Friday, February 18, 2005
Thinking About Getting a Fish Tank
Jason and I have talked about getting a fish tank for awhile, but we have only just begun doing the research. I have been surfing the net tonight looking at pictures of different species of saltwater fish to see which fish get along well together and which fish would bite each other's heads off (literally).
I am amazed at how many varieties of fish there are. I'm sure God enjoyed creating them...many have vibrant colors. Watching fish swim is quite soothing. I had a 10 gallon tank in my bedroom while I was growing up. The sound of the filter always lulled me to sleep. Tonight, I began wondering why God created all these fish in the beginning. I wondered why He would create all these beautiful fish and place them in deep seas and vast, salty oceans. He took the time to create them, but why hide them in the depths of the unknown?
With my brain set on finding the answers I read article after article about diving, swimming, etc. In 332 BC (Yes, BC!), the forces of Alexander the Great used something referred to as a diving bell to clear the harbor at Tyre (http://encarta.msn.com). So, thinking in those terms it was between 5,000-6,000 years before people could actually go underwater to see these beautiful fish. There were very few advances in underwater gear from the 4th century BC to the 1600's. Since the 1600s there have been major innovations for diving gear...including the underwater boat (submarine) introduced in World War II.
Okay, so with this educational stuff out there, I still wonder why did God make all these beautiful creatures and hid them where people couldn't see them in their splendor for over 5,000 years. And now, about 8,000 years later, I can create a controlled reef environment in my house and watch these fish swim without ever leaving my couch...but until then, I'll just put in "Fiding Nemo" and stare amazed at all the beautiful little sea creatures.
I am amazed at how many varieties of fish there are. I'm sure God enjoyed creating them...many have vibrant colors. Watching fish swim is quite soothing. I had a 10 gallon tank in my bedroom while I was growing up. The sound of the filter always lulled me to sleep. Tonight, I began wondering why God created all these fish in the beginning. I wondered why He would create all these beautiful fish and place them in deep seas and vast, salty oceans. He took the time to create them, but why hide them in the depths of the unknown?
With my brain set on finding the answers I read article after article about diving, swimming, etc. In 332 BC (Yes, BC!), the forces of Alexander the Great used something referred to as a diving bell to clear the harbor at Tyre (http://encarta.msn.com). So, thinking in those terms it was between 5,000-6,000 years before people could actually go underwater to see these beautiful fish. There were very few advances in underwater gear from the 4th century BC to the 1600's. Since the 1600s there have been major innovations for diving gear...including the underwater boat (submarine) introduced in World War II.
Okay, so with this educational stuff out there, I still wonder why did God make all these beautiful creatures and hid them where people couldn't see them in their splendor for over 5,000 years. And now, about 8,000 years later, I can create a controlled reef environment in my house and watch these fish swim without ever leaving my couch...but until then, I'll just put in "Fiding Nemo" and stare amazed at all the beautiful little sea creatures.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Old Man Doesn't Want to Die
I came across a new blog tonight that referenced an article on Ray Kurzweil. The blog is www.intheagora.com.
56-yr old, Ray Kurzweil, believes that within the next 20 years humanity will acheive immortality. This man will not ride in a car and will not take chances with his life. "As part of his daily routine, Kurzweil ingests 250 supplements, eight to 10 glasses of alkaline water and 10 cups of green tea. He also periodically tracks 40 to 50 fitness indicators, down to his "tactile sensitivity." (from AP Article by Jay Lindsay)
Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=562&u=/ap/one_man_s_immortality&printer=1
This article makes me think several things:
56-yr old, Ray Kurzweil, believes that within the next 20 years humanity will acheive immortality. This man will not ride in a car and will not take chances with his life. "As part of his daily routine, Kurzweil ingests 250 supplements, eight to 10 glasses of alkaline water and 10 cups of green tea. He also periodically tracks 40 to 50 fitness indicators, down to his "tactile sensitivity." (from AP Article by Jay Lindsay)
Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=562&u=/ap/one_man_s_immortality&printer=1
This article makes me think several things:
- He is very much afraid of death. He is driven to do things because he doesn't want to die. Very sad...if only he acknowledged his Creator the fear of death could be replaced with joy to meet what lies beyond the grave.
- Kurzweil writes of millions of blood cell-sized robots, which he calls "nanobots," that will keep us forever young by swarming through the body, repairing bones, muscles, arteries and brain cells. Improvements to our genetic coding will be downloaded via the Internet. We won't even need a heart. - What good are humans without a heart? What good is a human if the human is composed of nanobots? Quite sad really...the guy wants to be immortal, but he wants to be an immortal "person" made of nano-robots.
- Even if it was possible to have these nanobots repair bones, tissue, etc, what keeps one nanobot-filled human from shooting another nanobot human? Human nature is still the same...it will never change. ...Unless, of course, we get computer minds...then the world will be a better place. But if we have neither a brain nor a heart, don't we become worthless pawns? If one breaks, make another?
It's quite sad that this fragile 56-yr old man is eating vitamins and drinking water just so he can make it 20 more years. (I said fragile not because of his age, but because of his health/eating habits.) He is such a smart man, but so deceived.
