A Human Being Should Be Able To….

A human being should be able to
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A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” – Heinlein, The Notebooks of Lazarus Long

Robert Heinlein (1907 – 1988) was an American science fiction writer considered as one of the first science fiction writers who broke into mainstream magazines. He, Isaac Asimov and Arthur Clarke are often described as the “Big Three” of science fiction authors.

The quote above comes from Heinlein’s selection of aphorisms, “The Notebooks of Lazarus Long” which were originally published as two intermissions in the 1973 novel “Time Enough for Love.”

The aphorisms portray Lazarus’ philosophical, humorous, and sometimes quirky thoughts on social themes. Having lived for more than two thousand years, making him the oldest living human, he no longer finds life worth living. He only agrees not to end his life for as long as his companion Ira Weatherall will listen to his tales that are actually revealed as his life story.

Although his science fiction stories render vibrant imaginations of time travel and unearthly technologies, he also repeatedly addressed social themes. He provided a social backdrop to his stories, maintaining the humanity of his characters despite the futuristic elements that come into play. His characters also exhibit non-conformist beliefs and attitude to the extent of being morally questionable. He demands his readers to think and question existing cultural beliefs and morality.

In 1974, the Science Fiction Writers of American named Heinlein its first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master. He also won Hugo Awards for four of his novels, and was nominated for four Nebula Awards. And in 1998, he was inducted in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

😳 What Tinnitus Does To Your Brain Cells (And How To Stop It)

After 47 years of studies and countless brain scans done on more than 2,400 tinnitus patients, scientists at the MIT Institute found that in a shocking 96% of cases, tinnitus was actually shrinking their brain cells.

As it turns out, tinnitus and brain health are strongly linked.

Even more interesting: The reason why top army officials are not deaf after decades of hearing machine guns, bombs going off and helicopter noises…

Is because they are using something called "the wire method", a simple protocol inspired by a classified surgery on deaf people from the 1950s...

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