A friend of mine recently related a story that I found some what interesting at many levels. He was having a discussion with his father about world matters and the role that religion has played in exacerbating many of the problems we currently see. His father went on the say that these things are all portents to the rapture and that he feels that the rapture is imminent. Concurring with this sentiment my friend then states that part of the problem is that everyone feels that their belief system is the correct one and will defend it fervently. Upon hearing this his father immediately got defensive and felt some how he was being told that he is in the latter group, despite the fact that his son repeated several times that he was in full agreement with his father's beliefs.

What is it about these faith based systems that causes mankind to abandon rationale reasoning? I was often told to never try to argue with irrational people. Time and time again this has proved to be sound advice. Could it be that religion and faith based belief systems are irrational? That they can not be approached with logic and soundness of mind? Are the believers so forgone that they can not even begin to consider the very logical possibility that they just might be wrong?

All other things in life require supporting evidence before they are accepted as truth. Yet in faith based belief systems you just accept what has been taught for generations and never question its authenticity.

Long sigh. I give up.

Interest crackling hitherto in passage to explain on top of plus ou moins getting a hematoscope exert pressure definition

Whose fault is it that they were born?
whose fault is it that whatever they do is wrong?
Whose fault is it that by seeing them we say we have lost?
whose fault is it that they exist,even though they are ignored?
Why will good spirits,bring happy times,
when just to live,you have to engage in crimes.

For what?
All for currency,
something called money.
let it be called yen,rupee,dollar or pound,
let it be measured in kilos,grams or pounds,
it seems that we will be at peace
filled with harmony,
if lust had never been exchanged for money.

Why did we push a few,
why did we say with contentment
"the strongest survive"?
Why,why did we do that which we wish we had never done?
Why did we ask for this,to be so?
Why are we the ones to inherit a planet in strife,
why,why who gave us this life?

whatever maybe,while we think that out,
let us not leave our fellows out.
No religion can stop you,if you will,
no caste can stop you if you will,
nothing for that matter can stop you,
just get out and do what you have to do,
no don't kill them,
for after all resources are capital in disguise
and if we invest ,our wealth too will rise.

So go and save a few,
if you can, say "the world is for you too",
but if that is tough,
just don't get rough,
live and let live,
but the best is to
change the world with your will.

One night a Bat came and clung to the bars of the cage, and asked the Bird why she was silent by day and sang only at night.

"I have a very good reason for doing so," said the Bird. "It was once when I was singing in the daytime that a fowler was attracted by my voice, and set his nets for me and caught me. Since then I have never sung except by night."

But the Bat replied, "It is no use your doing that now when you are a prisoner: if only you had done so before you were caught, you might still have been free."

Moral:
Precautions are useless after the crisis.

Think Ox

Think how great it would be to have an all-electric car with a good driving performance, that meets all safety standards, has an adequate range and looks stylish. That's finally become reality at an affordable price. The Think City is an all-electric two-seater which has a top speed of 65 mph, a range of 120 miles and all established safety features such as airbags and ABS as well as a comfortable cabin. Besides, the Think City is eco-friendly as it has zero tailpipe emissions, a high efficiency and is 95% recycable. Driving a Think City can be as much of a pleasure and as  convenient as driving a conventional car. It offers all features we are used to such as air conditioning, electric windows and doors as well as power steering. Ford Motor Co. that owned Think from 1999 to 2003 has contributed decisively to achieve the Think City's high comfort and security levels by pouring $150 million into the Think City project. The company was founded in 1991 in Norway as Pivco (Personal Independent Vehicle Company) and produced several electric vehicles on a small scale. Back in 1999, Ford took over the company due to California's zero-emissions vehicle policy. Ford lagged behind GM with its EV1 in terms of non-polluting cars and considered Pivco as a viable tool to meet the requirements by the Californian Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. However - lacking farsightedness - Ford gave up the company after major automakers and the U.S. federal government succeeded in modifying the California mandate. The company was sold for a song to a Swiss company, went bankrupt in 2006 and was then bought by investors around the Norwegian businessman Jan-Olaf Willums who is the CEO of Think Global today. Several companies such as Porsche Consulting helped to streamline the production at Think's assembly plant in Norway. The final assembly of the car is very efficient and simple as there are only 580 parts to be put together and the the annual capacity is about 10,000 units. This number could be increased up to 50,000 units per year with the opening of an assembly plant in the U.S. 

Think Global has reached out across the Atlantic and started a partnership with leading clean-tech investors and plans to launch a version of its Think City as early as 2009 and is expected to built a new factory within the USA - probably in Southern California where they should be sold first.

The storage technology for the electricity is the only remaining major obstacle. Battery technology still lags behind the needs of the electric vehicle manufacturers, however, the technology is at a stage of development that allows mass-production of electric vehicles and provides a fair range at a good speed.  The car is especially suitable for city dwellers and commuters who barely manage to get 50 during the commute hours and most of the time, the distances they have to cover are within the driving range of electric cars. However, the lithium-ion batteries that'll power the car will be fairly expensive and account for almost half of the costs of the entire car. Therefore, the Think City would actually cost about $35,000 which reduces its competitiveness with conventional cars. But Think Global has found a solution to get their cars on the streets. They made up a totally new concept of selling cars and leasing the batteries. The cars will be sold almost entirely via the Internet for a subsidized price ranging between $20,000 and $25,000. Owners will pay a monthly fee for the "Mobility Pack" which includes car insurance, battery maintenance and replacement costs so that Think City cars will always run using the latest battery technology.

The Think City is already on sale in Norway and sales in Sweden, the UK and Denmark will start soon. The company's CEO Jan-Olaf Willums wants the car to go on sale in the U.S. in 2009. Willums hopes for government subsidies, tax rebates and other incentives to make the all-electric car more attractive. And even without government support. The owners of Think electric cars could break even in just a few years with gasoline above $4 a gallon.

Think has also come up with a few other models, amongst the five-seater Think Ox and the cool Think open whose roof has been removed.

Think Global has proven that electric cars can keep up with conventional cars in terms of safety, reliability, comfort and driving performance. The Think Ox combines innovative design with eco-friendly and economical technology. To sum up, the concept and the technology are brilliant and are a viable alternative to conventional cars in urban areas. We can expect several concepts similar to this one to come up in the not-too-distant future. Mobility doesn't necessarily have to become ever more expensive. Flexible and innovative solutions are already available, reliable and economical. It'll take just a few more years until the competitiveness of electric cars has increased as a result of mass-production and an improved infrastrucuture.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/motoring/2008058152_thinkcar18.html

Related Posts:

[ german | deutsch ] 

Die Majorität der Dummen ist unüberwindbar 
und für alle Zeiten gesichert.
 
Der Schrecken ihrer Tyrannei ist indessen gemildert 
durch Mangel an Konsequenz.
 
( Albert Einstein, Mein Weltbild  )

He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son: "Break it."

The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the Bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful.

"Untie the faggots," said the father, "and each of you take a stick.

"When they had done so, he called out to them: "Now, break," and each stick was easily broken.

"You see my meaning," said their father.

Moral:
Union gives strength.

Too many of us want instant gratification, the big bucks, big cars, big houses now. We ignore future generations in order to ensure that the quality of life remains the same. We do not wish to sacrifice, so we do not. There are several comprehensive plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to levels of centuries ago, and they merely require 1% of the world's gross domestic product. If the plans are not implemented soon enough, that cost increases very quickly (one of those plans is outlined in a Scientific American Magazine from last year...). Yet world leaders fear annoying the companies that employ their citizens, so they waffle and wiffle and the climate spins out of control. Have we even asked ourselves what it is we are not giving up so that future generations might have a world that does not resemble Mad Max's hellish post-apocalyptic nightmare?

We want our large vehicles that act as self-esteem boosters, fashion accessories even, when they should be mere tools to get us from A to B. We want our cell towers, our computers, our internet and violent video games. We want 4.7x10^4 television channels. We want our disposable cleaning products that allow us to never touch another bacteria again. We want goods that wear out in months, thrown out onto the every growing pile of electronic garbage and then go buy another. We want and want and want.... Do we need? Of course not, but we do not wish to give up. I am just as guilty...

So if and when we go extinct, whether caused by our destruction of our habitat, or perhaps aeons from now our race will just wear out, hopefully the next intelligence is smart enough not to make the mistakes we did...

Scott

do i have to go out from my office?
of course not... (silly-me)

if you ask wikipedia, they will give you a definition like :
Thinking outside the box is to think differently, unconventionally, from a new perspective. This phrase often refers to novel, creative and smart thinking.

hmmm
i think i can manage that
so if i got stuck with my idea
then think with different side
think what if i'm no me, i'm the user
what do i want?
what do i need?
then conclude it, and taraaaa you've got an idea
{^.^}

put that tiny seedling in your huge brain pool

.

I know my post must be short for you novel readers. But I'm currently trying to create my main characters past and it's pretty hard considering that he is American and I've got a lot of investigating to do on the web so I don't screw it up.

My next post will be on the battle of the sexes, so stay tuned...

This July 2008 issue has the theme: "The Future is in your Hands: Embrace Them." From page 4 this quote is found: "Homes will be stronger and lives will be richer only when parents stop making excuses for not making the sacrifices necessary to bring up children in the 'training and admonition of the Lord' (Ephesians 6:4)."

• Page 4… FROM THE EDITORS, by Brad Harrub and Jim Palmer. A quote: "The need for faithful parents (and as a result, strong homes) is so elementary—yet it is so contrary to today's cultural norms that we decided to devote an entire issue to the subject."
• Page 7… ON THE LIGHTER SIDE, "Casseroles and Fellowship," by Jimmy Davy.
• Page 8… FAITH AND FINANCE, "Three R's to Face a RECESSION," by Jim Palmer. (1) Renew Your Trust in God; (2) Repent of Ruinous Habits; (3) Remember That Someone Else is Suffering More.
• Page 12… LIFE IN AMERICA, "Become a Better Father," by Phil Sanders.
• Page 14… DAILY WALK, "Childlike Greatness," by Adam Faughn. An acrostic: Caring; Honest; Innocent; Love; Devoted.
• Page 15… ATHEISM EXPOSED (a new department), "The JESUS Problem," by Dewayne Bryant. The New Atheists: A Different Breed of Unbelievers.
• Page 16… "Growing Up Too Soon," by Glenn Colley. "Today's society has collectively sacrificed its children's years of innocence on the altar of its hedonism and materialism."
• Page 19… "Generation to Generation," by Tommy South. 2 Timothy 1:5; Acts 16:1-3.
• Page 20… "Parenting the Heart," by Jim Palmer.
• Page 22… "Redefining Success," by Brad Harrub. "Many congregations have 'vital statistic' boards mounted in the front of their auditorium that record attendance and contribution. I would suggest congregations add a new line: 'Number of children who abandoned the Faith this year.'"
• Page 25… "The Next Generation: KEY TO THE FUTURE," by Jason R. Roberts. Timely Principles from Deuteronomy 6.
• Page 26… "Of Fathers and Their Sons," by Jared Jackson. "Being a dad with lofty spiritual goals for his family takes a lot of work. But goals are not enough. Action must follow."
• Page 28… "Overscheduled + Overstressed + Overstimulated = Disconnected," by Cindy Palmer.
• Page 29… "Stepping Stones to Our Future," by David Longley.
• Page 31… "It Takes One to Know One," by Cindy Colley.
• Page 32… A WOMAN'S PERSPECTIVE, "Spiritually Confident Children," by Jill Jackson.
• Page 33… HEART OF THE MATTER, "Giver vs Taker," by Brad Harrub.
• Page 35… TRAIN AND NURTURE, "Sweet Memories of Mom," by Sandra Thornton.
• Page 36… MAN TO MAN, "Purity Starts with Love," by Bubba Ingram.
• Page 38… LIGHT FROM THE PAST, "The Adventures of Jonah," by Dewayne Bryant.

Brent pursued his idea, however, and created carrotmob. The idea is to organize buying power in such a way that corporations (and in his first experiment with the concept, a neighborhood grocer) find financial rewards through better decision making. To state it simply, use a carrot rather than a stick.

He visited twenty-three local convenience stores in his neighborhood and told the owners that he was going to organize a shopping event to draw buyers to the establishment that was willing to set aside a portion of their earnings on that day to upgrade their facilities for increased energy efficiency. The establishment that would set aside the highest percentage would win.

Watch how the idea unfolds, as well as the results, in the abbreviated video below. Visit carrotmob.org to watch the full-length version.

I read out of Psalm 22, Daniel 1 and Mark 1. all of the scripture was beautiful and good for my hear today, but, Mark 1 really stood out to me this morning. i really would encourage you to go have a look at it and just see what things you might grab from the short little passage.

The major themes i really grabbed as i watched the thread of Jesus in this passage were these following points (starting from the top of chapter 1 to the end of chapter 1):

1. Healing

2. Rest in me

3. Simplify

4. trust firmly through adversity and watch God work

5. Healing

I love that the book ends on Mark 1 show Jesus healing. He is the Healer, Restorer, Satisfier, Hope Giver, Abundant Life, Prolific Physician, Sustainer, Guide, Hope, Hand Holder and Re-definer. I wonder if you read that passage and find anything like i've found. 

I'm excited to continue to read out of Mark in my time with God and i'd love to invite you to join me along the journey of reading the Gospel of Mark. i'm not gonna set a time frame, but, just maybe throw out the invitation. 

I really would love to hear what you learn out of Mark 1 and i'd also ask did anything God showed me this morning resonate with you as you looked at Mark 1?  

here's the link to read it online! MARK 1 (NIV)

Comment away and let's be an avenue of healing, rest, simplicity, trust and more healing to each other and to all we come into contact with today and beyond!

Knowing that he was determined to go, the mother went to the well in the backyard and took out a crab and asked his son to keep the crab with him during his travel. The boy then put the crab in a camphor box and put that box in a vessel and set out on his journey. That being summer, the day was very hot and the Brahmin halted and took rest under a big tree.

From the hollow of the tree, a snake emerged and, attracted by the fragrance of camphor, swallowed the box containing the crab. The crab came out of the box and sliced the head of the snake and killed him. The Brahmin boy woke and found the dead snake and the camphor box. When he saw the crab coming out of the box alive, he at once realized what had happened.

He then remembered the words of his mother and thought he did well by heeding her advice that saved him from death.

Moral:
Those who feed on the rich, do not help them in distress. When their wealth is in tact, everyone hovers around the rich.
(This Panchatantra story is from Imprudence)

The king had a stable of goats that his young sons used to ride. One of the goats was fond of food and would daily sneak into the kitchen at any time of the day and make a clean sweep of whatever was available in the kitchen. If the cook chanced to see him stealing food, he would throw at it whatever was handy, a stick or a brass pot.

The monkey leader saw this drama between the cook and the wily goat and thought: “I am sure this tussle between the cook and the goat will lead to the ruin of my tribe. This goat has become a slave to food. The cook will throw at it whatever is nearby. It may be a stick or if it is not readily available he may use an ember from the hearth to throw at the goat. This will set ablaze the goat’s fur-covered body making him run into the stable that would soon catch fire and burn the horses. The great veterinarian Salihotra has said the fat of monkeys is the best medicine for burns. That will be the end of monkeys.”

The monkey leader then summoned all the younger ones and told them that the feud between the cook and the goat would certainly do harm to them. In their own interest they should leave the palace as early as possible. He quoted the scholars saying:

“He who wants to live in peace
Must leave a house of daily strife.
Conflict breaks up kingdoms
Like bad words separate friends”

The younger ones, however, refused to listen to the advice of the old monkey. They told the leader, “Sir, you have become old and senile. We are not going to leave this palace where we have the best food available. What do we get there to eat in the jungles? We cannot eat the indifferent food in the forest.”

Extremely unhappy at their response, the old monkey said, “You have no idea of the price you will pay for the comforts of the palace. They won’t last long. I cannot see the end of our tribe. I am leaving. He who spares himself the spectacle of a friend in distress, of his house occupied by an enemy or of the division of his country, is the happiest.”

The old monkey left all of them with a heavy heart.

Some days later, the wily goat entered the royal kitchen and the cook, failing to see anything handy to punish it, took out a burning piece of wood from the hearth and hurled it at the goat. His fur afire, he ran in panic into the stable where his burning body set ablaze the hay stacked there. Several horses perished in the fire. The king consulted expert veterinarians who advised him to use monkey fat as unguent for horses suffering from burns.

The king ordered all monkeys to be killed and their fat used to heal the burns of the horses. The old monkey was distressed by the death of her progeny and began planning as to how he could take revenge on the king for killing all monkeys. Wandering restlessly in the forest, the old monkey saw a lake full of lotuses. On deeper inspection of the lake, the senior monkey found footprints of animals and human beings entering the lake but not footprints leaving the lake.

The monkey at once realised that there must be some wicked crocodile in the lake and that it was better to drink water with the tube of a lotus. As he began drinking water, a monster emerged from the lake wearing a pearl necklace. The monster addressed the monkey and said, “You seem to be an intelligent chap. You drank water without entering the lake. I am impressed by the presence of your mind. Ask anything you want.”

The monkey asked, “Sir, how many lives can you take in one go?”

The monster said, “I can swallow tens, hundreds and thousands at one time. All this I can do only when they enter the lake. Outside the water, even a jackal can challenge me.”

The monkey said, “I have to settle scores with a king. If you can lend me the pearl necklace on your body, I will somehow persuade the king and all his men to enter the lake for hidden wealth. Then you can kill all of them.”

Trusting the monkey, the monster gave him the pearl necklace. The monkey reached the kingdom of Chandra. People saw the dazzling necklace and asked him how he got it. The monkey told them about the lake. When the word reached the king, he sent for the monkey and asked him how he got the necklace.

On the monkey telling him everything about the lake, the king, led by the monkey, and accompanied by his family, ministers and followers, reached the lake. The monkey told the king that it was better that all his men entered the lake at the same time at dawn. But the monkey told the king, “My lord, you will not go with them. I will take you separately to a spot where you can get a large store of pearl necklaces.”

According to the plan, all the king’s men entered the lake at the same time and were killed by the monster. When nobody came out of the water for a long time, the king became suspicious and asked the monkey about the delay in his men coming out of the lake. The monkey immediately sprang to the top of a tree and told the king:

“O king, the monster inside the lake has killed all your people. You have killed my people. This is my reply to that treachery.”

Moral:
He who is overwhelmed by greed and doesn’t weigh its consequences, will become a victim of deceit.
(This Panchatantra story is from Imprudence)

The fish heard their conversation and were very worried. Then the frog asked Satabuddhi for advice.

“O Satabuddhi, you have heard what the fishermen were planning. Now tell us what we should do. Should we remain in the lake or go somewhere else.”

Sahsrabuddhi answered the question, “Don’t worry. You should not be scared by just words. The learned have said “The world is still safe because the dreams of snakes and wicked men never come true.” The fishermen may not even come tomorrow. If they come, I am here to save you.”

Satabuddhi said, “You are a genius. What you say is correct. There is nothing that accomplished men cannot conquer. Remember how Chanakya had killed all the armed Nandas.

“Where one cannot pierce sun and wind
The wits of a resourceful man enter.
One should not leave motherland, for,
Nothing is happier than one’s own land.”

Then, Ekabuddhi, the frog, said, “Friends, flight is the only thing I know. So, I and my wife will leave this place tonight itself.”

Accordingly, the frog left the lake immediately. Next day, the fishermen came and netted lot of fish, frogs, crabs, turtles etc. and also Satabuddhi and Sahasrabuddhi and killed all of them. One of them carried Satabuddhi on his head because he was heavier and slung Sahsrabuddhi to his arm because he was long.

Ekabuddhi showed this scene to his wife and said, “Didn’t I tell you what the fishermen will do? Now, see the plight of Satabuddhi and Sahasrabuddhi.”

Moral:
Wisdom is superior to knowledge.
(This Panchatantra story is from Imprudence)

After a few days of travel, they reached a point where the road forked. They were not sure which road would take them home. Then they saw a funeral procession. One of the boys opened his book of learning and read out “Follow the path taken by great men.”

The boy told his other friends, “Let us join and follow these great men leading the funeral procession.”

They thus followed the procession to the cremation ground where they met a donkey.

The second Brahmin boy opened his book of Shastras and found this verse in it:

“He who comes to your aid
In times of danger, famine,
Cremation and invasion
Is truly a friend in deed.”

Then he told his friends that the donkey was, therefore, their best friend. At once one of them held on to the neck of the donkey. Another washed his feet. After this ceremony, they looked around and found a camel. The four of them began figuring out what the animal is. The third man opened his book of knowledge and read out, “What moves fast is righteousness” and decided that the camel must be the embodiment of righteousness.

The fourth man referred to his book and found that righteousness and friendship should always be together. They then tied the donkey and the camel together. Informed of this, the donkey’s owner rushed to beat the four Brahmins. But they escaped before he came. They continued to travel till they reached a river and found a big leaf floating over the water.

One of them saw it and, remembering a line from a verse describing how a leaf helped a man cross the river, jumped on it and was being carried down by the current. A second Brahmin saw his friend in distress and remembered a verse:

“When total loss stares in the face
A wise man sacrifices half and
Manages with what remains.”

So, with a view to save half of his friend, the second Brahmin cut off the head of the drowning man.

The remaining three resumed their travel only to stop when three villagers invited them for a feast. When the host served a dish resembling noodles to the first Brahmin, he thought “what is long should be discarded” and left the place without food.

The second man was served pancakes. He thought, “What spreads is not good for health” and refused to eat.

Doughnuts were served to the third Brahmin. He remembered that “There is peril where there is a hole” and left. The three Brahmins later went home.

Moral:
“What God chooses to save
Survives sans human effort and
No human effort can save
What God ordains to perish.”
(This Panchatantra story is from Imprudence)

On the way, the eldest of them pointing out to the fourth man told the others, “Friends, this fellow is an unlettered fool. He has common sense and nothing else. I am not going to share my earnings with this fellow. Let him go home.”

The second man also supported the eldest boy’s suggestion.

But the third boy said, “Friends, it is not proper to send him back. We played together and he is one of us. Let us share our gains with him because elders have said:

“He who has a narrow mind
Thinks this is mine, this is his.
To a large-hearted person
The whole world is his family.”

In the end, the other two agreed with the third boy’s suggestion and let the common sense man accompany them. As they continued to travel they reached a forest where they saw a heap of bones. One of them told the rest, “Look, here is an opportunity to test our learning. Some animal is dead. Let us bring it to life using the knowledge we have acquired.”

The first man said, “Okay, I will use my learning to assemble the bones into a skeleton.” With the power of learning he ordered all the bones to come together and become a skeleton.

When the skeleton was ready, the second man commanded flesh and blood to fill the skeleton and skin to cover it.

When the third man was about to bring life to the body, Subuddhi, who had only common sense, warned him, “Look, this looks like the body of a lion. If it comes to life, he will kill all of us.”

The man who was to put life into the body of the animal told Subuddhi, “You are a fool. Do you think I will lose this opportunity to test my learning.”

Subuddhi then told him to wait so that he could climb up a tree for safety and went up a tree. When the first man gave him life, the lion came alive and killed all the three learned men.

Moral:
“Even if one is very learned
If he is without common sense
Becomes the butt of ridicule
Like the learned in this story.”
(This Panchatantra story is from Imprudence)

Unable to bear it, they thought, “It is better to live in a forest where only wild animals live and no human beings than to suffer poverty. Sleeping on a bed of grass is better than leading forever a life of want and suffering.”

So, they packed their bags and set out in search of prosperity and happiness. The learned have always said that the grief-stricken man always gives up truth, relatives, mother and even motherland. It was no wonder that the four Brahmins left their place and after several sojourns reached the great city of Ujjain. They bathed in Shipra River and went to the Mahakaleshwar temple. When they emerged from the temple after the worship of Mahakaleshwar, Bhairavananda Swami, a sadhu, greeted them. All of them prostrated before him in reverence and accompanied him to his monastery.

The Swamiji asked the young men, “From where are you coming and where are you going? What brought you here?”

“We are in search of prosperity. For us, it is either death or wealth. You know that adventurous people achieve their goals even if they have to sacrifice their lives. Destiny is all-powerful. Still, nothing can be achieved without human effort. Wells, tanks and ponds become full when it rains. But man too brings water out of the earth by digging deep wells. So, please show us a way to achieve our goal,” the Brahmin boys pleaded with the Swamiji.

Moved by their plight and determination, the Swamiji gave them four sanctified tablets and told them, “Each one of you takes a tablet and travel towards the Himalayas. Stop where the tablet slips out of your hand and look at that spot for treasures. Dig the treasures out and bring them back home and be happy.”

They began their journey and after some days of travel, the tablet dropped from the hand of one of the four Brahmins. They stopped there and after digging the earth, they found plenty of copper. The first Brahmin told the others that all of them could mine as much copper as they could and take it home. The others said, “What is there in copper. Let’s go ahead.” The first Brahmin said they could go if they wanted but he would go home taking all the copper he could carry.

The other three continued their journey till a tablet dropped to the ground from the hand of one of the three. They dug there and found plenty of silver. The second Brahmin suggested that they should be happy with the silver they found and go home. The other two said he could take all the silver if he wanted. They would, however, continue their search for gold. The second Brahmin, happy with what he had found, took silver and went home.

Now, the remaining two Brahmins trekked some more distance until a third tablet dropped. The two dug there and found gold. The third man said that gold was better than copper and silver and they must now go back because there was nothing more precious than gold. The fourth Brahmin did not agree and replied that he would continue his search. The third man took the gold and went home.

It was now the turn of the fourth man. He was now tired and thirsty, and on top of it he had lost his way and began wandering aimlessly. Then he saw a man completely soaked in blood and a wheel whirring over his head like a halo. The Brahmin went near him and asked, “Sir, who are you and what is this wheel over your head? Can you show me a place where water is available?” As he finished his questions, the wheel shifted from the stranger’s head and came over the Brahmin’s head.

Then followed a dialogue:

“What is this wheel which has come over my head,” asked the Brahmin.

“I have no idea. It tormented me as it is doing to you now,” the stranger said.

“At least tell me how I can get rid of it. It is so painful.”

“If any person like you with a tablet comes here and talks to you, the wheel will shift on to his head.”

“How long have you been bearing this hurt,” asked the Brahmin.

“I have no idea. But I think it was in the reign of Lord Rama,” said the stranger.

“Who gave you food and water?”

“This place is where Kubera has stored all his wealth. Those who trespass on this area will have no thirst or hunger but a lot of pain inflicted by this wheel. Only such persons who have a magic tablet like you had can come here,” said the stranger and took leave of the Brahmin.

When the last Brahmin, whose name was Chakradhara, did not return, his friend Suvarnasiddhi went back following the trail left by his friend and found him bleeding and in great pain with a wheel over his head. He asked him how he got into that plight. Chakradhara told him what had happened so far.

Suvarnasiddhi then said, “I told you in many ways not to be greedy. You did not heed my word. You are learned but not wise.

Moral:
Wisdom is always superior to learning.
(This Panchatantra story is from Imprudence)

Very interesting, read until the end…..It is written in the Bible:

Galatians 6:7
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Here are some men and women who mocked God :

John Lennon (Singer):
Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: “Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, Today we are more famous than Him” (1966).

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil):
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.

Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):
During a show in Canecio (Rio de Janeiro), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: “God, that’s for you.”

He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic
After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: “Not even God can sink it.”

The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic.

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)
She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.  He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.  After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: “I don’t need your Jesus”.

A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.

Bon Scott (Singer... pictured with microphone and no shirt)
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC.  On one of his 1979 songs he sang: “Don’t stop me, I’m going down all the way, down the highway to hell”.

On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

Christine Hewitt, Jamaican Journalist and entertainer

Said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.

In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle .

Giving credit where it is due:

All pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Except for picture of Christine Hewitt, picture courtesy of Holy Headlines which also has this same e-mail about these people who mocked God.... Holy Headlines

My past conference experiences have never resonated. I abhor the “conference floor” / “vendor expo”. I don’t need another tote bag (Don’t they know that most people have to fly there? TED gets it right by mailing the schwag to your home after the even).

I registered. Signed-up.

I committed to this a week ago—Committed.

What can I bring?

• My undivided attention. This is my/our weekend after all, I don’t get Monday and Tuesday off from work in exchange. This is something I care about, so why not let the tweets, IMs, mo-blogging, and other chatter be someone elses responsibility? We are all going to be there together. If it takes a day or two to organize my thoughts and write them down, is that a real problem—I’m not the AP wire service.
• Curiosity and interest tempered with undeniable shyness. I’m not good at these things so hopefully you’ll be helpful. I won’t naturally run up to you and ask you questions about why your here, I want to know but its not my nature. More often than not, I’m considering how to apply what I’m taking into to my own challenges. There’s a voice here, and an ear; try me.
• Experience, examples, connections and a willingness to learn and share. In the past decade or so you’ve done a lot of interesting things, I’ve learned a thing or two. Let’s fast-forward and figure out where we can help each other.

Plus, I know a lot about the area and can give you a reliable dinner recommendation.

What are you bringing?