serge

via: http://hristos.tumblr.com/post/698252171

Today’s Broadsheet tips us off to some Scientology news that’s as disturbing as it is, perhaps, unsurprising.  According to a two-part investigation by the St. Petersburg Times, Scientology’s maritime-y power base, Sea Org, has been treating its pregnant members to campaigns of intimidation, isolation and, in some cases, forced manual labor.

In exchange for signing “billion-year contracts,” Sea Org women are given food, housing, and medical care, but being a member of Scientology’s spiritual elite apparently leaves no time for mothering.

Or so believes Church spokesman Tommy Davis (son of actress and Church grande dame, Anne Archer), who says that a no-children policy was created because babies were “viewed as interfering with the productivity of Sea Org members,” and “the long and demanding working hours required of Sea Org members…were obstacles to parents properly raising their children.”

But former Scientology security chief Gary Morehead goes several (more ominous) steps further, saying that the organization considered pregnancies “a slap in the face,”and that “special councils formulated strategies to convince women to abort.” Interviews with some of these “convinced” women follow below:

via: http://www.dangerousminds.net/index.php/site/comments/no_kids_allowed_scientologys_anti-birthing_tactics/

“You know that there is something different about U.G. Krishnamurti when you read the disclaimer on the first page of his book, “Mind is a Myth”:

My teaching, if that is the word you want to use, has no copyright. You are free to reproduce, distribute, interpret, misinterpret, distort, garble, do what you like, even claim authorship, without my consent or the permission of anybody.

This disarming introduction may elicit a bemused smile, but it hardly prepares the reader for what follows. To read U.G. is to be introduced to a “spiritual terrorist”: he overturns all of our accepted beliefs — God, mind, soul, enlightenment, religion, humanity, heart, love, relationships — and gives us a totally different picture of who we are. The result is a grenade in the brain.

People who come across this odd little man are indelibly marked by a strange and lasting impression that each one finds difficult to define. People report that they are either deeply shaken or overtaken by curiosity after a few minutes talking with him. He doesn’t offer hope, love, peace or spiritual salvation. On the contrary, his words are rather deflating. He discourages people from coming to see him and most often politely turns them away. Yet he is the most talked about thinker in India, and his biography, recently published by Penguin in India, has topped the best seller list for the last nine months.

U.G. endlessly repeats: “I have no message for mankind.” Yet, ironically, thousands of people the world-over feel otherwise and flock to U.G.’s unique brand of discourse. But that isn’t easy because U.G. organizes no gatherings, gives no lectures, offers no courses, pushes no method, peddles no mantras, has no organization, no office, no secretary, no telephone number, no fax and no fixed address. Like his growing legend, U.G. is everywhere and nowhere. He stays with friends or in small rented apartments and tries to stay one step ahead of the crowds who try to discover his whereabouts as soon as the word spreads that “U.G.’s in town” — be it in San Francisco, New York, London, Bombay, Bangalore, Sydney, Auckland, or Beijing. U.G. has no worldly belongings other than what he can fit into a small 10 lb. suitcase. He dresses simply and looks quite ordinary. He never stays in one place for more than two months. He is like the Howard Hughes of the guru set: enigmatic, brilliant, charismatic, reclusive and publicity-shy.

Never has a `philosopher’ become so famous while emphatically denying that he even has a philosophy. Yet, what makes a man who so avidly shuns publicity so talked about? How does one who never gives a public lecture get such a following? How does a “guru” with no organization get such media attention? U.G. is India’s most controversial teacher and categorizing him is extremely difficult. He has been called “the anti-guru”, “the un-guru”, the “seer with no solutions”, “the raging sage”, “the thinker who shuns thought” and “the anti-Krishnamurti”, referring to his namesake, J. Krishnamurti, U.G.’s better known contemporary with whom he shares no family tie.

If any comparison makes sense, U.G. could be likened to a modern day cross between Socrates and Diogenes. However, he differs from the former because he undercuts the cornerstone of the Socratic method: discourse. U.G. isn’t out to convince, convert, win over or influence anyone; and he differs from the latter because nothing in his manner or bearing is provocative or outlandish. However, he is similar to Socrates in that he has a disarming and implacable logic, and akin to Diogenes because he shows no deference to money, power, position, or prestige. In a very real sense, U.G. is a unique witness to that elusive wisdom that has been the hallmark of every great mystic who has ever lived.

And like a mirror, he is a fascinating witness to our era as well.”

–Anthony Nahas

http://www.well.com/user/jct/

via: http://9gag.com/gag/26132/

by: defendwikileaks • #16 • 8:34 PM Sunday, Jun 13, 2010 •

“How sad it is to see the climate in the United States today — the majority is still lock-step in line with the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us about so many decades ago. I want to make the following points:

1) First and foremost, there needs to be more discussion about the potentially enormous ethics violations that seem to have been committed at Wired Magazine. Everyone knows Kevin Poulsen & Adrian Lamo are friends. It is obvious they worked their target, Bradley Manning, for days — in co-operation with the FBI and US Army CID. This hearkens back to COINTELPRO tactics. How likely is it that Lamo worked entirely on his own with no involvement from Poulsen, who only found out about it all after-the-fact, in time to “break the story” for Wired? There is no disclosure provided in the original article and it is written as if Poulsen wasn’t involved at all. Could it really be that, in pursuit of breaking a big story, Wired magazine staff helped set up a situation where the FBI/USACID got to use proxy interrogators, who misled a suspect into believing that he was only answering questions from someone he could trust, instead of federal/military law enforcement, without any Constitutional protections in place? This needs to be more critically examined.

2) Would Lamo have snitched out Daniel Ellsberg in 1970, hypothetically speaking? Based on the justifications he’s publicly offered to date, it seems so. This isn’t something to be admired. The US War Machine rolls on exactly because of mass media complicity, the lack of information about US militarism around the world and the witch-hunt persecution of everyone from the Dixie Chicks to Valerie Plame to Cindy Sheehan to the millions of Americans who protested this war BEFORE it began and were subjected to scrutiny, harassment and intimidation by law enforcement (an under-reported story). In the 70s, the persecution of Daniel Ellsberg only caused support for him to increase. Somehow, it seems like the same will not be true for Bradley Manning unless thoughtful & concerned citizens do something about it.

3) We don’t know for sure but Lamo claims that PFC Manning finally decided to be a whistleblower when he was ordered to process the arrest of Iraqi civilians who did nothing more than publish an academic paper about corruption in the Iraqi Provisional Government. He leaked the Collateral Murder video which was so shocking to so many because of how little the US public understands about the US war machine. And, he allegedly leaked diplomatic reports that demonstrate a pattern of lies and, we can only imagine what else. Possibly the details of US support for Middle East dictatorships, Israeli occupation and settlement expansion, etc. In other words, business as usual — just like the US supported dictatorships in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Iran and anywhere that corporate interests demanded market access at gunpoint. Leaking this information is the act of a hero. If only US support of Operation Condor in Latin America had been leaked in 1972 instead of years later.

4) Now, instead of publishing important leaks and building on the momentum from the Collateral Murder release, key Wikileaks volunteer Julian Assange is on the run from the retaliatory actions of the US State Department, who have a menu of options made possible by years of “extraordinary rendition” kidnappings. Would we even KNOW if US operatives have gotten hold of Assange? Are we supposed to be proud of this global gestapo that was put in place by the Bush Administration and continued by the Obama presidency? Is Lamo proud to have made it all possible?

5) I must reiterate what others have said here: the assertion that “innocent lives are risked” by the release of what was leaked so far is a falsehood. And, the only reason to even think that PFC Manning was “risking lives” is the unconfirmed innuendo made public by Adrian Lamo, who has every reason in the world to justify the breach of trust he committed by willfully initiating a clandestine interrogation of PFC Manning. Certainly, the Collateral Murder video doesn’t put any lives at risk. The analysis by Ellsberg on this is probably the most accurate: these alleged leaks would greatly embarrass the US Government by forcing the media to report on even further evidence that supports allegations made by opponents of US foreign policy. That doesn’t RISK lives — it does the exact opposite.

Daniel Ellsberg is a hero. PFC Manning came to a realization about US foreign policy; it’s well-documented that thousands of enlisted soldiers have had the same realization after being on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. The difference is that PFC Manning was willing & able to actually DO something about it, beyond participating in a Winter Soldier event or going to protests. To that extent, PFC Manning is also a hero.

Wired Magazine, Kevin Poulsen and Adrian Lamo should be viewed with skepticism, as they are potentially the proud participants in one of the most scandalous breaches of journalist ethics in recent history. Adrian Lamo is now engaged in a public campaign to discredit PFC Manning as a “dangerous spy” and Poulsen continues to report on the story for Wired.

This is an extremely important case and I urge all citizens to do what they can to support PFC Manning and any other soldier who disobeys orders/regulations to expose war crimes and/or the truth about US foreign policy.

“I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism […] Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. […] I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. […] Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
– Major General Smedley Butler, US Marine Corps, 1933″

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/06/13/video-wikileaks-foun.html#comment-809677

http://twitter.com/wikileaks

It isn’t a tree

It is called a tree

…to my new friends from West Texas … mah “full brilliance” is pending.  🙂

It may pend for a bit, so please consider the application of the “expectations are the building blocks of disappointment” mantra when visiting … lowering said expectations will relieve pressure on me and may ameliorate enjoyment. … and not just here.  🙂

Cheers!

Listen up you stinking maggots, it seems you just don’t get it. Well I’ve been appointed to inform you, your days are numbered. — Clutch, “Animal Farm“

Drill Sergeant Casey here. It’s my duty to whip you liver-lillied liberals into shape so you don’t COMPLETELY waste the enormous amount of political capital you have amassed through eight years of pissin’ and moanin’ about the opposition in your e–leet ivory towers. Now, I understand that some of you have an aversion to battle. Don’t like the sound of clangin’ sabers. Sight of blood an’ veins makes you woozy. Well, tough titty. THIS IS THE FIGHT YOU SIGNED UP FOR. So get in line and step lively, you sniveling excuses for political footsoldiers. What I’m gonna say to you ain’t gonna be easy to swallow, but understand this: it is the ONLY chance you spineless whelps have to avoid irrelevance in the face of the greatest electoral opportunity you will likely ever have the good fortune to exploit.

Remember that book How to Talk to a Liberal? Well, our manual is called How to Crush a Conservative. Let’s crack that sucker open, shall we?

Now, I’m gonna save the intellectual calisthenics for another session, and we won’t be getting into close-quarters combat for some time. By then you should at least have grown some buddingcajones, which you’ll need to stare down the Right Wing zombie horde. But that’s all too advanced for you mealy-mouthed pussbags. So today, we’re gonna lay down some basic groundrules for aggressive progressive message control. Watchoo lookin’ at, pencil-dick? Get back in line!

• Stop using big words. Now, I know this might seem a bit counnner–intuitive fer you arugula-chompin’ Ivy-Leaguers, but it simply has to be done. Our front line cannot be comprised of fancypants liberal arts majors, or we’ll be givin’ it up faster than a Bush twin on prom night. No, what we need are some fire-breathing, pulpit-style orators that can deliver a message loaded with ACTUAL FACTS. These facts will be delivered by messengers who will be appropriately received by everyday Americans. Never forget that the people you’ll be talkin’ to have attention spans shorter than the lifespan of a kitchen gnat, and are easily distracted by shiny objects. To cut through, you’ll need to talk loudly, clearly and with the passion of a Sunday preacher sermonizin’ on e-ternal damnation. The difference is, you’ll be tellin’ the truth, which should catch those Cheez Doodle eatin’ m-effers off guard. Exploit that. With extreme prejudice.
• Give your opponents no quarter. Do NOT suggest that they have a point. They do not. What they have is a borrowed fairy-tale sold to them by a B-movie actor who liked to pose for pictures on horseees. You have facts. Use them. Aggressively. Do not miss any opportunity to throw a swing — even a wild one. We will be discussing defensive tactics in future sessions. But for now, I want you to git in there and tangle with your enemy like a rabid badger. A rabid fuckin’ badger with righteous anger and a big ol’ sack of ninja-star shaped FACTS.
• Stop being a goddamn hippie. Nobody pays attention to puppet shows and street theater.Nobody. What we need to win the minds of “Real Americans” is to put that trust-fund organizing prowess to work to assemble highly-disciplined regular Joes an’ Janes to make an informed ruckus at every civic event where there’s a goddamn camera. We own the media. Let’s give ‘em something worth broadcastin.’ Now, I’m not talkin’ about cryin’ an’ hollerin’ like some mentally-challenged Sarah Palin spawn. You will speak boldly, authoritatively and factually about the scandalous nonsense that the other side spews. Through example, you will inspire your progressive brothers and sisters to stop actin’ like a buncha art-school sissies and throw down the gauntlet for the sake of their country.
• Don’t be afraid to break a few eggs makin’ this omelet. Politics is a street brawl. Don’t waste your time tryin’ to convince the other side that your argument is superior. KNOW that it’s superior. Your job is clearly articulate your position in front of the most opportune audience and move on. You’re not gonna win every engagement. Hell, you’re not even gonna come close. But what you will learn in the process is how the other side thinks. Take this knowledge and use it in your next battle. Note their weaknesses and share them with your fellow progressive soldiers. This will come in handy later on, when we plan coordinated attacks on enemy positions.
• Strike first and often. Don’t ever let up. If the enemy goes “scorched earth,” I want you to suck all the breathable particles out of the goddamn atmosphere. I want you to mentally commit to a level of engagement that makes Mutually Assured Destruction look like a lazy weekend in Kennebunkport. You WILL expose the hypocrisies of the other side by any means necessary. You WILL gather intelligence and share it with your fellow soldiers. You WILL develop language skills that enable you to communicate with the drooling headcase at the bus stop. You WILL demonstrate your dissatisfaction with any politician on your side who does not or will not display the appropriate vigor necessary to advance on the field. You WON’T complain that it’s too hard. That the other side is too well organized. That you lack resources. You are gonna become experts in high-yield improvised word-bombs, and you are gonna plant them where your enemy will most readily encounter them. You’re gonna boobytrap their safehouses. You’re gonna poison their children’s minds with your lefty ideals. You’re gonna go on the offensive, stay on the offensive and WIN.

Dismissed.

http://www.thecontrarianmedia.com/2009/08/progressive-bootcamp-vol-1/

via: http://abstrusegoose.com (another excellent blog)

… to point out a new blogroll entry … http://www.thecontrarianmedia.com/

One of my favorite sites to check out on a regular basis … funny and insightful, and more often than not, right on the spot.

Also wanted to thank my good friend “bigfatfurrytexan” for his support and for spreading the word about the fledgeling new venture that is this blog.

Regards and thanks again.

– Serge

The Entheogen Theory of Religion and Ego Death explains what is revealed in religious revelation and in enlightenment, including the nature of personal control agency.

The essence and origin of religion is the use of visionary plants to routinely trigger the intense mystic altered state, producing loose binding of cognitive associations. This loose cognitive binding then produces an experience of being controlled by frozen block-universe determinism with a single, pre-existing, ever-existing future.

Experiencing this model of control and time initially destabilizes self-control power, and amounts to the death of the self that was conceived of as an autonomous control-agent. Self-control stability is restored upon transforming one’s mental model to take into account the dependence of personal control on a hidden, separate thought-source, such as Necessity or a divine level that transcends Necessity.

Myth describes this mystic-state experiential insight and transformation. Religious initiation teaches and causes this transformation of the self considered as a control-agent, through a series of visionary-plant sessions, interspersed with study of perennial philosophy. Most modern-era religion has been a distortion of this standard initiation system, reducing these concepts to a weak interpretation that is based in the ordinary state of consciousness.

More:   http://www.egodeath.com/EntheogenTheoryOfReligion.htm

Gricean theory and linguicism: Infringements and physical violence in the relationship between Manuel and Basil Fawlty

Abstract

The present paper aims to demonstrate how a refined version of the Gricean theory of non-observance of maxims based on the Schutzean notion of imposed thematic relevance can be applied to shed some light on the intercultural issue of the relative imbalance in native (or ‘expert’ non-native) vs. (‘non-expert’) non-native communication. This demonstration will be accompanied by examples from the British comedy series Fawlty Towers, where the relationship between Basil Fawlty and his Spanish dogsbody Manuel offers a neat caricature of the issues at stake. The paper argues that the (often) higher number of occurrences of deviations from (native speaker) norms (=non-observance of ‘maxims’) in non-native speech causes an over-attentiveness in the hearer and an increased interpretational activity which often ‘does not pay off’, something which, may trigger negative reactions and support the growth of linguicism. This tendency, it is claimed, can perhaps be countered by raising the awareness of the general public as well as that of political representatives as regards the specific drawbacks of being a second/foreign language speaker in a globalized world.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/

“Pass that car!” I commanded my father.

We were driving fast in an old Alfa Spider. The roads outside Paris were narrow and twisted but other cars were scarce. My mother was scared to death. She kept mumbling something about responsibility. I paid no attention. I was content in letting the wind rush through every fiber of my hair. I was very happy, I was nine years old.

“Please overtake that car” I begged my father.
My mother shook her head in despair.

– schrodingers dog (circa 1985)

David Lynch’s Interview Project has recently and quietly come to its scheduled end. The well-produced online-only project comprises a full 121 video interviews with random people, shot by Lynch’s team (led by his son Austin) on a year-long road-trip around the United States.

Lynch and co. manage to tap deeply into the wealth of personal stories in the great American working class that was first mined by the likes of oral historian Studs Terkel. But Interview Project filters Terkel’s ultra-earnest approach through the post-thereputic present, often getting a surprising amount of confessional material from a literal stop-and-talk encounter.

via: http://www.dangerousminds.net/index.php/site/comments/the_david_lynch_interview_project/

via: http://tumblrisforlulz.tumblr.com/