Specialization is for Insects.
If you aren’t familiar with TED, they invite brilliant people to speak in front of a small crowd, but they also video it so the rest of us can see it.
Here, Peter Diamandis makes a case for optimism — that we’ll invent, innovate and create ways to solve the challenges that loom over us. “I’m not saying we don’t have our set of problems; we surely do. But ultimately, we knock them down.â€
Thanks to Jack for sharing this with me originally!
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“We are a way for the universe to know itself.†– Carl Sagan
This quote is perhaps one of the most important that I have ever heard. I had heard it many times and even understood it as a boy but, not until the past few years did I truly come to comprehend what it meant.
Hidden in this brief line of eloquence was a profound observation of our universe that encompassed everything from astrophysics to what it means to be human.
Image courtesy of xkcd.com
I am an atheist. Depending on the socio-cultural circles that you move in, you may not care for that statement very much or, you may be pleased to hear it. It does not define me entirely as a person but, it is a very important aspect of who I am and how I approach the world. When I say that I am an atheist, a popular image of me is immediately cast in the minds of many people; that of a cynical, mean-spirited and, immoral science zealot. I was recently told by a family friend that it is not possible to be a skeptical person and maintain a healthy imagination because, someone who is constantly questioning and looking for empirical evidence of everything will miss the loftier human angles of the question.
Essentially the sentiment was that if I am not willing to take things at face value then I will never understand the warmth, wonder and, magic of the human experience. I could launch into a tirade here about how this represents a false dichotomy and demonstrate that the two are not mutually exclusive but, I feel that my point may be better served by presenting my position in a deeper, warmer and, more human manner.
Image courtesy of WikiCommons.
Our universe is infinitely beautiful in its intricacies. It exists as an ever changing, ever deepening well of information for us. On the surface, it functions according to natural laws that describe how its contents exist and interact with each other. These laws, in an intriguing mirror of the things that they describe, seem to break down into infinite minutia.
After the ‘Big Bang’ these laws would eventually produce great, glowing objects known to us as stars. At the heart of these stars, hydrogen atoms would fuse together and create new atoms of carbon, oxygen and, helium as well as all other heavy elements in the universe. By the function of the natural laws that governed them, these stars would eventually run out of fuel, swell to a great size and explode in what truly must be the most beautiful of sights.
They would cast the fruits of their grand labor into the depths of the void. Across the universe, some of these atoms would meet and coalesce due to their mass. Â Over the millennia these atoms would form larger objects with more mass and more pull; swirling together in a chaotic, violent and, beautiful dance.
Over time these object would become the planets that orbit the multitude stars of our universe. By the natural laws some would settle into a comfortable and delicate orbit around a warm and welcoming star. Over time some of these atoms, in the presence of others, on a fledgling planet would begin to form molecules. Due to the laws of chemistry, these molecules, under the right conditions, would begin to recreate themselves from the matter around them.
These new molecules would eventually form nuclei and become the first cells, which would then divide themselves and form small multi-cellular organisms.
This was not predestined or made to occur. It simply happened as a natural function of the universe’s existence. These organisms would reproduce and evolve; improving upon themselves with each successive generation. The combined forces of the natural laws would blindly select the best of these offspring to survive and reproduce, ensuring that they would be able to sustain and grow.
Their dead would nourish the planet, providing their stored energies to other organisms. These organisms would soon evolve further and differentiate, creating by their very existence, new laws that would govern themselves. Some would be predators, feeding off of each other and, some would be prey, feeding off of vegetative life; all in a fragile balance of power. The strongest of these would, by their nature and the delicate hand of natural selection, reproduce and evolve.
Some would rise above others in the chain of life and begin to evolve more rapidly. They would soon develop the ability to consider and understand. The eyes and hands that they evolved would feed them information about the nature of their existence. As they would gain more information they would gain more understanding.
It has become sentient due to the very nature of its existence. It has become able to consider itself and to understand itself; able to marvel at itself… through us. We are literally born of the stars that were themselves born of the moment in time when all matter began to exist and, it is very probable that each of us contains at least one atom that was created during the birth of the universe.
I am an atheist and a skeptic. I do not put stock in fantastical concepts of magical beings that created all we see. I believe in verifiable evidence and the natural laws of our universe. This does not make me dispassionate. I look at the reality of our universe and my heart swells to imagine it. I can think of no higher place, no greater knowledge, than knowing that I am a child of the stars and a way for our universe to look upon itself and weep with joy at its own magnificence.
I KNOW you’ve been hassled by beggars about 100 times at least in your life. And nothing drives me crazier than people standing around begging. I absolutely NEVER give them money.
So, do you think that makes me an a-hole? Because I’m not. I’ve donated more to charity than most people will in a lifetime. What it makes me is not a sucker.
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About a week ago, a group of people filed a lawsuit in New York to prevent a cross from being erected within the World Trade Center memorial without equal opportunity for other religions who wish to have memorials there as well.
According to the lawsuit, among the 2,792 people killed in the twin towers, 31 were Muslim Americans, approximately 400 to 500 were Jewish Americans, approximately 500 were non-religious Americans, and an unknown number were Americans of other faiths. (So, about half of the people who died were not Christian.)
Additionally:
No other religious or non-religious group has been permitted a memorial.
Fox News had some discussions about this event including this one.
Clearly Christians are angry. They later had Blair Scott, Communications Director for American Atheists, on a show to talk about the lawsuit and immediately the Fox News Facebook page was flooded with thousands of comments. I would link to the post, but apparently Fox removed it. Not before several comments were screen captured though.
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You probably arrived at this page because someone wanted you to know:
Chances are you:
…for no good reason.
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Bill Zeller was a PhD Candidate at the Center for Information Technology Policy, which is part of Princeton University‘s Computer Science program. Last Sunday he took his own life and left a detailed suicide note explaining his rationale. If you’d like to learn a little more about Bill, you can visit his personal site (for as long as it remains up), read his Twitter stream, and see his Flickr gallery.
Although the outward signs of Zeller’s life might seem normal enough, he was apparently battling a raging fire of torment inside caused by sexual abuse as a child. Something he shared with no one until his death. It goes to show you how terrible that kind of abuse can be, and what should be done to the perpetrators.
It also raises the questions about the morality of suicide. As Bill puts it:
“People say suicide is selfish. I think it’s selfish to ask people to continue living painful and miserable lives, just so you possibly won’t feel sad for a week or two. Suicide may be a permanent solution to a temporary problem, but it’s also a permanent solution to a ~23 year-old problem that grows more intense and overwhelming every day.”
Personally, I believe that people should be able to not only determine how they want to live their life, but also how they want to end it. It reminds me of the story of the elderly British couple who committed suicide together.
And now, the final message from Bill Zeller (set aside some time, its over 4,000 words):
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Last week I came across what sounded like a neat little Twitter contest that Mercedes Benz was running. As a Mercedes owner I took an interest when I saw that they were looking for people who were willing to drive a Mercedes across the country while tweeting for a chance to win a new car plus a couple of tickets to the super bowl.
So, I tossed my name in the hat because it sounded like fun. Lo and behold, I was accepted into what Mercedes referred to as “the Second Round”, in which I was asked to submit an application. At first I was a little excited, though I figured there are probably a million people in the “Second Round” anyway…
THEN I read the actual “application”. And wow, I couldn’t believe what all they were asking for!
Here’s what the official contest tells you before you enter:
Four two-person teams will embark on Feb. 2, 2011, from one of four cities – New York, L.A., Chicago or Tampa – with a pair of Super Bowl tickets and specially outfitted Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
They’ll need to beat out three other teams headed to Dallas. They’ll need to complete a series of challenges along the way. And they’ll need gallons of Tweets from their Twitter followers to fuel them to victory.
If you were “lucky” enough to be chosen for the second round of the contest then you received a Twitter DM (direct message) instructing you to email the contest administrator for your application packet – which I did.
In response, an email arrived with an 8.3MB attached 11 page application. Yes, eleven pages. (BTW, posting this disqualifies me from the contest, but as you’ll see in a minute, it doesn’t matter). A couple of notes for anyone considering running a Twitter contest:
Ok, to be honest, even though the 11 page application was a bit of a shocker I was still considering it. But there were two big problems:
AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE (driver)
Please print, sign, scan and send completed version to RaceDirectory@MBTweetRace.comPermission to obtain driver records, employment and education verifications, search for criminal records, litigation, liens, judgments, credit reports, bankruptcy records and all other records reflecting character.
I, ___________________ hereby authorize IPS Associates, LLC to conduct an investigation and/or obtain investgative reports, driver history records, criminal convictions records, credit reports, education, prior employment, character, general reputation, personal characteristics and mode of living.
I hereby authorize IPS Associates, LLC to conduct an education search to verify any enrollment and/or degrees which I have obtained as well as to verify all academics and/or licensses which may be listed below.
I, hereby authorize IPS Associates, LLC to conduct an employment search to verify employment which I have listed below.
I further understand than an investigative consumer report may contain information about my character, general reputation, personal characteristics and mode of living, which information may be obtained through personal interviews with my friends, neighbors and/or other associates.
I further understand that any information obtained by IPS Associates, LLC will not be used in violation of any federal or state discrimination law or regulation.
I hereby and herewith release IPS Associates, LLC, its employees, agents and contractors from any and all liability whatsoever arising from the investigation, report or any decisions made by any person or entity based upon the results of the investgation or report.
Print Name / Sign / etc.
GOOD LORD! They want you to give them your social security number, drivers license, and the right to delve into employment, credit, “…character, general reputation, personal characteristics and mode of living…” and whatever else they like? Oh, and you are going to completely absolve them “…from any and all liability whatsoever….”
When I hear all of that I think, this thing better really, really pay off right! NO! According to the competition Terms here is what you get:
Contestants must be available beginning at 9 am on February 1, 2011 through February 9, 2011.
Compensation will not be provided to Contest Teams, including but not limited to, reimbursement for lost wages or business losses. Teams will be provided a daily stipend for food, lodging and gasoline. Travel from the Contestant’s home to the Teams designated race beginning point and from Dallas back to their home will be provided via coach class airline commercial carrier. Contestants must agree to abide by any social media and site rules established by Twitter®, Facebook and Sponsor.
Contestants must agree to abide by all traffic and parking rules and laws. Contestants will be liable for all parking tickets, moving violations or other fines levied in connection with driving the vehicle.
Contestants shall be required to sign a Liability Waiver and Release form to operate the vehicle, and Publicity Release consent to the use of their name, likeness and any and all copyright or other intellectual property rights without compensation, in any advertising and promotional activities, worldwide, in perpetuity.
Both the Winning Driver and the Winning Co-Driver of the winning Contest Team will receive a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe, base model, with winner’s choice of paint color (Prize Vehicles).
Oh, there is one little catch:
Winners of Prize Vehicles acknowledge and accept that the Prize Vehicles will not be available to the winners until model retail launch in October 2011.
Well, and another much bigger catch:
…all federal, state and local taxes associated with the acceptance of any and all prizes connected with this Contest are the sole responsibility of the winner.
So, to wrap it all up for you,
All of this just puts a really, really bad taste in my mouth for Mercedes Benz. Which of course is the complete opposite of what I suspect they were looking for. Sooo… I have just one question for Mercedes:
Who the hell did you hire to run this contest, and what were you thinking???
Its a sad day, but one that was destined to come – not because of what I’ve done, but because Neal Campbell has been defaming me for nearly a year and there are no signs that he’s ever going to let up. What makes the story more sad is that Neal is someone I used to consider a friend.
What happened? Neal’s wife, Cali Lewis, decided to leave him. And when she did, my wife and I eventually took her side. And as far as Neal is concerned, that is reason to “rebuke you in the name of Jesus”. Yep. He did that to at least three or four people I know of as soon as they questioned what he was telling them about the whole mess.
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Islamic clerics never cease to amaze me with their dazzling intellect and incredible application of truly dizzying logic. Here we have an interview from some TV station in the Middle East where a reporter (and I use that term very loosly) has a cleic explaining the proper ways to beat your wife (or wives as the case may be)!
I’ve captioned all of the content below, because after you watch this video you are probably going to need to read it again since you aren’t going to believe your eyes the first time around.
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