DrmDoc

You're resurrecting a old thread on a closed subject. The definitive answer is no, dreaming of dying does not cause death in reality. Although people can and do die in sleep, there is no evidence that such deaths were caused by a dream or occurred while the decedent was dreaming. Rest assured and pleasant dreams.

Posting a link is insufficient for us novice, can you provide a quote from that link where Einstein equates gravity with acceleration?

Top-down self-hypnosis...expectation's influence on physiology...mind, a potent influence indeed. But what is the neurological mechanism? What is the neurology of self-deception...or belief, as I otherwise interpret? As I now understand, hypnosis can only influence what we perceive, which in turn influences our brain's physical, mental, and emotional response directives. Therefore, hypnosis somehow influences our brain's neurological perception matrix. The thalamus, maybe? Something more for me to study, oh joy...

If some of you feel as I do regarding the status of America, you'd would very much like to forget about certain events transpiring this week and refocus you thoughts on more positive and productive interests. To that end, I've refocused my thoughts on interests of the mind and recently discovered this SciShow video on the Science of Hyponsis, which I found to be illuminating. Anecdotally, hypnosis appears to be an effective way to clear one's head of negative thoughts and memories. It seems that hypnosis could be more than just a parlor trick and may involve a relaxed yet hyper-attentive brain, according to the SciShow video host. This video discusses several credible studies on the subject of hypnosis with some suggesting a correlation between hypnosis sensitivity and an enlarge region of the brain called the rostrum, which is involve in attention. It seems there's some correlation between hypnosis and the placebo effect as well. So, what are your thoughts? Do you considered hypnosis credible or a viable therapy?

Yes and no, depending on the circumstance. If the circumstance is to escape responsibility for one's actions, then no it's not ethical in my opinion. However, if the circumstance involves sparing the life of the mother, rape, incest, or fetal abnormality that confers an insufferable life on the child and mother, then yes abortion may be ethical. I do not support the idea of life at all cost nor do I support the idea of men making decisions about this issue of women's health regardless of a man's contribution to that state. I support the idea that women are capable of making the right decisions for themselves and should be allowed to do so.

Via voting, your voice gives gravitas to other voices that speak as one in solidarity on issues of mutual concern and importance to the stability, direction, and future of your society. Even in loss, your voice adds to a sizeable opposition whose opinions and concerns can't and shouldn't be ignore.

Tom, I don't do downloads from potentially untrustworthy sources but I did take some time to familiarize myself with the subject and I reviewed your comments and illustrations. If I understand correctly, your cypher of the Voynich manuscript is based on the work of John Dee whose cyphers link letters to numbers. To validate this aspect of your cypher, you have to establish how John Dee's work may have contributed to the Voynich's production. Was he the author of the manuscript and do you have proof other than your intuition...or, do you have credible evidence suggesting that the manuscript's true author was familiar with and using John Dee's cyphers? It's my understanding that the author of the manuscript was never established; therefore, that latter question may be impossible to answer. Secondly, you are associating specific letters and symbols with specific numbers. How did you arrive at that association? How did you establish the order of those letters and symbols? Are those letters and symbols from a work established and deciphered prior to the Voynich manuscript? It's my understanding that the Voynich script is unique to its text and not found in any other manuscript of the era. So, how did you establish that the Voynich script was indeed an alphabet of ordered and defined letters and symbols rather than random artistic musings? Thirdly, if I understand further, Italy appears to be the establish origin of the manuscript yet your cypher appears to render translations in Welsh. How do you account for that incongruity? Have you deciphered complete and coherent passages of text in Welsh or any other language? Finally, how does this... ...equal 1? If I understand numerology correctly, 6 + 8 + 1+ 5 + 8 + 9 = 27 and 2+7 = 9. If your sincere interest involves a serious discussion of your work, my further participation in this discussion depends on your direct and concise answers to my questions.

You're right, I did say incentive only but I also mentioned greed in context, which I think brings to most people's minds some monetary incentive or motive. So, I imagined what might happen with the right amount of monetary incentives. Yes, it would probably require more than a couple of extra dollars to bring more people to the polls but with the right amount, that sort of incentive would likely compound the detrimental effects that money has had in our country's election process.

I imagined widening voter fraud with a cash incentive as motivation and, with cash, where there's a will there's a way to defraud the system. I've imagined several ways just now--tapping my largely ignored illicit nature --which I couldn't conscionably share here. There are certainly more compelling issues that would bring me to the polls than the worthiness of candidates but, for some, worthiness may be the only issue their conscience could abide and I don't think they should be denied their freedom of conscience. In my state, there are always other issues on the ballot but none more compelling to me than whom I elect to governance--voting is always worth my time.

Yes, an implicit endorsement of a system necessary to the freedoms you may presently enjoy. Deciding the leadership of my country is, perpetually, a frustrating process that far to often results in daunting disappointment. However, I press on knowing how essential the process is to my ability to support my lifestyle and family in relatively stabile society.

Admittedly, I perceive a larger problem with incentive-based voting than subjectivity concerns. My less than stellar opinion of human nature suggests to me that even a small inducement could widen voter fraud as greed among voters take hold of the process. Certainly, what may be compelling to some may not be compelling to all but, like Swansont, I have trouble reconciling compulsory voting in a free society. I imagine the voting Gestapo showing up at my door demanding, under punitive threat, my reason for not voting and/or being ostracized by following my conscience when I found no candidate worthy of my vote. Given the choice, I think most of us would prefer being enticed rather than forced to the polls. If a solution for voter turnout exist, shouldn't it reflect our freedom of choice ideals?

Rather than compulsory, perhaps compelling is a more apt description of my proposal...but I agree, our current voting average is shameful.

I disagree with only one--voting shouldn't be compulsory. Compulsory voting smacks of fear and punishment induced participation, which I think is contrary to the ideas of a free society. Instead, those who do vote could be immediately extended some privilege or benefit that those who are eligible and do not vote would likely covet. Americans can be an impatient lot with progress, which is why some, IMO, see futility in voting. I think voter participation would increase to near complete when citizens are shown or given some immediate and real benefit for their participation in the process. I agree that the privilege of voting in a free society is essential to the freedoms we enjoy and should be our citizens only reward; however, I don't think the reward many of us desire comes quickly or is solely satisfied by the ballot.

Yes, democracies are more privileged societies than dictatorships. Democracies offer freedoms under a collective and majority rule where ordinary citizens decide their governance rather than the dictates of a single individual or ruling class. It's a privilege to live in a democratic society because of the sacrifices others have made and continue to make on our behalf for the freedoms we enjoy.

Perhaps in Canada, but not in America as CharonY conveyed. Voting is a privilege afforded our citizenry who qualify and conform to limits of law and standards set by our government. It's a privilege in that we are able to effect changes in the direction of our nation through an election process that allows our free selection of leadership rather than dictatorial rule.

Voting is a right and privilege of a free society where freedom of choice, IMO, is bedrock. Mandatory voting negates our freedom to choose not to participate in or perpetuate an unsavory political system that otherwise we would in good conscience under better circumstance. Americans don't like being told or ordered what to do, I think we prefer to be persuasion by what's in our best interests. With that said, I think it is in our best interest to participate in the system if we want the system to change. Like America in the Sixties, that sort of change comes with every new generation of young participants whose social ideas have evolved under compelling conditions far removed from those of an earlier time and generation. What Americans sought through Obama's election and is currently being perverted by Trump is, I believe, exactly that sort of change in progress.

Lamenting your eviction from Eden by having ate the fruit of knowledge...Adam? Is that you?

I planned a search for that paper later. I appreciate your sparing me the effort. It's a thrilling find.

According to this National Geographic article, Cambridge researchers have recently uncovered "mineralized networks of blood vessels" and "ripples" tracing the "wrinkled outer layer of the cortex" of an Iguanodon-like dinosaurs in rocks initially found in 2004 on a beach in Sussex, England. The article also describes how a "pickling" process (e.g., bodies found in bog) might have led to this improbable and unique discovery. Enjoy!

I agree, however... According to the abstract: It appears they were evaluating the effects of nicotine, which I agree should have included both positive and negative effects. However, I posted that link to contrast what I believe was an inaccurate Wiki statement regarding: Although it a much healthier alternative to other tobacco additives, nicotine does indeed pose several health risks.

Yet, nicotine does have harmful effect. From the abstract:

Perhaps he's overcompensating for something...perhaps his own sense of inferiority--it's called a Superiority Complex.

According to the MSN article, Mr. Dylan has an aversion to media...yet he has received equally publicized awards (e.g., Presidential Medal of Freedom), which he has publicly accepted. His reticence isn't easy to understand.

Still, more controversy from remarks by a Nobel academy member. According this MSN article, Swedish writer Per Wastberg says Dylan's lack of response is "impolite and arrogant." The article also says Dylan isn't the only person who has ever snubbed the academy. Apparently, Albert Einstein also failed to show for his Nobel prize in physics back in 1921. Didn't he predict he'd win and promise the proceeds of that award to his wife in a divorce or separation settlement? So, do you agree with Mr. Wastberg?

No one here can or should answer those questions, regardless of what credentials or experience he or she profess. Those questions should be directed to a mental health professional with whom you can sit and converse face-to-face. The anonymous and potentially unqualified responses and misinformed advice that you would likely received through mediums like this are explanation enough for seeking in-person professional help with someone you can personally vet and hold directly responsible for your care and treatment. I hope this helps.