http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp-lwSe2llg
The police don't seem to be running away so much as staying in front of the approved protest route.
In spite of being constantly insulted, having objects thrown at them, and being dared to fight, they only used physical force on the the actual protestors that crossed the line and presented a threat. Which the protestors, incidentally immediately decry as racism ("Racist!"). So, based on the fact that they do "fight back", physical cowardice is not a Met problem.
The Met are not retreating, are not cowards, but unfortunately are at the mercy of cruel and abitrary masters who would rather vent their wrath on the police as opposed to those who actually desire a break down in law and order, in the event of a physical confrontation.
The cowardice isn't in the front line of the Police Service, but in every individual who controls their fate and demands that they submit themselves to abuse and humiliation. These individuals betray a vincible and blameable ignorance that protests of these kinds are anything other than what they are, a "victim interview" conducted with the British public.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
THE Answer for Materialists
"I just don't believe in anything I can't see or touch."
"So you don't believe in time and space?"
Thank you Kant.
"So you don't believe in time and space?"
Thank you Kant.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Built for Show
I love condensed knowledge. I also love it when a book ties related threads together. Built for Show does both.
This book immediately addresses a primal motivation for working out, to be attractive to the opposite sex (although I disagree that it is the only primal reason, the other one motivating me is that weak guys don't slay dragons).
His advice is basic and solid. His recommendation that you terminate any set as soon as your tempo slows down is a formula for not only not burning out while you're building up, but you also feel pumped up and good after working out as opposed to wasted (an invaluable thing for all who prize energy). Basic exercises using coordinated muscle groups, rock and roll.
Three things really set this book apart however. First, nutrional information that gives suggestions for best widely available options (as opposed to options that require an excess of money and time, e.g. grass fed, all natural beef slow cooked over three days, etc.). Second, an easy mobility/flexibility section that gets you the most bang for your buck in the least time. Third, advice about dressing, motivation, and personal presentation.
Simple in the best sense of the term, which is great, simpler things are less like to break.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Slick Brit: Hotel Babylon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Babylon
About three episodes in now on Netflix, and the show has impressed me as doing something very few American entertainment products seem to be able to do, be slick.
By "slick", I mean the show feels like low key good jazz. As a general rule, it draws you in, shows you characters with virtues and foibles without degenerating into farce. That being said, it doesn't mean that the show isn't empty and fluffy. It's a bit like someone made really, really good Musak.
Real slick, no depth, at least not so far.
About three episodes in now on Netflix, and the show has impressed me as doing something very few American entertainment products seem to be able to do, be slick.
By "slick", I mean the show feels like low key good jazz. As a general rule, it draws you in, shows you characters with virtues and foibles without degenerating into farce. That being said, it doesn't mean that the show isn't empty and fluffy. It's a bit like someone made really, really good Musak.
Real slick, no depth, at least not so far.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Go too far and you lose it all: The Objectification of Women
I remember the first time I was offended by the objectification of a woman. I was sitting in the Penland Cafeteria at Baylor University with one of my buddies and a couple of his roommates. The graphically detailed way they were talking about this blonde across the way created a moment of moral revulsion within me. Prior to that point, I had assumed that all the whining about "objectifying women" was code for "it's not fair that she's prettier than me".
Honestly though most of it still is. I am a man and I make no apologies for my desire for the fair sex. Yes, I think a hot chick is damn fetching. That is demonstrably, both historically and scientifically, one of the single most normal things in the world. The thing I experienced was something else though. At that moment in Penland, this girl had ceased to be viewed as a human, and was being viewed as a utility, a spiritually faceless resource.
By doing things like decrying any display of physical feminitity in the media, feminists had missed the point. The problem is not the sexual impulse towards the attractive woman, or even using that impulse to evoke a response, but when the woman is reduced to that alone. Instead of that attractiveness being a delightful facet of someone's humanity (the remainder of which may be good or bad), it is viewed in isolation of all other facets. By mindlessly damning all physical femininity, you lose the point and wind up damning reality. Yes, hot women are going to be viewed as more socially valuable and maybe that isn't fair. But what exactly did you expect?
Focus your resources on the real problem and stop getting in a twist over the normal stuff.
Honestly though most of it still is. I am a man and I make no apologies for my desire for the fair sex. Yes, I think a hot chick is damn fetching. That is demonstrably, both historically and scientifically, one of the single most normal things in the world. The thing I experienced was something else though. At that moment in Penland, this girl had ceased to be viewed as a human, and was being viewed as a utility, a spiritually faceless resource.
By doing things like decrying any display of physical feminitity in the media, feminists had missed the point. The problem is not the sexual impulse towards the attractive woman, or even using that impulse to evoke a response, but when the woman is reduced to that alone. Instead of that attractiveness being a delightful facet of someone's humanity (the remainder of which may be good or bad), it is viewed in isolation of all other facets. By mindlessly damning all physical femininity, you lose the point and wind up damning reality. Yes, hot women are going to be viewed as more socially valuable and maybe that isn't fair. But what exactly did you expect?
Focus your resources on the real problem and stop getting in a twist over the normal stuff.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Missing the Point in La Plata
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7793183.stm
In an attempt to alleviate the suffering of prostitutes in the city of La Plata, Sandra Cabrera, an ex-prostitute, campaigns for greater respect and better conditions for the beleaguered sex workers of the city.
We needed to educate and to make people aware of our specific problems but also to tell them not to discriminate because of the work we do," said Susana.
Susana Martinez does twice-weekly visits to brothels
"One day a colleague told me that our doctor, while doing the check-ups, tried to persuade the girls to leave prostitution and the streets.
"I was angry because we are free to choose. I've never told them to stop being doctors and change profession.
....
Some are kidnapped and forced into the sex industry. Others are tricked with offers of jobs as domestic workers or waitresses only, on arrival in Argentina, to have their documents confiscated and their freedom curtailed.
Well that sounds reasonable, in a modern society...wait, hold on a second, what?
Look if you're a prostitute and you're offended that you don't receive respect from society as a whole, then what exactly did you expect? The second paragraph above leaves me with the belief that maybe, just maybe, you might get more done with a message of "We are slaves, liberate us.", then "We degrade ourselves for money, see us as your equals."
This entire story seems to miss the point that systematic rape for money is occuring by positing that better treatment from the health service is the ideal solution for kidnapping, enslavement, and rape.
Historically, in most societies and cultures in the West, kidnapping rapists were considered prime candidates for hanging, a practice which tends to dissipate recidivism and encourage would be kidnapping rapists to look for other career options. If that was Ms. Cabrera's position, she would seem a lot more sane. And probably gain more sympathy from her fellow citizens.
In an attempt to alleviate the suffering of prostitutes in the city of La Plata, Sandra Cabrera, an ex-prostitute, campaigns for greater respect and better conditions for the beleaguered sex workers of the city.
We needed to educate and to make people aware of our specific problems but also to tell them not to discriminate because of the work we do," said Susana.
Susana Martinez does twice-weekly visits to brothels
"One day a colleague told me that our doctor, while doing the check-ups, tried to persuade the girls to leave prostitution and the streets.
"I was angry because we are free to choose. I've never told them to stop being doctors and change profession.
....
Some are kidnapped and forced into the sex industry. Others are tricked with offers of jobs as domestic workers or waitresses only, on arrival in Argentina, to have their documents confiscated and their freedom curtailed.
Well that sounds reasonable, in a modern society...wait, hold on a second, what?
Look if you're a prostitute and you're offended that you don't receive respect from society as a whole, then what exactly did you expect? The second paragraph above leaves me with the belief that maybe, just maybe, you might get more done with a message of "We are slaves, liberate us.", then "We degrade ourselves for money, see us as your equals."
This entire story seems to miss the point that systematic rape for money is occuring by positing that better treatment from the health service is the ideal solution for kidnapping, enslavement, and rape.
Historically, in most societies and cultures in the West, kidnapping rapists were considered prime candidates for hanging, a practice which tends to dissipate recidivism and encourage would be kidnapping rapists to look for other career options. If that was Ms. Cabrera's position, she would seem a lot more sane. And probably gain more sympathy from her fellow citizens.
One of the greatest books ever on Christian spirituality
I once dreamed of writing a book that would encapsulate much of what I’ve learned in my Christian journey. I have to admit that you should probably read John Eldredge’s Journey of Desire first, because it really opened my eyes to appreciate a lot of what I’d already read in authors like GK Chesterton and CS Lewis; they mentioned a lot of the great concepts in Eldredge, but they blew past a lot of it, assuming the reader already knew the details.
A reasonable assumption considering that said details are stone cold basic to the Christian life, but are almost universally ignored in the mountains of books and articles I’ve read (including contributions from fundamentalist Baptist, evangelical, Roman Catholic, Traditionalist Romand Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox).
The ideas contained in Eldredge are just that basic and fundamental and I think that their neglect is an almost satanic conspiracy. They are basic because they provide answers to these questions
-How do I know the right thing in my particular life, beyond general universally applicable commandments like don’t kill, etc.?
-How do I love God?
-How does sin occur?
-How does virtue occur?
-Why ought I to do the right thing?
I’ve talked about Eldredge, but back to my dream, after Eldredge I read Transformation in Christ by Dietrich von Hildebrand and he really takes it the next level. He wrote the book I wish existed and thought I ought to write. You don’t have to be Catholic to get this book, but it might help to go the Catholic Encyclopedia for help with terms. Especially read up in the articles on the practical difference between mortal and venial sin, namely that mortal is deliberate and venial is something you do without knowing the full extent of your actions (although you may know on some level that what you are doing is wrong). It helps you come to terms with your human frailty without letting it become a cause of despair or an excuse for deliberate wrong doing (including a deliberate failure to do the right thing). Doubtless, I will write more on this later.
A reasonable assumption considering that said details are stone cold basic to the Christian life, but are almost universally ignored in the mountains of books and articles I’ve read (including contributions from fundamentalist Baptist, evangelical, Roman Catholic, Traditionalist Romand Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox).
The ideas contained in Eldredge are just that basic and fundamental and I think that their neglect is an almost satanic conspiracy. They are basic because they provide answers to these questions
-How do I know the right thing in my particular life, beyond general universally applicable commandments like don’t kill, etc.?
-How do I love God?
-How does sin occur?
-How does virtue occur?
-Why ought I to do the right thing?
I’ve talked about Eldredge, but back to my dream, after Eldredge I read Transformation in Christ by Dietrich von Hildebrand and he really takes it the next level. He wrote the book I wish existed and thought I ought to write. You don’t have to be Catholic to get this book, but it might help to go the Catholic Encyclopedia for help with terms. Especially read up in the articles on the practical difference between mortal and venial sin, namely that mortal is deliberate and venial is something you do without knowing the full extent of your actions (although you may know on some level that what you are doing is wrong). It helps you come to terms with your human frailty without letting it become a cause of despair or an excuse for deliberate wrong doing (including a deliberate failure to do the right thing). Doubtless, I will write more on this later.
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