tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30938201735936587232024-03-06T19:35:06.269-08:00Blogging for Peace on EarthSeeking to glorify God through science and bring some of the joy and peace of His kingdom into our world
John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-17757303721530641772023-07-10T13:59:00.000-07:002023-07-10T13:59:48.424-07:00Lessons from Marx and Lenin<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Karl_Marx.jpg/937px-Karl_Marx.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Karl_Marx.jpg/937px-Karl_Marx.jpg" width="292" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The </span><a href="http://blog%20a%20lesson%20from%20the%20communist%20manifesto/"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Communist Manifesto</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> by Karl Marx, edited by Friedrich
Engels, was published in English in 1888. The original document appeared in
1848 and went through a number of editions and translations. It inspired the Russian
Revolution and attacked the rampant free-trade world economy which had already
emerged, while the ruling class which grew wealthy through it was labelled the bourgeoisie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Marx, a Jewish intellectual, was writing at a time of rapid
de-Christianization of Germany by German Idealism, the Hegelian Dialectic and Friedrich
Nietzsche, a nihilistic philosopher who denied and was hostile to the very values emanating
from Jesus Christ and led many Germans to conclude that strength of will was all that mattered. The forces at work in the 19<sup>th</sup> century set the
scene for both Nazi and Communistic totalitarianism and probably set off the tragic events leading to World Wars I and II.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To quote, Marx considered that</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><i> the history of all hitherto
existing societies is the history of class struggles...freeman and slave,
patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild master and journeyman, in a word
the oppressor and the oppressed.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Each time the fight ended either in a
re-constitution of society or in the common ruin of the warring classes. During
the late nineteenth century, largely as a result of industrialization and
global free trade, the opposing sections of society were the bourgeoisie (the
oppressor) and the proletariat (the oppressed), and he maintained that the time
was ripe for a new struggle that would lead to a new social order: communism.
The proletariat would be victorious, religion would be exterminated and all
would live in peace and harmony, a brotherhood of man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>The Manifesto’s attack on the bourgeoisie reads like that of
many a modern columnist on the global capitalist system of today, which again
is based largely on free international trade, with little regard for the social
costs of production moving according to market forces, be these of labour or
goods or raw materials, and in which everything in life is reduced to a
commodity or assigned a monetary value. Even debt itself has been made a
commodity in the form of collateralised debt obligations and futures.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Christianity is attacked by Marx because it has allegedly colluded
with the ruling classes in subjugating and exploiting the lower classes for
monetary gain, while at the same time he implicitly recognises the reality of
the sacred and holy – e.g. in talking about money and the way everything in
life has been given a price he says </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">...all that is solid melts away, all that is holy is profaned</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet the means
he proposes for providing what he must have regarded as a more just state of affairs happens in a
material world with no spiritual dimension and God either does not exist or is
irrelevant, being replaced by man. Morality itself becomes meaningless other than as a set of man-made rules. It is impossible to declare anything morally wrong by any absolute standard if there is no holy source of morality. Yet deep down he
obviously believed in the notion of holiness without wondering where it came from or how
it was to be sustained when its source was ignored. 'Without God anything is permissible' (Dostoevsky). Those who killed 100+ million people for the sake of Mao Zedong</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Marx and Lenin were breaking sacred laws laid down for the benefit and flourishing of human beings. They also led to mass starvation in Stalinist Russia. It was all done for the good of humanity. Similarly with cruel and lethal medical experiments on pregnant mothers and disabled inmates of Nazi concentration camps, or even medical experiments in the UK, for example, in the wake of World War II. It was all done in the name of human flourishing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In attempting to sweep away all the church institutions,
which undoubtedly did sometimes depart radically from the teachings of Jesus
Christ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Marx</span> ignores the provenance of Christian
values, i.e. what happened during the life of Jesus and within a decade or so
of His Crucifixion: over 200 prophecies of the coming of Christ centuries in advance, the parables and commands of Jesus Christ recorded by His
contemporaries, the empty tomb, the widely reported Resurrection appearances, the supernatural nature of Christ's image embedded in the recently re-dated Shroud of Turin image, the vision of Saul, the first conversions of gentiles, the Pentecost, His miracles and those of the apostles and the persecution by the authorities. The Romanized institutionalized church
and its ramifications, which Marx despised, did not begin until almost three centuries later. Even then, with all its faults, you only have to take a look at the non-Christian world of the time to see the difference. There is also much archeological evidence and historical accounts by</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Josephus, a Jewish historian at the time of Christ, and other non-Christian contemporaries.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">After the failure of communism, which caused mass starvation under Stalin in the Ukrain (part of Russia) in the 1930s, a new kind of Marxism developed in Germany after the end of World War 2. It began in the Frankfurt Institute and attracted left wing intellectuals from around the world, and became known as the Frankfurt School, embodying such ideologies as critical race theory, queer theory and gender ideology. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6rk1mYiOAw">The Best 30-Minute Explanation of Marxism I Have Ever Heard - YouTube</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>Marx seems to be correct in seeing that every economic order
goes to a state of maximum efficiency while simultaneously sowing the seeds of
its own downfall. This probably applies to any system of organizing human
affairs, since nothing in life is static: circumstances change. Even the
societies which claimed to be working towards the communist ideal collapsed
from within. But he failed to realize that although a society may wish to
redistribute bread more fairly, it cannot live by bread alone. Reality is not a
machine., an economy and society with no soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well over 100</span><span style="font-size: large;"> million died in the
last century (more than in all previous history) because of this mistake, this departure from basic divine wisdom,
as human beings were systematically killed in the name of atheist values or the human gods which always fill the spiritual vacuum left behind when the real holy source of reality is ignored by society. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What Marx and his disciples failed to realise is that no human being or group
of humans can decide what is good by reason alone apart from God: there must be
humility, justice, love and truth, and these do not come from genetically expressed protein
molecules, which themselves ultimately originate from God, but from submission to our Creator made incarnate in humanity through the Christ. See also <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2011/07/1984-revisited-collective-post.html"><span style="color: red;">1984 revisited: collective postmodernism</span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>Today, like Marx, we decry the folly and greed of bankers
and borrowers. To the extent that a new system is needed perhaps it should lie
somewhere between the unfettered market-based one of today and a Christian socialism, more internationalised in some respects, more localised in others. Or maybe something we cannot even envisage. Whatever
system emerges let’s not forget the lesson of history: every man, woman and
child should treat each other in accord with this command from our Saviour: ‘...<span style="color: red;">love
one another. As I have loved you, so you must love each other.</span>’ John 13:34. A command that must be held sacred in all the institutions of humankind as well as individuals. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In western society we are subconsciously aware of this command largely through habit. However, this awareness needs to be refreshed and kept alive by a nucleus of genuine, radical Christian believers. The Spirit needs to be consciously cultivated and encouraged throughout society in order to make it more like heaven on earth.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For this reason I believe that prayers and Christian symbols need to become part of public life. The values of the Sermon on the Mount are not likely to be adhered to rigorously but awareness of these through church going and the occasional media event can only be a good thing in re-establishing the trust and mutual respect needed for society to be viable at all. Recent problems with social media illustrate this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Returning to the Soviet experiment I recently came across a quotation from V.I.Lenin made when he was close to death, in 1924. He recognizes too late that scientific atheism is unable to bring about net social progress:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana";">I have deluded myself. Without doubt, it was necessary to free the oppressed masses. However, our methods resulted in other oppressions and gruesome massacres. You know I am deathly ill; I feel lost in an ocean of blood formed by countless victims. This was necessary to save our Russia, but it is too late to turn back. We would need ten Francis of Assisi</span></i><span face=""verdana" , "sans-serif"">.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: small;">As communism began to fail in Russia (e.g. millions of Ukrainians starved to death under Stalin in the 1930s) a ne form of co'munism was spawned by intellectuals in the west, starting with the Frankfurt School in Germany. This took various forms but they all involved creating victim classes exploited by oppressors. Terms such as 'woke', 'critical race theory', 'white oppression', 'gender ideology' and 'politically correct' began to invade the language in the western world. The idea was to break down western societies by creating divisions and categories divided into exploiters and vicitms. Ultimately, a new elite would take control.<br /></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today it looks as though Christianity is returning to its true foundation of infinite redeeming love generated by the Resurrection and flowing through the whole of creation, bringing about justice by restorative love rather then retribution. Franciscans are definitely in the ascendant and Christianity as a whole is spreading fast in the world as a whole and even beginning to revive among intellectuals in western countries corrupted by promiscuity, obsession with pride, desanctification of Holy Matrimony, identity politics, mass killing of unborn babies and a return to a loss of faith in truth itself. Hopefully it won't be too late to avert upheaval and collapse (End Times?) Perhaps a New Heaven and a New Earth will come sooner than most have expected, preceded by a Revival.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> John Sears</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> updated July 2023</o:p></span></div>
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</div>John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comApollo, PA 15613, USA40.5814546 -79.56643329999997140.5693956 -79.586603299999965 40.5935136 -79.546263299999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-48679427592884319862022-10-21T13:53:00.006-07:002022-11-28T13:44:20.389-08:00<p> Seven Themes of 2077 AD</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A fanatic attempts to sabotage the Global
Federation’s mission to blow up an
approaching asteroid on course to destroy the Earth, having decided the human
race deserves to die.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Terror attacks on civilians are prevented by the
Knights of Peace employing non-violent marshall arts and deception technology.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top: 12pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->£xplosives and weaponry world wide are targeted
for non-violent destruction using novel methods (e.g. explosives eating
bacteria).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A popular musician renounces atheism after an
epiphany and starts a new Christian monasticism which spreads over Earth and
then to Mars.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->‘Dominophiles’ seeking to persuade others to
commit violence are ‘impounded’ and
spiritually reformed over 6 months, then released whatever the outcome.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A love quadrangle develops between the 4 main characters and new social
structures based on biblical principles.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Removal of orbital debris using scoopships and
plastic waste in the ocean systematically removed using roboship.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">Gotham Books<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">November 2022<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><br /></p>John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-3437700437409450902021-03-18T12:53:00.000-07:002021-03-18T12:53:52.118-07:00Actions by Individuals to reduce global warming, water use & waste<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span style="background-color: #01ffff;">Project </span></o:p><b><span style="background-color: #01ffff; color: red;">AIRGLOW</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;"> <span style="color: red;"><b> Actions
by Individuals to Reduce GLObal Warming, water use and waste</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 99.25pt;"><o:p style="background-color: #01ffff;"></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;">Don’t overdo it or make life tedious. If we all do a good
proportion of these things the global problems of waste disposal , carbon
emissions and water shortage would diminish without the necessity of drastic state
enforced measures, which could do more harm than good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;"><b>MMT </b>= mining, manufacturing and transport, <i>all of which
consume energy and emit pollutants such as CO2. </i>Most new products entail all three.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #01ffff;">NB: The less water you use the less pumping power is
expended getting it to your home</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Showers: shorter, less frequent, cooler, manual not power
>>> </b>Saves on water & load on national grid. Buy & fit more
efficient shower? NB this would mean disposal of old one & MMT for the new
one<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Showers: fewer installations in the home <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>>>> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Less MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Baths: fewer, cooler, shallower. Use dirty water for
garden<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>>>> </b>Saves on water
& load on national grid<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Washing machine: avoid buying a new one >>><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>No MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Washing machine:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>lower temperature, less rinsing >>> </b>Less electricity &
water. Longer lifetime of machine means lower MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Avoid having a spin drier at all<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>>>> </b>No<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MMT. No waste. No electricity<b>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Avoid using spin drier so frequently </b>>>> Less
electricity needed<b>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Central heating: set lower and to manual >>> </b>Less
electricity or gas<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Cooking: lower temperature, shorter cooking time >>><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Less electricity or gas<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Lighting only when needed >>> </b>Less
electricity<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Avoid using dish washer so much >>></b>Less
electricity, less water, longer lifetime, lower MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avoid buying dish
washer >>> </b>No MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Cook at lower temperature, for shorter periods, less
often >>> </b>Less gas & electricity. Cooker lasts longer, less
MMT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Lawn mower: avoid buying new one >>> </b>No MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Avoid buying a new vehicle where possible >>> </b>Less
waste disposal , less MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Buy smallest, lightest vehicle practicable >>> </b>Less
MMT, less waste disposal at end of life.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Walk instead of drive where practicable >>> </b>Less
emissions, longer life of vehicle means less MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Travel by taxi or public transport rather than private
car >>> </b>Avoids need to buy a vehicle or reduces environmental cost
of ownership<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Computers & mobile phones: keep as long as possible
>>> </b>Less waste disposal . Less MMT<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Clothes: wear longer, repair rather than dispose of >>>
</b>Less waste disposal. Less environmental cost of manufacturing new ones<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00; font-size: medium;"><b>Gardening: use power tools less, water garden sparingly >>>
</b>Less electricity & water used<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>House alterations: restrict to essential >>> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Less MMT, less electricity (e.g. for power tools)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">John Sears</p><p class="MsoNormal">cosmic.jo@gmail.com</p>John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-37482602443404475062020-06-05T14:12:00.000-07:002020-06-05T14:12:30.220-07:00Waste from the Western World<div class="MsoNormal">
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We are all aware of the huge amount of waste generated in the West but in our daily lives it is easy to forget this. In 2011 I came across some startling data in the seminal book <i>Natural Capitalism: the New Industrial Revolution</i> by Hawken, Lovins and Lovins (Rocky Mountain Institute, 1999), which I can thoroughly recommend.</div>
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The information below is for the USA but other developed countries need not feel sanctimonious! </div>
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The data will be an understatement because the world-wide industrial-cum-consumer engine will have grown a lot in the intervening 20 years, although some efficiency and recycling measures will have been taken.</div>
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On average the US citizen (1990s) generates 1 million pounds of waste per year. In the nation as a whole the annual wastage includes:</div>
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<ul>
<li>3.5 billion (3,500,000,000) pounds of landfilled carpet</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>3.3 trillion (3,300,000,000,000) pounds of carbon dioxide</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>19 billion pounds of polystyrene peanuts (I’ve no idea what these are but this is not a joke)</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>28 billion pounds of food discarded at home</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>710 billion pounds of hazardous industrial waste</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>3.7 trillion pounds of construction debris</li>
</ul>
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Add to this the waste generated abroad on behalf of US citizens and subtract the 2% of waste which is recycled (mainly paper, glass, plastic, aluminium and steel) and we get 250 trillion pounds of US resources transformed into nonproductive matter each year.</div>
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One can only quake at the thought of these being scaled up globally. A third world country typically produces less than 10% of these amounts per person, yet they all aspire to develop western-type economies, including China and India with a combined population of over 2.5 billion, which is 8x the US population. Since the above data was compiled China's GDP has grown to be roughly equal to that of the USA. India has also greatly increased its output of waste.<br />
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Can anything be done about it? Yes, but it needs a change of mindset to make a real impact and with it the whole economic system and infrastructure would need to be transformed. International trade, agriculture, manufacturing, service industry, energy production, transport and education will have to change, since these all generate waste either directly or indirectly. It i. s also linked to the global warming problem.<br />
<br />
The current coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the wastefulness of our way of life, especially in the West. Just a few months of reduced consumption and transport have made visible impacts on the environment, which is encouraging. New methods of recycling plastics are being talked about and put into practice. There is also a growing awareness that nature itself is able to heal some of the injury we have inflicted. We need a few leading nations to cooperate to make a big difference.<br />
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see also <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2011/07/story-of-drinks-can.html">Story of a canned drink</a></span></div>
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John</div>
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cosmik.jo@googlemail.com</div>
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John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-89135064994416180352020-03-24T05:44:00.001-07:002021-02-13T13:17:56.910-08:00Climate change checklist <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">My belief is that climate change is likely over the coming
decades, as it always has been, and that we should prepare for it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by taking measures to protect us from floods, droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes and prolonged heavy snow, in largely unpredictable locations. This is doubly important as the population grows and becomes concentrated in cities, which are more often than not either next to the sea or a lake or a river or an avalanche-prone mountain. International action in my view should take</span></span> the form of a globally resourced service using the latest technology to rescue victims of extreme events, providing them with new, attractive habitation, schools, colleges, leisure facilities, cultural resources and places of worship. Agriculture using the latest technology (e.g.AI driven bots to assist in planting an eco-friendly variety of crops) could be linked to the new community. There are endless possibilities.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">However, we need to </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">retain humility and recognize that effects known
only to the Creator could occur. Two major climate change periods since the beginning of civilisation (i.e. over the last 10,000 years) have occurred in the last 1,000 years (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Warm_Period">The Medieval Warm Period</a>, 950-1250 AD and the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age"> Little Ice Age</a>, 1300-1800), long before fossil fuel power stations. The biosphere, like the brain-body system, is orders of magnitude more complex and subtle than anything we can simulate or even imagine, so there is always room for the unexpected. The types of solution exemplified above should be given priority over </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">too many wind turbines and solar panels, which have their own ecological costs and</span></span> carbon footprints as well as causing socio-economic disruption. They have their place in particular locations (e.g. rooftops and remote areas) but the priority should be to keep the national grids secure and able to meet growing demand.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The list below is a reminder of the complexity of the problem of predicting climate change. Please contact me (John Sears) via</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">cosmik.jo@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Human activity</b>.
Carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning and methane from livestock farming are playing a role in tipping the global balance towards warming rather than the cooling we would expect according to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milankovitch_cycles">Milankovitch cycle</a> (see below). However, the extent to which carbon dioxide is a major cause is obscured by the observation (my understanding as a layman) that the records over geological time show that CO2 levels <i>lag behind</i> rather than precede mean temperature trends upward. It could be that as temperature rises due to other factors the CO2 held in sea water solution will be released, thus reinforcing the the upward trend in temperature. There is also a growing body of opinion among scientists that some of the IPCC reports are unrealistic owing to some climate change research following from a paper which, several decades ago,<br />
unintentionally cited incomplete tree ring data. It is also true that the grid of meteorological stations covers only a small proportion of the earth's surface.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Radiant energy output
of sun. </b>This has increased by around 25% since earth was formed, i.e.
over more than 4 billion years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (See Improbable Planet by Hugh Ross.) Remarkably, life was able to start, evolve and yield civilisation despite increases in luminosity. </span>Very
small variations occur over decades and centuries and bear some relationship to
the number of sunspots (which is related to solar activity). The Little Ice Age included a period of low sunspot activity, with no sunspots observed over 1650-1700, when the mean temperature was lowest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Milankovitch cycle. </b>The
amount of sunlight reaching the earth varies according to the changing shape of
the earth’s orbit (eccentricity), the tilt of the N-S axis and the precession
of this axis. The crucial factor appears to be the amount of sunlight falling
on the northern hemisphere in any one year as a result of these factors. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milankovitch_cycles">Milankovitch</a> (1970s, Serbia) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>showed that the coming and going of ice ages
over the last 600,000 years was due to these factors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there were no other factors we would
expect to be entering another ice age now, instead of a warm period.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heat from below the
crust. </b>The biosphere has more heat going into it than can be accounted for
by the sun. The difference is believed to be due to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>radioactive decay in the earth’s core. (See also Ocean Heat Sink below.) If this suddenly changed it could cause global warming or cooling.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b>Gravi</b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b>tati</b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b>onal and astronomical effects</b>. There are gravitational <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">influences on climate which <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">could<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> become large in cert<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ain situations (<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">chaos theory show<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">s that very small <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ev<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ents, like the</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> fluttering of a butterfly, c<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">an po<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">tent<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ially ha<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ve dr<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">amat<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ic effects, such as a st<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">orm on the other side of the world). The gravity exerted at the earth's surface var<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ies very slightly with time a<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">nd posit<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ion due to<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span>inhomogen<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">e<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ities</span> in</span> the <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">crust, mantle and core<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">. Even small changes in these factors could potentially set off <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">major changes not<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> allowed for by present climate mode<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ls. Miniscule<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> c</span>hanges in the <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">orbit</span> of the<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> moon and planets<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">w</span>ould have <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">huge effects </span>(<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">E</span>.g. If a large asteroid caused a perturba<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">tion in the sun-moon system. Jupiter<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">'s motion is also crucial to the st<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ability of <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Earth's orbit</span></span></span>). There is also some evidence of effects at solar system and galactic level - this is being researched.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Atmospheric
composition. </b>The importance of this arises from the way it affects the
absorption and reflection of radiation coming in from the sun or being
reflected back upwards from the earth’s surface. Carbon dioxide is responsible for the greenhouse effect – it acts like the glass in a greenhouse
to trap in heat. Methane is also a greenhouse gas, much more powerful than CO2
but also much less prevalent and much shorter lived. The man cause of global heating is water vapour and clouds also play a major, but uncertain role.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>While alive these take in carbon dioxide
from the air, thereby cooling it through the reduced greenhouse effect. But as
they decay they give it out again, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but
over a longer period. Large areas of trees affect the climate not only in this
way but also by their moistening effect on the air. The Amazon rain forest appears to ha<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ve a piva<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">tol role in det<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ermin<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ing the global <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">climate.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b>Silicates,</b> which are the main constituent of the earth's land mass, absorb CO2 when made wet by precipitation. This has been a major factor during the history of life oin earth.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Animals . </b>The
main effect of these is due to the methane from <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their defecated waste and rotting carcasses. Methane
produced in this way is more of a problem than automobile greenhouse emissions
as livestock herds grow in response to the westernization of diets in China,
India etc. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Microscopic life. </b>Bacteria
and spores living in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>land, sea and air sometimes
affect rainfall. E.g. spores in the ocean can be whisked up into the atmosphere
by strong winds and dispersed. Here they act as condensation nuclei for the
formation of the water drops and thence clouds. I<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">nsects <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">can <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">reduce</span> the balance of combustible debris in a forest and <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">this <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">in turn means fewer and smaller fore<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">s<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">t fires<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> emitting <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">CO2.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Clouds. </b>The type
of cloud, its thickness and its coverage affect the amount of sunlight striking the earth’s
surface and the % of radiation reflected back to its surface instead of
radiated away into space. These factors have been and still are a problem in creating
climate models.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Aerosol pollution.</b> Particles in the atmosphere from both natural and artificial sources can have a marked effect on the cooling or warming of the atmosphere. This can either be direct, by absorbing or reflecting incoming solar energy, or indirect by altering the type and distribution of clouds. The size, shape and colour of the particles affect the way they reflect, scatter or absorb radiant energy, Major sources of aerosols include volcanoes, forest fires, aircraft and large cities. Black and brown soot from the recent forest fires, especially in the arctic regions, can cause large mainly reflective areas (e.g. snow) to absorb instead of reflect solar heat. See this <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/SmokeClouds/smoke_clouds2.php">NASA source</a> and a video of<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/26/unprecedented-more-than-100-wildfires-burning-in-the-arctic-in-worst-ever-season"> forest fires in the northern hemisphere (2019).</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Atmospheric
convection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Heat from the ground boils
up the air and the convection currents (i.e. wind) produced distribute warm air
over the planet and also affect the cloud type, amount and global distribution.
This in turn affects temperature, rain and snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hurricanes, tornadoes, gales and the jet
stream are all driven by atmospheric convection.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ocean currents. </b>The
bulk of the heat in the biosphere which we inhabit is stored in the ocean and
it is the global currents in the sea (e.g. the Gulf<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stream) which determine the global patterns
of temperature in the air over the sea. Changes in these could dramatically affect the climate in some regions. E.g. Europe and the UK would be dramatically cooled if the Gulf Stream is stopped by sea salinity changes due to melt water from the arctic. The recent discovery of methane emissions in the Russian arctic could have a big effect on the global thermohaline circulation (</span></span><a href="https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/10/07/scientists-discover-record-methane-emission-in-the-russian-arctic-a67621#:~:text=Scientists%20Discover%20Record%20Methane%20Emission%20in%20the%20Russian,gas%20bubbling%20through%20the%20seawater.%20Oct.%207%2C%202019">Scientists Discover Record Methane Emission in the Russian Arctic - The Moscow Times</a>). <br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Ocean heat sink</b>. As the net amount of heat input to the planet from the sun and from the earth's core (the latter being due to the decay of radioactive isotopes, e.g. U and Th) changes some is absorbed by the atmosphere and some by the oceans and the relative magnitude of each type of absorption is not clear, making it difficult to predict the nature of the resultant climate change.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Methane and water vapour. </b> As the climate warms it releases large bubbles of
methane trapped in frozen deposits under the ocean or in tundra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This causes further warming. It is 21x as powerful as carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas and is produced by a certain kind of bacteria. It is much shorter lived than CO2, i.e. just over 10 years as opposed to over 200. Water vapour from aircraft would have a major warming influence if it accumulated in the troposphere due to increased air traffic.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Polar ice caps</b>.
Both Arctic and Antarctic<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ice sheets
reflect large amounts of radiant heat from the sun back into space. Small reductions in
area cause significant increases in the amount of heat absorbed from the solar
heat reaching the earth’s surface. Similarly, the greater the ice coverage <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the more incident radiant heat will be
reflected.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Snow cover</b>. As with
snow in the polar regions the snow settled on large mountain ranges like the
Himalayas and the Alps affects the percentage of solar radiation reflected or absorbed
by the earth’s surface. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The recent melting of arctic ocean ice sheets is causing large volumes of moisture to accumulate in the atmosphere which could potentially come down as snow, forming thick long lasting coverings over N America and Russia in the winter. If these don't melt in the summer we could even be on track for the next Ice Age. The time scale is, as usual, uncertain but could be much shorter than previously thought - a hundred years or less, rather than thousands.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Melting glaciers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>When a glacier melts it not only<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> leads to possible </span>flooding but reduces the area of the planet
which reflects incident sunlight away from the surface, i.e. the ground retains
incident solar energy instead of reflecting it <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>back into space. When melt water flows into
the sea it dilutes the concentration of salt in the seawater and this has a
major effect on ocean currents which in turn affects the climate. (The more
salt the denser the water.) Warm ocean currents melting Antarctic glaciers from underneath could cause serious changes to sea level globally.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Sea ice. </b>As with glaciers and snow, melting of sea ice (icebergs) reduces the % of sunlight reflected back into space. It also reduces the salinity and hence density of seawater, which affects ocean currents which themselves affect the distribution of heat in the oceans. However, melting icebergs make no difference to sea levels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Volcanoes. </b>Eruptions
from these inject huge amounts of sulphur dioxide into the air and, like carbon
dioxide and methane, this produces a greenhouse effect. The ash and dust from eruptions
also affects cloud formation and directly blots out sunlight.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Carbon dioxide absorption by weathering of rocks. </b>About 1 billion tons per annum of atmospheric carbon dioxide is absorbed by weathering of silicate rocks. This compares to 30 billion tons emitted by civilisation. Such absorption is associated with the plate tectonic cycle which has been important in keeping air temperature constant over hundreds of millions of years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Carbon dioxide historical perspective</b>. The current CO2 concentration is 400 ppm, close to a historical low. It was about 760 ppm</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #004000; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #004000;">some 34 million years ago, when the Antarctic ice sheet started to take its present form (Eocene - Oligocene extinction event). It even appears to have reached 6,000 ppm around 500 million years ago. (NB If it fell much below about 150 ppm plant life could not be supported.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><b>Carbon dioxide absorption where ice has melted. </b>Land and sea exposed by retreating ice is likely to be recolonized by plants and plankton which absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. The surface areas involved are large and this could be a major factor in offsetting the heating effect of the reduced albedo. Conceivably it could even cause global warming to come to a halt or even reverse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Meteor <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>impacts</b>. Hits by large meteors can have
global repercussions including climate change. If a large enough object hit the
earth it would of course cause a mass extinction event, like the one which
wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cosmic rays.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>can also affect cloud formation , since the particles which make up
cosmic rays can cause nucleation of water drops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There does seem to be some link between them
and average temperature/rainfall.</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">There are already more than 65 million displaced persons worldwide and it is my belief that the only way to rescue, resettle and offer hope to these people is to set up an <i>international rescue operation</i>. With the technology available today and inspired leadership it should be possible to do this. This approach would, in my view, be much superior to the socio-economic disruption in both poor and rich nations throughout the world caused by seeking the kinds of carbon emission reductions being proposed by green extremists - measures not justified by the large uncertainty that carbon is the chief problem.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
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John Sears<br />
author </div>
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<i> 2077: Knights of Peace</i></div>
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Reach me at</div>
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cosmik.jo@gmail.com</div>
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<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/JohnSears2077">Twitter account</a><br />
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John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-59585997975409036932020-03-12T07:26:00.004-07:002020-06-02T13:02:54.606-07:00World view changes: 1920 vs 2020<br />
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<b>WORLD VIEW CHANGES 1920 vs 2020</b></div>
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<b>Concept</b></div>
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<b>1920</b></div>
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<b>2020</b></div>
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Atoms & molecules</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Growing awareness of granularity of matter</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Quantitative models</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bohr, Heisenberg, Schrodinger </div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Elementary particles</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Discovery of protons, neutrons, <span> </span>electrons, bosons, quarks etc.</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Electromagnetic forces</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Maxwell’s equations, radio waves, X rays,<br />
gamma rays soon</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Radar. Attempts to unify with nuclear/gravitational force</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Nuclear forces, strong and weak</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Structure of nucleus; fission & fusion; H bomb & atomic bomb</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gravitation</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Newtonian model</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Einsteins’ curved space-time model</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Special & general relativity</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Einstein formulates both by 1915</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
General awareness; public misinterprets, relativism.</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Quantum theory</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Non-duality, superposition of quantum states, entanglement</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Big Bang cosmology</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Lemaitre suggested. Steady state theory was a rival.</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Original idea confirmed by observations</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cosmic fine tuning for life in the universe</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Accepted & calculated to dozens of decimal places</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cosmic choreography for life on earth</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Progressively revealed & reluctantly accepted</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Geophysical<span> </span>choreography for civilisation on earth</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Progressively revealed.</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
.</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Goedel’s theorem on limits of logic in determining truth</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Used by computer science</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Viruses</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Inferred but not seen</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Visible as a living organism with structure & intelligence</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bacteria</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Observed since 1676</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
ditto</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cells</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Thought to be bobs of jelly</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
ditto</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
DNA</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Discovered (1889) but role not known</div>
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Role in genetics/epigenetics still being revealed</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Genetics and epigenetics</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Simple hereditary rules emerging<span> </span>(Mendel etc.)</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Increasingly sophisticated. Epigenetics advancing rapidly</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Intelligence & purpose in nature</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
None, wholly deterministic & random processes</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unimaginably complex with quantum effects globally</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Living cell</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A blob of jelly observed</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
since 1676</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Intelligently organised like a factory</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Interconnected biosphere</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dismissed by most scientists as folk lore</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Widely accepted</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Emergence of Humanity</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Out of body experiences & near death experiences (NDEs)</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Rare, not believed by scientists</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Widely reported<span> </span>(c.5% of population)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Biblical archeology</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Very little</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Frequent new discoveries</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1pt solid black; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 164.35pt;" valign="top" width="219"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Turin shroud’s supernatural properties</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 150.85pt;" valign="top" width="201"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unknown except for reverse image in 1898 photo</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-top: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159.45pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Confirmed by peer reviewed science; not certified by Pope</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-39280048892371683052019-11-03T11:45:00.000-08:002020-04-19T11:33:18.739-07:00Natural technology: the Virussee also <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/#!/2012/04/natural-technology-bacterium.html"><span style="color: red;">Natural technology: the bacterium</span></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7Lh-lOV8C1q8SL6P3HY3CSvU-DR-8vm1Pq2Tjm8V1jaelXlTj6w" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7Lh-lOV8C1q8SL6P3HY3CSvU-DR-8vm1Pq2Tjm8V1jaelXlTj6w" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/virus.html">http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/virus.html</a><br />
a bacteriophage is typically 100 nm long (300 atoms)<br />
one of thousands of highly efficient designs of virus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A few years ago I followed parts of a </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/course?list=ECF03C29905EF9A6CA"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">YouTube course on virology by Professor Vincent Racaniello</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and was awestruck by one statistic on the first module.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you could take all
the bacteriophages <span style="font-size: small;">(a bacteriophage is a particular type of virus which destroys bacteria),</span> and
lay them end to end, how far do you think the line would reach? The Moon, the
edge of the solar system, the nearest star? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These distances are orders of magnitude too small. In
fact the line would be 200 million light years. This compares with about 2.5 million
to the nearest galaxy, Andromeda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are 10power30 (10 with 30 zeros) bacteriophage viruses
in the world’s water supplies. (I am not sure how he defines ‘water supply’ but
it doesn’t really matter in this context.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.phschool.com/science/science_news/articles/all_worlds_phage.html">Elsewhere</a></span> it has been pointed out that the bacteriophages in soil, water, air and living organisms play a crucial role in maintaining the natural, life-friendly balance of bacteria in the ecosphere. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also points out that there are believed to be 10power16 HIV viruses , of which only a
tiny proportion have been discovered and it is almost certain that there will
be an HIV virus resistant not only to every anti-viral drug we know about, but
to any anti-viral drug that could conceivably be developed in the future. (If such an omniresistant virus mutated into a form that can be transmitted by droplet infection, like the Black Death there would be no stopping it. If you are an expert in this area and think I am wrong please tell me: I am only a layman and would gladly modify this post and be pleased to be wrong.)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">More extraordinary than the number of viruses is their
biodiversity, reckoned by him to be greater than that of the bacterial, plant
and animal kingdoms put together. There were, for example, some 10,000 species
of virus found by drilling into a frigid Antarctic lake trapped below a thick
layer of ice (</span><a href="http://www.livescience.com/7934-frigid-antarctica-loaded-viruses.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Lake Limnopolar, 2009</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">). Many of these were previously unknown to
science. No one knows the total number of species in the viral kingdom but they
appear to fall into seven classes, each class being divided into orders,
families, genus’s and species, as is the case with the other kingdoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A virion (a single
particle of a virus) is only a fraction of the size of a bacterium and has no
on board machinery for producing copies of itself. Neither is it able to propel
itself – unlike the bacterium, which is much larger in size. It is, however, a
complex and ultra efficiently designed molecular machine able to penetrate the
membrane of a bacterial cell and use the machinery inside to its own end, to
either the detriment or the benefit of the host cell. The internal structure of
the cell, with its ribosome, nucleus and proteins, is utilised to make mRNA
(messenger ribonucleic acid) which it needs to produce a replica of itself. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Having used the host cell’s machinery to produce a replica
of itself the virion then has to have itself ejected from the bacterium. This in
itself is a remarkable feat. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Virions
also have the capacity to reassemble themselves if broken down into their constituent
proteins, which means the proteins have been designed with a unique molecular arrangement
out of an astronomically high range of possibilities. Only this one geometry
allows the virus to spontaneously assemble itself under the right conditions.
It reminds me of the fine tuning of the physical constants of the universe to enable
biological life to form.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">D<span style="font-size: medium;">iscoveries made over the last decade or so affirm giant viruses many times the size of previously known ones. This is largely because the method of discovering new viruses relied on the assumption that they were too small to be trapped by a filter. It now transpires that there are giant viruses comparable in size and genetic complexity to bacteria. They also appear to manufacture DNA, not just RNA and there is every reason to suppose they are equally numerous. Some biologists are now proposing that totally new domains of life must have predated the oldest forms of microscopic life discovered to date. The complexity and richness of life 4 billion years ago, only shortly (in geological nuance) after the formation of the earth, is even greater than had been assumed and adds to the depth of the mystery of what lies behind such intelligent systems. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> Because a virus has less goal-oriented complexity than a bacterium could it be that life started off as viruses? This seems logically impossible given that viruses depend on bacteria for their duplication. However, the bacterial, plant and animal kingdoms also depend on viruses. It has been proposed (speculated?), for instance, that speciation - the creation of new species from existing ones - is achieved by the incorporation by viruses of genetically coded beneficial traits from various species into the germ cell of a certain species to create a new species carrying these traits. The neo-Darwinian 'tree of life' model of evolution still included in text books is no longer given credence by the less dogma-driven evolutionary biologists and it would not surprise me if some mechanism based on what is known as horizontal gene transfer comes to be accepted by the majority, although even this would not explain the extraordinary purposeful irreducible complexity of the first life forms.</span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A virus has a genome consisting typically of just 15 genes. The newly discovered giant viruses range from the stargate <i>mimivirus</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> (1018 genes, 0.4 microns diameter) to the elongated balloon </span><span style="font-size: large;">shaped <i>pithovirus</i> (467 genes, 1.5 microns long). </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In </span><span style="font-size: large;">describing biomolecular phenomena biologists are forced to use
words like </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>think, decide, employ, ensure, exhibit, store, encode,
divide, assemble, manufacture, coordinate, orchestrate....</i> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These all imply that intelligent willful decisions are
somehow involved and strike fear into the heart of the neo-Darwinist. Many biologists warns their students to steer clear of such words wherever possible
and when forced to use them to hold in mind the (metaphysical) belief that
there can be no intelligence because these molecules don’t have brains, as
though molecules having brains would be the only way they could purposefully
move and that intelligence could be involved in the processes in some way which is beyond present science, at least - in fact, I would suggest, epistemologically out of the realms of investigation, which is OK for scientists but not for followers of scientism, a religion commonly adhered to by neo Darwinists.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He no doubt fears that believers in God will invoke a direct
hands-on intervention by the Lord every time an unexplained phenomena or event is
encountered. The professor need have no such fear from those who, like me,
suspect that intelligence was built into God’s creation at the instant the
universe was conceived in the original quantum event, along with space, time,
energy, matter and the laws of physics. Mind could have been <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>created as a fifth attribute of the universe.
This might help explain why there is so much order in the natural world, even where
brains are absent, although the laws of physics, mathematics and probability could well be enough. Moreover, since God is greater than the reality we live in I
can imagine mind serving as a timeless, spaceless agent by which God pervades the universe and interacts with humanity. Looking at the universe, noting its power, complexity and subtle order, it is not surprising that the eternal Creator can interact with every soul on the planet before and after being born into a body.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(The observed intelligently guided progressive evolution, with experimentation built in, right up to homo sapiens could, in my view, be envisaged as a something analogous to Michelangelo painting a masterpiece, but done by the Creator from outside of space-time. From our perspective, trapped in space-time, this looks like a progress of events in time and space.)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Once one accepts that the universe may have teleological
characteristics deliberately designed into it one can look for order in apparently random or unconnected
phenomena by constructing experimentally verifiable hypothesis. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To reject faith in the underlying order and
interconnectedness of all things is to risk the very future of science as much as
would a belief in a god or gods of the gaps. Some scientists put their faith in Chance, the new god of the gaps, and this could plunge us into a new dark age. Lord have mercy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">see also</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2012/11/intelligence-without-brains.html"><span style="color: red;">Intelligence without brains</span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=natural+technology+bacterium"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Natural technology: the bacterium </span></span></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br />
<br />
<o:p>reach me at <a href="mailto:cosmik.jo@gmail.com">cosmik.jo@gmail.com</a></o:p></div>
John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-82004278236336024862019-09-25T14:00:00.000-07:002019-09-25T14:00:07.429-07:002077:Knights of Peace. Summary of chapter 17: The Hermit Sage<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">17. The Hermit Sage</b>
p.285-301<br />
<br />
(<i>the summary is</i> <i>followed by the first few pages of text and a note from the author</i>)<br />
<br />
<br />
Sister Agatha is a Hermit Sage living in a hut overlooking
Codale Tarn in the English Lake District. This is no ordinary hut. It is constructed
and designed to make full use of virtual reality in bringing about the
spiritual Enlightenment of Knights, impounded dominophiles or anyone wishing to
be transformed spiritually in Christ. Father James visits her with Roscoe, his
fellow Knight Eric, Isla and her atheist brother Damien. Sister Agatha explains the Divine Light, how
it not only relates to the Holy Spirit but is a manifestation of it, revealing
how our different belief systems are necessary and complement each other,
stressing that it also heals, confers spiritual gifts and yields fruit. She
demonstrates and explains how the stages of Enlightenment take one on a
journey, like a pilgrim, to successively higher levels. She says that logic
divorced from or denying the divine source of reasoning, the Logos, behind our
universe and our own being, can be destructive. The actual programme of
Enlightenment goes on for months under the guidance of a Hermit Sage and there
is no coercion. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i>First few pages of chapter 17, the Hermit Sage...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
It was dawn as the five of
them walked up the damp stony path which was the final steep stretch towards
the hut overlooking Codale Tarn. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
A small stone building came into
view. A nun-like figure in dark grey stood in the entrance, welcoming and
composed in her demeanour. Her face had a few creases but shone with an
indefinable radiance. Was it the Holy Spirit, or the Divine Light that dwelled
in her? Roscoe decided they were more or less the same thing. There was no
mistaking those who were filled with it.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
On coming up to the hut Father
James introduced her as ‘Sister Agatha’. She was in fact a Sister of the
Numinous, a Hermit Sage of the Monastery of Divine Light. She welcomed each one
of them in turn with a friendly and dignified handshake then beckoned them in
to the small stone hut. It reminded Roscoe of the one he had built during his
trial as part of the entry test to the Knights of Peace, though this one was
noticeably larger.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
As they filed into the hut Roscoe
was relieved to see that Eric, now almost recovered from the puma attack, was
not accompanied by Isla. She stayed close to her brother Damien, indicating no
special privilege of affection for either Roscoe or Eric. There was an
overwhelming sense of peace inside the hut, which seemed to calm Roscoe, and
indeed all of them. Somehow this reminded him, through its contrast, of the
barbaric battle between Ogrenians and Essonians he had witnessed only three
days ago. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Sister Agatha announced that she
was feeling rather hungry after her dawn stroll along the top of the valley
overlooking Easedale and invited them to help themselves to bread, cheese and
cakes, which she had placed on a small table, while she put the kettle on the
stove, which burned logs from one of the large forest plantations covering
parts of Cumbriana. Father James touched Sister Agatha on the arm and announced
he would leave her to conduct the visit. He would go back as soon as he had had
a cup of tea and one of her delicious cakes. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
She brought over the kettle and
poured hot water into a large teapot. Isla took charge of pouring the brewed
tea into the mugs which Sister Agatha had placed on a small table and soon they
were all sipping gratefully as a way of warming themselves up after walking in
the cold mist of the early morning. They also ate pieces of bread and cheese,
except Father James who eagerly finished his cake before leaving.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
After a few minutes of eating and
drinking Sister Agatha made clear her wish to address them. ‘I believe that all
four of you are interested in Enlightenment but have not yet had it. Am I
right?’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
They
nodded assent, putting down their cups. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘The tour will, I hope, give you
a basic understanding of the process so that, if and when you experience it,
your mind and soul will be prepared.’ She and Isla cleared the table, then Eric
folded it up and put it in the corner</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
A white dome of very fine mesh
material took shape above and around them as a black curtain dropped down to
cover the door, casting the single room of the hut into deep darkness. Sister
Agatha turned on a small dim lamp, then spoke in a gentle and reverent voice.
‘Now remember, I’m here to answer any questions you may have. So please don’t
hesitate to stop me in my tracks.’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘You all have a Christian
belief, I understand. Had you been, say, Moslems, or Jews or Buddhists, the
spiritual journey inspired by the Divine Light would have been slightly
different. It might be instructive sometime for you to see the versions used
for followers of other faiths. There is even a version for atheists, although
this is much more than slightly different from all the other schemes.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘But today let’s sample the
Christian version. Remember, the purpose is to show how your religion serves as
a spiritual model for engaging with God. As you know, all the world’s major
faiths and mystical philosophies use the word ‘light’ to mean something which
illuminates one spiritually and Father James was the first to receive what we
call the Divine Light in a Holy vision. Under its inspiration he became a healer
of the divisions between the world’s faiths and, a little later, perhaps
because of the Christian roots of the culture in which he was raised, became a
Christian.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘Now you’ve no doubt heard it said
by followers of some religions that theirs is the only way to God and the
truth. What the Divine Light shows us is that they are all right, in that each
religion relates to a particular aspect of our Lord that God chooses to reveal
to followers through a particular belief-system. We have discovered that the
Creator is incomparably greater, more mysterious and more unfathomable than was
thought at any time in history.’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Damien was an atheist but had
heard about Christians who would not admit of any route to God other than that
of Jesus and Moslems who considered followers of other faiths as infidels. It
was one of the factors that had turned him away from religion, except from his
brief encounter with the SSS. ‘Excuse me, Sister, but is this not blasphemy for
a Christian?’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘It was indeed considered to be so
by many Christians – the exclusivists. However, the situation has changed.
Since the leaders of the world’s classic religions have been illuminated by the
Light they have recognised that no one faith can accommodate the Creator of
space, time, matter and life in all his magnificence. Yahweh surpasses all
understanding. The Light teaches us that for any faith to believe itself to
have an exclusive grasp of the true source of being is blasphemous. However, we
Christians are right in saying we have exclusive access to the character of the
Creator which Yahweh has chosen to reveal to us.’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Roscoe interjected. ‘Sister, one
thing has confused me for a long time and I don’t know if you think it a fair
question. How does the Divine Light relate to the Holy Spirit?’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘A good question. I have found
the best way to look at it is this. The Divine Light is the work of the Holy
Spirit. At this stage in our history God has chosen to reveal how our religions
are necessary and complementary to each other and the Holy Spirit is revealing
this through the agency of the Light.’ Sister Agatha paused to see if he wanted
to follow up his question and her reply, then continued. ‘Not that the Spirit
and the Light are synonymous – the Spirit does other things than speak to us
through the Light – it heals and responds to prayer. Are any of you
scientists or philosophers?’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Roscoe raised his hand ‘I studied
philosophy and I take an interest in science.’ Isla hesitantly mentioned her
mathematics degree and investigation of quantum encryption.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘Probably even those who have not
followed science in depth will realise that in recent decades the strides made
have been quite stupendous not only in explaining the previously inexplicable
but in presenting to us new mysteries which make the universe so awe-inspiring,
almost frightening, that the sense of a deity behind it is as great as it was
at the time of the hunter gatherer, as he looked at the moon and stars, or
witnessed thunder and lightning or the birth of a child.’ </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
She turned the lamp off and there
appeared a large holographic image suspended in the darkness. It was a still
one of a wealthy man standing in front of a prostrate, undernourished man in
rags. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘We are now in the first stage of
a journey. Here the subject is taught that to go to the next stage he must
understand the need for virtue. Without virtue it is impossible to reach truth
because one is cut off from the divine source of reality, otherwise known as
God. In a moment the image will become animated.’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
The rich man appeared to come to
life, although he was faint, as did the poor man, who was slightly less faint.
The expression on the former’s face was initially one of insolence but it
gradually changed to a look of kindness. Then he knelt, touched the poor man
gently on the head and gave him food and drink, at which both seemed to fill
with light as a thin silver cord from the realm of God dangled in space
and blended into their foreheads, . ‘This is to show graphically and
symbolically how a virtuous act brings us closer to union with God. And the
closer we get to God, the more clearly will we see the reality of the world he
created. During an actual Enlightenment process the pilgrim discusses the
images with the Hermit Sage and is guided through the different levels. The
Hermit Sage asks the pilgrim to meditate and pray as the journey proceeds. I
will show you a few more images before we go to the next level.’</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Now the dome appeared to become
enormous, as big as a cathedral. A multiplicity of holographic scenes floated
and slowly drifted throughout the seemingly huge space. A man was attacked by a
vicious thug and refused to resist. Prostrate, he was kicked and punched in the
face but refused to retaliate except with a look of pity, causing first his own
body to glow with light, then that of the attacker, whose face gradually lost
its hardness. A man saw a lady being robbed by two thieves and intervened, in a
kindly and firm way, causing all four people involved to glow with
numinousness. A man enslaved by pornographic images cast them angrily aside and
became filled with the Light. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
‘These images and conversations
with the Hermit Sage continue until the pilgrim has fully absorbed the message:
that acts of goodness, rejection of evil, bring in the holy light and draw one
closer to our Creator.’<br />
<br />
<i></i><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Author’s note</i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b>
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Some may get the impression
that I hold a “many <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>paths to God” belief.
This is not the case. All reality emanates from the one true Triune God through
whom everything in creation was brought into being and by whom reality is sustained.
By this very definition He can only be reached through Jesus the Christ. Those who believe in other gods are living in the same reality as the Christian (there can
only be one) and even shares some of the values emanating from Christ. This is
how God decreed it, knowing that it would take time to bring the world to
harvest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, as I hope is made
clear in this novel, the final step to the Holy Trinity has to be via Jesus, a
member of the Trinity.</i><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i>
<b>John 14:6: Jesus answered: “I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”</b><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<i></i><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-69350074508567695572019-06-30T11:59:00.000-07:002019-06-30T11:59:33.311-07:00Interplanetary mining<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #005000;"></span></b><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i> There is plenty of room on the earth but humanity is now too demanding of resources and environment to sustain its expansion mode. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Artificial intelligence and robotics have grown up very rapidly and this kind of technology is enormously useful in space exploration but like most modern technology it requires minerals and metals. A recent article </i><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">in The Week (22 June, 2019, p.13)</span><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Rare Earths: China's Secret Weapon?</b></span> </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>highlights the potential geopolitical ramifications of the shortage of the 15 lanthanoid elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) together with scandium and yttrium, known collectively as the 'rare earths'. </i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<i><br /></i>
<i>They are geographically widely dispersed as well as difficult and energy intensive to extract, a process which causes waste disposal and pollution problems and a very low quality of life for those forced to work in</i><i> the mines as well as those living nearby.</i></span></span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is an increasing shortage of minerals and metals needed in technology, especially in China, an inevitable consequence of </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A rapidly growing world population. Every hour there are some 9000 more people alive on the planet, all consuming resources and generating waste at a growing rate</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">A rapidly growing per capita demand for technology (GDP growth 5.9% p.a. means more money spent on goods and services which draw upon the Earth's resources)</span></li>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnd3U67d8r0h9ypAjqoP-e8bAQMDISlObrkCdER_UyaXuTRepKfQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnd3U67d8r0h9ypAjqoP-e8bAQMDISlObrkCdER_UyaXuTRepKfQ" width="400" />T</a><span style="font-size: large;">This<span style="font-size: medium;"> <b><a href="http://www.resourceinvestor.com/2012/02/10/critical-rare-earths-face-looming-shortage-analysi">investor report</a></b> states that ‘dysprosium, terbium, europium, neodymium and yttrium are critical and face a looming shortage<i>.</i>’<i> </i>These rare earth elements and their associated compounds are used in solar panels, fluorescent bulbs, electric car batteries, wind turbines and semiconductors. Platinum (Pt) and related metals are also in short supply and more expensive than gold. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the world supply of Pt is used in catalytic converters and fine jewellery. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yttrium (Yt) , europium(Eu) and terbium (Tb) are used as phosphors in smart phone and TV screens. Lanthanum (La) is used in the batteries of hybrid cars (10 kg per battery). Rare earth elements are widely used in green technology, headlights, catalytic converters, oil refineries, lasers, camera lenses, X-ray machines, MRI scanners, nuclear reactors. Electric motors in hard disk drives, power tools and electric cars rely on powerful magnets using neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr) alloys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Iridium (Ir) is distributed thinly over the planet and expensive to mine, yet is in demand for its uniquely high resistance to oxidation, and as a hardening agent in alloys when combined with Pt and osmium (Os). Pt-Ir alloys are also in sparking plugs and Pt-Os alloys are used to tip fountain pen nibs, in pivot bearings such as those found in compasses, and in surgical tools.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the past the supply of these materials has been more than enough. This would not have been the case if the Earth did not have </span><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=evolution-of-minerals"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">such a variety of minerals</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">: 4,500 vs 60 for the average rocky planet (secondary data I came across in 2012; from the source I have no reason to believe it is in any way misleading. I will try to find an up to date link) brought to near the surface and within reach of civilisation by plate tectonics (again, of a kind unique to the Earth). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Providentially, all these substances are available in abundance in asteroids, which are now within reach of humankind at just the right time in history that they are needed and when we are close to developing the know-how to reach them. (The Christian in me says 'Praise the Lord' and I hope God-deniers or ignorers will forgive this lapse of secular etiquette!). In fact we already rely mostly on past impacts from space for our supply of Pt. Even gold is heavily reliant on an asteroid which fell to Earth where the mines of Johannesburg are located today. Some asteroids comprise stainless steel, so pure that it requires no refining. Again, at least one extraterrestrial source has been used on Earth: the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_York_meteorite"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">I<b>nuits in NorthAmerica made tools and knives out of unrefined metals from meteorites</b></span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">.</span> And Sudbury, Ohio is a mining town exploiting nickel, copper and other </span><a href="http://www.outdoorwebsite.com/sudburymeteorhomepage.htm"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>metals derived from an ancient impact</strong></span>.</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So now is the time to start proactively seeking out this abundant resource rather than wait for the biosphere to be strained beyond its limit. A company has already been formed with just this objective:<a href="https://www.planetaryresources.com/"> Planetary Resources Inc.</a>, https://www.planetaryresources.com/). </span><span style="font-size: large;">The current website states there are 16,000 asteroids rich in resources, 2 trillion tonnes of water for life support and fuel, and that space exploration costs in the long term could be reduced by 95%.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was set up by James Cameron (adventurer and film director) and Larry Page (co-founder of Google with Sergery Brin), who were able to put serious money into it – billions of dollars. It is being done as a money making venture, its viability deriving largely from the high and increasing price of platinum. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Requoting from its website as of 2012: <span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">‘</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">Some near-Earth asteroids contain platinum group metals in much higher concentrations than the richest Earth mines. In space, a single platinum-rich 500 meter wide asteroid contains about 174 times the yearly world output of platinum, and 1.5 times the known world-reserves of platinum group metals (ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum).’</span> It is not just the very expensive materials that are being targeted. Quoting again from Planetary Resources: <span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">‘Asteroids also contain more common metallic elements such as iron, nickel, and cobalt, sometimes in incredible quantities. In addition to water, other volatiles, such as nitrogen, CO, CO2, and methane, exist in quantities sufficient to warrant extraction and utilization.’</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN;">They are intending to park asteroids in orbit around either the Moon or the Earth. If the former they would choose ones having a large amount of ice since this could be used to support a lunar colony with water or the electrolysed components of water – hydrogen for fuel, oxygen for breathing. This would be a kind of contracted service for any number of manned lunar enterprises. Minerals could be sent back to Earth relatively cheaply and there are plenty of comet-like bodies having both ice and rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Platinum-rich bodies could be parked in Earth orbit for a good financial return. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The stainless steel asteroids, which can provide steel of higher grade than that from steelworks, could be used both on the Earth and for the building of spacecraft and space stations in orbit or at L2 Lagrange points. Iron and aluminium could also be used for construction work in space.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Not surprisingly, NASA is interested as, I suspect, are the space agencies of Europe, Russia, Japan and China. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Our planet is becoming overstretched not because of people per se but because of the resources they consume and the waste this generates. Equally important is a lack of awareness of just how precious it is and I believe that starting up major enterprises in the hostile environment of space, together with the rarity, if not the non-existence, of extraterrestrial life, will shock us into facing the reality that we and our world are special. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">See also</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2012/06/destination-phobos.html"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Destination Phobos?</span></a><br />
<br />
There is also a technology in the UK awaiting investment which could reduce the cost of launching a payload into orbit by an order of magnitude. This uses a revolutionary propulsion that has gone through proof of concept test, SABRE)<br />
See<br />
<a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2012/08/skylon-gift-to-venture-capitalist.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Skylon: an opportunity for a venture capitalist?</span></a><br />
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John</div>
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<a href="mailto:cosmik.jo@gmail.com">cosmik.jo@gmail.com</a>John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-41927545034652737772019-06-16T14:26:00.000-07:002019-06-16T14:33:58.466-07:00The inherent unpredictability of events by natural means<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is no doubt that certain computer models of social and
economic systems can be more useful than harmful as planning tools. On balance
the best models have considerably more than an even chance of being correct and enable us to plan housing, medical
services, sewage systems, transport, long term financial investment and much
else in as rational a way as practicable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, it also essential to recognise their limitations. They
have to be quantitative in nature and many of the models are based on Game Theory,
which assumes that human beings are rational machines who act only out of self
interest and enlightened self interest. There is also often an assumption that
past trends are a guide to future trends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is not just computer models that get things wrong. History
proceeds through large, sudden, unpredictable changes – referred to by
N.N.Talab as ‘black swan events’ in his recent book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_6_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=black+swan+taleb&sprefix=black+swan">The Black Swan: the impact of the highly improbable</a> . </i>E.g. the
Cambrian explosion of life forms, 540 million years ago, as shown in the fossil
record; the power of the atom; the television; space travel; the Internet; the
abolition of slavery in the West; the National Health Service; and the Arab Spring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A good example of the folly of assuming that human
behaviour is predictable and can be modelled on the assumption of selfishness is
the Wikipedia. It requires the contributor to use non-intuitive editing software
and spend a lot of time working for nothing. It also has no specialised refereeing
teams yet achieves a high degree of reliability and is kept continually up to
date. On top of this it is immeasurably more comprehensive than any ordinary encyclopaedia (for which, nevertheless, there is an important role, but that's another story) depending on paid referees. Anyone predicting the growth that actually happened in only a decade would
have been dismissed as a naive dreamer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The recently departed Steve Jobs was probably alone in having the vision to see that the iPhone would catch on. No focus groups, no user
surveys, no trend projections. Just intuition and the resources to follow it up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are innumerable examples of great leaps forward in all
fields of human endeavour and in the evolution of life. In fact the whole
universe is like this when you examine what evidence we have of progress to
date. The Big Bang was the first great leap forward. <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">13.8 billion years later, <span style="background-color: transparent;">t</span></span>he creation of a human being from 4 embryonic stem cells in the biosphere was another quantum jump.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The term 'great leap forward' came from chairman Mao's atheist communist revolution in 1958 which set off a sequence of events leading, according to the latest data of which I am aware, to the death of 60 million people.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> see https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/maos-great-leap-forward-killed-45-million-in-four-years-2081630.html and others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As Rabi Jonathan Sacks says in his highly acclaimed </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Partnership-Science-Meaning-ebook/dp/B0057MLPOG/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319322922&sr=1-2"><span style="font-size: large;">book</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and on a BBC radio programme called <i>Start the week, </i>the universe is creative, and creative events are by nature unpredictable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The only aspect of reality that we can predict with
certainty is that it will continue to be unpredictable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">John Sears</span></div>
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See also<br />
<br />
<a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2011/06/is-there-meaning-behind-random-events.html"><span style="color: red;">Is there meaning behind random events?</span></a><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2012/05/you-may-already-be-aware-that-modern.html"><span style="color: red;">Fighting fatalism</span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2012/02/doctrine-of-chance.html"><span style="color: red;">The doctrine of chance (Psalm 151)</span></a><br />
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John Sears</div>
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Author<br />
2077:Knights of Peace, available on Amazon.<br />
review copy paperback available on request<br />
<br />
reach me on</div>
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<i></i><u></u><span style="color: #000120;"></span>cosmik.jo@gmail.com </div>
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John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-80961613006164513162019-06-02T15:41:00.000-07:002019-06-02T15:41:55.883-07:00Intelligence without brains<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"> Since the original posting in 2011 the awareness of the ubiquity of intelligence, at least in the biological world, has grown faster than I can keep pace with. Quantum physics, in particular, appears to be at the root of this intelligence, or rather the equations within it partially describe the nature of God's creation of the stage we live on.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> It is no exaggeration to say that natural world has been imbued with computational features of a complexity and power beyond human imagination or even our power to mimic- even with the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and deep learning. These must originate from before the Big Bang within a realm where time and space do not exist.</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What is encouraging for me at least is that this phenomenon and the cosmic purposefulness of human's evolution from outside of space-time is beginning to be noted by mainstream physicists and biologists. Even the emergence of our unique planet and solar system appears increasingly to be goal-oriented, evolving in a way not dissimilar conceptually to the path by which a human being develops from 4 embryonic stem cells.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><i><span style="font-size: large;">I am
republishing the 2013 version of the original post here and intend to add notes and links
as I come across and digest information in the science media. </span></i> </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the last decade or so I have heard with increasing frequency of intelligent behaviour in nature; for example in primates, elephants, birds, dolphins and whales</span></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4Cf1CFvQ_uHS9hAcOFY3JiIaRmV7zzDXRDFKTyx-iHEzLL-d0XA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4Cf1CFvQ_uHS9hAcOFY3JiIaRmV7zzDXRDFKTyx-iHEzLL-d0XA" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Example: a<span style="font-size: medium;"> crow was confronted with a problem which
many humans would not have been able to solve. A tall jar was filled to only a
low level with water and a piece of food floated on the surface. It was far too
low in the jar to reach. Yet the crow solved the problem by dropping stones
into the water until the level of the floating morsel was within reach of its
beak. In another experiment a crow could only reach a scrap of food by using a
long stick. To do this it had to use a short stick to get the long stick
because it was placed behind bars in a cage. See </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8631486.stm"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Clever New Caledonian Crows can use three tools.</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cockatoos were not
until recently thought to display intelligent behaviour but a team in Vienna
observed that a captive cockatoo was able to retrieve a nut by making a rake, a
process which involved shaping a twig with its beak. See<span style="color: red;"> <span id="goog_1331038336"></span></span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Cockatoo shows tool making skills</span></a><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<span id="goog_1331038337"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcWcNPcew0O6QWaS2wXjnz5-cs33M7b9CeSDOcoOJMfI8H8JQz" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcWcNPcew0O6QWaS2wXjnz5-cs33M7b9CeSDOcoOJMfI8H8JQz" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Brain size and complexity does not seem to be much of an
indicator of reasoning ability. Even more astonishing is the latest example of
problem solving in nature: a single-celled organism (an amoeba, or slime mould,
which under the microscope looks like a blob of jelly) is able to solve complex
networking problems with no brain or neural network of any kind. </span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: large;">It is able to construct a matrix of pathways between pieces
of food which allow transportation with maximum economy. In fact it is so
efficient that researchers have proposed using it as a model for rail and road
networks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Each amoeba is able to negotiate mazes, remembering dead
ends, choose the healthiest food from a diversity of options, and anticipate
change. To quote from the </span><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=brainless-slime-molds"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Scientific American</i> blog</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> source</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;">‘In other words, the single-celled
brainless amoebae did not grow living branches between pieces of food in a
random manner; rather, they behaved like a team of human engineers, growing the
most efficient networks possible. Just as engineers design railways to get
people from one city to another as quickly as possible, given the terrain—only
laying down the building materials that are needed—the slime molds hit upon the
most economical routes from one morsel to another, conserving energy.’</span></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The molecular systems within a cell nucleus and the
surrounding cytoplasmic structures also behave in ways which can only be described as
intelligent. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">In 2013 I came across an example of </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22991838"><span style="color: blue;">plants doing mathematical calculations in order to conserve starch</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> throughout the night. It involved feeding in data from the plant's biological clock and the number of starch molecules.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> See<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-fittest-survive-but-how.html"><span style="color: red;">The fittest survive: but how?</span></a></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Somehow
intelligence moves into our universe at a quantum level from ....somewhere. At
one point the whole universe appears to have been a single quantum system and the events within that system are instantaneously connected to events happening now, in the past and in the future via </span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57545756/quantum-entanglement-gets-extra-twist/"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">quantum entanglement</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> throughout all the universe.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time does not come into it. This phenomenon leads to some
worldview-shaking-conclusions e.g.
the 400 year old assumption that mind and matter are separate no longer holds.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>Intelligence is a powerful evolutionary tool and appears to
have been present from the beginning of life, some 3.5 billion years ago
following the late heavy bombardment of Earth by asteroids, comets and meteors. There can be no doubt that this plays a crucial role in the ability of an
organism to adapt, compete and cooperate with the living world around it and
that this capacity was conferred on life from the start. The emergence of cognitive behaviour in organisms in captivity indicates intelligence levels beyond those needed for survival in their present environment. Perhaps organisms somehow tap an undetectable source of intelligence to help them adapt as the environment changes. This must also be the source which somehow allows totally new species to originate (e.g. as in the Avalon and Cambrian explosions c.550 billion years ago).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Evolution is the subject of much debate. What is beyond doubt is that it is not a random process. To quote the mathematically brilliant astrophysicist Fred Hoyle(who had been referred to as an atheist) at the end his final book <i>Cosmic Lifeforce (1988): </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The Creator has been given many shapes and names in the diverse cultures throughout the world...the general belief that is common to all religions is that the Universe, particularly the world of life, was created by a being of incomprehensibly magnified human-type intelligence...as if we are creatures destined to perceive the <i>truth</i> relating to our origins in an instinctive way (my italics).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As the Christ said:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you ...the Spirit of Truth, for it abides with you and will be in you."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">John 14:16-17</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And as the mathematical logician Kurt Goedel proved by formal logic, in his Theorem of Incompleteness (c1930), truth cannot be reached by logic alone: there must be assumptions from outside the logical framework within which a conclusion is arrived at.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><i></i><i></i><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">See also</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2012/12/consciousness-without-brain.html">consciousness without a brain</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> John</span></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">reach me at </span><a href="mailto:cosmik.jo@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: large;">cosmik.jo@gmail.com</span></a></div>
John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-36305811027939823642019-05-02T10:38:00.000-07:002019-05-12T13:44:34.622-07:002077:Knights of Peace. Summary of chapter 18:Amelia<br />
<b>Followed by.,. excerpt from Beginning of Chapter 18.</b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amelia </b></div>
<br />
Roscoe returns from Grasmere to Cambridge, parking his transpod near the
Theatre of War, a large arena in which international disputes are vicariously
settled by battles between soldier robots. In this case he watches a bloody
robot conflict between Egypt and Sudan over rights to water in the Nile. After
the battle he walks via Trumpington Road to the Lion Yard, and visits a reproduction
coffee shop, the Grecian, based on one of that name built in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>18<sup>th</sup> century London. Here he encounters a girl studying music
at Emmanuel College. Amelia has already experienced Enlightenment as well as
Life Extension. They separate without exchanging contact details but meet again
before Roscoe sets off for Grasmere in his transpod . He is still thinking about
Isla and her strengthening bond with Eric after his recovery from the struggle
with a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puma but finds himself falling in
love with Amelia. He discusses this with his mother Tina in Grasmere, referring
to the Oath of Bonding, a successor to engagement, and the Kinship Circle, a
successor to the family, made necessary by Life Extension (typically to 300
years) in what has become a largely Christian society.<br />
<br />
Link to Amazon pages of the book (paperback and digital versions)<br />
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br />
<a href="https://t.co/mWjaFoR9af">2077: Knights of Peace by J.L.Sears</a> (Amazon UK)<br />
This is a link to the book's page on UK Amazon, which has two reviews but at present there is no option to buy. Also, there is no sample text. However, you can buy it and sample text through the US site below.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=2077%3Aknights%20of%20peace%20site:amazon.com&FORM=QBDCRD">2077: Knights of Peace by J.L.Sears (Amazon USA)</a><br />
This is a link to the book's page on the US Amazon which has an option to buy but there are as yet no reviews. Sample text is available online.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Extract from beginning of chapter 18 ...</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="ch18">Chapter 18</a>
<b>Amelia</b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
The disused railway line
slid beneath the transpod, occasionally marked by a small group of wind
turbines, a relic from the days before abundant nuclear fusion technology was
used to power most of the world. He was flying quite low and could see that the
turbines, although not derelict, were obviously in the early stages of decay.
In the distance, even from this low height, he could see a stretch of sea
glinting in the sun and recalled that only a few decades ago there would have
been dry land as far as the eye could see.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
He had approached Cambridge from
the north west having followed old motorways and main roads from Cumbriana,
then picked up the rail line which skirted the city’s northern and eastern
boundaries. Before the line he was following reached the station, now converted
into a museum of transport, he turned right and dropped the transpod into a
parking area. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Parking space was limited. He had
anticipated this because he knew that the Theatre of War would be a popular
attraction, even with the reduced population, because transpod ownership was
common and the availability of high capacity, three-dimensional routes across
the country together with almost unlimited controlled fusion energy meant that
owners used them even more than owners of automobiles in the old days of fossil
fuels.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
The population of Britlandia was
down to only forty million after peaking at nearly seventy million before the
birth rate declined, net emigration increased and the Plague took its
toll. The average age had of course increased but the revolution in
ageing research had enabled people to stay healthy, both physically and mentally,
for much longer, even without Life Extension. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
He walked along Trumpington Road.
It was busy with throngs of pedestrians, many of whom he presumed were making
for the same destination as he was. This was confirmed when he came to a grass
expanse which had previously been a golf course and in which stood a large
white canopy towards which moved a continuous stream of people. As he
approached he could see a floating image above the entrance, three words with
their silver letters revolving. Periodically the letters would stop rotating
and the phrase ‘THEATRE OF WAR’ would be spelled out. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Inside was a large amphitheatre
in which the battle would be conducted. Roscoe regretted that any type of
battle was still necessary within GF jurisdiction. Yet if a battle had to be
fought this was the only type acceptable in the modern world.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
This was a symbolic battle. The
Theatre of War was where disputes between ethnic groups or geographical
territories could be fought without mass carnage or destruction. Only
countries within the Global Federation were culturally endowed to resolve
quarrels in this way and it was unfortunate that there were still areas of the
world, such as Ovoskotia, Essonia and Ogrenia, which did not belong to the GF
and where ethnic tensions often erupted into violence. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Today’s conflict would decide on
a victor in a fight over water rights between Egypt and the Sudan, both
countries through which the River Nile flowed with a diminishing volume of
water. The two sides had not been able to negotiate an agreement and the only
recourse they had as members of the Federation was to be represented by two
small armies of life-sized robot soldiers equipped with a variety of weapons.
Not weapons lethal to human beings. These were of course illegal under GF Law.
They were designed to destroy only the simulated humans which fought in the
Theatre of War, albeit in a realistic way which reminded the spectators of the
wretchedness of real war. Knights occasionally liked to witness simulated
battles since it strengthened their resolve to eliminate the technology which
allowed real war to reap its harvest of death and offend against Yahweh. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Roscoe stood leaning against a
waist high pillar, waiting for the first robot fighters to appear on the stage
below. Then a gleaming red armoured figure appeared and walked around the large
expanse of the stage. The audience applauded. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
The robot held or had strapped to
it a variety of lethal weapons, including a sheathed sword and a repeat action
rifle. It managed to convey to the audience, in its stance, mannerisms and
appearance, a sense of irony. All were about to witness the settlement of a
real quarrel over resources yet no human being would die or be injured. It
would be an entertaining spectacle, the battle would be skilfully executed,
there would be finesse and skill in large measure; but above all it would
convey the futility and inhumanity of war.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
A large
cascade of applause filled the arena.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
A second robot walked calmly and
with dignity into the stage area, this time from the right. It was equally well
armed but dressed in a long purple cloak. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
There was
more applause.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
Similar robot soldiers entered
the arena, each dressed or designed in some way to be distinguishable to the
crowd as an individual and each eliciting its own raucous applause, unheard by
the humans who operated them from their control stations in Egypt or Sudan or,
if they were hired from outside the two nations in dispute, other parts of the
world. Despite the highly individualistic appearances the two sides were
distinguishable by colour – red for the Egyptians, purple for the Sudanese.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 27.0pt;">
When each side had seven fighters
the applause stopped and the whole amphitheatre fell silent. The combatants
moved and climbed into their starting positions on various boxes, high
platforms and protrusions from pyramids around the arena. They all stood still
and the lighting dimmed until they were barely visible. A solid gold ball
descended slowly into the arena, coming to rest on a pedestal in the middle of
the stage. A voice announced that the engagement was to be fought to agreed
rules, that it was a war game, the object being to capture the ball. The rifles
each had only ten bullets each. It was also emphasised that the outcome would
have real consequences for the two countries involved....</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-52129709618456039992019-03-28T06:33:00.000-07:002019-03-28T06:33:14.830-07:001984 revisited: collective post-modernism<div class="MsoNormal">
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I am republishing this post with slight revision since I last revised it in 2016, having noticed the recent controversy over the ideas and worldview of Dr Jordon Peterson, a clinical psychologist and polymath scholar from Canada. As my Christian faith grows I become increasingly concerned about the loss of the concept of truth in a secular society. Christ stressed repeatedly the importance of truth in reaching spiritual fulfilment. The near hysterical reaction by university cultural Marxists to Peterson's coherent and rigorous arguments are worrying to say the least and I only hope the final result is not comparable to the mayhem which followed the 20th century adherence to truthless ideologies (e.g. Marxism, Maoism and Nazism were godless ideologies which between them generated untold misery, tragedy and over 250 million deaths over the first half of the 20th C) .<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>
</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDPAjGAEb6LE9BbXgNi9k21PzdLa4UriGIK1fWRXhSeaMTl2mg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDPAjGAEb6LE9BbXgNi9k21PzdLa4UriGIK1fWRXhSeaMTl2mg" data-sz="f" name="Z1wPNGjeGCQZkM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDPAjGAEb6LE9BbXgNi9k21PzdLa4UriGIK1fWRXhSeaMTl2mg" style="height: 140px; margin-top: 0px; width: 316px;" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lombardf.com/~jean-eloi/pri/2nd1/ang/1984.html">See 1984, George Orwell website</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">George Orwell finished his <span style="background-color: white;"></span>novel <i>1984</i> in 1948. It is
a re<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;"><span style="background-color: white;">markably
perceptive book abo</span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: white;">ut a fictional world </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: white;"> dominated by</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span>people whose
idea of a good time is to cruelly exert power over others for the sheer
pleasure of doing so and who do not believe in an ultimate truth or objective moral values</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead they create their own model of reality in a kind of
‘collective solipsism’ (a phrase used by O’Brien, the Party leader in the novel) and force
this on the Party members by controlling every aspect of their lives and
thought processes from cradle to grave. Solipsism is defined in my Penguin
English dictionary as the <span style="background-color: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">'theory that the only possible knowledge is that of oneself.' </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The <i>collective</i> solipsism of 1984 is the extension of this to a whole society. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> All those in the Party are forced, by indoctrination and torture, not just to pretend belief, but to really believe, for instance, that</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">2+2=5</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">black is white</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">ignorance is strength</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">war is peace</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">love is hate</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Party members thereby learn to ‘doublethink’: to hold two contradictory beliefs at the same time. This reminds me of Steven Hawking’s <b><a href="http://www.focus.org.uk/grand_design4.php"><span style="color: red;">‘model dependent realism’</span></a> </b>and post-modernism in general (as defined in philosophy rather than art; dictionaries often don't reflect this), since these philosophies deny the existence of an objective reality. Fortunately they are not collective in nature and are not imposed on us by a totalitarian regime but in my view they could have dangerous consequences in the long term even if only held individually.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Orwell appears to have based his society on the communist and fascist, godless, dictatorships of the first half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. The rulers in these regimes, in Orwell's view, saw themselves as the source of power and power was all that mattered. The real God does not exist for the Party founders of 1984, so the Party is God and the Party stands for power over people. Hence ‘God is power’ is perhaps the most telling slogan of the novel.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">People loving power over others feature in my novel, <i>2077:Knights of Peace.</i> I call them ‘dominophiles’. However, they are not as ruthlessly evil as the founders of the Party in <i>1984</i>. Their danger to the world lies mainly in their capacity to bring out the badness in others and stir up trouble in zones of ‘sociodynamic’ instability, which unchecked would cause violent conflict such as ethnic cleansing.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">A dominophile with the right aims, e.g. wiping out some disease, might do some good in the world; but I would not like to work under one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What concerns me about western democracies today is that they are overly secular and attempt to hold up Christian moral values without any acknowledgement of their sacred source. The horrific consequences of abolishing the sacred are explained by Jordan Peterson (I may add a YouTube link later - there are many to choose from). Political correctness and endless talk about human rights and labelling of people as 'racist' or 'homophobe' or 'sexist' when they make simple statements of fact are, I believe, symptons of this denial. The spiritual equality of all human beings is a natural consequence of Christianity. All are made in God's image, all are equal in the eyes of God, and without constantly reminding ourselves of this shrill denouncements of </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">those who speak truths such as that </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">some people are more intelligent than others</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">some people are more talented than others </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">people brought up in different environments or cultures are different </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">people of different races are physically different </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">people of different gender are, <i>on average</i>, different at a deep emotional and visceral level</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">can only lead to trouble. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I believe there is a God who incarnated himself into humanity. If this is true, and the evidence is huge, then pretending that it is not is a complete denial of reality, a mass insanity which can only have dire consequences, starting with the rise of demigods offering prosperity, social justice and security to the masses. I don't know what Donald Trump really stands for but we need to be careful about expunging the divine source of reality from government, schools, hospitals, private companies and all public institutions, lest we open the door to evil to rush into the spiritual vacuum. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">T<span style="font-size: medium;">he Triune God is real and sustains every atom, thought and being in existence. He is the source of reality itself, the bedrock, the 'truth that sets us free' and attempts to ignore this can only have horrific consequences. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
See also <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2013/04/gems-from-hiding-place_28.html"><span style="color: red;">Gems from the Hiding Place</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
John Sears<br />
Author<i>, <span style="color: red;">2077: Knights of Peace </span></i></div>
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cosmik.jo@gmail.com</div>
John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-86117082801221127492019-03-15T04:13:00.001-07:002019-03-15T04:15:46.550-07:00Freedom in Christ by Gary Turner<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</h1>
<h1 align="center" style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Freedom in Christ</h1>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Gary Turner</b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Satan
prances round us</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a mocking
“fun-dance”,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Trying to
deny us</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Life in
Christ’s abundance:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Satan tries
to blind us</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But Jesus
wants to find us.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Satan can
enslave us</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But Jesus
wants to save us.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Satan will
accuse us</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But Jesus wants
to choose us.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Satan’s
there to tempt us</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But Jesus
will exempt us.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Satan may
deceive us</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But Jesus
will receive us.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Satan can
entrap us</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Through what
we say or hear,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But if we
are secure in Christ</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s
nothing we need fear.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus Christ
–</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He is the Truth,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And so, if
you’re wise,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You will
renounce</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Each and
every</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of Satan’s
lies.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you
repent</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And change
your mind,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then there’s
something</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You will
find:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You won’t
let</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Your
feelings break you</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you let</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Lord’s
truth make you!</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Co-operate
with God</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And do His
will –</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then His
Spirit</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shall thee
fill.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You may
still do wrong,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remember to
whom</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You now belong:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can no
longer</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be defiled</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For, though
you may sin,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You’re still
God’s child.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A sinner
once</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You may have
been</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But Christ declares
you</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pure and
clean.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since on the
cross</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He once
died,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You have now
been</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justified,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So that in</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Father’s
sight</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You’re no
longer bad</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’Cos you’ve
been made right.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You have
been rescued</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From your
plight</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So that you
now</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Live in
light.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And since
faith comes</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From what
you’ve heard,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Listen to
God</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And feast on
His Word.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meet with
friends –</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just one or
two –</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And you will
find</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Christ’s
there with you.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To journey
with</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good friends,
you must</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Build
relation-</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ships of
trust.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Knowing the
truth</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will set you
free</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To become
the person</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You ought to
be.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All you have
to do</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Is choose</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To do the
right thing –</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You have
nothing to lose!</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choose the
truth;</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t choose
the lie.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What you
feed will grow;</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What you
starve will die.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Over</span></u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">come the bad</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And <u>be</u>come
the good –</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doing this</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Is what you
should,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And as you
step into</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reality</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then you
will find</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ve been
set free!</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gary Turner</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-75151482636588246442019-02-27T14:34:00.000-08:002019-02-27T14:54:54.917-08:00Rejuvenating the High Street<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the UK the centres of many of our villages, towns and cities are beginning to look derelict as failing retailers close down and the shop windows are boarded up. Presumably it is the same in many other nations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But does it have to be like this?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The cost structure of business is changing as energy, transport and raw materials become more expensive, and as governments factor in environmental costs previously ignored by accountants. Recycling, repair and upgrading are becoming more viable than planned obsolescence and disposal. The cost of manufacturing in the developing world is increasing while new small-scale manufacturing, such as 3D printing, can now be bought by small businesses. In some cases technology allows a single item to be produced as cheaply in a one off run as in a mass production run, making bespoke production more</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> economically feasibl</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">e.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since 2011, when this post was first published, it seems to this author that there has been a growing demand for more personal service </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">and guidance by sellers of goods and services. There is a feeling that human beings are under growing pressure to submerge their humanity in a vast buy/sell machine running on information.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">At the same time artificial intelligence and deep learning are making it possible for persons to do more with machines than either</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">person or machine could previously do alone and perhaps for some tasks even genuine (i.e. not fake) face to face or voice to voice human interaction could become more frequent. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some possible businesses</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">t</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">hat could inhabit our </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">High Streets in the future, even the near future:</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Goods sampling stores. </b>Online advertising could be complemented by local stores for sampling and handling the goods pictured on the web. Sometimes images and text are not enough to warrant a buying decision. E.g. certain expensive craft ware needs to be handled, chairs sat on, tools gripped, fabrics felt. The goods would not necessarily </span><span style="font-size: large;">be sold from these high street emporiums, although terminals for ordering could be available on the premises as an alternative to ordering from home. Personally I would like a human being to do the online work and combine it with advice and conversation with me. These sampling places could be set up and run on a national scale, having a High Street presence in much the same way as chain stores do now and with an emphasis on personal interaction. Online sellers would buy space and presence in them to increase their sales and if human intervention could be used to simplify returning of and refunding of unwanted goods this would be a bonus.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cobblers. </b>These would combine bespoke manufacture, crafting and sale of a pair of shoes on the premises. The customer would choose a general design from the web or on the premises, with interpersonal advice if sought, their feet would be accurately scanned to produce a mould by 3D printing (this technology is already available) and a skilled cobbler would craft a perfectly fitting shoe around this according to the customer’s wishes. The shoe maker would buy in the usual leather, plastic, rubber etc. in bulk. The shoes would be expensive, made to last and able to be repaired or partially recycled in the same business.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span>http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2011/08/rejuvenating-high-street.html<br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tailors. </b>The customer would be greeted by a member of staff, shown a selection of materials to feel and choose from, then enter a booth to be scanned and to view images of herself or himself in various pre-selected outfits. The suit or pullover or dress would be accurately made to measure on site and at lower cost than in the tailors of old, yet the customer would directly interact with a person skilled in giving advice, not a machine interface. The process would not always be fast enough to avoid a second visit to collect the purchase but it would be worth it for those who feel clothes are important.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Furniture makers and sellers. </b>A skilled carpenter has at his or her disposal computer-assisted tools and lathes which enable him to quickly construct a whole item of furniture (not just part of it, as on a production line). The customer would specify the size and style from computer images, as well as the type of wood and the finish from actual samples. The furniture would either be delivered in a day or so or it could be collected. Again, human interaction would be an important part of the service.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Charity shops with enterprise booths. </b>Oxfam, World Vision, Salvation Army, Christian Aid, Hospice shops etc. are already prominent on our High Streets. This is an obvious trend which small businesses could both help and profit from by having small booths within the shops. Each would benefit from footfall generated by the other and the charity could recoup some of its leasing costs by charging whoever occupied the booth (e.g. someone selling home-baked cakes or local arts and crafts or cutting keys etc.).</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IT centres for upgrading, recycling and repair. </b>These could be a response to the rapid change in IT plus the need to minimise the fallout of waste as products are discarded with each new generation of mobile phone, tablet computer, touch pad, PC, printer, router, modem etc. (The beginnings of this kind of enterprise has already become apparent since the original version of this post appeared in 2011. Witness the number of mobile phone repair and accessory shops now appearing in town centres.) Customers would have access to on-the-spot expertise and advice as well as able to book home visits or be put in contact with independent local experts. Such centres would be linked into a national recycling and disposal infrastructure. Hopefully future IT will be designed to be more upgradeable and compatible and longer lasting.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Green grocers and flowers sourced locally</b> could b sold in High Street booths and shops</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><span style="font-size: large;">These should become more financially viable as robots and artificial intelligence are employed for weeding and cultivation on small plots. The variety and healthiness of the produce could be greater and again a human would be employed to give advice <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(e.g. on health, recipes etc.) </span>and converse with the customer without too much time pressure.</span></li>
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<b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Training units. </b>As western nations adapt to new kinds of business and technology, and as the median age of populations increases, new skills will have to be taught to young and old alike. A lot of this could be done on a modular basis - partly online from home but also by personal tutoring or face-to-face tuition, individually or in small groups. This will need premises so why not have shop-sized units in the High Street which could be flexibly rented by the training organisations, whether privately or publicly financed?</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am sure there are many examples of how with imagination we could better utilise our High Streets. Town councils and churches could play a role. This posting is to stimulate discussion on how to help them thrive and make the High Street an interesting and pleasant place to visit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">John Sears<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Author, <i>2077: Knights of Peace </i></span></div>
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John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-81379990225720643522018-11-29T14:52:00.000-08:002018-11-29T15:21:09.735-08:00Destination Phobos?<span style="font-size: large;">Phobos is one of two small moons circling the planet Mars. The other is Deimos.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://21stcenturywaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/phobos1.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phobos as photographed from the Mars Express</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is only 3,700
miles above the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>surface and circles around Mars in only 11 hours 9 minutes, which is slightly less than half a Martian
day (24 hours 37 minutes). As far as we know this is lower than the moon of any
other planet in our solar system. As this photo shows its appearance alone is
intriguing and there is reason to suppose that it could reveal secrets about
the history of its parent planet, including any biological life that may have
been present over its 4 billion year history. The low density of Phobos
suggests that it may be partially hollow, with underground caves and rock consisting
of lightly packed microfragments. Large amounts of interior ice are also probable. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #14171a; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Segoe UI",Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">t</span>The furrows on the surface may be due to boulders ploughing across the surface during asteroid bombardment at the time of formation.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The most likely theory for its formation is that it comprises
debris from the surface of Mars. This would have been thrown into orbit by
meteorite collisions over the probably 4 billion years since the planet was
formed and during this time the debris has coalesced to form the Phobos we see
today. So within the material that makes up this satellite could be a record of
life on the surface of its parent planet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why not go there? It would be much cheaper than visiting the
surface of Mars or even that of our own Moon, which is never less than 140x
closer than Phobos. This is because it is so small (mean radius 6.9 miles) that
it has virtually no gravity for a spacecraft’s engines to have to battle
against, so only a small amount of fuel would need to be carried and the larger
distance would be covered largely by coasting from the Earth’s orbit around the
Sun to that of Mars after an initial boost; similarly, but in reverse, for the
return mission.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my view this should seriously be considered as a priority
destination for the MPCV (multi-person crew vehicle), also known as Orion, now
being developed by NASA for missions beyond earth orbit. The Moon and nearby
asteroids are other targets being evaluated for manned missions before the much
bigger and more expensive step of landing men on Mars is taken. Russia and the
USA both have experience of prolonged micro-gravity effects on humans, which is
necessary since the trip out would take about 9 months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think Phobos should be the next step for a manned
expedition for the following reasons:</span></div>
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<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It would take less energy and money to get men to Phobos
than to the surface of the Moon and back (as explained above).</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Phobos’s rocks could provide evidence of past life or
absence of life on the Martian surface over billions of years.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Underground caves would provide an ideal shelter from cosmic
bombardment, a major problem for manned missions, and a logistic base for
future descents to the Martian surface. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Humans on Phobos could observe Mars in great detail without
risking contamination of the surface with terrestrial bacteria.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This last point is important because the occurrence or
non-occurrence of any form of biological life independent of Earth would be of enormous significance in assessing the nature of its origin
and putting terrestrial life into a cosmic context. Since the inception of terrestrial life there have been innumerable ejections of organic debris into space due to meteorite, asteroid and comet impacts, so that some of this is likely to have found its way to other planets. However, I believe it is possible to identifiy this life as terrestrial in origin or otherwise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Interest in Phobos is growing. Russia attempted to send an
unmanned probe there recently (November 2011) but this failed. China had
experiments on board the Russian probe, called Fobos-Grunt and the USA is also
interested.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To get there or anywhere else beyond<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>earth orbit efficiently we need to be able to launch
materials, equipment and prefabricated structures into orbit more cheaply and
frequently than was possible with the Space Shuttle, so that earth orbit can
serve as a base. Once a vehicle is assembled there it can be launched off into
deep space without having to fight hard against gravity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I am still mystified
as to why the <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2011/06/skylon-spaceplane-what-is-nasa-waiting.html"><span style="color: red;">Skylon spaceplane</span></a>, a UK design, with its revolutionary air
breathing rocket engine (SABRE), is not being developed as a matter of
priority. Skylon could get mass into orbit at a fraction of the cost of any
other technology of which I am aware. Presumably politics is a factor since space
exploration is moving towards international cooperative ventures to share costs
and expertise. There is also a major trend towards private ventures and away
from government-led programmes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My view is that the universe is
there to be explored, not ignored. International space exploration projects are
a way of raising our horizons and cooperating instead of stewing up the
biosphere and destroying ourselves spiritually and in internecine conflict.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">John</span></div>
<br />
see also <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2012/07/interplanetary-mining.html"><span style="color: red;">Interplanetary mining</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/p/2077-ad.html">2077 novel: buy & preview options + reviews</a></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/2077knightsofpeace1"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="color: red;">AUTHOR'S FACEBOOK PAGE</span></span></a><br />
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cosmik.jo@gmail.com</div>
John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-44381093253428212792018-11-26T14:19:00.000-08:002024-01-05T12:53:42.082-08:00The deep mystery of existence. 5. Life is from outside space-time<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every form of biological life, known or imaginable,
depends partly on the arrangement of chemical elements in countless ways into
hierarchically ordered goal-oriented systems, interacting in an astronomically
large number of ways to create the Earth's biosphere of which
humans are a part and in which they play a central role (e.g. by being aware
that the biosphere exists and that they are meant to be stewards of it). Moreover, the latest biomolecular research indicates that the protein molecules (amino acids etc.) out of which life is formed are finely tuned to fold themselves into the 'building blocks' of life; so this propensity must have been embodied in the original creation design along with the finely tuned physical constants (i.e. laws of physics) also needed for life to be possible.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://adoreabhijit.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/universe.jpg?w=529&h=284" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://adoreabhijit.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/universe.jpg?w=529&h=284" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://adoreabhijit.wordpress.com/tag/prayer/">http://adoreabhijit.wordpress.com/tag/prayer/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In 1954 Fred Hoyle calculated that for this miraculous
phenomenon of life to be possible a certain kind of nuclear reaction would have had to
have occurred inside stars billions of years ago. He even forecast </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">the energy
of the reaction – 7.6 million electron volts. He calculated that it would have
only a small chance of occurring but without it carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and most
other elements could never been produced in stars or anywhere else for that
matter. Astronomers then
searched for the gamma rays which would show the existence of this reaction,
subsequently named the ‘Hoyle state’, and they found it within 5 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This
had a profound effect on Hoyle, who became convinced that the universe and the
life in it was not just a chance throwing together of matter and energy. He did
not believe in God and so was opposed to the idea of a created universe (subsequent
observations have proved with growing accuracy that the universe was indeed
created, as stated in Genesis 1.1 and John 1:1) : the only alternative for him was an
eternal infinite universe which had a kind of mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hoyle was right in stating that the
universe has a teleological nature. However, it is now accepted by most cosmologists
that the universe is not infinite and eternal. It emerged from outside of
space-time and indeed space-time only came into being as it emerged, i.e.
during the Big Bang. So in a sense it emerged from the mind of God and its
teleological properties can be seen as a means by which the Creator guides,
permeates and holds in being the whole creation, including evolution of some kind. The creation and ongoing involvement
of the God in the created order is now easier to imagine than it was before
modern physics and cosmology. Life was dependent on these early stellar reactions and on
the way the atomic output of these cosmic factories formed the protein molecules which assembled, folded and arranged themselves
into ultra-sophisticated systems that thrived under the right conditions –
conditions which are very probably unique to Earth, judging by observations of
the 4000 or so exoplanets detected to date and the specifically life-friendly nature of these conditions which modern science is revealing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So where and when was life created? Where does all this
information and intelligence come from? There can, it seems to me, be only one
answer. Order cannot emerge from chaos. The ultra-sophisticated purposeful complexities of viruses, bacteria,
plants and animals must have been designed before the universe exploded into
existence. In essence, living systems, ranging from bacteria to mammals, were created from outside the universe, not within
it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whether life <i>formed</i> early in the history of the earth, say 4 billion years
ago, or only few thousand years ago (I
don’t believe that, incidentally) its real <i>origin</i> resides outside our reality,
in the mind or being of the Creator, who is also able to exert ongoing influence on it. Life is not just extraterrestrial: it is supernatural. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Life comes from a timeless and spaceless 'place', and it seems
not surprising that life at some level should return ‘there’ in some form when
it has finished ‘here’, having undergone a learning process. ‘There’ is the place of eternal life and from which eternal life is held within a living believer, to continue when he or she casts off the 37 trillion body cells.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">John Sears</span><br />
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John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-2982862287336194972018-11-26T14:07:00.000-08:002018-11-26T14:07:10.016-08:00The story of a canned drink <div class="MsoNormal">
<a 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" 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" style="height: 193px; margin-top: 0px; width: 261px;" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">It is customary to drink beer, Coke, lemonade etc. from an aluminium can. Given the convenience of storing and transporting the drink around this is not surprising (although personally I have a tendency to snap off the ring pull, leaving the can sealed). However, there is a price to pay for this convenience when one considers the enormous amount of energy and environmental destruction that goes into the production of a pop-top alumimium can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Womak and Jones in their book <i>Lean Thinking </i>tracked down the manufacture of a can of English cola (presumably fairly typical of most canned drinks. The data is from the 1993 book but the overall picture is still essentially the same.)</span></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bauxite ore is mined in Australia and trucked to a chemical reduction mill.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">At the mill each ton of bauxite is purified to half a ton of aluminium oxide in half an hour.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The Al oxide is loaded onto an ore carrier bound for roller mills in Scandinavia.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">In Sweden or Norway the Al oxide is taken to a smelting plant. Each half ton is smelted down to one quarter ton of aluminium, which is converted into 10 metre ingots.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Each ingot is heated to 480 deg C and rolled down to a sheet 30 mm thick. The sheets are wrapped in 10 ton coils and transported to a warehouse.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The coils are transported to another country for rolling down to 3 mm sheets.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The Al sheets are sent to England for punching and forming into cans.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The cans are washed, dried, and base painted. Product information is then painted on.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The cans are lacquered, flanged, sprayed inside with protective coating, loaded onto pallets, forklifted and warehoused.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">They are then shipped to a bottler where they are washed and cleaned again.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">After filling with cola pop-top lids are added at the rate of 1500 cans per minute.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The cans are inserted into cardboard cartons made of forest pulp originating in some other part of the world (e.g. Siberia or British Columbia).</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The cartons are shipped to a distribution warehouse and finally to the supermarket.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: large;">This leaves out the production and transport of the drink itself. In the case of the English cola drink this involves mining phosphates from deep open pit mines in Idaho, USA; refining this to food grade; and shipping caffeine from chemical plants abroad to a syrup manufacturer in England.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All these production and transportation steps use up energy, sometimes huge amounts – e.g. the conversion of the mined phosphate to food grade uses electricity at the same rate as a town of 100,000 people. The metal used also defies belief. Even after allowing for recycling the USA <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ea9999;">‘throws away enough aluminium to replace its entire commercial aircraft fleet every three months.’</span> <i>Natural capitalism</i> by Hawken et al, 1999. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Other examples from Hawken et al :</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Semiconductor chips generate 100,000 x their weight in waste.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A laptop computer produces nearly 4000 x its weight in waste.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">1 quart of Florida orange juice requires 2 quarts of gasoline and 1000 quarts of water to produce it.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Should we feel guilty when our lifestyle is so dependent on these things? Partly, but we are trapped in a greed-driven multinational system which is kept afloat by crazy accounting which ignores the real world. To change that system, one which ultimately must lead to war, is our only option. Either from top down or bottom up, or both at the same time, it has to change; and that means people themselves have to change both individually and collectively, and at all levels of society.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As one who believes in our Creator I think this can only only happen by getting closer to the one who created us. Reason is of paramount importance; but reason <i>alone</i> is not enough, as was learned at the cost of millions of lives and decades of misery by the disciples of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Mao Zedong. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">See also <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.com/2011/07/waste-from-western-world.html"><span style="color: red;">Waste of the western world</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Feedback welcome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
John</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Author, 2077<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
cosmik.jo@gmail.com</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-54424705025695603082018-03-11T14:18:00.000-07:002018-03-12T11:41:38.797-07:00The Shroud of Turin<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Until about 3 years after I submitted to Christ in 2009 I had always treated the Shroud
of Turin as some kind of medieval forgery and not the burial shroud of Jesus
Christ. Circa 1988 it had been announced that the radioactive carbon 14 dating
put the origin of the Shroud to around the 14<sup>th</sup> century and this more less settled it for me.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Full_length_negatives_of_the_shroud_of_Turin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" id="irc_mi" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Full_length_negatives_of_the_shroud_of_Turin.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="401" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> Before becoming a Christian I had been skeptical
about the reality of the Resurrection. Even
after looking at the<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iyxR8uE9GQ"><b> evidence for the Resurrection</b></a>, which I found wiped out the objections
of the skeptics , and coming to believe in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqc7--CaCpM">historical </a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqc7--CaCpM">reality of a supernatural Resurrection </a> (as supernatural as the Big Bang, in which space-time-energy emerged from a fraction of a pinpoint to give us life, the universe and everything) I still dismissed the Shroud as </span><span style="font-size: large;">a hoax or a
confidence trick, as many Christians do today. In fact I was concerned that if
it was a fraud it would only help to discredit the overall case for a
Resurrection in the public mind, given the natural skepticism of some scientists
who tend to be treated as guardians of truth, which they <i>should</i> indeed be as regards the logically accessible aspects of reality.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Recent YouTube presentations by respected scholarly teams (sindonologists) are making it difficult to ignore that this cloth defies natural laws by virtue of the unprecedented and unequalled nature of the image. It is most definitely not a forgery and I even saw a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33164668"> <span style="color: red;">BBC article by Philip Ball</span></a>, the ex-editor of Nature, confessing to its extraordinary properties</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<h3>
<a href="http://www.newgeology.us/presentation24.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.newgeology.us/presentation24.html </span></a></h3>
</div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.historian.net/shroud.htm">http://www.historian.net/shroud.htm</a></span></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have heard since that all the arguments which try to dismiss the authenticity of the Shroud's image have failed the scholarly peer review process (they nevertheless get picked up by journalists). No scientist has been able to explain the unique nature of the image despite thousands of research hours and many research papers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This could be world shattering for many and force those denying the resurrection on the grounds of conspiracy theories - which start from the erroneous assumption that the resurrection could not have happened- to reconsider their position.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">see also</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d2d2d; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "gentium basic" , serif; font-size: 44.93px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 47.92px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/04/shroud-turin-jesus-christ-blood-relic-sudarium-oviedo/">The Shroud of Turin, Authenticated Again</a></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">RADIOMETRIC DATING CORRECTED</span></h3>
<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The initial carbon dating exercise in the 1980s gave dates
around 1400 years after the Crucifixion (33 AD), which led most people to
dismiss the Shroud as a medieval fake. The dating had been carried out by a
reputable international team; but since then the date has been thrown into doubt because the dating process used a sample containing threads used by medieval nuns to repair the cloth.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In recent years it has been proposed that an earthquake which is fairly reliably known to have taken place in 33 AD, could
have generated a neutron flux which would have affected the dating results by
increasing the amount of C14 due to neutron bombardment of the C12 nucleus (the more C14 in the sample the younger it would
appear to be). The latest date estimate puts the time of the cloth centrally
within an error bar of several hundred years spanning the 33 AD date. Pollen analysis also backs this up. By itself this would not prove that the Shroud was the one that en-wrapped Jesus but the date is
certainly much earlier than medieval and the Crucifixion date lies well within the error spread.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BLOOD</b></span></h2>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The trauma caused by the Crucifixion as described in the
Gospels would have affected the physical nature of the blood emanating from the
wounds caused. This is confirmed by analysis of the blood stains on the cloth.
Moreover, the positions of the stains clearly correspond to the Crucifixion
accounts. The evidence for this is startling in its detail. E.g. the spear wound indicated on the cloth is in forensic agreement with the John 19:34 account; the bloodstains on the head are clearly from a cap or crown of thorns as described in John 19:2.; 120 scourge marks on the body, front and back indicate about 40 lashes from a three-thronged whip, which was the standard whipping procedure adopted by the Romans at the time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The colour of the blood stains is red. Normally one would expect it to be black after such a long period but in fact a body having undergone the trauma to which Jesus was subject would have chemically altered blood that would stay red , and containing bilirubin, and this is precisely what the Shroud stains exhibit. The elevated levels of the bilirubin actually indicate the traumatic process of the Crucifixion as described in the Bible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<h2>
</h2>
</div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>WRISTS NOT PALMS NAILED</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Biomechanical science indicates that a body pinned to a
cross by nails through the palms could not bear the weight of the body – it
must have been through the wrists, which is just what the image shows. The
traditional belief was that the nails had been hammered through the palms, so
any attempt at forgery would have tried to simulate this. All the iconography
of the time indicated nails through the palms.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>CHEEK BRUISES </b></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The image shows marks indicating a blow to the cheek as described in John 18:22: "And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand." As with most of the image features discussed these were invisible before the technology of the 20th century and there is no way anyone would have any motive for forging them, even if someone in medieval Europe had technology more advanced than any known or even envisaged today.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>IMAGE FORMATION</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The image was formed by a process which no team of
scientists has been able to reproduce over the last several decades, possibly one involving high energy
radiation. It was not produced by any kind of pigmentation. One singular
characteristic of the image is that it was in the form of a negative which comes out as a
positive on a photographic negative, much to the astonishment of Secundo Pia when he
developed his two glass plates in 1898 when the Shroud was first photographed. In fact as photography advanced the
image became increasingly clear. Without the invention of photography no one
would ever have seen the image at all.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">[ In addition to the evidence above there is a close correspondence to the results emerging from an investigation of what is probably the tomb of Christ and the head cloth used after the Crucifixion. New evidence on this subject is available and I hope to insert a link to it later.]</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Very advanced technology has been applied to the Shroud,
including the VP-8 Image Analyzer which NASA used to construct three
dimensional images from ordinary photographs of, for instance, the moon’s
surface taken from two different angles. When applied to the Turin Shroud image
this has somehow yielded a 3D image of Jesus Christ that does not distort as it
rotates. At this time I do not know the physics and mathematics behind this and believe there are aspects to this process which nobody understands.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The information extraction power of the VP-8 enabled experts
to interpolate the presence of a lepton, a coin used at the time of Pontius
Pilate, placed in each eye socket. It had been customary to do this. Even part of the
inscription round the edge of the coin was determined and found to correspond to that used on the lepton at the time of Pilate. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">QUANTUM COSMIC POSSIBILITIES</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is one aspect of the Shroud image which is so enormous in its implication for the human race and the entire universe that I am almost hesitant to mention it for fear that it will immediately label me as a crank in many people's eyes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Perhaps the most extraordinary feature of the image is that the markings penetrate barely a fibre's thickness down into the cloth, on both sides.</i> Nobody has been able to produce such an image using any technology known to man. For reasons that at this time I do not understand it has been seriously proposed that the only possible explanation of this and other aspects of the image lies in the same theoretical domain as black holes and event horizons. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The proposal is that information from Christ at the moment of death passed into the entire universe instantaneously and that a new universe and a new humanity is in the process of being created. (NB: modern physics posits that any particle in the universe can instantaneously interact by quantum entanglement with any other particle in the universe, since at the start of the Big Bang every particle was confined to the same quantum space .) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A whole team of scientists is involved at both a theoretical and an experimental level. See this video by a particle physicist Dr Isabel Piczec </span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1813578549"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbl4EmoH_jg"><b><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbl4EmoH_jg</span></b></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>PRE-MEDIEVAL HISTORY</b></span></h2>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">How did the Shroud
get from Jerusalem
to Turin, in Italy?
Christian relics were frequently transported for safety because of
Islamic and other
attacks prior to the Crusades. The Moslem conquerors had reached Spain,
having violently subjugated 2/3 of the Christian world (hence the
Crusades),
by the time of the Shroud’s final resting place in Turin,
Italy. Before the Moslems there were still many enemies of
Christianity, such as the Romans before Constantine, the non-Messianic
Jews and the Vandals. So it is not
surprising that the cloth did not begin to be openly talked or written
about
until it was safe.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am in no way an expert on all this so let me refer you to
some of the sites I came across in putting together the above:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10631973/Turin-Shroud-may-date-from-time-of-Jesus.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10631973/Turin-Shroud-may-date-from-time-of-Jesus.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.volto-santo.com/Home_English/The_burial_clothes/Shroud_of_Turin/shroud_of_turin.html">http://www.volto-santo.com/Home_English/The_burial_clothes/Shroud_of_Turin/shroud_of_turin.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/11/shroud-of-turin-earthquake-jesus_n_4770202.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/11/shroud-of-turin-earthquake-jesus_n_4770202.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.redstate.com/diary/6755mm/2014/04/20/five-reasons-shroud-turin-authentic/">http://www.redstate.com/diary/6755mm/2014/04/20/five-reasons-shroud-turin-authentic/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF4v7BLAvzM&noredirect=1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF4v7BLAvzM&noredirect=1</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MMOAV-xYFs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MMOAV-xYFs</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVXXZcN8RVI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVXXZcN8RVI</a><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There is also an iPhone app called <b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shroud-2.0/id614248391?mt=8">Shroud 2.0</a></b> which pulls
together a lot of evidence, as well as <b><a href="https://www.shroud.com/books.htm">innumerable books</a></b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Apart from online sources such as the above I used this book</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Mystery-Shroud-turin-Authenticity/dp/1484024575"><b>The Mystery of the Shroud of Turin:the Case for its Authenticity by John.C.Iannone</b></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So what if the shroud is indeed genuine, as looks
increasingly likely? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It will add to the already substantial evidence for the
reality of the Resurrection event which changed history and the <i>meaning</i> of which is still being hotly discussed
and argued about 2000 years later after huge moral, social, artistic, scientific and technological upheavals made in its wake.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There is no doubt in the mind of any genuine believer that
the Resurrection is as real as the other supernatural event which came to light
only a few decades ago: the creation of space and time from existential
nothingness 13.8 billion years ago, from behind an event horizon, i.e. the Big Bang, an occurrence for which the
evidence has been steadily mounting since the 1920s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The argument must at some point shift from <i>whether</i> there
was a Resurrection to its <i>deep significance</i> for humanity. Forget religion. The implications could totally shatter our view of reality if the quantum aspects become widely accepted since it casts light on every aspect of
life of every person on the planet as well as all of life and every particle in
the universe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So watch this space.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">J.LSears</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">cosmik.jo@gmail.com</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-7346735231476289992018-03-02T04:06:00.000-08:002018-03-02T04:06:22.805-08:00Robotics and AI: more jobs and a more human world?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kstx/files/201505/sciam_special-robotics_0.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="irc_mi" height="190" src="https://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kstx/files/201505/sciam_special-robotics_0.gif" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Much of the western world has operated in a way to saddle itself with large
numbers of unemployed people with no prospect of job security or of doing
anything that seems really worthwhile. Making money and making sure you </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">enjoy yourself, if possible not at other people's expense, seems to be the ethos of a spiritually arid age.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whatever our spiritual beliefs or indifference to the spiritual aspect of reality it cannot be denied that meaningful work is essential to the well being and balance of most people. It is an important role of a government to steer the country it governs towards an economic structure which generates meaningful jobs and careers. This means encouraging industries and enterprises, state or private, which create value-added products and services i.e. products and services
which bring in the money needed to finance social services and investment for
the future, and above all, to provide people with lifelong, meaningful employment, either with one organization or a variety of employers, ensuring that adequate training is available. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are some schemes which could employ a huge number of
people, paying them good wages to do useful work. All are compatible with or driven by the growth in robotics or artificial intelligence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Robot ships to clear up the oceans (briefly described in my novel 2077:Knights of Peace).This could provide a
great opportunity to generate both IT and heavy engineering work, bringing back
to life many a derelict shipyard (e.g. like those on the UK’s northern coast –
Tyneside etc.) and creating entirely new ones. It could not only provide
worthwhile employment and stimulate local economies but solve the burgeoning
problem of microscopic, non-digestible plastic particles entering the marine food
chain, including sea birds.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Roads and pavements, millions of miles of them world-wide, need
ripping up and replacing with smooth, high quality surfaces. Consider the
market for a robotic machine that stops over a crumbling section of motorway or
clearway, say, pulverises the existing material and replaces it with a smooth,
tough, durable surface within an hour. The market would be mind boggling and a boost to the engineering industry, employing humans to design, develop, test, manufacture and market the machines as well as operate and transport them.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Laying of new roads and railways. Again, a robotic machine
that could lay down strips of finished road by the mile would have a vast
market worldwide. Imagine the sales potential of China and India alone as well as the investment and employment opportunities for western economies.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Footpaths and small roads over mountains, rough terrain and
marshland are especially useful in rural and tourist areas. Teams of skilled
individuals equipped with robot-based systems could lay these down more
efficiently than at present. The market would be enormous in the developing world,
allowing small remote communities to share in the growing prosperity of the
wider world as well as allowing medical aid to reach them more quickly.
Hopefully, food aid would be less in demand as the communities prospered.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">High tension overhead power cables need repairing rapidly so
any robotic help could reduce the down-time. As completely new national grids
are installed there will also be a big market for technological assistance in
doing this rapidly. Again there would be a boost to employment as new infrastructure is manufactured, installed and maintained. As with all infrastructure the more functional and efficient it is the more smoothly the economy runs and the higher will be the quality of life of the people.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Robotic repair systems for use on sewage pipes, drains,
water supply lines, gas pipes and buried cable conduits, especially in
metropolitan areas, are already being used but there is no doubt plenty of
scope for innovation. The demand for such technology in the developed and developing worlds should be enormous, with more employment opportunities in both. Local people would be needed to operate, supervise and complement the robot repair technology and there would be many jobs in design, manufacture, commissioning and installation.</span></li>
</ul>
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<br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
C<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">aring for our fellow humans when their physical or
mental faculties require this is primarily a personal task, requiring great kindness,
skill and dedication by gifted individuals. If robotic devices could be developed to help the carers at
a practical level (e.g. fastening buttons or handling soiled clothing) this
would allow them to spend more time on personal interaction and transform the nature of care work. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Drivers displaced by driverless vehicle technology could be trained to help, both practically and at an interpersonal level, infirm or disabled passengers at the start, during and after their journey. Taxi drivers, for instance, often have good interpersonal skills which could be put to good use providing they are not burdened with excessive demands for political correctness or following of petty rules and regulations. </span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Automated telephone menu systems are widely resented when they are inhuman (made more so by pretending to be otherwise), complicated and inflexible. There is a place for these but they need to be kept behind the scenes as well as improved. There will be a need to employ a new version of the switchboard operator able to interpret the customer's needs and match it to the right department and support them if they get disconnected. The operator would in turn need plenty of training and an up-to-date knowledge of the organisation's structure, which in practice changes continually faster than the IT (including telephone menu systems) designed to service it. In large companies or departments the operator would need support staff. Artificial intelligence could possibly be used behind the human front, to assist the operator </span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Surgeons could be greatly<i> assisted</i> by automated image recognition of X-rays, tomographs, f-NMR scans etc. to identify or eliminate disorders and diseases. If this approach proved very effective it would increase the turnover and complexity of work by medical secretaries and other ancilliary staff while at the same time dealing more effectively with many more patients.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Medical research and frontier surgery could be greatly assisted by block chain technology. This could, e.g., give simultaneous access to research and pioneering treatments world-wide, before they had been published in academic journals. When a patient's life is at stake he or she may wish to sanction the use of experimental treatment where the risks are higher. Medical technology could advance more rapidly as geographically scattered workers are connected to the same block chain system.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Lawyers could be released to make better use of their talents by employing artificial intelligence to scan routine legal documents. This could lead to more secretaries and other posts requiring interpersonal skills. </div>
</li>
<li>Business services could be aided by artificial intelligence, leading to a simpler, faster, less burdensome process of setting up a small company. This could result in a growth in self employment and make possible enterprises driven by creative individuals less hampered by paperwork. </li>
<li>High street banks are closing local branches and customer counter positions at an alarming rate as automated menu driven customer stations are brought in. It could be that if small businesses (see above) multiply there will be a greater demand for bank staff able to advise them and connect them to the appropriate sources of finance and expertise.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Blockchain technology, briefly mentioned above in a medical context, enables people or devices in different departments or areas </span><span style="font-size: medium;">of work, interrelated in some way (so that each is affected by what is happening elsewhere in the organisation or project or operation, even when spread over different parts of the world) to instantly monitor real-time data anywhere in the system. This will no doubt lead to new areas of human work not even envisaged today.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If I, a layman, can think up a list like this imagine
what a dedicated think tank could come up with. So my hope is that readers may pressurise their MPs, senators, congressmen, local government officials, aid
agencies and church leaders to move in this direction. Or plant ideas in the minds of existing and potential entrepreneurs,
or, even better, start up their own companies to develop and launch such
technology or use existing technology more imaginatively.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Robotics, machine learning and neural networks could be a way to help the developing nations while saving
the developed ones from their past sins and improving the quality of life of their own citizens.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John Sears</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">author</span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/p/2077-ad.html"> </a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/p/2077-ad.html">2077: Knights of Peace</a> </span></b></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">reach me at</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cosmik<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.jo@gmail.com</span></span></div>
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John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-65418564346525603982018-02-06T11:01:00.000-08:002018-02-08T11:02:38.997-08:00Is the earth alive?<br />
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Until only the last decade or so there appeared to be a widespread belief among most biologists that life on earth was not really that mysterious. (Many physicists and most engineers did not share this view.)<br />
<br />
Admittedly there was much to learn but ultimately it was just a matter of finding the mechanisms by which atoms and molecules had accidently arranged themselves into reproducing entities which by random genetic mutations and natural selection would evolve into a bewildering plethora of competing viable species of bacteria, insects, reptiles, fish, birds and mammals. It all started with 20 different kinds of amino acid molecules (19 of which had to be 'left handed' as opposed to their 'right handed' counterparts) being thrown together by chance to produce the first organisms able to reproduce and with the potential to differentiate into future species in a way which would ultimately lead to the biosphere we know today. There was admittedly a growing recognition that cooperation between species, as in symbiosis, played a role but it was all driven by chance and selection pressure. <br />
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The widespread appearance of design was considered illusory - but not even neo-Darwinists ever suggested that design did not <i>seem</i> to be present.<br />
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Now this picture is beginning to be recognised by most scientists, even many neo-Darwinists, to be at best inadequate and probably fundamentally wrong.<br />
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1.SPECIATION. This is observed mainly in bacteria and some insects but as far as I am aware (I only have the knowledge of the interested layman) no new bird or mammal species has occurred since humans appeared a few tens of thousands of years ago. One occasionally hears about a 'new' species but this always means 'newly discovered', unless it is a bacterium.'<br />
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2.MUTATIONS. The so called random mutations which give rise to new species of bacteria while intrinsically stochastic do not occur anywhere in the organism at random - they only happen where they lead to a viable variation of some kind that fits into and integrates with the overall architecture and functional scheme of the new organism, which at some level is 'known' in advance.<br />
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3.EPIGENETICS. Learned behaviour and acquired characteristics are passed on down the generations. The gene is not the master. What determines the behaviour and characteristics of an organism is what genes are turned on or off and the instructions for this somehow get passed on (by a by a fairly recently discovered process called methylation) to the offspring. What you learn now about how to cope with your environment can be passed on to future generations. How many generations is not known. I saw one paper recently talking about 18 generations but I can't remember at this moment what kind of life it was.<br />
<br />
<br />
4.COOPERATION betweeen species seems to be common throughout the ecosphere.This, as far as I am aware, occurs for all types of life, from bacteria to mammals, both within one type of life and between different kinds of life.<br />
<br />
5.BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY INTERACT. For instance, vegetation in prehistoric times lubricated the movements of rocks in a way which led to certain patterns of tectonic activity which indirectly affected earthquakes, volcanoes, vegetation, animal life and human settlements today.<br />
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6.INTELLIGENCE is ubiquitous in nature. New examples appear in the scientific press almost daily whether it is insects solving the 'travelling salesman problem' or crows using twigs as tools . A clue as to how this intelligence is achieved may lie in recent quantum biological investigations into photosynthesis and bird migration. Intelligence is being studied at the neurological level, leading to neural nets, deep learning and artificial intelligence.<br />
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7.PURPOSE. Everything from an embryonic stem cell to the leader of a lion pack in some sense knows its purpose and behaves accordingly. In his book <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28561818-improbable-planet">Improbable Planet</a></i> the astrophysicist Hugh Ross cites a wealth of meticulously referenced evidence to support the thesis that the entire cosmic history is directed towards the realisation of human civilisation. New discoveries compatible with this hypothesis are appearing frequently in the literature without comment by the popular science media as far as I am aware.<br />
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8.QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT. Physicists since the mid 20th century have been aware that molecules, atoms and other particles are able to interact independently of separation. This interaction is instantaneous, and so independent of time. In principle it is possible for particles on opposite sides of the universe to interact regardless of future, present or past. The controversial reports by Sheldrake et al of learning within a species being passed without human intervention to another in a different part of the world should be seen in the light of this and of the intergenerational information transfer proven in epigenetics (item 3 above).<br />
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While not inferring here anything about the philosophical or theological implications of this emerging picture it worries me that many scientists, in particular biologists and cosmologists, are made uncomfortable by it. They also show great reluctance to accept, if not a fear of, the hyperfine tuning of the initial state of the universe for life (e.g. gravitational constant, cosmic constant, dark energy, electromagnetic constant, initial mass and initial entropy, to name only a few, are finely balanced to permit living systems to function). Yet the scientist's role is to discover truths about the world, not pretend they don't exist when they are discovered.<br />
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Some cosmologists have been so nonplussed by the Big Bang model (first conceived by a Roman Catholic priest), the fine tuning and the teleological evolution of the universe that they resort to invoking chance under the auspices of parallel or multiple universes which by definition cannot be experimentally verified, rather than focus on understanding the real universe we live in, over 90% of which is a total mystery. Instead of looking for more powerful theories on how our universe operates they arbitrarily invoke new ones. It reminds me of medieval alchemy.<br />
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Many young people regard scientists as priests and expect them to be guardians of the search for truth. If humanity is to continue to progress the holding of truth as a sacred target is its most precious resource. Popular science, e.g. BBC's Horizon, or the Discovery Channel or science articles in the press, need to acknowledge and discuss these aspects of the world. Otherwise instead of a new generation of scientists respecting God and truth we risk a descent into alchemy and magi, hopefully not conducted at great public expense.<br />
<br />
John Sears<br />
author, <a href="https://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/p/2077-ad.html">2077:Knights of Peace</a> <br />
<br />John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-88811131577466765342018-01-23T08:01:00.000-08:002018-01-23T08:01:56.803-08:00Father James reflects on God's universe<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="color: red;"><i>Father James is a character from the novel </i></span><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/p/2077-ad.html"><i>2077: Knights of Peace</i></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<a href="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfeatures/wm/live/1280_640/images/live/p0/3x/sw/p03xsw49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for universe" border="0" class="irc_mi itGICw_xaXZI-pQOPx8XEepE" src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwfeatures/wm/live/1280_640/images/live/p0/3x/sw/p03xsw49.jpg" height="200" style="margin-top: 21px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Travelling between Earth and the monastery on Mars I feel especially close to the Almighty God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a class="irc_mil i3597 itGICw_xaXZI-zixyDjKkw5M" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwil37fL9q3QAhWFChoKHcyUDOQQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwil37fL9q3QAhWFChoKHcyUDOQQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fearth%2Fstory%2F20160610-it-took-centuries-but-we-now-know-the-size-of-the-universe&psig=AFQjCNEDnVXPPL3XA6jNQuEpevHNCzu7ww&ust=1479408047626432" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" rel="noopener" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"></a><a class="irc_mil i3597 itGICw_xaXZI-zixyDjKkw5M" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwil37fL9q3QAhWFChoKHcyUDOQQjRwIBw" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwil37fL9q3QAhWFChoKHcyUDOQQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fearth%2Fstory%2F20160610-it-took-centuries-but-we-now-know-the-size-of-the-universe&psig=AFQjCNEDnVXPPL3XA6jNQuEpevHNCzu7ww&ust=1479408047626432" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" rel="noopener" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Why should this be? The environment of space is mainly sterile, apart from a few hardy types of bacteria, as are all the stars within it. I get a similar but less intense feeling when I look at the Moon while standing in open country on Earth. Yet the Moon is a barren ball of rock, almost lifeless. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I look upon the Moon as part of God's creation illuminated by the Sun, the source of life's energy, to reveal its beauty to creatures that can experience it. The fact that it looks the same size in the sky gives a sense of everything being set up by a deity for some purpose. (As some cadets have pointed out during Enlightenment, the very existence of life on earth depends on the moon-earth system being exactly as it is. Praise the Lord.) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The ancients thought the Moon, planets and stars had something to do with God, and they were right. Today we understand the schemes and mechanisms by which they shine and are formed; we know how to describe them and even predict their movements and their critical role in allowing life on our planet; but why they should be there we can only wonder. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The panorama I get from the Confucius viewing port starkly places before me the celestial drama and omnipotence of the godhead. In the latter part the 20th and in the early 21st century many thought the very size and complexity of the universe earth showed we were of no significance in the scheme of things, that our planet was a pointless fluke in a meaningless universe, a mere grain of sand in the desert. Now we know that humanity is the whole point of God's creation. The home He has made for us, this Garden of Eden oasis, is uniquely beautiful, richly alive, wondrously intricate and fuitful beyond understanding. To create it he needed to create a universe. The universe, from flower to Milky Way, is made for us and is needed for our existence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To quote from the introductory text used in the Enlightenment programme for both cadet Knights and dominophiles:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Had the universe not been exactly this massive - fine tuned to the mass of a coin - during its early expansion stage, had its initial degree of disorder not been exactly as it was, had the laws of physics been slightly different, the physical constants wrong by a hair's breadth, had not the celestial events leading to the earth's formation been orchestrated as they were and had life not been designed as it is, then humanity's origin and history could not have occurred. For this we must thank the Lord.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Technology, through the Grace of Our Lord, allows us not only to observe but to visit and experience other planets. It also allows us to delve further into the secrets of physics, life and the universe. By the creativity within us, being made in God's image, we invent new technology. As we do so, and stay humble, our faith in his benevolence strengthens, our wonderment at his majesty magnifies, our joy in the unfolding dimensions of being is intensified, our praise of Him grows and we are eternally thankful to have this bountiful, beautiful planet to return to after experiencing the stark but faith affirming beauty of the worlds beyond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Glory be to God the Father. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-22255314650639931842017-12-10T13:42:00.000-08:002017-12-10T13:42:01.307-08:00Apollo moon programme : the God factor First posted in 2011/2012 . This is an updated version.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>There is in the western secular establishment an ongoing and insidious movement to expunge Christianity from public life, a process which I believe will lead to untold social and political problems as the spiritual basis of the western democracy is removed. It is already beginning to happen in North America and Europe, with the rising backlash to political correctness, a form of thought control, and the increasing unpopularity of the hitherto largely invisible Eurocrats, divorced from large sectors of the less affluent communities and contemptuous of their cultural and Christian heritage..</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The story below, which shows how the move to expunge reference to Christ from public life was beginning to happen c.1970, as exemplified in these background stories of the Apollo moon missions. </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Even after some promising changes to the American judiciary following the 2016 election it still raises eyebrows if 'God' , the very kernel of reality, is mentioned in public life.</span></i><br />
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<br />
<a href="http://billgx.edublogs.org/files/2008/12/earthrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="irc_mut" src="http://billgx.edublogs.org/files/2008/12/earthrise.jpg" height="214" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 99px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> It was Christmas Eve
1968 when the first words of Genesis chapter 1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">streamed from Apollo 8, in orbit
around the moon, into our small black and white TV set. Each of the three astronauts in turn
read a short passage. I </span><span style="font-size: large;">was a science-obsessed agnostic at the time but </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">click here</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=dE-vOscpiNc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=dE-vOscpiNc"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Untold Story Of The World's Most Famous Photo</span></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i> for a video on the astounding story behind this photograph.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">it
stirred me deep </span><span style="font-size: large;">down because it said that God was a real presence and power in
the Universe, albeit a transcendental one, even though most of the time I
either half acknowledged our Creator’s existence or was unaware of it entirely.
It also revealed vividly to the world that humankind was one species on one
precious planet in a vast universe.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since then Hugh Ross (search YouTube by his name for numerous videos) and others have alerted me to the fact that Genesis 1:1 is unique among the creation poems of ancient times in asserting that the stuff of the universe is not eternal and self existing but was created from nothing before space -time-energy existed, via the Big Bang. Since the time of Apollo 8 modern cosmology has discovered that Genesis was 100% right on this: the universe was created from a reality beyond the realm of scientific investigation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Madalyn O’Hare, it appears, was also stirred; but in her case it was to
anger and hatred. She brought a lawsuit against NASA for promoting religion. From thenceforth astronauts and NASA as an
organisation would be forbidden from associating themselves with Christianity.
She had already succeeded in getting prayer banned in US state schools, after
which crime levels by young people rapidly escalated. Her speech showed deep phobia against Christianity and was sometimes vitriolic, peppered with four letter words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The lawsuit, based on the separation of church and state,
forbade future astronauts from religious rituals during missions. They saw this
as an infringement of their rights under the First Amendment and various
subterfuges took place. The following is based on an excellent article in <i>Spaceflight</i>
(Dec 2011), On the Wings of Apollo by Dwight Williams:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Aldrin wanted to take Holy Communion on the Moon during the
1969 Apollo 11 mission and so smuggled aboard a ‘communion kit’ in a pouch, part
of his Personal Preference Kit. He took Communion shortly after landing on 20
July and read out John 5:15 from a card: ‘<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, and I in him,
will bear much fruit....’</span> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The Apollo 11 crew left a silicon disc on the Moon with the
voices of world leaders, including Psalms read by Pope Paul VI.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The Rev John Stout, inspired by the devout Ed White who
died in the Apollo 1 fire of 1967, started the Apollo Prayer League with 40,000
members and resolved to have bibles placed on the Moon. 300 microfilm bibles
were indeed smuggled aboard Apollo 14 by Ed Mitchell.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.edmitchellapollo14.com/naturearticle.htm">Ed Mitchell</a> of Apollo 14 announced
at a business conference that the Apollo 13 mission had been saved from
disaster by public prayers after its oxygen tank had exploded. Mitchell, I
understand, had an IQ of 180 and proposed theories
concerning the nature of awareness, quantum physics and the interconnectedness
of life.</span></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://smokeys-trail.com/Jesus/Athiest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="irc_mut" src="http://smokeys-trail.com/Jesus/Athiest.jpg" height="113" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 101px;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Madalyn O'Hare, the founder of American Atheists, had a tragic life. In 1993 she and one of her sons, Jon Murray, and her grand </span><span style="font-size: large;">daughter Robin Murray O'Hare were murdered and mutilated by the former office manager of the American Atheists, David Roland Waters. The details are complex but it appears to have been the result of a financial dispute. <i>Kyrie Eleison.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To me it is heartening to note that her son William J Murray is now the leader of a Christian church and author of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1304424.My_Life_Without_God"><i>My Life Without God. </i></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Western critics of Christianity, who are usually comfortably off, should take a hard look at the world and ask themselves whether there are any nations without a Christian heritage where they would rather live. The West can be criticized for its past and it repeatedly rebukes itself; but by what standards, if not those of Christ?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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John Sears</div>
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Author, <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/p/2077-ad.html"><i>2077: Knights of Peace</i></a></div>
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cosmik.jo@gmail.com</div>
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<br /></div>
John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-81514285442792223962017-06-15T14:11:00.000-07:002017-06-15T14:22:12.767-07:00Deep mystery of existence.7.Ten trillion stars to make you<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A curious aspect of the universe we live in, i.e. the only
one in this dimension, is that it is designed and engineered accurately for the emergence and evolution of civilization.</span><br />
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" 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style="cursor: move; height: 180px; margin-top: 0px; width: 227px;" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">It was created <i>ex
nihilio</i> (out of existential nothingness) 13.8 billion years ago. It had
certain starting conditions and physical constants and has proceeded to evolve
in a purposeful way, from the first elementary particles to the atoms to the
molecules to clouds of gas to stars to galaxies to planets, culminating in
intelligent, self-conscious beings on this planet (quite possibly uniquely, judging by observations of exoplanets, stars and galaxies to date) able to peer across space and time to deduce the time and nature of the original creation event. The
planet on which this life has emerged is special to say the least, as is the
accompanying moon, the sun, the solar
system, its position in the Milky Way
Galaxy and the properties of the MWG itself. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our perception is swinging back to a pre-Copernican one. Although we are small and non-central in space as we orbit the sun rather than vice versa, we could well be the centre of consciousness of the universe. It is in a sense like the centre of consciousness of a supertanker being the captain, who is much smaller than the ship and not in a central position, although he has a good view from the bridge just as we have a possibly uniquely good view of the universe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is well known that the size of the observable universe is
vast, 93</span><span style="font-size: large;"> billion light years across, as is the number of stars it contains (10 with
23 zeros, i.e. 100 billion trillion, is probably on the conservative side). What is not so well known is that for
life to be here on this planet now the universe has to be this size and in its
present configuration.<i> During its early development its mass had to be what it was then (the same as now in fact) to within the mass of a single coin.</i></span></div>
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<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(Incidentally it is not commonly mentioned in the popular science media that had the earth been formed slightly later the sun would have been too hot for life to start and no stars would be visible in the sky any way because the universe would have been expanding too fast. Had the earth started earlier the sun would again be in the wrong part of its cycle and the sky would be one brilliant mass of light with no individual celestial object visible because the stars would have been too closely crammed together at that time in cosmic history.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All the atoms, stars and galaxies of stars have to be
exactly as they are for us to exist. They have somehow been moved and
configured and tuned since the Big Bang to make humankind. If the original mass of the universe had been infinitesimally different there would be no living thing in the cosmos. Every person is
totally dependent on whatever agency brought him or her into existence, the parents being just the last link in the chain that 'began' as a deliberate cosmic manufacturing process by a Creator, operating from outside of space-time, in another dimension. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Another startling discovery of modern physics is that every particle in the universe is able to interact with any other particle in the universe - past, present or future. (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement">Quantum entanglement</a>.) So the idea that all that huge expanse is connected with us is made increasingly real, albeit impossible to comprehend. The famous line 'No man is an island' by John Donne (1572-1631) has never been more apt, reflecting poetically something which would not be discovered until 4 centuries later. The old 19th century mechanistic, Newtonian, Darwinian reductionist view of the universe is now seen as an outdated, mentally stifling approximation of what is really there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How many of us are there? Rounding up let us say 10 billion.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A simple piece of arithmetic: divide 100 billion trillion (assuming this estimate for the number of stars to be correct - it may be much more) by
10 billion. The answer is 10 trillion, which, incidentally, is equal to the number of cells in the body - one star for every cell. In a way this is what one would expect. A body cell comprises trillions of atoms expertly arranged to perform a specific function or range of functions, so vast resources are needed to make the atoms it needs and somehow intelligence is invoked in a way that surpasses understanding.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If, as I believe is the only rational explanation, the Creator has made this universe in order to bring us into being, you may wonder at his wastefulness. But what if there is no other way? Just to make a can for a soft drink or beer takes enormous resources and the most elaborate world communication and transport processes. Large amounts of waste are produced as a by product and have to be disposed of. Even if you divide the total consumption of energy and resources by the number of cans of drink it must still be huge. Similarly with the construction of our planet and its 7 billion inhabitants. Unimaginabl</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">y large amounts of materials and energy are left over but unless they had been there to be left over, and in the quantities observed, there would be no human civilization. (See <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/story-of-drinks-can.html">story of a drinks </a>can on this blog.) </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just to make a unicellular organism, an incredibly complex work of engineering, requires an immense amount of organization and bringing together of the right trace elements and building blocks and putting them together in an intelligent way. So is it surprising that it takes a whole universe to produce human civilization?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In a sense the Creator has in His abundant
love and omnipotence made 10 trillion stars (and much else) in order that you can exist in physical form and be conscious of the created order around you and think, love, hate, create, destroy, perceive beauty and ugliness, seek truth or falsehood, desire justice, practice honesty or dishonesty, forgive or avenge, be loyal or disloyal, proud or humble, and experience a whole spectrum of sensations via the five senses and spiritually.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So when you look at the night sky don’t think you are not
important to God. </span></div>
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<br />
See also<br />
<br />
<a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/our-perception-of-reality-ancient-and.html">Our perception of existence, ancient and modern</a><br />
<br /></div>
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John</div>
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Author, <a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/p/2077-ad.html"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2077: Knights of Peace</i></a></div>
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John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093820173593658723.post-54259912288930768652017-04-13T10:42:00.000-07:002017-05-12T10:06:23.572-07:00Friday 3 April 33 AD, 3 p.m.: the Crucifixion?<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3093820173593658723#overviewstats" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3093820173593658723" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scholars have previously looked at astronomical, historical
and Biblical evidence and been unable to agree on the dates of Christ’s birth
and Crucifixion to better than within than a few years. Nor have they </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">known
what to make of the reference to the star of Bethlehem in Matthew chapter 2 –
was it a comet, a supernova or a planetary conjunction or a spiritual light?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But as techniques of investigation
improve this </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">situation is fast changing and I invite you to look at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGUlWa2r-bk">YouTube video</a> (endorsed by senior staff from NASA and the American Association for the Advancement of Science). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;">The following is derived mainly from this video and you may find it useful to read before and after watching - a kind of summary.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the video Rick Larson explains how he went about investigating these questions using </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Computer simulations of the night sky seen from Jerusalem and Babylon in the first decade BC</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reasonable assumptions about the Magi based on the records of Philo of Alexander (15 BC to 50 AD), a Jewish philosopher<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Careful reading of the biblical accounts of the conception, birth, ministry and Crucifixion of Jesus </span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The accurate prophecy of Daniel while a captive in Babylon</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Historical records of the Jewish king Herod and the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Traditional Jewish feast dates (e.g. the Crucifixion must have been in a year in which Preparation Day fell on a Friday)</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Astrological symbolism in the ancient world (including Roman and Biblical)</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Putting it all together he arrives at entirely credible conclusions
about the dates of history’s most important events. (NB: the dates giving
Jesus’s life as appearing to occur before His birth arise from the switch from
the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. It has long been agreed that Jesus was
born some time in the first decade BC.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Subsequent evaluations of Larson's analysis by scholars are unable to seriously question this work. It seems to me, as a layman, that the conclusions reached below rest primarily on the assumption that the Jewish historian Josephus (writing around 90 AD) gave 1 BC as the date of Herod the Great's death, since it narrows down the date of Christ's birth. Traditionally, there has been a consensus that Herod died in 4 BC but looking into it as far as I am able it appears that the earlier Josephus manuscripts do indeed give a date of 1 BC. Apparently, there was a misprint in subsequent copies. The evidence is, I understand, in the British Museum.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
September 3 BC: The conception.</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Magi (wise men or astrologers, probably known as the Eastern School)) in Babylon would have
seen the king planet Jupiter making a triple pass of Regulus, the king star of
Leo (the symbol of the tribe of Judah; see, for example, Rev 5:5), also known
as Rex by the Romans and Sharu (king) by the Magi. They would also have seen
Virgo rising with the new crescent moon at her feet, reflecting the startling
imagery of Rev 12:1-2. Larson confesses that much of Revelation is incomprehensible and makes the point that it deals with past and future events. My view is that prophecies are rarely unambiguous until after the event, at which juncture they become understandable and serve to strengthen faith in the existence of order in God's overall plan which 'surpasses all understanding'. [I have recently read a commentary on Revelation by Bishop Tom Wright and he makes the point that much of the imagery refers to simultaneously existing aspects of reality, not a sequence of events (e.g. when each of the 7 trumpets is blown it portrays a different aspect).]</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
June 2 BC: the birth</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Venus the mother planet was in conjunction with Jupiter the King. Venus is the brightest object in the sky, besides the sun and moon, while Jupiter is the second brightest. The two of them close together in the sky, appearing to be one,
would have been a brilliant spectacle for the Magi as they looked west towards
Judea from Babylon. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
Later in 2 BC: the Magi arrive
in Jerusalem</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They announced that the King of the Jews had been </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">born, causing
widespread puzzlement, sceptism and rejoicing by the Jews and paranoia by King
Herod.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
December 2 BC: the Magi visit
the Messiah</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">As the Magi moved south from Jerusalem towards Bethlehem
Jupiter would appear to be stationary in the sky over Bethlehem because of its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrograde_motion"><span style="color: red;">retrograde</span></a>
motion, as calculated by the computer model, in accord with Matthew chapter 2.
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
3 April 33 AD: the Crucifixion</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://stevedehner.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/the_crucifixion_tintoretto_15651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://stevedehner.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/the_crucifixion_tintoretto_15651.jpg" height="171" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The accuracy of this date derives from the recorded fact
that the event occurred at a particular time on the Jewish calendar of feasts
and festivals. It also corresponds to Daniel’s prophecy (9:25) and
circumstantial evidence in the Annals of Tacitus. Biblical data on the length
of Christ’s ministry also helps tie it down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew gives the time of physical death as
about 3 p.m. At this time the computer simulation shows that the moon was
eclipsed, and would have </span><span style="font-size: large;">appeared blood red as it rose </span><span style="font-size: large;">above the horizon that
evening at the feet of Virgo, in accord with biblical references which Larson gives (e.g. Acts 2:14-21, which quotes the Prophet Joel).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Quoting Larson:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">the moon rose already in eclipse, already bloody, fulfilling Joel’s vision. Necessarily, this means that the eclipse commenced before moonrise. With software we can look below the horizon and see Earth’s shadow begin the eclipse. When we do, we find that at 3 PM, as Jesus was breathing his last on the cross, the moon was going to blood. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white;">The sky at Christ’s birth can be viewed as a kind of visual poetry, with the new moon symbolically “birthed” at the foot of Virgo, the virgin. To complete that celestial poem, on the night of Jesus’ death the moon had returned to the foot of the virgin. But now it was a full moon. A life fully lived, blotted out in blood.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The references in Matthew and Mark to the darkening of the sky and to earthquakes are thought to be related to terrestrial phenomena known to have occurred in the area. This is being investigated. Incidentally, in my view it is often the timing of biblical events which has a supernatural significance, rather than the event itself. On the other hand at least one <a href="http://www.khouse.org/articles/2009/847/">quantum physicist investigating the Shroud of Turin claims to have found evidence of an event horizon associated with the cloth</a>. If the cloth is genuinely associated with the Resurrection of Christ this would support the belief that the whole universe was affected, in a sense reborn (the Cosmic Christ, a belief which stretches back to the early Christian mystics).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The DVD ends with a computer simulation showing what an
astronaut standing on the earth-side of the moon would have seen in the sky at
the time of Jesus’s physical death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t want to give this away but the position is of enormous biblical
significance.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The website and DVD explain all this and much more. The research is attracting a lot of interest and is ongoing.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3093820173593658723#overviewstats" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3093820173593658723" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="clear: right; 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float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3093820173593658723#overviewstats" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3093820173593658723" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What all this means to me as a Christian I am not sure. I
had always assumed that such a degree of certainty would never be reached and in a sense the details do not matter. Yet if
further research makes this irrefutable it will strongly suggest that events in
human history are indeed synchronized to the clockwork unfolding of the
universe. It is already becoming accepted that much of the living world is governed by biological clocks, certainly in plants, and that these are even synchronised to each other - so why not the whole biosphere? Could there be a master clock that governs the unfolding of the entire cosmos? A kind of elementary particle, t<a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129532-200-the-u-bit-may-be-omniscient-but-its-no-god-particle/">he U-bit</a> , which interacts with every particle in the universe has already been discussed in an article in the New Scientist.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> These relationships between human history and the aspects of the
stars suggest a profound cosmic significance in the manifestation of the
Creator in our world and the unfolding of the entire Creation. Should the lates<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-turin-shroud-evidence-mounts.html">inve</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-turin-shroud-evidence-mounts.html">sti</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-turin-shroud-evidence-mounts.html">gati</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-turin-shroud-evidence-mounts.html">ons </a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-turin-shroud-evidence-mounts.html">a</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-turin-shroud-evidence-mounts.html">nd analysis of the </a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://worldpeace2077.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-turin-shroud-evidence-mounts.html"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Turin Shroud</span></a> prove it to be <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">g<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">enuinely the burial shroud of Jesus and <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to exhibit <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">uniqu<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">e<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, </span></span>scientif</span>ically inexplica<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ble</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> physical properties<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, the reality of the Resurrection<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, it would seem to me, should <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">get through<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to the entire human race more vividly and sig<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ni<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">fi<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">c<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ant<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ly tha<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">n ever. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What thi<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">s woul<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">d mean for the human<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ity</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">no mortal could possibly know but it won't stop people like me speculating.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Author <span style="color: red;">2077: Knights of Peace</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reach me at <a href="mailto:cosmik.jo@gmail.com">cosmik.jo@gmail.com</a></span></span></div>
John Searshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05303646773905017934noreply@blogger.comEurope52.482780222078205 -1.757812532.9699032220782 -43.0664065 71.995657222078208 39.5507815