Philosophical Questions: Consciousness

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

What is the benefit of consciousness from an evolutionary stand point?

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Three Weeks for Dreamwidth 2024 Question 3: Style

This year in Three Weeks for Dreamwidth, I'll be posting questions from the new 2024 questionnaire that I made. If you like the questions, feel free to follow along. You can post your answers in a comment below, or make a post in your own blog and link to it in a comment.

Question 3: How would you describe your personal style?

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Shikoku Henro

The Shikoku Henro (meaning Shikoku Pilgrimage) is a trail of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) on the island of Shikoku in Japan. Many pilgrims, or henro, still follow the trail for spiritual or recreational reasons. They often wear ceremonial regalia and carry a booklet to be stamped and calligraphed by the monks at each temple they visit. Although traditionally completed on foot, the pilgrimage often includes cars, mass-transit, or bicycles today. The standard walking course runs 750 miles (1,200 kilometres) long and takes 30-60 days to complete on foot. In honor of Kukai’s 1,250th anniversary, temples are offering special stamps and stamp booklets until December 2024.

Maryland Governor Signs “Freedom to Read Act” Into Law

Maryland Governor Signs “Freedom to Read Act” Into Law

On Thursday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) enacted HB 0785, known as the Freedom to Read Act, into law, prohibiting libraries that receive state funding from banning books. “Schools should be working to build inclusive environments that reflect the diversity of their student body and community. It is especially critical that state leaders like Governor Moore rise up for policies that foster inclusive learning when resources and supports for LGBTQI+ youth continue to be targeted by extremists across the country,” GLSEN’s Executive Director Melanie Willingham-Jagger said in a statement emailed to Truthout.

HB 0785 safeguards the autonomy of libraries that receive state funding by prohibiting the censorship of books based on the creator’s background, origin, or viewpoints, as well as partisan disapproval. The bill also ensures protection for school and public library staff who adhere to the state library standards outlined in the bill, shielding them from retaliation. Violation of these provisions could result in the loss of state funding for libraries.

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Watch "A Normal Life"

enchantedsleeper has posted about the song "A Normal Life" by Marianas Trench, which has a great cartoon video along with the lyrics.  If you fly your freak flag proudly, this song is for you.  :D  Highly recommended.

Birdfeeding

Today is sunny, breezy, and warm.  We got some rain last night, enough to leave puddles.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a flock of squabbling house finches and Nipple Squirrel. 

I checked the grass, and it seems to have dried out, so hopefully I'll get some yardwork done today.

Assorted blackbirds are roosting in the trees around the ritual meadow again.

I saw a large black wasp with a white spot on the abdomen, possibly a mason wasp.

EDIT 4/27/24 -- We got the mower going so Doug can mow the ritual meadow.  \o/

I started trimming grass around the telephone pole so I can plant more lilies there.  The sky has clouded over and is threatening rain.

EDIT 4/27/24 -- I rescued a honeybee from the foyer and got her back outside.

Doug got the ritual meadow mowed, part of what needed done in the prairie garden, and a partial path through the savanna.

I finished trimming around the telephone pole

EDIT 4/27/24 -- I planted 12 Stargazer lilies around the telephone pole.

Blackberries, alliums, and poppies have flower buds.  :D

EDIT 4/27/24 -- I used a hand rake to clear off one of the spots in the ritual meadow that needs grass seed, and sowed it with Bee Lawn Mix.

EDIT 4/27/24 -- I raked and sowed a couple of smaller spots in the ritual meadow.

It's starting to spit rain, but I don't know if anything more will come of it.

I saw a robin in a puddle at the end of the driveway.

Now it's time for supper, so I am done for the night.

Booknook Friending Meme

booknook is hosting a Friending Meme as part of Three Weeks for Dreamwidth. Place your answers in a comment under the original post, but you can copy them elsewhere if you wish, as I've done pasting mine here.

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