tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28008615081524845752024-03-13T22:55:18.079-04:00Lemon Slice NebulaMissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-12674526719575158762014-11-21T20:52:00.001-05:002014-11-21T20:53:22.259-05:00The Pervasive and Persuasive: The Second ActAs I returned back to school in August toward my educational goals, I realized just what a luxury it is to have the time to explore the world through this blog. So although I have substantially less time available, I hope that you can benefit from my studious journey. Along my path so far, I've spent some time exploring principles of persuasion. <br />
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I've always considered the current dichotomy of information as: misinformation against good information. But I suggest that adopt a new lens through which to view it.<br />
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What if we shifted to seeing persuasive versus non-persuasive. Now, typically, the misinformation tends to have greater resources to push with more persuasive methods. For example, when Jenny McCarthy began a campaign against vaccines alleging a connection to autism. Or the 'doctors' who purport magical cures to illnesses like cancer. They tend to have more resources available for persuasive promotion as compared to the average scientist or science journalist who's power of influence lies mostly in information articles.<br />
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But if the community of science, of reason, and of rationality were to employ persuasive tactics, the good information would be much more effectively spread. This would be the second act of the persuasive play, disbanding the monopoly of persuasive tactics for misinformation. Our purpose, as always, is to ensure that accurate information is presented without misrepresentation, but I propose that it can be presented persuasively without losing its integrity. <br />
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So without the resource of wealth, we can use our greatest and (usually) free resource, the internet. We can use it in persuasive ways. There are already famed voices on the side of reason, which is one beneficial element, but there are many more channels we must use. <br />
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Comment with you ideas for persuasive tactics:MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-22347737681385342062014-09-10T11:35:00.000-04:002014-09-10T11:35:19.756-04:00Relaxing Supine Style- Floating in a Vastly Unsensational TankI'm sure that most of us have heard of the idea of Sensory Deprivation and more specifically in the application of an 'isolation tank'. If not, the idea is that you lay floating on your back (supine position) in an elongated, covered tank filled with water that is heated to outer-skin temperature, and usually for a session of 45 minutes. It is filled with Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) creating a saline and sanitary environment around you. This encased tank creates an experience with the goal of limiting sensory input to induce relaxation. So there is limited or no lighting, ear plugs are used to limit auditory input and the temperature of the water works to eliminate tactile sensations. <br />
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The tanks were first put to use in 1954 by John C. Lilly with the intention of experimenting on the effects of sensory deprivation and mostly for long periods of time. The results were mostly adverse in longer periods of time as well as when the experience was not chosen by the subjects. The modern use is primarily in the interest of relaxation and is now classified as a CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine). <br />
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Beginning in the late 1980's with another more recent push in the last 15 years, a great number of studies have been done analyzing the effects of the practice. My personal assessment of what I've read so far is that the experience is a relaxing one similar to other spa treatments. The evidence points to a few benefits from regular sessions over periods of several weeks. This includes pain relief- although the mechanism is not yet pinpointed, relaxation/stress reduction- similar to several other techniques for relaxation, and similarly has been associated with in the least, mild euphoria, and in exceptional cases, altered states of consciousness (*Altered states have been reported, although this remains unconfirmed by any rigorous study*). For references to all of the related studies please see <a href="http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR13-4/kjellgren.pdf">this study </a>and the one referenced below. <br />
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All-in-all I would asses the isolation tanks to be an aesthetically pleasing experiences with a few documented benefits. However, the purveyors of these tanks were found in a recent study to not only exaggerate the true claims but to also invent other claims wholly unconfirmed by science. This particular <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876382014000845">study</a> from the European Journal of Integrative Medicine is from June of 2014 so it provides a very recent snapshot into the topic of advertising. They analyzed ads from 82 centers located by top hits via google, based on the reasoning that people are most likely to find their information regarding alternative therapies online rather than from medical professionals. </div>
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I can't say that their results were particularly surprising either. Nearly every claim made by the website of each center was either exaggerated or entirely baseless. They claimed that it improves athletic ability, caused out-of-body disassociation, hallucinations; can be used to treat arthritis, eczema, depression, addiction, fibromyalgia and that it helped the body maintain homeostasis. So consumer beware; enjoy a brief session of relaxation but don't get suckered into believing the unsubstantiated claims. </div>
MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-68144993879982565292014-08-23T09:41:00.001-04:002014-08-23T11:11:27.693-04:00Earth's First SelfieThis day in 1966, two images of of our home, planet Earth, were captured by America's first spacecraft to orbit the moon, Lunar Orbiter 1. These low resolution, black and white photos gave us the first visual glimpse of a larger perspective. If you zoom out of the colossal grand canyon, out of the expanse of the US, beyond the far stretched of the world's oceans and then our atmosphere, our global selfie comes into view. <br><br><div><br></div><div>
The intention of this mission was as a precursor to the 1969 Apollo Moon landing. Specifically, the intent was to map out the terrain of the moon's surface and address the concerns that the any potential landing zones may yet be too rough for Apollo to land successfully. According to the<a href="http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/orbiter/"> Lunar and Planetary Institue </a>the data collected from the Lunar Orbitor 1 detailed terrain for 10 of 20 possible landing sites spanning a total distance covered of "262,000 square kilometers of the nearside of the Moon and over 3,000,000 square kilometers of the farside."</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> Between all 5 Lunar Orbiter Missions, 99% of the moon's surface was photographed with precision far beyond what was possible from earth and served to provide more accurate distances and trajectory readings to aid in the accuracy of the Apollo missions. <br>
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So thanks to the Lunar Orbiter project for allowing our first global selfie. <br>
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</div>MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-32796168434506993062014-08-19T11:04:00.000-04:002014-08-23T11:09:54.962-04:00Neural Facial Recognition Software...... GONE WRONGWe as human beings (among other animals) have an incredible ability to recognize individual faces. This is particularly handy in an evolutionary sense to be able to distinguish between friend and foe or to put it another way, between the known/safe and the unknown/potentially dangerous.<div><br></div><div><br></div><div> Along the same line of mental wiring of pattern recognition is our ability to make out a human face in general, whether it is in the shadows behind a bush or in objects in your closet. So similar to the example offered by Michael Shermer in his book The Believing Brain, if you percieve a face behind a bush and it turns out to be a potential enemy, you have more time to act for your safety. However, if you percieve a face behind a bush and it turns out to be an odd arrangement of branches, then you are still safe and no harm is done. </div><div><br></div><div>So given the advantage of this kind of neural software, we have ended up with an abundance of general pattern recognition especially regarding faces. Even in modern day, it's advantageous to know if there is someone skulking around your house and the no harm alternative is when we percieve a 'man in the moon'. As further examples, we have found humor in eBay auctions of buttered holy toast with the 'image' of the virgin Mary. This is about the norm. Most of us have the potential to percieve faces anywhere, even in a simple figure with basic shapes such as- :) - which is interpreted as a face. <br><br></div><div><br></div><div>
We now know that it is possible for this 'software' to breakdown as a result of a number of different traumas to a particular part of the brain. And one manifestation of this 'software breakdown' is referred to as Prosopagnosia. <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/prosopagnosia">Oxforddictionaries.com</a> mentions that the word is derived from the greek prosōpon for face and agnōsia meaning ignorance. More commonly this is referred to as face blindness. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The first recorded case of this was documented by Wilbrand in 1892 (see this <a href="http://www.psy.vanderbilt.edu/students/reinhart/journal_articles/SPARKLES.pdf">excerpt</a> from Solms and Brown by Vanderbilt University Press for more reading) Essentially, when this portion of the brain is interfered with from tumor, lesion, or damage, the ability to recognize a face, any face can be inhibited or completely lost.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> A classic example of this is found in the book from Dr. Oliver Sachs, <u>The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat </u>. This shows the story of one man who lost his ability over time to recognize individual faces except by using particular features like "a chipped tooth" or even auditory queues like the pitch of someone's voice. Imagine, if you will, walking into your office and immediately analyzing your surroundings for the hairdo your boss always has so you can say "Good Morning, Susan" to the correct person. Or coming home from work to a few people greeting you for your birthday when one grabs you and expresses their love with a kiss yet you can't identify who it was, since your wife and 2 other women turned out to be wearing purple that night.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div>
Feel free to explore other possible scenarios in the comment section below ;) I trust you know what that symbol is too! <br><br></div><div><br></div><div>
Here is a link for Dr. Sachs book if you're interested: <a href="http://www.oliversacks.com/books/man-who-mistook-his-wife/">The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat</a><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArLDSDk9RyGfRrFYOOeodycqtdCQhn0IRAVyL6nuYYpKHA39cEY8cEpiUqJTfDqjXrkMevIs329NaQBeMta3MZWuoVkd1ORMsHlDRTobpsEqIzepPOEbjwhRv75PDa-IJ-qU0iyz7aC0/s1600/_40534689_toastie-afp203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_51881="null" cua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArLDSDk9RyGfRrFYOOeodycqtdCQhn0IRAVyL6nuYYpKHA39cEY8cEpiUqJTfDqjXrkMevIs329NaQBeMta3MZWuoVkd1ORMsHlDRTobpsEqIzepPOEbjwhRv75PDa-IJ-qU0iyz7aC0/s1600/_40534689_toastie-afp203.jpg"></a></div>MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-11989781741816798912014-08-13T12:32:00.001-04:002014-08-19T11:06:44.093-04:00Podcast Episode 1: The First Rule of Vegan Club is Tell Everyone!<span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 13px;">Listen in on a panel discussion of veganism featuring Kayleigh Barber of <a href="http://fightingforanimals.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Fighting For Animals</a>, Jamie Foley the <a href="http://skepticalvegan.com/" target="_blank">Skeptical Vegan</a>, Daya Subramanian <a href="http://xthegirlwithkaleidoscopeeyesx.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">The Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes</a>, and Orion Orbes from <a href="http://havocados.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Havocados</a>.</span><br />
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It was a great to have a meeting of perspective on the topic of veganism. In about 2 weeks I'll be traveling to interview and get a personal perspective on the Tiny House movement, so be sure to check back!<br />
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Also, check out the documentary that was referenced several times, <a href="http://earthlings.com/?page_id=32" target="_blank">Earthlings</a>.<br />
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Show Notes:<br />
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My understanding of veganism and my own personal reasoning<o:p></o:p></div>
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-(Environmental Impact) <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/su-apw021207.php">http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/su-apw021207.php</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Henning Steinfeld- </span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Extensive livestock production plays a critical role in land degradation, climate change, water and biodiversity loss," Steinfeld said. For example, grazing occupies 26 percent of the Earth's terrestrial surface, and feed-crop production requires about a third of all arable land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Introduction of guests: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Kayleigh Barber- graduated from Plumpton College in the UK with triple distinction in animal management, which I learned covers an enormous range of studies. She has experience with animals in many regards from farm animals to british wildlife, exotic insects, birds, fish and on and on. She currently has a fantastic blog called Fightingforanimals where she has become a significant resource for the vegan community. </i><a href="http://fightingforanimals.tumblr.com/"><i>http://fightingforanimals.tumblr.com/</i></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Orion Orbes- With over 2,700 followers on one of a few of his blogs, Orion offers an interesting perspective. He and his wife have dedicated themselves to sustainable vegan living. They have raised their children as vegans, and inspire others with their innovative ideas for sustainable living. </span></i><a href="http://havocados.tumblr.com/"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">http://havocados.tumblr.com/</span></i></a><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span class="fwb"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Daya Subramanian- </span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">joining us today from half way around the world in her home in India. Daya is currently studying to be a publisher. She, too, has a significant following on her blog and I think will be able to give us some insight into the movement as it is around the globe. </span></i></span><a href="http://xthegirlwithkaleidoscopeeyesx.tumblr.com/"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://xthegirlwithkaleidoscopeeyesx.tumblr.com/</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></h5>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><i>Jamie Foley- </i></span><i>"James Foley was raised in the American South where his contrarian curiosity and early passion for science eventually led him to scientific skepticism and rationalism. He now makes his home in Oakland, California as he works on his degree in Biotechnology. A vegan for a decade, James enjoys exploring the intersections between science, animal rights, and social justice at his blog <a href="http://skepticalvegan.com/">SkepticalVegan.com</a> "</i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i>@skepticalvegan on twitter</i></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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I think that to start it’s always important to define our terms and create a bit of clarity. So although the definition of veganism is very clear, the driving forces behind it can vary. Of course you’ll find vegans who are simply focused on finding the perfect diet, others in the interest of the environment but I find most often that veganism is adopted out of a sense of moral and ethical objection to the poor treatment of animals. Can each of you define veganism?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think that variation comes into play with every individual’s interpretation of what the practical applications and what does this in our daily life? This is something I would like to open to you all. For example, I think most people would agree that our use of rats in medical laboratories is very beneficial to medical advancements and treatments so is that the line? Leather seats in cars? Silk? Vegan shoes? <a href="http://www.vivisectioninformation.com/index.php?p=1_8_All-you-need-to-know-in-33-facts">http://www.vivisectioninformation.com/index.php?p=1_8_All-you-need-to-know-in-33-facts</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>“Cause the least amount of harm” <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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(Kayleigh) Biological aspect- how are we the same? Different? <o:p></o:p></div>
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(Kayleigh) What are some of the common practices that are going on now in the way of the poor treatment of animals especially in factory farming?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Where is the harm in the dairy industry? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">According to the National Institutes of Health “Approximately 65 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy.” </span><a href="http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lactose-intolerance"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lactose-intolerance</span></a><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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That brings us to another set of terms, because there are 2 majorly different way of viewing animal treatment. Animal rights and animal welfare. I don’t think the difference is really intuitive so panel, I would like to hear from you…. What is the difference here? Where do you stand and why?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Treatment of animals v. Allowing autonomy<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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(Orion) What kind of impact are we seeing environmentally from these mass-production farms? And although we can’t say absolutely because there are many factors involved in emission/climate change but what do you think the impact would be to eliminate this kind of farm moving forward?<span style="color: #000066;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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(Orion) I also find it very interesting that you have an entirely vegan family. Can you tell us what that experience has been like for all of you?<o:p></o:p></div>
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(Jamie) Can you tell us about the ‘real cheese’ project?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Real Vegan Cheese- <a href="https://realvegancheese.org/">https://realvegancheese.org/</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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(Jamie) What do you think is the strongest argument for veganism? <b>We are all the same. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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(Daya) What is the perception of veganism in India? Based on your interaction with people all over the world online, how do you think the perception is different in various parts of the globe? <o:p></o:p></div>
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(Daya) What is the direction of the vegan movement in India? <o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What was the determining factor in your personal decision? The one that pushed you over the fence?</span>MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-33569091094735040412014-08-09T10:48:00.001-04:002014-08-23T11:08:12.132-04:00Baha'i, B' Who are you?In a recent poll of religious association by state, the news was that an obscure religion was number 2 in South Carolina. Having lived in North Carolina for many years, I was surprised to find a name that I didn't recognize. The second largest religious affiliation in South Carolina is Baha'i. For most of us, this is not at all familiar and for a valid reason; it's 'messenger of god' didn't declare himself as such until 1866.<div><br></div><div> The leader, Bahá'u'lláh, followed the unconventional teaching of a Shi'a man, Báb. These teachings led him to 3 keys beliefs, which are the basis of the religious faith of his followers today. (1) The unity of god- god is omni this and that, the creator, the force of universal consciousness, which isn't anything terribly different from most major religions. (2) The Unity of religion- all religions are from the same god and are essentially all the same once you remove cultural and time-specific regulations. (3) The unity of humanity- all are created equally and diversity is valuable. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Surprisingly this includes gender, race, and ethnic equality. This accepting of all people equally was very controversial in the Persian & Ottoman empire, where this religion arose. Bahá'u'lláh was imprisoned where he later died. So, given the relatively recent history of this religion, as well as the hostile environment in was born into, the following is relatively small with about 5 million today. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Baha'i seem to have followed the modern day trend in religions of adopting the current major world religions and simply adding on to them. So just as Buddhism, Mormonsim, Rastafarianism, Christianity and Islam assert that the prophets from the preceeding religions are true prophets of god and then point to their own 'prophet' as the current revelation from god.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> Geographically, it was and still is centered primarily in modern day Iran, where believers are considered apostates and heretics. There are, however, other significant pockets of Baha'i found in Europe and the Americas. This type of all-encompasing theology of everyone is correct and god is consciousness are difficult to dispute as this type of claim and most other religious claims are not falsifiable (meaning they cannot be proven wrong). Similar to the way one cannot prove that Bertrand Russell's teapot isn't orbiting the sun, or that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the creator of heavenly stripper factory complete with beer volcano.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> I suppose as long as we are still here on earth and white horses of the apocalypse haven't trod, I will be waiting to see who is next to claim messianic status. <br>
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Pictured below is `Abdu'l-Bahá', the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, in Adrianople with his brothers and companions of Bahá'u'lláh. He is third from the left in the front row.<br>
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</div>MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-42962530553173412852014-08-06T10:19:00.001-04:002014-08-23T11:04:50.142-04:00Mystery of the Mandalas…. Oh they aren’t mysterious?<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In my house, prayer meant holding hands and giving credit for every detail of our lives to the invisible. But it’s another form of prayer that piqued my curiosity today. In several Eastern religions, the most sacred form of prayer is art of creating mandalas. A mandala is a circular but radially symmetrical geometric design that begins from the center and increases in complexity towards the outer edge. Considered to represent the vastness and order of the universe, mandalas are intended to place the individual in a meditative state.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Hinduism each section of the design is the literal home of a god and the act of the design creates a link to the realm of universal consciousness. In Buddhism there are many forms with various associated beliefs. One of which is that the symbol creates a “Buddhafield” to protect you from reality and place you in a realm of god- Nirvana. I can only assume this is copyrighted, otherwise I’m sure most American Christians would be creating force fields all over the place. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Tibetan Buddhist monks have developed their own method which is creating mandalas through sand art, which is equally detailed with vividly colored sand. But due to the concept common in Buddhism and the writings of Deepak Chopra of disallowing attachment and the valuing letting go of material objects, the designs are immediately swept away. Impermanence is embraced as an ultimate truth of life.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You can find similar designs through western religions as well in stained-glass windows and elaborate designs in the Sacristy of the cathedrals. Even the Celtic crosses and some depictions of Christ are done in this style.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Islamic art is even primarily geometric symbols arranged within circles. This is especially common within mosques in domes found throughout the traditional buildings.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So why does this common thread exist? Why do people the world over consider this form of art to be especially peaceful and almost transcendent? Is it possible that the secret behind these mystical designs relates to an intrinsic order we’re hard wired for? I speculate that it is.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In his 1952 paper entitled Symmetry from the Princeton University Press, Hermann Weyl described “…Symmetric means something like well-proportioned, well-balanced, and symmetry denotes that sort of concordance of several parts by which they integrate into a whole. <i>Beauty</i> is bound up with symmetry”.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It’s clear throughout our world, in everyday lives that we have a tendency for symmetry and attribute beauty to symmetrical objects. We create elaborate patterns for plates, clock faces, linen, jewelry and home décor. We regard the natural symmetry as beautiful in flowers, snowflakes, butterflies and jewels. A study done by Little and Jones in 2003 demonstrated that our natural attraction to symmetrical faces in based on an innate tendency toward symmetry rather than for a biological or evolutionary indication of health. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A study performed by the Neuroscience program at Bucknell University published in 2012 found that our preference for symmetry runs even at the neural level with use of a test which is a common tool for diagnosis of OCD. It also made 82 paranoid that they have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and I’m sure that a great deal of googling quickly ensued.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So do Mandalas contain mystical power to cross into some other-worldy realm? So far, our answer is no. So far, the data leads me to think that creating patterns of symmetry is simply a way to relax and enjoy something deeply satisfying to our neural structure.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><u></u> </span></p><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdU_wlGc-ImP3IyWCrpKTw6JDVeMSK3tLnPB6ldyUVT-5X_A1jk1oBdOKxu9ShucpDihGNr4QvocLjWpKkEo7Fg4Ic6OSEgmPHBt5m7hIHddS_icYbF7xeN47MINDr59RYxVMsz0D3u0/s640/blogger-image--325109655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdU_wlGc-ImP3IyWCrpKTw6JDVeMSK3tLnPB6ldyUVT-5X_A1jk1oBdOKxu9ShucpDihGNr4QvocLjWpKkEo7Fg4Ic6OSEgmPHBt5m7hIHddS_icYbF7xeN47MINDr59RYxVMsz0D3u0/s640/blogger-image--325109655.jpg"></a></div>MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-41567320271259561462014-08-04T08:27:00.000-04:002014-08-23T11:03:16.542-04:00Don't Mess With the Grimke's<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have often wondered what my convictions would be, how loud or confident my voice might be and what actions I would have taken had I lived in the Southern United States pre-abolition; or in any other time and place of injustice, inhumanity and hatred for that matter. I relish in the stories of those who saw through the veil of prejudice and were bold enough to speak loudly even though their voice may not be heard. The sound of these voices is what I want to impart to you here.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More specifically, I would like to introduce you to Sarah and Angelina Grimke. These sisters were 2 of 14 children raised in the heart of Dixie in Charleston, South Carolina in an elegant home on a nice plot of land and fathered by the Justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Another, darker feature of this lifestyle was the frequent sight and sound of the torture and mistreatment of family and nearby slaves. “Perhaps I am indebted partially to this for my life-long detestation of slavery, as it brought me in close contact with these unpaid toilers.” She recalled often seeing a young boy whose ability to walk was impaired by the effects of whippings as well as the cries and screams of family slaves. A neighboring workhouse is where slaves were suspended by their arms being pulled along a large treadmill.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Angelina turned to Quakers for a more loving approach to the world and quickly pledged to sacrifice all her possessions for this important cause of abolition and feeling as though she could no longer live in the midst of slavery moved to Philadelphia with her older sister, Sarah. The sisters began to seek out anti-slavery advocates and found a very few. In 1835 various riots occurred in New York and Philadelphia with those who were outraged by the stirring abolitionist movement. But the sisters found hope in an abolitionist appeal published by William Lloyd Garrison and sent a letter of encouragement to him in response. In turn, Garrison published the letter in Liberator Magazine without consent which is what initially thrust the sisters into the limelight. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From there, they became the first women in the American Anti-Slavery Society. This society offered them the opportunity to travel on a circuit to various churches and community organizations speaking out to crowds of hostile, sympathetic and some in support. Regardless of their stance on the issue of slavery, one thing became clear very quickly about their audiences; they did not approve of women voicing an opinion on a political issue, a strictly male area. The Grimke’s found that it was necessary to first defend their right to speak as women before they could be heard. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Angelina made history once again as the first woman to address a legislative body before the Massachusetts legislator <span lang="EN">“on behalf of the 20,000 women of Massachusetts whose names are enrolled on petitions [which] relate to the great and solemn subject of slavery.” “on behalf of the 20,000 women of Massachusetts whose names are enrolled on petitions [which] relate to the great and solemn subject of slavery.”</span><span lang="EN"> </span>“on behalf of the 20,000 women of Massachusetts whose names are enrolled on petitions [which] relate to the great and solemn subject of slavery.” The message was clear and very different from most abolitionists; they opposed not only slavery but discrimination as a whole.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the sisters’ abolitionist career, the culmination of tension between the two opposing sides came the first evening of the anti-slavery event in Philadelphia. After rumors spread through the city of abolitionist parades with multiple races banded together, a hostile gathering of the angry and offended had begun to grow. On the first night of the event, the angry crowd began to protest by throwing objects and stones at the building. Rocks, bricks and other object broke through the windows but Angelina Grimke remained calm and steadfast. She pressed on in with her sure voice against discrimination “I have seen it! I have seen it!” she told her audience. “I know it has horrors that can never be described.”<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That evening was their final public stand and although they stepped out of the public eye, the sisters remained an integral part of the movements of both feminism and abolition.</span></p><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDiTIQCg66_qpu_2Ja88KprSxAdpMS2y-GU3dG7DoY87hIHdTuNr7aWHcP2C6CjjphaHscXSF6LXG_GQSMpm9__Zvi0LeJ55vXMbY3l7zn_0J6Izg08l2zcRbzND_Zq8WmKGcQ85rJtU/s640/blogger-image-459233224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDiTIQCg66_qpu_2Ja88KprSxAdpMS2y-GU3dG7DoY87hIHdTuNr7aWHcP2C6CjjphaHscXSF6LXG_GQSMpm9__Zvi0LeJ55vXMbY3l7zn_0J6Izg08l2zcRbzND_Zq8WmKGcQ85rJtU/s640/blogger-image-459233224.jpg"></a></div>MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-2584771844661047752014-07-30T13:30:00.000-04:002014-08-23T11:06:51.103-04:00Past Lives of the Grand CanyonA brief preface: I was never really inspired to understand what the Grand Canyon was. I was honestly a bit afraid and overwhelmed by the potential learning I could gain from it. So when I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to venture out into the canyon myself, I just had to continue searching until I could grasp a greater understanding. <div><br></div><div>The history of the last 2 billion years contained and displayed in a single, incredible location was more than ample inspiration to develop a "need" to know. This experience is one that will always stick with me for my blip of existence on a vast timeline in an infinite (maybe?) universe.<br>
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The landscape of the Grand Canyon has changed drastically and often, at least relative to we might assume. Throughout the layers of rock found there geologists postulate that the rock formations there have been submerged in an ocean 8 different times over the last billion years. And before that? The oldest rocks in the grand canyon, nearly 2 billions years old and commonly referred to as black rocks, were once at the base of a mountain range 5 miles high. The immense pressure from mountains actually formed garnet in these molten-looking rocks. The last time the rock layers of the grand canyon were under the sea was around 80 million years ago.<br>
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Each of these instances of being submerged in the sea brought with it not only different forms of life along the evolutionary tree but also various types of sediment. For example the layers of sand pressed down over millions of years formed into sandstone. Others contained mud that compressed into dark shale. Then when higher ocean life forms, like crustaceans, were crushed in with sediment, limestone was formed.<br>
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However, found throughout every layer is contained massive amounts of iron, which has oxidized and is now credited with coloring most of the canyon with the most prominent color of red. <br>
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Before most of what we see now at the Grand Canyon and even before North America had split adrift to its current location, our continent endured a major and violent clash. About 1700 million years ago, during the Precambrian Time, a string of island volcanoes, very similar to what we find today in places like Hawaii, was developing and on the move.</div><div><br></div><div> As North America began to break away, it was headed on a collision course with these volcanic goliaths. As the two crashed into one another, the volcanic formations suddenly began to metamorphize with the rocky surface of the North American continental crust. This massive collision of land mass was then forced to a much higher altitude. Now, all of the rock layers that had been deep in the now Pacific ocean were pushed up about a mile above sea level to their current altitude.<br>
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Now, fast forward to only 5.5 million years ago. the Colorado River begins to form and flow. According to a theory formulated by geologist John Douglass, the river flowed and then pooled into an area, which is now referred to a Lake Bidahochi. This lake was larger than Lake Michigan in size and spanned over 20,000 square miles. This lake butted right up against the raised plateau of rock raised from the collision. </div><div><br></div><div>The force of the water still pouring into the lake pushed until it began to pour up onto the plateau. It was this incredible outpouring of an expansive lake, and not just a river that carved what we see today.<br>
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Even with the massive power of the overflow over the plateau the incredible rate at which the canyon was carved was about 1 inch every century. Now amplify that in your mind and imagine the sediment, rocks, and boulders being carried by the outpouring of water inch by inch, leading into 1,000 feet per million years. Picture a prolific waterfall with immense force slowly moving back little by little until it has cut down the expanse of the large plateau.</div><div><br></div><div> Even today the Colorado River carries 5 tons of rock and debris through the canyon every second. This effect is compounded by erosion on the canyon through rain, falling rocks, and layers of different density being exposed to the elements. For example muddy layers of shale are quite low in altitude in the canyon but are most easily affected by weather. So as rocks erode and fall into the river it is carried through the canyon allowing in to continue to widen just as rapidly.<br>
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<a href="http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/upload/3-Grand-Canyon-Geology6-2009.pdf" target="_blank">National Park Service</a><br>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGfPp-oOrNI" target="_blank">Grand Canyon: How It Was Made (Youtube)</a><br>
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<br></div>MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800861508152484575.post-53351304814788670402014-07-27T17:36:00.000-04:002014-08-23T11:05:16.609-04:00In Anticipation of Your ArrivalFive years ago I committed myself to learning as many true things as I can, to discovering the far reaches of the world I never knew, to always keeping an open mind, and to be conscious of my biases in everything. This was a remarkable change in perspective as I was raised to never look for answers because answers and even questions can be dangerous, troubling.<br>
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It seems that I am not alone in this background and this fear of questioning is widespread enough that it has the potential to impact science education and each country's position in the forefront of technology. Marilyn Winkelby and Judith Ned wrote the below in a paper examining the most effective measures to promote sciences in any youth in<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989855/" target="_blank">Promoting Science Education (Commentary)</a>:</span></span><br>
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<span 16px="" 21.998762130737305px="" font-family:="" font-size:="" imes="" justify="" line-height:="" new="" roman="" serif="" text-align:=""> "An increasing number of reports document the decline of science education in the US and lack of personnel from the scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in the US workforce. </span><span 16px="" 21.998762130737305px="" font-family:="" font-size:="" imes="" justify="" line-height:="" new="" roman="" serif="" text-align:="">A 2007 survey of 923 California elementary school teachers from 80 school districts found that 80% of teachers spent less than one hour each week teaching science, and 16% spent no time doing so.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span 16px="" 21.998762130737305px="" font-family:="" font-size:="" imes="" justify="" line-height:="" new="" roman="" serif="" text-align:="">Over 40% of the teachers felt unprepared to teach science whereas only 4% felt unprepared to teach math</span><span 16px="" 21.998762130737305px="" font-family:="" font-size:="" imes="" justify="" line-height:="" new="" roman="" serif="" text-align:="">."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They describe the solution as being one outside the classroom. They noted that 75% of Nobel Prize winners said their passion for science was inspired outside the classroom. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">So it is my intention to inspire interest in important subjects that are absolutely captivating if you only take the time to look.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> I have a podcast on the way as well which will feature various guests to offer gems of this inspiration and remind us of the enormity of the cosmos, the importance of lives far away and our role in it all. </span><br>
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<br></div>MissMandiMaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083900616142027549noreply@blogger.com1