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This thread is more awesome than those other threads!!!

zedsalt	Date: August 24, 2007 @ 11:02 AM From my experience, no.
Opossum	Date: August 24, 2007 @ 11:09 AM Oh no...I can't see anything again...I ...I can't see it...
ChillinBuzz	Date: August 24, 2007 @ 11:22 AM I can but I had to change the address link I wondered what the heck was going on until I vaguely remembered something about deleted comments messing up the pages.
imemine	Date: August 30, 2007 @ 9:35 PM Is there lead in this paint?
AdNauseam	Date: October 1, 2007 @ 6:48 PM "Why doesn't anyone love me?" Mister Guppy slowly swam up to the top of the crystalline orb he had always called his home. With one last breath of water, he thrust his powerful fins to propel his tiny little body up in a unique post-aquatic arc through the air. All can be seen now is a small orange fish gasping for breath lying on the slightly-stained peach-tinted carpet in the shadow of two rather pointy ears. "Meow?"
Woof	Date: October 2, 2007 @ 10:22 PM A nifty water buffalo was strolling down the street. When he reached the intersection, his hooves became entangled in twine that the wind had uprooted from the nearby litterbasket. The beast became unbalanced, and tipped sideways, into the path of a team of bicylists gearing up for the rally over the coming weekend. "Urr!" said the beast, meaning "Stop!". From her crowned perch atop the church spire, Mia the sparrow observed the dilemma. She could feel the mounting tension as disaster became imminent. Flittering down to ground level, she decided to save the day, and swooped to pick at the bicycle spokes, in the hopes of persuading the merry band onto an alternate course. She was ground into micemeat almost instantly. Bad choice.
AdNauseam	Date: October 3, 2007 @ 6:11 AM Thread ate my post. With ketchup and a rubber spork.
AdNauseam	Date: October 3, 2007 @ 6:11 AM Snd thst pne, tpp.
zedsalt	Date: October 3, 2007 @ 11:37 AM This appears to be "stuck" again, for me at least. I keep seeing new timestamps in the forum list, and the last one displayed is August 24, 2007 @ 10:59 AM. I just KNOW I'm missing SOMETHING. I mean nothing...y'know, something about nothing.
vladb	Date: October 3, 2007 @ 11:39 AM Coincidence? No, if you had been paying a bit more attention you would have seen that next to the zoo they were holding the tri-nation prunez convention and the specimen you saw most have been a display model that escaped. And as for the brake fluid, well, what else could you expect when you go round bad mouthing other people’s horses…
Opossum	Date: October 3, 2007 @ 11:47 AM tapirz iz stranj anoomalz...
AdNauseam	Date: October 3, 2007 @ 8:38 PM post != exist
AdNauseam	Date: October 3, 2007 @ 8:38 PM -blip-
AdNauseam	Date: October 4, 2007 @ 2:54 PM augh no exist?
SimonWaldram	Date: October 4, 2007 @ 3:07 PM and he said it was lodged in his anus. I said; "Hank, you can't have a lodger in your anus, there's just not enough room to live in there". He said; "No, you're not listening to me, the hamster is stu..." I said; "Hank, for God's sake, Family Fortunes is on, can you shut up now, please?!"
AdNauseam	Date: October 4, 2007 @ 3:41 PM post = exist
DeadraveN	Date: October 4, 2007 @ 5:15 PM Jennifer
AdNauseam	Date: October 4, 2007 @ 9:07 PM AITCH
kingo	Date: October 4, 2007 @ 10:25 PM If you reach in far enough, you'll find the other end.
Opossum	Date: October 5, 2007 @ 1:08 AM My tapirz iz bak. I luvs tapirz!
zedsalt	Date: October 5, 2007 @ 2:59 PM insert the sound of a huge sigh of relief here I can see again! I used to have a kitty with markings very similar to that first baby tapir's.
AdNauseam	Date: October 8, 2007 @ 10:57 AM eggs?
imemine	Date: October 8, 2007 @ 11:05 AM butter?
AdNauseam	Date: October 8, 2007 @ 11:10 AM ?
imemine	Date: October 8, 2007 @ 12:24 PM Thank Heaven for 7-11!
DeadraveN	Date: October 8, 2007 @ 12:36 PM Jennifer
NickSawyer	Date: October 8, 2007 @ 1:46 PM my hair's on fire
mudshadow	Date: October 8, 2007 @ 3:25 PM When a man embarks on the paths of sorcery he becomes aware, in a gradual manner, that ordinary life has been forever left behind; that knowledge is indeed a frightening affair; that the means of the ordinary world are no longer a buffer for him; and that he must adopt a new way of life if he is going to survive. The first thing he ought to do, at that point, is to want to become a warrior. The frightening nature of knowledge leaves one no alternative but to become a warrior. By the time knowledge becomes a frightening affair the man also realizes that death is the irreplaceable partner that sits next to him on the mat. Every bit of knowledge that becomes power has death as its central force. Death lends the ultimate touch and whatever is touched by death indeed becomes power. A man who follows the paths of sorcery is confronted with imminent annihilation every turn of the way, and unavoidably he becomes keenly aware of his death. Without the awareness of death he would be only an ordinary man involved in ordinary acts. He would lack the necessary potency, the necessary concentration that transforms one's ordinary time on earth into magical power. Thus to be a warrior a man has to be, first of all, and rightfully so, keenly aware of his own death. But to be concerned with death would force any one of us to focus on the self and that would be debilitating. So the next thing one needs to be a warrior is detachment. The idea of imminent death, instead of becoming an obsession, becomes an indifference. Now you must detach yourself; detach yourself from everything. Only the idea of death makes a man sufficiently detached so he is incapable of abandoning himself to anything. Only the idea of death makes a man sufficiently detached so he can't deny himself anything. A man of that sort, however, does not crave, for he has acquired a silent lust for life and for all things of life. He knows his death is stalking him and won't give him time to cling to anything, so he tries, without craving, all of everything. A detached man, who knows he has no possibility of fencing off his death, has only one thing to back himself with: the power of his decisions. He has to be, so to speak, the master of his choices. He must fully understand that his choice is his responsibility and once he makes it there is no longer time for regrets or recriminations. His decisions are final, simply because his death does not permit him time to cling to anything. And thus with an awareness of his death, with his detachment, and with the power of his decisions a warrior sets his life in a strategical manner. The knowledge of his death guides him and makes him detached and silently lusty; the power of his final decisions makes him able to choose without regrets and what he chooses is always strategically the best; and so he performs everything he has to with gusto and lusty efficiency. When a man behaves in such a manner one may rightfully say that he is a warrior and has acquired patience. When a warrior has acquired patience he is on his way to will . He knows how to wait. His death sits with him on his mat, they are friends. His death advises him, in mysterious ways, how to choose, how to live strategically. And the warrior waits! I would say that the warrior learns without any hurry because he knows he is waiting for his will ; and one day he succeeds in performing something ordinarily quite impossible to accomplish. He may not even notice his extraordinary deed. But as he keeps on performing impossible acts, or as impossible things keep on happening to him, he becomes aware that a sort of power is emerging. A power that comes out of his body as he progresses on the path of knowledge. He notices that he can actually touch anything he wants with a feeling that comes out of his body from a spot right below or right above his navel. That feeling is the will , and when he is capable of grabbing with it, one can rightfully say that the warrior is a sorcerer, and that he has acquired will . A man can go still further than that; a man can learn to see . Upon learning to see he no longer needs to live like a warrior, nor be a sorcerer. Upon learning to see a man becomes everything by becoming nothing. He, so to speak, vanishes and yet he's there. I would say that this is the time when a man can be or can get anything he desires. But he desires nothing, and instead of playing with his fellow men like they were toys, he meets them in the midst of their folly. The only difference between them is that a man who sees controls his folly, while his fellow men can't. A man who sees has no longer an active interest in his fellow men. Seeing has already detached him from absolutely everything he knew before. Don't let the idea of being detached from everything you know give you the chills. The thing which should give you the chills is not to have anything to look forward to but a lifetime of doing that which you have always done. Think of the man who plants corn year after year until he's too old and tired to get up, so he lies around like an old dog. His thoughts and feelings, the best of him, ramble aimlessly to the only things he has ever done, to plant corn. For me that is the most frightening waste there is. We are men and our lot is to learn and to be hurled into inconceivable new worlds. Seeing is for impeccable men. Temper your spirit now, become a warrior, learn to see , and then you'll know that there is no end to the new worlds for our vision.
AdNauseam	Date: October 8, 2007 @ 3:51 PM I concur. Except when that sorcerer or warrior has bi-monthly xylitol injections at their local cosmetic surgery clinic. It prevents cloying, you know.
kingo	Date: October 21, 2007 @ 3:13 PM When I built this castle of tuna salad, I absolutely did NOT intend for their to be dolphins. I had no intention, seriously. Had I known, I would've... but alas, there is no going back.
evansorchid	Date: October 21, 2007 @ 4:05 PM Hmmmm, tuna salad. That sounds good. I like mine with a bit of mayonnaise, sweet relish, chopped walnuts, peeled and diced green apples, and finely diced hardboiled eggs.
Opossum	Date: October 22, 2007 @ 4:28 AM
imemine	Date: October 23, 2007 @ 1:38 PM Never urinate on an electric fence!
kingo	Date: October 23, 2007 @ 1:47 PM My tapirz is tapered at the tip!
aflunky	Date: October 23, 2007 @ 4:11 PM Scientific approaches to the meaning of life The empirical method of science has shed light on questions related to the meaning of life. Five such questions are described below. What is the origin of life? The question "What is the origin of life?" is addressed in the sciences in the areas of abiogenesis (for the origins of biological life) and cosmogeny (for the origins of the universe). Both of these areas are quite hypothetical, cosmogeny because no existing physical model can accurately describe the very early universe (the instant of the Big Bang), and abiogenesis because the environment of the young earth is not known, and because the conditions and chemical processes that may have taken billions of years to produce life cannot (as of yet) be reproduced in a laboratory.Nevertheless, biologists think an early protein replicator was formed by the gradual build up of amino acids in the oceans, and then proceeded to dominate the primeval soup, occasionally mutating into a more (or less) successful form.[citation needed] Eventually a primitive cell was formed, and life continued to evolve by the mechanisms of mutation and natural selection. Based on these or similar theories, some philosophers[attribution needed] say that because life was entirely coincidental, one cannot expect life to have any meaning at all, other than its own self-perpetuation — reproduction. What is the nature of life? Scientists in the biological and medical fields have studied the human body to acquire an understanding of the nature of human life. Near the end of the 20th century, equipped with insights from the gene-centered view of evolution, some biologists suggested that insofar as there may be a primary function to life, it is the survival of genes; following this approach, success isn't measured in terms of the survival of species, but one level deeper, in terms of the successful replication of genes.[citation needed] What is valuable in life? Science may not be able to tell us what is most valuable in life in a philosophical sense, but some studies bear on related questions: Researchers in "positive psychology" study factors that lead to life satisfaction (and before them less rigorously in Humanistic Psychology), in Social psychology factors that lead to infants thriving or failing to thrive, and in other areas of psychology questions of motivation, preference, and what people value; Economists have learned a great deal about what is valued in the marketplace; and sociology examines value at a social level using theoretical constructs such as value theory, norms, anomie, etc. What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?" Natural scientists look for the purpose of life within the structure and function of life itself. Analysis of teleology based on science The "debunking" of teleology is said to have coincided with or resulted from advances in biological knowledge such as the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (i.e. Natural selection). It is not unlikely however, that it was thought long before that teleology (perceived meaning or purpose) is an illusion that has no bearing on reality and that ultimately there is no objective purpose to anything. Best-selling author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins puts forward his explanation in his Discovery Science video 'The Big Question: Why are we here?'. Philosophy of the meaning of life While scientific approaches to the meaning of life aim to describe empirical facts about human existence, philosophers are usually more concerned about the relationship between ideas. For example, philosophers have considered such questions as: "Is the question 'What is the meaning of life?' a meaningful question?"; "What does the question 'What is the meaning of life?' mean?"; and "If there are no objective values, then is life meaningless?" Some philosophical disciplines have also aimed to develop an understanding of life that explains, regardless of how we came to be here, what we should do now that we are here (such as humanism, which presents a code of conduct - see the ethics of humanism explained below). Value as meaning Theories of value bear on the question of the meaning of life. Philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, and many others had views about what sort of life was best (and hence most meaningful).[citation needed] Aristotle, for example, believed that the pursuit of happiness was the Highest Good and that such is achievable through our uniquely human capacity to reason. Existentialist views of the meaning of life Main article: Existentialism Arthur Schopenhauer offered a bleak answer to "what is the meaning of life?" by determining one's life as a reflection of one's will and the will (and thus life) as being an aimless, irrational, and painful drive. He saw salvation, deliverance, or escape from suffering in aesthetic contemplation, sympathy for others, and asceticism.Søren Kierkegaard invented the term "leap of faith" and argued that life is full of absurdity and the individual must make his or her own values in an indifferent world. For Kierkegaard, an individual can have a meaningful life (or at least one free of despair) if the individual relates the self in an unconditional commitment to something finite, and devotes his or her life to the commitment despite the inherent vulnerability of doing so. Humanist views of the meaning of life Main article: Humanism According to humanism the human race came to be by reproducing in a progression of unguided evolution as an integral part of nature, which is self-existing. Knowledge does not come from supernatural sources, rather it flows from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis preferably utilizing the scientific method: the nature of the universe is what we discern it to be. As are "values and realities", which are determined "by means of intelligent inquiry" and "are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience", that is, by critical intelligence. "As far as we know, the total personality is [a function] of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context." The purpose of human life Human purpose is determined by humans, completely without supernatural influence; it is human personality (in the broadest sense) that is the purpose of a human's life, and this humanism seeks to develop and fulfill: "Humanism affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity." Enlightened self-interest and the common good See also: enlightened self-interest and common good The most significant thing in life (the very focus of humanism) is the human being, and by extension, the human race and the environment in which we live. The happiness of the individual is inextricably linked to the well-being of humanity as a whole, in part because we are social animals which find meaning in relationships, and because cultural progress benefits everybody who lives in that culture. When the world improves, life in general improves, so, while the individual desires to live well and fully, humanists feel it is important to do so in a way that will enhance the well being of all. While the evolution of the human species is still (for the most part) a function of nature, the evolution of humanity is in our hands and it is our responsibility to progress it toward its highest ideals. In the same way, humanism itself is evolving, because humanists recognize that values and ideals, and therefore the meaning of life, are subject to change as our understanding improves. Humanist doctrines and life stance Main article: Humanist (life stance) The original doctrine of humanism is set forth in the Humanist Manifesto and has been revised and refined in A Secular Humanist Declaration, the Humanist Manifesto II, and the Humanist Manifesto III (in which humanism is referred to as a life stance). Theistic beliefs about the meaning of life Main articles: Religion and Religious humanism Relationship to God Many people who believe in a personal God would agree that it is God "in whom we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:2. Although belief is also based on knowing God "through the things he has made," the decision to believe in such an authority is called the "leap of faith". What is the purpose in one's life? An example of how religion sets purpose can be found in the biblical story of creation in the Old Testament of the Bible (Genesis 1:2, in which God orders Man to "Be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth, and subdue it". This indicates that the propagation of the human race, the care and population of the earth, and the control of the earth are the first three commandments God has set for man. Another Biblical example is given in Micah 6:8, which states "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Spiritual and mystical views of the meaning of life Spirituality Portal The Book of Light presents the nature of God and the purpose of creation. According to Michael Sharp, God is consciousness and the purpose of creation is to have fun (alleviate boredom). Creation exists "as a dream inside the mind of God" and we are all Sparks of the One Creator Consciousness. Mystical views The view of mysticism varies widely according to how each speaker describes it. In general the view is broadly that life is a happening, an unfolding. There is no duality, it is a nondual worldview, in which subject and object are the same, the sense of doer-ship is illusionary. This view is central to Buddhism, and is also found in certain non-dual sects of Hinduism. To become enlightened as to the nature and oneness of the universe Popular beliefs of the purpose of life "What is the meaning of life?" is a question many people ask themselves at some point during their lives, most in the context "What is the purpose of life?" Here are some of the life goals people choose, and some of their beliefs on what the purpose of life is: ...to survive * ...to survive, that is, to live as long as possible, including pursuit of indefinite lifespan (the closest thing to immortality that is theoretically possible) through scientific means (see life extension) * ...to evolve * ...to replicate, "the dream of a bacteria is to become two bacteria," since DNA replication has a mutation rate, this results in evolution. "The meaning of life is whatever you want it to be" - Nic Chappell ...to succeed * ...to seek happiness to end suffering, to create equality, to challenge oppression, to distribute wealth, be generous, to contribute to a community, to help others, be creative and have fun. And to be a true authentic human being and accept and forgive human flaws.
moam	Date: October 23, 2007 @ 4:13 PM On 23rd Oct 2012, aflunky said: Scientific approaches to the meaning of life The empirical method of science has shed light on questions related to the meaning of life. Five such questions are described below. What is the origin of life? The question "What is the origin of life?" is addressed in the sciences in the areas of abiogenesis (for the origins of biological life) and cosmogeny (for the origins of the universe). Both of these areas are quite hypothetical, cosmogeny because no existing physical model can accurately describe the very early universe (the instant of the Big Bang), and abiogenesis because the environment of the young earth is not known, and because the conditions and chemical processes that may have taken billions of years to produce life cannot (as of yet) be reproduced in a laboratory.Nevertheless, biologists think an early protein replicator was formed by the gradual build up of amino acids in the oceans, and then proceeded to dominate the primeval soup, occasionally mutating into a more (or less) successful form.[citation needed] Eventually a primitive cell was formed, and life continued to evolve by the mechanisms of mutation and natural selection. Based on these or similar theories, some philosophers[attribution needed] say that because life was entirely coincidental, one cannot expect life to have any meaning at all, other than its own self-perpetuation — reproduction. What is the nature of life? Scientists in the biological and medical fields have studied the human body to acquire an understanding of the nature of human life. Near the end of the 20th century, equipped with insights from the gene-centered view of evolution, some biologists suggested that insofar as there may be a primary function to life, it is the survival of genes; following this approach, success isn't measured in terms of the survival of species, but one level deeper, in terms of the successful replication of genes.[citation needed] What is valuable in life? Science may not be able to tell us what is most valuable in life in a philosophical sense, but some studies bear on related questions: Researchers in "positive psychology" study factors that lead to life satisfaction (and before them less rigorously in Humanistic Psychology), in Social psychology factors that lead to infants thriving or failing to thrive, and in other areas of psychology questions of motivation, preference, and what people value; Economists have learned a great deal about what is valued in the marketplace; and sociology examines value at a social level using theoretical constructs such as value theory, norms, anomie, etc. What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?" Natural scientists look for the purpose of life within the structure and function of life itself. Analysis of teleology based on science The "debunking" of teleology is said to have coincided with or resulted from advances in biological knowledge such as the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (i.e. Natural selection). It is not unlikely however, that it was thought long before that teleology (perceived meaning or purpose) is an illusion that has no bearing on reality and that ultimately there is no objective purpose to anything. Best-selling author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins puts forward his explanation in his Discovery Science video 'The Big Question: Why are we here?'. Philosophy of the meaning of life While scientific approaches to the meaning of life aim to describe empirical facts about human existence, philosophers are usually more concerned about the relationship between ideas. For example, philosophers have considered such questions as: "Is the question 'What is the meaning of life?' a meaningful question?"; "What does the question 'What is the meaning of life?' mean?"; and "If there are no objective values, then is life meaningless?" Some philosophical disciplines have also aimed to develop an understanding of life that explains, regardless of how we came to be here, what we should do now that we are here (such as humanism, which presents a code of conduct - see the ethics of humanism explained below). Value as meaning Theories of value bear on the question of the meaning of life. Philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, and many others had views about what sort of life was best (and hence most meaningful).[citation needed] Aristotle, for example, believed that the pursuit of happiness was the Highest Good and that such is achievable through our uniquely human capacity to reason. Existentialist views of the meaning of life Main article: Existentialism Arthur Schopenhauer offered a bleak answer to "what is the meaning of life?" by determining one's life as a reflection of one's will and the will (and thus life) as being an aimless, irrational, and painful drive. He saw salvation, deliverance, or escape from suffering in aesthetic contemplation, sympathy for others, and asceticism.Søren Kierkegaard invented the term "leap of faith" and argued that life is full of absurdity and the individual must make his or her own values in an indifferent world. For Kierkegaard, an individual can have a meaningful life (or at least one free of despair) if the individual relates the self in an unconditional commitment to something finite, and devotes his or her life to the commitment despite the inherent vulnerability of doing so. Humanist views of the meaning of life Main article: Humanism According to humanism the human race came to be by reproducing in a progression of unguided evolution as an integral part of nature, which is self-existing. Knowledge does not come from supernatural sources, rather it flows from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis preferably utilizing the scientific method: the nature of the universe is what we discern it to be. As are "values and realities", which are determined "by means of intelligent inquiry" and "are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience", that is, by critical intelligence. "As far as we know, the total personality is [a function] of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context." The purpose of human life Human purpose is determined by humans, completely without supernatural influence; it is human personality (in the broadest sense) that is the purpose of a human's life, and this humanism seeks to develop and fulfill: "Humanism affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity." Enlightened self-interest and the common good See also: enlightened self-interest and common good The most significant thing in life (the very focus of humanism) is the human being, and by extension, the human race and the environment in which we live. The happiness of the individual is inextricably linked to the well-being of humanity as a whole, in part because we are social animals which find meaning in relationships, and because cultural progress benefits everybody who lives in that culture. When the world improves, life in general improves, so, while the individual desires to live well and fully, humanists feel it is important to do so in a way that will enhance the well being of all. While the evolution of the human species is still (for the most part) a function of nature, the evolution of humanity is in our hands and it is our responsibility to progress it toward its highest ideals. In the same way, humanism itself is evolving, because humanists recognize that values and ideals, and therefore the meaning of life, are subject to change as our understanding improves. Humanist doctrines and life stance Main article: Humanist (life stance) The original doctrine of humanism is set forth in the Humanist Manifesto and has been revised and refined in A Secular Humanist Declaration, the Humanist Manifesto II, and the Humanist Manifesto III (in which humanism is referred to as a life stance). Theistic beliefs about the meaning of life Main articles: Religion and Religious humanism Relationship to God Many people who believe in a personal God would agree that it is God "in whom we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:2. Although belief is also based on knowing God "through the things he has made," the decision to believe in such an authority is called the "leap of faith". What is the purpose in one's life? An example of how religion sets purpose can be found in the biblical story of creation in the Old Testament of the Bible (Genesis 1:2, in which God orders Man to "Be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth, and subdue it". This indicates that the propagation of the human race, the care and population of the earth, and the control of the earth are the first three commandments God has set for man. Another Biblical example is given in Micah 6:8, which states "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Spiritual and mystical views of the meaning of life Spirituality Portal The Book of Light presents the nature of God and the purpose of creation. According to Michael Sharp, God is consciousness and the purpose of creation is to have fun (alleviate boredom). Creation exists "as a dream inside the mind of God" and we are all Sparks of the One Creator Consciousness. Mystical views The view of mysticism varies widely according to how each speaker describes it. In general the view is broadly that life is a happening, an unfolding. There is no duality, it is a nondual worldview, in which subject and object are the same, the sense of doer-ship is illusionary. This view is central to Buddhism, and is also found in certain non-dual sects of Hinduism. To become enlightened as to the nature and oneness of the universe Popular beliefs of the purpose of life "What is the meaning of life?" is a question many people ask themselves at some point during their lives, most in the context "What is the purpose of life?" Here are some of the life goals people choose, and some of their beliefs on what the purpose of life is: ...to survive * ...to survive, that is, to live as long as possible, including pursuit of indefinite lifespan (the closest thing to immortality that is theoretically possible) through scientific means (see life extension) * ...to evolve * ...to replicate, "the dream of a bacteria is to become two bacteria," since DNA replication has a mutation rate, this results in evolution. "The meaning of life is whatever you want it to be" - Nic Chappell ...to succeed * ...to seek happiness to end suffering, to create equality, to challenge oppression, to distribute wealth, be generous, to contribute to a community, to help others, be creative and have fun. And to be a true authentic human being and accept and forgive human flaws. I just made probably the longest quote in DM history
kingo	Date: October 23, 2007 @ 7:36 PM On 23rd Oct 2012, moam said: [QUOTE info=aflunky,October 23, 2007 @ 4:11 PM] Scientific approaches to the meaning of life The empirical method of science has shed light on questions related to the meaning of life. Five such questions are described below. What is the origin of life? The question "What is the origin of life?" is addressed in the sciences in the areas of abiogenesis (for the origins of biological life) and cosmogeny (for the origins of the universe). Both of these areas are quite hypothetical, cosmogeny because no existing physical model can accurately describe the very early universe (the instant of the Big Bang), and abiogenesis because the environment of the young earth is not known, and because the conditions and chemical processes that may have taken billions of years to produce life cannot (as of yet) be reproduced in a laboratory.Nevertheless, biologists think an early protein replicator was formed by the gradual build up of amino acids in the oceans, and then proceeded to dominate the primeval soup, occasionally mutating into a more (or less) successful form.[citation needed] Eventually a primitive cell was formed, and life continued to evolve by the mechanisms of mutation and natural selection. Based on these or similar theories, some philosophers[attribution needed] say that because life was entirely coincidental, one cannot expect life to have any meaning at all, other than its own self-perpetuation — reproduction. What is the nature of life? Scientists in the biological and medical fields have studied the human body to acquire an understanding of the nature of human life. Near the end of the 20th century, equipped with insights from the gene-centered view of evolution, some biologists suggested that insofar as there may be a primary function to life, it is the survival of genes; following this approach, success isn't measured in terms of the survival of species, but one level deeper, in terms of the successful replication of genes.[citation needed] What is valuable in life? Science may not be able to tell us what is most valuable in life in a philosophical sense, but some studies bear on related questions: Researchers in "positive psychology" study factors that lead to life satisfaction (and before them less rigorously in Humanistic Psychology), in Social psychology factors that lead to infants thriving or failing to thrive, and in other areas of psychology questions of motivation, preference, and what people value; Economists have learned a great deal about what is valued in the marketplace; and sociology examines value at a social level using theoretical constructs such as value theory, norms, anomie, etc. What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?" Natural scientists look for the purpose of life within the structure and function of life itself. Analysis of teleology based on science The "debunking" of teleology is said to have coincided with or resulted from advances in biological knowledge such as the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (i.e. Natural selection). It is not unlikely however, that it was thought long before that teleology (perceived meaning or purpose) is an illusion that has no bearing on reality and that ultimately there is no objective purpose to anything. Best-selling author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins puts forward his explanation in his Discovery Science video 'The Big Question: Why are we here?'. Philosophy of the meaning of life While scientific approaches to the meaning of life aim to describe empirical facts about human existence, philosophers are usually more concerned about the relationship between ideas. For example, philosophers have considered such questions as: "Is the question 'What is the meaning of life?' a meaningful question?"; "What does the question 'What is the meaning of life?' mean?"; and "If there are no objective values, then is life meaningless?" Some philosophical disciplines have also aimed to develop an understanding of life that explains, regardless of how we came to be here, what we should do now that we are here (such as humanism, which presents a code of conduct - see the ethics of humanism explained below). Value as meaning Theories of value bear on the question of the meaning of life. Philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, and many others had views about what sort of life was best (and hence most meaningful).[citation needed] Aristotle, for example, believed that the pursuit of happiness was the Highest Good and that such is achievable through our uniquely human capacity to reason. Existentialist views of the meaning of life Main article: Existentialism Arthur Schopenhauer offered a bleak answer to "what is the meaning of life?" by determining one's life as a reflection of one's will and the will (and thus life) as being an aimless, irrational, and painful drive. He saw salvation, deliverance, or escape from suffering in aesthetic contemplation, sympathy for others, and asceticism.Søren Kierkegaard invented the term "leap of faith" and argued that life is full of absurdity and the individual must make his or her own values in an indifferent world. For Kierkegaard, an individual can have a meaningful life (or at least one free of despair) if the individual relates the self in an unconditional commitment to something finite, and devotes his or her life to the commitment despite the inherent vulnerability of doing so. Humanist views of the meaning of life Main article: Humanism According to humanism the human race came to be by reproducing in a progression of unguided evolution as an integral part of nature, which is self-existing. Knowledge does not come from supernatural sources, rather it flows from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis preferably utilizing the scientific method: the nature of the universe is what we discern it to be. As are "values and realities", which are determined "by means of intelligent inquiry" and "are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience", that is, by critical intelligence. "As far as we know, the total personality is [a function] of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context." The purpose of human life Human purpose is determined by humans, completely without supernatural influence; it is human personality (in the broadest sense) that is the purpose of a human's life, and this humanism seeks to develop and fulfill: "Humanism affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity." Enlightened self-interest and the common good See also: enlightened self-interest and common good The most significant thing in life (the very focus of humanism) is the human being, and by extension, the human race and the environment in which we live. The happiness of the individual is inextricably linked to the well-being of humanity as a whole, in part because we are social animals which find meaning in relationships, and because cultural progress benefits everybody who lives in that culture. When the world improves, life in general improves, so, while the individual desires to live well and fully, humanists feel it is important to do so in a way that will enhance the well being of all. While the evolution of the human species is still (for the most part) a function of nature, the evolution of humanity is in our hands and it is our responsibility to progress it toward its highest ideals. In the same way, humanism itself is evolving, because humanists recognize that values and ideals, and therefore the meaning of life, are subject to change as our understanding improves. Humanist doctrines and life stance Main article: Humanist (life stance) The original doctrine of humanism is set forth in the Humanist Manifesto and has been revised and refined in A Secular Humanist Declaration, the Humanist Manifesto II, and the Humanist Manifesto III (in which humanism is referred to as a life stance). Theistic beliefs about the meaning of life Main articles: Religion and Religious humanism Relationship to God Many people who believe in a personal God would agree that it is God "in whom we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:2. Although belief is also based on knowing God "through the things he has made," the decision to believe in such an authority is called the "leap of faith". What is the purpose in one's life? An example of how religion sets purpose can be found in the biblical story of creation in the Old Testament of the Bible (Genesis 1:2, in which God orders Man to "Be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth, and subdue it". This indicates that the propagation of the human race, the care and population of the earth, and the control of the earth are the first three commandments God has set for man. Another Biblical example is given in Micah 6:8, which states "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Spiritual and mystical views of the meaning of life Spirituality Portal The Book of Light presents the nature of God and the purpose of creation. According to Michael Sharp, God is consciousness and the purpose of creation is to have fun (alleviate boredom). Creation exists "as a dream inside the mind of God" and we are all Sparks of the One Creator Consciousness. Mystical views The view of mysticism varies widely according to how each speaker describes it. In general the view is broadly that life is a happening, an unfolding. There is no duality, it is a nondual worldview, in which subject and object are the same, the sense of doer-ship is illusionary. This view is central to Buddhism, and is also found in certain non-dual sects of Hinduism. To become enlightened as to the nature and oneness of the universe Popular beliefs of the purpose of life "What is the meaning of life?" is a question many people ask themselves at some point during their lives, most in the context "What is the purpose of life?" Here are some of the life goals people choose, and some of their beliefs on what the purpose of life is: ...to survive * ...to survive, that is, to live as long as possible, including pursuit of indefinite lifespan (the closest thing to immortality that is theoretically possible) through scientific means (see life extension) * ...to evolve * ...to replicate, "the dream of a bacteria is to become two bacteria," since DNA replication has a mutation rate, this results in evolution. "The meaning of life is whatever you want it to be" - Nic Chappell ...to succeed * ...to seek happiness to end suffering, to create equality, to challenge oppression, to distribute wealth, be generous, to contribute to a community, to help others, be creative and have fun. And to be a true authentic human being and accept and forgive human flaws. I just made probably the longest quote in DM history [/QUOTE] beat ya.
GeneHilbert	Date: October 23, 2007 @ 9:54 PM I'm still not convinced.......
PrincessTast...	Date: January 10, 2008 @ 6:25 PM Even in the outage, this thread's awesomeness continues... Orale! it is super Wow!, he is buen+ísimo, he is super chidísimo, it is of few nuts, it is of few fleas, it is of hairs, he is super, he is incredible, osea never had seen a video so extreme extra, is of little ma... Good! ALREADY CHINGA!
hate9wicket	Date: February 14, 2008 @ 1:01 AM I must, I must, I must increase my buckles. or bump technology. Or I just may need to show that, I, more than anyone, am indeed: Kilgore Trout.
moam	Date: February 14, 2008 @ 1:43 AM How to Poop in the Wilderness When Camping Everyone has to poop. It's not something most people discuss at length, yet we all do it. Usually most of us use an indoor bathroom complete with toilet tissue, flush toilets and a sink. But there are times in life, like camping in the wilderness, when modern conveniences are not around. Follow these steps to poop safely and stay hygienic in the wilderness. Things You’ll Need: * Hand sanitizer * Toilet tissue Step 1: Find a private spot. You won't find a stall with a door, but there are plenty of other spots to go. Look for an area behind a tree, large rock, or bushes. You don't want fellow campers or hikers stumbling upon you. Look around and be sure you are clear of poison ivy or snakes. Step 2: Stay at least 200 feet from streams, lakes and wetlands. Poop contains bacteria. If the water gets contaminated with feces, humans and animals can develop illnesses. Step 3: Prepare the spot. Clear away any large sticks or branches. You don't want to get poked where the sun doesn't shine. Step 4: Dig a hole. It is more sanitary to use a small hole you can cover with dirt. You will avoid stepping on it, and so will fellow hikers. There is also less chance for water contamination from run off. Step 5: Take care of business. It's not the time to linger with the morning newspaper. Do what you have to do and clean up. If you do not have tissues, leaves will work in a pinch. Step 6: Clean up after yourself. Even in the woods, you should not leave piles of toilet tissue in a heap. If you have a small bag you can use that to throw away the tissues. Another option is to bury everything. Step 7: Sanitize your hands. Use a little hand sanitizer to clean your hands and get rid of the bacteria.
GeneHilbert	Date: February 14, 2008 @ 3:00 AM I didn't see anything about you having to lift your skirt....... Ha Ha..... April Foolentines.....
NickSawyer	Date: February 14, 2008 @ 9:26 AM 7...6...5...4...3...2...11...8...crime
kingo	Date: February 15, 2008 @ 12:03 PM I remember a time when... no, that's gone too.
NickSawyer	Date: March 4, 2008 @ 2:58 PM The worm in his ear stayed there until he died, where it then moved on to Eight Eight Eight Eight Eight Eight Eight Eight
NickSawyer	Date: March 4, 2008 @ 3:00 PM The worm in his ear stayed there until he died, where it then moved on to Eight Eight Eight Eight Eight Eight Eight Eight
Opossum	Date: March 4, 2008 @ 3:02 PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePaHG6g7uFw
NickSawyer	Date: March 4, 2008 @ 3:03 PM die em you fuckrn preview klickit
kingo	Date: March 4, 2008 @ 3:20 PM I can't argue with anything about an Eight.
Israfel	Date: March 4, 2008 @ 3:58 PM She groped in the dark, grumbling about how cold it was in there. She had, once again, misplaced those eggs. Then, suddenly, there was a "gorp gorp gorp" coming from the closet. Not this again!
Opossum	Date: March 4, 2008 @ 4:07 PM Sounds like my house.
mudshadow	Date: June 18, 2008 @ 10:04 AM
miraclemaker	Date: June 19, 2008 @ 2:12 AM my cat use to make a gorp, gorp kina sound while experiencing a furball or something
kingo	Date: September 26, 2008 @ 2:57 PM Did somebody say something?
vilifiend	Date: September 26, 2008 @ 3:29 PM wut?
zedsalt	Date: September 27, 2008 @ 3:10 AM I'm sorry; could you repeat the question?
zedsalt	Date: December 31, 2008 @ 9:11 AM Repeating the question must have been out of the question.
BOWILLIE	Date: December 31, 2008 @ 9:36 AM my post is more new yeary than those others posts happy new year. ................. who put a potatoe in my tail pipe?
Opossum	Date: December 31, 2008 @ 10:21 AM The ground was a green lawn. With grass. One could also notice dirt if one looked carefully. A man, not just any man but a different man, walked down the street and noticed that his lawn had an uneven pattern. Some of the blades of grass were out of place. This made him very angry and upset. He hadn't understood how that could have happened in the short time he was away at the shops. There must have been a dreadful wind or perhaps the activities of a wild insect from his neighbor's yard. So he very carefully, over six hours, made sure that all the blades were even again. He also spent three hours blowing a few particles off the otherwise smooth driveway. Then he spent two hours on the phone speaking loudly about his great adventure. Then he noticed something. A weed. A tiny little leaf emerging from near his feet. He ran and got the very large container of potent weed-killer. He walked onto his neighbor's property without permission or bodily protection of any kind and sprayed the entire front of his neighbor's metal garage door with weed killer. Granted, ALL of the grass on that part of his neighbor's lawn was already completely dead for some time, and all that there was, was dirt. Meanwhile, on the other side of his lawn, which was an empty lot - was a literal jungle, which hadn't been mowed in several weeks. This is Bundaberg. Next stop... the Twilight Zone. This post dedicated to one of our lunatic neighbors, who verbally assaulted my wife in our yard and came back into our yard later after he thought she was gone to try spraying for another half-hour or so in the same spot. He must think weeds grow on metal garage doors.
BOWILLIE	Date: December 31, 2008 @ 12:01 PM three years ago today gene hilbert said Date: December 30, 2005 @ 12:36 AM I heard Shirley swallows......
GeneHilbert	Date: December 31, 2008 @ 12:03 PM You have way to much time on your hands.........
stereoburn	Date: December 31, 2008 @ 12:31 PM I've got nothing...this must be truly awesome...HAPPY NEW YEAR!
ChillinBuzz	Date: December 31, 2008 @ 1:53 PM On 31st Dec 2012, BOWILLIE said: three years ago today gene hilbert said Date: December 30, 2005 @ 12:36 AM I heard Shirley swallows...... Did it take her 3 years to swallow?
GeneHilbert	Date: December 31, 2008 @ 3:51 PM Some of us are larger.........
imemine	Date: January 1, 2009 @ 1:01 AM .....seemed to be a lot more fun back then. HEY YOU KIDS....GET OUT OF MY YARD!
kingo	Date: January 9, 2009 @ 1:54 PM the airplane in my pocket is not happy to sea me.
Snoogans775	Date: January 9, 2009 @ 5:32 PM puh puh ka puh puh puhpuh ka puh puh puh ka puh puh puhpuhka puh. yiggity wit spliggety split on a raft in the butter I'm a crocodile moose.
kingo	Date: March 17, 2009 @ 5:22 PM This is COMPLETELY imperceptible.
Alstroph	Date: March 17, 2009 @ 6:27 PM I know, the amount of disrespect to our brother!
imemine	Date: April 18, 2009 @ 9:05 PM I dug this up just to piss off Gary but now that I think of it....Kingo doesn't love me anymore!
AdNauseam	Date: April 19, 2009 @ 6:40 AM I lovers hibbity slash slash hibbity ;garY; binK
Opossum	Date: April 19, 2009 @ 6:46 AM Is tonight's episode a rerun? Thanks in advance.
AdNauseam	Date: April 19, 2009 @ 8:27 AM False.
zedsalt	Date: April 19, 2009 @ 9:25 AM The "Rerun" in the Peanuts comic strips and the "Rerun" on television's "Good Times"...are those the same person? Has anyone seen them in the same room at the same time? I've seen Walter Mondale and Madelline Albright in the same room at the same time; that put that question to rest. But I'm still curious about the Reruns...
Guest	Date: April 19, 2009 @ 2:42 PM i am the first and only guest to comment in this thread. any that come after doesnt count
TameasDust	Date: April 19, 2009 @ 6:42 PM
cptracks	Date: June 4, 2009 @ 7:49 PM i don't get the point of this thread?
zedsalt	Date: June 5, 2009 @ 9:46 AM If a legitimate point of some sort should ever somehow develop within this thread, then we will have failed its originator. And toward the end of perpetuating the pointlessnessosity, I'd just like to say, "Fish."
NickSawyer	Date: June 5, 2009 @ 10:48 AM "Greek Proverb" - A shoeless man [who] saw a one-legged man and felt better
TameasDust	Date: June 5, 2009 @ 3:11 PM Click This
sinai	Date: June 6, 2009 @ 12:24 AM i will be not lead to temptation. or some shit.
imemine	Date: April 16, 2010 @ 11:47 PM see...THIS is the BEST threaD EVER!
zedsalt	Date: April 17, 2010 @ 10:34 AM Tom Brokaw was saying something last night on Letterman's show about the hallmark television show of the Boomer generation being Seinfeld, which was "about yadda yadda". A few hours later, I had a dream in which I met a man named Yahda; his son, Yahda Yahda, and his son, Stanley. I couldn't think of a single person associated with Brokaw, Letterman, or Seinfeld named "Stanley", and that's when it hit me...
evansorchid	Date: April 17, 2010 @ 8:59 PM Uh...... Stanley Kubrick? ....or, oh oh, I know...Stanley Fubar.....
AdNauseam	Date: April 17, 2010 @ 10:44 PM Polish pole polish polls pulled Pauls' pills.
egac	Date: April 18, 2010 @ 5:48 AM in the beginning there were many. now there are few.
zedsalt	Date: April 18, 2010 @ 11:22 AM ...my t.v. antenna. That's what hit me. Luckily, it didn't have any sharp edges or points. AHA!!! See? Pointless. It all falls together in the end. That's what gives us that old saying, "Look at all of the s**t which has fallen here. We really ought to clean up this end."
TameasDust	Date: April 18, 2010 @ 1:22 PM
rockgoth619	Date: April 25, 2010 @ 1:09 AM
kingo	Date: July 29, 2010 @ 11:18 AM Seventeen tines now, and nine tines out of ten are not made of silver.
Apertome	Date: July 29, 2010 @ 11:22 AM We're well on our way now to some kinda ham convention.
zedsalt	Date: July 29, 2010 @ 11:33 AM Well, then, make sure to put your callsign on your vehicle with those number/letter decals designed for use on mailboxes. The chrome glyphs on textured black are especially stylish.
kingo	Date: July 30, 2010 @ 3:09 PM I just got smashed in the orange juice.
evansorchid	Date: July 31, 2010 @ 7:21 AM If you can remember that much, there wasn't enough everclear.

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