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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Global Warming: An Apocalyptic Contender

The 'point of origin' for all 3 major Abrahamic religions is in and around Jerusalem. They all share Old Testament writings; and, all three believe in an Apocalyptic "end of times". Their fundamentalistic animosity and the desire to hasten the "Day of Judgement" gives rise to manifestations of a "self fulfilling prophecy" that could end with a nuclear conflagration.

The signs that portend the Apocalypse are many and varied; but, the one constant is war and conquesr associated with hunger and plague. With the population increases in the Middle East being among the highest in the world and the fact that global warming effects will be most devastating in that region, it is inevitable that this region will experience tremendous unrest even without religious frictions. Syria is just the beginning.

The one government that could have led the way towards slowing down global warming was the United States. But, enough greedy big business interests in league with enough Christian fundamentalists have historically and expediently thwarted sensible measures towards growing away from fossil fuels. Chaotic thinking by 'Joe Sixpack' and the regimented beliefs of people under the sway of conservative evangelicalism have promoted reactionary politics that have prevented significant proactive measures. For example, the oil crisis of the '70s should have been our wake up call on many levels. But instead of properly funding the development of alternative energy sources, we continued to fuel an ever increasing trade imbalance by increasing our importation of oil. Money which further 'fueled' dissension in the Middle East (including al-Qaeda and Wahabism).

So, now we Americans distract ourselves with emotionally charged issues such as abortion, gun control, terrorism and such, while overpopulation (and the needs of these people) fuels a host of ills that stimulates the over consumption of resources, fossil fuels and products produced by burning fossil fuels. Result: release of greenhouse gases that will remain in play for hundreds and thousands of years that will change how we live.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Global Warming: This Interglacial Period Will End Differently

During interglacial periods, global temperatures and sea levels rise due to naturally occurring Milankovitch cycles.
 http://ossfoundation.us/projects/environment/global-warming/myths/images/milankovitch-cycleshttp://www.climate4you.com/GlobalTemperatures.htm

Previously, this has always occurred without the presence of the current unnaturally high levels of CO2 caused by the release of greenhouse gases by mankind. Now, in the current interglacial period, we have suddenly doubled the level of CO2 in the atmosphere and oceans (and will be quadrupled at current overall rates of release). This has already caused a perceptible increase in global temperatures. When the Milankovitch warming influence strengthens as it has in previous interglacials, it will be amplified by the already increasing Greenhouse Effect.

Instead of hippos merely finding hospitable conditions in England like during the last interglacial, they will be able to bask in the fjords of Norway. Polar bears, however, will not survive this interglacial because conditions will be too severe. The human populations in the lower latitudes will be decimated. And if global temperatures rise to the point that 'methane hydrate gasification' becomes a self sustaining cycle, then the world will become more than just "ice free".

Why? Because greenhouse gases will remain largely unsequestered for millennia and sustain higher temperatures long after the Milankovitch cycle has swung back the other way. Homo sapiens will then perhaps evolve into a new species that will gradually repopulate the planet during the next ice age. If and when mankind regains ascendancy in the next interglacial, they will not be able to easily make the same fossil fuel error that we did because most of the easy access coal and oil will be gone. They'll have to develop the use of wind power, solar power, cellulosic ethanol production, etcetera that we failed to take advantage of in time to do ourselves any good.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Discover Magazine: "Brain Map Shows You Think Like A Worm"

"Our brain’s cerebral cortex—the seat of higher thought—is eerily similar to a clump of neurons inside the head of the lowly marine ragworm. The ragworm’s brain, which evolved some 600 million years ago, is so similar to the cortex that humans and worms must share a common ancestor..."

When scientists "compared the worm’s cells with those in a vertebrate cerebral cortex, they found they were too similar to be of independent origin....."

"...these tests challenge the standard notion that the ability to think evolved from complex vertebrate behaviors like predation.... that now appears to spring from something far more basic, he argues, like the ability “to distinguish between food and nonfood”—a feat the ragworm accomplishes with aplomb."



My Comment:
For years, I'd considered fear of predation to be our most primitive instinct. I'd missed the obvious. It's not merely eat or be eaten. It's knowing what is food and what is not that's the most basic instinct. Though, of course, photo-sensitivity and other visceral senses are more basic -- still, I'm referring to instincts.

Food attracts. 

Fear repels. And the three basic defense mechanisms interplay ( run, hide, fight).
On the psychological level, it's a combination of various psychological defense mechanisms.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Spirituality 101: Nurture Your Soul

In the center of your heart is a point of Light that streams forth your spiritual essence from the Heart of God. This enlivens your mental, emotional and physical being. You experience this as love --- for others, for yourself, for God's creation and for God and His Angels.

As this Light and Love emanate through your memories, thoughts, emotions and physicality, where you have misconceptions and impurities, it becomes distorted. This resistance creates negativity and pain which you experience and try to defend against. Defense mechanisms, however, don't dissolve the false images that play themselves out in your life.

Observe yourself and learn who you are without justifying or condemning. Govern your thoughts, feelings and actions with compassion for your irrationalities, negativites, hostilities, ingratitudes and weaknesses. We were all incarnated to cleanse, clarify and purify our souls. It is your soul that is your one True treasure --- so, nourish it with goodness. Allow the Light and Love from your Spirit to shine through.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Spirituality 101: Blind Men and the Elephant

If asked to describe God or what is the absolute Truth, one can only give a partial answer at best (even if the answer fills a library). Yet quarrels and wars are fought between different people and groups who think that they have the single irrevocable answer. Such sectarianism gave rise to the parable about the blind men who touch an elephant to learn what it is like. Each one feels a different part, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. They then compare notes and learn that they are in complete disagreement.

There are different versions of the story that differ in how the elephant's body parts are described, how violent the conflict becomes and how (or if) the conflict among the men and their perspectives is resolved.
In some versions, they stop talking, start listening and collaborate to "see" the full elephant. When a sighted man walks by and sees the entire elephant all at once, the blind men also learn they are all blind. While one's subjective experience is true, it may not be the totality of truth. If the sighted man was deaf, he would not hear the elephant bellow.
It has been used to illustrate a range of truths and fallacies; broadly, the parable implies that one's subjective experience can be true, but that such experience is inherently limited by its failure to account for other truths or a totality of truth. At various times the parable has provided insight into the relativism, opaqueness or inexpressible nature of truth, the behavior of experts in fields where there is a deficit or inaccessibility of information, the need for communication, and respect for different perspectives.
In short, no one person can see the whole of larger truths (we are all 'blind' to varying degrees in different ways) and we are limited by our own personal perspective. Even knowing the whole truth of small human events is a rarity. It is only our arrogance in thinking otherwise that gives us the illusion of absolute certainty of the manifold nature of truth.






"Blind Leading The Blind"

The expression "the blind leading the blind" is a metaphor applied to leaders who know as little as their followers and are therefore likely to lead them astray / uninformed and incompetent people leading others who are similarly incapable or unable.



"There Are None So Blind As Those Who Will Not See"

"...this saying has its roots in the Bible, "Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not."
In other words, the most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know...thus, willfully 
lacking perception, awareness, or discernment.


There are those who are unwilling to see because they're unable; and then, there are those who are unable to because they're unwilling. Those willing to struggle are best suited to begin to see the truth....

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Korean Novella Movie: 200 Pound Beauty

Is a Korean romantic comedy musical based on a Japanese manga about an overweight ghost singer who undergoes intensive plastic surgery to become a pop sensation. 

Plot: Han-na is an overweight phone sexy part-timer and a ghost singer for Ammy, a famous pop singer who actually lip syncs. Instead of being famous for her own amazing vocal talent, Han-na sings behind backstage during Ammy's performance and Ammy takes all credits, and records all of Ammy's songs. Other than that, Han-na has a huge crush for Sang-jun, who's a director and his arrogant father owns the entertainment company. One day, Ammy purposely insults her in front of Sang-jun during his birthday party, knowing well that Han-na likes him. While crying in the bathroom, Han-na overhears Sang-jun telling Ammy that even though they are just using Han-na for her voice, they must be kind to her so she will not walk out on them. Heartbroken, Han-na attempts suicide with a gas leak but is interrupted by a phone call from one of her phone sex regulars who happens to be a top plastic surgeon. She tries to blackmail him with recorded tapes and later honestly tampers them to convince him about the pain she's holding in her heart about being fat. The surgeon refuses to operate on Han-na, but Han-na threatens to inform his wife about his secret fascination. Then, Han-na makes a moving speech that she does not want to undergo surgery merely to be beautiful, but for the sake of love and as a vote of confidence so that she can live a happy life, and the surgeon is deeply moved in the end. Han-na puts herself in seclusion for a year as she recovers from the changes.... (and this is just for staters).

Watch: "200 Pound Beauty" two hours
http://youtu.be/2vzMzmT9fvY

Kim Ah Joong sings dynamic version of Ave Maria
http://youtu.be/SfyReggXP4o

http://youtu.be/1FNzgNPJ1Cc

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Jiddu Krishnamurti: Dissolution of the "Order of the Star"

Jiddu Krishnamurti was a speaker and writer on matters that concerned humankind. In his early life he was groomed to be the new World Teacher but later rejected this mantle and withdrew from the organization behind it.

J. Krishnamurti was “discovered” by Theosophist, Annie Besant when she saw him on a beach in Chennai.  Theosophists believed that two World Teachers had come before – Buddha and Jesus.  The third was to arrive.  J. Krishnamurti was the third.  So they thought.  He was taken away from his parents and made to go through an education in Oxford.  There he didn’t do remarkably well in studies.  In fact, it is said, he failed most subjects.  However, he had a razor sharp intellect in another dimension.


He was made the Head of the Order of the Star by the Theosophists.  Had thousands of followers, some who would bequeath expensive gifts to him as well.  But then suddenly, on August 2, 1929, the “Third World Teacher” of the Theosophists dissolved the very Order that he was to lead.  At that occasion, he gave a speech, which in many ways is a path-breaking one.
Included in his speech is this:
"...remember the story of how the devil and a friend of his were walking down the street, when they saw ahead of them a man stoop down and pick up something from the ground, look at it, and put it away in his pocket. The friend said to the devil, “What did that man pick up?” “He picked up a piece of Truth,” said the devil. “That is a very bad business for you, then,” said his friend. “Oh, not at all,” the devil replied, “I am going to help him organize it."

Below is the full text of the talk he gave on that occasion:
http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/about-krishnamurti/dissolution-speech.php

The book to read by Krishnamurti is:
 "At the Feet of the Master"
by Jiddu Krishnamurti
April 29, 2009
available via Amazon.com
@$7.95



Sunday, January 3, 2016

Spirituality 101: God Is Infinite

*We humans tend to think of God as being an All Mighty Father figure (king) on a throne dispensing Justice.  Though that's a useful personification, it's hardly worthy of an Infinite Being whom we are each a part of.  Indeed, visualizing God as a Being of any sort is still limiting, and therefore only a partial truth.  Instead, perhaps look inward and see that ray of Light that emanates from the center of your Heart when you feel the goodness of God / feel that love for God. And know that you are loved.

**The 3 Abrahamic religions call for a World Order to be imposed from above by God. However... "it is not up to the Creator to bring about the transformation of the world. It is up to us - through our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions we perform every day.  Every negative act distances us from true fulfillment, while every positive action moves us, both individually and collectively, closer to the transformation that is our true destiny. We have free will. the choice is ours"... no matter how difficult it may be to make the positive choice.

***Many religious fundamentalists, like children, think that they can induce God to manifest Himself in establishing a World Order by being naughty.  That, if we create enough chaos in His name (e.g., in Holy Land regional chaos in the Middle East), then He will step in and save us [well, at least some of us]. But, He cannot and will not do so, because we have individual free will. And if we collectively choose the negative, the we must own the consequences.

  For the fundamentalists, perhaps Sarah Palin said it best (before her Vice Presidential run) when she stood before her congregation and lauded her son for being part of the military effort in the Middle East that would trigger the Apocalypse and usher in the Second Coming of Christ.