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Today I learned that 18 US veterans commit suicide every day and 1 million veterans are sitting in jail.
When Staff Sgt. Brad Eifert, 36, finally made his way to the woods behind his house with...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
I won't repeat the statistics, as there are too many. Bring a strong stomach when you read these. Politicians are not your friends. Unless you are in the top 1%, government is hurting you and your ch...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
US soldier holds flag protest sign: "There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people." Well put. Controversial?
US Soldier Holds American Flag Protest Sign
DISCUSS!...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned Albert Einstein supported a one-world government and was a Socialist.
Einstein's passionate commitment to the cause of global peace led him to support the creation of a single, u...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Governments love to pander equality and anti-discrimination laws (well, granted - they were for discrimination before they were against it). Their latest villain? The Internet Service Providers (ISP)...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Alexander Pope once said: "A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." As in any discussion about a topic of...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
When it comes to online discussions, there's an adage called Godwin's law. It states that the longer an online discussion continues, "the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approac...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned that you should not use olive oil to cook at high heats (i.e., potentially anything over 200 - 250º F / 93 - 121º C, although that is debated), especially extra virgin olive oils. T...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
So we had a great discussion earlier today about scientific theories vs. laws, physics, astronomy, and geometry. Science is so amazing! And then I read something like this and it makes me sick.
Hi...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Which is better for a poor person - to be paid $3.00/hour for working or to be unemployed where the minimum wage law is $6.00/hour? Unions love minimum wage laws, and they spend millions lobbying for...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
So many consider money as the primary asset in life. Sometimes we are so caught up in the "rat race" that we forget that money, and each possession we acquire from it, costs us something very valuabl...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
School used student laptop webcams to spy on them at school and home
School-sanctioned privacy intrusion? "Schools are only interested in a child's best interests" claim those who ignore knowledge...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The government is coming for your retirement accounts, 401Ks, and pension plan. After all, they want to make sure you have enough for retirement of course... It's all about your safety and well-being...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Science fiction author Robert Heinlein was known as the "the dean of science fiction writers." According to Wikipedia, "he was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of the g...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned that the Flying Spaghetti Monster was a humorous protest against the government's decision to permit the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in public school...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Many women like having big breasts. They also like looking good. According to the American Society for Plastic Surgeons, of the 13 million cosmetic plastic surgeries performed annually, women seek 9...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Another one in honor of V-day tomorrow:
What is the purpose of getting married anymore? Why can't you just be in a monogamous relationships with someone that you love? Why do you need a piece of ...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
By now, I'm assuming that most all of you have heard of the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which is destroying marine life. (It started as a result of an oil rig explosion on April 20, 20...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Among the New Year's resolutions made, it's likely that some have resolved to file for divorce this year. As always, the government is only too happy to help. Why? Any question about government start...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
War is Peace
Ignorance is Strength
Freedom is Slavery
Nuclear Expansion is Nuclear Disarmament
FTA: "In a move he insists is somehow consistent with his call for disarmament, President Ob...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
FTA: "...no company or person has the right to tell you that you may not do what you like with your own property. Let us say that you bought a hammer. The hammer is clearly designed for hitting nails...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
We know marijuana is "the most widely used illicit substance in the world" (which may be why "arrests are at a near-record high"). We know drug decriminalization works. Yet we still allow the governm...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Advert for 'reliable workers' banned as discrimination by Jobcentre Plus
The boss of a recruitment firm said she was told she could not place an advert for "reliable workers" because it discrimina...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
In group chat, we recently went on a tangent to discuss the effectiveness of charity. (To quote one of our Braincravers, "teach a man to fish and he'll stay drunk on a boat.") Benjamin Franklin obser...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
In his famous statement "First they came," Pastor Martin Niemöller once blasted the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power as they purged group after group:
THEY CAME...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception (ESP). I've read about many examples of purported psychics who tur...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
After providing $900 billion in "stimulus" with zero (and some would argue negative) impact on the economy, increasing the national debt by over $2 trillion (in slightly over 1 year, and it continues...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Socrates, the philosopher who claimed the contradiction "I know that I know nothing," provided us with a method to help us question what we think we know and to demonstrate otherwise: the Socratic me...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Capitalism gets a bad rap, often claimed to be the destroyer of everything good. One argument made is that capitalism creates class warfare - the rich against the poor. So-called "social crusaders,"...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
During the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Church authorized massive torture and violence against so-called "heretics" (non-conformists/non-believers). Although this history has been mocked by the...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
It is said that bad habits die hard. How many times have you read in someone's dating profile: "I'm a positive person?" How often have you told someone to "think positive?" Psychology suggests this m...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Technology is so grand. With the research from this experiment, we might finally be able to replace the lowest form of humans - politicians - with robots. After all, if you can teach robots to lie, t...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
All economic goods must be produced by someone. They aren't gifts of nature or something that can be conjured up by waiving a magic wand. Somehow, people have gotten the false idea that it is governm...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Is it proper for companies like BP to use prison labor - jobs without pay - to cleanup the oil spill? Are there any moral issues?
FTA: "In the first few days after BP's Deepwater Horizon wellhead...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The strategy by the labor union leadership was said to be based simply: "how do we bring down the stock market, how do we bring down their bonuses, how do we interfere with their ability to, to be ri...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
When I first joined Second Life (SL), I was like most noobies and started searching different places using the search tool within the browser. I stated finding things that were more than dance clubs...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Praxeology is a general theory of human action or, more specifically, purposeful behavior. Unlike unconscious behavior such as breathing or reflexes, we act in conscious, chosen ways to achieve vario...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Libertarians are often talking about freedom and liberty. Thomas Jefferson claimed in his magnum opus the Declaration of Independence that we all have a right to liberty. But freedom and liberty aren...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
There's a funny sign that reads: "Confused Socialist Party. Smash capitalism! Then blog about it on your $2500 Macbook." All of the major economies in the world are known as mixed economies. You migh...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
First, let me make this perfectly clear: I am an anarchist (or, more specifically, an anarcho-capitalist). I do not support any kind of government, including a president. The last election I voted in...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
As proud supporters of Creative Commons, we were encouraged to see so many websites effectively shut down or "go dark" on January 18, 2012 in protest of the tyrannical SOPA/PIPA bills that the US gov...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Probably the most important question for most philosophers is what's the meaning of life. Although individuals have their own values that provide meaning to each, we don't yet have a verifiable princ...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
There is enough evidence now to implicate the US government of a massive cover-up of 9/11. At this point, it's ignorant to claim otherwise. Yet, the only ones who suffer from the terrible events of 9...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
To sustain life, the human body requires nourishment. Such is the "catch-22" - how to sustain life without destroying life? Most (but not all) consider cannibalism as the ultimate cultural taboo, so...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Ron Paul nails it again in the simplest of terms. Is it acceptable for someone to incur debt on your behalf and in your name if you don't know about it or, even worse, are opposed to it? Does it matt...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Is feminism doomed to fail? Is there even one accepted definition of feminism? Are there any benefits of feminism?
FTA: "Although it is not Susan Pinker's intention in writing it, reading her exce...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Make everyone equal. It is a common battle cry across the centuries. Just look at the current class warfare that Obama is pushing because we are not all equal. (Or, as Orwell famously put it in Anima...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
No formal topics scheduled for the remainder of the year. So, with warm wishes from Braincrave.com to all of you, here's a final thought for the year:
FTA:
Auld Lang Syne" ...is a Scots poem...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Everyone's familiar with the expression "love at first sight." But is that really the way love works? According to a recent scientific study, the answer is yes. But what about romance? What about val...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
According to the Society of Professional Journalists, journalism is about providing "information in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and understandable manner." Sadly, in the mainstream media, jour...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
It's interesting to trace the history of controversial subjects. Take political correctness for example. Political correctness, "used to describe language, ideas, policies, or behavior seen as seekin...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned about Pale Moon - an optimized version of Firefox that is much faster than Firefox and optimized specifically for Windows.
Not only is it much faster than Firefox (perhaps even by...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
They've been trained by US governments. They are expert killers. They believe that the principles espoused in the US Constitution are actually worth defending. They've been patient, but have had enou...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
I bet you didn't think it was possible to fit the 100 greatest movie lines of all time into 200 hundred seconds did you? What are your favorites?
FTV: "Yo' Adrian! I did it!"
100 Best Movie Lin...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
"Well, when the President does it, that means that it is not illegal." So said President Richard Nixon in his 1977 interview discussing presidential authority.
Fast-forward 30 years. "I was a cons...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Liberals call conservatives names, claiming they are the bane of existence and the cause of all the problems in the world. Conservatives do the same to liberals. The hate spreads. The violence spread...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
"For government [of conquered people] consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to, do you harm; which may be done either by making quite...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The folks at the Venus Project and the larger Zeitgeist movement think society has many problems, and they are concerned. Hard to disagree. When a doctor is trying to cure what ails you, he'll typica...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Once upon a time, in a land far away which has nothing at all in common with the world we humans inhabit, a horse was running free in the plain. He longed to climb up the mountains and see the world...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti stated "It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Speaking of health, the "perfect storm" appears to be coming in a very sick...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Come explore the geek in me.
I've been a lifelong artist and these days, most of my work is inspired by roleplay characters, sci-fi or fantasy novels and films, and my love of Star Wars. M...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned that, without a magic wand, levitation is real.
The physics behind it consists of a ceramic material that is famous for superconductivity when cooled below -185ºC (-301ºF). The s...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Does the US constitution allow for gay marriage? Is gay marriage a constitutional right? There are answers from both a constitutional law perspective as well as a morality perspective. What do you th...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
My daughter just came back from camp and, as we were discussing all of her wonderful experiences, she mentioned that she bought a "happy book" at the camp store. You list all the things that make you...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The economy is in dire straits. Many adults can't find jobs. The government is lying about employment figures. So why would some politician try to repeal an existing law that would bring more people...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
For those of you who aren't familiar with it, StumbleUpon is a discovery engine that shows you random web pages based upon categories that you like. It learns very quickly what you like and don't lik...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned that my belief that the purpose of yawning is to bring oxygen into the brain has never been proven. Scientists still don't know why we yawn.
FTA:
Everyone yawns, but no one kn...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Pause the music you're listening to for 5 minutes and listen to the cutest 911 emergency call you've ever heard. I'm not sure if being a father has anything to do with it, but this brought tears to m...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
You sometimes have to wonder why teaching children seems to be more complicated than rocket science. There are many valid debates in education as to the proper conditions required for a child to lear...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
I was recently having a conversation with a friend who was getting on my case because I don't vote in political elections. She likes Ron Paul but ultimately decided to vote for Obama because she knew...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The central figure in all of Christianity is one man: Jesus of Nazareth. Putting aside whether or not you believe that God exists, a key component to Christianity is that Jesus did exist. But what if...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Through John Galt, novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand discussed the "hero in your soul" in her famous book Atlas Shrugged: "Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless s...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Talk about "mind=blown." Imagine a world where you can manipulate objects solely with your mind. It's here, it's now, and it's incredible. Consider every industry. Consider every skill. Consider ever...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
There's an adage in economics that goes: people do not walk barefoot because there aren't any government shoe factories. In markets where competition exists (not to be confused with free markets), bu...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
(Meanwhile, as the Italian cabinet approves a tough austerity plan, and as Nero feasts while Rome burns...)
According to the AP, "France, Italy, Spain and Belgium are banning short-selling on sele...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Many women complain that they are discriminated against, yet they consider this fair. Let this sink in for a moment: "men accounted for 97 percent of the payers in alimony cases in 2008." How many wo...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
As many mourn the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs, they use words such as visionary, brilliant, innovative, leader, entrepreneur, capitalist, and philanthropic to describe him. Many aren't aware th...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
An embryo has no rights. Rights do not pertain to a potential, only to an actual being. A child cannot acquire any rights until it is born. The living take precedence over the not-yet-living (or the...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Ayn Rand claimed that morality is a "code of values to guide man's choices and actions - the choices and actions that determine the purpose and the course of his life. Ethics, as a science, deals wit...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Is music lobotomizing the brains of youth? Is it purposefully making them "retarded in here?" And if you start singing Black Eyed Peas songs through the end of the day, it's not my fault.
FTA: "Ha...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Obama's die-hard base is continuing to turn on him and abandon him... for the right reasons. (And Obama's administration is lashing out angrily at liberals, claiming that they should be "drug tested"...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Throughout history, machines, tools, devices, etc. have become smaller. But not until recently have we been able to see down to the lowest level - to that of the nano. With electron microscopes, nano...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times. They destroyed the government's credibility in the Vietnam War by revealing that the US government had intentionally misled...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
We did.
It's not every day that you meet people who encourage you to think deeply. You work so hard. You're running so fast. There is so much to do. And yet, you have more to offer. But wh...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Liberals in the US are in an uproar, claiming that the recent murder of six individuals and the attempted murder of the Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords were the by-product of rhetoric by Sar...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned about the Ig Noble prizes, which "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative -...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
My last article dealt with the various aspects of romantic love. However, value comes in many forms and so does the emotional payment, love. Acts of kindness are pleasant in many aspects and many of...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The printing press: what a great invention... It fostered a rapid development in and dissemination of art and science through the production of books. But one wonders if Johannes Gutenberg would be a...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Obama is currently getting criticized because of his recent speech asserting that the US government officially supports a two-state solution based on Israel's pre-1967 borders along with negotiated...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The spoken word isn't everything.
I saw this video and really enjoyed it. All sorts of words popped into my head as I watched (e.g., loneliness, flirting, fun, risk-taking, anxiety, patien...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
What a completely ridiculous statement, right? Calling Ron Paul a progressive? So why are some prominent progressives suggesting that Ron Paul is more progressive than Obama?
Liberals and progress...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
WikiLeaks has released a classified US military video depicting the indiscriminate slaying of over a dozen people in the Iraqi suburb of New Baghdad - including two Reuters news staff. FTA: "The impo...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
As Murray Rothbard put it in his marvelous article The Anatomy of the State, "Some theorists venerate the State as the apotheosis of society; others regard it as an amiable, though often inefficient,...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
H.L. Mencken once said "A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers." I'm not sure who is more morally corrupt - a judge, a lawyer, or a politician. What I do know is that, collecti...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Want to see a piece of paper that gives me the RIGHT to rob you? You don't believe there is such a thing? Are you SURE you don't believe it?
From the video: "If you believe this piece of pa...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned how to increase the wireless signal of my router. Say goodbye to your wireless signal dropping!
FTA:
8. Make a Reflector with Tinfoil. Note that a tinfoil router may boost you...