http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com The meaning of life according to some guy who likes TV and stuff. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:36:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2013/02/20/diary-of-a-layman-29-winter-how-to-predict-the-future-using-the-super-bowl/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2013/02/20/diary-of-a-layman-29-winter-how-to-predict-the-future-using-the-super-bowl/#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:08:49 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=2201 Those who move in spiritual circles often talk about how we are all connected, that our thoughts create our future reality, and that the universe provides us with clues about our direction in life. Personally, I look at spiritual principles as scientific rules that we just don’t understand yet. Not too long ago, the idea that people could get sick from tiny bugs they couldn’t see or that invisible waves could carry images or music was thought to be magical thinking, until science proved it to be true. So if these spiritual principles are indeed a rule of our universe, there should be a way to test and predict their occurrence. Doing this on an individual scale might prove challenging though, since one person’s thoughts may not have enough energy to make something manifest in a testable way. But what if there were an event that millions of people were focusing on, and this event inspired heated, emotionally charged thoughts that could result in only one of two possible outcomes? If only we had such an event, why, we just might be able to predict the future on a grand scale!]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2013/02/20/diary-of-a-layman-29-winter-how-to-predict-the-future-using-the-super-bowl/feed/ 8 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2013/01/23/scientific-proof-we-live-in-a-simulation/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2013/01/23/scientific-proof-we-live-in-a-simulation/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:31:59 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=2144 Back in June 2009, I wrote an article titled “Proof That We’re Living a Life of Illusion.”  In it, I provided what I felt was overwhelming evidence that we all live in some kind of computer simulation. I also offered some simple explanations as to why I thought we did. At the time, the people who are open to believing in such fantastical theories excitedly agreed with the premise, while those who rely on hard-core scientific proof, did not. Well, a funny thing’s happened in the years since I wrote that article. Scientists are beginning to see the evidence that the non-believers require. The question now is, whether those skeptics will decide to take the blue pill or the red pill? ]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2013/01/23/scientific-proof-we-live-in-a-simulation/feed/ 17 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/12/20/diary-of-a-layman-28-fall-fasten-your-safety-belt/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/12/20/diary-of-a-layman-28-fall-fasten-your-safety-belt/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 06:37:04 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=2086 There is certainly no shortage of theories about what may or may not happen on December 21. Of course, nearly all of them will turn out to be wrong. My experience has shown however, that there is one thing you can do that will likely be beneficial regardless of what’s in store for us: think positive.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/12/20/diary-of-a-layman-28-fall-fasten-your-safety-belt/feed/ 20 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/12/12/is-time-speeding-up-or-is-it-just-you/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/12/12/is-time-speeding-up-or-is-it-just-you/#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 07:34:28 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=2053 Let me guess, you don’t have time to read this right now, do you? Yes, the holiday season is always busy and yes time seems to go faster as you get older but doesn’t life seem to be moving at an even more frantic pace than usual lately? I know I’m feeling it. But I’ve been expecting this time crunch for a while now, so it may be a bit easier for me to deal with. Since I tend to be pretty sensitive about this stuff, what I wasn’t sure about was whether others would be able to pick up on it too. In the last few weeks however, I’ve heard at least fifteen different people exclaim in near shock about how fast time’s been going lately. And this without my even bringing it up! So, what’s going on? Can time really be going faster? If so, how much faster can it go before we can no longer keep up? And what then? Are we literally running out of time?]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/12/12/is-time-speeding-up-or-is-it-just-you/feed/ 14 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/07/12/why-forgiving-others-makes-life-better-for-you/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/07/12/why-forgiving-others-makes-life-better-for-you/#comments Fri, 13 Jul 2012 03:06:52 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1853 The first time I was given advice about the importance of forgiveness was at the most unlikely of places: an advertising school I was attending in Atlanta. The school had brought in speaker Joey Reiman—a very successful advertising executive who ran his own agency. Almost immediately, I could tell this man had a lot of wisdom, but it was towards the end of his presentation when something he said really resonated with me.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/07/12/why-forgiving-others-makes-life-better-for-you/feed/ 6 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/04/05/the-answer-to-everything/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/04/05/the-answer-to-everything/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:26:45 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1722 If you’ve ever wondered why we are here, this article is for you. If you’ve never wondered, some part of you has been wondering without your knowledge or else you wouldn’t be reading this now. There’s been a lot written about what life is and what we’re doing here. Some of it is very technical and philosophical. Some of it is very metaphorical and poetic. And then there is the actual answer, which we may never know. However, one truth I’ve noticed about this world is that cycles exist within cycles within cycles. Electrons swirling around a neutron are similar to our planets swirling around the sun. The shape of a leaf is indicative of the shape of the tree it came from. History repeats itself. Myths evolve over time but their basic elements all remain the same. Putting these truths together I was able to trace back to the origins of the first story and, to my shock and awe, uncovered an answer to a question I’ve been wondering for a very long time: why did the universe evolve to become so seemingly complicated? The answer, ironically enough, is incredibly simple.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2012/04/05/the-answer-to-everything/feed/ 9 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2011/05/30/diary-of-a-layman-22-spring-deciphering-hollywood%e2%80%99s-hidden-messages/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2011/05/30/diary-of-a-layman-22-spring-deciphering-hollywood%e2%80%99s-hidden-messages/#comments Mon, 30 May 2011 22:46:15 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1521 As mentioned in last quarter’s column, there have been a lot of “life-as-illusion” themed movies coming out lately. While I suspect that the success of Avatar and Lost are partly responsible for this trend, I think people’s fascination with 2012, drastic world changes, and a surge in our search for meaning are also fueling the recent string of films about alternate realities and simulated worlds. When airplanes are crashing into buildings, cities are submerged underwater, the Middle East is revolting, and the world economy is collapsing, real life almost seems more fantastical than our dreams. Jon Stewart summed it up perfectly at the 2008 Academy Awards: “Normally, when you see a black man or a woman president, an asteroid is about to hit the Statue of Liberty.” Yes, we are now officially living in the future, and we all know what kind of stuff happens in the future—exactly the kind of stuff that’s happening right now. But at least, thanks to Hollywood, we’ve been warned. And Hollywood’s heads up may even go much deeper than prophesies of events to come. They may help explain the reality we all find ourselves in.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2011/05/30/diary-of-a-layman-22-spring-deciphering-hollywood%e2%80%99s-hidden-messages/feed/ 19 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2011/03/13/diary-of-a-layman-21-winter-the-tangled-web-we-weave/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2011/03/13/diary-of-a-layman-21-winter-the-tangled-web-we-weave/#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 22:05:00 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1482 There have been a lot of “life-as-illusion” themed movies coming out lately. We’ve had Avatar, Inception, and TRON: Legacy, and this month alone there’s The Adjustment Bureau, Limitless, Sucker Punch and Source Code. All these films share themes of alternate realities, questions about what is reality, and insight into powers that might be manipulating the reality we live in. While I hope to discuss the most recent batch of these films in an upcoming column, for now I’d like to bring up one that slipped past the radar of many moviegoers. This film actually gave me goose bumps when it revealed an angle that I’ve only recently adopted, and have never before seen in any other movie. That film is Disney’s Tangled.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2011/03/13/diary-of-a-layman-21-winter-the-tangled-web-we-weave/feed/ 16 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/12/21/diary-of-a-layman-20-fall-was-jesus-a-user/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/12/21/diary-of-a-layman-20-fall-was-jesus-a-user/#comments Wed, 22 Dec 2010 03:45:03 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1460 In anticipation of TRON: Legacy, I recently re-watched a bunch of simulation-world films including The Thirteenth Floor, eXistenZ, and the original TRON, which I hadn’t seen in over twenty-five years. While I remember being somewhat confused watching the futuristic Disney film as a kid, seeing it again with new eyes, I was amazed at how clearly it expressed the “life as illusion” theme I’ve been so fascinated by as an adult. In the original movie, Jeff Bridges is considered a “user.” While Bridges often plays users in his films, in this case, it refers to a computer user who manipulates the scenarios of a digital world that is very similar to our own. In the original film, users are considered mythical, messianic figures who can help free the programs from the game they find themselves in. This got me thinking.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/12/21/diary-of-a-layman-20-fall-was-jesus-a-user/feed/ 8 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/26/lost-in-myth-%e2%80%9cthe-end%e2%80%9d/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/26/lost-in-myth-%e2%80%9cthe-end%e2%80%9d/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 01:45:19 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1388 Lost is dead. Long live Lost. And so it ends, in much the same way it began—with a close-up of Jack’s eye, staring straight up past the tall stalks of bamboo that circled the sky above. This time however, that eye would close, and with it, our six-season journey that took us right back to where we started—with questions about a mysterious show that seemed to parallel the mysteries of life. For some, the journey was far more compelling than the destination. For others, it was the perfect resolution and they can walk away feeling fulfilled. Whatever you thought about the conclusion, the one thing most viewers can agree on is that the show challenged us to think in ways we might not have otherwise. In short, Lost was a real trip. And what a long, strange trip it’s been.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/26/lost-in-myth-%e2%80%9cthe-end%e2%80%9d/feed/ 30 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/20/lost-in-myth-understanding-%e2%80%9cwhat-they-died-for%e2%80%9d/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/20/lost-in-myth-understanding-%e2%80%9cwhat-they-died-for%e2%80%9d/#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 04:27:16 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1369 In the penultimate episode of Lost, “What They Died For,” Jacob tells the surviving Losties why he chose them as candidates: “I chose you because you were all alone. You were all looking for something that you couldn’t find out there. I chose you because you needed this place as much as it needed you.” This explanation really resonated with me, on one hand because it provided a mythologically sound answer to the main question I’ve always had about Lost: why do all these characters have major issues? And having that answer provided the other reason I really liked the explanation: I immediately understood that while Jacob was addressing the remaining candidates, he was really speaking to us.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/20/lost-in-myth-understanding-%e2%80%9cwhat-they-died-for%e2%80%9d/feed/ 21 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/13/lost-in-myth-discovering-you%e2%80%99re-really-from-%e2%80%9cacross-the-sea%e2%80%9d/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/13/lost-in-myth-discovering-you%e2%80%99re-really-from-%e2%80%9cacross-the-sea%e2%80%9d/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 17:38:54 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1345 In “Across the Sea,” Lost finally gives us the origins story for Jacob and the Man In Black. The episode was pure, 100% mythology. Those who watched the episode based on the surface story alone were probably disappointed. Let’s face it, taken literally, myths are silly: talking snakes, little boys defeating giants, jealous gods, immaculate conceptions, mortals with superpowers, a sword stuck in a stone, the Force, Never Never Land, Wonderland, Oz, the Matrix, the Island. On the surface, all myths seem like children’s stories. It’s only when we dig deeper that we find the truth worthy of a wise old soul—a soul that knows where it really came from.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/05/13/lost-in-myth-discovering-you%e2%80%99re-really-from-%e2%80%9cacross-the-sea%e2%80%9d/feed/ 40 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/04/15/lost-in-myth-everybody-loves-answers/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/04/15/lost-in-myth-everybody-loves-answers/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 06:28:59 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1295 In Lost’s “Everybody Loves Hugo,” Richard complains that Jacob “never tells us what to do.” Richard’s frustration echoes clearly into our world. For most of us, Jacob, aka God, never seems to tell us what to do. He just sits back and lets us make our own mistakes, leading to countless horrors and suffering. For many, this is a major argument as to why there is no God. Yet, when watching Lost, we see that Jacob does in fact tell the Losties what to do—sometimes directly, sometimes through his lists or clues, and sometimes through messages that he passes on through his emissaries. But certainly this doesn’t happen in our world. Here, there are no ghosts of Michaels past, otherworldly whispers, or visits from dimension-hopping Desmonds to guide us on our journey through life. Or…is there?]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/04/15/lost-in-myth-everybody-loves-answers/feed/ 3 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/04/01/lost-in-myth-unwrapping-the-package/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/04/01/lost-in-myth-unwrapping-the-package/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:08:17 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1268 In “The Package” Jin is distraught over having his $25,000 confiscated at the airport, Sun is panicked that her lavish bank account was emptied by her father, Widmore is angry that events aren’t going according to plan, and Desmond didn’t seem particularly happy about being drugged, stuffed in a sub, and brought back to the island. But if there’s anything that life and Lost teach us, it’s that our plans aren’t always in our own best interest. They say that man plans and God laughs. The question is, is God laughing with us, or at us?]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/04/01/lost-in-myth-unwrapping-the-package/feed/ 3 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/03/27/diary-of-a-layman-17-winter-the-hero%e2%80%99s-journey/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/03/27/diary-of-a-layman-17-winter-the-hero%e2%80%99s-journey/#comments Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:27:55 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1227 Just like any story, your life story is filled with twists and turns, an array of interesting characters, moments of bliss and despair, of success and failure, of challenges that will help you grow, and questions that will cause you to wonder. Among the cast of characters there will be love-interests, villains, tricksters, mavericks and mentors. There will be many friends and enemies, and millions of extras. However, there will only be one hero. That hero, is you.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/03/27/diary-of-a-layman-17-winter-the-hero%e2%80%99s-journey/feed/ 4 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/03/04/lost-in-myth-%e2%80%9csundown%e2%80%9d%e2%80%94temptation-of-the-dark-side/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/03/04/lost-in-myth-%e2%80%9csundown%e2%80%9d%e2%80%94temptation-of-the-dark-side/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:16:52 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=1156 Whereas “Lighthouse” was all about our enlightenment, “Sundown” explored our dark side—temptation. “I can see her lying back in her satin dress in a room where you do what you don’t confess,” sang Gordon Lightfoot in his 1974 hit “Sundown.” The song is all about succumbing to temptation, hence once again revealing the double entendre that the Lost writers are so fond of using in their episode titles. When the sun goes down, man gets tempted by the dark. Why a “satin” dress? Sounds like Satan, don’t it?]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2010/03/04/lost-in-myth-%e2%80%9csundown%e2%80%9d%e2%80%94temptation-of-the-dark-side/feed/ 6 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/09/15/diary-of-a-layman-15-summer-are-we-the-bad-guys/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/09/15/diary-of-a-layman-15-summer-are-we-the-bad-guys/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:00:49 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=544 Nobody deserves to suffer. But perhaps we could all use some challenging times to help us grow so we might reach the next level. Maybe the universe is just breaking us down so we can be mended, nudging us towards a more united world. Perhaps this is all preparing us for whatever is to come in 2012 or beyond—the challenges that we may not be ready for now, but after several more beatings will be tough enough to handle. Let’s face it; we’ve become soft, spoiled, greedy, selfish, and lazy. We are just like the pompous Roman rulers before the fall of their empire or the snooty noble class before the French Revolution. In effect, we have become the bad guys.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/09/15/diary-of-a-layman-15-summer-are-we-the-bad-guys/feed/ 0 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/05/14/lost-in-myth-the-incident-having-faith-in-jacob-and-lost/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/05/14/lost-in-myth-the-incident-having-faith-in-jacob-and-lost/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 04:00:06 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=265 Just as how the Others blindly follow Jacob, we Lost fans have invested five years of our lives blindly following a TV show that has become increasingly intricate. Will our commitment be worth it in the end? Those of us who have faith have stuck with it, but we’ve lost a lot of former believers along the way. What if the series finale is a disappointment and leaves many of the major questions unanswered? Will we question our blind faith in a show that we hoped would give us answers to its convoluted storyline, and beyond? Hopefully we won’t get to that point, but I have some thoughts just in case we do.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/05/14/lost-in-myth-the-incident-having-faith-in-jacob-and-lost/feed/ 0 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/04/16/lost-in-myth-some-like-it-hoth%e2%80%94tv-as-psychotherapist/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/04/16/lost-in-myth-some-like-it-hoth%e2%80%94tv-as-psychotherapist/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:00:34 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=229 If you’ve read my writings about Lost, you probably know that I believe it’s more than just a show: Lost contains hidden messages about how the world really works. That’s right, I sincerely believe that a TV series is giving us clues that can help us understand the mysteries of life. Well, if that were true, shouldn’t Lost include this little tidbit within its own mythology? Shouldn’t it demonstrate how the media can provide answers to our own life challenges so that we’ll know to look there to find them? Yes, I believe it should, and to be honest, I’ve been wondering if it was ever going to do so. In “Some Like It Hoth,” I finally received my answer.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/04/16/lost-in-myth-some-like-it-hoth%e2%80%94tv-as-psychotherapist/feed/ 0 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/04/02/lost-in-myth-whatever-happened-happened%e2%80%94figuring-out-your-destiny-from-lost-and-life/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/04/02/lost-in-myth-whatever-happened-happened%e2%80%94figuring-out-your-destiny-from-lost-and-life/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:00:24 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=205 Before I go to sleep at night, sometimes I ask the universe a question about my destiny. The answer, as bizarre as it may seem, usually comes in the form of a song that wakes me up on my clock radio the next morning. While I haven’t done this in awhile, last night I once again had the urge. I asked the universe (God, the light, soul guides, my future self, whatever you wanna call it) what is going to happen on December 22, 2012—the day after the Mayan calendar abruptly ends. The answer I received really surprised me.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/04/02/lost-in-myth-whatever-happened-happened%e2%80%94figuring-out-your-destiny-from-lost-and-life/feed/ 0 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/03/19/lost-in-myth-the-karma-of-namaste/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/03/19/lost-in-myth-the-karma-of-namaste/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:00:05 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=171 As you’ve probably noticed, the title of a Lost episode often hints at more than just the episode’s story on a surface level. Many times, it provides a clue to its mythological messages as well. This was true of “316,” of “LaFleur,”* and now of “Namaste.” While Buddhist/Hindu principles pop up in Lost every so often, I was hoping that they might be a major theme of this episode due to its title, and I was not disappointed.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/03/19/lost-in-myth-the-karma-of-namaste/feed/ 1 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/02/21/lost-in-myth-lost-316-on-leaps-of-faith-the-cycle-of-life/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/02/21/lost-in-myth-lost-316-on-leaps-of-faith-the-cycle-of-life/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:00:46 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=131 The concept of taking a leap of faith has been covered many times on Lost. Locke had told Jack that he was taking a leap of faith by pressing the button; Hurley took a leap of faith by risking his life with Charlie to get the DHARMA van started as it sped down a hill; and in the episode titled, “316,” the theme shows up throughout. In fact, the title itself should’ve been the first tip-off.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/02/21/lost-in-myth-lost-316-on-leaps-of-faith-the-cycle-of-life/feed/ 6 http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/02/12/lost-in-myth-lost-on-fate-versus-freedom-of-choice/ http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/02/12/lost-in-myth-lost-on-fate-versus-freedom-of-choice/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:00:47 +0000 The Layman http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/?p=116 While most mythological stories explore at least one or two truths about the way our world works, Lost is unique in that it explores hundreds of them. It’s almost as if Lost is a spiritual guidebook to life. While I sometimes joke around about it, I’m beginning to truly believe that fans of the show will be better equipped to handle the strange new world we are going to inherit in the upcoming years. Whether consciously or subconsciously, it is almost as if Lost is training us to be able to mentally handle the future. The Good Book says that the meek shall inherit the earth. Perhaps it was referring to Lost geeks.]]> http://thelaymansanswerstoeverything.com/2009/02/12/lost-in-myth-lost-on-fate-versus-freedom-of-choice/feed/ 1