Issue 317 Iron Clad Rules?! April 18, 2014

Are the rules rock solid?   Not really.  Some rules are designed to be flexible and that is a very good thing.  Let's review why having flexibility under the law can benefit society.

Rules meant to be broken:  With things like copyright laws, patents and similar protections, the law really gets in the way of progress.  This is why so many people look to break these particular types of rules in order to usurp and promote new inventions and technology.  It is also why they are under constant review for reform. Others have sought out ways to alter patent/copy right law to make it more flexible.  One such way is to make the blueprints to an invention as a tradable stock option.  So when a car company like GM wants to use patented Mitsubishi tires, they simply buy shares equal to the amount of tires they want to produce for their vehicles.  No I am not talking about stock in Mitsubishi either, but actually making the patent into stock itself to be bought in shares as a way of selling it with the owner being able to reap the benefits.  On top of this, if it becomes a publicly traded stock, it allows for more accurate supply and demand price changes and eliminates the need for cumbersome contracts.

Another idea that is already on the books (last I checked) is for the inventor to either sell the blueprints for his/her designs on the cheap or sell the whole product from a licensed factory.  Both options work to benefit all with respect to technological progress and advancement of society.

Punishments:  Before all the types of crimes like "hate crimes," murder 2", "murder 3" "breaking and entering" and such there were basic laws with (usually) flexible punishments.  What I mean by this is that we can simple have laws against "theft", "assault", "murder", but the judge can base the punishment on the severity of the crime instead of predetermined punishments.  This allows the judge in the case of an accidental murder to sentence the guilty to one year, while in a purposeful murder sentence the guilty to death.  So one crime, different punishments based on evidence presented.  Some States in the United States have flexibility just like this, while others do not such as the case of 18 and 17 year old couples being convicted of statutory rape (sex with an under aged minor) ruining innocents lives.  So it all comes down to how well the law is written.

(Note:  the one exception I make is for child molesters and rapists. They should live in jail for the rest of their lives).

The United States Constitution:  Yes even the United States Constitution has flexibility.  Certain Amendments like the 13th 14th and 15th can be enforced by congress with appropriate legislation so long as it does not violate any other part of the Constitution.  Also, the Constitution allows for the document that governs our government’s power to be amended so as to have the flexibility to change (of course this is hard to do on purpose so as to make sure the change is truly worth it).  Thus the law that governs all laws can be changed and has certain flexibility built in.

Conclusion:  So flexibility in law can enrich people, advance progress and prevent people from becoming victims.  It allows laws to evolve and adjust to the changing face of society and crime.  I only provided some tidbits on how and where laws are flexible, but I think you are getting the idea on why flexibility is good.

Issue 316 simple life April 17,2014

What is a simple life?  How do we achieve such things?  From my personal experience I will tell you how far I have come to achieving that and how much I have left to go.

Cutting things out: The basic foundation of achieving the simple life is to cut out all the things that you don't need in your everyday life.  This means stuff.  Not just any stuff, but all the stuff that you do not need.  This means stuff that builds up in your home that has no value.  It means being rid of objects that my become a burden to you.  Such things could include collectors’ items, magazines, to do lists etc.  The list goes on for a while.  I myself have narrowed down my hobbies to three things (a collector’s game, martial arts and reading).  By narrowing down these things I have reduced the clutter in my own life and have given value to the things I continue to do.  Martial arts gives me both physical and some mental exercises.  Book reading exercises my brain and imagination, and finally the collectors game is just to break up the monotony of everyday life and acts as another social activity I can do with my friends.  Sure your hobbies can be different from mine and that you can in fact have more than what I have now.  But make sure they have meaning to them, as if they do not then they may just be a waste of your time.

Simpler path:  In this case you want to achieve the goals in life with the path of least resistance, but not at the cost of the journey.  What I mean by this is that while heading toward your goal it is ok to take shortcuts.  However, if those shortcuts break the law or create guilt, then they are just more burdens on the path of life.

Treating others:  This is very simple.  In fact, every religion has advocated it almost universally.  Treat others as you want to be treated.  A simple concept that is hard to follow.  Basically this rule allows you to kill any enemies with kindness, and not burn any relationships with those around you in a negative way.  I cannot say I have always followed this advice, but with the experiences I have had I can say it is worth the effort to try.

Knowing when to let go:  It is unfortunate that sometimes living a simpler life means letting go of people in your life.  The member of your family that gets you into trouble with the law.  That friend that will not seek help for drug addiction while still hanging around your family.  There are times people have to hit rock bottom to wake up to their delusions and thus seek help.  Even then, they will struggle to crawl out of the whole they dug themselves.  So letting that individual go and then recognizing when that individual is finally ready to try saving themselves becomes very important.  Love is also another area that this falls under. If the person is being held back by you, then it may be time to put some distance between you and that individual.  It is sad and heart breaking, which is true. However, if the person you loved can achieve happiness then it is worth it in the end (at least from my perspective).

Conclusion:  Living simply is unique to each individual.  The reason is because we each have our own burdens to bear.  By recognizing those burdens and either letting them go, or changing ones situation we can a achieve a more harmonious life.

Issue 315 Bug out bag April 16, 2014

A "bug out" is slang for getting out of an area or situation in an emergency. A bug out bag is a ready to go bag that you have pre-packed for those kinds of emergencies where you are forced to leave your home and survive for a couple of days. So what do you need?

Power source: Batteries are what typically come to mind. To bower flash lights, radios, and other gear batteries may be required. So if you are to bring any objects that require a battery source, pack the appropriate ones. Try and keep the batteries you need uniform if possible by packing objects with uniform power requirements. So that same AAA battery will power your radio and your flashlight. However, batteries are heavy so hand cranked radios, and flashlights may be a better option.

Radio: A small radio to hear the news and if it is safe to go back home is essential to knowing what is going on in an emergency. Also, a radio to communicate with friends and family is also important to relocating each other in case some one gets split from the group.

Flash lights and light sources: In an emergency, the power may go out so a light source will be essential to survival at night.

Food: At least three days worth of food should be packed along with three days worth of water (especially if you are in an area where fresh water is scarce). Any food packed must be able to go without refrigeration as well. If you expect to be away from water and food for a longer period of time, a fresh water purifier, and a small firearm, fishing kit and a survival guide on edible plants in your area would be prudent.

Sleeping gear: Shelter is a must to survival. If there are no shelters that can take you in, then camping gear may be needed to provide that shelter. This also means a sleeping bag as well for warmth on cold nights.

Clothing: At least one change of cloths, to three will be required for a bug out bag. Anything else is just dead weight. If needed, also pack a small sewing kit and some patches to mend damaged clothing.

Identification: Being able to be identified is essential. It allows you to prove who you are and allows you to access any financial/medical information once things start getting back to normal. This also means you need to have your tax and bank info as well for when things return to normal and to prevent thieves from getting their hands on vital information if they are to raid your property while you are gone. So keep it all in a safe place where it can easily be grabbed in an evacuation.

Games: Yes a game or two. In this case something easy to carry along like a deck of cards. This is used to take your mind off the trauma you are probably facing.

Weight: At all times be conscious of the weight of what is in your bug out bag. The heavier it is the more likely you are to be slowed down and not get away in time. So things like a power bar over a heavy can of soup may be necessary.

Customize: If you face a particular type of emergency situation more readily, then you can customize your bug out bag for that threat. A gas mask is useful for both chemical attacks by terrorists and for breathing through the noxious smoke in a wild fire. If you are in a cold environment you can pack walking skis and winter gear to aid you in getting through the harsh snow. I think you get the general idea here.

Conclusion: These tips are to help you get through a temporary situation. More extensive preps will be needed in much more dire situations. We face terrorism, earthquakes, civil unrest, tornado's, hurricanes and large scale accidents as part of our everyday lives. Is it not prudent to be prepped to get the hell out of dodge when things go bad?

Issue 314 Good to know stuff April 15, 2014

So like my past interesting facts issues I will occasionally have issues like this. So here are some good to know things that you probably never thought about.

1. Do not store your medications in the kitchen, bathroom or by a heat source. The reason is because the kitchen stove, the hot steam from a shower, and heat in general can alter the composition of the medications you are taking. So your medications can become less effective, or even detrimental to your health.

2. Don't store medications in the same container if they give off a powder. These tablets made from compressed powders can rub off on your other medication which may prove detrimental. The reason is due to some medications having to be taken at different times less you want to risk a chemical reaction between the two.

3. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) if taken in excess can cause more harm to your liver than if you were an alcoholic. Likewise, antibiotics if taken in excess can do similar harm to your small intestines. So taking them if and only if you need such medications is a must in order to protect your body from harm. This also means taking alternative medicine if possible as well to vary the chemicals so as to avoid build up.

4. Think twice about flushing your toilet with the seat up. When you flush, the water sprays spreading into the air. This water contains fecal matter (pooh, urine, etc.) and goes everywhere. If you want proof just ask the Myth Busters on the Discovery channel as when they tested this, they discovered that not only does the fecal matter get on your things like your tooth brush, but also can make its way into the kitchen and bedroom as well. So put the seat down.

5. To avoid getting sick, you should not put your hands on your face at all. Your hands are literally the dirtiest part of your body as they are used to touch everything. So by not touching your face, you can avoid getting bacteria and viruses in your body in the first place.

6. When brushing teeth, you should only use a soft bristle brush. The reason is because the harder bristles will wear down the teeth’s enamel making them more sensitive and thus do damage to them. Brushing in a circular motion also protects from wear and tear as well by massaging teeth rather than rubbing them into oblivion. And this I just found out recently, brush the side of your teeth at a 45 degree angle so avoid the brush hitting the gum line as brushing with the back and forth motion at a horizontal angle can actually cause the gum line to recede for it is being rubbed away (so in the future you risk being called gum bee).

Conclusion: Some simple tips for a better life. Hope you found them useful.

Issue 313 Make Your own Game April 14, 2014

Ok, last week we talked about games and their value. So I thought, why not ask you my readers to take the next step. Basically, see if you can make your own game. Here is some of what you need to do to make it work.

Mechanics: Basic game mechanics dictate how to play. For instance the cross word puzzle was invented to find people intelligent enough to break enemy codes during war. The way the words crisscross and the clues is the entire premise of the game mechanic. It is a simple game with a more complex level of skill based upon the pattern of the words that are to be used as answers and how obscure the questions are themselves. Even games like Simon Says and patty cake function on patterns and mimicry as the basic game mechanic. Basically, the mechanics dictate how the game is played and thus influence the rules.

Research: If you want a more complex game, say some something like a trivia game, or a game based on history like Historical Conquest, then more research into the game will be needed. You will need to get the facts correct and develop the questions to match. Things like monopoly can teach us about the free market system only because someone did their research on how to mimic basic everyday business practices in a game format. Chess and GO mimic different aspects of the battlefield in various forms of combat. Chess bases its form on open field combat, while its original progenitor was based on siege warfare. GO goes for the asymmetric warfare that still directly correlates with today's battlefield (like our battles against terrorism). Knowing how to translate these bits and pieces into game form is what the research is all about.

Game play: Once done with mechanics and research you have to test out your game. Basically play it with your friends and make sure all your rules and game mechanics function at each level of play. In other words figure out if the rules are too complex, if your players can easily understand/play the game and work out any bugs that would make the game less enjoyable. In short be willing to change how your game works in order to ensure everyone can enjoy it.

Conclusion: Yes, you can make your own game. You can give it meaning like teaching certain values or just plane mental exercises. Heck, you can even take an existing game and convert it into something else like how chess and checkers have three different versions of themselves (some based on different rules, some based on overall play itself). So the sky is the limit. Go ahead and enjoy making your own fun game.

Issue 312 The use of games April 11, 2014

So you know why games exist? What exactly are they for? Well it is more than just simple entertainment value, that is a given. So let me explain.

Games: A game is something that makes us think. It jogs our brain to help exercise it in different ways to aid us in every day activities and builds our ability to think on the fly. Thus, why the game "Brain Games" and its series of small puzzles were created. They are meant to exercises your brain. Modern games are typically like most children's games, they (from my perspective) are meant to entertain and help develop and maintain critical thinking skills. Angry Birds, the original Mario games, and more continue to give us entertainment while teaching us timing and develop our ability to make simple choices. Other smart phone app games do similar with puzzles and activities. All are designed to help us learn in a fun way.

Games of higher education: I am not saying that some games are superior to others, but the games I list here are for those who want more than just mental (or meaningless) brain exercise. Games like chess, checkers, risk and GO serve to aid the battlefield commanders in the theater of war. Those in the business world use these same games to take on rivals and close business deals. These are strategy games that serve the purpose of teaching and fostering strategic thinking on multiple levels. Modern takes on these games are things like Blizzard companies Star Craft, and the strategy version of World of War Craft. In these more modern versions which seem to be a computerized version of the game Allies and Axis's (though simpler) you gather resources, build up your forces and move on the enemy with various strategies in order to conquer the map.

Monopoly is another game that is on the higher end of the thinking scale. It teaches the values of the free market and teaches people on how to make business decisions. Scrabble and its variants/spin offs teach vocabulary and expand your knowledge of the written and spoken word. So, games that do not function in the realm of war can and will be used to support and aid us. Two such new games that I am looking into are "We the people fight tyranny” which focuses on teaching the constitution, and defining acts of tyranny, and "Historical Conquest" a card game that lets you battle with historical figures while using flavor text to teach and inspire children and their parents to learn about history. So games can and will remain an important learning tool.

Conclusion: Games act as a support system to our culture. Their continued development and use help us think, learn and develop into better more knowledgeable and intelligent people. So next time you think that games are just for little children, think hard on what is being taught by that game. Then maybe, just maybe you will decide it is worth playing despite your age.

Issue 311 Don't Stop reading April 10, 2014

Reading is one of the most essential skills. It is something that you need to get by in everyday life and to educate yourself further on what you need to accomplish your goals. So here is why you must never stop.

Every day: Reading is essential to your everyday living. By reading the ticker on the news bulletins, you can find out the events of the day. Newspapers update you on politics and other important events going on. But you would never know what’s happening if you could not read. You would be stuck not knowing about your favorite artist. Never have a favorite author or writer. The reason is because, if you cannot read then what can you do to learn about the wonders and happenings in the world.

Job: You always need to read when you are on the job. You cannot read a person a price and know what it means without the ability to read. You could not tell the word hamburger from French fries if you did not know how to read. In fact, you could not even read your paycheck without the ability to read. On top of that, how could you know what employee benefits you are entitled to if you could not read. You would not know your preferred doctor, what medications you are being prescribed (let alone covered) or even how often to take a medication. In fact, if you don't know how to read, in all likelihood you don't even know how to spell.

This means one thing when it comes to having a job. It means you will never have one. Without the ability to read, you cannot go to collage, let alone complete any form of schooling and cannot even right a resume to apply for one. Yes reading is that important.

Conclusion: Those without the ability to read will not be able to read this. However, you my dear readers can. What I say here is just the tip of a very large iceberg with respect to how important reading is. Can you imagine a person who cannot read trying to vote? Not only do the risk voting for a different candidate than they wanted, but they probably don't even know what their candidate has accomplished save what they heard through word of mouth. People who cannot read will be taken advantage of and thus become virtual slaves to those with more knowledge then themselves. Don't let this happen to someone you know who wants to give up on reading because it is hard. The very future of each individual child rests on the ability to read, don't let them fail. They cannot afford to do so.