Tag: free will

Modern Meanderings in the Fire’s Light

By Doug “Uncola” Lynn via TheBurningPlatform.com

For the most part, I’ve lost interest in the news.  Ukraine war?  Don’t care. Lost submarine? Yawn. Pride Month? Good luck with that. Canadian wildfires? So what.  Russian civil war?  Whatever. Elections? Been there, done that.

I believe it was French Philosopher Voltaire who defined “cynicism” as armor against despair, but, honestly, it’s not that. On the contrary, I am enjoying life more than ever and my days are meaningful and well-spent.

One year ago, I wrote about helping a former business associate by driving a dumptruck a few days a week.  In that moderately metaphorical article, entitled “Building Roads While the World Wilts”, I described my perception of America’s remaining attributes, particularly, out here in the “fringe” and mentioned how people “here on the edge seem to be ignoring The Borg”, then wondered…. “For how long?”

Now an entire year has gone by… and in spite of all the new headlines… very little has changed in my world. So far.

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Worlds Apart: No fear in love? Or, a little leaven, oil, and water?

Can we all just get along? Is it possible? Just curious.

America’s Well-Documented Decline Amid Wars in the Air

By Doug “Uncola” Lynn via TheBurningPlatform.com

In 1976, some of the families sharing older ancestral lineages in my hometown were asked to march together in our bicentennial parade.  Although I was at an age where I found it somewhat embarrassing, I did enjoy waving at my friends and schoolmates along the way. Especially the girls.

Although the Saccharine Seventies manifested as a tarnishing patina on the silver platter of Norman Rockwell’s America, much of the shine still remained then in my hometown; even in the years before Ronald Reagan’s repolishing as the table was set again for his 1984 “Morning in America” commercial.

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Free Will

Guest Post by The Zman

Early humans, as best we can know, did not have a conception of free will, at least not in the way modern people think of it. Instead, they assumed the gods controlled the destiny of man, often directly interfering in the lives of people. What appeared to be your choice, was really just part of a bigger narrative that had been written by others. This is why it was possible for fortune tellers to exist. After all, if the future is not written, then how could anyone divine the future? Obviously, the future was already written.

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Netflix’s ‘Bird Box’ Contains Clear Coding on Continuing in Cataclysms

By Doug “Uncola” Lynn via TheBurningPlatform.com

A recent Netflix original movie has taken America by storm. The film is called “Bird Box”, starring Sandra Bullock.  The online streaming service claimed it was viewed by more than 45 million accounts during the first seven days after its release; the best week ever for a Netflix film.  Although I was, initially, hesitant to write about it, it’s now become such a big deal, I’m compelled to add my proverbial two cents.

The film became available for streaming on December 21, 2018 and since that time, it has propagated as a viral topic of conversation, instantaneously, online and in three dimensions. My kids mentioned it over Christmas break and the discussion continued to expand by means of social media, internet memes, and a plethora of articles both in print and throughout the electronic interwebs.

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Choose Love: Don’t Ever Let Fear Turn You Against Your Playful Heart

By Doug “Uncola” Lynn via TheBurningPlatform.com

The words in the title of this piece are not my own. Believe it or not, these are the words of actor and comedian, Jim Carrey, from the end of the video below.  It inspired this essay.

Quite often, I find myself considering what is called the ripples-in-the-pond effect. Like throwing a rock into a smooth body of water, the action (throwing the rock) creates a splash (consequence) that in turn releases ensuing vibrations (reactions) that ripple across the allegorical pond; which, I believe represents the fabric of space-time.  By this definition there are many variables that are enjoyable to think about.  The size of the rock or the number of throws, or actions, involved. For every splash, there are consequences; for good, or bad.

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You Don’t Have Free Will – but You Might Get It Someday

Guest Post by Scott Adams

Regular readers know that I don’t believe in the superstition of “free will” because the laws of physics don’t stop at your skull. Whatever is happening in your brain is the result of cause and effect, and perhaps some randomness. But “free will” isn’t a real thing, except in our imaginations.

But it might be a real thing soon.

We’re hearing in the news that someday, perhaps within ten years, humans will be able to implant microchips in their brains to boost performance or fix problems. When that happens, we’ll have our first opportunity for something like genuine “free will.”

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