The Rosetta Forum: Part III

The Rosetta Forum is an organization that aims to connect the world’s most outstanding thinkers to solve world issues. The planet is filled with extremely bright thinkers who work to solve issues such as cancer, famine, or pollution but these scholars have no avenue to get the opinions of masses. The opinions of every human are important and could spark a thought that could lead to a greater discovery.

We are passionate to connect the world to solve problems because we feel that although the world is becoming a flatter place, there needs to be one central forum where people can discuss and build off each other’s thoughts. We are unique because we allow innovative thinkers to lead discussions that will be translated into every language, which will promote collective thinking.

Anima Mundi Development should invest into Rosetta Forum because with over seven billion people in the world, there is a need for a public platform where users can express their thoughts and observe thoughts of both like-minded and different people alike. If a PHD from London posts a question asking how to cure a disease and a student from Beijing posts a hypothesis that could lead to the cure, our work is worthwhile.

This organization is taking steps towards creating a more connected and open world. We encourage Anima Mundi Development to back our cause and solve the world’s greatest problems.

The Rosetta Forum

A World We Dare To Imagine: Part 1 

I once had a dream about a website that brought people from all corners of the world together to discuss world issues and questions that have yet to be answered. I pictured this website with a blog structure where only doctors or acclaimed scholars could post questions they would like answers to. These questions could be as simple as “how would you solve world hunger?” Then, the questions would be translated into every language so people could post their responses regardless of where they’re from. Furthermore, users would choose their preferred language when signing up so they could read all posts and comment themselves.  

My vision was an open forum where the educated and uneducated could voice their opinions on a variety of topics. Who knows, maybe a farmer from South Africa or a herder from Mongolia would post something that would spark a thought for a PHD from England that could lead to cure cancer. The greatest minds of the world are constantly experiencing revelations and uncovering new information but would never share these findings unless they were to be given credit. This forum allows the greatest minds on the planet to lead an open discussion about what they believe are the most pressings questions for humankind and for average people to potentially make a difference simply by voicing their opinion for the world to hear. 

The Future Is Here

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Are we experiencing the turning point of virtual reality (VR)? That questioned is being asked by anyone that has put on a pair of Facebook’s Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles. I remember watching Sci-Fi movies as a child where the main character would put on a pair of goggles or glasses and enter an entirely new virtual world. Well, that time has come. I’ve seen a lot in my short twenty two years of life and I’m telling you this is the most eye opening thing I’ve seen in a while. Imagine being on stage at Cirque Du Soleil or on a roller coaster at Six Flags and actually feeling like you’re there. Feeling excited when the gymnast does a back flip on a suspended rope or scared as the roller coaster rises higher and higher before dropping.

Facebook purchased Oculus for $2 billion to be one of the first movers in the virtual reality sector. Their partnership with Samsung has allowed them to quickly gain distribution. Through this partnership Facebook has been able to release the Oculus Gear VR for only $100. This starter model is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy and turns your smart phone into a virtual reality headset. Following Zuckerburg’s unveiling of the Oculus Gear VR and Facebook’s partnership with Samsung, the freestanding model, Oculus Rift, is now available for purchase.  For $599, less than the price of a TV, you can purchase a portal into an ever changing virtual world. Facebook has been working to lower the price of the Oculus Rift so it’s accessible to the majority of consumers just as it strives to offer free internet to the globe. Soon the entire world will be able to access the internet, social media, and now virtual reality.  The future is here.

Genius of Money Post 3: Jacob Needleman Interview

Jacob Needleman provides insight on human nature with regard to money. Through his commentary the reader is prompted to examine “the forces affecting culture” and the relationship between money and spirituality. Money is an abstract concept. It is everything we base our society off but at the same time it is nothing more than an idea we humans have created to allow exchange to occur more seamlessly. Needleman hopes that “ownership of property could provide a base of material security necessary for pursuit of more spiritual goals.” Humans have necessities to live and once those necessities are taken care of, Needleman believes there is more opportunity to achieve higher levels of fulfillment.

This interview also further discusses the idea that passion and interests drive actions. Passions on the one hand are “violent egoistic impulses” and often lead to “social destruction” while interests have more to do with “stability, property, possessions, and bourgeois values.” Through money, our society is able to balance these driving forces. It is important for each individual to analyze his or her attitude towards money. One should not become consumed by the idea that they must gather as much money as possible. Instead, money should be used as an “instrument of love” and an “instrument of service” to allow people to find happiness within their own means.

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Chapter 1

John Bloom begins Chapter 1 by urging the reader to imagine “a world without philanthropy.” Philanthropy fuels education, research, and the arts, which further improve society. However, this progress is difficult to measure but undoubtedly important. Before money was created, all exchanges were done through the act of gifting. Then, with the introduction of money people began to focus solely on progressing themselves through monetary growth.

For a long period, philanthropy was overlooked as our society structured itself around working to improve one’s financial status. Now, we are seeing a resurgence of philanthropy as companies begin to acknowledge its importance. In Bloom’s eyes, “gifting is the most important and productive component of an economic system” in the fact that “a gift is 100% risk, while the returns on a gift are immeasurable.” Gifting and philanthropy combat the tendency to focus exclusively on monetary fulfillment and allow society to shit towards a more generous and community based society. 

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Chapter 5 

John Bloom begins Chapter 5 with a commentary on Adam Smith, an eighteenth century economist and philosopher famous for creating the economic theory known as the “invisible hand”. This idea encompasses the notion of social benefits as a result of individual actions. “Self interest” on the other hand may lead to negative results when a condition he calls “never enoughness” is present. This is an unhealthy state where the individual or single corporation excludes the interest of others for “the benefit of a few”.  Bloom notes that this critique isn’t the main focus of his commentary before proceeding to discuss a speech given by Bill Gates. 

During a speech Gates gave in Davos, he referred to Adam Smith’s teachings with regard to breakthroughs in technology. Gates stated, “the genius of capitalism lies in its ability to make self-interest serve the wider interest”. In other words, by creating a free market and using the genius of money, individuals are able to work and be rewarded for their work while contributing to the overall economy or society. With regard to technology, an individual’s creation will improve the lives of the wider community and that individual will in turn receive recognition for that contribution. 

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 begins by discussing the genius behind inventing money. Before its creation, there was no way to value an item or service except through bartering. Now, money influences the thoughts and actions of everyone since it our main driver of value. 

Bloom discusses an instance when J.S.G Boogs, a contemporary artist, had no money to pay for a meal so he drew a $20 bill on a napkin in exchange. This creates an interesting situation where if the restaurant accepts this drawing, they must return Boogs’ change in cash. Boogs has not only used his drawings for food but also rent and clothing which questions our notion of what money actually is. Technically paper money is just a drawing that we accept to have a certain value just as the digits within our bank account are accepted to have another value. Boogs questioned the notion of money by “inverting the system on itself” and we should also question our understanding of money and the decisions we make to gain more of it. 

The History Of Lacrosse

Lacrosse was originally invented as a war-game, created by the Native American Indians. It was a predominantly a male team sport where players used long netted racquets to pick up, throw, catch, and shoot a ball past a goal to score points. The main rule of the game was that the ball could not be touched by a player’s hand. Although this rule remains present in the game today, there are few other similarities. 

It’s not clear when lacrosse was created but French Jesuit missionaries working in Quebec, Canada during the 1600s were the first Europeans to see lacrosse being played by Native American Indians. Jean de Brebeuf wrote about the game and named it “lacrosse” in 1636 making it the oldest team sport in North America.

The game would be played amongst opposing tribes in open plains between their villages. Hundreds of men from each tribe were on each team. Both teams would swarm the ball making it very difficult to progress down the field.  The goals could be anywhere from 500 yards to 6 miles apart.

To start the game a ball would be thrown into the air. The teams would try to catch the ball and move it across the field towards their two respective goals (tall posts with a large figure placed on top). Hitting the post with the ball would score one point and hitting the figure on the top would score three points. Playing time would often last from sunup until sundown and generally there were no out of bounds.

Lacrosse had many purposes. Some games were a way to settle disputes between tribes. Others were played to toughen warriors for combat, for recreational purposes, traditional festivals, and for betting. Lastly, lacrosse was played for sacred reasons, to please the Creator.