pirana

Actually, there is very strong archaelogical evidence that belief in a diety or dieties evolved from honoring natural forces and physical objects sometime around 6,000 BC. Prior to that reverence was paid to tribe or clan leaders. The reverence to the old man of the tribe during life evolved to reverence of the old man in death. This reverence of the old man is the basis for the earliest cult (Yahweh). IIRC, this was a multi-god cult (because there were many many dead old men of the tribe) adapted by the Semitic tribes that at one time occupied pre-historical Mesopotamia. This then in turn morphed into a single diety system; probably what can be seen as the first religion as we think of them. How ironic that a relatively insignificant cult of an almost forgotten little band of nomads came to form the foundation of the 3 great warring faiths. And if you ever want to get under the skin of any of them just remind them that it was not that long ago that they were all one happy little band of Arabs. " . . . 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

First off I would like to point out that people who believe in a God or Gods have at some point had personal doubts. The belief in God is not without work. At least in my opinion. When one stumbles its generally due to the pain and suffering they see around them regardless if it directly or indirectly impacts thier own life. Anyone who at any time has not questioned everything they believe in is either kidding themselves or a robot. Its human nature to fail, as through failure one finds success. I would also go as far as saying that someone who has not questioned thier faith in regards to being a Christian has thier eyes closed tight and are probably further from a relationship with thier God then they express. As far as evidence of a God or Gods or lack there of, I would like to point out that what one would accept as evidence would not always be enough "evidence" for another. Without getting into my beliefs on a personal level Ill point out that I have seen pictures that prove the earth is frisbee shaped and flat, and I have seen computer models that show it as round. I have seen more proof that the earth is flat, yet I believe its round. I understand those who choose to not believe in a higher power, and I understand most who do believe there is one. What I dont understand is how someone can state they are a Christian and then speak as if they are full of intolerence to what they feel is a non-believer when everyone knows that the bible would consider that a downright sin. Best stick to matters of faith. Your post shows you misunderstand the meaning of the word proof. Pictures are 2 dimensional, and can not prove that anything is frisbee shaped or flat. They can only give a representation in 2 dimensions. You need 3 dimensions to prove something is flat. " . . . 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

How about a slightly improved sense of self-preservation? Or are you counting on God for that for your next jump too? " . . . 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

[replySomeone on this thread mentioned that some from religions that are the most similar are the most violent towards each other. In the US? I personally haven't seen that. Over seas, sure. They're in a war for the love of Pete. But here, we're not blowing up each other's churches and places of worship daily. We can walk in front of a Church of Latter Day Saints and not be afraid of being attacked for being Catholic...or atheist, or whatever. Personally, I'm not prone to shooting anyone else for being Baptist or Jewish, either...and it is by far the exception here in the US to find someone that is. Agreed. The big 3 Abrahamic faiths seem hell bent for leather on winning there little King of the Hill struggle over there near the Mount. At it for hundreds of years with no sign of letting up. " . . . 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

why do we need all that shit? self-awareness & love & hate & any and all forms of spiritual experiences??? Why aren't we like the Borg? It would be much simpler if we were all just soul-less organic automatons, whose only interest was survival & propagation. all this crap like love, wonder, feelings, music, poetry, art, laughter, joy, sorrow, hate, and the whole general INTERNAL FEELING of BEING HUMAN are just taking up valuable space. They're obviously just annoying by-products of some useless part of our brains, which should rightfully be entirely devoted solely to survival and reproduction. why are they there in the first place? The large frontal lobes (LBL's) evolved as the result of, and in a tricky twist, as part of, the 3-way feedback system of the genes, the brain, and the environment. They gave us the power to dominate and manipulate our world like no other creature before or since. The baggage that comes with those LFL's is the desire to see patterns and attach meaning to everything; including patterns in burnt toast. It is good to see the lion in the reeds, it is silly to see Mary Mother of Jesus in a grilled cheese sandwich. Unfortunately, for way too many humans, they are equally meaningful. " . . . 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

Yeah, you gotta throw the French a bone once in a while; kind of like a pity-fuck. Then they'll bask in that glow for a bit, lying about drinking fabulous whine and smoking shitty cigarettes and ignoring everyone else so we can get back to fixing things up - yet 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

You can not sway faith-based beliefs via logic. It's banging your head against the wall. Stop it or you will hurt your brain. " . . . 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 call it the Propogation of Ignorance. I think the most common cause is that some people who are intellectually lazy, or maybe just incapable of certain levels of complex thought; feel very threatened by those that are not only capable, but enjoy it. I have no problem with a person's level of intellect; but I do have a problem with those that reject or undervalue intelligence. A real eye-opener for me was a guy who felt so threatened by me explaining planetary motions to his son. (We were looking at Jupiter and I was giving him some of the lowdown. He was really into it, you know - he was about 10 or 12 and into the rockets and space travel and whatnot. I lover sharing that kind of stuff with kids). Anyway, so he walks away and is really proud of his new knowledge and goes up to his dad and points out Jupiter. His dad, in a very putdown manner, gives him the "That's not Jupiter, you don't know that, what are you talking about" lines. The kid hangs his head and falls in line a step behind dad. I overhear this and just think to myself, another inquisitive, potentially brilliant young mind put safely back in place by the Propogation of Ignorance. That kid is going to have to look to someone other than his father in order to grow to something more than the typical lowbrow thinker because his dad is threatened by his son being more knoledgeable than he. It's OK to be simple of thought, whether by intention or ability. It is not OK to willfully propogate ignorance. " . . . 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

Definitely one large glass of whine. No biggy though. Just like any other profession, doctors are spread along the spectrum in most behaviors. Some whine, some don't. Some are nice people, kind and considerate. Some are not. Some are pompous conceited asses. Some are humble and thoughtful. I don't find any profession to be populated solely by altruisitic angels of mercy - not even doctoring. " . . . 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

Idea stolen from a lifeguard t-shirt: Jumpmaster Off-Duty Save Your Own Ass Not sure what visuals you'd use. " . . . 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

Many (if not most) will reject an application for a product that is subject to acceptance for skydiving, rodeo, caving, competitive motorsports, scuba, and flying. Sometimes they want to know more, usually they just reject. Those that accept will put a limit on the amount of coverage you can buy. The best deal is to get some guarantee issue stuff thru an employer or association; though even then they can limit your amount to a basic offer, with supplemental coverage only available via a screening process. I was allowed to purchase $250K (the max available with no questions asked), but was rejected from purchasing more because of skydiving. Be careful that what is being offerred is truly life insurance and not accidental death & disability (AD&D). They are often packaged and promoted in a very similar manner, and the AD&D looks great because it is relatively cheap. The reason for the cheapness is because accidents are not very high on the cause-of-death list. Lots of associations and business relationships offer the chance to purchase token amounts of insurance (usually about $10K) no questions asked, and pretty cheap. So if you take advantage of a bunch of them (such as credit cards, AAA, clubs, etc.) you could end up with a total amount that would make a difference. " . . . 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 about the fuel tanks? Someone who I would have thought should know said something about rules that forbid the production of new planes with tanks in the belly. Are there still planes being built with fuel tanks in the belly? " . . . 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 didn't think it was trollery. It seems like a valid question (or comment) on the prorities of modern civilization. We'd rather subsidize the billionaires club that operates professional sports than maintain our infrastructure. A couple of previous generations built much of the infrastructure we take for granted. We prove the taking-for-granted attitude in the setting of our priorities. " . . . 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

Life has no meaning; but it does have purpose. It's purpose is to propogate. That's it. All meaning is human invention to satisfy neediness in one form or another. It's the nasty little trade-off of being given the gift of large frontal lobes. We get self-awareness, and in return we pay the price of creating all kinds of stuff that isn't there. I think it would be quite the irony if that put me in the category of holier than thou. Kind of like a mob of 10,000 chanting in unison "We are all individuals." " . . . 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

It's a great time saver -- isn't it Cheers, T Poor man's speed reading. It was a dark and stormy n . . . . - aw fuck it, I'd rather be skydiving! " . . . 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 always appreciated a direct approach. It is like the antithesis to the OP. " . . . 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 thread title says "a bit." Hate to see what you'd write if your intention was huge-long-drawn-out-load-of-pablum." " . . . 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're looking down the on ramp to the Interstate 35W Mississippi River Bridge. The most traveled bridge in the state of Minnesota - capable of carrying 180,000 vehicles each day. Now at some point in the past this bridge had 6 years left in it. But I can't remember when that was. It might have been 4 years ago, or 5 years ago, or it might have been 6 years ago. The thing you've got to ask yourself is "Do I feel lucky today? Well, do you commuter?" " . . . 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

Why and when did Buckhead die? Been a while since I've been there, but it did not seem like a place that would dry up and go away. Does that mean The Tongue & Groove is gone? Yep, they're going to build Condos & Highrises there... In 2 years they say even The Cheesecake Factory will be replaced. That place should come down. Pretty good cheesecake, but the prices were absolutely ridiculous. A piece of cake for the price of a decent meal. Maybe not an elegant meal, but good. Elegance is overrated. " . . . 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

Why and when did Buckhead die? Been a while since I've been there, but it did not seem like a place that would dry up and go away. Does that mean The Tongue & Groove is gone? " . . . 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

Didn't know they were open that early. " . . . 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

Have you been to The Loch Ness? " . . . 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

When are they scheduled to be on Springer? Before or after they go public with their fat lesbian love triangle? "You want some of this don't you!?" " . . . 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

Reel mowers can be manual, motorized, or pull behind. The big limitation with a reel mower is that it does not work well at all on longer grass. You will need to mow with much greater frequency. (Think golf course mowing schedule). No mowing hay with one of those babies. " . . . 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

If it's a JD, it is highly fixable. Might cost a bunch, but unlike a Cub or other lightweight stuff, it can be repaired much like a car. (Many lightweight machines are throwaways because everything is stamped thin metal and too integrated to replace just the broken bits). Biggest thing is whether it is automatic (such as a hydrostatic drive) or a manual; with or without clutch. " . . . 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