OT: The future is bright!

[Frankie]

I wanted to expand on a thread that was taking away from the glory of what and who we are. We are human beings. We need to be proud of that fact. We are a unique creation and we should have a respect for ourselves and others around us.
Here are a few good articles for those who wish to expand their minds a little more.
I would appreciate any comments on faith or religious beliefs being left out of replies. There are just to many different beliefs out there and we need to respect religious beliefs of others.

Human Lifespan - Is There A Limit? :: Bruce Klein - ImmInst Forums
Human - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[rlcline76]

I read through most of that Bruce Klein write up. I should be dead before I reach 150! But I looked at the graph of centarians around the 2050 mark. Although, living beyond 40, as many of our ancestors did not, is great (I'm already 31 and time is ticking faster) I am trying to check out before the 100 mark. My family lives to be very old and on every medication. Those annual heart attacks just don't seem attractive.

Thanks Frankie, now I'm depressed! lol

[PEMfish]

Kass thinks that extending healthy human life is a bad idea. "Confronted with the growing moral challenges posed by biomedical technology, let us resist the siren song of the conquest of aging and death." Kass says.

"Our body design, although beautiful to behold, miraculous in design and astonishing in its complexity, was never intended to be operated in the laboratory of extended life," Olshansky said.

[Frankie]

Kass also stated this:
Worst of all from this point of view are those more uncivilized forms of eating, like licking an ice cream cone—a catlike activity that has been made acceptable in informal America but that still offends those who know eating in public is offensive.
– Leon Kass, The Hungry Soul, pp. 148-149. University of Chicago Press, 1994, 1999,
And this:
Thanks to technology, a woman could declare herself free from the teleological meaning of her sexuality—as free as a man appears to be from his. Her menstrual cycle, since puberty a regular reminder of her natural maternal destiny, is now anovulatory and directed instead by her will and her medications, serving goals only of pleasure and convenience, enjoyable without apparent risk to personal health and safety.
– Leon Kass, The End of Courtship,

[PEMfish]

Theres also education. Public schools have degraded over the last 40 years. Taken a backwards step.

Physically we were better off before we had machines to do the work for us. Think about it...

Now there are the people that side with me. . But look at your self, do you want to change to what is better? Do you want to abandon the technology that causes the problems we so fear? How are the lives we lead tearing away from the disastrous problems?

Thank you.

[BEELZEBOB]

WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.

but we have much FARTHER to go.

[nikkipigtails]

When I was pregnant, I did a lot of reading about good food to eat and I wasn't suprised when I read in the first article that people in Japan live longer. Look at their diet! It's full of fish, among other things. They constantly load their bodies with Omega 3's not to mention the fact that they are more active. Omega 3's are good for the heart and the brain...we should take a cue and eat more fish...I say we go fishing in Terry's tank once it's up. ha ha ha...j/k Here we are eating fast food, foods loaded in cholesterol, bad fats, calories...We shouldn't rely on science to fix us when we've spent our lives doing all the damage. We should rely on science to teach us how to naturally prolong our lives.

But, man, I can't imagine living 100+ years. Can you imagine everything you would see and experience? On the other hand, do you think that moving forward would be easier or more difficult with people who are living longer? The world will be filled with people who have the same, old ideas for longer. I'm not saying that living longer isn't a good thing, but it's like we're trading one for the other...we're trading longer lives for slower-moving, forward thinking. If that makes any sense.

[BarbMazz]

It makes sense, nikki! Why live longer going on doing the same old things the same old way, right?

RS is gettin' all philosophical-like.

nikki, in Europe the people live a lot differently than most of us do, here. Everything there isn't "cookie-cutter". Fast food hasn't taken a hold like it has here. I think food generally is healthier there, and their lifestyle is WAY healthier than here. They still build to last. Extended families still live together. Food is homegrown and home prepared. Restaurants are not of the fast food variety, and tend to be menu'd to have the freshest things available. They drink wine daily, a little bit! They take NAPS. Their day starts later. They take long lunches. They relax a lot more. They have a healthier lifestyle for sure!

There's a lot wrong in this country that has nuthin' to do with politics. Lifestyle and culture are the erosion. Quick throw-away is damaging. Building things to NOT last is damaging. The quick buck without regard to consequence is damaging. Cheap, low prices is damaging. That's the kind of stuff I see wrong here in this country.

I think I read SOMEwhere that US life expectancy went down recently for the first time, and I am not surprised in the least if that's true. We are a throw-away society, and that philosophy extends to how we regard our own lives, too.

[dfurbee]

Originally Posted by BarbMazz

It makes sense, nikki! Why live longer going on doing the same old things the same old way, right?

RS is gettin' all philosophical-like.

nikki, in Europe the people live a lot differently than most of us do, here. Everything there isn't "cookie-cutter". Fast food hasn't taken a hold like it has here. I think food generally is healthier there, and their lifestyle is WAY healthier than here. They still build to last. Extended families still live together. Food is homegrown and home prepared. Restaurants are not of the fast food variety, and tend to be menu'd to have the freshest things available. They drink wine daily, a little bit! They take NAPS. Their day starts later. They take long lunches. They relax a lot more. They have a healthier lifestyle for sure!

There's a lot wrong in this country that has nuthin' to do with politics. Lifestyle and culture are the erosion. Quick throw-away is damaging. Building things to NOT last is damaging. The quick buck without regard to consequence is damaging. Cheap, low prices is damaging. That's the kind of stuff I see wrong here in this country.

I think I read SOMEwhere that US life expectancy went down recently for the first time, and I am not surprised in the least if that's true. We are a throw-away society, and that philosophy extends to how we regard our own lives, too.

Can't agree more. When we visit Europe, I just love the way people love life there. My husband and I are thinking about retiring in Italy, would be a more relaxing retirement.

[sasquatch]

in the matrix anything is possible, just stay in your pod

[nikkipigtails]

I was talking to Tommy about Italian lifestyle last night. We both love Italian food and want to visit there. And so I started telling him about their lifestyle, the way they eat. 5 course dinners stretched over hours with wine sitting around a table full of family and friends. The only time we do that is around Thanksgiving and even then, with our families anyway, it's not a big deal because his family is divorced and can't be in the same room.

On the alcohol issue...you don't see kids in Europe going out to get drunk at every opportunity and you can drink (in France at least which is all I know for sure) at the age of 16. They learn from an early age not to abuse it and that, for the most part, it's drunk to enhance the flavors of the food you eat and for the flavor of the wine or beer itself. In America, we make such a big deal about being able to drink alcohol that kids go crazy the minute they turn 21, if not before. How insane is it that a kid can be old and mature enough join the military and die for his/her country, but isn't considered old or mature enough to have a drink legally?

[Emg]

Originally Posted by nikkipigtails

When I was pregnant, I did a lot of reading about good food to eat and I wasn't suprised when I read in the first article that people in Japan live longer. Look at their diet! It's full of fish, among other things. They constantly load their bodies with Omega 3's not to mention the fact that they are more active........

My husband works with a fella who had to go to the hospital from mercury poisoning....it seems the guy had a diet which consisted of lots and LOTS of fish...... I wouldn't go the fish route these days...not too often anyway.

Another thing about Japan....they eat much smaller portions. So it may not necessarily be WHAT they eat....as how much they DONT eat....just a thought

[PEMfish]

With food these days we have to many choices, most are bad.

[Frankie]

Great discussions so far.
Habits are one of the biggest problems here in America. Food, drink and recreational. My wife is from Europe and after the last 10 years of marriage i cannot stand the taste of fast foods any longer. I eat mainly home cooked foods. It is not so much that foods today are bad, it has more to do with preparation and over indulging. I am in perfect health and feel great. There is a lot to say about diet and longevity of life.
In my home we also try and keep a positive attitude towards life. Church family and friends. We don't pollute our minds with TV and reading of alternative thinking. I have to say i think this type of living has been a huge reflection in why i am so successful in my reef keeping hobby.

[BarbMazz]

Frankie, I can understand perfectly what you're saying! We pollute ourselves!

I am not a "religious" person by the standard definition of "religion", but I am very Spiritual. I do my best to shield myself from disharmony, for lack of a better word. I have found that I need quiet time to maintain peace of mind, because my mind sometimes aims itself at me like a weapon! It's always too, too busy. I'm training it to be my friend! LOL

I seek out quiet time in simple ways; I avoid Stoopid tv when I can. When driving I most times have the radio off, or I listen to music that I find relaxing, like classical or what is considered "new agey" sort of music like Enya. I read books that teach me something, no matter the subject matter. I read science fiction, or future fiction, for pleasure.

I lay down to rest or take a nap on days when I have the time, even when it's for 15 mins. Even just laying flat on the bed with eyes closed and nice dogs for company does a LOT to sooth my soul.

I've been on a whole foods diet for quite some time, although I do eat out, I make good choices even if I have to make special requests. If a restaurant isn't willing or able to accommodate I don't go there again.

I feel that reefing will be taking me further on my search for peace within myself. It expands my mind, my confidence, and my connection with this Earth.