dolphins

After realizing the incredible intelligence of dolphins, the idea of keeping them in captivity is disturbing. Sea World seems to be such an out of date and ridiculous idea, that it is hard to imagine anyone could ever enjoy spending their money there.  Most people I hear talk about this issue share the same opinion as I do.  Maybe this is a promising step in the right direction for human evolutionary compassion for other animals.

More than one planet

I think it is a popular opinion shared by much of the human species, that we are all destroying the planet rapidly and so many of us "just don't care" enough for the world we live on.   I don't think I agree with that idea.  I think most people are caring individuals who would love to use more renewable resources than they have the ability to now.  The education and the means to afford using renewable resources is something most of our population does not have the means to achieve.  Sure some people actually live in a world blinded by their desire for new shiny plastic items each and everyday, but i think that attitude is more rare than we are told.   Possibly, if certain foreign policies our own country holds were re-examined, than it would be easier to make large changes against pollution all at once than trying to take so many tiny steps each day.

Coca-Cola

I'll admit, that once in a while, an ice cold can of Coca-Cola is one of the most delicious beverages in the world.  There's something about that high fructose corn syrup filling your cells with syrupy death that just can't be beat.   Although this new slingshot device to purify water for schools and community centers throughout much of the developing areas of the world is a step in the right direction, if you take the time to look into Coca-Cola's past it is easy to see what they might be trying to cover up.   In 2004 the cries of the people of India finally forced the corporation out of the country while chanting "when you drink coke, you drink the blood of the people!" Coca- Cola had a manufacturing center in the village of Plachimada India where they unlawfully stole 1.5 million liters of water a day from the local reserves leaving a dried up water table and farmers without any ability to water crops.  The company also dumped hazardous materials in the water leaving behind a polluted water source for all of the villagers.  This pollution seeped into wells, reservoirs, and canals forcing the people of the village to walk miles to find another source of water. Plachimada was not the only place in India where this happened either.  The areas of Mehdiganj and Kala Dera also suffered greatly from the crimes of this company.   I would imagine they might be able to keep the areas cleaner if they weren't also filling their factories with child laborers making pennies a day but who can afford to pay adults a living wage.  Coca -Cola only made 15.2 billion dollars in 2004, you can't expect them to just give it all away at seven dollars an hour.  How could they ever afford their 7 million dollar lobbyists fees?  

Sea Creatures and a rant about Kurzweil

      The article entitled "Sea creatures may offer clues to such vexing problems of medical science as paralysis" brings to mind an intriguing question of whether the ability of modern day science to alter the natural world we live in is an ethical option for improving the lives of humans suffering from disease or trauma.  Of course we all want the quality of life for others to be at its greatest potential, however, genetic engineering scares me.  This article is only venturing into the world of genetic splicing and altering genes to take on the traits of other animals but the future of this research leads down a path I personally find disturbing.  The world of Ray Kurzweil and the "Transcendent Man" seems to play out as a horrific culture of futuristic computer brained zombies in my mind.  The idea of merging our consciousness with the world of computers is one I am not looking forward to, or one I see as possible. What we know from our studies in Chinese Medicine shows the human mind and body are more complex and beautiful than a string of lasting memories easily downloaded onto a chip for future implantation. The evolution of our species seems to have an intelligence which outreaches nano technology and its ability to process data inside of our human cells, but maybe I am wrong.  Kurzweil does have about twenty doctorates in "technology stuff" and I can barely use a computer to write a blog so who knows.