So Good!
Wikipedia is a wonderful source of information as I am sure you know but here are some cuts of favorite articles that hopefully you will find enjoyable and enlightening. (note to self: sort by currently most amazing)
Mysticism - from the Greek μυστικός, mystikos, meaning 'an initiate') is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, or levels of being, or aspects of reality, beyond normal human perception, sometimes including experience of and communion with a supreme being.
Quadrivium - The quadrivium comprised the four subjects, or arts, taught in the Renaissance Period, after teaching the trivium (preparatory work made up of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
The quadrivium consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. In turn, the quadrivium was considered preparatory work for the serious study of philosophy (sometimes called the "liberal art par excellence") and theology.
Synesthesia - A neurological condition where one sensation such as sound triggers another sensation such as color, so the result is that one can experience sound also as color for example. Studies have shown this also increases with meditation.
Table of Keyboard Shortcuts - A practical table full of so many short cuts for the computer.
Such as Windows + M (to minimize everything)
The Singularity is near (book) - This is a fascinating overveiw of a book on the future of technology by Ray Kurzweil, it describes the exponental growth in technology, in particula,r (doubling every 12-18 months) then at some point it will start to improve upon itself without human interference and at this point it will start to develop so quick that change will occur at a rate so quickly the world will become completely different.
Lojong (buddhist mind training) - Lojong is a mind training practice based on a series of aphorisms designed to change ones motivations and attitude. Some include see all phenomenon as a dream, or be aware of the preciousness of human life.
Hypermedia - Hypermedia is used as a logical extension of the term hypertext in which graphics, audio, video, plain text and hyperlinks intertwine to create a generally non-linear medium of information.
Entheogen - An entheogen ("generating the divine within")[4] is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context. Entheogens can supplement many diverse practices for healing, transcendence, and revelation, including: meditation, psychonautics, art projects, and psychedelic therapy.
Nicotine - is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae) that acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine agonist and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor[citation needed].
Nicotine's mood-altering effects are different by report: in particular it is both a stimulant and a relaxant. First causing a release of glucose from the liver and epinephrine (adrenaline) from the adrenal medulla, it causes stimulation. Users report feelings of relaxation, sharpness, calmness, and alertness. Like any stimulant, it may very rarely cause the often catastrophically uncomfortable neuropsychiatric effect of akathisia. By reducing the appetite and raising the metabolism, some smokers may lose weight as a consequence.
When a cigarette is smoked, nicotine-rich blood passes from the lungs to the brain within seven seconds and immediately stimulates the release of many chemical messengers such as acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, vasopressin, histamine, arginine, serotonin, dopamine, autocrine agents, and beta-endorphin.This release of neurotransmitters and hormones is responsible for most of nicotine's effects. Nicotine appears to enhance concentrationand memory due to the increase of acetylcholine. It also appears to enhance alertness due to the increases of acetylcholine and norepinephrine. Arousal is increased by the increase of norepinephrine. Pain is reduced by the increases of acetylcholine and beta-endorphin. Anxiety is reduced by the increase of beta-endorphin. Nicotine also extends the duration of positive effects of dopamine and increases sensitivity in brain reward systems. Most cigarettes (in the smoke inhaled) contain 1 to 3 milligrams of nicotine.
Calea zacatechichi - also known as Dream Herb, Leaf of God, and Bitter Grass, is a plant used by the indigenous Chontal of the Mexican state of Oaxaca for oneiromancy (a form of divination based on dreams.)
Personal Development - Personal Development includes activites that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and oitential, build human capital and acilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. The concept is not limited to self-help but includes formal and informal activities for developing others in roles such as teacher, guide, counselor, manager, life coach or mentor. When epersonal development takes place in the context of institutions, it refers to the methods, programs, tools, techniques, and assessment systems that support human development at the individual level in organizations.
Transhumanism - abbreviated as H+ or h+, is an international intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities. Transhumanist thinkers study the potential benefits and dangers of emerging technologies that could overcome fundamental human limitations, as well as study the ethical matters involved in developing and using such technologies. They predict that human beings may eventually be able to transform themselves into beings with such greatly expanded abilities as to merit the label "posthuman".
Simple Living - Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather than want. Although asceticism generally promotes living simply and refraining from luxury and indulgence, not all proponents of simple livingare ascetics. Simple living is distinct from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice.
Frugality - is the quality of being frugal, sparing, thrifty, prudent or economical in the use of consumable resources such as food, time or money, and avoiding waste, lavishness or extravagance.[1][2][3][4] In behavioral science, frugality has been defined as the tendency to acquire goods and services in a restrained manner, and resourceful use of already owned economic goods and services, to achieve a longer term goal.[5]
Intentional living - is any lifestyle based on an individual or group's conscious attempts to live according to their values and beliefs. These can include lifestyles based on religious or ethical values, as well as coaching, personal transformation, and leadership training.
Intelligence - Intelligence has been defined in many different ways including, but not limited to, abstract thought, understanding, self-awareness,communication, reasoning, learning, having emotional knowledge, retaining, planning, and problem solving. Intelligence is most widely studied in humans, but has also been observed in animals and in plants. Artificial intelligence is the simulation of intelligence in machines.
Biopsychosocial model - The biopsychosocial model (abbreviated "BPS") is a general model or approach that posits that biological, psychological (which entails thoughts, emotions, and behaviors), and social factors, all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of disease or illness. Indeed, health is best understood in terms of a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors rather than purely in biological terms
Lucid Dream - A lucid dream is any dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming. The term was coined by the Dutch psychiatrist and writer Frederik (Willem) van Eeden (1860–1932).[1] In a lucid dream, the dreamer may be able to exert some degree of control over their participation within the dream or be able to manipulate their imaginary experiences in the dream environment.[2] Lucid dreams can be realistic and vivid.[3] It is shown that there are higher amounts of beta-1 frequency band (13–19 Hz) experienced by lucid dreamers, hence there is an increased amount of activity in the parietal lobes making lucid dreaming a conscious process.[4]
Spice - Melange from French mélange (“set of diverse elements”), (/meɪˈlɑːndʒ/ or /meɪˈlɑːnʒ/)[1] – also called the "spice" – is the name of the fictional drug central to the Dune series of science fiction novels by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. In the series, the most essential and valuable commodity in the universe is melange, a geriatric drug that gives the user a longer life span, greater vitality, and heightened awareness; it can also unlock prescience in some humans, depending upon the dosage and the consumer's physiology.[2] This prescience-enhancing property makes safe and accurate interstellar travel possible.[2] Melange comes with a steep price, however: it is addictive, and withdrawal is fatal.[2][3]
Perennial philosophy - (Latin: philosophia perennis, more fully, philosophia perennis et universalis; sometimes shortened to sophia perennis or religio perennis) is the notion of the universal recurrence of philosophical insight independent of epoch or culture, in particular universal truths on the nature of reality, humanityand consciousness (anthropological universals). It is also referred to as Perennialism.
Extremophile - An extremophile (from Latin extremus meaning "extreme" and Greek philiā (φιλία) meaning "love") is an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to mostlife on Earth.[1][2] In contrast, organisms that live in more moderate environments may be termed mesophiles or neutrophiles.
Reverse Engineering - is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation.[1] It often involves taking something (a mechanical device, electronic component, computer program, or biological, chemical, or organic matter) apart and analyzing its workings in detail to be used in maintenance, or to try to make a new device or program that does the same thing without using or simply duplicating (without understanding) the original.
Kardashev scale - is a method of measuring a civilization's level of technological advancement, based on the amount of usable energy a civilization has at its disposal. The scale has three designated categories called Type I, II, and III. A Type I civilization has available all the energy impinging on its home planet, Type II all the energy of its sun, and Type III of its galaxy. The scale is only hypothetical and in terms of an actual civilization, highly speculative; however, it puts energy consumption of an entire civilization in a cosmic perspective. It was first proposed in 1964 by the Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev. Others have extended the scale to even more hypothetical Type IV beings who can control or use the entire universe, or Type V that control collections of universes. Metrics other than pure power usage have also been proposed, such as 'mastery' of a planet, system or galaxy rather than considering energy alone,[1] or considering the amount of information controlled by a civilization rather than the amount of energy.
Biofeedback - is the process of gaining greater awareness of many physiological functions primarily using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will.[1][2] Some of the processes that can be controlled include brainwaves, muscle tone, skin conductance,heart rate and pain perception.[3]
Food Pairing - is a method for identifying which foods go well together. The method is based on the principle that foods combine well with one another when they share keyflavor components. Foodpairing is a relatively new method and is often confused with "wine and food pairing", which is the practice of matching wine with food. By contrast, foodpairing uses HPLC, gas chromatography and other laboratory methods to analyse food and to find chemical components that they have in common.
Nootropics - ( /noʊ.əˈtrɒpɨks/ noh-ə-trop-iks), also referred to as smart drugs, memory enhancers, neuro enhancers, cognitive enhancers, andintelligence enhancers, are drugs, supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods that improve mental functions such as cognition, memory, intelligence,motivation, attention, and concentration.[1][2] The word nootropic was coined in 1972 by the Romanian Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea,[3][4] derived from the Greek words νους nous, or "mind," and τρέπειν trepein meaning "to bend/turn". Nootropics are thought to work by altering the availability of the brain's supply of neurochemicals (neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones), by improving the brain's oxygen supply, or by stimulating nerve growth.
Gaia Theory - The gist of this awesome theory about how the planet is self-regulating and why things are the way they are. I think of it also like how all things on the planet have a purpose or use and our job is discover what that is.
Mysticism - from the Greek μυστικός, mystikos, meaning 'an initiate') is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, or levels of being, or aspects of reality, beyond normal human perception, sometimes including experience of and communion with a supreme being.
Quadrivium - The quadrivium comprised the four subjects, or arts, taught in the Renaissance Period, after teaching the trivium (preparatory work made up of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
The quadrivium consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. In turn, the quadrivium was considered preparatory work for the serious study of philosophy (sometimes called the "liberal art par excellence") and theology.
Synesthesia - A neurological condition where one sensation such as sound triggers another sensation such as color, so the result is that one can experience sound also as color for example. Studies have shown this also increases with meditation.
Table of Keyboard Shortcuts - A practical table full of so many short cuts for the computer.
Such as Windows + M (to minimize everything)
The Singularity is near (book) - This is a fascinating overveiw of a book on the future of technology by Ray Kurzweil, it describes the exponental growth in technology, in particula,r (doubling every 12-18 months) then at some point it will start to improve upon itself without human interference and at this point it will start to develop so quick that change will occur at a rate so quickly the world will become completely different.
Lojong (buddhist mind training) - Lojong is a mind training practice based on a series of aphorisms designed to change ones motivations and attitude. Some include see all phenomenon as a dream, or be aware of the preciousness of human life.
Hypermedia - Hypermedia is used as a logical extension of the term hypertext in which graphics, audio, video, plain text and hyperlinks intertwine to create a generally non-linear medium of information.
Entheogen - An entheogen ("generating the divine within")[4] is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context. Entheogens can supplement many diverse practices for healing, transcendence, and revelation, including: meditation, psychonautics, art projects, and psychedelic therapy.
Nicotine - is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae) that acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine agonist and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor[citation needed].
Nicotine's mood-altering effects are different by report: in particular it is both a stimulant and a relaxant. First causing a release of glucose from the liver and epinephrine (adrenaline) from the adrenal medulla, it causes stimulation. Users report feelings of relaxation, sharpness, calmness, and alertness. Like any stimulant, it may very rarely cause the often catastrophically uncomfortable neuropsychiatric effect of akathisia. By reducing the appetite and raising the metabolism, some smokers may lose weight as a consequence.
When a cigarette is smoked, nicotine-rich blood passes from the lungs to the brain within seven seconds and immediately stimulates the release of many chemical messengers such as acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, vasopressin, histamine, arginine, serotonin, dopamine, autocrine agents, and beta-endorphin.This release of neurotransmitters and hormones is responsible for most of nicotine's effects. Nicotine appears to enhance concentrationand memory due to the increase of acetylcholine. It also appears to enhance alertness due to the increases of acetylcholine and norepinephrine. Arousal is increased by the increase of norepinephrine. Pain is reduced by the increases of acetylcholine and beta-endorphin. Anxiety is reduced by the increase of beta-endorphin. Nicotine also extends the duration of positive effects of dopamine and increases sensitivity in brain reward systems. Most cigarettes (in the smoke inhaled) contain 1 to 3 milligrams of nicotine.
Calea zacatechichi - also known as Dream Herb, Leaf of God, and Bitter Grass, is a plant used by the indigenous Chontal of the Mexican state of Oaxaca for oneiromancy (a form of divination based on dreams.)
Personal Development - Personal Development includes activites that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and oitential, build human capital and acilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. The concept is not limited to self-help but includes formal and informal activities for developing others in roles such as teacher, guide, counselor, manager, life coach or mentor. When epersonal development takes place in the context of institutions, it refers to the methods, programs, tools, techniques, and assessment systems that support human development at the individual level in organizations.
Transhumanism - abbreviated as H+ or h+, is an international intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities. Transhumanist thinkers study the potential benefits and dangers of emerging technologies that could overcome fundamental human limitations, as well as study the ethical matters involved in developing and using such technologies. They predict that human beings may eventually be able to transform themselves into beings with such greatly expanded abilities as to merit the label "posthuman".
Simple Living - Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather than want. Although asceticism generally promotes living simply and refraining from luxury and indulgence, not all proponents of simple livingare ascetics. Simple living is distinct from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice.
Frugality - is the quality of being frugal, sparing, thrifty, prudent or economical in the use of consumable resources such as food, time or money, and avoiding waste, lavishness or extravagance.[1][2][3][4] In behavioral science, frugality has been defined as the tendency to acquire goods and services in a restrained manner, and resourceful use of already owned economic goods and services, to achieve a longer term goal.[5]
Intentional living - is any lifestyle based on an individual or group's conscious attempts to live according to their values and beliefs. These can include lifestyles based on religious or ethical values, as well as coaching, personal transformation, and leadership training.
Intelligence - Intelligence has been defined in many different ways including, but not limited to, abstract thought, understanding, self-awareness,communication, reasoning, learning, having emotional knowledge, retaining, planning, and problem solving. Intelligence is most widely studied in humans, but has also been observed in animals and in plants. Artificial intelligence is the simulation of intelligence in machines.
Biopsychosocial model - The biopsychosocial model (abbreviated "BPS") is a general model or approach that posits that biological, psychological (which entails thoughts, emotions, and behaviors), and social factors, all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of disease or illness. Indeed, health is best understood in terms of a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors rather than purely in biological terms
Lucid Dream - A lucid dream is any dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming. The term was coined by the Dutch psychiatrist and writer Frederik (Willem) van Eeden (1860–1932).[1] In a lucid dream, the dreamer may be able to exert some degree of control over their participation within the dream or be able to manipulate their imaginary experiences in the dream environment.[2] Lucid dreams can be realistic and vivid.[3] It is shown that there are higher amounts of beta-1 frequency band (13–19 Hz) experienced by lucid dreamers, hence there is an increased amount of activity in the parietal lobes making lucid dreaming a conscious process.[4]
Spice - Melange from French mélange (“set of diverse elements”), (/meɪˈlɑːndʒ/ or /meɪˈlɑːnʒ/)[1] – also called the "spice" – is the name of the fictional drug central to the Dune series of science fiction novels by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. In the series, the most essential and valuable commodity in the universe is melange, a geriatric drug that gives the user a longer life span, greater vitality, and heightened awareness; it can also unlock prescience in some humans, depending upon the dosage and the consumer's physiology.[2] This prescience-enhancing property makes safe and accurate interstellar travel possible.[2] Melange comes with a steep price, however: it is addictive, and withdrawal is fatal.[2][3]
Perennial philosophy - (Latin: philosophia perennis, more fully, philosophia perennis et universalis; sometimes shortened to sophia perennis or religio perennis) is the notion of the universal recurrence of philosophical insight independent of epoch or culture, in particular universal truths on the nature of reality, humanityand consciousness (anthropological universals). It is also referred to as Perennialism.
Extremophile - An extremophile (from Latin extremus meaning "extreme" and Greek philiā (φιλία) meaning "love") is an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to mostlife on Earth.[1][2] In contrast, organisms that live in more moderate environments may be termed mesophiles or neutrophiles.
Reverse Engineering - is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation.[1] It often involves taking something (a mechanical device, electronic component, computer program, or biological, chemical, or organic matter) apart and analyzing its workings in detail to be used in maintenance, or to try to make a new device or program that does the same thing without using or simply duplicating (without understanding) the original.
Kardashev scale - is a method of measuring a civilization's level of technological advancement, based on the amount of usable energy a civilization has at its disposal. The scale has three designated categories called Type I, II, and III. A Type I civilization has available all the energy impinging on its home planet, Type II all the energy of its sun, and Type III of its galaxy. The scale is only hypothetical and in terms of an actual civilization, highly speculative; however, it puts energy consumption of an entire civilization in a cosmic perspective. It was first proposed in 1964 by the Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev. Others have extended the scale to even more hypothetical Type IV beings who can control or use the entire universe, or Type V that control collections of universes. Metrics other than pure power usage have also been proposed, such as 'mastery' of a planet, system or galaxy rather than considering energy alone,[1] or considering the amount of information controlled by a civilization rather than the amount of energy.
Biofeedback - is the process of gaining greater awareness of many physiological functions primarily using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will.[1][2] Some of the processes that can be controlled include brainwaves, muscle tone, skin conductance,heart rate and pain perception.[3]
Food Pairing - is a method for identifying which foods go well together. The method is based on the principle that foods combine well with one another when they share keyflavor components. Foodpairing is a relatively new method and is often confused with "wine and food pairing", which is the practice of matching wine with food. By contrast, foodpairing uses HPLC, gas chromatography and other laboratory methods to analyse food and to find chemical components that they have in common.
Nootropics - ( /noʊ.əˈtrɒpɨks/ noh-ə-trop-iks), also referred to as smart drugs, memory enhancers, neuro enhancers, cognitive enhancers, andintelligence enhancers, are drugs, supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods that improve mental functions such as cognition, memory, intelligence,motivation, attention, and concentration.[1][2] The word nootropic was coined in 1972 by the Romanian Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea,[3][4] derived from the Greek words νους nous, or "mind," and τρέπειν trepein meaning "to bend/turn". Nootropics are thought to work by altering the availability of the brain's supply of neurochemicals (neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones), by improving the brain's oxygen supply, or by stimulating nerve growth.
Gaia Theory - The gist of this awesome theory about how the planet is self-regulating and why things are the way they are. I think of it also like how all things on the planet have a purpose or use and our job is discover what that is.