Live Chat On-Line

Independent has set up a live world-wide chat server for Baha'is and friends. You may download the chat client X-Press here and talk your head off 24/7. This service may provide a more instant means to discuss anything on your minds than forum posts provide. The author will keep an eye on this unmoderated live chat, in case anybody wants to chat with me. Here are some X-Press faqs.

Story Updates

Time for fun follow-up on some hot Independent stories.

In Search of Ruhi May 3, 2010

...the work of the Ruhi Institute has gained ... some sort of endorsement or approval by the Baha'i Administration as claimed by Mr. Anonymous...

"Mr. Anonymous" is the person who wrote statements on Ruhi web pages without identifying him/herself, such as "The Ruhi Institute curriculum has been adopted by the Baha'i World Centre..." Independent could not find any collaboration of that sort of official endorsement, until the 2010 Ridvan letter from The Universal House of Justice (UHJ) which refers to "Ruhi Institute" at least three times.

Build a Central Bank in Your Kitchen

Do-it-yourself projects can save a lot of money. By this criterion, building your own central bank (CB) is the ultimate money saver, regardless of your skill set, with readily available ingredients in your own home. Key concepts of money presented previously in Independent articles are summarized, providing background and step-by-step instructions to build your own CB. Fig. 1 lists some CB attributes and indicates that CBs come in two types: evil and good.

Fig. 1: Central Bank Types

Civil War U.S.A.

Recent developments suggest signs that the Second Civil War in the United States has already begun. In this follow-up of the last Independent article on "Story Updates", some of these signs and their consequences will be examined. These consequences will likely be international. Hence, these developments merit world-wide attention.

Unlike the first Civil War in the U.S. where northern states fought with southern states, the Second Civil War portends to pit the U.S. federal government against virtually all states in the "union". These signs may be reviewed in two parts: (1) fundamental disputes between the Feds and the States and (2) escalation of the ongoing armed conflict.

Making Straight A's

Making straight A's is a do-it-yourself project for students from high school through college and into post-graduate programs. The proven method presented generally can raise grade point averages by about two points -- e.g., from D to B, from C to A and from B to best in class (arrows in Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Class Grade Distribution

This article describes the method for making all A's, starting with motivational factors and simple learning principles, which suggested the successful 1964 prototype used by the author at the University of Chicago (me in Fig. 1) and finally, the more recent, stream-lined recipe for straight A's.

Did DARPA rip off Keene on Neural Network Learning AI?

Abstract
In about 1988, James J Keene sent detailed information to DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) on his invention of the "intron", perhaps the first AI algorithm based on Neural Network Learning. The story developed like something from a spy novel leading to Nobel prizes awarded to others and billion-dollar companies.

Fig. 1: Simplified Intron Concept

Rise of the Baha'i Think Tanks

[Updated: Sep 2, 2024]
Throughout the history of the Baha'i Faith from 1844, individual writers have performed as "reporters" or "journalists". They produced news items of upcoming events to books recording the history and teachings of the new religion. In the last 50 years, Baha'i think tanks have emerged, encouraged by the highest Baha'i administrative unit -- the Universal House of Justice (UHJ). A think tank may be defined as an organization of multiple persons collaborating to conduct investigative journalism including news reporting, analysis of events, research and editorial opinion. To start conversations about the rise of Baha'i think tanks, a selected list of these efforts is presented chronologically. Interesting features of this phenomenon are discussed.

Is Baha'i Review In Hospice Care?

[Updated Jan. 25, 2024]

Abstract and Introduction
Sources report US Baha'i Review has failed to function according to one or all 1971 Universal House of Justice (UHJ) guidelines requiring (1) prompt review, (2) correct information and (3) dignified presentation. Associated ethical issues surpass the question of possible censorship and include basic questions about justice, integrity and honesty. Why is Baha'i Review becoming a failed policy and process? How should Baha'i Review policy develop to become a useful tool?

The Secret Plan Of Shoghi Effendi To End The Guardianship With His Ministry

Editor's note: Shoghi Effendi served as Guardian of the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957.

Abstract
One of the greatest, if not the greatest, achievement of Shoghi Effendi may be ending the institution of the Guardianship with his ministry. Even after over half century, his carefully planned, multi-decade effort continues to "play" observers and critics who portray its components as failings. Thus, he has yet to receive full credit for his complete success in achieving his objective. Imagine if he had failed and there was a "Guardian" poking around possibly throwing monkey wrenches into the workings of the present Universal House of Justice (UHJ). This article presents two competing theories: (1) success of the secret plan of Shoghi Effendi versus (2) failure of Shoghi Effendi as Guardian of the Baha'i Faith.

Baha'i Themes Book Series

Baha'i Themes book series by James J Keene

Justice Book: Some Baha'i Teachings on Human Development
Justice Book presents the "big picture" of the world today with important Baha'i teachings on human development. The Baha'i writings may serve as a survival manual and an adventure story. 16 new tables and flow charts illustrate key points and processes in this "justice made simple" cook-book.

Blog Readers Vote

Free Poll for the Baha'i Community: Having done nothing on this Independent Investigation of Truth blog for almost a decade, I thought it might be interesting to rank the articles by number of pageviews. The results might be interpreted as a poll of what topics interest Baha'is and others the most (compared to other articles in the list). I color-coded the top results as a sort of heat map.

The two "all-time favorites" shown in red appear to be in a class by themselves. The next ten (orange, yellow) might be dubbed "the top-ten". Close top-ten contenders have the green highlight.

The table below lists these articles by title and pageviews, thanks to the wonderful Google Analytics service.

Memes For Physicists II

Memes continue to appear on bulletin boards at Binary Mechanics Lab (BML).

Fig. 1: General Relativity Excluded; Binary Mechanics Included