After learning about meditation from Sam's presentation I got very interested in the whole meditation bringing inner peace. Inner peace within an individual can solve or help many problems that the person maybe facing or troubled with. I was wondering, since meditation is when a person goes into deep thought, will it be best in that state of mind (deep meditation) to create a utopia?
I have two video's that I attached one with interviews with a meditation instructor and a monk, and another one that demonstrates and teaches you how to meditate properly. I wanted to put these up since I know that finals can be a stressful time and I thought it would be interesting if a few people tried it from and tested the claims that meditation users claim.
Interviews w/ professionals
video w/ instructions
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Death Penalty Methods
My paper is going to be on personal choices and utopia. Specifically, I'm questioning whether or not society has the right to kill an individual for the good of the community. Here is a list of the current execution methods used in the world today. This list did not find a home in my paper, but should still be put out there. These are the so called "humane" ways of disposing of a human life. They do not seem very humane to me. In fact, there seems to be a certain disregard for whether or not the executions produce the desired painless death. I do not agree with the death penalty, and I do not approve of any of these methods as a "painless death".
There are eight main methods of execution in current use worldwide: 2
 | Beheading: Only two countries execute people by chopping their head off: Saudi Arabia and Iraq. |
| Electric chair: (US only) Nobody knows how quickly a person dies from the electric shock, or what they experience. The ACLU describes two cases where prisoners apparently lived for 4 to 10 minutes before finally expiring. |
| Firing squad: The prisoner is bound and shot through the heart by multiple marksmen. Death appears to be quick, assuming the killers don't miss. In the U.S., only Utah used this method. It was abandoned in favor of lethal injection on 2004-MAR-15, except for four convicted killers on death row who had previously chosen death by firing squad. 7 This is used in Belarus, China, Somolia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and others. |
| Guillotine: A famous French invention, not used in North America. It severs the neck. Death comes very quickly. |
| Hanging: if properly conducted, this is a humane method. The neck is broken and death comes quickly. However, if the free-fall distance is inadequate, the prisoner ends up slowly being strangled to death. If it is too great, the rope will tear his/her head off. This method is used in Egypt, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Pakistan, Singapore and others. |
| Lethal injection: Lethal drugs are injected into the prisoner while he lays strapped down to a table. Typically, sodium pentothal is injected to make the prisoner unconscious. Then pancuronium bromide is injected. It terminates breathing and paralyzes the individual Finally, potassium chloride is injected to stop the heart. If properly conducted, the prisoner fades quickly into unconsciousness. If the dosage of drugs is too low, the person may linger for many minutes, experiencing paralysis. Executions in the U.S. are gradually shifting to this method. This technique has been challenged recently by those who feel that the prisoner may not be rendered unconscious by the drugs. Some suggest that this method can be extremely painful. After a botched execution of Angel Nieves Diaz in Florida during 2006-DEC, Florida and nine other states have placed a hold on executions. This method is used in China, Guatemala, Philippines, Thailand, and the U.S. |
| Poison gas: Cyanide capsules are dropped into acid producing Hydrogen Cyanide, a deadly gas. This takes many minutes of agony before a person dies. |
| Stoning: The prisoner is often buried up to her or his neck and pelted with rocks until they eventually die. The rocks are chosen so that they are large enough to cause significant injury to the victim, but are not so large that a single rock will kill the prisoner. Used in North Afghanistan and Iran, as a penalty for murder, adultery, blasphemy, and other crimes. Source: http://www.religioustolerance.org/execut3.htm#met |
Ways of bringing people together
Friendship and networking: How do you bring people together?
Ancient philosphers and contemporary scientists agree: a KEY to happiness is having strong bonds with other people. As a consequence, one of my main happiness-project themes is the creation and strengthening of my relationships.
I have many separate resolutions that address this topic, and one of most effective is “Bring people together.”
Bringing people together is a nice thing to do for the people you know. Studies show that extraverts and introverts alike get a charge out of connecting with others; at the same time, because we’re all sources of information and resources for each other, bringing people together—especially if done thoughtfully—can provide them with a new source of support.
Some people are natural connectors. I’m not, so I’ve been thinking more about this resolution lately, and I’m wondering – have you found any great ways to bring people together?
For example, one great method that I’ve used is to join or start a group. Having parties is a good way, but that’s a lot of work.
One sub-category of “bringing people together” is, of course, the dreaded “networking.” But although many people’s hearts sink at the sound of the word, networking is extremely useful, and can even be fun. One of my friends has an amazing ability to bring people together who would both like each other and also be helpful to each other. I can never figure out how she does it, but it’s a wonderful gift.
This article is some of the research I found in which the Dr. speaks of ways of bringing people together and how important it is. She brings in ways such as getting people to eat together, and from that they grow to have relationships. It is a chain reaction, from just people eating together and speaking together they could end up knowing each other much better and maybe coming together to do something in the future. I love the fact that this article talks about how bringing people together and creating friendships can provide them with a new source of support. I totally agree with this comment because it does. You have friends to fall back on if you ever have any problems or things you want to talk about.
Ancient philosphers and contemporary scientists agree: a KEY to happiness is having strong bonds with other people. As a consequence, one of my main happiness-project themes is the creation and strengthening of my relationships.
I have many separate resolutions that address this topic, and one of most effective is “Bring people together.”
Bringing people together is a nice thing to do for the people you know. Studies show that extraverts and introverts alike get a charge out of connecting with others; at the same time, because we’re all sources of information and resources for each other, bringing people together—especially if done thoughtfully—can provide them with a new source of support.
Some people are natural connectors. I’m not, so I’ve been thinking more about this resolution lately, and I’m wondering – have you found any great ways to bring people together?
For example, one great method that I’ve used is to join or start a group. Having parties is a good way, but that’s a lot of work.
One sub-category of “bringing people together” is, of course, the dreaded “networking.” But although many people’s hearts sink at the sound of the word, networking is extremely useful, and can even be fun. One of my friends has an amazing ability to bring people together who would both like each other and also be helpful to each other. I can never figure out how she does it, but it’s a wonderful gift.
This article is some of the research I found in which the Dr. speaks of ways of bringing people together and how important it is. She brings in ways such as getting people to eat together, and from that they grow to have relationships. It is a chain reaction, from just people eating together and speaking together they could end up knowing each other much better and maybe coming together to do something in the future. I love the fact that this article talks about how bringing people together and creating friendships can provide them with a new source of support. I totally agree with this comment because it does. You have friends to fall back on if you ever have any problems or things you want to talk about.
Utopias aren't always a good thing.
Upon entering this class, I read the title of "utopia" and that reminded me a lot about Huxley's book Brave New World. I also was reminded of the movie called "The Island." I have come to realize that the idea of Utopias are very prevalent in many movies and books. However, these two stand out to me because they remind me so much of each other.
In Brave New World, the people live in a very controlled environment. Everything they think and do is predestined and controlled. From the time of their birth they are made to enjoy and dislike certain things. They believe that they live in the most perfect place ever and that leaving would not be a good idea. When a man from the outside enters the utopia he thinks it will be wonderful and easy. However, upon seeing the lifestyle and the peoples lack of social skills, he goes nuts and hangs himself in distress.
In contrast the move, "the island" is about people living in a very controlled environment, but their goal is to get out and get to the island. What these people do not know is that there is no magical place called the island. "The island" was simulated to make them look forward to leaving and therefore working to get out. These people however are not unique, they are clones of people in the "real world" and when they think they are leaving to the island, they are really being killed for their organs or what not. Also women use their clones to have their babies if they are sterile, and then upon seeing the baby the clone will think she is going to the island, but realistically will be killed. The dramatic twist happens when two of the clones escape and find themselves facing their identicals in the real world. Just because they are clones does not mean they do not feel or think...
the movie and Huxley's book are about someone either exiting or entering a utopia. this idea helps raise a very important question: Is a perfect utopia all that it seems or is it a bunch of lies used to benefit a "smarter" generation of people?
We read parts of Brave new world in class... so Here is a little video clip of scenes from the island for those of you who have not seen it.
In Brave New World, the people live in a very controlled environment. Everything they think and do is predestined and controlled. From the time of their birth they are made to enjoy and dislike certain things. They believe that they live in the most perfect place ever and that leaving would not be a good idea. When a man from the outside enters the utopia he thinks it will be wonderful and easy. However, upon seeing the lifestyle and the peoples lack of social skills, he goes nuts and hangs himself in distress.
In contrast the move, "the island" is about people living in a very controlled environment, but their goal is to get out and get to the island. What these people do not know is that there is no magical place called the island. "The island" was simulated to make them look forward to leaving and therefore working to get out. These people however are not unique, they are clones of people in the "real world" and when they think they are leaving to the island, they are really being killed for their organs or what not. Also women use their clones to have their babies if they are sterile, and then upon seeing the baby the clone will think she is going to the island, but realistically will be killed. The dramatic twist happens when two of the clones escape and find themselves facing their identicals in the real world. Just because they are clones does not mean they do not feel or think...
the movie and Huxley's book are about someone either exiting or entering a utopia. this idea helps raise a very important question: Is a perfect utopia all that it seems or is it a bunch of lies used to benefit a "smarter" generation of people?
We read parts of Brave new world in class... so Here is a little video clip of scenes from the island for those of you who have not seen it.
Religion: help or hinder utopia?
Some of the presentations in class today raised a number of questions for me specifically regarding religion and its ability to help create a utopia. While I understand the point that religion has helped to unite groups of people in the past, I don't think that instituting a universal religion would lead to utopia. Perhaps the intent would be to unify the population, but wouldn't universal religion backfire? Forcing a particular set of beliefs on everyone would only serve to divide society more, causing rebellion and discontent. The result would be a number of smaller opposing groups instead of one unified population. In this way, religion acts as a disunifying factor, instead of a unifying factor.
Also, shared religion does not necessarily produce peaceful, utopian communities. The most relevant example of this today is the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Essentially, Al-Qaeda is an organization of people sharing the same beliefs; however, the result is not a utopian like society. They use their religious beliefs as a justification for terrorist actions in an effort to spread Islamic regime. As the council on foreign relations writes, "Al-Qaeda considers itself as the vanguard of the Islamic movement."Thus, members see their actions as a kind of "global jihad" or holy mission.
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is another example in which religion creates a kind of dystopia, instead of a utopian-like society. In this novel, leaders use religion to justify the creation of a society in which certain women are forced to become "baby breeding machines." The Bible is read daily and manipulated to justify their form of society. Here religion does unify the community, but the result is a disturbing, very dystopian society.
So while religion may serve to create peaceful communities in some cases, it certainly can backfire and create dystopian societies. It seems to me that religion is not an effective method of establishing a kind of utopia, but what do you think???
Also, shared religion does not necessarily produce peaceful, utopian communities. The most relevant example of this today is the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Essentially, Al-Qaeda is an organization of people sharing the same beliefs; however, the result is not a utopian like society. They use their religious beliefs as a justification for terrorist actions in an effort to spread Islamic regime. As the council on foreign relations writes, "Al-Qaeda considers itself as the vanguard of the Islamic movement."Thus, members see their actions as a kind of "global jihad" or holy mission.
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is another example in which religion creates a kind of dystopia, instead of a utopian-like society. In this novel, leaders use religion to justify the creation of a society in which certain women are forced to become "baby breeding machines." The Bible is read daily and manipulated to justify their form of society. Here religion does unify the community, but the result is a disturbing, very dystopian society.
So while religion may serve to create peaceful communities in some cases, it certainly can backfire and create dystopian societies. It seems to me that religion is not an effective method of establishing a kind of utopia, but what do you think???
Vanity: The Free- Green Motivator
By: Jennifer Moore
My family doctor once advised me, “Work out to look good. People who exercise for vanity do so for life, people who exercise for health, go through exercise phases.” At first when my doctor said this to me, I wanted to jump at him and say, “But you’re a doctor! You are supposed to be concerned about health, not looks.” Then I thought, wait a minute, that is exactly what my doctor was most concerned about, health –he wanted me to exercise for results that were motivating to me personally, so that I would continue to do something healthy for myself. His plan was in short, simply genius. And, I believe, if we applied this idea to the environment, we could be simply genius as well. In other words, telling people that they are helping the earth is not going to be enough to motivate them to actually sort their trash, or to reuse their grocery bags, or to take a bike ride once in a while, or to buy organic food. We must offer incentives, and since our government is out of money, resources, funding, credit, and well a whole host of financial basics for a solid economy –why not motivate people with the one incentive that is free and universally desired, beauty?
Consumerism and materialism have become most prominent in the last hundred years, although they originated in long before that. Everywhere, something and everything is for sale, on sale, and going on sale. New editions, new models, and updated versions are offered to induce customers into buying products they “really want” and that they are subconsciously manipulated to believe will make them “look good”, but that they often do not “need”. Much of the environmental campaigns against these two trends of shopaholics are aimed at stopping the need to constantly buy and revising the idea that beauty, luxury, and vanity are everything.
But, with these two trends so prevalent in global and particularly American culture today, perhaps it is ludicrous to try and stop them. It has often been said, “if you can’t beat em’, join em’ “ and I believe that is exactly what we need to do jumpstart environmental campaigns today. Sure, in a perfect world, the need to sell health, sustainability, climate-change awareness would be nonexistent, since one would think those would be intrinsic values to citizens of the world –but chances are most people really do not care beyond the direct impact to them.
So here is what I propose. How about we sell the environmental campaigns? If we can market the organic foods and fabrics, sophisticated recycling bins, and stylish grocery bags, then we can appeal to the human sense of vanity, which is far more motivating than the sense of health and wellness –as pathetic as that may be. Nobody is embarrassed of a sinus infection, but a pimple –you might as well just stay in bed all day. Now is the time to revolutionize the green-field. We have got to start designing ecologically beneficial items that are technologically savvy, luxurious, and better than the cheaper ones we already have. Take organic fruit for instance. Many people know that it is good for the environment, but few are aware that it actually tastes better two. Of course riding your bike is a way to save gas, but it may also help you to shed a few of those post-holiday pounds.
At the bottom of this blog, I have included a link to a CBS special that discusses green-fashion. And, to my surprise and probably yours, the outfits are actually attractive. I personally would wear one of them regardless of they were earth-friendly. By offering environmentally safe alternatives that appeal to the same sense of style already in our culture, we can inspire people to go green without the expense of their precious vanity. Check it out here!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/23/earlyshow/main2508464.shtml
*Just click on play video, once you enter this URL into your web browser.
My family doctor once advised me, “Work out to look good. People who exercise for vanity do so for life, people who exercise for health, go through exercise phases.” At first when my doctor said this to me, I wanted to jump at him and say, “But you’re a doctor! You are supposed to be concerned about health, not looks.” Then I thought, wait a minute, that is exactly what my doctor was most concerned about, health –he wanted me to exercise for results that were motivating to me personally, so that I would continue to do something healthy for myself. His plan was in short, simply genius. And, I believe, if we applied this idea to the environment, we could be simply genius as well. In other words, telling people that they are helping the earth is not going to be enough to motivate them to actually sort their trash, or to reuse their grocery bags, or to take a bike ride once in a while, or to buy organic food. We must offer incentives, and since our government is out of money, resources, funding, credit, and well a whole host of financial basics for a solid economy –why not motivate people with the one incentive that is free and universally desired, beauty?
Consumerism and materialism have become most prominent in the last hundred years, although they originated in long before that. Everywhere, something and everything is for sale, on sale, and going on sale. New editions, new models, and updated versions are offered to induce customers into buying products they “really want” and that they are subconsciously manipulated to believe will make them “look good”, but that they often do not “need”. Much of the environmental campaigns against these two trends of shopaholics are aimed at stopping the need to constantly buy and revising the idea that beauty, luxury, and vanity are everything.
But, with these two trends so prevalent in global and particularly American culture today, perhaps it is ludicrous to try and stop them. It has often been said, “if you can’t beat em’, join em’ “ and I believe that is exactly what we need to do jumpstart environmental campaigns today. Sure, in a perfect world, the need to sell health, sustainability, climate-change awareness would be nonexistent, since one would think those would be intrinsic values to citizens of the world –but chances are most people really do not care beyond the direct impact to them.
So here is what I propose. How about we sell the environmental campaigns? If we can market the organic foods and fabrics, sophisticated recycling bins, and stylish grocery bags, then we can appeal to the human sense of vanity, which is far more motivating than the sense of health and wellness –as pathetic as that may be. Nobody is embarrassed of a sinus infection, but a pimple –you might as well just stay in bed all day. Now is the time to revolutionize the green-field. We have got to start designing ecologically beneficial items that are technologically savvy, luxurious, and better than the cheaper ones we already have. Take organic fruit for instance. Many people know that it is good for the environment, but few are aware that it actually tastes better two. Of course riding your bike is a way to save gas, but it may also help you to shed a few of those post-holiday pounds.
At the bottom of this blog, I have included a link to a CBS special that discusses green-fashion. And, to my surprise and probably yours, the outfits are actually attractive. I personally would wear one of them regardless of they were earth-friendly. By offering environmentally safe alternatives that appeal to the same sense of style already in our culture, we can inspire people to go green without the expense of their precious vanity. Check it out here!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/23/earlyshow/main2508464.shtml
*Just click on play video, once you enter this URL into your web browser.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Solar Chimneys- Another Viable Energy Source
After reading Alex's last post I was reminded of a physics project from high school in which the goal was to design a "Cool House", or a house that could stay cooled in the summer months and warm during the winter without the use of air conditioning or heating. I remembered something called a solar chimney that my group included in our presentation as a means of natural air conditioning so I did a quick google search to refresh my memory as to exactly how it worked only to discover that a solar chimney isn't what i thought it was at all. Even though I was mistaken as to what a solar chimney was, my google search was not useless. I discovered that solar chimneys are used as a fairly cheap way to generate energy using plain, old air. I will attempt to describe how they work even though it is described better and in more detail in the video posted below. An area of land is covered in special plastic but with room underneath for air. This air is heated by the sun, and follows a basic rule of air, when heated it rises. There is a chimney with turbines which serves as the only way out for the air. When the air is forced to escape through the chimney it turns the turbines, creating energy. The cost to build a solar chimney is relatively cheap and air and sunshine don't cost thing, making this method of energy harnessing extremely viable and eco-friendly.
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