Stuff to Think About

750 Words

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:57:00 -0800

The concept of 750 Words is simple: every day, you type 750 words—the equivalent of three pages—of stream of conscious, whatever you want, free writing. Your entries, which are private by default, can be exported at any point. (description via Lifehacker)

EARTHLINGS (official site) is a feature length documentary...

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:43:31 -0800

EARTHLINGS (official site) is a feature length documentary about humanity’s absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research) but also illustrates our complete disrespect for these so-called “non-human providers.” The film is narrated by Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix (GLADIATOR) and features music by the critically acclaimed platinum artist Moby .

"The belief that one’s own view of reality is the only reality is the most dangerous of all..."

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:05:09 -0800

“The belief that one’s own view of reality is the only reality is the most dangerous of all delusions.”

- Paul Watzlawick

Global Issues

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:39:30 -0800

Global Issues:

Social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all

Ask stuff

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:41:00 -0800

Ask stuff:

I know I already have a personal Ask Me Anything page, but I thought it would be useful to have one here, too— mainly for thought-provoking questions relating to stuff like philosophy, philosophical problems, sociology, social issues, psychology, human nature, and so on.

I’m not an expert on everything, but I’ll try to answer (or find the answer to) your questions to the best of my ability.

"Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet."

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:31:39 -0800

“Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.”

- Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan — The Times They Are a-Changin’

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:05:34 -0800

Bob Dylan — The Times They Are a-Changin’

Society is dead, we have retreated into the iWorld

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:30:00 -0800

Society is dead, we have retreated into the iWorld:

An old, but still relevant article on technology— specifically, the iPod— and how we are ‘tuning in’ to our various technological comforts and ‘tuning out’ the world.

"Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do."

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:20:00 -0800

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”

- Goethe

Sigur Rós - Popplagið (live version, from Heima) — Watch in HD A...

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:36:16 -0800

Sigur Rós - Popplagið (live version, from Heima) — Watch in HD

A roller coaster ride for your ears.

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [IEP]

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:19:00 -0800

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [IEP]:

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can..."

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:58:39 -0800

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”

- Abraham Lincoln

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:56:32 -0800

“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”

- Aldous Huxley

The Scale of the Universe

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:03:00 -0800

The Scale of the Universe:

Ineffable.

Irony. Anyway, some thoughts: I think the ultimate viability of...

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:46:00 -0800

Irony. Anyway, some thoughts:

I think the ultimate viability of electric plug-in vehicles will depend entirely on whether or not we get our energy from clean, renewable sources— otherwise, what’s the point?

“If they say there’s no emissions, they just don’t know where power comes from,” says Bill White, mayor of Houston, Texas.

Before manufactures start selling millions upon millions of electric vehicles (which is rather ambitious), wouldn’t it make sense to first; ensure that we have a smart grid in place that is actually ready to handle the inevitable strain of plug-in vehicles; second, make sure that the grid is powered by clean and renewable energy; and third, make sure that we have set up an infrastructure for these vehicles, i.e., battery charging/swapping stations.

Of course, being “green” isn’t as easy as purchasing a Prius. “Green” isn’t even a lifestyle, it’s a metaphor.

I think this whole “green movement” has it wrong in many ways. The goal shouldn’t be to sell “alternatives”— especially right now, when a lot of people are confused or unconvinced. The goal should be to try and raise people’s consciousness.

There is really no need to purchase so-called “green” products right now. While [some of] these products might be better for the environment, a majority of them are only going to benefit a few people in the short term. Society needs time to make adjustments— both mentally and technologically. But first and more importantly, people need to evolve a common understanding. We need to educate ourselves, enlighten others, and embrace the benefits of change.

Because at the end of the day, it is people, not products, who will deliver that change. Nonetheless, we shouldn’t try to change people, but rather, we should inspire people to change themselves.

Daniel Sieberg: My Declaration of Disconnection

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:36:22 -0800

Daniel Sieberg: My Declaration of Disconnection:

In my opinion:

While I think its good to disconnect from social networking every once and a while (even for a few months or perhaps an entire year), disconnecting forever is a tad extreme— and quite unnecessary.

The solution isn’t to abandon Facebook or Twitter or whatever. I’d start by thinking about why you want to leave in the first place. What are the benefits of leaving? What are the benefits of staying? What are the consequences? What drew you to these sites in the first place? What’s changed since then? What needs to change? Etc.

Instead, try simplifying. Do you really need hundreds of friends or followers? How many is too many? Do you even keep up with them, and how often? Do they even keep up with you, and how often?

It’s also way too easy to get overwhelmed by endless tweets and perpetual news feeds and annoying application invites and excessive friend requests and other trivial shit. Just focus on the nitty-gritty, and forget about the rest.

So, if you are going to disconnect, disconnect from the excess, not the essence. Be an efficient social networker and eliminate the distracting or pointless aspects. In other words, disconnect from what doesn’t really matter.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:28:45 -0800

“The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.”

- Bertrand Russell. (See also, Dunning–Kruger effect)

Why we should think

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:36:00 -0800

I was recently asked why we, you, or anyone else should think. Here’s my short answer:

Thinking is the core of who we are as a species.

We’re all born with some kind of curiosity— maybe not right away, but inevitably, and nonetheless. For example, just observe the inquisitive spirit of a child: always asking questions, always eager to learn more. On the other hand, I think that as we get older we tend to accept things more and think about them less.

If people were to just stop thinking or if we were to just start accepting information and knowledge without question or evidence, no matter how prevalent that information may be, we would be denying ourselves the very core of who we are and not to mention, the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to truly understand AND appreciate ourselves, our world, and each other. The chance to discover NEW and breakthrough ideas, concepts, knowledge, facts, or details. To solve problems with wisdom and good sense, rationality and logic.

We should think not just because we should, or not just about what others think we should. Thinking is as easy as breathing. We don’t need to think about breathing in order to breath; we just do. But, we shouldn’t just think about whatever, just so we are thinking. If we don’t understand what we are thinking, than how can we learn about what we don’t understand?

It is of the utmost importance that we don’t allow others to think for us, particularly when we don’t have or haven’t examined all of the [known] answers ourselves. Sure, someone could say, ‘the sky is blue’, but should we really just accept that as truth? There is so much more to this world than what meets the eye, or satisfies the mind.

I love this quote by unknown: “The true purpose of education should not be to fill the heads of the future generation with facts, it must be to teach them to think.”

Think about it.

Imagine - John Lennon

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:25:58 -0800

Imagine - John Lennon

Why Smart People Do Stupid Things

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:55:03 -0800

Why Smart People Do Stupid Things:

Intelligence by itself doesn’t make you rational. Thinking rationally demands mental skills that some of us don’t have and many of us don’t use