in this world, the ones that have oppressed, the ones that continue to oppress, so why I ask does anyone think that just because the internet exists, that it will change the mindset of those that govern.
Nor realistically the fact, that with 38%, the minority still rules and forces it's dictates on the rest of us. As I said, and history shows, all you're doing is creating another empire to do the will of man.
Jul 29 2013: Yes, but an empire ruled by the people, not a select few. I agree, those who cannot afford the hardware to go online could be left out, but surely, sharing or community provided access could provide input for the poor. I'm sure that an empowered populace would take a great deal of interest in government management issues, and would participate enthusiastically.Jul 27 2013: David, yes!!
Soon we'll have earthly conditions so beautiful that we will all be wondering "what took so long?"
But do you think humans alone can do it?
Jul 28 2013: No we cant Mary, history show that. We need that meteor and the sooner the better.
Jul 28 2013: I agree with you....no "we" can't.
Jul 29 2013: And that's where we diverge Mary, if "we" can't, then maybe "we" are unworthy and all that it implies. After all, just how many times does someone have to die?Jul 29 2013: No, it simply implies that we do not know how to do it ourselves.
We need help.
And we only die once Tify.......only once.Jul 29 2013: Hello Mary; Do I think that humans alone can do It? Yes I do. We we made the world of people the way it is with all it's flaws, so why should we not be able to fix it?. Collectively, we aren't anywhere as vulnerable to corruption as the individuals that we select to represent us. The general intelligence of the voters has to be wiser than any single individual.


text:
I recommend reading the original thread as I am quoting here only things that caught my eye. The poster is obviously anonymous but is confirmed by reddit mods.
It was for full games. Can't comment too much on this but its purpose was to eliminate the need to ever have to physically hand someone a game that you bought to share with them.
Marc Whitten once told me that at E3, he fully knew Sony kicked our butts and wasn't sure how to deal with people on the demo floor. What he saw repeatedly was after people sat down and played with the Xbox One, the Kinect, the voice controls, the hand gestures, the UI, they had sparks in their eyes. This why we still believe we have the better product.
As I mentioned earlier, I don't know what price point the Xbox One would be at without the Kinect, but it would be much less than 399.
I see it not as a market that no longer exists, but one that haven't been explored due to technological limitations.
It was quite moot. One of our execs had mentioned a Sony dev came up to him at E3 and told him you won the games, we won the gamers.
I code apps for the Xbox One like I code for win8 apps.
Don't know, no official word within the company.
A lot of this information, we don't hear about it until they are announced to the public.
Snapping is only available to certain apps such as IE, Skype, the game DVR upload tool, etc. Game titles cannot be snapped. I have not tried TV input but I did hook up a PC to the Xbox and watched netflix while I skyped someone.
Netflix on the PC with skype(X1) snapped.
Can't comment on the rumor.
The facts are on paper, the PS4 has better specs and the most you can debate is by how much. What I can tell you is I have played Forza, Killer instinct, and Ryse on the Xbox One. They look as good as the games I play on a high end PC. Ryse reminded me of darksiders II.
The goal with having a Kinect ship with every Xbox is to guarantee to game developers if they implement Kinect features into their games, everyone who has an Xbox will be able to experience it. I often see people dismiss the Kinect instantly because they haven't seen it work like I have. It is an integral part of the Xbox One experience.
The number of features on the Xbox One that uses the Kinect is almost too many to count. I can't imagine using the console without it. To me, I see two ways to deal with this.
1) Not require the Kinect to be always plugged in and have all these features turned off by default.
2) Enable these features by default and turn them off if people choose to turn off the Kinect.
The first choice would undermine our guarantee to game developers.
Almost inaudible. I run three at a time and they are drowned out by the fans in the desktops.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Sports Network
DATE & TIME: Saturday, Nov. 3, 4 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Malone Stadium (30,427) -- Monroe, Louisiana. Television: Sun Belt Network, ESPN3.com. Home Record: Louisiana 3-1, ULM 2-1. Away Record: Louisiana 1-2, ULM 4-1. Neutral Record: Louisiana 0-0, ULM 0-0. Conference Record: Louisiana 2-2, ULM 4-0. Series Record: Louisiana leads, 24-23.
GAME NOTES: The ULM Warhawks will try to keep their place atop the Sun Belt Conference standings when they play host to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns on Saturday afternoon.
Louisiana's season got off to a flying start with wins in four of its first five games, with its only loss coming on the road to Oklahoma State (65-24). Since then however, the Cajuns have sputtered, dropping back-to-back conference games, at North Texas (30-23) and at home against Arkansas State (50-27). Their latest defeat was a rare occurrence in Lafayette, as they hadn't lost a game at Cajun Field since Nov. 20, 2010.
Although it got off to a bit of a sluggish start in a win over South Alabama (38-24) last week, ULM has now won five in a row and it is 4-0 in Sun Belt play for the first time in school history. The Warhawks have become bowl eligible for the third time since joining the FBS, but they have yet to actually receive a bowl invite.
These two Pelican State rivals have played a tight series in 47 all-time meetings. The Cajuns have won the last four matchups, the last two by a combined two points, to take a 24-23 series lead.
The Cajuns have one of the most potent offenses in the conference (34.3 ppg, 411 ypg), but they have cooled off in recent weeks. After scoring 37 points or more in each of their first four wins, they haven't topped 27 points in either of their last two losses.
Filling in for an injured Blaine Gautier, Terrance Broadway has played very well, completing more than 63 percent of his passes for 1,251 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding another 233 yards rushing and four scores. He's coming off a career-best 374 yards passing against Arkansas State, but he also tossed a career-worst three interceptions.
Louisiana has put together a very effective running game with multiple backs getting the job done, as Alonzo Harris (401 yards, three TDs) and Effrem Reed (297 yards, three TDs) each average five yards per carry. As a team, it has 15 rushing scores.
Daryl Surgent is coming off a 107-yard performance and now leads the team with 380 receiving yards. Javone Lawson (29 receptions, 376 yards), Harry Peoples (26 receptions, 315 yards), and Surgent each have three receiving touchdowns.
While the Cajuns can put up points in bunches, they oftentimes have difficultly stopping opposing offenses, allowing 28.9 ppg and 437 ypg, and the unit is fresh of its worst conference performance of the season (50 points, 526 yards).
Rodney Gillis has three of the team's seven interceptions and he's also recorded 40 tackles and a fumble recovery. Christian Ringo (3.5 sacks) and Cordian Hagans (three sacks) are the team's best at getting after the quarterback.
While Louisiana's offense has played great, it pales in comparison to what ULM has done this season as it's No. 1 in the conference in scoring (39.2 ppg) and yardage (464.9).
The Warhawks can thank their star quarterback for most of their offensive success, as Kolton Browning has racked up more than 320 yards of offense per game while leading the Sun Belt in total touchdowns with 27, as he is well on his way to being named the conference Player of the Year.
Brent Leonard set a school-record with four touchdown receptions against South Alabama, and he now leads the team in all major receiving categories (51 receptions, 549 yards, seven TDs). Browning has a great group of receivers at his disposal with Tavarese Maye (35 receptions, 353 yards, two TDs), Je'Ron Hamm (32 receptions, 534 yards, thee TDs), and Colby Harper (29 receptions, 303 yards, two TDs) also having fine seasons.
Jyruss Edwards leads the team in rushing (438 yards, six TDs) but Monterrell Washington (222 yards, five TDs) has emerged in recent weeks, earning 19 carries against South Alabama.
The defense has been suspect at times (27 ppg, 364.8 ypg), but paired with the high-power offense, the unit has played plenty well enough to win.
DaCorris Ford (31 tackles) has been a factor behind the line of scrimmage with five tackles for loss and two sacks, but he's also a difference maker in the turnover battle with a team-high three interceptions. R.J. Young leads the team in both tackles (51) and tackles for loss (six).
Louisiana is clearly a better team than it showed in its last game against Arkansas State, but it is in for an even tougher matchup here going on the road to play the league's first place team. ULM has had no stumbling blocks yet in Sun Belt play and don't expect that to change.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: ULM 41, Louisiana 28


text: This silky hair conditioner bestows its juices upon the hair to transform it from dry and coarse to moist and soft. Specially designed to treat damaged or chemically treated hair, Steiner Thirst Quencher Conditioner will give your tresses a powerful energy boost. Be generous. The more your hair drinks the better.


text:
Kangaroo Island is known for its amazing wildlife experiences and some of its best attractions are found in Flinders Chase National Park.From wind-sculpted rock formations that sit atop a smooth granite dome known as Remarkable Rocks to Admirals Arch, a perfect sweep of rock under which the surf pounds and New Zealand Fur Seals play or the beautiful beach at West Bay and the walk to the mouth of the Rocky River, the national park is a must see for any visit to the island.Watch the abundant wildlife or go bushwalking along trails that open up to stunning beaches or allow you to discover the forests and waterways of the park.Live the life of a lighthouse keeper and stay in a cottage at the Cape du Couedic or Cape Borda lighthouses or stay in one of many campgrounds. Cosy self-contained accommodation is also available at Rocky River where you can stay in the historic Postman's Cottage or Mays Homestead.A number of picnic areas and camping areas are available in the park. The Rocky River Campground has all facilities including hot showers. Camping fees apply. Please enquire direct.
Flinders Chase National Park
Cape du Couedic Road
Flinders Chase
South Australia 5223
Toll Free Number
Not available
+61 (08) 8553 4450
+61 (08) 8559 7268
Not available
Follow Flinders Chase National Park


text:
Info Center
Not Just for Athletes
The patients have changed too. "In my 16 years of practice in Sports Medicine, I've treated numerous professional athletes from various national and international golf and tennis tournaments," says Stephen Steele, DO, FAOASM, a Family Medicine physician who specializes in Sports Medicine. "I've also seen my practice evolve to include individuals who get their exercise by simply walking the dog or climbing the stairs in their house."
The benefit of a Sports Medicine physician, for athletes and non-athletes alike, is that they have been trained to focus on the precise diagnosis and treatment of a patient's injury and can make the necessary referrals to safely return them to the activities they enjoy. Dr. Steele notes, "Injury management is precision. Find the exact, right diagnosis…then you can treat it much more efficiently."
Like orthopedic surgeons trained in Sports Medicine, Primary Care physicians specializing in Sports Medicine are well-trained in musculoskeletal medicine and can diagnose musculoskeletal sports conditions. However, they specialize in the non-surgical treatment of musculoskeletal sports conditions while Sports Medicine orthopedic surgeons have additional training for the surgical treatment of these conditions.
According to the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, 90 percent of all sports injuries are non-surgical; therefore, most sports injuries can be treated by a Sports Medicine physician. Injuries requiring surgery are referred to an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Steele adds, "Sports Medicine physicians work collaboratively with orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, occupational therapists, sports psychologists (if necessary) and other health care professionals to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation plan so the patient can get back to doing what they love to do."
In addition to Eisenhower Medical Center's Sports Medicine physicians, the Eisenhower Wellness Institute at the Eisenhower George and Julia Argyros Health Center offers in-depth Sports Medicine consultations. Please call 760-610-7360 for more information.
First time with a Sports Medicine physician?
Dr. Steele recommends that patients share their exercise history with their physician. Be prepared to answer questions like these:
- What type(s) of exercise have you done and for how long?
- Did you stop exercising or stop playing a particular sport? Why?
- Have you changed your routine or equipment? For instance, if you're a runner, did you change your shoes recently?


text:
Exotic Intrigue™ Barbie® Doll
Exotic Intrigue™ Barbie® doll invites you to a place of pure perfection. An intricate gown in rich shades of burgundy and coral features rich golden embellishments. A faux flower graces one shoulder while an oversized bow completes the gown's back. The striking upswept hairstyle is held in place with golden sticks and decorated with another flower. Long, golden earrings complete the exquisite ensemble.
Designed Exclusively for Avon
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.


text:
Industrial reports provide a 360 degree view of an industry. The Industrial market report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the Machinery for Rubber, Plastics and Paper Industries and Other Special Purpose Machinery market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change.
Product coverage: Other Special-purpose Machinery, Paper and Paperboard Production Machinery, Printing Machinery, Rubber and Plastics Processing Machinery.
Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts),
Author:Mike Kinge-mailWeb: www.companiesandmarkets.comPhone: London: +44 (0) 203 086 8600


text:
He Said/She Said: A Bride & Groom-to-be Respond to Questions About Their Upcoming Wedding Day
Couples don't always agree on every wedding detail. We asked a bride and groom-to-be to share their thoughts on everything from the first time they met to the party planning and what they're looking forward to most about their wedding day which for this couple is on August 24, 2013 at the Westmount Country Club in New Jersey! See how their responses compare.
The Bride-to-be: Natasha Desai, 27
The Groom-to-be: Nupam Ashok Patel, 28
When did you get engaged?
She said: March 31, 2012
He said: March 31, 2011 – the day after my birthday!
How did you first meet?
She said: I visited my brother a few times while he was in Med School in Grenada, and occasionally saw Nupam down there. We never officially met, but I remember thinking he was really goofy. We then saw each other when he was back in NYC at a mutual friend's engagement party and began flirting, much to my brother's chagrin.
He said: Natasha came to visit her brother at school once. He and I went to medical school together.
When/how did you first fall in love with your significant other?
She sad: There was a time when Nupam's lease was up and he was staying with me in my apartment in NYC before he moved to Cincinnati. Seeing how amazing it was to be with him day in and day out made me really fall for him.
He said: It was during a trip we took to Costa Rica last year.
What's the most memorable date you've had?
She said: It was more so an experience than a date. We were in Costa Rica last year and wanted to go out to a nice dinner one night. It was pouring rain and we got a little lost on the way there, but after being soaked and nervous we would lose our reservation, we finally made it to the restaurant which was completely empty except for the two of us. It was perfect.
He said: The first one. She looked gorgeous!
What quality do you most admire about the other person?
She said: Nupam is the most selfless person I know. He'll do anything for me and mostly anyone he knows, no questions asked.
He said: She is genuine and spontaneous. (I couldn't pick one!)
What was the best engagement present you received?
She said: My friends gave us gift certificate to a restaurant in Cincinnati where we had our first date when he moved there.
He said: Cash.
What was the weirdest/worst engagement present?
She said: I don't think we got any of those!
He said: I'm not sure… I think we just got cash.
How would you describe the style of your wedding?
She said: If anything, I would say romantic.
He said: Like something in the Guggenheim.
What's been the most fun detail of your wedding to plan?
She said: Once we get closer to the date, I know it will be the food!
He said: The food!
What's been the most difficult detail of your wedding to agree upon?
She said: Nupam agrees with pretty much all of my decisions so there really isn't one!
He said: I'm pretty easy going so we haven't had any time-consuming disagreements.
What do you look most forward to: the wedding day, the wedding night, the honeymoon?
She said: Wedding night!
He said: Honeymoon.
What will be the most unique detail at your wedding ceremony/reception?
She said: I think that's still to-be-determined.
He said: I'll be arriving in a carriage pulled by a bunch of horses.
How did you/do you plan to celebrate your bachelor/bachelorette parties?
She said: I'm going to Iceland with my bridesmaids and having a local bachelorette party in NYC for all of my girlfriends.
He said: Not sure. Maybe a ski trip? Panama?
What moment of your wedding day are you most anticipating?
She said: Walking down the aisle.
He said: The moment we are man and wife!
How will you feel when the wedding planning is all over?
She said: I hope relaxed, and a tiny bit relieved!
He said: Pure unadulterated joy.
What are your honeymoon plans?
She said: As of now we are thinking of going to South Africa – safari, vineyards and relaxation.
He said: South Africa and the Seychelles Islands
> He Said/She Said: Another Couple Answers Questions On Their Upcoming Wedding Day
> Real Wedding Galleries


text:
Terry Anderson 04/17/2013
As oil continues to gush from BP's Macondo well and politicians posture, it is time for us to ask why we are drilling in such risky places when there is oil available elsewhere. The answer lies in the mantra NIMBY—"not in my back yard."
By Brian Lutz and Martin Doyle -- Our research shows that for the Marcellus Shale significantly less wastewater is generated for every unit of natural gas recovered by hydraulic fracturing than by conventional gas production.
[Read the Abstract]
In the forty years that have passed since oily debris on the banks of the Cuyahoga River caught fire, the river ha


text:
Tonyblack wrote:So as far as Vimes may be aware, before he went back in time, Vetinari may never have worn the lilac. But by the time he got back, Vetinari would have always worn it.
No, because Vimes is outside the loop, and anyway he sees Vetinari wearing the lilac before he goes back - as do we, and we are definitely outside the loop.
You should hear me talking about Star Trek


text:
So I want to make a mold of a weapon and then cast it in resin. I know I can do a 2 part mold using clay and silicone mold maker. Or I can suspend then sword upright with a piece of clay on the base into a plastic cup and slowly pour the mold making compound into the cup and cast it that way.
Will the sword topple over though when I'm pouring in the silicone mold making compound? The sword is for a female 6" action figure, so the handle is quite thin.
and it I do it in a 2 part mold, the handle will have to touch the side (in order for me to pour the resin in, but if i did it that way, the hold would be rather small when pouring in the resin.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to cast small weapons.
The weapon in question is MOTUC Bubble Power She-Ra sword.
Many thanks


text:
Sammie's blog
Its fall. I can tell. The weather is just right. I just ate some turkey. Watching T.V. Life is chill, but only for a short period of time. Thanks Giving is Monday. Im thankfull for everything, especial for Monday off school. Yay more chill time.
Judging by my blogs, you may think im a complete hyper weird kid, but we all have atleast one thing in common. We all love Korn!!! Like many or you, Korn's music has helped me deal with a lot of bad things in life. Whenever I'm sad or mad, I stick a Korn cd into my sterio and blast it loud enough to piss off all my neighbours. But as long as I can zone out into some amazing tunes, I dont care...
So I got my classes for school and I`m in 2 different choirs which means I`ll have a choir class every school day for the rest of the school year. I`m really happy about that. But there is one problem, the choir teacher is amazing and all, but he seems to choose really dumb song for us to sing. He has a fetish for gospel music. Maybe me and some fellow class mates can convince him to choose...
So. School again. I'm so anti social and I didn't talk to anyone over the summer, so It`s pretty impossible for me to make friends. So going back to school is an opportunity for me to make some new friends and be myself without getting questioned by my parents. But truly I`d rather stay home and play minecraft all day. I started a new world on mine craft about a week ago and I`ve already got a...
Every morning it seems like the same thing happens at the same time kindov like my mornings are on repeat. My cat wakes me up at 5 by taking an extremely smelly shit, the proceeds to thump around the house for 10 minutes. I fall back asleep. At 6:30, my cat wakes me up again by meowing for food really loud. I feed her then go back to sleep. Then when I actually wake up on my own, my cat is...
Im so pissed because I've saved up enough points to get a Korn poster, and yet I have to pay shipping. I dont mind paying 3 bucks for shipping, but apparently my mom does. She's all like "good for you, you've done stuff to get something you want, but you cant have it because I'm sleeping right now and you annoyed me". Is paying by credit card safe on this website?
Life is good when you and 2 friends go to the park in the middle of the night and start tripping out because you thought you saw Slenderman. Slenderman targets younge kids, not older teens. And plus, he's not even real. Night time can make you pretty sketched out, can't it.
About two and a half years ago, I was sitting on the bus, it was the first day of school and I didnt know much people and I was shy, so when a boy wearing all black, leather, had like 5 tattoos and had a tunnel in his ear decided to sit with me on the bus, I got really scared because he was intimidating. I blocked him out by listening to music on my iPod. A few days later, he decided to sit...
So I went out exploring today, I rode my bike about a mile into the forest and found a creek and then I walked down the creek quite a ways and discovered a HUGE lake. No joke. I think my little discovery spot is going to be my new downtime place. Its very quiet and it seems that nobody goes there. Does anyone els have a place they go to when they're sad of something?
I ate a muffin.


text:
To-Do Today: Share a Wholesome Moment With Your Family
Sunny Styles, Part 2: Suits You to a Tee
oxiclean laundry white revive
Be Ready For Anything This Summer With These Travel Tips
Plan a Happy-For-All (Big and Small) Family Getaway
Sunny Styles, Part 1: The New LBD
Dare to Wear White With OxiClean White Revive
Shake It Up: Shop Summer Florals
Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Kate Upton Team Up in the Name of Revenge
Gifts Mom Will Love from UGG®
Just for U: Enter for a Chance to Win a Girls' Getaway to Chicago
Organic Skin Care That Delivers Results
Put a Little Spring (and Summer) in Your Child's Step
Show Secret Your Epic Hometown Adventure For a Chance to Win!
Watch a Sneak Peek of The CW's Hot New Show The 100!
Ready For the Next in Nails?
Master the Laws of Layering With Gorjana
Renegade Glamour at Nicole Miller this Spring!
Life is Fashion-Packed
Read Our Lips: The Age of Smart Beauty Has Arrived!
Stop Fearing Aging and Start Enjoying It With Restorsea
See Why Vaseline Jelly Is a Must Have For POPSUGAR Select Bloggers
Be Your Own Muse
Celebrate Him This Valentine's Day With the Gift of Sexy Style


text:
WIll these speakers work with the iPod Nano and lightning connector?
Received a Nano for Christmas but have nothing to adapt the lightning connector to. Trying to use the nano in my shop but have no speakers I can connect with.
- Asked by Art C from Ellijay
Philips SoundShooter Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Product No Longer Available
1 Answer from the Community
Yes, you can connect to the speaker's 3.5mm input jack from the headphone socket on your nano. You need a cable with the 3.5mm jack on each end, easily available. Most bluetoth speakers come with one included.
- Answered by Michael D


text:
- Lars Jan
- Los Angeles, CA
- United States
Artistic Director / Founder, Early Morning Opera
This conversation is closed.
How can creatives use new technologies to increase empathy across cultural and geographic distances?
I'm fascinated by how people feel close to one another and how the answers to that question are evolving.
Live TED Conversation: Join TED Fellow Lars Jan
Lars is a media artist and founder of Early Morning Opera, a multidisciplinary art lab creating works about "America right now."
This conversation will open at 1:00PM ET on November 18th
Closing Statement from Lars Jan
THANK YOU ALL CONTRIBUTORS ! Lots of insight, passion and bunch of new threads to follow. I think the conversation veered towards empathy as relates to how we experience the world via the web, which seems like the trunk of this conversation. I'm also curious about what other branches will evolve — comments about universal translation and the future of gaming sparked my imagination in particular.
Benedict Anderson calls nations 'imagined communities.' We are pretty successful at imagining our affiliation with 300 million other folks, and that was the case well before the web and other social tools emerged. I'm constantly wondering about how we might expand that number to about 7 billion. 300 million and 7 billion both feel like infinity, at least to me. So I'm essentially imagining the same thing anyway.
Looking forward to connecting with you again, in thought or person as the case may be, somewhere down the line. Thanks again for sharing your passion! Onwards and upwards...
Lars Jan
Nov 18 2011: Hi everyone out there in non-TV land, thanks for tuning in to the unanticipatable (and misspelled) stream of words that follow. I should say at the outset, questions around the expansion of the empathic phenomenon are central to my research as an artist, but I am far from an expert in the area. My hope for this conversation is to hear about ideas that are new to me, and to have some perspectives I'm familiar with reframed. In short, please crush me with your insight and confound me with your questions.
- +3
Let the games begin.
Nov 18 2011: I posted a question up above, but I'm also a creative whose research centers around how artists (particularly storytellers) can inspire empathy across cultural boundaries. What new technologies, other than video, would you consider in your art?
Selina Rawe
Nov 18 2011: Emoticons: That's also how we share our emotions with those we communicate with.
- +2
Sean Kim
Nov 18 2011: I disagree. We also communicate via hyperlinking-- we can determine someone's tendencies and moods by what sort of content they choose to share online. 140 characters allows us quite a bit more than you'd expect. It links us to more information
- 0
Arne Strout
Nov 18 2011: As a software engineer and avid "Gamer" I am struck by the type of interactions that are being promoted in video games and have been since the inception of the medium. Video Games are the media of the next generation. They are playing call of duty far more hours than they are watching television. For the developed world I believe this is becoming the norm. If we are going to increase empathy in the next generation, cross culture, I think we need to provide experiences in this medium which are engaging and create empathic reactions in the player. One amazing example (while somewhat sexist) is the game ICO by Japan Studio. It's rather dated now, but nearly the entire game mechanic is driven off of causing the player to empathize for and want to protect Yurda (a frail young girl). What's more, the character interacts with the player entirely without words (she does not speak english or japanese) and instead uses body language and physical emotes, so the experience is the same no matter which culture you are from. Upon reading this topic I immediately thought of the juxtaposition of ICO (which was made in Japan) and Call of Duty (which was made in the US). One is an amazing training tool for empathy, while the other seems to be an amazing training tool for shameless one-up-manship and the disregarding of any human life not "on your team". We need artists with vision in this industry if we are going to create cross-cultural experiences like ICO that expand the next generation's capacity for empathy. I could go on for hours, but the conversation is closing :]
- +2
Nov 18 2011: On this note, I really appreciate another TED fellow, Jane McGonnigal, who encourages more gaming and harnessing that energy toward social change.
Nov 18 2011: I will check out Jane, in that case.Nov 18 2011: Hey Arne, just caught this post from earlier. I entirely agree with you here. Just like HBO revitalized what TV could be for an audience that had largely given up on it — and also sparked a bunch of competitors to raise the level of their offerings — I wonder when some game visionary will create an interactive experience that is much more than entertainment. This may exist, and I just don't know of it....Nov 18 2011: Fascinating example (ICO) - thanks Arne. In related turf, Deepak Chopra has a new meditation game called "Leena" I think. I've long thought that the field of computer gaming was in it's infancy and has a lot more promise than has been realized thus far. Now - how to combine live, human performance with the games?
Selina Rawe
Nov 18 2011: Lars, before the clock runs out, I just want to thank you for setting up this discussion. I've really enjoyed it, and learned a little along the way. :) Good luck with your projects.
- +1
Nov 18 2011: Thanks Selina! Vice versa.
Dan Moran
Nov 18 2011: It's about people, get volunteers to 'walk a mile in other people shoes. Have a shoe exchange programme and do the daily routine swapped and blogged presented side by sideNov 18 2011: Time for an odd question: Let's say the world was given an empathy grade by some intergallactic intelligent friends. What would you guess that grade might be, and do you think we have a good chance of improving it next, uh, semester?
- +1
Dance Aoki
Nov 18 2011: Considering the world is run by corporations and businesses, the goal of which is to increase shareholder profits and not to build community or create empathy, I think we, as humans, would be hard pressed to see ourselves having a really awesome grade to interstellar onlookers.Nov 18 2011: Good question.
- +1
In times of large-scale war we tend to believe that we're less empathetic. How can I humanize the enemy? I would guess we're a lot less empathetic than we should be. B-? How's that for a grade?
Let me redirect the question: In such a globally connected world is there such a thing as too much empathy?
Nov 18 2011: NEVER! Never ever ever! :)
Nov 18 2011: Well, if we get sci-fi for a moment, and I feel wholeheartedly what anyone else, world wide might feel. Then how do I cope everytime someone's mother dies, if I feel like it's my mother? How do we not grind to an emotive hault? Now this is a bit tongue in cheek, and certainly not our problem a the moment. I wish we had this problem...Nov 18 2011: Given Lars's last point, yes, it would be difficult to experience every mother's death as our own mother's death. However, I think if we did experience tragedy on a much deeper and personal level, we would understand what mourning is, or what celebration means, and the importance of rituals that help us process those emotions.Nov 18 2011: As a story teller, ill say stories is the best medium of increasing empathy across culture. The way we tell stories has evolved over the time but still the essence remains. We can take those stories, the stories of the legends that are being respected across the geographies and string them together in a continuous motion picture.
Nov 18 2011: where does the continuous motion picture premiere and how do i get a ticket?
Nov 18 2011: I believe we can premiere it when we join hands together, on my blog I tried to string ancient mythology to modern Science fiction to create a vivid concept of a fantasy story. The elements are the same they behave in modern context
Selina Rawe
Nov 18 2011: I agree Siddhesh. Story telling is also more personable because the teller is giving voice and action to the story. Experience is the best teacher, so when people can share in the experience they create a common bond.
- +3
Technologicallly speaking we can all fly to the top of the mountains and watch the sun rise over the valleys. An image we can all share. But when someone tells you about the trip up the mountain, the personal side of the adventure... it becomes so much more.
Nov 18 2011: Ok, can we reframe this idea of storytelling, and consider how we might reimagine what the news has become? How can the news bring us much richer, more vital stories?
Kill. the. Sound. bite!
Nov 18 2011: Kill the sound bite also sounds great.... there should also be a modern touch to the ancient stories, something like restoring an ancient artifact, we restore the ancient legends in modern context and broadcast it over the internet to the world.Nov 18 2011: I would say the obvious answer is to make those stories into experiences. I posted already a diatribe on the subject, but I think interactive media would be the perfect way to bridge that gap between telling someone about an experience which evokes empathy, and having a person actually experience that emotion. I have long thought that the best way to help the first world appreciate what it is like to live in the third world would be to create an engaging interactive story which takes place there, and put the user in the role of someone trying to survive. Perhaps as a young woman in Somalia right now for example. I have no doubt an interactive piece of entertainment like that would change minds. The hard part will be creating one which is engaging enough that the user will not turn it off to protect their more comfortable model of the world. I think it can be done however.Nov 18 2011: I don't think it's up to the news to provide richness in storytelling, per se. The objective is to disseminate information. There need to be a class of storytellers, perhaps artists, documentarians, writers, who will take the soundbites and fill them out with vitality.Nov 18 2011: Body language. Currently the news is related by a person sitting behind a desk in front of a video monitor or standing on scene. But the delivery is cold, sober and analytical.
When there is banter amongst the news team, it creates a sense of camaraderie that the viewer can relate to. If this could be drawn into the news stories, particularly stories that relate to the viewer immediately. i.e. news of an earthquake elsewhere in the world doesn't directly affect the viewer/listener so the story doesn't need to be as compelling. But something that affected the local community should be delivered with more emotion/human connection.
Maybe not the reframe you were thinking? (I'm writing and this and arguing both sides in my head. lol).Nov 18 2011: Lovely, this statement Selina
//. But when someone tells you about the trip up the mountain, the personal side of the adventure... it becomes so much more.//
We have come a long way from telling stories around campfire to news bites. People are loosing the personal touch behind the story. A news remains objective, while in fact it should be personal. People consider other geographies as objects, like They do this, They do that, general stereotyping, which loses empathy towards each other.
Nov 18 2011: That's a good point Siddhesh, particularly about objectivity. In fact, what happened to objectivity in journalism? It seems like we traded that idea in? Any journalists, reporters, news bloggers out there? Where does objectivity fit into the conversation with story-telling as a means of understanding someone else's situation? Is that even a relevant component in the idea of "news"?Nov 18 2011: Arne, I wonder if what you differentiate here: "that gap between telling someone about an experience which evokes empathy, and having a person actually experience that emotion."
is really the same thing? The way I imagine it, they are. Also, the real trick with all these simulations is that the player / user / viewer knows that they can leave, that they will end. Tricky...
Nov 18 2011: I always debate about Journalist, they cannot be subjective as for the profession of journalism is not a social service but a paid service to relay news. If they dwelve in emotions and empathy in the news they will never be able to get back to work the next day nor be able to scoop news out of it. No, in 'News' you cannot create empathy but have to remain objective, while in story telling you can use Blogs, Twitter, social media tools to broadcast terms.Nov 18 2011: Good point. Movies can make a really big difference. The problem with the global culture regarding movies (and music) right now is that it's very focused on the US (though sometimes it also includes UK and Canada). This creates lots of empathy and understanding toward Americans. If we reach a point when it's normal to have movies from all around the world in our local cinema, instead of just local and American movies, we will reach a high point of empathy, tolerance, and understanding between cultures. Now, almost all non-American movies are shown in only their country.Nov 18 2011: I think one of the big issues in spreading empathy and understanding is that many people never touch that wonderful piece of art that would inspire them.
They just never see it or hear their personal heart-piercing piece, though it's out there! The number of artworks, be they visual, musical, sculptural, written or performed, is just too big.
What would be needed is a sorting out, a personal selection, a little pond in the ocean. How would this work? Technology is the key of course!
A sorting algorithm wouldn't work; art can't be summed up. But what would work (and I know of experiments where it is already running, in some cases badly, in others brilliant) is a personal "buddy" style recommendation system; your friends know what you dig. Now let them see what else is amongst your most beloved books/ songs/ exhibitions, see if there are parallels, recommend them something.
I would love to see this happening for people who simply do not have the time or will to search through countless pieces of art to find their special gems. For example, I consider myself an absolute art-junkie, I NEED new music, books, paintings as often as I can get them, but my taste is so eclectic and fine that I wad through rivers of things that I cannot connect to.
Now what should an elderly man do, in a retirement home? I get it why in so many places the TV runs on the same channel everyday. But I want to believe that for every one there are beautiful, amazing things out there, that just have to be tried! I would love to bring it to them! I would never have believed that I could be so enthralled by something, but I just had to randomly get free tickets for a modern ballett performance until I knew!
This is what I want. Confront people everywhere with the most amazing, most different things they have ever seen, and let them find their taste. Best case with a personal recommendation from a friend. Like last.fm, or better: linoq.
Nov 18 2011: Hi Erik, there's a briliant spark in here — that I think takes what FB has done for exposing people's favorite whatevers to a whole other level. What you're talking about is sort a revolution in what a "library" is and who the "librarians" are. We need that revolution. Badly.
Nov 18 2011: Excuse the taste of sweet-talking you into a voodoo spell, but that revolution is starting up already. Linoq is a platform that is trying that, for the moment, for independent musicians, and it's doing it via facebook. I find it pretty hot, but it needs attention! Too many musicians just can't make it because they don't get the attention they deserve. They want to export to other art platforms. I would so love to see a truly networked world, with everyone getting their deserved (and possible!) audience!Nov 18 2011: Awesome! I think Pandora does that with music. Also iTunes Genius. Maybe even Netflix? A way to sort music and movies into genres that I'd like.Nov 18 2011: Interesting question! To kick start empathy you have to initiate understanding. Using an online co-creation platform where others can participate in the process of creation will facilate just that. Providing instant (audio and visual) feedback on the results will grow commitment, necessary for empathy to increase. Currently I'm not aware of such platform. But surgeons are able to work on a 'distant' patient, so the technology is already available.Nov 18 2011: Hello Lars, I'm new to TED conversations, so this is an experiment. Authors Lynne McTaggert and Penney Peirce both address this issue. Have you read either of their books?
Nov 18 2011: it's all an experiment to me, and welcome. I, sadly, know neither. Please share relevant titles to you. Thanks!Nov 18 2011: This is a great topic - and one rife with challenges, I think, as my experience working with others to create art has led me to believe that there really is no replacement for the "face-to-face" experience, as least as far as performance art is concerned.
MK Barr
Nov 18 2011: I'm not sure I agree. I think it's mostly true but I can be a shy person, so I participate with people I'm shy around more online.Nov 18 2011: You're right, there is the feeling of unity when you're a part of an audience and you're able to get a very real visceral feeling when you actually see a performance. However, the internet and new technology allows for audience members to come from all over the world to hear your message and your voice as the performer. How can we give those audiences the same visceral experience?
- 0
Nov 18 2011: These are big questions for me. I made a performance recently that was also filmed live, with the camera embedded into the performance rather than "documenting" from the outside. I found that many folks watching the video, edited to 4 minutes from 60, had a surprisingly strong experience of the work. I'll also mention that about 5 times (and counting) as many people saw the work online as were able to take in the event itself...
My overall feeling is that live events are going to become increasingly crucial in our mediated lives, BUT that the way we interact online and connect can become immeasurably deeper once we stop flailing about amidst the newness of it all.
Nov 18 2011: "once we stop flailing about amidst the newness of it all."
That is such a relevant statement! I love it! I have a professor who really loves the idea of collaborating and interacting in virtual worlds like Second Life and World of Warcraft. It is always really off putting to think about this platform for some reason. But as long as we're thinking out of the box, and talking about new ways to utilize technology to connect, collaborate and create, then perhaps it is worth mentioning.
The only problem with that is, as creatives, we want to exemplify what it means to be human, that is the spark of empathy building. And a platform like second life allows for a lot of hiding behind avatars. Perhaps there is a way to utilize the community building strategies of online gaming, but in a much more real way?
Dance Aoki
Nov 18 2011: What other technologies, other than video, would you consider using in your art to meet the goal of inspiring empathy across cultural boundaries? (I'm an aspiring documentarian, struggling artist-poet-writer, and all around creative who seeks to use my passions to promote social change and hopefully engage other artists in using their work to change the world)
- +1
Nov 18 2011: good question. I definitely come at this first from considering how new communication technologies are expanding our abilities to see ± feel so-called distant lands. So, while we had news reels bring us the war and/or protests in the 40s, TV in the 60s + 70s, and now youtube, or livestream today... the evolution in question is really one of the moving image.
But something like Usha Hidi, that let's one track disaster reports from individuals as the crisis unfolds, is a much more dispersed way of tracking individual experiences.
I think beyond video, new places and ways to share comments and ideas — blogs, sites, apps — are extremely revolutionary in terms of how the global community has a conversation.
Nov 18 2011: Are there other definitions of new technology that an artist can use? Can online forums be better designed to enhance collaboration and cross cultural conversations? What about Joseph Gordon Levitt's project that is completely collaborative: http://www.hitrecord.org/Nov 18 2011: Anything and everything.
Images, Proses, one liners.
Carefully making information easily digestible in a simple para.
Everything is a step forward, no matter how small.
Nov 18 2011: Yes, those are all great, but with the development of new technology, how can you disperse those forms of media in a world where communication is so much easier than it used to be?
Nov 18 2011: I feel they all are easily distributable. One liners and images on social media provides more information [to me] since it is less time consuming.
< I am not sure if I am understanding the question or problem correctly >Nov 18 2011: other technologies? i would say that media that can somehow resemble or enhance actual presential dialogue have the best chances. And another important level is that of cultural bias, the technology should establish something close to an etiquette or common code.
Nov 18 2011: have you seen any attempt out there at defining the terms of this etiquette? this is fun, though not exactly what we're talking about: http://eetiquette.com/
Nov 18 2011: yes "etiquette" sounds like funny and stiff. I meant common codes... but to me the overall basis is to set common goals as an incentive for empathy in cross cultural interaction, such as a common task or interest that can even be playful. Empathy grows when we drop our guard, i think.
About virtual body language, that is an ambitious concept. I bring it up because the closer you can get to a real conversation, there is more room for empathy.
When the head up for this came up in facebook, i expected a video. The fact that it turned put to be this forum, a public space made it more interesting, more 2.0 if you will, as long as we all know english of course. I registered ad hoc and have not uploade a picture, and am aware that showing a human face naturally enhances closeness, if we could add gesturing to this the "relational quality" would be even better.Nov 18 2011: Thank you all for this engaging conversation!
Nov 18 2011: I think the notion of crippling levels of empathy is a valid one. Although it isn't a problem for our society it may be a problem for individuals who would change things - thus high suicide rates among veterans, high numbers of people taking anti-depressants. On the other hand the revival of Ayn Rand is a frightening one since she despised the notion of empathy and glorified the self-sufficient few. I heard a woman call into an NPR show saying that she and her family are healthy, live healthy life styles, work to keep healthy. She honestly wanted to float the question: why should I pay for health insurance for people who cannot say the same. I loved that woman for at least admitting she feels the question and for her happy innocence - may it last. Compassion admits that anything can happen to anyone, that tragedy is not a punishment, not a sign of some moral failure, that we are unequipped to judge although we may be equipped to help. Empowering compassion what we want.Nov 18 2011: With smartphones becoming a more mainstream communication tool, the method for people to find each other physically and interact within different physical spaces is becoming more important.
Because the technology is based inherently on mobility and transmission of information, smartphones want to create an environment that changes depending on where you are physically.
As a graduate thesis project I wanted to focus on how specific places contain history that when in the presence of the place, activates a different sense of understanding of that place. Personal histories are important and technology should open up how people can recall their memories with smartphones being a great tool. Creating spaces that otherwise would remain inert.Nov 18 2011: hi, sorry just saw the posting...so i'll make it quick, time is running out. what strikes me about the question is the word 'empathy' and i wonder, are you using it as an active or passive agent? 'inspire' leans towards more the 'active' use, but empathy, unfortunately, can often end up being a fleeting moment, a feeling, a 'ohhh' and then, it's gone. can i assume that in asking the question using the word 'empathy' you are also leaning towards the 'active' also regarding action, whether on a larger or more personal day to day level?Nov 18 2011: One model for how technology and in-person performance can work together is to structure it so that the recorded or broadcast version of a live, in-person performance creates interest and actually enhances or elevates the value of the in-person performance. I've been thinking a lot about the value of watching a theater performance unfold in front of you, and that feeling of shaping it, sometimes subtly (in the case of traditional theater) and sometimes overtly (in more overtly participatory theater).Nov 18 2011: Character Education Partnership is currently developing its web presence to be more interactive and a fuller resource for educators, students, parents, and community members at large to understand character education (which includes empathy) and its necessity to develop a more just and compassionate citizenry.
This topic is especially of interest to us because we are working to develop the answer to exactly this question. Thank you for everyone who has contributed an idea and TED for hosting such an interesting and lively conversation! Excellent idea!
Right now, our vision is to revamp our website to be much more engaging and sharable. We want educators to find the resources they need to deliver the best education possible, and we strive to do that by providing access to exemplar schools' lesson plans, "promising practices", and more.Nov 18 2011: How abut some non-web based examples of new technologies that help us push into places and people with which we are less familiar? Any ideas / examples?
Nov 18 2011: The BMW Guggenheim Lab is a great example of a physical space where people gather and technology is used to tell a compelling story and facilitate an in-person discussion. Most of the topics were focused on city-planning and hyper-local issues which makes paying attention easy, since issues pertain to your back yard but those local topics I was largely unaware of.Nov 18 2011: The Levi's Filmmakers Workshop that was a part of the Street Art exhibit at the Los Angeles MOCA was an incredible educational vehicle that taught anyone and everyone who wanted to learn how to make a movie or an animation. I met some really amazing creative people of all shapes and sizes and they all had their own messages, visions and dreams!Nov 18 2011: I think personal universal language translation is about a decade away. Language is one of the great barriers to the inter-connection of cultures, and if that technology becomes a reality I think we will start to see a lot more travel between areas of the world, and more importantly it will become much more difficult for countries like China to filter what information their population has access to. Already things like website translation have revolutionized access to information from other cultures, I'm looking forward to the day when language is more of a thin film than a brick wall in terms of our communication.
Nov 18 2011: I can't even begin to comprehend what universal language translation would portend. My mind is blown just thinking about it.
Selina Rawe
Nov 18 2011: I saw a story on television about a deaf woman who traveled through China on her own. She said that she had very little problem making her self understood. (Personal interaction evoking empathy and understanding through gesture and mime).
- +1
So while the world's languages are diverse there is still a universal language of humanity that we share. It's intangible, but most of it is the facial expressions, body language and tonal qualities.
Nov 18 2011: Sure, I've traveled a ton with just a handful of hand gesture, and a ton of patience and time. But I could never be particularly interesting, or funny — and I always felt so frustrated at the fact that here I was, in the presence of people who I'll never likely meet again, and I just can't ask the questions I want to ask... Still, there's something so fundamental about realizing that you don't need to talk to have a pretty great time with strangers...Nov 18 2011: Personally, I believe that socail media allow us to empathise with people by allowing to observe what they think, share and like. Emphatising is recognising what they feel, and letting them know.
It would be interesting to see if social media have the ability to increase levels of oxitocyn in people.
In a different way, showing people videos taken from one's camera viewpoint, allows them to share one's own perspective of the world. Head mounted cameras are used to study how experts interact with machines (human factors), and the ability to see things through the eyes of others allow the development of empathy (and tolerance).
And then there is the usual catarsys by emphaty. TED sure enough gets me into emphatising a lot with their best speakers. I feel closer to them than quite some acquaintances.
Well, that's what I think ... or some of it
Nov 18 2011: Loredana, your empirical experience points the way, or, at least, a way. It seems like the internet is the key to everything herein, and I wonder if anyone has examples of new technologies that bring us closer to those far away from us that are not dependent on the web?
Nov 18 2011: Games create empathy. I use them a lot in my training. A shared game with little data transfer with far away people may actually be a good way to give them a sense of togetherness.
I sort of did that with Antarctic winter over personnel after I trained them. Involved them with a mistery game. But technology was not new. Satellite, email, videoconference.
Same technologies to keep close to astronauts during their spaceflights (mainly they call using IP phone which goes via satellite). Not really new though ... but sure this enables empathy.Nov 18 2011: Thanks for your patience everyone! I'm trying to keep up!


text:
The BCHS Wildcats' district championship and playoff hopes were dashed by a 38-20 road loss at Bishop Kenny November 1 to close out the 2013 season.
Mistakes plagued the Wildcats throughout the night as freshman quarterback Joe Green threw three interception–including two returned for touchdowns–and the team committed 12 penalties.
The team wouldn't go down without a fight and played hard all game long. Mike Boone closed out his high school career with another great game as he hauled in his first interception of the year and added a 73-yard touchdown reception.
The Wildcats scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Green found Anthony James on a 50-yard catch-and-run for a score, and running back Dalton Dyal forced his way into the end zone on a 3-yard run.
With the loss, Baker County ended its 2013 season with a 7-3 overall and 5-2 in District 3-5A.


text:
Jump to content
|Last action by
|How is Windows 10... even remotely close to being complete? in Microsoft Beta (Windows 10)
|Answered Blacklist/ignore windows update? in Microsoft Beta (Windows 10)
|Meet the browser: Firefox Next in Web Browser Discussion & Support
|NBC Cuts Business Ties with Donald Trump Over Immigration Remarks in Domestic Politics
|Microsoft Garage launches Tossup; wants to get your friends together faster in Front Page News
Posted 22 November 2012 - 11:37
Posted 22 November 2012 - 17:07
It's better to think of it as noncoding DNA. It's possible that portions of this DNA were genes that synthesized proteins millions of years ago, meaning they underwent selective pressure and evolved. Then some event caused these genes to lose their function and become part of "junk DNA." Because they aren't coding for proteins, they no longer undergo selective pressure and can remain largely unchanged for millions of years. Finally, some event reactivates them and they're already fully functional because they evolved millions of years ago and simply remained dormant for all of that time.
It makes you wonder how that gene arose from junk DNA in such a short amount of time. It's truly remarkable.
Posted 22 November 2012 - 17:22
Posted 22 November 2012 - 17:49
I believe in advanced alien life, so guess who genetically engineered us!
Posted 22 November 2012 - 17:57
Actually, HIV started as SIV, before it jumped to us and became HIV/AIDS.
Who engineered the aliens? Who built the aliens' ancient monuments?
My belief is the ancient monuments of the aliens were built by even ancienter aliens, who engineered those ancient aliens, and those even ancienter aliens had monuments built by aliens that were even more ancient, and so on, iterating infinitely into even more ancient and ancienter aliens.


text:
Kat wrote:I'm not a big fan of audio books- mostly because I prefer to listen to music while I read, and the few audio books I've tried have had really bad readers. However, my library has most of the newer Discworld novels on audio only (not sure why), so I've decided to give audio books another try, starting with The Wee Free Men.
He is brilliant with the Feegle's voices, you're in for a treat.