I believe that my wife's cultural lens and mine see "Karma" in extremely different lights, which makes me question: What do people think "Karma" means?

karma: Definition and Much More from Answers.com (excerpt):

1. The explanation of karma can differ per tradition. Usually it is believed to be a sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. The results or "fruits" of actions are called karma-phala. Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward; karma simply deals with what is. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well. It is cumulative.
2. karma is referred to as karmic dirt, as it consists of very subtle and microscopic particles i.e. pudgala that pervade the entire universe. Karmas are attracted to the karmic field of a soul on account of vibrations created by activities of mind, speech and body as well as on account of various mental dispositions. Hence the karmas are the subtle matter surrounding the consciousness of a soul. When these two components i.e. consciousness and karma interact, we experience the life as we know it at present.
3. The idea of karma was popularized in the Western world through the work of the Theosophical Society. Kardecist and Western New Age reinterpretations of karma frequently cast it as a sort of luck associated with virtue: if one does good or spiritually valuable acts, one deserves and can expect good luck; conversely, if one does harmful things, one can expect bad luck or unfortunate happenings. In this conception, karma is affiliated with the Neopagan law of return or Threefold Law, the idea that the beneficial or harmful effects one has on the world will return to oneself. Colloquially this may be summed up as 'what goes around comes around.'

Which is your take? Or do you have all together different one?

Please think about your answer before reading mine...

I think I'm very much in the #3 camp. I think Karma has entered the Western group conciousness as a quick explanation of "what goes around comes around" without placing any emphasis on the force behind that concept: IE: God, Nature, Majik, etc. And that the entire concept of reincarnation is absent in the Western (though possibly just American) basic understanding.

Discuss.

Some book about cooking and dating put this together:

She is a hybrid of:
Gourmet Girl
Progressive Girl

Click on the pictures below to read more:

Take the 'What Kind of Girl Is She?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Seems about right, I guess. Not enough questions like "Is she from Southeast Asia or the Southeast Asian Maritimes?" to really pointpoint anything, methinks...

The Africa Quiz will test you. I got a 129 out of 162.

If you really think you know them, try National Geographic's GeoSpy, click on "countries" and then on "Africa". Since it's timed, you probably won't even get through all of the countries unless you really know your stuff.

And then try this quiz:

1. Does Africa have cows?

If you answered "That's not what I said, you are twisting my words!", then score yourself 100%

Well, perhaps not die, but it's fun to vote anyway! I like Concept III. Still room to sit for the elderly or handicapped, but much easier access to the train. Just add in some swell video monitors with notifications about the station and direction of train (in Kanji, Katakana, and Romanji of course) and it'll feel just like Tokyo.

[ Survey input page ]

Well, perhaps it will take more than that, but DC metro does have more seats than any other commuter train system I've ever ridden on.

Props to the Persian Diversion...

Me either, so I've been thinking about picking up some of the Rosetta Stone software:

The Rosetta Stone Level I program offers a comprehensive course of study for beginning learners, leading to intermediate proficiency. The program contains over 3,500 real-life images and phrases in 92 lessons and more than 250 hours of mastery instruction in listening comprehension, reading, speaking, and writing. Systematic structure teaches vocabulary and grammar naturally, without lists and drills.

[ Rosetta Stone: Indonesian on Amazon.com ]

Anyone have any experience with any of their languages? $175.00 is a bit to spend on software without any decent feedback.

Do you know of an apartment, in the city of Alexandria, with rent under $1200, that allows a dog who weighs 50 pounds?

Or anything even close to that?

Post the results here, and the interested party will check back for your help.

Thanks in advance.

At today’s event, McDonald’s is introducing its first ever “Go Active! Happy Meal” for adults (available beginning May 11, 2004 through June 7, 2004 at participating restaurants nationwide, while supplies last). The Go Active! Happy Meal includes the choice of a Premium Salad, bottled water or drink of choice, a Stepometer™ and a fun, informative booklet that provides walking and exercising tips.

[ Mickey D's ]

This sounds like a good move to me. I know I have a hard time keeping myself active and healthy, as do most Americans. However, I expect that most of my readers will have quite cynical things to say, and I, for one, want to hear them.

(And who owns the trademark for Stepometer anyway?)

Here's the scenario, I don't like some performers because I find them personally repugnant. My coworker says that makes no sense, if their art is good, it is worth appreciating irregardless of them personally. I know that there are some people who I find distasteful personally but I am still able to appreciate them artistically.

So the question is: should the message be judged for the message alone, or should the personal morals, ethics, attitudes, and opinions of an artist be weighed along with their art?