Thursday, August 31, 2017
Russian collusion update
Special prosecutor Mueller has teamed up with NY Attorney General to investigate Manafort's financial ties with Russia. And they've uncovered evidence of financial crimes. A Russian lobbyist also gave testimony to Mueller on Dump Jr's meeting with the Russians. Also discussed in Dump's lawyer's role in collusion. See the video for more.
Lamestream media will NOT cover climate change
Even with Hurricane Harvey being the worst hurricane in recorded history, media coverage of it will just not even acknowledge how climate change caused this super storm. One commentator stated to comment on it on MSNBC and was immediately cut off. Hartmann and Congressman Pocan discusses how said media is owned by fossil fuel companies so won't upset their cash cow.
Will impeaching Dump lead to civil war?
Olbermann discusses Roger Stone saying this, that guy under investigation for colluding with Russia. Stone is basically blowing a dog whistle for it to happen. Stone also insinuated politicians who vote for impeachment could be assassinated, again inciting that behavior. Olbermann also discusses the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense throwing Dump under the bus as well as other Repugnantans. Impeachment is coming.
EPA Pruitt denies climate change cause for hurricane Harvey
Yep, that's the head of our Environmental Destruction Agency talking, once again refuting the irrefutable evidence of climate change. One example follows. See the link for more.
"Climate change 'exacerbated several characteristics of the storm in a way that greatly increased the risk of damage and loss of life,' explains Michael E Mann, distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University and director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center. 'Climate change worsened the impact of Hurricane Harvey.'”
"Climate change 'exacerbated several characteristics of the storm in a way that greatly increased the risk of damage and loss of life,' explains Michael E Mann, distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University and director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center. 'Climate change worsened the impact of Hurricane Harvey.'”
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Osteen exposed as fake Christian
A con man, plain and simple. His first excuse was that the church was flooded. When that was debunked with live video, next he said he didn't do it because Houston didn't ask him to help out. The real reason is that he's not a real Christian and is only in the Jesus business to make money. He has been exposed for what he really is. Today the church is finally open to help the Houston flood victims, but only to save face and stop the money from flowing in, not because Osteen give a shit.
Trevor Noah on Dump's Russia real estate deal
While Dump was running for President. So much for his claims that he had no dealing with Russia. And the evidence comes directly from Dump's lawyer. The emails from Sater, the Russian criminal handling the deal, to Dump's lawyer explicitly stated he would work with the Kremlin to get Dump elected.
Corporate tax cuts enrich only corporations
It's a lie that tax cuts create job, plain and simple. In fact savings from low corporate tax rates go to their CEOs while cutting jobs, not creating them. Just the facts ma'am.
US District Court judge challenges the Arpaio pardon
Not so fast fascists. Judge Bolton said she won't throw out Arpaio's conviction without oral arguments from both sides. Oral arguments are scheduled for Oct. 4.
DNC NOT hacked by the Russians
The story below has been circulating widely on the internet. Intelligence experts have proven that the DNC emails were leaked, not hacked. The implication is that the DNC's Russian hack story is a cover excuse to not address what the emails actually contained, proof of their corruption. However this story in no way disproves that Russia meddled in our election in other ways. Nor does it disprove that Dump and the Dumpsters colluded with the Russians in other ways to that effect.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Houston religion is being tested
And for the most part failing. Kudos though to those churches that are opening their buildings and hearts.
Complex dynamic systems and the collaborative commons
Good quick read by Paul Hartzog on how complex dynamic systems thinking is needed to understand how we are economically moving into a new economic paradigm known as the collaborative commons (CC). And how the CC is itself an expression of complex dynamic systems that "spontaneously self-organize into increasingly complex structures."
Robert Reich's resistance report on new Russian info
For 8/28/17. It's about the investigation into Dump's financial dealings with Russia, particularly new information that has just come to light yesterday.
The All-Stars on SYTYCD
There were so many brilliant performances last night, this being one of them. The All-Stars perform this contemporary routine choreographed by Travis Wall.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Not a good white guy with a gun
The gun has made this guy crazy, as he pulls it on an unarmed black man in a sandwich shop thus terrorizing the victim and everyone else in the store. This is not the good white guy with a gun that fanatics keep telling us will protect us.
D'Amico Dance advanced west coast swing lesson
8/24/17. He encouraged me to share these free lessons so enjoy and practice it. I'll be watching for it on the dance floor.
Will the Dimocrap Party take Reich's advice?
No, the corporate Dims never will. Hence the only way forward is to replace them with progressive Dems. Will we be able to replace enough of them to not only overrule the corporatists but then defeat the Repugnantans? We will if we follow Reich's advice to stand strong for the following agenda:
1. Public investments in world-class schools and infrastructure for all.
2. Free public universities and first-class technical training for all;
3. Single-payer Medicare-for-All;
4. Higher taxes on the wealthy to pay for this;
5. Using antitrust to break up powerful monopolies on Wall Street, Big Tech, Big Pharma, and Big Agriculture.
6. Getting big money out of our politics.
1. Public investments in world-class schools and infrastructure for all.
2. Free public universities and first-class technical training for all;
3. Single-payer Medicare-for-All;
4. Higher taxes on the wealthy to pay for this;
5. Using antitrust to break up powerful monopolies on Wall Street, Big Tech, Big Pharma, and Big Agriculture.
6. Getting big money out of our politics.
The Christian right is fine with fascism
Rationalizing it as God's will. I'm not kidding. Check out this video of one of Dump's religious advisers. This is some seriously scary shit.
America is starting to wake up
To what is actually happening. We better act before history repeats itself.
Krugman on fascism, American style
He discusses how Dump pardoning Arpaio is a direct expression for this style of racist fascism. It's a blatant statement that whites are the superior race and are entitled to abuse other races as inferior to justify horrible practices. It's also a statement that the rule of law can be ignored and anyone convicted in the Russian scandal will also be pardoned. Meanwhile there are the Repugnantans who may not be racist or fascist but indeed go along with it to get what they want. But make no mistake: They are collaborators in fascism and history will remember them as such.
The virtual self as a center of gravity
Continuing this post (and its predecessors), recall that Thompson worked with Varela on neurophenomenology. This article on Varela has some pertinent Varela quotes:
"From both the biophysical and the concrete experiential points of view there is no central "I" other than the one sporadically actualized in a linguistic, self-referential mode in communication. The "I" can only be localized as an emergence but it acts as the center of gravity of the subject himself, of his real life experiences" (36).
But said self has no specific location. It is "co-determination of inner and outer." It is a "selfless self" or "virtual self" and yet "can provide an occasion for coupling in a dynamical process." Thus through the history of its interactions it maintains a "cognitive self."
Which of course reminds me of what Edwards et al. said in their article on syntegrity in another application:
"From both the biophysical and the concrete experiential points of view there is no central "I" other than the one sporadically actualized in a linguistic, self-referential mode in communication. The "I" can only be localized as an emergence but it acts as the center of gravity of the subject himself, of his real life experiences" (36).
But said self has no specific location. It is "co-determination of inner and outer." It is a "selfless self" or "virtual self" and yet "can provide an occasion for coupling in a dynamical process." Thus through the history of its interactions it maintains a "cognitive self."
Which of course reminds me of what Edwards et al. said in their article on syntegrity in another application:
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Lakoff quickie
In this 4-minute clip Lakoff summarizes how philosophy is changed by cognitive science. Particular philosophies get attached to a root metaphor (or blend) that entails certain premises and conclude that it is reality in toto without going further to understand that other metaphors entail different premises with equally logical conclusions. The embodied thesis helps us understand how our body-minds work to correct many of philosophy's metaphysical assumptions while providing a postmetaphysical frame for an empirical, embodied and multifarious philosophy.
Garfield: Reflections on reflectivity
Continuing this post on the lack of a center of gravity in human self hood and consciousness, Jay Garfield, Buddhist scholar, has a bone to pick with Evan Thompon's conception of a self in Waking, Being, Dreaming. He said:
"The apparent unity to my experience is a construction. If to be a self is to be a subject, a unified center of consciousness, we are not selves. Persons, yes, but not selves. Our subjectivity is too complex, too fragmented, too multilayered for that. The transcendental unity of apperception that Kant thought was necessary to our identity (an idea carried over through Husserl into Thompson’s thinking) is, from the standpoint of Buddhist philosophy and from a lot of cognitive science, alas, not even actual. Agency is equally fragmented. Our sense that there is a unity of decision making when we act is simply false. The springs of action are manifold, and we often rationalize our motives ex post facto. These are precisely the phenomena to which Candrakīrti as well as Asanga and Vasubandhu advert when they say that the self as a narrative center of gravity (to use Daniel Dennett’s apt term) or as a center of agency or as something supervenient upon our aggregates—the thing to which we take ourselves to advert when we say“I”—simply is non-existent."
Therein Garfield also challenges Thompson's notion of consciousness, in effect similar to Wilber's notion as consciousness per se, in that it is a mystification.
"The apparent unity to my experience is a construction. If to be a self is to be a subject, a unified center of consciousness, we are not selves. Persons, yes, but not selves. Our subjectivity is too complex, too fragmented, too multilayered for that. The transcendental unity of apperception that Kant thought was necessary to our identity (an idea carried over through Husserl into Thompson’s thinking) is, from the standpoint of Buddhist philosophy and from a lot of cognitive science, alas, not even actual. Agency is equally fragmented. Our sense that there is a unity of decision making when we act is simply false. The springs of action are manifold, and we often rationalize our motives ex post facto. These are precisely the phenomena to which Candrakīrti as well as Asanga and Vasubandhu advert when they say that the self as a narrative center of gravity (to use Daniel Dennett’s apt term) or as a center of agency or as something supervenient upon our aggregates—the thing to which we take ourselves to advert when we say“I”—simply is non-existent."
Therein Garfield also challenges Thompson's notion of consciousness, in effect similar to Wilber's notion as consciousness per se, in that it is a mystification.
Former GOP Senator Humphrey: Dump is mentally ill
It doesn't take a psychiatrist to realize this. Humphrey said that there "is a mountain of evidence that the President is laboring under a mental impairment. He's delusional, he's paranoid, he's not a well man. He's dangerous." The interviewer said that Humphrey is not a psychiatrist so how can he make such a judgment. Humphrey responded that no member of Congress is a psychiatrist and that's not the standard used for them to judge a President's physical and mental fitness for the office. I'm glad more and more Republicans are coming to this obvious conclusion and may just initiate procedures to dump this biggest pile of stinking Dump.
Ana Navarro on Arpaio pardon
This proud and brave Republican is right that it sends several messages. It tells Latinos in AZ that they have to fear law enforcement's racial stereotyping which is now virtually legal. It tells racists that their PresiDunce is with them again against anyone who is not white. It tells special prosecutor Mueller that he can't leverage witnesses against Dump because they'll be pardoned. And it undermines our justice system in telling judges that their decisions will be overruled at the whim of a corrupt idiot.
Secretary of State distances himself from Dump
In this clip Wallace asks Tillerson about Dump's Phoenix rally, and how it might affect other countries' perception of our commitment to the American values of race equality. Tillerson avoids a direct answer, instead talking about how the State Dept. is committed to those values. When Wallace persists, Tillerson just says "the President speaks for himself." Meaning, I suppose, not the American values of the State Dept.
McGregor post-fight interview
It was nice to see him circumspect and respectful, completely unlike his behavior before the contest.
Mayweather TKOs McGregor in 10th round
I doubt this will shut up McGregor's big mouth. But it should. He was tested against the best boxer in May and Mac didn't have the endurance or the skill to come anywhere close to being in that league. However, granted that May had Mac in trouble in the 10th the ref stepping in far too soon to stop the right. The judges scorecards were the following before the stoppage. 87-83, 89-82, 89-81.
Dynamic systems & development
In this FB IPS thread once again the subject of just what is integral has been raised. There are the proponents of kennilingus who take Wilber's work as the word of God. But also some of Wilber's sources like Piaget, and the neo-Piagetian model of hierarchical complexity, which Wilber twists at times beyond recognition to suit his own metaphysical agenda. One such issue is that of a development center of gravity that guides one's integrated worldview. And that such worldviews progress through increasingly complex stages of development.
However some developmentists that use dynamic systems think otherwise. Mascolo said:
"It follows that individuals never operate at any single level of development. Instead, they operate within a developmental range – a series of levels that vary with task, domain, context, emotional state, and so forth. Given such dynamic variation, there can be no broad-based stages of development. It is thus not helpful to think of a person or a person’s abilities as being 'in a stage' of development. Development does not move through a series of fixed steps; development operates more like a constructive Web" (6).
This work questions the notion that one integrated worldview (or center of gravity) governs all our thoughts and actions, let alone that these worldviews evolve in a stage-like fashion. Therefore at any point in time one's worldview might indeed be a mixture from the so-called worldview stages, with any given one, or combination, manifesting depending on the context.
Which of course feeds directly into the linked discussion of Peterson being integral or not. Bonnita noted early on that he might not represent integral in the sense of complex thinking but might be more like the Gebser sort of integral-aperspectivity.
"For Gebser, integral-aperspectival consciousness is not experienced through expanded consciousness, more systematic conceptualizations, or greater quantities of perspectives. In his
view, such approaches largely represent over-extended, rational characteristics. Rather, it involves an actual re-experiencing, re-embodying, and conscious re-integration of the living vitality of magic-interweaving, the imagination at the heart of mythic-feeling and the
purposefulness of mental conceptual thinking, their presence raised to a higher resonance, in order for the integral transparency to shine through" (111).
Gidley, J. (2007). "The evolution of consciousness as a planetary imperative." In Integral Review 5.
However some developmentists that use dynamic systems think otherwise. Mascolo said:
"It follows that individuals never operate at any single level of development. Instead, they operate within a developmental range – a series of levels that vary with task, domain, context, emotional state, and so forth. Given such dynamic variation, there can be no broad-based stages of development. It is thus not helpful to think of a person or a person’s abilities as being 'in a stage' of development. Development does not move through a series of fixed steps; development operates more like a constructive Web" (6).
This work questions the notion that one integrated worldview (or center of gravity) governs all our thoughts and actions, let alone that these worldviews evolve in a stage-like fashion. Therefore at any point in time one's worldview might indeed be a mixture from the so-called worldview stages, with any given one, or combination, manifesting depending on the context.
Which of course feeds directly into the linked discussion of Peterson being integral or not. Bonnita noted early on that he might not represent integral in the sense of complex thinking but might be more like the Gebser sort of integral-aperspectivity.
"For Gebser, integral-aperspectival consciousness is not experienced through expanded consciousness, more systematic conceptualizations, or greater quantities of perspectives. In his
view, such approaches largely represent over-extended, rational characteristics. Rather, it involves an actual re-experiencing, re-embodying, and conscious re-integration of the living vitality of magic-interweaving, the imagination at the heart of mythic-feeling and the
purposefulness of mental conceptual thinking, their presence raised to a higher resonance, in order for the integral transparency to shine through" (111).
Gidley, J. (2007). "The evolution of consciousness as a planetary imperative." In Integral Review 5.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Light Balance on AGT
Even though their live performance was cancelled due to technical problems, we got to see their dress rehearsal and it was phenomenal. They move on to the semi-finals. This is truly a Las Vegas act whether they win AGT or not.
McCain's statement on pardoning Arpaio
And its implication. Here's what he said:
“No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold. Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge’s orders. The President has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions.”
We know that those of Dump's staff who committed at the very least collusion with Russians in the last election have no fear of prosecution because they know they'll be pardoned. So given that it will be impossible to leverage any of them to testify against the Dump. The only hope is having physical evidence of Dump's collusion. Even then he pardon himself whether it's legal or not, thereby creating a Constitutional crisis.
“No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold. Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge’s orders. The President has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions.”
We know that those of Dump's staff who committed at the very least collusion with Russians in the last election have no fear of prosecution because they know they'll be pardoned. So given that it will be impossible to leverage any of them to testify against the Dump. The only hope is having physical evidence of Dump's collusion. Even then he pardon himself whether it's legal or not, thereby creating a Constitutional crisis.
Maher: Get it in writing
His new rule on how to deal with Dump and his PresiDuncy: Get it in writing. You know, like a contract that he's bound to, since Dump continues to break all rules of Presidential behavior like the divine right of Kings. I'm so grateful to be able to laugh at these atrocities, at least momentarily, to relieve the abject horror of that reality.
Maher's monologue
He jokes about teleprompter Dump and the Real Dump, how his staff keeps trying to turn him into a normal President and how Dump can't help himself and keeps fucking it up. And of course, he makes us laugh at the otherwise disturbing news of the week.
The elitism of Chinese martial arts
Continuing this post, in a FB discussion Eric mentioned that the difference between contemplative and embodied spiritual practices was that the former were more inclined toward elitism, while the latter more originated in the common folk and hence were more inclined toward addressing political inequities. My
anecdotic experience is different. In the martial arts traditions of
China, of which I've been a practitioner, the masters and their lineages
are considered like iconic spiritual leaders, a special class. People
pay them inordinate amounts of money and
they are showered with gifts and free food/lodging constantly. And of
course they are considered masters of True Reality, not just their
particular martial skill set. And due to that I haven't seen much if any
involvement in political class struggle, since they are in the elite
and like it that way.
Friday, August 25, 2017
Bernie's trip to Detroit, Indianapolis and Portsmouth
Thanks as always for serving we the people Bernie.
Civil rights lawsuit in IN cites Palast's research on Cross-Check
The NAACP and the League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit in Indiana challenging their Interstate Cross-Check program instituted by the infamous vote suppressor Kris Kobach, now in charge of Dump's federal vote suppression team. The lawsuit cites research by Greg Palast, who exposed the program for what it is: A fraud to further suppress voters of color, youth or age. We the people will continue to fight back hard against this sort of bullshit. And we will ultimately win. Just watch us.
Wish You Were Here
This one popped into my head today. Then I thought of Greg Pilgrim (Tamler) when we used to listen to this together. I miss you buddy, RIP.
Swarm of Sanders delegates running for office
Are progressives shooting themselves in the foot?
In this clip a caller asks Nina Turner and Hartmann this question in a roundabout way. The caller talks of recent elections in Seattle, where two progressives ran and split the progressive vote so thoroughly that the establishment candidate won. He also asks about the upcoming Convergence Conference wherein a progressive coalition is forming and trying to get Bernie to run within a People's Party. Turner makes clear that Sanders, while critical of the establishment Dim Party, wants to still reform it. Turner, as head of Our Revolution, sees that as their mission as well.
That is the debate for the progressive soul. The Dim Party establishment is always trying to denounce the progressives as impractical purists, despite the progressive agenda being much more popular with the majority of people polled. So progressives may indeed get more stubbornly entrenched against the Party to the point of losing elections. And the Party itself just gets more entrenched against their progressive wing and indeed becomes even more center-right. But as we've seen, that almost always loses too. So maybe Bernie and Nina are right, in that we need to reform the Party?
That is the debate for the progressive soul. The Dim Party establishment is always trying to denounce the progressives as impractical purists, despite the progressive agenda being much more popular with the majority of people polled. So progressives may indeed get more stubbornly entrenched against the Party to the point of losing elections. And the Party itself just gets more entrenched against their progressive wing and indeed becomes even more center-right. But as we've seen, that almost always loses too. So maybe Bernie and Nina are right, in that we need to reform the Party?
Sitting v. moving meditation
Continuing this post, having
done both kinds my anectodic report is that one can. But there are no
studies on movement meditation to confirm it as yet. That's part of what
Thompson is complaining about, and encouraging the scientific
meditative researchers to start investigating.
Around 14:20 he said that research has show that perception is different when one initiates movement than when one is passively moved. He did not directly compare perception with movement to perception while completely still, so not sure of those differences.
At 18:20 he reiterates a point made elsewhere, that individual meta-cognition is an internalized form of social cognition, a point I used in the paper on collective enlightenment. He then brings in Vygotsky's work along this line, different than Piaget's. In our paper I also brought in Habermas' use of Mead in this regard. For reference, also see Edwards' 3-part series at Integral World on the depth of the exteriors.
At 23:40 is an important point to my initial inquiry about comparing sitting and moving meditation: "If two cognitive systems include different cognitive practices, the two systems can have different cognitive properties, even when the neural network activations are the same."
At 30:20 I was reminded about a discussion Bruce and I had about Latour's modes of existence related to parts of speech. Latour's prepositional mode could be considered both a part of speech and how the different parts of speech, or modes, interrelate. When discussing attention Thompson said that it has no specific location in the brain but is the whole embodied subject. Attention isn't a particular process or even a collection of processes, but a mode in which processes are related, sort of like Latour's prepostional mode.
Around 14:20 he said that research has show that perception is different when one initiates movement than when one is passively moved. He did not directly compare perception with movement to perception while completely still, so not sure of those differences.
At 18:20 he reiterates a point made elsewhere, that individual meta-cognition is an internalized form of social cognition, a point I used in the paper on collective enlightenment. He then brings in Vygotsky's work along this line, different than Piaget's. In our paper I also brought in Habermas' use of Mead in this regard. For reference, also see Edwards' 3-part series at Integral World on the depth of the exteriors.
At 23:40 is an important point to my initial inquiry about comparing sitting and moving meditation: "If two cognitive systems include different cognitive practices, the two systems can have different cognitive properties, even when the neural network activations are the same."
At 30:20 I was reminded about a discussion Bruce and I had about Latour's modes of existence related to parts of speech. Latour's prepositional mode could be considered both a part of speech and how the different parts of speech, or modes, interrelate. When discussing attention Thompson said that it has no specific location in the brain but is the whole embodied subject. Attention isn't a particular process or even a collection of processes, but a mode in which processes are related, sort of like Latour's prepostional mode.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Fact checking Dump's Phoenix rally crowd size
Dump said it was 15,000 and it was closer to 4000. Oh yeah, and Dump has a 9" erection too. Use the same ratio as the crowd size differential to approximate his real erectile (and electile) dysfunction.
Embodied cognition and the arts
As a dancer and martial artist, as well as an embodied cognitioner, this talk is particularly relevant to me. I've been saying since forever that these arts are meditative
disciplines in themselves. And one doesn't necessarily need the sitting
still sort of meditation to achieve meta-cognition.
The People's Convergence Conference
Will organize in Washington DC September 8 - 10 and will provide streaming video for those who cannot attend. The are hoping to form a Progressive Supermajority Party, since 66% of voters support their agenda, e.g.: "Those who support minimum wage, social justice, strong environmental
protection, 21st century infrastructure and universal healthcare and
oppose corruption, invasive wars and corporate welfare." Neither Party, including the Dimocrapic, support that agenda. Sanders is invited to speak, so let's see if he does. Said coalition will only support candidates who refuse to accept corporate money.
Wait, I thought Mexico was paying for the Wall?
Now it's us? Didn't the Dumpsters note this change in Dump's Phoenix rally? Would it even matter to these brainless zombies?
Teleprompter Dump is fake news
When he reads prepared speeches by his handlers of course he sounds diplomatic. But that is not the real Dump. His rallies where he goes off script and is just himself is the real Dump, and the real one it truly the Biggest, Best, Stinkiest Dump our country has ever seen. See Reich's FB post on this.
Scarborough on Dump's Phoenix rally
Morning Joe, former Repugnantan due largely to Dump and his former Party's support of him, sees the Dump going over the edge into the abyss. Unfortunately Joe only called Dump an autocrat when the proper term is fascist. He commented on Dump hinting at pardoning explicit racist and former Sheriff Arpaio, which of course got the racists going.
Trevor Noah's take on Dump's Phoenix rally
I'm grateful for comedians like this who can give us at least a moment's respite from the hell that is our current PresiDuncy.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Rick Wilson, conservative pundit, on Dump's instability
This is what the conservative on this CNN panel said about Dump after his Phoenix rally:
“It
was an astounding chain of lies tied together by lunatic asides by a
man who obviously is mentally unstable. I mean, I’m not joking about it
or being a smartass; this is a man who is not well. This
is a man who is not qualified or mentally or morally fit to be the
president of the United States and tonight was one more proof of it. He
alternated between being a whiny 6-year-old who’s had his Nintendo
taken away and between being the cranky old man who’s being out there
condemning everyone who doesn’t worship him adequately. I
know the 25th Amendment is a remote possibility, but if people around
him don’t think this guy is absolutely batcrap crazy, they are
mistaken.”
Dump vows to pardon former Sheriff Arpaio in Phoenix
Dump said so in so many words at his rally. This clip documents Dump's statements and talks with protesters outside the rally.
Thousands protest Dump in Phoenix
Of course Dump said there weren't many protesters. And yet there were thousands doing so outside where the Dump gave his rally. How many thousands has yet to be reported. Yes to real free speech!
Warren's speech to Netroots Nation
No, Democrats do not need to move back to the center, this imaginary balancing of both sides. Progressives need to dump such nonsense and proudly go full progressive, which is where polling shows most Americans live. And we do not need corporate money to get there either. Sanders proved that a truly progressive, grassroots movement inspires we, the little people, to donate in small amounts but in mass numbers.
She makes the point that one reason Dump won is because he rightly said the system is rigged. But he lied about fixing it and his history glaringly showed he was lying. Whereas Warren and the progressives not only say the system is rigged but have a long history of actually doing something about it. Warren's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is but one example that Dump is trying to dismantle.
She makes the point that one reason Dump won is because he rightly said the system is rigged. But he lied about fixing it and his history glaringly showed he was lying. Whereas Warren and the progressives not only say the system is rigged but have a long history of actually doing something about it. Warren's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is but one example that Dump is trying to dismantle.
Word of the day: quaquaversal
From this source: adjective - (of a geological formation) sloping downward from the center in all directions. The first thought I had was that it is a good description of kennilingus, Ken Wilber's edifice. As in, he is the center of the universe and everything else is at a lower plane of existence that must look up to him at the center. The word even has the 'qua' as in the infamous 4-quadrant graph of everything with the Lingam as the center. That's one thing he has in common with the PresiDump, even if it is the opposite end of the intelligence spectrum. Perhaps in this instance the word should be kenkenversal or kenniversal?
Dump's 1000 lies in 200 days
According to WaPo, nearly 5 per day. At least he is the best at being the worst PresiDunce and the biggest liar and loser ever.
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Mitch Vedepo on ANW
No one completed the Kansas City finals course but Mitch came within a few feet of doing it on the final obstacle to have the best run of the night.
Why is the FBI ignoring Charlottesville assault?
Hartmann interview investigative report Greg Palast. Palast's photographer took picture of the assault and sent them to the FBI, along with FB pages of at least 2 of the perpetrators. And yet no one has been arrested as yet. Why? Maybe because the Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department is himself a racist?
Also discussed in a Dump hotel deal with a Russian mobster that seems like a racketeering case. Special prosecutor Mueller is investigating.
Also discussed in a Dump hotel deal with a Russian mobster that seems like a racketeering case. Special prosecutor Mueller is investigating.
40,000 protest against Nazis in Boston
The scheduled Nazi event in Boston was resisted by about 40,000 protesters. This is what free speech looks like.
All Star contemporary routine choreographed by Travis Wall
Beautiful and powerful choreography on a timely subject, race relations.
Hartmann on the limits to free speech
One cannot just say or do anything and call it free speech. There are legal limits that Hartmann explores in this clip starting around 4:10. Examples include obscenity, fighting words, defamation (libel and slander), child pornography, perjury, blackmail, incitement to unlawful action, true threats, solicitation to commit crime, treason and plagiarism. All have in common that they harm someone or a group. The demonstrating Nazis and racists display a number of those prohibitions--like fighting words, true threats, defamation, incitement to violence--and are not protected by free speech. It is the law.
Monday, August 21, 2017
President's Committee on the Arts & Humanities resignation letter
The letter follows from this source. Dump's dumpster is crumbling every more resolutely by the minute:
Dear Mr. President:
Reproach and censure in the strongest possible terms are necessary following your support of the hate groups and terrorists who killed and injured fellow Americans in Charlottesville. The false equivalences you push cannot stand. The Administrations refusal to quickly and unequivocally condemn the cancer of hatred only further emboldens those who wish America ill. We cannot sit idly by, the way your West Wing advisors have, without speaking out against your words and actions. We are members of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH). The Committee was created in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan to advise the White House on cultural issues. We were hopeful that continuing to serve in the PCAH would allow us to focus on the important work the committee does with your federal partners and the private sector to address, initiate, and support key policies and programs in the arts and humanities for all Americans. Effective immediately, please accept our resignation from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
Elevating any group that threatens and discriminates on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, disability, orientation, background, or identity is un-American. We have fought slavery, segregation, and internment. We must learn from our rich and painful history. The unified fabric of America is made by patriotic individuals from backgrounds as vast as the nation is strong. In our service to the American people, we have experienced this first-hand as we traveled and build the Turnaround Arts education program, now in many urban and rural schools across the country from Florida to Wisconsin.
Dear Mr. President:
Reproach and censure in the strongest possible terms are necessary following your support of the hate groups and terrorists who killed and injured fellow Americans in Charlottesville. The false equivalences you push cannot stand. The Administrations refusal to quickly and unequivocally condemn the cancer of hatred only further emboldens those who wish America ill. We cannot sit idly by, the way your West Wing advisors have, without speaking out against your words and actions. We are members of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH). The Committee was created in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan to advise the White House on cultural issues. We were hopeful that continuing to serve in the PCAH would allow us to focus on the important work the committee does with your federal partners and the private sector to address, initiate, and support key policies and programs in the arts and humanities for all Americans. Effective immediately, please accept our resignation from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
Elevating any group that threatens and discriminates on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, disability, orientation, background, or identity is un-American. We have fought slavery, segregation, and internment. We must learn from our rich and painful history. The unified fabric of America is made by patriotic individuals from backgrounds as vast as the nation is strong. In our service to the American people, we have experienced this first-hand as we traveled and build the Turnaround Arts education program, now in many urban and rural schools across the country from Florida to Wisconsin.
Secret Service runs out of money protecting Dump
See this article. The SS has already expended it's yearly budget paying for all of Dump's frequent vacations and weekly golf outings. And then there's protection for his sons' extensive world-wide travel for business. In fact it has cost more in Dump's first 7 months that Obama's first 3 years. So why doesn't the Dump offer to pay for this? Oh, he's King, I forgot.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
The Environmental Destruction Agency
It no longer deserves the word protection, since it is doing everything but. From Robert Reich's FB post:
Scott Pruitt's crackdown at the EPA continues. Since taking office, he has begun to roll back everything from safe drinking water protections to clean air laws, but he doesn't want the public to know about it. Pruitt has gone to unprecedented lengths to maintain secrecy:
1) EPA employees now need an escort to reach his office on the top floor.
2) Senior staff give verbal orders on major policy decisions as not to create a paper trail.
3) Employees are often asked not to take notes during meetings and leave their cellphones at the door.
4) Pruitt avoids making calls on his office phone.
5) His schedule has been removed from the EPA's website.
6) He has requested 24/7 armed guards, unprecedented for an administrator.
7) Congressional oversight inquiries have gone unanswered.
8) Requests for public information have been delayed.
There's a simple reason for these drastic measures. Pruitt wants to hide his actions from the American people as he does the bidding of the oil and gas industry. If he were truly fulfilling the EPA's mission to protect the public, there'd be nothing to hide.
Scott Pruitt's crackdown at the EPA continues. Since taking office, he has begun to roll back everything from safe drinking water protections to clean air laws, but he doesn't want the public to know about it. Pruitt has gone to unprecedented lengths to maintain secrecy:
1) EPA employees now need an escort to reach his office on the top floor.
2) Senior staff give verbal orders on major policy decisions as not to create a paper trail.
3) Employees are often asked not to take notes during meetings and leave their cellphones at the door.
4) Pruitt avoids making calls on his office phone.
5) His schedule has been removed from the EPA's website.
6) He has requested 24/7 armed guards, unprecedented for an administrator.
7) Congressional oversight inquiries have gone unanswered.
8) Requests for public information have been delayed.
There's a simple reason for these drastic measures. Pruitt wants to hide his actions from the American people as he does the bidding of the oil and gas industry. If he were truly fulfilling the EPA's mission to protect the public, there'd be nothing to hide.
Armed pro-Dump militia storm San Antonio City Council
Ostensibly to protest the removal of a Confederate statue. Their new Civil War seems increasingly imminent by the day.
Liberal monuments
What if conservatives had to walk by these monuments every day? You know these whining snowflakes would easily get offended, raise holy hell and suddenly get all politically correct.
Documentary by embedded reporter inside the racist camp
Enlightening footage and interviews with the racists from an embedded reporter inside their ranks. Especially heinous is the racist leader who justifies injuring and killing people with a car (20:00). If we don't nip this in the bud we're likely looking at another civil war started by these Nazis.
Some history on confederate statues
So why were they erected long after the Civil War?
"'Most of the people who were involved in erecting the monuments were not necessarily erecting a monument to the past,' said Jane Dailey, an associate professor of history at the University of Chicago. But were rather, erecting them toward a white supremacist future.'
"The most recent comprehensive study of Confederate statues and monuments across the country was published by the Southern Poverty Law Center last year. A look at this chart shows huge spikes in construction twice during the 20th century: in the early 1900s, and then again in the 1950s and 60s. Both were times of extreme civil rights tension.
"'Most of the people who were involved in erecting the monuments were not necessarily erecting a monument to the past,' said Jane Dailey, an associate professor of history at the University of Chicago. But were rather, erecting them toward a white supremacist future.'
"The most recent comprehensive study of Confederate statues and monuments across the country was published by the Southern Poverty Law Center last year. A look at this chart shows huge spikes in construction twice during the 20th century: in the early 1900s, and then again in the 1950s and 60s. Both were times of extreme civil rights tension.
"In the early 1900s, states were enacting Jim Crow laws to
disenfranchise black Americans. In the middle part of the century, the
civil rights movement pushed back against that segregation. James
Grossman, the executive director of the American Historical
Association, says that the increase in statues and monuments was clearly
meant to send a message. 'These statues were meant to create
legitimate garb for white supremacy,' Grossman said. 'Why would you put a
statue of Robert E. Lee or Stonewall Jackson in 1948 in Baltimore?'"
Repugnantans are complict with Nazis
Exaggerated hyperbole to antagonize? Not in the least. In this article Feingold shows how the Repugnantan agenda accomplishes the same goals as the Nazis. Voter suppression, gerrymandering, mass incarceration, mass deportation: All effectively get rid of voters of color and enhance white supremacy. So while at least some Repugnantans voice opposition to the more glaring examples of US Nazis, let's see them not only say but do something about their policy agenda which in fact supports and enables the Nazi agenda.
Dump cuts funding to groups fighting US Nazis
Yes they did. Obama instituted funding for groups that fight white supremacists and Dump cut it. Meanwhile funding was increased to fight Islamic terrorists despite the fact that homegrown white terrorists were "responsible for 73 percent of deadly terrorist attacks since Sept. 11 2001." Add this to Dump defending the racists of Charlottesville and come to your own conclusion.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
The myth of General Lee
From this article:
"But even if one conceded Lee’s military prowess, he would still be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans in defense of the South’s authority to own millions of human beings as property because they are black. Lee’s elevation is a key part of a 150-year-old propaganda campaign designed to erase slavery as the cause of the war and whitewash the Confederate cause as a noble one. That ideology is known as the Lost Cause, and as historian David Blight writes, it provided a 'foundation on which Southerners built the Jim Crow system.'”
Yeah, let's preserve that 'culture.' Not!
"But even if one conceded Lee’s military prowess, he would still be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans in defense of the South’s authority to own millions of human beings as property because they are black. Lee’s elevation is a key part of a 150-year-old propaganda campaign designed to erase slavery as the cause of the war and whitewash the Confederate cause as a noble one. That ideology is known as the Lost Cause, and as historian David Blight writes, it provided a 'foundation on which Southerners built the Jim Crow system.'”
Yeah, let's preserve that 'culture.' Not!
Freemasonry and fascism
As
a former Freemason I can assure you it was anti-fascist and
anti-authoritarian. It was mostly about the Enlightenment value of
rationality, as well as utilizing mythical symbolism and ritual to
induce individual enlightenment. It was a key instigator in both the
American and French revolutions. Nazis in fact persecuted and executed Freemasons as being antithetical to their hideous agenda.
Btw, a free copy of Pike's seminal book on the Scottish Rite can be found here. The blasphemous dedication reads:
"LUCIFER, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darknesss! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable blinds feeble, sensual or selfish Souls ? Doubt it not!"
Another seminal tome is Manly Hall's The Secret Teachings of All Ages
Btw, a free copy of Pike's seminal book on the Scottish Rite can be found here. The blasphemous dedication reads:
"LUCIFER, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darknesss! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable blinds feeble, sensual or selfish Souls ? Doubt it not!"
Another seminal tome is Manly Hall's The Secret Teachings of All Ages
RIP Russ Volckmann
I read with sadness of the death of Russ here. I
did not know him personally. We had a few brief email exchanges over
the years about some of the Integral Leadership Review content. But I sure was an avid reader
of the review. I especially enjoyed his 12-part discussion series with
Mark Edwards. It was, and hopefully under new leadership will remain, a
significant contribution to the syntegral community. RIP buddy.
The Supreme Court is clear on Charlottesville
Source:
"The Supreme Court has held that advocacy of the use of force is unprotected when it is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action' and is 'likely to incite or produce such action.'"
Nazis carrying guns and other weapons and chanting inflammatory racist remarks is not protected speech.
"The Supreme Court has held that advocacy of the use of force is unprotected when it is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action' and is 'likely to incite or produce such action.'"
Nazis carrying guns and other weapons and chanting inflammatory racist remarks is not protected speech.
Friday, August 18, 2017
SNL: Tina Fey on Charlottesville
On last night's Weekend Update summer edition. Accurate and hilariously funny commentary.
Integral impotence
In this FB IPS thread I asked: So are we supposed to be tolerant of neo-Nazis, give them a fair shake in dialogue? I got a few responses from 'integral' practitioners that said we must accept their voices, otherwise we are censoring free speech and denying them the right to their views. One quoted Wilber as saying "everyone is right" at least partially to justify this. It's sad to see this sort of rationalization of integral theory enabling fascism.
Speaking of Wilber, I'm reminded of what he said in One Taste about communism and fascism, the extremes of liberalism and conservatism. As to the latter: "Extreme conservatism, ending in fascism, [is] also enforced with terror. [...] Fascism [...] kills the bottom to feed the top. And as it works hard for a growth toward the superman, the gas chambers await those who are rightly or wrongly (always wrongly) perceived to be subhuman" (310).
I'm also reminded of Mark Edwards' comment on climate change here, equally applicable to this topic:
Speaking of Wilber, I'm reminded of what he said in One Taste about communism and fascism, the extremes of liberalism and conservatism. As to the latter: "Extreme conservatism, ending in fascism, [is] also enforced with terror. [...] Fascism [...] kills the bottom to feed the top. And as it works hard for a growth toward the superman, the gas chambers await those who are rightly or wrongly (always wrongly) perceived to be subhuman" (310).
I'm also reminded of Mark Edwards' comment on climate change here, equally applicable to this topic:
John Dickerson on the difference between Washington & Lee
He refutes the false equivalence Dump made in order to justify racism (around 3:45). It's a variation of what Colbert humorously said in the last post's video, but with historical and rational justification, things sorely missing from anything that comes out of Dump's mouth or Tweets.
Colbert on Dump defending the Confederacy
Recall the Civil War as all about fighting slavery on one side and defending it on the other. And we are to retain the 'culture' of slavery? Seriously? I suppose Germany is suppose to retain the 'culture' of killing Jews? I think absolutely not in both cases.
Senator Corker on Dump's incompetence & instability
Yes, even this prominent Repugnantan is waking up to reality. He questions that Dump has the competence and stability required of a President.
Dump is "politically inept, morally barren and temperamentally unfit for office"
So says this article in The Economist. Even Repugnanatans are finally coming around to this inescapable conclusion. Took them long enough. Although I disagree with the statement that Dump is not a white supremacist because he spoke out against them. That statement was only meant to appease the criticism and not in the least genuine.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Even Faux Snooze couldn't get any Repugnantans to defend Dump
And they tried hard to be fair but not one Repugnantan would come on this show to defend Dump's insane press conference with the false equivalency of 'both sides' are guilty.
The paradox of tolerance
Continuing the last 2 posts, see this wiki on Karl Popper's decision theory paradox and other notes on the topic. No performative contradiction here. No performative contradiction here. A clip:
"The paradox of tolerance, first described by Karl Popper in 1945, is a decision theory paradox. The paradox states that if a society is tolerant without limit, their ability to be tolerant will eventually be seized or destroyed by the intolerant. Popper came to the seemingly paradoxical conclusion that in order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance."
"The paradox of tolerance, first described by Karl Popper in 1945, is a decision theory paradox. The paradox states that if a society is tolerant without limit, their ability to be tolerant will eventually be seized or destroyed by the intolerant. Popper came to the seemingly paradoxical conclusion that in order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance."
Democracy Now also interviews Mark Bray
Here. Also of note is that some of the German people were involved in the anti-fascist resistance to the Nazis. Bray gives some history of the movement and puts Charlottesville in context. Fascism isn't just an end product of a regime but starts in places like Charlottesville with such armed demonstrations. It is then fed by government like we're seeing with Dump. Hence Antifa is dedicated to meeting any expression of fascism when it arises, to nip it in the bud.
"When Hitler first attended his first meeting of the German Workers’ Party, which he later transformed into the Nazi Party, they had 54 members. So, we need to see that there’s always a potential for small movements to become large. And one of the other lessons of the beginning of the 20th century is that people did not take fascism and Nazism seriously until it was too late. That mistake will never be made again by anti-fascists, who will recognize that any manifestation of these politics is dangerous and needs to be confronted as if it could be the nucleus of some sort of deadly movement or regime of the future."
"When Hitler first attended his first meeting of the German Workers’ Party, which he later transformed into the Nazi Party, they had 54 members. So, we need to see that there’s always a potential for small movements to become large. And one of the other lessons of the beginning of the 20th century is that people did not take fascism and Nazism seriously until it was too late. That mistake will never be made again by anti-fascists, who will recognize that any manifestation of these politics is dangerous and needs to be confronted as if it could be the nucleus of some sort of deadly movement or regime of the future."
Hartmann interviews Antifa activist Mark Bray
It means anti-fascist and arose in response to fascist regimes. It realizes that fascists aren't going to respond to reason and will use only violence to obtain their ends. Antifa therefore realized they'd have to fight fire with fire to stop fascism. Like when we went to war with Germany to stop the Nazis from exterminating the Jews and invading countries left and right. A war was necessary. So today's Nazis and racists come to rallies armed and intending to be violent and they are. Antifa comes to counter that violence and protect peaceful protestors from that violence. They are not in any way two sides of a coin, a false equivalence. It's like the old TV series Kung Fu: Kaine is peaceful but sometimes he has to kick ass against violent people who bully others.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Republican Gianno Caldwell denounces Dump
On Fox and Friends Caldwell is fed the talking point about Dump's "both sides" comment and he said in part: "The very moral fabric in which we’ve made progress when it comes to race
relations in America? He’s failed us, and it’s very unfortunate that
our president would say things like he did in that press conference
yesterday when he says, ‘There are good people on the side of the Nazis. They weren’t all Nazis and they weren’t all white supremacists.’ Mr.
President, good people don’t pal around with Nazis and white
supremacists. Maybe they don’t consider themselves white supremacists
and Nazis, but certainly they hold those views."
Remember this Antifa?
Antifa stands for anti-fascist and yes, they sometimes use violence to oppose fascism. But that doesn't make them equally responsible for the problem of fascism. Remember this Antifa force that fought the Nazis?
Fact check on alt-left and alt-right violence
Dump is right that there was some so-called alt-left violence at Charlottesville. But the case that those on the left are equally to blame is patently false. The alt-right came there armed, locked and loaded and ready to be violent. The alt-left came there to confront racism and prevent the alt-right from getting out of control. Plus there are of course facts on the proportion of violence of the two sides. That is, if you accept facts, which show that both sides are not equally responsible. For example:
"White nationalists; militia movements; anti-Muslim attackers; I.R.S. building and abortion clinic bombers; and other right-wing groups were responsible for 12 times as many fatalities and 36 times as many injuries as communists; socialists; animal rights and environmental activists; anti-white- and Black Lives Matter-inspired attackers; and other left-wing groups."
"White nationalists; militia movements; anti-Muslim attackers; I.R.S. building and abortion clinic bombers; and other right-wing groups were responsible for 12 times as many fatalities and 36 times as many injuries as communists; socialists; animal rights and environmental activists; anti-white- and Black Lives Matter-inspired attackers; and other left-wing groups."
Carpool karaoke with Alicia Keys and John Legend
This is just a tease preview. Seems the series is now only pay per view on Apple music. Come on James, WTF?
Angelica Hale
Another youngster with incredible talent on AGT last night. Moving rendition of the song with impeccable tone. And those high notes!
Colbert on Dump's reversal
He starts by pointing out that Dump's claim to want the facts before making a statement is ludicrous, since he's never done that before. He then gets to Dump going back to his crazy contention that 'both sides' were responsible for Charlottesville.
KKK thanks Dump for the turnaround
After Dump denounced the KKK and neo-Nazis yesterday, today he went on a crazy rant against the so-called violent liberals in Charlottesville. David Duke of the KKK thanked Dump for this, and Richard Spencer, Nazi leader, thought Dump's denunciation of his ilk was just for show. Good job PresiDunce; you kept your base and incited them further.
Meyers on crazy Dump
Meyers is shell-shocked, as is Dump's own Chief of State, on Dump's crazy press conference today.
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Thunder by Imagine Dragons
From their latest release. I especially like the dancing in the video by the professional dancers, not the singer.
Olbermann on Charlottesville
I really enjoy Olbermann, who speaks his mind strongly and authentically without hesitation. "Donald Trump is for all intents and purposes a sympathizer, and apologist, and practically an accessory after the fact to neo-Nazi domestic terrorism." Can't argue with that true statement.
Jamie Rahn on ANW
The only other finisher of the night but he had a much tougher time of it than Moravsky.
Joe Moravsky on ANW
Only 1 of 2 to complete the Cleveland city finals on this way to the nationals in Las Vegas.
Dassy & Fikshun
My 2nd fav of the evening, an interesting Bollywood number. There's something about Indian music and dance that really resonates with me.
Koine & Marco on SYTYCD
My favorite routine of the evening, a very innovative and excellently performed African jazz piece to some awesome voice percussion: Speaking in Tongues II by Sheila Chandra.
Meyers on Charlottsville
In addition to the points of other commentators, Meyers goes into how the Repugnantans have been complicit in racism all along. And there is of course all the racists in Dump's team.
Colbert on Charlottesville
Colbert gives Dump the spanking he deserves. Too bad we can't give Dump a permanent time-out from the PresiDuncy.
Fallon on Charlottesville
He's shames the PresiDunce for taking 2 days to denounce what is clearly wrong. Unfortunately the Dump and his Dumpsters have no shame, which requires some humanity as prerequisite.
Monday, August 14, 2017
Dynamic systems don't need God
I
was just re-reading an excerpt of Bryant's updated paper "Time of the
Object" in this Ning thread and relevant to my syntegral orientation. The quote:
"Derrida argues that we must abandon the thesis that the synthesis of time is accomplished by a preexistent transcendental identity or unity that affects the synthesis of traces of the past. Rather, we must see the unity and identity of the substance as arising from the interplay of these traces and differences themselves. The substantiality of substance must, like Whitehead’s 'societies,' be seen as that which perpetually produces itself from itself without a homunculus presiding over the synthesis of these differences. In this regard, the substantiality of substance, its identity and unity, would not be an identity and unity that precedes this synthesis, but would be the very activity of synthesis itself. It is precisely an account of a decentralized process of synthesis in autopoietic and allopoietic machines that Luhmann gives us" (90).
To paraphrase Treasure of the Sierra Madre: "We don't need no stinking deities."
"Derrida argues that we must abandon the thesis that the synthesis of time is accomplished by a preexistent transcendental identity or unity that affects the synthesis of traces of the past. Rather, we must see the unity and identity of the substance as arising from the interplay of these traces and differences themselves. The substantiality of substance must, like Whitehead’s 'societies,' be seen as that which perpetually produces itself from itself without a homunculus presiding over the synthesis of these differences. In this regard, the substantiality of substance, its identity and unity, would not be an identity and unity that precedes this synthesis, but would be the very activity of synthesis itself. It is precisely an account of a decentralized process of synthesis in autopoietic and allopoietic machines that Luhmann gives us" (90).
To paraphrase Treasure of the Sierra Madre: "We don't need no stinking deities."
Dump caves under pressure, finally calls out racism
He finally said it this morning. But who still believes him? Oh yeah, the racists still do and think this is just a statement for political show. And they are right, of course. Hopefully at least a few of these cretins think Dump is betraying them and won't vote for him again.
Chancellor Merkel condemns Charlottesville racists
This is how a real world leader responds:
"The scenes at the right-wing extremist march were absolutely repulsive—naked racism, anti-Semitism and hate in their most evil form were on display. Such images and chants are disgusting wherever they may be and they are diametrically opposed to the political goals of the chancellor and the entire German government."
"The scenes at the right-wing extremist march were absolutely repulsive—naked racism, anti-Semitism and hate in their most evil form were on display. Such images and chants are disgusting wherever they may be and they are diametrically opposed to the political goals of the chancellor and the entire German government."
Dump incites violence
And yet his press secretary denies it? We have countless examples right out of the horse's ass.
Donnie Deutsch: Dump is a racist
Of course he's stating the obvious: "What a pathetic, sniveling little man our President is. A coward. [...] We have a racist as a President."
CEO of Merck criticizes Dump and resigns
From the American Manufacturing Council. He felt it necessary because Dump refused to criticize the white racists responsible for Charlottesville. While Dump still hasn't done so he was quick to jump on the CEO for challenging him. Sieg Heil to the Chief Dump, eh?
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Other Repugnantans have more guts that Dump
At 7:00 in this clip of Meet the Press Todd discusses some of the Repugnantans that had the courage to speak out and call racism for what it is, unlike Dump. At 12:00 the panel discusses this irresponsible and moral cowardice.
Mayor of Charlottesville on Meet the Press
In this clip (around 2:00) he blames the Dump campaign for deliberately inciting this racist base to come out of the shadows and feel empowered. And he feels the PresiDunce has the responsibility to put the genie back in the bottle. But we know that it is something Dump will never do, as these are the very people that won him the Blight House.
Senator Graham on Dump's failure to call out Neo-Nazis
There is no disputing that the rally in Charlottesville was led by white racists. And said racists were violent terrorists. So many are criticizing Dump for not even mentioning their racist orientation or their terrorist behavior, largely because they support Dump. Sen. Graham is among those Republicans calling on Dumpy the Dunce to condemn them in no uncertain terms instead of giving them a pass.
Google censoring progressive websites
Google is using a bogus algorithm to censor 'extreme' sites on both the left and right. However it is based on the false equivalency that so-called extremes of liberal and conservative are both inaccurate or biased. No, the extreme conservative sites are full of lies, fake news and misdirection. The so-called extreme liberal side is true progressives that base their news on facts, science and reality. So Google is basically censoring real news because it is the opposite of fake news, both being equally 'biased.' WTF, really.
A small taste of Gidley to whet the appetite
From this Ning IPS post:
"For Gebser, integral-aperspectival consciousness is not experienced through expanded
consciousness, more systematic conceptualizations, or greater quantities of perspectives. In his
view, such approaches largely represent over-extended, rational characteristics. Rather, it
involves an actual re-experiencing, re-embodying, and conscious re-integration of the living
vitality of magic-interweaving, the imagination at the heart of mythic-feeling and the
purposefulness of mental conceptual thinking, their presence raised to a higher resonance, in
order for the integral transparency to shine through" (111).
Gidley, J. (2007). "The evolution of consciousness as a planetary imperative." In Integral Review 5.
"For Gebser, integral-aperspectival consciousness is not experienced through expanded
consciousness, more systematic conceptualizations, or greater quantities of perspectives. In his
view, such approaches largely represent over-extended, rational characteristics. Rather, it
involves an actual re-experiencing, re-embodying, and conscious re-integration of the living
vitality of magic-interweaving, the imagination at the heart of mythic-feeling and the
purposefulness of mental conceptual thinking, their presence raised to a higher resonance, in
order for the integral transparency to shine through" (111).
Gidley, J. (2007). "The evolution of consciousness as a planetary imperative." In Integral Review 5.
Yeheshua and the Golden Dawn
Continuing the last post, from the Golden Dawn Adeptus Minor ritual. The GD was formed by Freemasons.
"The Keyword is I. N. R. I. which is inscribed with its correspondences upon this complete symbol of the Rose and Cross which I bear upon my breast. 'These letters have been occasionally used as the initials of the following sentences: JESUS NAZARENUS REX JUDECORUM, whence it symbolizes the Grand Word of this Grade which is YEHESHUAH or the Hebrew Name of Jesus, formed of the Holy letter Shin, representing the Ruach Elohim, placed within the Center of the Name Tetragrammaton. Also it has been interpreted as: Igne Natura Renovatur Integra, Igne Natura Reliovando Integrat, Igne Nitrum Roris Invenitur; Intra Nobis Regnum dei."
Basically, the name Yeheshuah (aka Jesus) indicates spirit tempering and integrating the four elements of fire, water, air and earth, aka the elements of human nature: will, emotions, intellect and physical body. As Tiphareth on the Tree of Life it also represents the mediation between the heavenly forces above (gods and goddesses if you will, or archetypes if you won't) and earth below, aka one's holy guardian angel.
"The Keyword is I. N. R. I. which is inscribed with its correspondences upon this complete symbol of the Rose and Cross which I bear upon my breast. 'These letters have been occasionally used as the initials of the following sentences: JESUS NAZARENUS REX JUDECORUM, whence it symbolizes the Grand Word of this Grade which is YEHESHUAH or the Hebrew Name of Jesus, formed of the Holy letter Shin, representing the Ruach Elohim, placed within the Center of the Name Tetragrammaton. Also it has been interpreted as: Igne Natura Renovatur Integra, Igne Natura Reliovando Integrat, Igne Nitrum Roris Invenitur; Intra Nobis Regnum dei."
Basically, the name Yeheshuah (aka Jesus) indicates spirit tempering and integrating the four elements of fire, water, air and earth, aka the elements of human nature: will, emotions, intellect and physical body. As Tiphareth on the Tree of Life it also represents the mediation between the heavenly forces above (gods and goddesses if you will, or archetypes if you won't) and earth below, aka one's holy guardian angel.
Why Catholics can't be Freemasons
As
a former Freemason I concur with this article, an excerpt below. Btw, I also enjoy a 'liberal' Catholic
church service. The liberal Catholics are much more like Freemasonry, as are the independent Catholics. I have attended this church in the past.
"What Clement XII described in his original denunciation was not a revolutionary republican society but a group spreading and enforcing religious indifferentism: the belief that all religions (and none) are of equal worth, and that in Masonry all are united in service to a higher, unifying understanding of virtue."
"What Clement XII described in his original denunciation was not a revolutionary republican society but a group spreading and enforcing religious indifferentism: the belief that all religions (and none) are of equal worth, and that in Masonry all are united in service to a higher, unifying understanding of virtue."
The price of academia
This is a significant reason I abandoned academia and instead prefer the
social media outlets for disseminating ideas. It reaches so many other
people if we can but parse the ideas in easily understandable terms
rather than technical academic or philosophical jargon for our
microtribe. This is in fact what Wilber did to reach a larger audience for his integral endeavor. As did Trump.
We'd do well to follow their lead.
"In the social sciences, most of these texts are jargon-ridden, formulaic and incomprehensible to anyone other than to tiny microtribes of subject experts. The vast majority have virtually no social relevance at all. Only a handful of specialists are ever going to read or cite any of them."
"In the social sciences, most of these texts are jargon-ridden, formulaic and incomprehensible to anyone other than to tiny microtribes of subject experts. The vast majority have virtually no social relevance at all. Only a handful of specialists are ever going to read or cite any of them."
Charlottesville is merely prelude
Continuing this post, just imagine what these white racists will do when Dump is impeached. Dump is in fact inciting this sort of behavior and it came to a head in Charlottesville, the racists violently protesting the removal of an iconic slavery statue. And then Dump let's them off the hook, claiming false equivalency on all sides and thereby sending a clear message that their violence is not only acceptable but encouraged. If they get this violent over a statue we can only imagine what's coming when Dump and his Dumpsters are removed from office. And Faux Snooze will be leading the charge.
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Vietnam Song
This song popped into my head today. Here's Country Joe and the Fish performing it at Woodstock.
Archival enzymes for syntegral digestion
Continuing this post, I've found a way to market my skills for the syntegral movement. Ning IPS forum contains thousands of pages of investigation and discussion on sundry topics of interest. But most are daunted by the enormity of its archive that they easily get lost when searching for specific information relevant to their inquiry of the moment. As
the archivist I could interject relevant posts and pages of existing
material in easily digestible small doses to facilitate your
investigations. And unlike plant enzymes being useless for human
digestion, my archival enzymes aid in digesting the material. Buy now, hurry, while offers last.
Maher interviews Dawkins
Dawkins wants to rescue the term 'soul' from religion. He is sure we have one, but it expresses in our wonder and awe and things of beauty or grandiosity. That's it. No supernatural thing that continues to personally exist when we die. I wish they had spent more time elaborating on that but the rest of the interview is debunking religious nonsense, as well as criticizing the snowflake left for stifling free speech.
Maher on Dumpy Repugnantans becoming the Troll Party
Their Party, including their coward leader, for so long has become nothing more than trolling good progressive ideas that they've lost any sense of purpose or agenda beyond what they're against. And they really don't give one shit about who or what is harmed, possibly irreparably, in the process.
Maher's monologue
He humorously covers that week's political news, especially the stand off between Fat Man and Little Boy.
Fox hostess promises 'uprising' if Swamp indictments
Yes, she said it. What she means is up for debate. But not really, as we know exactly what she means.
Raw food enzyme myth
There's a belief going around that plant enzymes aid in human digestion. But it has zero basis in scientific fact. All the scientific articles I looked at agree that plant enzymes have nothing to do with human digestion. Most of the diet faddist articles disagree but they're not based on this evidence. I'd provide a list of scientific sources to back this claim but people are going to believe what they want to anyway. Check the research yourself. But like plant enzymes and digestion, we all know that scientific fact often has no effect on strong belief systems. E.g., look who is in the Blight House.
Friday, August 11, 2017
Why we fell for clean eating
A well researched and written Guardian article on the "clean eating" fad, it's benefits and hazards. E.g.:
"But it quickly became clear that 'clean eating' was more than a diet; it was a belief system, which propagated the idea that the way most people eat is not simply fattening, but impure. [...] By 2015, Nigella Lawson was speaking for many when she expressed 'disgust' at clean eating as a judgmental form of body fascism. [...] Clean eating has been attacked by critics such as the baker and cookbook author Ruby Tandoh (who wrote a much-shared article on the subject in Vice magazine in May 2016) for being an incitement to eating disorders."
"When Dr Giles Yeo, a geneticist at the University of Cambridge, presented an episode of the BBC’s Horizon this year that examined the scientific evidence for different schools of clean eating, he found everything from innocuous recipes to serious malpractice. [...] Hadley Freeman, in this paper, identified clean eating as part of a post-truth culture, whose adherents are impervious, or even hostile, to facts and experts."
"Giles Yeo – who spent some time cooking a spicy sweet-potato dish with Ella Mills for his BBC programme – agrees that many of the clean eating recipes he tried are actually 'a tasty and cool way to cook vegetables'. But why, Yeo asks, do these authors not simply say 'I am publishing a very good vegetarian cookbook' and stop there, instead of making larger claims about the power of vegetables to beautify or prevent disease? 'The poison comes from the fact that they are wrapping the whole thing up in pseudoscience,' Yeo says. 'If you base something on falsehoods, it empowers people to take extreme actions, and this is where the harm begins.'”
"But it quickly became clear that 'clean eating' was more than a diet; it was a belief system, which propagated the idea that the way most people eat is not simply fattening, but impure. [...] By 2015, Nigella Lawson was speaking for many when she expressed 'disgust' at clean eating as a judgmental form of body fascism. [...] Clean eating has been attacked by critics such as the baker and cookbook author Ruby Tandoh (who wrote a much-shared article on the subject in Vice magazine in May 2016) for being an incitement to eating disorders."
"When Dr Giles Yeo, a geneticist at the University of Cambridge, presented an episode of the BBC’s Horizon this year that examined the scientific evidence for different schools of clean eating, he found everything from innocuous recipes to serious malpractice. [...] Hadley Freeman, in this paper, identified clean eating as part of a post-truth culture, whose adherents are impervious, or even hostile, to facts and experts."
"Giles Yeo – who spent some time cooking a spicy sweet-potato dish with Ella Mills for his BBC programme – agrees that many of the clean eating recipes he tried are actually 'a tasty and cool way to cook vegetables'. But why, Yeo asks, do these authors not simply say 'I am publishing a very good vegetarian cookbook' and stop there, instead of making larger claims about the power of vegetables to beautify or prevent disease? 'The poison comes from the fact that they are wrapping the whole thing up in pseudoscience,' Yeo says. 'If you base something on falsehoods, it empowers people to take extreme actions, and this is where the harm begins.'”
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