Perfectibilists: The 18th Century Bavarian Order of the Illuminati by Terry Melanson is a rich treasure trove of history, much of which I found I hadn’t quite been familiar with yet, and that, in spite of the author’s barely hidden bias, really puts the infamous Illuminati in a heroic position in their time. I’ve always… Continue reading Perfectibilists
Category: Politics
Capitalist Realism
I picked up Capitalist Realism: Is there no alternative? by Mark Fisher, from Zero Books, as my first read and first exposure to Fisher’s work. When he passed away by his own hand, in January 2017, I was struck by how many people were talking about him, and since I hadn’t known of his work… Continue reading Capitalist Realism
no cures
“no cures.” No tears in the eyes of the youth Patriotism is the new faith “I am no criminal” Blind masses of youth marching Civil disobedience “It’s not the ideology, it’s the people” “It’s not the guns, it’s those damn bullets” Not to question patriotism is to stagnate and become blind followers to the new… Continue reading no cures
Societies with secrets, security culture and online social media
There’s a post about a new Social Media Code of Conduct for Massachusetts Freemasons [PDF] (HT @Masonictraveller) over at Freemason Information, part of The Beehive series by Fred Milliken. This document mentioned is particularly interesting to me because it touches on some issues I think are important; and the reactions to the document are also… Continue reading Societies with secrets, security culture and online social media
Re: Thank you for sharing your views
After months, I received a reply to a message I sent to Sen. Merkley. Only, when I responded, the address from which “Sen. Merkley”‘s messages was sent apparently is not accepting e-mail: <[email protected]>: host a-ess-sen3s.senate.gov[156.33.195.218] said: 550 5.1.1 <[email protected]>… User unknown (in reply to RCPT TO command) Yeah, so much for having a voice …… Continue reading Re: Thank you for sharing your views
Secretary of the Arts
As the woman says: It takes a couple seconds. Do it! :-) anna So, check out this petition, which I’m sure wasn’t actually started by Quincy Jones, if you’re inclined: Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of… Continue reading Secretary of the Arts
Holstic Design with Dr. Love at Schnitzer on Jan 15th at 7pm
Yeah, that’s not a porno, you perv. Holistic Design with Dr. Terence Love Professor of Architecture, Design and Engineering, Curtin University “Holistic design depends on the material opportunities but even more on our inner subjective, emotional life.” 7 pm, Thursday January 15th, 2009 This is part of the Linus- Pauling Memorial Lectures 2008-2009 Science, Techonology… Continue reading Holstic Design with Dr. Love at Schnitzer on Jan 15th at 7pm
The Portland Cello Project at Someday on Oct 17th
A new e-mail and post from The Portland Cello Project offers a last minute announcement of a show at Someday as part of a Barack Obama benefit: This Friday October 17 at The Someday Lounge, we’ll jump on stage for a 45 minute set at 9pm for their Barack Obama benefit. I think all the… Continue reading The Portland Cello Project at Someday on Oct 17th
Palin is a revenge fantasy
It should be clear from Palin’s recent speech that the Republican Party is about revenge, and the fantasy of revenge that requires a target. The rank and file of the Republican Party are being motivated by their fear and hatred to send an amoral and rapacious elite into office where they can do the most… Continue reading Palin is a revenge fantasy
Portland Reclaiming hopeful at M15
Portland Reclaiming brought a “hope” banner to the M15 march. We also brought fabric and pens for people to make their own peace flags in the theme of “hope” and marched with over a hundred in a long tail behind the banner. Photo of Portland Reclaiming’s banner and peace flags linked to photoset: Additionally, we… Continue reading Portland Reclaiming hopeful at M15
Community not Communism
In this morning’s Oregonian (Wed, 18jul07; D2), there is an article, “Postage-stamp-sized service suits N.J. townsfolk,” that I cannot find on their own website. But, the Newhouse News Service is the source of “Tiny Post Offices Deliver More Than Mail“. From the article: “These smaller post offices are important hubs of the community.” I’m reminded… Continue reading Community not Communism
Politics in the Dark Ages of Online Games
Via Boing Boing: “Can you be a citizen of a virtual world? That’s the question that I keep asking myself, whenever anyone tells me about the wonder of multiplayer online games, especially Second Life, the virtual world that is more creative playground than game.” There’s been an online multiplayer RPG called Dark Ages for a… Continue reading Politics in the Dark Ages of Online Games
Real common wealth
Via The Huffington Post: The wealthy have made greater use of the common good–they have been empowered by it in creating their wealth–and thus they have a greater moral obligation to sustain it. They are merely paying their debt to society in arrears and investing in future empowerment. This is the fundamental truth that motivates… Continue reading Real common wealth
Pot meet kettle
I was reading an article, over at DailyKOS quoting Glenn Greenwald, about an interesting pattern that keeps coming up about lost information. What comes to mind first is the iconic patterns of corporate denial by representatives of the Tobacco industry testifying in front of congress and denying knowledge of anything. So, the model of corporate… Continue reading Pot meet kettle
The hands come together
In the Independent Online Edition, there’s an article about an amazing development in Northern Ireland: “The big news they contained was that Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party will be going into government together, launching a new era and underpinning the peace process with a political foundation. But even more striking was the absence… Continue reading The hands come together
Janus is looking forward, looking backward
Via Daily Kos: “If you’re like me, you threw up a little in your mouth when you read that Gonzales criticizes those who ‘apply an activist philosophy that stretches the law to suit policy preferences.’ And you did so because you’re already too well aware that this ‘administration’ has, if it’s done nothing else (and… Continue reading Janus is looking forward, looking backward
“The sword of Damocles is hangin’ over my head …”
Be careful what you wish for, the consequences may be more than you expected: “Isn’t that what you wanted all along – freedom of religion? That freedom means all religions – even ones you don’t happen to like.” [via] In this article, an elementary school is forced to open up a system by which kids… Continue reading “The sword of Damocles is hangin’ over my head …”
Deja vu, all over again
With both John Edwards and Hillary Clinton maybe running, and a lot of noise about Obama, I can’t help but see the Edwards-Clinton-Obama collision as a reminder of the Edwards-Kerry-Dean collision. If this comes to pass, I have this tickle in my brain that thinks the eventual ticket will end up being Clinton-Edwards leaving Obama… Continue reading Deja vu, all over again
Who’s the smart egg that thought of this one?
Maybe it’s just me, but is handing out free eggs by the dozen such a good idea when there’s a protest about reproductive women’s rights going on? Thiftway, buddy, pal, that’s a bit like rudely refusing to offer candy on Halloween and, instead, handing out free rolls of toilet paper. You know, every chicken egg… Continue reading Who’s the smart egg that thought of this one?
MPAA – size queen, fashion diva, and girlfriend from hell?
Via Slashdot, BBspot – MPAA Lobbying for Home Theater Regulations, Apparently the MPAA wants to reach into your living rooms and bedrooms and regulate the size of your equipment and the arrangement of your furniture: The MPAA defines a home theater as any home with a television larger than 29″ with stereo sound and at… Continue reading MPAA – size queen, fashion diva, and girlfriend from hell?
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