what do you want for christmas?

[victor003]

I want to get a new Telescope and iMac. I like
http://www.dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=63719
http://www.onsale.com/shop/detail.as...9&store=onsale
I am so excite for them.
what do you want for christmas?

[Maksutov]

World peace and an end to hunger, disease, overpopulation, and superstition.

Basic human rights being universally respected and protected.

Education for all. The return of liberal educations, with an emphasis on critical thinking.

Scientific endeavors being given top priority by governments.

Other than that, not much.


BTW, such wants aren't limited to 12-25, but are applicable all year long.

[AndreH]

World peace and an end to hunger, disease, overpopulation, and superstition.

Basic human rights being universally respected and protected.

Education for all. The return of liberal educations, with an emphasis on critical thinking.

Scientific endeavors being given top priority by governments.

Other than that, not much.


BTW, such wants aren't limited to 12-25, but are applicable all year long.

Well said.
But I have to apologise, I am a little more selfish. I'd like to win the 43 Million Euro jackpot in the German State Lottery today! (Lottery prices are tax free in Germany). I will apply for a flight to the ISS tomorrow than....

[farmerjumperdon]

If someone doesn't get me a USB turntable, I'm going to get it myself. Dying to digitize some of the more obscure items in my stacks of wax. Haven't listened to some of them in over a decade.

[mfumbesi]

A million dollars will do for me.

[Swift]

A hippopotamus and my two front teeth.

[Nadme]

For two "friends" of mine to get a good, old-fashioned comeuppance [read: kick in the buttocks/rude wake-up call]. Before they ruin everything for everyone involved with their "venture."

[Doodler]

World peace and an end to hunger, disease, overpopulation, and superstition.

Basic human rights being universally respected and protected.

/yawn

That sentiment is as worn out as some of the more dreary Christmas carols. Doe-eyed idealism paralyzed in the face of reality's headlights.

How can you respect the rights of all human beings and have both superstition and violence purged from the world? Wouldn't that require a significant modification to almost every human culture existing right now? That's hardly respectful if you intend to tell everyone they're not living the "right" way, as you see it, is it? To purge superstition, you'd have to dictate beliefs to people, which would contradict their right to believe what they want. To purge violence, you would have to dictate how other cultures choose to relate to each other, which again, tramples their right to choose their own destiny.

I find it funny to hear those sentiments uttered by people who would accomplish those goals by utterly contradictory means.

The irony is hysterical.

[Moose]

I would submit the key word in "basic human rights" is "basic". Religious adherence and superstitious belief is probably not a basic right, but a complex one.

As for violence, the right to self-determination doesn't include the choice to deprive another of an even more basic right.

But this is getting massively (and rudely, IMO) off topic, and I'd suggest such a discussion belongs elsewhere (if such a political discussion belongs on BAUT at all.)

[Moose]

There really isn't anything I want for Christmas. Nothing specifically tangible, anyway.

A bit of relief from the day-to-day stress, perhaps in the form of financial security, would be nice. I'd love to be a bit freer to pursue some of my dreams rather than slog along from pay to pay like I am now. A better world than the one I saw last year would be nicer.

It's hard to top the gifts I got last June: Kaylee and Zoe. They've been wonderful little pests.

[mike alexander]

Aw, Doodler, as the Kaiser said of the King, must you always pee in the soup?

Since this is wish-fulfillment: Ever since I saw the picture of Edwin Hubble sitting in it as a young man (me, not Hubble), I've wanted to spend a night in the prime focus cage of the Hale telescope at Palomar. Me, some eyepieces, an open line to the operator.

[torque of the town]

That sentiment is as worn out as some of the more dreary Christmas carols. Doe-eyed idealism paralyzed in the face of reality's headlights.




Yep, even Coke only ran with it the once and that was back in the 70s.

[Kaptain K]

The irony is hysterical.

And the hysteria is ironic!

[farmerjumperdon]

Wouldn't that require a significant modification to almost every human culture existing right now?

I'm down with that. Let's call it cultural lobotomy.

Somebody will have to make the call. I suggest it be me.

[CodeSlinger]

Services of a good wedding planner. My fiancee and I are ready to get married, but just thinking about planning the wedding gives us migraines. Vegas is looking pretty good right about now...

[Doodler]

Services of a good wedding planner. My fiancee and I are ready to get married, but just thinking about planning the wedding gives us migraines. Vegas is looking pretty good right about now...

Time it between the 6th and the 11th and I'll be in town as a witness...provided I'm sober, anyway...

[Swift]

Services of a good wedding planner. My fiancee and I are ready to get married, but just thinking about planning the wedding gives us migraines. Vegas is looking pretty good right about now...

If looking for advice, you might want to start a seperate thread, but don't over-think or over-work it. It is, ultimately, just one day. Don't let it get blown out of proportion (and yes, I'm happily married).

[Frog march]

I'm down with that. Let's call it cultural lobotomy.

Somebody will have to make the call. I suggest it be me.

atheism is the dried up riverbed, waiting for the rain.

[The_Radiation_Specialist]

/yawn

That sentiment is as worn out as some of the more dreary Christmas carols. Doe-eyed idealism paralyzed in the face of reality's headlights.

How can you respect the rights of all human beings and have both superstition and violence purged from the world? Wouldn't that require a significant modification to almost every human culture existing right now? That's hardly respectful if you intend to tell everyone they're not living the "right" way, as you see it, is it? To purge superstition, you'd have to dictate beliefs to people, which would contradict their right to believe what they want. To purge violence, you would have to dictate how other cultures choose to relate to each other, which again, tramples their right to choose their own destiny.

I find it funny to hear those sentiments uttered by people who would accomplish those goals by utterly contradictory means.

The irony is hysterical.

There is a strong correlation between a high standard of living and education, and a lack of superstition, which you fail to take into account. And also, protecting human rights does not mean letting people do whatever they want to each other. Slavery has been virtually eliminated worldwide in the last centuries, thanks to cultural modification and a change in views. Women and people of other races have been successfully given equal rights in most developed and developing countries, in the past decades. So contrary to your belief, the world has and can be changed for the better.

Back to the topic, I would like some cool electronic gadgets and to spend some good time with friends.

[HenrikOlsen]

Slavery has been virtually eliminated worldwide in the last centuries, thanks to cultural modification and a change in views.

Adjust this one to "most governments pay at least lipservice to the abolishment of slavery" and you'd be more accurate.

[Doodler]

There is a strong correlation between a high standard of living and education, and a lack of superstition, which you fail to take into account.

Two words: Intelligent Design...

Slavery has been virtually eliminated worldwide in the last centuries, thanks to cultural modification and a change in views.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery...porary_slavery

Yup, got me there...

[KaiYeves]

World peace and an end to hunger, disease, overpopulation, and superstition.
Basic human rights being universally respected and protected.
Education for all. The return of liberal educations, with an emphasis on critical thinking.
Scientific endeavors being given top priority by governments.

All of that, plus that humanity can learn to live in harmony with the environment.
And a real signal from aliens for SETI.
For myself, in my house we have a rule of only three physical gifts, and I have decided on two:
1) Cosmos DVD set, 2005 edition.
2) An orange in my sneaker if I leave it under the Christmas tree.
I haven't thought of a third one yet.

[MentalAvenger]

Celestron CGE 1400 Schmidt-Cassegrain with StarBright XLT Coatings - FASTAR Compatible

[antoniseb]

atheism is the dried up riverbed, waiting for the rain.

This is not the only post that was over the line as far as religion goes, but I think it is the most obvious.

No warnings, but one closed thread.