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How to Write Aphorisms

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:43:09 GMT

clipped by: Kore7
clipper's remarks:

Delacroix, Eugene (France, 1798-1863)

To be a poet at twenty is to be twenty; to be a poet at forty is to be a poet.

According to James Geary, editor of the compendium Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists, a truely memorable, quotable aphorism satisfies five laws:

It must be brief. It must be definitive. It must be personal — that's the difference between an aphorism and a proverb. It must be philosophical — that's the difference between an aphorism and a platitude, which is not philosophical....

And the fifth law is it must have a twist. And that can be either a linguistic twist or a psychological twist or even a twist in logic that somehow flips the reader into a totally unexpected place.

Now you know, so get to work!

Clip Source: www.npr.org

Hubbard, Frank McKinney (United States, 1868-1930)

A good listener is usually thinking about something else.

Nobody ever forgets where he buried the hatchet.

Roosevelt, Eleanor (United States, 1884-1962)

A woman is like a teabag — only in hot water do you realize how strong she is.

Tutu, Desmond (South Africa, 1931- )

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.

Bunsch, Karol (Poland, 1898-1987)

Honest conceit is better than false modesty.

Morandotti, Alessandro (Italy, 1909-1979)

The kiss is an ingenious invention that prevents lovers from uttering too many inanities.

You recognize a true friend by how he lies to you.

Chekhov, Anton (Russia, 1860-1904)

Any idiot can face a crisis. It is this day-to-day living that wears you out.

Sato, Issai (Japan, 1772-1859)

There are always people who make big declarations. These are always people of little consequence.

Tags: aphorisms, writing, history, quotes, pithy, how-to, be famous!

World's most corrupt and least corrupt nations

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:11:49 GMT

clipped by: Deepti

Clip Source: www.gulfnews.com

Corruption watchdog Transparency International has released a list of the world’s most and least corrupt nations

The report comes ahead of a conference in Bali this week where more than 100 countries are expected to gather for a United Nations anti-corruption conference

The lower the CPI of a country, the higher corruption is, with 0 being the most corrupt and 10 being very clean

Most corrupt country and CPI score
Somalia: 1.4
Myanmar: 1.4
Iraq: 1.5
Haiti: 1.6
Uzbekistan: 1.7
Tonga: 1.7
Sudan: 1.8
Chad: 1.8
Afghanistan: 1.8
Laos: 1.9
Norway: 8.7

Least corrupt country and CPI score
Denmark: 9.4
Finland: 9.4
New Zealand: 9.4
Singapore: 9.3
Sweden: 9.3
Iceland: 9.2
Netherlands: 9.0
Switzerland: 9.0
Canada: 8.7

Tags: corrupt, nations, world, countries, international

God Hates Shrimp

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:54:19 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: godhatesshrimp.com

Shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, all these are an abomination before the Lord, just as gays are an abomination. Why stop at protesting gay marriage? Bring all of God's law unto the heathens and the sodomites

Leviticus 11:9-12 says:
⁹ These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
¹⁰ And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
¹¹ They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
¹² Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Deuteronomy 14:9-10

These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:
¹⁰ And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you

Jagged Little Pill

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:36:21 GMT

clipped by: carrerinyes

Clip Source: sandiego.craigslist.org

THE PERFECT PILL

Breakthroughs From 2007 Most Likely to Change the World

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:49:21 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee
clipper's remarks: very interesting...

Clip Source: articles.mercola.com

10. Smaller Transistors: Intel was able to reduce the size of features on their chips from 65 nanometers to 45 nanometers.

9. A Rhesus Monkey is Cloned to Make Stem Cells: This implies that cells from a sick patient could one day be cloned to make stem cells from their own bodies, which could be used to repair their own organs without risk of rejection.

8. Planets Discovered That May Harbor Life: A pair of potentially life-containing planets was found in a distant solar system.

7. A Transparent Material as Strong as Steel: Using nanometer-sized clay particles, engineers created a lightweight material with extraordinary strength.

6. Soft Tissue From a T. Rex Analyzed: The biological molecules from a well-preserved

Tyrannosaurus rex leg bone revealed it had a lot in common with modern-day chickens

5. Rhett Syndrome in Lab Mice Cured:

4. Enzymes Convert Any Blood Type to O:

3. Dinosaur Mummy Excavated and Scanned:

2. Chimpanzees Make Spears for Hunting:

1. Skin Cells Turned Into Stem Cells:

Tags: interesting.

Is NanoArt the New Photography?

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:31:31 GMT

clipped by: asphere

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

1 of 13

Is NanoArt the New Photography?

Each year, Cris Orfescu, a California-based artist and scientist, sponsors the International Online NanoArt Competition.

Mr. Orfescu uses his art "to inform people about the new technologies of the 21st Century."

Left, Black Eye NanoOctopus: The artist created a nanosculpture by hydrolyzing a tiny drop of a titanium organometallic compound and coating the structure with gold in order to be properly visualized with a Scanning Electron Microscope. The monochromatic electron scan was then painted and digitally manipulated, and the final image was printed on canvas with archival inks.

Tags: nanotechnology, art, photography, photo

How to talk to shyer and/or less social people

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:02:40 GMT

clipped by: Aribeth
clipper's remarks: -Don't be dismissive if they seem to dislike an outgoing person.
-Don't be overly solicitous.
-Be wary of topics they may not be comfortable with.
-If you want to do something with them assume you're going to have to ask.
-Don't take it personally if they want to escape after spending a few hours with you.

I have been to both sides.Very interesting site,btw.

Clip Source: www.succeedsocially.com

Don't take their quietness personally

That's what shy people do

they hang back and don't talk as much

It's not because they hate everyone and show it by not speaking to them. They're just a bit tongue-tied at first and need some time to warm up to the people they're with.

Don't ever comment on how shy or quiet they seem

it's kind of thoughtless and annoying

and never, ever comment on someone's shyness like they're a cute, shivering little lamb. Like,"You're shy? Awwwww!"

Take the lead in the conversation, but don't overdo it

I can vouch for this point from both sides. When I was shyer than I am now, I would often be reluctant to talk to a new person for all kinds of complicated reasons, but if they kept at me for a few minutes I'd start to relax and chat back to them. Now when I find myself talking to someone who seems a little quiet, I'll try to carry most of the conversation until they start to reciprocate more.

Give them a few minutes to warm up to you

Hit on a topic they want to talk about

Tags: social behaviour

Scramble To Curb Suicide Websites

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:53:23 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Hmm. I am all for protecting the vulnerable, but this smells a little too much like censorship, to me What else could or would governments decide to deem "harmful information"? Do I trust they always would have my best interests at heart, if they get to decide what we can read or not? In my opinion, the causes of suicide largely lie offline, not on. If we want to reduce suicide, look to answer the questions why first, now how. "Guns don't kill people", and neither do webpages.

Clip Source: technology.timesonline.co.uk

Scramble to curb suicide websites

The dangers of internet sites that encourage suicide and discussion about taking your own life are to be part of an official review of child safety on the web.

The Ministry of Justice is also examining new curbs in the law to stop internet sites giving out information about different ways of committing suicide.

It has been working with internet service providers (ISPs) for more than a year to discourage them from hosting sites that may encourage suicide.

Government, is to study evidence on internet suicide as part of her investigation into the risks from exposure to harmful information

“This forms part of a wide range of activity across government looking at internet-related issues.”

the Government wants to raise awareness of the potential dangers of suicide website and chat rooms being accessed by vulnerable people.

the Government wants to encourage ISPs to direct people who are trying to access suicide sites to alternative sites

Tags: it's, your, life

We Can't Handle The Truth

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:02:38 GMT

clipped by: debbyski
clipper's remarks: "They don’t mention that we spend almost a trillion dollars a year on a protracted war in Iraq, money that we must borrow from China and Japan. We spend 51% of our discretionary budget on our military. No nation on the globe spends more than 6%. Maybe this could be a reason our economy is faltering?"

Clip Source: www.opednews.com

When this nation finds itself between two paths, republic or empire, we are slowly realizing that we have no moral compass to find our way home.

Sometimes the road has been difficult and we have made many mistakes as a nation.

There have been times when we as a people have seemingly lost our way, succumbing to excess and greed. We have interfered with other nation’s right of self-determination when it was in our own interests to do so.

At this point in time, America seems to be lost. We engage in “faith-based principles” instead of the rule of law. No longer are the principles and the law, as stated in our constitution, being followed

We have evolved a system of corporate influence in Washington that is unparalleled.

We are engaged in a war in Iraq that is costing us $970,000,000 a day. Our trade deficit is roughly $800 Billion dollars.

Why aren’t Americans demanding answers from the people that seek the highest office in this land?

Tags: the, way, and, the light

Arrogant Assholes, Myself Included

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:59:28 GMT

clipped by: debbyski
clipper's remarks: "But there are so many people who are souls "in progress, who do not seek to engage in conflict. They are passionate people who lose it for a moment.
As far as my own history. I used to get caught up in flame wars on line-- in forums, listserves, email-- more often than I would have liked. Then I set a simple rule for myself. If I write a message-- email, comment, posting-- that is angry and mean or combative-- I sit on it, preferably overnight. I don't send it out right away.
One thing I learned from a researcher is that when you write down stuff that bothers you, that makes you sad, angry, miserable, just writing it down can be therapeutic. But then, if you throw it away, or delete it, that can also be a good healthy thing to do. This researcher even showed that when people did this-- wrote down stuff that made them angry-- their immune functions improved.
I'd say that 98% of the time, when I write an angry missive-- and I still do ocassionally-- I end up throwing them away. I ge

Clip Source: www.opednews.com

In which I explore dealing with trolls, anger, taking offense, flaming and reasons to find tolerance, forgiveness and appreciation, even amongst assholes, myself included.

Statistically, if you encounter hundreds of thousands of new people, some of them will be totally mentally ill, some will be crude, some will be brilliant and wonderful additions to the community and some will be combative or impulsive, angry trolls.

Some of the mentally ill will be wonderful additions to the community... at least most of the time.

Over the years, I've come to believe that people's flaws often contribute to, or are even essential to what makes them special. Actually, it's one of the gifts of being alive, to make the most of what you have, to find gifts in adversity, in the cast of the dice you are thrown.

I've learned that it is better to not fan the flame of anger, to develop into being a less combustible person. That means that you don't take offense as easily.

Flirting is Fun

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 09:48:32 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: www.edstrong.blog-city.com

It's not just talk

It's gestures, stance, eye movement

Notice how you lean forward to the person

you're talking to and tip up your heels?

Notice the quick little eyebrow raise you make,

the sidelong glance coupled with

the weak smile you give

Contrary to widespread belief, only two very specific types of people flirt: those who are single and those who are married.

before you claim, whether single or married, that you never flirt, bear in mind that it's not just talk we're dealing with here. It's gestures, stance, eye movement.

If you're a woman, do you feel your head tilting to the side a bit, exposing either your soft, sensuous neck or, looking at it another way, your jugular?

If you're a guy, are you keeping your body in an open, come-on-attack-me position, arms positioned to draw the eye to your impressive lower abdomen?

Sexual Cues

Flirting Maneuvers

It's the Game We Play

we learn a script for talking to the opposite sex.

"We often enact these scripts without even thinking,"

Tags: flirting

Our Genome Does Not Determine Us

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:20:14 GMT

clipped by: shunyax
clipper's remarks: In source a transcript of the presentation.
A worthwhile read.

Clip Source: www.asc-cybernetics.org

Humberto Maturana Romesin

Presentation made at the Remaining Human Forum

Vancouver, B.C., May 22, 2001

What is the "us" that the genes would determine?

The idea that "genes determine us" refers to pre-determination .

But pre-determinism means that the initial condition specifies what will be, or how it will be, in a later condition. But that cannot explain what takes place because the initial condition is the initial structure -- which will change through interaction with the medium, which is independent. And this is the beauty of the medium. This is the beauty of the surroundings in which we are — our surroundings are independent from us.

What guides this path? What guides the path of the realisation of the individual living with the realisation of the living of the many generations?

I would say that what guides this is pleasure. Yes, pleasure!

We are creating the world that we live. Not the world that we deserve, the world that we live.

Loneliness Breeds Belief in Supernatural

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:29:58 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Chats with older folk, the church was almost an excuse for having get-togethers And I think a lot of those who live away from families really miss the extended family - that has died in Australia.

Clip Source: www.livescience.com

People who feel lonely are more likely to believe in the supernatural, whether that is God, angels or miracles, a new study finds.

Humans have evolved as social creatures, so loneliness cuts to the quick. Living in groups was critical to the survival and safety of our ancient ancestors, and "complete isolation or ostracism has been tantamount to a death sentence," said University of Chicago researcher Nicholas Epley, who led the study.

While group living isn't critical to survival in the modern world, feeling socially connected is. Feeling isolated and lonely is a very painful emotional state for people, Epley said, and can lead to ill health, both physically and mentally.

"Being socially isolated is just not good for you," he said.

Tags: health