Rajvee's Thoughts

Darwin is 6 Months Old Yay!!

2012-02-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

The day has finally come that I can say that my little one is half way to his first birthday! I can now start feeding him solids so he can begin to experiment with the act of eating and chewing. He already seems very interested in mommy and daddy's food but I wanted to wait until the 6 month mark to start solids. I'm still breastfeeding so he is getting what he needs but a little extra nutrition will help him stay full and nap better in the day.

For solids he started with 1-2 tbsp of rice cereal mixed with 1 oz of breastmilk in the morning and evening. I soon eliminated the evening feeding as he did not poop for a day or two and I noticed that when he did poop it was thick and brown. The following week I introduced carrots at lunch and he is enjoying it. I also give him a little taste of my banana for a treat. I also give him a drop of Gaia probiotic for digestion after lunch. I recently ordered the Baby Brezza steamer/blender to make my own baby food and will be picking it up at the post office shortly. I will soon introduce pumpkin, sweet potato and squash; but one food at a time. Then fruit such as avocado, pear and banana will come next. I also introduced oats in the evenings but not sure that he loves the cereals in general. I have been looking around for a highchair but have not found one I like. I may end up buying the Mom and Co. option but it's sort of pricey.

He has also been playing with his toys and entertaining himself very easily. He loves to roll and move around on his mats and grab at his favourite toys. He's made so much progress since his first session with the pediatric physiotherapist Mariana when he was 4 months old. All this playing and exercise makes him extra tired and so his naptime is very predictable. After his morning feeding he is out like a light after 2 hours of wake time albeit on my lap but he sleeps well nevertheless.

At about 5.5 months we decided that Darwin would need some help to sleep longer in his crib so we used the cry-it-out method with our own twist. The first night as usual he awoke 45 minutes into his sleep but we didn't get him but let him cry instead. We checked on him every 5 minutes for the first 15 minutes, the every 10 minutes. It took almost an hour before he fell asleep. He briefly awoke that night at his usual wake times of 11pm and 2pm but soothed himself to sleep after 5 minutes. I fed him at around 5am and then he slept until 7-8am. The next night it was the same but this time he did not wake until 5am. This was the case on the third night. After that he did not wake after putting him to sleep so we did not have to let him cry. Success!! Of course there have been times that he has awoke at 12-1am for a late night feeding but occasionally. I have however come to the realization that if we change his routine too much or go to him the second he cries it will encourage him to get into this habit. But I'm happy to say that we are all sleeping much better and straight through the night for the most part. I sometimes have to hold out to pump as I am not at all interested in doing so unless I need to. But sometimes it is so uncomfortable that I don't have a choice.

I have developed a strong love of breastfeeding, something that I never thought I would have such strong feelings for. Darwin exclusively breastfed until 6 months and I am so proud of myself for meeting my goal, which seemed almost impossible in the beginning. I would like to continue ideally until he is 2 years old. It's just too easy ;)

I would have to say that life has gotten easier for sure these days. Darwin is sleeping better, although still napping on me, he's less gassy, can play on his own longer, is less fussy overall and is more predictable. He's growing so fast and time seems to be going by much faster.

Darwin: 5 months

2011-12-25T08:43:00.001-08:00

Darwin is finally at a stage in his life where he is starting to adapt to the foods I eat and so he can handle the gas a little better. My mom is visiting and I couldn't be happier. She has been so helpful with housework and of course watching little Darwin and it has allowed me to get some extra rest and do other things like blog and catch up on my favourite shows. She loves to sing to Darwin and he just loves it. When he cries her singing always seems to calm and soothe him no matter how hungry or tired he is. It's the perfect solution and always works.

One big accomplishment is that we have successfully transitioned him to his crib. Once a finely decorated, empty space is now a comfortable haven for our sweet pea. Well he doesn't quite sleep through the night regularly as he did in his bouncer but I don't really mind feeding him 2-3 times a night. I find that he's gaining more weight since he's eating a lot at night and in turn my milk supply has increased quite a bit. I'm no longer struggling to satisfy his hunger in the day and he is therefore, I believe, taking longer naps in the day.

Peter especially feels like he can more happily enjoy playing with Darwin and he seems to be more accepting of Darwin when he is fussy or needs to be entertained. We have less arguments now that Darwin is older and less fussy and this has given us the freedom to spend quality time together.

Rhea so kindly picked up probiotics for Darwin and I which should help the gas issue and aid in digestion so I'm looking forward to feeling the results in a few days. She also brought a mixture for colic and teething which is all natural so I'm glad to be using that for Darwin.

Darwin also loves to go out and meet friends and new people and just loves to drive around in his carseat. Sometimes I'll take him for a drive so he can take a nap and so I can have a break from him. But of course I seem to miss him when he is asleep.

Darwin is 3 Months

2011-11-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

Darwin has been growing so well over the last few weeks mainly because he has been eating so much that I can barely keep up. At his last appointment at the Wit Gele Kruis on October 31, 2011 he weighed in at 12.4 lbs. He has been surprising us so much with his development these days.

For the first time he started talking, of course in his own way, but with the use of vowels and consonants! We were so impressed with him and I even got it on video. I try to have random conversations with him regularly and I have also began to casually teach him signs for mama, dada, eat, milk and finished. He seems to really pay attention well especially since he likes to observe my hand gestures. Just something fun to do to pass the time.

He has also been putting a lot of weight on his legs and just loves to be held in the standing position. Looks like we will have an early walker so it seems. We still swaddle him as he has a strong startle reflex and also likes to grab his face with his hands. I let his legs move freely, however, for proper pelvic and leg muscle development.

He normally loves baths, ever since he was a newborn, but lately he has been screaming I think due to his burning a$$hole.. he has been pooing a lot lately which could be the culprit, I use Penatan cream which his grandpa David gave him since he once used the same brand on Peter.

He still doesn't nap much in the day but I can usually get him down for a couple of 30 to 45 minute naps and lie with him and get him to sleep for an hour. Or he'll just sleep on me while I'm watching a show or working on the computer. He sleeps quite well at night, normally 7ish-7ish with two feedings in between (one at 12ish and the other at 4ish)... so he's fairly predictable at night. I get on average about 6.5 hours of sleep since I go to bed around 9-10pm and am awake for about 1.5-2 hours at night... not too bad.

In his first month he slept in his bassinet but as he got older and bigger he became more fussy and likes to sleep in his bouncy chair, courtesy of my friend Beth. I've put him in his crib numerous times and he has slept well but soon noticed that he was spitting up. I realized that he needs to sleep on an incline to minimize reflux so once we have the air conditioner installed in his room, which should be happening in a day or two, I will prop up the mattress and let him sleep in his room again.

He's getting so big these days. I've started to reminisce about when he was a newborn. I have been gazing at pictures and videos of him at just a few weeks old and it just gets me emotional. I love him so much..

Darwin Nalin Kroll

2011-10-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Today I finally have a second to write about how my life has changed since I gave birth to my beautiful son Darwin Nalin Kroll who is now 11 weeks old. Now, looking back, pregnancy was far easier than raising a child, not to mention a newborn, and what was I thinking when I couldn't wait for the day I could hold my son in my arms. It seems forever ago but I did enjoy being pregnant aside from the swollen ankles and feet.

Pregnancy was really easy for me. I seemed to have a more extreme urge to go out and do things that I had been putting off for months to years, including doing pending renovations. I guess that perhaps I was just excited to be a mother but at the same time knew that I could never complete my to-do-list once I had a child to care for. And I was very right about that.

These last (almost) three months have been very time-consuming. All my time and energy has gone into taking care of Darwin and also just adjusting to being a mother both physically and emotionally. For one, I have never been at this weight (pre-pregnancy) ever in my life-- I am now 128 lbs-- and do not know when I will ever get down to my pre-pregnancy weight of 115 lbs. There goes trying to get down to 112 lbs before I got pregnant. Thankfully I have adjusted quite well emotionally and I would have to give a lot of credit to my mom who stayed with us for over 2 months to help care for the little one. Damn, was she ever good. She did everything for me, even take Darwin when I needed a break.

During the first 2 months of raising Darwin it was quite difficult for me to get used to caring for him. I felt that I needed to produce more milk (I am breastfeeding) since it seemed as though he was always hungry and never interested in sleeping in the day even though newborns are supposed to sleep for about 15 hours a day or more. Darwin would maybe sleep 2 hours in the daytime. So this meant that I had a lot less time to myself and for naps. But, since he was up in the day he would sleep fairly well at night which made for a more or less rested mommy.

I did however realize that I had to quickly change my diet since whatever I was eating was effecting his tiny little digestive system and giving him a lot of gas and cramps. This was keeping him up or waking him up from a nap and it took me weeks to adjust my diet to suit his little tummy. I eliminated eggs, most dairy, nuts, onions, garlic and citrus from my diet which was difficult since these comprised a large part of my diet. Oh well, as long as Darwin could sleep better I had no problem with that. To this day he gets very mild cramps and seems to prefer his bouncy chair (which was given to me by my friend Beth as a last ditch effort) and it has just been the best solution.

These days Darwin gets about 5 hours of sleep in the day and sleeps for about 10 hours at night with 2 feedings on average throughout the night. He is so much more calm now and ever since I have included foods and herbal concoctions into my diet to increase my breastmilk the supply now flows really well thus providing more than enough food for my baby. So he is satisfied! I still pump at night, mainly due to engorgement of my right breast and also to have a bottle in case I want to go out or give him a little extra at night before bed. Peter normally takes care of that and so he gets some bonding time with his son. Darwin also seems to love that very much since he doesn't see his daddy all day. My mom was in charge of these feedings when she was here and thus developed quite an attachment to little D. She still misses him dearly after being gone for over 2 weeks. I totally understand-- Darwin's such a cutie pie!

Last week Darwin had his first round of immunizations and it was also the first time that I really worried about my son. He had a fever which we were able to keep at bay by administering paracitamol suppositories. Poor Darwin slept on his dad for hours that evening as Peter watched UFC and then in the early morning slept on his tummy in the bed with us for the first time. He really just wanted to be comforted and, hey, I don't blame him. His fever cleared the next afternoon and he was back to his normal smiley self again.

These days he's been smiling a lot and I just love that he is such a happy baby. Not too long ago he was suffering from so much gas that it made me feel so bad that I was hurting him. This gas in particular was from restaurant food and I just had to accept that I could not eat out unless it was a salad or... MacDonalds which seems to not effect him... very strange! He just smiles at everything and loves to be playful. He particularly loves getting bathed in his tub and for the last month has been flashing me a smile to let me know how much fun he is having. Oh I just LOVE him!!

I never thought I could love someone so much. Of course I love me husband but this love is different. I carried the little guy for 9 months inside of me and painfully and naturally gave birth to him. It's a love like no other and it will only grow stronger as he grows. I mean, don't get me wrong, there have definitely been times when I just want to get up and leave the room with Darwin in it when he doesn't want to sleep or he is having gas pains but of course because I am adjusting to giving all my time to another human being.

That's the one thing I overlooked. That I would have a lot less time for myself but at the same time not really care so much. I used to be obsessed about working out and now, if I just can't do it then so be it. Although, this will have to change at some point when Darwin is older can play on his own. I definitely have to lose those 15 lbs and get back into shape so my clothes fit again. I refuse to buy new clothes, since I just love the ones I have and also do not want to start feeling comfortable at a heavier weight..

I am now starting to feel more liberated... to do laundry, read, continue with my volunteering, hang out with Pete, cook and go out with friends without feeling that I need to constantly cater to Darwin's needs. Overall, he is a very good boy and I really just had to get the hang of being a mother, a parent, a caregiver. That's who I am now, there's no turning back... and I wouldn't have it any other way :) I love my Darwin now and forever..

Planning for the Nursery

2011-04-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks I have been planning for the design of the nursery for my baby. As I have already purchased the furniture and have decided where each piece will go (matching taupe crib, wardrobe and change table from Mom & Co.) the next step is to choose the paint colour.

After looking through numerous pictures and blogs to give me some ideas for wall colour and design I came up with the idea to hang wallpaper on one wall which will have the crib adjacent to it for contrast. And after much mindful debating I chose a navy blue and beige plaid design which would complement the furniture and window and door in the bedroom. But I had to be okay with not painting the other walls blue since it would not match the wallpaper and upon realizing that blue is not the only "boy colour" available I made the choice to go with a colour that would complement the wallpaper. This colour turned out to be some shade of brown and, although I have not yet chosen the exact colour, I have an idea of what it will be and I am very happy with it.

I had originally had the idea to paint or order some sort of simple mural for one of the walls like a tree with flowers, but after finding out that I was having a boy I could not really decide on a design and I also did not know who I could find to help with such a design since I have little artistic talent. I happened to stumble upon a google image of a beautiful nursery in which one of the walls had a blue, white and grey argyle design that mimicked a boy's sweater and I thought it was brilliant. However, after visiting the blog on which the image was posted I withdrew my initial desire towards such an idea since it was actually tediously drawn and painted by the mother-to-be. And although she posted very detailed instructions for the design I was not about to get my hands dirty for such a task. So that is how I decided on the wallpaper idea.

The main issue with my wallpaper idea, which I only realized after the fact, was that I could not find it on the island in which I live, Curacao. So I thought the next best solution would be to order it online and either ship it to my address or my family address in Canada and they could subsequently ship it to me. I chose the latter.

I am almost 23 weeks and I almost have everything I need to get started on the nursery. I just have to buy the paint. As well, I still have a few minor repairs that are still pending such as the hardware replacement on the window, installation of a screen for the window which I have already ordered and purchased and installation of a ceiling fan which will be done after I have painted the room.

I actually won't be doing any of the painting myself since I am pregnant and it is not advised but will hire someone to paint and to also patch some holes in the wall sand parts of the walls. My husband and I will hang the wallpaper since we want to make sure it is done correctly and seeing as wallpaper is not sold on the island, how can I be confident that the person I hire will even know what wallpaper is??

I also recently purchased a crib bedding set online from Amazon and shipped it to my family address in Canada. My mom will be bringing it with her when she comes to stay with me for a couple of months when I have the baby. It is a 4-piece set which includes a comforter, fitted sheet, dust ruffle and bumper. The design is plaid with beige, chocolate brown and a dark navy blue/black. After searching through hundreds of designs I found it on an online American store but it was out of stock. And just when I thought I would have to continue my tedious search I found the same set on Amazon. Now, looking back I think that it would have been wiser for me to choose the bedding before selecting a wallpaper design. Nevertheless, I found exactly what I was looking for, but it required additional effort and patience.

There will still be a few additional things I will need to purchase to complete the room such as a rocking chair or recliner with small ottoman, wall hangings, curtains, change pad with cover, wash basin and a lamp. I am really looking forward to seeing the outcome of this project and it has been a lot of fun so far. I'm really glad that I started the project when I did because there are so many factors that need to be considered such as the length of time it will take to receive shipment of various items like furniture, wallpaper, etc. and the time you will need to spend on purchasing items and completing repairs.

I have posted pictures of the wallpaper and bedding that I have selected for the room.

Enjoy!

Blue Mountain Wallcovering (Design by Colour)

Banana Fish Spot Crib Bedding for Nursery

Finished Nursery (missing curtains, bedding and... baby!)

Human Nature vs. Human Behaviour

2011-04-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Recently I watched the Zeitgeist movie (Part 1 and 2) and it has really made me think deeply about my original thoughts on human nature and our predispositions.

Firstly, I have had a chance to ponder about the human desire for believing in God; a belief that is mythical and therefore untrue. But is it really the desire of the human being to be drawn to such things that are believed in mass or is it something that has almost forced us to behave in this way? Is it then also our desire due to our nature of greed and selfishness that has attracted us to money and material things? Is this human nature or rather human behaviour that has drawn us in the direction we have taken?

After watching the aforementioned movie, I have come to the realization that a lot of how human beings think and act are a product of what has been perpetuated in society for thousands of years. From the time of pagan belief systems to the creation of Jesus and to the building of monetary systems, human beings have been subject to a power that is far more greater and dangerous than they have ever believed. The power to manipulate and control.

I have already said in my previous posts that human nature plays a strong role in the progress of human society and that is still true. Manipulation and the desire to control human beings is a product of none other than human beings, and this is a natural quality that is selected for the banding together of groups and the individual need for stability and security. However, when human beings in large groups are controlled and manipulated by a few individuals for their own personal gain, it is not so much human nature which is at play but a behaviour that has been stimulated from societal systems such as money and power.

During pagan times, a time of a much simpler society, people worshiped the cycle of the sun and the stars in order to better understand the world in which they lived. As societal systems became more advanced this was later translated into something that was more manipulative for the personal gain of a few individuals who had the power to play with people's minds. The creation of religion and the belief in God took advantage of human nature and forced people to behave a certain way or they would be subject to punishment. And later, as government became more complex and a monetary system was established, people were further forced to comply with laws that they were not involved in creating. So in essence human beings were forced to behave as prisoners for a few individuals who's human nature was overtaken by their own creation-- the system of profit-making.

A profit-driven societal system is what exists today. The controllers of such a system control the people and they control the creation of money. The monetary system was once based on something of value-- gold, a natural resource-- but today money is created from nothing and therefore places a debt on the government that needs it, or in other words on the people. Humans are thus forced to work for the powerful few and feed them through addictive consumerism. It is a vicious cycle that continuously increases the monetary debt on society and forces human beings to comply to its effects of ever-increasing interest, inflation and manipulation and never-ending slavery for the people. For the powerful, the result is the opposite. They continue to steal money from the people through profit-making systems and war and gain more power through this endless cycle.

Human nature has essentially been hijacked by the societal systems which we have created or ignorantly helped to create. Is there any hope for the future of humankind? Can humans regain their natural way of life and overcome such behaviour that has been forced on them? Can we break away from slavery and fight back against these powerful dictators who have themselves been manipulated by their own creation of monetary structure? Technology may help us to overcome this disaster since it will free us from a profit-driven societal system and give human beings more power to make decisions for their own governments. It will free us from one of the largest profit-making markets, oil, and instead harness the power of natural solar and wind resources. And humans can be brought back to what is more important in life which is the control of their own lives rather than being controlled by others for their own personal gain.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

2009-12-15T10:31:00.000-08:00

People tend to believe that certain physical features of human beings make them beautiful such as slim figures, fair skin, big eyes, high cheek bones, small noses, long legs etc. They believe that in order to be classified as beautiful these features and others are important to have. In most cases the reasoning behind this notion is absent-- but most people don't normally think as deeply about beauty.

The truth is that what humans find physically beautiful in other humans is nothing more than a product of sexual selection and no different from, for example, the beauty of what a female bird sees in a male bird which has also been selected for. The saying, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder', holds true in all circumstances of finding beauty in others because it is our own preferences for physical beauty that governs what we believe to be beautiful.

In most cases, these preferences for physical beauty are quite narrow and common within a particular society. Humans, as well as other organisms, have innate qualities that encourage us to form certain preferences about the other sex. Females tend to be attracted to strong, well-established and robust males while males seek youthful (fertile) and modest females. These innate preferences have evolved for thousands of years before civilization and are a main source for what humans perceive as beautiful today. Our preferences for beauty can also be stimulated by culture, religion, music, movies, media etc. Religion and culture encourage individuals to go against their innate desires and follow ancient traditional ideas that set limits on how to think and live. Furthermore, media encourages people to desire something they cannot be or have. These stimuli skew our perceptions of beauty. These aspects, both societal and innate, directly effect what people perceive to be beautiful and this perception is used, in particular, to find a mate.

Today there are so many sources that effect our perception of what is beautiful in others. These sources tend to fixate on physical beauty and less on the beauty of our biology to the point where it has become difficult for humans to see the beauty in anything let alone other humans. We tend to look at the most minute details in others to find beauty but are most of the times brutally unsatisfied. Society today seems to have lost the meaning of beauty in a sea of criticisms, superficiality and egocentrism.

It is unfortunate that to be beautiful has become a type of contest or competition where it is something that must be attained in our lives because without it we are nothing. Throughout evolution it is not our bodies that have changed much but it is our minds that have been plagued by silly memes (ideas) that have been passed on through generations. As people change their views of what they find beautiful in the opposite sex they change their sexual desires as well. And this is what drives evolution.

So now that we have changed our evolutionary path what will come of the meaning of beauty? We will most likely pass on the memes of beauty today to our children and they will too adapt their preferences based on the common conception of beauty. But the important thing to remember is that we do not need to get caught up in the competition to be the most beautiful of all because the criteria are not fairly formulated and do not fit societal norms. In contrast, they are based on some random person's belief of what ought to be.

Atheist Wedding

2009-11-25T07:53:00.001-08:00

I've been thinking about writing a guide entitled 'Atheist Wedding' for a while now. I myself have organized such a wedding for my now husband and I in the past and would like to share with the world my experience throughout the whole process.

During my wedding preparations it was not easy to find what I was seeking to incorporate into my wedding theme. It took several months to simply find the right poem and determine an alternative to certain traditional wedding rituals.

My husband is half Persian, and I, Indian, so I wanted to include some ideas from these cultures into our wedding, especially since our family members would be participating or attending as guests. I also really liked the underlying meaning of some of the cultural rituals but wanted to eliminate the reference to religion or God since I was planning to have an Atheist wedding. However, this part proved to be difficult since I did not easily have access to all of the rituals involved in these traditional weddings nor did I easily find any facilitative ideas to alter these original traditional ideas.

So I had to do a lot of research, particularly online, about different traditional weddings, not solely Indian and Persian, and determine what ideas I wanted to use and how I could combine them with my secular ideas.

In the end the wedding was beautiful and that what mattered most was our union and commitment to one another completely unbound by any religion.

I would have liked to have more time (perhaps 3 or 4 months rather than 2) to really focus on all the details. Had I used some sort of guide for preparing an atheist or non-religious wedding, I think that I would have prepared something even more brilliant.

It's not so easy when there is no one else around that understands atheism such as family members, friends, or the wedding coordinator when preparing for such an elaborate event. My husband and I were completely on our own to plan our wedding. It was even tough for us to manage everyone during the wedding rehearsal since it was also new for them.

In addition, during the preparations, the florist could not understand why I did not want a bouquet for myself. The wedding coordinator could not fully understand the idea behind some of my props. Nevertheless, they too were on board with my ideas and helped me to create a truly wonderful event. I think that if I had some sort of guide to follow I would have had deeper ideas about what flowers to use and their arrangements, how to organize the trellis for the ceremony, what music I wanted to play during the reception and how to decorate the reception ballroom.

I'm very glad to say that my family and friends really enjoyed our wedding ceremony because it was so different and loved how my husband and I shared our memories and love for one another with everyone. I wish I could do it all over again. Perhaps I will try to convince my sister to have a secular wedding so I can once again create something truly unique and powerful. Hopefully by then I will have my guide to follow.

Soooo to begin I have written a detailed introduction to this guide and am now in the process of collecting all of my notes, ideas, images, ceremony and design plans together in order to devise a section on creating a customized ceremony. This part will be quite difficult as I plan to include traditional marriage ideas from different religions like Islam, Hinduism, Chinese, Christianity, Catholicism and Judaism. The difference is that for certain ideas which I think are significant I will remove any reference to religion but still maintain the historical context. This will be a challenge but I think it will make my guide quite desirable to atheists, secular humanists, agnostics, moderates, naturalists and spiritualists who want to have a non-traditional wedding.

Mini-Epic: The Singularity

2009-11-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

I question myself as I contemplate making the transition. What would become of my memories and my physical state? But I feel as though I am ready to take a giant leap out of this reality... away from this still primitive society of endless struggle and conventional living. I want to help my fellow human being to be more healthy and happy but I can't help but wonder what is on the other side of this reality. I want to contribute to the effort of caring for our Earth but I am just too eager to lend my mind to the future. My biological clock is ticking. My time on this planet is limited and the future is waiting for me. I am ready to abandon this genetic machine age and enter the new virtual age. Natural selection will be obsolete in the virtual world but it was good while it lasted.

There is no life after death

2009-10-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

Why do humans believe that there is life after death? It is probably a myth that was carried over generations from our early ancestors who did not know much about the universe and the evolution or decent of humans.

Our ancestors only had past experiences and folk stories to go by to determine their existence and the meaning behind it. This is how the idea that there is a higher creator came about and persisted over many generations because it was so believable by the average person. It gave them hope that there could be more out there for them because life itself was a gift given to them or earned by them. However, such a belief is very powerful because it completely displaces the fact of death which is a biological phase in all life and this is the reason why the idea of life after death persists even today.

All living organisms undergoes the cycle of life and death. Lifespans vary but ultimately we all die and this organic matter is absorbed into the earth and atmosphere. If there was a creator and a so-called heaven there would be no reason to undergo the transition from life to death. As all of us know, when a loved one dies, including animals, we feel emotions of sadness, loneliness and anger which are negative emotions. Why would a creator put us through such prolonged misery if there already existed a means of living after death? It is a nonsensical and primitive thought.

It was quite normal for our early ancestors to believe that there was more to life because they lived in a less civilized society with very little knowledge of science and math-- fields of study that have given light to the order of the universe and the evolution of life. These fields are quite complex compared to the knowledge of our ancestors but nevertheless have paved the way for the advancement of society and intellect.

We have no need to rely on primitive knowledge such as the existence of a higher creator since we humans have made countless discoveries that negate the idea of god. We also do not need to incorporate such a falsity in our advanced knowledge of life and the universe because it is a contradictory idea and does not fit into the concepts of science and math. For if it did I for one would be a strong proponent for the existence of god. The evidence is just not there for the existence of god.

We all need to accept that there is no life after death or we will only continue to fool ourselves. People may argue that even if there is no god isn't it alright for people to feel hope and happiness that there could be light at the end of the tunnel simply for the sake of their feelings. However, this is an incomplete argument because this type of thought supports the possible existence of god-- an idea that many people fully incorporate into their every day lives. This is an idea that has promoted the killing of innocent people and the oppression of many more even today.

We cannot simply allow people to believe things that are not real for this only supports false ideas and creates new mythical ones further creating a chain of lies and a war against the truth. Moreover, it is not empathetic or respectful to accept that people have such false beliefs because it has a negative impact on what is true and real. We will only continue to live in a world of lies if we do not teach our children knowledge which is based on factual evidence.

There are other hopes and dreams which we can instill in our children and in ourselves such as the ability to be a knowledgeable citizen who can know what our limits and strengths are in life. The most wonderful thing in our existence today is the ability to freely learn about the nature of life and the universe and not about the hindering false claim that there is life after death.

Why it is not okay to vacation to those so-called 'hot new vacation spots'

2009-10-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

You may have already heard from advertisements, friends, or family about the hottest new vacation spots such as Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India that offer more privacy, tropical surroundings, and a modern feel. So why, all of a sudden, have these destinations popped up as top vacation spots today? What has changed that has opened these places up to mass tourism? You are probably thinking that it is nothing more than large hotel chains deciding to take advantage of areas that are unique and so more appealing to the modern tourist--- a change from the same old trip to the Caribbean or tour of parts of Europe. But the fact is these large 'corporate' hotel chains have taken advantage of weaknesses within these countries in order to take up prime land, that was originally used by the people of the country for their livelihood, without proper permitting or government approval in order to profit.

In most of the aforementioned countries, disasters like the 2004 tsunami have caused devestation to inhabitants leaving an open door for private corporations like hotels to step in and pretend to make things better by jump starting a tourism industry which has done nothing more than displace citizens, shutdown employment opportunities, in turn, providing no benefit to the country as a whole.

So you're probably wondering how these corporations, as well as others like reconstruction companies, have been able to simply walk in and take over. Well, when a country is in need of financial aid due to a severe disaster like a tsunami or hyperinflation, large corporations like banks, hotels and construction companies, can easily take advantage of this situation by offering aid but for a price. The price is usually to open a country's borders up to globalization for a free market where multinational corporations buy up land or other companies that have tanked in order to profit. The key phrase is profiting by blackmailing.

What happens is that a country, that originally consisted of some public institutions owned and operated by a government, is turned into a playing field for private companies to buy what they please at a low cost with complete disregard for the citizens. Due to mass privatization, tens of thousands of people lose their jobs and, in turn, have very little money to survive. For these citizens, it becomes a game of survival rather than concerning themselves with what has happened to their government. This is the primary goal of multinational corporations, many of which originate from the US, a very capitalist and profit-driven nation.

So if you're ever planning a vacation, think twice about visiting places that have been turned into corporate profit-making factories--- places where there are hundreds of thousands of people living in poverty, when just down the street there are hotels offering vacation packages for $300+/night. Think about where you would be staying-- a beautiful hotel suite overlooking a pristine, sandy beach that was just a year or two ago home to thousands of people that were forced to move elsewhere due to an unforeseen disaster and promised aid that they never received.

Emotions Running Wild

2009-09-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Every human is equipped with the ability to express emotions. These emotions are created as a result of our sensory system which enables us to experience our external environment. The network of neurons in our brain collects, organizes, and analyzes this sensory information or input and the output results in thoughts and emotions. This output is even further enhanced by other factors such as the release of certain hormones in our body while we experience our external environment.

We as well as our ancestors have lived in an environment where it has not been easy to express our emotions as a new born baby or a young child does. Children at a young age are taught about obeying the rules established by our families and communities, and in our time, also by our governments. These rules, whether influenced within a tribe long ago or by society today, are what form ideals and habits within a given group of people. Our ancestors established rules in their tribes primarily for the security of their people, food stocks, and territory. Children were taught to build a trust relationship with their elders and help, not only the family but the group as a whole, to build and maintain their community based on the prescribed set of rules.

In today's society, life is quite different. Rules, such as laws and regulations, are established at many levels of community and are organized by the corresponding levels of government. In such a society, the government is influenced by the people for the purpose of establishing rules that correspond to the needs and demands of the people. Although, in much of the world, the government takes its own actions without the input of the people which results in corruption and a power imbalance (rich vs. poor).

With such advancement and subsequent growth of society comes an increased responsibility for the citizen to continuously inform themselves of current events and changes that, in most cases, have an influence on the people. With added responsibility comes many factors such as job/money, taxes, media/news, elections, etc. which have a direct effect on the average person and create an individualistic reality for people within a given community. This is quite different from the tribal lifestyle of maintaining trust relationships and contributing to the protection of the assets of the community as a whole.

All of this added complexity can have an intense effect on our emotions. It is this type of individualistic society that influences us to respond to our emotions in such a way that is self-centered and close-minded. We are stimulated to act on our intensified emotions to gain empathy and sympathy from others as a a way to feel better about ourselves. This seems to happen because we feel that no one is there for us, we only have ourselves to worry about and care for. We believe that no one loves us but ourselves. This is the result of living in an individualistic society where people are consumed in only their own lives and perhaps their direct families but, in most cases, even the concept of 'family' has lost its traditional meaning.

Whereas family was meant to be a group that one could confide in and learn from, it has become no more that a unit of disorder and head-butting. Traditionally, it was meant as a way to care for and protect the young and teach them to be knowledgeable and strong-willed so that they may contribute to their community as their parents and grandparents did.

It is true that today there is less care and support given to children. Much of how a child develops is dependent on government institutions such as child care, education and medicine, although medicine is not always controlled by the government. The church is, unfortunately, another institution that is depended on to a certain extent by parents. The issue is that modern and scientific advancements have created more contradictions within religion, and as such has effected education, further causing more disorder within the family unit.

With all of these factors and others, such as increased divorce rates and longer working hours for both parents, has contributed to individualization of society. It is true that people, whether friends or family, are not there fore each other like they used to be. This has caused people to feel sorry for themselves in ways that are not so healthy.

We live in our minds rather than in reality. We have lost track of what is normal to the point that we constantly tell ourselves that we do not have to follow the norms of society because they have not been created in the context of our own lives. We tell ourselves that everyone is different and that we can live the way that makes us feel satisfied. But, if there is no basis or limits for our desires, who draws the line? If there are no limits to our reality, how do we know what is normal? With no guide or plans in life, aren't we then choosing to live in chaos?

Why do we subject ourselves to this kind of reality when modern life has so much to offer us? A lack of emotional support during our early life should not force us to feel sorry for ourselves to the point that we are scarred for life. Some people may feel that they lacked emotional support from their parents and/or siblings growing up. But we can, as adults, emotionally support ourselves even though we feel that we have not been taught this as children or brought up this way. It is merely a psychological habit that we instill in ourselves from experiences that have hurt or betrayed us by people we trust. We as adult individuals have the ability to change the way we feel and think-- no one else can do this for us, except perhaps a professionally trained psychologist who understands the way our brain physiology works.

Furthermore, it is common that adults who feel emotionally unstable as a result of experiences mentioned above may go on to effect others in ways that are selfish and ego-centric. These people sometimes feel that they must let the world know that they lacked emotional support growing up and this has caused them to act needy and want acceptance, regardless of their behaviour. To those who are effected by needy people a common reaction is feeling overwhelmed, annoyed, and sometimes taken advantage of. This becomes a frustrating experience and can lead to feeling betrayed by a friend or family member and subsequently losing trust between each other. What the needy person has experienced is then transmitted by them to someone else. What is then spread is a defeatist nature.

Needy adults who feel that they have lacked emotional support really need to mature and rise above those selfish feelings of hurt. There are many children and adults around the world who have almost nothing. They live in poverty because they have no one to trust or depend on and have never had this opportunity.

But, most of us in the modern world are not alone. We are part of a society, a community of other people that are similar to us and have had good and bad experiences throughout life. We simply cannot ask someone, even if it is a friend or family member, to give us everything that we desire. That is just childish and ignorant. And humans are capable of growing from an ignorant child into a responsible and well-informed adult. Our emotions are just a part of our physical nature that we are capable of controlling. No one will appreciate being influenced or effected by someone, an adult, who feels the constant need to let their emotions run wild. Our society does not tolerate this. The social norm is to be respectful to one another and it works quite well. It helps us to experience true reality, not the reality that some of us create in our imaginations. For these people, social norms are most important to help them to balance their life and control their emotions. If they choose to not accept these norms, they will face an unstable existence and never know why.

You have a choice to face reality or live in your head.

Nothing more than a Coincidence

2009-08-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

Coincidences happen all of the time to every person in their lifetime. It is not uncommon to experience such an event because it normally occurs in the context of an individual's life. In other words, a coincidence to one person is not relevant to the life of another person. It is relevant only to the person who experiences the coincidence. However, many people mistake a coincidence for an event that they claim can only have occurred to them supernaturally or by a higher power and not by simple chance.

Let's look at the facts. It is already well known in the fields of physics and math that there are probabilities for a given event. For instance, it is more probable for marathon runner A to win a race compared to marathon runner B based on a number of things. Runner A practices 3 hours longer than runner B every day. Runner A has also won 5 marathon races in the last 3 years than runner B who has won 2. Runner A has not incurred any injuries in her career as a marathon runner while runner B has incurred one knee injury in her career. These differences effect the probability of who will win the race. It's that simple.

Now let's use this example to discuss the concept of probability of coincidences. A person who has entered a contest to win a prize has a certain probability of winning based on the number contestants. Their probability increases or decreases if they must compete to win the prize by using their skills. If the contest is based on who can produce the most creative drawing then those contestants who are skilled at artistry and creativity have an increased probability of winning. There may be 10 contestants in a group of 100 that are very close in skill level for this competition and, in this case, those 10 contestants have a reduced probability of winning among them. Further, 2 of those 10 contestants may have entered a similar contest and have won which would increase their chance of winning among the top 10. There could be many other factors that I could discuss but you get my point.

There are many factors that could effect the probability or chance of experiencing a coincidence in our lives but that is all there is. We are not more special than anyone else. It is our skills and our drive that can make something happen. We can't simply ask for something that we desire to just happen for us. Life does not work that way. Our every day decisions and actions are governed by probability. From a mathematical point of view there is little significance in the occurrence of a particular event that may seem less probable from the point of view of the perceiver.

What we must learn is the ability to properly estimate the probability of a given event occurring in our own lives. The basis should not be on how hard we wished or prayed for it to happen. This has no effect on the occurrence of any event. All of our personal experiences have a reason for occurring whether it be taking action to make something happen or involving ourselves in something relevant to our desired outcome. The experience is a completely realistic one, although many people would say that it could not have happened without some kind of supernatural force. That is nonsense.

Every human being is deserving of a life that is free and no one person is more special than another. Obviously merit and wealth can help a person to reach their desires more swiftly and be more successful but we all experience coincidences no matter who we are. Some people may say that they did nothing to experience such a positive event but perhaps in these cases they were in the right place at the right time. Timing is but one factor in the realm of probability. We put ourselves in a position to experience a coincidence and this is the only way.

Doctored Shock: A Reality

2009-08-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not one to firmly believe in conspiracy theories in society but things do happen behind closed doors time and time again that simply cannot be ignored. And I'm not just talking about things like isolated crimes, natural disasters, drug trafficking, labor strikes, endangered species, or anthropogenic environmental damage. I'm talking about global economics, inflation rates, elections, coups, war, import/export, rich vs. poor, genocide, global alliances, etc.

I feel that the latter ideas were never that appealing to learn about because they were barely a subject of discussion in school. Had I known a little about the woes of global economics and government alliances I would have chosen to more critically learn about these ideas in my later academic years. The reason for this is that when I don't know about something that is truly important to know in my life I don't feel safe. I don't really know what impact these things have in the society that I live so I remain ignorant to it. That must be what a government wants of its people-- to remain ignorant of important facts about the world-- considering that it is the government that educates us at the start of our lives.

Forget theories, the type of strategies that are wielded by governments like the US government in order to control other countries is horrifically scary and completely factual. The economic philosophy of disaster or shock fundamentalist capitalism has been breed right out of the US, particularly at the Chicago School of Economics for the last century or so (for all I know). It is the result of much of the 'organized' terror around the world from past and present. Many South American countries like Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia have had their governments overthrown and people unemployed, displaced, and murdered because of the US right-wing economic philosophy of global free-market capitalism.

The idea that this philosophy is a means of spreading democracy is simply a myth and completely the opposite of the true goal of these so-called economists: the goal being to allow corporations to do as they please in a global free-market at low inflation rates in order to profit. Their driving force is greed and a complete lack of respect for other people. It is a type of reality that society has tried to overcome but instead this philosophy is planted deep within and has done nothing but impede societal progression.

Richard Dawkins has said, "we wish to live in a much more advanced society, a society that is far more advanced then a Darwinian society or a George Bush society" and it is very true. In the George Bush society, lead by right-wing economists influenced by the 'Chicago Boys', war, terror, and torture are the norm. The worst part of it is that in order to change global economies to fit their rules they must first wait for a disaster such as a labor strike or financial instability (i.e. high debt, hyperinflation) or manufacture their own disaster (doctored shock) in any given country that they would like to control for their own interests. These economists focussed on South American countries like Brazil and Chile by organizing a coup in order eliminate the pro-poor, nationalist governments and instead implement a new government, trained by the Chicago Boys, that would favor foreign investment. Unfortunately for these countries thousands of people were brutally tortured and murdered in order for the economic plan to operate effectively. There was a similar case in Indonesia. The worst part of it all is that many global corporate powers were also involved in the economic plan such as Ford Motors, GM, Citibank, IMF, World Bank, etc.

This type of economic shock was later seen in other countries like Poland and most recently in Iraq. The mastermind behind the birth of this philosophy was Milton Friedman, an American economist and a leader of the Chicago School of Economics at the University of Chicago. He argued that government could not manage economies and that people could too easily oppose government policies which would cause high inflation and low growth. He favoured mass privatization and deregulation for the benefit of foreign investment and globalization. But his imposed ideals were nothing more than a nightmare for all the people who were effected.

It is astonishing to me that altough many of these events occurred during my lifetime, I had no understanding of the severity of this economic strategy that now spans across many countries around the world. To me the meaning of democracy has changed. The US right-wing view of democracy is so far-off the mark that I am surprised that such a view has been maintained and advanced in society. It is a means to take advantage of people and have total disregard for human beings.

This is truly still a Darwinian society where we live as animals and only the fittest survive while the others are left out in the fields to die. We all need to be involved in the betterment of society if it is to progress forward not backward. The most important thing today is to be well-informed and mould our opinions based on the facts. I'm not one to firmly believe in conspiracy theories but this comes very close to the mark. The only difference is that it is not just a theory, it is a reality.

Where are you on the social scale of life?

2009-06-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

When I was young it occurred to me time and again that I did not fit the common behaviour of such things as going to the movies, hanging out at the mall with friends, talking on the phone, and dressing in the latest brand-name clothing. I used to wonder why I had a different attitude about these things and others compared to my friends and would test myself to determine if I was being limited to do such things. I realized that sometimes it was limits and other times it was just me.

The most limiting factors for me were the cost to do and wear certain things and discipline from my parents. I could not wear brand-name clothing all the time because it was too expensive compared to the alternatives and could not hang out at the mall with friends because my parents thought that it was low-class and distracting me from being productive and spending time with the family. I used to feel like I was missing out because everyone else was doing it and that I didn't get enough attention from others for material reasons. "All my friends are doing it, why can't I?" I would exclaim to my parents. And their immediate response would be that I was being unreasonable and that it should not matter to me what others do and that they certainly do not care.

It took me a few years to realize why I was being unreasonable and that I ultimately live in a society which dictates the social norms of life. I also realized that it was beneficial for my parents to set limits for me in my adolescent years so that I could better identify myself and my habits apart from others and notice the differences among people. These limits helped me to understand my upbringing and my roots as well as feel a sense of pride that I could do what I wanted without feeling a need to follow. Limiting myself also helped me to understand that if I do choose to embrace a social norm that I should do so with discipline and restraint. It was a good step for me but I needed to build on that when I entered the real world on my own.

When you are on your own in your early twenties it is very easy to get sucked into what the 'in crowd' is doing and the new trends of the present. Social norms are not always ideal for a balanced lifestyle but they are based more or less on the commonality of people's behaviours and actions in society. We can choose to live on the boundaries or to follow certain social norms but it's up to us to decide what is ideal for our own lives depending on our situations.

I don't believe that it is smart however to disregard social norms completely. Social norms have been governed over a long history of social existence so it is not in one's best interest to act against these norms because they have been established for historical reasons. In the last century social norms have evolved to include materialism and convenience so in this modern day it is even harder to follow such social norms which have progressed backwards. Hopefully new discoveries and ideas such as the human genome project and the environmental movement can place us on a better life path.

Today, social norms help me to understand other people better-- their intentions, attitudes and opinions, stage in life, maturity, and their background. I feel that it is necessary to have this social template to help us mature and grow our knowledge of society and life as well as have our own opinions which we can further build on. We don't have to remain the same person we were in highschool-- social norms do not pressure us to do so. We need to embrace social norms because as we grow and age over time we can realize that social norms can help us to overcome our immaturity. We as humans are supposed to change just like our bodies do as we grow and we all need to embrace the cameleon in us in order to face an unpredictable and dynamic future.

Ego: Is that all life has to offer?

2009-04-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

Everyone has an ego. It is nothing more than a combination of many different emotions such as confidence, aggressiveness, selfishness, happiness, and greed. It is emotions that we discover as we grow and socialize. It can make up a large part of our personality and can frame our identity. But, it can also be a negative character trait because it can interrupt logical and rational thought and is driven by strong emotions. Although it can give us a sense of who we are, our ego can also hinder us from learning new things and making new social connections. It can give us a false sense of what life really has to offer.

How do we develop an ego? Humans are conscious beings because we have an understanding of ourselves and of our minds. We think of ourselves in the first person and use the 'self' label to identify ourselves in a group of many individuals. The ego is a natural quality in human beings and also exists to a lesser extent in other animals. We have egos because we have emotions that are stimulated from our outside environment through our senses. However, it is not a simple task to understand the extent of our own egos because much of our own emotional reactions are a product of heredity, about 40-50%. This is why we are sometimes unaware of how strong our emotional reactions are in certain situations. We are not always under the impression that our egos are stimulating our behaviour and attitudes within different environments.

There is no concrete way to illustrate the ego. It is designed by our own brains depending on our genetics, environment, and social interactions. We frame our egos from a young age, although we do not yet know it, by our strengths and weaknesses as well as by our interactions with not only our families but our peers. We are brought up in a society so we are encouraged to be socialized and we do this through interactions. As children we are exposed to different groups of people such as the jocks, nerds, rebels, goths, etc. and naturally we find a place or a niche that we are drawn to by our emotions or groups where we are accepted. There are also niches within a certain group so part of how we interact in a certain peer group also is a matter of chance. How we differentiate ourselves within the group is in large part left up to what niches are available. Some children become leaders, others foot soldiers or jesters, and still others peacemakers depending on what niche is available, how suited a child is to filling it, and chance. Once a child fills a role they adapt to it and are influenced by their peers to maintain their 'personality' within the group. We begin to shape our personalities and attitudes by our socialized roles at an early age.

We start to become aware of our egos throughout adolescence and early adulthood. We begin to reminisce about things that we experienced in our past through chance and timing and through our decisions that helped us to get to where we are today. This brings satisfaction to our emotional desires in our minds that we have endured so much to frame our personalities and to build an identity that is unique to the self or individual. We realize that our past actions are valuable to us because it gives us a sense of who we are. Without our own story, we would be... a nobody. This sense, this story, this worth is our ego.

Our ego is so important to us. It defines who we are and helps us to be a someone that has a past, that has opinions, and that has a unique personality. These things help a person feel like they have a stance in society and it gives them a basis for social interactions. It is a part of our biological nature because we like many organisms are socialized. But, we need to have a sense of our own individual in order to satisfy our emotional desires and represent ourselves in a large group. We do not all have the same likes and dislikes so we need to have a way to identify what is suitable for us. But, as we see in society, there are many people who believe that what they think and feel should be the way that others think and feel and this leads to the clash of egos.

We all need to understand that our egos are shaped by our own strengths and weaknesses, by our social interactions, and by our past experiences. Although we are genetically and evolutionarily similar we are unalike in our attitudes, cultures, and behaviour because we all have had different past experiences, social roles, and vulnerabilities. We simply cannot impose our egos on others and expect them to accept your ideas and attitudes without argument. Argumentation is good. It allows people to reason with each other and come to resolutions in circumstances where one party is right and the other wrong or when decision-making. However, it is important to always build our knowledge of everything around us even when we think that we know everything. What we think we know is actually our own emotions inflating our egos. Just because we feel like we already have a sense of ourselves does not mean we cannot build on that. Life is a continuous growth process. It does not stop when we have reached the realization of our egos and our personality. There is little satisfaction in believing that there is nothing else out there for us because we think we have found who we are. Life is not solely about finding who we are. Life is about the awareness of knowing more. Knowing ourselves is just one small step in the awareness of life.

Nature vs. Nurture

2009-04-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

The debate between nature and nurture has been a common argument in society for the last few decades. There are many proponents of the idea that parenting and the environment are the most important influences of how a child will grow and mature. Without the proper parenting and home environment children will not grow to their full potential. There is this notion that when we are born we need the proper direction and upbringing to mature normally because we are blank slates. This notion contrasts the other side of the argument, nature, which emphasizes the idea that our heredity determines in large part how we grow and mature with an insignificant influence of our home environment. There is, however, a significant influence on childhood development by unique experiences such as neglect and abuse, injury, illness, death in the family, etc. The argument of nature is by far stronger and coherent then the idea that proper nurturing is the most significant factor of proper childhood development.

Many psychologists and sociologists are on the side of the nurture argument. They believe that parenting is the single most important factor in a child's life and without it a child will grow up being helpless, rebellious, dependent, and make bad decisions throughout their life. Proponents of the nurture argument base their argument on statistics that show that children that are adopted and raised by parents that have their own children develop similarly to their unrelated siblings. In addition, they purport that in other findings identical twins that are separated at birth and raised by different middle-class parents will develop differently. They also suggest that spending extra time reading to their children and buying educational toys for their babies will extremely influence the development process. However, in most cases this is not just not true because their heritable traits to a significant extent (40%-50%) govern how children will develop. We cannot forget that our biology and physiology are governed solely by our genes.

In a scientific sense it is easy to understand why the nature argument is far superior to the nurture argument. There are many scientific studies that have determined that identical twins that are raised separately by different parents will develop similarly regardless of how they are raised. Based on their genetics they will both have a larger or smaller affinity for things like cigarettes, alcohol, sports, foods, etc. because their intelligence and habits are in large part governed by their genetic traits which in this case are identical. Under certain circumstances such as a unique experience like illness or injury, the development of one twin may change due to a long-term lifestyle change. In this case, the environment would have an increased effect on development. But, under normal circumstances the former is always the case.

In actuality, we are not much different from our parents. If a parent is aggressive, which is in large part due to our genetics, their children will develop similarly. Our actions and behaviours are not simply influenced by our environment or governed by a long week of stress and worry. They are governed by our genes and by our parents' genes and by their parents' genes, etc. We are not blank slates to be molded into something that is socially acceptable. Rather, we are biological entities that already have strengths and weaknesses that are governed by our genes. If we are to live up to our potential, parents and society need to set expectations that are realistic and that are in line with the needs of individuals, not of a group of individuals. I am not supporting the idea that parenting is obsolete but rather saying that children can learn a lot from their parents because they are genetically similar and a lot of how we develop is governed by our own genetics. However, with the changing times, it is also important to accept new facts and pieces of knowledge which can further expand the minds of our children and that cannot be easily taught by the older generations.

We must break free from the nurture argument and accept that there is such a thing as human nature in the context of heredity and not the environment.

Gender: What does this mean?

2009-03-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

Earlier I wrote about the battle of the sexes due to differences between men and women. Although there are differences there are far more similarities between us biologically and socially. However, our cultural attitudes pressure us to believe that we are similar and different regardless of our biology.

There are those that believe that we are similar, such as feminists, and that we are capable of developing the same way depending on how we are raised and our interactions within and between groups. The only difference is that we have different genitalia which makes us look physically different from each other. Others believe that we are so different because of our roles in society and because of our physical nature, a notion that has been formed by the men for the purpose of oppressing women for their own personal gain.

The problem with these notions is that they do not include a biological perspective which really weakens these arguments. Also, although humans live in groups and societies this does not mean that particular groups reflect how individuals develop biologically. The environment does have an influence on the development of human beings, both female and male, but so does our evolutionary history and we cannot disregard this fact when we are discussing gender and equality. We are human beings whether female or male and we do have physical, developmental and chemical differences but that does not mean that our capabilities are so different.

The Y chromosome is in fact not quite different from what it was for tens of millenia. Because males are quite competitive in their behaviour when females or resources or revenge is a concern many of them were not able to prolong their genetic line (Y chromosome) compared to others that were more successful such as Genghis Khan from the Mongolian region. Some men had many descendants and others had none leaving us with a small number of distinct Y chromosomes. On the other hand, a larger number of women had a more evenly distributed number of descendants, since there was less competition and instead chose the best-quality males, leaving us with a larger number of distinct mitochondrial genomes (Pinker, The Blank Slate, pg. 347). This evidence illustrates one of many biological differences between men and women.

The real underlying issue though is that the minds of men and women are thought of to be so different that both sexes are incapable of being successful at the same things. Some people believe that men think more about justice and rights while females are more compassionate, nurturing, and empathetic to others. I beg to differ. Men are not from Mars nor are women from Venus. They are from Africa where they evolved together as one species. Men and women have all the same genes except for a small number on the Y chromosome and their brains are so similar. They have the same general levels of intelligence which help them to experience the physical and living world in the same way and they both experience similar basic emotions.

But of course there are differences which can be noticed by the opposite sex but are also manipulated into being major differences by society which make people think that we are much different than we actually are. Men have a stronger preference for having multiple partners and they are more likely to compete aggressively over stakes great or small. Men are taller than women on average and men are better at mentally rotating maps and objects. Men also have a greater tolerance for pain and a willingness to risk life for status and attention. In contrast, women are better at remembering landmarks and the positions of objects. They are more dexterous and have better depth perception. They are better at reading facial expressions and body language and have a better memory for verbal material. They also experience basic emotions more intensely, except anger, have more intimate social relationships, and are more empathetic toward their friends, though not towards strangers (Pinker, The Blank Slate).

Putting aside these differences it is important to understand that men and women are very much alike in our genetic make-up and it is our biology which governs how we develop as men and women. We do not have to put ourselves in different categories to identify our strengths and weaknesses and our differences. Instead, we need to embrace these minor differences in order to accept and compromise with one another. We should not let our differences overpower what we truly want in our lives which is the satisfaction of our emotions and desires. Rather than hinder each others strengths, we should help each other harness them because that is how we have evolved. Men do not only need to be the hunters and women gatherers but rather we are both capable of achieving these tasks, especially in Western culture. We are not so different and we should not let anyone lead us to believe otherwise.

Self-Deception: To Believe What We Are Not

2009-03-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

It is true that people live in a world of self-deception. They remain aware that it is possible to be deceived by another person-- a family member, a coworker, or a friend-- so they try to ensure that they are not taken advantage of or fooled. They know that if they are deceived that they will have to reap the costs of their error in judgment. It is sort of like a part of the human radar in order to avoid people that are dishonest and greedy--- a social behaviour that was used long ago by our ancestors to do the same for the protection of their families, tribes, territory, and resources.

Deception is prevalent in society among relatives and non-relatives. It takes effort and energy to maintain a straight face and charm in order to deceive others. Whether the deception has to do with telling a lie to get away with something or take advantage of someone the individual has to almost believe their own deception to outwardly give an impression of honesty and genuineness. Not only do they deceive others but they subconsciously deceive themselves. It becomes increasingly difficult for the person to distinguish between what is real and what is superficial and where to draw the line.

It is not easy to understand self-deception from the point of view of a human being. We constantly judge ourselves while judging others and adopt or develop stereotypes in order to understand other people. None of this seems to be based upon our biological nature but rather shaped by our culture. We feel that we are more or less right about our judgments about ourselves and others but we are simply not. We tend to hold biases about different things (i.e. politics, race, gender, age, beauty, wealth, happiness, etc.) that make up part of our moral sense. These biases do not necessarily make up who a person is but instead reflects what society as a whole believes. These beliefs are emphasized in the media in order to get the attention of individuals and mold their opinions--- it is a form of deception. We pick and choose what to believe based on societal 'norms' and in turn deceive ourselves by accepting different biases without really understanding the ideas.

There is truly a cycle of deception which exists in society and it causes human beings to continuously deceive ourselves. Although it is important to detect when someone is being deceptive it is also important to understand that deception exists in all parts of society whether it is in government, business, media, social interactions, religion, education, it is everywhere.

We cannot simply believe something without knowing the basis of the idea or belief. There needs to be a means to understand society. One credible method is to look to science and evolutionary psychology for an understanding of human nature and why our thoughts operate in such a way. We are no more than a biological species with feelings and thoughts but we cannot believe that the basis of our moral sense comes from something beyond our biological limits. In that case, we are simply deceiving and confusing ourselves and driving us further from reality-- from what is true in the realm of our nature. We are only hurting ourselves when we believe what we are not.

Reciprocity in Society: Returning the Favour

2009-03-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

It's quite interesting to see how individuals behave and socialize within a group of other individuals of no relation to each other. It is quite a different story when individuals interact within a family or circle of close friends and relatives. The major difference is that in a group of non-relatives individuals have expectations of the others that requires reciprocity and equality.

It's no surprise that when someone asks for a favour that they are expected by the other party to return the favour so there are no hard feelings between the two. When a favour is not returned it is easy to understand what happens. The other party feels like they have been taken advantage of which leads to feelings of anger, resentment, and disprespect. It is hard for them to forget what happened to them and it becomes harder for them to give out favours if they feel that they will not get one in return. The person who has not returned the favour most likely has a record of this kind and feels that regardless of hurting feelings they have gained something without giving something. However, within a group, a person with such motives cannot last long without being punished for their actions. Their behaviour can spread throughout the group as they continue to do this to others. They gain a reputation for being stingy and dishonest and eventually cannot gain favours from anyone in the group. The individuals in the group that continue to return favours are the ones to gain more in the end because more people are willing to help due to their reciprocity. This is why most people realize the importance of reciprocity within a group or society because it is a way for them to gain trust and loyalty from non-relatives and maintain good standing.

Perhaps the idea 'be good to thy neighbour' has lasted for so long among societies for the very reason of reciprocity. It really has nothing to do with the mythical belief of karma but instead has to do with fostering bonds between non-relatives in order for there to be reciprocity, especially in times of need. It is not always certain that an individual will be near their family and friends who will help them in any case more or less so it is imperative to have an alliance with others. But good will only come for those who are willing to return the favour or they may end up in the court of law.

Laws are important to have in a society of non-relatives that give and receive favours. In a large society an individual can never be certain if their favour will be returned when they are not familiar with the backgroud and behaviour of the other party. They may pay for a service or make a large purchase on something and never be given what they expected. They may provide a service for someone and never receive payment. There are so many ways in which individuals can be taken advantage of and never see reciprocity in society which is one of the main reasons why there is a justice system. Laws help to maintain reciprocity among socieites of individuals who have no relation to each other. They help to maintain a balance of giving and receiving favours among and between individuals in order for there to be peace and altruisim.

Altruism is an emotion that is innate in human beings and that is why there is recirpocity. An individual may want to help someone in need but would like to know if the other person would do the same for them. It is simple. Or is it? People may want to show altruism to others even if the other party is helpless but they would require some sort of guarantee that there is some sort of benefit for them.

But what happens if the other person cannot return the favour because they are poor or sick or helpless? Does this mean that they are not altruistic or choose to not be altruistic? Where do we draw the line here? In a democratic system of laws and rights how do we help people that cannot return the favour? Some societies around the world are controlled in a dictatorial manner where there are a few individuals who run the show. They take the profits of a working society and divide the funds disproportionately so they get the bulk of the earnings. The rest of society has to settle for their share without question and without fair reciprocity. In other societies people who are in higher income brackets pay more to the government through a tax system. People in the lower income bracket pay less but they also may be entitled to more social services funded solely by the tax system. Although it seems like the higher income earners do not see many direct benefits comapred to the lower income earners but it may be indirectly benefical in that there is added stability in society (i.e. less crime, poverty, and sickness). It is almost always necessary to have some form of a people's government to enforce laws within a judicial system in order to foster reciprocity in a society. In many cases it is the government that becomes the party to only receive favours and brainwash society into believing otherwise. But that is a another story.

Reciprocity is important within a group because it allows non-relatives to be altruistic and respectful to one another. It is hard to know who to trust to return a favour in a society of strangers. But if people who are altruistic teach their children about reciprocity and what it is to be respectful and honest then more people can begin to share this common and innate quality with one another and maintain a 'good' society without all the mythical jargon.

Human Nature and Evolution

2009-02-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Human nature is still misunderstood by many people today, especially by people who choose to believe that there is and always was something beyond human nature. Human nature is a complex idea that cannot be simply interpreted as what makes us human. Human nature is more about our biological make up and how humans have evolved biologically. To understand human nature one must have an accurate understanding of human biology which includes understanding Darwinian evolution.

Human beings are made up of billions of cells that work in concert in order to function as a unit. Humans evolved from a single-celled organism that functioned more efficiently for survival by joining with other single-celled organisms to form a larger unit. For example, single-celled blue-green algae that existed billions of years ago on planet Earth and that still exist today formed large groups in the water in order to work more efficiently at utilizing the sun's light in order to survive and grow as a colony more quickly. The grouping enabled them to expand their surface area in order to capture more photons from the sun. Just as atomic particles in space bond together in order to form more stable molecules so do cells. The template for human evolution can be seen in the nature of the universe.

From blue-green algae, to fish, to reptiles, to mammals, came human beings through natural selection, the driving force of evolution. In this process characteristics that are favourable for the survival of an organism in a particular environment in one generation will be inherited by or passed on to the next generation of offspring in the form of genetic DNA which stores this information. This process continues from generation to generation and still continues today. Of course, there is criticism of this idea even today but the fact will always remain that humans are evolving.

Human nature is a product of evolution. Our heritable DNA governs our development and functioning. It expresses genetic and physical traits or characteristics that were passed down from previous generations. In a sense, we are all brothers and sisters. We are all similar. There is genetic variation, however, from one society to the next due to differences, for example, in culture and climate, so humans have adapted to different environments in order to live and thrive. Our behaviours differ in different societies but that does not mean we are essentially different.

The human brain is a vast network of neurons in operation that controls much of the body and our brain functions. There is no ghost in the machine or soul that runs this complex system. We are also not a Blank Slate. For if we were.... I cannot even fathom this concept since it counteracts evolution which is defined as the passing of genetic and heritable information from generation to generation evolving from a single-cell to a human being. We could not have even developed as a functioning organism if we were all Blank Slates. Since all organisms carry genetic information from the simplest to the most complex, the concept of the Blank Slate is wrong. We are living organisms with innate qualities. Humans can learn how to read and recognize objects at a very young age just as a bird can learn to fly only after a few weeks of being born. These are instincive qualities that cannot simply come from nowhere. These qualities have been passed down from our ancestors in order for us to imitate their functions and behaviours because it helped them to survive.

Humans are complex organisms. We are not simple and we are not blank slates. We are beautiful because we have innate qualities that have evolved over time among living organisms. We carry with us the knowledge of our history so that we may use it to build something greater. We are all brothers and sisters regardless of how we look on the outside or how we think. It is our duty to understand and accept our own nature so that we can understand and accept universal nature. We must let go of preconceived notions that go beyond human and universal nature. If we cannot properly understand our own nature how is it that we can adhere to a belief about something that created us and this universe. It is nonsensical and illogical to do so. If it was not for people like Charles Darwin, we would all still be tricked into believing something that does not exist and that never existed. We must all ensure that our children learn the truth about human existence--- Evolution!

Happy 200th Charles Darwin!

Love: A Complex Emotion

2008-12-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

What is love? Love is a wonderful and complicated emotion. It doesn't simply come from the ghost in the machine or the soul in our bodies. Nor does it come from a spiritual power or energy. It comes from within humans and higher order organisms from our brains.

You might wonder how it is possible to develop such a strong sense such as love from merely a network of cells. But our cellular network is vast and interconnected and the interaction of this internal network with our external environment makes it possible to experience the emotion of love. It is our five senses that stimulate this beautiful emotion. It is also our innate desire to feel love. Emotions of empathy and sympathy help to facilitate this emotion of love as well as our innate sexual desires. These emotions were all necessary for the development of pair bonds, the parent-child bond, and alliances outside of the family not only in the human species but also in other mammalian species like whales and chimpanzees.

Every human experiences this emotion. It is very real. But in our culture today love is difficult to understand. For thousands of years love has been bound to different belief systems that set rules and ideals for how love came about and how it should be utilized. For so long our ancestors have believed that love is everything but an emotion. That it comes about through practice of certain rituals and traditions. That it is not something that naturally happens but that one must behave in a certain way, such as praying to a sacred higher power, in order to be blessed by such a feeling. What this has done throughout human culture around the world is misinterpreted the true nature of love.

Love does not have to be a difficult emotion. A person can feel love for many things but there are different types of love. Our innate desires facilitate our love for our family members because we are related to them by blood and they care for us and interact with us while we grow. We also feel love for our friends who are not related to us because we build trust and loyalty with them. We can feel love for things we are good at doing such as sports, writing, traveling, and designing. But the most difficult love of all is the pair bond because there is much at stake for each person in the bond. Although there are benefits, the costs are heavy when a pair bond breaks because the bond cannot be repaired the same way a friendship or family relation can.

The pair bond is complex because it is a fairly new development in human history-- it is only 10,000 years old. It was formed in the beginning in order to care for their offspring and to ensure that the offspring were theirs. It was a way to protect a family unit in a human tribe or society and to maintain unity. But today humans are protected by their governments and family units have less responsibility to care for their whole family. It is no longer necessary for parents to wholly focus on the unity of their family because they are aware that a system exists to care for them through taxes and social programs.

The pair bond has lost its significance in this civilized society. Although pairs still desire to have children their focus is not on the unity of their family but on the pair relationship. In a time when careers are important to both men and women because of their education and desire to do what they are good at it seems that the end goal has become skewed. The pair bond has been changed to simply two people coming together for sexual desires and companionship. The meaning of the pair bond has changed but the type of love has not.

If this new pair bond relationship is to work, love needs to be rediscovered as an emotion that can protect this bond. The primitive and ancient meaning of love as a blessing through prayer has disappeared and the desire to form a pair bond simply to build a family unit has faded. People who care less about family unity and more about satisfying their desires need to understand love in a new light and both partners need to understand their love for one another. The way to do this is to express through communication what love means to each other continuously. In this new pair bond love is satisfaction of the desires of sexual pleasure, beauty, friendship (trust and loyalty), romance, work and play.

Family unity is no more. Satisfaction is everything and two people must learn to satisfy each other in order for this type of love to last. Love may be a complex emotion but we must learn to understand and convey what it means to each of us without boundaries and limits.

Miami

2008-12-01T07:18:00.000-08:00

I just got back from an amazing trip to Miami with my friends. It was sort of an unofficial bachelorette party for me but also a fun trip to get away from the norm of things with just the girls. We stayed in South Beach and even though the weather was a little cooler than normal and compared to Curacao we had a blast with no complaints. If you want to have a party, Miami will surely provide the atmosphere you are looking for.

I didn't realize there would be so many solicitors but because of the current issues in America people are hustling to make ends meet.

On our first night in South Beach we checked out Prive, a local nightclub that plays both hip-hop and house and I was extremely impressed. I guess if you're with a group of girls it makes it much easier to find good deals on cover and drinks! It was a nice surprise. I think we had a little too much fun that night!! The following evening we checked out the shopping district and later had dinner at Sushi Samba, the name expresses it all. The food was amazing but the service was not so much. The next and last day of our weekend trip we went to Nikki Beach where we were again solicited and considering that we were a group of girls the outcome was in our favour. It was a cooler day but most of the coolness was in the fact that we got to lay on a beach bed and party with the crowd. For dinner, we satisfied our palettes with another round of seafood at a different restaurant just because it was sooooo delicious the day before. We really loved the edemame and the seared seabass.

Miami is an absolutely beautiful place with so much to do and so many different people to meet. I would consider even buying a property there especially during these times of financial distress. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea.

For those of you who have never been, you really should visit. You will not be disappointed.

Tropical Workout! Try it!

2008-11-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

I love working out at the beach just down the street from me. It is the best feeling in the world to know it is that easy to get a workout in such a nice environment with happy people around, both locals and tourists. The best part of it, I would have to say, is the underwater life. I get to workout with colourful fish swimming below me around flourishing coral and sometimes I have the opportunity to chase a school of fish or follow a flat bottom feeder. But, I always make sure that I am keeping up with my workout whether it is doing breast stroke or treading water. A fun game I like to play is testing my lung capacity, especially when there is something interesting to see under water. It's just so much fun to be in the water and to utilize it for the purpose of staying healthy, how beautiful!

I've done my fair share of working out at the gym but it is not the same. There are many ways to 'naturally' get a workout without having to go to a steel-filled building to feel fit. One natural alternative is to go to the beach, if you live near one. It is a great way to stay fit and appreciate nature all at once. Try it!

Obama's Victory and the American Media

2008-11-05T04:46:00.000-08:00

Well it was clear who won last night... no ballots had to be re-counted nor was the media still trying to say that it was a close race. Frankly, it was never a close race. It was always clear that Barack Obama was an ideal presidential candidate compared to John MaCain or even the existing president for that matter and that he was farther ahead in the standings throughout the race.

Why does the media have to be so nasty all the time, especially to ask if America is ready for a black president? America has always been ready. It is not the 18th Century anymore. Our ancestors have paved the way for a more free world where all human beings are considered equal and we all have the same rights and freedoms. Race is simply simply a difference in appearance and expresses where each of us has come from in our history.

Americans have always stood for liberty and I believe that it is irresponsible of the media to ask such questions to Americans when there are so many other questions to be asked such as how will we fix the economy? or how will we assist the less fortunate? It is the media that puts rogue ideas into the minds of Americans and it is they who make it harder for an honest person to get by. They start rumours and spread them. They intentionally misinterpret you and put words in your mouth so it sounds more 'juicy' in their egocentric little minds. They find it their job to uninform the public rather than inform them of the truth. I guess it is more fun for them to lie outright to the public then to care about educating the public on what really is going on.

My message to the media is this: Please realize that by spreading lies to the public you are directly damaging society and negatively effecting how people think and live. You are not for the best interest of the public but against it. This is no different than what you call terrorism and you are all terrorists.

Island Life

2008-10-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Why can't island life be for everyone
to cherish and to show the true essence of nature,
which is the beauty of the blue sky and sea
and the wildlife flying freely from tree to tree?

Our earth and its environment are all we have.
We need this place in order to live healthy and long.
If we see no beauty in where we live, then what is life?
Life seems less appealing when materials are all we see.

Why can't island life be for everyone,
so they can feel the humbleness that it brings
so they can let go of their material things
and realize that life is about being good to the green.

What is so flashy about that new pair of jeans
or the newest gadget when you already have one?
Clutter can just cause stress and worry
something that is foreign to the life of an islander.

Why can't island life be for everyone,
so we can feel a sense of relaxation
in this fast-paced world of money and power?
What's the rush when life can be slower?

Work does not have to be so grueling,
so endless and not so amusing.
Why not get together after work with friends,
instead of commuting home at every days end?

Why can't island life be for everyone?
It can if you are up for this treat.
But, you must be able to let go
not only of your things but of your ego.

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

2008-10-10T09:19:00.001-07:00

We've all heard the common phrase 'don't judge a book by its cover' but aren't we all a little guilty of this judgment? Maybe not just a little... How did this phrase or 'meme' become common? It was the result of a novel that was published in the 20th Century and was used thereafter in other pieces of literature. But, the idea or meme of not basing one's judgment on the front or appearance has been thought of for centuries.

It was most likely the result of needing to judge a person not just on their appearance and outward nature in order to determine if they have intentions of honesty and loyalty. These attributes were necessary in order to build strength and friendship between tribes or individuals. And alliances were important long ago in order to grow in power and strength for protection and well-being. It was also important for peace and cooperation. Even today, it is important to form trust alliances between and among countries in order to protect citizens and spread peace and cooperation across the planet.

But, what has happened to this careful method of accurately judging a person based on their honesty and loyalty? It doesn't seem as persistent in society as it used to be. Religion was established long ago in order to gain cooperation and loyalty in a growing society. There seemed to be no other efficient means of getting people to submit to orders and maintaining their loyalty and cooperation to the group simultaneously. It was not helpful to simply judge a person on their outward appearance because that would not help to determine that person's intentions and emotions. Today, business, economics, government, and culture are more complex and deeply (historically) established in world society. But even though more people have a basic education they have difficulty grasping the complex nature of society that has evolved. What they can still grasp, however, is their religious belief in God which has been passed down over generations through culture. For them, it is a a way to have an identity in society and be a part of a community, which is why religion has prevailed for so long.

Culture is built on social mechanisms such as behavioural trends, belief systems, and rituals that are passed down from generation to generation. As changes occur in society like changes in government and business practices culture also changes to adapt to the changing environment. But a part of our culture that has not changed or adapted to the changing environment is ancient religious belief. Although it is not a necessary belief to have today, it still strongly exists.

But how can religious people adapt to the changing environment around them if they strongly base their identity and knowledge about nature solely on a culture of ancient religious belief? It becomes more detrimental over time to believe in an old religion because there are many other people that have chosen to adopt a new culture based on the changing social climate. However, in a time that is saturated with knowledge about human evolution, the fabric of our universe, and information technology, religion still seems to control culture all over the world. Religious individuals and groups are encouraged to adhere to this belief system and block out anything that may conflict with or discredit it. And because of this, there has evolved a growing divide between religious people and intellectuals who believe in evolution--- two streams of culture.

When individuals or groups of people do not follow the changing culture, which is reflective of the advancement of humanity, they become less able to accurately judge another person or, in the case of a group, a person or group outside of their own group. They simply believe that this other person or group believes the same morals and traditions or that they should believe this way. If they do not, then this other person or group do not have good intentions. They believe that we all must believe in the existence of God in order to have good intentions. However, all this does is maintain an old and out-dated belief system and block out the new ones which is detrimental to the advancement of society towards world health and peace.

Due to a divide in cultural belief and practice, educated individuals are discredited by the religious community for adapting their belief systems to better fit the facts about life and the universe like Darwinian evolution. This is due to the ongoing religious belief in God, a supernatural creator of all things, that the majority of the people on this planet strongly hold today. This meme was ingrained so strongly in the minds of our ancestors that it still exists today, even after the discovery of DNA. This meme leaves intellectuals feeling like they are misunderstood about what they truly know about the nature of life and the universe.

It has become ever more difficult to judge a particular person based on their background and achievements because we still live in a world filled with religious believers who maintain the notion that belief in God is more important than anything else, even academic experience! Nowadays people tend to judge others on their fashion, looks and possessions because they are so out of tune with what is going on in their changing environment. As long as they have religion, they don't need to learn more from others or from their environment. Their mission is to maintain a culture of religious belief--- how ridiculous!

We all need to start judging ourselves based on our level of knowledge about the nature of life and the universe, and less on our outward appearances and our belief in God. This will not help us to grow together as a society to promote positive change. It will only keep us behind in our evolution and will be stuck in a dumbified bubble of ancient myths and rituals. Our children will never forgive us for being so superficial and materialistic and they too will have to suffer an existence of slow-going change due to mythical beliefs.

Back in Beautiful Curacao

2008-10-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here I am sitting in my island house for the first time in a long time and I can finally sense the beauty and complexity of nature once again. It has been raining here during the nights for the last few months and everything on the island has overgrown, including my yard. Bushes and trees that I had left so perfectly trim are now 5 times the size of me and completely out of control. I don't love the fact that I will have to have professional landscaping done but I love that the atmosphere of our planet Earth can provide such amenities for the growth and health of life. Living in Canada, it was evident to me that the similar type of atmosphere does not exist. Instead, mammals with their full stomachs go into hibernation for the cold winter months, birds fly south to a warmer place, and trees shed their leaves and prepare for a long and harsh season.

It is just not natural for me to close myself to the outside environment for so many months in order to maintain my health and well-being. The beautiful colours of blue, green, pink, and yellow become a figment of my imagination as I ponder about how nature around me could be. Instead, as I look out my living room window during the winter months I see no life, not even the sun.

Living in a tropical place is a completely different experience. There is no need to prepare for the long harsh months ahead and there is no need to worry about my safety on the road. Instead, I can walk around wearing light clothing and go for a swim at my own leisure. I can leave my windows open all year round and have only one wardrobe all my life. I never have to heat my water or my house and I can go for a jog every day of the year. What luxury!

For me after moving to the Caribbean, materialism is a thing of the past. I have more to look forward to than ever before. I have warmth, water, sun, trees, and a constant breeze-- all the things that nature can provide for a prosperous life. My ancestors would be proud!

The Singularity: Transcending Our Biology

2008-09-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

What is it to be a human being today? Well we know that our biology is governed by hereditary units called genes that are located on chromosomes that are coded by our DNA, a molecular structure. Ultimately, we are biological systems or machines that hold and protect our genetic information so that we may survive over thousands of generations through our offspring. In a sense, our genes can survive forever but at the expense of biological survival machines like human beings. In order for our genes to survive we must pass them on to our offspring since we survival machines can only survive for a limited period of time. Survival was very important thousands of years ago when the human life span was shorter due to environmental and biological limitations. Today humans have been able to lengthen our lives by learning more about our biological strengths and weaknesses. We have overcome our biological nature by simply utilizing our thoughts from our senses.

Since we know so much about human biology today is there something more we can do to live even longer and healthier lives? Can we discover ways to transcend our biological nature so that we can live forever, like genes? Humans today are heavily focused on anti-aging methods to look and feel young and ways to live longer within the realm of human biology. We do on-going research about how to prevent and fight against fatal diseases and how to protect ourselves from contracting bacterial and viral infections that can harm our health. We ultimately strive to end pain and suffering of humans so that we may live long and healthy lives. But, one thing that we cannot combat so easily is aging.

Aging is a part of being a survival machine. Human evolution is interconnected with time, the spacial dimension that human beings cannot control. As time passes, living things grow and age. Our complex bodies undergo wear and tear over time from continuously operating at the biological level and communicating with the outside environment. The result is aging of the survival machine both physically and mentally.

Humans have come so far as to being capable of living for almost 100 years. Many other living organisms have not attained such a giant feat in biological evolution. Does this have to be the end for humans? Do we have to subject ourselves to mechanically and medically changing our physical and biological appearance in order to counteract aging? Are there alternatives to this method? Our research over time has given rise to many discoveries that may help us to live forever but there is one catch: Humans must accept that in order to live forever we cannot survive as solely survival machines housing our 'precious genes', but we must transcend our biological nature in order to overcome our limitations of aging and disease.

To transcend our biology is to go beyond evolution and space and utilize our technological creations in order to do so. Technology today is based on our biological nature, specifically the human brain, but what is different is that the technological dimension is ever-lasting. The hardware, like biological survival machines, is at risk of failing but the difference is that it can be repaired or replaced without damaging the software. Although software can be infected, preventative measures can be developed in order to counteract the virus without permanently damaging the software. Hardware and software can be repaired at a small cost but a sick biological machine can be permanently damaged even after being treated by medical or natural methods.

In our near future, human beings will have to make the choice of either living as a survival machine or transcending their biology by becoming one with the new and innovative technological dimension or virtual reality. Our genes have come so far by exploiting biological systems in order to survive but it is our turn now. We do not need our genes any longer nor do we need future generations of biological machines carrying our genes. Instead we have new and better information that can help us to understand the complexities of the universe. Genes have helped human beings to evolve through natural selection but at a large cost, our lives. But now we can exploit our own genes by utilizing our bodies, that have been governed by our genes, to create a means to live forever without our genes. Human evolution has driven us in this direction-- we cannot sit idly by when there is a means of harnessing our own technological creations so that we may live virtually forever. Now it is our turn to outwit, outplay, and outlast our genetic driver. Human beings are the new drivers and technology is our vehicle!

A Sea of Lonely Creatures

2008-09-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

So my last blog post was about monogamous relationships and the battle individuals sometimes face when committing to each other.

We live in a society today where it is ideal to find a partner of the opposite sex to commit to and eventually start a family. It is also ideal for us to learn to be independent as we reach adulthood. When we are young and grow up going to school everyday, being social, and living in some sort of family unit we are constantly exposed to ideas about finding love, being independent, understanding our sexuality, and belonging to a group. We experience different emotions that help to mold our personalities and build our knowledge and understanding about things. We ultimately grow up in an environment that encourages us to be free about our thoughts within the realm of laws, rights, and freedoms.

We learn that general education of math, science, and language (arts) are necessary for us to understand the world and that we must be able to take care of ourselves when we reach adulthood. What comes next? For most of us, we leave our families and our home and we enter into the real world which feels like a sea of lonely creatures. Someone who was raised in a small town may feel disoriented and need more time to gain a strong foothold in society. Although it may take longer for some, most individuals will gain independence by being on their own and learning to take care of themselves. Finding a flexible routine in personal and work life can help a person become more independent and organized.

Where can family and love fit into the picture? It is true that once a person leaves home they do not detach themselves from their family, but focus on maintaining a relationship with them within their personal life. This is because we feel a strong sense of altruism towards our family members, something that we learned when we grew up around them. In other words, we maintain an emotional connection to them even though we are independent. This can help an independent person to find new love towards another person of no genetic relation in order to build a new family unit for them. This is a big part of independence in our society, loneliness is not. We desire close emotional connections with other people because human beings as well as many other species live in groups.

In today's society it is not always easy to find love and build a partnership within a new family unit. We are encouraged to leave home and further our careers in order to prosper and be independent. But, we are not always certain about how to build a new emotional connection with another person whom we do not know. People do not want to live alone forever, but want to share their love and altruistic nature with someone else. It is useful to channel these feelings to a group of people such as friends, colleagues, mentors, etc. but the end desire for most individuals is to find one person who can channel their similar feelings back onto them. This way both individuals can discover an emotional connection to one another and build a committed partnership from that. Unfortunately, many people today have trouble finding this type of connection. They live independently for years, alone or with roommates, and decide that the best option for them is to focus on their careers and on their own livelihood.

What happens to their emotional connections? Of course, many people maintain their connections with their families, but feel that they could never go back to living with their loved ones. It would hinder their lifestyle of privacy and independence. They would much rather be alone to do as they please instead of having to cater to someone's feelings, even if that someone is a mother or brother. They begin to like to live alone and regard loneliness as just another part of life. In a sense it is a good strategy to combat the lack of an emotional connection, but it may not be a good long-term strategy. A person who has lived alone for a long time eventually may feel that finding love for someone else is a waste of time or that it is alien to them. They, in turn, change their own social nature in order to accept loneliness. They overcome their lack of emotional connections by pampering themselves and spending time with friends of the same sex. This way they can always feel stimulated by material things or a good conversation without having to be in a emotional relationship.

But, what about love? Love is transformed into something else. It becomes a desire that is very hard to reach because it has not been achieved for so long. Many people do not bother with it because it has caused them physical and emotional trauma in the past. People place it on the sidelines or on a pedestal and choose not to bother with it because it is too high of an aspiration to reach. In the end loneliness wins and so there is no need for an emotional connection. The monogamous relationship does not seem so great when we can live on our own terms and stimulate ourselves in other ways. In a fast growing society of people the best option may not be to have more children, but instead it can be to learn more about ourselves and find other means to create happiness in our lives. However, there are limits to this and it is evident in our society today that people have taken this route at the cost of their mental and physical health and financial well-being. A good tip today can be that for those who are alone it can be worthwhile to channel their love to those who need it most, the poor.

Battle of the Sexes

2008-09-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

I just read the chapter called Battle of the Sexes in Richard Dawkin's book Selfish Gene and again I feel that I have come to some realizations about human beings.

There exists a battle of the sexes among different species in nature and it occurs during mating season. A male may have to put in quite a bit of effort to court a female so that she may choose him and a female may want to shop wisely for a strong and committed male so that the investment in the offspring is proportionately shared. In the wild among lower order organisms it is common for the female to invest more of her energy and time into her offspring since she bears them. The males normally choose the option of leaving the female so that he can reproduce with other females and create even more offspring. These males invest very little time into preparing and caring for their offspring. It is easy for them considering that they are capable of producing such small sex cells, sperm, in such large numbers. Their investment per child is very small. However, the sex cells of females or eggs are much smaller in number and much larger for the purpose of providing food to her growing fetus(es). It is very clear to see why there is a battle of the sexes among many different species including human beings.

Since the onset of settlement of human beings 10,000 years ago, humans developed a pair relationship between a male and female in order to care and protect their young. The males worked as the hunters and the females as gatherers in a cooperative manner. This was important because children were more likely to live longer if they were cared for by both parents. In addition, by staying with the female a male could know with certainty that the children that he is investing so much in are in fact his. Although a monogamous relationship would mean less offspring for the male, it would also mean that he could keep track of his offspring and teach them to care properly for their children, a strategy that would help his grandchildren survive.

In today's modern society a monogamous marriage is very common and democratic laws protect this type of relationship between a man and woman when children are concerned. Even when an unmarried man and woman have a child similar laws will still apply. It is the responsibility of the parents to care and protect their own children until a certain age for their well-being according to the governing laws. If the proper care is not met, family laws dictate how the children will be cared for. Children can suffer emotionally from problems in their parents' marriage so in many divorce cases custody of the children is shared between the parents even when the parents have gone their separate ways. There are other cases in which if one parent leaves the family and all of his/her responsibility on the other parent, family laws will dictate that he/she must contribute financially to the children. In this way, the rights and freedoms of the children are seriously considered by the government no matter who the parents are. A simple monogamous relationship no longer protects the children like it did in the wild. Instead, it is the governing democratic laws that take over the responsibility of enforcing security of the children when a monogamous marriage breaks down.

Why then do individuals enter into monogamous marriages under the law and have children when they are unsure about undertaking such a responsibility? One reason may be that they have already invested time and effort into committing to a relationship that they are ready to have children. Most couples will enter into a legal marriage contract before they have children in order to solidify their commitment to each other to stay together and have children. Another reason may be that the families of the couple hold religious values that pressure the couple to wed before they live together and have sex. The couple then may have an unplanned child which they must take responsibility for even though they were not ready. This in particular is a common reason why people get married and why they get divorced. Marriage for religious reasons is extreme and unnatural and is not in the best interest of the man or woman.

Today, divorce is very common among couples with children. Although there are pros and cons about divorce, it is not in the best interest of the couple or their children. Democratic laws are such that upon divorce the man and woman split their finances in half, unless a prenuptual agreement was signed, and custody is awarded to either both parents or one parent depending on their financial and emotional situation. In addition, both parents are entitled to support their children financially based on their flow of income. The advantage is that the couple and the children are not subjected to emotional instability within one household. Further, the mother and father can be free to mate with other people and produce more children thereby creating a new family unit. But, the disadvantages are that a parent will be financially responsible even though the children are not living with them and the family unit will be divided causing long-term emotional instability especially for the children.

Such a governing system is necessary for the well-being of individuals in a society but it is clear that men and women do not understand the reasoning of the monogamous relationship. Human beings developed this type of relationship in order for their to be a shared responsibility to care for their children. However, today it has become a bond that is fragile and that can easily break down due to financial and emotional instability even when children are involved. Although there are a number of factors that can effect a marriage such as both parents working, infidelity, debt, sickness, conflicting belief systems, etc. the children's best interest is not always considered. A monogamous relationship should be a strength in a couple's lives. It should be a desired route to take for the purpose of security, love, growth, and family. But, it does not have to be a means of fulfilling a religious tradition or family dream. A battle is not necessary if both sexes can share a mutual commitment towards each other.

Selfishness vs. Altruism

2008-09-10T07:31:00.000-07:00

If there is a human moral to be drawn, it is that we must teach our children altruism , for we cannot expect it to be part of their biological nature (Dawkins, R., Selfish Gene, p. 139)

This quote by Richard Dawkins from the book 'The Selfish Gene' really makes me think. I think about the idea that our brothers, sisters, and parents are 50% related to us and that we are 100% related to ourselves due to our individual genetic constitution. Our selfish genes help us to survive and benefit from our close relatives without always considering their well-being. We do, however, take into account that our parents and siblings are 50% related to us and that it matters how they are affected by our actions. Their survival matters because they share 50% of their genes with us, but it only matters up to a point.

In the wild, if the life of an animal such as a baby bird is put at risk by a predator or sibling it will be in its best interest to deter that risk onto another species or another sibling. It would not be in its best interest to put its parents at risk since they are the primary caregivers that provide food, shelter, and safety to their offspring since that is in their best interest. In contrast, a sibling could incur that risk because its survival has no benefit to the baby bird besides the 50% genetic relation. It is even so that if a sibling bird thinks that it is not getting enough food from its parents, it may steal food from its other siblings or cheat for more food from its parents by loudly calling out to attract predators. This can be seen in many different species of organisms such as insects and humans.

When this notion is applied to human behavior many similarities can be seen. In nature there are many selfish human beings that interact daily. In society, humans regard selfishness as an emotion or a personality trait that many different individuals convey, even themselves at times. Selfishness also exists within the family just as it does within other species in nature and brothers and sisters compete for love, care, and money from their parents. If a child feels like he/she is not being treated fairly, they may act selfishly such as tell a lie or pretend to be sick in order to gain favour from their parents. If parents do not moderate these acts of selfishness through discipline and practicing altruism the other siblings may begin to feel emotions of jealousy and greed which can cause conflict in a family unit. The parents themselves may also feel emotions of guilt and worry which could effect the well-being of all of their children.

Altruism, the act of helping others or doing good without reward, is a behaviour among different species of organisms including humans that helps to counteract selfishness within a family, group or society. Although in the wild selfishness can be regarded as being beneficial for survival, so can altruism in a civilized society. Today it has become ever more important to be altruistic to people in order to gain trust and cooperation in a society where selfishness exists at many levels of government, economy, and business.

How is it then that humans can learn to be altruistic to non-relatives? In the wild it is uncommon to see an organism showing altruism to a fellow group member of the same species which has no relation to it. However, it is natural to see a parent showing altruism to its children or an older group leader showing altruism to its pack of relatives and non-relatives. Mutual symbioses or cooperation does also exist between different species in order to benefit both species. So altruism does exist in nature but it more commonly occurs between a parent and their offspring which is a genetic relation.

Altruism is favoured in a democratic society of related and unrelated human beings because people understand that they all carry the same rights and freedoms as one another and that it is effective to work in concert in order to grow as a functional and stable society. When people show altruism towards each other they are trying to set a standard of respect and loyalty. In this type of environment different people can trust one another and information can be transparent. Selfish acts can be distinguished from acts of altruism and selfish individuals are encouraged to learn from their mistakes. However, in a multi-government and interconnected society where powerful players such as pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, and governing bodies are operating, many selfish acts are overlooked. These parties take advantage of the end-users of society in order to profit and grow in power. They also show little or no care for the environment which is home to billions and billions of living organisms. Due to a lack of organization and accountability at the government level there is much bureaucracy which creates opportunities for powerful players to take advantage of the system. Altruism can combat these selfish acts but it takes a large cooperative group of people and an honest and transparent government.

Although selfishness works quite well among different species of organisms in the wild, it is not wholly accepted by human beings in a civilized society. In such a society, altruism, equality and being a good citizen are social ideals that teach human beings to be good to one another. It is also reasonable to act in one's best interest but to consider the well-being of others whether or not they are family. This is so because human beings are capable of understanding another person's suffering and emotional state which is not practiced among animals in the wild. This capability, through our own selfish nature, stems from understanding our own emotional state and how it effects us. And democracy and justice have enabled humans to act on this understanding in a positive way in order to reduce suffering of others through the emotions of empathy and sympathy.

Living in Moderation and the Good Life

2008-05-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

So many people want to live with happiness, wealth, love, and peace but seem to always hit an obstacle in their plans and cannot understand why this happens to them. Why does this happen anyways? There are multiple reasons of course but the main underlying reason is that they have not carefully thought out their plans. This reason may seem obvious but during the time of planning and before hitting an obstacle people overlook many of the possibilities that may significantly effect their plans throughout their journey. They fail to take the time to plan out their ideas and do not adapt their plans to the changes that occur in their own lives throughout the planning stages.

Planning always involves looking into the near future in order to determine the best and worst case scenarios. By making predictions that account for where you are so far in your life and where you are going is the best way to begin planning a new path or change. Without this foresight a person can easily spiral into a path of endless obstacles and end where they started, or worse. There are a number of things that a person needs to analyze during the planning stages in order to determine if their journey or venture is feasible for them: 1) financial disposition, 2) family, 3) work, 4) timing, 5) research.

It is not possible to succeed in your goals if you overlook these five criteria during the planning stages. Many people tend to overlook the most important criterion, money, when they want to make a change in their life that suits their preferences and desires. They feel overwhelmed to even attempt to understand their financial disposition and as a result leave this to the last minute, which almost always causes failure and grief in their lives when what they are trying to accomplish is to make their lives better. I have no sympathy for those that do not budget accordingly because everyone should know how important money, not material things, is in life. When beginning the planning stages you should first formulate an understanding of your financial situation by asking yourself questions like: How much money do I have in my bank account (chequing and savings) and will that be enough to fund my whole journey/venture; How much money would I need to borrow and can I borrow from a friend or family member instead of the bank?; At what interest rate can I borrow from the bank and is it feasible? How much money will I be consistently making and will this be enough to pay my monthly debts?; What are my other financial responsibilities that I will have to manage during my venture (mortgage, prior debts, car lease)? These are all very important questions to ask yourself in order to ensure that your plan will work.

Another criterion that one must not overlook is the family situation. If you have a goal in mind that involves much change in your current lifestyle you must ensure that your partner is also involved in your decision-making and that their lifestyle is also considered in your plans. If not, it will cause tension in your relationship which contradicts what you are trying to accomplish in your life. If you have children whether young or old, it is imperative that you take into account how this change will impact them-- their health, education, emotions, and goals. The whole family must be involved in the planning and decision-making in order to avoid miscommunication and misunderstanding. Everyone has to be on the same page in order to reach the end goal.

Many people make a change in their lives when there are employment opportunities for them. This is normally what helps people make a smooth transition in their lives because it gives them a sense of financial stability, success, and peace of mind. However, it is imperative to be aware of this new employment environment and all the changes that are happening as a result of it. Ensure that your new job is providing you with the same or more benefits as your previous job such as salary, location, work schedule, cost of living, etc. and that you and your family are satisfied with the new change in life. Know where you are going and what your responsibilities are and that it is still in line with your goals or that your goals can be adapted easily with the new change. Also ensure that you are not displacing yourself permanently for a job that you may not want to do for the long-term. Think ahead rather than behind.

Timing is key. Many people do not understand this concept at all but it is one of the criteria of planning a goal. If you are experiencing problems in your relationship, family, finances, employment, or lifestyle think twice before reorganizing or restructuring your life. There are always reasons for these problems and you should first and foremost determine where your problems stem from. Do not start planning a new path if you have problems because they will without a doubt create obstacles in your journey and on top of everything else cause you to feel dissatisfaction and discontent which is what you are trying to avoid. This is the time to ask yourself questions about the roots of your problems. If you hesitate to accept your problems and work on them you will never find satisfaction in your life and the changes you make to it. Denial and worry are not things that you want to live with while you are trying to make life better for yourself. Be honest and open with yourself and your partner/family before reaching any conclusions and reformulating your goals. Don't leave anything unsaid or undone or your timing will be off, I guarantee it. In addition, don't do something because someone else has done it. It is fine to be motivated by someone else's accomplishments and success but if you want to follow in someone's footsteps it is imperative that you understand how they succeeded before you jump to any conclusions.

This brings me to the final criterion, research. Do your research! Determine what you are doing, where you are going, when you will do it, why you are doing this, and how you will accomplish it. If you can't answer these five points then you have not thoroughly done your research I'm afraid. You must ask yourself what the best and worst case scenarios are; and there are always worst case scenarios. If you know this beforehand you will always have a plan b or c to get you out of your predicament and can easily overcome that obstacle. Do not rely on others to help you achieve your goals-- this is not how business works and this is not how life works. You must know for yourself what you need to do to reach success. Doing research and being prepared can get you to where you want to go. Ask a lot of questions and listen to the responses-- you will always find something useful to help you reach your own goals. Everyone is different and comes from different backgrounds so it is important that you don't follow but rather learn from others. No one knows you better than yourself.

Many people feel a sense of dissatisfaction or envy when they see someone else achieve their goals and you wonder how they did it. It's simple. They are good planners that always consider these five criteria in their plans and preparations. They make accurate predictions because they know what they want in life, think about their future all the time, and can avoid problems before they happen. They live moderately so they don't have to give up too much when they make a change in their lives and are satisfied with what they already have. They are good listeners and make good observations so they are aware of how others live and what others want in life so they know what advice is good and what is bad. They are supportive and are supported by their family and/or partner to reach their goals in life. Lastly, they are patient. They don't make rash decisions which can jeopardize their path to success. They are moderate so they take the time to think everything out and act on their plans in a step-by-step process. This process may take several years but it is worth the wait for good planners.

If you do not live in moderation and are not a good planner you will never understand these types of people unless you learn and grow to be one of these people. You have to want it to achieve it but if you do not have foresight you will fail.

The Blame Game and Being Responsible

2008-03-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

Human beings today are more in tune with nature and life than earlier humans because of what we know today about our Earth, life and the Universe. Industrialization has brought comfort and luxury to many living in developing and developed nations and, in turn, has changed the way people think and act. Due to the progression of economies in these places, people are able to do more than feed and shelter their families but also to live a more prosperous and safe life under democratic laws, rights and freedoms. But, what do people think of each other as a mother or father, sister or brother, friend or stranger? Do we care to live in peace and harmony? My thoughts are that people do not see reality so clearly as to know that the person next to them is a person with thoughts and feelings too. That we are all similar in how we sense things in our environment and act on them. That although we all have different personal and academic experiences we are all human beings that care about life and being happy.

Even within families there seems to be an endless struggle to create harmony because there are many interests at hand that need to be accommodated. A sister may want to help her teenage brother who is struggling in school but is ignored by him because he feels that her intention is to treat him like he's still a child. Or a mother and father may want to help their daughter with her drug problem but she feels like her parents don't understand her. Why do even our own family members feel like they can't talk about their problems and come to a solution with the help of their own family? Problem solving and family advice are no match for our own self-interests. If we feel like we need or want something we won't let anyone or anything stop us in our tracks. We live in an individualistic society where every person works on their own to get what they want. Even having children has become obsolete because it conflicts with our view of being independent and confident. Our ancestors moved in groups in order to be safe and get tasks done efficiently. They relied on one another to accommodate their daily needs. Over time our ancestors decided to settle and form bonds between companions in order to protect and feed their young and each other. Humans have always worked together in concert to help each other and to survive.

How can we successfully guide our children if we cannot cooperate and communicate with one another? What can our children learn from this? They can learn that it is normal to act on self-interest and put little trust in anyone including their own parents and siblings. This is detrimental because it causes individuals to confide solely in their own thoughts and choices and blame others for their faults and poor decisions. In an individualistic society each person takes pride and joy in learning on their own and making decisions and rules for themselves regardless of what others have advised and experienced. They choose not to learn and grow from their past experiences and mistakes but instead they forget them in order to maintain confidence in themselves. They do not reflect on their past actions so they limit their ability to adapt to their environment and unknowingly take risks throughout their life. When they run into problems they are quick to blame others for their mistakes and, in turn, lose their sense of responsibility for their own choices and actions. They blame others because they feel that they could not have made a better choice and that their poor decision is a result of their helplessness and innocence. They feel this way because they believe that since they are alone in this world they have made the best decision that they could at the time and no one was there to stop them or guide them. In my opinion, it seems that these individuals are very quick to forget what others have advised so if there is a problem they feel less inclined to blame themselves. So in the end they make choices based on how they feel at the time and when a problem is encountered they want to blame others in order to relinquish their responsibility for their actions. They end up making poor decisions at the expense of others and themselves.

People who are quick to blame others lack responsibility and self-respect. They believe that in order to build and maintain their confidence and motivation they should never blame themselves or admit to their faults because they feel that it is unnecessary and only makes them look immature and dumb. They should not have to question their decisions because they feel so confident in themselves. Why should a poor decision stop them from feeling this way? Well, when an individual makes a poor decision it's important for them to admit their mistakes and accept the consequences of their actions in order to learn and be more responsible. They feel like they are protecting themselves from feeling ashamed and losing their confidence but what they are actually doing is protecting their selfish ego from being damaged at the cost of themselves and others. Responsibility is not a bad thing. It is a means of protecting oneself from obstacles that may hinder one's success in life. It is a means of reducing one's selfish ego so that they may use their brain capacity to problem solve and reflect in order to avoid encountering more problems. It is not a means of lowering one's self-confidence and pride.

Why are we afraid of being responsible citizens? It doesn't help that free and democratic societies encourage individuals to put responsibility in a large national government, which in itself shows little accountablity and integrity in its operations, and live as an individual and not as a family member or local citizen. I think that our communities need to set a better example for our youth and for each other. We need to be encouraged to find a balance between and among family, community, and individualism. Religion must be seen as insignificant and unnecessary for the unity among people. Unity can be established, not through adherence to a particular religion, but through care and respect for one another and for the environment. This can be accomplished by removing religion from government and education and replacing it with open discussions about all peoples and world issues (life), our local environment (nature), helping people that are in need without burdening others (ending suffering), and building love and respect for one another (empathy). People need to be encouraged to take responsibility into their own hands in order to create positive changes for themselves and, in turn, for others. When we are responsible, we do not act in self-interest but in all-interest. Our egos do not need to be bloated to live a prosperous life but we can gain self-confidence in learning from our past experiences and helping others based on what we have learned.

Expand Your Knowledge Through Self-Conscious Reflection

2008-03-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

Self-conscious reflection is the highest level of operations of a human brain. Although human beings have evolved from primates, these organisms lack the ability to reflect. This is evident in the behaviour of primate species, such as chimpanzees. Chimps like to play games with their friends but cannot strategize and think about how to improve their skills while playing a game. They lack the ability to organize multiple thoughts and ideas in their brains because their brains are not as complex and well-developed as human brains. However, the brains of primates are well-developed compared to brains of lower order mammalian species such as dogs and mice.

So how has such a marvelous characteristic evolved in human brains? Self-conscious reflection is built on several levels of processes that Marvin Minsky calls the Six-Level Model of the Mind: 1) instinctive reactions, 2) learned reactions, 3) deliberate reactions, 4) reflective thinking, 5) self-reflective thinking, and 6) self-conscious reflection. Instinctive reactions are already operating in a human at birth since these reactions have evolved from the time of the earliest humans. The next two processes are developed at an early age as a young human being explores and studies their surroundings and interacts with their imprimers (family and friends). Throughout adolescence the remaining processes are developed and strengthened as a result of new experiences that challenge an individual to think about their choices and reflect on their actions.

Education tremendously facilitates a human's ability to problem solve and make informed choices and goals. It helps an individual gain knowledge of life and the universe and, in turn, expand their minds to different possibilities in nature. Educated individuals have the freedom to reach the highest level of the mind which is self-conscious reflection. For those who are oppressed by their communities, families, and poverty there is much difficulty in reaching this level because they lack the basic knowledge of life and nature to facilitate their human abilities-- they are limited in their abilities to learn and grow as a human being. This is the case for Muslims around the world, particularly women. It is also the case for many people who are forced to believe in religion at an early age without the proper knowledge of other religions and belief systems.

There is no open discussion about religious beliefs of other peoples around the world and, as such, a person's scope of nature and world views is limited to the belief system their family and community hold so strongly. When a child grows up in this environment and is forced to adhere to one religious belief system they are robbed of their freedom to learn about all religions and make informed choices. They become limited to learning only about their parent's religion. This hinders a child's ability to reach the higher level processes in the brain because they are taught about a world-view that is skewed and inaccurate. Since there is little discussion about religion in the modern education system today a child remains closed-minded about the differences and similarites between all people and their world-view is reduced to their own communities and families. Their level of understanding of life and nature remains immature and simple. As they grow up their transition to adulthood is more difficult because their view of the world does not change so much as a result of the influence on them to adhere to their religious belief. Any idea they encounter throughout their life which encourages them to question their belief system is ignored and dismissed because of what they have been taught to believe by their family and community. To these people the complexities of science are misunderstood like the structure and function of the cell so they remain immature in their thoughts and practices. They build their knowledge around their religious belief, whether moderate or strong, and leave out important facts, such as quantum physics, neuronal transmission in the brain, and evolution, which they find unnecessary or insufficient to learn. Their religious belief helps them to fill in the gaps so there is no need to further their understanding of the facts. But, what their religious belief actually does is hinder the development of their mind. Having a religious belief is closing one's mind to the world and all the possiblities in the universe that it negatively effects the way people live and think.

Self-conscious reflection, the highest level of the mind, can be reached by an educated human being that considers all the possibilities of a given idea and that can let go of their pre-conceived beliefs about an idea. The reason for this is that in order to comprehend a particular fact or concept one cannot believe in something that is unproven or make-believe because it may conflict with a given fact and cause the person to be confused and misunderstand the fact itself and all other facts and concepts related to that fact. When ideas and concepts are understood properly a person can self-consciously reflect on their thoughts and come to accurate conclusions and decisions. Moreover, this reflective process can stimulate new thoughts and questions that are completely in line with existing facts and concepts. Self-conscious reflection is important because it gives human beings the power and encourages them to understand their own nature and the nature of the universe. It helps people to understand their niche on earth-- that we have evolved over millions of years for the purpose of surviving for as long as possible on planet Earth. And in doing so, we have been able to sense the beauty of nature and depend on the fruits of it. Isn't life grand?! It should be, since all life have worked hard to survive for millenia and make the Earth their home.

Charles Darwin was a very intelligent man that had reached the highest level of the mind, and this is a remarkable feat in his time. He was able to properly collect, analyze, and organize his thoughts to correctly explain the concept of evolution. He devised a concept from previously built concepts. What a remarkable human being indeed! If it weren't for him, our children today would not have the benefit of understanding the history and biology of life on Earth. Why should we hinder our children's brain development by teaching them about our religious beliefs thus limiting their horizons. What ever happened to the idea that 'our children are our future'. Education in today's modern societies cater to the proper care and development of our children, which is funded by the citizens. Why should we interrupt this education by teaching our childern about magical beliefs that conflict with what they are learning in school. There is no benefit in this but rather the cost of burdening our children with the difficulty of grasping scientific, mathematical, historical, and social concepts. What a burden! It will be our children that will build institutions and projects, based on the foundations earlier generations have built and preserved for them, to carry us all safely into the future (Dennett, Breaking the Spell 2006). Our children need to be encouraged and given time to grow and learn. Open discussions about religion at home and in the education system are important for there to be an open society and for expanding our knowledge of nature and the universe. With this knowledge people can focus on making the world a better place to live and recognize that their lives do have meaning.

Memetic Transmission

2008-02-29T07:29:00.000-08:00

Our human ancestors traversed the Earth searching for food, shelter and water and in doing so began to settle in groups (composed mainly of relatives and allies), in large part, for protection and security from other groups. From a social point of view, our ancestors created and proliferated memes or ideas that were important to follow in their time. During the time of early humans it was their five senses that enabled them to maintain their health, security, and group cooperation. In order to find nourishment and strength, our ancestors had to use all five senses in concert to determine what was edible, digestable, and of course palatable. At that time, they were not too worried about the amount of fat, carbohydrates, sugars, and proteins in their food, but they did eat what they felt gave them more energy, stamina, and hydration since there was not always an over abundance of food available. This ensured that they could eat in moderation so that there was enough to go around and that they could heal properly and swiftly so as to not prolong their weakness. Although they did not recognize it at the time, they were finding ways to strengthen their immune systems in order to fight sickness caused by bacteria and viruses and to maintain their health. Moreover, security was a major factor that influenced early humans to form groups and maintain cooperation in order to venge against enemies looking for food, a place to settle, and in some cases women to join their group. So perhaps another important meme was mating outside of the group in order to add diversity to a particular group. At the time, these early humans did not know that they were, in turn, expanding their genetic diversity by mating with someone outside of the group. But, it was their senses like touch and sight that helped them to determine that there was a need to add outsiders to their packs. Their inherent sexual insticts for a non-relative helped them to diversify and grow their tribes.

The use of their five senses helped early humans to use logic in their behaviours and actions. As time passed, existing memes were strengthened and new memes were created that sometimes replaced existing memes (memetic competition). Much archeological evidence shows that early humans crafted different tools and objects out of rocks and bones for security, hunting, and ornamental purposes. The creations can be seen to have happened all over the world at around the same time during the time of the early humans. A meme, governing these creations, had spread all over the world by humans because it was so important for protection, food, and leisure. Leisure was important since it satisfied the senses the way food and shelter did. It allowed early humans to play with their logic skills which, in turn, improved their reasoning skills, although they did not realize this at the time. It offered a means of inventing new things from old creations. For example the creation of a sharp rock knife may have enabled the creation of a flute from carving a piece of wood. And from this could have resulted the creation of carved stone sculptures or jewelery. The use of their logic helped humans to further their knowledge of their surroundings and this gave rise to new and more complex memes, some of which had evolved from existing memes. Some of these more complex memes include livestock hearding and agriculture, from the meme of food security and wealth, and wearing clothing in order to maitain hygeine to protect from harmful bacteria and viruses (from the memes of good health and longevity).

In today's modern societies there are an overwhelming number of memes that are built on older memes from the time of the earliest humans. Our logic and reasoning skills that are governed by our senses and ultimately our brains have been improved over tens of thousands of years that today we live in a world of countless creations. We thrive on new discoveries, not only based on our surroundings and lifestyles, but on the nature of the universe. These new discoveries enable today's humans all over the world to expand their knowledge of life and the universe further improving our logic and reasoning skills. The difference today is that we are capable of being fully aware of how we impact ourselves, each other, and our future. We now have the ability to weed out such memes like the belief in God that no longer apply in this modern day. This meme, that was established in order to maintain group loyalty and cooperation long ago, is no longer necessary in a time of democratic influence and social justice. With all that we know today, we can have contol of how our future will be. However, with the long-lasting meme of religion among today's societies, we have a tremendous obstacle to overcome in order to establish a safe and prosperous future for humans.

Miscommunication in the business world as a result of our modern desires

2008-02-28T15:24:00.000-08:00

I feel like I can't count on anyone or anything these days. Just when I think that a particular service actually cares about customer satisfaction or that a business person cares about professionalism I run into some sort of obstacle that causes extra costs and delays. When I think about it more I realize that the problem is miscommunication. I have learned over time from experience that it's always necessary to prepare a plan of action before purchasing a service or product because there will most likely be a miscommunication problem along the way. But, even with a plan of action you can never be too sure if the servicer understands you completely. Most likely, that person will miss something that you asked for or specified and there seems to be many reasons for this. One of the main reasons, I find, is that they are so disinterested in your case or need that they sometimes remain preoccupied about their own experiences or problems. There is a sense of ignorance that is radiated when the servicer has to ask twice about something that you already specified cleary, or so you thought.

The reason why I hire a service or buy a product from a business is because I cannot perform the service task myself, like replacing a broken toilet, or I require something that I have to purchase, like a washing machine. It sounds pretty straightforward, and it should since you are paying for it. But the truth is, it's not straightforward at all. To replace a broken toilet means that you have to hire a reliable and honest plumber and if you don't know a plumber there is a chance that costs may be considerably higher and that you will end up with the wrong type of toilet (yes, there are many different types and models). The annoyance of always paying more and waiting longer than expected escalates with the more customer/client experiences you have. The fact is customer service has broken down tremendously and product quality has become worse. And the bigger the city you live in, the worse customer service is. Customer satisfaction is no longer a guarantee since many, if not all, products are made in China or India. Service representatives and business owners remain preoccupied because they either are speaking to you from a different country and cannot properly understand you as with the former example or they have more important clients like friends and regular clients that they will show disinterest and misunderstand your explanation and requirements. As well, I find that in many instances with service contracters/technicians, they fail to ask the right questions and give proper instructions that, in the end, cause delays and extra costs. It's always this way.

Where have the ways of professionalism and respect gone? Even when the servicer is being treated with respect they will choose to be ignorant and impatient. Don't they wonder about the reputation of their business? Some do. They are usually small businesses that thrive in smaller communities and care more about their reputations. But, in many cases you end up dealing with some sort of problem, for instance, with the product you have purchased from any business.

The reality is that today's modern societies indulge in new products and programs whether technological or not. Each individual has a personal agenda that they like to follow through on. Their desires govern their actions and the consequences are left up to luck or perhaps a 'miracle'. Errors result in the end perhaps because desicions are not thought through properly all the time which, in turn, causes more delays and additional costs to a customer. Reputations are damaged because people may not realize that they are making poor desicions and errors in judgement. Their indulgence in new things causes them to over-indulge in their thoughts. Their thoughts are clouded by nothing more than desires ranging from icecream to American Idol. We're all more or less guilty of that. But, when it enters the service sector it effects communication between people. Professionalism and respectfulness in the business world have degraded creating an open arena of distrust and miscommunication between community members.

Who is to blame? I cannot speak for everyone on the customer end who requires a service or product because I do not know the extent of effort that each person puts into making the task easy for themselves. But, in my opinion I do believe that much of the blame lies in the structure and operation of all businesses, large and small. There is a clear attraction to manufacture or buy cheap products and sell a cheap service that ends up being unreliable and difficult to communicate to and understand. The modern business motto seems to be that once you sell it, it's the customer's problem. There's almost always a warranty, but the reliability in products and services has diminished and the customer is encouraged to pay more for an 'improved' product or 'gold' warranty plan for more reliability.

The end result is that people end up spending more money on products and services and, in turn, adapt to indulging in buying things. These desires cloud their minds and this indirectly effects professionalism and respectfulness in the business world today. I believe this. To go even further, since people are encouraged to buy new things in the modern world the old things are thrown away if not recycled. This creates accumulation of waste that cannot biodegrade and this negatively effects the environment. Therefore, I believe that people all over the world need to think less about desires of things, music, food, TV, God etc. and more about love, life, democracy, justice, and truth. This way we can all be respectful of each other and show care to one another in the economic, environmental, and social spheres.

Religious People

2008-02-28T15:17:00.000-08:00

What exactly makes a good person? People who believe in God will say that a nice person follows a set of morals that are based on their religion and that makes them a good person. These morals help a religious person make decisions and act respectfully to others. But, does one have to believe in God in order to be a nice and good person? I don't believe so at all. I believe that to be a good person one cannot believe in God because to be a truly good person is to understand the laws of the universe and see the beauty in life and nature.

Religious people believe in immortality and life after death. They do not feel such pride and confidence in their own lives because they believe that the after-life is where they will find true beauty and goodness. Why would a religious person be honest and respectful to others and nature in their mortal life if they know that they will live forever in a much happier place? Perhaps, they feel that in order to make it to that happier place they call heaven they will first be required to answer to God. So, is the reason why religious people feel that they are good people because they want to live forever in heaven? If heaven is their fixation, then all religious people should try to act morally and in turn be a good person. But, this is really not the case at all since our history has been painted by holy wars and religious dictatorships. In many cases religious fundamentalists have acted immorally but still believed that they will go to heaven, such as Islamic suicide bombers and their teachers as well as rapist Catholic priests.

Where do religious people get their moral base that they say they follow in order to be a good person? What exactly is it to be a moral person? I don't think religious people really know what moral reasoning they follow at all. I think that when it comes down to it they feel that as long as they believe in God their soul within them will guide them to be a good and moral person. So, religious people believe then that their moral compass comes packaged for them directly from God in the form of a soul (kind of like anticipating a Christmas present from Santa because you've been good). They believe that God has given them a chance at immortality by giving them a soul and their soul guides them to be a good person so that they can reach 'eternal bliss'. So then there really is no set of morals that religious people follow, although they say there is. Rather, it's God that is driving them to be good through the gift of a soul. That sounds like religious people feel less responsible for their actions since it is God that is guiding them to act in that way. If that's the case it does kind of make sense why Islamic suicide bombers will die for God-- they feel that it is God's power that is driving them to death. But, what about all the innocent people that they kill as well-- has God given the suicide bomber permission to kill those people because they too should die for God? Would these innocent people agree? What about the teachers of these suicide bombers-- have they too been given permission by God to tell others to kill people in the name of God? How does one obtain the status of gaining permission from God to kill other people? It sounds like a pretend game conceived by believers in God. Did God tell George Bush that it's okay to kill innocent people? I guess he believes so or he is playing the pretend game to gain support from the religious community to act in his own self-interest. This is a familiar game strategy among televangelicals, government leaders, and high status Catholics like the Pope himself. To them, religious people are fools that don't really understand what goodness is but rather that as long as religious people believe that they are good in the name of God then they will remain foolish and foolish people are less likely to initiate a revolt.

So as long as foolish people believe that their gift of a soul makes them a good person then there is little need for them to take full responsibility for their actions because their actions are guided and governed by God. And since God is all-knowing, their decisions are automatically given the status of being wise and logical. Religious people believe that because they believe in and pray to God that their soul provides them with a moral compass which makes them good people. There is no other way to be as good. But these so called good people are considered fools by the 'pretenders' and are being taken advantage of because of their believe in God. I'd like to know if they recognize that their own selfish belief in God and their good soul are influencing others to take advantage of them in order to perpetuate wars and exacerbate greed. In turn, to believe in God is to support those religious fanatics to maintain and act on their belief in God and give strength and power to the 'pretenders' like George Bush to wreak havoc around the world against rivals for their own selfish desires.

Curacao

2008-02-28T05:39:00.000-08:00

I'm finally here on this beautiful island,
the breeze is constant and the sun so brilliant.
The trees are so green and lush,
where the birds perch to sing in harmony.
I wish I had known about this place sooner
but it's not so easy when you're in a cold place.

Curacao is a gem in the sea,
a land that is inviting to all.
Although the island is far from home
it feels like I am at home.

The love for this island is strong,
love for nature and the people.
There is a different lifestyle here
that is slow-paced and easy-going.
Why isn't life like this everywhere?

I want to live here forever
because I want this life for me.
I want this life for my children
so that they can share the love
for this one-of-a-kind place.

A Mythical Belief

2008-02-24T06:05:00.000-08:00

I wonder sometimes what it is to believe in a mythical belief like the belief in God. I believe that this is a mythical belief because it has been constructed and edited over many years by us, human beings, just like many other mythical beliefs like the story of Mother Goose and of Loch Ness.
So what is it exactly to believe in a mythical belief like the belief in God? Many will tell you that it is down right true and that they hear the words of God on a daily basis. But, what about those groups of people that believe that they have, on many occasions, seen the Loch Ness Monster and have pictures to show for it? Are these pictures real and are their accounts true? It is very unlikely since the evidence to suggest that there is or ever was a Loch Ness Monster is non-existent. The same is true for the existence of God and for all of those accounts of ever seeing or talking to it. There is no experimental evidence to prove that there is a God. The many published articles that claim to present any evidence that there is a God have proven to be fraudulent and completely unscientific.

Now, isn't it the same to say that I have a belief in something that helps me too? Surely there is no difference between my belief and the belief in God. What I believe is that I as well as each and everyone on this Earth has a special greenhouse next to their home. Depending on the maintenance and care of the greenhouse some can be normal-looking and other can be totally invisible. This greenhouse is special because within it grows many different species of grass that, when used properly, can help someone. For example, if I was thirsty I could go to my greenhouse, pick a thick and wide blade of species of grass, blow on it until the right note is reached, and "presto" I am rehydrated again! Other pieces of grass can help you regain your strength, help you feel less tired, and help you feel happy. All I have to do is believe that this magical greenhouse is real and it will always be there for me when I need help. So this is my belief. What do you think of it? To many it may sound far-fetched and a little childish. But, what is the difference between my belief in this special greenhouse and the belief in God? Right, there is no difference because they are both mythical beliefs. They both sound far-fetched and childish because there is no evidence to support either case. The Word of God is also not evidence since it comes merely from other fellow human beings of long ago in the form of a book. The Word is actually opinions and fiction constructed by other human beings. The brilliance of Shakespeare's literature came from his own opinions which he used to construct fictional stories. But, I would much rather believe that the story of Romeo and Juliet were true over the story of God. It just sounds more realistic.

So how have people for so many generations maintained their strong belief in God when there are and have been so many other mythical beliefs that are more intruging and mysterious? The magical powers of Harry Potter are quite mysterious-- where does he get his power?, why are his powers stronger than others his age? After all, the mythical belief in God is so outdated and so 1st century. Why has this mythical belief been so popular for so long that even today the majority of the world's population believe in it?

Many people are told and pressured to believe in this mythical belief in God. They are influenced by their families and community to adhere to these beliefs without wholly questioning it. To question the belief in God is to offend and disrespect God and the rest of the community. Why aren't these rules and authority placed on other mythical beliefs like my belief in the magical greenhouse? Why does the mythical belief in God deserve the pleasure of enforcing authority and pressure to believe on human beings? Why do leaders within the realm of religious belief have the authority to pressure human beings to believe in the mythical belief in God? The reason why I pose these questions is to emphasize that to say that the mythical belief in God is an authority on human beings is selfish and egotistical. The belief in God is no more deserving of authority and truth than my belief in the magical greenhouse. Since my belief in the magical greenhouse is mythical so is the belief in God and so both beliefs are completely undeserving of any authoritative influence on human beings.

So, why are so many people wanting to find truth in this mythical belief in God? I'm compelled to believe that it is selfishness, solely because when asked about it, a religious person will tell you that they have a special relationship with God where God is there with them during prayer. Each religious person does not need to know how others interact with God but only that everyone is providing love and worship to this God. This is selfishness because religious people are directly imposing their own vision and idea of God onto their mythical belief in God. This makes a religious person feel that their mythical belief in God is real. But, what it actually does is make their belief in God more like their belief in themselves. So, in turn, they believe that they are God-- a mind-game that they are regularly playing on themselves. This is why religious people believe that humans have souls. These souls represent their God in them which is selfish and egotistical.

Essentially what religious human beings have done on their own is changed a mythical belief in God into something far from a mythical belief-- a false fact. If this isn't selfishness, I don't know what is.

Curacao Netherlands Antilles

2008-01-16T19:47:00.001-08:00

I'm home for the holidays but am desperately wanting to go back to the beautiful island, where the sun always shines and the breeze is constant. I miss Caracasbaai beach where I spent so many of my first days on the island. What a beautiful island.

Set Your Life Free

2008-01-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

What humans really desire in life is comfort and security. This desire comes from the knowledge of being alive in a vast universe and knowing that we only have one life to live in this reality. Although this is a realistic view we constantly question the unknowns in life that reality has to offer.

From within the scientific realm we can see that humans have made truly wonderful discoveries that help to bring us closer to the truth but from the outside science can be thought of as just another belief system with gaps that may make life look hazy and confusing. I myself do not have this opinion but feel that science, and only science, can bring us closer to knowing our reality and the truth about our universe. But, for someone who does not know much about science, such as not knowing the structure and function of DNA, the feeling of knowing their reality comes from somewhere else that is not related to, nor can be compared to, science.

Another belief system exists in our reality which has gained much power from the time it was first conceived, religion. Although it may have been devised as a way of adhering a growing society or reaching out to those in need, its powers today wield a strong influence on the majority of human beings around the world. Many religious belief systems that are based on religion have forced their way into the minds of many and these beliefs have been passed down from generation to generation slowly transforming into beliefs that many have made a part of their biology, such as the soul. Today human beings grow up in societies that teach about the importance of a particular religious belief system to help people believe that there is meaning in life and that our moral compass can be derived from believing in religion. By doing this human beings can more easily believe that their actions in life are governed by a higher power; a power that has all of the answers for life and the universe. By praying to this higher power, God, one can remain close to God and in so doing can find knowledge about their own existence as well as comfort and security that humans long so much for.

The problem with this kind of adherence to a religious belief system is that people are given a false sense of reality. When reality is skewed by merely a religion then the facts of science are broken down into very little pieces and scientific credibility and truth are lost. Since religion offers comfort and security to people through the idea that there is a higher power governing their actions there is little need to believe in something like science that to them seems down right confusing. But, science is not confusing at all. For someone who is seeking comfort and security science offers much more than what a simple religious belief can offer. Science can provide every person on Earth with the knowledge of comfort and security-- one does not have to go as far as praying to God somewhere in the sky for comfort and security but rather can create it themselves from the knowledge of their own lives. For example, if we hold ourselves accountable for our actions we can ensure that the next time around we will perhaps make a better decision and create a more desired outcome. If we constantly seek forgiveness from God we will never blame ourselves for our bad decisions and, in turn, never learn from our mistakes.

We need to devise a set of common values that human beings can follow in order to lead a life of peace, love, happiness, and security. If we can find harmony in life through following a set of sacred values then following a religious belief system will seem unnecessary, almost silly. For those who strongly adhere to a religious belief system, they will need to find 'salvation' by first getting in touch with their biology and family history. Knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are and about your heritage can only set you free from religious belief!

Save our Earth

2007-12-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

I'm disappointed to hear that the world is not looking for better alternative solutions to the problem of greenhouse gas pollution and the demand for more energy due to a growing world population. For decades, scientists have been researching the effectiveness and efficiency of solar panels and wind turbines for the generation of energy and at the use of biofuels as an alternative for gasoline. But, it is clear that the only two alternatives at the moment are to stick to refining oil until it is completely depleted and to utilize uranium for nuclear power generation until the world comes up with a better idea that 'is worth investing in'.

Today, oil is a powerful resource that can make a country and it's leaders very powerful in a world that depends on it. We depend on it to maintain our modern civilization without even thinking twice about the impact of its use. So what happens when this 'precious' oil resource is depleted? From the perspectives of world leaders we will be left with the struggle to meet demand for energy within the transportation, industrial, and domestic sectors. The thought of there being mass rolling blackouts around the world is not so pretty to them, although the thought of the impact of greenhouse gas pollution on public health and the environment does not even come to mind for such leaders. What's worse-- a population without electricity or people without a healthy Earth? I guess their perspectives do not reach this far..

Perhaps people around the world do not realize how precious our Earth is-- that it is a one-of-a-kind planet that we know of that human-beings can thrive on. However, our planet can only sustain so much damage and degradation. Just like human beings, our Earth too is sensitive to the impact of unnatural processes such as conventional energy generation and use. The Earth can be harmed too to the point where the damage is permanent. One obvious example is greenhouse gas emissions that continuously pollute the Earth's atmosphere which directly effects the natural water cycle and carbon cycle causing acid rain and raised atmospheric temperatures, respectively.

In this modern day there is much discussion about the negative impacts of conventional energy-generating technologies such as coal-fired generation and oil. In the modern world, people are being asked to carpool and drive less in order to reduce their environmental footprint and contribute to a healthy planet. Although these measures can work, there still remains a lack of awareness of the sensitivities of the environment as a big picture. People still feel that if the problem does not lie in their backyard and they are doing everything they can to take care than the change is positive.. However, regularly buying products at the Dollar Store or Walmart only increases one's environmental footprint because they are in turn supporting the industrial sectors of China and the USA that are currently in a battle for oil. The awareness of the far-reaching impacts of one's choices in life is little to non-existent!

The Ontario government thinks that it can make a positive change for the Earth by educating the public on the impact of coal-fired generation on the environment and in so doing has committed to phasing out its 5 coal-fired generation plants by a target date that keeps changing. However, since these coal-plants generate the base-load energy for the 6 million energy-demanding residents of Ontario there will be a desperate need for energy from another source. This source is uranium to generate nuclear power and Canada has a lot of it. This puts Canada in a very pleasing position since the uranium resource is vast and the oil resource that so many countries depend on is rapidly depleting. The Canadian government feels that nuclear power is clean and reliable and can replace coal-fired generation in Canada and around the world and, as such, is advertising it's uranium resource and its methods of generating nuclear power to the world, including USA, China, and Pakistan. Nuclear plants cost billions of dollars to build and operate and there is little public discussion on how the nuclear waste should be handled. Will the question of the Earth's sensitivities come up when we are stuck in a world of nuclear waste? It seems that world leaders today still have the attitude of "Let's just wait and see what happens'.. Let's not get the world worried about what their children will have to deal with in the future.. What's important is to maintain power over the world for as long as possible." In contrast, the important question to ask is what will be the result of decades of nuclear waste on this planet? Or even worse, what will be the result of a world war if there are nuclear plants all over the planet?

Nuclear power is not the answer to save our Earth today. We need to more often discuss about alternative energy generating technologies such as renewable energy technologies and we must always discuss solutions to problems such as greenhouse gas emissions and manufacturing and use of synthetic products. We need to be less consumerist and more pro-active! We need to educate our children about the environmental footprint of being consumers. We are not material creatures-- we are human beings from nature!

Urban Adaptation

2007-09-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

What is it about waiting lines? Canadians seem to be drawn to them like a young child is to candy. Is it the observation that everyone is doing the same thing so why not do it too? Or is it more like an addiction-- the flavour of waiting is in the air or the visual representation of a man-made line is extremely stimulating. Or perhaps it's the need to be part of a group or herd, doing the exact same thing as everyone else. If you look back in our history, our ancestors and species before them traveled in packs. Even before this time, after the evolution of multicellular organisms, cells worked in concert in order to move from one place to the other-- a monumental step in evolutionary history and an adaptation for survival.

It seems comforting to know that a fellow Canadian is just an arm's length away, that they're not alone for the long-haul, but what comes at the end of the long wait line that we're so eager to wait in? In some cases it's to wait to see a nurse or doctor, change a university schedule, use a public toilet, or use a gas pump. Torontonians surely know that the longest wait is in TRAFFIC. Some Torontonians try to avoid using the main highways and roads during peak traffic periods, but many fail to avoid traffic or down-right choose to wait! Aside from the regular before and after work traffic, there's the infamous trek to the North on Highway 11 during the long weekends and holidays-- an idling frenzy or an environmentalist's worst nightmare! During these times of the year, if you are hungry I'd suggest not to stop at the McDonald's restaurant in Barrie, or you're likely to wait about an hour for something to eat or drink. Why is everyone stopping at the same pit stop on the same highway headed to the same place??? If you're heading to the true Northern Ontario, Kapuskasing, I do not recommend driving up from Toronto during the holidays.

This tolerance to wait in lines comes from the constant pressure to wait in lines for personal, work, or leisure needs. In regions where there are large populations it takes longer to go to and from work and to run errands because there are long wait lines in grocery stores and on roads. The Canadian federal and provincial governments have set a bad example of pressuring Canadians to wait in long lines for healthcare, road, and public transportation services. Because provincial governments did not compensate for the increasing population by expanding the roads and public transportation, there is a great problem of road congestion in the GTA and in Vancouver. Although much of Canadian tax dollars should be going to fund good quality healthcare, many Canadians are waiting in line for simple surgeries, and cancer treatment. Where are our tax dollars going? Why did Dalton McGuinty increase his annual salary by $40,000 when there is extreme road congestion, need for a subway expansion in Toronto, and wait lines for healthcare services?

Due to this negative influence by our government, Canadians, especially urbanites, have adapted to waiting in long lines for practically any service-- even to ride the Top Gun rollercoaster at Canada's Wonderland. Private businesses have tapped into this urban adaptation and used it to their advantage-- downtown nightclubs like Inside and Devil's Martini make you wait in the cold to get into a half empty room. The Loblaws supermarkets only keep 2 or 3 cashes open even though there are about 10 cashes available to use so customers are forced to wait in ridiculously long wait lines at the grocery store for no reason. Yet, Canadians will wait it out, especially if they believe that others are waiting too.

I wanted to use the bathroom at the airport and a Canadian woman was in front of me. As she walked in she realized that all the stall doors were closed and it looked like all the stalls were occupied. She bent her knees to see if there were occupants and would not let me pass her while she stood there waiting. Little did she know, ¾ of the stalls were empty and each stall door was closed but not locked. So, the woman waited for nothing, and wanted me to wait with her for nothing! This is how it is done my friends-- wait your turn or you don't belong!

To Spend or Not To Spend?

2007-09-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

What is it about that really big flat panel screen TV or the latest game console? What attracts people to spend money they may not even have on the latest gadgets and gizmos? What makes people dig into their overdraft so they can afford to buy that expensive material thing but haven't yet paid their rent for that month? It baffles me that so many people, young and old, go right for their wallets when they are feeling down or stressed out. They need a quick fix for their feelings of anxiety or emptiness. What are we really doing and at what cost?

Well, it varies from individual to individual but the underlying reasons for extreme affluence is to merely satisfy a desire in order to reach that desired scenario. What's wrong with the current scenario? Some less desirable current scenarios could be that people work too hard to earn a living so they desire a more favourable state. Perhaps people work so hard to support a family that they have no time for themselves so they seek a more favourable state. Thus, people may want to reward themselves after a hard and long day of work and/or a long week of work and caring for the family. The reward in turn satisfies their desire for a more favourable outcome which, on the basis of affluence, is material things like electronics, clothing, or an expensive night out on the town. Why is it that these material things can have such a positive impact on people that they can quickly recover from their feeling of emptiness?

Today's societies in many parts of the world have been set up to facilitate the growth and stability of an economy which is connected to and influences the international community. In Canada, this is the case. In addition, income earners are tax payers in order to contribute to national and provincial infrastructures. However, due to the exceptionally large size of Canada and many of the provinces like Ontario and Alberta, many regions and people are neglected. In contrast, one would think that the large amount of taxes that are collected from tax payers by the federal government can go to support important Canadian services like healthcare, the TransCanada railroad (transportation), national unity, renewable energy. But due to the lack of coordination and organization of the federal and and provincial governments in the past and present there is a loss of our tax payer money to pay government debts and beauracracy. So, the tax payer is left to consistently pay high taxes and not expect a reduction or tax break (even when economies are doing well).

So to answer my question of why material things can satisfy people's desires it is perhaps because money is constantly sucked from income earners and there is nothing to show for it. For example, the healthcare system, where much tax money is allocated, has been lacking for many years in its ability to cater to patients', or should I say taxpayers', needs! It is absolutely outrageous for taxpayers and their families to have to go out of the country to the US or China to get a hip replacement or stem cell therapy. Taxpayers are constantly being ripped off from this government service to that one and what is the outcome???? Canadians spend more money to satisfy their desires so that they can directly feel that favourable outcome!

There is a different story for low-income earners that I wish not to even get into. One point I can make is that the welfare and benefit services are only exacerbating the problem of peoples' affluent behaviour. If money is directly given to people who are not earning, it is most likely spent on material things for the purpose of relieving 'their emptiness' (stemming from being on welfare and not having many prospects). Where does this emptiness really come from??

International Sustainability

2007-08-28T10:34:00.001-07:00

The Chinese government is being pressured by the international community to reduce its GHG emissions and adopt cleaner technologies for manufacturing and energy production, specifically pressured by North America. However, many North American companies like Proctor and Gamble have manufacturing plants in China to produce their products which are sold in North America. Since there is a strong consumerist market in North America (especially in Canada and USA) these companies can make a consistently large profit by producing their products in China where labour is cheap and selling them at inflated prices in North America.

But we cannot solely blame North American companies and consumerist North Americans because this process is exacerbated by the Chinese government and people who support cheap labour. The Chinese government supports its fast-growing economy even though it is at the cost of public health and the environment. Their take is that the US and other developed countries have had their chance in the past to strengthen their economies and now it is China's turn.
This is somewhat of a valid point but we have now entered into the 21st century when cleaner and efficient technologies are being developed and utilized.
Although we must respect the timeline for development in developing countries it is important to for them to adopt sustainable practices that are widely accepted and promoted worldwide in order to transition and transform the common view of 'it's not in my backyard' to total respect for the environment and public health. With growing knowledge about human existence and about our universe we cannot dismiss such strong concepts that consider the sensitivity of our environment and human existence.

The international community must work together to protect public health and the environment and encourage sustainable development within developing and underdeveloped countries. Developed countries must do their part to set a good example for the protection of public health and the environment rather than focus so strongly on an overpowering economy. Otherwise, the standpoint of 'you had your chance, now it's ours' will dominate around the world and overpower the standpoint of sustainable development.

It is important to note that we must start realizing that what we buy at the store has a history of production and distribution which has a strong impact on public health and the environment. Much of what we buy is lower in cost only because of how cheaply these products can be made and distributed. This solely benefits large corporations and governments around the world. Environment and public health lose consistently.

It is also important to understand that the strength of an economy does not solely depend on how much people spend. Economies can do just as well from manufacturing and production that do not harm the environment and public health. This way our future generations are protected and the environment is further preserved and an economy can remain stable and be strengthened by doing things right the first time around and not at the expense of the environment, public health, and future generations.

We must all learn to understand the consequences of our actions on a daily basis in order to truly have respect for human beings and our earth. What ever happened to the saying "Old is Gold". Let's bring that back for the sake of our health and our environment!

Public Healthcare in Canada

2007-08-14T18:08:00.001-07:00

Canadians are having to wait in long waiting lines to get surgery for a particluar problem like hip or knee. Rather than cater to patients' needs, the system (doctors, pharmaceutical, hospitals) offers patients drug treatment or therapy to alleviate their pains while they wait in line. The result: patients that are waiting for mere surgery are getting addicted to the drugs they are on that their doctor has prescribed to them. They become a patient that is waiting in a long line for knee surgery and has an addiction to a pharmaceutical drug that they now will need treatment for. Isn't this a breach in the trust between the medical professional and the taxpaying patient? In many cases, Canadians needing medical help are resorting to leaving the country for immediate help and paying double the cost. But are Canadians realizing that on top of their foreign medical costs they are paying much more into the healthcare system and not getting any benefit? Some of these Canadians going oversees have even tried to get some compensation from the government for their travel and medical costs oversees, however, they've been denied any kind of compensation. Furthermore, new companies are now emerging to help Canadian patients purchase a package for oversees treatment which is especially helpful for elderly patients that can easily be scammed. So in turn the Canadian government has fostered a healthcare system that forces people to go oversees for medial help at their own risk and expense and get help from ppl that could be scamming them. If you ask a doctor how he/she feels about the long waiting lines the most likely answer will be that they support the public healthcare system because it offers care to all Canadians, rich and poor and if there were private clinics that offered care to patients waiting in line then many of the doctors in the public system would leave to enter the private system and then there would be a lack of doctors in the public system.

What if Canadians would rather pay more for immediate treatment in the private sector, then the lineups wouldn't be so large and care would be given to everyone in a reasonable amount of time right? But then some may say that the depletion of doctors in the public sector may cause problems for ppl in the lower income brackets that cannot afford private healthcare. However, i think that there would still be enough doctors in the public sector to cater to the needs of patients and those that can afford immediate private sector care have an alternative so they are not trapped!! This way all groups of income earners have some advantage. Isn't this fair?? Couldn't the government open up more seats in medical schools for the purpose of training medical students to enter the public sector? Why isnt' the Canadian government allowing more people the opportunity to become a medical doctor in Canada?

It is much easier to become a medical doctor in the US. Why? There is both a private and public sector for healthcare in the US. Can we not learn from our neighbour? Although doctors in the US are more vulnerable to being sued, isn't this a more free system for the citizens? I think so!

One more point is that people may think that Canadian healthcare is exceptional compared to medical care in other parts of the world. I think not! There are exceptional facilities for medical care and exceptional doctors all over the world including in India and China. There are medical facilities in Indian and CHina that offer stem cell therapy for cancer patients. This is not even offered to patients in Canada unless you have a couple of hundred thousand dollars on top of your tax money.

Driving Nation

2007-08-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

Today the international community is discussing ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the planet to address the issue of global warming. Canada is one country that is involved in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions over time. But, what are local communities encouraged to do besides separate garbage and conserve electricity to reduce their impact on the environment? Are Canadians being encouraged to rely less on their cars and more on public transportation? I think not! It seems that much of our tax money goes towards road construction and repair to specifically cater to commuters in urban regions and long-distance transport of goods. Is this a good thing for Canadian tax payers?

Well, due to the strong focus by the provincial and federal governments on road maintenance the Canadian Transnational Railroad, an important historical structure, is no longer being maintained. In turn, the trains that use the rail are not being maintained. Instead, goods are being transported by trucks that use the Canadian roads which the government regularly spends tax dollars on for repairs and construction. The roads are the primary source of transport for all goods in Canada.
Due to the lack of maintenance of the Canadian railroad and trains, Canadians living in rural parts of Canada, that depend on rail travel, now have limited access to urban regions and services because the railroad is not safe and the trains regularly break down. For example, it takes 16 hours by Canadian rail to travel to Kapuskasing, Ontario because the railroad can only handle a train traveling at the speed of 40km/hour. It used to take 14 hours to travel to the north by train two years ago and 11 hours 5 years ago. It used to cost $300 round trip to fly to Northern Ontario in 1.5 hours which was a good alternative to taking the train, however, prices have increased to about $800 round trip for a 1.5 hour flight. Now, the only alternative is to take the 16 hour train ride or 10 hour drive of which half of the drive is on a one lane highway. This shows that the government wants Canadians to rely on the roads. Flying to the north is hardly an options.
Canadians are forced to drive on roads alongside massive transport trucks sometimes on one lane highways and due to the large number of trucks on the road there is more damage and volume meaning that the government must allocate more tax dollars to regularly repairing and expanding the roads. Since it is forced to do this, it is in turn forcing Canadian tax payers to depend more often on the roads since much of their tax dollars are going towards road maintenance and less towards other services like public transportation and city services.

If you notice, there is much road construction and expansion going on north of the City of Toronto all the way up to North Bay. There is massive expansion going on just south of North Bay. Highways 400 and 11 north of Toronto are being expanded and repaired while road maintenance and construction on highway 401, where volume is quickly growing, is slow to non-existent. The TTC subway system in Toronto, even with increased user fees, has not seen any upgrades or expansions in more than a decade. It is clear that the government is very focused on road construction for the transport of goods and for commuters to drive into Toronto for work. Moreover, the expanded and repaired roads north of Toronto are being used by Torontonians and GTAers for long-distance vacation travel. But now that millions of people are now using the 400 and 11 there is an excessive volume of cars on these highways during holidays. Why are so many people traveling by car on their holidays?

The government is not currently encouraging Canadians to drive less but rather it is focused on condo/housing/road development north of Toronto and transport of goods. In turn, this has encouraged Canadians to regularly depend on the roads. I now understand why millions of Canadians will use the same highway on the same day on their vacation and spend hours to days to get to Niagara Falls by car. It is because there is no other moderate means to 'get away'.

Sustainable Living

2007-08-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

What can community members do to create change in their own communities that fosters respect for the environment and public health?

People can go green. They can change their lifestyles to better suit the environment around them by reducing their household consumption of electricity and reducing waste therefore reducing their footprint on the environment. This can have a positive impact on family and in the community. Maintaining an eco-friendly home can have benefits on the health and financial well-being of a family as well as on the environment. There are many ways to transition to an eco-friendly lifestyle and it can start at home.

As a homeowner that cares for the environment I am encouraged to maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle because it has so many benefits for the homeowner and the environment. I've recognized the importance of monitoring consumption of electricity and disposal of waste. It is easy to power your electronics and appliances as well as buy products packaged with materials that cannot be recycled because we are not always aware of the environmental consequences. The increased demand for electricity in Ontario has lead the Ontario government to implement several conservation initiatives, such as the Smart Meter program which involves the installation of smart electricity meters in 800,000 homes and businesses across Ontario by the end of 2007 to encourage consumers to shift their use of electricity or load to off-peak hours and use electricity more wisely. Furthermore, the Ontario government is in the process of shutting down all of Ontario's coal-fired plants in order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and sulpher dioxide, gases that negatively effect public health and the environment.

At the local level, citizens can do their part to aid in the transition to a more sustainable lifestyle that directly caters to the quality of the environment and our health. This is the responsibility of the citizen and if we all embrace this transition and maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle we can set a new local long-term strategy for the safety of the environment and public health which our children can adopt and pass to their children. The following is a list of 10 ways to transition to an eco-friendly lifestyle that can be shared with your family and within your community:

10 Ways to Go Green
1) Look for items without extensive packaging. Most food packaging material uses some petroleum-based plastic. Instead purchase brands that use bio-based plastic. Recycle or reuse packaging materials you end up having to buy.

2) Bring a cloth bag to the grocery store or buy the eco-friendly bags sold at Loblaw's stores for 99 cents instead of using its plastic bags. The size of eco-friendly bags is equivalent to 2 plastic grocery bags. Disposing of plastic bags will clog landfills, create litter, choke streams and harm marine wildlife, like whales, seals and sea turtles.

3) Buy local and organic products. Buying local food drastically reduces the energy spent on food shipping. Local goods also tend to use minimal packaging, are fresher and come in more varieties.

4) Instead of regular aluminum foil or plastic wrap, purchase recycled aluminum foil. It uses just 1/20th of the energy needed to produce regular foil.

5) Reduce junkmail by posting a No Junkmail sign on or next to your mailbox. Signs can be purchased at Canadian Tire or Home Depot. Reducing junkmail dramatically reduces residential waste disposal.

6) Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Purchase cleaning agents that are nontoxic, perfume-free, and that are plant-based instead of petroleum-based (Method brand at Shoppers Drug Mart). Use microfiber cloths to apply the products to your furniture, counters, and sinks. These cleaning cloths are machine-washable and recyclable.

7) Use energy efficient florescent lightbulbs. GE Energy Smart bulbs use 70 to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lightbulbs and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The Ontario government has recently sent out to electricity consumers coupons for energy-efficient products such as outdoor solar lights, compact florescent lights, and ceiling fans.

8) Use Nalgene water bottles or premium reusable bottles. These water bottles are durable, inexpensive, can be used repeatedly and are widely recyclable. In addition, this greatly helps reduce unnecessary environmental waste caused by plastic water bottles.

9) Use smart power strips. After turning off a computer, power continues to flow to computer peripherals like printers and scanners. The power strip stops the energy from being wasted.

10) Use major appliances like the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer during off-peak hours (late at night or early in the morning). In the summer, dry your laundry outside on a clothesline to save money on dryer-operating costs.

These simple tips can help you and your family become more environmentally responsible and set a good example for your community and others. Let's all go green!!