Eleven Nations of the USA

Ever wonder where the differences between regions separate based on culture, philosophy, and principals in the United States/North America?

Nefertiti

National Geographic made a Computer generated Image of what Nefertiti may have looked like.

First People: Africa

First People: Africa is a PBS special about the African origins of HUMANKIND. The show talks about how scientists use fossil evidence and genetics to trace back Modern Humans ancestry. They also learn that early mankind mated and had children with the other Human species. The product is, us. People today are hybrids with a small percentage of one or more different species of human in our DNA.

Fifteen dollars an hour is good for the Economy

The Big Picture: 10 Ideas To Save The Economy by former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and MoveOn.org

This short video explains why fifteen dollars an hour for minimum wage is good for the American Econonmy. Watch this it's less than three minutes long and it makes sense.



What I find funny is no one I have seen on television has ever been able to show when raising the minimum wage has ever hurt local or national economies. You would think they would take any example and try to push it to make their point, no matter how flimsy it would be.

Ted Talks Tiny Satellites Show us the Earth as it changes in near real time

Will Marshall talks about how Planet Labs has made small satellites that cluster together to map the earth and sharing the data with all for humanitarian reasons.

TED TALKS Social maps that reveal a city's intersections and separations

Dave Troy uses data to see how cities separate themselves and how they can use these relations to come together more.

WATER NIGHT VIRTUAL CHOIR

Eric Whitacre Virtual Choir three, water night. Three thousand seven hundred forty-six videos from seventy-three countries.

ABSINTHE

A documentary on the history and present situation of the drink, Absinthe.

For a few years I've been wanting to try this drink. From what I knew of it, I didn't want to drink something that wasn't genuine. I may have to try this Lucid Absinthe.

Oh and sidenote, the American law that says, you can't just call it Absinthe, is ridiculous.

Enjoy.

GasHole

This documentary is about the technologies of gas engines and how we should have better technology now and why we do not. Very interesting film. The beginning is a bit conspiracy driven but the later film is very well done about American's energy policy.

P.S. Standard oil is back it's called Exxon/mobile.

Cap and Trade is STUPID

Cap and Trade is a scheme that politicians want because it allows them to appear as if they are doing something when in reality nothing has been done.
In the idea of Cap and Trade, corporations say to the government you MUST pay us to not pollute the earth. Also the corporations say we should make money for the pollution we are not creating.
Also the corporations are able to trade on the idea that if they are making pollution they can trade carbon credits with those that do not pollute allowing them to pollute at standard or more. Or Those that don't pollute can buy credits so they can pollute at standard or more. AMAZING In the words of Penn and Teller this is BUllSHIT!
Instead of doing the brave thing as politicians and taxing those that pollute. Or regulating pollution. They instead are either in the pocket of these corporation or like the comforts that this society is built on. You see the corporations don't want to be forced to put their money to work on better was of making products. If the government was to force and or tax them that would be BIG GOVERNMENT and that is wrong. Let the free market handle it. The free market is not about protecting the public. The free market is about selling comforts to the public. Government is suppose to protect the public.
Rome fell because it's politician cared more about their own interest than that of the people of the empire. There are many reasons for Rome's collapse but this is the main reason.
Cap and Trade is another policies based on emotion, allowing people to feel better. It is not based on logic or science but it allows people to "feel" like they are helping the environment.

Eythor Bender Demos Human Exoskeltons

I find the human exoskelton to be very cool. Most people think this is the beginning to Iron Man type suits. Making people walk again after being paralyzed for years is pretty damn bad ass on it's own.
The military will have the HULC that will allow soldiers to carry hundreds of lbs of more weight.
While eLEGS will help those that were once wheelchair bound walk again.

Eric Whitacre Virtual Choir

I was on the TED website and looked at this and had no real idea what it was about. I'm glad I actually watched this. This Virtual or Viral Choir sounds amazing. The first Choir by Eric Whitacre on YouTube has about 200 people soon the second one will come out with over 2,000.

Watch this learn how it came about and see (hear)for yourself. I think projects of this caliber this show what true global internet artist collaboration should be.



After you watch the TEDtalk with Eric Whitacre you can listen to the first Virtual Choir, LUX AURUMQUE.



When they place the next one up I'll add that video as well.

Can Science Determine Morality?

Author Sam Harris discusses how science can and does show what is morale.



To me this is simple. Science is about observation. When you observe that certain behavior brings about better human well being then it is morale. If it does not it is immoral. There is behavior done by the individual, then how those individual relate to one another as a community, then as a greater society. Values are and should be the Universal behaviors that allow humans to thrive as individuals, as a community and as a society.

Fixing Broken Government

Author Philip K. Howard talks on how to fix laws and budgets in Government. We need Government Legal Reform.



The Constitution is the highest law in the land. Yet written very simply on sixteen pages. So why can't most laws be written just as simply?

believing in God

One argument I see over and over between Atheist and Theist is the belief in God. The Atheist gives the impression that if they had proof of God they would know he exist, so then believe. The Theist give the impression that believing in God is automatically knowing he is real. Both are wrong. Knowing something is real doesn't mean you will Believe in it. And Believing in something doesn't mean you know it is real.

For example, I will use the President of the United States, Barack Obama. Not because I thought it was so special he became president... I have Boondocks reaction to that. I use him because many in the world know of him and many in the world believe in him, some both.


In the United States election over 40% of the population, that voted, did not believe in Barack Obama. They voted for McCain, they knew Obama existed but didn't believe in him. While over 50%, that voted, elected Obama because they knew he existed and many would say they Believed in him.

Knowing someone exist is easy, you are simply aware of them. However believing in someone means you have faith or understanding they will do something that will favor you or be pleasing to you or others, and that they have a plan that you accept. Many voted for Obama cause they believe he would be a great leader and bring change to many of the problems facing America. Even though they give way to much credit to the power of the Office he holds

So God... even if many Atheist knew God existed. The truth is they still wouldn't believe in him. For example, let's say God was standing next to you right now (If you're a believer technically you already think this). Now if you're a non-believer you may have questions. If God wanted you to believe in him, you would ask, just as you do any leader, what believing in him would mean for your present and your future? God (let's use the bible God, but this works for any of them) would say these are the rules I have set down, you live by these and your life will be better, just, moral, prosperous and fruitful.

In here, lies the problem with the Theist argument that they believe in God. Most of them don't live by the rules of a being they say is an ALL POWERFUL BEING, that is everywhere and sees everything. So then, when they don't live by such a beings rules, it's hard for me to believe that they truly know that God is real. They may want it to be so, they may believe but if I knew an all powerful being was aware of everything I did at all times and I have told this being that I will serve it or live by its edicts. Seems to me, I would be learning what those edicts are and making it a habit to live by them at all times.

It's like having a boss but you only follow some of his rules when you like them or think they are socially acceptable. What boss would put up with that?

Now for the Atheist, this is also a problem, because let's say this God, that he knows is real. Has policies, rules and a plan that you don't agree with. Should I do as he commands simply because everyone else believes in him and he is All POWERFUL. Or should I do what I know is right, even if it may only be right for me and say no? Because I do not believe in you.

Now obviously most people would do what such a powerful being commands simply out of fear. Hence the term "God-fearing people", so I imagine if God was standing right next to many Atheist they would become active participates quickly, though this activity still doesn't mean they believe in God. They just believe in staying alive, survival against a force far more stronger than they are.

My point is that believing in God is akin to believing in any Leader. And when a Leader puts forth rules of "morality, justice, law, daily life, relationships, spirituality, religion, and community". That leader has to have a vision that the person can believe in. If the person can't, then why would they believe in that Leader?



Now theist would say God has given a perfect vision. However Atheist would say, reading the first half the bible that is simply not true. Now a Christian would say that the second half is what is important now. (Yet they tend to favor some of the rules in the first half. This situation automatically cancels it's own argument.)


Now Jesus as a Leader believed different things than Yahweh did in the beginning of the Bible. Some of the laws of God do work with Jesus' teachings... many do not. One of the confusing things for Atheist is that when many Christians say God, they combine these two entities, making it hard to accept a belief in either cause they contradict each other. God said kill everyone in Jericho, every animal. Yet Jesus said non-violence no matter what, he died to prove that point.

Now I believe when God created his rule do not kill, he meant that the Chosen People were not to kill one another. God had no problem with them killing others. They weren't his people so why would he care. However, people try to tell you that God loves everyone but actions say he loves those that have a covenant with him.

Now Jesus completely contradicts that, a non-violent stance even when A Roman is whipping the skin off of you (thank you, Mel Gibson I will never forget that image, Passion of the Christ) means he loves everyone. One of his fellow Jews comes out of the crowd as he is carrying the cross and says, they would help him they would fight. What does he say, he says, NO! Holy Crap, now if that isn't believing in what you preach I don't know what is. But here is the problem again, an Atheist may say Jesus teaching are great. I can live by the idea of non-violence but I can't believe in God because he doesn't believe in non-violence, and I don't want to believe Jesus is a God or even divine.


So in that instance, an Atheist may follow the philosophy of Christ: helping the poor, non-violence, perhaps even forsaking material wealth, but that doesn't mean they believe in Christ but rather believe that his message was right.



Theist say to Atheist all the time "What if you're wrong?" Honestly, I think A Theist should be far more afraid of God being real than an Atheist. Think about it this way. Say you had a king, and he passed rules of the land. Then one day you and another person came before this king. You bow to him believing him to be your king, and worship him, and praise him every weekend, or when you can. You follow some of his rules but not all. You may even break his rules sometimes, but hey "Nobody is perfect, right?"

Now this other bloke is standing there before this king. However, he doesn't recognize him as his king. He doesn't live by the rules the king set, however many of the rules he does live by are the same. He does not worship, he does not praise and does not pretend to follow this king. If he breaks the Kings rules, it does not matter they are not his rules, however, he may have similar rules that he does live by.
Now they both are before this king. Now this king may punish the non-believer for not accepting his ways when he lives on his lands. This may or may not be just depending on the character, and actions of that individual. However, the king, will and must punish the believer. He has no choice, this person has given a vow, oath whatever it may be that he will live by the king's laws, serve him, and worship him.

Now using the Bible as an example but again this works with most authority entities in history. They don't accept the "We all aren't perfect excuse." That may work among the commoners but that king is going to punish the believer, harshly, and the king is within his right to. You chose that way of life.


In closing believing in a God, a person, or whatever is not the same as knowing it exist. Knowing someone exist does not mean you have to believe in them. One should believe in a God, person, whatever because that being has presently a vision that will do better, and make progress for the person and the community they belong to.

Some of the rules created five thousand years ago still have credence today. After all human behavior hasn't changed that much. However human understanding has changed a great deal since then, and many of the laws of any religion simply do not hold true and should be discarded.

However here is the Greatest problem with this. An Atheist would say, yes let's keep the ones that make sense and rid ourselves of the ones that our new understanding says are not valid.

A believer a true believer cannot do this. In fact, I don't think they should. You see if you believe your all powerful being has given you these rules, then only that all powerful being can change them. If people change them then they are saying by their actions they don't believe. In such a situation compromise is possible.

For a few hundred years there have been many compromises, most gradual changing what many believers believed. It seems now the argument has come to a point where many say that most of the rules of religions should be done away with, including believing in God. On the other side they want to bring back more of the rules, at least in social settings, on a grander scale in politics. Neither argument will be able to succeed.

Atheists let the people believe in their God. Theists do not force the laws of your God, the ones you accept, on others. This simple thing brings balance, that allows for that compromise. Anything else is vanity on both sides.

Walking the Line

This is a Documentary on illegal immigration at the American southern border.
I have to start by saying I'm against illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is wrong it's that's simple. Watching the film I was on the side of property rights and rancher protection groups ideas, but not their execution. They look silly out their in the desert chasing after nothing, at times, and then some seem to self destruct.

When they talk to those that think illegal immigration is the fault of Americas policies they are ridicules. It's not the fault of Americas policies that people die in the desert. Those people choose to walk the desert knowing the risk. I don't think these people helping illegals are committing treason, as some of the vigilante members say. However, they aren't helping the situation become better, in fact they are making it worse.

The moment that actually made me angry is when this professor of Latino studies or something like that compared the vigilante groups to the KKK. As if to say this was equal to Black Americas history of civil rights. It is not. Let's compare stories, quickly.
African came as indentured servants, then were brought as slaves. They lived, grew up in America, African heritage taken away so all they know is American culture. They had few human rights (in the north), no civil rights in the south. Then with non violent protest that shamed America, they gained their civil rights. Black people were here from the beginning of America, then brought here against their will, helping to make it prosperous, they are Americans that fought to be seen as such.

The illegals story. They live in crappy places, with poor economies, and no work for them. So they say, "Hey I don't care about America's laws cause I know I can make a better life for myself there." So they choose to come here, or be smuggled here and then expect to be treated as if they have the right to be here.

Human rights are for all, but I think helping people to cross the border is pushing it. That may be cruel but like I said no one is forcing them. If you don't want to die in the desert, don't go into the bloody desert. However I believe many civil rights are only for American citizens.

Second thing that made me anger. Was that drug runners are using Tribal Nation Lands to bring drugs here and the federal government isn't giving them the means to stop this. Then you have this idiot giving illegals water on this land. So now they not only get water but know they will have very little resistance.

The sad thing is many of these people for illegal immigration think we should let anyone into America. American isn't infinite and does not have infinite resources. Most illegals go to the Southwest. Don't they understand the Southwest is running out of water. The more people they bring to this area, not to mention people born here legally to long standing Americans, are not helping that situation.

The only people I have sympathy for are the Tribal nations people, and the property owners, with the drug runner and illegal traffic problems. And women and possibly children who are smuggled over the border for sexual slavery. People coming here for jobs, (and drugs) are illegal and should be deported. Illegals don't help those people that get visa to work here either, after all, why give more visas out when illegals are here working for cheap.

Last note... the people that come here with visas are migrant workers, the ones that get smuggled, and jump the border are illegals.

FLIGHT FROM DEATH quest for Immortality

This documentary speaks about people's fear of death and how they live their life coping with it subconsciously.

RIVER WASTE - FACTORY FARMS

This documentary is about the pollution and waste created by Factory farms(Industry farms).

It's sad how much our political system is control by corporations. Wait isn't that Fascism? Of course it's sadder how many citizens believe that their is nothing wrong with many of the practices depicted in this film.

POLLUTION DEBT

When watching these films about food, soil, and water. One thing comes up over and over again, POLLUTION. I don't understand people, especially people that want, or have children. I would think these people would most agree about the destructive properties and plague that is pollution.

When I watch the news I see these republican types that talk about economic debt. What about POLLUTION DEBT? They seem to not think of this. In fact these same people want to deregulate laws on these corporations that create this pollution. They say things like the market will make these corporations do the right thing. THIS IS BULLSHIT. Simple reasoning, if you eat chicken, and the chemicals in it accumulate slowly in your body. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU SUPPOSE TO KNOW THIS? You would eat this chicken merrily and never know. If you are living on top of chemical waste, or it is in the air from a factory. How are you suppose to know that the chemicals are slowly accumulating inside of you? How are you suppose to test the ground, the air, the water? That is the job of the government, to PROTECT THE CITIZENSHIP.

Corporation will get away with what ever they can. They don't do what is right. They do what is profitable. The people that say, "the market will rectify things". They make it seem as if the corporations are doing things that are out right destructive. So people well see this and stop buying their products. Problem solved. The problems what they do are not outright. They do things that slowly harm. Things you may not see or have to deal with. Things you wouldn't know about unless you study it or live in the area of the problem.

The corporation is about profit. It is suppose to be the job of the citizens to demand that corporations are responsible for what they do. The consumer will not demand this, the consumer wants the convenience and the cheap products at any cost. Are you a citizen, or a consumer? You can be both as long as you are citizen first.

POLLUTION DEBT is far worse than economic debt. We are seeing the events in small areas here and there in America. From waste in the soil, in the water, in the air. Look up hydraulic fracturing or frakking, see what Dick Cheney and his crony politicians have unleashed on many places in America. How he has opened up land that was once protected land, land designated to be owned by all AMERICAN CITIZENS, to be drilled and polluted. If that wasn't bad enough he also made it so these gas companies are not beholden to many environmental laws. Yes Halliburton is one of these companies, is that really a surprise anymore. It's disgusting.

Ronald Reagan the "genius" he was. Allowed for huge deregulation of environmental laws. He set it up so many rivers, and places can be polluted by corporations. One of those rivers is the Potomac River. This is the river that gives the D.C. area it's water. He basically allowed for the river that gave him his drinking water, to be polluted, now how smart is that. If that doesn't show how short sighted this man was, nothing will convince. The funny thing is many of the environmental laws Reagan took away were put in place by President Nixon. Nixon will go down as a "crook" and Reagan is considered a "hero", this is insane to me.

When ever I hear people talk about economic debt yet seem to not care about it. Many help pollution waste to prosper by being on the side of deregulation. When I hear them say, "Our kids will be paying this economic debt". I sit in disgust thinking, what about the waste your children will deal with in the soil, in the air, in the water, The WATER.

Economic debt seems trivial in the face of the health concerns that will come from this pollution, and that is the least, minor case scenario. The worst case scenario is most of the drinking water becoming contaminated. WHAT WILL YOUR CHILDREN DRINK? But hey economic debt, yeah that is so much worse.

We are dealing with the pollution from the last hundred fifty years. But the worse of it has been since the chemical revolution in the forty and fifties. Whether you like it or not we are in a large chemical experiment. The sad thing is, the experiment isn't being done by a scientist to see how these chemicals, effect the environment, interacts, and accumulates in the environment, animals, and people. No this experiment is done by corporations. These corporations are simply hoping that they can make as much money as possible before any really negative affects come to be learned. And even if it does, it won't matter cause the law says the people would have to show a direct cause and effect from the corporations practices. So the corporations, now and then will be loving that slow accumulation, cause it's difficult to proof.

REGULATION is to protect us from pollution, and irresponsibility of corporations.

P.S. It seems to me that people say to their children that the convenience of their life now is more important than the pollution you will have to live with in the future. How selfish is this?

DIRT! The Movie

This is a documentary about the economic, political, and social effects of Dirt(TOP SOIL).

I have to admit watching this show I remember how much I take for granted what Dirt provides.

I like the story about the hummingbird and the wild fire. I wonder where the story originated from. "Be like the hummingbird against the fire, do the best you can."

I'm really interesting in Microbial fuel cells, that is really, really cool.

The thing I always have found fascinating is that many religions, mythologies and so on, tell stories of how man came from or was made out of clay. What makes it amazing is that so many cultures have come to this realization or believed this. Also now we know from science that biologically and chemically it is a very true statement.