Mindfulness, a meditation technique in both Buddhism and Hinduism (and recommended widely in western psychological practice), is a widely misunderstood practice. It is simply the practice of "watching one's mind". "Happy", like "sad", "depressed", etc., is a feeling that comes from one's mind. Eventually, one realizes that the mind *is* the problem. (Well, the "gross" level of the "mind" is another way of putting it.) One then learns that ignoring that gross level of the mind is the next step in the process. That step results in the gross level of the mind eventually "wearing off" like mud on one's skin or silt settling in a glass of water. So, "Happy", "sad", etc., is then realized to be a part of that gross level of the mind. Mindfulness need not have all the religious or psychological trappings, but they also make people relatively happy in the meantime so perhaps the devotional techniques can be helpful. (I couldn't get into that stuff, but that's just me.) All the other stuff people do prior to learning the above is just relatively-"blind" people looking for help, which oddly is very hard to find.

Where are my mod points when I NEED them? This^(googleplex). There is a HUGE gap between the basic intros and actual useful (soph, junior & senior level courses) information. In fact, this is probably what is holding back ANY info. "revolution". Until then, there are no truly useful answers in the crowd.

Ah, well. My new definition of "God": Anything that is not ME. (The definition of "ME" is still under construction.)

Ah, apparently I have been saving this for YOU. SEE YA! lol

Is reading SFF is a factor in the SFF Movie Industry producers such as yourselves? If so, what Science Fiction or Fantasy are you reading right now? Or What has been, so far, your favorite SFF book? And (Or) who is your favorite SFF author? Thanks for the great memories of watching your stuff the first time.

Isn't this the place that hates Anonymous Cowards?

Oh, NO! That "giant load off his back" means he's experiencing weightlessness which means he stowed away on the capssule! Abort! Abort! (Grats!)

Don't travel abroad if License Plate Scanning bothers you. Google it, boys. Most countries now do it on all their borders, in the least. Users (countries) don't always advertise it but the makers of License Plate Scanning systems are all over the web. You guys need to travel more. Welcome to the rest of the world.

I think learning SHOULD be more like RPG's. The step by step approach in MMORPG's keeps me going. :) At least for the first few years of a subject. There used to be a reading program like that back in the 60's for 10-11 year olds in Ohio that used short stories. (don't remember the name) It had a range of reading comprehension where the level of comprehension was color-coded. I was SO worked up to become a PURPLE reader.

Your reply leads me to suspect that you probably have never stepped foot out of your own city, much less country. You have no idea how few rights people in most of the world have and how repressive the governments of countries like Pakistan, China, Iran, etc., are. I have to just laugh at your real ignorance of the rest of the world's situation. While the US has its problems, reporters aren't being shot down in "broad daylight" as in Brazil, Mexico, etc. I really do suggest you go spend a few years in just about any country not in NATO. Heck, even Europe is quite a bit more repressive than the US. Mouth-off to an EU policeman and he or SHE will beat the living crap out of you in public with no fear of reprisal. So, walk down the street when you want, yelling your hatred, and feel safe. This is the ONLY country (so far) in you can fairly safely do that. Go ahead. And have a nice day.

No, really. You should move. Besides it clearing the air considerably here, you really do need to go see that if you spout that silliness in a non-NATO country (and also IN some NATO countries) that you will not need a fair trial because the local police or military will have killed you in plain site of everyone. And all the witnesses will just walk away. It's sad, but true. So, good luck.