On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 7:37 AM, rigsy03 <[email protected]> wrote: > The cost of butter is rising! $20. a pound in Norway- they are giving > it as Christmas presents!!! (I pay $2. at Aldi). A good opportunity for small family business to buy a milk cow or goats I think. Maybe a community could get together to obtain one, and bam local economy with people cooperating toward a common good. :)
> Contentment is a blessing though I shouldn't take it back to Eden, > James. I bounced between my mother's extravagance and boarding school > and the latter had a lasting effect- though I wouldn't have made a > good nun. :-) Sounds to me you knew a little more than the nuns, but really are they restricted from any type of orgasm? Jesus help them! > > Take this week's assignment- for my youngest son who loves a > vegetarian: make something edible from a block of tofu and send him > some recipes. I failed- from broiled to Chinese to Mexican and the > result went into the food processor to use with tostadas or burritos > as I hate to throw out or waste food but the whole endeavor was a > penance. On the other hand, I happened on two small lamb shanks which > I roasted with vegetables and felt sinful. :-) Heh, sin isn't a part of my vocab except maybe jokingly. I've tried Boca burgers, subpar/freezerburnt flavor and requires lots of seasoning. One day we will see people vying for plant life rights too, though I don't find our modern industrial meat farms appetizing or honoring - they will subsist on lifeless synthetic vitamins and I will still have my sinfully omnivorous diet. > > > On Dec 9, 2:46 am, James Lynch <[email protected]> wrote: >> Like Monkebus I think greed as we define it is mainly due to language, >> and like Vam think there are genetic motives for the behavior >> (physiological/psychological). Like other animals we seek to secure >> our survival by responding to our perceived environment, not >> necessarily to the world at hand but the psychological response to >> environmental pressures. >> >> I've been watching the squirrels gathering various resources to fare >> our Michigan winter and pondering what it is like to feel the >> instinctual motive to respond to the change of seasons, for them I >> mean (qualia). Perhaps it starts with an urge, a compulsive behavior >> programmed into them that rewards them with peace or happiness to >> accomplish their preparations like collecting a store of fruits and >> nuts and to build their nest of leaves, grass and sticks in a tree. >> Perhaps it is more to assuage the anxiety of dissonance, perhaps they >> mostly exist in a panicky state as we would call it. A person who >> behaved as erratically as a squirrel would be institutionalized, the >> squirrel is in it's element near the woods, what natural ends I wonder >> that we might be seeking in our behaviors. I haven't read Kostler's >> Ghost in the Machine yet but I think this is what he referred to, >> these fundamental human imperatives that arise and remind us that you >> can take the ape out of the jungle but not visa-versa. It is obvious >> that the squirrel is doing what it needs to do to survive, and if it >> collects two times the needed nuts to do so it greatly improves it's >> survival short or overworking itself thus burning more energy and >> shortening it's life or to other chain effects. >> >> Our insecurities can be manipulated, or our needs left ignored our >> capacities allow our sense of want, insecurity, and anxieties to >> create unending feelings of desire. We can breed all year, we can >> think very very far ahead. It brings into question what environment >> would be most beneficial for us- nature is reckless but effective. If >> greed is a problem I think it isn't due to flawed human beings as much >> as the failure to take what we know of the world and ourselves and >> apply it our societies in a sensible manner. The cost of convenience >> is rising, we've been riding high on the waste hog for a very long >> time. It will probably get a bit worse, people are willing to cling to >> false security, we've invested too much in this hand to fold, we are >> narcissistic, arrogant and full of pride. The only thing left to do it >> actually find some solutions. >> >> A return to Eden, the noble savage and such isn't where I'm headed >> with this, that sounds a bit too nostalgic and I don't think would fit >> the long term cultural/technological/evolutionary requirements for >> survival. Sorry this turned out a little longwinded PSK, but I enjoy >> the exercise. :) >> >> >> >> On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 11:26 AM, pol.science kid <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > Hey everyone... i have been very dull of late with little mind >> > activity... but.. today i was just going through Hind Swaraj.... and >> > well its not about the book.. in the review pages.. i read something >> > about Greed.. and it got me thinking.... only humans have greed >> > right... i find it very peculiar.. the most common vice one is taught >> > against from childhood...What is the nature of it... is there or can >> > there be a why?... when does wanting enough turn to greed.... the >> > dictionary defines it as wanting more than is necessary.... well.. >> > that appplies to everything then!.. we always have and want more than >> > necessary or required... is being careful and cautious greedy(in >> > wanting enough and more)... is being ambitious greedy.... why is being >> > greedy wrong? ....very simplistic questions.. but i want to know what >> > everyone thinks about this....- Hide quoted text - >> >> - Show quoted text -
