Role Playing

I've been intrigued for the last few years at the idea of roles. Every one of us has roles that we inherently need or at least desire to be filled in our lives, whether we realize it or not (more often than not we don't).

There's a great deal I'd like to write about on this subject int he future, much of which can appear disheartening or cruel, but it really isn't.

Anyway, I'm here to request feedback from you, the people. I'm hoping to gain some insight from your answers as to what these roles are really about, and why some alter or misuse these roles.

1. What is the role(s) platonic friends of the opposite sex offer one another (male to female, female to male)?
2. What is the role(s) platonic friends of the same sex offer one another (male to male, female to female)?
3. What is the role(s) of a sexual (or non-platonic) partner (male to female, female to male, male to male, female to female)?
   
4. What is the role(s) family members of the opposite sex offer one another?
5. What is the role(s) family members of the same sex offer one another?
6. What is the role(s) of a mother to her child(to male, to female)?
7. What is the role(s) of a father to his child(to male, to female)?

I have my own thoughts and answers to these questions, but I understand that because of anyone's individual experiences, thoroughness and objectivity are hard to come by.

If you choose to answer, please try to distance yourself from the questions and as much as possible give broad, universal answers that are for the most-part not contingent on age, race, or economic status. Also I am looking for the distinguishing roles that are acquired almost exclusively from the group related to the question, not every single role they possess.

You can either leave comments on this blog or e-mail me at steve@causenfx.org.

Thanks y'all.

If They Can Pee Oil, Can They Crap Gold?

Alright, first off, I stole this picture from Engadget.com, where I first read about this story.

Apparently scientists have genetically tweaked bacteria, similar to E. coli, into secreting an oil that is almost usable for cars right out of their butt (if they have a "butt"). With some minor processing of their secretion, it can be used for basically anything crude oil can. They are referring to this new way to attain oil, in our computerized world, as Oil 2.0. Following this will be water 2.0 (no wetness required), Air 2.0 (no breathing required), and Fire 2.0 (It's not even hot!).

The scientists say that these strans of E. coli-like bacteria, which they will be mass producing like crazy (how do you do that with living organisms? Do you play Barry White 24/7?), will be non-pathogenic. Even so, a factory the size of Chicag filled with bacteria that pee oil just seems like the premise for a bad science fiction movie.

One of the more interesting points to this otherwise bland story (yeah right!), is that Oil 2.0 is actually carbon negative. This means that the carbon smoke you see coming out of those big semis, making you want to cover your nose and tear up for mother nature, will actually be decreasing the overall carbon in our world, compared to the carbon used (diminished) in the process with making the oil. I guess that means that Oil 2.0 is usable just like Oil 1.0 was, but is different chemically, as shown be it's carbon emissions.

This certainly sounds good, but here's a good question. When you compare Oil 2.0's negative carbon emissions to the electric or hydrogen alternative which has essentially no carbon emissions (although there probably are in the process of creating electricity or hydrogen, but still much less), will this really become a fast enough solution to the global environmental crisis? As Americans we will eat this up because it means we don't need to buy new cars or use our cars less or change much of anything, except how much we pay at the pump (which they estimate would be a third of what we pay now); however, real environmental scientists may not see this as our best option. I mean think about it if we are way over carbonated in our world/atmosphere, and it's of utmost imprtance to lower that ASAP, this Oil 2.0 may get us there in 50 years, where hydrogen r electric could get us there in 10. I pulled those numbers out of my butt, but it's fair to reason that hydrogen/electric would allow us to arrive at that destinatin much faster than Oil 2.0.

Also, they decided not to use food crops to feed these bacteria, which don't seem too picky as to what they eat (they are strictly vegan though!). After seeing how ethanol using corn is destroying our food prices, that's a smart move. I still am concerned that generating enough oil 2.0 for the U.S. would require more resources than our waste vegetables would currently allow. They will have to produce, and a portion of our countries farms would have to be geared to crops for oil bugs. I guess it's not so bad, but stuff always goes wrong. Like...

Mutated bacteria getting out into the world, crapping their crude oil all over the place. Native Americans everywhere will shed single tears, and punk kids with lighters will incinerate large areas of "pooped on" land. These bacteria will mate with E. coli, since they're kissing cousins, and infect the American population with their own sickening, oil producing abilities. And you know that stuff will burn on the way out. We will truly be able to light a fart like never before. And that's all we'll do. Sit around lighting crazy fart explosions. Thus is the fate of humanity.

I think the whole idea is genius. I am hesitant to having the next "Big Oil" being a company with "Big Oil 2.0." Ultimately it will become what it always does. A business holding the American people by the throat and dictating what our future will be. Is there a way around that, I don't know. But as always, technology is very interesting, bringing hope for solutions to problems, but also potential for corruption and destruction.

TED Is My New Best Friend

I've started getting into this TED Talks website, where at this conference great people/thinkers/talents from all around the world share a bit of what they've discovered and experienced in life. These range from entertaining acts, to great advances in technology, to challenging how we understand the world, to feeling the beauty around us.

I think these talks are a blessing of perspective that we should take advantage of. These individuals were invited to participate because they have important things to say and present. I have only watched a smalled percentage of these videos so far, but I will post some examples that I found interesting, with some of my thoughts afterward.

Open yourself up to the wonder, call to introspection, joy, anger, and forward thinking found in these words and testimonies.


New Insights on Poverty and Life Around the World - The impossible is possible!

This guy is really neat. Simple but incredibly self-aware and funny. He has a really neat program for comparing countries around the world in various aspects on a chart.

I think the end of the talk where he compares what different levels of income really look like, and where the life someone is living really starts to improve on the financial scale. If nothing else, pay attention to the very end where he talks about the goals and the means. I like how he rates the importance of the goals and the means; it really made me think.

Stop thinking of developing countries are going nowhere, they are often moving more forward than we realize. Look at progress rather than state. When you look at progress and the needs to attain the goal, there is hope for what seems impossible.



The future of the Internet - Interconnecting every picture taken on the web (novice or professional) to map the world.

We are currently using the world wide web at Web 2.0. I imagine that what this man is showing will heavily constitute what web 3.0 or 4.0 is all about. Taking what everyone has given and making it one through intuitive links. Experts have already said that web 3.0 will be concerned with interpreting pictures. In this evolution you will be able to find pictures similar to another one by computers analyzing the actual look of the picture. I see that going hand in hand with what this dude is presenting. Insane! Why Microsoft, why not Apple?



Fantastic Voyage Inside A Cell - Truth meets beauty inside the workers of our body.

This isn't huge on thinking, but it's very awe inspiring. You know, I like this because it's a molding together of the Easter and Western thought process. It takes our search for truth to far depths, but at the same time is doing so in a way that makes you sit back and admire.



Music With Your Whole Body - Making music more about hearing the sound with your ears.

This talk is alright until you realize something. The percussionist woman speaking is almost completely deaf. She speaks of music on another level than many of us realize. It is insightful how she encourages us to listen to what is being played by our whole body, in all of our surroundings, with all of our audience. Getting rid of all the rules and making is something moving and holistic. Anyone can be a part of music when you are putting your whole self into it, imagining it in new every time.

If you aren't a musician you may not appreciate this as much.



A Vital Story From A Photojournalist - Hard photos that tell more truth than any government would care to share.

This is a hard recap of the terrors of history over the past 20 years, documented by word and photograph from one man's account. This moving documentation is hard to watch but also necessary. It stirs up anger that must be used. This is what is happening. The world has a responsibility to take action upon information that cannot be refused.



As you navigate the site and view the videos, please leave comments about any that you found to be exceptionally moving/interesting/entertaining.