“Nothing’s ever for sure, John. That’s the only sure thing I do know,” says the schitzotypical auditory plus visual delusion and hallucination known to John Nash as Charles. This is very true even coming from one of these three imaginary people that John Nash believes to be a part of his daily life. Although non-existent these characters including not only Charles, but his adolescent niece Marcie, and his military contact William Parcher or just Parcher, play a pivotal role in the life of professor and doctor, John Nash.

True, much of what the public knows of the mental disorders, and specifically Schizophrenia is based on what they observe from films and television. This Oscar/Academy four time wining film, A Beautiful Mind, is a very compelling story about a genius mathematician/ cryptologist, who’s life in Cold War era America, aroused his super paranoid and delusional thought process to overwhelm his mind.

ONSET:

John Nash exhibited mild symptoms or schitzotypal behavior probably through his childhood. This is evident because of his avoidant personality shown by his impeded interpersonal communication and relationships, and by his moderate “word salad” that he has. His hallucinations and delusions manifested initially by his graduate school Princeton roommate Charles.

His peers played a crucial role in his life and in his recovery. Once stabilized to a level of acceptance and coping with his symptoms he is given visitations and job opportunities to help him in reintegration. Through the entire relations ship from student to wife, Alicia Nash was interceptive and supportive of his treatment and life after treatment, including a dangerous relapse of behaviors.

Also, his peers did not initially know how to respond to the disorder because of John Nash’s involvement with the US government. It may have opaque at times but eventually they could make light of the situation once Nash was coping and stable.

THE PLOT THICKENS?:

John Nash almost killed his baby son by drowning him in the tub during his major relapse. He had been pocketing the medication and eventually he regained his code breaking and psychotic behaviors. He was in the back shed while drawing the bath and got caught up in what was allegedly provided by Parcher and the US governments’ highest echelons.

+ Symptoms= Racing thoughts, Hallucinations, Delusions

– Symptoms= Cognitive impairment, grossly distorted reality

(Axis I and Axis II)

RETURN TREATMENT:

Nash was able to eventually be stabilized on his psychotropic medications and with time and strong encouragements able to cope. This was abruptly made evident by his realization that the manifestation of Marcie never aged and paired his wife’s’ strong endearment and optimism towards him.

Self Reliance was key to his rehabilitation and integration back into society. Aside from a strong support network he found that working in his field of abstract mathematics was his tool for learning interpersonal relationships and separating reality from his reality.

The Nobel Prize was a major pat on the back for John Nash. Although he did not know the extent of his economic theories had spilled over into, Nash was still acknowledged for his intelligence. It is his life time achievement and it is he can observe that his life was great, not grandiose.

PAST & PRESENT THEORIES:

Although many scientific advancement have been made in psychology and imaging techniques treatment has not evolved juristically. Although doctors can now see the brain functioning and areas of brain used in a schizophrenic person the treatment is somewhat similar to that of the 1950’s. ECT, medication, hospitalization, and reintegration are the keystones of treatment for the stabilizing of this mental disorder. Then a medical round of SSRI’s and atypical anti-psychotics are used to maintain an even keel. Hospitalization is a safe way to intervene on an individual although laws have changed regarding commitment of those deemed unsafe for society. ECT has been modernized and more finite now and can be used to treat a plethora of moderate to severe mental disorders. Also, SSRI’s are more affective and paired with support many will stay stable.

Once John Nash was known to be schizophrenic his friends help with the families clarification of his advanced symptoms. Then they slowly allow him back into his life with some initial hesitance that eventually will turn into a subject of laughter between old friends. Although some were intolerant and mocking of his disorder and effort he was able to maintain a level of functioning on the normal plane of societal existence and even win the highest scientific achievement award.

Director Richard Kelly’s masterpiece that is Donnie Darko ventures into the mind-bending yet unnerving side of science fiction as his film depicts a teenage boy’s struggle with schizophrenia. Set in the late 80’s, the movie follows 16-year old Donald “Donnie” Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his unique relationship with a particular hallucination that presents itself in the form of a 6-foot-tall rabbit that goes by the name of Frank. After these hallucinations pull him away from what could have been a fatal accident, Donnie becomes fixated upon Frank’s orders for him and develops an unhealthy obsession with executing Frank’s demands. Donnie’s descent into madness, however, is only a portion of the riveting plot. The presence of these hallucinations are synonymous with the oncoming collapse of reality, a notion Frank warned Donnie of during their first encounter. Although Donnie regularly meets with his psychiatrist, Dr. Thurman, the combination of attempting to understand the theoretical psychics of time travel and dealing with the paranoia associated with schizophrenia is incredibly overwhelming for the teen and ultimately ends in his symbolic and metaphoric death. Although this cult classic loosely touches on mental health issues, Kelly and Gyllenhaal utilized this character incredibly well to emanate the serious hardships of a psychotic disorder.

Throughout the film, Donnie displays a variety of schizophrenic tendencies as well as extreme paranoia, an incredibly common attribute of most schizophrenics (Halgin, R., & Whitbourne, S., 2014). This irrational belief that riddles Donnie is present throughout the entire movie; as his dire yet imaginative need to save the reality he knows and follow Frank’s orders evolves into a horrific and controlling delusion. Though there is not one explicit scene that demonstrates this trait altogether, it is arguably the most powerful yet overlooked undercurrent of the film. Donnie’s motivation behind carrying out various actions is terror and desperation alone, verifying his extreme paranoia. In opposition to the more hidden elements of Donnie’s psychologically disturbed mind, his vivid hallucinations and delusions are arguably the most clearly stated and obvious symptom. The plot revolves around his unhealthy relationship with Frank, a figment of his own imagination for a portion of time. The increased reliance on the rabbit manifests itself in Donnie’s conscious stream of thought and causes him to lose sight of rationality entirely. Contributing to this separation is his perpetual delusion that the world is coming to an end and that time travel alone will align the various universes. Dr. Thurman attributes this notion to the hypothesis that “Donnie’s aggressive behavior seems to stem from his increased detachment from reality, his inability to cope with the forces in the world that he perceives to be threatening” (Kelly, 2003). Dr. Thurman’s assessment is arguably unquestionable due to the relationship dynamics she and Donnie share. Donnie’s lack of interest in family or friends portrays a negative symptom of schizophrenia, however, his attachment to the psychiatrist possibly increases the validity of her statement. A fifth, yet almost unnoticeable characteristic Donnie obtains is experiencing inappropriate feelings or emotions in a given situation. The most detectable instance of this occurrence is during a hypnotic therapy session with Dr. Thurman. She begins to question Donnie about familial logistics and he continuously provides responses pertaining to having sex with various classmates. Donnie also has a similar episode as he persistently questions a guest speaker at school and ultimately calls the man the antichrist, a potential sign of occupational dysfunction. Though comical in the film, these two instances represent another negative symptom of his condition and cannot go unnoted.

Although the plot and character that is Donnie Darko is purely a work of fiction, one can still evaluate how accurately he exhibits the symptoms of schizophrenia and look for possible discrepancies. The aforementioned qualities very consistently align with true cases of this disorder; however, assessing Donnie in the context of the film proves to be quite difficult. The science fiction aspects that infiltrate the storyline clearly influence Donnie’s thoughts and actions in a way a paranoid schizophrenic, or anyone, would ever have to face. The notion of time travel and multiple realities clouds an accurate judgment simply because of the additional circumstances it presents. However, viewing the instances occurring in everyday settings not concerned with theoretical physics, Donnie embodies a functioning schizophrenic. His various symptoms meet the criteria outlined by the DSM-5 to be constituted as an accurate diagnosis and one can assume that these traits have been occurring for over a month long period due to his established relationship with a counselor and frequent mention of medication (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Donnie Darko, though Richard Kelly’s first completed film, is renown for its inability to conclude with a concrete solution or understanding. The multifaceted nature of the movie is incredibly captivating and well received by a variety of populations. In an interview with Kelly, he briefly outlined his fascination with Donnie’s mental illness and how “Donnie Darko” was inspired by a fellow classmate who was unfortunately addicted to cocaine. He discussed Dr. Thurman and Donnie’s close relationship and how this aspect of the movie served to continuously provide the main form of Donnie’s treatment: “[Dr. Thurman] does not think Donnie is crazy. She’s been trying to get to the root of his problems through psychology, not medication, to get him to expose things under the assumption that the medication is making him better when really he is making himself better, naturally, without drugs” (Kelly, 2003). The film itself depicts the struggles of teen years with a deeper twist that will forever leave the audience guessing about what Kelly’s piece truly stands for.

Works Cited

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association.

Barrymore, D. B. (Producer), & Kelly, J. R. (Director). 2002. Donnie Darko [Motion picture on DVD], (2002). United States: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Halgin, R., & Whitbourne, S. (2014). Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders. In Abnormal Psychology: Clinical Perspectives on Psychological Disorders (7th ed.). Boston, Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill.

Kelly, R., & Gyllenhaal, J. (2003). The Donnie Darko Book. London, Queen Square: Faber and Faber.

Rare is the time when I actually am all caught up with my schedule. Whenever I think I am caught up, something happens that takes that and throws it out the window.

Such was the case this past week. I was very much happy with the fact that I was on schedule and I had everything in hand. Nothing makes me feel better.

Of course, this is mostly delusional, at least for me. If there ever was an award for being delusional, I am quite certain I would be at the top of the list. The amazing thing about being delusional is that you never think you are.

As I was wallowing in my delusion and enjoying every moment of it, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came and said rather sharply, “Are you ready to go?”

At the moment, I had no idea what she was talking about. And so I responded, “Huh?”

I’m not sure if that is really a word or not, but it accurately described my delusional moment at that time. I had no idea what she was talking about.

“You haven’t,” she said, “forgotten what day it is, have you?”

I was tempted to say, “Of course not. It’s Tuesday.” Fortunately, I did not yield to that temptation and just responded with another, “Huh?”

With a disdaining look she said, “You would forget your head if it wasn’t attached.”

I wouldn’t tell her, but I probably would not miss my head if I would forget it. After all, I don’t wear a hat.

“Today,” she said in a very serene voice, “the two grandchildren are getting awards at school.”

I’m not quite sure if I forgot or if I was not listening when the instructions came my way. At this point, I was not going to let anybody know, particularly my wife.

“Oh, yes,” I said getting up from my chair, “I’m all ready to go. Let’s go.”

She gave me one of her classic sarcastic grins and we headed for the door.

Our one granddaughter was graduating from the third grade and the other from the fifth grade. Unfortunately, one was at 8:30 in the morning and the other was it 1 o’clock in the afternoon. It would make sense to have them all at once, but what has sense to do in our world today?

I did not want to complain, after all, it is our grandchildren, but I think the planning could have been just a little bit better than that. After all, sitting in the school cafeteria listening to the award ceremony is about as exciting as it can get.

The chairs that we had to sit on were uncomfortable, which was very fortunate for me because I was not tempted to fall asleep during the ceremony. I believe that was done on purpose.

Imagine getting an award for completing the third grade!

I cannot remember any such thing when I was going to grade school. Our great award was leaving school and going home in the afternoon. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

We live in a different world today where everybody gets an award for something or sometimes for nothing.

Then I remembered my cell phone in my shirt pocket. It is times like this that God had in mind when he invented this cell phone technology. I pulled out my cell phone and started checking my email.

Then I felt a sharp pain in my right ribs (thanks Eve) and I heard a voice saying, “Put that away and pay attention.”

Slowly and reluctantly, I returned my cell phone to my shirt pocket and tried to pay attention but I didn’t have enough quarters. Paying attention can be very expensive when you’re in situations like this.

The problem is that the grade school, particularly the third grade, had more children than my grandchildren. They were trying to give awards and recognition to all the children and I was only interested in one, my granddaughter.

I was musing on this for a while and then my companion said, “Look, there she is.”

When she said that, out came her cell phone and she began taking pictures of our granddaughter walking up to the stage to get an award. I can’t use my cell phone, but she’s at liberty to use her cell phone. Where’s the fairness in that?

Taking a hint from my wife, I reached for my cell phone only to realize that I was too late and the moment was gone. I glanced over at my wife and all I could see was the big smile on her face and her saying, “I got her picture.” All I could do was return her smile and congratulate her on getting the picture.

After each of the award ceremonies my wife and I went forward and she took pictures of me and the grandchildren together which made her rather happy.

All the way home that afternoon, she was giggling and chattering very excitedly. “Her” grandchildren received some awards. According to her, these were very special awards.

I smiled and was tempted to say, “Aren’t they my grandchildren too?” Why spoil the moment. She was excited and happy and it was worth my silence.

I was reminded of what Solomon said. “A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

A wise man knows when “to keep silence.”

There’s a true and a false ego. The false ego is who you “think” you are; the true is who you know you are. One is of the lower self; the other is of the higher Self. The true ego feels good when it thinks, says or does something good. The good feeling comes with humility and gratitude – which is acknowledgment that the good wasn’t caused by him alone, but in conjunction with his inner or higher Self. He knows he didn’t do it of his personality alone, and he’s grateful for this knowledge and power.

The false ego on the other hand thinks that any good he does is from himself alone. He thinks that he is God; that the world revolves around him alone. He can’t see anything else nor does he want to see anything else. Nothing is bigger or better than himself. It’s all about him first, last and always.

This is his false coping mechanism, his false method of survival, his false security blanket, his false comfort zone. Such a person may have material success but will never be very healthy, happy, peaceful or free – because he’s living in falsity not reality.

The false ego is very subtle, devious and powerful. Correcting it is the most difficult challenge we face in life because it does not want to die, does not want to commit suicide. It wants to continue the delusion that it is God, and will go to any length to maintain that delusion.

The only way you can annihilate or neutralize the false ego is through some form of what we call “meditation.” Meditation in this context means a way to transcend thinking because thinking instead of knowing is from the insecure ego instead of the truth. To get to the truth we have to bypass the ego. Pure meditation is how you do it.

But here’s the catch: If you meditate for the purpose of overcoming the ego you will fail because then your meditation is no longer pure. Purity means effortless or purposeless. If that’s what your “non-intention” is then you’ll overcome the false, personal ego because then the thinking, egotistical mind is not part of the equation. The thinking mind alone is what deludes and empowers the false ego in the first place. And you cannot solve a problem with the same mind that caused it.

While pure meditation does not have a purpose, it does have a result. The result is that the false ego is exposed as being delusional. And anything exposed can be dropped at will, while anything hidden is extremely difficult to overcome.

Pure meditation is simply the practice of keeping a little distance from all you see, hear, think, feel and do, all the time, to the best of your ability.

Thomas Lanier Williams, known as Tennessee Williams, the author of A Street Car Named Desire presents the contradiction and paradox that real human life might offer. It is a stage play with elements of tragedy and pathos that was published and staged in 1947. The theme of the story presents conflicts with which the central character, Blanche Dubois has to live. The theme is not dramatic or out of life as most of us live in our delusory world that may be far off the reality. While most of us cope up with our delusions and distinguish between real and fantasy, the others like Blanche Dubois turn a victim of overpowering delusion. And she knows it: “Blanche explains to Mitch that she fibs because she refuses to accept the hand fate has dealt her. Lying to herself and to others allows her to make life appear as it should be rather than as it is”.

The plot of the story is wonderfully crafted that goes on to highlight a number of emotional traits that are tested during the time of human tragedy. Most human beings are weak for their inescapable need to cry over the shoulder of some one close. At times this dependence takes severe form as in Stella’s dependence on Stanley for love and support; Mitch, otherwise a sober character, is also not without the need of companionship that he finds in Blanche, after the death of his mother. Blanche is also in need of support. Whether the support is offered by Stanley or not is an issue that needs analysis. Money matters, as it does for Blanche, while Stanley, a hard core down to earth worker proud in his masculinity must ensure he is not being cheated by Blanche. The drama depicts that while life moves on from past to present, the lingering past just cannot be done away with whether Stella tries to move on after leaving Belle Reve, or Blanche tries to find a man in her life after her husband commits suicide, or Stanley is apologetic about his rough actions. The past keeps haunting them in present. Death is shocking, and it is especially so if it involves some one close and near. It might often entail a sudden shift in one’s outlook and personality. Blanche’s husband’s death has a profound impact on her, even as those of the others in Dubois family. Mitch confronts the death of his only love as well as his dying mother who ultimately dies.

There are several other characteristic themes that merge in the single plot. One such theme is the loss of a world that meant status and class, and consequent downward spiral into the life of a blue collar ghetto. The impact of this social theme translates into loneliness, insecurity, and having to bear cruelty. Stella and Blanche the two sisters originally belong to a world that no longer exists for them. Their family’s ancestral plantation, Belle Reve, is lost. Their world is also lost along with it. The two sisters are the only living symbols of the old world. In the second scene, Blanche makes a comment about Stanley to Stella that says it all: “Oh, I guess he’s just not the type that goes for jasmine perfume, but maybe he’s what we need to mix with our blood now that we’ve lost Belle Reve”.

They are left with two options: either face reality and come to terms with, or live in a make believe world of fantasy to which Blanche succumbs; Stella comes to terms with reality. The real world now is the harsh world of hardship, of cruelty, of blue collar culture and living symbolized by Stanley. Stanley represents raw masculinity that intrigues and repulses at the same time. He and his world are quite in contrast to the aristocratic world of Blanche Dubois of which she is no longer a heiress but persists with her illusions even as they stay together which allows the readers to contrast what might be the symbols of real and illusion.

Let us see the paradox in Blanche’s life: Blanche’s illusory world offers her comfort as it is in fact her primary means of self-defense. Her deceptions do not spring from any malicious intents, rather they are an extreme reflections of her frailty to cope up with the misery of real life. She appears extremely reluctant to face the truth head-on. “For her, fantasy has a liberating magic that protects her from the tragedies she has had to endure. Unfortunately, this defense is frail and will be shattered by Stanley”.

Blanche makes a dramatic entry into the scene looking for her sister’s house. She looks in disbelief at the apartment building as she checks the address. She appears to pity Stella, her sister having to live in such a rundown building. Blache, about 30, elegant and attractive, a little haggard and weak is in her white suit with pearl earrings and white gloves. She appears lost and out of place in the ghetto populated by blue collar workers. Blanche tells Eunice when he asked her whether she is lost, “They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at-Elysian Fields”.

From here on the cocoon of unreality that Blanche lives in to protect herself against her weaknesses including her inability to repress her sexual desires become apparent. She refuses to acknowledge and lies about her promiscuous behavior in Laurel. “She shuns bright light, lest it reveal her physical imperfections; and she refuses to acknowledge her problem with alcohol. Stanley effectively penetrates her cocoon verbally with his crude insults and physically with his sexual coup de main near the end of the play”. As against Blanche, Stanley is rude, coarse, and domineering ruled by primal instincts. Her opinion of him might be seen as what she says about Stanley in course of conversation with Stella: “He acts like an animal, has an animal’s habits. Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one!” He is a man who calls a spade, a bloody shovel. His manners are uncouth and lingo, working class. He is hell bent on destroying every fabric of façade that is a protective armor of Blanche Dubois.

That’s what reality does to illusion. It recklessly tears asunder the envelope of falsehood. However, we do see Blanche not totally deceptive with herself. She does realize that they have no option but to mix their superior blood with working class, as she pities the fate of Stella’s child who will enjoy none of the privileges she and her sister did. Nonetheless, Blanche simply fails to come to terms of reality. It is in fact this failure that results in severe consequences for her. A time comes towards the end of the drama when she loses her mental proportions completely.

Dispute resolution is difficult enough when there are two parties willing to get a conclusion, but when one or both are adamant that they are totally right and that only the other party bends, then such resolution is almost never successful.

Recently this author had a case where both parties were way apart, yet both seemed reasonable in their demands of the other side. Of course there were almost no documents of what the contract should have been, and the only contract was in the minds of the two parties. That was a blend for disaster.

The trouble with this is that both felt they were right and in their own minds, they were. This is the purpose of the contract, drawings, and specifications and so on before the work being commenced. When one or both parties are relying on their minds to work out what they have as a fulfillment of the contract, it opens the door to all kind of misemotion, delusion and fakery.

Misemotion is often the result of what has happened before the current situation at hand. The mediator has to wade through this. You can see it in the person in front of you. How often have you seen a person get angry over money, for example? Plenty, I am sure. Often it is from an earlier upset.

Then ask yourself how much truth gets put out by an angry man? Not a lot is the answer. This is where the delusion comes in. When people are upset they will believe things happened to them that did not. It is simply delusion and the mediator must wade through this also, while knowing this is all part of being human.

And then the last part can kick in. If someone has had something bad happen to them, they might invent some evidence of something that supports their case. This can happen if the person truly believes his side of the dispute and there is no evidence to support their case.

There seems a need to be right by people. In this case, where a person seems to be stating he is right, perhaps the correct procedure is to allow him to be right, while giving him the facts. Often, if you tell a parson they are wrong, they will become your bitter enemies and the dispute will never get handled. This is not looking to placate the person as such, but allowing him to be right on what he is stating.

A philosophy that can help the mediator is when you adopt the concept that there is never a one hundred percent correct solution and the same for incorrect. Every decision is based on percentages of grey. Thus you can adopt that everyone is right to a degree, and of course wrong to a degree. Just some are more or less along the scale than others. This helps the mediator get to the end of the dispute with his own sanity intact.

If you understand all the above you can help your clients more to resolve their conflicts.

The delusion conceptually propounds that intraweek and intraday FOREX currency quotes movement is governed by either improvement or by deterioration of the state’s economic situation. But in reality, even in case the actual Forex news is superior to the estimated one, the FOREX quotes up/down movement is of 50/50 probability.

This statement is thoroughly important. Once the job of Forex trader is gambling on FOREX exchange rates differential (FOREX pairs up/down movement), the following is to be realized to obtain faultless profit:

FOREX pairs pricing mechanism (say at point X where you are completing the market analysis)

Factors imparting growth/decline to FOREX rates (up/down from point X).

Thus, having understood the FOREX rates factors effective at the extra-exchange (book-maker) FOREX market and the given currency motive factors, a trader must possess distinct knowledge of whether to buy or to sell the given currency pair.

So, what are these factors?

FOREX student suggest unambiguous interpretation of factors responsible for the price formation and the fluctuations there of:

Forex rate constitutes a demand-supply balance for a given goods (currency).

Any violation of this balance, (for instance, in case where the estimated news is in disagreement with the issued official one), results in the FOREX rates reciprocation in chase of a new demand-supply balance. Poor demand brings about decline in a certain currency rate, with a high demand leading to the growth of the latter. The situation continues as long as the currency buy/sell demand comes to balance at another level or at another point.

Referring to the B. Williams (“Trading Chaos 2” Chapter 1 “The market is what you are thinking of it”):

Each world market is dedicated to distribute or share limited amount of something… among those desirous to obtain it most of all. The market affects it by way of finding out and identifying the exact price? Underlying the buyer’/sellers’ power absolute equilibrium point.

The above point is readily established by stock, futures, bonds, FOREX and options markets, be it either via an open auction or by virtue of a computerized facility. Markets spot this point prior to any misbalance being detectable by you or by me or even by traders at the exchange floor.

With this scenario holding true – and it really does – we are in position to jump at certain simple yet important conclusions as regards the information being circulated through the market and enjoying doubtless acceptance”.

Thomas Demark was more laconic in “Technical analysis – an emerging science”:

“Price movement is governed by demand and supply. Should demand exceed supply, there’s a price rally and if visa versa, there’s a price decline. All economists do share these underlying principles”.

Hence, the role of fundamental analysis for FOREX market is readily apparent.

In scholar fiction one will discover roughly the following explanation, persistently wandering from book to book, from site to site and suggesting attaining successful trading at FOREX market by way of scrutinizing the country’s economic fundamental data, viz. by tracking the factors reflective of the country’s economy condition as below:

State economy condition dynamics indicators (GDP, trade & payments balance, current account, industrial production, etc. It is knowledge, that the higher the above indicators – the faster the economic and the currency price growth);

Stock indices, via average arithmetic index of the country’s securities market condition and dynamics. E.g.: 0.3% daily DJI growth in the USA means that this certain day the shares of 30 leading US companies, being pictured by DJU, went 0.3% more expensive. By similarity, DAX30 is the major German index, incorporating the price of shares of the country’s 30 leading companies.

The country’s interest rate, since the higher the rate, the greater number of investors is eager to invest into the country’s economy and hence into national currency strength.

Rate of inflation (the higher the rate, the quicker the National Bank will hike the interest rate). With this assumption, the CPI constitutes a key factor.

Money supply growth in domestic market, which fact brings about the inflation, leading to the interest rate hike.

The country’s gold and currency reserve assets.

Variation dynamics correlation of: balances of payment, trade balance, state budget, gross domestic product (GDP), etc.

Trade and industry dynamics (industrial production, industrial orders, DGO, capacity utilization, retail sales, etc.)

Construction statistics (construction spending, new home sales, housing under construction, building permits, etc.)

Labor statistics (unemployment rate, new jobs, etc.)

Society investigations (consumer confidence, consumer sentiment, purchase managers and service managers sentiment, etc.)

To be considered additionally are the country’s political stability and tranquility (clearly, any political, natural and other cataclysms are sure to turn investors nervous making them withdraw the investments from the country, thus weakening its national currency). And with the currency being the national economy derivative, changes in economic data will inevitably result in the above currency rate movement.

Conclusions:

Progress in economy results in the currency exchange rate rally.

Decrease in economic indicators leads to the national currency rate decline.

To sum it up, critical economic and political news (whose calendar is issued in advance and is familiar to any trader) constitute a standing factor giving rise to misbalance and causing the currency rate fluctuations.

In anticipation of important economic and political news FOREX pair crawl to the rates as inspired by the estimates (“rumored trade”), whereas upon actual news there occurs a pulse motion of FOREX pairs in accordance with the scheme below;

Forex rate grows if actual news are better than the estimated one;

Forex rate declines if actual news are worse than the estimated one.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THESE ABC BASICS OF STUDYING FOREX?

Do you accept that one can earn money by way of using these basics, known to every trader?

Then why, having absorbed these economic axioms, 90% of Forex traders in the world are losers rather than winners.

Where is the delusion of the above ABC truth, nudging traders towards losses? Let us perform sort of point-by-point analysis.

The currency exchange FOREX market is a book-makers one. It is gambling on rates difference without direct money delivery to the exchange market, except for hedging of traders’ funds by Forex brokers, via buy-sell difference especially during strong trends). Then, http://www.forexite.com reads: “Trading is performed without actual currencies supply, which fact cuts overheads and enables Forexite to go long and short on the currency” http://www.forexite.com/forexite_advantages/forex_advantages.html.

Comment: Have you ever met any book-makers;

– whose logics was coincident with that of THEIR clients (traders),

– whose stakes were being made in accordance with THEIR technical analysts forecasts, economic laws and common sense?

And what extent of doubt and skepticism should be attached to THEIR free “recommendations”, “advice”, “surveys” and “forecasts”, laid out at THEIR sites through THEIR analysts?

As a regular result, over 90% of the world traders are still losing their deposits at FOREX each time they follow Thomas Demark stereotype that “All the economists share these underlying principles”.

Comment No.1. In as much as the above underlying principles are 90% contradictory to practice, it gives rise to the following question. Might these “underlying principles, shared by all economists including Thomas Demark” have possibly turned into dogma, alien to life and practice?

Comment No.2. What should a trader lean on: practice or dogma even if supported by great names, provided that the trader is purported at earning money?

FOREX analysts issuing their daily bulky market reviews are not FOREX traders in the overwhelming majority (see detailed discussion below). And on bringing together pairs 1, 2 and 3 there appears certain regularity.

Please, think over A. Elder words, that: “FOREX rates and the fundamental analysis are tied together with a mile-long rope. The fundamental analysis is ultimately decisive. But anything is likely to happen prior to this eventuality”. Another, yet no less renowned trader and analyst, Bill Williams underlines the same mental regularity of an experienced professional trader (level 3 of his trader’s skill rating as per “Trading Chaos 2”): “On attaining level 3 you emerge as a self-provided pro trader. You are always familiar with the market’s basic, usually invisible structure. You no longer need to refer to others’ opinions. You needn’t read “Wall Street Journal”, watch market-oriented TV programs, and subscribe to information bulletins, waste money on information channels”.

Comment: Logically, there is a counter-implication, that if You are eager to become a successful trader, You are to restrict the influence of various surveys and recommendations on yourself even in case they originate from the world famous “Wall Street Journal”, to say nothing of crude gurus in analyst skins who use to know ahead of time where currencies will go.

Forex news is a scheduled issue of fundamental data, which as a rule impairs FOREX rates a sharp pulse of motion. But then, why the currency rates movement vector is only 50% coincident with the ABC truism logics as to where the rate should rush in case of actual news being much better or worse than the estimate. And, please, make an attempt to answer the following question, stirring for every trader: why with the new being worse than expected (say, on US economy), the USD currency would initially fall by 40 pips (news work-off) but in 5 to 10 minutes it would swivel back and would display a 200-point rally, with no account to either the issued news or to common sense.

Below are some examples:

Fig. 1. GBPUSD chart as of April 1, 2005 after the news, positive for the GBP and negative for the US economy.

See Note below

In March the CIPS manufacturing index amounted to 52.0 (with the previous data revised from 51.8 to 51.6). Oil price in NYC has grown by USD 2.40 up to USD57.70 per bbl (new record of the latest 21 years). Non-farm payrolls in the USA was minimum since last July (previous data revised towards lower values). There has been a decline in the Michigan sentiment index to 92.6 (median estimate was 92.9, with 92.9 previously).

All the US indices faced a fall down. DJI at NYSE has fallen by 99.46 pips (-0.95%) towards closing at 10404.30. NASDAQ declined by 14.42 pips (-0.72%) to 1984.81. S&P500 slipped by 7.67 pips (-0.65%) to 1172.92. 30-yr US Bonds yielded 4.729 (0.037 lower as compared to the previous close). By contrary, FTSE100 has grown by 19.60 pips (+0.40%) to 4914.00.

Now, the question is to certified economists: what will happen to the GBPUSD within one day or even several hours upon publication of these data? You are right, USD should not simply fall down, it should collapse. Powerfully, swiftly. Well, well…

And this time, the same question to experienced traders. By FOREX news headlines You might have guessed that the events are taking place at the Friday American session. Correct. Initially, anyway, the GBPUSD chart will go up by 100 pips (news wok-off), followed by a pullback. Then Forex chart starts a new rally.

It is now to be tracked whether the GBP will breach the latest rally high or not. If affirmative, it will rush up by approximately 160 pips (Elliott wave 1 was 100 pips, while EW 3 is 60% longer). But if the high is not breached? The GBP currency quote will in no way come to a standstill, moreover on Friday afternoon. Hence, – down, to the starting point! And, if breached, similar situation takes shape but the counting is performed in a “down” direction (EW1, being the same 100 pips plus 187 pips from 1.8826 to 1.8759 being EW 3).

The FOREX day trading tactics will be given scrutiny in a separate chapter. A still separate chapter will be dedicated to Friday trade at American session due to its inherent specifics and to strong seemingly inappropriate movement. The movement is, of course, appropriate. To say nothing of Friday. But it will be touched upon later.

Now, getting back to the currency chart. As apparent, the GBPUSD pair movement on Friday, April, 01, 2005 is in no way in conjunction with the US economy fundamental data. Each forex trader can provide from tens to hundreds of similar instances, where the news are of a certain vector, whereas, after a fraudulent rush along the news vector, a currency applies reverse thrust.

Thereafter, the next day, in daily currency surveys, certified economists are sure to explain all to us by way of inventing another undisguised nonsense, like: “in spite of certain data, traders decided that the currency has already worked-off this side”. But! How could this occur on Apr, 01, 2005, provided that the currency has been staying flat in a narrow range in the course of the whole of the European session?

Otherwise, another explanation may emerge, that forex traders were expecting still more inferior news on the US economy… But! By how much more inferior, if according to DJ, the US non-farm payrolls MA was equivalent to 180K, with actual being +110K, estimate being +225K and prior being +243K? And in what manner do these economists count up world traders: by capita, by countries or by the funds, lost by those, who continued staying long in a holy belief in renowned academic scholars postulate of FOREX rates being tied up to countries’ economy statistics.

I wonder if I’ll ever chance to witness legal procedures to be instituted against any of those famous scholars, so that no one would dare claim that fundamental data trigger rate spikes.

The same pertains to economists, writing about the way, hundreds of thousands traders throughout the globe have conspired to conclude that it is time to reverse the trends with absolutely no grounds. Is it really feasible?

Such reading-matter is, but hammering a single question into one’s head: is it lie or is it stupidity of those cooking daily reports for taking traders for a ride, fooling them up and keeping them from the truth, which might be of great avail to them in daily trading. Traders are not a decisive factor, thus rates movement is in no way dependent on their will. Practically in no way.

Wanna check? Negotiate with tens of traders of the trading floor and arrange for a simultaneous entry long on some exotic FOREX pair. In so doing, try to push up either the NZDHKD, or the NZDCAD, or the HKDCAD. No need? I think so. You’ll certainly suffer failure with the above, to say nothing of the EUR, GBP, CHF.

Another example:

Fig.2. GBPUSD movement as of May 13, 2005.

See Note below

This is an M15 chart of the American session, where the USD pair has grown by over 100 pips from 1.8583 to 1.8481 against the news, negative for the US economy:

Most indices have dropped down: DJI at NYSE – by 49.36 pips (-0.48%) to close at 10140.12; S&P500 – by 5.31 pips (-0.46%) to 1154.05. NASDAQ has grown by 12.92 pips (+0.66%) to1976.80. 30yr US Bonds yielded 4.484 (0.047 drop from previous close)

There is a fall in Michigan sentiment index. In May UMich was 85.3 with med est 90.0 and prior 87.7. So it was worse than the estimate, reaching the low since March, 2003. The index decline was being observed for the fifth month.

The April US export price index was +0.6% with prior of +0.7%.

Below are other similar examples of that same day.

Fig. 3. EURUSD chart as of May 13, 2005.

See Note below

Hundreds of examples may be offered, where the Forex news vector is opposite to that of the currency movement. Practically, actual news may happen to be superior or inferior to the estimate. FOREX quotes up/down movement is also of 50/50 probability irrespective of the above.

Why does it happen and what is the way for a trader to pinpoint entries and exits? This is going to be discussed in ensuing chapters of this book.

Note:

Full text of this article and pictures of examples http://www.masterforex-v.su/

If you wish to be trained on Trading System Masterforex-V – one of new and most effective techniques of trade on Forex in the world visit http://www.masterforex-v.su/

With records dating back well into the seventeenth century, the so called phenomenon or mostly referred to by the medical care givers as a delusional psychosis’ is today known mainly as Morgellons Disease. The medical profession has continually denied the alleged phenomenon of fiber like strands appearing to grow through the skin and out of the human body as any type of ‘medical’ disease. The have continued to insist that people who insisted they were suffering from these weird symptoms were ‘all’ in reality suffering from a delusional parasitosis and required psychiatric evaluation or treatment. The entomology department of the Oklahoma State University was commissioned to undertake a detailed study of people allegedly suffering from Morgellons Disease and after completion of their tests and studies, even they stated their studies had found no evidence to support this as being any form of disease that may have been caused by bugs or mites and again, their overall opinion was that the people studies were ‘all’ suffering from delusions. This in my opinion is quite a remarkably negative statement to make regarding so many people that are suffering from the same issues.

From my own research into ‘Morgellons’ and having read through endless articles, studies, blogs and other documents pertaining to the subject, I have now formed an opinion on what these strange and differing types of fibrous growth that appear to grow out through human skin should be more accurately referred to. First of all, it should be known that these apparently growing fibers that are being found in humans vary quite dramatically it color, appearance, texture and growth rates. It has been found that many of these fibers when exposed to Ultra Violet light appear to glow in certain areas of their makeup. Therefore, based on my collation of notes and research to date, I have reached an opinion that this phenomenon referred to as Morgellons Disease is in fact a disease of sorts. The common denominator of self growing fibers or artificial hairs that everyone seems so fascinated with are what I have chosen to call here ‘Combined Biosynthetic Nanoids‘ ( Nano Particles ) and that perhaps a better reference to Morgellons would be to say ‘it is more of a process that is occurring within the body’ rather than a normal disease scenario. Current research by many prominent scientists has begun to provide verification that this issue is not of a delusional nature but in fact a real and debilitating syndrome that is genuinely being suffered by a growing number of people in many geographic areas. It is not a figment of Delusional Psychosis as those many medical doctors keep on insisting.

There has been much discussion wherein comparisons and alliances have been considered between Morgellons Disease and human infestation ( Colonization ) by the Collembola Mite, Spring Tails or even other types of mite. In more recent times, within the journal of bionanotechnology there is information with regards to toxicity and diseases caused by nanoparticles Silica. Reading collective information published by 116 scientists, investigators and researchers references and after reviewing the publications of those 116 investigators, you come to realize just like they did that Morgellons is almost certainly a disease and not a hallucination. From personal experience it has been found that many sufferers of both Morgellons and Collembola can become totally exasperated and almost ( If not totally ) suicidal in many cases. It has also been noted that in cases where couples are both affected especially by Collembola, it appears to be the female who is more affected as against her male partner. The overall symptoms and effects always appear to be more prominent both physiologically and psychologically in the female sufferer.

From the continuing research on Morgellons by Oklahoma State University, the following statistical points were recorded and published by Randy S. Wymore, Ph.D. Director of Research, and Rhonda Casey, D.O. Associate Professor of Pediatrics. Morgellons patients differ from classical, delusional parasitosis patients in several areas. They do not respond to antipsychotics, although these medication for those that take them do seem to help with the itching and crawling sensations on the skin, and new lesions continue to appear upon complete cessation of manual excoriation. Due to the sensation of foreign material in their tissue, that has been described as sharp, stinging and/or splinter like, the patient may have discovered the fibers prior to seeking medical care, and may even present them for examination. They also stated that; after obtaining careful patient histories and thorough physical exam, we have determined that Morgellons patients have several important distinctions ruling out the diagnosis of DOP. This population of patients frequently exhibit the following symptoms:

Distinct and poorly healing skin lesions with unusually thick, membranous scarring upon eventual healing. Moderate to extreme pruritis at sites of lesions as well as un-erupted skin. Microscopic examination of these lesions will most often reveal the presence of unusual fibers, which may be black, blue or red. These fibers, which many healthcare providers initially thought to be textile contaminants, are often present in the deep tissue of biopsies obtained from unbroken skin of individuals with this condition. Careful examination of these fibers further reveals that they are frequently associated with hair follicles, and are definitely not textile in origin. Most of these patients suffer from a host of neurological symptoms which can vary in severity from mild to severe. These neurological symptoms include peripheral tingling, paresthesias and varying degrees of motor involvement which appear to progress. Intermittent cognitive and behavioral status changes are often observed and also seem to progress with the severity of disease. This is often referred to as “brain fog” by the patient as they experience a waxing and waning of this symptom. Laboratory findings in these patients are variable, but often reveal eosinophilia and elevated levels of Immunoglobin E. It is worth mention that a large number of fibers collected from a range of patients across the United States were taken and checked against all known fibers contained within the extensive forensic data base of the FBI. No match or even near math was ever found.

This of course is but one small example of some findings obtained through the ongoing research of only one institution. There are many such institutions now actively involved in Morgellons research, together with various foundations and prominent medical practitioners all working to find both the cause/s and hopefully the solution/s of this debilitating health issue that has long been both ignored and denied by the medical profession generally. Current sceptics and Morgellons sufferers should also be ignoring the numerous radical and mainly internet based ‘conspiracy theories’ that refer to the disease as being caused by things such as chem-trails, alien predator parasites, government conceived and induced and so on. All of these publications are based upon uneducated scare tactics and hypothetical hog wash, none of which bears any resemblance to neither facts nor truth.

Again from personal experience and contact with numerous sufferers from all over North America, Morgellons is very real and it does exist and appears to be spreading to more and more people from different walks of live, different social classes, different ethnicities and vastly differing environments. It is true that this issue still retains many mysteries and varied theories and it is also true that Morgellons should no longer be considered by medical practitioners as a delusional parasitosis or a figment of the sufferer’s imagination. Having spoken directly and in some detail with numerous people who consider themselves afflicted by Morgellons, there appears to be no obvious common denominator as to the originating cause of the disease, all be it the symptoms and subsequent affects on life styles can be more commonly associated. These people become literally desperate to find anything that can help them and for many onlookers that do not understand the issues, they can appear paranoid, excessively phobic and in some cases even insane because of what they are now doing and how they go about their daily lives. To the casual onlooker, anything that cannot be rationally explained, seen, touched or previously recorded in text books is automatically categorized as the “unknown” and is therefore treated by them as being strange, weird or made up. Nevertheless, the effects of Morgellons appear to continue their spread around the World and it is showing up more and more in case notes throughout the medical profession, in research laboratories across North America and almost every other country.

During the past year I have experienced patients and sufferers of Morgellons that resorted to what others will consider extremes. Getting rid of every piece of clothing you own including expensive high end and designer labels. Throwing out all of your furniture, bedding, drapes and carpets. Moving around the country living in hotel rooms, renting furnished apartments for a short time and then moving on again. In one case the sufferer quite literally set his own home on fire and watched it burn to the ground completely, then moving on to another state in the hope of leaving behind whatever is infesting his body. These are true facts and real people and what they are doing is neither uncommon nor unheard of elsewhere. What the unaffected world has chosen to label as Morgellons disease, is in fact so real that it is driving many people over the edge as they are being forced to feel disbelieved and that no one actually cares about or even believes their issues. Even the medical professionals have generally proven to be of little help to sufferers for as one Doctor is said to have stated, “How can we provide medications and a cure for something we know doesn’t exist in the first place?” Now there’s a good and practical bed side manner for you!

In recent times there have been numerous references that Morgellons may or could be related to and/or even stem from Lyme Disease. It has also been referenced by some opinions that it could also be related to bodily infestation by the Collembola Mite, wherein it has been suggested that because of other influencing factors these more basic and readily accepted diseases ‘may’ in some way morph into what is being called Morgellons. In reality, most of the currently available web based information appears to still remain a mixture of supposition and hypothesis as there has been no one determining factor yet discovered as being the initial carrier and common denominator that commences Morgellons Disease. Having said this, because of the ongoing efforts, research and diligence of people such as the Dr. Eva Sapi PhD http://www.evasapi.net and the prominent Charles E. Holman Foundation, http://www.thecehf.org some very positive information and results that accurately and correctly relate directly to Morgellons and what may be causing it are likely to become available very soon and of course, this may also bring renewed hope to sufferers.

In the meantime, while debates and research into Morgellons continue their slow path towards results, those afflicted by the disease mainly have to resort to their own research. They spend endless hours Googling the web for information on how they can help themselves even in the smallest of ways. They feel subdued, bewildered, unsupported and overwhelmed in many ways, mainly by the ongoing social stigma and implication that they are merely delusional and that all of their suffering is nothing but a figment of their imagination. Through their searching of the world wide web, they find various suggestions of remedies and even alleged cures for what they are suffering and many of these people end up spending money they no longer can afford on some products and supplement that will in reality do nothing to actually help them. There are a select number of web based platforms such as the Green Tangerine Network that genuinely try to provide help, guidance and assistance for sufferers by collating and publishing the most accurate information currently available on Morgellons and even by providing actual reviews and experiences from other sufferers that have found methods of relief. These types of web site are usually found to have some form of qualified medical staffing behind them and it is clearly portrayed that they actually care about what they are doing for people. Another good aspect of these more professional web sites is the fact some of them will also provide access to a range of products that have already been proven to provide some form of treatment and relief for sufferers, coupled with genuine testimonials and reviews from real people that have benefited from them. Some of the products that have been shown to help are only available through a prescriptive method, meaning that before visitors can gain access to these products and purchase them, they must first undertake a consultation with one of the dedicated registered medical care providers. Subject to that consultation and if any products are recommended or prescribed, the ‘patient’ will then be issued with a unique password that they will use to go back to the web site and access the product pages. This is a very sensible, beneficial and professional approach that also serves to show patients that the web platforms are not simply there as fronts for selling a vast range of hyped type products and supplements.

The effects of Morgellons can be debilitating and devastating to those who become afflicted and much as it may be the medical professional has for many years chosen to ignore and deny its existence, the evidence, the proof, the results but not the cause are now widely known and being recognized. It continues to spread with new cases being recorded all across the globe almost like a secret and hidden epidemic. Yes, there remains much about it that is still unknown but one main and highly important factor has most certainly emerged and that is; Morgellons really does exist as either a disease or an internal process that emanates and appears as a disease. It can no longer be considered as a delusion… yet for our wonderful and mysterious medical profession, it still remains a dilemma.

In 2006 the eminent biologist Richard Dawkins published his best-seller ‘The God Delusion‘. Six years later Rupert Sheldrake, a biochemist, published his response, ‘The Science Delusion‘ (2012). Dawkins dismisses God while Sheldrake dismisses science. Who if either wins the argument? We start with ‘The God Delusion’.

Dawkins’ title is intentionally aggressive, implying that anyone who believes in God is suffering from a delusion. Dawkins defines his target as the belief that ‘there exists a superhuman, supernatural intelligence who deliberately designed and created the universe and everything in it, including us‘.

But people who believe in God would not put it that way. Some, for example, might simply say that they believe in God and that God is eternal Love. They might feel hurt to be told that they are deluded.

It is easy, and sometimes useful, for Dawkins to target outmoded religious dogma and practice. The assertion that God created the world in 7 days (and so on) is an easy target. Whether it is a useful one to get worked up about is questionable since, as yet, there no complete and rational alternative: neither Darwin’s theory of evolution nor the science of cosmology explain the event of creation. In contrast, the scandal of state-subsidised religious schools is a tricky target yet a laudable one. But such topics of detail take attention away from the real issue.

Dawkins knows that he cannot prove that God does not exist so he makes the weaker assertion that the existence of God is ‘improbable’. But God is not a horse running in the Derby and there is no rational basis for betting on the probability of his existence.

The great biologist Stephen Gould wrote a book about the rules for engaging in arguments such as this. In effect Gould says that in any argument about science and religion, the participants must recognise two Zones of thought:

Zone 1 – The material world of science which examines things as they are.

Zone 2 – The non-material human world of the mind and morality where we wonder who we are and how things ought to be.

Dawkins has read Gould’s book but does not heed his wise advice. Wielding all his scientific weaponry, he storms across the boundary in a flood of words that drowns the main issue.

For starters, he derides an astronomer who, in conversation, once suggested that ultimate questions about the universe were the province of the chaplain. Dawkins wishes he had scored a point by replying ‘Why not the chef?’ But that would have been an own goal: the chef’s expertise is cooking, Zone 1. Whereas the chaplain’s expertise is religion in Zone 2 where the chef’s expertise is irrelevant.

Dawkins cites Einstein in support of his attack on religious belief but Einstein would not have given this book a favourable review. Einstein believed that there is a metaphysical world beyond the scope of science. Or in Shakespeare’s words, ‘there are more things in heaven and earth… than are dreamt of in your philosophy’ (Hamlet). As a knowledgeable Darwinist, Dawkins knows that homo sapiens is in a fortuitous state of evolution, confused by the ‘human condition’. Perhaps Dawkins should renounce materialism and align himself with Einstein and Hamlet.

Now let us turn to ‘The God Delusion‘. Throughout, Sheldrake makes one thing very clear: he rejects materialism. Fine. He only needed to point out the fundamental flaw of materialism and he would win a knockout. Unfortunately he goes on to make a huge error: he equates materialism with science. But materialism is a personal philosophy or belief; whereas ‘science’ is the application of human reason to the physical world. Materialism (and its partner, reductionism) are worthy targets but science is not.

In his attempt to refute materialism he makes claims which go against mainstream scientific opinion. For example:

– He suggests that people claiming to live without food and water for months may be drawing energy from the air or the quantum vacuum.

– He defends homeopathy on the grounds that people get better if they think they are being treated. This is close to approving of doctors lying to their patients.

– ‘Nature’ is in ‘morphic resonance’ with its past, present and future. If one person starts skateboarding others learn by ‘resonance’.

– Sheldrake disputes the scientific view that the fertilised egg contains all the information required to produce an offspring. He claims that genes do not determine the form of organisms. A developing embryo responds in ‘morphic resonance’ to the ‘morphic fields’ of its species.

He does however almost land a punch. Materialists believe that matter is unconscious, a tenable opinion. But they also believe that consciousness is an illusion. That belief is absurd, almost madness. How can materialists deny the reality of their own consciousness? But consciousness does pose a dilemma. Either (1) Consciousness is a non-material phenomenon; or (2) Some degree of consciousness exists in matter. In option 2, the degree must vary from its high level in humans, through a much lower level in higher animals, down to the lowest level in insects, worms and plants. Sheldrake adopts option 2 and includes stones, molecules and all matter. Sheldrake sees the dilemma while Dawkins apparently does not. But by preferring option 2 to option 1, Sheldrake fails to land his punch.

To sum up, neither author wins the argument. Sheldrake could have won had he not confused materialist philosophy with science and not indulged in pseudo-science. Dawkins comes across as by far the better scientist and debater but takes aim at a target that a materialist can never destroy: human aspiration for a world not of the flesh but of the spirit.

Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion ignores symbiosis and The Riddle of Sex in his argument. This is surprising as it has significant implications for his logic.

Symbiosis is defined as a biological relationship in which two species live in close proximity to each other and interact regularly in such a way as to benefit one or both of the organisms. When both partners benefit, this variety of symbiosis is known as mutualism. Where only one partner benefits the arrangement is known as parasitism, a parasite being an organism that obtains nourishment or other life support from a host, usually without killing it. Commensalism is the term used to describe the relationship where only one of the two organisms or species derives benefit, but in this case it manages to do so without causing harm to the host.

We will deal primarily with Symbiosis where both parties to the relationship work together (often seemingly unknowingly) and both gain benefit, that is, mutualism. Of all the objections to the theory of evolution, arguably this phenomenon poses the greatest threat. Evolution through natural selection has for the past one hundred and fifty years dominated the thinking of most evolutionists. Yet, there is change in the wind, not least from the increased awareness of the implications of inter-dependent relationships between species. Darwin himself considered the question when he said in On the Origin of Species:

“If it could be proved that any part of the structure of any one species had been formed for the exclusive good of another species, it would annihilate my theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection.”

Strictly speaking, of course, Darwin may not have been talking about Symbiosis because he used the phrase ‘exclusive good’, but whatever the interpretation of Darwin’s words, it is clear that the principle of symbiosis presents a formidable challenge to the idea of evolution and particularly to the principle of natural selection.

The best way to consider symbiosis is to look at specific relationships between organisms. Examples of such relationships abound in the natural world. (From Wikipedia)

Consider the goby fish, which sometimes lives together with a shrimp. The shrimp digs and cleans up a burrow in the sand in which both the shrimp and the goby fish live. The shrimp is almost blind leaving it vulnerable to predators when above ground. In case of danger the goby fish touches the shrimp with its tail to warn it. When that happens both the shrimp and goby fish quickly retract into the burrow.

A famous land version of symbiosis is the relationship of the Egyptian Plover bird and the crocodile. In this relationship, the bird is well known for preying on parasites that feed on crocodiles which are potentially harmful for the animal. To that end, the crocodile openly invites the bird to hunt on his body, even going so far as to open the jaws to allow the bird enter the mouth safely to hunt. For the bird’s part, this relationship not only is a ready source of food, but a safe one considering that few predator species would dare strike at the bird at such proximity to its host.

Then there is the case of symbiosis that exists between siboglinid tube worms and symbiotic bacteria that live at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. This is a mutualistic symbiosis where the worm completely loses its digestive tract and is solely reliant on their internal symbiants for nutrition. The bacteria oxidize either hydrogen sulphide or methane which the host supplies to them. These worms were discovered in the late 1970s at the hydrothermal vents near the Galapagos Islands and have since been found at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps in all of the world’s oceans.

Examples of symbiosis in the natural world abound and it is not difficult to see how this phenomenon threatens the theory of evolution by natural selection. How can chance gradations in both species lead to the development of such relationships? Evolution dictates that such things cannot happen.

This is such a serious objection to the theory of evolution that some are prepared to sacrifice the idea of natural selection as the dominant mechanism. The biologist Lynn Margulis, famous for her work on endosymbiosis (an organism or cell that lives within the body of another organism), contends that symbiosis is a major driving force behind evolution. She is not so much concerned with symbiosis at the level of the organism as at the molecular level. Notwithstanding, she considers Darwin’s notion of evolution, driven by competition, as incomplete, and claims evolution is strongly based on co-operation, interaction, and mutual dependence among organisms, most particularly, bacteria. According to Margulis and Dorion Sagan (1986), “Life did not take over the globe by combat, but by networking.” As in humans, organisms that cooperate with others of their own or different species often out-compete those that do not.

Which brings us neatly to the riddle of sex. Margulis and Sagan devote a chapter of Microcosmos to this subject. How has evolution through natural selection tolerated such a wasteful, unreliable and inefficient practise as two-parent sex, when simple cell-replication is available? Margulis and Sagan explicitly state that two-parent sex cannot have been maintained by natural selection:

“But two-parent sex itself was never maintained by natural selection. Indeed, if the evolutionary process can by-pass biparental sex – through parthenogenesis in beetles, cloning in humans, or any other way – and still preserve complex multicellularity, it no doubt will. Biologically, sexual reproduction is still a waste of energy and time.”

Margulis and Sagan argue that two-parent sex had its origin in symbiosis. Two distinct unrelated happenings became interlocked in a feedback loop; the reduction of number of chromosome cells in the nucleus of offspring cells; and cell and nuclear fusion. This latter occurrence involved the mixing of DNA from sources separated in time and space is described as a form of sex. Finally, this mixing of genetic material become linked to reproductive mechanisms and gave rise to biparental sexual reproduction. To a lay person (such as I) this is hard to follow but the point seems to be that the genetic origin of two-parent sex was symbiotic in nature. And why do we require this method of sex instead of the much simpler method of simple cell division? The answer apparently lies in our ancestors, by virtue of the need to swim (), losing the ability to reproduce asexually.

It is evident that Dawkins can gain no solace from these alternative theories. For him, natural selection must be the dominant mechanism for evolution. Otherwise how does he fit the idea of cooperation into his own model? Where does that leave The Selfish Gene? As we have seen, Dawkins has already started to talk in terms of the evolution of ‘evolvability’. What further ground will he be forced to give? In fact, as we will see later, this is not the challenge for Dawkins that we might have expected. We discuss in a subsequent section his creation of the meme, which is the perfect example of his bending his own rules when it so suits.