Ed Dowding

Month: June 2009

Divorce Rates

Proof that older = wiser: Age at marriage for those who divorce in America: Age Women Men Under 20 years old 27.6% 11.7% 20 to 24 years old 36.6% 38.8% 25 to 29 years old 16.4% 22.3% 30 to 34 years old 8.5% 11.6% 35 to 39 years old 5.1% 6.5% However, proof that we ...

The World According to Monsanto

I’ve just been watching ‘The World According to Monsanto’. It’s pretty compelling stuff. As one of the contributors says, “Seed is more powerful than bombs, more powerful than guns” and given that, you’d have thought that we’d be a little more careful about what we do it. 70% of the food in the USA contains ...

Going from good to bad.. shouldn't that be the other way around?

Have you noticed how if the Government is thinking of doing something, it leaks the idea into the papers, see how it goes down, and then a few days later we get a policy statement? Were you ever told by your driving instructor that if you’re heading towards a crash, look for the gap between ...

Perception of time

How we consider our position in time effects our outlook on life. Much like our use of language, really. More confirmation that the world is what we perceive it to be, and very little else. As Hamlet says, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Source: http://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_prescribes_a_healthy_take_on_time.html

Horror of Kenya's 'witch' lynchings

Why it’s not OK to promote the belief in mystic forces which go against all available evidence: I can’t see clearly what is going on, but heavy smoke is rising from the ground and a horrible stench fills the air […] Suddenly an old woman breaks from the crowd, screaming for mercy. Three or four ...

WWIII Propaganda

WWIII Propaganda

Quantum Biofeedback – giving Reiki scientific credibility

A company in Ontario has developed an Electro Physiological Frequency Xrroid (EPFX) which aims to.. well, they put it best, so: Simply put, the EPFX / SCIO is a high-tech complementary biofeedback device that assists health practitioners find stress and energetic imbalances occurring within humans and animals. […] During testing, the EPFX device resonates with ...

Ways of considering society

Power distance – The degree to which a society expects there to be differences in the levels of power. A high score suggests that there is an expectation that some individuals wield larger amounts of power than others. A low score reflects the view that all people should have equal rights. Uncertainty avoidance – reflects ...

I have nothing to fear from a DNA database

It’s tempting to think that DNA databases are OK, because it’s just a way of uniquely identifying someone, just like a long number which no one else has, which is intrinsically linked to you. If you believe that, I can see why you think you may have nothing to worry about. But the problem is ...

The Bible as a word cloud

One would have thought a book on how to live a better life would be more focused on words like ‘enjoyment, love, sharing, empathy, compassion, care, reciprocity, imagination, play, Eden, Heaven on Earth, nature, wisdom, knowledge, respect, responsibility’… Instead this suggests that the Bible is not much more than a history of a bunch of ...

Money is getting in the way of progress

It is well that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning. Henry Ford (1863-1947), Founder of Ford Motors via Thomas Seidler

What are desirable net gains?

What are the things we want more of, net, on this planet? Happiness? Power? Wealth? Beauty? People? Suggestions have included Peace, Chocolate Hob Nobs, Technological Advances, Individual freedom (since from that all others follow). What would you have?

Albert Schweitzer Quotes

“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” And the no less brilliant: “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” Albert Schweitzer – Wikipedia

Housing on mars

Let’s say you’re in charge of designing the cities for the later colonies on Mars. Terraforming is all taken care of, and resources are, whilst limited, easily found and used, just.. you know.. it’s Mars.. we shouldn’t go squandering stuff. You have plenty of machines to do the work, but they do have a running ...

Mass dolphin stranding linked to navy exercises

An investigation into the UK’s largest ever mass stranding of common dolphins has identified military activity as the most probable cause – although no single activity can be definitively linked to the stranding. via  New Scientist.

Tip of the day

Don’t believe your own hype. Don’t generate your own hype about yourself. It makes you sound like a dick. Try to sound like someone who isn’t a dick by talking exclusively about the ideas, or the engagement of those ideas. Because right now I’m close to vomiting having read a blog which is SO bad ...

How to be Good

Almost 40% of young people today grow up without their biological father present in their home. For African-Americans in the US, two thirds grow up without their biological father. This often affects young people’s moral and emotional development very negatively. A 2005 study of 3,400 middle schoolers in the US, for exmple, indicated that not ...

Why are women injured in cycling accidents more than men?

Why are women injured in cycling accidents more than men? A suppressed TfL report gives us a clue: Women cyclists are far more likely to be killed by a lorry because, unlike men, they tend to obey red lights and wait at junctions in the driver’s blind spot, according to a study. via po-ru.com: Avoid ...

Free Reiki Attunement

After a week doing a yoga and climbing course, where I was introduced to Reiki, I would like to give you the gift of a free Reiki attunement. Namaste, everyone.

Hammer Pants flash mob

YouTube – Hammer Pants Dance (HD).