Where does humanity stand if we were to be judged right now?

There is really no such thing as a level playing field when it comes to life, when so much of the world is living at a different standard than that of the modern world, people need to wake up and realize that that the world does not revolve around them and there are those that are in need, we as a species need to realize this and reach out to those that are less fortunate than we are. With the division of wealth and even knowledge so unevenly distributed throughout the world, the divisions can be quite easily seen and so there may be more, three classes or levels are distinguishable.

The first level is just the most basic of needs, while standards vary quite a bit when it comes to the locations around the world, this usually entails shelter, clean water, and food. Usually in that order, it is much like if you were to find yourself stranded in the wilderness, to survive when you know that you will be spending at least the night if not more, the three requirements usually come in that order, even more so when the climate is more extreme either one way [freezing tundra] or the other [scorching desert]. Thus I would say this is the first or the base level of human existence.

Next is where most of the modern world is currently at, where the base needs have been taken care of and the goals now aim higher, you choose to live with certain luxuries, be it television, Internet, cell phone, ect. At this stage many seek to satisfy their wants instead of worrying about their needs, raising children and making sure they have a better life then you did. A large majority of the people in this category will never go beyond this level, because they do not need nor do they care to reach beyond their comfort zone.

Finally there are the odd balls, the pioneers, the mavericks, those that seek change to the status quo, whether it be though science, engineering, medicine or you just happen to have a couple billion dollars and just retired to become a full time philanthropist. This is where you have seen beyond yourself and seek to reach out to help others, and no it does not take billions of dollars and a name known around the world to do this, [although it probably does help], there are simple ways such as joining the peace corps, or some other volunteer organization, but with more expertise come more opportunities and the ability to help more people. The Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors without Borders save countless lives as they come into 3rd world counties desperately in need of medical expertise and provide invaluable services for no charge. Thus as an engineer and in the same spirit of seeking to help others I found and joined Engineers without Borders, a similarly inspired organization, a group that goes and does the engineering work as well as help actually build projects that help others in need whether it be a water pipeline providing clean drinking water for thousands, a bridge to connect a village to the world so they can trade with their neighbors, or a school for children to learn so they can have a brighter future. Yet the point is not to say that any single person can not make a difference in the world, in reality anyone who as already meet their own basic needs, has the capability to help others.

So while now in the modern world going on a spiritual quest such as ones under taken by monks or many religious figures such as Siddhartha Gautama, later the Buddha, or Moses; is far harder to do - it is not impossible. Perhaps that is why backpacking trips are so popular among youth usually right out of college, they go to seek not only knowledge but to understand other cultures [hopefully, now while whether they actually find what they are looking for is another story]. Seeking to help others sometimes does take a push, usually most do not see the need to go above and beyond what is before them, sometimes it takes a disaster to invoke the heart to reach out, but as the world currently stands it is easy seen that these bouts of help are not enough to change what is and should be considered to be a permanent disaster, a billion people without clean water to drink, many starving never reaching their prime, devastating diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS running rampade. If humanity where to be judged by it's weakest link, the poorest, and the most in need, we would be seen as a incompassionate, selfish, and corrupt species, as those in position to help others just don't care, content in enjoying their own luxuries, and those that should be serving the people in those poor countries, many enjoying luxuries beyond anything the people they are serving could ever hope to achieve.

What is perhaps the most depressing this is that when there are about 6.7 billion people on the planet, more then 1 billion, nearly 1/6th of the world's population does not have access to clean water. So while it is great that there are goals such as the UN Millennium Development Goals; goals without action mean nothing, it takes money and people with the drive to make a change to the status quo to solve this problem, and this problem is not solved through just giving the local governments money, because as history has shown in third world countries this does next to nothing as most of the time the corruption from the lowest level all the way up either squanders or pockets the money so by the time it reaches the people (if ever) what may have been hundreds of thousands or more has trickled down to next to nothing. Action needs to be taken, no just on the giving side, but those receiving need to participate as well, lets take a water pipeline as an example, there are quite a few instances where water pipe lines have been built and never used only to fall into disrepair. The people of a village will be unlikely to use something they have no knowledge of, and something built by the government or perhaps a foreign organization without their participation is basically useless, because not only would the people be wary of using it, even if they were to take advantage of the resource, without the knowledge of how it operates or the training to maintain such a resource, when it eventually breaks down, it will just be another piece of trash sitting there. When building a project, such as the way EWB does, the community is involved, the EWB chapter does the engineering and design work, while teaching the people how to build and thus maintain the project, so that we the group finishes and leaves, the community will be able to continue using and maintaining the project, this way not only does this teach the people of the community how to maintain said project, it gives them a sense of entitlement because it is theirs, they built the project it is not some government project put there, this is something that they own and will use because they built it with their own sweat and blood. A good way of thinking about a project, whether it be a school house or water pipeline, is it takes three pillars that enable a project to stand and become reality: money/supplies, design and labor, an EWB chapter provides the first two, the community provides the latter, in other words EWB in a way enables the community to help themselves, through teach them how and provide the supplies and know-how on what do to, they are able to complete the project providing a sense of entitlement.

So how would be stand if we were to be put on trial? how would we fare when compared to what we as a race has done not only to the earth, but to each other? Perhaps there needs to be a catalyst for the rest of the world to be galvanized into action, while yes goals such as the UN millennium development goals are great we as the people need to stand up and take action; or rather we as humanity need to take action.

On my bookmark toolbar . . .

Here are the websites that I have bookmarked and follow regularly;

Penny-Arcade : perhaps one of the most popular webcomic on video game related satire

xkcd : one of my favorites, written by Randall Munroe (who has worked for NASA and has a degree in physics pretty smart and funny at the same time) I love the label :

Warning: this comic occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors).

Red vs Blue : the guys that are famous for there Red vs Blue series machinima that is made from the Halo video game.

Questionable Content : a webcomic about indie music and cultural satire it is very entertaining

Weregeek : the dark and unwashed underbelly of the geek world, delve deeper than you have gone before, in the worlds of D&D, WOW, and other geek laden games, tabletop and otherwise in this entertaining webcomic.

MegaTokyo : a webcomic that follows the adventures of two gamers as they escape E3 only find themselves stranded in Japan and they discover that their adventures have just started.

TokyoMango : this is for my Japan fix, a blog about the quirky and interesting world that is Japanese culture, a hodgepodge of various things Japan.

WaiterRant : a blog about the truth in the restaurant industry, as a waiter entertainingly rants about the antics that happen in an upscale restaurant.

Snake Eyes Videos : Finally here is where I get my anime fix, it is a great site, with many of the most popular of the animes subbed in English and so it is easy to consume, with an active community and uploaders this is a must for anime fans.

EDIT : it seems that snake eyes videos has been taken down, by the provider.
RE-EDIT : they now have a new site up, the site has a link that leads there.

Randy Pausch you have inspired millions

The Last Lecture, Achieving your childhood dreams, is perhaps the most watched lecture in the world, just on youtube there has been nearly 4.5 million views of your famous lecture, thus you really have inspired millions. Your legacy will not only live on in the projects that you have started and the students you have taught, but in the people you have inspired and the futures they have opened up to them. So while the lecture may have been a double headfake for us and a message for your children in the future, you have taught us to see the the world in a different light and changed the future in just a small way, inspiration is the fuel for the dreams of the heart, and you have been the spark for all the people you have touched - a push in the direction they have always wanted to go but yet to take that first step. Randy Pausch, may you rest in peace.

After the 4th

Back from the Fourth of July break, it has been a while since I have been home and it was good to go back if only for a few days, now back in Pullman it is again to classes and work. Although even in the short time back I'm already making new friends, I just love how social networking happens in life, today was random and really fun. Tomorrow it is off to class, after which homework, then a block of work, finally chill out with some rock climbing at the climbing wall at the ORC. Stats 370 is going ok, as long as I keep on top of homework most things seem to work out.