Scary thought for the day

In honour of the approaching Halloween, I'm offering my scary thought for the day.

With the rapid pace of technology--nuclear, computer, biotech--by the middle of this century the average high school student will have the ability to destroy the human race.

Sweet dreams.

The REAL dangers of porn

Here is a great article discussing the REAL dangers of pornography--not the 'dangers' that the feminists or religious right would have us believe (rampaging sex-crazed men). Rather, the opposite, and the important gender relationship changes that come about from this (i.e. less male interest in 'real' women).

http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/trends/n_9437/

Athiest thought #6

It seems many people never outgrow the need for an imaginary friend.

Interesting Times

"There is a curse that says 'may you live in interesting times.' " - Terry Prachet

Carbon Footprint

I'm really bothered by the hypocrites on TV who boldly announce that you should reduce your carbon footprint by turning your TV from standby to off. Meanwhile, they boldly drive around in their SUVs.

I may leave my electronics on standby, but I walk or take mass transit everywhere. My family doesn't even own a car (by choice). Fifteen years ago I gave up my driver's license (no, I wasn't legally obliged to; no, I had no points on it). Most of the known world considers me crazy for doing so, including every one of my friends and family. Which only shows that, unlike most of the population, I actually believe in personal responsibility and will back up my words with actions.

Now, I won't get into how politics, the economy and the environment would change (for the better in my opinion) if everyone gave up their cars. What I will say is only, if you want to talk to me about reducing my carbon footprint by unplugging my toaster, or something equally ludicrous, don't. Just get on your four-wheeled high horse and ride on back to the ranch, carbon farmer.

New Definitions: Blockbuster

Blockbuster used to be used to refer to some product (movie, drug, book...) that made vast amounts of money. Obviously our most familiar usage is with the phrase 'blockbuster movie'. Interestingly, I'm under the impression that that meaning has changed to 'something that cost a lot of money to make' or 'something we have high expectations of'.

Case-in-point: today on the news I heard mention that 'the latest blockbuster, City of Ember, is premiering today in Belfast'. But how can it be a blockbuster if it hasn't even been released yet?

Like children playing with nukes

Modern bankers / brokers are like children playing with nukes, they aren't careful with their toy, and they don't understand the true power they wield and the effects it has on other people's lives. Unfortunately, we, society, are the weak parents. We aren't teaching them the difference between right and wrong or the consequences of their actions. This financial crisis was the perfect opportunity to give them a big spanking and set them back on the right path. Instead, we just told them they were bad, gave them a kiss on the cheek, and sent them out to play. With these reassurances, their delinquent ways can only continue.

Global Financial Crisis - some questions

The words in the title of this blog bring to mind so many different thoughts, especially now that 'clean up' processes are supposedly under way:
why do we, the little guy, have to clean up after the rich (they won't ever be affected by the crisis, but we are)?
why does no one insist the rich have to pay for their mess?
is the 'bail out' really helpful, or just another money grab by those who want more (the stock markets still haven't responded positively, despite plans in the US, UK and EU)?
is the crisis truly global (I haven't heard any word of trouble in China, India or the Arab nations)?
just how long can we put off the inevitable collapse of the Western Empire?

and one that I'm quite interested in recently, in this world of ubiquitous addiction (food, TV, work, substances, religion), why has no one insisted that those responsible for the 'economic crisis'--the leaders and major stockholders of the banks--undergo therapy for money addiction? Yes, that's right, these people, who have far more than enough (the richest 400 Americans have more combined assests than the poorest 150 million Americans!) are clearly suffering from severe addiction to money. As part of any bail out deal, they should each be made to undergo intensive addiction treatment until they realize that they have neither the right nor the need to make more than 400 times what their average employee makes.

Alas, it won't happen. Why? Two reasons. First, the rich are the ones in power and thus make the rules. They see nothing wrong and so nothing will happen to them. Second, we the people, the masses that actually support the system, don't insist. That's right, it's as much our fault as theirs for letting them get away with it, for following along like sheep, for allowing our own greed get the better of us and believing and hoping that their fairytale--you too could become disgustingly rich--could, possibly, be true.

'We the people...' have the power. That's why much of government/industry's energy is bent towards controlling us--either calming us into a state of quiet acquiescence, sedating us with cheap baubles and flashing images so we ignore what they're doing, or whipping us into a state of fearful panic so we gratefully allow them to do what they want. We're like trained dogs, panting at sweet-sounding orders for their amusement. And until we wake up (if we ever wake up--read '1984' by Orwell people, it's far more prophetic than the bible) we always will be.

'We the people...' have the power. But we have to get out of our lazy-chairs to use it.