| Lost a good friend today |
[Nov. 25th, 2009|05:36 pm] |
Grief is such a selfish thing.
I don't have a lot of friends. I've always been much more about quality than quantity. So it's a large hole they leave behind in my life.
Bill had a wickedly wrong sense of humor. He was a brilliant musician. He loved a good philosophical argument. Exactly the qualities I like. He is and will be missed. |
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| Lines from songs I like |
[Nov. 16th, 2009|02:14 pm] |
I'm afraid of Americans
I'm afraid of the world
I'm afraid I can't help it
I'm afraid I can
God is an American |
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| Let's see if this works... |
[Nov. 15th, 2009|06:54 pm] |
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Это - эксперимент. Возможно это будет работать. Возможно нет. Это - плохо механический перевод. Это может позволить мне получать хайку. Или нет. Так или иначе, как - вещи с Вами? |
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| Ignorance |
[Nov. 13th, 2009|09:10 am] |
Finally getting back top the poll.
I found it interesting, if not surprising that two of those that answered powerless over ignorant are journalists. ;)
As for myself, I chose ignorance because the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I've certainly felt powerless (it is, of course, debatable whether I ever was) many times and not enjoyed it at all. Not even a little bit.
Truth is I'm tired and would like a long vacation from knowing things. |
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| Failures of bystanders |
[Oct. 29th, 2009|02:17 pm] |
I'll discuss the poll in another post, but I wanted to do this since I'm thinking about it.
Just about everywhere I've seen people discussing a gang rape that went on for two hours with none of those witnessing it trying to stop it or calling authorities. The same question keeps getting asked, "How could the bystanders do nothing?" An assortment of psychologists, lawyers, victims advocates, etc. have stepped up to answer the question. To me it seems each comes up with an answer that supports their agenda. I think the answer is a bit more complicated, though.
I do believe that "group behavior" played a primary role. But, I think there were many reasons people didn't do anything. Each person brought their own particular perceptions, reasoning, emotions, etc. to bear. Everyone had an excuse as to why they did nothing. Everything from the truly awful to the most innocent thoughts went through various people's heads. Just as it does all the time for all of us.
This seems to me something that happens with most all groups. Lots of personal foibles get turned toward a common purpose. I think this is important to understand because it serves as a warning to us all that just because we think we're differently doesn't mean we're immune to group behavior. And group behavior can be dangerous. |
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| More on health care |
[Oct. 23rd, 2009|08:35 am] |
Somebody has to lose something.
The entire health care fight is about who will lose what.
Everybody wants it to be someone else who loses. |
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| Just a thought |
[Oct. 19th, 2009|01:39 pm] |
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So we probably all agree that if Balloon Boy's (Though he was never in a balloon) father perpetrated a hoax that he should have to pay for the cost of emergency responders. But should he also get a share of the profits made by the news networks for that day? |
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| Just to be clear |
[Oct. 7th, 2009|06:05 pm] |
Republicans are not anti-government. They are not for personal liberties.
It has been bugging the hell out of me that the republicans have been trying to sell that line of horseshit and idiots have been buying it. Republicans are pro-business and pro-wealth. Anything else they suggest they are is simply to fool someone into supporting them.
Neither major party is for personal liberties except for certain people in certain situations. Both love any part of government they control. |
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| Observation |
[Oct. 3rd, 2009|01:49 pm] |
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Dimitry Medvedev looks and sounds like such a terribly boring person. |
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8 (72.7%)