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all complex systems
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When I was 18, it was a second-hand mattress on the floor, with ... moreWhen I was 18, it was a second-hand mattress on the floor, with bedding.The same for all my fellow students.Clothes, books, etc all lived in piles on the floor, but the mattress was the essential place for sleep, study, conversations and...
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There are different definitions for the word argument. Because o... moreThere are different definitions for the word argument. Because of the particular way JA worded her question, I chose the meaning most common in places like universities and courts of law.My parents' moved in circles of dinner parties with intellectuals. I listened to them when I was growing up. Their egos were not attached to being right - so if one of them found that his or her idea was not correct on the basis of logic or fact, he or she was not offended, but rather, interested and grateful to become better informed, or able to see the flaw in the thinking.Today, the same is still true in university and affiliated circles and that is not just some tiny or remote set of people - it probably includes most of the middle classes.For such people, to argue is a pleasurable activity -- because they are genuinely interested in which ideas work better than others, including arguments over which values define "better" according to context.If talking about the day to day arguments between people in persona... less
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Sure. I'd tell my husband about it, and he would say, sure, no p... moreSure. I'd tell my husband about it, and he would say, sure, no problem.If the shoe was on the other foot it would be the same.We do not have jealousy issue because the trust is solid and proven over many years. We are both trustworthy irrespective of possible temptations.Besides, at this late stage, our libido is a tiny fraction of what it once was; all our relationships are friendships and no one is likely to fancy either of us.
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"Can't beat a person into it" -- so-oo true! :)
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Hot water.A hot shower or a bath at the end of a hard day's work... moreHot water.A hot shower or a bath at the end of a hard day's work is one of the most delicious pleasures of life.
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The present administration's head-in-the-sand approach to global... moreThe present administration's head-in-the-sand approach to global warming. The US, due to its high population and high per capita rates of CO2 emissions, is one of the highest polluters in the world. If it were to move to renewable energy sources, it would make a huge difference to helping to slow the rate of global warming, and eventually (100 years) return it back to its natural rate (the rate at which evolution has time to adapt.)The highest per capita rate of gun crimes compared to other first world nations.The selling of arms to countries like Saudi Arabia enabling its atrocities committed in and against Yemen and the majority of its civilians.The movement of the US embassy to Jerusalem, which goes against the initial treaty for the establishment of the state of Israel and seriously reduces the chances of ever attaining peace between Israel and Palestine.The rise of populism in politics at the expense of using expert research and serious public debate to determine policies.The electoral colleg... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 10, 2018 4:53 PM MST
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Yes.I used to write a column called "An Equestrian Question" for... moreYes.I used to write a column called "An Equestrian Question" for a local newsletter.It was generally very popular and widely read.But in one edition I wrote about horses mating, how they do it naturally, and how the conventional artificial raping practices of big horse studs cause both stallions and mares to become extremely dangerous to each other and to humans. It was a plea for reform in commercial breeding practices.Several people, but one in particular, wrote to the newsletter with anger. They said they normally leave the newsletter on the living room coffee table, and that with this issue they couldn't because the article was not fit for children to read.When I raised this issue with others, the majority view was that rural children know about the birds and bees from very young because they see it happening in the paddocks around them. They said the protesters were a tiny minority of quite unrealistic prudes and I shouldn't worry about it. less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 10, 2018 4:19 PM MST
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addiction(Not always, but if that person's not an addict yet, ch... moreaddiction(Not always, but if that person's not an addict yet, chances are they will become one.)
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 10, 2018 4:10 PM MST
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Being an "enabler" means rescuing and patching up the disasters ... moreBeing an "enabler" means rescuing and patching up the disasters created by addicts, either when they are under the influence of their drug of choice, or when they are in the processes of obtaining a fix or in withdrawals.The effect of trying to control, rescue, fix mistakes or keep the secrets means it takes far longer for the dependent person to reach their rock bottom. By the time they get there, things like health issues have become far worse and sometimes irreversible. In the meantime, everyone around the addict is suffering, but most especially, the children are developing lifelong issues that will be exceptionally difficult to heal.The enabler is emotionally addicted to having someone dependant on him or her, so another term for it is "co-dependent." I know because I am one. I recovered through twelve years of Family-of-Origin therapy, three and a half years in Co-Dependents Anonymous, many years of Insight Meditation, and NVC. To this day, I still have to watch my impulses carefully to avoid get... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 10, 2018 4:07 PM MST
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It will get easier as you practice and discover all the differen... moreIt will get easier as you practice and discover all the different ways of asserting boundaries.Even though people get miffed at first when they don't get their own way, they can always get their need met in another way.You don't end up burned out and resentful, and they respect you more.In the end, it works out better for everyone.I wish it hadn't taken me over 40 years to learn those lessons.
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Not many people know me because I'm fairly introverted. I spend ... moreNot many people know me because I'm fairly introverted. I spend most of my time at home and, when I'm out, mix within small, overlapping circles. These people only see me in specific contexts.The few who are close, my husband and friends, know me as well as they want to - I have nothing to hide.If they typecast me, I'm not aware of it - I highly doubt that they would need or want to.
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 9, 2018 7:23 PM MST
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I don't know if you're thinking about a particular person - if s... moreI don't know if you're thinking about a particular person - if so - I don't have enough info for a proper answer.You might just be putting out a hypothetical question.~Initially, I'd just listen until they've thoroughly talked through all their issues (hopefully without repetition.)I would paraphrase their feelings so they knew that I was genuinely and accurately listening.If they became repetitive, I would ask questions to get a more complete picture of the background and situation.At certain points, I might ask for specific information about the circumstances, exactly the facts of what happened without interpretation.Usually, just getting it off the chest is enough to feel better.Or talking about it allows the person to discover their own solutions.~Sometimes one can "reframe" a situation. For instance, Adler once had a client who could not get over the grief of losing his wife. He wanted to die.After gaining the whole history of the relationship, Adler asked,"If you could escape this suffering by being t... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 9, 2018 6:26 PM MST
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I don't see how anybody could "prove" by research that you don't... moreI don't see how anybody could "prove" by research that you don't exist or that you are not you.The fact that you write here is one proof that you do exist and that you are you.
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I don't "want" any particular time for "second death."I assume i... moreI don't "want" any particular time for "second death."I assume it's inevitable when everyone I've ever known or met has forgotten - which for some would be now because the experience was not memorable or they have poor memories. For others, it would be when they develop dementia or die - which may be before or after I die.There's nothing I've done in this life which will leave any lasting legacy.It doesn't matter whether I existed or not.
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I'm not quite right in my understanding of science - I adhere to... moreI'm not quite right in my understanding of science - I adhere too strongly to what appears to be proven now.I am strongly atheist, but most scientists are agnostics.Professional scientists in most fields - but especially in physics - are incredibly open-minded people. They say one cannot say whether or not there is a god or an afterlife because there is no way to prove that they exist.While they pursue evidence and logic, they remain open to the fact that we don't always have the means (technology or mathematical equations) with which to imagine or pose the necessary questions, to frame experiments, gather data or compute the results.For this reason, what we know now is continually being modified and added to.There are also times when I'm too hasty - I don't think deeply, broadly or carefully enough. I fall into logical fallacies without realising it.I may mistake a meaning when something is ambiguous - seeing one meaning and missing the others.And there are infinite areas in which I don't know what I don't... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 9, 2018 5:35 PM MST
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Depends.A valid argument requires both sound premises and logic.... moreDepends.A valid argument requires both sound premises and logic.The right selection of research provides proof that the facts used a correct - hence the premises are more likely to be sound.Then one checks for flaws or fallacies in the logic.If both pass, then one has a convincing argument.It helps to be open-minded and to be an independent, alert and active thinker.Many people regard an argument as nothing more than a futile dispute over opinions, beliefs and values.Some are convinced that their own views must be correct, irrespective of logic or evidence. They hold them unquestioningly, for psychological or social reasons, even if the ideas themselves lead to poor relationships and dysfunctional lives.I believe the whole world could be happier if more people were willing to learn the skills of thinking and how to use them. less
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Thanks for the pick! :)
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The weeding.The housework.Lots of projects.
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Not all, but most become backstabbers if they survive more than one term.
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I don't believe there is a judgement day, except insofar as I ex... moreI don't believe there is a judgement day, except insofar as I examine my own thoughts, motives, words and actions at the end of each day to see if anything needs amends or repairs.If I turn out to be wrong, I will not try to defend myself, but accept what comes.There are other theories of the afterlife. There is the Tibetan Bardo - a kind of Limbo - from which the soul might drift as a hungry ghost, move on into another human incarnation, or incarnate as an animal, a god in the heavenly realm, or a demon in the hell realm - or if enlightenment was achieved in this lifetime, never re-incate. Similar beliefs are held by Hindus, other sects of Mahayana Buddhism. In the religious form of Taoism, the ancestors become spirits living in heaven, available to their descendants via prayer.In animist religions, with great variation, the souls of the departed become part of the land, sea or sky.Who is to say that what they believe is the one and only Truth? less
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I wish I could get you started with dark matter and dark en... moreI wish I could get you started with dark matter and dark energy.There's been interesting stuff about it in the news recently.
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All cultures go through phases of variation in their moral value... moreAll cultures go through phases of variation in their moral values if you examine the records over a long enough span of time.In the case of cultures upholding the Semitic religions, homosexuality has always flourished in secrecy.For instance, in ancient Greek culture, especially Athens, homosexual love was considered superior to heterosexual because women were perceived as owned chattels. Except for the hetera (the highest class of trained prostitute-entertainers), no women had an education. Among the educated gentry, a male lover could be either an equal in age, or a young boy student of great beauty.In Ancient Roman culture, the mores varied but in the later epochs homosexuality, androgyny and intersexual variables were well understood.Some cultures had other ways of giving socially acceptable roles to people with innate sexual difference: Some Pacific Islands with a high genetic incidence of androgeny allow men-women to act as childless aunties in helping to raise their children. The cultu... less
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If you found it, what would you gamble?
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Not all of us do.Some people manage to forgive even the most hei... moreNot all of us do.Some people manage to forgive even the most heinous crimes committed against them.For instance, the Australian prisoners-of-war who were slaves of the Japanese during WWII on the Burma Railway and the Kokoda Trail in New Guinea. They were starved and tortured for up to four years. Over 1300 died. Among the survivors, some have met with their former gaolers, and have offered their forgiveness.The benefit is to the one who lets go of the anger and hatred; it allows him or her to live in peace.Most hate is the result of having been badly or repeatedly hurt and having no means to prevent it or do anything about it,or,the result of fear of the same, regardless of whether the fear is paranoid or realistic. less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 7, 2018 5:57 PM MST
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Not necessarily.It depends how it is done, with whom, and why.
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The Hanukkah celebration revolves around the kindling of a nine-... moreThe Hanukkah celebration revolves around the kindling of a nine-branched menorah, known in Hebrew as the hanukiah. On each of the holiday’s eight nights, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown; the ninth candle, called the shamash (“helper”), is used to light the others. Devout Jews recite blessings during this ritual and display the menorah prominently in a window as a reminder to others of the miracle that inspired the holiday.
In another allusion to the Hanukkah miracle, traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Potato pancakes (known as latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are particularly popular in many Jewish households. Other Hanukkah customs include playing with four-sided spinning tops called dreidels and exchanging gifts. From a religious perspective, it commemorates the victory (won by war or civil war) of the right to practice the traditional faith
The Seleucid King Antiochus III took control of Judea (now Isreal) about 200 years... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 7, 2018 5:44 PM MST
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I'm not sure.A lot of what passes for humour here doesn't match ... moreI'm not sure.A lot of what passes for humour here doesn't match with my sense of humour, and vice versa.I've been in trouble with the asker a few times for giving a serious answer when a funny one was wanted - though the asker did not specify this until after I'd given my unfunny answer. It felt like falling into a trap - so from now on, I will usually avoid that person's questions.I prefer the questions that seek serious answers.Serious is fun for me.
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 7, 2018 5:17 PM MST
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Not unless compelled by something inside oneself.
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We don't have to do anything here, except stay polite ... moreWe don't have to do anything here, except stay polite - and but what well-meaning person doesn't prefer to be polite (even under duress)?
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Chaos theory isn't actually chaotic. "Chaos" is a jargon word in... moreChaos theory isn't actually chaotic. "Chaos" is a jargon word in mathematics; it does not mean the same thing as it means in ordinary English.Chaos is a poetic name to describe a group of specific algorithms of complex mathematics which enable us to predict the probability of a possible random change occurring within a specific window of time and place.The bifurcation events that switch the trajectory of an object from one vortex to another in fractal mathematics are truly random. But they are still not chaotic (in the ordinary sense): the possible changes are absolutely limited in scope. They are the reason why the mechanics of the lottery can be trusted to be unbiased. Even then, because it is happening in real life and not just mathematical projections, the apparatus for lotteries is just as prone to wear and eventual bias as roulette wheels - so they have to be re-made.Some weather systems are prone to random swings - but even there, thanks to chaos mathematics, we can now estimate the probabi... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 4, 2018 7:13 PM MST
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My husband.He would never shave beforehand so the bristles acted... moreMy husband.He would never shave beforehand so the bristles acted like sandpaper and left me red-raw. He would press way too hard, leaving bruises on my gums, which would cause me to constantly flinch away. He seemed unable to read my body language.It took me years to get up the courage to speak about it.It was an immensely difficult thing to broach because of his ego and it didn't go at all well at first.Eventually, once he accepted me showing him how I liked to be kissed, he acknowledged that he liked and preferred the difference.Then he kept forgetting - which left me wondering why, whether he really preferred the gentler and more sensual feel, and whether I matter to him.He still tends to switch off and go into "automatic" mode, but he now handles reminders with more acceptance.I wish I didn't have to remind him.I still wish I could understand why he goes into dissociative states (in which he is not aware of either his feelings or mine) - but he doesn't understand it himself and so can't tell me wha... less
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In some cases, it's 100% necessary.E.g., the "interventions" don... moreIn some cases, it's 100% necessary.E.g., the "interventions" done with an addict and his or her family and close associates. Often times, this is the only way for the newly sober addict to be confronted with the enormity of the consequences of his or her behaviour. It can become the starting point for repairing the damage and making amends. And it can motivate the addict to work towards permanent sobriety.Or in quotidian life...e.g., When my husband had made up the donkey's feed incorrectly, forgetting to add the supplement that prevents osteoporosis, I had to take him down to the barn and show him the feed he'd made up the day before.I would never point out a mistake unless it was real, but he was (is) so unwilling to accept that he might or could make a mistake that the only thing I could do was insist that he come and see for himself. It shouldn't matter in such small things but, unfortunately, it applies to a vast number of small details - and some of these can have life-threatening consequenc... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 4, 2018 6:25 PM MST
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Sure!In the times before the understanding of how and why the na... moreSure!In the times before the understanding of how and why the natural world works in the way it does, almost every natural event was considered weird or mysterious: what causes pregnancy or disease, why animals and people were sometimes born with mutations,why someone was struck dead by lightning, why earthquakes and hurricanes affected some but not others in seemingly random ways, why the sun is sometimes eclipsed by the moon, why a needle in a cork in a dish of water will always point north,why fireweed sometimes spontaneously ignites...When we don't know why something happens, we humans tend to invent reasons, and then some of us tend to come to believe them with or without proof. We can also reinforce our beliefs with the placebo effect.To this day, when there are coincidences (which may often be linked by a chain of mundane causal connections even though we can't see them)some of us tend to see it as proof of supernatural mental powers or some divine agency. less
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Behaving in accord with stereotypes about how blacks* allegedly ... moreBehaving in accord with stereotypes about how blacks* allegedly behave - mostly as seen in American T.V. and film (which, by and large, has little to do with reality and everything to do with sensationalist plot devices).* "blacks" meaning not necessarily just Black Americans, but all kinds of black peoples from all parts of the world.Old films set in Africa show different stereotypes of blacks to those set in the Carribean.Non-American films show black peoples in completely different ways, usually more as individuals with unique personal characteristics - not predictable.In the UK, "colour-blind" casting is gaining popularity. For instance, colour-blind casting may show Guenevere as a West-Indian woman in the tales of Camelot - but she still behaves like a Medieval Cornish princess: her skin colour is irrelevant to the role she plays. less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 4, 2018 5:48 PM MST
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Yep.Too many times to count.
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Keeps the mind agile and continuing to develop new mental skills... moreKeeps the mind agile and continuing to develop new mental skills.Depending on the discipline, can help elders integrate with the latest theories and knowledge.For professionals, there is no age limit on starting work.I know of 60-year-olds who've started studying law and ended up with successful and satisfying jobs.In some fields, like psychology, maturity and life experience can be a bonus - no harm in starting the studies late.
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I enjoy most art films.Prefer them in English, but subtitles are... moreI enjoy most art films.Prefer them in English, but subtitles are okay.Examples: Ingmar Bergman's film of Mozart's Magic Flute.Claude Berri's Manon des SourcesFellini's SatiryconLouis Malle's My Dinner with Andre
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 4, 2018 5:35 PM MST
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Ah, well, I guess that makes me a nerd.
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I've always thought the idea absurd that God made us in His... moreI've always thought the idea absurd that God made us in His image. It makes no logical sense given the realities of what we see among the peoples of the world.If the definition of God is the God of the Old Testament, then the story of The Fall is supposed to explain human mortality.Not all Jews, Christians or Muslims interpret these early Biblical definitions as being literally so. Many see the O.T. stories as allegories of social, religious and spiritual evolution and use the Bible as a guide to ethics and wisdom which can be adapted to modern life. They see the laws of physics as created by God, and evolution as God's way of creating our world.Personally, I think there are too many contradictions even in this interpretation. Nevertheless, this compromise view "works" for an enormously high proportion of people. It allows them to take advantage of electricity, satellite communications, technology, medicine and the numerous other conveniences of modern life without sacrificing what they see as the necessary... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 4, 2018 5:24 PM MST
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neither.Many people regard studious or expert people as lacking ... moreneither.Many people regard studious or expert people as lacking in social skills. This maybe somewhat so in the case of people with Autism Spectrum people - who cannot easily recognize their own emotions or those of others, and some of whom can tend to be brilliant in a single field.It might also be somewhat true of some intellectuals who have paid less attention to developing practical, craft, or trade skills.But by and large, the idea that very bright people are impractical and/or unsociable is a myth. I believe it's due to a kind of snobbery or prejudice. Basically, as soon as someone uses the pejorative term "nerd", we can guess that that person has an anti-intellectual bias and carries a strong prejudice against anyone who values education, study, or the use of mental skills to increase the pool of human knowledge and understanding.
nerd
/nəːd
noun
INFORMAL
a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious.
synonyms: bore, dull person
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This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 4, 2018 5:07 PM MST
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Yum.Same here.Cooking is so much more fun when creative! :)
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Thanks to Kittigate and MorningStar for kind words.There wa... moreThanks to Kittigate and MorningStar for kind words.There was yet more to the design, but I thought I was already getting too wordy.
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Had his mane been cut off? A bareback rider can hold on to a lar... moreHad his mane been cut off? A bareback rider can hold on to a large hunk of mane if they need a little security.Was the horse obese (no ribs showing and many ripply dimples on the buttocks)? - if so he would have a very rounded body and a slippery back - this is very hard for most people to stay on.Normally the withers (the bony arc at the base of the beck and at top centre above the shoulder blades) hold the rider in place while going downhill bareback, but horses are obese, the withers get buried in fat. Old horses tend to become very thin - the withers become very prominent and will help to hold the ride on by stopping the forward slide downhill - but it's very uncomfortable in the you-know-what unless the (human) pelvis is tilted forward with the pubic bone lifted up. less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at December 2, 2018 2:54 PM MST
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Had his mane been cut off? A bareback rider can hold on to a lar... moreHad his mane been cut off? A bareback rider can hold on to a large hunk of mane if they need a little security.Was the horse rather fat with a rounded body and a slippery back?Normally the withers (the bony arc at the base of the beck and at top centre above the shoulder blades) hold the rider in place while going downhill bareback, but horses are obese, the withers get buried in fat. Old horses tend to become skeletally thin because they no longer have any teeth and can't chew their food (unless a kind and understanding owner uses a kitchen blender to turn their feed into soup). less
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That I've been eating nothing but purple.
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... more
You can work directly on the ground in piles, anything 1 meter cubed is large enough to generate the right temperature. Larger is fine: smaller is not.Or create a series of three bins side by side. One is for starting the new pile, one is for maturation, the third is the first or oldest from which you can draw the matured compost. Use recycled old hardwood. For less turning (work), try using home-made tubes of wire mesh - to allow air to penetrate.
1) Layer thicknesses: 2" of green (fresh) to 8" of brown (dry) materials
When the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in a compost pile approaches 30 to 1, the decomposition process rapidly accelerates as “thermophilic” bacteria move in and the pile heats up to over 160 degrees Fahrenheit.Start piles on bare earth. Use steel mesh for the prevention of access to rats. Use a few bits of rotting wood and old mushrooms, and a fluffy layer of browns on the bottom (at least 6 to 8 inches deep) to absorb moisture from the pile and keep thi... less
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at November 30, 2018 10:19 PM MST
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Slow. About 0.7 of a second.At least half that of an 18-year-old.
This post was edited by Nom de Plume at November 30, 2018 10:08 PM MST
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My latest book of poetry has earned me an invitation to speak an... moreMy latest book of poetry has earned me an invitation to speak and recite at a writer's festival.Feeling both chuffed and nervous.
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A different kind of stables to suit a sub-tropical environment.T... moreA different kind of stables to suit a sub-tropical environment.The barn has a ceiling, and a solid wall on one side, but is otherwise open to the air. Horses need enormous volumes of fresh air to remain healthy. Damp enclosed environments like traditional stables encourage stale air and the spread of air born diseases and shin infections.The stables themselves are composed of pre-fab cattle panels. This means the horses can see each other, which increases their calm because they are social animals that instinctively need the feeling of one another's presence to feel at their safest and most comfortable.They can be made smaller and more numerous to accommodate more animals if necessary.I commissioned pre-fab to my design. They fold and hook back against the "walls leaving the stables permanently open between meal times, leaving the horse free to move around and interact and to move between grazing and the barn according to weather.The floors are made of road-base and shaped like a lens so that urin... less
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