ralis

Many are afraid to ask hard questions. They fear being wrong or fear the outcome of seeing problems as they truly are.

It is easy to cite anomalies such as you have. However, one must view the totality of this world system and ask serious questions as to how population growth affects the world. The entire biosphere that we live in, can in no way be considered a linear system. Anyone that has studied non-linear systems can begin to observe the myriad variables that make up this biosphere. All variables impact on other variables. That is to say, that there is not a 1-1 correspondence between 2 variables. Each of those two variables can interact with more than one variable and so on. For more, here is a brief summary. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_theory

With an increasing world population, I submit that this may become more prevalent as local populations outgrow food supply, water and other basic needs. Part of this problem is caused by human insanity i.e, speculation on commodities by Wall Street that produce nothing and war. Yes, there are drought cycles in Africa. However, droughts may become a critical problem with global warming. Most don't comprehend the critical balance that the earth's climate needs in order to support life. Small changes in temperature, relative humidity and less light can shorten growing seasons, whereby certain crops will not grow or will produce well below average! http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/27/somalia-africa-food-crisis-deadly-yet-quiet.html

Yes! There is a current of antiscience and anti-intellectualism that pervades this culture. In general, most never challenge their precious preconceptions.

Mountain was great. West did some work with Bruce and Lang.

More kick ass guitar by Joe Bonamassa! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TETn_rMqBo8

The problem with color is that everyone sees color differently.

Would you further elaborate on that point? Thanks

You sound like Ronald Reagan with his Cadillac driving welfare mom speech. That speech was racist in tone and was used to cut benefits to poor people and also release institutionalized mental patients out on the streets. Comparing "Octomom" to other women is just nonsense. A real Taoist would have nothing to do with being an autocratic ruler. However, you may have autocratic aspirations from what I read in your posts. China is still ruled by the Communist Party. All the major means of production and banks are owned by the party. Further, each region, village etc. is ruled by two officials. Local and Communist. Obviously, you have no feeling or compassion for Americans losing their jobs to .50 cents/hour Chinese sweat shop laborers. I am puzzled as to why you are so insistent on being a shill for the establishment (Koch Bros. et al), destruction of the environment, the destruction of the middle class and greed. Given that this is a Taoist forum, that doesn't make sense. Why not join your kind on the many objectivist Ayn Rand forums.

double post

MIT Open Course Ware is fantastic! Here are more resources. http://freevideolectures.com/blog/2011/11/arsdigita-university-free-video-courses/

Nuclear technology was developed by the Manhattan Project. Nuclear weapons are the result of that research, not some far flung myth that nuclear weapons were brought here by aliens! Why not take Encephalon's advice and study science. MIT offers free math and science video courses. http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/audio-video-courses/

The problem with alternatives is that there are none that provide the same amount of energy output as the carbon molecule. That is a fact and when oil resources are on the downside of the production curve, civilization as we know it will radically change.

Who?

With deregulation of the commodities market which allows investment bankers and hedge funds to speculate on any food commodity at a wider margin such as 10-1 as opposed to 1-1 before deregulation is an insane policy. Before deregulation, a commodities speculator must take delivery of the physical commodity, even if the futures contract expires at zero. Commodities speculation was only used by farmers, production facilities, airlines and fleets that needed to lock in a future price many months in the future. Now, Wall Street brokers only paper trade at the higher margin, while producing nothing but greed and more expensive food stuffs that many on this planet can't afford.

That statement sums your objectivist Ayn Rand world view. Your statement is the sum of 'The Fountain Head' and 'Atlas Shrugged' which barely classify as literature. Further, her world view is one of Social Darwinism. Your personification of the Tao is an error in anthropocentric thinking. To project human traits such as the ability to solve problems onto the Tao is an untenable argument. Your use of the term "procure" sounds like a business transaction in which the Tao bends to your will for whatever you desire, in exchange for money. The Tao is about balance and humans are of no consequence and may pass into extinction along with the other millions of extinct species.

Rogers Waters speaks out against the ruling class!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xtaZI7grys&feature=player_embedded

I started this last night when the internet went down from an electrical storm. This may be of value to some in that confusion or the inability to make clear decisions may be cleared when this dilemma is recognized. I will see what is available and post it. If you do not do A, you will not (survive, be safe, have fun, etc.). But if you do do A, you will not (survive, be safe, have fun, etc.). ralis

It was Dr. Gregory Bateson in 'Steps to An Ecology of Mind' that he discussed the double bind. "Do not do....or I will punish you" "If you do not do....I will punish you". What the double bind entails, is that one must choose an outcome, where both outcomes are unpleasant. Kubrick's 'Full Metal Jacket' is a classic study of that scenario.

I will let you figure out the double binds in this movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m_1hglRkPk&feature=related

'Science and Sanity' should be available through interlibrary loan. 'Creative Intelligence' is a more concise version of Korzybski's work. Robert Dilts has some DVD's on the double bind.

Did you watch the You Tube I posted at the beginning of this thread? 'Full Metal Jacket'. That is classic.

You should be banned! I am pointing out the absurdity of Immortals threads. Whether it is about giant human femurs, pseudo science or hollow mountains, he keeps ranting about the absurd. I suppose you believe such fantasies.

I am adding very important information to this thread. When was the last time you explored Mt. Shasta? Obviously, you have never been there!

Mt. Shasta is hollowed out and has alien bases? :lol: Dont' you have anything better to do with your life? Have you visited Shasta and thoroughly explored the mountain? Allegedly there is a tunnel connecting Tibet and Mt. Shasta. I guess you believe that. I am certain you have been listening to the Lemurian Princess Sharula and Shield Dux. Princess Sharula Dux was born in 1725, in Telos, and is currently living in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her husband Shield Dux. She looks great for being almost 300 years old. http://mtshastaportal.blogspot.com/2011/09/lemurian-princess-sharula-dux.html http://www.stardoves.com/gw5.html Obviously you have great difficulty in challenging your preconceptions. Your preconceptions have challenged you to the nth degree.