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Cancer is a disease that, in a high portion of cases, is completely avoidable with proper diet, exercise and healthy living choices (including where and how you live). But for those unlucky enough to be diagnosed with cancer, I found this video that has some promising results. Screw chemotherapy, hello radio waves!
The Bottom Line
The best cure is avoidance.
(image from NASA)
I can look at the above cloud animation all day… clouds are clouds right? Well, these ones are special… they are the clouds found on Mars!
Why is this so fascinating to me?
Most likely, within my lifetime, I will never get the opportunity to visit another planet or moon… if I am wealthy enough in the future, I can spend a few days in space but exploring alien worlds is probably going to be left to my descendants to experience. This animated picture, no matter how brief or grainy, is as close I will get to looking up in the sky on another planet. In the few frames of this animation, I see hope, success, wonderment and many other adjective, including expletives, that describe my deep desire to really explore this world I was lucky enough to be born on. It’s also a very tragic reminder of the limitations placed upon me from birth, that of my own mortality which I realize logically I can do nothing about but emotionally bothers me to no end. They say all living life on this planet has an urge for self-preservation built into it… I think I was born with an extra helping of this ingredient when I was created by my parents.
The reality of Aging
I am quickly approaching my 32nd birthday and from talking to others who are older then me, I have come to the realization of the cruel joke played on us by Mother Nature, the process of aging itself. I am starting to think those with Alzheimer’s are lucky, you see, they are aging and not in the best of shape but don’t realize this. It’s like going 100 miles an hour straight into a brick wall but instead of looking at the wall coming straight at you, you are facing the other direction.
Why is the process of aging a cruel joke?
Right now, I am in my early 30’s but mentally, I feel no different then when I was a teenager, I still have the same feelings, urges and essentially the same body. Double my age to 60 and guess what, I will still have the mind of a teenager but the body of an old fart… double that again, now 120 years old… still with the mind of a teenager but most likely the day after a party and the body that is simply unrecognizable. What I am saying is that physically we age rather quickly but mentally, well, not so much. Do I look forward to looking at myself in the mirror on my 100th birthday? As I continue to take great care of myself, most likely yes but I will also have a feeling of great loss of the body I have now is gone, never to return. Aging is a one way road that is part of the deal when you become mortal.
The Bottom Line
Anybody who says they love the process of aging is suffering from a mental disorder.
Buzvia: Mars Exploration Rover Mission
What I find interesting with most religions is how they seem to really dislike one another under their facade of acceptance while they compete for our “poor” souls. Each religion out there has the tenant that they are the only TRUE religion so anybody professing anything different is seen as a competitor in this life or the next. What I find equally of interest is that they try to discount each-others beliefs while re-enforcing their own. Scientology is no different in that they are attacked regularly by Catholics and Muslims as being an evil cult which to me sounds no different then a kettle calling a pot black. I fail to see ANY difference between Scientology and other world faiths out there.
Disclaimer
My postings about religion are simply my exploration of this concept within humanity, I am not judging nor bashing of others rights to believe in whatever they wish to believe. I welcome anybody wishing to discuss this with me on my blog, I am open minded enough to explore anything but have no desire to be directed how I should live my life (ei: don’t expect me to convert to your way of thinking). I am sure this is full of inaccuracies, feel free to point them out. My goal in life is to understand others mechanisms regarding what makes them function.
Comparison (however flawed) with other religions
Scientology, unlike other faiths is rather new on the scene, there are actual video and audio recordings from the founder, L. Ron Hubbard himself. They preach acceptance, conditioning and conversion just like, ironically, the other world religions. Where they differ most greatly is that you don’t pray to an all-knowing creator (God) but actually take courses in how to improve yourself beyond ethical reproachment. Instead of intense worship, you focus on intense study. There is no heaven or hell, there aren’t millions of death under their belt in their religions name and there most notably, have a rather more interesting story as to human existence then any other religion complete with aliens and galactic wars. Cult? Nope, it’s just re-incarnation 2.0!
Scientology - The Shrinking World of L. Ron Hubbard (1967) - Part 1
Scientology - The Shrinking World of L. Ron Hubbard (1967) - Part 2
BBC Panorama - Scientology & Me (Part 1 of 3)
BBC Panorama - Scientology & Me (Part 2 of 3)
BBC Panorama - Scientology & Me (Part 3 of 3)
Brainwashing 101
If something works, it’s adopted by others and religion is no different then other types of marketing. They all seem to follow the same principles as those used in brainwashing 101 courses. These are the same techniques used by marketers who tell us you must buy a diamond for marriage, buy new cloths every season and that debts are no big deal in the pursuit of happiness (capitalism). I consider any type of activity whose sole purpose is to change the thinking of another person to be considered brainwashing.
Repetition!
First, begin with repetitive repetition on a continual basis to re-enforce a certain method of thinking. When I saw the video of this, I instantly thought of Madrasas or Sunday Schools the dot this planet.
Servitude
If you are Christian, you must give your soul to God “for eternity”, I believe it’s the same for other faiths but in Scientology, they only keep your soul under servitude for a billion years. I think this is progress… a billion years doesn’t seem so long when compared to eternity!
Sacrifice
Surrounding yourself by like minded individuals and “blocking out” those who don’t share your beliefs and the donation of energy whether in time, money or deeds to the religious organization. Evangelists have tiding where you give a portion of your income to the church, Catholics have the basket they put through the pews and other religions a mix of the two. If you want to be “part of us”, you must prove it in actions as well or words. At least Scientology is straight forward and very clear regarding these expectations with ladders related to donations.
Overly-friendliness: Community of the like minded
I grew up Roman Catholic and I see the same thing among other faiths, this overly-friendliness towards the like minded and possible conversionable. I visited a “born again” Evangelist complex a few years ago and that is when it really struck me… it isn’t just “hi”, it’s the big handshakes, hugs and even kisses. Why does this exist? Well, simply to re-enforce that you have entered a safe place, you have friends. Some people like hugging complete strangers, as for me, handshakes are about as far as I will take things.
Confessionals
Scientologists use e-meters, Catholics the confessional and I am sure there is an equivalent in other religion but what is it’s true purpose? No matter how the religious autocracy wish to characterize it, these are a brilliant method of control in two fundamental ways. First, they help break down the mental barriers which may, at a later period of time, create doubt in the mind and secondly, it keeps people in line. If you told your priest that you did xyz they say, “your sins are now forgiven” what has actually happened? NOTHING but a bonding event at the subconscious level! You told somebody else your deepest secrets which gives you some relief but also helps to keep you in line at a subconscious level.
Humans = EVIL
Humans are all evil, worthless and lost without GOD or some other entity, Scientologists don’t revert to these words, instead, they focus on purity of the mind. Religion is basically the pursuit of perfection, something that cannot EVER be achieved no matter how much training or lives a person spends on this endeavor. Religions all describe humans as being fundamentally flawed and only religious dogma is the way to go to achieve a higher level of being in this life or the next. I find this incredibly interesting as there are far more Catholics, Muslims and other religious persons in prisons and committing crimes out there then Athiests yet, regardless of religion, Athiests are seen as the absolute lowest of the low. It seems that people who believe in themselves, for themselves are so off kilter in not seeing supreme guidance that we are vilified just under the surface of acceptance.
Profit
Scientology is an expensive religion, you have to pay for courses to constantly improve yourself, the books, tapes etc all add up to a pretty penny. Before you bash this, consider that the Pope lives in his own city of incredible splendor just like Evangelists live in their multi-million dollar homes. What’s the difference? None. Religion is truly the most profitable enterprise out there, many governments even allow tax deductions for “donations” to religious organizations.
Death to critics!
This bears repeating, in L. Ron Hubbard’s own words “Fair game. May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of Scientologists. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed”. Sounds harsh? I don’t think so, considering Catholics wish you to spend eternity in hell under the most inhumane conditions while fundamentalists believe you deserve a beheading for speaking badly about their beliefs. Considering this, Scientology is rather generous to it’s critics as it doesn’t involve death! Christians has their crusades and I am sure Muslims had their equivalents in history, so far, not a hint of this from Scientology. Again, I believe this is progress as far as religions go.
Gays are ok!
Unlike Catholics and many other major religions, Scientology doesn’t seem to discriminate against sexual orientation. If you are gay, you are welcomed with open arms. Again, this is welcome progress in the world of religion.
Charisma of the Leader
After watching quite a bit of video, no matter what you believe about Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard is a rather charismatic leader, I am sure this was as true about Jesus in his time as with other prophets from other religions. He comes across as rather sincere, he obviously believes his way of thinking is the “purest” and wants to expand this organization to touch the hearts of minds of others around the world. Ironically, this is the same mission and method used by other religions around the world.
Is Scientology a Cult or a Religion
If others wish you ill harm on others, then I would consider this a cult but if they simply wish to be left alone to work on themselves while bettering the lives of those around them, who is to judge or make this distinction? As for me, I don’t see them as a cult anymore then other religions out there. They have their beliefs, I have mine… as long as they don’t infringe on my rights, I couldn’t care less about what their followers are doing behind closed doors. What I do find fascinating about the evolution of Scientology is that it gives you a glimpse of how religions form and grow in both influence and power in our world over time. They are the new kid on the block, learning along the way what should and shouldn’t be adopted.
Is Scientology for me?
Although I find their stories far more interesting then those of other prophetic books, I still cannot fathom giving up my inner power, no matter how slight, to another organization, no matter how it’s characterized by preachers and sinners alike. I do agree with some of their teachings and even some of their views but not enough to feel any deep passion to join them. Their equivalent to the Koran or Bible called Dianetics is on my “to-read” list though but unlike these two other books, I can’t find a free copy of this one.
The Bottom Line
Religion is no different then cough medicine, it makes the symptoms of thinking about our collectively mortality go away without solving the underlying problem that we all die eventually.
For those who may not know who Randy Pausch is, he’s the university professor who was told he had only 6 months to live, as such, he decided to give one last lecture to his students. If you had only one last lecture to give, what would you speak about? This is great advice from somebody who has lived a very good life and some of these words may help you achieve your goals in the future.
Lecture’s Key Points
Aptly titled, his lecture is about achieving your dreams and allowing others to achieve theirs, here are the key points from his lecture:
If you wish to watch this for yourself, here is the video of the entire lecture thanks to Google.
After the lecture
As some of you may know, this lecture became an international hit in 2007 after it was given. He appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss his situation and the lecture, spent a day with the Pittsburgh Steelers to accomplish his goal to play for the NFL and even better, Disney through it’s subsidiary, purchased the rights to his story for millions of dollars, providing his family with financial security long after he is gone. I think the only way to explain this is the last summary I wrote about his lecture, if you lead your life the right way, karma will make your dreams become reality.
The Bottom Line
Dreams are as important as breathing (hint hint).
PS: I wish everybody a very happy and prosperous 2008!
More information about:
I believe that if we all lived our lives like an open book, then we would better understand one another as hiding things from others simply breeds suspicion. We are all human, we all have emotions and everyday struggles. I am no different then anybody else in this world but I think memory fades with time, hence why I am recording this now. Two years ago now, my youngest sister died.
Summers by the pool
My most happy memory of the time I spent with my sister Dominique and my other sister Melanie was in our family pool during the summer months. In Canada we have two months break from school, a relic of our countries earlier harvesting days, which we always took full advantage of. It was the 1980s and early 1990s where, every summer, we would alternate from jumping off the diving board and roasting on the hot sun on the concrete slabs surrounding the pool. News of wearing sunscreen hadn’t hit the mass market yet so we where burnt like toast just about everyday, oddly enough, I don’t remember getting that many sunburns. Our complexion darkened to the point where even today, I am far darker then most of the people I have the pleasure of spending time with. We would have contests all summer long with my parents, drinking his cold water under the shade of the Oak tree right next to the pool talking. Who can hold their breath the longest, who can swim the most laps, who can make the biggest splash and the list went on. In hindsight, we where actually quite a bunch of competitive kids trying to best one another. The fact that I was a few years older then either of my sisters made no difference, we wanted to be better then the other. I remember we use to play a monster game where I, as the oldest, was the monster… I would make lots of splashes and they would have to go from one end of the pool to the other without me catching them. We also had a slide which provided hours of fun as well. It was really a great time for the entire family. We would always beg our parents to join us in the pool and usually they did later in the afternoon. I think the fact that we where all very young and ignorant of the world around us made that time that much better, we had no worries, no pressures nor much to think about during those summer months other then two straight months of playing. The summers are also when we would visit or be visited by our extended family, it was the one time year that everybody had time off to meet up. Summers have been special ever since.
Lessons two years on
Well, it’s been two years now, the emotions aren’t gone at all, nor would I want it any other way. I do have to credit my sisters death for putting the fire under my ass to make things happen faster then would have otherwise been. Facing mortality makes you realize that our time on this Earth is rather limited and can be taken away at any time. I decided long ago that I would not live a life of regrets, wishing I did this instead of that, trying to re-visit the past etc. , not sure where this came from but so far, it has served me very well. I live in two kinds of worlds as a result, one that is short term where I make key decisions right away, wasting as little time debating them as possible, taking steps immediately to make them become reality while the other is trying to plan out my future. Sometimes it’s difficult to decide where a decision goes though, long term or short but regardless, I waste as little time debating this as well. Live is about living it, trying to get as much out of it as possible before it’s taken away by your actions or those of somebody else.
The Bottom Line
Christmas is as much about celebration as reflection.
Of all the things that bug me which are completely out of my control, my very own mortality is the biggest to come to terms with. As soon as we are conceived, we begin down the one way path leading to our eventual death. Life is great, but why does it have to end as a pre-requisite?
The Search for the Fountain of Youth
I believe I have discovered the Fountain of Youth, but no in the traditional sense, you will still get old and die but the pace of this demise will be greatly reduced. How? Well, eat only healthy foods, exercise with weights and do plenty of tough cardio. The stronger your body is when you are young, the stronger it will be when you are old… which is when it counts the most! Short of little green men and woman coming from the deep expanses of our universe giving us the gift of immortality, I doubt I will see medical science advance enough during my lifetime or that of my children’s children in which our lifespan will be greatly enhanced. We already, thanks to medical advances in the 20th century been able to almost double our “livable” lifespan with the use of wondrous medical procedures and exotic drugs to starve off the inevitable.
We don’t have enough time!
I am already 31 years old and so far, probably lived off a quarter of my functional lifespan, my goal is to be the first to get to 150… even if it means I am an old drooling insomniac by that time! Like the one minute mile, everybody says it cannot be done, but there is NO reason with the incredible advances in modern medicine that will occur over the next hundred years, the availability of healthy foods and research that, if you start young enough, a body and mind cannot reach this. Suffice it to say, I look both sides of the street before crossing! I am astonished at not only how fast time goes by but at how slow the progress we make in our own lives takes. To get more life out of our daily lives, you either have to speed up what is happening around you or simply live longer. There is so much to be done, so much to learn, experience, see, invent and enjoy during the limited time we have on Earth that it’s a shame that we have such short lives! It’s like trying to fit a mountain in a fish tank!
If you don’t use it, you will loose it
Although this is an extreme statement as you never really LOOSE anything in life, it points to a simple fact about our bodies. If you look at today’s seniors, those that lead an unhealthy life are, for the most part, not looking too good even if they are still alive and kicking. No matter how far science has evolved, it still cannot undo the damage caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence, why, from day one, you MUST live a healthy lifestyle and surround yourself by like-minded people. Second, I have seen story after story from “old men” in their 80s living a very physically tough live that have the muscle tone of men half their age. They don’t know what obesity is, they don’t have medical problems and are incredibly active… enjoying all that life has given to them. Lesson to be learned? Well, you need to live a physically active lifestyle, optimize your Central Nervous System (CNS), optimize your critical muscle motor pathways, optimize the efficiency of your internal organs, optimize your inter-neuron connections and most importantly, optimize your entire outlook on life. When shit happens, take the bump in the head and move on.
Wasted Lives
If you smoke, you are wasting away your life in more ways then one… most importantly, you are taxing today’s body, for no real good reason at the cost of your future health. If you are an alcoholic, you are no better then a smoker in my opinion… good luck getting past 60 with anything resembling a healthy body. Same goes with obese people and those who are junk food obsessed. What I am saying is that, if you live an unhealthy lifestyle, no matter how much you try, until you quit these nasty habitual practices, you are wasting away the most precious resource we are all enjoying… LIFE! Life is an incredible gift, honor your parents, your future progeny and most importantly, yourself, by taking it seriously!
How to defeat mortality… is religion the answer?
Well, some people turn to their religion of choice as a way to mentally deal with mortality. I can’t say that this isn’t an attractive notion, the idea that our physical bodies may have an end but our mental soul does not. Heck, if there was even one sliver of a chance that this may be a reality, I would fight to be first in line! But, being a “don’t believe the hype” Athiest, I cannot logically come to terms with the notion of an after-life any more then I figure out the unifying mathematical theory for the universe. If it’s true, then it will be a welcome surprise to me, but I am assuming that the closest I will come to an after life is in the stomach of the neighborhood worm.
How to defeat mortality… is a physical monument the answer?
So what does that leave me? Well, immortality is possible, but not in any way that I will be able to live it out. Our own planet will explode billions of years from now once the Sun becomes a red giant so the answer cannot have anything to do with laying a monument on this planet. Even if technology existed to create an impenetrable diamond tomb for myself with a computer somehow connected to my mechanically life-supported brain, I would still be screwed to die billions of years in the future as I would be the only last surviving human being or possibly life within the universe at that point.
How to defeat mortality… is a virtual self the answer?
Alright, any type of foundation on this planet, much less this solar system or any other just isn’t do-able over the next 100+ years. Even if I had the financial resources of Bill Gates and all the worlds top billionaires at my disposal, it would still be useless. Why? Well, even if I could somehow create a technology that beamed out “me” radio waves deep into outer-space or send out probes with the contents of my DNA code for future aliens to re-animate me… I am still screwed to die! Why? Well, in several tens of billions of years from now, the vast universe we all inhabit will be gone. Nobody is sure if it’s from cooling due to continual expansion or an implosion into an infinitely small dot but either way, once the laws of physics break down, nothing survives.
So where does that leave us then?
Short of a multi-dimensional escape route that exists outside of all types of boundaries created by physics, no matter their variables, the only thing we can do is enjoy the time we have here as much as possible. Most importantly, take good care of oneself of those around us.
The Bottom Line
Life is like an ATM machine that cannot accept deposits.
One of the many possible faces of an immortal being… in this case, one that has chosen to end their own existence at your breakfast table 
We see the theme of immortality being repeated throughout our culture, from vampire movies to cybernetic beings… but honestly - if it was possible to be immortal - would you want it?
Immortality - what is it?
Immortality is the basic idea that you simply cannot die. Everything in our universe is mortal in one form or another, even our Sun will “die” as a gas giant in a few billion years from now taking much of our solar system along with it. I think the only thing that is immortal within our known understanding are individual atoms but even their fate is sealed when our universe ends and the what we take now as the fundamental laws of physics break down along with it.
The romantic side of immortality
In my opinion, the “nice” thing about immortality is the ability to be unshackled by the chains of time. Imagine being able to take your time and learn EVERYTHING, want to spend a few hundred years becoming the ruler of the world - not a problem when you know all your “competitors” are mortal. Want to travel to far off galaxies, again, not a problem - even if it takes millions of years - you don’t need any food, water or much less shelter to get there. The universe would become your playground. The romantic side of being immortal is that you essentially become a God… who wouldn’t want that?
The curse of immortality
Everything has a price, I believe a life being immortal would be incredibly boring after a while… let me explain. Right here, right now there are humans on this planet so as an immortal being taking on a human form, you could communicate and enjoy the same experiences that we all enjoy in life but hold on… humans have only been “communicable” for only a few hundred thousand years and in all likelihood we will be extinct in the next few hundred thousand… what do you do then? You can only have so much to talk about with snails and birds before they get dull. You would be able to be on this planet the instant it was able to support life until its demise… travel to other planets with civilizations but again, it’s like being a world traveler visiting the same destinations over and over again… you need something new! Even ruling a planet for a while would be fun but after a few thousand years the challenges become meager. Mortality may suck but immortality isn’t any better of a solution
Types of Immortality
I think there are two different types of immortality
GOD
Which is basically a being of infinite power and wisdom that has no start nor any end. You would by your own “existence” be able to form and mold things, create life and even other universes…
Quasi-God
This is a type of immortal that has a beginning (birth) and since then develops the same powers as a God over time. As this person had a beginning, they must also have an end so they aren’t really immortal but have such a long lifespan that they might as well be. They would lead a linear life just like we do.
Special Powers of Immortals
If you where immortal, you would need special powers to simply exist.
Sustenance
Being immortal would mean that you no longer needed to “fight to stay alive”, so eating, sleeping, activity or anything we currently do day to day - even a job - would not be needed. What is the value of money if you don’t need shelter, never get sick and don’t need to eat? The everyday challenges we have would all be “optional”.
Master of Everything
Being immortal means that you can study EVERYTHING in our known (and unknown) universe, your mind would have to be infinite in size, speed and complexity. You would feel at ease teaching our worlds greatest minds as you would be installing a toilet! How do you create space craft that can travel faster then the speed of light… well, you would know - and it would be as easy as flipping a switch!
Past - Present - Future
Assuming you had a birth, after a few thousand years of experience much less a million - you would have enough knowledge to predict the future. Once you can predict the future with enough practice by looking at the past, the entire concept of past, present and future would have to meld into one. Even lottery numbers which are completely random will show patterns after a few million tries. Even our underlying universe, although in complete random chaos, does follow a set predictable pattern which we just haven’t figured out yet.
Shape Shifter
Lets face it, if you are immortal and visiting other planets - you wouldn’t want to go around looking like a human… you would absolutely require a body that can change instantly to match the environment you are in or even become transparent when needed. You wouldn’t have a need for any organs such as a heart, brain or even eyes… you would have to be constructed of pure energy. You can have no density or infinite density. Your “normal” form wouldn’t be anything that we could possibly imagine. Today your a human, tomorrow you can be a rock, the next day a cloud or even a molecule of Hydrogen.
Time Travel
Being immortal (a full GOD) means that you don’t need to follow the rules of physics, you can travel to and from any point in time as easily as we drive down to the super market. Want to visit the universe one second before the Big Bang or one second before its collapse? Want to travel through other dimensions? Want to go back a few minutes before your burn your toast? Not a problem…
Power to End
I think if you where a God that you would have so much power that if you wanted to end your own existence, you could… nothing in any universe or dimension could do it as you would be so far beyond that, even the explosion of the Big Bang would have no effect on you… so by essence, if you are immortal you must have the power over your own mortality - hence, you can end your immortality when ever you want.
Instant Travel
Being an immortal being by its very definition would have to give you the power of instant travel - want to travel one one “edge” of the universe to the other? It can be done within an instant as the laws of physics much less time do not hold you back.
Infinite YOU
Another interesting power you would have since there wouldn’t be any laws stopping it would be the power to create infinite Yous… in an instant you could populate the entire universe with YOUs or create random renditions… all with the knowledge that you posses, it would be like the current multi-tasking processors in computers but infinite in possibilities. Not only would you be able to travel instantly anywhere you want but also enjoy the individual experiences of “clones” all at the same time!
Immortality - would you want it?
As for me, if it was an option who ever was giving me this power wouldn’t have to ask me twice. I think it would be fun for a while but once everything is known and experienced - I would instantly vaporize myself as any reason for being would no longer have any value.
The Bottom Line
There is so much out there beyond our meager existence, embrace the options as unlike God, we have the infinite power of mortality
Life has no beginning nor any end… it just is. So appreciate the gift you have been given!
In a world bent on being better then our fellow human being, I hope to put somethings into perspective for you and make you think more deeply about yourself.
What are we?
As humans – as with any and every other “living” organism on this moist rock we call Earth – we are all made from the same base components. Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen – the amount and relationships between these three fundamental elements is what differentiates species, races… you name it… in fact, if you look at the ashes from an animal vs the ashes from a plant, using only our human senses, there is no way you could tell the difference.
So to answer my own question, we are nothing special, we are simply living organisms no higher or lower then any other form of life on this planet. A bacteria has just as much “right” to life as we do.
Who are we?
Unlike 99.999% of the other living organisms on this planet, we seem to have developed self-consciousness, meaning we are aware of ourselves. This seems to be a trait shared between most mammals of which we are one of. Does a fish realize that it is alive? If I re-incarnate as a goldfish, I sure hope not!
The “person” we are is essentially the person we project ourselves to be, no more and certainly no less. Our projection is the reality that others perceive us to have. Need proof? Go to any shopping mall dressed up vs dressed down – you will notice an immediate difference in how you are perceived.
Why are we?
This is the biggest question that we will never be able to answer. It is my belief that we are no more then a collection of incredibly random events… that could have just as easily gone the other way. The consequences of us “being” vs not “being” are indifferent in the grand scheme of things… we are simply the embodiment of one universe realizing its own existence.
So what is the purpose of life?
I believe life has absolutely no purpose, no reason for being, it’s simply chance. There is no love or hate in the universe, simply indifference. Our existence is dictated by events completely out of our control and the universe will neither miss our extinction nor pat us on the back if we discover the secrets of immortality.
Wow… that’s depressing!
Actually, my reason for writing this is to give you the power to realize that you have absolutely NOTHING to loose trying to achieve your goals in this life. You have and will only ever have ONE LIFE… make the most of it. Whether you die tomorrow or 100 years from now, I hope you realize that there is absolutely no difference either way… everything you have done with your life will be forgotten within a few generations and life will move on without you.
I find nothing depressing about facing reality, what I would find depressing is hoping for something that doesn’t exist and realize I have wasted my life doing things that got me no more ahead then behind. I guess either way, there is no difference anyhow
The Bottom Line
The universe doesn’t care whether it contains life or not – so dedicate your life towards making a mark big enough to make it care!
If there ever was an afterlife or a God, this would be its form… absolutely beautiful! Maybe I fell off the wrong side of the fence when I was a kid but I tend to have some very pointed thoughts about God, the Afterlife and a few points in between. I cannot even consider myself spiritual, when I tell others my thoughts, it is so scary to them that they prefer to think of something else. I have great respect for religion as I stated before, when not distorted to serve an “evil” purpose - it provides solace and hope to those who have neither.
Do I believe in GOD?
Nope… it is my personal belief that man created God (s) in order to escape our mortality, look though any history book and you will see God (s) of all kinds, forms and flavors coming into existence then being forgotten with time. Knowing there is NO purpose to your life, no destiny and worst off, no reason other then absolute chance that you are where you are now is crazy - but that is what I believe.
Here are my personal top 5 reasons why God cannot exist:
1)we are a fluke: the human race is a byproduct of evolution (take a big gulp) - if the dinosaurs didn’t become extinct, humans never would have come into being… “humans” are only a few hundred thousand year old by the way… a blink in geological time. If there was a God, why bother with dinosaurs or 5 mass extinction periods on this planet - why not just jump to the chase and create us off the bat?
2)we live in a lifeless universe(s): think about it, you are God and you decide to create a universe to house your “people”, why bother creating a universe with up to 9 dimensions, trillions of light years in size, black holes and only use one infinitesimal small spot of it to house them? What is the point of doing all this extra work to simply hold rock, gas and radiation? Why not populate and experiment all over the universe with different forms of life instead of one spec and ignoring the rest?
3)The universe has a beginning and an end: the Big Bang theory shows that the universe we reside within has a definite beginning and thus an end over a timescale that is mind boggling (figure hundreds of billions of years). So if there was God, where where you before and where will you be after our universe ends? More to the point, why create such enormous time scales for a species whose existence will probably last but a fraction of a millisecond in cosmic time?
4)If God is all knowing and the master designer of everything within our lives, from choices we make to our birth order, why bother creating us in the first place? I get annoyed at watching the same movie more then once, it gets boring when you already know the outcomes of everything (past, present and future)… you would think an omni powerful being would quickly bore from watching mundane repeats day in and day out. Face it, most of our lives are quite remedial.
5)If there are no humans on earth, can a God still exist?
Do I believe in an afterlife?
If I don’t believe in God, then I believe any thoughts of an afterlife also quickly fade along with any hint of spirituality. When we die, I believe we simply go into oblivion. Put another way, any memory of our own existence in any shape is gone forever. Do you remember where you where before you where born? That is exactly where you are going back to.
Here are my personal top 5 reasons why an afterlife cannot exist:
1)the difference between us with our thinking brain and an insect is 0, they do not think (at least we don’t think they do) but they are made up of the same stuff that holds us together. So if humans are blessed with an afterlife, so should EVERY living thing on this earth (or universes for that matter) by extension as well, from bacteria that live only a few minutes to trees that stand for thousands of years. If you are a single celled organism, what is the purpose of an afterlife that is beyond your reasoning or comprehension?
2)Ghosts, I pray every night that I am in bed in the dark that a ghost come visit me - I have yet to see one or even a hint of anything. Ghosts stories are scary, but realistically if I was dead I would visit my relatives all the time to tell them about myself so I wouldn’t be forgotten or to help them out. A ghost or apparition of any type would make me a believer 100% and force me into believing in a lot of stuff I don’t (including the possibility of a God)
3)our universe has a beginning and an end, so where would you go after the universe ends, an even deeper question is where the hell where you before your species (or universe) even came into existence?
4)if life is so perfect after we die, what is the point of living? Why would anybody in their right mind ever decide to leave absolute paradise (full of meaning, pleasure, purpose, riches etc) to come to this screwed up planet is beyond me
5)everything we are, characteristics, memories, feelings are all housed within our brain which is basically a lump of fat. When we die, that lump of fat liquefies along with who we once where. An interesting thing my dad told me is that one way around this fact is to believe in a 4th dimension, think of our brain like a computer hooked up to the Internet - data is uploaded and downloaded but our very essence isn’t in our brain but in another dimension.
You have got to seek help, you have got to be depressed!
No, I am not depressed in the slightest. Quite the opposite, I feel an incredible sense of power and freedom knowing essentially anything I do during my life has really no meaning in the grand scheme of things. I believe I only have 1 life to live. Why did I build myfoodcount.com and legendarylife.com among many other systems to help others, because it gives me pleasure. I am trying to live my life without any worries (no I am not wealthy), cultural taboos, perceived emotion or any other binds 99.99% of people in our society live within. Imagine being able to go through life without any pressure other then what comes from within… this is my ultimate goal. Maybe to those too busy going through life instead of living their life may think I am insane - so be it… but I know I am perfectly sane
I read a long time ago that being powerful is not only believing in yourself but being able to let go of yourself. If I do nothing more in my one and only life then to try to make my personal mortal journey a fun and legendary one, I die with a big smile on my face.
Besides, there is nothing I can do about my mortality so I might as well enjoy it while I am capable. Life is an incredible gift, might as well make it legendary!
What do I believe in then?
I believe that everything within the universe, across all their dimensions are really all connected to 1 point, this isn’t as crazy as it seams, consider that before the Big Bang, all the matter and energy within our entire universe(s) where contained within an area smaller then an atom. Theoretical physics, as incredibly interesting as it is, proves to me that we are still living within that one small area, completely interconnected, yes, far larger yet still infinitely small. Consider this, the elements that make up concrete, water and even stars is the exact same elements that make up animals, that includes us. There is NO difference. None! Taken a little further, the energy within a strand of your hair may have once belonged to large tree, or even the comet that lead to the mass extinction of dinosaurs. Remember, energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only changed of form (First Law of Thermodynamics).
I do not remember the name of this theory but it goes like this (please send me the name if you know it). No matter where you go in the universe, there is a (+) and (-) charged ions and they are always in perfect balance, if a positively charged ion becomes negative, immediately another in our universe becomes positive instantaneously. Einstein taught us that the speed of light is the fastest speed anything can move within our universe using our current understanding of the fundamental laws of physics. Here is where it gets interesting.
Lets say there is only two ions in the universe, I give you a positively charged one and I keep the negatively charged one, we both travel at the speed of light for billions of years until we are both at the opposite farthest reaches of our universe. If I change my ion from a negative charge to a positive one, you, being billions upon billions of light years away will see your ion change from negative to positive in an instant. There are only two possible solutions to this, either we are all interconnected or there is something faster then the speed of light (which is impossible).
The Bottom Line
I deeply wish that there was a God and an afterlife, but it simply makes no logical sense to me. Believing in something out of fear or blindly is no better in my opinion. Hmmmm… our perception of our own existence only provides more questions then it answers.
Today, I have no doubt whatsoever that there is an afterlife and that I am part of it and that you are part of it- willing or not. Over the last thirty years, I have read over five hundred serious books written by medical doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, researchers, gurus, mediums, etc- of all religions and no religion. I am still reading in this field today and every book still fascinates me. I have proven, at least to myself and beyond any doubt, that we are cut for a lot more than the physical world in which we live. I am totally satisfied in the fact that something beyon description awaits for us in other dimensions and that we will live for ever.
I could easily make a list of ten good reasons and more why I sincerely believe in life after life and Superior Being(s), but I think that the first reason only is proof enough of it. In the last decades, there has been an increase in NDEs (near death experiences). Fifty years ago, when people were dying, they were not coming back and since they could not tell us that they had visited another world, we had to rely on faith only to believe in the afterlife. In the last decade only, millions of people from all over the world and from all walks of life, died for 10, 20 even 30 minutes. However, the medical science is so advanced these days that these people were literally rescuscitated. They came back to tell us of the pleasant experiences they went through while they were being worked on by the medical staff and pronounced dead (some were even sent to the morgue where they surprised the coronor). They tell us that, somehow, their spirit or soul got out of their body and supervised the medical staff in the operating room, they visited the waiting room where their relatives were in distress, and then they rushed through a tunnel at a tremendous speed, they had this feeling of unconditionnal love and profond peace, they met with deseased loved ones (some who they had never met before or had never heard before because they were their great grandparents), they were in the presence of a Being of Light and had their life review, and then they were told that they had to go back to their body because their time had not come yet, they had not accomplished their mission yet. And at this very moment, they were literally thrown back in their body, feeling the pain and discomfort of their accident.
If these NDE were experienced by only a few people, it would be very easy to discard them as mere drug reactions and hallucinations. However, millions of people from all walks of life, from all professions, from all ages, from all races, from all over the world, from all religions (many with no religion and self professed atheists),and so on- cannot be wrong and be hallucinating. They all lived common experiences : they went through a tunnel at the speed of light, they met and talked with their deceased relatives, they visited another world beautiful beyond description in other dimensions, they were in the presence of a Being of Light and had their life review, they experienced peace and love like they never had before. I know all these common experiences that are lived after physical death because I read about them on numerous occasion. However, most of those who had NDE experiences did not read these books or had never heard about these experiences before. So, how could they tell us about them?
Many medical doctors nowadays accept the fact that NDEs are real and that their patients are not imagining things or hallucinating when they tell about the new world they have visited before they were revived. I am convinced now that we are spiritual beings who decided, of our own free will, to come to this world in order to fulfill a mission for our spiritual growth. When our mission will be accomplished, thank God, we will go back where we come from and where we belong- in this magnificient world that is described so often by people having near death experiences! Is it possible that our minuscule brains are too limited to even think of other dimensions above our tridimensionnal world and the fourth dimension which is time? Do not let this be the final virdict on the existence of other possibilities than our own. In order to consider these possibilities, we have to OPEN OUR MIND to OPEN NEW WORDS! For the non believers, I would suggest that you read a few serious books on NDEs if these are the only ones you will read on this topic and then- and only then- after you have sincerely open your mind and tackle some of your doubts, you should be more capable to decide if there is an afterlife. You would then be able to pat yourself on the shoulder and say that, in all truth, I have done my homeworks and I rest my case!
Here are a few good books to start with:
MORSE, Melvin. Closer to the Light.
EADLE, Betty J. Embraced by the Light.
BRINKLEY, Dannion. Saved by the Light.
PRAAGH, James Van. Reaching to Heaven.
My ultimate goal behind all this research I do for myfoodcount.com is seeing 2100, suffice it to say, I always look both sides of the road before crossing it. There are many theories behind what causes aging, but it’s most likely a combination of free radicals damaging our cells DNA, environmental degradation, UVA/UVB rays from the sun and “wear & tear.
All roads lead to Olderville
No matter the cause, it cannot be stopped nor reversed with current technologies. Let me repeat, aging CANNOT be stopped nor reversed. “Anti-Aging” products and pharmaceutical, either speed up natural processes or act as a masking agent. Sure, you may look or feel younger but I am sorry to say, all the roads lead to Olderville.
I don’t loose hope though, thankfully the baby boom generation ahead of me is spending billions of dollars on research and development regarding aging. This most likely won’t lead to the fountain of youth but will lead to medical breakthroughs that will allow my old wrinkled body be in better shape with an improved lifestyle - I will be sure not to throw away my hover-chair just incase
Grow old gracefully? No Way!
This is the message being beamed to baby boomers around the world, give me $$$ and I will make you “appear” younger. You need to face the reality that sooner or later you will look like your grandparents. There is also nothing “fun” about aging, who wants to end up with no hair on their head and more wrinkles on their body then their favorite shirt? But after anger and resentment comes acceptance- we all have to deal with our own mortality - rest assured that you are not alone.
You have the power to slow down aging
The good news is that the aging process can be slowed down. Anybody can do it and it won’t cost you a thing! Although you are never too old to make lifestyle changes, remember that the process of aging is cumulative, the sooner you start (now is a fantastic time), the more dramatic the effect later in life.
Limit sun exposure
Studies have shown UVA and UVB rays from the sun cause cell damage, leading to wrinkles, spots and possibly skin cancer. Don’t avoid the sun but don’t worship it either. Stay out of the sun during peak output (usually between 10am and 4pm). Keep in mind that the fairer your skin, the more susceptible you are to the suns damaging rays.
Clean up your diet
A fresh, high fiber diet free of processed foods will not put far less stress on your internal organs but make you feel far better and save you a lot of money. A simple rule of thumb is if you have to think about what an ingredient is - don’t buy it. Treat your body like a temple, not a trash can.
Relax
Stress has been shown in study after study to speed up the aging process, both mental and physical. Take a deep breath, you are not alone with what ever problem you may have.
Exercise
Taking a walk is nice, but weight training is where it’s at. A strong body allows your immune system to become more efficient and effective, helping to fight disease. Exercise also improves blood circulation, chemical reactions and helps fight calcium & muscle wasting in older age.
Hydration
You want to know the secret as to why 99.9% of the products you buy actually minimize the appearance of wrinkles? Hydration. Drop the sugar cocktails and drink the really good stuff- Water! Your body will naturally redistribute it to where it is needed and don’t forget, your body needs abundant water intake to keep it running efficiently.
Enjoy yourself
A positive attitude and outlook on life will do wonders for your energy and mental health. If you don’t like your job, quit. If you want to go on a vacation, leave- if you are sick of a relationship you are in, divorce! Life is way too short to spend any of it in a miserable state.
The Bottom Line
Now, you may say- “I use XYZ product- ” or “that is way too easy”, for the first question read the second paragraph again, for the second - I am happy you find it so easy- so do it!
Tragedy can take on many forms, but I can’t think of one that comes closer than loosing a relative who struggled through life due to a series of bad decisions. We are all born with the same opportunity - to reach our full potential. Some people can clearly see the road ahead of them while others need a map with directions but thankfully, most of us do eventually find our passion for life.
Dominique passes away
Over the holidays, on the morning of December 25th 2005 - my younger sister died far too young due to a crack cocaine (we suspect an overdose but need to wait 3 months for the toxicology report for confirmation). She had no children and will be remembered by my parents, her older sister and me. Although she had issues later in life, she was finally facing up to them, which was making me very proud to be called her brother but the hands of fate had other plans - relapsing after a detox program proved fatal for her. She killed herself and she is the only one to blame. I wonder if she would have known that it was her last day if she would have made a better decision, drugs tend to replace rational thinking. I told my mom upon first hearing of this horrible news that “when it’s your time to go, there is no bargaining to be made, the decision is final whether you agree with it or not”.
Addictions are everywhere
There are two ways to kill yourself when you have an addiction. Slowly is how many people cowardly prefer to do it, this includes nicotine/opiates, food and alcohol. Society seems to accept this and I have yet to find a valid reason for it beyond death profiteering. The other way is one quick action but regardless, abuse of a substance no matter how benign “you” may think they are not only hurts yourself but most importantly those around you. Seek help before you become a statistic.
Make a difference before time runs out
I often say that the only thing that sucks about life is that it must end, I dedicate my ongoing efforts here at myfoodcount.com to the loving memory of my sister, Dominique Cantin. I will honor her memory of who she was before drugs took over her life by producing enough change in this world for the both of us.
If anybody reading this has an addiction or knows somebody who is going through it, please feel free to send/print/distribute this “issue of the week” with a link to myfoodcount.com. I want to develop a resource shortly for people to find help when they are ready. I hope I can play a role in preventing more senseless tragedies like the one I experienced over the holidays. I hope my sisters death will tell them it can happen to anybody no matter where you are from, type of substance used or invincible you may feel.
The Bottom Line
Face up to your problems no matter how small you think they are before time runs out on you. You only have one life, appreciate it for the gift that it is - use it to make a positive difference in this world!
For a long time, since I was a kid, I always saw things differently then anybody else around me. While my friends where out partying, getting jobs and getting themselves into the predictable mold that society expects from its citizens, I was tending my internal gardens. For instance, while my friends where out partying, I was too busy teaching myself 3D animation, getting a commercial pilot license, achieving a black belt in Karate- even receiving my open water certificate in scuba diving among many other things. I didn’t understand why I was this way, my parents where always there for me and supported me but I never had any desire for an ordinary 9-5 life that my friends so wanted.
I am almost 30 years old, had some amazing times in my life and some very tough ones so far - all of which makes me who I am today. I am very proud of myself but I never could put into words the internal drive I have felt since I was a child. I don’t suffer from perfectionism- but a constant drive to exceed yesterdays potential beyond all odds. The harder the goal, the more my thirst to achieve and conquer it is.
On the 18th of November I watched a movie that began with the following saying:
“The meaning of life is not simply to exist. It is to move ahead. To go up. To achieve. To conquer.”
For the first time in my life, I am able to put into words what I have been feeling for as long as I can remember. The quote is from Arnold Schwarzenegger back in 1977 from “See Arnold Run”, I now feel in very good company.
From “life insurance” to writing your own will - we all have to deal with death either by choice or circumstance. No matter what you have done in your life, who you know or how much wealth you have accumulated, there is absolutely nothing that can be done about when it will all end. Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that may lead to your demise such as forgetting to turn off the stove before going to bed or a number of unrelated events that all work together - either way, what is meant to happen will happen. Is there light at the end of the tunnel - nobody knows but one thing for sure, as we all have a limited amount of time on this earth to enjoy what life has to offer to us. We all owe it to ourselves to enjoy every second of our life and get the most out of it.
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