@artician

Even if the models for the decline of empires are inexact, poorly sourced or even exaggerated, they are doing so to combat the overwhelming force of the status quo that feeds us a constant stream of comforting, mind-numbing bliss through mass media, mostly delivered though TV news, advertising and cleverly veiled in the actual entertainment that the audience enjoys.

It's hard to mount a comeback against a presupposed cultural truth supported by any form of economic interest. The tobacco industry, for example, mounted powerful misinformation and doubt as scientific evidence slowly leaked out that smoking was harmful. People just don't want to hear that the way they live and what they "know" to be true is going to change and that personal choice is going to have to be limited to some extent.

The same is true for global warming, deforestation, species extinction, pollution, etc., etc. You can resist the "ineffectual mumblings" of Hitchens, Chomsky and the like, but you do so to at your own peril. People like you are the do-do bird in this scenario. People like you are the 2 pack-a-day smoker who thinks they've been smoking for 20 years and feeling fine so why quit now. "Screw the scientists, they're all out to make themselves rich so they concoct these cackamamy experiments to 'prove' they need more research funding." Okay, it's your right to dismiss the advice of people smarter than you.

This video follows the same vein as Peter Joseph's Zeitgeist series (which I suggest you watch or rewatch for shits and giggles.) The idea of consumption tax seems a lot easier for our system to adopt than Joseph's idea of a "Resource-Based Economy." It just sounds more fair that those consuming resources pay back into the system and less airy-fairy than some socialist "to-each as to his need" idea. And let's face it, it's right on a social level. It's just too hard to get there based on our current economic and political structure.

Our wasteful way of life is just unsustainable. I don't think anyone can deny that the ponzi scheme of FIAT money is eventually going to collapse because the balance of wealth is way out of whack AND ONLY GETTING WORSE. And the USA is at the top, and yet owes trillions in funny money that they can only pay back if they stop building missiles and tanks. But I think we all know that when the shit hits the fan, we're going to want to get behind those tanks to ride out the storm of resistance from the 99%. Not the privileged 99% in the west, the 99% of destitute, impoverished poor that build the toys, sew and clothes, glue the plastic Walmart crap, and GROW THE FOOD that we want.to have cheap. We're doing this all on the backs of the "free slaves" in undeveloped countries: Columbia, Bangladesh and on and on.

Search your feelings, Luke. You know it to be true.

Tomorrow be cold indeed... it's Finland, afterall!

\m/(>_<)\m/

Capitalism is nearing the end of its useful life. Indeed, it has improved the lot for billions world wide but the wealth gap trend is concentrating power and money into a tiny and untouchable group if power elitists. I don't think we're heading for a USSR/China model of communism, but based on this repeating cycle of boom and bust where the oligarchy always comes out well ahead and the vast majority are left to suffer.

I heard throughout the talk that "Capitalism is stagnant," and "the problem is productivity." These points really ignore that those at the top of the heap actually profited during the financial crisis. I don't think this is simply a complaint about "fairness." I think this is the central issue.

Those with real wealth can leverage it to not only stay wealthy, but grow that wealth continuously. Since money begets influence, no significant change will take place until some major upheaval forces the masses into action. If Capitalism can keep adding bandage "corrections" after every recession, the status quo will probably continue.

Wow, impressive. This is another step forward in the virtual reality we expected to see decades ago (after seeing the Lawnmower Man and other VR-themed sci-fi, peaking with the Matrix.) This tech along with Oculus Rift will put people inside their avatars.

I didn't see the actor really shaking his jowls or showing his face reactive to gravity, which is a big part of what current CGI lacks. He probably wasn't allowed in case the headset broke, although I'm not fully aware if its role in the demo. I also wonder where the texture on the poly came from. It looks to be a good match for his face, but it wasn't real-time.

Fantastic sift!

Neil deGrasse Tyson's words are moving and prophetic. They're focused on America's role in scientific discovery, but they're true for all of humanity. If we're not a species discovering, we're just a species waiting to die. We can't afford not to innovate.

I think this a case of a flawless, native English pronunciation from a poor Engrish script sent through the South Korean marketing team at Samsung. At least they got English actors!

Jaw-dropping! But l suddenly feel the need to go shopping... BBL!

That's damned fine food for thought from Napolitano! It was obviously too objective and thought provoking, however. Fox News doesn't want its audience to think, just angrily nod and agree.

Hey, it could have been worse if we had a Monica Seles moment. Wait, do you even know what I'm talking about? I totally just aged myself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ixHAm5tD4

A shocking exposé! Well, not really that shocking, unless you're a fan boy for the current US administration.

It just goes to show that the entire liberal/conservative (Republican/Democrat) debate is a joke. They're basically the same, but the self interest of the population creates these crack-pot, liberal fringe groups and insane right wing movements like the Tea Party. It's all just a distraction from the fact that corporations are running the show regardless of what party is in the president's office. The US and its allies are the conductors of an orchestra of world wide destabilization and they're robbing their own citizens to do it. Wake up and smell the oil!

Awesome, this is well done!

What up Manny Pacquiao in da house! Wow!

Reminds me of the awkward teacher a few years back. Has the word evolved since then? Or is it all in the delivery?

http://videosift.com/video/news-report-of-teacher-suspended-for-racial-slur-clueless-guy-digs-deeper-hole

Awesome guy, I'm really impressed.