thelerner

Sometimes when cutting, pasting or quoting, things disappear or come out unexpectedly. Sometimes shortcut cntrl's work, sometime they don't. I don't think its anything nefarious.

Sometimes the best inventions are the easy ones. Walking with my son yesterday I came up with this. A vase with a lip that folds over it which would have holes cut out for individual flowers. Instead of putting flowers in en masse, you'd put them through the holes which would spread them out and make the display look fuller, better balanced. Holes would have to be large enough for thorns and leaves, but I think it work well. I wouldn't be surprised if its already out there. <Hey after 5 months spell check has returned. Firefox finally works again when I'm on the Bums. I wonder if this'll make my writing better or worse?

They can definitely be done without the 'animals'. One Healing Tao exercise I learned was Going through the Seasons.. What I remember is you start winter; think of the kidney area, fall, maybe a bear in water, saving and storing.. and go shwhooo. Then circle to the spleen area, think growth, green, purifying, spring, regeneration and Shhhhhhh, Circle up to the heart area, warmth, love, heat, Summer Haaaahh. keep circling to the lungs, think Fall, clean, crisp, cooling, and Sssssst. Circle back down to Kidney.. Thus you circle the seasons around your center, taking some time to appreciate each one, with the appropriate sound, imagery and feelings.

It was a big loss for the site when you erased your PPD here. Post for post you had the most concentrated practical advice on esoteric energy work.

Beware of replacing one extreme with another. Less worry and find a healthy middle way before gradually adding in some healthy habits. Actually sounds like you've already this, so never mind. Still adding things slowly one by one makes some sense in that you'll know which ones work best for you.

yeah, but more sizzle in the copy, ie 'I know an amazing place that serves the best blanky blank (coffee or tea drink, no make it Chai for the demographic you're trying to attract) in the area, join me for a cup and conversation'. Then make sure you find a place that has extra good chai drinks. on the other hand. If woman are selecting the B option with groping, maybe I'm old and out of it or used to a slower moving crowd and my advice is too old fashion.

No, its not threatening. I was just suggesting it include a call for action, in this case meeting for tea, that is less threatening then a formal date.

I wonder if a line somewhere in the bottom would say something like 'I know the perfect blank(tea shop, coffee shop, bakery, veggy restaurant) in blank (someplace close to you) Give me a call, lets meet, share a cup of tea and get to know each other'. Ask for action but make it non-threatening. Woman like a man who can cook. You should describe a specialty that you make, to add some human interest.

That seems a bit much for wanking off. I don't think non-vegetarians eat that much meat after blowing off steam. I assume there are vegetarians who'd offer some sort of potent vegetarian alternative. Still, if you want to go that route, bone broth is very healing and nutritious. You can buy organic bones and since the animal was killed for its meat you're (one rationalization) using something that'd be wasted, instead using it in order to strengthen your body. A little bit of fish, particularly sushi and seaweed is also a nutritional powerhouse, no big steak needed.

Not an invention as much as something from another country that'd be nice everwhere. In Israel they had tough simple bodyweight exercise machines at most of the parks. Nautilus-like but few moving parts and you lifted, pushed or rowed your body weight. It made it easy to get a good work out. We have some similar things in Chicago, but they're almost all static devices you hop around, instead of true exercise machines. I'd love to see community fruit tree 'forests' in every large park. Groves of trees and an ethos of pick what you'll eat then and there, leave some for others. With some benches and sitting areas to encourage people to eat together outside.

Yes, but I'd like to be wrong. In my normal state of mind I think yes, its 50-50. Yet when I talk to some people who's views of the world are are very dimensional, who've spoken and lived with extraordinary people and for a while I change my mind; thinking yes the rain dance is possible and there is more to to the world then meets the eye.

I voted more, but its probably due to cognitive bias's, ie stricter recording on rain dance years, a bit slacker on non dance years, so the data is ever so bias'd towards rain dancing works. Since its basically 50/50 a little bias, not recording one or two late night rains or a couple tiny downfalls can make all the difference. Without strict controls, studies point where the measurer wants them to, conciously or not.

Welcome JassBear, please enjoy the site. Hi Aussie, For what its worth, the link above isn't working. For me at least.

Ok. I get it. Your solution is paying farmers more money. When they get more money they'll stop using slave labor. (That's nice but it won't solve the slave problem, prices have gone up and there is still a problem.) My solution is arrest any farmer found using slave labor and confiscate the land. Fewer farmers = higher cocoa prices, better for farmers who don't use slave labor (not a perfect solution for those in extreme poverty). You for some reason are against that. ?? Fine, write your petitions, stop eating some brands of chocolate. Honestly, good luck. We are on the same side or at least want the same thing. My way is less philosophical and more direct. & I'm out of here.

'liked' the above only because its so well written.

Perhaps we need a button which denotes even higher praise? like OUTSTANDING ?? For particularly great posts sometimes I'll

Yes, no, no yes. Simple research, fair trade prices are 10% higher then normal prices (& there is a floor, but prices are way above it). Prices fluctuate, so even 10% can be 20% lower then last year. Higher prices aren't going to end slavery. Because prices have gone up and there's still a slavery problem. Colonial this.. colonial that.. doesn't matter in solving the problem, unless you've got a time machine and small army. Its not a matter of cocoa prices, its a matter of putting teeth into the law outlawing slavery. "The child said her parents are expecting her to bring back money. That says absolutely nothing about what her parents know or what their intentions are. You are making all sorts of wrong assumptions about her parents based on projecting your own limited cultural assumptions." I don't think 'they secretly knew', I assume they suspected (sweatshop, slavery or prostitution) was strong possibility. I make my assumptions because I've read up a bit on Africa, latest book, The Boy who Captured the Wind. It paints some frightening pictures of hunger in Africa. It also presents the people there as smart and know whats going on. Seems hugely naive to send away a 12 year old and assume she'll get a job and be fine. I could be wrong, but what the hell kind of job did they expect a 12 year old girl to get from strangers? People know better. As far as mandating higher cocoa prices: If you think giving more money to slavers will make them nicer better people, then go send them a check. I'd rather send them to jail and take away there farms. Its easier to lock away the bad guys then fight against supply and demand, ie people/companies paying for commodities what the going market rate is. Try to make artificial pricing rules, and people will get around them. In the long run it doesn't work. I am blaming parents, I'm blaming the farmers who are slavers even more. I'm also blaming the police who look the other way. I am blaming the government who's not doing something about this. I would punish the farmers. I would pay the police more to carry out the law. I would fire (or put sanctions on) the government who are not enforcing anti-slavery laws. You're so focused on colonialism that you don't seem to blame the true culprits. Why not go after the slavers? The farmers, the procurers. Your head is so lost in a history lessons you can't see the evil in plain view or the true solution to it. You're so focused on Cargill as the enemy that you don't evil in front of your face. The farmers doing actual enslaving (and there procurers). Big mistake. Raising the price of cocoa 10%, fine.. but understand it'll fluctuate like any farm commodity and the fluctuations haven't meant a damn thing about slavery.

its not youtube, but I spent last weekend watching all 13 episodes of Daredevil on Netflix. Surprisingly good. And to watch hourly episodes one after the other with no commercials was great; in an incredibly time wasting way. I like The Flash too, but because its cable Daredevil has less constraints, Daredevil's world is darker and grittier. To fit into a tight schedule Flashes problems and solutions (except for the reverse flash which has been admirably done and avoided easy quick cliches) seem more maudlin and contrived. Which was also a problem with Smallville.

I find you very naive. You think the parents sent out a 12 year old (interviewers thought she was younger) w/ nothing and thought she'd be just fine, get a good job. Naive on several fronts. The parents probably weren't stupid. They knew there was a good chance she'd wind up in a very bad place but in a land where there's starvation and too many mouths to feed, shit happens. You're also naive if you think raising the amount paid for cocoa will stop slavery. If farmers are slavers, earning 30 cents more a pound won't automatically make them sing kumbaya and release the kids. All it does it does is put more money in there pocket. I blame all the parties involved, not just Cargill. You're giving a free pass to the parents who sent out there 12 year old who thinks she can't come back unless she has money, yeah I do blame them. I blame the farmers, who should give a wage to there workers and freedom to come and go. I blame the local police who look the other way. I blame the government that's not putting teeth into regulation and policing that would stop this. You also put way to much trust in pieces of paper. That fair trade or some letters on a certificate in a mass market with 100's of sellers means everythings honky dory. I don't. The best solution is arrests and confiscation. Having police or military go farm to farm and arrest those with slaves and confiscate the land. And keep doing that til its ended. Throw a tax on cocoa exports to fund it. That's the best solution. You do some research but its not holistic. You miss important questions. How much does Cargill pay and how much would it pay under fair trade; Would raising it stop the slavery? It might not. I know government policing would. There are social and economic issues ranging from starvation to custom that need to be addressed. It is complicated and it is solvable. In my opinion getting the government to put teeth into its own laws, close down and arrest farmers who use slave labor. If the farms can't grow cocoa economically they should either grow something else or turn into something productive. I'm a better researcher then you because I look at more variables and try to see the problem and solution holistically. I think my eyes are open, yours are just slits focused on Cargill. Speaking of Cargill (and to piss off Innersound) let me add this link: http://www.cargill.com/corporate-responsibility/responsible-supply-chains/cocoa/index.jsp From the site: ..We believe that when confronting these problems, it is essential to target poverty, which is often the root cause of labor issues. As farmer incomes rise through our training and community support programs described above, cocoa farmers are more likely to keep their children in school and out of the field. Our farmer training programs include raising awareness of child labor issues. We are working with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) to implement best practices, which have been proven to help farmers identify tasks that may harm children. Our training is based on the codes of conduct of UTZ Certified and the Rainforest Alliance, which include explicit prohibitions on child labor based on International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. These allow children only to help their parents outside of school time for a limited number of hours; stipulate that children must not undertake work that jeopardizes their health or safety; and specify that children must always be accompanied by an adult relative. We have a dedicated team on the ground in Côte d’Ivoire to ensure consistent implementation of our child labor policies, coordinate our approach across all our activities and programs, and liaise with other stakeholders. All our employees in Côte d’Ivoire are being trained by ICI to help them understand the issues and identify children who may be at risk, and we work with our certified farmer cooperatives to build similar awareness. If we are alerted to any child at risk, we communicate with cooperative management and regional government officials, so they can investigate and take any necessary actions. In addition to our own efforts, we support the efforts of ICI, ILO, and WCF to help combat child labor.

I like it. Let me know when you're playing near Chicago; probably not soon, but one day. & I'll sweeten the deal with a free beer or two for you and the band

I got around to watching your 45 minute video and it interviews a girl who is rescued from a going on a bus to a plantation and in the interview the girl says she's was promised money, further if she doesn't come back with money her parents will be very angry with her. I'm assuming her story is common. You kinda quick gloss over it and spend pages on Cargill, but to me the fact that such 'slavery' is somewhat sanctioned by her parents, ie they're sending out a 12 year old to a plantation. Odds are they know the risks. To me its damnably complicated. The parents willing to send there young children away and law looking the other way.. this points to social and economic issues that have to be studied and involved in solving this problem. Cause I suspect even if Cargill goes away the fundamental problem here will remain. Also my studying shows that you exaggerate the problem. Its horrendous enough without it.

As an old man I go to bed, wake up and go to pee, go back to bed, wake up again, wonder where the hell I am, go to pee again, back to bed then as a baby wake up, wonder where the hell I am; pee.. nothing much has changed.. Clearly when we die, we shed our stuff. No need for cars, clothes and life time of accumulation. Perhaps in truth even our memories are just more stuff; to be left behind and its an aspect of our awareness that goes on.

Towards the OP, are you really asking if Science isn't the religion of our time. That we've set up men in white coats as authorities over us, believing them blindly? In our age angels have turned into aliens and miracles into quantum events..

I'm no role model here. But.. a section on spiritually cleaning out the pantries and keeping them 'pure' ie don't introduce junk food back into them. A section on spiritual cooking, keeping it simple and natural, would be good; some easy raw recipes. The path to effortlessness begins with discipline. Keeping ones diet simple and repetitive until it becomes a habit and lifestyle. Only then should you open up to greater choices. Until correct habits are set, choice is the enemy. <this actually comes from Tim Ferris who lost alot of weight and said the secret was eating the exact same thing (healthy, slow carb) every day for a month>

Fantastic. It shows how much work it takes. Maybe 20% miracle and 80% hard work on both your parts. Having a student w/ disability or not work for 2 hours shows a master teacher. Last question, I like squats and often use kettlebells with them. What is a superbrain yoga squat?