Waking Up with Sam Harris #107 – Is Life Actually Worth Living? (with David Benatar)…

Date: December 21, 2017

01) Waking Up with Sam Harris #107 – Is Life Actually Worth Living? (with David Benatar)

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“In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with David Benatar about his philosophy of “anti-natalism.” They discuss the asymmetry between the good and bad things in life, the ethics of existential risk, the moral landscape, the limits and paradoxes of introspection, the “experience machine” thought experiment, population ethics, and other topics.

David Benatar is Professor of Philosophy at University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is the author of Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming Into Existence and The Human Predicament: A Candid Guide to Life’s Biggest Questions.”

e’Lollipop (1976)…

….	Date: December 21, 2017 01) e’Lollipop (1976) “Director: Ashley Lazarus Writers: Ashley Lazarus, André Pieterse (story) (as Andre Pieterse) Country: South Africa Language: English | Afrikaans Release Date: May 1977 (USA) Also Known As: Amigos hasta la eternidad Filming Locations: Lesotho Runtime: 85 min Sound Mix: Mono Color: Color (Eastmancolor)”	….

Librivox: The Adventures of Pinocchio…

….	Date: December 21, 2017 01) The Adventures of Pinocchio “The Adventures of Pinocchio is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi (here transl. by Carol della Chiesa). The first half was published in serial form between 1881 and 1883, and then completed as a book for children in February 1883. It is about the mischievous adventures of Pinocchio, an animated marionette, and his poor father, a woodcarver named Geppetto. It is considered a classic of children’s literature and has spawned many derivative works of art, such as Disney’s classic 1940 animated movie of the same name, and commonplace ideas, such as a liar’s long nose. (Summary from Wikipedia)”	….

Happy IBLD, Winter 2017!…

….	Date: December 21, 2017 Today is Thursday, December 21st…The winter solstice of 2017. Many people will have their IBLD observation this next Saturday…but the winter solstice is the original day of observance. I’m currently in the shadow of my internet and phone going out on me [which is why it’s been so quiet around here, for the past few days…though, I did backdate a few posts]…But, we’ve got new wiring…a new modem that’s capable of far greater speed than my last modem…and the possibility of upgrading my internet speed, more than three times the rate I’m currently at…hopefully for no more money, than I’m currently paying…Seems I was stuck at the old rate, because of the old equipment I had…Happily…I was finally forced to make a service call. …We’ve also got guests…So, it’s hard to do a lot of writing…or recording… I feel like…just about every time I make one of these posts…I’m expressing regret that I don’t have more to say… …I’m not going to “bemoan” that we have two separate IBLDs, again…but, for the record…it is kind of overwhelming, from my point of view. As you can see…I did create a new sub blog look, for the winter solstice IBLD…I also created one for the summer solstice IBLD [which reflects more of a “sunshiny” image]…So, there are plans for the future… …It just seems like IBLD always sneaks up on me…and then it’s suddenly here…and I don’t have anything to post… …Maybe…I’ve expressed everything I have to say?… …It’s been almost twenty years since the first IBLD… …After this much time, effort and energy…maybe, “Happy IBLD!” is all I really need to say anymore, in a post like this? Thing is…I know it’s still new, to many people…And I know that people need to be carrying the torch of IBLD enthusiasm… I think I’m reeling from the burnout, from the additional work of finding and posting content for my “October” and “Yule Time” series…And I’m going to be taking those at a much more relaxed pace, going forward… …I wish this post were a lot more IBLD-ish…but…I guess…a short, personal journal as a BL observing IBLD, discussing what’s going on in my life, isn’t so wrong… …It’s certainly better than nothing. 🙂 I’ve been too “lazy” and preoccupied, to update the date on the EQF IBLD page…but, please visit the website…No new updates, unfortunately… …I’m just really tired, as of late…I think the seasonal cold has gotten into me…It’s kind of dragging me into a funk.	….

New Yorkers call for removal of Met painting that ‘sexualizes’ girl…

Date: December 21, 2017

01) New Yorkers call for removal of Met painting that ‘sexualizes’ girl

“New Yorkers launched a petition demanding that the Metropolitan Museum of Art remove a 1938 painting of a young woman with her underwear exposed due to the “current climate around sexual assault” — but the Met refused Sunday.

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“The artist of this painting, Balthus, had a noted infatuation with pubescent girls and this painting is undeniably romanticizing the sexualization of a child,” writes Mia Merrill, 30, a New York City entrepreneur who started the petition.

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“Ultimately, it’s a small ask in consideration of how expansive their art collection is … how overtly sexual the painting is, and the current news headlines highlighting a macro issue about the public health and safety of women.”

[…]

But a rep for the museum said it won’t remove the painting because art is meant to reflect many time periods — not just the current one.

“[Our] mission is to collect, study, conserve, and present significant works of art across all times and cultures in order to connect people to creativity, knowledge, and ideas,” said spokesman Kenneth Weine.”

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For The Metropolitan Museum of Art…

Applause

Nun says Mary likely was not a virgin…

Date: December 20, 2017

01) Nun says Mary likely was not a virgin

“A nun in Spain has received death threats from angry Catholics after suggesting that Mary likely had sex with husband Joseph – much like any “normal couple” would.

Sister Lucia Caram – a self-described “restless and disturbing” nun on her Twitter profile that boasts more than 183,000 followers – seemingly contradicted Roman Catholic faith by suggesting that the Virgin Mary might not have been celibate after all during a television appearance in Spain on Sunday.

“I think Mary was in love with Joseph and that they were a normal couple – and having sex is a normal thing,” Caram told the Chester in Love Show, according to the Guardian…

Caram, who lives in a convent in Catalonia, said the church has long held a “poor attitude” on the subject and has “swept it under the carpet,” according to the Guardian.”

Gee…Mary was not a virgin?…

…Who would have thought?!…

You know what I find so strange about the whole “virgin Mary” thing?…

…As kids of the church, we wasn’t supposed to know anything about sex…especially at younger ages…and yet they kept pushing Mary’s “virginity” into our faces…They kept reminding us of “the miracle”, that Mary supposedly gave birth without ever having sex…when we kids weren’t even supposed to have a clue, as to what that meant.

…awkward…

I don’t think they thought that one through, to well.

Personally…I think it’s all a ploy…to glorify virginity and celibacy.

…”The person who was most intimately close to Jesus, on an intimate level, was a celibate virgin”?…Think about it…

Atheism A Brief History of Disbelief All 3 Episodes…

….	Date: December 21, 2017 01) Atheism A Brief History of Disbelief All 3 Episodes 3 Hours	….
– Atheist Media Links

Alt-Right Killer Was Visited By The FBI In 2016…

Date: December 20, 2017

01) Alt-Right Killer Was Visited By The FBI In 2016

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“Read More At:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-mexico-school-shooter-had-secret-life-on-pro-trump-white-supremacy-sites“

Waking Up with Sam Harris #106 — Humanity 2.0 (with Jennifer A. Doudna)…

Date: December 20, 2017

01) Waking Up with Sam Harris #106 — Humanity 2.0 (with Jennifer A. Doudna)

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“In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jennifer Doudna about the gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9. They talk about the biology of gene editing, how specific tissues in the body can be targeted, the ethical implications of changing the human genome, the importance of curiosity-driven science, and other topics.

Jennifer A. Doudna is a professor in the Chemistry and the Molecular and Cell Biology Departments at the University of California, Berkeley, investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and researcher in the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She is internationally recognized as a leading expert on RNA-protein biochemistry, CRISPR biology, and genome engineering. She is the author (with Samuel Sternberg) of A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution.”

Celtic Winter – Magical Christmas (Album)…

….	Date: December 20, 2017 01) Celtic Winter – Magical Christmas (Album)	….