Friday, May 25, 2007
Recent Investigations
(3)
The Heliocentric heresy. Quite funny and worth a read. The tail of comments comprises about 97 percent of the total. Also, Geocentrism is alive and well, so we have at least two idiots involved with this same theme. One wonders whether senator Brownback of Kansas... naw, couldn't be. Could it? Eheh.
And on the subject of possible politico- religious roots, check out this Google search of the title, god is not Great. There is an extensive Slate quote from that book which might be of interest to folks who intend to vote for the Mormon Republican candidate. I should mention at this point that I finally ordered said book from Amazon, but not before visiting the Southwest Plaza maul. (No joy. The book store there was no more.)
All known bodies in the solar system larger than 200 miles in diameter. This is a fun visual. Use the L/R arrow keys to scan.
The Onion Radio News, just in case you eventually get bored with tonight's posts. As a huge fan of VPL I don't exactly get the female aversion to same.
Photograph of Pope Benedict (via Pharyngula). I'm wondering whether this is quite the image he wants to project. Such a portrait would have done wonders for The Church during the Inquisitions. Speaking of which, thank god America still sepatates church and state! Whew. Things could be a lot worse! I wonder whether the crooked smile is indicative of a clash between left/right brain hemispheres. Do our facial expressions tend to expose internal conflict? Could well be. If The Pope is 'right brained' and if my hypothesis is correct, then the photograph would seem to indicate that at the time he was photographed pope B was doing philosophy with his right brain and psychology with his left. It is doubtful he was thinking about pussy with either side of his brain at the time.
The Heliocentric heresy. Quite funny and worth a read. The tail of comments comprises about 97 percent of the total. Also, Geocentrism is alive and well, so we have at least two idiots involved with this same theme. One wonders whether senator Brownback of Kansas... naw, couldn't be. Could it? Eheh.
And on the subject of possible politico- religious roots, check out this Google search of the title, god is not Great. There is an extensive Slate quote from that book which might be of interest to folks who intend to vote for the Mormon Republican candidate. I should mention at this point that I finally ordered said book from Amazon, but not before visiting the Southwest Plaza maul. (No joy. The book store there was no more.)
All known bodies in the solar system larger than 200 miles in diameter. This is a fun visual. Use the L/R arrow keys to scan.
The Onion Radio News, just in case you eventually get bored with tonight's posts. As a huge fan of VPL I don't exactly get the female aversion to same.
Photograph of Pope Benedict (via Pharyngula). I'm wondering whether this is quite the image he wants to project. Such a portrait would have done wonders for The Church during the Inquisitions. Speaking of which, thank god America still sepatates church and state! Whew. Things could be a lot worse! I wonder whether the crooked smile is indicative of a clash between left/right brain hemispheres. Do our facial expressions tend to expose internal conflict? Could well be. If The Pope is 'right brained' and if my hypothesis is correct, then the photograph would seem to indicate that at the time he was photographed pope B was doing philosophy with his right brain and psychology with his left. It is doubtful he was thinking about pussy with either side of his brain at the time.
Acid Disassembled and Reassembled
(2)
Both the upside and the downside of an Acid trip are fun, but totally different kinds of fun.
The upside is sensual. The downside is mystical. The peak (if any) is actually a 'plateau' wherein absolutely nothing you experience makes any sense whatsoever. You endure this phase whether you like it or not. I recommend the (peak) experience if only as an example of something you want to avoid in the future. Once you experience this phase you will recognize the approaches to this phase in later trips and you will understand how truly precious your life actually is and you will hate it that you must now say goodbye to your previous life. You may even say to yourself something like, 'If you ever do this to me again I will kill you.'
But there will come a time when chaos gives way to the realization that you are now coming down from an LSD trip. Oh Joy!! You will watch in fascination as the buzz and beauty aspect of the trip fades and the reassembly phase begins. You will witness your self being reassembled. This will happen as about the fourth hour begins. The next four hours after that you will be astonished by how godlike you are becoming as you regain your normal everyday capabilities. After about 12 hours you will be restored to your 'normal' state, but the memory of the experience will never leave you. You can't wait to do it all again. And you will. You will do it over and over again until you get enough of it or your drug sources dry up.
My recommendation is that the Acid Experience become something like Catholic 'communion,' but that it be done only every six months, at the Summer and Winter Solstices. An alternative would have the experience done every three months including the equinoxes. I don't think it would be religiously advisable to do it more often.
Both the upside and the downside of an Acid trip are fun, but totally different kinds of fun.
The upside is sensual. The downside is mystical. The peak (if any) is actually a 'plateau' wherein absolutely nothing you experience makes any sense whatsoever. You endure this phase whether you like it or not. I recommend the (peak) experience if only as an example of something you want to avoid in the future. Once you experience this phase you will recognize the approaches to this phase in later trips and you will understand how truly precious your life actually is and you will hate it that you must now say goodbye to your previous life. You may even say to yourself something like, 'If you ever do this to me again I will kill you.'
But there will come a time when chaos gives way to the realization that you are now coming down from an LSD trip. Oh Joy!! You will watch in fascination as the buzz and beauty aspect of the trip fades and the reassembly phase begins. You will witness your self being reassembled. This will happen as about the fourth hour begins. The next four hours after that you will be astonished by how godlike you are becoming as you regain your normal everyday capabilities. After about 12 hours you will be restored to your 'normal' state, but the memory of the experience will never leave you. You can't wait to do it all again. And you will. You will do it over and over again until you get enough of it or your drug sources dry up.
My recommendation is that the Acid Experience become something like Catholic 'communion,' but that it be done only every six months, at the Summer and Winter Solstices. An alternative would have the experience done every three months including the equinoxes. I don't think it would be religiously advisable to do it more often.
Acid Information
(1)
Well, if you concluded from the end of last friday's posts that the music was Beethoven's symphony #6, you are correct. Something about that music in the presence of inebriants seems to turn my mind back to those astonishing days. Tonight's music is Beethoven again: piano concerto #5. This is the one we would play when we smoked pot, then tried to put a giant puzzle together. There were five of us (me, Kootch, Kathy, Jenny, Mark) and I was in charge of the music. What hilarious fun that was! I suppose that those kids remember Beethoven's symphony #6 as, 'trip music,' and Beethoven's piano concerto #5 as, 'pot music,' and could not tell you the actual names of the pieces. I heard it on KVOD today.
Regarding the two phrases 'Acid Myth' and 'Acid Barrier,' a myth is a myth. I 'created' this myth as a fun way to interpret the mystical effects of Acid and related hallucinogens. The 'Acid Barrier' is an actual psychological phenomenon related to brain function during tripping. Most of the Acid Trip is not remembered because the Acid 'processes' disable memory. Yet some memory is formed, because the 'Yes! Now I remember!' experience was observed over and over, trip after trip. It somewhat resembles the situation I face every week when I read what I wrote the previous friday night, drunk as a skunk.
This may be a good time to caution you to be very careful about 'set and setting' before doing Acid. 'Set' means your internal psychology. 'Setting' means your immediate surroundings. When we did Acid the 'set and the setting' was perfect: we were a close family group in excellent mental health, at home. We had no 'acid expectations.' We knew only that Acid would make us higher than anything we had done previously. (But I had researched Acid to some extent in books and had decided that it was not as dangerous as the media had represented it to be. Same with Marijuana.)
You do not want to do Acid alone. Nor do you want to do Acid in any kind of 'experimental context' - certainly not as a CIA or medical 'subject.' You need familiar surroundings and loving friends or family. Nor should you have 'Acid expectations.' The Acid Experience will not conform to your expectations. You need to be open and prepared for whatever happens, ready to be surprised. And you will be surprised. Very surprised.
Furthermore you need to devote at least 24 hours to the experience, which will go on and on for about 12 hours. You will need at least another 12 hours to recover. Better 48 hours.
Generally speaking, the Acid Trip is an up and down trip. You go up and then you come down. The upside is all buzz and beauty. The downside is all relief and reassembly. There may or may not be a middle phase of total chaos, depending on how many micrograms of LSD you have imbibed. Do not take too little Acid. An overdose is much better than an underdose. I have experienced as much as 2.5 doses and as little as .5 doses. My personal preference is about 1.75 doses - a bit too much. The perfect trip may be 1.5 doses.
Well, if you concluded from the end of last friday's posts that the music was Beethoven's symphony #6, you are correct. Something about that music in the presence of inebriants seems to turn my mind back to those astonishing days. Tonight's music is Beethoven again: piano concerto #5. This is the one we would play when we smoked pot, then tried to put a giant puzzle together. There were five of us (me, Kootch, Kathy, Jenny, Mark) and I was in charge of the music. What hilarious fun that was! I suppose that those kids remember Beethoven's symphony #6 as, 'trip music,' and Beethoven's piano concerto #5 as, 'pot music,' and could not tell you the actual names of the pieces. I heard it on KVOD today.
Regarding the two phrases 'Acid Myth' and 'Acid Barrier,' a myth is a myth. I 'created' this myth as a fun way to interpret the mystical effects of Acid and related hallucinogens. The 'Acid Barrier' is an actual psychological phenomenon related to brain function during tripping. Most of the Acid Trip is not remembered because the Acid 'processes' disable memory. Yet some memory is formed, because the 'Yes! Now I remember!' experience was observed over and over, trip after trip. It somewhat resembles the situation I face every week when I read what I wrote the previous friday night, drunk as a skunk.
This may be a good time to caution you to be very careful about 'set and setting' before doing Acid. 'Set' means your internal psychology. 'Setting' means your immediate surroundings. When we did Acid the 'set and the setting' was perfect: we were a close family group in excellent mental health, at home. We had no 'acid expectations.' We knew only that Acid would make us higher than anything we had done previously. (But I had researched Acid to some extent in books and had decided that it was not as dangerous as the media had represented it to be. Same with Marijuana.)
You do not want to do Acid alone. Nor do you want to do Acid in any kind of 'experimental context' - certainly not as a CIA or medical 'subject.' You need familiar surroundings and loving friends or family. Nor should you have 'Acid expectations.' The Acid Experience will not conform to your expectations. You need to be open and prepared for whatever happens, ready to be surprised. And you will be surprised. Very surprised.
Furthermore you need to devote at least 24 hours to the experience, which will go on and on for about 12 hours. You will need at least another 12 hours to recover. Better 48 hours.
Generally speaking, the Acid Trip is an up and down trip. You go up and then you come down. The upside is all buzz and beauty. The downside is all relief and reassembly. There may or may not be a middle phase of total chaos, depending on how many micrograms of LSD you have imbibed. Do not take too little Acid. An overdose is much better than an underdose. I have experienced as much as 2.5 doses and as little as .5 doses. My personal preference is about 1.75 doses - a bit too much. The perfect trip may be 1.5 doses.
Friday, May 18, 2007
I Love You
(7)
Kootch is sleeping and I still have beers left. More to the point I am on my favorite subject of Acid once again. At the risk of boring you I will proceed. You must not miss Acid. You absolutely must not go through an entire lifetime in the modern era and not do Acid. God would never forgive you. You must do Acid at least once. I repeat: She would never forgive you (Ok, ok, maybe She would, but don't count on it) if you lacked the courage to do it.
That having been said as preamble, welcome to what I call The Acid Myth:
God was bored. She had been around for an infinite amount of time and She was bored. As She stared reluctantly into the future She saw no respite from Her eternal boredom. She had been hanging there in the sky waaaay to long. She decided to to created us (actually the matter which composes us) in the Big Bang. She knew exactly what She was doing when She created us. She also knew that in creating us she would die forever, that She would be killed in The Big Bang, thereby dying in childbirth. After an eternity of boredom She wanted to end it all. You can't blame Her. But She wanted us to know of our ultimate origins in Her. She needed a way to communicate Her love to us, Her children. She wanted us to know. She wanted us to be able to reconstruct the processes surrounding our birth and Her death.
Toward that end She contrived DNA, including the DNA for Mescaline and Psycilobin. Furthermore She knew that Albert Hoffman would eventually synthesize LSD, and that we would end up tripping our brains out, eventually arriving at the conclusion that SHE was our mother.
She created the laws of physics and chemistry, a complex undertaking which She did not fully understand but which She knew could never terminate in any kind of evil.
Then She whispered the magic words, 'I love you.' The resulting explosion killed Her, and Our Universe was born. Nighty-night.
Kootch is sleeping and I still have beers left. More to the point I am on my favorite subject of Acid once again. At the risk of boring you I will proceed. You must not miss Acid. You absolutely must not go through an entire lifetime in the modern era and not do Acid. God would never forgive you. You must do Acid at least once. I repeat: She would never forgive you (Ok, ok, maybe She would, but don't count on it) if you lacked the courage to do it.
That having been said as preamble, welcome to what I call The Acid Myth:
God was bored. She had been around for an infinite amount of time and She was bored. As She stared reluctantly into the future She saw no respite from Her eternal boredom. She had been hanging there in the sky waaaay to long. She decided to to created us (actually the matter which composes us) in the Big Bang. She knew exactly what She was doing when She created us. She also knew that in creating us she would die forever, that She would be killed in The Big Bang, thereby dying in childbirth. After an eternity of boredom She wanted to end it all. You can't blame Her. But She wanted us to know of our ultimate origins in Her. She needed a way to communicate Her love to us, Her children. She wanted us to know. She wanted us to be able to reconstruct the processes surrounding our birth and Her death.
Toward that end She contrived DNA, including the DNA for Mescaline and Psycilobin. Furthermore She knew that Albert Hoffman would eventually synthesize LSD, and that we would end up tripping our brains out, eventually arriving at the conclusion that SHE was our mother.
She created the laws of physics and chemistry, a complex undertaking which She did not fully understand but which She knew could never terminate in any kind of evil.
Then She whispered the magic words, 'I love you.' The resulting explosion killed Her, and Our Universe was born. Nighty-night.
The Acid Barrier
(6)
Barf. Only 2050 (tap) and I am out of subjects and only half drunk. Hmm...
Ok. I like the subject of revising ancient 'religion' into something more appropriate to a modern scientific and technological culture. I see 'Abject Atheism' as a non starter because of the human emotions called, 'wonder and awe.' You can be an Atheist and still be filled with 'wonder and awe,' and that makes you a 'religious Atheist.' Abject Atheism is a 'logical state,' but remember that emotion preceeds logic. In the case of Abject Atheism emotion has been subdued to the point of inconsequentiality. Logic rules. Emotion is reserved for stuff like pussy.
It is possible to go through a lifetime of suppressing religious wonder and awe, or at least suppressing the urge to mention it in polite scientific company. Many folks do that.
It only takes one Acid trip to screw up a lifetime of such supression. You enter an Acid trip as an abject atheist and you exit as something else, a religious atheist, your certainties shattered. You never found god back there but your certainty remained shattered. You want to do Acid again! You want to test your hypotheses and you have a hundred of them at least. You do more Acid. Your questions are answered, then quickly forgotten, the result being that you need to do even more Acid.
You eventually conclude that there is an Acid Barrier which prevents transfer of information from the Acid World to the Real World.
You try to get around it by relating your experiences in real time to a recorder or to a witness but you find it impossible to formulate your current state in actual words to either. You say things like, 'Uhh...' or 'Wow...' The Acid Barrier remains opague.
Every time you do Acid you say to yourself, 'Yes! Now I remember!' Then you forget.
You always remember the unforgetable visual beauty or it if not the details. But you want to remember the details! Request denied. No details.
Barf. Only 2050 (tap) and I am out of subjects and only half drunk. Hmm...
Ok. I like the subject of revising ancient 'religion' into something more appropriate to a modern scientific and technological culture. I see 'Abject Atheism' as a non starter because of the human emotions called, 'wonder and awe.' You can be an Atheist and still be filled with 'wonder and awe,' and that makes you a 'religious Atheist.' Abject Atheism is a 'logical state,' but remember that emotion preceeds logic. In the case of Abject Atheism emotion has been subdued to the point of inconsequentiality. Logic rules. Emotion is reserved for stuff like pussy.
It is possible to go through a lifetime of suppressing religious wonder and awe, or at least suppressing the urge to mention it in polite scientific company. Many folks do that.
It only takes one Acid trip to screw up a lifetime of such supression. You enter an Acid trip as an abject atheist and you exit as something else, a religious atheist, your certainties shattered. You never found god back there but your certainty remained shattered. You want to do Acid again! You want to test your hypotheses and you have a hundred of them at least. You do more Acid. Your questions are answered, then quickly forgotten, the result being that you need to do even more Acid.
You eventually conclude that there is an Acid Barrier which prevents transfer of information from the Acid World to the Real World.
You try to get around it by relating your experiences in real time to a recorder or to a witness but you find it impossible to formulate your current state in actual words to either. You say things like, 'Uhh...' or 'Wow...' The Acid Barrier remains opague.
Every time you do Acid you say to yourself, 'Yes! Now I remember!' Then you forget.
You always remember the unforgetable visual beauty or it if not the details. But you want to remember the details! Request denied. No details.
Honor?
(5)
Full disclosure: I have never watched American Idol. Nor do I ever intend to watch it. And regarding the issue of 'law vs morality' I come down on the side of modern western law.
Which brings us to the subject of 'honor.' What is 'honor?' Who owns 'honor?' Do your neighbors own your 'honor' or do you own it? In the first case 'honor' means 'reputation,' and in the second case 'honor' means 'integrity.' There seems to be no such thing as 'honor' otherwise. Therefore there is no such thing as 'honor.' Honor is a figment, constantly confused with the concepts of 'reputation' and 'integrity.' The fact that in primitive (mostly Muslim) cultures 'honor killings' are allowed, defines those cultures as ancient and inferior, sadly in need of a modern upgrade.
Full disclosure: I have never watched American Idol. Nor do I ever intend to watch it. And regarding the issue of 'law vs morality' I come down on the side of modern western law.
Which brings us to the subject of 'honor.' What is 'honor?' Who owns 'honor?' Do your neighbors own your 'honor' or do you own it? In the first case 'honor' means 'reputation,' and in the second case 'honor' means 'integrity.' There seems to be no such thing as 'honor' otherwise. Therefore there is no such thing as 'honor.' Honor is a figment, constantly confused with the concepts of 'reputation' and 'integrity.' The fact that in primitive (mostly Muslim) cultures 'honor killings' are allowed, defines those cultures as ancient and inferior, sadly in need of a modern upgrade.
Shame on Dreamz?
(4)
The title says it all if you watched the last Survivor Sunday night: Yau-man offered Dreamz a deal: 'I'll give you this new truck if perchance you are in a position to transfer your immunity to me when four of us are left. Agreed?'
Dreamz, vehicleless since birth, agreed: he had only a one in four chance, a good bet.
Eventually, Dreams and friends tried to oust Yau-man for two reasons: Dreamz' bet, and the fact that Yau-man would certainly win the final four, if it came to that. No joy: came to the crunch Yau-man played the Immunity Idol with the result that Stacy (oriental girl) got voted out instead, leaving four: Yau-man and three African-Americans including Dreamz.
Question: would Dreamz honor his agreement with Yau-man? Failing that, would Dreamz give back the truck?
Dreamz did indeed win immunity and the answer turned out to be 'no' and 'no.'
The result was an unseemly situation, racewise, where the generous (and naive) Yau-man was betrayed by two 'brothers' and one 'sister.' Eheh.
The implication was that the AAs talked the simpleton Dreams into reneging and keeping the truck. The further implication was that there was nothing immoral in those proceedings because 'after all it is only a game.' The game rules apparently backed Dreamz.
Question: did Dreamz commit two transgressions against the Ten Commandments (lying and stealing)?
What we have here, in case you didn't notice, is a classic case of law versus morality.
Question: will this high visibility issue degrade the AA image in modern affairs? Specifically, did this contribute to the recent failure of the obviously superior black woman on American Idol? More importantly, will this issue affect Obama's Run? I think so. Many voters will have conjured up the image of AAs taking over and getting even for slavery.
The title says it all if you watched the last Survivor Sunday night: Yau-man offered Dreamz a deal: 'I'll give you this new truck if perchance you are in a position to transfer your immunity to me when four of us are left. Agreed?'
Dreamz, vehicleless since birth, agreed: he had only a one in four chance, a good bet.
Eventually, Dreams and friends tried to oust Yau-man for two reasons: Dreamz' bet, and the fact that Yau-man would certainly win the final four, if it came to that. No joy: came to the crunch Yau-man played the Immunity Idol with the result that Stacy (oriental girl) got voted out instead, leaving four: Yau-man and three African-Americans including Dreamz.
Question: would Dreamz honor his agreement with Yau-man? Failing that, would Dreamz give back the truck?
Dreamz did indeed win immunity and the answer turned out to be 'no' and 'no.'
The result was an unseemly situation, racewise, where the generous (and naive) Yau-man was betrayed by two 'brothers' and one 'sister.' Eheh.
The implication was that the AAs talked the simpleton Dreams into reneging and keeping the truck. The further implication was that there was nothing immoral in those proceedings because 'after all it is only a game.' The game rules apparently backed Dreamz.
Question: did Dreamz commit two transgressions against the Ten Commandments (lying and stealing)?
What we have here, in case you didn't notice, is a classic case of law versus morality.
Question: will this high visibility issue degrade the AA image in modern affairs? Specifically, did this contribute to the recent failure of the obviously superior black woman on American Idol? More importantly, will this issue affect Obama's Run? I think so. Many voters will have conjured up the image of AAs taking over and getting even for slavery.
Good Riddance
(3)
Jerry Falwell dropped dead recently, and not a moment too soon. I was not a fan, of course, but I did admire his final technique. What a way to go! One minute he was engaged in everyday life, and the next minute he felt weird as his vision faded to black and the last thing he heard was his fat ass hitting the floor... then nothing, forever. Way to go! In fact, I'd like to make my exit in that very same fashion, taken by surprise. I love surprises!
Falwell lived in what Carl Sagan called 'The Demon-haunted World,' the unfortunate aspect of which was that the most dangerous 'demon' in that world was the very god he worshiped. He thought of that god as a stern vindictive father capable of burning his unruly children in the fires of hell forever. He taught that message to every child who came within grasp of his voice. One wonders whether the pathetic Jew who practices 'metzitza b'peh' and related sexual perversions quite comes to equal Falwell's verbal perversions. Thinking about it just now I suppose the mind can be restored more readily than the foreskin, therefore Falwell is the less evil...
Or is he?
Jerry Falwell dropped dead recently, and not a moment too soon. I was not a fan, of course, but I did admire his final technique. What a way to go! One minute he was engaged in everyday life, and the next minute he felt weird as his vision faded to black and the last thing he heard was his fat ass hitting the floor... then nothing, forever. Way to go! In fact, I'd like to make my exit in that very same fashion, taken by surprise. I love surprises!
Falwell lived in what Carl Sagan called 'The Demon-haunted World,' the unfortunate aspect of which was that the most dangerous 'demon' in that world was the very god he worshiped. He thought of that god as a stern vindictive father capable of burning his unruly children in the fires of hell forever. He taught that message to every child who came within grasp of his voice. One wonders whether the pathetic Jew who practices 'metzitza b'peh' and related sexual perversions quite comes to equal Falwell's verbal perversions. Thinking about it just now I suppose the mind can be restored more readily than the foreskin, therefore Falwell is the less evil...
Or is he?
Naughty Me
(2)
Had an interesting experience this afternoon: I'd noticed that there was a book store in the little shopping maul across from KSS and had made a note to visit it. Today was the day. The name of the store was, 'Logos.' So before buying a 16 wheeler of Natural Light from KSS today I gave it a visit. I was full of anticipation as I parked in front of the store: The only other book store within (boom) short driving range was decomissioned a couple of years ago with the demise of the Southglen Maul and I had missed it sorely. Was this my new book store?
I failed to notice the large yellow cross on the store name as I walked in, but it slowly dawned on me as I walked around inside that this was a special store devoted exclusively to Christian books. Barf. There were two people inside: the woman at the cash register and a tall male customer who was engaged in conversation with her. Should I? Dare I? I thought it over for a minute then made my decision.
During a lull in their conversation I asked the woman (good-looking yum-yum!) whether they stocked, 'God is not Great.' I added, 'I think I'm in the wrong place.' The book title did not ring a bell with the woman. The male customer remained silent. She began to search her inventory on the computer. I said, 'I didn't realize this was a Christian book store. It is not exactly a Christian book.' 'Then we don't have it,' she said, smiling. I thanked her and left.
Back in the car my conscience nagged me: had I planted a seed of destruction? Would one or both, out of curiosity, read the book and have their faith destroyed? Would Christianity collapse as a result, as a tidal wave of doubt swept concentrically out of Denver across the known world?
'Oh goodie!' I thought.
Had an interesting experience this afternoon: I'd noticed that there was a book store in the little shopping maul across from KSS and had made a note to visit it. Today was the day. The name of the store was, 'Logos.' So before buying a 16 wheeler of Natural Light from KSS today I gave it a visit. I was full of anticipation as I parked in front of the store: The only other book store within (boom) short driving range was decomissioned a couple of years ago with the demise of the Southglen Maul and I had missed it sorely. Was this my new book store?
I failed to notice the large yellow cross on the store name as I walked in, but it slowly dawned on me as I walked around inside that this was a special store devoted exclusively to Christian books. Barf. There were two people inside: the woman at the cash register and a tall male customer who was engaged in conversation with her. Should I? Dare I? I thought it over for a minute then made my decision.
During a lull in their conversation I asked the woman (good-looking yum-yum!) whether they stocked, 'God is not Great.' I added, 'I think I'm in the wrong place.' The book title did not ring a bell with the woman. The male customer remained silent. She began to search her inventory on the computer. I said, 'I didn't realize this was a Christian book store. It is not exactly a Christian book.' 'Then we don't have it,' she said, smiling. I thanked her and left.
Back in the car my conscience nagged me: had I planted a seed of destruction? Would one or both, out of curiosity, read the book and have their faith destroyed? Would Christianity collapse as a result, as a tidal wave of doubt swept concentrically out of Denver across the known world?
'Oh goodie!' I thought.
Kootch Returns
(1)
Well maybe. But one myth is as good as another, and in fact, I see my version as preferable in the age of Science and Acid. Those ancient Jews knew shit about the universe, as you can see from their myths in the Very Old and Odius Testament.
Kootch has returned from vacation. This means, among other things, that I can get out and about without the aid of digital padlocks on the (inside of) the apartment door. By the way, I use two of them. I figure it would take 'them' at least three hours on average to break a single lock, and I use two locks. I have a 4-lock capability and I have used it at least once. 'They' could simply force their way in, of course, but that would leave evidence of forced entry. (Wow. I see that Blogger now saves your stuff automatically! I like it.)
It's been a rough week: both sunday (boom) and monday night I was treated to at least double the previous radiation intensity. They have either boosted their capability or they have not used their full capability against me until this week. The other three nights were typical, resulting in my current sleep-deprived state.
Tonight's agenda is a bit skinny:
----------
The book store
Falwell drops dead
The Dreamz effect
Honor killings
----------
Well maybe. But one myth is as good as another, and in fact, I see my version as preferable in the age of Science and Acid. Those ancient Jews knew shit about the universe, as you can see from their myths in the Very Old and Odius Testament.
Kootch has returned from vacation. This means, among other things, that I can get out and about without the aid of digital padlocks on the (inside of) the apartment door. By the way, I use two of them. I figure it would take 'them' at least three hours on average to break a single lock, and I use two locks. I have a 4-lock capability and I have used it at least once. 'They' could simply force their way in, of course, but that would leave evidence of forced entry. (Wow. I see that Blogger now saves your stuff automatically! I like it.)
It's been a rough week: both sunday (boom) and monday night I was treated to at least double the previous radiation intensity. They have either boosted their capability or they have not used their full capability against me until this week. The other three nights were typical, resulting in my current sleep-deprived state.
Tonight's agenda is a bit skinny:
----------
The book store
Falwell drops dead
The Dreamz effect
Honor killings
----------
Saturday, May 12, 2007
The Structure of Myth
(6)
Very strange stuff: for the second time tonight I was required to do a 'word verification.' Something strange is going on, but I don't know what. In any case it is time to wrap this up.
Before leaving you tonight I should like to cite The Joyous Cosmology, by Alan Watts. As you may or may not know, Alan Watts was all about Modern Mysticism. He saw Modern Mysticism as the natural outcome of the clash between ancient religion - mostly Ancient Eastern Religion - and Modern Culture (Modernity) including modern chemistry. Watts saw 'Eastern Religion' in terms of The Psychedelic Experience. Watts thought that Eastern Religion had its origin in ancient chemistry (or ancient botany) and that the human psychedelic experience was a true revelation from God.
That is to say that Watts eventually came to the conclusion that The Creator, realizing that after The Creation, He (She) would no longer exist, invented a method by which we might track back to the truth of the matter of our origin and therefore to HiR, who no longer existed, having died for some reason or other in The Beginning - possibly during The Big Bang: our mother longed for us to know from whence we came. Toward that end She invented the natural psychedelics. She knew that we would eventually figure it all out as we tripped our brains out in the 20th Century.
Furthermore She knew she would die during childbirth, and that we would eventually realize what had happened, and that we would love Her.
Nighty night.
Very strange stuff: for the second time tonight I was required to do a 'word verification.' Something strange is going on, but I don't know what. In any case it is time to wrap this up.
Before leaving you tonight I should like to cite The Joyous Cosmology, by Alan Watts. As you may or may not know, Alan Watts was all about Modern Mysticism. He saw Modern Mysticism as the natural outcome of the clash between ancient religion - mostly Ancient Eastern Religion - and Modern Culture (Modernity) including modern chemistry. Watts saw 'Eastern Religion' in terms of The Psychedelic Experience. Watts thought that Eastern Religion had its origin in ancient chemistry (or ancient botany) and that the human psychedelic experience was a true revelation from God.
That is to say that Watts eventually came to the conclusion that The Creator, realizing that after The Creation, He (She) would no longer exist, invented a method by which we might track back to the truth of the matter of our origin and therefore to HiR, who no longer existed, having died for some reason or other in The Beginning - possibly during The Big Bang: our mother longed for us to know from whence we came. Toward that end She invented the natural psychedelics. She knew that we would eventually figure it all out as we tripped our brains out in the 20th Century.
Furthermore She knew she would die during childbirth, and that we would eventually realize what had happened, and that we would love Her.
Nighty night.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Amazing History
(5)
Which brings us to the recent Nightline debate between naive Christians and naive Atheists. What hilarity! I loved it! It was the occasion when The Rational Response Squad faced off with the The Way of the Master squad. Fun stuff! We need more of this. Our planet can only benefit from this kind of semi-serious discourse in a nuclear age.
As I watched that bizarre contest I was astonished by the naivete of people who presume to teach the rest of us about ultimate concerns. I marveled (for example) at how TRRS 'begged the question' by labeling The Universe as 'The Creation,' then offered us the conclusion that 'a creation needs a creator,' QED! Motherfuck! What powerful logic!
Then there was the case of the cop who confiscated some marijuana from a stash of evidence, then convinced his wife to cook up some of it in a batch of brownies. Both were drug-naive. What a story! Seems that after the Ganja took effect they panicked and called 911 thinking they were about to die. The male is quoted as saying something like, 'Time has slowed waaay down. I think we're dying. Please come.' That is soooo fucking funny!
lastly, there is the current PBS series on the 1998 Vatican decision to open secret records of The Inquisition. First there was the campaign against The Cathars; Then there was the campaign against the Jews and Muslims of Spain - very interesting to me, since my Catholic high school (BEHS) did not really teach that sort of history. The next installment is the European version, which almost nailed Galileo. I can hardly wait. Wednesday, I think.
Which brings us to the recent Nightline debate between naive Christians and naive Atheists. What hilarity! I loved it! It was the occasion when The Rational Response Squad faced off with the The Way of the Master squad. Fun stuff! We need more of this. Our planet can only benefit from this kind of semi-serious discourse in a nuclear age.
As I watched that bizarre contest I was astonished by the naivete of people who presume to teach the rest of us about ultimate concerns. I marveled (for example) at how TRRS 'begged the question' by labeling The Universe as 'The Creation,' then offered us the conclusion that 'a creation needs a creator,' QED! Motherfuck! What powerful logic!
Then there was the case of the cop who confiscated some marijuana from a stash of evidence, then convinced his wife to cook up some of it in a batch of brownies. Both were drug-naive. What a story! Seems that after the Ganja took effect they panicked and called 911 thinking they were about to die. The male is quoted as saying something like, 'Time has slowed waaay down. I think we're dying. Please come.' That is soooo fucking funny!
lastly, there is the current PBS series on the 1998 Vatican decision to open secret records of The Inquisition. First there was the campaign against The Cathars; Then there was the campaign against the Jews and Muslims of Spain - very interesting to me, since my Catholic high school (BEHS) did not really teach that sort of history. The next installment is the European version, which almost nailed Galileo. I can hardly wait. Wednesday, I think.
Corrupting God
(4)
God hung up suddenly soon after the last exchange. I got the impression that it would not be a good idea to call Him back the same day. I will contact Him again next week after He has had time to cool off. But before He hung up I got in one last suggestion: I asked Him whether He could cook up a batch of Ethanol (C2H6O). He replied in the affirmative. I then suggested that He do so, and then take a big swig of it. It was at that point that He hung up.
Time for the notes:
Al Sharpton appears to have caught Imus' 'foot-in-mouth disease.' Appearing on a show with the Atheist Richard Dawkins, Sharpton implied that Romney would eventually be defeated by the people who really believed in God. Sharpton later denied the obvious, thereby adding insult to obvious bigroty.
John Brenderik is pissed. Seems the folks at Royal Cornwall Hospital mis-diagnosed his pancreatitus as terminal pancreatic cancer. Brenderik, determined that his last days should be his best, then spent his small fortune on the usual bullshit. Later, broke, he was advised by said hospital of the error. He reacted in rage and is now sueing said hospital for the money he spent making his last days his best days.
Pope Benedict XVI has suggested that politicians who endorse abortion should be excommunicated. But is not The Earth already well past having been 'filled?' And has Limbo not recently been declared a 'conjecture?'
Who doesn't love Ann? (What a burden to be universally loved! I could never do it. I would need a good dose of hatred to balance things out before I could allow myself to feel comfortable in a world full of idiots.) Keep it up Ann! We already know that you are not perfect, but we really don't want to know why. We just love you the way you are and we are not interested in TMI. You are a typically beautiful woman. I am embarrassed to say this because of the 'gotcha' concept. If I could have avoided this I would have done so. Sorry if I embarrassed you. Argh. I feel so stupid. My excuse is my current state of inebriation.
God hung up suddenly soon after the last exchange. I got the impression that it would not be a good idea to call Him back the same day. I will contact Him again next week after He has had time to cool off. But before He hung up I got in one last suggestion: I asked Him whether He could cook up a batch of Ethanol (C2H6O). He replied in the affirmative. I then suggested that He do so, and then take a big swig of it. It was at that point that He hung up.
Time for the notes:
Al Sharpton appears to have caught Imus' 'foot-in-mouth disease.' Appearing on a show with the Atheist Richard Dawkins, Sharpton implied that Romney would eventually be defeated by the people who really believed in God. Sharpton later denied the obvious, thereby adding insult to obvious bigroty.
John Brenderik is pissed. Seems the folks at Royal Cornwall Hospital mis-diagnosed his pancreatitus as terminal pancreatic cancer. Brenderik, determined that his last days should be his best, then spent his small fortune on the usual bullshit. Later, broke, he was advised by said hospital of the error. He reacted in rage and is now sueing said hospital for the money he spent making his last days his best days.
Pope Benedict XVI has suggested that politicians who endorse abortion should be excommunicated. But is not The Earth already well past having been 'filled?' And has Limbo not recently been declared a 'conjecture?'
Who doesn't love Ann? (What a burden to be universally loved! I could never do it. I would need a good dose of hatred to balance things out before I could allow myself to feel comfortable in a world full of idiots.) Keep it up Ann! We already know that you are not perfect, but we really don't want to know why. We just love you the way you are and we are not interested in TMI. You are a typically beautiful woman. I am embarrassed to say this because of the 'gotcha' concept. If I could have avoided this I would have done so. Sorry if I embarrassed you. Argh. I feel so stupid. My excuse is my current state of inebriation.
I Don't Like Greek
(3)
God answered immediately.
----------
gd: Sorry about our last encounter. I was very busy at the time.
me: I understand. By the way, what was the problem?
gd: Millions of voices buzzing in my head. It has happened before, so I know how to deal with it, but whenever it happens it always seems to catch me unaware and...
me: I understand.
gd: So. What's on your mind?
me: I'm curious: can You tell the difference between C and c?
gd: See and sea? Of course!
me: Also, I was very curious about Your most recent research, especially that concerning the speed of light. I'm wondering about the name of the book. Can you reveal it?
gd: Sure: 'Don't Know Much About Space.' Ever read it?
me: What a coincidence. I'm reading it now. Great book.
gd: I agree. I love the clear, simple language of it. The author should be commended for producing a book which EAASL folks like Me can easily understand.
me: EAASL?
gd: English As A Second Language.
me: Ah. I suppose that Your native Latin knowlege helps in translation?
gd: Hebrew, actually, but I know Latin too, and yes Latin helps.
me: Very interesting. I presume you also know Greek?
gd: I avoid Greek, but I do know it. I know all languages, as you well understand.
me: What's wrong with Greek?
gd: (His voice suddenly acquires a sharp edge to it.) I don't like Greek. Ok?
me: Ok, ok.
God answered immediately.
----------
gd: Sorry about our last encounter. I was very busy at the time.
me: I understand. By the way, what was the problem?
gd: Millions of voices buzzing in my head. It has happened before, so I know how to deal with it, but whenever it happens it always seems to catch me unaware and...
me: I understand.
gd: So. What's on your mind?
me: I'm curious: can You tell the difference between C and c?
gd: See and sea? Of course!
me: Also, I was very curious about Your most recent research, especially that concerning the speed of light. I'm wondering about the name of the book. Can you reveal it?
gd: Sure: 'Don't Know Much About Space.' Ever read it?
me: What a coincidence. I'm reading it now. Great book.
gd: I agree. I love the clear, simple language of it. The author should be commended for producing a book which EAASL folks like Me can easily understand.
me: EAASL?
gd: English As A Second Language.
me: Ah. I suppose that Your native Latin knowlege helps in translation?
gd: Hebrew, actually, but I know Latin too, and yes Latin helps.
me: Very interesting. I presume you also know Greek?
gd: I avoid Greek, but I do know it. I know all languages, as you well understand.
me: What's wrong with Greek?
gd: (His voice suddenly acquires a sharp edge to it.) I don't like Greek. Ok?
me: Ok, ok.
Other Investigations
(2)
As I was reading a 'Crash Course ' in physics (courtesy of Cosmic Log) I noticed that I might have confused God in our most recent conversation by referring to the speed of light as, 'C.' The excellent article actually printed Einsteins equation (E=mc2) wherein the speed of light is clearly a lower-case symbol, and I was horrified (yes horrified!) to see that I might have misled God at a critical moment when He was very busy. I eventually finished the article but not before doing a Google search for microscopic black holes. How dangerous are they? The thread eventually led to How to destroy the earth, a fun look at how a very pissed off God might try to do us all in. I did not mention this article to God in our most recent communication, of course, because some things are better left unsaid. A transcript of the conversation will appear later tonight. In fact, why not do it now?
I think it was wednesday when I visited the Bemis Library for stir-crazy-related reasons, among others. I was drawn to the children's section for some reason. I asked the woman on duty where I might find 'science books for children.' She led me over to that section and explained the layout. When she got to the astronomy section I thanked her and picked up a book. I thumbed through it. Perfect! I took the book over to her desk to check it out. She directed me to the checkout section. Of course! But it has been years... I found checkout, and after a slight delay for technical reasons I was out of the library with my book.
Back home I began to read it. Alright! What a book!
It was then that I picked up the brown telephone and dialed 666.
As I was reading a 'Crash Course ' in physics (courtesy of Cosmic Log) I noticed that I might have confused God in our most recent conversation by referring to the speed of light as, 'C.' The excellent article actually printed Einsteins equation (E=mc2) wherein the speed of light is clearly a lower-case symbol, and I was horrified (yes horrified!) to see that I might have misled God at a critical moment when He was very busy. I eventually finished the article but not before doing a Google search for microscopic black holes. How dangerous are they? The thread eventually led to How to destroy the earth, a fun look at how a very pissed off God might try to do us all in. I did not mention this article to God in our most recent communication, of course, because some things are better left unsaid. A transcript of the conversation will appear later tonight. In fact, why not do it now?
I think it was wednesday when I visited the Bemis Library for stir-crazy-related reasons, among others. I was drawn to the children's section for some reason. I asked the woman on duty where I might find 'science books for children.' She led me over to that section and explained the layout. When she got to the astronomy section I thanked her and picked up a book. I thumbed through it. Perfect! I took the book over to her desk to check it out. She directed me to the checkout section. Of course! But it has been years... I found checkout, and after a slight delay for technical reasons I was out of the library with my book.
Back home I began to read it. Alright! What a book!
It was then that I picked up the brown telephone and dialed 666.
The Week That Was
(1)
I should mention that Theologica Mystica is not one of Osho's better efforts. I read it once, highlighted a few areas, then filed it away. The books I have already mentioned (The Mustard Seed, I Say onto You) are the best of the Christian 'commentaries.' Other good books are, Zen, the Special Transmission, and Yoga: The Science of the Soul (Vol I and II). And I could go on and on. Again, be advised that, as with all cult teachings, you need to be alert for the inevitable bullshit.
I am again sleep-deprived (tap), although I did have a great week due to minimal nighttime radiation. Tonight's music is courtesy of Mozart: Piano Concerto #19. During the week that was I got in a lot of chess lessons on Comcast (as teacher, of course), plus came up with a bunch of notes for possible inclusion in tonight's seance. Since I probably won't get to them all I'll at least list them:
----------
Al Sharpton vs Hitchens: foot-in-mouth disease is contagious.
62 year old man pissed off that he is still alive, sues hospital.
Pope (boom) would deny communion to 'pro-choice' lawmakers.
10 year Ann-iversary!
Nightline gets my undivided attention.
Records of the Inquisition.
Cop gets wasted on brownies, calls 911. Hilarious!
Romney can't imagine anything worse than polygamy. Really?
Pope Benedict XII.
----------
Other stuff of the week can be found in the next post.
I should mention that Theologica Mystica is not one of Osho's better efforts. I read it once, highlighted a few areas, then filed it away. The books I have already mentioned (The Mustard Seed, I Say onto You) are the best of the Christian 'commentaries.' Other good books are, Zen, the Special Transmission, and Yoga: The Science of the Soul (Vol I and II). And I could go on and on. Again, be advised that, as with all cult teachings, you need to be alert for the inevitable bullshit.
I am again sleep-deprived (tap), although I did have a great week due to minimal nighttime radiation. Tonight's music is courtesy of Mozart: Piano Concerto #19. During the week that was I got in a lot of chess lessons on Comcast (as teacher, of course), plus came up with a bunch of notes for possible inclusion in tonight's seance. Since I probably won't get to them all I'll at least list them:
----------
Al Sharpton vs Hitchens: foot-in-mouth disease is contagious.
62 year old man pissed off that he is still alive, sues hospital.
Pope (boom) would deny communion to 'pro-choice' lawmakers.
10 year Ann-iversary!
Nightline gets my undivided attention.
Records of the Inquisition.
Cop gets wasted on brownies, calls 911. Hilarious!
Romney can't imagine anything worse than polygamy. Really?
Pope Benedict XII.
----------
Other stuff of the week can be found in the next post.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
The Miracle of the Moment
(6)
Which brings me to a relatively safe place: quotations. I love to quote astonishing people. Lessee... herewith more from Osho's Theologica Mystica:
----------
Murphy says, 'Never bow to authority but always tip your hat.'
'Love the moment with intensity, passion, totality, and forget about spiritual growth.'
'A lie, says Murphy, is a very poor substitute for the truth but the only one discovered so far.'
'The priest is an enemy of the mystic.'
'Just to be is more than one can believe. To be able to breathe, to be able to see the rising sun, to be able to hear the chirping of the birds, to be able to feel love, prayer, gratitude, silence... to be able to pee in one's pants without guilt at this very moment - this is a miracle.'
'Hell is the most false thing in the world - it exists not. Heaven is the only reality. We are in it right now, this very moment. We cannot be anywhere else. If you are in hell that is your creation, your fantasy, you are seeing a dream.'
----------
And I could go on and on but you get the idea. By the way, in case you didn't catch it, I modified quote #5. You will have to read the book if you want to get to the truth of the matter.
Which brings me to a relatively safe place: quotations. I love to quote astonishing people. Lessee... herewith more from Osho's Theologica Mystica:
----------
Murphy says, 'Never bow to authority but always tip your hat.'
'Love the moment with intensity, passion, totality, and forget about spiritual growth.'
'A lie, says Murphy, is a very poor substitute for the truth but the only one discovered so far.'
'The priest is an enemy of the mystic.'
'Just to be is more than one can believe. To be able to breathe, to be able to see the rising sun, to be able to hear the chirping of the birds, to be able to feel love, prayer, gratitude, silence... to be able to pee in one's pants without guilt at this very moment - this is a miracle.'
'Hell is the most false thing in the world - it exists not. Heaven is the only reality. We are in it right now, this very moment. We cannot be anywhere else. If you are in hell that is your creation, your fantasy, you are seeing a dream.'
----------
And I could go on and on but you get the idea. By the way, in case you didn't catch it, I modified quote #5. You will have to read the book if you want to get to the truth of the matter.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Relative Sobriety
(5)
I'm operating in slightly (tap) sleep-deprived mode. Yesterday I was really sleep-deprived and attempted to prevent further SD activity by taking a nap from 1200 to 1300, then by hitting the sack at 2300. No Joy. There was heavy radiation from 0300 - 1030 (thump) today, with occasional gas. I was able to get some sleep during a lull in the radiation, but am not at all at my best tonight. Good news is that I've discovered that during a nap you can benefit even though you never get to sleep. You only need to allow your mind to dwell on pleasurable thoughts (whatever they might be) while avoiding all thinking about 'obligations.' Abandon 'obligations' during naps. Forget 'the future.' Dwell on what your mind loves to think about. It works even if you don't sleep!
By the way, I've come up with a new theory concerning electromagnetic radiation. The previous theory posited antennas in the ceiling below. The new theory is based on the idea that the local electrical wiring can be 'hijacked.' That is to say that a powerful (tap) electromagnetic current can be superimposed on the normal everyday 60 cycle current, resulting in the perceived radiation. This is my currently favored theory.
Been having much difficulty recently (during the last hour or two) with Blogger. And now I see that before I can save a post I have to do the 'verification' routine. Oh well...
My current music is Beethoven's symphony #6. I recommend this piece during an Acid Trip, but I advise you to bypass the 4th movement. You do not want to hear this movement on Acid. All other movements are glorious on Acid!
Which brings us to my last (12th) beer. No whiskey yet, which probably accounts for my feeling of relative sobriety.
I'm operating in slightly (tap) sleep-deprived mode. Yesterday I was really sleep-deprived and attempted to prevent further SD activity by taking a nap from 1200 to 1300, then by hitting the sack at 2300. No Joy. There was heavy radiation from 0300 - 1030 (thump) today, with occasional gas. I was able to get some sleep during a lull in the radiation, but am not at all at my best tonight. Good news is that I've discovered that during a nap you can benefit even though you never get to sleep. You only need to allow your mind to dwell on pleasurable thoughts (whatever they might be) while avoiding all thinking about 'obligations.' Abandon 'obligations' during naps. Forget 'the future.' Dwell on what your mind loves to think about. It works even if you don't sleep!
By the way, I've come up with a new theory concerning electromagnetic radiation. The previous theory posited antennas in the ceiling below. The new theory is based on the idea that the local electrical wiring can be 'hijacked.' That is to say that a powerful (tap) electromagnetic current can be superimposed on the normal everyday 60 cycle current, resulting in the perceived radiation. This is my currently favored theory.
Been having much difficulty recently (during the last hour or two) with Blogger. And now I see that before I can save a post I have to do the 'verification' routine. Oh well...
My current music is Beethoven's symphony #6. I recommend this piece during an Acid Trip, but I advise you to bypass the 4th movement. You do not want to hear this movement on Acid. All other movements are glorious on Acid!
Which brings us to my last (12th) beer. No whiskey yet, which probably accounts for my feeling of relative sobriety.
The Beauty of Life
(4)
Continuing with the theme of modern vs ancient knowlege I found this on Cosmic Log, the MSNBC Science Blog. Einstein (predictably) likes Spinoza. Who would have thought...
Speaking of Cosmic Log, the Hubble Telescope recently celebrated a birthday vicariously.
I was a bit surprised to see that Susan Ertz was the author of the quote, 'Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.' I thought it was Bhagwan (or Osho). So I looked it up in Theologica Mystica. Sure enough: Osho attributes the saying to 'Murphy' (yes, that Murphy). Thank you, Anne (29-4-07) for the correction. I presume that Osho could not recall at the time exactly where he had read the quote (he was a voracious reader - unlike me nowadays) and was reduced to citing a mythical 'Maxim of Murphy.'
While I'm on the subject I ought to quote Osho at least once in TM since I have the book in hand. Lessee... what would be a good quote... Ok, here it is:
'Your saints have been poisoning you. The flowers have to be momentary otherwise they will be plastic. Life is beautiful only because it is fragile, because one moment it is there, the next it is gone. That's its whole beauty.'
Continuing with the theme of modern vs ancient knowlege I found this on Cosmic Log, the MSNBC Science Blog. Einstein (predictably) likes Spinoza. Who would have thought...
Speaking of Cosmic Log, the Hubble Telescope recently celebrated a birthday vicariously.
I was a bit surprised to see that Susan Ertz was the author of the quote, 'Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.' I thought it was Bhagwan (or Osho). So I looked it up in Theologica Mystica. Sure enough: Osho attributes the saying to 'Murphy' (yes, that Murphy). Thank you, Anne (29-4-07) for the correction. I presume that Osho could not recall at the time exactly where he had read the quote (he was a voracious reader - unlike me nowadays) and was reduced to citing a mythical 'Maxim of Murphy.'
While I'm on the subject I ought to quote Osho at least once in TM since I have the book in hand. Lessee... what would be a good quote... Ok, here it is:
'Your saints have been poisoning you. The flowers have to be momentary otherwise they will be plastic. Life is beautiful only because it is fragile, because one moment it is there, the next it is gone. That's its whole beauty.'
National Republican Prayer Day
(3)
On the subject of religion I was fascinated yesterday by the appearance of Christopher Hitchens on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight. Wow! What a very special show! Hitchens was there to promote his book, god is not Great - How Religion Poisons Everything. And he appeared on National Prayer Day! Gutsy move by Dobbs, and I support Dobbs enthusiastically in the matter. Well done, Lou! (I should mention here that while I may agree with Hitchens on religion I do not necessarily agree with him on Iraq.)
And what is it about National Prayer Day!? The Republicans had their first 'debate' on thursday. Was the choice of days an accident? Were the Republicans somehow reaching out to god? One wonders. I watched part of the debate although I was severely (tap) sleep-deprived, but I missed the part concerning the question of which participants did not believe in Evolution. Huckabee, Brownback, and Tancredo raised their hands - idiots that they are. I doubt that America will vote for a president who is so idiological and so anti-pragmatic as to doubt such a fundamental scientific verity. Evolution is the very principle which unifies all of biology! No reasonably well-informed person can doubt it.
I came away from the debate with the impression that Duncan Hunter is one dangerous son of a bitch. I also found myself laughing at McCain's promise to 'follow Bin Laden to the gates of Hell.' We live in a very dangerous world which is threatened by ancient religious nonsense combined with modern armaments created by Science. The twain shall never mix. We need to jettison all of that old religious horseshit and accept the philosophical implications of a modern science if we are to survive. Nobody will be there to morn us when we're gone.
On the subject of religion I was fascinated yesterday by the appearance of Christopher Hitchens on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight. Wow! What a very special show! Hitchens was there to promote his book, god is not Great - How Religion Poisons Everything. And he appeared on National Prayer Day! Gutsy move by Dobbs, and I support Dobbs enthusiastically in the matter. Well done, Lou! (I should mention here that while I may agree with Hitchens on religion I do not necessarily agree with him on Iraq.)
And what is it about National Prayer Day!? The Republicans had their first 'debate' on thursday. Was the choice of days an accident? Were the Republicans somehow reaching out to god? One wonders. I watched part of the debate although I was severely (tap) sleep-deprived, but I missed the part concerning the question of which participants did not believe in Evolution. Huckabee, Brownback, and Tancredo raised their hands - idiots that they are. I doubt that America will vote for a president who is so idiological and so anti-pragmatic as to doubt such a fundamental scientific verity. Evolution is the very principle which unifies all of biology! No reasonably well-informed person can doubt it.
I came away from the debate with the impression that Duncan Hunter is one dangerous son of a bitch. I also found myself laughing at McCain's promise to 'follow Bin Laden to the gates of Hell.' We live in a very dangerous world which is threatened by ancient religious nonsense combined with modern armaments created by Science. The twain shall never mix. We need to jettison all of that old religious horseshit and accept the philosophical implications of a modern science if we are to survive. Nobody will be there to morn us when we're gone.
A Mysterious Book
(2)
Yesterday (thursday) was National Prayer Day (also a National Day of Prayer). Most people probably ignored it, but there is no question that many folks did their civic duty and prayed to whatever god they usually prayed to. My question was, 'Did it work?'
In an attempt to answer that question I picked up the brown telephone and dialed 666. WHTZSNM answered eventually, but I had to wait quite some time - in fact an unprecedented amount of time. Very unusual. God had always answered promptly in the past, and this was my first clue that something unusual was going on there in Heaven.
----------
gd: Make this quick. I am very busy at the moment.
me: This is National Prayer Day in America.
gd: America?
me: Let me guess: You are beseiged by prayer requests. Am I right?
gd: How did you know that?
me: I told you: National Prayer Day. It happens every year.
gd: Every year?
me: I understand that You are very busy, and therefore I will make this as brief as possible. I have only one question: what was Your source for the value of C?
gd: C what.
me: C. The speed of light.
gd: A book. I got it from a book. I don't wish to be rude but I am very busy (hangs up).
----------
That was the extent of our conversation. I was not surprised that He didn't recognize the meaning of 'America' or the meaning of 'year,' because He was obviously very busy at that moment. The conversation did yield a fascinating tidbit, however: His source for the value of C was 'a book.' Very interesting. I'll give him a little time to recompose Himself before calling Him again, but I must admit that I am very interested in the details surrounding that 'book.' No doubt so are you. Stay tuned.
Yesterday (thursday) was National Prayer Day (also a National Day of Prayer). Most people probably ignored it, but there is no question that many folks did their civic duty and prayed to whatever god they usually prayed to. My question was, 'Did it work?'
In an attempt to answer that question I picked up the brown telephone and dialed 666. WHTZSNM answered eventually, but I had to wait quite some time - in fact an unprecedented amount of time. Very unusual. God had always answered promptly in the past, and this was my first clue that something unusual was going on there in Heaven.
----------
gd: Make this quick. I am very busy at the moment.
me: This is National Prayer Day in America.
gd: America?
me: Let me guess: You are beseiged by prayer requests. Am I right?
gd: How did you know that?
me: I told you: National Prayer Day. It happens every year.
gd: Every year?
me: I understand that You are very busy, and therefore I will make this as brief as possible. I have only one question: what was Your source for the value of C?
gd: C what.
me: C. The speed of light.
gd: A book. I got it from a book. I don't wish to be rude but I am very busy (hangs up).
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That was the extent of our conversation. I was not surprised that He didn't recognize the meaning of 'America' or the meaning of 'year,' because He was obviously very busy at that moment. The conversation did yield a fascinating tidbit, however: His source for the value of C was 'a book.' Very interesting. I'll give him a little time to recompose Himself before calling Him again, but I must admit that I am very interested in the details surrounding that 'book.' No doubt so are you. Stay tuned.
A Glorious Joke
(1)
What a week! The Today Show had Matt Lauer doing his yearly 'round the world thing (Where in the World is Matt Lauer). This is probably the funnest week of the year, TodayShowwise, and I never miss it. I think I liked the first day best: Matt visited the Boeing factory near Seattle, WA and gave us a tour of the 777 assembly building. He also gave us a lesson on how to land a Boeing 777 in the local simulator. Fun stuff. Back in the old days I would follow Matt in my own flight simulator (Microsoft Flight Simulator) from place to place. No doubt many FS afficionados did the same (and still do), but I no longer indulge nowadays, being too busy with other stuff. My favorite scene from the Monday morning show was captured briefly by Jay Leno on his Monday night show: Matt is standing just inside the intake of one of the 777's giant engines. He is explaining that this is the most powerful jet engine in the world. He is just about to mention that 'General Electric, which builds that particular engine...' when suddenly the engine starts up and Matt is drawn inside and presumably chopped up into a sort of 'hash, well done' and spit out of the exhaust as a sort of fine organic spray. 'Where' indeed!
Totally hilarious! I cracked up. I had to watch it several times and each time yielded the desired state of hilarity. It was a masterful joke done in a masterful way by Leno's special effects team. What a joke! I loved it. But then I began to wonder why I liked it so much. Did my reaction to the joke suggest some sort of animosity? Well, maybe. But I finally decided that the joke was so funny because it fit in so well with the theme of the show (where in the world is Matt?). I was very surprised not to find it on youtube.
Hurry home, Matt!
What a week! The Today Show had Matt Lauer doing his yearly 'round the world thing (Where in the World is Matt Lauer). This is probably the funnest week of the year, TodayShowwise, and I never miss it. I think I liked the first day best: Matt visited the Boeing factory near Seattle, WA and gave us a tour of the 777 assembly building. He also gave us a lesson on how to land a Boeing 777 in the local simulator. Fun stuff. Back in the old days I would follow Matt in my own flight simulator (Microsoft Flight Simulator) from place to place. No doubt many FS afficionados did the same (and still do), but I no longer indulge nowadays, being too busy with other stuff. My favorite scene from the Monday morning show was captured briefly by Jay Leno on his Monday night show: Matt is standing just inside the intake of one of the 777's giant engines. He is explaining that this is the most powerful jet engine in the world. He is just about to mention that 'General Electric, which builds that particular engine...' when suddenly the engine starts up and Matt is drawn inside and presumably chopped up into a sort of 'hash, well done' and spit out of the exhaust as a sort of fine organic spray. 'Where' indeed!
Totally hilarious! I cracked up. I had to watch it several times and each time yielded the desired state of hilarity. It was a masterful joke done in a masterful way by Leno's special effects team. What a joke! I loved it. But then I began to wonder why I liked it so much. Did my reaction to the joke suggest some sort of animosity? Well, maybe. But I finally decided that the joke was so funny because it fit in so well with the theme of the show (where in the world is Matt?). I was very surprised not to find it on youtube.
Hurry home, Matt!
