My house is quiet, I have eaten a very nice ribeye steak. I have nothing to say at present. It is nice to have a break. Hope you had a break also. I may try posting later tonight.
No Way Out
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
How Do We Help People Who Were Abused
Trauma and shock as a child can effect the way you see the world and stunt emotional growth. I have met many people who have suffered through such things, all of my dogs were abused also. How do we help people to heal emotionally.
I know how I did it with my dogs. I provided them with quiet and calmness. My current dog was abused, when I first got him he was very anxious. Someone used to kick him in the rear is my guess, it was a man, I believe it was a bigger man. I believe this based on how he acted.
He is a very funny dog. He is a Chihuahua. He is completely fearless. We discovered something about him, he has changed. He is still fearless; but, now he seems to respond to others based on how I react to them. He is very perceptive. He waits to see how I respond and then responds in kind. Well not quite, he bards at anyone that makes me feel unsure or that I dislike.
When I first got him he would not come to me. He hid under furniture. I never pushed him to come out. I never chased him down, I let him decide how close and what the pace of our evolving relationship would be and I never hit him. When he is unruly, I will hold him gently in the air with his feet off the ground and he calms down. He knows he is not in control and that he will not be harmed. I don't have to do that much anymore, he is a smart dog.
At night he will lay next to my legs, it is cute, he burrows under the covers and lays against may legs. Unfortunately, he also likes to fart. That has gotten better; but, still occurs. I don't like meeting new people and neither does he. I guess we both have to work on that.
I consider pets to be pets. I call him my baby; but, like I would call any loved one my baby. I let him come and go, from my room, as he pleases. He goes out, investigates, eats, sees who is in the house and then comes scratching at my door. I let him back in. He knows he can scratch on the door and I will let him in.
In the morning I go to the restroom and then take my shower. He barks when I go into the restroom. He didn't always do that. When I leave the house in the morning he sits at the window and howls for an hour. I am glad that I could take a dog who was abused and have him howl at my window because I have left. I think I did a good job with him.
I wondered how we could help adults who had been abused. I think the answer is the same. We have to know security, safety, that we are cared about and will not be abused before we can learn to open up. Gentleness is the key.
I know how I did it with my dogs. I provided them with quiet and calmness. My current dog was abused, when I first got him he was very anxious. Someone used to kick him in the rear is my guess, it was a man, I believe it was a bigger man. I believe this based on how he acted.
He is a very funny dog. He is a Chihuahua. He is completely fearless. We discovered something about him, he has changed. He is still fearless; but, now he seems to respond to others based on how I react to them. He is very perceptive. He waits to see how I respond and then responds in kind. Well not quite, he bards at anyone that makes me feel unsure or that I dislike.
When I first got him he would not come to me. He hid under furniture. I never pushed him to come out. I never chased him down, I let him decide how close and what the pace of our evolving relationship would be and I never hit him. When he is unruly, I will hold him gently in the air with his feet off the ground and he calms down. He knows he is not in control and that he will not be harmed. I don't have to do that much anymore, he is a smart dog.
At night he will lay next to my legs, it is cute, he burrows under the covers and lays against may legs. Unfortunately, he also likes to fart. That has gotten better; but, still occurs. I don't like meeting new people and neither does he. I guess we both have to work on that.
I consider pets to be pets. I call him my baby; but, like I would call any loved one my baby. I let him come and go, from my room, as he pleases. He goes out, investigates, eats, sees who is in the house and then comes scratching at my door. I let him back in. He knows he can scratch on the door and I will let him in.
In the morning I go to the restroom and then take my shower. He barks when I go into the restroom. He didn't always do that. When I leave the house in the morning he sits at the window and howls for an hour. I am glad that I could take a dog who was abused and have him howl at my window because I have left. I think I did a good job with him.
I wondered how we could help adults who had been abused. I think the answer is the same. We have to know security, safety, that we are cared about and will not be abused before we can learn to open up. Gentleness is the key.
Jesus' last miracle before being crucified
I previously posted on Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine and thought it might be interesting to look at his last miracle before being crucified. His last miracle took place in a Garden, he was praying and a group came to arrest him. One of the apostles, it is believed to have been Peter, cut off the ear of one of the people. Jesus healed the mans ear.
Why did he bother healing the guy? The man was not at risk of dying. Prior to that, as far as I know, Jesus only healed believers. This man was not a believer. On one occasion a woman who was not Jewish asked Jesus to heal her daughter who was demon possessed, he told her to leave; but, she persisted and he relented and healed the daughter because of the woman's faith.
This healing was not requested by anyone. The man himself was arresting Jesus so we have reason to believe he was not a follower. So my first question is still, why did Jesus heal him? He did not heal everyone that he met and this man meant him harm. I believe there may be two reasons. The first was to show forgiveness. Most people read the story and see that reason; but, I think there is more to the story.
The second question is what happened next, not to Jesus, to the guy whose ear he healed with a simple touch? How did that change that man's night and life? We never hear about the guy again; but, how could he doubt who Jesus was after being healed? How did he feel knowing he was responsible for helping kill Jesus after having his ear restored?
Perhaps, like Paul, he became a follower and told the story to others who also came to believe. An eyewitness account.
Why did he bother healing the guy? The man was not at risk of dying. Prior to that, as far as I know, Jesus only healed believers. This man was not a believer. On one occasion a woman who was not Jewish asked Jesus to heal her daughter who was demon possessed, he told her to leave; but, she persisted and he relented and healed the daughter because of the woman's faith.
This healing was not requested by anyone. The man himself was arresting Jesus so we have reason to believe he was not a follower. So my first question is still, why did Jesus heal him? He did not heal everyone that he met and this man meant him harm. I believe there may be two reasons. The first was to show forgiveness. Most people read the story and see that reason; but, I think there is more to the story.
The second question is what happened next, not to Jesus, to the guy whose ear he healed with a simple touch? How did that change that man's night and life? We never hear about the guy again; but, how could he doubt who Jesus was after being healed? How did he feel knowing he was responsible for helping kill Jesus after having his ear restored?
Perhaps, like Paul, he became a follower and told the story to others who also came to believe. An eyewitness account.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Rage
Rage is one of our emotions. It is the single minded focus of getting revenge. It is how we feel when we will not let anything get in the way of us conducting immediate physical harm on another. I have felt rage; but, over the years have managed to temper my anger. If we tell people to go with their gut instincts, we are telling them that rage is okay.
Emotions can be wonderful things or, if they are not managed and grown, they can lead to mindless actions. Rage stops thought. Thought manages emotions. We need always take the time to consider things before we act. Patience is the regulator of thought.
When we rage we feel totally empowered, we can do anything because we have moved past all fear. We are willing to die to achieve our goal. At that point no reason will be listened to. That is the problem with giving into our emotions rather than managing them. The collateral damage after rage can take a lifetime to fix.
Lust can be the same. Lust can lead people to do things without considering the consequences. It can also cause collateral damage for a lifetime. We need to manage our emotions, not allow them to control us. I watched as two people destroyed so much, rage was their issue. They let their emotions control their actions.
Emotions can be wonderful things or, if they are not managed and grown, they can lead to mindless actions. Rage stops thought. Thought manages emotions. We need always take the time to consider things before we act. Patience is the regulator of thought.
When we rage we feel totally empowered, we can do anything because we have moved past all fear. We are willing to die to achieve our goal. At that point no reason will be listened to. That is the problem with giving into our emotions rather than managing them. The collateral damage after rage can take a lifetime to fix.
Lust can be the same. Lust can lead people to do things without considering the consequences. It can also cause collateral damage for a lifetime. We need to manage our emotions, not allow them to control us. I watched as two people destroyed so much, rage was their issue. They let their emotions control their actions.
Catholic Church and Female Priests
There is a discussion going on regarding the Catholic Church allowing women to be priests. I am soundly against female priests in the Catholic church and I am not Catholic. I am against it because it would destroy any legitimacy that the church has.
What I find interesting is the arguments for it. Feminists that are not catholic and others who are not catholic believe their opinion matters, it does not. The Catholic Church is a voluntary organization, they are allowed to have their own beliefs and live by them. They rely on parts of the bible that say that women should not lead the church, it is their established dogma. If they turn from it, they cease having any claim of validity.
A group calling themselves "Catholic Women's Ordination" says that because the church is in disaray it may be a good time to force the change. They say that they are loyal Catholics; but, they seek to violate one of it's longstanding and established fundamental doctrines. Some say the Catholic church will not survive if it does not bend it's will to societies wants, it was created to meet societies wants. Many died because they disagreed with societies wants, they were fed to lions because of what they believed.
Why would you remain in an voluntary organization if you disagree with their fundamental beliefs, why not just join a group that agrees with you? It is our evil nature to attempt to force others to live by our beliefs. It is attempting to make the world like us.
What I find interesting is the arguments for it. Feminists that are not catholic and others who are not catholic believe their opinion matters, it does not. The Catholic Church is a voluntary organization, they are allowed to have their own beliefs and live by them. They rely on parts of the bible that say that women should not lead the church, it is their established dogma. If they turn from it, they cease having any claim of validity.
A group calling themselves "Catholic Women's Ordination" says that because the church is in disaray it may be a good time to force the change. They say that they are loyal Catholics; but, they seek to violate one of it's longstanding and established fundamental doctrines. Some say the Catholic church will not survive if it does not bend it's will to societies wants, it was created to meet societies wants. Many died because they disagreed with societies wants, they were fed to lions because of what they believed.
Why would you remain in an voluntary organization if you disagree with their fundamental beliefs, why not just join a group that agrees with you? It is our evil nature to attempt to force others to live by our beliefs. It is attempting to make the world like us.
Shortcuts and Artificial Intelligence
This is a fantastic article from Wired on Artificial Intelligence and what it may give rise to in the future. It is a long article; but, I highly recommend that you read it.
The idea is on of creating transhumanists. With technology we will be able very soon to link the computer to your brain. You would have immediate access to all the knowledge of the world. Just imagine being able to compete at math with the greatest mathematician in the world. Imagine everyone having access to the same information, not having to worry that you are not as smart as the next guy.
That is the allure of transhumanism. We are told that the threat is that the machines may take over. That is not what worries me. Letting machines think for you means giving up your free will. The goal of life is to grow, to mature. As we do, our understanding of ourselves and the world changes. To be supplied with all of the answers is a shortcut. It is achieved by accepting the answer of another.
I have been waiting for an article like this to explain a very important trend. It is social data mining to find solutions to problems. I want you to follow this link to apps.gov, it is a Federal Government site that provides software for the federal government as they turn to cloud computing.
If you look around the site, there is a whole section dedicated to Social Media Apps, why? A social network for government employees. Why? People are getting dumber. They are more tech savvy; but, they are dumber. The number of things that people are no longer capable of doing themselves is astounding. The purpose of the social apps is to share the little that people know, group think.
Lets say I want to know the best way to deal with a particular problem. Fixing a broken chair. The social network will allow all participants to put in their input in the belief that they will be able to see which answer was the most valid. Participative management. Very democratic and very stupid.
Good decision makers earned that right. They didn't earn it because of what they know, they earned because of what it took to learn the information. It is about learning to be responsible with the information you earn. As we learn complex information we learn it's proper use.
I have a fairly good mind. I earned it. Genetics gave me an ability; but, I did seven years of college and have read more books that I can count. It taught me to retain large amounts of information and see trends. The process of learning helped me to change my view, to see things others did not.
Information is just that, it does not give solutions. Experience helps one to see what works and does not work. Shortcuts avoid the experience and therefore the person does not understand all of the repercussions of their actions. It is like giving a baby a hand grenade.
Some people have photographic memories. I have seen them fail in law school. It is not about what you remember, it is about how you use the information. It is about the meaning of the information.
The biggest question is why would we want to head down this road. People will and are. The apps you use on your phone mean that you don't have to learn your City, the learning is the fun part. Driving through some part of town and finding that little restaurant you never knew was there, the surprise is the fun.
How much individual growth will we see in a transhumanist world? Very little, growth takes effort. This little blog is the result of lots of research. Each day I ponder what I will write about. I scour the news looking for things of interest, things other people might not see the consequences of. I then start researching. The easiest part is writing it. While searching I find a lot of information that is not needed for my post; but, it often ends up being researched separately and becoming it's own post.
Most people will take the shortcut. It will result in a world of immature people having lots of knowledge and little understanding. They will be easily led and not even know it. They will think they are as smart as the person who earned the knowledge, they will not be.
In a few years this type of argument will be considered evil. Once people actually start taking the shortcuts to knowledge, to deny them or question it will be seen as anti-social. People will say that those who are against these technologies just want to have an advantage, to have control over them. Personally, I am not big on control, I much prefer influence, that leads to discussions and growth.
Wisdom is not knowledge. Knowledge by itself does not lead to wisdom. Wisdom requires knowledge and experience. You cannot get wisdom from another's answers. You get wisdom by searching within yourself for understanding and experience.
The idea is on of creating transhumanists. With technology we will be able very soon to link the computer to your brain. You would have immediate access to all the knowledge of the world. Just imagine being able to compete at math with the greatest mathematician in the world. Imagine everyone having access to the same information, not having to worry that you are not as smart as the next guy.
That is the allure of transhumanism. We are told that the threat is that the machines may take over. That is not what worries me. Letting machines think for you means giving up your free will. The goal of life is to grow, to mature. As we do, our understanding of ourselves and the world changes. To be supplied with all of the answers is a shortcut. It is achieved by accepting the answer of another.
I have been waiting for an article like this to explain a very important trend. It is social data mining to find solutions to problems. I want you to follow this link to apps.gov, it is a Federal Government site that provides software for the federal government as they turn to cloud computing.
If you look around the site, there is a whole section dedicated to Social Media Apps, why? A social network for government employees. Why? People are getting dumber. They are more tech savvy; but, they are dumber. The number of things that people are no longer capable of doing themselves is astounding. The purpose of the social apps is to share the little that people know, group think.
Lets say I want to know the best way to deal with a particular problem. Fixing a broken chair. The social network will allow all participants to put in their input in the belief that they will be able to see which answer was the most valid. Participative management. Very democratic and very stupid.
Good decision makers earned that right. They didn't earn it because of what they know, they earned because of what it took to learn the information. It is about learning to be responsible with the information you earn. As we learn complex information we learn it's proper use.
I have a fairly good mind. I earned it. Genetics gave me an ability; but, I did seven years of college and have read more books that I can count. It taught me to retain large amounts of information and see trends. The process of learning helped me to change my view, to see things others did not.
Information is just that, it does not give solutions. Experience helps one to see what works and does not work. Shortcuts avoid the experience and therefore the person does not understand all of the repercussions of their actions. It is like giving a baby a hand grenade.
Some people have photographic memories. I have seen them fail in law school. It is not about what you remember, it is about how you use the information. It is about the meaning of the information.
The biggest question is why would we want to head down this road. People will and are. The apps you use on your phone mean that you don't have to learn your City, the learning is the fun part. Driving through some part of town and finding that little restaurant you never knew was there, the surprise is the fun.
How much individual growth will we see in a transhumanist world? Very little, growth takes effort. This little blog is the result of lots of research. Each day I ponder what I will write about. I scour the news looking for things of interest, things other people might not see the consequences of. I then start researching. The easiest part is writing it. While searching I find a lot of information that is not needed for my post; but, it often ends up being researched separately and becoming it's own post.
Most people will take the shortcut. It will result in a world of immature people having lots of knowledge and little understanding. They will be easily led and not even know it. They will think they are as smart as the person who earned the knowledge, they will not be.
In a few years this type of argument will be considered evil. Once people actually start taking the shortcuts to knowledge, to deny them or question it will be seen as anti-social. People will say that those who are against these technologies just want to have an advantage, to have control over them. Personally, I am not big on control, I much prefer influence, that leads to discussions and growth.
Wisdom is not knowledge. Knowledge by itself does not lead to wisdom. Wisdom requires knowledge and experience. You cannot get wisdom from another's answers. You get wisdom by searching within yourself for understanding and experience.
Changes in your Money
Good article to read on an attachment for your i-phone that allows you to take credit card payments. With this attachment and application, you can accept money from anyone via a credit card payment. Why carry cash?
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