The Enigma of Life (Part 1 of 2) — What is life?

…life is a miracle of astronomical mathematical improbability.

— Xenocrates

The transitional beauty of life from land to sea as juxtaposed against the epitome of a seashore owes more to a natural phenomena than a mythological inexplicability. — Image Credit: Kert Gartner, 2011

In response to my previous post, someone had asked me in person: “If god was invented by humans to satisfy the need to worship something, then what is the meaning of life?” The very question is based on the premise that one needs a god to give life meaning (or that having a god would make life more meaningful). It’s like saying that tooth fairies make losing a tooth more meaningful or that storks make childbirth more miraculous. We know what the meaning of life is. Just like losing a tooth and the miracle of childbirth, the meaning lies in our biology.

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■ E-mail: accordingtoxen[at]gmail[dot]com

Deus Ex Machina: How man created God

God is nothing more than a machination of human narcissism.

— Xenocrates

Have you ever wondered why is it that humans refer to God using male pronouns? Why does God seem to have the emotions of a jealous boyfriend with insecurities? If we are guided by God’s “hand”, then does it mean that he also has feet? Why is it that our God speaks in old English? Why is it that every portrait of Jesus we know of make him look like a white skinned blue eyed homosexual? If the universe is so large, why would God love just us as opposed to some alien civilization? The answer to these questions is the same: Because we made god up.

 

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■ E-mail: accordingtoxen[at]gmail[dot]com

Hollywood on Trial

“When you go to the movies,check both your coat and your brain at the door.”

- Xenocrates

Have you ever seen one of those movies where you saw something that just didn’t make sense?  I’m not talking about the obvious stuff that is the product of special effects like punching through a wall or making an impossible shot. Stuff like that is usually quaintly explained by the plot of the movie - such as the main characters being from another planet, or have superpowers that are the product of genetic mutation. We all know that suspension of belief is critical to most movies.

However, I’m talking about some of the things that are logically implausible or downright stupid. I’m talking about stuff that is the product of continuity mismanagement or lack of simple research. I will admit that it does seem hypocritical to assail Hollywood for breaking the laws of simple logic while allowing them to break the laws of physics on a regular basis. But the reason why this allegation has validity is that we expect them to defy the laws of physics. We however do not expect them to defy the laws of reason – or at the very least, not to defy the basis of the plot.

In this post, I cover some of the greatest, most common, most inexplicable, most stupid things that I’ve seen in movies that simply just don’t make sense. Put on your thinking caps for this one. I wax scientific about why the Millennium Falcon can’t possibly make the Kessel Run in 12 Parsecs and why Superman could never safely move faster than a speeding bullet – ever.