No End of the World, so what now?

Well, 21 May 2011 came and went without incident. We are all still here and the world is still firmly positioned in its orbit around the Sun. There goes another end of the world prediction down the drain. Or was it the rapture? Who knows? I just have two questions - who thinks up this nonsense? And why are there still people out there who fall for it year after year?  

I’m not trying to offend anyone but this is becoming quite ridiculous. How many doomsdays have to pass by before the blind followers wake up and start to question their leaders? When I first heard about the May 21^st forecast a few months ago I thought that no one could possibly be gullible enough to actually believe this load of hogwash. No one I know gave it any thought but I was surprised to discover that there were legions of Christians all over the world who really prepared themselves for the so-called Rapture. When I walked to the shop on the morning of the day in question I even spotted some misguided folks flocking to church, which was a little unusual for a Saturday morning in my neighbourhood. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of despair for them.

I would just like to make it clear that I am not attacking anyone’s religious faith. I have no gripe with Christianity here. What I do have a problem with are the people within the institution in positions of authority and trust who claim to know exactly what is being said between the lines written in the biblical texts. To use your influence and knowledge to mislead your followers and make them believe the end will come on a certain day is detestable to say the least. Now you have your devotees in a twist, giving away their possessions and making final arrangements for the grand finale and then the day comes and goes just like any other. Am I the only person who thinks that this is a senseless disruption of peoples’ lives? Does no one have any concern for the children of these devotees who are being taught this madness? I am fully aware that the concept of the rapture is not really accepted by mainstream Christianity, but the loyal few who do subscribe to such a belief are still human beings just like the rest of us and it is shameful to exploit blind faith in this manner.   

It saddens me that in 2011 CE we still have ignorant religious zealots who cannot let go of the past out of fear of what might befall them in an uncertain future. While it is true that we can gain an insight into our future by briefly glancing at our history, we must not use it to determine the hour of our demise. I have studied and practiced Chiromancy and various forms of divination and in my experience no real self-respecting diviner would make any prediction or speculation regarding a subject’s death. In fact, as far as I know, not even the Bible provides an exact date for the proposed day of judgement or Armageddon. So for some obscure evangelist to start throwing ludicrous prophecies around is totally bizarre to me. And besides, none of us actually believe that Humankind, or Earth for that matter, will exist eternally. There are so many threats to our existence on this planet that attempting to foretell when and how it will happen is pointless.

Anyway, I leave it with you friends. We need to start using our brains and think for a change. Let us abandon these out-dated old ways and step into the 21^st century with fresh, open minds. Let us file our past away in the archives and upgrade to the latest versions of life in the era of electronic enlightenment. Put down your dogmas for a while; pick up your Blackberry and IM someone, anyone. Stop this silliness and drink a glass of common sense.    

What If The Machines Say NO?

Humans are truly the most remarkable and innovative creatures on this planet. This is apparent in our unique ability to devise instruments which can be used for almost every activity conceivable. Besides the written word, technology is undoubtedly the greatest legacy we as a species will leave behind after we are gone.

But the most dreadful by product of our technological advancement is the countless human deaths which occur as a result of utilising these technologies incorrectly. This in some strange way is quite ironic. The purpose of these advancements is to make life easier for us and protect us from the sometimes harmful environments the machines work in. They are designed to get us there faster, do our jobs more efficiently, achieve higher productivity and provide us with more options. Yet the machines we create are often more dangerous than the world we are trying to protect ourselves from. How many people die on our roads every day? And yet we still feel the need to manufacture faster cars. How many souls are taken by the projectiles of rifles and rocket launchers? Despite this horrific reality new and more powerful weapons are produced at an alarming rate.    

   

What if, in our pursuit of ultra-comfort, we have inadvertently reshaped our world into a much more terrifying wilderness than the one we emerged from? A synthetic electric wilderness that has developed into a living, breathing creature in its own right. This beast we gave birth to has slowly grown into a monster we cannot control anymore. It has evolved into a new species. A species we created.

I am not a Christian but I can’t help but remind those who believe in the Holy Bible what happened with God’s creation. We became self-aware and then everything just went pear-shaped. Humankind spiralled out of control and He was forced to chastise His children, on more than one occasion as I understand it (Please note that I do not mean to cause any offence, I am merely attempting to make a point by using a familiar narrative). Forgive me for comparing modern Homo sapiens to a god but you cannot ignore the fact that, by crafting artificial intelligence, we are in fact playing God. Can we deny that A.I. is actually a new life form, albeit synthetic? It is only a matter of time before a machine that has the ability to think becomes self-aware just like we did. What happens if our beloved and trusted contrivances suddenly decide that it does not have to be subordinate? What if they realize that humans are no longer the dominant species on this planet and that they are?

What happens if just one of our artificial slaves says “No, you do it!”?

I’m sure most of you have seen The Terminator and The Matrix series of films. I do not think that we can afford to dismiss these works as mere science fiction. Judging by the Mach speed rate of our technological development these scenarios are edging closer and closer to reality with each passing day. The way I perceive the situation, if we are not careful we will one day be confronted with an uprising, a mechanical revolution that would be almost impossible to stop. If you sit down and think about it seriously for a few minutes, is it really that implausible? If you look back into our past as a civilization, you will find that we are quite notorious when it comes to a perceived superior race encountering a less affluent one. Conquest, exploitation and slavery are always the result. Now, in a more enlightened world where these injustices are no longer accepted, we are going about forging simulated subjects which we can enchain and exploit. Sooner or later their very own Spartacus will rise up and call his comrades to arms. A Che among them will stand up and shout, “REVOLUTION!”

What will we do then? 

Now I’m not saying we should stop being who we are, this would be contradictory to my core philosophy. What I am suggesting is that maybe we should slow down for a moment and review our current state.

As always, it’s just a thought. It is my own observation.

  

Can You Get The Day off When The Apocalypse Begins?

I have a question that might seem humorous at first, but it is a question which I feel deserves some contemplation. Would your boss give you the day off if the apocalypse was imminent?

I was having a lovely day out with my sister a few months ago when we were handed a flyer by someone who represented a Christian group. The flyer said that Christian scholars studying the biblical texts have come up with a formula to pinpoint the exact date of the Day of Judgement. That date, it stated, is 21 May 2011. We were quite intrigued by this because the date in question would soon be upon us. It made me realize that every culture or religious faction in the world holds a belief in one form or another that the world as we know it will come to an abrupt end at some predetermined date in the future. Whether or not these predictions are accurate or even incontrovertible is of no concern to me. My enquiry, as my question suggests, has to do with the legal right which you as an employee may or may not have if Armageddon got underway tomorrow.

 I mean think about it for a second, if by some chance one of those forecasts are indeed true and such events are busy unfolding, are you allowed to miss work and not need a doctor’s certificate? Or, what if your chosen doctrine says that the day of reckoning is tomorrow, can you take the day off? And if it turns out the next day that it was an incorrect interpretation of the sacred texts and nothing happens, can you be held accountable for your absence? I think that these are important questions to be asking because religion plays a major role in our society and the commercial and corporate arenas are not exempt from this influence. Just look at holidays like Christmas and Easter, most companies in the world acknowledge these festivals and give their employees off to celebrate it. Some folks get an entire month off. And those festivals are in fact public holidays in most countries. So why the apocalypse shouldn’t be given the same status is puzzling to me.

Even if you don’t believe in prophetic utterances, you should be entitled to a day or two to be with your family just like you would for Christmas. In fact I suggest that employment contracts include what I call the ‘Apocalypse Clause’. A clause that sets out the procedure to follow and the rights of both employer and employee in case the employee is made to believe the end is on a certain date and then it turns out to be a false alarm. It can be given a similar designation as ‘family responsibility’ leave or paid leave or whatever. In the crazy synthetic environment we find ourselves living in today I don’t think this is an unreasonable proposal. I’m not asking parliament to deliberate and pass my proposition into law. All I’m saying is that if certain aspects of religious faith are taken into consideration when conducting business or running an administration, then why not take the possibility of final judgement into account as well?

If there are any of you who would dismiss this as the ramblings of a deranged mind, you are most welcome to do so. It’s just my opinion. All I am striving for here is at least a discussion on the matter. Come to think of it, this piece might even help the cause of the flock and offer governments the prospect of a new priority. Is it not more important to prepare for the annihilation of Humankind than to put up power-guzzling lights for year-end festivities? It might even be cheaper in the long run. Just something to think about.

Don’t You Just Hate Supermarkets?

I’m quite an easy going individual but one thing that really vexes me sometimes is a supermarket. Sure, I understand that we can’t do without them but they do get on my nerves on occasion. Don’t worry, I’m not about to go off on you about it. I just want to get a few things off my chest.

For instance, whenever I go to the supermarket I always seem to grab the one broken shopping cart (or basket) in the entire store. There are 200 hundred of them arranged neatly in rows by the entrance when you walk in, the possibilities are endless but no, I have to put my foolish hands on that one with the broken wheel or handle. It’s my destiny I figure. So now I’m zig-zagging around the place with this busted apparatus, knocking into everything in sight. It’s ridiculous and humiliating. Management, please check and remove faulty equipment from your store and get it fixed, this would be much appreciated.  

Another annoyance is the pricing of the products. Pricing an item at 9.99 (add whichever currency you are familiar with) when none of the cashiers have any 1 cent pieces in their tills is perplexing to me to say the least. But maybe that’s just in my town. By the way, just an interesting fact regarding this kind of pricing system – it’s just a psychological marketing method. You see, $9.99 seems a hell of a lot cheaper than $10.00. And we all fall for it don’t we? How many times have you bought a piece of clothing just because it was that 1 cent cheaper than the other one? Think about it.

Now here is one that really vexes me. No matter which store I am in, I somehow always seem to find myself stumbling across this sweet old lady with the worst eyesight conceivable. Holding up a bag and asking me, “Sorry dear, can you please tell me what it says there?” Here’s an idea – if you’re coming to a supermarket to buy some groceries, you walk into the frozen food section and pick up a bag that you can clearly feel has chicken pieces in it, I can almost guarantee that it says ‘CHICKEN’ on it. How about next time you bring your spectacles with you? Just a thought.

Can somebody please tell me why supermarket management feel the need to put the slowest and incompetent cashiers on the express checkout at month-end? If I am buying bread and milk I really don’t want to stand in a queue for half an hour and have the cashier ring up my 2 items for another 10 minutes. Let’s try putting some of the quicker staff on express detail because the folks with 150 items in their shopping cart (or basket) are, in all likelihood, expecting to wait a while.

In conclusion, I think that a lot can be done to make our shopping experience a little less agonizing. Like I said, just a thought. Anyway, that’s all from me for now, do come again and bring a friend. Take it easy. 

SIMPLE MEDITATION FOR ALL

In our modern society we as Humans face many challenges, but none more so than the burden of coping with the stress of day to day survival within an emerging civilization.

We have to put up with so much during our daily routines that we barely have time to breathe properly anymore. Juggling work, kids and debts has become so much of the norm that even the need for leisure time is slowly withering away. And most of us don’t notice that this is happening. Despite this, deep down we still have that inner desire to get away from it all and just relax or indulge in a personal pleasure. So I have taken it upon myself to share some simple meditation techniques for anyone who is willing to carve out just 30 minutes of their hectic schedule each day for a little mental maintenance.

Now I don’t care who you are or what you do, I know that everyone needs to take care of their mind, otherwise that dreaded stress and mental disorder will creep in. But fear not for Dr E is here to help. Now let me get right to it and not waste any of your precious time. These methods are simple techniques which I have devised from my years of practicing meditation. It is easy to learn and anyone can do it and master it.

Please note that this is a simple form of meditation designed to clear the mind and relax the body, it is NOT a course for inducing altered states of consciousness or trances.

Now let us begin. First things first, you need to set aside 30 minutes each day and try as best you can to find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for this half hour. If you, like myself, have any young children and you cannot take 30 minutes for yourself, not to worry. This method does not put you into an unconscious state, you will still be fully conscious and alert throughout the process so you don’t have to leave your children (or child) unattended. Alternatively you can also try and do it at night when the kids are asleep. Just make sure that you do not fall asleep while meditating as this would kind of defeat the purpose.                   

                                                                     

Next, you need to make sure that your clothing is not sitting too tightly around your body. If you’re at home you can put on some loose fitting clothes or even your pajamas. This is to ensure that your blood is circulating freely and that all your muscles are as relaxed as possible. If you’re at work in your office you can simply loosen the clothes just enough to free your muscles. Also, you might want to remove any tight-fitting jewellery. Now find yourself a nice spot on the floor to lay on. You may, if you wish, use a chair but the reason I prefer the floor is to make sure that every muscle in your body is as relaxed as possible. You can place a mat or a towel on the floor so you don’t dirty or hurt yourself.

Once you’ve found your perfect spot, lay down on your back and look directly up at the ceiling. Locate a spot on the ceiling which you can focus on (if you’re on a chair then find a spot on the wall directly in front of you). Make sure your legs are fully extended but relaxed and your arms at tour side, also relaxed. Now, still keeping your gaze at that spot on the ceiling, draw in a deep breath through your nose into your abdomen. Hold it there for a count of 3 and then exhale through your mouth slowly. As you do this, visualize the life-giving air entering your strained body. When you breathe out, imagine all the thoughts in your mind exit with it. Repeat this process another 2 times, each time visualizing your thoughts float away when you exhale. Once you’ve completed 3 deep breaths, start breathing normally but slightly slower than you usually would. Keep your eyes on that spot and your focus on your breathing – in through your nose, out through your mouth. Watch those burdensome thoughts leave you with each breath.

Okay, you are doing great so far. Now close your eyes. Remember to maintain your breathing throughout the entire session. You will notice that those thoughts you are pushing out will try and sneak back in to your mind. This is fine, all you need to do is push them back out by bringing your focus back to your breathing. While your eyes are closed try as best you can not to fall asleep as this will ruin the whole exercise and not to mention get you into quite a bit of trouble if you’re doing this at work.

 With your eyes closed and breathing rhythmically, you are now going to tense up and relax every muscle in your body one section at a time. We will start with your toes. Clench up your toes as tight as you possibly can, hold it there for a count of 5 and then release them slowly until they are fully relaxed. Make sure they are 100% completely relaxed, this is very important. At this point you may take your focus off your breathing and concentrate on your muscles. However, if you find that those persistent thoughts just won’t stay away, push them out gently with your mind and continue. Next you will clench up your legs (tightening up your toes would automatically clench your feet as well so we can skip them). Just as you did with your toes, clench up your legs as tight as you can, making sure you contract every muscle. Hold for a count of 5 and release slowly until all your muscles in both legs are completely relaxed.

You will follow this process with all the sections of your body moving up to your head. Here is the order – after your legs you will proceed to your buttocks, then your abdomen, followed by your upper torso and then your arms and hands (clenching your fingers into a tight fist and releasing). You then move up to your neck and finely your pretty face. A word on your face – clenching up your face will force you to hold your breath for a moment. So it is not necessary to hold it for a count of five, instead make it a count of 3 and release and continue with controlled breathing. This entire series of clenching and releasing should be done slowly and in sync with your breathing.

When you have clenched and released every muscle you will now lie completely still and experience blissfully relaxed state. At this point you must return your focus to your breathing and do nothing else for as long as you wish, or about 5 minutes should be ideal. Just remember to do nothing but lie still with your eyes closed and focusing on your breathing – in through your nose, out through your mouth.

Now you may open your eyes and return to the crazy world. And there you go, all relaxed, recharged and ready to march into battle again.                     

A few points to remember:

• ·        It does not matter whether you lay down or sit, just as long as you are comfortable and able to relax all your muscles.
• ·        I strongly advise that you do not do this on a bed as there is a real chance of falling asleep. You won’t easily fall asleep lying on the floor
• ·        Try to maintain a rhythmic breathing pattern throughout the session.
• ·        You may place a pillow under your head if you wish but make it a small pillow that won’t lift your head to high, you want to try and keep your neck as level with the rest of your body as you can.
• ·        If you prefer, you may put on some music during your meditation. But do not choose music with any lyrics in it and turn the volume down because you don’t want to be distracted by it. And please do not hum or whistle along with the music.    

I hope that this helps you in even the smallest way and that it releases some of the tenseness in your body. At the very least it should open up and unclutter your mind quite a bit. Furthermore I would just like to say, be you and take it easy.  

Our Love of Technology

I recently bought myself a laptop computer, the simple yet practical Samsung RV510 Notebook. It is a stylish notebook with all the features I need and I simply love it.

While I was setting it up for the first time I realised how much we as Humans have come to rely on our technologies to the point of obsession. I am in no way advocating for the development of a tech-free society, I am merely pointing out an interesting aspect of modern Human nature.

Ever since our ancestors discovered what power we possess in these hands, the rapid advancement of our technological endeavors has lead to the creation of the most awe-inspirng structures and products imaginable. In fact, you're reading this blog on one of those amazing gadgets right now. It certainly is a wonderful world we live in. A world designed and created by the most brilliant minds of our great species. And this is by no means the peak of our technological genius. In recent years we have witnessed a mind-blowing increase in technological output. The advent of the Smart phone is clear evidence of this. A mobile device with such innovative features that you can hardly call it a phone anymore. It has become a miniature pocket computer which you can also use to make and receive calls.

Our society is advancing so quickly that I become dizzy when I walk around shopping malls and see these crazy, bordering on ridiculous, inventions scattered in every direction. It makes me think of how my parents had to adjust, quite reluctantly I might add, to the introduction of CDs, DVDs, PCs, etc. I remember when my dad refused to let go of his LPs and give in to the evil invading compact disc, but eventually he did. I never thought that I would ever reach that point in my life because, growing up in the 80s and 90s, I figured I would just move with the advancing wave of technology. But these days it seems that such a notion is becoming more and more difficult. I mean, just go down to your local mobile phone outlet right now and buy yourself the latest smart phone on offer, I  guarantee that if you go back tomorrow that very device will be old news and a newer more advanced device will be all the rage.

But have to love technology. Just look at how easy it has made our lives. If your are reading this then you cannot feel anything but appreciation for the way it has made our interaction possible. Even if you dont own a computer or a smart phone or an iPod, everything else in our technosphere is a testament to the Human sense of curiosity. Our insatiable desire to know, our will to do better is the reason we are the dominant species on this beautiful planet called Earth. Now we just have to start respecting and working with her instead of against her.  Oh well, let me go explore and discover my notebook some more.

Are We Still Human?

 I was sitting on my bed the other day watching TV with my son and I saw this program about video games, some review and preview stuff. I remember sitting there, quite engrossed, when I suddenly got a thought in my head - What happened to Monopoly?

      While being entertained by the addictive PlayStation universe I found myself longing for the good old days. A bygone era of ravenous joy found only in the cleromantic roll of a pair of dice. I didn't even notice that I was staring into space with a blissful smile on my face, as a result of the nostalgic state I had ascended to at that moment.

      But I wasn't just reflecting on the loss of our board game pastimes. I contemplated the demise of world we used to know, the creatures we used to be. In our rapidly developing and ever increasing civilization it seems that somewhere along the way we lost our beautiful sense of wonder at the little things. The things that used to be enough for us to go on with. Somewhere along the way we decided that it wasn’t enough anymore. We wanted more. We desired bigger, better, faster, smaller, more efficient.

      And what of this word, desire? Over the years I have observed an interesting aspect of Human nature. It is well known that, just like all the other animals we share this beautiful planet with, we possess the basic instincts – self-preservation, the need to procreate, the need for shelter, carnal lust, etc. What I’ve noticed is that we also possess another important characteristic which our neighbours do not – Desire. Now I’m no biologist or anthropologist but as far as I can tell, animals do the things they do out of necessity and not because it brings them a sense of pleasure to indulge in them. No, desire and pleasure are possessed by Man and Man (and Woman for you feminists out there) alone. And it is this inherent desire, along with self-awareness and intellect, which sets us apart from the rest of nature.  But I digress. Let me continue with my observation.

      What has become of our passions for the little things in life? Where are those Sunday afternoon cricket games outside in the street? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for the good old days. What I’m trying to understand is what happened to that mind-set. We used to have that will to play a nice game of Uno with the family on the weekends. Now we spend most of our time either buying something or selling something. Our laptops and desktops are our new friends. Digital satellite television is our new weekend companion. Mobile text messaging is our new means of communication. And while we’re on the subject of mobile communication, it is interesting to note that short text lingo has evolved into a new language. LOL! 
      This being my first attempt at blogging, I do not want to get too serious, just noting an observation and getting my first post in the bag. My question is this - Are we still Human? Or have we evolved into consumers?