pirana

I am not sure a fear of falling is as ingrained as you say it is. Both my kids never displayed this fear at an early age. They have since learned that falling hurts and voila...... Yes indeed. Our sport is proof that it can even be unlearned. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Thanks for that. It was fun just to go in and read a few pages. Can you do that with all books on Amazon? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I've mentioned it before in other threads, but it's worth it again, just because it is such a really, really, really, good read. Genome, but I can't remember the author. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

What is coded in the genes either survives or does not. It either successfully fills a niche in the natural world or it perishes. There is no decision. You may not have meant it that way (the word decision implying a choice made out of intent), but that is a point a lot of people get hung up on when discussing genetics - - that a certain sequence wants to survive or that a decision is made to go a certain way in order to survive. It's just chemical/bilogical processes that either increase or decrease chances of survival (and of course then being passed on or not). Cruel and cold world - - until the brain kicks in. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I think the only thing coded in the genes is to be. The instructions to connect parts, flap A in slot B, and so forth. To create the organism within certain parameters - - which when violated we call mutations. There are also certain predispositions to behaviors that are a side effect of the chemical/biological processes engaged in to build a living creature; but there is no purpose or intent involved. The complex part is intent and desire; which tissues themselves don't have and don't need. Coding for tissues that breathe is relatively simple compared to the lengths that would be needed to explain why breathing is important, and why the tissue needs to be a certain way to allow the task to be performed. The genetic code contains none of that. It just has directions to build tissues in certain oders and in certain ways. The genes are coded for tissue building, the tissues get built, and the organism breathes; without the physical tissues having any sentient knowledge of having done so - - until the brain kicks in. Then we start down the path of asking why and end up inquiring about our own existence. Up until recently, thought to be strictly a human trait. Recent work has shown this probably not to be true. I think it is very telling that it took humans so long to get over their bias of being convinced they were the only sentient creatures on this planet. (Fears like falling, loud noises, etc; easily learned in the womb. Newborns do not fear heights until they learn to connect the visual cue of being at height to the sensations of falling and subsequent impact). " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

That is stored in the brain, not the genes. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Not if it's a Norwegian Blue, pining for the fjords. He's not pining, he's DECEASED! He is an EX-PARROT! " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

You'd have been better off putting that money in a savings acccount or in the stock market. Which is exactly how an HSA (Health Savings Account) works. Where available, they are far outselling traditional plans. You purchase a plan with a high deductible and low premium. In addition, you contribute regularly to the HSA from your pay -- pre-tax. Preventive care covered at 100% to encourage check-ups, immunizations, and the like; plus a low copay for generic medications. For small stuff, you can tap into your HSA for reimbursement or pay out of pocket. For big bills, the plan kicks in 100% after the deductible to keep you from ending up destitute because of a medical condition. So basically, once you build your HSA up to the level of the deductible, you're fully covered. Plus the account earns interest. These programs usually come loaded with healthy lifestyles features and access to lots of information too. Free or very cheap stop smoking programs, medical management specialists for chronic diseases, nurse help lines so people don't run to the ER at every cough or fever, grading of clinics in general or by specialty, free health screenings, etc. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

And spankings! " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

She is such a vote whore. She'll say whatever she thinks will get a vote; extremely unprincipled. Her tack over the last 2 to 3 weeks seems to be to put on the "tough broad" act. If it doesn't work she'll probably cry again. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

An inherent flaw in a democratic system is that a larger number of short-sighted well meaning idiots can hold sway over a small number of intelligent visionaries. This was recognized even by the earliest proponents of democracy. A capital-based economy only compounds the problem. I'm not citing any specific parties or issues here, just pointing out that having more people on one side of an issue, or it's proponents having more money, adds no merit to their cause. For all it's weaknesses however, it still appears like the best option going, . . . for the time being. What's the line? Democracy is 2 wolves and a sheep deciding what to have to eat. Liberty is the sheep showing up for dinner armed to the teeth. We seem to be going down the path of having a lot of wolves making up the menu and not enough armed sheep. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

In the Land of Freedom people are free to engage or not engage in risky behavior, free to lead healthy or unhealthy lifestyles, and free to obtain or not obtain health insurance. Unfortunately, people are also free to whine pathetically about the consequences of their choices. The solution is to protect people's right to choose, provide reasonably priced access for those that choose to be covered, and ensure the care that is delivered is effective and meets certain quality criteria. This is only a difficult situation to resolve due to momentum and previously granted special privileges. There are perfectly equitable mechanisms that could be put into place. The biggest obstacles are the exceptions that have been put in place by all the parties that claim to need special treatment. Throw out the old playbook & even the playing field and the rest is easy. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Aren't we being warned about it everyday? Yeah, but that is the soaker-hose version. We're talking about an event of Bilblical proportions. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

That's what I've always suspected. (If it happened at all.) It's interesting how many of the most famous events appear to have actually happened, and how. The parting of the Red Sea may well have happened similar to how it was explained - but the cause was a spring tide and a shallow sand bar that was temporarily exposed. California has a few races that are scheduled for these tides - you can run on sections of the beach that are accessible 0-2 days a year and only for an hour or two. Then there is the whole flood thing. I read quite some time ago that most flood myths are probably grounded in the creation of the Mediteranean; when the Isthmus of Gibraltor would have gave way and resulted in the filling of the Mediteranean Basin. I never did follow up by searching for geologic sciences information on how long the Mediteranean has been wet. Well, it was already wet the first time I was there. Took a stroll across it da? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

They've got a few new items, my favorite being: POSSIBILITIES (The picture is a fish eye lens view from behind home plate as a slugger knocks one out of the park). With focus, dedication and steroids, men can achieve impossible dreams. Like breaking a world record. Or growing their own breasts. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Uh-oh. Dueling Flood Theory theories. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

That's what I've always suspected. (If it happened at all.) It's interesting how many of the most famous events appear to have actually happened, and how. The parting of the Red Sea may well have happened similar to how it was explained - but the cause was a spring tide and a shallow sand bar that was temporarily exposed. California has a few races that are scheduled for these tides - you can run on sections of the beach that are accessible 0-2 days a year and only for an hour or two. Then there is the whole flood thing. I read quite some time ago that most flood myths are probably grounded in the creation of the Mediteranean; when the Isthmus of Gibraltor would have gave way and resulted in the filling of the Mediteranean Basin. I never did follow up by searching for geologic sciences information on how long the Mediteranean has been wet. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Check out The Closing Of The American Mind by Allan Bloom. It is, IMO, the most comprehensive serious look at the decay of our desire and ability to think and act critically. As you might guess, at it's foundation is a critique of our systems of education. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I'm beginning to think that the human brain is a complex biological computer that has been programmed by evolution and society and that humans are bound to think, say, or do things that evolution or society has programmed them to do until they are consciously aware of the things that they have been programmed to think, say, or do and thus can consciously decide not to think, say, or do those things. The problem is that some people are consciously aware of the programming (shepherds) and choose to take advantage of those who are not (sheep) ... I don't think market-based solutions work unless we have more shepherds than sheep but then again I'm young and still learning. Most modern economic theory is based on the premise of rational, informed decision making. Yet there is abundant evidence that emotion rather than reason plays a large part in people's decisions, and ignorance is widespread, as has been amply pointed out already. Butters and you, very good point. I remember the first time I was asked whether I though humans were thinking beings with emotions or emotional beings that think. I now firmly reside in the camp of believing most humans are emotional creatures that only occasionally use their brains to something near full capacity. (I mean full capacity based on each individuals ability). I may have said this before; but I think it is the price we pay for having big frontal lobes and such great capacity for creativity and conceptual thinking. Logic has taken a back seat; or at best, has turned over too many of the controls to wishful thinking. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I don't know. I think a freefall segment called 2 Girls One Rig could become quite shocking. And no poop? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Anybody got ballpark estimates on what the war has cost so far in lives and money? When it is over, and the numbers are in; does anybody think we will be able to say, Yeah - it was worth it. We may have started this little fiasco in error, based on our own incorrect information, and the desire of a leader who so badly wanted it to be true; so now we justify it by saying - But he was a bad man. So what have we changed by taking out the bad man? People are still dying. But hey, we've changed who is dying. Or have we even done that? Since it is now pretty well accepted this thing got started by bad intelligence, has anyone yet apologized for that little mistake? Oops, sorry, should've went elsewhere, our mistake. One last thought. Now that we have established that taking out bad men who mistreat their civilian populations is close enough to a good reason to start a war; we should all be psyched and ready to invade Sudan next. As soon as we finish up in Iraq, give the military a few days rest, then let's go get the bad man in Sudan. On 3, . . . .Goooooooooooo Team! " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I think an important distinction missed is that offending people with ideas is not a crime. I don't see where anyone has a "right" to not be offended. It's too subjective. If someone is offended, don't look, or don't read, or don't go, or don't participate, or don't buy. But to get all uppity shows their own narrow and ignorant mind. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

The problem is we no longer have just a few major channels for getting information; which, for all their weaknesses, were relatively reliable. We now have every nutcase able to pontificate to the masses in a manner that appears credible on the surface. (Which is what I think the article is saying). Human gullibility has always been there; people like to believe weird things. (Shermer's book on the topic is fascinating). But instead of the occasional rumor or streetcorner crazy; we now have bajillions of points of access to intentionally misleading information and purposely deceptive people. This has unfortunately happened during an era when our public education systems are being dumbed down so that people do not have to feel bad about being dumb. So we have the dangerous combination of people wanting to believe spectacular and weird things, and a degradation of the filters normally used to filter all the ridiculous tripe that is perceived by many as credible information. At a time when, more than ever before, education could be our savior, it is (at least for the masses) being watered down to the point where it now resembles training more than it resembles education. A philosophical dilemma for me, because I've always been a big fan of market-based solutions; and it appears the markets are turning a big chunk of people into sheepish idiots. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Cause it's a dog eat dog It's down to push and shove It's like, cut the cake and grab a plate And hope it goes around Well it's a do or die, It's like a cat and mouse Because everybody's hungry And there just isn't quite enough That's right we're talking about the good life In the foodchain Love amongst the ruins Everything gets to this certain dimension Winds up on a customers plate and then it's gone. Tonio K " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Sick white trash looking for her 15 minutes of fame in the only way they will ever it. Bad enough to be that kind of attention whore; worse to drag your kid into it. I agree with the school - - it is too distracting, and done with the clear intention of being just that. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley