A last comment...

As a final comment on the last conversation, I find this quote to sum up pretty much all I wanted to say (and what I genuinely believe in):

"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will." Jawaharlal Nehru (1)

You can be dealt a lousy hand, the way you play it will make you at least avoid grand losses (if you're smart enough), and on the other side, you can be dealt a great hand, but because you're stupid enough not to appreciate it, you'll end up losing and making others lose as well.

1. Jawaharlal Nehru was a pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement, and the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was also a key figure in international politics in the post-war period (in which he was considered the leader of third world interests) and patriarch of the Nehru-Gandhi family, one of the most influential forces in Indian politics.