http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge7i60GuNRg Here's an illuminating experiment on Racial Profiling
I will admit that I did not think that the US targeted China in hacks, and I wasn't really aware of the amounts of data the government has on my interweb communications. But I think that was because of my relative naivety. These things certainly are not shocking or great revelations.
If I were in the government's position, I would probably do the same--as potentially egregious as that may sound to some people.
The primary goal of the government is to protect its citizens. We may lose some of our privacy, but when matched with external and internal threats, the latter outweighs the former any day. We always seem to have 1984 in mind when in reality, government, and the fellow citizens working in agencies such as the NSA, FBI, are created to accomplish their number one duty--to protect its citizens. Especially in the already established political system of the US, there is little to fear of some dictatorial revolution. It could be argued that in joining a society, we inherently forfeit our rights of privacy. I don't think Snowden is necessarily a bad guy either who should be tried for espionage. I see both sides. Snowden's actions have at least given the populace something to think about. At the end of the day, however, little will change. I'm sure the Chinese knew we were hacking them, just as the EU knew we bugged them(unless they are both completely incompetent).
The US has its flaws--but, I think, there are much bigger fish to fry if Snowden is really acting out of righteousness. In the end, this will inevitably be more about Snowden than anything else--just like how Manning and Assange share the spotlight.
Oh right. Yeah i would like some research study as well. this wasnt FDA tested, so that raises some questions. Curious : Do you personally use any of those meds?
TERRA INCOGNITA
There are vast realms of consciousness still undreamed of
vast ranges of experience, like the humming of unseen harps,
we know nothing of, within us. Oh when man has escaped from the barbed-wire entanglement
of his own ideas and his own mechanical devices
there is a marvelous rich world of contact and sheer fluid beauty
and fearless face-to-face awareness of now-naked life
and me, and you, and other men and women
and grapes, and ghouls, and ghosts and green moonlight
and ruddy-orange limbs stirring the limbo
of the unknown air, and eyes so soft
softer than the space between the stars.
And all things, and nothing, and being and not-being
alternately palpitate,
when at last we escape the barbed-wire enclosure
of Know-Thyself, knowing we can never know,
we can but touch, and wonder, and ponder, and make our effort
and dangle in a last fastidious fine delight
as the fuchsia does, dangling her reckless drop
of purple after so much putting forth
and slow mounting marvel of a little tree.
-D.H Lawrence
It seems like a lot of those extremely impressive individuals in science start reading books, learning skills at a relatively young age e.g. 11 or 12 or even younger. Alas, for me, I feel like I am late and in a constant game of catch up. But I will still tread forward and hope to impact the world as much as Mr. Musk has.
Hahaha I completely agree. The weather is getting nicer too.
This man is my hero.
President of the United States I will run during 2056
Hope for the best--that's all you can do.
Yeah. That's on my list of interests for the future: 1. Renewable Energy 2. Space Exploration and Civilization 3. Biological Engineering(whether it's being like Tony Stark or finding cures for aging) While we're on the topic, I got in a conversation about avoiding death and I actually had huge backlash from my classmates questioning the bioethics of it. Curious on your thoughts in regards to somehow avoiding death(slowing aging significantly-don't know whether it is the similar thing in your terms--or whether that could be even feasible?)
Do you foresee any type of brain technology that could possibly augment brain function without adverse effects?
If no adverse effects were to be found, then I don't see why not.
I don't know too much about Bayesian statistics. But after reading the book, it definitely got me intrigued and was a nice primer to it. Also, the book doesn't just solely talk about Bayesian principles. Silver provides a nice blend of modern examples where the 'signal' gets clouded by noise and whatnot. If anything, it teaches you the biases in thinking when making critical decisions. I would recommend the book
I wish I could have something like this. I just read "Siddhartha" and was really inspired by the idea of achieving full rational freedom through not having desire. Fasting is actually good for you too, and I see this as a way to fast yet receive the nutrients for a capable body. I'm surprised there are not similar products out there already(not sure if protein shakes or SlimFast quite count).
This was a totally engrossing read. Speaking of sexual offenders and justifying themselves,"Lolita" would be a perfect example. In regards to Dorner, he has the right idea, but I don't really know how to articulate my thoughts on his intent to murder. Ambivalence?
To many, I think Ayn Rand's novels introduce philosophy in a contextualized way that is quite enticing and seemingly makes sense. Many people likes how she champions reason and reality as a way to achieve one's human potential. This all sounds great. I think humans should strive to be the best they can be, striving for bettering rational thought and have a sense of action that serves for one's "rational self-interest." People need to realize that Ayn Rand isn't some goddess, did not create something revolutionary or new in philosophy. Most of it is really just a sloppy rehash of Aristotle's Ethics. Even rational egoism is justified by Aristotle and her whole thing about objectivism is very unclear and seems to just align with whatever Rand thinks at the time. They are both enticing reads, but people need to read the vast amounts of other stuff out there too, not just things that boosts ego and makes one feel right about their life.
I always felt that sharing life with many people of the world would be ideal for me. This doesn't necessarily mean sexual relationships. It just means there isn't any implicit apprehension of meeting new people or spending time away from "the chosen one." Not saying you can't have other friends outside a marriage, but I think the concept itself would just be limiting no matter how hard you tried. I eventually still want to raise awesome kids, but I want to lead my own life not necessarily dedicated to the ideals of family life. Some say you need someone to share your happiness with. But I say, you have whole wide world to share happiness with.
I like learning(sounds corny and sort of priggish, but tis truth).
Hm. A lot of my friends finish undergrad and head into finance or consulting--two huge brain drains from Ivy League schools. CS seems to have a lot of potential though. It's definitely going to be the future of a lot of stuff and the next big things are falling into the category of CS. I don't know how your financial situation is, but I feel like that's always a burden as well to some extent. Maybe you could start your own startup? Or apply to internships at facebook,google, etc.? I think that's what some of my friends are doing. I don't think they intend to stay there their whole lives, but I guess it's a starting point and they can learn from it. It just depends on what you want in the future. If you have a vision of effecting the world,I think it'll happen. Many people want to find love,start a family,be "happy"-- effect another type of world.Which is fine too. Depends on what you find fulfilling in life. I rooting for you man. Too often do we get trapped into cynicism or get ridiculed as naive "idealists." I say,you only live once: mind as well see what you're capable of doing, what your capable of effecting. You'll never know unless you try.
Which university? I'm actually a senior in high school but I'll probably be heading over to around your area next year.
What's your current situation like?
Haha good to hear! What about you? Where are you at right now and what have you figured out?
I'm still trying to figure out what path I want to take the future. Two things fascinate me: human potential and the secrets of the world. Let me explain: I'm interested in how we can maximize human greatness, how we can become as good or skilled as possible. I don't know why, but this has always fascinated me. I want to see how far I could go in life by developing "virtue"(in the Aristotelian sense)and skills. Eventually, I want to work with education and others to see how far society can go as well. Maybe it's because I'm still young and hopeful, or maybe it's because I read a lot of self-help books, but I truly think that every human can achieve so much with education if they have the right motivation. Not with the current public education we have, but through learning about science, philosophy and self-development(kinda vague, but I hope you get the point). It be fascinating to see how far individuals--society--can achieve. Second, I want to discover secrets, to figure out how stuff works and create something from that knowledge. In a grandiose sense,use that knowledge to change the world. A conflict arises: On one hand, there are the infinite secrets of the natural world that we use science to discover and utilize it to create. However, there are also secrets inside the other world of business and government--society's history. I think discovering secrets like that would be satisfying as well and could be used to create something better. But whatever I eventually want to do, it seems to always come down to Money. As much as I hate to say it, I'm starting to think that money drives this world, whether it's applying for grants for research and of course, in all the business and government that runs this world. I want my independence in the future, and I want my curiosity to be free. And its seems like money inextricably buys that freedom. I don't know. These are just thoughts. TLDR: I'm coming to the realization/belief that wealth is tied to many things in life, and my future will be inextricably linked to attaining wealth. But not for showing off or buying fancy shit though. More so for somehow "changing the world" and liberating myself. Just some thoughts for now.These ideas are still ruminating but that is the general outline.
That's what I was inclined to think. However, many people will use this to back up their arguments. How can you refute Steven Chu and the whole fallout with the energy company? Or Eric Holder and fast and furious and the whole thing with Obama. Even though I'd like to think they warp stuff, how am I to know? I'm sure a conservative counterpart would hail this list to support their argument. In other words, what do you do to refute this shit. I just don't want to automatically dismiss something solely because it uses words like "czar" or extrapolates a bit.
“To describe [Ayn Rand]as a minor figure in the history of philosophical thinking about knowledge and reality would be a wild overstatement,” says Brian Leiter, director of the Center for Law, Philosophy and Human Values at the University of Chicago. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/business/02bbt.html?_r=0&#...
Good Read pertaining to Ayn Rand
This actually sounds kinda cool. It would be interesting to see experimentally how this panes out as well.
To be fair, the guy did specifically target Piers in a petition to deport him. Ratings could just be a coincidence. I don't think anyone knew that Alex would act as far out as he did. Piers was definitely pissed.
I don't think adding more guns to the drug war would help. If anything, more deaths may occur.The situation is totally different though and unfair the parallel. And speculation is pointless. True, I will agree that there are many other issues that should be addressed. You definitely won't see me out in the streets protesting against guns or doing any activism(but I cannot blame those who have been victims to gun violence, which isn't limited to mass shootings, but gang violence and reckless murders too). I do firmly believe though that there can be constructive conversation--not the one showed in the video--and improvements regarding gun regulation.