Lawrence R. Spencer's Blog, page 82

CHIMPS: SMARTER THAN ME

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CHIMPS DEFINITELY HAVE A BETTER SHORT TERM MEMORY THAN ME….

SIZE IS RELATIVE TO YOUR POINT OF VIEW

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This is an animation that demonstrates the  relative size of Earth to the rest of the universe.

FREEDOM FROM: THE ANARCHIST DREAM

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“MAN WILL NEVER BE FREE UNTIL THE LAST KING IS STRANGLED WITH THE ENTRAILS OF THE LAST PRIEST.”   — Denis Diderot –

“FREEDOM IS THE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY  OF EVERY MAN TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN TYRANNY AND CHAOS.”   — Lawrence R. Spencer —

ILLUSION

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Definition of “ILLUSION” from the Oxford English Dictionary

Sensuous perception of an external object, involving a false belief or conception: strictly distinguished from hallucination, but in general use often made to include it, and hence = the apparent perception of an external object when no such object is present, or of attributes of an object which do not exist.  the argument that the objects of sense-experience, usually called ideas, appearances, or sense-data, cannot be objects in a physical world independent of the Perceiver, since they vary according to his condition and environment.

CATS AND MICE AND GODLESS PARASITES

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“I own that I cannot see as plainly as others do, and as I should wish to do, evidence of design and beneficence on all sides of us. There seems to me too much misery in the world. I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars, or that a cat should play with mice.”

~  Charles Darwin, letter to Asa Gray, May 22, 1860

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Ichneumonidae is a family of parasitic wasps, and one of my particular research interests.  If you’ve never heard of a parasitic wasp before, think chest-burster from Alien, but for insects. A more scientific definition is that parasitoid wasps lay their eggs inside or on top of other insects; those eggs then grow and develop by feeding on their host’s tissue, resulting in the eventual death of the host.  Estimates of the total species range from 60,000 to over 100,000.

THE ARTIST

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An Empathetic Exploration of Vermeers Life CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO AN EXCERPT FROM THE AUDIOBOOK Vermeer: Portraits of a Lifetime is written from what I imagine to be the perspective of the artist himself, with his passion, with empathy for his personal dream and tragedy, as well as his transcendent technical ability.  As a writer my vision is to reveal the nature of the immortal spirit — The Artist — through their own thoughts, rather than through the effete, intellectual interpretations of academics or journalists.Paintings are the communication of the artist, inviting the viewer to participate together in their mutual creation of it.  It is my observation, that this can be supplemented with verbal descriptions of the painting by the artist — not about the “meaning” of the art — but, concerning the esoteric origins of it, the subtle technologies and careful observations brought to bear upon the creation of it.  The “meaning” of the painting is a purely subjective experience for every viewer.  I want to understand, more completely, the subjective experience of The Artist.  I am certain that many admirers would also.“Priests of Art” attempt to place themselves between Mankind and The Artist, as surely as the priests of religion prevent the souls of Mankind from communicating directly with the gods. In order to understand an aesthetic or a spirit, one must “be” The Artist, as themselves, while as a viewer, participating in The Creation, as though it is their own. Creation is a collaboration of spirits, painting and viewing together in admiration of All Beings Who Create.

Download VERMEER: PORTRAITS OF A LIFETIME  (AudioBook)   http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_2?asin=B009NVX2PM&qid=1355950962&sr=1-2

WHEN BONES WERE JUST BONES

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Excerpts from the book  “1001 THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU’RE DEAD“:

# 243  FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF

This doesn’t need any explanation. Many people have a “native” ability to do this, especially after they have lost their body, as well as  everything they worked for and accumulated during an entire lifetime.

Ideally, everyone would be allowed to have 4 or 5 bodies at once. So, when you lose one or two it’s not such a big deal. Unfortunately, Mother Nature hasn’t figured out how to allow each spirit to run more than one body at a time yet – not counting “the gods” of course.

But who knows, with enough time and practice you may remember how to do this too! According to Earth mythology the ancient gods of Greece, Egypt, China, India and Mesopotamia could manifest themselves in many guises and forms. Maybe you can find one or more of those ancient gods to teach you this skill.

 # 497 REGRET YOUR PAST

Endless years of agonizing can be consumed in this activity. It can be a lot of fun.

There is a lot of drama involved in regretting the past. People love drama. Mulling over all the things you did, you could have done, you shouldn’t have done, you wished you had done or not done, etc., is very dramatic.

There are a nearly infinite number of scenes from past lives you can replay, like old radio or TV soap operas. However, most of them have the same plot lines and get boring after a while. And, you can’t change any of them.

#  437  FEEL LONELY

This takes a total lack of imagination. You have always been with yourself, and by yourself, for nearly all of eternity. You are your own best friend. Enjoy yourself.

However, if you want some companionship, go out a find another spirit, a person, or a life form and befriend them. They will probably appreciate not being alone.

# 608  REMINISCE ABOUT THE “GOOD OLD DAYS

This can provide endless hours, years or millennia of pleasurable amusement for yourself and entertainment for others. Some writers, like Mark Twain, earned an excellent living by reminiscing about the past for most of their life.

MEDITATION IN FINITUDE

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François-Marie Arouet (French) 21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), known by his nom de plume Voltaire was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, his attacks on the established Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and separation of church and state. Voltaire was a versatile writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works. He wrote more than 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and pamphlets. He was an outspoken advocate, despite the risk this placed him in under the strict censorship laws of the time. As a satirical polemicist, he frequently made use of his works to criticize intolerance, religious dogma, and the French institutions of his day.

HUMAN MAJORITY

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SMOKE HAIKU

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SMOKE HAIKU by Lawrence R. Spencer

Wisdom is like smoke
it can’t be controlled by man
Truth lives in the Soul