Yeah - more technology means that we are growing more distant from our violent acts daily. Gone are the days of bashing in a dude's skull with a rock, now we just push a button and turn the other way. I'll admit that that's a generalized abstraction, but I am tired and I don't really want to argue the point. :)

What it was is that they discovered the "towns" and "living areas" that the workers lived in, right next to the pyramids. They even found places where they would mass-produce (cook) bread for the workers to eat. They even believe that there was a sort of competition between the workers. It would have been like a sport, who could do the most work.

I actually saw this on TV, on an Egypt special, a short while back. But I'm sure it's on the web somewhere.

Yes I'm sure people who pulled large slabs of rocks up hill all day did so out of their own free will...

If so, we may have become more violent but also much much smarter about what we choose to do.

Also, any thoughts on the proposed Mars mission? Quicky summary of my thoughts goes a lot like this:

Projected Mars mission = $60 billion.
War on Iraq = $86+ billion.

Quzah wrote:
Good enough reason for me.

I guess they found evidence in the towns for it. I'm just recanting everything I can remember (which isn't much). But I do remember that the slave thing is now a common myth.

I'll see if I can't find some actual sources.

Sheeeit. That will put a whole new spin on Passover, now, won't it?

Although, Christmas survived historical research showing that the census for which Joseph and Mary would have travelled to Nazareth took place in the spring months. Tradition often trumps truth.

Ah. It turns out that a simple google search turns up all kinds of stuff staying they didn't use slaves.

Here's one link from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient...lders_02.shtml

See what I mean, we live relatively safe and secure lives. We have to LOOK for things to worry about like the environment. Sure it's a real and growing problem, but it doesn't break into your house in the middle of the night. If you ignore it, it's not going to come and get you, right here, right now.
So I have a choice of going out and help the environment, requiring I do some research on how and where or I can watch the WWF on the tube while scarfing beer and nachos. Actually I hate the WWF and their ilk and I'm not keen on beer and nachos but the point is people in this country are comfortable and complacent to the point of boredom.
This is a subjective judgement on my part but no more so than "hollow and miserable" on your part. What is "hollow"? Soulless? Hungry? Chocolate easter bunnies? And "miserable"? Love boat prempted? Liquor store closed? Jock itch?
OK, I'm being a smartass but I'm not that far off the truth of what the average American sees as his major concerns which is why he's looking for entertainment.

No no no..

It's not the envirment we should be worried about but the ever growing national debt! We'll never pay it off!

Agh! The sky is falling!

Well actually it is.

I'm confused by your post. (It seems that I'm often confused by posts.)

What are you trying to say? That we live comfortable lives?

That we shouldn't go out 'looking' for problems?

That our lives are not 'hollow and miserable'?

That it's all relative?

All of the above?

I don't think we lead very secure lives.

Does anyone here have a job that is secure and enough money saved up to NOT worry about losing that job?
Thats not safe and secure.
I know I have a tough time sleeping when I end up thinking about what will happen if when March comes around I can't make my schedule so that I can work and go to college. Worse yet...what if I they won't let me work part time?

Oh sure it's a safer life than that in Russia.

But I don't think people watching TV at night while eating nachos is a sign of confort. I think it's escapism.

Well, yeah, it is. But ignorance keeps us from understanding that it's coming to get us right now - and we blame our ills on luck. Cancer? Aw.... sucks for you buddy, tough luck.

The top killer is still heart disease, which is aggravated by worry.

The second killer is cancer.

Third is stroke, which is aggravated by worry.

Fourth is lung disease, which is aggravated by smoking and working in coal mines.

The environment is cleaner today than it was 20 years ago and cancer rates have not varied that much.

Mercola would argue.

Environment is more than air quality. And "cancer" was a catch all.

That's just a guy with a website. Don't get taken every time.

Well he didn't write the IOM report or the journal article, lol, he's just talking about them.

Jsut trying to make a point. By environment, maybe I equate people to trash and therefore we are littering everywhere. Or maybe I meant heavy metals in the oceans. Who knows? The point is that I think the average American is too busy looking the other way to consider the implications of his actions in a broad sense.

Well he put the more alarming bits in bold, and the most alarming in red, and multiple exclamation points - hmmm.

Let me see if I can use the same design principles...

Don't listen to that guy, he's full of shit!!

Don't EVER take health information from people who are selling products!! THAT GOES TRIPLE FOR DIET AND FOOD-RELATED PRODUCTS!! 99% of them are CRAP!!

Sometimes when people use scientific sounding terms they are actually scamming you!!

Yeah, ok, thanks...

      On the subject of exploring space, I'd like to inject the following. Ahem, I really really wanna! Dammit all, the idea of going to places no one has ever been... Surivivning on your own effort, no MickeyD's in sight in case things don't work out... aw christ yeah. I mean come on, do you people have no respect for the pionnering spirit? This time it'd be even better as we're pretty sure there are no martians we'd have to uproot onto reservations. To be working for the future of your children and their children in the sense of carving out a place in the world in actuall land terms ... Wow. That's the shit. Um... I guess I've still got that "childlike sense of wonder" Juju mentioned.
      Plus, when they do get to the point of colonizing other planets, poor people will get to go first. Have to, so the rich people will know it's safe. I would so be there...
      Ah well, not in this lifetime. Probably die in the attempt anyway.

What are you trying to say? That we live comfortable lives?
Yes
That we shouldn't go out 'looking' for problems?
I describing not proscribing
That our lives are not 'hollow and miserable'?
Hard to define
That it's all relative?
Of course
All of the above?
I don't think we lead very secure lives.
Does anyone here have a job that is secure and enough money saved up to NOT worry about losing that job?
Thats not safe and secure.
depends on definition. It's not a perfect world. While you're awake worrying do you listen for boot steps?
I know I have a tough time sleeping when I end up thinking about what will happen if when March comes around I can't make my schedule so that I can work and go to college. Worse yet...what if I they won't let me work part time?
This would be the end of the world?
Oh sure it's a safer life than that in Russia.
And most other places
But I don't think people watching TV at night while eating nachos is a sign of confort. I think it's escapism.
You might be right. My feeling is that people can't practice escapism unless they feel secure. I'm not suggesting or condoning, avoiding the worlds problems. Just making observations on what I think is causing the rise in demand for entertainment, at any price.