[FairfieldLife] Re: Wikipedia in The Times
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: *Superb* long article on Wikipedia in the NYTimes magazine: http://tinyurl.com/2ofc4h The writer, Jonathan Dee (a novelist as well as a contributor to the magazine), has managed to combine a great deal of solid information about Wikipedia with a wonderful feel for its ethos and what the people are like who do the bulk of the work. Lots of telling anecdotes, a good bit of humor. I practically worship journalism like this. This article is a work of art, but it's so compusively readable you may not realize it until you take a step back and realize what Dee has accomplished. Just occurred to me, the word 'wiki' *might* be (an?) adaptation of English 'quick' into Hawaiian (morpho?)phonology...
[FairfieldLife] Re: Wikipedia in The Times
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, cardemaister [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: *Superb* long article on Wikipedia in the NYTimes magazine: http://tinyurl.com/2ofc4h The writer, Jonathan Dee (a novelist as well as a contributor to the magazine), has managed to combine a great deal of solid information about Wikipedia with a wonderful feel for its ethos and what the people are like who do the bulk of the work. Lots of telling anecdotes, a good bit of humor. I practically worship journalism like this. This article is a work of art, but it's so compusively readable you may not realize it until you take a step back and realize what Dee has accomplished. Just occurred to me, the word 'wiki' *might* be (an?) adaptation of English 'quick' into Hawaiian (morpho?)phonology... ** Wiki wiki is the Hawaiian pidgin word for English quick, but funnily enough the genuine Hawaiian (Hawaiian as part of the Austronesian family of languages, not pidgin) word for quick is awiwi, so there could have been some interplay between adapting wiki wiki as the pidgin word for English quick along with the indigenous word for quick: http://tinyurl.com/2hko2y
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: Personally I think that astrology is hogwash, *except* as tricksterism. That is, some people whose intuition and seeing skills are present but latent can *trick* themselves into utilizing their latent ability to see by gazing a chart of the position of the planets. For other people, it's tarot cards. For still others, reading tea leaves. Interesting. Here's what I said back in May of last year (I'm sure Barry didn't, you know, read it or anything): My guess: Any sufficiently complex system of correspondences, such as astrology (any flavor), works as a tool for focusing the intuition-- i.e., collecting and integrating all one's little intuitional inputs into a coherent whole so that a prediction can be generated from it. The system's correspondences themselves don't 'mean' anything at all, they're just a framework to hang the intuition on and organize what the intuition knows. Tea leaves, in other words, could work just as well as astrology for anyone with a highly developed intuition. I wish to congratulate Judy for having discovered, in May of last year, a way of looking at astrology that we California hippies used to laugh about over joints back in 1966. It shows real progress on her part. As for the well-crafted implication that I somehow lifted her ideas, I might suggest that this comes from a badly-aspected birth chart that indicates Head Up Uranus syndrome. :-) The debilitating and malefic effects of Head Up Uranus syndrome have been documented by astrologers for centuries. In some extreme cases it can cause someone who has just spent a long, supposedly relax- ing and rejuvenating weekend away to come back home and fire off 15 posts to the Internet in less than twelve hours, 11 of which include putdowns of other people. It reminds me of the classic astrological advice that Nostradamus gave to his patron Catherine de Medici: My Queen, whenever you find yourself looking at the world and seeing nothing but shit, that's Uranus.
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: Another science fiction author, Philip K. Dick, once wrote a novel in which the I Ching figured prominently in the plot. The hidden secret of the book, that he revealed at a sci-fi conference I once attended, was that the I Ching wrote the book. He just started writing, with no fixed ending in mind, and every time he got to a point in the plot where he had to make a decision as to whether to turn left or right, he threw a hexagram and did what it said. I always thought that was a pretty neat use of the I Ching. Is that the mars is heaven story? I seem to remember that, a long time since I read it. I was always a big Bradbury and PK Dick fan I'll go back and re-read them just to see how I interpret them these days. Talking of random strangeness did you ever read The dice man by Luke Rhinehartn ,now there was a wild idea a guy decides to live his life on the throw of a dice. He draws up six options for everything including things he really doesn't want to do and then unquestioningly follows it's orders. Try it if you haven't already.
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: Another science fiction author, Philip K. Dick, once wrote a novel in which the I Ching figured prominently in the plot. The hidden secret of the book, that he revealed at a sci-fi conference I once attended, was that the I Ching wrote the book. He just started writing, with no fixed ending in mind, and every time he got to a point in the plot where he had to make a decision as to whether to turn left or right, he threw a hexagram and did what it said. I always thought that was a pretty neat use of the I Ching. Is that the mars is heaven story? I don't remember the title of the Bradbury story, just that it was part of The Martian Chronicles. The PKD novel was called The Man in the High Castle. It's an example of the what if genre of science fiction, in this case, what if Germany had won WWII and was now in charge of America. The first translations of the I Ching and other esoteric and occult literature were done in Germany just before and during the WWII period, and were big favorites of the Nazis, who used them to justify their manias. Characters in the novel are consistently throwing hexagrams. PKD's little joke was that he allowed the I Ching to participate in the writing of the novel. I seem to remember that, a long time since I read it. I was always a big Bradbury and PK Dick fan I'll go back and re-read them just to see how I interpret them these days. Bradbury was a good writer, as long as he stuck to short fiction; he was less successful with novels. Philip K. Dick was just brilliant all the way around, but he wasn't the most stable or happy individual (he spent some time in mental institutions). He was also interested in Eastern philosophy and wove some Eastern sources into his work. For example, Ubik was based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Talking of random strangeness did you ever read The dice man by Luke Rhinehartn Haven't heard of it, no. now there was a wild idea a guy decides to live his life on the throw of a dice. He draws up six options for everything including things he really doesn't want to do and then unquestioningly follows it's orders. Try it if you haven't already. The novel, or that approach to life? I'll look for the novel. :-)
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: The idea that planets can go retrograde is all due to the ludicrous maths involved in making the earth appear to be the centre of the solar system, it really isn't. For the record, since the time of Copernicus (1473-1543), astrologers have known that retrograde motion is only apparent. Sorry, but they don't believe that planets actually turn around and move backward. They're also well aware that the earth revolves around the sun. And retrograde motion never did have anything to do with maths. You don't need maths to detect retrograde motion, just careful observation of the night sky. The maths I refer to is the ludicrous system of cosines, tangents etc needed to make the earth appear to be the centre of the solar system, of course we have known since the time of copernicus that isn't true but every time an astrologer sits down to do a chart he uses the same maths! Iknow this because I used to be interested in it and got a book on how to draw up horoscopes. Consider the magnitude of the realization, way back in prehistory, that while the pattern of the stars overhead changed from month to month, they always came back to the *same* positions at harvest time each year; they were always in the same positions at planting time. What a stunning discovery, that their positions were correlated with the seasons! And then there were the wandering stars--their positions were not at first at all predictable. Why should a few of the stars not follow the pattern? Think also about how significant the stars must have seemed to primitive humans. We take them for granted, but just imagine what a hunter camping on the plain must have thought as he looked at the night sky. The stars were a much more major feature of the environment than they are to us, and infinitely more mysterious and awe-inspiring. It's not at all surprising they were thought to be divine. So when humankind had progressed to the point where it could accurately chart the stars' motions, it was natural to assume they were a guidance system given to humans by the gods. The wanderers took on special significance, because they moved through the fixed constellations and were constantly forming different patterns with them. But even *their* motions, although much more complex, were regular and could be predicted. And obviously the sun and moon were the overlords of the heavens, playing different but complementary roles. What gives me the shivers is that if you wanted to *design* a system for divination for human beings on earth, you could hardly do better than the sun, the moon, and the planets in the constellations. The system seems tailor-made for that purpose. Seems is the operative word here, it wasn't made at all as we now well know. It's also no surprise that astrology was the earliest pure science, in the sense of observing and charting nature's regularities just for the joy of ferreting out her secrets. What a magnificent vehicle the night sky is for inspiring scientific curiosity! Aint that the truth? We tend to look down our noses at these primitive, superstitious magi who spent all their time gazing at the heavens, but that's totally unwarranted. The impulse that motivated them to wrest regularity from an otherwise chaotic environment over which they had little control was precisely the same as the one that motivates modern scientists, and it took just as much energy and intellect and sophistication. The first ephemeris was as much of an accomplishment as the Human Genome Project. I don't look down my nose at them at all! Not even a little bit, I think their achievement in mapping the heavens is amazing, I agree the motivation is the same, the thing is science progresses, that is the whole point, it's an ongoing attempt to explain our experience. And as the universe has got larger with ever greater discoveries and our understanding of it more refined, previous innaccurate theories have to be abandoned, that is how it works. Someone has an idea which is put out for criticism and it stands or falls depending on whether it is a more accurate description of reality. Astrology as a science of human understanding fell by the wayside a long time ago, as long ago as Copernicus in fact. It's anthropomorphism, you say so yourself and very eloquently I thought. I'm an incurable romantic and have often wondered how the universe must have seemed to ancient man, imagine being at least as smart as people these days but not actually knowing anything about how the world is. Of course things like astrology evolved, any framework is better than none, they just didn't have the tools to
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: Is that the mars is heaven story? I don't remember the title of the Bradbury story, just that it was part of The Martian Chronicles. The PKD novel was called The Man in the High Castle. It's an example of the what if genre of science fiction, in this case, what if Germany had won WWII and was now in charge of America. The first translations of the I Ching and other esoteric and occult literature were done in Germany just before and during the WWII period, and were big favorites of the Nazis, who used them to justify their manias. Characters in the novel are consistently throwing hexagrams. PKD's little joke was that he allowed the I Ching to participate in the writing of the novel. Thanks, I've not read that one of his I shall get hold of a copy this week. It won a few awards I think so shouldn't too hard to find. I seem to remember that, a long time since I read it. I was always a big Bradbury and PK Dick fan I'll go back and re-read them just to see how I interpret them these days. Bradbury was a good writer, as long as he stuck to short fiction; he was less successful with novels. Philip K. Dick was just brilliant all the way around, but he wasn't the most stable or happy individual (he spent some time in mental institutions). He was also interested in Eastern philosophy and wove some Eastern sources into his work. For example, Ubik was based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Talking of random strangeness did you ever read The dice man by Luke Rhinehartn Haven't heard of it, no. now there was a wild idea a guy decides to live his life on the throw of a dice. He draws up six options for everything including things he really doesn't want to do and then unquestioningly follows it's orders. Try it if you haven't already. The novel, or that approach to life? I'll look for the novel. :-) Probably for the best, it's one of these books that promises to change your life; but only if you've got the guts to do it!
[FairfieldLife] the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in a sorry state due to Gov apathy
http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml/articles.aspx?newsid=78725
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I don't look down my nose at them at all! Not even a little bit, I think their achievement in mapping the heavens is amazing, I agree the motivation is the same, the thing is science progresses, that is the whole point, it's an ongoing attempt to explain our experience. And as the universe has got larger with ever greater discoveries and our understanding of it more refined, previous innaccurate theories have to be abandoned, that is how it works. Someone has an idea which is put out for criticism and it stands or falls depending on whether it is a more accurate description of reality. Astrology as a science of human understanding fell by the wayside a long time ago, as long ago as Copernicus in fact. It's anthropomorphism, you say so yourself and very eloquently I thought. I'm an incurable romantic and have often wondered how the universe must have seemed to ancient man, imagine being at least as smart as people these days but not actually knowing anything about how the world is. Of course things like astrology evolved, any framework is better than none, they just didn't have the tools to work out it wasn't true. Someone else on here uses the idea that because it has been around so long it's stuck to the wall it must be true. This is faulty reasoning. Sooner or later every culture has to accept that the earth isn't flat, counter-intuitive though it is the weight of evidence eventually becomes overwhelming. So the question is not is astrology an accurate descritption of reality but why do so many continue to believe in it? I think it sticks to the wall because it's such a seductive idea that we can see the future and avoid returning karma, it can even help with relationships and tell us how wonderful we are! I also think there is a fear of loneliness or that we are truly responsible for ourselves and all that happens in our lives, blame is better to give than recieve. So the meme continues to propagate to every new generation. Most people encounter astrology in some form long before they come across physics or cosmology but they have taught us much more about the universe and ourselves than jyotish ever could but as you say that was the starting point. Just to have fun riffing on your ideas, and NOT to argue, here's another way of looking at the situation. Is it possible that science is *just* as much a seductive idea that we can see the future and avoid returning karma? While it may be more verifiable within a certain range of states of consciousness than astrology or Godthink or those other belief systems, isn't it -- like all of the others -- somewhat of an attempt at hubris? That is, isn't the idea of science based on the assumption that we *can* figure it out, and come up with definitive reasons why things are the way they appear to be, and thus to predict what might happen in the future, given a similar set of inputs? From my point of view, science -- like most forms of Creation Science, Western or Eastern -- are predicated on the acceptance of how the world appears from one state of consciousness -- MMY's waking state. From that state, it appears that time is a given. But all of us here have heard talks about states of consciousness in which time is not a part of the operating system; time does not exist in those states. Science seems (to me) based on linear thinking, start and stop, cause and effect. This is merely assumed as a baseline for all other assumptions that are predicated upon it. So-called rational thinking *depends* upon time, and upon the accept- ance of cause and effect within a linear timeline. Thus the whole term non sequitur. It does not follow, and thus it is not rational. I guess my question is, would its findings of a science based on the assumption of linearity and time still be true when viewed from a state of consciousness -- and thus a state of reality -- in which time was no longer a factor? Just questions to play with. I agree with most of what you said above; I'm just riffing on the idea that science is that much more evolved than astrology. They're IMO both still based on the same assumption, which I don't necessarily believe is a given. I think that there is a possibility that basing one's entire world view on the assumption of linearity -- and thus the theoretical beginning and end of the universe -- may be as much of an anthropomorphization as projecting the images of Gods onto star patterns. Could it be that the projection of linearity -- of birth and death -- onto the universe is just another way of anthropomorphizing our fear of death? Yeah, I'm gonna die, but so is the universe, so it's all Ok. :-) Just stuff to think about...not a declaration of How Things Work. I *don't know* How Things Work, and that provides as much enduring pleasure to me as trying to figure out How Things Work seems
[FairfieldLife] File - FFL Guidelines.txt
Guidelines File 12/22/05 Fairfield Life used to average 75-150 posts a day - 300+ on peak days - and the guidelines included steps on how to deal with the volume. But this volume was due largely to indiscriminate posting by a few members. We now have a policy that limits all members to 35 posts a week. Members are responsible for counting and restricting their own posts, but members who regularly exceed their weekly quota will be put on moderated status. Most participants feel this policy has greatly enhanced the quality of the forum. You can also read FFL posts at http://www.mail-archive.com/fairfieldlife@yahoogroups.com/. Some say this is faster than the Yahoo groups interface, and prefer it because it allows sorting by thread and has a better search function. -- Check out http://www.frappr.com/fairfieldlife and add yourself if you feel like it. -- 1) This group has long maintained a thoughtful and considerate tone. Please refrain from personal attacks, insults and excessive venting. Speak the truth that is sweet is a worthy aspiration. If angry, take some time to gain composure before writing or pushing the send button. 2) Edit your posts and make them as concise and non-repetitive as possible. 3) Please be highly selective in quoting a message to which you are responding, deleting all but the most relevant portions of the prior posts. This makes the daily digest easier to read for those who subscribe to it. 4) Try to make clear to the reader if you are writing from the perspective of personal experience, from information gained from teachers or books, from your own thoughts, reasoning, logic or conjecture. Please cite sources where relevant. 5) Reference prior posts by their archive number whenever possible. 6) Anonymous posts are permitted, using an account you create. 7) FFL is a newsgroup public forum. FFL can be openly read from the web. Posting privileges are through membership only. Material published to FFL is not privileged or protected by law. Material published to FFL might be quoted and used elsewhere. 8) Make cross-posts from other sites only as they are highly relevant to this group. If you think another site has great value, write one post saying so, then let others join or go to that site on their own, at their discretion. 9) Only post links to other sites that are relevant references to the specific discussion at hand. 10) While friendly exchange between friends is natural, try to pass on personal messages via personal e-mail, refraining where possible from sending personal messages to the whole list. 11) Feel to invite your friends to join FFL, and to use the site's Promote feature on your websites. The broader the personal network, the greater the value to all. Friends may now access the posts of FFL directly off the home page without having to join the list. 12) Please don't post commercial announcements in the main message area. See the Database, Links and Files sections for folders that have been set up listing books, CDs, DVDs and other items for trade, a Fairfield ride board, local events, hiring/looking for work announcements, informative articles, useful, links, etc. 13) Discussions of politics that affect personal growth and world consciousness are allowed. However, be kind and respectful of others' viewpoints. Come with a humble heart, an open mind, and the desire to contribute constructively to everyone's broader awareness. 14) Keep in mind that many FFL members desire to maintain anonymity. If you happen to know a member's real name, perhaps because that member has mentioned it in a post or two, or just to you privately, please refer to that member only by the pseudonym. 15) If you want to make suggestions for the refinement of these guidelines, please post them in the forum.
[FairfieldLife] File - FFL Acronyms
BC - Brahman Consciousness BN - Bliss Ninny or Bliss Nazi CC - Cosmic Consciousness GC - God Consciousness MMY - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi POV - Point of View SBS - Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's master SCI Science of Creative Intelligence SOC - State of Consciousness SSRS - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Pundit-ji) SV - Stpathya Ved (Vedic Architecture) TB - True Believer (in TM doctrines) TNB - True Non-Believer TMO - The Transcendental Meditation organization TTC TM Teacher Training Course UC - Unity Consciousness YMMV = Your Mileage may vary To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[FairfieldLife] Spiritual Practice Groups of FF, A Directory
Spiritual Practice Groups of Fairfield Directory of Active Fairfield Spiritual Practice Groups Outside of Fairfield, people intently ask, What is going on in Fairfield? The spiritual, utopian side of Fairfield is something they are wondering about. Fairfield has become recognized as a spiritual Mecca of sorts, ranking with Sedona, Arizona, Boulder and Crestone, Colorado, Ashville, North Carolina and the like. Within these past three decades, Fairfield spiritual practice groups have matured, giving this community a rich, new face. The long-time Fairfield meditating community today is its own center for spiritual practice. The breadth of spiritual practice groups in Fairfield is now a unique feature of our town in the 21st Century. ___Alphabetical: A Course in Miracles, Mondays 7:30 pm. Local contact: 472-7148. Ammachi Fairfield Satsang Ammachi Fairfield weekly schedule of meditation, chanting, and bhajans contact: 472-8563 Art of Living Foundation -Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Meditation and program schedule in Fairfield. 472-2053 Babaji Group: Local contact: 472-9952 Bapuji Group Shri Avadoot, better known as ³Bapuji². Local contact: 472-9260 Chalanda Sai Maa Satang in Fairfield Group meditations based on the teachings of Chalanda Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi. First and third Monday of the month at 7:30 PM. Call for location information: 472-5175. Circle of Sophia a holy order for women at St. Gabriel and All Angels, the Liberal Catholic Church. Original worship celebration, written from sources in ancient Christianity, enlivens the Feminine Divine for both men and women. Celebrations monthly. 300 E. Burlington. www.stgabe.org, 472- 1645, for information and calendar. Deeksha Darshan and teachings of Bhagavan Kalki Padmavati Amma Fairfield contact for local program: 472-6948 Divine Mother Church in Fairfield ³We don¹t talk about God, we commune with God². Sundays 10 AM; 409 W. Broadway; 472-0662. Fairfield Vedic Pujas, Yagyas and Ceremonies Scheduled public events always open to interested persons. By Vedic Scholar and Priest, Pandit Dhruv Narain Sharma: 630-240-3368 Fellowship of the Holy Spirit in Fairfield ³Consciousness, Joy, and Devotion: Christianity that works.² Sundays, 11 AM, Gateridge Building, 1100 N. 4th. 472-8737. Friends Meeting Fairfield Society of Friends (Quakers) Un-programmed silent meeting for worship. 472-8422. Gangaji Group Local contact: 472-9476. Golden Shield Qi Gong Fairfield practice: 641-919-3913. Hatha Yoga classes. Sue Berkey: 472-6577 Henry Hertzberger Chanting, Pujas Yagyas. Mahaganapati Temple Schedule: Fairfield Shri Karunamayi Satsang Fairfield Group Meditation and Program. 472-8422 Liberal Catholic Church in Fairfield St Gabriel and all Angels, 300 E. Burlington. 472-1625 Manavata Mandir Vedic Temple 800 W. Burlington in Fairfield. 469-6041. Mother Meera: 641.472.5149 Saniel Bonder, `Waking Down' in Fairfield. Sittings calendar: call 472-7182. Scalar Group Meditation Programs facilitated by Lilli Botchis. A unique opportunity as a group to research in mind/body consciousness the universal themes of pure energy and manifestation potential of HHFe Scalar wave regeneration system. Programs designed to clear, balance and open the chakra system. 472-0129. Shivabalayogi Group All are welcome. There is never any charge for Swamiji's blessings. For further information, contact: 641-233-1025. Svaroopa Yoga (641) 472-7499. Tetra Building TM-Sidhi Meditation Practice Room. Daily morning and afternoon meditation facility for the practice of the TM-Sidhi meditation program. A quiet, clean and convenient place (to do program). Contact David Hawthorne for use and membership information: 472-3799. Transcendental Meditation Programs: 641-919.8188 or 472-1174 Transformational Prayer in Fairfield For information on Fairfield activities, call 472-0662. Wednesday Night Satsang - Every Wednesday starting at 8pm Central Time. Kirkwood Apartments just east of Sidha Insurance near 4th and Kirkwood. First apartment on the right, up the stairs. The mechanics of what happens in the Wednesday Night Satsang is as follows. With anywhere from a dozen or more awake people in the room there begins a sharing of how the wholeness of the awakening has or is being experienced/lived by one or more awake people. This sharing stirs the wholeness into activity. Those in the room feel it in a palpable way. The sharing of the experience of how it is gives everyone in the room direct and complete understanding of what this wholeness is. Any one who is in the room then has the direct physical experience of wholeness and the intellectual understanding of how and why wholeness is lived. This completes the fullness of both the experience and the intellectual understanding simultaneously. That is how those who are in the room enhance their own awakening and those who haven't quite got it complete the search. Tom Traynor - 919-6917 The Active Spiritual Practice Groups
[FairfieldLife] Sustainable Fairfield: This Sunday!
From: Sustainable Fairfield [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi All, Please pass this on to any individuals or any of your lists who you think may be interested in our new Sustainable Fairfield Association resource group. You might also encourage them to email us directly so that they can get on the direct email list for future mailings of any sustainable activities relevant to our community. Our email list will not be shared with anyone else, will just be used in the dissemination of information pertinent to sustainability issues and at any time you can email us to unsubscribe from the list. Tomorrow, Sunday July 1st Because of the requests I have received we will go ahead and have the inaugural organizational meeting of the Sustainable Fairfield Association this Sunday at the Fairfield Public Library. Come on in at 3:15 to mingle and we will start the proceedings by 3:30. We will finish up by no later than 4:15 and if you need to leave sooner that will be fine. For those taking the Building Your Sustainable Home - Affordably course we will be having our class as usual with the doors opening at 1:15. The library itself will be open tomorrow starting at 1 PM. The defining thought in the creation of the Sustainable Fairfield Association is to help make it much easier and more affordable for all of us here to be able to build (including reconstruction and retrofitting) and live sustainably by having a collective and coordinated community focus on gathering all we need and then sharing the information. This will be a community resourcing group that will identify, access and make easily available people, knowledge, material and financial resources that can help all of us in our desires to live affordably and sustainably. As a group we can also think of how we can integrate our efforts into existing associations, institutions, businesses, governmental organizations and media to make our efforts more fruitful. A community resource group like this is the most important part of being able to have affordable and sustainable living. The amount of resources that we will unearth will be incredible. As an example, one person from our group recently reminded me of a source of government assistance that I hadn't thought of in more than 10 years (FMHA) which can help many of us who qualify possibly obtain an outright grant for a portion of our home cost and a very low interest loan (right now approx 4.5%) for the balance. Also at our recent class where we were discussing the use of natural wood and stone in our buildings, two sources of free stone were mentioned. Much more will come out as we focus as a group on finding the many tangible and intangible treasures that are out there. The purpose of this first meeting will be to officially adopt a name (I'm not attached to the current one) and an initial mission statement, to form a steering committee and select interim officers, create various resource committees from which everyone can choose to participate in as they like as members or as chairperson ( you can choose more than one). From there everyone can start the research processes and we can become more organized with time. If you can not be at this first meeting there will be meetings on a regular basis and you can email to this email address what area(s) you would like to participate in and we will then put you in touch with the appropriate person or group. The structure will be informal and fun and for those who want you can research away at home, keep in touch by email and just come to the occasional meeting as the feeling moves you (though for me, when we had a similar group 15 years ago our Wednesday evening meeting was what I most looked forward to every week). We can work toward having all of our information on a web site (perhaps an existing one) and referenced in both libraries and perhaps the chamber of commerce and the local media so that even newcomers to town will easily find this information. Anyone who would like to be on the steering committee or serve in some other capacity please feel free to email me in advance of (or after) the meeting. Here are just some of the suggested areas of research and resourcing. More can be suggested tomorrow Grants and other financial assistance Roofing systems (living, clay tile, slate and other natural options) Foundations (rubble trench, stone, etc.) Cob ovens (and AGA-like cob stove/ovens) Solar hot water and other solar heat collection Sustainable Transportation (pedal, electric, hydrogen, biodiesel, etc.) Wall systems ( straw bale, cob, etc.) Sourcing and using stone, wood and other natural products earth tubes and the Earth as a thermal battery Sourcing national experts (for teleconferencing, live presentations and project consulting) Rainwater collection, wetlands, biological pools, greywater treatment and other water issues Composting toilets Road structures (living
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: The idea that planets can go retrograde is all due to the ludicrous maths involved in making the earth appear to be the centre of the solar system, it really isn't. snip Barry's comment in which he appears to express the belief that astrologers think the planets really do change direction For the record, since the time of Copernicus (1473-1543), astrologers have known that retrograde motion is only apparent. Sorry, but they don't believe that planets actually turn around and move backward. They're also well aware that the earth revolves around the sun. And retrograde motion never did have anything to do with maths. You don't need maths to detect retrograde motion, just careful observation of the night sky. The maths I refer to is the ludicrous system of cosines, tangents etc needed to make the earth appear to be the centre of the solar system, of course we have known since the time of copernicus that isn't true but every time an astrologer sits down to do a chart he uses the same maths! Iknow this because I used to be interested in it and got a book on how to draw up horoscopes. Well, yes, but in any case, again, the math isn't the reason the planets appear to go retrograde, it's just visual observation. snip What gives me the shivers is that if you wanted to *design* a system for divination for human beings on earth, you could hardly do better than the sun, the moon, and the planets in the constellations. The system seems tailor-made for that purpose. Seems is the operative word here, it wasn't made at all as we now well know. Well, we *don't* know, really, either way. But I'm not making a claim that it was, just pointing out how natural and logical it was for humans to draw that conclusion way back when (I think you agree with me on that). snip Someone else on here uses the idea that because it has been around so long it's stuck to the wall it must be true. This is faulty reasoning. Sooner or later every culture has to accept that the earth isn't flat, counter-intuitive though it is the weight of evidence eventually becomes overwhelming. Yeah, but in fact, the premise of astrology--the data on which it is based--has to do with how the sky appears from earth. There's no conceivable evidence to the contrary for that premise! If you think about it for a moment, astrology doesn't depend operationally on the idea that the earth is flat, or even that the earth is the center of the universe, nor that the celestial bodies actually influence affairs on earth. What's in question is whether the appearance of the sky from earth is *correlated* with affairs on earth, such that predictions about the latter can be derived from what the sky is going to look like at some future point (which astrologers can determine with great precision). In other words, astrology *could* be valid even though the earth is flat, goes around the sun, and isn't the center of the universe, and even though science tells us there's no possible mechanism of influence. It doesn't *have* to involve an accurate description of reality in terms of how the solar system really operates, as long as it *does* involve an accurate description of what the sky looks like from the earth. The sky's appearance from earth has its own very solid reality. So the question is not is astrology an accurate descritption of reality but why do so many continue to believe in it? I think the person who said astrology has stuck to the wall was referring to what he perceives to be the record of accuracy of the predictions astrology makes. That's certainly questionable--it's extremely difficult to do any kind of valid scientific test-- but it isn't inherently faulty reasoning. I think it sticks to the wall because it's such a seductive idea that we can see the future and avoid returning karma, it can even help with relationships and tell us how wonderful we are! Sure. The accuracy of predictions and personality analysis can be very much a matter of wishful thinking, no question about it. I also think there is a fear of loneliness or that we are truly responsible for ourselves and all that happens in our lives, blame is better to give than recieve. On the other hand, science fulfills the same needs in many respects, e.g., genetics. So the meme continues to propagate to every new generation. Most people encounter astrology in some form long before they come across physics or cosmology but they have taught us much more about the universe and ourselves than jyotish ever could but as you say that was the starting point. Tangentially, I recently copy edited a book with a
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: Personally I think that astrology is hogwash, *except* as tricksterism. That is, some people whose intuition and seeing skills are present but latent can *trick* themselves into utilizing their latent ability to see by gazing a chart of the position of the planets. For other people, it's tarot cards. For still others, reading tea leaves. Interesting. Here's what I said back in May of last year (I'm sure Barry didn't, you know, read it or anything): My guess: Any sufficiently complex system of correspondences, such as astrology (any flavor), works as a tool for focusing the intuition-- i.e., collecting and integrating all one's little intuitional inputs into a coherent whole so that a prediction can be generated from it. The system's correspondences themselves don't 'mean' anything at all, they're just a framework to hang the intuition on and organize what the intuition knows. Tea leaves, in other words, could work just as well as astrology for anyone with a highly developed intuition. I wish to congratulate Judy for having discovered, in May of last year, a way of looking at astrology that we California hippies used to laugh about over joints back in 1966. It shows real progress on her part. Nah, sorry, I figured this out back when I first got into astrology (and was talking about it on alt.m.t long before you ever mentioned it).
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ann Coulter on John Edwards' dead son
In a message dated 6/30/07 6:25:00 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Whether they are or not has no bearing on Trent Lott. Right wingers like to play the somebody else is a scumbag like our guy card and try to make it a partisan issue. As if that somehow justifies or exonerates the actual person being discussed. For what it's worth much fewer than 25% of blacks vote in Mississippi. You still dodge the question. I guess you can't admit that Beiden and Byrd are racist. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ann Coulter on John Edwards' dead son
In a message dated 6/30/07 7:06:21 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The point is that he complained about too much freedom of speech. IOW, he is for restraining freedom of speech which is something we cannot tolerate. Fire Fire Fire! There is a Fire in the Theater! So I guess freedom of speech is an absolute? ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
[FairfieldLife] Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
_Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Other Views_ (http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT-REF30b.article) ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Practice Groups of FF, A Directory
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, dhamiltony2k5 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Spiritual Practice Groups of Fairfield Directory of Active Fairfield Spiritual Practice Groups Outside of Fairfield, people intently ask, What is going on in Fairfield? The spiritual, utopian side of Fairfield is something they are wondering about. Fairfield has become recognized as a spiritual Mecca of sorts, ranking with Sedona, Arizona, Boulder and Crestone, Colorado, Ashville, North Carolina and the like. Within these past three decades, Fairfield spiritual practice groups have matured, giving this community a rich, new face. The long-time Fairfield meditating community today is its own center for spiritual practice. The breadth of spiritual practice groups in Fairfield is now a unique feature of our town in the 21st Century. ___Alphabetical: A Course in Miracles, Mondays 7:30 pm. Local contact: 472-7148. Ammachi Fairfield Satsang Ammachi Fairfield weekly schedule of meditation, chanting, and bhajans contact: 472-8563 Art of Living Foundation -Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Meditation and program schedule in Fairfield. 472-2053 Babaji Group: Local contact: 472-9952 Bapuji Group Shri Avadoot, better known as ³Bapuji². Local contact: 472-9260 Chalanda Sai Maa Satang in Fairfield Group meditations based on the teachings of Chalanda Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi. First and third Monday of the month at 7:30 PM. Call for location information: 472-5175. Circle of Sophia a holy order for women at St. Gabriel and All Angels, the Liberal Catholic Church. Original worship celebration, written from sources in ancient Christianity, enlivens the Feminine Divine for both men and women. Celebrations monthly. 300 E. Burlington. www.stgabe.org, 472- 1645, for information and calendar. Deeksha Darshan and teachings of Bhagavan Kalki Padmavati Amma Fairfield contact for local program: 472-6948 Divine Mother Church in Fairfield ³We don¹t talk about God, we commune with God². Sundays 10 AM; 409 W. Broadway; 472-0662. Fairfield Vedic Pujas, Yagyas and Ceremonies Scheduled public events always open to interested persons. By Vedic Scholar and Priest, Pandit Dhruv Narain Sharma: 630-240-3368 Fellowship of the Holy Spirit in Fairfield ³Consciousness, Joy, and Devotion: Christianity that works.² Sundays, 11 AM, Gateridge Building, 1100 N. 4th. 472-8737. Friends Meeting Fairfield Society of Friends (Quakers) Un-programmed silent meeting for worship. 472-8422. Gangaji Group Local contact: 472-9476. Golden Shield Qi Gong Fairfield practice: 641-919-3913. Hatha Yoga classes. Sue Berkey: 472-6577 Henry Hertzberger Chanting, Pujas Yagyas. Mahaganapati Temple Schedule: Fairfield Shri Karunamayi Satsang Fairfield Group Meditation and Program. 472-8422 Liberal Catholic Church in Fairfield St Gabriel and all Angels, 300 E. Burlington. 472-1625 Manavata Mandir Vedic Temple 800 W. Burlington in Fairfield. 469-6041. Mother Meera: 641.472.5149 Saniel Bonder, `Waking Down' in Fairfield. Sittings calendar: call 472-7182. Scalar Group Meditation Programs facilitated by Lilli Botchis. A unique opportunity as a group to research in mind/body consciousness the universal themes of pure energy and manifestation potential of HHFe Scalar wave regeneration system. Programs designed to clear, balance and open the chakra system. 472-0129. Shivabalayogi Group All are welcome. There is never any charge for Swamiji's blessings. For further information, contact: 641-233-1025. Svaroopa Yoga (641) 472-7499. Tetra Building TM-Sidhi Meditation Practice Room. Daily morning and afternoon meditation facility for the practice of the TM-Sidhi meditation program. A quiet, clean and convenient place (to do program). Contact David Hawthorne for use and membership information: 472-3799. Transcendental Meditation Programs: 641-919.8188 or 472-1174 Transformational Prayer in Fairfield For information on Fairfield activities, call 472-0662. Wednesday Night Satsang - Every Wednesday starting at 8pm Central Time. Kirkwood Apartments just east of Sidha Insurance near 4th and Kirkwood. First apartment on the right, up the stairs. The mechanics of what happens in the Wednesday Night Satsang is as follows. With anywhere from a dozen or more awake people in the room there begins a sharing of how the wholeness of the awakening has or is being experienced/lived by one or more awake people. This sharing stirs the wholeness into activity. Those in the room feel it in a palpable way. The sharing of the experience of how it is gives everyone in the room direct and complete understanding of what this wholeness is. Any one who is in the room then has the direct physical experience of wholeness and the intellectual understanding of how and why wholeness is lived. This completes the fullness of both the experience and
[FairfieldLife] Re: YouTube - We Are Theo - Chapter 1
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Patrick Gillam [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks for the encouragement, Rory. Jeremy made his most recent movie, Marguerite, when he was 15, inspired by the motifs and lighting of noir cinema. Sweet! And at 15... always a joy to see genius unfolding. Jeremy-ji, Namaste! :-) *L*L*L*
[FairfieldLife] Re: Photos of Yogis
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Not in my reading of things. Judy often, not always IMO, cuts to the chase. to the key thing. Other times she is off fighting old wars which amuses me, as a reflection of the human condition and its obscure and hidden, deep motivations. But she does not, generally -- I am sure there are exceptions -- obfuscate. She slams the point home. From my view, the V factor obfuscates far more than the J factor. Well said and heartily seconded, New; many thanks. Perfect, ain't it? :-)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ann Coulter on John Edwards' dead son
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 6/30/07 7:06:21 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The point is that he complained about too much freedom of speech. IOW, he is for restraining freedom of speech which is something we cannot tolerate. Fire Fire Fire! There is a Fire in the Theater! So I guess freedom of speech is an absolute? The problem, of course, is, where do you draw the line? And who draws it? Who decides what terrorist speech is, and on what basis? Who do you trust to make such judgments? Plus which, even if we were able to make such judgments with a high degree of accuracy and absence of bias, the whole idea is not feasible. The Internet is too big to be adequately surveilled, first of all; and second, it's not technically possible to keep dangerous speech confined. Bottom line, it's empty rhetoric designed to inflame fears for political advantage, not a practical solution to the problem of terrorism.
[FairfieldLife] Why isn't Judy happy?
Judy, Why is your knee-jerk reaction to news that global warming may not be a reality always negative? You should be estatic and relieved at hearing such news! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: ...we must call Al Gore a liar. --- Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT- REF30b.article June 30, 2007 BY JAMES M. TAYLOR snip James M. Taylor is senior fellow for environment policy at the Heartland Institute. The Heartland Institute is heavily funded by ExxonMobil and the tobacco industry. 'Nuff said.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: _Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Other Views_ (http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT- REF30b.article) I already posted a link to this article. Judy's response? It's totally meaningless because ExxonMobile funds the institute where the author works.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ann Coulter on John Edwards' dead son
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 6/30/07 6:25:00 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Whether they are or not has no bearing on Trent Lott. Right wingers like to play the somebody else is a scumbag like our guy card and try to make it a partisan issue. As if that somehow justifies or exonerates the actual person being discussed. For what it's worth much fewer than 25% of blacks vote in Mississippi. You still dodge the question. I guess you can't admit that Beiden and Byrd are racist. Apparently you cannot accept the answer I gave. That's your problem, not mine.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, MDixon6569@ wrote: _Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Other Views_ (http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT- REF30b.article) I already posted a link to this article. Judy's response? It's totally meaningless because ExxonMobile funds the institute where the author works. Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. The Heartland Institute created a website in the Spring of 2007, www.globalwarmingheartland.org, which asserts there is no scientific consensus on global warming and features a list of experts and a list of like-minded think tanks, many of whom have received funding from ExxonMobil and other polluters. [...] Walter F. Buchholtz, an ExxonMobil executive, serves as Heartland's Government Relations Advisor, according to Heartland's 2005 IRS Form 990, pg. 15. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/309/2005-363309812-0295fbb2-9.pdf The Heartland Institute formerly sponsored and hosted www.climatesearch.org, a web page ostensibly dedicated to objective research on global warming, but at the same time presenting heavily biased research by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute as an FAQ section. http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=41
[FairfieldLife] Re: File - FFL Acronyms
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com wrote: BC - Brahman Consciousness BN - Bliss Ninny or Bliss Nazi CC - Cosmic Consciousness GC - God Consciousness MMY - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi POV - Point of View SBS - Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's master SCI Science of Creative Intelligence SOC - State of Consciousness SSRS - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Pundit-ji) SV - Stpathya Ved (Vedic Architecture) TB - True Believer (in TM doctrines) TNB - True Non-Believer TMO - The Transcendental Meditation organization TTC TM Teacher Training Course UC - Unity Consciousness YMMV = Your Mileage may vary Be sure to add a very important one that applies to most of us: NITL - Not In This Lifetime
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: I don't look down my nose at them at all! Not even a little bit, I think their achievement in mapping the heavens is amazing, I agree the motivation is the same, the thing is science progresses, that is the whole point, it's an ongoing attempt to explain our experience. And as the universe has got larger with ever greater discoveries and our understanding of it more refined, previous innaccurate theories have to be abandoned, that is how it works. Someone has an idea which is put out for criticism and it stands or falls depending on whether it is a more accurate description of reality. Astrology as a science of human understanding fell by the wayside a long time ago, as long ago as Copernicus in fact. It's anthropomorphism, you say so yourself and very eloquently I thought. I'm an incurable romantic and have often wondered how the universe must have seemed to ancient man, imagine being at least as smart as people these days but not actually knowing anything about how the world is. Of course things like astrology evolved, any framework is better than none, they just didn't have the tools to work out it wasn't true. Someone else on here uses the idea that because it has been around so long it's stuck to the wall it must be true. This is faulty reasoning. Sooner or later every culture has to accept that the earth isn't flat, counter-intuitive though it is the weight of evidence eventually becomes overwhelming. So the question is not is astrology an accurate descritption of reality but why do so many continue to believe in it? I think it sticks to the wall because it's such a seductive idea that we can see the future and avoid returning karma, it can even help with relationships and tell us how wonderful we are! I also think there is a fear of loneliness or that we are truly responsible for ourselves and all that happens in our lives, blame is better to give than recieve. So the meme continues to propagate to every new generation. Most people encounter astrology in some form long before they come across physics or cosmology but they have taught us much more about the universe and ourselves than jyotish ever could but as you say that was the starting point. Just to have fun riffing on your ideas, and NOT to argue, here's another way of looking at the situation. Is it possible that science is *just* as much a seductive idea that we can see the future and avoid returning karma? While it may be more verifiable within a certain range of states of consciousness than astrology or Godthink or those other belief systems, isn't it -- like all of the others -- somewhat of an attempt at hubris? I would say that it isn't hubris because it only accepts as true things that can stand up to a bit of experimantal probing. I doubt anyone could have guessed where our view of the world was heading when Einstein started work but as it became obvious that ideas needed to be overhauled that's what happened. And then came quantum physics which is surreally counter-intuitive, but is it like that simply because we don't understand it fully or is the universe actually stranger than we CAN suppose? And that I think is another way of asking your question, can our brains, our maths and science really explain what's going on or are we just kidding ourselves that the model of reality we've constructed is accurate. I was reading in New Scientist that new evidence has come to light proving that the universe only exists when we look at it, which is as bizarre an idea as you'll get. I don't think it will stand the test of time as there are other theories that explain the same thing but without contradicting anything else we know. The favourite being the idea that there are an infinite number of universes sharing the same space, even the same electrons. Apparently that is the simplest explantion for the quantum paradoxes. Just think, every possible version of me, you, Laurel and Hardy, aardvarks, everything, all possible combinations all existing somewhere on the continuum in slightly different universes, and it can be proved with a simple experiment involving a laser and a piece of cardboard (seriously). I'm out of time tonight or I would really go into it, another time. That is, isn't the idea of science based on the assumption that we *can* figure it out, and come up with definitive reasons why things are the way they appear to be, and thus to predict what might happen in the future, given a similar set of inputs? From my point of view, science -- like most forms of Creation Science, Western or Eastern -- are predicated on the acceptance of how the world appears from one state of consciousness --
[FairfieldLife] Re: Today is Curtis' Birthday
HD: Since you and Honeyboy Edwards have birthdays on consecutive days, maybe you should get together and party. May You still be playing just as strongly when you are his age! Play on Curtis! Happy Birthday. Thanks for the message and this fact about Honeyboy! I am a huge fan of his, only saw him live once. His autobiography The world Don't Owe Me Nuth'n is the best picture of life with Robert Johnson and the early blues men we have. He is the true model for immortality for me, the guy still rocks in his 90's? Great Chick pics too. Condoms on rudraksha bead malas will be the next FF rage. That's what I would call 200% of life! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hermandan0 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Didn't have a chance to read FFL yesterday so I missed the party. Oh well, it's probably still going on. Your comment about an Oreo cookie mala a while ago made me think this girl would be invited to your party: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=597756 or maybe she was wearing this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=630474 Happy Birthday Curtis. Thanks for the music, for your thoughtfulness, humor, insights and self-reflections and you (near) endless patience! Your posts are always a treat and one of the reasons to keep coming back to FFL (even though I rarely post myself. Since you and Honeyboy Edwards have birthdays on consecutive days, maybe you should get together and party. May You still be playing just as strongly when you are his age! Play on Curtis! Happy Birthday. hd
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, MDixon6569@ wrote: _Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Other Views_ (http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT- REF30b.article) I already posted a link to this article. Judy's response? It's totally meaningless because ExxonMobile funds the institute where the author works. Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. SO WHAT? Did you read the article? It was, mostly, a compendium of references to published articles in the leading scientific journals that refuted the global warming position. Are all these journals and all the authors of those pieces ALSO in the pocket of ExxonMobile? The Heartland Institute created a website in the Spring of 2007, www.globalwarmingheartland.org, which asserts there is no scientific consensus on global warming and features a list of experts and a list of like-minded think tanks, many of whom have received funding from ExxonMobil and other polluters. [...] Walter F. Buchholtz, an ExxonMobil executive, serves as Heartland's Government Relations Advisor, according to Heartland's 2005 IRS Form 990, pg. 15. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/309/2005-363309812- 0295fbb2-9.pdf The Heartland Institute formerly sponsored and hosted www.climatesearch.org, a web page ostensibly dedicated to objective research on global warming, but at the same time presenting heavily biased research by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute as an FAQ section. http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=41
[FairfieldLife] Re: Today is Curtis' Birthday
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: HD: Since you and Honeyboy Edwards have birthdays on consecutive days, maybe you should get together and party. May You still be playing just as strongly when you are his age! Play on Curtis! Happy Birthday. Thanks for the message and this fact about Honeyboy! I am a huge fan of his, only saw him live once. His autobiography The world Don't Owe Me Nuth'n is the best picture of life with Robert Johnson and the early blues men we have. He is the true model for immortality for me, the guy still rocks in his 90's? Great Chick pics too. Condoms on rudraksha bead malas will be the next FF rage. That's what I would call 200% of life! Probably where Fairfield is heading. It will be very interesting to see what happens to that town when MIU is gone and the Domes are empty of TM-ers. The new Sodoma Gomorra for awhile perhaps before the leftovers move on and let the Fairfielders tend to their hogfarms.
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: snip Just questions to play with. I agree with most of what you said above; I'm just riffing on the idea that science is that much more evolved than astrology. They're IMO both still based on the same assumption, which I don't necessarily believe is a given. I think that there is a possibility that basing one's entire world view on the assumption of linearity -- and thus the theoretical beginning and end of the universe -- may be as much of an anthropomorphization as projecting the images of Gods onto star patterns. However, if there were no time and no linearity, there would be no science either, so the question is fundamentally meaningless. Science is a creature of the human experience of time and linearity; we don't impose time and linearity on that experience via science. Also, the assumption of linearity doesn't necessarily imply a beginning and ending to the universe. It's entirely possible to conceive of infinite linearity and endless time and is, in fact, the basis of the old steady-state theory of the universe, now supplanted by the Big Bang theory on the basis of observational evidence.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Photos of Yogis
It was intellectually dishonest of you to pretend this paragraph was the substance of the Wikipedia entry. Here's the first paragraph: OMG foiled again! How could I have known that you would be able to find Wikipedia from my reference to it and get the whole article! So clever, so resourceful, and oh so clarificatory! My nefarious ends are only delayed, not thwarted by your brilliant tactic of following provided references. Now that I know this is part of your skills I will cover my tracks much better. BTW some topics have more than one way to look at them other then your way and the intellectually dishonest way. (all references to the source of this idea deliberately hidden) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: To clarify: My view is that when you tell deliberate untruths, or (more often) simply engage in intellectual dishonesty, the nefarious ends in question are the preservation and/or promotion of your self-image. Form Wikipedia: Intellectual dishonesty: The terms intellectually dishonest and intellectual dishonesty are often used as rhetorical devices in a debate; the label invariably frames an opponent in a negative light. It is an obfuscatory way to say you're lying or you're stupid, and has a cooling effect on conversations similar to accusations of ignorance. Me: Yeah, that about sums it up. Hilarious. An intellectually dishonest definition of intellectual dishonesty. I'd guess the writer of that paragraph has been on the receiving end of accusations of intellectual dishonesty. It was intellectually dishonest of you to pretend this paragraph was the substance of the Wikipedia entry. Here's the first paragraph: Intellectual dishonesty is the advocacy of a position known to be false. Rhetoric is used to advance an agenda or to reinforce one's deeply held beliefs in the face of overwhelming contrary evidence. If a person is aware of the evidence and the conclusion it portends, yet holds a contradictory view, it is intellectual dishonesty. If the person is unaware of the evidence, their position is ignorance, even if in agreement with the scientific conclusion. (It doesn't have to be in the face of overwhelming contrary evidence. It can be used just to gain a bit of advantage in an argument.) Intellectual dishonesty is a perfectly legitimate label for a particular type of tactics in a debate or argument. It has nothing to do with stupidity or ignorance, of course; a person can be brilliant and yet intellectually dishonest. And it's not obfuscatory, it's clarificatory, because it makes a clear distinction between lying (knowing misstatement of fact) and an argument that pretends to be logical but is actually fallacious. Nor is it merely a rhetorical device, although it does frame the person so accused in a negative light. duh By itself, the accusation doesn't mean much; in that case it *is* just a rhetorical device. But I never use it in a vacuum; I always specify what it is about an argument that is intellectually dishonest and why. Well, you've certainly proved my point, Curtis. Thank you. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: snip Judy is a different story. There is no way that I can get her off the view that I am a devious person telling deliberate untruths for some nefarious end. To clarify: My view is that when you tell deliberate untruths, or (more often) simply engage in intellectual dishonesty, the nefarious ends in question are the preservation and/or promotion of your self-image. An example of same is the way you have phrased your characterization of my view above.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: File - FFL Acronyms
We're also OTP. --- pranamoocher [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com wrote: BC - Brahman Consciousness BN - Bliss Ninny or Bliss Nazi CC - Cosmic Consciousness GC - God Consciousness MMY - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi POV - Point of View SBS - Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's master SCI Science of Creative Intelligence SOC - State of Consciousness SSRS - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Pundit-ji) SV - Stpathya Ved (Vedic Architecture) TB - True Believer (in TM doctrines) TNB - True Non-Believer TMO - The Transcendental Meditation organization TTC TM Teacher Training Course UC - Unity Consciousness YMMV = Your Mileage may vary Be sure to add a very important one that applies to most of us: NITL - Not In This Lifetime To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222
[FairfieldLife] Re: Photos of Yogis
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It was intellectually dishonest of you to pretend this paragraph was the substance of the Wikipedia entry. Here's the first paragraph: OMG foiled again! How could I have known that you would be able to find Wikipedia from my reference to it and get the whole article! So clever, so resourceful, and oh so clarificatory! My nefarious ends are only delayed, not thwarted by your brilliant tactic of following provided references. Now that I know this is part of your skills I will cover my tracks much better. All intellectually dishonest mockery, Curtis. BTW some topics have more than one way to look at them other then your way and the intellectually dishonest way. Absolutely true. But each instance needs to be examined on its own terms.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ann Coulter on John Edwards' dead son
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 6/30/07 7:06:21 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The point is that he complained about too much freedom of speech. IOW, he is for restraining freedom of speech which is something we cannot tolerate. Fire Fire Fire! There is a Fire in the Theater! So I guess freedom of speech is an absolute? Now you're being childish just like your right wing gurus.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, MDixon6569@ wrote: _Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Other Views_ (http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT- REF30b.article) I already posted a link to this article. Judy's response? It's totally meaningless because ExxonMobile funds the institute where the author works. Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. The Heartland Institute created a website in the Spring of 2007, www.globalwarmingheartland.org, which asserts there is no scientific consensus on global warming and features a list of experts and a list of like-minded think tanks, many of whom have received funding from ExxonMobil and other polluters. [...] Walter F. Buchholtz, an ExxonMobil executive, serves as Heartland's Government Relations Advisor, according to Heartland's 2005 IRS Form 990, pg. 15. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/309/2005-363309812- 0295fbb2-9.pdf The Heartland Institute formerly sponsored and hosted www.climatesearch.org, a web page ostensibly dedicated to objective research on global warming, but at the same time presenting heavily biased research by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute as an FAQ section. http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=41 SO WHAT? Did you read the article? It was, mostly, a compendium of references to published articles in the leading scientific journals that refuted the global warming position. Are all these journals and all the authors of those pieces ALSO in the pocket of ExxonMobile? Cherry picking isolated stories to promote one's biased claims pales in comparison to the overwhelming massive collective evidence indicating the reality of global warming. The fact that the author of the article works for a known paid Big Oil shill makes your case laughable when you expect to be taken seriously.
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: Personally I think that astrology is hogwash, *except* as tricksterism. That is, some people whose intuition and seeing skills are present but latent can *trick* themselves into utilizing their latent ability to see by gazing a chart of the position of the planets. For other people, it's tarot cards. For still others, reading tea leaves. Interesting. Here's what I said back in May of last year (I'm sure Barry didn't, you know, read it or anything): My guess: Any sufficiently complex system of correspondences, such as astrology (any flavor), works as a tool for focusing the intuition-- i.e., collecting and integrating all one's little intuitional inputs into a coherent whole so that a prediction can be generated from it. The system's correspondences themselves don't 'mean' anything at all, they're just a framework to hang the intuition on and organize what the intuition knows. Tea leaves, in other words, could work just as well as astrology for anyone with a highly developed intuition. I wish to congratulate Judy for having discovered, in May of last year, a way of looking at astrology that we California hippies used to laugh about over joints back in 1966. It shows real progress on her part. As for the well-crafted implication that I somehow lifted her ideas, I might suggest that this comes from a badly-aspected birth chart that indicates Head Up Uranus syndrome. :-) The debilitating and malefic effects of Head Up Uranus syndrome have been documented by astrologers for centuries. In some extreme cases it can cause someone who has just spent a long, supposedly relax- ing and rejuvenating weekend away to come back home and fire off 15 posts to the Internet in less than twelve hours, 11 of which include putdowns of other people. It reminds me of the classic astrological advice that Nostradamus gave to his patron Catherine de Medici: My Queen, whenever you find yourself looking at the world and seeing nothing but shit, that's Uranus. still no luck this weekend eh?;-)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, MDixon6569@ wrote: _Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Other Views_ (http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT- REF30b.article) I already posted a link to this article. Judy's response? It's totally meaningless because ExxonMobile funds the institute where the author works. Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. The Heartland Institute created a website in the Spring of 2007, www.globalwarmingheartland.org, which asserts there is no scientific consensus on global warming and features a list of experts and a list of like-minded think tanks, many of whom have received funding from ExxonMobil and other polluters. [...] Walter F. Buchholtz, an ExxonMobil executive, serves as Heartland's Government Relations Advisor, according to Heartland's 2005 IRS Form 990, pg. 15. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/309/2005-363309812- 0295fbb2-9.pdf The Heartland Institute formerly sponsored and hosted www.climatesearch.org, a web page ostensibly dedicated to objective research on global warming, but at the same time presenting heavily biased research by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute as an FAQ section. http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=41 SO WHAT? Did you read the article? It was, mostly, a compendium of references to published articles in the leading scientific journals that refuted the global warming position. Are all these journals and all the authors of those pieces ALSO in the pocket of ExxonMobile? Cherry picking isolated stories to promote one's biased claims pales in comparison to the overwhelming massive collective evidence indicating the reality of global warming. There IS NO overwhelming massive collective evidence indicating the reality of global warming. That's just something Al Gore said or that you read in the media. The fact that the author of the article works for a known paid Big Oil shill makes your case laughable when you expect to be taken seriously.
[FairfieldLife] Re: File - FFL Acronyms
You forgot these ones: MS - Maharishi said PIWBB - Perhaps it would be best YAWN - Barry and Judy are fighting again --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, gullible fool [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We're also OTP. --- pranamoocher [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com wrote: BC - Brahman Consciousness BN - Bliss Ninny or Bliss Nazi CC - Cosmic Consciousness GC - God Consciousness MMY - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi POV - Point of View SBS - Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi's master SCI Science of Creative Intelligence SOC - State of Consciousness SSRS - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Pundit-ji) SV - Stpathya Ved (Vedic Architecture) TB - True Believer (in TM doctrines) TNB - True Non-Believer TMO - The Transcendental Meditation organization TTC TM Teacher Training Course UC - Unity Consciousness YMMV = Your Mileage may vary Be sure to add a very important one that applies to most of us: NITL - Not In This Lifetime To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] __ __ Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: The idea that planets can go retrograde is all due to the ludicrous maths involved in making the earth appear to be the centre of the solar system, it really isn't. snip Barry's comment in which he appears to express the belief that astrologers think the planets really do change direction For the record, since the time of Copernicus (1473-1543), astrologers have known that retrograde motion is only apparent. Sorry, but they don't believe that planets actually turn around and move backward. They're also well aware that the earth revolves around the sun. And retrograde motion never did have anything to do with maths. You don't need maths to detect retrograde motion, just careful observation of the night sky. The maths I refer to is the ludicrous system of cosines, tangents etc needed to make the earth appear to be the centre of the solar system, of course we have known since the time of copernicus that isn't true but every time an astrologer sits down to do a chart he uses the same maths! Iknow this because I used to be interested in it and got a book on how to draw up horoscopes. Well, yes, but in any case, again, the math isn't the reason the planets appear to go retrograde, it's just visual observation. snip What gives me the shivers is that if you wanted to *design* a system for divination for human beings on earth, you could hardly do better than the sun, the moon, and the planets in the constellations. The system seems tailor-made for that purpose. Seems is the operative word here, it wasn't made at all as we now well know. Well, we *don't* know, really, either way. But I'm not making a claim that it was, just pointing out how natural and logical it was for humans to draw that conclusion way back when (I think you agree with me on that). snip Someone else on here uses the idea that because it has been around so long it's stuck to the wall it must be true. This is faulty reasoning. Sooner or later every culture has to accept that the earth isn't flat, counter-intuitive though it is the weight of evidence eventually becomes overwhelming. Yeah, but in fact, the premise of astrology--the data on which it is based--has to do with how the sky appears from earth. There's no conceivable evidence to the contrary for that premise! If you think about it for a moment, astrology doesn't depend operationally on the idea that the earth is flat, or even that the earth is the center of the universe, nor that the celestial bodies actually influence affairs on earth. What's in question is whether the appearance of the sky from earth is *correlated* with affairs on earth, such that predictions about the latter can be derived from what the sky is going to look like at some future point (which astrologers can determine with great precision). In other words, astrology *could* be valid even though the earth is flat, goes around the sun, and isn't the center of the universe, and even though science tells us there's no possible mechanism of influence. It doesn't *have* to involve an accurate description of reality in terms of how the solar system really operates, as long as it *does* involve an accurate description of what the sky looks like from the earth. The sky's appearance from earth has its own very solid reality. So the question is not is astrology an accurate descritption of reality but why do so many continue to believe in it? I think the person who said astrology has stuck to the wall was referring to what he perceives to be the record of accuracy of the predictions astrology makes. That's certainly questionable--it's extremely difficult to do any kind of valid scientific test-- but it isn't inherently faulty reasoning. I think it sticks to the wall because it's such a seductive idea that we can see the future and avoid returning karma, it can even help with relationships and tell us how wonderful we are! Sure. The accuracy of predictions and personality analysis can be very much a matter of wishful thinking, no question about it. I also think there is a fear of loneliness or that we are truly responsible for ourselves and all that happens in our lives, blame is better to give than recieve. On the other hand, science fulfills the same needs in many respects, e.g., genetics. So the meme continues to propagate to every new generation. Most people encounter astrology in some form long before they come across physics or
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
In a message dated 7/1/07 10:55:51 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. SO WHAT? And how many Scientists that claim Global warming is a fact are getting government grants to study to see if it is true? Good way to keep a cushy job, just scream the sky is falling and ask for a grant so you can prove how and when. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ann Coulter on John Edwards' dead son
In a message dated 7/1/07 11:43:05 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The point is that he complained about too much freedom of speech. IOW, he is for restraining freedom of speech which is something we cannot tolerate. Fire Fire Fire! There is a Fire in the Theater! So I guess freedom of speech is an absolute? Now you're being childish just like your right wing gurus. No Nooz, freedom of speech is not an absolute. There are all kinds of restrictions on it. Think about it. Do you have a right to slander somebody, incite a riot, yell fire in a crowd theater? The list can go on and on what you can't do that involves free speech. What is sacred, is free political speech and even that now has limitations on it. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ann Coulter on John Edwards' dead son
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 7/1/07 11:43:05 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The point is that he complained about too much freedom of speech. IOW, he is for restraining freedom of speech which is something we cannot tolerate. Fire Fire Fire! There is a Fire in the Theater! So I guess freedom of speech is an absolute? Now you're being childish just like your right wing gurus. No Nooz, freedom of speech is not an absolute. There are all kinds of restrictions on it. Think about it. Do you have a right to slander somebody, incite a riot, yell fire in a crowd theater? The list can go on and on what you can't do that involves free speech. What is sacred, is free political speech and even that now has limitations on it. That is beside the point. Our discussion was about Republicans calling for restrictions on free speech. Just as Judy points out who decides what restrictions there should be? How would you like it if I were in charge of policing speech? Better to have a free-for-all. We know that the Republicans want speech restrictions not for stopping terrorism (which it won't anyway) but to restrict speech critical of them. Though not Republican or an American, Tony Blair on leaving office called for a shutdown of 9-11 truth sites on the internet as he said they endanger government. To quote V for Vendetta, it is better for the government to be afraid of the people than people afraid of their government. You challenged me a concrete source of a Republican wanting to ban free speech and I found one with Gingrich (Lott's interview was on the NYTime's site and would require a subscription for you to read). You lost and therefore like a lot of righties changed the topic.
[FairfieldLife] Is astrology just a feather? (was Re: Saturn transgressing to Leo...)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, hugheshugo richardhughes103@ wrote: Yeah, but in fact, the premise of astrology--the data on which it is based--has to do with how the sky appears from earth. There's no conceivable evidence to the contrary for that premise! This where I've not explained myself very well. When you look at a horoscope you see the earth at the centre and the sun and planets all orbiting in their houses. We know the maths to draw up this illusion is there simply to make it look how it appears from earth, but look what happens when you adjust the scale of the map and put everything in its proper place, it becomes meaningless simply because any force exacted by the planets and the sun becomes hopelessly confused because the ancients didn't know about the relative sizes and distances of the things they were looking at. Look at the size of the sun compared to mercury! And how about titan, saturns largest moon if distances don't matter that would have been cognized as having an effect, or however you want to see it,too. Except as we've seen nothing beyond saturn was known aboout by jyotishees. Even if you say that they never exerted a force at all and it's all just a coincidental measure of events here you can't escape the anthropomorphism of calling venus the planet of love and mars the planet of war simply because of their colour. Whatever way you think it works this is the evidence to the contrary that it does or measures anything here at all. If you think about it for a moment, astrology doesn't depend operationally on the idea that the earth is flat, or even that the earth is the center of the universe, nor that the celestial bodies actually influence affairs on earth. What's in question is whether the appearance of the sky from earth is *correlated* with affairs on earth, such that predictions about the latter can be derived from what the sky is going to look like at some future point (which astrologers can determine with great precision). Exactly, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And I've never been even remotely convinced by astrologers, western or eastern. Do you remember the yearly predictions by TM jyotishees? they were rubbish every year. I once asked someone high up in the movement why this was the case, given that it was supposed to be an exact science, and he said Our collective meditation has changed the karma of the planet and the original crises never arose I'm serious, please don't think I made that up. I answered well why didn't you predict that was going to happen and tell us about that. Shane they abandoned this obviously pointless exercise as I would like to have seen the prediction for 9/11. I don't see how it works on an individual scale either. I knew someone who was told to stay in one tuesday as it was a bad day to be stung by bees! She stayed in and wasn't stung, apart from the cost of the reading. I saw a jyotishee once when I was on a course. It was fun and apparently I'm going to be fully enlightened and win loads of money and have nothing but good luck from now on as all the bad dashas (is that the word?) in my life have passed. Funnily enough I agreed with this and am looking forward to it all. In other words, astrology *could* be valid even though the earth is flat, goes around the sun, and isn't the center of the universe, and even though science tells us there's no possible mechanism of influence. It doesn't *have* to involve an accurate description of reality in terms of how the solar system really operates, as long as it *does* involve an accurate description of what the sky looks like from the earth. The sky's appearance from earth has its own very solid reality. So the question is not is astrology an accurate descritption of reality but why do so many continue to believe in it? I think the person who said astrology has stuck to the wall was referring to what he perceives to be the record of accuracy of the predictions astrology makes. That's certainly questionable--it's extremely difficult to do any kind of valid scientific test-- but it isn't inherently faulty reasoning. It should be very easy to do a test with this as predictions are easy, they come true or they don't. Actually many have been, none of which returned data outside of that expected by chance except people born under Aries are 2% more likely to become doctors. This is another reason why no-one believes it. If you know of any others with evidence to the contrary I'll be interested to have a read. I think it sticks to the wall because it's such a seductive idea that we
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ann Coulter on John Edwards' dead son
In a message dated 7/1/07 2:35:25 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: That is beside the point. Our discussion was about Republicans calling for restrictions on free speech. You never said what restrictions they called for. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Practice Groups of FF, A Directory
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Makes it clear why Maharishi wants the meditators out of Fairfield. You call it rich I call it a mess. It used to be full of finders, now full of spiritual shoppers and seekers. Sincerely hope The Movement finds a new location soon. Ahh, welcome to Fairfield, Nablusos! It's good to see another dedicated follower of Maharishi here. Before we give you your Dome badge, let's just check your file ... Hmmm. It says here you're a TM teacher, a representative of Maharishi and his knowledge, yet you've gone on record as recently as last week publically espousing the spiritual teachings of someone else Well, we're reasonable people here. Please obtain references from three Governors in good standing, and sign this paper disavowing all future support of this Benjamin Creme and his 'Maitreya', or...NO DOME FOR YOU! :-)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 7/1/07 10:55:51 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. SO WHAT? And how many Scientists that claim Global warming is a fact are getting government grants to study to see if it is true? Good way to keep a cushy job, just scream the sky is falling and ask for a grant so you can prove how and when. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Or, as one of the scientists in the film The Great Global Warming Swindle said: if you want to get a grant to study the nut-gathering habits of squirrels, write the grant request to read a request for funds to study the impact of global warming on the nut-gathering habits of squirrels. That will guarantee you get your money.
[FairfieldLife] Free Speech and Rushdie's Knighthood
I'll be the first one to defend Salman Rushdie's right to publish incediary books such as The Satanic Verses. What I don't really understand is why the British Government would go out of its way to recommend to the Queen that he receive a knighthood from the Queen. It's one thing to defend freedom of speech; it's quite another to reward someone for something that, warranted or not, is profoundly insulting to members of a religion. And, hey, for all I know Rushdie's book is NOT insulting to Muslims and they manufactured the insult. Nevertheless, they do express their revulsion, which they have the right to do. Alan Dershowitz defended the right of Neo-Nazis to march on Skokie. But I can't imagine him handing out Awards to those Nazis for civic pride. At such a sensitive time, why would Britain want to unnecessarily needle Islam?
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, MDixon6569@ wrote: _Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Other Views_ (http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT- REF30b.article) I already posted a link to this article. Judy's response? It's totally meaningless because ExxonMobile funds the institute where the author works. Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. The Heartland Institute created a website in the Spring of 2007, www.globalwarmingheartland.org, which asserts there is no scientific consensus on global warming and features a list of experts and a list of like-minded think tanks, many of whom have received funding from ExxonMobil and other polluters. [...] Walter F. Buchholtz, an ExxonMobil executive, serves as Heartland's Government Relations Advisor, according to Heartland's 2005 IRS Form 990, pg. 15. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/309/2005-363309812- 0295fbb2-9.pdf The Heartland Institute formerly sponsored and hosted www.climatesearch.org, a web page ostensibly dedicated to objective research on global warming, but at the same time presenting heavily biased research by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute as an FAQ section. http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=41 SO WHAT? Did you read the article? It was, mostly, a compendium of references to published articles in the leading scientific journals that refuted the global warming position. Are all these journals and all the authors of those pieces ALSO in the pocket of ExxonMobile? Cherry picking isolated stories to promote one's biased claims pales in comparison to the overwhelming massive collective evidence indicating the reality of global warming. There IS NO overwhelming massive collective evidence indicating the reality of global warming. That's just something Al Gore said or that you read in the media. The fact that you are astonishingly uninformed is your fault, not mine. The fact that the author of the article works for a known paid Big Oil shill makes your case laughable when you expect to be taken seriously.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 7/1/07 10:55:51 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. SO WHAT? And how many Scientists that claim Global warming is a fact are getting government grants to study to see if it is true? I don't know of any, do you? Good way to keep a cushy job, just scream the sky is falling and ask for a grant so you can prove how and when.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Practice Groups of FF, A Directory
In a message dated 7/1/2007 4:20:17 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Fairfieild is the second wave of expansion and flexibility in regards to different teachings and a home for those who have tried so hard to work with the TMO but were rejected because of a need to control other people's spiritual evolution. Fairfield will continue to be an ever expanding vision of what MMY could have had if he was more open minded. I believe Bevan Morris is also responsible for the very closed minded approach to India's philosophies. Many meditators have walked away feeling forgotten because of the narrow focus of recruiting more Sidha's. The quick fix mentality for world peace has backfired on the TMO and all they have left is MMY. The question comes soon. WHAT WILL THEY DO WITHOUT HIM? I think the TMO gets more conservative and hundreds if not thousands move more in the direction of Fairfield Iowa (downtown) and less interested in MUM or Vedic City. Jai Guru Deva. Lsoma. --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com) , nablusoss1008 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Makes it clear why Maharishi wants the meditators out of Fairfield. You call it rich I call it a mess. It used to be full of finders, now full of spiritual shoppers and seekers. Sincerely hope The Movement finds a new location soon. Ahh, welcome to Fairfield, Nablusos! It's good to see another dedicated follower of Maharishi here. Before we give you your Dome badge, let's just check your file ... Hmmm. It says here you're a TM teacher, a representative of Maharishi and his knowledge, yet you've gone on record as recently as last week publically espousing the spiritual teachings of someone else Well, we're reasonable people here. Please obtain references from three Governors in good standing, and sign this paper disavowing all future support of this Benjamin Creme and his 'Maitreya', or...NO DOME FOR YOU! :-) ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
[FairfieldLife] S-land ru news
http://www.tmnews.net/tmnews200705.pdf username and password are the same: may2007
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Practice Groups of FF, A Directory
I am *very* happy with the way Fairfield has been evolving; it feels more and more free, spontaneous, conscious and loving -- as if large numbers of people are freeing themselves of the fear-filled belief that they must pretend to be someone they are not in order to realize the Self. If their further growth entails exploring other avenues of spiritual inquiry, great! The more the merrier. Fairfield is indeed enriched by all the new currents of spirituality here. I have nothing but gratitude for the TMO however; they are doing their thing, and it's a very good thing indeed for those who wish to avail themselves of it. My post was only intended to point out the irony that Nablusos is apparently advocating the continued monopoly of an exclusive club that he himself would not be allowed to join :-) *L*L*L* --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 7/1/2007 4:20:17 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Fairfieild is the second wave of expansion and flexibility in regards to different teachings and a home for those who have tried so hard to work with the TMO but were rejected because of a need to control other people's spiritual evolution. Fairfield will continue to be an ever expanding vision of what MMY could have had if he was more open minded. I believe Bevan Morris is also responsible for the very closed minded approach to India's philosophies. Many meditators have walked away feeling forgotten because of the narrow focus of recruiting more Sidha's. The quick fix mentality for world peace has backfired on the TMO and all they have left is MMY. The question comes soon. WHAT WILL THEY DO WITHOUT HIM? I think the TMO gets more conservative and hundreds if not thousands move more in the direction of Fairfield Iowa (downtown) and less interested in MUM or Vedic City. Jai Guru Deva. Lsoma. --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com) , nablusoss1008 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Makes it clear why Maharishi wants the meditators out of Fairfield. You call it rich I call it a mess. It used to be full of finders, now full of spiritual shoppers and seekers. Sincerely hope The Movement finds a new location soon. Ahh, welcome to Fairfield, Nablusos! It's good to see another dedicated follower of Maharishi here. Before we give you your Dome badge, let's just check your file ... Hmmm. It says here you're a TM teacher, a representative of Maharishi and his knowledge, yet you've gone on record as recently as last week publically espousing the spiritual teachings of someone else Well, we're reasonable people here. Please obtain references from three Governors in good standing, and sign this paper disavowing all future support of this Benjamin Creme and his 'Maitreya', or...NO DOME FOR YOU! :-) ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Global Warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, MDixon6569@ wrote: _Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Other Views_ (http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT- REF30b.article) I already posted a link to this article. Judy's response? It's totally meaningless because ExxonMobile funds the institute where the author works. Heartland Institute has received $791,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998. The Heartland Institute created a website in the Spring of 2007, www.globalwarmingheartland.org, which asserts there is no scientific consensus on global warming and features a list of experts and a list of like-minded think tanks, many of whom have received funding from ExxonMobil and other polluters. [...] Walter F. Buchholtz, an ExxonMobil executive, serves as Heartland's Government Relations Advisor, according to Heartland's 2005 IRS Form 990, pg. 15. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/363/309/2005- 363309812- 0295fbb2-9.pdf The Heartland Institute formerly sponsored and hosted www.climatesearch.org, a web page ostensibly dedicated to objective research on global warming, but at the same time presenting heavily biased research by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute as an FAQ section. http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=41 SO WHAT? Did you read the article? It was, mostly, a compendium of references to published articles in the leading scientific journals that refuted the global warming position. Are all these journals and all the authors of those pieces ALSO in the pocket of ExxonMobile? Cherry picking isolated stories to promote one's biased claims pales in comparison to the overwhelming massive collective evidence indicating the reality of global warming. There IS NO overwhelming massive collective evidence indicating the reality of global warming. That's just something Al Gore said or that you read in the media. The fact that you are astonishingly uninformed is your fault, not mine. Well, then, it should be easy enough for you to actually SHOW ME where this alleged overwhelming massive collective evidence indicating the reality of global warming is. And please don't reference where someone is SAYING that it is so but provide the actual evidence, as you claim. I'm waiting. The fact that the author of the article works for a known paid Big Oil shill makes your case laughable when you expect to be taken seriously.
[FairfieldLife] Re: S-land ru news
In skimming the newsletter, I saw reference to the fences around the fortune-creating homes. The vastuu fences reminded me of something in a book I just finished, *The Ladies' No. 1 Detective Agency. Apparently, in Botswana, it's customary for a home to have a knee-high fence around it. When visitors approach the home, they stop at the fence and hail the inhabitants, rather than walk up to the door and knock. I detected a similarity between this African fencing custom and the vastuu fences of Sthapatya-vedic homes. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, bob_brigante [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: http://www.tmnews.net/tmnews200705.pdf username and password are the same: may2007
[FairfieldLife] Re: Free Speech and Rushdie's Knighthood
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'll be the first one to defend Salman Rushdie's right to publish incediary books such as The Satanic Verses. What I don't really understand is why the British Government would go out of its way to recommend to the Queen that he receive a knighthood from the Queen. It's one thing to defend freedom of speech; it's quite another to reward someone for something that, warranted or not, is profoundly insulting to members of a religion. And, hey, for all I know Rushdie's book is NOT insulting to Muslims and they manufactured the insult. Nevertheless, they do express their revulsion, which they have the right to do. Alan Dershowitz defended the right of Neo-Nazis to march on Skokie. But I can't imagine him handing out Awards to those Nazis for civic pride. At such a sensitive time, why would Britain want to unnecessarily needle Islam? I was wondering the same thing- Perhaps it is an agressive decoy to divert attention (or placate Bush) from the fact that most of their originally 30,000 soldiers have left Iraq.:-)
[FairfieldLife] Biotech: on the ropes?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/business/yourmoney/01frame.html THE $73.5 billion global biotech business may soon have to grapple with a discovery that calls into question the scientific principles on which it was founded. Last month, a consortium of scientists published findings that challenge the traditional view of how genes function. The exhaustive four-year effort was organized by the United States National Human Genome Research Institute and carried out by 35 groups from 80 organizations around the world. To their surprise, researchers found that the human genome might not be a tidy collection of independent genes after all, with each sequence of DNA linked to a single function, such as a predisposition to diabetes or heart disease. Instead, genes appear to operate in a complex network, and interact and overlap with one another and with other components in ways not yet fully understood. According to the institute, these findings will challenge scientists to rethink some long-held views about what genes are and what they do. Biologists have recorded these network effects for many years in other organisms. But in the world of science, discoveries often do not become part of mainstream thought until they are linked to humans. With that link now in place, the report is likely to have repercussions far beyond the laboratory. The presumption that genes operate independently has been institutionalized since 1976, when the first biotech company was founded. In fact, it is the economic and regulatory foundation on which the entire biotechnology industry is built.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Malaria
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, m2smart4u2000 no_reply@ wrote: I thought I read in A shot in the Dark and other anti-immunization books that diseases may have some unknown cycle and that we have not really erradicated them. Those who created vaccinations claimed that they elimiated disease but did not consider that diseases have cycles. And this hypothesis is based on what studies? The point is that any study has to consider all parameters. There may be some parameters that are unknown, such as this above possibility. How can you explain that Malaria no longer exists in the USA? There is some unknown.
[FairfieldLife] NYT on the Global Country's financial capital in NYC
http://tinyurl.com/2ayfom
