Todd's Question, in relation to the concept of Temptation and the art which Eli posted for us to enjoy and consider, is this:

'What do you think of my first post, where I'm saying that sometimes we create temptations to distract ourselves (for many and varied reasons)?'

I first was exposed to those temptations in science several years back. We have things which we know are true because they are confirmed and previously tested hypotheses, we have those things which we infer from available data which SEEM to be correct based on what we know, and those things which are PROBABLY TRUE, but we can gather no further data without additional investigation down lines which we may not understand. The data may be staring us straight in the face, yet we ignore it based upon our own misconceptions and biases which are their own forms of temptations created.

I was asked to write a chapter for a USGS Survey Bulletin regarding Advances in Industrial Minerals Research a few years ago, taking ideas from my own physical analyses and chemical analyses and attempts to come up with correlations between the two so that my readers could better understand the nature of the analyses and their importance in the overall process of road aggregate testing and selection.
I knew the correlations that I had discovered had never been found before, and needed to be reported in the general subject literature. Once the underlying WHY of how particular minerals reacted as they do in asphalt in long-term performance settings became known, what had been thought of as probable was thrown out. i had to have the initial comparisons to come up with testable hypotheses. Those hypotheses were then refined even further before the final project was completed.

And, true to the intent of a scientific investigation, I ended up with 6 additional questions which need to be answered. Perhaps at some point in the future when i attain some more funding, I'll go after those questions, but for now........



now, let's apply this same time of thinking to PEOPLE. This may be a failing of mine as a scientist, but I'm stating my bias up front here.

Women in general, men in general- - - ALL have their own physical, emotional, and personal characteristics and/or peculiarities that affect how I perceive them. These are MY person- to person biases. I apoloize to anyone who feels slighted by those biases, it's not how they're intended, it's merely my own preferences among the myriads of choices that other people and Goddesses place in my path.

I only seek truth in relationships - but to achieve truth, one must be up front and willing to give it freely also

I feel it to be my moral imperative to benefit others with my aid where necessary. If you are the recipient of my aid, no repayment is required nor requested. I merely ask that you give of your time to someone who needs it.

But above all, I hold it absolutely necessary that we all learn to love one another, and to give our best on a daily basis. For THAT is how the world will eventually untite, advance, and become closer together, in my opinion.

I only wish to be a Peacemaker, let me pursue that in my search for enlightenment and love.