Education, Episode 4

Published on Jan 19, 2013
An excellent six part series which examines modern life and considers the impact of our relentlessly changing world upon key values that used to make western society something to aspire to.
Each episode is packed with pearls of wisdom and a lot of food for thought.
Concepts are well presented with rational arguments and good examples – helping to justify the often disappointing new realities it reveals.
After consideration, even if this series is only half-true … we can ill-afford inaction.

Join Pria Viswalingam for the new six-part documentary series, Decadence, as he considers whether we are now completely bogged down in a mire of meaningless self-indulgence, and whether we do really need iPods, plasma screen TVs, Brazilian waxes and self-navigating 4WDs to achieve happiness. He asks if family incomes have never been higher in the western world, property values are soaring, if conspicuous consumption and material wealth have never been so evident, why are we so unhappy?

Sex, Episode 2, The Meaninglessness of Modern Life

Published on Jan 16, 2013
An excellent six part series which examines modern life and considers the impact of our relentlessly changing world upon key values that used to make western society something to aspire to.
Each episode is packed with pearls of wisdom and a lot of food for thought

Democracy, Decadence, Episode 3

Decadence Episode 3, Democracy

“Remember, democracy never lasts long,

It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself.

There was never a democracy yet

that didn’t commit suicide.”

John Adams

US President 1797 – 1801

The Airlines’ Toxic Little Secret

It is about time that pilots have more say about safety regulations!

The Most Revolutionary Act

How Safe is Air Travel?

If you’re planning a plane trip soon you need to know about a condition that can cause airline pilots to develop brain fog and become confused and disoriented during flights. It’s known as aerotoxic syndrome. Tristan Loraine, former pilot and founder of the Aerotoxic Association, has documented dozens of cases (and two deaths) among pilots and cabin crews. It can also affect passengers and is suspected as the cause of unexplained midair collisions.

A Dorset (UK) coroner investigating the 2012 death of a British Airways pilot Richard Westgate has brought the issue to mainstream media attention by calling on British Airways and Britain’s Civil Aviation authority to take “urgent action to prevent future deaths.” Frank Cannon, the lawyer for the Westgate case, also represents fifty other air crew, employed by several different airlines, affected by the condition.

The Cause of Aerotoxic Syndrome

Although aircraft manufacturers…

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Money and Greed, Decadence, Episode 1

Episode One—Money:- Part one examines the growing greed of society and the 80’s ideal that greed is good. It also looks at the growing disparity between rich and poor.

Decadence – Meaninglessness of modern life – Episode 1 – Money

Published on Jan 16, 2013

An excellent six part series which examines modern life and considers the impact of our relentlessly changing world upon key values that used to make western society something to aspire to.
Each episode is packed with pearls of wisdom and a lot of food for thought.

Concepts are well presented with rational arguments and good examples – helping to justify the often disappointing new realities it reveals.
After consideration, even if this series is only half-true … we can ill-afford inaction.

The Matthew Effect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_effect

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from The Matthew Effect)

In sociology, the Matthew effect (or accumulated advantage) is the phenomenon where “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”^[1]^[2] In both its original and typical usage it is meant metaphorically to refer to issues of fame or status but it may also be used literally to refer to cumulative advantage of economic capital. The term was first coined by sociologist Robert K. Merton in 1968 and takes its name from a verse in the biblical Gospel of Matthew, pertaining to Jesus’ parable of the talents:

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken even that which he hath.

—Matthew 25:29, King James Version.

A Success Story

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/aarhus-program-for-returning-jihadists-from-syria-a-success-story-a-1019633.html

This is a story well worth reading.

“. . . . The program is almost naive in its simplicity. A significant number of the some 250 people involved work as scouts whose job it is to spot young Muslim men who have become radicalized. Once identified, they are approached by authorities in conjunction with a local Muslim cleric in the hopes of turning them away from violence. It is essentially a vast screening program for potential terrorists. And the strange thing is: It appears to be working. . . . . “

Kaiser Wilhelm

Video of Berlin in 1900

I just watched this video again. This is quite a fascinating historical document.

Sunday, 22nd of February 2015

Today, after lunch, we drove to Forest Grove Estate, a gated community with some well kept garden areas, a pond, lots of water birds and a cafeteria near the water. We walked around the area for a little while after we had parked the car. Peter took a lot of pictures with his camera which he has given me so I can publish some of them.

At the cafeteria we had some coffee. Peter also ordered some cake with the coffee. It turned out to be a beautiful desert on an extra large plate. The cake was surrounded by caramel sauce, ice-cream and cream. They provided two spoons in case we wanted to share. However I decided to have just the coffee. I did not feel like having anything that sweet.

When we went to the cafeteria it was only a bit after one. A lot of people – mostly pensioners – were still having their lunch. Since it was Sunday, there was a guy playing the guitar and also singing. On a notice it said that Sundays from 12,30 to 2,30 there was always some live music. The staff were all young and very friendly. Really, a beautiful place for having Sunday lunch! We plan on going there for a bite some time soon.