When I first heard about Red Bull Stratos and Felix Baumgartner's jump, I thought it was absolutely cool. What I didn't realize at first was what it meant for the people involved and for the effect it will have on humanity.
Honestly there are thousands of people who are just learning about this historic event today, but in all honesty this will be known in the history books for many years. It isn't even some kind of crazy stunt, this is something that science and technology have made possible through human endurance and creativity. It shows that with the right imagination and ingenuity, great things can be accomplished. Some people go their whole lives wanting to see something spectacular. This is one of those events, and because of the advancements in internet software and technology, millions were able to watch this event happen live and experience the awe and wonder of what was happening.
Many of us will never know the thrill of jumping out of a plane with a parachute or riding a rocket to outer space or even know the joy that is climbing to the top of Mt. Everest. But because of the advancements in social media, we are able to see a world record set from 120,000 feet in the air by a brave human being willing to push the limits of human endurance and do something only one other person has done before.
This a great event for humanity. Not because of what happened, but what it means for all of us. You can achieve something great, if you're willing to do the work.
Mission complete: Red Bull Stratos lands safely back on Earth
'Fearless Felix' Falls 24 Miles To Earth
Daredevil to attempt supersonic skydive - NBCNews.com
Felix Baumgartner's supersonic freefall from 128k' - Mission Highlights
Showing posts with label being. Show all posts
Showing posts with label being. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The Theology of Yoda. Religion in Thought, Mind and Choice.
I've always looked at Yoda as the old wise-man from the films I saw as a kid. As I have grown older I realized that there is some truth to the statements that were made in George Lucas' films of Intergalactic War and Religious beliefs. There are many ways to interpret what is being said. Though many would want you to read the bible or listen the theological views about what is actually being said, I've learned that not everything that people study is interpreted the same way.
We all see things the way we want to see them and that doesn't mean we are wrong or evil for seeing it that way. Though choosing to think that your version is the only truth and persecute anyone else who thinks differently is the wrong way. No one ever thinks the same way as anyone else. Some may believe in the same thing but the way they interpret it and act on it will differ dramatically. Some may not even believe what they are told because they feel they need to learn it in their own way, or find the truth behind it.
I think it's one of the truest form of Free Will. Even when we are told something that is absolutely true, we still want to search for more to find out if it really is true. I have been Catholic since I was baptized as a baby. Throughout my time with the religion I have had encounters with other people and religious orders that don't believe the exact same thing I do. Many in my own church don't believe in the teachings of Catholicism the same way I do. I don't think they are wrong or misinterpreting it. I honestly think they are just as right as I am. But what I do have a problem is when they try and force their beliefs on someone else.
Religion and faith are just as much a choice of turning left or right on a road. You can believe in something and follow the path that is set before you, but no one says you have to believe it the same as everyone else. You have a choice in how you act and interpret what your religion teaches. Now some might say I'm talking Heresy, but that is their opinion. I can think and believe in whatever I want and that is mine to choose. No one can make me believe in something. I can even say I believe in something that someone tells me to believe and not actually believe it. I'm not saying that I do, but I have the choice to do so.
In a manner of speaking Yoda points this out in his statement in the film "The Empire Strikes Back" of "No, Try Not. Do or Do Not, There is no Try". This can be interpreted as many things. But one is that don't do something unless you believe you can. This is then solidified when Yoda lifts the ship when Luke couldn't. Luke then approaches Yoda saying..." I don't....I don't believe it." Yoda responds with, "That is why you fail." When looking at it from a view of choice, Luke choose not to completely believe that he could lift the ship. He gave into his fear of failing in the task, which was the result. If you choose to believe in something, you need to go in to that believe with commitment. Otherwise you won't find what you're looking for.
You can see aspects of this in every day life. If you want to do something but you don't go into it with all your ability, you probably won't get the satisfaction that you thought you would. From as simple as putting a model together, or playing a video game, to planning a wedding , a charity event or your professional career. You can't just put in the bare-minimum effort and expect it to work out exactly as you want. You have to commit yourself into that task till it is completed. Only by placing yourself all the way forward behind what you want, will you succeed. It comes down to making the choice of "Do or Do Not".
In another way, you can look at Yoda's view of "Fear leads to Anger, Anger Leads to Hate, Hate leads to Suffering." as a statement of religious views. Many people don't believe in what other people believe in. Because of this fear and resentment can form for other religions because people are content with what is being taught about life. Because of this fear and doubt that ones religions isn't giving them the satisfaction that another's religion is can lead to anger that they are being cheated or that everything they believe in is false. This aspect can fester and people begin to show aggression against those people that believe differently then them. They can think, 'Why are they so content? Why don't I feel that content with what I have been taught? Why is it so easy for them?' This can then manifest as Hatred for the religion and the people who follow it. Hatred can spread to others and fighting can start both in words and in physical violence. Finally becoming suffering on both sides. Both sides give into the fear, anger, and hatred of the other religious beliefs and they all suffer because of it.
Once again there is always a choice in how you feel about things. If you choose to fear something because it is different or isn't how you see it should be, then you can't see everything about it. Don't instantly judge something without taking a good look at it, especially when dealing with interpreting what someone says and what someone believes. You have a choice to see things as they are and not as someone else sees them. Instead of following the crowd in what they see, look at it yourself and try to see what it actually is. Curiosity has always been one of the strongest drives for human beings. Discovery of new and different things is the corner stone of our society. We choose to go out and explore what is the world around us and find out for ourselves what is going on. You can listen to what other people say, but that doesn't mean you have to believe it. You have that choice.
Just like what I'm saying in this blog. It is just my opinion. I'm not saying I'm right and you have to believe what I say. I could be wrong and mis-interpreting all of it. But that is your choice, just as mine was to post this online for everyone to see and get the opinions of them. I'm not giving into the fear of rejection and criticism. I'm embracing it for the benefit of learning and experiencing life.
Lead Well, but Yoda was Wrong | Richard Burkey:
'via Blog this'
Yoda's Wisdom for Your Walk
We all see things the way we want to see them and that doesn't mean we are wrong or evil for seeing it that way. Though choosing to think that your version is the only truth and persecute anyone else who thinks differently is the wrong way. No one ever thinks the same way as anyone else. Some may believe in the same thing but the way they interpret it and act on it will differ dramatically. Some may not even believe what they are told because they feel they need to learn it in their own way, or find the truth behind it.
I think it's one of the truest form of Free Will. Even when we are told something that is absolutely true, we still want to search for more to find out if it really is true. I have been Catholic since I was baptized as a baby. Throughout my time with the religion I have had encounters with other people and religious orders that don't believe the exact same thing I do. Many in my own church don't believe in the teachings of Catholicism the same way I do. I don't think they are wrong or misinterpreting it. I honestly think they are just as right as I am. But what I do have a problem is when they try and force their beliefs on someone else.
Religion and faith are just as much a choice of turning left or right on a road. You can believe in something and follow the path that is set before you, but no one says you have to believe it the same as everyone else. You have a choice in how you act and interpret what your religion teaches. Now some might say I'm talking Heresy, but that is their opinion. I can think and believe in whatever I want and that is mine to choose. No one can make me believe in something. I can even say I believe in something that someone tells me to believe and not actually believe it. I'm not saying that I do, but I have the choice to do so.
In a manner of speaking Yoda points this out in his statement in the film "The Empire Strikes Back" of "No, Try Not. Do or Do Not, There is no Try". This can be interpreted as many things. But one is that don't do something unless you believe you can. This is then solidified when Yoda lifts the ship when Luke couldn't. Luke then approaches Yoda saying..." I don't....I don't believe it." Yoda responds with, "That is why you fail." When looking at it from a view of choice, Luke choose not to completely believe that he could lift the ship. He gave into his fear of failing in the task, which was the result. If you choose to believe in something, you need to go in to that believe with commitment. Otherwise you won't find what you're looking for.
You can see aspects of this in every day life. If you want to do something but you don't go into it with all your ability, you probably won't get the satisfaction that you thought you would. From as simple as putting a model together, or playing a video game, to planning a wedding , a charity event or your professional career. You can't just put in the bare-minimum effort and expect it to work out exactly as you want. You have to commit yourself into that task till it is completed. Only by placing yourself all the way forward behind what you want, will you succeed. It comes down to making the choice of "Do or Do Not".
In another way, you can look at Yoda's view of "Fear leads to Anger, Anger Leads to Hate, Hate leads to Suffering." as a statement of religious views. Many people don't believe in what other people believe in. Because of this fear and resentment can form for other religions because people are content with what is being taught about life. Because of this fear and doubt that ones religions isn't giving them the satisfaction that another's religion is can lead to anger that they are being cheated or that everything they believe in is false. This aspect can fester and people begin to show aggression against those people that believe differently then them. They can think, 'Why are they so content? Why don't I feel that content with what I have been taught? Why is it so easy for them?' This can then manifest as Hatred for the religion and the people who follow it. Hatred can spread to others and fighting can start both in words and in physical violence. Finally becoming suffering on both sides. Both sides give into the fear, anger, and hatred of the other religious beliefs and they all suffer because of it.
Once again there is always a choice in how you feel about things. If you choose to fear something because it is different or isn't how you see it should be, then you can't see everything about it. Don't instantly judge something without taking a good look at it, especially when dealing with interpreting what someone says and what someone believes. You have a choice to see things as they are and not as someone else sees them. Instead of following the crowd in what they see, look at it yourself and try to see what it actually is. Curiosity has always been one of the strongest drives for human beings. Discovery of new and different things is the corner stone of our society. We choose to go out and explore what is the world around us and find out for ourselves what is going on. You can listen to what other people say, but that doesn't mean you have to believe it. You have that choice.
Just like what I'm saying in this blog. It is just my opinion. I'm not saying I'm right and you have to believe what I say. I could be wrong and mis-interpreting all of it. But that is your choice, just as mine was to post this online for everyone to see and get the opinions of them. I'm not giving into the fear of rejection and criticism. I'm embracing it for the benefit of learning and experiencing life.
Lead Well, but Yoda was Wrong | Richard Burkey:
'via Blog this'
Yoda's Wisdom for Your Walk
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Missing Persons in USA, 2,300 a Day.
I was reading "Dead Beat" By Jim Butcher (part of the Dresden Files series) and the number of missing people was brought up in the USA every year. I decided to go online and see what I could find. This is a startling number. I had no idea that it was this many people. The websites below list the numbers. Check them out before reading on.
Missing Persons Statistics and Facts — 2,300 a Day — Crime Library on truTV.com:
America's Missing
Missing In America
What did you think?
Now I know a few of you are thinking that this is the number of people that people go missing and are later found. Well unfortunately that isn't the case. These numbers are based on the number of people that are NEVER found. The number of people that go missing and are then found later is much higher. Which brings up the question: How can people just disappear?
Before we jump into conspiracy theories about something like this, let’s try to think logically. There are lots of ways for a human being to just vanish. It has been proven that people can go off the grid and vanish from everyday life. There have been plenty of movies and TV shows about criminals, fugitives and scared people who have decided that society isn't for them and they just leave their lives behind. They leave their cell phones, credit cards, clothes, family and everything behind for a life where they can't be found. Some become homeless or hermits in the wild. Others just take on a new identity, have papers forged or specifically made and vanish into a new life. But, then there is the question of bodies found that have no ID or any markings that show who they may have been or who they were and they end up Jane or John Doe's in a Corners office.
What really catches my interest is the people who go missing without a trace. No body, no tracks, no nothing. How often do you hear about this and it just rolls off your back? In some parts of the world the number is higher because of the lack of jobs that require them to keep an eye on you. Now I'm not simply meaning of a bad way, just accountants and HR people keeping track of your pay dates and such so they know who you are and how you are paid, or your mortgage, banks statements, mail, etc. little things that are set up in order to keep track of people.
In today's society, people are worried about being watched or tracked on the Internet. I understand about it being a violation of your privacy but when you think about, wouldn't you want someone to be able to find you if you needed it? Say for example, you walked outside and down the street from your house. Suddenly the ground caves in under you, now your deep in a hole and your knocked unconscious. Granted someone could come along and find the hole and see you down there. But what if it happened in some strange place that you haven't gone before. Would someone you know be able to find you? How many people check on you when they don't have to? Family, Friends, etc? It doesn't have to be some strange Sci-Fi or crazy psycho killer. It just has to be an accident.
Let's talk about the other side though. Many people believe that there is more to live than meets the eye. You can look at the mysteries of the world the same way you can look at Religion. People say God is real. Can you see him/her? Can you touch him/her? Can He/Her be walking the street right next to you? Does He/Her listen when you pray? All these questions can be related to asking if Vampires, Bigfoot, Angels, Demons exist. If Angels exist, then do Demons? You could go back and forth for HOURS arguing both sides of the fence thinking that common sense says that neither side is right or wrong. You honestly can't prove anything if there is no hard evidence. But there is Belief, and we all know from our history books that belief is all you need to make it a fact in your own mind. So based on that, why couldn't some of these missing people have vanished because something beyond our reasoning and understanding took them? Now I'm not going to say for certain that any of that is true, because I honestly can't prove it can or can't be true. But I do know that there are many things in this world that I can't understand and don't know for sure that they exist.
For example; say your walking down the street in the rain. The rain clears and a rainbow comes out. You look and say "Oh Wow that's beautiful!" From next to you a man says,"What is?" You reply to them without looking, "The rainbow in the sky." The man says, "What's a Rainbow?" you turn to comment and you see the man is blind. After a moment, you explain to the blind man what a rainbow is, he laughs a bit and says "Sure pal, whatever. I can see the magic colors in the sky too." Granted this is a more blunt example but is no different from arguing about the existence of a jellyfish to a man who lives in the middle of Africa and has never seen or heard of the Ocean.
I'm personally one to believe that there are stranger things in life than what we are brought up to believe. Being an Irish-Catholic, I was brought up to believe in my religion, but since my youth I have been exposed to many things in this world that has lead me to believe that there are things that I can understand and things that I can't. But I do have faith, and that's something that allows anything to be believable. The websites below give factual numbers. How do we know? Because it's their job to figure out numbers. What do those numbers mean? That something has happened to those people. Is it something we can wrap our minds around and understand? I honestly don't know, but I have faith that one day an answer will come about. When that happens......Will we be ready for that answer?
Now I know a few of you are thinking that this is the number of people that people go missing and are later found. Well unfortunately that isn't the case. These numbers are based on the number of people that are NEVER found. The number of people that go missing and are then found later is much higher. Which brings up the question: How can people just disappear?
Before we jump into conspiracy theories about something like this, let’s try to think logically. There are lots of ways for a human being to just vanish. It has been proven that people can go off the grid and vanish from everyday life. There have been plenty of movies and TV shows about criminals, fugitives and scared people who have decided that society isn't for them and they just leave their lives behind. They leave their cell phones, credit cards, clothes, family and everything behind for a life where they can't be found. Some become homeless or hermits in the wild. Others just take on a new identity, have papers forged or specifically made and vanish into a new life. But, then there is the question of bodies found that have no ID or any markings that show who they may have been or who they were and they end up Jane or John Doe's in a Corners office.
What really catches my interest is the people who go missing without a trace. No body, no tracks, no nothing. How often do you hear about this and it just rolls off your back? In some parts of the world the number is higher because of the lack of jobs that require them to keep an eye on you. Now I'm not simply meaning of a bad way, just accountants and HR people keeping track of your pay dates and such so they know who you are and how you are paid, or your mortgage, banks statements, mail, etc. little things that are set up in order to keep track of people.
In today's society, people are worried about being watched or tracked on the Internet. I understand about it being a violation of your privacy but when you think about, wouldn't you want someone to be able to find you if you needed it? Say for example, you walked outside and down the street from your house. Suddenly the ground caves in under you, now your deep in a hole and your knocked unconscious. Granted someone could come along and find the hole and see you down there. But what if it happened in some strange place that you haven't gone before. Would someone you know be able to find you? How many people check on you when they don't have to? Family, Friends, etc? It doesn't have to be some strange Sci-Fi or crazy psycho killer. It just has to be an accident.
Let's talk about the other side though. Many people believe that there is more to live than meets the eye. You can look at the mysteries of the world the same way you can look at Religion. People say God is real. Can you see him/her? Can you touch him/her? Can He/Her be walking the street right next to you? Does He/Her listen when you pray? All these questions can be related to asking if Vampires, Bigfoot, Angels, Demons exist. If Angels exist, then do Demons? You could go back and forth for HOURS arguing both sides of the fence thinking that common sense says that neither side is right or wrong. You honestly can't prove anything if there is no hard evidence. But there is Belief, and we all know from our history books that belief is all you need to make it a fact in your own mind. So based on that, why couldn't some of these missing people have vanished because something beyond our reasoning and understanding took them? Now I'm not going to say for certain that any of that is true, because I honestly can't prove it can or can't be true. But I do know that there are many things in this world that I can't understand and don't know for sure that they exist.
For example; say your walking down the street in the rain. The rain clears and a rainbow comes out. You look and say "Oh Wow that's beautiful!" From next to you a man says,"What is?" You reply to them without looking, "The rainbow in the sky." The man says, "What's a Rainbow?" you turn to comment and you see the man is blind. After a moment, you explain to the blind man what a rainbow is, he laughs a bit and says "Sure pal, whatever. I can see the magic colors in the sky too." Granted this is a more blunt example but is no different from arguing about the existence of a jellyfish to a man who lives in the middle of Africa and has never seen or heard of the Ocean.
I'm personally one to believe that there are stranger things in life than what we are brought up to believe. Being an Irish-Catholic, I was brought up to believe in my religion, but since my youth I have been exposed to many things in this world that has lead me to believe that there are things that I can understand and things that I can't. But I do have faith, and that's something that allows anything to be believable. The websites below give factual numbers. How do we know? Because it's their job to figure out numbers. What do those numbers mean? That something has happened to those people. Is it something we can wrap our minds around and understand? I honestly don't know, but I have faith that one day an answer will come about. When that happens......Will we be ready for that answer?
Missing Persons Statistics and Facts — 2,300 a Day — Crime Library on truTV.com:
America's Missing
Missing In America
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