Rate at Which Neuronal Networks in Cerebral Cortex Delete Sensory Information

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110124090729.htm
"This extraordinarily high deletion rate came as a huge surprise to us", says Wolf. It appears that information is lost in the brain as quickly as it can be "delivered" from the senses. 

I think this is a great article for loads of reason...but, are these guys stupid?  

Of course the great majority of sensory input needs to be forgotten as soon as possible.

Why keep track of the color of a car in the alley you glimpsed as you made a right turn.  

Total clutter...so, your brain is off doing what it does best, finding meaning in patterns...

It's called "short term memory" after all...

Fuggitaboutit!

-- 

FRISH

The power of prayer...?

Allegedly a popular activity amongst deists, prayer has yet to be shown to cause action at a distance.

Helping to describe the "usefulness" of prayer and it's popularity, perhaps praying provides certain benefits for the practitioner, similar to those described in this abstract.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110121144007.htm

"This study demonstrates that changes in brain structure may underlie some of these reported improvements and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing."

Consider...

OM is a sacred Sanskrit syllable, used in Yogic meditation practice for 6000 years.  

It's the root of the word shal(om) or peace, in Hebrew...

Perhaps that's not coincidence if prayer affects brains in similar ways to "mindfulness meditation"...

-- 

FRISH

Technology Impact: Cheap Cleaned Water

This team uses sunlight and titanium oxide (what surfers wear on their nose to keep from being sunburned, it's white), to clean pollution in industrial waste water.  The world has a lot of titanium oxide and sunlight...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110111132519.htm

One must wonder how the Earth's carrying capacity of humans is changed through such tech.

Consider:

It may be just the thing for distributing the sewerage system down to the home or neighborhood or apt. building level.

On the scale discussed in the article, 1000 liters per hour, that would serve the needs of several homes.

Instead of polluting/wasting 100's of gallons per day, now each house/neighborhood could have a reservoir of water that is recycled, and that would only need topping off every year (evaporation, etc.).

A distributed sewer system would have the benefit of allowing riparian landscapes to be restored.

And the need for civil works for water distribution eliminated.

So, this is appealing and potentially "earthshaking" technology.  From a human population perspective.

-- 

FRISH

Secondhand Television Exposure Linked to Eating Disorders

Saw no need to embellish, the story is truly terrifying in it's implications...to me anyway!

Secondhand Television Exposure Linked to Eating Disorders

Sounds like another "The Onion" headline, but even those wags haven't gone here yet...

1. an example of unintended consequences.

    a) don't blame us 

             i) we're only writing stories we think people will watch 

                      1) so we can sell them things that aren't so good for them or the environment.

                                 ! T.V.'s true function: have us all obese, so we're a market for all the crap TV offers...

      b) another example of a science experiment on all of us, gone wrong.

               i) The Implication:  No one knows how my life (or yours) is changed when someone wins (or doesn't win) on some game show...since that's what's influencing some aspect of co-workers, prospects and clients...(in my case)...we're being programmed by this insidious media deluge we're experiencing...totally subconsciously and impossible to "control"...

2. an example of how chemicals drive our entire beings.

    a) and our chemistry itself can be easily influenced by social pressure

             i) a lesson here about socialization, getting by, putting up, and fitting in  (or...not!)

                     1) Fill the minds of children so they'll be happy enough with their lot!

                               ! - Religion's true purpose, calming brain chemistry, as a pliant populace is a lawful one, the wealthy need not worry...as long as "morality" is seen as stemming from religion.   It doesn't.  The meek inherit NOTHING.

    b) so, what's the "new morality", as seen through the lens of "Star Wars" or "Dallas" or "Grand Theft Auto"?

3. an example of how sad globalization is, especially at it's pointy end...

    a) "western" "civilization" or "culture" is toxic.

             i) Full Stop.

--
FRISH

"Disproving Christianity" by David G McAfee - A letter to the author from Frish

David, first, congrats on publishing and on a winning blog.

Today, I saw the name of your book, and found your email ID and wrote this (3 hours effort, enjoy!)

I live off the Sunset Strip.  Everyone here is a comedian.  Smile...I am!   

This became a long note, enjoy it, or ignore it or react or act or whatever you want to do!  

FREEDOM is arguably the world's most important word! 

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http://files.meetup.com/753377/DavidMcAfee1-15-2011.pdf  This is worthy, hope you have a crowd there!

And, your blog http://davidgmcafee.wordpress.com/ is great too.

While the title of your book  Disproving Christianity - Refuting The World's Most Followed Religion is sure to raise interest (both directions), 

I am even more sure you and I both know there really isn't anything there to refute!

It is totally made up, both old and new testaments, even when there are actual historical events enshrined in the mythology as well...what would one expect of a documentation of neolithic origin myth that is WRITTEN not just chanted for hours on end by rote memory, like all the "heathen" were still doing...that's part of it's staying power, the old testament has been in continuous publication from it's sea scroll days...

The functionality of the mythology may be different in the two books, Old more about morality and how to act, and New all about what to believe and trying to establish the bona fides for Jesus (see below on how they accomplished this).

I always start with the FACT...there is absolutely NO historical evidence for Jesus.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I find your "refutation" premise TRITE.  That's the only reaction I have, to whatever illumination you may bring.

I would recommend you should study, WHY Christianity is the world's biggest religion.

That's a whole lot more important than trying to blow holes in their "beliefs"...

They have already won the war on that battleground, rational people can never argue with faithful.

"Why Christianity is insidious".  That ought to be the name of your next book, happy to collaborate. 

I'm the "Fearless Leader of the LA Brights".

I've converted my share of believers.  Not that difficult if they are in any way doubtful, which they all are secretly anyway!

---------------------------------------------

Here's the deal (and you must know of some thinker/writer on these topics that has already thought of this, I just don't know of any...I'm making up this stuff today, as I write it, simply by hearing the name of your book, and finding your emailID.  Sharing some of this with friends, and on the web...it's all good, will drive you traffic!)

The INSIDIOUSNESS of Christianity: Take the most important local religion/beliefs tenants and change the reference from local to Jesus...and claim these attributes as a part of Christianity.

Hence, FROM THE VERY COMMENCEMENT OF THEIR VARIOUS CULTS THAT EVENTUALLY WERE ENSHRINED in the New Testament (the books therein only a smattering of all the "gospels" written between 100AD (or so and 325AD) as you know far better than I):  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea)

Jewish Tradition influence on the new testament - The messiah will be a descendant of David thereby fulfilling prophesy.  Even the use of a written word as the guide, the Old testament had already been around several hundred years by the ostensible time of Christ.

-----------------------------------------                          

We apologize at this time to reflect on this Newsflash:  

One huge reason for Christianity's success is having basically a lock on literacy for 1700 years or so...at least in the west (not Peru or China etc., they will capitulate to Christianity later)...

It would be a tough sell, one would think, in today's information overloaded life, however, my anthro background and life experience point to the fact that social evolution is a long and unsteady process.  

My point about the triteness of the book, while it may be a scholarly masterpiece, is that you are fighting them on their turf. 

That's not a good strategy (I Ching).

"Fighting" them at all is a bad strategy.  Ever see the TV show, Kung Fu?  Okay Grasshopper, be the pliant yet powerful foe.

                            

The worldwide religious meme is well embedded as an ubiquitous institution in all cultures. Can't touch that with reason, believe it.

DO YOU 'BELIEVE' IN EVOLUTION?  Here's a natural lesson: Don't fight with Mother Nature.  So far, "she's" seen fit to allow this irrational set of thoughts become so compelling that people self sacrifice as a homicide bomber for martyrdom (I mean, what could be further from any "normal" society's use for a young man, or woman, as these bombers are frequently young people, not grandmothers).  

-----------------------------------------------

QUICK SIDEBAR:

IT'S EFFIN' Amazing what FAITH can do...ask any drill sergeant.  

This is the ultimate goal of political power, as without control of this key portion of the population, no regime can last.Therefore the following question, Frish maintains is the most important question looking at current trends and going forward...

How will the 17-30 year old males in a society deal with high levels of testosterone?

Sex?    Military Service?     Sports?      Gangs?    Career?   Religious calling/missionary work (as tough as military, sometimes with bullets!), HARD WORK?

Here's an atheist Haiku

Immaculate Birth?

NOT HOLY - wholly holey!

Christianity...

Now back to our earlier scheduled argument...

-------------------------------------------

Roman tradition - (Mithras) 

                           born on 12/25 underground or in a cave

                           of virgin mother

                           crucified, or killed

                            resurrected

                           ETC...

And, eventually

Nordic Tradition     Cinter Clas (Santa)

                            Trees with candles

                             reindeer.

So from the very inception of this "religion" it garnered all of the attributes that made the local religion special, and proclaimed it's all jesus' plan.

That's what your next book ought to conquer, it is trivial and obvious that Christianity or any other god belief is hokum.

Cheers, hope you are up to the true task, discovering all the "christian additions" that have occurred since the New Testament was put together in Nicea.

I lived in Brasil for a semester during my college career (1974 August-December in an apartment facing the beach at Ipanema) and discovered how Christianity works there!

Brasil is both the largest Christian Country, it is also the largest Voodoo Country.

(I have been to voodoo ceremonies in the Favella (slums) of Rio!)

What did the Christians do to counteract AND co-opt the voodoo-ers?

The Voodoo panoply of gods and demons are now identified as Christian Saints!

The goddess Yemanja is Mother Mary, etc.

Take the challenge, what you have done so far may make money (or not) and may get you shot, but it is, in my considerably informed opinion, trite.

---------------------------------------------------

Nuff Said.

I may be getting older and wiser, or maybe just tired...but confronting the insane with facts isn't a winning strategy.

ANOTHER FRISH SECULAR PARABLE -

"Never teach a pig to whistle, it's impossible, therefore frustrating for you, but far worse, it annoys the pig"

Those who prefer to "believe" rather than just live our singular time of living is tragic.  But I am no longer going to "testify" to use an evangelical reference about atheism, BEING RIGHT ISN'T NECESSARILY POPULAR OR SMART TO SHARE!

Here's a couple of articles from my blog.  You might find them "fascinating" or not.

I am sure you are proud to refute the old and new testaments.  I have refuted god(s)!

Enjoy my Cybernetic Refutation of god, etc.

http://nonshoppingchannel.blogspot.com/2008/06/if-you-are-believer-dont-read-this-post.html

This is my reaction to a Washington Post Religion article...sent to the head of the National Association of Evangelicals.

http://nonshoppingchannel.blogspot.com/2008/07/to-president-of-nae-who-can-choose-to.html

Finally, since being armed is always better, here is a great article on how life likely began on Earth, "The decent of the Electron"

http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/2009/3/the-origin-of-life/1

Happy to explore, interact, any or all concepts relating to anything not natural...

Or, ignore me altogether.  

I have been tagged to assist The Brights in establishing the natural basis of morality.  Unclear when our task force will begin it's work but it ought to be fun regardless.

Best of luck with your book, site, and everything.

Actually, it would be SO easy to earn an Religion PhD doing just an analysis of the hundreds of bible translations.

Perhaps you are familiar with:

http://www.forum-intl.net/

I just googled bible translations, these guys have the list!

http://www.forum-intl.net/find_a_bible/?Country=PG

So, hundreds of languages, hundreds of translations, with references in each about how the local (and largely pre-literate!) population already held dear is now in their bible, easily tranferred from parent to child with the help of the priestly class, which they already had in whatever fashion their local religion operated.

Then we can send anti-missionaries into the hills of Papua New Guinea (sure.) to undo the xtian hordes!

YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, FAITHFUL IN ALL "FAITHS" CAN CERTAINLY BE MOTIVATED BY AEON'S OLD TALES AND COCKAMAMIE ILLOGICAL, IMPOSSIBLE, AND RIDICULOUS complexity.  (original sin?  HUH?)

Sorry, this got long, hope it offered you absolutely nothing, since if you know what I do, I've already succeeded!

See my graphic resume for fun, happy to hear from you if you care (dare!).

I AM A FORCE OF NATURE ( as are we all ).  

Cheers, 

FRISH

Fearless Leader, L.A. Brights (emeritus)

For a soccer fan (oops, I mean football, fútbol, futebol, Fußball or whatever)

http://www.vuvuzela.fm/

The whole set of linked sites are really great...

--
FRISH