I came across this crazy line of parody products & thought this would be a good time to post them. I've posted about bad product & packaging design before, but thankfully these aren't meant to be serious. (However, the "Funny Cage" seems pretty close to a regular play pen that's used to keep babies contained.)
"Control Toys"
were made up by the TV show Super Nanny. It was actually a viral
campaign, in which mock-ups of these disturbing toy packages were placed
on store shelves. When the customer picked up one of the boxes, the back read “There are better ways to discipline your child."
Last night, my girlfriend & I watched a VICE documentary about an extraordinary man named Wim Hof, also known as The Iceman.
After the suicide of his wife, Wim decided to use his grief as motivation to learn extreme levels of self-control. Through meditation and breathing techniques, Wim is able to control his physiological functions to withstand extreme temperature, pain, and even control the body's autoimmune processes.
He has been extensively studied by researchers, and was even injected with an endotoxin- which his body was able to fight without the normal elevated, inflammatory immune response.
Wim is a living example of the ability for the power of the mind to overcome the perceived physical limitations of the body.
Here is a video of a TED talk he gave outlining his approach.
His method resembles the Tibetan meditation technique of "Tummo" or "Inner Fire". Using this technique, Buddhist monks living on the chilly plateau of Tibet would stay out in the elements overnight, wearing nothing but a wet cloth.
About 5 years ago, I came across this cover of a pamphlet from 1965, entitled "Communism, Hypnotism, and The Beatles".
I thought it was humorous & ridiculous, so I've had it sitting in my emails, but never posted it. Recently, on BoingBoing I saw more about this weird convergence between the rise of rock n' roll and the "Red Scare".
BoingBoing posted a link to a PDF of the full pamphlet, and also a YouTube video with an audio version & lecture by the author himself, David A. Noebel (who sounds like a really fun guy...).
The Beatles are definitely my favorite band, and I believe they were geniuses who were unparalleled in music history. They were a huge influence on my Dad, when he was a kid in the 1960's. The first band that he joined emulated the style & sound of The Beatles. He exposed me to the amazing catalog of music The Beatles produced when I was very young. So, I grew up appreciating the wide range of styles & creative depth of their work.
Therefore, when I hear people like Noebel talk about the music of The Beatles as 'subversive', 'communist infiltration' or 'mind control', I immediately feel revulsion at the simple-minded dismissal of their artistic brilliance.
After reading the pamphlet, his main premise appears to be that The Beatles music "hypnotizes" the listener through specific beats and other harmonic effects that alter the nervous system. Yeah, well, no shit! The purpose of music is to effect the nervous system and the energies of the body. Where Nobel goes off the deep end is to claim that The Beatles music was specifically engineered by communist scientists, to warp the minds of the Christian youth & destroy Western culture.
Back in the Dark Ages of the presidency of George W. Bush, I used to get pamphlets by Lyndon LaRouche denouncing Bush, Cheney, & their neoconservative cabal. He also denounced The Beatles, claiming they were part of a Satanic social engineering program. This was something I just couldn't jive with, regardless of how much I agreed with the rest of his rhetoric against the corrupt government and elite.
These old-school, uptight jerks are just looking to divide everything into a simplistic view of "good" vs. "evil". They are always looking to find an enemy in things they don't agree with. It also seems that they cannot comprehend the forces that move artists to create work that resonates and moves the masses. They dismiss this powerful creative influence as "mind control", that must be orchestrated by some nefarious, behind-the-scenes puppet masters.
Now, I'm not saying that there are no people or groups attempting subversive or downright evil influence through art & entertainment. There are definitely people with manipulative and even malicious agendas in control of various aspects of society. However, I think it's ridiculous to say that The Beatles were controlled by such a motivating factor. If anything, they were actually trying to open people's minds and break the cultural programming that so many other forms of media perpetrate.
They definitely helped expand my own mind to new ideas & modes of creativity. They are one of my biggest inspirations and have been a positive influence on countless people, especially musicians, spiritual seekers, and other artistic personalities. To say they were some kind of malevolent and corrupting force is just ignorance of the worst kind.
Recently while reading, I started to think about the fact that the words echoing in my head were someone else's thoughts...
Through the symbolic transfer of language, specifically the written word, you can transfer the internal dialogue from inside your head into the mind of another person.
I wrote a short dialogue, a conscious manipulation of the voice inside YOUR head, & then made the graphic below.
Unfortunately, since then, my 1-1/2 year old son was infected, from being around unvaccinated family members who went to a party where many people ended up getting sick. After he got sick, my wife and I also tested ourselves, and at first both tested negative. Paulie was sick last Monday, and thankfully he was back to normal within a couple days.
However, I started getting sick this past Thursday, so I stayed home from work on Friday. I guess a lot of people are getting sick now, because pharmacies are sold out of the COVID rapid tests. My mom finally got a pack of tests for us, so I tested myself again today & it came up positive.
My wife is a nurse, so she has been going in to her hospital to get tested. Through luck & her own diligence, she has remained negative so far, despite being in the house with us. She has been making sure we stay masked in the house, and we have been trying to avoid contact & have been sleeping in separate rooms.
I am grateful that my son recovered quickly, and also that my symptoms were relatively mild. I had a slight fever the first couple days, but nothing crazy. Mostly it has been like a really bad head cold. Some people would point to this as proof that the vaccine doesn't work, but those people are idiots. The vaccine is not a 100% guarantee against being sick. I see it as the vaccine preventing me from developing more serious symptoms, as a result of direct exposure.
Speaking of idiots, a comment on my last post reads as follows:
"Don't Believe these videos! They are Faucci Propaganda tapes to control
us and take away our Freedoms!! If you love America, for the love of
God, take off your masks!!! The Globalist Pedo Scumbags want to feed
our children to the elite and jab us with this poison!!!"
It's a sad state of affairs when I honestly can't tell if this is one of my brothers trolling me, or a seriously deluded jackass commenting on a scientifically-based post.
Anyway, since my son was born, my wife & I have been worrying about raising a baby during this pandemic. We have done our best to protect him & ourselves from exposure, but we were never willing to completely isolated ourselves from our families, who in some cases were nowhere near as conscientious as we were about the danger of the virus. We knew this would result in risk of eventual exposure, and it finally happened. We couldn't force other people take it as seriously as we did, and this is the result. The only way it could've been totally avoided was years-long quarantine from loved ones, and we just weren't willing to do that.
I have to say that all the talk of "independence" & self-determination, freedom from government control, distrust of the science, etc. is all bullshit once you're the one severely ill, in the hospital on oxygen, or dead - as many people we know personally have unfortunately ended up.
People, especially self-centered "freedom-loving" Americans, hate the idea of mandatory vaccines & masks. However, how else is the government supposed to keep this kind of infectious disease under control, when the population is too ignorant, misinformed, & fucking inconsiderate to do the right thing for the welfare of the community, as a whole? It's a real problem, and the reason why issues such as nationalized health insurance are so difficult to advocate for - anything that helps other people is seen as "socialism," which in this ass-backwards country is bad thing.
In other words, we're fucked as a society... because of all the selfish fools who think that they are actually the geniuses.
I've sat through some bad & really bad Presidential debates in my time, but this one doesn't even deserve the term "Presidential". I expected it to be really bad... and my expectations were still way too high! Just all-around fucking awful.
I'm not even going to show the video, because I don't want to be responsible for subjecting people to such a cultural travesty.
My wife & I watched the whole thing, pretty much disgusted & horrified that this is the state of American political discourse. She asked me if we were in the Twilight Zone, & I couldn't confidently answer in the negative.
Trump was what he always is - a complete moron, & an utter, insufferable, obnoxious A$$HOLE. The knuckleheads who already love him will think he dominated Biden with all the idiotic ranting and interruption, but to any reasonable person he comes off as a complete mental patient & a total jackass.
Biden was basically steamrolled by Trump's nonstop spew of bullshit & lies. He wasn't nearly as aggressive as he needed to be when faced with a shameless, unhinged narcissist. Biden landed a few frustrated jabs, and unfortunately the only effective counter was getting low with the name-calling and mockery - calling Trump a "clown","a fool", and "Putin's poodle". Trying to hold a rational debate with a deranged, compulsive liar is an almost impossible task.
This quote came to mind:
“Never play chess with a pigeon. The pigeon just knocks all the pieces over, shits all over the board, then struts around like it won.”.
I think Biden's best moments were when he directly appealed to us, the American people, & our families. Trump only spoke in terms of how good HE was doing at everything, as usual. However, Biden just looked completely befuddled a lot of the time & stumbled over his words, as Trump just gish-galloped his way over the other people on the stage.
Which brings me to the 3rd person on the stage, moderator Chris Wallace. For a Fox News employee, Wallace is fairly objective. Unfortunately, he was horrible at moderating this debate and had little control over the Trump Bullshit Train.
The one thing I've seen many people commenting & agreeing on is that (especially with someone like Trump) there needs to be moderator control over cutting the sound to the individual mics. When one person's time is up, CUT THE GODDAMN MIC. That's it. That would vastly improve these horrific displays, with people talking over each other and spending half the debate about respecting the rules & exhibiting self-control, something that The President of the United Fucking States seemingly can't comprehend.
Ok, I'm done. I've already wasted enough time talking about this nonsense. The fact that 30% of this country see the way Trump acts and thinks he's fit in any way to run anything, proves that our country is full of idiots. We have two 70+ year old white guys haplessly arguing on a stage about the most important issues facing our country, and there's barely any substantive information presented at all. It shows why our country is such a dumpster fire right now & why I don't even bother posting about politics much anymore. I hope other people are also fed up enough to stop this madness and work toward government that is functional again, for the well-being of this country and the people in it.
I am registered as an Independent & have no love for either political party, but I tend to see the GOP as a more regressive force in modern national politics. This is because their ideology is openly anti-government, so their agenda usually involves making government worse instead of better, while pushing to privatize public services.
Despite the fact that Republicans in the House & Senate have caused much of the political gridlock in DC over the past cycle, the voters mostly place the blame on President Obama & the Democrats for the nation's problems.
I can understand people wanting to change the dynamics of the government if things aren't working. What I cannot understand is how voters can keep re-electing people that are as repulsive as human/turtle/asshole hybrid Mitch McConnell, who has stood for nothing except opposing the President on all matters & enriching his wealthy donors. There are sleazy Democrats, too, but the fact that voters re-elect people like McConnell just boggles my mind.
Because it has the highest ratings out of the entire cable news cesspool, there is no doubt that Fox News (aka. 'The Mainstream Media') has affected the perceptions & opinions of America's voters. I hear people's arguments against the President & for the GOP, and it's clear they are just regurgitating talking points from the right-wing Fox spin machine.
It's funny seeing conservatives think there's going to be some kind of "American revival" now. If anything, the next 2 years are just going to be a bigger shitshow than ever. It's going to be gridlock on steroids.
Republicans love to bitch & complain about how 'progressives' and 'socialists' are ruining the country, but they are completely incapable of creating meaningful legislation that helps the general population. The public is about to see the conservative agenda in action, and it won't be pretty.
I'm sure we'll be seeing Republican bills being sent to the President that:
• further deregulate corporate & financial entities
• roll back environmental laws
• give tax cuts to the wealthiest businesses & individuals
• restrict women's reproductive health choices
• inhibit access to voting
• eliminate social programs
• any other stupid, regressive ideas that form the GOP wish list
We'll have to see just how bad things get over the next couple years, until the next election.
Until then, I'll just be continuing to live my life and trying to do my part to make the world better.
I still stand by my progressive outlook on politics & the perspective of this graphic I made awhile back, showing the "Political Spectrum":
This past weekend, I went to see "Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi" in 3D.
Having been born around the time of the original Star Wars, my love for this series has been one of the constants in my life. It has inspired my love of science & technology, my sense of spirituality & view of the nature of Reality, and my approach to understanding myself. It is definitely the most influential creative work in my life, so it's hard not to get excited when a new story from this fictional world is told. Most adults who have grown up with the Star Wars universe don't just get a taste of nostalgia, but an actual child-like feeling of awe at the imaginative scope of these movies.
These are modern myths, and they are like guides for the individual and our culture on how to understand and approach the world. "The Last Jedi," although far from perfect, continued the Star Wars mythos in an amazing way. I can (& will) nitpick the things I didn't like, but overall I really enjoyed the movie and am ready to see it again. Many of the familiar tropes were turned upside down, and some of the deepest additions to the lore since "The Empire Strikes Back" were introduced.
My favorite aspects of the Star Wars saga are the mystical elements surrounding The Force. The ideals of spiritual development and transcendence are presented to the mass audience in a way that no other work of art has been able to do.
I had written about some of my thoughts & hopes for the movie when the trailer came out:
I tried to avoid spoilers beforehand, but I still saw some details online that gave away some of the key plot points. Despite knowing a few secrets going in, the movie still gave me some really surprising moments with some "WOW!"-inducing developments.
If you haven't seen the movie, I'd recommend to stop reading now. I'm going to talk about a lot of the details that you may want to be surprised with.
******SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!!********
First of all, although I really liked it, there was alot in the movie that wasn't so great... Fortunately, the best scenes in "The Last Jedi" were some of the most awesome parts of the entire saga.
I think the biggest wasted opportunity was the lack of development of Supreme Leader Snoke. There was no contrast between his Dark Side training of Kylo Ren with the Light Side training of Rey by Luke Skywalker. It is one of the biggest complaints I'm seeing online- that all the buildup and show of power by the enigmatic Snoke is left hanging by his unceremonious death. We have no context to where he's from, how he became powerful with the Dark Side, how he corrupted Ben Solo, or almost anything about him. I was hoping there would be a comparative sequence of Kylo & Rey training with their respective masters, but there was no glimpse into the Dark Side whatsoever. Snoke is an evil jerk with a lust for power & control, who has impressive Force abilities... other than that, we got nothing. I'm sure his character will be fleshed out in expanded materials, but they should have given him even a little more background.
However, the fact that Snoke was killed by Kylo Ren, after so cruelly and arrogantly antagonizing him, was one of the really shocking moments. Kylo basically did what his idol & grandfather Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader couldn't do- kill his master and take control of the fascist military regime seeking to rule the galaxy. He succeeded where Vader failed, but I think he'll find that he still has feelings of fear & inadequacy that cannot be cured by gaining more temporal power.
Star Wars is obviously about war & the battles that are fought in the world. There was some excellent commentary about the business behind war, and military contractors who get rich from profiting off death & destruction from both sides. However, I would have instead liked more focus on exploring the mystical elements of the Star Wars galaxy & The Force. We got nothing from the Dark Side, and although there were some great nuggets from Rey's time with Luke, it felt like the Jedi history and ancient knowledge wasn't explored as extensively as I would've hoped.
Part of the reason is the way that Luke Skywalker's character is treated, which appears to be another major point of contention among fans. Instead of the super-powered Jedi Grand Master many were hoping to see, we initially meet Luke as a grumpy hermit who has actually cut himself OFF from The Force! His failure with his nephew Ben, whose dark nature resulted in the complete destruction of Luke's new Jedi academy, was the reason for Luke's exile. Right from the beginning, when he casually tosses aside his father's lightsaber after Rey hands it to him & walks away, you know he was right when he said "This is not going to go the way you think!"
Failure is a theme in this episode, with most of the characters failing in some way or another. This is emphasized when none other than Yoda appears to Luke, late in the film. I was hoping for a whole council of Force ghosts to appear, including Obi-wan, Qui-gon, & Anakin, but maybe that's for the grand finale in Episode IX. When "young Skywalker," as Yoda calls him, is ready to burn down the ancient Jedi tree & sacred books (which he didn't know Rey had taken with her), Yoda appears as a Force ghost to drop some of his crazy wisdom on the disillusioned Jedi. He states that failure is the greatest teacher, and helps Luke come to terms with his own shortcomings.
Although some fans are outraged at this portrayal of Luke, it makes him
more human and reveals that even the greatest heroes in the galaxy can
have flaws and insecurities. As for his contemplation of murdering
his nephew when he senses the evil within Ben as his student, it is
no more unbelievable than any of the other times Luke was tempted by
the Dark Side, his own anger, & fear.
I like the idea of Luke going to the first Jedi temple to be a hermit, living an ascetic life of humble daily toil like a simple monk. However, the cynicism and downright disdain for the Jedi way was a bit jarring. I was satisfied with how he taught Rey that the Sith & Jedi were just human conventions, and the living Force that permeates all creation was something that was beyond ideology or any organization. It was a little strange, though, to have Luke teaching these lessons if he didn't even want anything to do with it. However, I really liked the scenes of Luke finally taking on Rey as a student, in the mode of a kung-fu movie. The focus on meditation, breath, and spiritual introspection were exactly what I hoped would be included in her training. He tried to convey the "grey" principles that I was hoping would be discussed in this movie. The idea is to move beyond false dichotomies like "light" & "dark" to find balance- embracing the totality of existence to live a life of spiritual purpose and deep understanding.
To this point, there was a mosaic in the simple stone structure of the first Jedi temple that was visible, but not in detail. It represented the Prime Jedi, the first Force user to form the religious order that would last for millennia. I wanted to see a better image of it, so I found this scan online from The Art of The Last Jedi book. It shows the first Jedi in meditation pose, with the lightsaber creating the division between alternating light & dark in a yin-yang style design. I wish they had shown it & explained it briefly... but like so many other intriguing details, it was left in the background.
Luke's progression through the movie leads to the climax of the story, where he re-connects with The Force after finally forgiving himself for his past failure. Jedi Master Skywalker then exhibits one of the most powerful displays of The Force ever seen. During the final battle on Crait, as the First Order (led by the new Supreme Leader Kylo Ren) is about to destroy what's left of The Resistance, Luke suddenly appears. After facing down the line of walkers and ships on the battlefield, Skywalker emerges unscathed from a barrage of artillery fire ordered by a furious Kylo, who lands his ship to face his uncle & former teacher. After dodging Kylo's attacks (with moves that I thought were cool, but a little too reminiscent of The Matrix movies) something strange happens... Kylo seems to slice him in half, then pokes him right in the chest with his lightsaber in disbelief, as Luke stands there unfazed. Channeling his old friend & Kylo's dad, Han Solo, Luke says "See ya 'round kid," & disappears! Still physically back on his island, Luke had used a remote Force-projection of himself to distract Kylo & allow the Resistance, including his sister Leia, time to escape.
“The supreme art of war
is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
-Sun Tzu
During the confrontation, the scene cuts to an awe-inspiring view of Luke meditating & levitating on a ledge at the island. He is trembling & obviously exerting an immense effort to project his astral form across the galaxy, so clearly that it fools everyone. After the confrontation when Kylo realizes he's been bamboozled, we cut back to Luke collapsing onto the ground & crawling back to his feet. Facing twin suns like those seen in the first appearance of Luke on his home planet of Tatooine, Luke finally looks serene and in harmony with himself and the world. Then he achieves the ultimate state of being, dissolving his physical form and becoming one with The Force. He has become an ascended master, similar to stories in our world of Tibetan Buddhist monks who are able to transition into "light bodies" and transcend this physical realm.
It was an absolutely epic sequence, and my favorite part of the film. It showed how powerful Luke Skywalker was, and was an awesome send-off for the greatest hero character of the modern age. Those who wished they could have seen Luke tearing up legions of stormtroopers with his green lightsaber and over-powered Force abilities missed the point completely. By playing the enlightened trickster and using his powers to save his friends & not destroy his enemies, Luke had reached a refined spiritual state that was the ultimate expression of Force mastery.
"Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand men,
is he who would conquer just one- himself."
-The Buddha
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was the perfect way to end Luke's story. It was a great contrast between the humble Jedi who passed on gracefully, full of purpose, in peace, & on his own terms- vs. Snoke who, for all his grand power, was cut down in a pathetic & meaningless death. The best part is that now Luke will be a Force ghost who can continue to teach Rey, maybe haunt Ben, and be an influence that he could never have been in life!
So yeah, that was my favorite part. Both Rey & Kylo were also amazing in this movie. Rey is an excellent character, embodying the light side in a way that is pure, yet full of emotion and intuition. By making Rey's parent's nobodies, it shows that anyone in this world can be powerful and a catalyst for positive change. You don't need to be a Skywalker or a specific lineage to be of consequence. This is further emphasized at the very end, when a slave boy on the casino planet subtly levitates a broom to his hand, looks to the stars, and holds up the broom like a lightsaber. This is symbolic of the new generation of Force users who will emerge and be taught by Rey.
Because redemption is such a major theme of Star Wars, I have a feeling that maybe Ben Solo will eventually come back from the Dark Side- and either have a romantic connection & a family with Rey, or will join her in teaching the new Force sensitives. Before, I would have thought the "Reylo" love possibility was ridiculous, but this movie shows a connection between them that is difficult to brush off. Their fight together against Snoke's guards after Kylo killed him was intense & awesome. Kylo Ren really grew into a complex character that is completely unpredictable and has a future of limitless possibilities. Whatever happens... as Luke said, he will definitely NOT be the "last Jedi"!
Speaking of ridiculous, I do feel like Leia's "big scene" was a bit out of place, or at least could have done better. We know Leia is also Anakin Skywalker's daughter, so she is obviously strong in The Force. During the First Order attack on her ship, her conflicted son Kylo/Ben can't pull the trigger to destroy her ship's bridge. It doesn't matter because one of his wingmen do it anyway & blow up the bridge, with Leia, Admiral Ackbar, & others in it. Leia's seemingly lifeless body is floating through space, but she wakes up... & flies Superman-style back into the ship! When I was watching it, this really took me out of the movie & made me go "Whaaaat?!?" I guess it is neat to give Leia powers, but I feel like the way the scene was filmed was kind of weird. Otherwise, it is great to see her character, along with the other characters from the original trilogy continuing their stories along the new faces in these sequels.
Like any of the Star Wars movies, there are plenty of details & plot points that I could pick apart to criticize. At least the dialogue didn't reach the cringe levels that the Prequels did, especially between Anakin & Padme. The interactions between Rey & Kylo in this movie were much more compelling and dramatic.
People have been complaining about the whole mission on the casino planet of Canto Bight & the new character Rose- a mechanic for the Resistance, animal lover, & Finn's fangirl. I would've preferred all this & the space battles be cut back to make room for more of the Jedi history and Force training. Unfortunately, every Star Wars movie has these side quests and seemingly tangential aspects.
Overall, I really enjoyed "The Last Jedi", and could keep talking about it, like people around the world are already doing. Because the good scenes were so jaw-droppingly awesome, and it delved back into exploring the mystical & philosophical concepts that I love- this movie is now one of my favorites of the entire saga. It has set up some really wonderful potential for the final Episode 9 of the series.
I look forward to experiencing the culmination of a lifetime of being a Star Wars fan, by watching the conclusion of this epic & timeless story. Like the legend of Luke Skywalker in the movie, the Star Wars story will continue to inspire me and countless generations in the years to come.
Growing up, I never had a interest in politics or current events. I always had a pretty good idea what was going on in the country and the world, but never really cared about who was President or what Congress was doing.
That changed completely after George W. Bush was selected by the Supreme Court in 2000, and we subsequently entered an 8-year neoconservative nightmare. After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, my 23-year old self sat up and started to pay attention, like so many other people. This blog served as an outlet for my frustrations and disbelief at the insanity being perpetrated at the time.
Along with the rest of the world, I watched with horror as Dubya and his puppet-master Dick Cheney launched (unfunded) trillion-dollar wars of invasion & occupation in the Middle East. It was perfectly clear to anyone with even a bit of insight that these wars were meant to exploit the region's resources, gain imperial footholds, and enrich defense contractors & investors. Waging war & fighting terrorism are often a means of making more money for wealthy, unscrupulous people.
The occupations of Iraq & Afghanistan were giant historical blemishes on America's foreign policy, but there were countless other problems created in those years- resulting from the incompetence of the Bush administration and short-sightedness of conservative policy, in general.
When Barack Obama was elected in 2008, a giant sigh of relief swept over much of the world. Although Obama's terms have been, in many ways, a vast improvement over Bush's, it has become clear that he is not the progressive savior people thought he would be. In fact, the U.S. government under the leadership of President Obama has continued or expanded some of the worst abuses of the Bush administration. Unfortunately, it seems like there is only so much a President can do to change the mind-numbing bureaucracy of the government, the power of the military industrial complex, or the intransigence of an opposition Congress.
So, what should the citizens of the United States do?...
Should we throw our hands up and refuse to vote or participate in our democracy, claiming the system is hopelessly rigged for the benefit of monied interests? The answer is, "No!"
Politics, as vile as it can be, affects everyone in our society. It is much too important to leave to the devices of those who would seek to control or disenfranchise us. There is strength in numbers. Only by overwhelming consensus and cooperation can we, the people, overcome the imbalance in political power wielded by the top 1% in control of the wealth of this country.
As this election season started to add potential Presidential candidates for 2016, it looked like we might be doomed to an un-inspired choice of Hillary Clinton or Jeb Bush- either way, a continuation of a political dynasty backed by Wall Street and big money.
Then, out of the blue, came Bernie Sanders from Vermont- the only Independent U.S. Senator. I've viewed a lot of cable news & have followed politics closely throughout my adult life. Having watched him over the past decade, Sen. Sanders has been a consistent voice of common sense policies and responsible government that functions for the benefit of the majority of working-class citizens. After hearing the incessant bullshit spewing from the other national politicians and TV talking heads, it was always refreshing to hear Bernie Sanders speak to the issues in a way that any reasonable person would understand and agree with.
One thing is certain, he is a more authentic champion for the average American than Hillary Clinton, or any of the corporate puppets that the Republican party can shove into the spotlight.
The media will try to marginalize him at first- by depicting him as a "fringe" candidate, the political equivalent of a crazy uncle, or *GASP!* a Socialist.
As support for his campaign continues to grow, he will become a force to be reckoned with. If enough people hear his message he will have a real shot at becoming the President and bringing some much-needed real progressive policy to the White House.
So, on the day of his campaign announcement, I'm enthusiastically supporting Bernie Sanders and what he stands for. I'll be spreading the word about this man- who has the proven integrity, honesty, and solutions we need to address the complex and seemingly insurmountable problems this country faces.
Here is the full video of Sen. Sanders' speech announcing his candidacy, in which he details his ideas for changing the American political landscape for the better:
Unfortunately, America's news cycle has been dominated by yet another tragic mass shooting. This particular incident is of a truly horrible nature, because it took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School- in which very young children were senselessly slain.
Last night, I was at Sunday dinner over my parents' house. As I played with the kids, my preschool-age nephews & a little girl who is like family, my mind reeled at the thought of someone harming a defenseless child. How could someone so brutally destroy the innocent, joyful lives of those little kids?!?! I don't usually resort to vulgarities on this blog... but it's pretty goddamn nauseating.
The cynically realistic part of me recognizes that it's just one example of the endless atrocities and tragedies inherent in human existence. There are tens of thousands of children dying every day, from hunger alone. Life can be a horrible, messy business. However, you'd have to have a total lack of empathy to not be outraged by such a revolting act as happened in that school.
The main social issue currently rearing it's head, once again, is the debate over "gun control". Personally, I don't think the desire for the outright banning of legal firearms is ultimately as effective as gun safety & regulation.
Despite always having been a pacifist & not really a 'gun person', I recognize the possible need for deadly force- if used for defense. I think citizens should be able to own weapons & guns... stockpiles of them, if they want. Even though it can be argued that the rights of the 2nd Amendment apply only to well-regulated militias, I wouldn't interpret it that strictly. Even though alot of people may disagree, I think citizens should even be allowed to own heavy weaponry like assault rifles.
My main argument for widespread gun ownership is for self-defense of the population, against:
1) government tyranny 2) personal crime or 3) foreign invasion.
As long as we inhabit this dangerous physical realm, individuals & communities should have sufficient means to defend themselves from more heavily-armed threats.
I know the right-wingers are freaking out that Obama's coming to get their guns, but I don't think the extent of the paranoia is warranted. I'm not saying there aren't elements in the government who would love to see a disarmed populace. That's when the real "systems of control" would kick in. I just think there's so many friggin' guns out there, it would be tough for Big Brother to snatch 'em all up. Frankly, I don't think anybody really knows what the hell to do about the regulation of guns in this country!
I do think there needs to be some balance between legal ownership of firearms, & the inability for mentally impaired people to have access to them. Of course, there will never be a perfect system, but there is always room for improvement.
One thing that's always emphasized on the news, which I find to be a complete red herring, is the perennial idea that video games are the problem with society. I've played the most violent & depraved games out there. However, I have never had the urge to do physical harm to another human being. As I said before, I'm a pacifist at heart- no matter what crazy ass things I see on TV, in movies, or in video games. Sure, there are impressionable people out there who are easily influenced by certain media. Does that mean everyone else has to be scapegoated for it?
Like pretty much anything else... guns & video games are only hazardous when used by people who are mentally unstable in the first place.
The underlying problem which people are beginning to recognize, is our country's social schizophrenia, its treatment of mental disorders, & the lack of publicly available health care, in general.
One aspect of this nation's health problem is the over-medication of the country's youth, using psychoactive prescription drugs. The modern answer to dealing with people's troubled minds is to prescribe the appropriate pill. These synthetic substances are tested in clinical trials, but it's all a farce. There's no way you can truly predict all the toxic effects of a potent chemical cocktail- especially when it comes to altering the function of a undeveloped & unstable mind.
Some people think the answer is to have more God & prayer in schools. Mandating religion & prayer is not going to prevent a rampage like this. A murderous lunatic could be inspired by 'God's Will' as much as anything else, so belief in God won't stop a madman. Whatever you think it is,"God" is clearly not going to stop the madness, either... despite any prayers that might be offered. Nobody's keeping kids from praying in their own heart while they're in school. They can go to their respective religious services or gatherings outside of the classroom to find spiritual community.
I'd prefer to see the widespread utilization of "Mindfulness Meditation" classes, as part of all health curriculum from K-12. I would also like for the government to subsidize free lessons at community colleges or libraries. It would be the best investment the government ever made. Meditation classes do not need to be connected to spiritual content at all, in order to be effective at bringing peace of mind.
Mindfulness is simply the practice of quieting the mind & cultivating self-awareness.
This type of instruction would go a long way to giving people of all ages techniques to soothe the chaos in their mind.
Coincidentally, I just came across this NY Times article about meditative practice:
There will NEVER be perfect, universal peace in this corporeal world.
This is a harsh truth.
However- if we can provide more effective mental health care & tools for self-improvement to individuals, society at large will be less likely to suffer these kind of preventable tragic events.
There are many people in the world suffering greatly. Some are simply unable to cope with the dissonant realities being perceived by their senses & mind. No healthy person can contemplate the depths of madness that would lead a person to carry out something so evil.
Thankfully, this kind of behavior is still an anomaly. We can hope that these tragedies force people to confront these big issues that need to be addressed. It's only through awareness, intelligent debate, and the open sharing of solutions that society can overcome its many serious problems.
A few months ago I posted about Wim Hof, after seeing the VICE documentary about him. He is a very interesting man, who has learned to control his mind & physiological processes through meditation, breathing exercises, and increased exposure to the cold.
Wim has broken endurance records and offered himself up to intense scientific scrutiny. The most amazing thing about his achievements is his ability to control his autonomic and immunological physical responses.
He has been injected with endotoxins without eliciting a immune response. His biological system has been shown to possess superhuman traits. He can endure freezing temperatures and hold his breath for periods that other people would find impossible.
What makes Wim Hof so important is his eagerness to share his wisdom and abilities with the rest of the world. His motivation is literally to change the human race and to fight the perceptions of illness and mental limitation in all people.
I recently heard he was on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, so I listened & wasn't disappointed. The interview is about 2 1/2 hours long, but I highly recommend it. I would go as far to say it's a must-see.
If you can't hear the entire interview, it would be beneficial to at least listen to this excerpt, where he teaches Joe some of his breathing techniques. These techniques are drawn from ancient meditative practices such as Tummo, "The Inner Fire".
Wim Hof is definitely a man we can all learn a lot from. Here is an article that outlines his breathing & meditation techniques. Even if we can't implement all his teachings, even just learning to breath deeply & consciously will have great benefits.
Here is a summary:
• Breath in 30 times fully, then letting each breath go- but not fully breathing out.
• Breathe in fully, then breath out fully and hold until gasp reflex
• Inhale fully and hold for 10-15 seconds.
• Repeat one or two times.
• Take 5 minutes to relax and scan your body
• Symbiosis™ Neural Interface:
Direct brain-computer link means your mind and computer are one!
• Intel Fusion™ Quantum Processing:
Uses the power of the atom to instantly compute at the speed of thought.
• Holographic Data Storage:
The
iThink’s tiny internal holochip has a staggering individual capacity of
over 666 Yottabytes (1000^8), for seemingly infinite augmented memory
• Intra-neural Communication:
Mentally allow or block any kind of signal you want to send or recieve instantly over the wireless iThink global network
• Perceptual Immersion:
Images, sound, & other data are projected virtually into your
sensory fields by directly connecting into your brain’s activity
• Integrated GPS and Google Earth:
Receive directions and location information anywhere on the planet, and the ability to be located in case of an emergency
_____________________________________
Since I originally created these graphics, I've watched technology continue to advance, as different fields converge to making such a neural implant possible.
Although there are now implants in use that allow communication by thought and remote control of software, we are still a long way off from a device that contains the many features of the iThink.
Without some cataclysmic event happening on a global scale, I don't see
the progress of this kind of research ever stopping. There will always be
resistance to any kind of implantable devices, and there might
eventually be a "Deus Ex" scenario where humans create social
distinctions based on cybernetic augmentations. There may be conflict
between implant-free "Naturals," and "Enhanced" (or "Cyber") humans with
neural or physiological augmentations. Any new technology, no matter how beneficial, usually brings with it
slight uncertainty and the potential for misuse.
My iPhone and Mac computer are extensions of my cognitive and creative processes. I feel like these devices are portals into the global consciousness, while simultaneously augmenting the functions of the brain. However, I often think about whether the digital techno-sphere is a trap for individual consciousness, preventing it from finding freedom in the more spiritual sense. My personal feeling is that digital technology and mobile devices are enhancements, more than they are traps. It depends on how they are used, of course, but I feel that their benefits outweigh the potential danger.
Anyway, I love to speculate on the future of humanity and the new ideas that will lead to revolutions in our world. I have been floating around ideas for even more advanced tech & features, that would be in an Apple iThink 2.0. However, seeing as we haven't come close to reaching even this stage in implantable technology, I haven't created graphics for the next version yet.
In the meantime, I've been compiling "iThink Tech"- scientific & technological advancements that are leading us down a road toward implantable computers which will interact with our brains directly, for completely immersive computing.
Here are the relevant links I've found from the past year:
With the intellectual & physical resources available in this country, it's definitely shocking that the leak has just continued to spew into the Gulf for this long. Mankind is ultimately no match for Nature, but this is a localized engineering problem that has to be solved. Science, industry, & government should all be engaging at full force to contain the leak and clean the damage. It seems like Kevin Costner's centrifuge separation technology has been approved & purchased by BP for the cleanup efforts. This is just one of many technological avenues that need to be pursued to mitigate the effect of this spill.
Most of the public's outrage has been directed at BP, aka British Petroleum. Although I find the whole idea of using fossil fuels & combustion engines archaic, at least BP had a cool "green" logo that's actually derivative of a rotated & repeated Flower of Life geometric pattern. This along with the whole "Beyond Petroleum" corporate branding was very effective. Now, that is all literally blown to hell, of course.
President Obama has visited the Gulf several times already, which is helpful to the efforts down there. Local leaders have said that his presence makes things start to happen, which makes sense. Unfortunately the magnitude of the disaster has people obviously looking to throw blame Obama's way, too. He's going to give a speech from the Oval Office in an hour, but that alone is not going to cut it. Unless he says he's taking some kind of drastic measures that can be visibly implemented immediately, this is going to continue to be a drag on his many agendas. Clinton's former Labor Secretary Robert Reich's opinion about Obama's potential responses seems right to me:
It's funny in a sadly predictable way how the ever-reactionary 'Teabagger' faction thinks government should get out of everything... until a disaster strikes & then they agree President suddenly isn't doing enough and needs to take control. They are socialists, but don't even know it. How insidious!
Even though Obama has said he's looking for "whose ass to kick", most of America probably thinks he should also take Stephen Colbert's advice... & literally kick the ass of unbelievably arrogant asshole CEO Tony Hayward.
People have suggested there's a conspiracy or sabotage of some sort, but I wasn't down there in a sub so I won't even pretend to have a clue. If it were some kind of sabotage by a foreign entity or even a rival oil company trying to bankrupt BP, I'm not sure that would even make strategic sense. The most likely culprit is the source of so much other human calamity, good ol' fashion Greed. That, combined with hazardous materials in extreme environments has proven to be a volatile combination.
I'm trying to find a silver lining here, so hopefully there are a couple good things that may come out of this: • The government will be forced to better handle it's important function of regulating this kind of mega-industry. • This will compel everyone to dedicate R&D, capital, and effort to implementing alternative sources of renewable energy. • We as a people will also have to to address the complex interaction between multi-national corporate interests & our supposedly democratic government that should be defending the public's interests.
• On a more spiteful note- Sarah Palin has been forced to laughably defend her now ultra-retarded mantra "Drill, Baby, Drill!" She is such an unbelievable dope. If I believed in a Heavenly Father, I'd say he's trying to specifically tell her to shut off her gushing stream of nonsense for once. It wouldn't save the Gulf Coast, but it would save many of America's brain cells.
One of the basic tenets of Buddhism is that 'suffering' is an unavoidable consequence of mortal existence.
However, another basic idea is that our individual & collective negativity can be transformed through right practice & awareness.
As long as we all have bodies of flesh, misery of every kind is to be expected. Therefore, it is tough for a skeptic like me to believe we can even make a tiny dent in the unfathomable behemoth that is human suffering.
Right now, the instant reporting of events is possible anywhere a person has a camera & internet access. In spite of this, the world's most powerful national bodies continue to flaunt their technologically superior, but morally inferior, methods of brutality. The civilian leadership of the US and their neo-con puppetmasters used our military and our financial resources to viciously decimate inferior nations. Russia continues to try exerting control over its satellite states to ward off American influence. Israel continues to propagate the fantasy of security through cultural segregation. China continues a senseless quest for domination over the people of Tibet, a nation of monks & villagers. The Chinese government's characterization of the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan followers would be laughable if it wasn't such a tragic situation.
These huge movements of Oppression vs. Dissension could be an indication of a tipping point for a collective rejection of all the paradigms we've been culturally brainwashed into accepting as inevitable reality. Such a drastic shift could have tremendous positive results, but also tremendously negative consequences. Will the result be an apocalyptic wasteland or a harmonious utopia? Probably.... neither.
I'd like to think that we are capable of creating a more positive reality for as many people on this planet as possible. Perhaps the people of the world will eventually reject the idea of subjugating other humans and finally unite as a global force of infinite diversity & productivity.
Unfortunately, I'm no starry-eyed optimist. It easily as possible that justified dissent will continue to be crushed in more efficient and widespread ways. There seems to be unlimited power in the soulless entities such as nations and super-national corporations that seem to feed off ever-increasing control of human beings. From the rise of ubiquitous surveillance to the growing Doomsday Robot Army, there are plenty of reasons to think everything in our future is not going to be all rainbows & jelly beans.
That is, unless the military robots are going to spray psychedelic colors and shoot out candy to overwhelm the world with joy...
On thisisnthappiness.com I saw this really cool series of Super Silhouettes, but one caught my eye- the awesome Silver Surfer, silently patrolling the Universe:
If I had to pick, The Silver Surfer is probably the superhero whose powers I'd choose to have. As a cosmic being with abilities far beyond most humanoid characters, the experience would be one that's hard to even imagine... I'd just want to avoid dealing with Galactus. For the record, my runner-up choices would be to have Green Lantern & obviously Superman's powers. However, I'll stick with my choice to wield The Power Cosmic. From the Marvel Wiki :
The Power Cosmic: The Silver Surfer possesses the Power Cosmic
which is the core from which his other abilities manifest from. This
power was granted to him by Galactus, making Norrin one of the absolute
strongest and most powerful beings in the Universe.
Matter Control/Manipulation and Reconfiguration / Energy Emission and Absorption:
The Surfer has complete control of the four fundamental forces of the
universe, reaching nearly any effect he desires. As a result, the Surfer
can rearrange matter to create other configurations and can even
transmute elements. The Surfer can channel beams of energy through his
hands with sufficient destructive force to destroy planets [20][21], and pierce stars. Additional abilities include erecting force fields, phasing through solid matter[22], accelerating the evolution of lifeforms on a planet-wide scale [23], seeing the past by peeling back the layers of time, time travel [24],
trans dimensional travel, manipulation and discharging of any form of
energy or radiation, bestowing limited cosmic powers to others, reading
minds [25], casting illusions [26], and influencing human emotion and sensation [22].
The Surfer also possesses the ability to suppress the powers of other
mutants/beings making them temporarily or permanently out of use to
them. He can heal living beings even if they are near-death[22]. He cannot, however, raise the dead.
God-like Strength: The Surfer possesses almost limitless
superhuman strength, though the exact magnitude remains vague. He can
lift (press) far in excess of 100 tons effortlessly and can also use the
Power Cosmic to increase his strength to incalculable levels[27].
Invulnerability: The Silver Surfer's silvery "skin" was
designed to easily withstand the rigors of deep-space travel, and thus
far, it has proven to be virtually indestructible. In fact, his entire
body was made highly resistant to injury and he is thus invulnerable to
almost all types of physical harm. The Silver Surfer can easily
withstand the crushing pressures of a black hole [28]. He is not bothered by the friction associated with atmospheric re-entry, and has withstood plunges into stars[29]
and even supernovas unharmed. He also routinely weathers the stresses
associated with high-speed travel through space and hyperspace.
God-like Stamina: The Surfer's highly enhanced
musculature generates no fatigue toxins, nor body stress, or even sweat,
granting him inexhaustible physical stamina, which allows him to fight
other beings for prolonged periods of time before tiring, that is if he
even gets tired.
Hyperspace Travel: By exceeding over 99% of the speed of
light (186,272 miles per second), the Silver Surfer can shift himself
into hyperspace, a dimension in which velocity is not limited by the
speed of light[22].
Cosmic Senses: The Silver Surfer has certain
cosmic-energy enhanced perceptions which enable him through
concentration to become aware of the patterns of energy anywhere in the
world[30].
These abilities allow him far-ranging vision (in space he can see
people clearly over a light year away), the ability to see sub-atomic
particles, superhuman hearing, the ability to detect fields, traces, and
concentrations of pure forms of energy and discern their natures[31].
Cosmic Self-Sustenance: The Silver Surfer does not need to eat or breathe since he absorbs life-maintaining cosmic energy directly through his skin.
Here's a more lavishly detailed image of the "Sentinel of the Spaceways", by Joe Jusko:
