Nihilism as the lead-in to a good time.

This is brilliant.

blog.myspace.com/jasonlouv: "I'm the Secret Squirrel"

alterati » Blog Archive » 23 Tools To Brainwash and Influence People Through Media

Brainwashing in 23 easy lessons. My two favorites...

alterati » Blog Archive » 23 Tools To Brainwash and Influence People Through Media:

"5. Framing is everything. Decide what you want people to believe and make sure that any choices you give them are within a framework which assures you of your result. This is called the Illusion of Choice. “Do you want to sweep the floor before or after dinner?” Repeat this formula for economic systems, politicians, news stories, competing product brands and entertainment.

6. Appeal to the lowest common denominator. Make sure that all shows model conflict resolution of people with an emotional and intellectual maturity no greater than that of a six year old. Make it funny so no one notices."

MMA Striking.

Between Rounds:

"Because of the distance, MMA needs the big overhand right, the wide hook, which in boxing (with its closer range and quicker combinations) are too slow. Boxers see that big overhand right working in an MMA fight, and think “those guys can’t punch” when really the range is entirely different. And in MMA you’ll never see a tight boxing hook land, if someone’s that close they’ll throw an elbow, or clinch and look for knees.

What makes MMA so compelling right now is the pace it’s evolving at: both on the ground (Nick Diaz and Shinya Aoki using the rubber guard ) and in striking (Anderson Silva against whomever you like). The Tyson Griffin-Frank Edgar fight at the UFC 67 was one of the best I’d seen in a while, and Frank Edgar was staying in the pocket and counterpunching as well as anyone I’d seen attempt it in MMA."

I would totally watch more sumo if it was like this.

Asashoryu vs Chiyotaikai

Oh god --- Greatest. Thing. Ever.

Bat. Jesus.

I think I'm in love.


Facedown in the Gutters:

"On the third day, He rose again -- TO KICK ASS."

Why folks REALLY quit smoking.

New Jersey has issues.

Overheard in the Office | How about a Compromise? One Could Be a Priest:

"Young wife sighing: All I pray for is a gay son.
Husband: All our sons will be straight.
Young wife: Just the youngest one can be gay. I need one gay son. You won't even notice.
Husband: No, it won't happen. Costa Ricans don't have gay sons. And I want my name passed on.
Young wife: I'll wait until you go to work, then put makeup and heels on him and let him be himself. I need someone to talk to when you are gone.

Sandwich shop
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey"

The brain works in quirky ways.

I may start writing batshit crazy stuff, just to see if I end up believing it.

This does, of course, explain all major religions. And philosophies.

The Dilbert Blog: Dog Catches Car – Update:

"According to my new favorite book, Influence, once someone commits a position to writing, even a position he doesn’t believe, and states it publicly, the person starts changing his actual position to what he said, even if the original statements were lies. The research shows this to be true."

"Serve and protect"? For your own good, cause we know what's best.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition » Heartless Feds, apparently heartless city cops, too:

"...two years ago Denver voters approved a city ordinance that allows possession of less than one ounce of marijuana for personal use by persons 21 years of age or older.

The measure was approved by 54% of the voters. Last fall, 55% of Denver voters approved a similar measure for state law, but state-wide the measure failed.

Since then, Denver Police Department's arrest rate for marijuana of people 21 or older has increased - nearly 25%! DPD is going around the city ordinance and citing people with the state statute.

...When will law enforcement realize that the public is not really on their side on this one?

When will they stop being bullies with guns and handcuffs? When can we expect someone to inject a modicum of common sense into law enforcement efforts? I've asked it before, I'm asking it in Denver today and I'll ask again in the future, "Don't you think your police can spend their time - and your tax dollar - doing something more important?"

No, I'm not a "turncoat". I was trained that law enforcement, to maintain fairness and the respect of the citizens it serves, must be reasonable and carried out with sensibleness, fairness and compassion. Playing king of the mountain doesn't cut it for this former cop.

When the citizenry informs you of their priorities, how can you ignore their spoken will and still claim you are there to "serve and protect?""

The desk of Congressman Ron Paul.

Nicely done.

Ron Paul - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Ronald Ernest “Ron” Paul (born 20 August 1935) is an American physician, congressman and presidential candidate from the U.S. state of Texas. A Republican, he has represented Texas's 14th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997, and had previously served as the representative from Texas's 22nd district in 1976 and from 1979 to 1985."

Ouroboros*

Overheard in the Office | And Why Can't They Control Their Tendency to Generalize?:

"Asian girl hanging up phone: Why can't Asian people speak English?!

133 East 13th Street
New York, New York"

* snake eating its own tail.

The Kid is Awesome.

amazingkirk.com

WHY IS KIRK A SUPER HERO?

Little Kirk dares to live each day to the fullest, with all of his never- ending effort to teach his body to move.
Kirk does all of this each day of his life and with a smile that shares his love with all who know him.

...Kirk suffered a pediatric stroke, also known as a CVA (cardiovascular accident), and is involved in an intensive integrated therapy approach designed by a highly qualified, hand-picked therapy team of physicians, therapists and legal advisors to meet the unique needs of the specific areas of injury to Kirk's brain that resulted due to the stroke. No two brain injuries are exactly alike.

Little Kirk's therapy: HBOT, occupational therapy, NARHA equine hippotherapy (Thank you NARHA Sponsors!) music-speech therapy with a certified professional therapist at the local university, audio-therapy, visual therapy, physical therapy and a fun time with Yoga for Special Needs.

WHO IS THE MASTER WHO MAKES THE GRASS GREEN?

Great video/short film.

WHO IS THE MASTER WHO MAKES THE GRASS GREEN?
shot by Edgar Pêra Lisboa 1994
Reality-Tunnels according to Master Bob a.ka. Robert Anton Wilson, from the Sub-Geniuz Zchool of Thought. Re-interpretation by Master Joçao Queiroz
7 min. 1996. Prize Tampere Festival

Robert Anton Wilson Meme-orial

Hail Bob!

Bob's daughter, Christina Pearson, shares his message to his admirers at the end of the Meme-orial in Santa Cruz, February 18, 2007

Last words...

This is so amazingly cute I lost all the hate in my body.

Only for a little bit. It's back now.

But if you can watch this without smiling, you might just be dead inside.

Belief is your impression of the thing, not the thing.

Future Hi: Creating Belief:

"Even after the lessons of chaos magic theory (CMT) regarding belief as tool rather than operating system, some magicians still cling to the delusion that (for example) tracing five lines into a shape human minds recognize as the pentagram is by itself magically efficacious. Long-time practicing magicians (those who should most know better) are not immune to this phenomenon. Indeed, a tendency exists to imprint one's own tradition as the operating system of reality, lending their system an objective belief Robert Anton Wilson described as 'the death of thought.'"

Great point about not really understanding the mindset of the people we're "helping."

Fallacy of the Mirror Image by Charley Reese:

"We all know how Americans would react to the accidental death of a loved one. They'd be on the phone to a lawyer, wanting to sue and put a dollar figure on the death of the loved one. But early in the war, when an American officer showed up at the door of an Iraqi family whose son had been killed by mistake and asked the father what compensation he wanted, the Iraqi replied, "Ten dead Americans."

Then there was the boy in the early days of the war who lost his family and his arms and legs. Valiant efforts were made to save his life, and he eventually was flown to England and fitted with prosthetics. The Western press made the kid a big deal, probably because they thought it reflected well on the West. But when the boy was finally well enough to hold a press conference, what did say? Thank you? No, he said he hoped and prayed the men who wiped out his family were burned alive. The press instantly lost interest in him.

...Washington defines victory in Iraq as reconciliation between the Shiites, the Sunnis and the Kurds. That is, instead, a definition of failure, because it is not going to happen. To say that if we leave there will be a blood bath is to say we will never leave. There is a reason why all Iraqi governments have been powerful central governments long on coercion and short on democracy. The reason is, it's the only way a nation with a divided population can be ruled.

...Washington seems to have an infinite capacity for self-delusion. The essential question regarding the surge and new security plan has yet to be asked. What will happen when the U.S. soldiers leave? The violence will resume, of course. It's kindergarten-level knowledge that insurgents make themselves scarce when conventional military forces move in. So, of course, there will be a temporary reduction in violence, but how long do you want Americans living in Baghdad? Forever?"

Sandy tells me I need to do this more...

Weblog Entry - 04/08/2007: "Pro-Freedom or Anti-Gov?":

"The next time you post on your favorite internet forum or have a conversation with friends or, more importantly, setting your own personal goals, will you be posting an article about the latest government intrusion or discussing how the government is violating the Constitution? Or will you be discussing how you are creating freedom for yourself and your family or learning from others and how they've paved their road to freedom?"

The focusing on the positive, not the negative, that is. Sure, use my own words against me...

Interesting observations about the psychology of sexual imagery.

alterati » Blog Archive » Objectifying With Consent:

"There are still hints of the America’s founding puritan values hidden within our society. Many subcultures actively seek to redefine the way we are taught to treat our bodies and our spirits to match a controlling agenda. Yet in communities as diverse as animal rights activists, anarchists, consumer consciousness advocates, fetishists, feminists, and ravers, one can find substantial segments who believe that public sensuality cannot exist without exploitation. I cannot believe this is a healthy way to think of our bodies or address our insecurities."

See, this is what you call being self-aware.

Smart man. [You KNOW it's a guy. Has to be.]


PostSecret:

"(PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.)"

[My wife so didn't send this.]