The Georgia Guidestones

What should be easily recognizable as the goals of humanity if space invaders ever actually do land and find a decayed Earth long since vacated of any human civilization, is only insulted and thwarted by those stumbling over each other for more power and more institution:

THE MESSAGE OF THE GEORGIA GUIDESTONES
1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
2. Guide reproduction wisely - improving fitness and diversity.
3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
4. Rule passion - faith - tradition - and all things with tempered reason.
5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
9. Prize truth - beauty - love - seeking harmony with the infinite.
10.Be not a cancer on the earth - Leave room for nature - Leave room for nature.

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What's almost as interesting as the mystery of the display itself, is the reaction by religious leaders (click on link and scroll down to "reaction" in the Wiki page). Humanity could learn a thing or two by following these new ten commandments.

Survivalists - from marginalized laughing-stocks to future leaders?

Americans who pay attention to the news are starting to fear an imminent collapse of our civilization. Many of them are throwing in the towel before the slow decline, and heading to the countryside for a life of frugal self sufficiency. It's a lot like how ex-smokers can't stop talking about how terrible cigarettes are. That consumer lifestyle I used to lead? I had to give it up.

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Interesting read. I'm not sure if Victoria likes the idea but not those who implement it? Seems there's some criticism of those who practice survivalism but still some support for the belief that we should strive for a more organic culture.

Most survivalists are probably like those depicted in the article's photo - there's a gas-guzzling Range Rover, but two people in army fatigues w/ machine guns. If that's a "survivalist", count me out. Those are called militias. I like the ideas propagated by Michael Arth and John Feeney, as well as the Corrupt.org writers - society isn't a bad idea, modern society is; we just need better people to lead and less of a focus on the individual, as well as economic growth rates, and more of a focus on smaller, more organic communities. Imagine a society like that and tell me we'd still have any self-labeled "survivalists".

Large nuclear waste dumps - the government's solution to the oil problem

The US government is already preparing for peak oil crises globally. What great long-term thinking; let's build more nuclear power plants to feed the ever-hungry central air compressors and, who knows, maybe all those electric cars one day? Instead of waiting 50 years for oil to deplete, we can now stave off crises for thousands of years by burying nuclear waste deep underground and inside of mountains - no one lives there anyway.

Didn't we have this debate back in the 1980s? All we need is Mr. Burns to make guest appearances in Nevada and we're off oil from those damn Arabs forever!

Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said yesterday that he's confident the government's license application to build a nuclear waste dump in Nevada will "stand up to any challenge anywhere."

Of course it will, Secretary - who is going to stop you?

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Feeling closer to nature

The purpose of an upcoming getaway to Nova Scotia is, in part, to feel closer to nature, via escaping the crowded suburbs of Greater Boston for more peaceful surroundings. I recently traveled (see blog posts "Tropical Changes" and "Tropical Changes - Part II") to a desert tourist island, and while it was nice to be with my family and in my element when it came to the amount of Americans nearby, it wasn't the comforting atmosphere that's advertised. This is due in part to high expectations from American tourists and a bitter native class. Oops, there are no natives of Aruba as there's no bodies of fresh water there - replace natives with what we'd consider illegal immigrants in the States.

The trip to Nova Scotia promises a strong Gaelic cultural identity, one of the most well-crafted whiskies on these shores, hiking paths, beaches, and scenic drives. By contrast, once outside the resort areas of Aruba, one clutched one's wallet and simply wanted to get back to the beach as quickly as possible. One relatively short road trip aside, there wasn't much reason to leave the shelter of the resorts. The occasional nice house abounded inland, likely from wealthy Americans who can afford to keep a house with beach rights year-round.

Yesterday, I helped my father move some dirt. It seems a pretty simple thing, with no significance, right? Some contractors came and dumped some mulch and some dirt in his driveway so he could spread fresh mulch around for his plants, and spread the dirt around to certain areas of dead grass close to the foundation of his house. I was at the house, so he told me to grab a shovel and help out, and I did. Any time a child can work with a parent toward any sort of common goal is always a good bonding experience, but beyond that, it confirmed a sense of falsehood in working inside all day, under fluorescent lights. I realized that I'd much rather be outside - shoveling dirt - than inside typing on a computer during the work day. Not only do these activities reaffirm a connection with nature, they cleanse one's spirit.

Our society began to decay once we chose to prefer paper-pushing over working with and through the only true source of livelihood we have.

The power of nature in Lost

Lost is a brilliant show in that it's one of the few well-executed attempts to "multi-layer". In other words, there are so many different ways to look at the show, even to the point that lostisagame.com authors were convinced for a while that the show was, in fact, a video game. They have backed off of that a bit and claim that the show is merely set up like a video game - and this is particularly true if you listen to the dialog closely and realize that everyone is in different roles at all different times. This "multi-layering" is part of what makes the show appealing to so many; sure, you need to follow the events of the show, but the viewer can become as involved as he or she likes, and still gain satisfaction from viewing. Satisfaction, of course, is relative to just how much information we learn before cutting to black each week and having to wait seven more days for answers - or, in some cases, months.

Obviously, the "Godfather" on the show is John Locke. This is confirmed in the first episode when we see Locke smile at Kate with an orange peel in his mouth, much like the similar occurrence in the Godfather, when Vito did the same to his grandson.

The most rewarding part of Lost for me, is that the show has made the island itself a character. This is the producer's way of inviting nature into the show. Boone, a character from Season 1, needed to die as it was "a sacrifice the island demanded". Some viewed this Season 1 quote from Locke as insane, but others who view nature as a cycle and a process we are merely a part of and not above, don't fear death in the same way. Boone's death was a device. This is confirmed when Locke & Jack have the conversation about Boone, during which Locke says, "Boone was a sacrifice that the island demanded. What happened to him at that plane was a part of a chain of events that led us here -- that led us down a path -- that led you and me to this day, to right now." Whether or not one believes in destiny or actual sacrifices, the point is the same: Boone's death was necessary for the eventual strengthening of the survivors (or, through the video game lens, was a necessary step to advance to the next "level".)

The most obvious application of nature on the show also occurred during Season 1, when Charlie, very weak and drug-sick, has his drugs taken from him by Locke so he can go "cold-turkey" off of heroin. Locke allows Charlie three attempts to get his drugs back from Locke, and on the third time, Locke says he will give the drugs to Charlie. In the end, the result is the same; Charlie will die of an OD, or will be forced to rehab eventually (assuming the survivors have to stay on the island a long time). Charlie, in his addictive state, doesn't realize this of course. So Locke shows him a moth cocoon to depict how Charlie should embrace his struggle rather than reject it.


Locke: [Talking to Charlie about a moth cocoon] You see this little hole? This moth's just about to emerge. It's in there right now, struggling. It's digging it's way through the thick hide of the cocoon. Now, I could help it - take my knife, gently widen the opening, and the moth would be free - but it would be too weak to survive. Struggle is nature's way of strengthening it.

Since the island is a character and also happens to be the place the survivors have to live, it is very different from modern society, where one can get drugs, gasoline, television, and foods enriched with sweeteners and preservatives, many times all on the same street corner (or "strip mall", as we now call it). The island represents nature in all its terrifying glory; it shows the characters certain things, it decides who lives and who dies, and it is represented by black smoke that cannot be captured or tricked. Unfortunately, some people will make the obvious parallel here to a Christian or Jewish "God", a singular consciousness in the sky deciding the fate of people with a snap of the fingers. I choose not to take this approach (both in life and on the show), but again, since the producers have to produce both ratings and a well-executed show, some temptations are hard to resist when trying to apply Island life to the viewers' everyday lives.

Great interview with John Feeney

http://www.corrupt.org/act/interviews/john_feeney

Very in-depth responses to some great questions posed by the Corrupt.org staff. John Feeney is one of the few but growing number of people out there who realize there are simply too many human beings on the planet and the time for radical change is now.

We're either going to lose billions to hunger/thirst/resource wars in about 50 years, with the future of the human race changing for the worse, or we're going to voluntarily employ a program of population reduction for the sake of a better future. There are too many people; anything that reduces our overall numbers is a good thing, and the idea of the individual as the highest good & human rights as the only ideology will lead to nothing but mass extinction in the future.

Here's another link for those interested in population reduction [click].

The problem with population reduction is that only the intelligent among us realize this is a necessary step; in the third world, as always, people are reproducing at insane, unsustainable rates. This contributes to the income gap and provides more labor & consumers for the stereotypical "people in power" to exploit.

But of course, it's politically incorrect to say anything against the "human right" to reproduce, provide more consumers to suck the Earth dry of all its resources, and to have most perish while the few with good enough hiding spots sit back, watch, laugh, and eat fruit. Welcome to the future.

Team USA bringing own food to China

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=3256375

Some highlights of the article:

Wary of food quality in China following recent incidents of tainted products and reports of the heavy use of drugs and insecticides in food production, the USOC is planning to transport tons of meats and other foods to a training camp at Beijing Normal University.

"I feel it's a pity that they [Americans] decided to take their own food," Kang Yi, the head of the Food Division for the Beijing organizing committee, said Thursday. She added the U.S. had not officially notified her department of the plan.

The U.S. delegation will number more than 600, and many will eat their daily meals at the training camp, rather than the Athletes Village. The Village will house about 17,000 athletes and officials during the Aug. 8-24 Games and will be capable of serving 6,000 meals simultaneously.

The New York Times reported earlier that the U.S. will ship 25,000 pounds of lean meat to China.

"We have made lots of preparations to ensure that they [athletes] can get together at the Olympic Games," Kang added, speaking at a news conference Thursday on food safety. "If the American delegation is not at that gathering, it's a pity."

The safety of food in China has become a major issue for the Olympics, where athletes will face extensive drug testing. Security officials are aware that a positive drug test triggered by contaminated food could ruin an athlete's career and generate a public-relations disaster for China, which is intent on showing itself as a modern, sophisticated country.

Finally, the US - even if it's just our Olympic committee - is willing to stand up and, in a very public way, proclaim, 'WE DON'T TRUST YOU, CHINA'. How can we trust anything our own companies in China, or the Chinese themselves, produce, after all the recent stories about lead paint potentially poisoning children, among other horrific products coming from China?

This nation does NOT need food or anything else from China, which has years to go before it catches up to safety standards expected of producers in the USj. Unfortunately, in our decaying society, economics and the bottom line rule all. As such, we're going to keep doing business with China and take the diplomatic course, no matter how poisoned their goods are, instead of saying, "no thanks".

See Note Below

....from my 2/19 post. My wife pointed out that I should clarify about whom I refer when I wax philosophical about certain issues. This is what happens when I get caught up in the moment.

Read...

...this.

Nice response on www.myspace.com/datejesus:

If an animal has babies and a runt is not able to get food from the mother it will die. This is how nature works.

Sadly our once great nation has created an UNNATURAL state that will destroy itself or be destroyed by others not because of the ignorant but because of the tolerant.

"Tolerance is the attitude of those who believe in nothing." - G. K. Chesterton

Today people and politicians have been so brainwashed and desensitized by tolerance that we don't even know when an entity is destroying us within. How could we know? The government is supposed to have the people's best interest in mind. Is it in the interest of the middle class for our GOVERNMENT to pay for someone else's food, shelter, DOCTOR bills? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Is it in the best interest to not only give out these things but elect a president who make more of these programs? Personally I do not think that there is person running that is going to change. Every candidate with a chance to win is basically the same.

America is so corrupted and tolerant that it is basically an anarchy. Anything goes man. Our leaders desire power but don't care about the citizens.

Every option at the moment lacks any character capable of being called a "President of the USA".

***********NOTE (via Edit)***********

Please understand that in no way do I tolerate any sort of forced method by which the disabled in our society would be left to rot. Part of the few remaining values I love in this country include the willingness for society to help those out who TRULY NEED assistance living their everyday lives, and even trying to integrate them into society. This is the most giving nation in the world - to a fault, per my below point. Understanding that my spouse's work is in the area of human services, I've met many wonderful people who either have had autism, or younger, troubled children with a real chance at contributing to society with the right people - like her - helping them along into adulthood, when she worked at a home for younger children. This is truly a great accomplishment in our society; in Europe, they still look at you sideways if you have any kind of disability - I've seen it firsthand.

My thoughts and philosophy surrounding the above issues in the original post may seem cruel, but the people I would cast aside in a new, better society would be those that are consistently lazy, hateful, and who have a choice as to whether or not they would like to become active members of our society, but rather refuse and attempt to live off other's tax dollars, blaming everyone but themselves for their plight. The problem in our government is not that we help the disabled, but that we mistakenly help the fully able: those with a choice as to whether or not they need unemployment benefits, welfare; the child abusers, the rapists, the crooks; the people who treat those who need their trust with complete disregard. These are the people society should send to prison without a second thought, or cut off completely and tell them to get off their asses and pay their income taxes like everyone else for the betterment of society.

Reality vs. Morality

http://www.anus.com/zine/articles/yomtendok/charity/

Good "ANUS.com" article on natural selection process and morality vs. "meta-good", or reality.

Snippet:

The feel-good, emotionally influenced morality already mentioned will cause someone to wince and shriek in terror at things that are completely natural because they might think of them as "bad." The thought of a pack of wolves feasting on the carcass of a fawn, for instance, is horrifying to many. People don't want to see a helpless, harmless animal like a young deer torn apart by vicious carnivorous dogs, but love it or loathe it, this is Nature's way. Wolves need prey to survive; populations of animals that are preyed upon must also be regulated, or else plant life, and therefore the life of other species, will be put at risk. The way the natural world operates includes meta-good.

Meta-good is, in essence, stability and balance. Without things like death—the ultimate "bad"—living would be worry free, and everyone could go about their days with a smile on their face, knowing that every day would be a fine day and that life was good. Murderers would no longer walk among us, those wolves would no longer eat baby animals, and poor and starving people would live forever. This new death-free world would also disrupt the natural balance that all life depends on, of course. People would soon be piling on top of one another, starving and sick, with nowhere to go and no one to help them get any better. Animals, too, would be running around unrestrained, spreading even more diseases and filth, and competition would be seen in ways never before imagined. All carnivorous beings would cease to exist, leaving only their "vegan" counterparts, who would in turn smother all plant life (growing in what little room there is left), putting the members of its species and others in danger. The earth would be in the most chaotic state imaginable, and this simply would not do. Nature depends upon order.