Image of Basic economics at work
Basic economics at work
editorial posted by in braincrave
Economics are very simple to understand. Granted, there are faux economists like Nobel-prize winner Paul Krugman who try to confuse people with false theories that last only until other people's mone...
Image of Kony 2012: Pro-AFRICOM Propaganda by the Regime Change Machine?
Kony 2012: Pro-AFRICOM Propaganda by the Regime Change Machine?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Thanks to the Land Destroyer blog for spotting this excellent analysis of what appears the next phase in false-flag interventionist propaganda -- the use of so-called "social media" with heavy celebr...
Image of Sex, politics, religion, and IQ
Sex, politics, religion, and IQ
editorial posted by in braincrave
Liberalism, atheism, male sexual exclusivity linked to IQ Ha! Let the flame wars begin. DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Feb 27, 2010 at http://www.braincrave.com...
Image of Imagine... what a wonderful world it would be
Imagine... what a wonderful world it would be
editorial posted by in braincrave
Aristotle spoke of music as having "influence over the character and the soul." He noted that "Rhythm and melody supply imitations of anger and gentleness, and also of courage and temperance, and of...
Image of The repeal of peace and goodwill
The repeal of peace and goodwill
editorial posted by in braincrave
During the holiday season, we typically hear cries for "peace on earth and goodwill toward all." It remains to be seen how this is possible when the US (purportedly) spends $660 billion on military...
Image of Hedonistic self-gratification
Hedonistic self-gratification
editorial posted by in braincrave
Morality is about determining which choices and actions are good or bad, which always leads to the question - what is the good? There are some who consider the good as those choices and actions which...
Image of Mind boggling
Mind boggling
editorial posted by 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...
Image of Objective truths and abortion
Objective truths and abortion
editorial posted by in braincrave
There's a new 5-day "morning-after" pill that's been tested for US approval (New 5-Day 'Morning-After' Pill Tested For U.S. Approval). Some people say the choice to abort is moral and use various...
Image of Initiating force against tasty animals
Initiating force against tasty animals
editorial posted by 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...
Image of Problem-solving
Problem-solving
editorial posted by in braincrave
Albert Einstein once said "The formulation of a problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill." Do we expect simple problems? I...
Image of Have you no shame, and whose fault is that?
Have you no shame, and whose fault is that?
editorial posted by 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...
Image of The courage to resist
The courage to resist
editorial posted by in braincrave
Winning people's hearts and minds through ideas is one way to affect change, but it's a very, very slow process. Most would consider it "impractical." For those who want to implement change quicker,...
Image of Big change - short time
Big change - short time
editorial posted by in braincrave
Assuming this is all true (which I haven't confirmed), what are the implications? Did You Know? (5-minute video) That is certainly mammoth amount of change in a short period of time. D...
Image of War - can't we all just get along?
War - can't we all just get along?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Besides death and taxes, there is arguably another clear constant in the world: war. Seemingly at all times, someone, somewhere, is always using violence to either get what they want or protect what...
Image of Synthesizing happiness
Synthesizing happiness
editorial posted by in braincrave
Through Hamlet, Shakespeare said "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." You'd never believe it if someone told you the secret to happiness in life is to accrue wealth, power...
Image of Be afraid - be very, very afraid
Be afraid - be very, very afraid
editorial posted by in braincrave
Meanwhile, as Bradley Manning (aka "unappreciated hero #1") languishes in jail and is tortured by Obama's administration... There's an adage that goes "give to a good man all the powers he requests t...
Image of No such thing as society
No such thing as society
editorial posted by in braincrave
"I think we've been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem, I'll get a grant.'...
Image of TIL how cats and dogs drink water
TIL how cats and dogs drink water
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned how cats and dogs drink water. The water sticks to their tongues and the upward pull creates a water column from inertia (the liquid continues to move in the direction pulled). Then,...
Image of Forcing those with disabilities
Forcing those with disabilities
editorial posted by in braincrave
Should lawyers, doctors, and politicians have the right to physically force a patient to receive medical treatment? Is it morally proper for someone else to force a decision upon you that they think...
Image of The Road Not Taken
The Road Not Taken
editorial posted by in braincrave
The Road Not Taken (by Robert Frost) Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To w...
Image of Other people are not your property
Other people are not your property
editorial posted by in braincrave
Ron Paul has entered the US presidential race for the third time as a Republican. But he's not really a Republican - he's a Libertarian. Ron Paul, like all Libertarians, is always talking about limit...
Image of Sports socialism
Sports socialism
editorial posted by in braincrave
Discussing sports, Noam Chomsky once remarked: "Take, say, sports -- that's another crucial example of the indoctrination system, in my view. For one thing because it -- you know, it offers people so...
Image of The simpler, the better?
The simpler, the better?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Albert Einstein once said: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Although not supported by math or science, and certainly not an axiom of physics, Occam's Razor (or Ockh...
Image of Simple mechanisms
Simple mechanisms
editorial posted by in braincrave
Some simple mechanisms explained... pretty cool DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Jan 16, 2010 at http://www.braincrave.com/viewblog.php?id=83
Political methodologies
editorial posted by in braincrave
Is there a proper methodology to discuss politics with? DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Dec 13, 2009 at http://www.braincrave.com/viewblog.php?id=54
Image of TIL that gas prices in Europe are double those in the US
TIL that gas prices in Europe are double those in the US
editorial posted by in braincrave
Don't expect gas prices to "tank" anytime soon. (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.) Today I learned that Americans live in a distorted world when it comes to gas prices. The average price of gas across...
Teaching others
editorial posted by in braincrave
A teacher can present information, but there can be no transfer of learning... learners must "act" upon the information to learn it. Can anyone teach something to someone else? DISCUSS! Origina...
Image of Ethical double-standards
Ethical double-standards
editorial posted by in braincrave
What's the difference between being a slave and a serf? When slavery was common hundreds of years ago, your master kept 100% of what you earned. Now they take about 50%. Masters used to keep you in l...
Image of Manipulating Americans is easy
Manipulating Americans is easy
editorial posted by in braincrave
You're an idiot. That's right. According to New York spin doctor Sheherazad Jaafari (aka press-aide or press attaché), Americans are easily manipulated. All politicians need to do is admit that th...
Image of None of the above
None of the above
editorial posted by in braincrave
In On The Duty of Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau wrote "How does it become a man to behave toward this American government to-day? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with...
Image of Terrorizing the IRS
Terrorizing the IRS
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today, a man committed suicide by flying his plane into an IRS office. I think this is only the beginning of more to come. The IRS has been terrorizing people illegally for decades. The courts and mi...
Image of The seven blunders of the world that lead to violence
The seven blunders of the world that lead to violence
editorial posted by in braincrave
When it comes to non-violent, ideological leaders, Mahatma Gandhi has got to be toward the very top of the list. His resistance to British tyranny through mass civil disobedience is famous. Needless...
Image of Politics and philosophy - like water and oil
Politics and philosophy - like water and oil
editorial posted by in braincrave
Obama has a car czar, a food czar, a bank bailout czar, a poverty czar, bird flu czar, a czar czar... he has 37 czars in all. Interestingly enough, he doesn't have a philosophy czar. Perhaps you thin...
Image of Art and 0 < 1
Art and 0 < 1
editorial posted by in braincrave
Some claim that the reason music piracy is so prevalent is because the cost of music is so high (especially when the actual CD production costs are so low - a cursory look suggests it's less than $0....
Image of The ethics of the placebo effect
The ethics of the placebo effect
editorial posted by in braincrave
A placebo is a sham or simulated medical intervention by a doctor in which some patients experience actual improvements in their conditions. Although it doesn't work on everyone, these effects in pat...
Image of TIL van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime
TIL van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime, The Red Vineyard, for 400 Francs (about US$1,600). It is now considered to be one of the most valuable paintings in the w...
Image of JFK, the press, and WikiLeaks
JFK, the press, and WikiLeaks
editorial posted by in braincrave
As we consider the ramifications of WikiLeak's courageous action to provide us truth about the Iraq war, it is useful to also consider how poorly the mainstream media has served us and the pursuit of...
Image of Duty to violently overthrow government
Duty to violently overthrow government
editorial posted by 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...
Image of If I voted, Ron Paul is the man I would vote for
If I voted, Ron Paul is the man I would vote for
editorial posted by 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...
Image of The Obama Youth
The Obama Youth
editorial posted by in braincrave
How many of you learned about the Hitler Youth (aka HJ), the paramilitary group of the Nazis? Is the government building one for Obama? In Hitler's time, the stormtroopers were referred to as "brown...
Image of To cut, or not to cut
To cut, or not to cut
editorial posted by in braincrave
Why is circumcision such a common practice in North America? Does it really make a penis healthier and look "prettier?" You have this beautiful baby boy and after coddling him and caring for him, you...
Image of The involved father - pathological, pain-in-the-ass
The involved father - pathological, pain-in-the-ass
editorial posted by in braincrave
You have never seen a bigger pain in the ass than the father who wants to get involved; he can be repulsive. He wants to meet the kid at three o'clock, take the kid out to dinner during the week, hav...
File sharing legal in Spain
editorial posted by in braincrave
Wow - this is a great win (though I expect it will never make it through the appeal process). File-Sharing and Link Sites Declared Legal in Spain FTA: "After early calls to shut down a Spanish...
Image of How to understand people - look at their actions
How to understand people - look at their actions
editorial posted by 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...
Image of Wikileaks makes good on Obama's promise of transparency
Wikileaks makes good on Obama's promise of transparency
editorial posted by in braincrave
While hero Bradley Manning rots in solitary confinement, most are now aware that Wikileaks has courageously released 250,000 secret diplomacy documents which provide candid and critical views of US...
Image of Eliminate all corporations
Eliminate all corporations
editorial posted by in braincrave
One of the problems with democracy is that it leads to corporatism. "Corporatism is a system where businesses are nominally in private hands, but are in fact controlled by the government. In a corpor...
Second Life scripted item changes
editorial posted by in braincrave
It appears the Lindens are up to mischief again. All of our worn scripted items are going to be weighed and measured. This is not to cause panic, nothing anybody can do about it, just read up and be...
Image of The meaning of life
The meaning of life
editorial posted by 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...
Image of Pronouncing moral judgment
Pronouncing moral judgment
editorial posted by in braincrave
Sometimes it seems that the worse things get, the more we tolerate. It's not that we become impartial to a particular wrong, but it does seem that we often "sit on the fence" when we see wrongdoing....
Image of What men are made of - 'ifs'
What men are made of - 'ifs'
editorial posted by in braincrave
Robert LeFevre is said "If men are good, you don't need government; if men are evil or ambivalent, you don't dare have one." What is it that makes a good man? What are the aspirations of a good man?...
Image of Flying cars outside of Second Life
Flying cars outside of Second Life
editorial posted by in braincrave
Is this a brilliant idea that will make the world a better place to live, or a disaster waiting to happen? Can someone loan me $200,000? Come on - you know you want one! Everyone sing with me! Chitty...
Image of Freedom - the opposite of government
Freedom - the opposite of government
editorial posted by in braincrave
Granted, not everyone values freedom and wants to be free. But why do so many people think that prosperity is greater the larger/more powerful government is? Given how terrible the economy is, and gi...
Image of American Conspiracies
American Conspiracies
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTA: "People prefer to be lied to ably, than be told the truth, boldly. We prefer a colorful and clever story to a documentary filled with sharp and damning evidence; we prefer gossip to investigatio...
Image of Philosophy - Everybody Needs It
Philosophy - Everybody Needs It
editorial posted by in braincrave
We deal with philosophy in one form or another, multiple times every day. For instance, every time we form an ethical viewpoint or act on such, we are forming a philosophical (ethical) idea or applyi...
Image of Why Philosophy Precedes Physics
Why Philosophy Precedes Physics
editorial posted by in braincrave
A few months ago, I was discussing certain aspects of quantum mechanics with somebody. I got around to saying that certain claims within the realm of physics can be rejected outright on philosophical...
Image of Old enough to fight, old enough to vote, but no influence
Old enough to fight, old enough to vote, but no influence
editorial posted by in braincrave
"No taxation without representation" was a popular slogan that summarized a major grievance the British colonists had with England. The idea is simple enough to understand: if I don't get any substan...
Wishing you were someone else
editorial posted by in braincrave
So I'm at this place listening to 80s music and I read a profile that has this quote: "to wish you were someone else is to waste the beautiful person that you are." A contradiction in SL? DISCUSS!...
Image of Doomsday Ark on the moon
Doomsday Ark on the moon
editorial posted by in braincrave
If you're really concerned about future generations, shouldn't there be other, more important priorities that one would be focused on instead of building a "doomsday ark" on the moon? Is this really...
Image of Who has more economic savvy? Alan Greenspan, Paul Krugman, or Ron Paul?
Who has more economic savvy? Alan Greenspan, Paul Krugman, or Ron Paul?
editorial posted by in braincrave
Alan Greenspan. Economic wonderboy. Market maestro. Former Federal Reserve Board Chairman. Past disciple of Ayn Rand. Someone who once thought gold was the only proper standard for money and a protec...
Image of The morality of animal testing
The morality of animal testing
editorial posted by in braincrave
In the movie Extreme Measures, a brilliant doctor attempts experimental surgeries on live patients (who eventually die), trying to find a way to help spinal cord victims walk again. I think most agre...
Image of Excessive grades are discriminatory - let's redistribute them
Excessive grades are discriminatory - let's redistribute them
editorial posted by in braincrave
Do you really need a 4.0 grade point average? There's a proposal on the table that we should consider. For far too long, there have been many underachieving students. We're not going to get into t...
Image of Legislating morality and homosexuality
Legislating morality and homosexuality
editorial posted by in braincrave
Politics are a disgusting abyss of failed attempts to legislate morality. But why is it like that? Perhaps one of the primary reasons is because people can't seem to agree on what morality is; or, mo...
Image of How stupid are we? Ask Obama
How stupid are we? Ask Obama
editorial posted by in braincrave
Obama has broken many promises. That's par for the course when you're a politician. People know (and sadly accept) that politicians aren't going to do everything they promise. But then there are m...
Image of The definition of integrity
The definition of integrity
editorial posted by in braincrave
Can a person strive to be something that he doesn't understand? Take integrity: are you a person of integrity? If so, how do you know? Is integrity always associated with virtue, or is integrity amor...
Image of Liberals (finally) speak out
Liberals (finally) speak out
editorial posted by in braincrave
Guess you can't call them hypocrites for this particular action, unlike most liberals who railed against Bush but now ignore the fact that Obama has continued with (and gone beyond) Bush’s anti-ter...
Image of American concentration camps - greasing the skids for martial law
American concentration camps - greasing the skids for martial law
editorial posted by in braincrave
No, they aren't Nazi concentration camps. But they are similar (and very similar to when the US government rounded up 120,000 Americans citizens of Japanese descent during WWII, an action with which...
Image of Demagoguery
Demagoguery
editorial posted by in braincrave
Administrator's Introduction: The Greek philosopher Epictetus believed that only the educated are free. With that in mind, BrainCrave.com is more than just bringing people together for dating - it's...
Image of Peaceful vs. violent revolution
Peaceful vs. violent revolution
editorial posted by in braincrave
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable. - John F. Kennedy DISCUSS! Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Mar 8, 2010 at http://www.brain...
Image of The true story of Thanksgiving
The true story of Thanksgiving
editorial posted by in braincrave
As those of you in the US enjoy the holiday, thought you might want to learn about the true story of thanksgiving - this might make some interesting conversation around the dinner table... it's calle...
Image of Politicians are nails - who has a hammer?
Politicians are nails - who has a hammer?
editorial posted by 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...
Image of O Me! O Life! and being thankful for what you have
O Me! O Life! and being thankful for what you have
editorial posted by in braincrave
Monty Python famously sang "life's a piece of shit when you look at it." There's also the adage that, if everyone threw all their problems on the table, most would reach back down and pick up their...
Image of TIL: AT&T microcells rule, especially when they're free
TIL: AT&T microcells rule, especially when they're free
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned that AT&T will send you a free microcell/femtocell (and maybe even a free phone) for use in your home if you can't get a good signal for your mobile phone. Submitted by one of our...
Image of Sci-Fi Fantasies
Sci-Fi Fantasies
editorial posted by 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...
Violent mother gets full custody
editorial posted by in braincrave
FTA: "A MOTHER found by the Family Court to be violent, untruthful, lacking moral values and responsible for the psychological and emotional abuse of her children has been given custody of them. The...
Image of Happy Secession Day
Happy Secession Day
editorial posted by in braincrave
On this July 4, when so many Americans are celebrating the so-called "Independence Day" by having picnics and shooting fireworks, there are others who think it's time to do it again. What do you thin...
Image of Corporate destruction
Corporate destruction
editorial posted by in braincrave
The history of humanity is based on progress. Progress has been the result of individuals coming together to solve problems and to enhance our lives. But history also provides numerous examples of gr...
Image of What is love
What is love
editorial posted by in braincrave
In honor of upcoming V-day (and maybe to give you something to talk about over dinner with your significant other)... Love is our response to our highest values. Love is self-enjoyment. The nobles...
Image of Rules vs. principles
Rules vs. principles
editorial posted by in braincrave
Our current culture appears to revolve more around "dos and don'ts," which is to suggest that society appears more focused on rules of what you are and aren't allowed to do. With that premise, perha...
Turning children into Orwellian eco-spies
editorial posted by in braincrave
A few snippets from a brilliant article: FTA: 'There is a long and sordid tradition of trying to socialise children by scaring them. The aim of such socialisation-through-fear is twofold: firstly,...
Image of TIL Facebook makes your private phone numbers available
TIL Facebook makes your private phone numbers available
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned Facebook imports your phone numbers from your mobile phone's address book, sometimes without your knowledge, thus making the private phone numbers of ALL of your contacts (not just yo...
Image of Atlas Shrugged changes lives
Atlas Shrugged changes lives
editorial posted by in braincrave
Noam Chomsky said Ayn Rand was "... one of the most evil figures of modern intellectual history." Yet I find Atlas Shrugged an amazing book (and so do many others, like the man who recently drove aro...
Image of Police are hypocritical
Police are hypocritical
editorial posted by in braincrave
WTF? In California, an off-duty police officer hit another car. He fled the scene, so it was a hit and run. When confronted, he first lied and claimed his wife was driving, but finally admitted to it...
Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic economy
editorial posted by in braincrave
Economics is typically considered very dry and of little interest to most. But to paraphrase the adage typically referring to politics, just because you ignore economics doesn't mean that it will ign...
Image of Being angry a mental illness
Being angry a mental illness
editorial posted by in braincrave
My mother was a psychiatrist. I remember as a kid she told me that she thought many of the mental diseases that other doctors diagnosed where complete nonsense. "Dealing with personal issues isn't a...
Image of TIL which countries make up the UK
TIL which countries make up the UK
editorial posted by in braincrave
Today I learned which countries make up the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), the difference between the United Kingdom (four countries) and Great Britain (England, Sco...
Image of The guise of liberalism
The guise of liberalism
editorial posted by in braincrave
Norman Mattoon Thomas was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. The Socialist Party candidate for President of the U.S., he i...
Image of Civil disobedience against the TSA
Civil disobedience against the TSA
editorial posted by in braincrave
In case you haven't heard, the US Totally Stupid Administration (aka TSA) has deployed Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) body scanners at many airports that produce radiation to scan your body for po...
Image of The Great Depression - Everything you've ever learned is wrong
The Great Depression - Everything you've ever learned is wrong
editorial posted by in braincrave
Last night in group chat, we had a bunch of conversations (sometimes very heated) about what the Constitution does and does not allow. As part of it, we got into the US Great Depression, FDR, court ...
Image of The next big alternative fuel - salt water?
The next big alternative fuel - salt water?
editorial posted by in braincrave
In 2007, John Kanzius accidentally found a way to release and burn hydrogen from salt water with 13.56 MHz radio waves. Many people initially thought it was a hoax. Penn State professor Rustum Roy ve...
Image of Economically unenlightened
Economically unenlightened
editorial posted by in braincrave
How do you make economics more fun so that people better understand basic concepts and, just as important, what the ramifications are from making poor economic choices? FTA: "Who is better informe...
Image of Is Jesus Christ a myth?
Is Jesus Christ a myth?
editorial posted by 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...
Image of Government charity and welfare
Government charity and welfare
editorial posted by in braincrave
H.L. Mencken once wrote "Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." This is an amazing story about Davy Crockett and how he learned what it means to uphold your principles. Why ar...
Image of Politicians lie (yawn)
Politicians lie (yawn)
editorial posted by in braincrave
As the adage goes: How do you know a politician is lying? His lips are moving. On Obama's White House website, he states: "My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of opennes...
Image of Bearing responsibility for your own existence
Bearing responsibility for your own existence
editorial posted by in braincrave
The higher your self-esteem, the more confidence you have in your ability to cope with life's never-ending challenges. Strong self-esteem is based on many factors, one of which is self-responsibility...
Image of Third-life
Third-life
editorial posted by in braincrave
Do you think a virtual reality, or 'Matrix' is possible? Obviously the Matrix in the movie to replicate real world physics and a universe is far to complicated but something like a 'Third Life' kind...
Nuclear No-Contest
editorial posted by in braincrave
Before the 1950s, the future confronting the human race was bleak. With the global population increasing and becoming more dependent on energy-dense technologies to sustain its food supplies and risi...
Image of Sex and intelligence
Sex and intelligence
editorial posted by in braincrave
People who practice BDSM are mostly educated, successful people coming from emotional stable families according to a large professional survey (BDSM/Fetish Demographics Survey). Even students at an a...