LeVay (@friendlyopinion) on myLot

LeVay @friendlyopinion (77) • United States 8 Nov 15

When we as a society decide that we want to band together and accomplish something, it is a social program, and could be called "socialist". The actual definition of "socialist" is an economic system of social ownership and...

socialism

4 responses •

5 people

LeVay You're so right. There are a lot of jokes about how ignorant the majority of US citizens are, and sadly, it has proven to be true. And our media does not do its job of educating citizenry, instead it distracts with celebrity gossip and misinformation. It's...

17 Dec 15

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 28 Nov 15

Beware of anyone, anywhere, who tells you they have a plan for defeating ISIS. Chances are they're trying to sell you something. They do this because it's an easy sell. We all want an end to ISIS, to the conflict in Syria, to...

8 responses •

10 people

LeVay @Auntylou And don't forget how exceedingly profitable war is. Every new conflict means billions flowing into the coffers of corporate war profiteers. You can google the list of the top corporations, and then check opensecrets.org to get an idea of how much...

17 Dec 15

•

1 person

cherigucchi @cherigucchi (14876) • Philippines 30 Nov 15

Wanting to be alone sometimes does not make someone a loner or someone other people think having a kind of depression. There are moments that we also need our own private space and time. The "me" time is also important for us to...

5 responses •

2 people

LeVay I love being alone, but I also love being with others. A somewhat balanced approach works best for me. I find that I really need that time to recharge, to meditate, to write music, etc. and I miss it if I'm spending too much time with others. I have known...

1 Dec 15

Garavegeta @garavegeta (963) • Kochi, India 28 Apr 13

Sorry but it only exists in our mind.It is just an illusion created due the motion of matter. Before the big bang there was no time,there was only emptiness.There was no time.Space was always been there(ok ok..space is made of...

11 responses •

3 people

LeVay We are, as Carl Sagan said, made of star stuff. (That's even cooler than dust :) ) Imagine that: stars exploded, and the atoms of those exploded stars make up our bodies and everything around us. And some of that stardust evolved until it could, in the form...

1 Dec 15

amgine @amgine (225) • Philippines 10 May 07

if time travel is already possible, would you go back in time? and why?

time travel

what ifs

13 responses •

3 people

LeVay Ah, but what if one tiny thing you changed, changed a lot of big things in your current life - Like the "butterfly effect"? One small change could lead to a bunch of different experiences that could change you, and even the people close to you. You might...

1 Dec 15

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 1 Dec 15

I'm a great believer in the power of universal education as a remedy - though not a panacea - for many of the world's problems. After all, how can there be any hope of progress or equality when so many can't read or write? How can...

7 responses •

8 people

LeVay Education is vital, it is power, and it is liberation. It can help lift us out of poverty, help us move beyond cultural conditioning, and open vistas of imagination. But also important is a broad educational system that teaches critical thinking, requiring...

1 Dec 15

•

1 comment

•

2 people

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 29 Nov 15

If you've seen my previous post, you'll know it was a writing experiment which didn't turn out quite as planned. Most of the comments it received either missed the point entirely or were cries of confusion. Only two or three...

7 responses •

8 people

LeVay Well, just so you know, I've started looking for your posts specifically when I come on mylots. Even though I'm not here every day. (Just like now, I logged in and checked out what you've been writing.) I'm very glad to have discovered you here! Although...

1 Dec 15

•

1 comment

•

1 person

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 28 Nov 15

Beware of anyone, anywhere, who tells you they have a plan for defeating ISIS. Chances are they're trying to sell you something. They do this because it's an easy sell. We all want an end to ISIS, to the conflict in Syria, to...

8 responses •

10 people

LeVay @troyburns I agree. And it appears that no only has Saudi Arabia been providing money, but also amphetamines. A Saudi prince was recently caught smuggling 2 tons of Captigon to ISIS. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that amphetamines were used to...

29 Nov 15

•

4 people

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 28 Nov 15

Beware of anyone, anywhere, who tells you they have a plan for defeating ISIS. Chances are they're trying to sell you something. They do this because it's an easy sell. We all want an end to ISIS, to the conflict in Syria, to...

8 responses •

10 people

LeVay @JudyEv You're so right! It's a complex issue to try and wrap one's mind around, and for those not directly involved it's perfectly OK not to bother But when political pundits, candidates, or politicians - with a big media microphone - just start spreading...

29 Nov 15

•

4 people

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 28 Nov 15

Beware of anyone, anywhere, who tells you they have a plan for defeating ISIS. Chances are they're trying to sell you something. They do this because it's an easy sell. We all want an end to ISIS, to the conflict in Syria, to...

8 responses •

10 people

LeVay @troyburns I agree. If more education and opportunity were afforded to the upcoming generation, then they might not so easily fall prey to the fanaticism of ISIS. But even that is not certain, since it appears that some jihadists currently seem to have come...

29 Nov 15

•

6 people

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 28 Nov 15

Beware of anyone, anywhere, who tells you they have a plan for defeating ISIS. Chances are they're trying to sell you something. They do this because it's an easy sell. We all want an end to ISIS, to the conflict in Syria, to...

8 responses •

10 people

LeVay Indeed, Judy. Did you see the video that @troyburns shared along with his original post? It's excellent, and really helps make clear the multitude of players involved and the complexity of the various nations and factions involved in the situation in...

29 Nov 15

•

4 people

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 28 Nov 15

Beware of anyone, anywhere, who tells you they have a plan for defeating ISIS. Chances are they're trying to sell you something. They do this because it's an easy sell. We all want an end to ISIS, to the conflict in Syria, to...

8 responses •

10 people

LeVay @troyburns Agreed! It's easy to pound one's chest and claim that you "have a plan" or "would bomb them back to the stone age" -- but a much more nuanced, well-thought strategy is required in such an intricate situation.

29 Nov 15

•

5 people

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 28 Nov 15

Beware of anyone, anywhere, who tells you they have a plan for defeating ISIS. Chances are they're trying to sell you something. They do this because it's an easy sell. We all want an end to ISIS, to the conflict in Syria, to...

8 responses •

10 people

LeVay @troyburns Oh, no, let's leave it here. It actually belongs with your informative post. I expect your post will get more activity in the coming day or two. :)

29 Nov 15

•

4 people

Jeff Moffitt @moffittjc (122254) • Gainesville, Florida 25 Nov 15

When you're a bad guy, hell-bent on destroying the earth, who is the one person on the face of the earth you don't want to mess with (well, besides Putin, who is kicking ass right now)? It's the President of the United States, the...

9 responses •

8 people

LeVay @moffittjc He's a reality TV star, after all, and he knows how to get ratings. And for reality TV minded viewers, he's the perfect candidate. Reminds me of the movie Idiocracy.

29 Nov 15

•

2 people

Robin Lamb @troyburns (1405) • New Zealand 28 Nov 15

Beware of anyone, anywhere, who tells you they have a plan for defeating ISIS. Chances are they're trying to sell you something. They do this because it's an easy sell. We all want an end to ISIS, to the conflict in Syria, to...

8 responses •

10 people

LeVay More people really need to understand what you've so eloquently expressed here, and the excellent video you've linked. So many politicians are beating their chests and claiming that they have a "plan" when it's obvious they don't know what they're talking...

28 Nov 15

•

9 comments

•

6 people

LeVay @friendlyopinion (77) • United States 26 Nov 15

I just found out that our family's angriest member will join us for a holiday meal tomorrow. (Well, here's to another *intense* Thanksgiving Dinner ) This family member spouts some pretty crazy political conspiracies *every*...

political family dinner

angry family member

holiday with family

how to diffuse political arguments

4 responses •

4 people

LeVay That is a brilliant idea! I wish I'd thought of it before this last dinner. Not only do people tend to be more aware of their behavior when they know they're being recorded, but we often learn something about ourselves when watching/listening back. And,...

28 Nov 15

•

1 person

Judy Evans @JudyEv (343902) • Rockingham, Australia 25 Nov 15

It seems double standards are alive and well in Australia. The Inside Cover column in our daily newspaper ran an article regarding the dress of the presenters of the 'Today' TV show. The female presenter, according to the...

29 responses •

28 people

LeVay @JudyEv But can you imagine the political mocking that would ensue? "Oh, he's far too OLD to be wearing THAT codpiece". "Do you think he's had some enhancement surgery done?" "Ugh, that codpiece is SO last year!" :)

28 Nov 15

•

1 person

Jeff Moffitt @moffittjc (122254) • Gainesville, Florida 25 Nov 15

When you're a bad guy, hell-bent on destroying the earth, who is the one person on the face of the earth you don't want to mess with (well, besides Putin, who is kicking ass right now)? It's the President of the United States, the...

9 responses •

8 people

LeVay @troyburns That is probably the most succinct and factual statement I've heard about the wars in that region. I have nothing to add... you've summed it up perfectly.

27 Nov 15

•

2 people

LeVay @friendlyopinion (77) • United States 26 Nov 15

I just found out that our family's angriest member will join us for a holiday meal tomorrow. (Well, here's to another *intense* Thanksgiving Dinner ) This family member spouts some pretty crazy political conspiracies *every*...

4 responses •

4 people

LeVay @PainsOnSlate Yes, it is bizarre how easily these fox statements can be debunked with a little google fact checking, but then these people are like cult members - they don't trust anything said by anyone outside of the right-wing sphere. I love that you...

27 Nov 15

•

2 people

LeVay @friendlyopinion (77) • United States 26 Nov 15

I just found out that our family's angriest member will join us for a holiday meal tomorrow. (Well, here's to another *intense* Thanksgiving Dinner ) This family member spouts some pretty crazy political conspiracies *every*...

4 responses •

4 people

LeVay Dinner is officially over, and wow, we really tried! He did get pretty testy at dinner, challenging anyone there and asking why we didn't want to "debate" him, but a quick witted cousin brought up football and the conversation went that way.

27 Nov 15

•

1 person

LeVay's Activity