Aetherous

I'm not with Republican Ron Paul on the idea that America is a welfare state, and the idea that something like 53% of the country which voted for Obama is looking for handouts or have entitlement issues. Only ~1.38% of our country is actually on real welfare. With the upcoming changes at the end of this year, the lengthy extension on unemployment benefits will be cut. That will go part way toward helping, at least in this area. "Rethinking the role of government" (aka, taking away all forms of help for people) is not a solution...that's worse than what most Repubs would suggest.

For symbolism/political magick connoisseurs: Not necessarily "Satanism" in the LaVey sense...but the downward pointed star is obviously the opposite of an upright star, which is the symbol of good and mankind. Someone has to be red...previously it was often the democrats...but why did it switch at this point in our history?

Blatant racist tweet map.

Good insight.

Who truly knows if mo pai level 30 will make you an immortal or not. Or if that's the only school for this. You know, mo pai sprang from Taoism... And becoming an immortal is a worldwide mystery school type thing. In Buddhism, enlightenment is one thing but becoming a Buddha (or fully enlightened) is another. According to doctrine. Who really knows.

Didn't you read what I wrote? We have to cut in a smart way, and raise revenue in a smart way. That is what I said. Earlier in the thread, I showed an alternative source of federal revenue: the complete legalization and taxation of marijuana. That will raise 10-16 billion a year (according to an outdated 2005 report). That is just one example. I think I raised the point about how our defense spending is greater than the next 13 highest spending countries COMBINED. That is an example of something to cut, slightly. In contrast...there is no need to cut something like PBS. And it would be pretty devastating to ruin student loans as Ryan wanted to do. It is very possible to completely balance the budget without ruining our country. Will Obama do it? Very likely not, and I didn't vote for him. Would the losers have done it? IMO, very likely not, looking at everything they suggested during campaigning! Presidents don't have so much power as to completely destroy or save a country...Congress does. Game over, and I'm ditching class because my teacher at the moment is uninspired. edit: I went back, reread, and the lightbulb came on...you were referencing that video regarding how mandatory spending is higher than revenue. Okay, I see your point there (even though, still, if the mandatory spending is already unbalanced, why are we wasting so much on defense for instance? That's certainly not helping). Like the professor in the video said, specific cuts aren't a solution. He was talking about a complete restructuring or rethinking of the government...not like I really want to keep engaging you in this discussion, joeblast, but do you know what that means exactly?

I got a used version on amazon for 3 bucks. So far my energy problems are not quite fixed, yet...but it's a fun way to explore the energy flows of the body. I need to do a lot of work on the stomach flow...too bad it's one of the most awkward ones.

Same here.

With this method, the direction that the fingers point isn't important. Mostly, they say it's best to have the finger pads (starting at the base of the finger all the way to the tip, on the palm side) on the area. The SELs can be opened if the fingers are touching within 3 inches of the SEL...so exact positioning isn't something to worry about at all. If it's more comfortable, you can also place the backs of the fingers on the area. You can sit any way that is most comfortable to hold the positions. They suggest that breathing is very good to do along with it. No visualization is necessary...in fact it's probably best to listen to music or be watching tv to take your mind off of it. Then you can relax and energy will flow. I agree...it's cool that the dantien can fill up, with methods that don't directly work on it.

"Tao" itself, or when they speak of the void, could be quintessence or aether.

You say it's not a solution, but it is clearly going to be preventing much bigger problems from occurring... Then it's not a real solution. And because it's not, lets stop harping on about the same unworkable idea, and move onto cuts that work. And lets raise the revenue (why don't Repubs want to do this?). Pretty simple. I'm sure you'll claim it isn't, though. Perhaps...but I'm not seeing it.

http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/results/main Vote by size of place contains nationwide stats on that.

joeblast, I'll be looking into a lot of the things you're saying. I'm not well informed about most of them. Thanks for revealing these issues. I'm totally not with you on this. Even in WI, the people who voted for Romney in my opinion have remnants of racism, or the mindset that has come from racism and supports it (I'm speaking of my own family here, as well as friends, acquaintances, random people talking)...and some are outright racist. I think you're an exception in that you're making what seem to be actual points. In contrast, here are some examples of others who voted the same way as you: You think the people in this video aren't influenced by the undercurrent of racism that still exists? Well, the upcoming fiscal cliff is a temporary solution to the problem you present. It will at least keep things even over a 10 year period, rather than rapidly increasing as it has been (this is my understanding of it, at least). But the Conservatives I know are whining about that, too. FISCAL CLIFF, AHHH. Well, you wanted cuts, and you wanted the budget balanced... If there is a real solution, where is it? Why is it so hard to cut things that are unnecessary and increase revenue in ways that don't ruin the country? I don't think it actually is. edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATF_gunwalking_scandal#2009.E2.80.932011:_Operation_Fast_and_Furious I completely fail to see how you link this to the Obama administration (when it actually ended under the same administration), and suggest that Romney would be a solution to this type of thing.

It definitely reveals two different mindsets. I think it's perpetuated by the media (more drama and polarization, more like a sport it is where you want your team to crush the other = more views and money)...in truth, if you educated and quizzed the American public on their views of how the country should be in detail, you wouldn't find that people fit so nicely into one of two political ideologies. Most people I know are totally clueless and just rehash what Fox News or other idiots tell them is going on. Joeblast is atypical of that demographic, in my view. (it's not exactly the same map, but pretty close)

Okay, I'll elaborate a bit... I came across a book the other night saying how the economic stimulus actually saved our country from something worse than the great depression. Not saying I believe it. Haven't read the book...but that opinion is out there, just as yours is. What is true? This to me seems very inaccurate. Where's your evidence that this happened? Weapons to the middle east...you mean, for American soldiers? They are more than well equipped. If what you said about drilling near Brazil is correct...is this oil or money going to Brazil? If it's coming to us, then what's the problem? We're maintaining our resources at home. About green versus nonrenewable energies...I'm not seeing eye to eye with you on this. I've read very promising things about solar energy...for instance, if the entire world relied on solar energy alone, the space needed with the current solar technology would only cover something like 10% of the world's desert land. Investing in that, as Obama has done, is a good thing...even if some of the companies have failed (which was not the fault of the government at all, according to what I read about what went down, for instance with Solyndra). The solution will not be to drill until it's completely depleted...we must be future oriented now. This is easy to say, but where are we seeing an alternative? AFAIK, Romney didn't actually reveal his plan in detail, and what we did know showed how it was actually worse (with shifting war funds to the Pentagon base budget for no reason, for instance). Cutting PBS, which is a fraction of spending; cutting student loans, which are a great benefit to our nation that is already behind in education...such ideas are a joke. It was corruption attempting to enter office, in my eyes. I'm sort of with you, at least potentially in regard to some issues. But what are you thinking is unconstitutional exactly, and how specifically is it unconstitutional? How are they unqualified, in your opinion? Please don't. Game's over, and talking it out might be cathartic, but it won't solve the issues that you see. Plus, I am barely competent to be talking about this stuff...so when I say that something you're talking about seems inaccurate, I'm more-so asking for evidence rather than trying to start an argument. My mind is open to truth. I just don't see how a Romney Ryan admin would have been any better. Considering how extreme the right has become, it'd have probably been a horrible thing for our nation. At least that's apparently how the majority of Americans have been feeling. I suspect it will keep shifting in the current direction, as the senior citizens (with their outdated views) die off. This is potentially enlightening:

Apparently only the mods have access.

Your information appears to be inaccurate to me.

Does the articles you linked explain this? This basically describes me, i can eat a lot or a little my weight just doesn't change. Also, fasting if you are skinny? Is it potentially hazardous? I would like to try fasting but only if i wouldn't lose weight in the long run. In my opinion, you should read this book for the best explanation of what's happening, and the reasons why (although I disagree with the diet and exercise plan that the book suggests). madMUHHH is right, it's because your weight fluctuates around a set point, which has been determined by your hormones over a long period of time. In my opinion, intermittent fasting has the potential to lower the set point due to increased insulin/leptin sensitivity...but it should probably be done over a long period of time for a permanent lowering of the set point. And it seems easier to raise the set point (by having extreme carb binges) than to maintain it or lower it. So part of the plan must include eating normal and balanced when you're not fasting, for the person who wants to lower it. About whether a skinny person should do it...they should stay in contact with their doctor when doing it. You don't want to go below a certain bodyfat percentage, because your health will greatly diminish. It could literally take years off of your life. I think if you're skinny, and you want to raise your set point, don't fast. Eat until you're full like 5 or 6 meals a day, every few hours. Lift heavy weights. Don't be afraid of junk food and extra sweets or fatty foods. This might work.

I have the same issue of energy rising in the front channel causing problems. Recently when looking into jin shin jyutsu, I found that they have a method which is supposed to be the most effective for solving this. They say it's because the stomach energy flow (which is anterior descending energy) doesn't match the spleen flow (which is anterior ascending, or energy rising up the front channel). The stomach flow is said to help relieve worry and mental stress, for clearing congestion above the waist, getting rid of bloating, or weight problems, etc... The method itself is pretty annoying and seemingly complicated to do. Here is the stomach flow AKA "anterior descending energy sequence" in case you want to do it: Left fingers on right cheekbone, Right fingers on right center of the collarbone. Hold for a good amount of time...if you want you can simply do this position only. This step 1 is considered the quickie version of doing the entire flow. The cheekbone is called Safety Energy Lock (SEL) 21 in jin shin jyutsu. Center of collarbone is SEL 22. Right fingers on left stomach area, where the ribcage meets the abdomen in the front. Left fingers stay on right cheekbone the entire time. SEL 14. Right fingers on left side kidney area (on the back). You can use the backs of your fingers for more comfort in the position. SEL 23. Right fingers on right ribcage/abdomen area, over where the liver is. SEL 14. Right fingers on area above the left knee, about 3 inches up, and sort of on the inside (over vastus medialus oblique muscle). SEL 1 (high version). Right fingers halfway down left lateral calf, midway between the outside of the knee and ankle, off the left shinbone. SEL 8 (low version). Right fingers hold left middle toe. It can be done on the other side of the body by reversing all of the directions. They recommend to use the side that has more tension along the pathway...but either way, it will open the flow of the anterior descending energy.

"When all the bills are in, total spending for the 2012 election (all federal and state races) could top a record-breaking $6 billion." - CNN

What really convinced me to try intermittent fasting, is the research that shows how it helps promote insulin sensitivity in humans. IMO, the real reason why all diets fail once stopped, and why people regain their weight (this book is good for showing tons of studies on the failure of dieting), is because of insulin/leptin resistance. This is also tied into low testosterone, and of course tons of other scientific things that I don't understand. All of the low-carb/low-glycemic diets out there are based on this problem (also called metabolic syndrome), trying to even out the glucose and insulin spikes by micromanaging carb intake...but basically, everyone's been doing it wrong, besides the fact that dieting is annoying and unnatural. When we eat, we want to eat good things. There is a reason why skinny people stay skinny, despite eating whatever they want. There is a reason why we like eating sugars and fats...it's because they aren't bad. Two studies showing changes in insulin sensitivity: http://jap.physiolog.../99/6/2128.full http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/8238506 White wolf, hope you don't mind some science and health focused posts in your topic, rather than just fasting for spiritual purposes.

Once I land a job, I'll donate appropriately. $50 a month is a lot!

And Romney would've fixed all of that....?

Bad news. Prop 37 in California was voted down...apparently Californians didn't want their Monsanto GMO foods labeled. Things I heard about this: Monsanto apparently spent something like 41 million $ on an ad campaign: "vote no on prop 37". Guess it worked. The ballots apparently were really wordy and confusing (you'd think you're voting against GMOs by voting no). Apparently, it said that food prices will rise near where you'd vote "yes", which isn't really true and is swaying voting results. Yes, I'm whining. edit: here's a random article about this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/prop-37-defeated-californ_n_2088402.html

Jill Stein got 0.3%, with 396,384 votes. Gary Johnson for the Libertarian party got 1%, with 1,139,562 votes...but IMO he is actually Republican and not truly representative of an Independent candidate or a Libertarian. He took a lot of potential votes away from our girl...but it still wouldn't have mattered as she was aiming for 3% to get matching funds. Regardless, the Green Party continues. Of course all of the third parties were far from winning...but winning isn't the right way to think about politics IMO. Source: https://news.google....ned=us&topic=el