May 10 2012: It seems those are a type of Echinopsis cactus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinopsis). Perhaps, an Echinopsis Pachanoi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinopsis_pachanoi).
Mar 29 2012: Big picture…failure is not an option for humanity. We have had triumphs and setbacks. We have waged wars and found ways to make peace. We’ve created very destructive devices and managed to limit their use to minimum. As individuals, we have huge differences of opinion but as a global society we have made great strides. We still have many problems to solve and we will solve them in small seemingly meaningless steps. After all, we all exist together on a planet in a vast universe that not only begs to be explored but must be explored or we will fail.
Feb 23 2012: When I was young I remember my Mother telling me how she turned shoe boxes into houses and match boxes into cars. She didn't have the "fancy" toys of the 1970's. Today, I look at my kids and their "fancy" toys and the things they imagine. I think these types of interactive books will be the catalyst for even bigger dreams and greater imagination in the next generation.
Jan 19 2012: I like the licencing idea Frans. Banning the import of these animals (and plants) would only lead to higher prices and higher profits for those outside the country breeding and sourcing these living things. Renewable licences would generated funds that could be used to fund rescue facilities, zoos and research efforts that would benefit the animals and well I guess the plants too.
Jan 18 2012: I think a sermon is a type of "talk". A sermon generally takes a historical event or story and applies the lessons to life in today's world.
Jan 17 2012: Another issue is what would law enforcement do with the animals they seize. If they keep them alive, the cost of feeding and maintaining them would be very high compared to a domestic animal. If they shoot or euthanize the animals, in many cases they would be killing endangered species and would face quite a bit of backlash from activist groups. These aren't animals you can just find a family to adapt or a zoo to take-in nor are they illegal drugs that can be disposed of.
Jan 10 2012: I agree GM. I believe science is correct that the universe was created 13.7 billion years ago, the Earth was created 4.54 billion years ago and that the first humans emerged from apes around 200,000 years ago. I also believe that without widely accepted belief systems (aka religions) throughout human history the world would be very different for better or worse. Religions are a part of our human history and many people still rightfully respect those religions and the traditions of their ancestors.
The one thing that keeps me wondering about a divinity is "me". Beyond a physical body, there seems to be something that keeps "me" looking though the same eyes, hearing through the same ears, etc. Are we all just unique, complex chemical reactions that will dissolved into the Earth after death? Is there some aspect of our existence that crosses into other dimensions or another part of the "multiverse"? Are we an attempt by the Universe to understand itself?
If we saw God would we know we saw God? I doubt God is a white haired old man sitting on a throne among the clouds. Perhaps we have been looking at God all our lives. Perhaps, God is every thing around us; the entire Universe including ourselves. However, if we thought this we likely wouldn't be abusing our planet or each other the way we have and continue to do today. We may all still be hunters and gatherers. Religion served the purpose of getting us from being indistinguishable from animals to being who we are today and now it is time to move on...but not without remembering from where we came.
Jan 5 2012: Isn't it all relative? Intelligence, confidence, a "desired state of human perfection" are all within the eye of the beholder or the tester. Someone who is intelligent to me may not seem intelligent to someone else and my opinion is subject to change with time. Intelligence tests can only measure relative to the intelligence of the people who created the test and only within the scope of the test. There isn't an absolute measure of intelligence that I am aware of. In fact, many people who have been great contributors to civilization and knowledge are considered intelligent because of a single or a few works but were complete failures in other efforts and had difficulty with other aspects of their life. According to the scientific theory of entropy, perfection is not possible for any length of time but perhaps at the cost of sacrificing other areas of ones life a brief moment of brilliant perfection can be achieved.
Jan 5 2012: Michael, Initially I liked your definition of intelligence as the wording was quite compelling. However, after some thought your definition seems to imply intelligence requires a high degree of confidence in one's own knowledge and opinions. Confidence often leads to difficulty in accepting new and alternative ideas and points of view.
By your definition, can a person of intelligence admit to not knowing? How does a capacity to learn factor in?
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Great Work!!!
A reply on Conversation: Large number of wild animals as pets?
A reply on Talk: Alain de Botton: Atheism 2.0
I think many TED talks do this already.
A comment on Talk: Alain de Botton: Atheism 2.0
What's the difference between what Alain is talking about and what TED already is?
A reply on Conversation: Large number of wild animals as pets?
A reply on Conversation: Religion or science?
The one thing that keeps me wondering about a divinity is "me". Beyond a physical body, there seems to be something that keeps "me" looking though the same eyes, hearing through the same ears, etc. Are we all just unique, complex chemical reactions that will dissolved into the Earth after death? Is there some aspect of our existence that crosses into other dimensions or another part of the "multiverse"? Are we an attempt by the Universe to understand itself?
If we saw God would we know we saw God? I doubt God is a white haired old man sitting on a throne among the clouds. Perhaps we have been looking at God all our lives. Perhaps, God is every thing around us; the entire Universe including ourselves. However, if we thought this we likely wouldn't be abusing our planet or each other the way we have and continue to do today. We may all still be hunters and gatherers. Religion served the purpose of getting us from being indistinguishable from animals to being who we are today and now it is time to move on...but not without remembering from where we came.
A reply on Conversation: Intelligence Is?
A comment on Conversation: Intelligence Is?
By your definition, can a person of intelligence admit to not knowing? How does a capacity to learn factor in?