Clipmarks | papananook's Comments

Love is a memory tool :)

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:38:40 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: i believe that there can be love which is not based on survival mechanism. Though rare...

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Behavior: Nothing Says ‘Focus’ Like Memory of Love

In a new study, people shown images of attractive men and women paid less attention to them if they had just been reminded about the person they loved.

For the study, the researchers looked at more than 100 college students who said they were in committed relationships.

One group was asked to write short essays about “a time in which they experienced strong feelings of love for their current partner.” The other volunteers were asked to write about a time when they were extremely happy.

When attractive faces of the opposite sex appeared, the students were slower to identify the shapes. But those who had written about their loved ones were less distracted.

Long-term relationships, the researchers said, offer benefits for reproduction, in part because both parents can play a role in rearing the children.

Tags: behavior, love, evolution

Pagans prepare for preschool

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:19:13 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.dailytidings.com

Ashland's Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries may literally put the magic back in childhood this fall.

Rowan Tree Director of Children's Programs Selyna Faola'n plans to offer Rowan Academy, a preschool and kindergarten program for children ages 3 to 5, starting Sept. 22.

Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries is an organization that offers programs and resources for the Southern Oregon pagan community. The group received its nonprofit certificate this week.

She designed her Rowan Academy curriculum to emphasize the general basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. Her classes will also include age-appropriate lessons in natural cycles, the planets and the elements.

Other children's programs include the Magic Wheel and the Senesha School of Magic. Faola'n described the year-round Magic Wheel as similar to Sunday school. The Magic Wheel program takes place at holidays and full moon celebrations, and provides children with arts and crafts activities while their parents participate in rituals.

Tags: pagan, children, school, nonprofit, nature

To understand consciousness we need to ask the right questions.

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:22:45 GMT

clipped by: einbar

Clip Source: www.seedmagazine.com

To understand consciousness and its evolution, we need to ask the right questions.

No one doubts that our experience of phenomenal consciousness—the felt redness of fire, the felt sweetness of a peach, the felt pain of a bee sting—arises from the activity of our brains.

Yet the problem of explaining how this can be so seems to many theorists to be staggeringly hard. How can the wine of consciousness, the weird, ineffable, immaterial qualia that give such richness to subjective experience, conceivably arise from the water of the brain?

As the philosopher Colin McGinn has put it, it's like trying to explain how you can get "numbers from biscuits, or ethics from rhubarb." The philosopher Jerry Fodor recently claimed, "The revisions of our concepts and theories that imagining a solution will eventually require are likely to be very deep and very unsettling."

are the scientific answers really so far out of reach?

Denver defends 'secret jail' built for DNC

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:36:09 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: This is getting ridiculous--but we'll see what happens at the convention...surely it won't be like Chicago '68...WILL it?

Clip Source: www.9news.com

DENVER - Activist groups say the converted warehouse poses a threat to civil liberties. The city maintains the facility is needed in case of mass arrests during the Democratic National Convention.

The makeshift holding center, dubbed "Gitmo on the Platte" by activists, is located on city-owned property near Steele Street and 38th Avenue. Newly-installed security cameras guard the exterior, chain-link fences and barbed wire form cells inside.

"We feel the city should be ashamed of this secret prison they've set up," said Re-create '68 organizer Glenn Spagnuolo.

Spagnuolo and other activists gathered outside the formerly-secret facility on Friday to protest the city's plan to use it as a processing center for all those arrested outside the DNC.

"The public was never going to view this place, it was just found out," Spagnuolo said. "They got caught with this place. They told our lawyers in negotiations that this place didn't even exist."

Japan's Taiiji Dolphin Hunt Protest

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:13:51 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: This despicable hunt must be stopped, somehow.
The Taiji dolphin hunts continue to prosper because the fishermen receive immense profits from selling some of their victims to the captive dolphin industry. The government also gives the fishermen permission to continue the hunt because they consider the dolphins pests who eat too much of the fish stocks around Taiji.

Take Action for Dolphins

Ask the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums to expel members who accept dolphins from drive fisheries.

Information on attending Japan Dolphin Day rallies worldwide on September 3, 2008.
Secret Slaughter No Longer

Now, a new documentary is in the works which will hopefully alert a greater portion of the public to what is going on in Taiji. Entitled "The Rising," it was filmed secretly by members of the United States conservation group Ocean Preservation Society (OPS) with help from the Save Japan Dolphins coalition. The footage displays the horrible cruelty dolphins are forced to e

Clip Source: www.hsus.org

On September, 3, 2008, individuals worldwide will unite for the fourth annual Japan Dolphin Day to speak out against the cruel drive fisheries of Japan, which slaughter hundreds of dolphins in every hunt. As we have since its founding in 2005, Humane Society International will once again be promoting and participating in this important event.

Death and Suffering

The dolphin slaughtering season in Taiji, a small coastal town of Japan, often lasts from September to March. During this time, pods of dolphins are herded into a shallow cove by fishermen in small boats and then are brutally killed with lances and knives. A few will be kept alive to be sold into the captive dolphin industry, including swim-with-the-dolphins programs, where they may suffer for years.

has high levels of mercury and is not suitable for consumption by children or pregnant women. Unfortunately, dolphin meat continues to be sold in Japan despite the risks and without any warning from the government.

Proven: Gorillas have human emotions

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:48:31 GMT

clipped by: hitchhiker08
clipper's remarks: Heartbreaking!

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gorilla grieves over death of her baby

A female gorilla has been photographed grieving over the loss of her baby, showing a strength of emotion rarely witnessed in the animal world.

Gorilla Gana, 11, was left shattered in her compound at the zoo in Muenster in northern Germany at the weekend when her three-month-old baby Claudio suddenly died.

Visitors wept as Gana held her lifeless child up in the air, vainly seeking to restore movement to his lolling head, his limp arms.

She put the baby on her back and walked around, stopping to look at him after a few paces to see if he had recovered.

"On Wednesday he gave the impression to keepers that he wasn't feeling too well.

"On Friday he wasn't eating or drinking properly and seemed to be growing weaker.

"We were keeping a close eye on him but suddenly, on Saturday morning, he died."

By Monday morning the zoo keepers were still unable to get to the body of Claudio, so fiercely is Gana guarding him.

Tags: animal kingdom, apes, gorillas, munich, germany, zoos, captivity, wild

25 Reasons You Might Be a Liberal

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:37:11 GMT

clipped by: DeMaistre

Clip Source: townhall.com

* You think Dan Quayle is the dumbest Vice-President we ever had because he believed a flash card that misspelled "potato," but think Obama is a genius despite the fact he believes we have more than 57 states.

* You'd be more upset about your favorite candidate being endorsed by the NRA than the Communist Party.

* You think the real hero of the Cold War was Mikhail Gorbachev.

* You couldn't care less about what Americans in states like Kansas or Virginia think of you, but you would be greatly upset if a Frenchman gave you a dirty look because you're an American.

* You think censorship is absolutely wrong; except when it's applied to conservatives on college campuses or on talk radio via the fairness doctrine.

* You think the war in Iraq is unwinnable, but victory in the war on poverty is going to happen any day now if we can just get the Democrats back in charge.

Tags: humor, politics

The Christian Presidency

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:29:24 GMT

clipped by: boniface

Clip Source: www.wildhunt.org

Any illusion one might have had that the race for America's chief executive is a secular affair was thoroughly shattered yesterday at the Saddleback Civil Forum on The Presidency. Evangelical superstar Rick "Purpose Driven Life" Warren got the two candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, to sit down individually in his church, submit to his questions, and expound on concerns most important to evangelical Christians.

"Some of the questions Pastor Warren posed crossed the line and promoted the fiction that the American people are electing a pastor-in-chief, rather than a commander-in-chief. Questions like 'What does it mean to trust in Christ?' create a religious test for public office and should have no place in the political discourse for a secular office. America is the most religiously diverse country in the world, and Christianity is only one of those faith traditions. Millions of voters who tuned in tonight will feel disenfranchised by some of the questions posed in this forum."

Drunk Builders & Mad Architects

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:51:28 GMT

clipped by: tanjazaric

Clip Source: www.darkroastedblend.com

How would you explain that all these "structures" passed the quality control and house inspections? Only by the possible fact that controllers and inspectors were drunk too. Or just near-sighted. I really want to believe the latter, but in some countries they are actually neither drunk or blind - but handsomely bribed. See for yourself:

It all starts with mad designs:

Foundation? Basement? Who needs it, lets get more creative:

Oh, I like that. Great idea -

Something somewhere did not work out for these builders... -

More than plumbing. A work of art.

One is labeled "Red", the other "Blue". Can't go wrong here -

There is something in my wa...

This one will launch you into the air:

...or into the basement:

Some statues don't stay erect for very long (this time earthquake was responsible) -

Whatever it was before... (we really hope it was more than that):

Best theft protection:

Using the old bus as a brick storage:

Don't park your BMW anywhere close to these guys:

Enter the bathroom (with caution):

Tags: architecture, buildings, construction

Why I Am Not A Liberal

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:40:26 GMT

clipped by: DeMaistre

Clip Source: www.humanevents.com

The following is a list of beliefs that I hold. Nearly every one of them was a liberal position until the late 1960s. Not one of them is now.

Such a list is vitally important in order to clarify exactly what positions divide left from right, blue from red, liberal from conservative.

I believe that government funding of those who can help themselves (e.g., the able-bodied who collect welfare) or who can be helped by non-governmental institutions (such as private charities, family, and friends) hurts them and hurts society.

I believe that the American military has done more to preserve and foster goodness and liberty on Earth than all the artists and professors in America put together.

I believe that the trial lawyers associations and teachers unions, the greatest donors to the Democratic Party, have done great harm to American life -- far more than, let us say, oil companies and pharmaceutical companies, the targets of liberal opprobrium.

Tags: liberalism, politics

Sunnis, armed by US, disarmed by Iraq govt

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:28:40 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Awakening Councils, who fought al-Qaida, not trusted by Shi'ite govt.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

BAGHDAD — The Shiite-led government is cracking down on U.S.-backed Sunni Arab fighters in one of Iraq's most turbulent regions, arresting some leaders, disarming dozens of men and banning them from manning checkpoints except alongside official security forces.

The moves in Diyala province reflect mixed views on a movement that began in 2007 among Sunni tribes in western Iraq who revolted against al-Qaida in Iraq and joined the Americans in the fight against the terrorist network.

U.S. officials credit the rise of such groups, known variously as Awakening Councils, Sons of Iraq and Popular Committees, with helping rout al-Qaida.

But Iraq's government is suspicious of such groups, fearing their decision to break with the insurgency was a short-term tactic to gain U.S. money and support. The government fears they will eventually turn their guns against Iraq's majority Shiites.

America has spent

$200 million on salaries, equipment and training for the fighters, which now number nearly 100,000

Tags: iraq

Rachel Maddow Replacing Dan Abrams on MSNBC

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:17:27 GMT

clipped by: dulios
clipper's remarks: Very, very, very cool.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Rachel Maddow Replacing Dan Abrams On MSNBC Effective Immediately

Rachel Maddow will replace Dan Abrams as host of the 9PM hour on MSNBC, the New York Times' Bill Carter reports. Just last month in a Times article by Jacques Steinberg, MSNBC president Phil Griffin declared Maddow "at the top" of a "very short list" for those who should have their own show, though at the time he said he "[didn't] know when" that would be. As Carter reports, the final stretch of the 2008 election season will be Maddow's debut as the host of her own MSNBC show:

The moves, which were confirmed by MSNBC executives Tuesday, are expected to be finalized by Wednesday, with Mr. Abrams's last program on Thursday. After MSNBC's extensive coverage of the two political conventions during the next two weeks, Ms. Maddow will begin her program on Sept. 8.

Tags: msnbc, rachel maddow, dan abrams, news, politics, 2008 election

McCain winning in new poll, follows trend

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:48:36 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: See? If Obama keeps moving towards being like a moderate Repub, he's gonna blow a "no-Brainer" election...typical Democrat not being bold enough to stand up for what he really believes and it's showing...mark my words--if he doesn't change his tune (it may be too late now), he's gonna hand the country to an old, senile fucking war monger...What a country, what a circus!

Clip Source: www.politico.com

John McCain has overtaken Barack Obama in the presidential race, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released Wednesday morning.

McCain leads Obama 46 percent to 41 percent among likely voters, which is outside the poll's margin of error. Reuters/Zogby had Obama ahead by 7 points as recently as mid-July.

McCain's resurgence comes at the doorstep of the Democratic Convention, and follows other polling that collectively indicates the presidential race has become a dead heat.

The odd choices in Barack Obama's career

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:02:44 GMT

clipped by: DeMaistre

Clip Source: www.americanthinker.com

It's time to throw my hat in the ring as regards predicting the election results. So here it is: Barack Obama will be defeated. Seriously and convincingly defeated

He will lose for one reason above all, one that has been overlooked in any analysis that I've yet seen. Barack Obama will lose because he is a flake.

But what has been overlooked is the string of faux pas marking each step of Obama's journey, a series of strange, inexplicable actions

What are these incidents?

To Chicago. One of the windiest, coldest, most brutal cities in the country. One that is also infinitely corrupt in a sense that Hawaii is not. One that remains one of the most racist large cities in the U.S.

And what does he do when he reaches the city? Why, he joins a cult.

Obama apparently had to swear an oath of belief in "black liberation theology" when he joined the church.

But then... he writes nothing for the journal.

he voted "present" nearly as much as he voted "yes" or "no".

Tags: election, 2008, politics, looney left

Pelosi confronted at book signing

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:40:58 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: Madam Speaker was so flustered by our efforts that she barely made a cogent remark for her whole "Know Your Power" talk. Our peaceful action had impact. The truth is a powerful tool. But if only our actions weren't necessary. If only, as Jodie Evans suggested, Madam Speaker would do her job!
Saddest of all is the contrast of who Pelosi once was to who she his now. For a woman who was once at the cutting edge of social progressivism, Nancy Pelosi has lost her way. She has strayed from her former social consciousness into the malaise of power. A sorry state for a woman who 32 years ago was a pivotal player in the 1976 Presidential campaign of radically progressive California Governor, Jerry Brown.

Clip Source: www.opednews.com

Last Monday evening, in the plush environs of Los Angeles' American Jewish University, a dedicated group of pro-peace, Pro-Constitution patriots "booked" Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. No, I don't mean "booked" as in charged her with a crime and jailed her. In this scenario, "booked" is more akin to "punked" - in which case we surprised Madam Pelosi by revising her new book, then forced her to read our revisions. Tuh-Dah!!

It happened like this: Madam Speaker of the House Pelosi, second in line to the Presidency, appeared at a book signing for her ironically titled new tome, "Know Your Power." Since Madam Pelosi has not used her power as Speaker to hold impeachment hearings against George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as prescribed by Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution, we pro-Constitution patriots held her to task. We took her new book and scrawled our personalized imperatives and questions within it.