Many of us might have known about SETI @ Home, which was a concept where instead of investing heavily on supercomputers to read and analyze files, they send smaller pieces to all volunteers whose computers will do the computation during its idle time. While this has become popular, it did not really have such a big impact on computer sharing as not everyone really felt the need to volunteer for SETI.

Given the idea being set by shared computing, a website, http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/ , does the same concept of SETI @ home but with a more diverse option of researches we can participate and help.

You may choose to help in AIDS, Malaria, Weather Prediction, Einstein theories, and other different researches.

The potential is amazing. Researches that would have taken decades due to infrastructure and budget limitations can now be distributed to a large array of computers. Our computers, whose processor speed has greatly increased on average compared to 10 years ago, usually wasted on graphics and new browser enhancements, can now be more productive in helping solve different world crisis. It is, in a way, a noble solution that we can join.

It would be believed that if you believe the sincerity of the group and its purpose, and believe on the potential result of different volunteers letting their computers help, then please promote the organization. The more we can help, the faster progress can be achieved in helping the world.

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Here is one very thought provoking idea, if cigarettes can be made to not become detrimental to health, would it more acceptable to society?

Everyone wants to put down cigarettes due to the health problems that it can cause. This is perfectly logical and understandable. But, with the new developments in gene replacements and biotechnology, in the near future, there might be a chance for cigarettes not to be detrimental to health anymore. It was once brought up that nicotine is not the cause of cancer or other health illness, but the other ingredients are. Cigarettes use fiberglass for its tips, and its tobacco contains carcinogenic ingredients. If these ingredients have been revised, chances are, cigarettes might come with anti-oxidants, vitamin c, and perhaps cancer prevention meds as well.

What would be our reaction to such a situation? Cigarette smokers will definitely try the new cigarette and if it tastes the same, the new cigarettes would be favored over the traditional brands.

How about those who recently quit? If it was for health reasons, they would probably now have an excuse to smoke again, it will make things easier to not quit.

More importantly, what will be the public opinion over healthy cigarettes? It would definitely be illogical for someone to go against the development of healthy cigarettes, as the primary purpose of stopping people from smoking was mainly due to health problems. Would you now let your child smoke if you know it does no bodily harm? Would you let it slide if you do find out your child smokes? If you are a non-smoker who is curious about how cigarettes feel in your body, would you now try it?

What if all we have now developed is a stereotyped impression that smoking is a vice, rather than understanding that the ingredients inside the cigarette is the problem, and not the cigarette itself, that if these ingredients were removed, the cigarette will enjoy its golden days again. Cigarettes were once enjoyed by a greater number of people.

Many tend to take certain core problems (cigarette ingredients that causes cancer) and judge it as a whole (and therefore cigarettes cause cancer) when it might be possible to eliminate the problem, and thus give the product its justice (healthy cigarettes).

What should be imparted is sometimes we tend to let go of the potential of a product because of the core problems that are part of it. There is a good chance to perhaps separate the problem from the product and give it the respect it does deserve.

Some other examples for this would be products made in China. We have all been victims to shoddy products when we actually have failed to realize that we are merely getting what we are paying for. If a Chinese company produces better products but for a higher price, our subconscious will dictate that the quality will still be shoddy because China cannot make good products.

I will leave this point with a slightly open end, with your thoughts now left to make its own reflection. It will be surprising to realize that there are many things in life that has similarities to the idea of healthy cigarettes.

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Many of you may remember this during your childhood (up until mine) we used to have candies that look like cigarette sticks. These candies were actually bubble gum, and its casing looks very much like a pack of cigarettes.

My parents never did buy me those packs, but I did get them once when I was young (from my dad's friends or relatives, the origin of where I got it was very unclear, and from what I recall, very irrelevant as well) and found them to be something children of my age would like to get. These packs of cigarette candies would make us feel like we are adults, and respectable, or to another term, even "cool". My friends got them, there were parties with candies in little paper mache donkeys dangling for its dear life overhead and whoever beats until its innards come out would find a lot of candies (overhead paper donkeys being beaten up are also called Pinatas in the Philippines, given its large Spanish influence on the culture) and this particular type of candy was inside.

I don't want to sound like a nagging mother who might fight for all sorts of "wrongs" in society to be corrected, and only later on realize that it was rather foolish (if ever realized), and it might seem to be hypocritical of me to discuss the next point considering that I smoke.

I was brought up in a culture where smoking is more than just acceptable, but it was also a sign of being an adult, just as much as driving, beer, and comprehending adult jokes. These cigarette candies can further imprint messages in children's heads that this is a teaser of what is to come, try it out while you're young with little cigarette candies.

If we want people to further understand the risks of smoking, and make their decision not based on what their childhood might have embedded on their minds about smoking, then these are the small items that should not even be on shelves.

I am still a firm believer on letting everyone make a choice, and that things will try to correct itself over time, but I believe that if people are properly informed on what message these small items might bring, that they might actually start thinking twice on whether or not that is what they want their child to perceive about smoking or any vice for that matter.

I believe that this should be an important lesson to many parents as well with regards to how certain small things can really change or influence everyone. Take these points into consideration and be the better judge.

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Save the Trees

“Save the trees, sign this petition” was a reply Dave got while walking to work today. It is around 8 degrees this morning and Dave can barely feel his face.

There they are, everywhere, environmentalists with wooden sticks to hold up their picket signs, all printed on paper, and the petition, paper. They have oversized evil looking heads of the CEO of large logging firms, all made of paper maché, and they got donuts inside brown paper bags. Environmental protests do seem to take a toll on the environment.

It is believed that there are those who are serious about their cause and do act on it, and in fact adhere to the value until it is ridiculous. And there are those who join in just for the sake of comforting their minds that AT LEAST they’re doing something, however mediocre.

It is this mediocrity that is found to be amusing, and most widespread, among all sins and diseases. People want to be wealthy but despise the effort needed to achieve it. This is the very secret on how many gym equipments being sold on shopping TV channels can give a 30 day money back guarantee, no one will use the product 3 days after purchasing it.

It is not too difficult to fathom the idea of the need to save the environment. The world climate is getting quite screwy that many animals we are now banned to hunt down are dying because there is no mall in their area catered to their needs. There is no barbershop for bears, or a Brazilian wax job. There are no fast food chains for lions to go to and get their deer patty between two buns of bread. These deer might have been raised in large slaughterhouses the way KFC raises their chicken. These poor animals do not seem to have the external evolution we have developed ever since we discovered that we do not have to eat food raw, and can now cook it. Thanks to our external evolution, we do not need to be fit to hunt down a tiger, we merely put a large power plant near its habitat and watch the water it drinks glow at night.

It does look rather bleak to many when they realize they’re merely living a life of excuses, and that the better option has always been “I’d rather not”. Religions gives people an excuse to stop worrying about dying, but are still not really convinced on the idea of heaven and hell.

And now Dave is situated to sign the petition, he borrows the wooden pencil and marks his name on the available spot on paper. Strange enough, he feels good today, he feels like he has done something big for the environment.

This would be short-lived, though, if Dave’s IQ and observational skills were to remind him that he is a very bad man when it comes to the environment. He still drives a SUV to work when he could carpool, and would probably close one eye on whatever he purchases even if it comes from sweat shops, just as long as there are no guilt trip commercials or ads on the paper.

This time though, Dave does not realize that it is colder than usual, as to the main reason why he cannot feel his face. Yes, the environmental temperatures are getting screwy, and not too amusing either. He is actually aware that there is something wrong with the environment, and will try to choose something more environmental if given the choice in a grocery, at the same price. He is still half hearted about it.

This is where, sadly, communism works. The government would force everyone to be environmental, even if it is half heartedly done, they have no choice.

This is also where the best ad agencies can work. Leave it to guilt trips and little feel good to do good ads to perk someone up to do something for the next three days. Environmental motivation would best be done by shopping channels than environmentalists.

There is still hope though, for the space program to succeed, and send the richest men with their hottest mistresses to the next most virgin planet to colonize and exploit, this will, of course, require that astronauts and their new hot mistresses will go along as well.

The richest men do deserve to go first anyway, considering that they are known to put in their heart and passion in whatever they do, they might actually do a good job in the new planet. Everyone might as well have to contend to figuring out tomorrow’s weather and smog levels. Either we fix things or we get fixed.

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“Let us get this straight. No one really likes you, you have something someone is interested in, and therefore find it bearable to tolerate your annoying habits. Not just you, all of you”, the most interesting line Jackie’s father has used in his class of 5th grade students a week before valentines. He is a single father with whom got lost the battle 5 years ago and ended up getting stuck to take full custody of the child.

Jackie’s mother tried her best. She drank in the morning, got wasted just after breakfast, and pukes on leftovers for dinner. This is how she was able to avoid getting custody of Jackie.

Jackie couldn’t care less anymore, but thought his father cared about him all along, otherwise, he should have done the same thing his mom did.

What is Jackie’s father’s name you may ask? Sorry for not saying, it is just this is a fictional short story and thought names shouldn’t matter, let’s call him Dave.

Dave is not well liked by Jackie’s class. In fact, after today’s incident, Dave is not well liked by the whole town. He has just ruined valentines’ day for everyone and Sex-Ed class isn’t for a couple of years. It will now cause depression, and annoying questions, such as, “so dad, what was the real reason you married mom? What about her were you interested in?”, will not easily fade away. This question is also being asked by wives to husbands, and children to parents.

This chaos Dave has caused for opening such a logical point when he should have kept his mouth shut. Should it really matter? It might, given that no one can figure out how they ended up marrying a monster during the 7 year itch of marital affairs.

This question has also raised individuals to start thinking, “How in the world did I end up with my partner? What was I thinking?”, paying for sex made more economic and emotional sense.

But this is it, this is the point, Dave brought out what people have been thinking all along. All these little minds sought interest in the other for something after all. Could the world be so naĂŻve to believe in true love?

Two weeks later, the divorce rate goes up, and kids are still confused. Alcohol had to be banned to make sure no one makes a slip up on telling kids that their parents were interested in sex, which brought the attraction, and that they all merely existed because unprotected sex always feels a lot better than using rubber. Always.

This town needs a superhero to save them from being grim and loveless. Since superheroes do not seem to have tact and diplomacy in discussing their points, aside from the fact that you can hardly find any credibility in the information dispersed to you by a person whose underwear is showing outside their pants, they might just need a rational person to explain things to them.

It is true isn’t it? The cycle starts off with attraction, where one finds something interesting about the other, and then the problem arises, what is love, really?

“We have to acknowledge the existence of the person, and develop our existence in their minds as well. The most important value we have to learn is the idea of completing each other. Through the use of this idea, and sharing common goals, do we find oneness in each other. This oneness creates a mirror and complements.

As time passes, with things going on the track of common goal, do we further understand and appreciate the other person. This appreciation gives the person a story that becomes our memory, and therefore, our attachment. This story also puts greater value to the other person, to the point they go beyond us. For some, it can happen in a short time period, for others, it may never happen.

To which do we realize that it is all about the other person after all, and with this other person, our happiness now becomes ultimate.”

The rational man gave a good speech, the speech was so good that Dave got convinced, and used this to court new divorcees in town during valentines. Dave’s newfound idea of “love” got him lucky that night and might also mean Jackie might have a mom who is not an alcoholic.
Jackie couldn’t care less though. One of his teachers got to school drunk from a bad divorce that he spilled the beans on sex-ed to 5th graders a little earlier than the supposed schedule. All Jackie wants for Valentines does not seem to be a little greeting card, but sex.

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I am now a columnist for National Free Press :) www.nationalfreepress.org

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Mark Sebastian has that blank gaze in his eyes. This gaze he has is as if he is on a hypnotic trance on something interesting, and that there is a sudden detachment from his external senses. He is breathing, but he isn't moving, just on that blank gaze to the front. This gaze makes him look comatose, or more obsessed to that item he is staring at, but definitely not with diarrhea, as people with diarrhea cannot stay still, hoping that by not staying still they will not have to go immediately. This is something so interesting and hypnotic he cannot help it but ignore the use of any external sense.

This hypnotic trance that happens to us due to a fixation over something we find utterly interesting has given everyone an embarrassing story. These stories can be humorous, and downright stupid, which makes it humorous in the first place. The most common trance would be a person's fixation over someone he or she is highly attracted to. When someone is highly attracted or attached to someone or something to the point of getting hypnotized, they would react in a manner that would only result in failure on their side. They lose their senses and rationality. This situation is far worse than finishing a bottle of cheap rum. Mark is intrigued on what many of us might not find so interesting, it is a shadow puppet show being done in a little rural village in Thailand. This is the country where the tone and pronunciation of words sound sweet, to the point where it sounds a little to feminine. Thai men should not be put in certain jails if they want to keep their manliness.

Mark is a tourist, who have seen shadows ever since he was born. He has also played shadow puppets in his house with a flashlight. The best he came up with is a dog with really pointed ears. These are the same animals we can only conjure up with anyway, there was once an Indian puppet master who came up with more things out of shadows using both his hands. Mark cannot do any of that.

And now he is staring and reflecting on how the farther the light throws the shadow to, does the shadow grow exponentially larger than the object. How an object perceived to be large in size, in reality, is something very small.

The discovery of how light can generally cause a confusion in the size of anything or anyone was during the dark ages, where whenever cavemen went back to their cave the cave wall would reflect a larger than life shadow of a small squirrel. The image of a killer squirrel has terrified cavemen every night, until one night, when one brave caveman decided to go after the squirrel, who, in reality, did not want to go out, but was pushed out of the cave, for farting a very nasty smell. It was this time that the caveman found the squirrel, bashed its little head, and came back to the cave a hero. The reality of the killer squirrel was discovered the instant everyone decided to go out of the cave and look at the dead killer squirrel, and realize it was no larger than the regular morning squirrel. The heroic caveman had to spend the night outside.

And there is was, in front of him, the memories of childhood, the story teller who he cannot understand, and the puppet show, mesmerized by a flood of thoughts and yet calm and peace.

Would it ever be possible to be flooded with thoughts and yet be quiet and tranquil at the same time? Mark is so overwhelmed his system shut out the external sense, and only kept the gave, and the reflection, on how what we always see might be totally different behind the curtain, on how we mostly live on illusions and belief, when the reality behind something so complex can be so simple. This and the idea that you can have several characters played by one person, this little multi-tasking that makes us believe there are different people out there when there is only one person behind everyone. This froze Mark.

Also, at this point, Mark is supposed to embarrass himself. This is what we are all waiting to happen to him because of that blank stare. Unless you forgot the whole point of the story, and got fixated with what Mark was thinking as well.

Mark accidentally stroke a transvestite's breast as he moved his arm, to which the transvestite found delight, and to which made Mark apologize and subconsciously feel disgusted. After all, Mark, like all straight men, are not entirely comfortable with transvestites, and will have to accept that it will take time for everyone to readily accept them.

The shadow story would not be relevant, as no one really paid attention to it, but it did carry an amazing storyline, and value, if only we decided to focus on that rather than getting distracted with Mark.

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